Objective To investigate the effects of captopril on structure and function of sciatic nerve in diabetic rats. Methods Streptozotocin induced diabetic male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with 0.1% captopril in drinking water for 12 weeks, then advanced glycation end products (AGEs), cAMP content, and the nerve conduction velocity of sciatic nerve in diabetic rats were measured, morphometric quantitative analysis and ultrastructure of sural nerve were also performed. Results Captopril reduced accumulation of AGEs, restored synthesis of cAMP in sciatic nerve, improved nerve conduction velocity partialy, and ameliorated morphology abnormalities in myelin nerve fibre. Conclusion These findings suggest that captopril may exert a therapeutic effects on diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodule(TN)in healthy adults of Yantaishan Hospital.Methods High frequency probe and color Doppler uhrasonography were applied to TN screening in 1125 employees of Yantaishah Hospital.Results In the 1125 adults of Yantaishan Hospital.418 were found to have TN.accounting for 37.2%of all employees.TN incidence increased with age.Thyroid nodule detection rate in female was higher than that in male(40.2%in females and 23.6%in male).The magnitude of the minimum nodule was 2 mm×1 mm in size.13 cases of TN were proved to be thyroid carcinoma.consisting 1.16%of all adults examined.Conclusion The incidence of TN and thyroid carcinoma in Yantaishan Hospital is highcr than that reported in other areas,indicating the necessity of carrying out TN screening among the healthy population.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF) on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL ( receptor activator of NF-κB ligand ) in human osteoblasts, as well as the mechanisms involved. Methods Human osteoblasts were treated with rCTGF. The expressions of OPG and RANKL were assessed by Western blotting. The expressions of focal adhesion kinase ( FAK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were also observed. Results rCTGF inhibited RANKL protein expression in a dose-and time-depentent manner in human osteoblasts, while the expression of OPG kept unchanged. rCTGF induced activation of p38MAPK and dephosphorylation of FAK in human osteoblasts, but had no effect on ERK and JNK phosphorylation. p38MAPK inhibitor SB23058 abrogated the inhibitory effect of rCTGF on RANKL in human osteoblasts. Conclusion rCTGF inhibits the expression of RANKL in human osteoblasts via activation of p38MAPK and dephosphorylation of FAK.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF) on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in human osteoblasts. Methods Human osteoblasts were treated with rCTGF, cell proliferation was measured by [3 H] -thymidine ([3 H] -TdR) incorporation method,the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using α-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate, the expression of type Ⅰ collagen was determined by Western blotting, osteocalcin in conditioned media was measured by radioimmune assay, and cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry. Results rCTGF promoted proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts in a dose-depentent manner, rCTGF increased ALP activity, osteocalcin and type I collagen secretion in a dose-depentent manner, rCTGF inhibited human osteoblastic apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Conclusion rCTGF can promote osteoblastic proliferation, and differentiation and protect osteoblast against apoptosis, suggesting that CTGF plays an essential role in bone metabolism.

Human osteoblast was treated with recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF). This experiment showed that rCTGF increased membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein expression in a dose- and time-depentent manner in human osteoblasts. rCTGF induced activation of p38 MAPK in human osteoblasts. p38 MAPK inhibitor SB23058 abrogated the effect of rCTGF on the expressions of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human osteoblasts.

ObjectiveTo study the effects of dexamethasone local injection as an adjunctive therapy for Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). Methods60 HT cases were equally divided into 2 groups at random. The patients in the control group were given euthyrpx while the patients in the treated group were injected dexamethasone in addition to the medicine used in the control group. The thyroid characters such as thickness, lymphocytic infiltration and changes of thyroid follicle were observed. The patients were followed up before treatment and 4, 12, 24weeks and 1 year after treatment. ResultsIn the treatment group, all thyroid glands turned significantly softer,and the mass became smaller compared with that in the control group. The pathology of thyroids indicated that lymphocytic infiltration decreased, local immune reaction was ameliorated, and no obvious hormone side effects were observed. ConclusionLocal use of dexamethasone can modify the structure and function of thyroid.

Objective To study the relation between thyroid nodule and urine iodine and to provide a scientific basis for etiological research of thyroid nodule.Methods 178 cases of thyroid nodule were detected urine iodine concentration (μg/L) by As ( Ⅱ ) 2Ce4 + catalytic spectrophotometry.160 normal people were set as control group.Data of the 2 groups and the correlative clinical information were analyzed.Results The median urine iodine concentration was 116.2 μg/L for the 178 cases of thyroid nodule,217.2 μg/L for the control group.Among the 178 cases,the median urine iodine concentration was 125.6 μg/L for the 92 cases with nodule size ＞ 10 mm and 136.4 μg/L for the 86 cases with nodule size ＜ 10 mm.The difference of urine iodine had no statistical significance between the thyroid nodule group and the control group.There was no correlation between urine iodine and the size of thyroid nodule as well as sex.Conclusions No correlation is found between urine iodine and thyroid nodule.Patients with thyroid nodule,no matter male or female,don't have to restrict iodine intake excessively.

Objective To investigate cyclic mechanical stimulation on expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and to explore the rote of MAPK involved in the process.Methods Expressions of CTGF protein and mRNA in MG63 cells were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively. Phosphorylation levels of p38, ERK, JNK were examined by Western blot. Results Cyclic mechanical stimulation upregulated expressions of CTGF protein and mRNA. The levels reached a maximal response of 2-3 fold after 3-6 h. ERK and JNK signal pathways were activated by cyclic mechanical stimulation, the phosphorylated proteins increased within 10 min of stretch, phosphorylated ERK reached maximal levels by 60 min of stretch, phosphorylated JNK reached maximal levels by 15-30 min of stretch, but not for p38 signal pathway.Only the inhibitior of JNK signal pathway (SP600125) markedly suppressed stretch-induced CTGF expression,meanwhile the inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) and p38 (SB203580) did not show such effect. Conclusion Cyclic mechanical stimulation upregulates CTGF expression via JNK-dependent pathway in MG63 cells.

Objective:To investigate the role of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 12 (NLRP12) in diabetic patients with coronary heart disease.Methods:From Jun. 2017 to Oct. 2018, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in our hospital were selected as simple diabetes group, 80 patients with coronary heart disease as simple coronary heart disease group, 80 patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease as diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease group, and 60 healthy people in the same period as control group. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and cultured. The levels of NLRP12, apoptosis-related spot-like protein, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The plasma was separated and the content of IL-18 was detected by ELISA.Results:The relative expressions of NLRP12, apoptosis-related spot-like protein, Caspase-3 mRNA and protein in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diabetes mellitus group, coronary heart disease group and diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05) . The apoptosis-related spot-like protein and Caspase-3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05) . The relative expression of NLRP12 was significantly higher than that of diabetes mellitus group and coronary heart disease group ( P<0.05) . There was no significant difference in the relative expression of NLRP12 gene and protein between diabetes mellitus group, coronary heart disease group and diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease group ( P>0.05) . The plasma levels of IL-18 in diabetes mellitus group, coronary heart disease group and diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01) ; the plasma levels of IL-18 in diabetes complicated with coronary heart disease group were significantly higher than those in diabetes mellitus group and coronary heart disease group ( P<0.05) . The correlation analysis showed that plasma IL-18 level was positively correlated with NLRP12, apoptosis-related spot-like protein, Caspase-3 mRNA and relative protein expression. Conclusion:The abnormal activation of NLRP12 promotes the maturation and release of downstream inflammatory factor IL-18 by activating the expression of apoptosis related spot like protein and Caspase-3, and participates in the occurrence and development of diabetes mellitus complicated with coronary heart disease.

Objective: To analyze the VP1 gene characteristics of Coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) isolated in(hand, foot and mouth disease, HFMD) patients of Jinan 2017. Methods: The samples collected from patients with HFMD in Jinan city in 2017 were analyzed and some of the CV-A16 nucleic acid positive samples were choosen with simple random sampling method and pretreated to inoculate RD cells. The whole VP1 gene sequences of CV-A16 stains which had obvious cytopathic effect in RD cells were amplified and sequenced. MEGA5.2 software was used to constructed phylogenetic tree and Lasergene software was used to analysis the homology consistency of nucleotide and amino acid of VP1 gene. Results: All the 10 CV-A16 strains isolated from Jinan were located 3 clusters belonged to B1b genotypes, with a nucleotide similarity of 94.9%~100% and deduced amino acid similarity of 99.3%~100%. The Jinan CV-A16 strains were nearest related with Shanghai strains KX871333(nucleotide similarity: 99.7%), Henan strains KM260134(99.0%), Jiangsu strains KP751580、KR138327(98.7%) and Guangdong strains MH004016(98.5%). Compared with some reference strains from our country, amino acid mutation were identified at positions 14, 59, and 145 in VP1 proteins of Jinan CV-A16 strains. Conclusions CV-A16 strains B1b genotypes were the strains prevailed in Jinan city, and 3 amino acid substitutions in VP1 proteins were happened in CV-A16 strains isolated from Jinan.