Objective To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on the expression of thrombospondin-1(TSP1)and transfor ming growth factor-β1 (TGF-131)in the kidney of diabetic rats.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal control(NC),streptozocin-induced diabetic mellitus(DM),diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone(DP)and normal control rats treated with pioglitazone(NP).24-h urine protein quantity,serum creatinine(Scr) and kidney hypertrophy index were measured after treatment for 10 weeks,and the expression of TSP1 and TGF-β1 in the kidney was detected by using RT-PCR and immuohistochemistry.Results As compared with DM group,urine protein level and kidney hypertrophy index were significantly attenuated in DP group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference in plasma glucose between them(P>0.05).As compared with NC and NP groups,the expression of TSP1 and TGF-β1 was significantly elevated in the kidney of DM and DP groups(P<0.01).Both TSP1 and TGF-β1 expression in DP group was lower than in DM group(P<0.05).Conclusion Pioglitazone can exert a direct protective effect on the kidney in diabetic rats,which is independent of the role of insulin sensitizer,and the mechanism may be associated with the decreased TSP1 expression in the kidney.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.

METHODSeparation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

RESULTIn 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

CONCLUSIONFingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygala ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

Objective To analyze the influential factors of healthy children′s heart rate turbulence (HRT). Methods One hundred and six healthy children with ventricular premature beat (VPB) were selected in this study and the correlation among HTR parameters as turbulence onset (TO) and turbulence lope (TS) and age, gender, basic heart rate, the number of VPBs were analyzed. Results It was observed that among three age groups, TO decreased with the age, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), but there was no significant gender difference (all P > 0.05). TS increased with the age, and intergroup difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In the group of children aged over seven, significantly higher TS was observed among boys (P < 0.05), while in the group of children aged 1 to 3 and the group aged 3 to 7 , there was no significant gender difference (P > 0.05). TO and TS decreased with the decline of heart rate (r = 0.494, P < 0.00; r = -0.569,P < 0.00 respectively), and the correlation between TO and HR, TS and HR was found.The number of VPBs had no significant correlation with TO or TS (r = 0.104,P = 0.290; r = 0.122,P =0.212). Conclusions The results demonstrate that influenced by age and basic heart rate, healthy children′s HRT increases with the age and the decline of heart rate. Therefore, the reference index of children′s HRT should differ from that of adults, which requires further evaluation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of itraconazole in prevention of invasive fungal infections in allogeneic hema-topoietic stem cell transplantion .Methods In this retrospective study ,110 patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants were administed itraconazole or fluconazole for prevention of fungal infection .The occurrence and prognosis of invasive fungal infection ,and the side effect of both pyrroles were observed .Results Proven and probable invasive fungal infections occurred in 5 of 69 itraconazole recipients(7 .2% ) and in 8 of 41 fluconazole recipients(19 .5% ) during the first 180 days after transplanta-tion ,the difference had statistical significance(P<0 .05) .The fatality rate related to fungal infection had no statistical difference be-tween the two groups(2 .9% vs .7 .3% ) .The occurrence of itraconazole adverse reactions were more than fluconazole (26 .9% vs . 7 .0% ) ,and both itraconazole and fluconazole were well tolerated .Conclusion Itraconazole significantly reduces the incidence of inva-sive fungal infection in the patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants ,and it is a effective and safe prophylaxis .

0.05).There were more polycystic ovary (PCO) and (or) polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients,more basal antra] follicles,longer duration of Gn stimulation (range 16-33 days),higher Gn dose,lower serum peak estradiol (E_2) level,fewer oocytes,fewer embryos transferred,in group 1 compared with group 2 (P

The selective side-chain cleavage of phytosterol to 4-androstene-3,17-dione(4-AD)and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione(ADD)by Mycobacterium sp.was described.Because of the similarity in chemical structure between 4-AD and ADD,it is difficult to separate them from the fermentation broth.So far,it has been verified that the ADD can be produced by dehydrogenation of 4-AD.In this reaction,3-Ketosteriod-1-Dehydrogenase(ksdD)plays an important role.The gene knocking out method was used to solve the problem.Partial sequence of ksdD was obtained by PCR which was 631bp in length.Then,a targeting vector pUC19-MK was constructed,which was electroporate into the original strain Mycobacterium neoauru.The method of homologous recombination was used to knock out ksdD gene located in the chromosome of Mycobacterium neoauru.In this way,ksdD would lose its enzyme activity.In the result,5 transformants were screened.The experiments of steroid transformation by the transformants were carried out.The productivity of 4-AD reached 17.52% after 144h,which is 192% higher than the original strain.Meanwhile,the productivity of ADD reached 6.12%,which is 89.9% lower than the original strain.

Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fixatives ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Tissue Fixation ; methods

Objective To provide the effective prevention method of falls in order to decrease the incidences of falls among the elderly inpatients. Methods The elderly inpatients were divided into the high risk group, the moderate risk group and the low risk group according to the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (Chinese Version) and performed different preventive measures. Results The incidences of falls decreased from 0.045% to 0.015% after performing classification care plan over 1 year. Conclusions The classification care plan was effective and practicable on reducing the incidence of falls.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact on lower limbs balance function in treatment of yin-yang meridians acupuncture with respiratory reinforcing and reducing manipulation involved in the patients of stroke by applying B-PHY balance function test training system so as to provide the objective evidence in treatment of stroke; with acupuncture.

METHODSOne hundred patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 50 cases in each one. In the control group, the basic treatment was applied, without other relevant rehabilitation therapies associated. In the observation group, with the basic treatment as the control group's, the therapy of the yin-yang meridians acupuncutre with respiratory reinforcing and reducing manipulation was adopted. On the yin meridians, Zuwuli (LR 10), Xuehai (SP 10), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the others were selected and stimulated with reducing manipulation achieved by the coordination of patient's respiration. On the yang meridians, Biguan (ST 31), Liangqiu (ST 34), Yanglingquan (GB 34) and the others were selected and stimulated with reinforcing manipulation achieved by the coordination of patient's respiration. The treatment was given once a day and for 28 days totally. Before treatment and in 28 days of treatment, B-PHY balance function test training system was used to determine the weight shift track parameters (track length, peripheral square, track length of per unit square, left-right offset and rectangle square), the weight shift track distance parameters [mean of X axle weight shift distance (Mean-X), mean of Y axle weight shift distance (Mean-Y), maximum of X axle weight shift distance (Max-X), maximum of Y axle weight shift distance (Max-Y), weight shift distance (LSKG), weight shift square (SSKG), square ratio of weight shift (LFS)], stability coefficient (SI) and weight distribution coefficient (WDI).

RESULTSAfter treatment, the differences in the weight shift track parameters, SI and WDI were significant as compared with those before treatment in the patients of the two groups (all P<0.01); while the differences in the weight shift distance parameters in the observation group were improved obviously after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01), the differences of Mean-X, Max-Y and LFS in the control group were improved after treatment as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.01). Except SSKG, the improvements after treatment in the rest indices in the observation group were better than those in the control group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe yin-yang meridians acupuncture with respiratry reinforcing and re- ducing manipulation effectively improves the lower limbs balance function in the patients of stroke.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance ; Respiratory System ; physiopathology ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Yin-Yang

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.

METHODSWe collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8. 3) years old, who came for routine physical examinations in our hospital. We obtained the levels of serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH) D3), and bone turnover markers C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP). We also determined free testosterone (FT) , bioactive testosterone (BT) , testosterone secretion index (TSI) and FT index (FTI), and analyzed the correlation of each index with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

RESULTSThe concentrations of serum FSH, LH, and SHBG increased, while the levels of FT, BT, TSI, FTI, PTH, CTX, OC and PINP decreased with age, especially in those over 80 years old (P <0.05). PTH was positively correlated with CTX, OC and PINP (r =0. 227, 0. 269 and 0. 162, P <0. 01), even after the adjustment for age, while SHBG negatively correlated with OC (r = -0. 100, P <0.05). The bone turnover markers increased with the elevation of the PTH quartiles, with significant differences between the first and the fourth quartile (P <0. 01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was correlated inversely with CTX, OC and PINP ( beta = -0. 126, -0. 141 and -0. 122, P <0.05) , PTH positively with the three markers (beta = 0. 196, 0.279 and 0.189; P <0. 001), and SHBG negatively with OC ( beta = -0. 100, P <0.05) .

CONCLUSIONAging is the fundamental cause of reduced bone turnover in aged men. The levels serum PTH and SHBG are significantly associated with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; physiology ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Hormone ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood