β-Cyclodextrin-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (CDM-NVP) copolymer was prepared by free radical chain reaction of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) and β-CD maleate (CDM) with γ-ray as initiator.The synthesis conditions of CDM-NVP polymer were as follows: mass ratio of CDM to NVP was 1∶0.7 (CDM 3.6 g and NVP 2.52 g), irradiation dosage was 4 kGy, and DMF aqueous solution (50%, V/V) was set at 20 mL.Under the synthesis conditions, the yield of CDM-NVP was 84% and the weight-average molecular weight was 20 kD.The natamycin (NM) and carbendazim (MBC) could form stable inclusion complexes with CDM-NVP copolymer, and the solubility and fungicidal activity of the complexes were investigated.The stability constant of NM·CDM-NVP and MBC·CDM-NVP complexes at 303 K were 12, 988.54 L/mol and 865.94 L/mol, respectively.The complexes were characterized using phase solubility diagrams, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and ultraviolet (UV) spectra.The analysis of the biological activities of these two complexes indicated that they possessed enhancing fungicidal activities compared to NM and MBC alone.

Dysarthric patients often present velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), characterized nasalization articulation for hypernasality,which seriously impaired their communication. Research of evaluation of VPI is mainly about cleft palate and postoperative, few about the dysarthria. Some approaches, such as physiologic approach to rehabilitation, have been used to correct hypernasality, and prosthesis,such as palatal lift prosthesis (PLP) and nasal speaking valve (NSV), are also proved effectively. PLP has been widely used for hypernasality oversea, but fewer in China.

Objective To explore the clinical effect of the trans-atlantoaxial pedicle screw-rod internal fixation and fusion in treatment of old odontoid fracture combined with atlantoaxial instability.Methods The study involved 48 patients with old odontoid fractures combined with atlantoaxial instability treated with trans-atlantoaxial pedicle screw-rod internal fixation and fusion from January 2005 to January 2010.There were 30 males and 18 females,at average age of 45.1 years old(19-56 years).All the patients underwent the skull traction preoperatively.Results A total of 192 pedicle screws(96 screws for the atlas and another 96 for the axis)were implanted in all the 48 patients who obtained satisfactory atlantoaxial reduction,with no spinal cord injuries.The operation lasted for average 155 min,with blood loss for average 370 ml.There were three patients with vertebral artery injury and three with inferior posterior arch fracture of the atlas during operation.All the patients were followed up for average of 46.6 months(range,9-64 months),which showed bone fusion at 6 months after operation,with no loosening,displacement,instability or breakage of the screws.The JOA score was improved from preoperative 7.1 ±2.8 to postoperative 13.3 ± 2.1(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation is a reliable and effective method for the treatment of the atlantoaxial instability.

Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure ; complications ; virology ; Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the level of insulin and amyloid beta-protein (Aβ) in patients with Alzheimer disease(AD). Methods The levels of fasting plasma glucose, true insulin, C-peptide, Aβ40 and Aβ42 in 70 healthy age-matched adults and 55 patients with AD were measured and analyzed. Results No differences were observed for the levels of fasting plasma glucose between AD groups and normal group (P>0.05). The level of the true insulin and C-peptide of the moderate/severe AD group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group(P<0.05), as well aw that of the Aβ40 (P<0.05). The level of Aβ42 of the mild AD group waw significantly higher than that of the normal control group(P<0.01). Conclusion Plasma insulin and Aβ are abnormal in AD, and they are related to severity of dementia.

Objective To evaluate preventive effect of polysaccharides from Lycium ruthenicum Murray against photodamage in HaCaT cells,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Ultrasoundassisted extraction was used to extract polysaccharides from Lycium ruthenicum Murray in Qaidam Basin.In vitro cultured HaCaT cells were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group receiving no treatment,ultraviolet B (UVB) group irradiated with 30 nJ/cm2 UVB alone for 1 hour,experimental group pretreated with 2 g/L Lyeium ruthenicum polysaccharide solution followed 6 hours later by 30 mJ/cm2 UVB radiation for 1 hour.At twelve hours after UVB radiation,an inverted microscope was used to observe cell morphology.Then,MTS assay was performed to estimate cell proliferation,flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis,an enzyme-labeled antigen method to detect levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),as well as to evaluate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT),and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure levels of intedeukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in HaCaT cells and their culture supernatant.Results Compared with the control group,the UVB group showed obscure cell morphology,cell death and floating phenomenon,while cells became swollen but renained morphologically distinct in the experimental group.MTS assay revealed that the cell proliferative activity significantly differed among the above 3 groups (F =48.88,P ＜ 0.01),and the cell proliferative activity was significantly lower in the UVB group (1.72 ± 0.12) than in the control group (2.34 ± 0.11,P ＜ 0.05) and experimental group (2.11 ± 0.10,P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,the apoptosis rate was significantly higher in the UVB group (82.41％ ± 2.49％) than in the control group (3.98％ ± 0.19％,P ＜ 0.05) and experimental group (22.79％ ± 0.97％,P ＜ 0.05),as well as higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the UVB group showed significantly higher levels of MDA,supernatant levels of IL-1 and TNF-α,and intracellular levels of TNF-α,but significantly lower GSH-Px levels and activity of SOl and CAT (all P ＜ 0.05).However,there was no signifi-cant difference in the intracellular level of TNF-α between the UVB group and control group (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Lycium ruthenicum polysaccharide has protective effects against photodamage in HaCaT cells,likely by reducing the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory substances as well as free radicals.

AIMTo construct a plasmid carrying hepatocyte growth factor gene and investigate its effects in vitro.

METHODSA complementary DNA (cDNA) clone for human HGF was isolated from human placental cDNA, then subcloned into pUDK vector, which was constructed by ourselves, to form the pUDKH plasmid. The transfection efficiency and the expression level of HGF and VEGF were evaluated by transfecting pUDK or pUDKH into primary rat skeletal muscle cells. The biological effects of HGF-expressing product at different doses on endothelial cells were investigated in vitro, and assessed by MTT.

RESULTSThe primary rat skeletal muscle cells could be transfected efficiently with pUDKH (0.057%), and secreted HGF(16 -18 ng/4 x 10(5) cells) and VEGF proteins. The expressing product could significantly stimulate proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONpUDKH has the potential application in vivo to treat ischemic diseases.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo identify an interaction between the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and risk of Alzheimer's disease.

METHODSThe study included 117 healthy controls, 85 patients with Alzheimer's disease in a Northeastern Chinese population of Han nationality. Genotypes were determined by a polymerase chain reaction amplification of the intron 2 fragment, harbouring a variable number of short tandem nucleotide sequences. Amplification products were separated on a 2% agarose gel.

RESULTSThe allele 2 frequency was 27% in healthy controls, and 21% in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Thus for allele 2 as well as for all other alleles, genotypes, or carriage rates, no significant differences compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSNo association of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism with Alzheimer's disease was identified in this population. It is also possible that the increased risk and disease modifying effects are caused by linkage disequilibrium with other genomic variants in other nearby genes.

Aged ; Alleles ; Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Interleukin-1 ; antagonists & inhibitors

Objective: To explore the improvement influence of three combined exercise programs on sleep quality among college students with sleep disorders, so as to provide reference for the construction of exercise intervention programs for sleep disorder. Methods: A total of 35 college students with sleep disorders were randomly divided into AR group ( n =10), AM group ( n =8), RM group ( n =9) and CG group ( n =8). The three exercise groups were provided with exercise intervention for 8 weeks, 3 times/week , 60 min/time, and the CG group maintained previous lifestyle.Before and after the intervention,evaluation of subjective sleep quality and reduction rate of sleep disorder by PSQI, and Actigraph GT3X+ was used to monitor the changes in the objective sleep quality. Results: After the intervention,the total score of PSQI ( t =3.49, 2.31, 2.73), sleep quality score ( t =2.71, 3.00 , 5.29),sleep duration of AR group ( t =2.74), daytime dysfunction of AM group ( t =2.64) and sleep duration of RM group ( t = 2.29) significantly decreased ( P ＜0.05); The scores of sleep duration in AM group were significantly lower than those in AR group, and the scores of PSQI,sleep quality and daytime dysfunction in AM group were significantly lower than those in CG group (P<0.05). After intervention,TST ( t =-4.41, -8.37, -6.79) and SE ( t =-4.40, -5.86, -4.91) of AR group, AM group and RM group significantly increased( P <0.05), SOL ( t =4.18, 9.93), WASO ( t =2.91, 3.46) and NA ( t =4.80, 3.37) of AM group and RM group significantly decreased ( P <0.05). The changes of TST,SE and WASO in RM group were significantly higher than those in CG group, and SOL was significantly lower than those in CG group ( P <0.05). Conclusion The three kinds of combined exercise programs can improve the subjective and objective sleep quality of college students with sleep disorders, and reduce the incidence of sleep disorders; different combined exercise programs have different influence on the improvement of sleep quality of college students with sleep disorders, aerobic combined meditative movement exercise program has a prominent influence on the improvement of subjective sleep quality, and resistance combined meditative movement exercise program has a prominent influence on the improvement of objective sleep quality.