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

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of application time and rubbing action of self-etching adhesives on resin-dentin bond strength and interface morphology in vitro.

METHODSCaries-free human third molars were wet ground to expose dentin surface. Three self-etching bonding agents were applied with varying application time and with/without rubbing. The microtensile bond strength and interface morphology were evaluated.

RESULTSWhen etching time was shortened, normal and prolonged, the bond strength was bonding agent 1 (Adper Prompt): (16.30 +/- 2.59), (23.13 +/- 2.56), (22.28 +/- 2.83) MPa, bonding agent 2 (Xeno III): (15.17 +/- 6.07), (34.50 +/- 3.64), (24.87 +/- 7.01) MPa, bonding agent 3 (Clearfil SE Bond): (29.92 +/- 3.32), (42.21 +/- 6.28), (41.07 +/- 3.93) MPa. When etching was applied with and without rubbing, the bond strength was bonding agent 1 (23.13 +/- 2.56), (12.53 +/- 3.73) MPa, bonding agent 2 (23.98 +/- 3.86), (34.50 +/- 3.64) MPa, bonding agent 3 (48.37 +/- 4.95), (42.21 +/- 6.28) MPa.

CONCLUSIONSShortening application time decreased bond strength of self-etching adhesives, while prolonging application time did not increase bond strength of self-etching adhesives. Not all self-etching adhesives applied with rubbing showed increased bond strength to dentin, which is product-dependent. Manufactures' instructions should be followed to achieve optimum bonding.

Acid Etching, Dental ; methods ; Dental Bonding ; methods ; Dental Cements ; classification ; Humans ; Molar, Third

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of genetic diagnosis of Down's syndrome (DS) using short tandem repeat (STR), and to develop a rapid and accurate method for diagnosing DS.

METHODSQuantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was used to amplify STR loci D21S11, D21S1440 and Penta D of 719 samples. Three hundred and eighty-nine samples were peripheral blood, 282 were amniotic fluid, 48 were chorionic villous samples. The products were analyzed using eleterophoresis to detect DS.

RESULTSAmong 652 samples with a normal karyotype, 635 showed 2 bands with a 1:1 ratio or a single band. The remaining 17 samples showed 3 bands, and were regarded as false positive results. For 67 DS samples, 53 showed 3 bands/peaks with a 1:1:1 ratio and 14 showed 2 bands/peaks with a 2:1 ratio. The sensitivity and specificity of STR loci D21S11, D21S1440 and Penta D were 76.12% and 98.62%, 71.64% and 98.93%, 89.55% and 99.85%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of 3 STR loci were 100% (67/67) and 97.39% (635/652), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared with conventional method, author's method is simpler, more stable and rapid, and can be used for large-scale prenatal screening of DS.

Amniotic Fluid ; chemistry ; Chorionic Villi ; chemistry ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

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