BACKGROUND: Glutamine (Gln) supplementation is known to decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory response, enhance resistance to infectious pathogens, shorten hospital stay, and decrease medical costs of patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between the effect of early parenteral glutamine (Gln) supplement on acute liver injury (ALI) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) expression in critical patients. METHODS: Forty-four patients who had been admitted to the emergency intensive care unit (EICU) of Nanjing First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were randomly divided into a control group (n=22) and a Gln group (n=22). The patients of the two groups received enteral and parenteral nutrition. In addition, parenteral Gln 0.4 g/kg per day was given for 7 days in the Gln group. Serum HSP-70 and Gln were measured at admission and at 7 days after admission. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBiL), serum levels of HSP-70 and Gln, mechanical ventilation (MV) time, ICU stay, peripheral blood of TNF-α, IL-6, CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were also measured in the two groups. RESULTS: In the Gln group, the levels of serum HSP-70 and Gln were significantly higher after Gln treatment than those before the treatment (P<0.01). HSP-70 level was positively correlated with the Gln level in the Gln group after administration of parenteral Gln (P<0.01). The levels of serum ALT, AST, TBiL and TNF-α, IL-6 were lower in the Gln group than in the non-Gln group (P<0.01). MV time and ICU stay were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 were significantly higher in the Gln group than in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Parenteral Gln significantly increases the level of serum HSP70 in critically ill patients. The enhanced expression of HSP70 is correlated with improved outcomes of Gln-treated patients with acute liver injury.

Objective To investigate the relation between the rs2070045 locus polymorphism in the SORL1 gene and the onset risk of AD by means of Metβ-analysis. Methods Databases (Medline, Cochrane Library and CBM) were searched using keywords like SORL1, sortilin-related receptor, Alzheimer and so on, and a manual search of citations was also performed from relevant original studies and literatures. All analyses were conducted with Review Manager Version4.2 software. Results 3 literatures with 11 different ethnic groups were studied, totally including the AD group (2927 cases) and the control (3867 cases). The summary OR for studies with frequency of GG+GT genotype at rs2070045 locus in the SORLI gene was 1.19 (95%CI: 1.08-1.31, Z=3.39, P=0.0007), when it compared with the common homozygote ofTT genotype. The summary OR for allele frequency was 1.17 (95%CI: 1.07-1.27, Z=3.67, P=0.0002). Conclusion The metβ-analysis suggests that the polymorphism at rs2070045 locus of SORL1 gene might be a genetic risky factor for AD.

Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Neoplasms ; Pharynx ; Teratoma

OBJECTIVETo study the role of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway with p38MAPK in Curcuma wenyujin diterpenoid compound C (CDCC) fighting against inflammation and inducing gastric cancer cell apoptosis by stimulating gastric cell SGC7901 with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were in vitro acted by CDCC in different concentrations at different time points. Their growth inhibition ratios were measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate of gastric cancer cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining. Nuclear translocation of p65 was detected by cell immunofluorescence. Expression levels of p38MAPK/P-p38MAPK, p65/P-p65, and Caspase 3/P-Caspase 3 were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCDCC had significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of SGC-7901. It also could effectively induce the apoptosis of gastric cancer cell SGC-7901. It also could reduce nuclear translocation of p65 in gastric cancer cell SGC-7901. Results of Western blot indicated that expression levels of p38MAPK and p65 were reduced and the expression level of Caspase-3 was elevated along with increased concentrations of CDCC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONApoptosis executive protein Caspase 3 activated by regulating p65 via p38MAPK might be one of possible mechanisms for CDCC fighting against inflammation and gastric cancer.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Curcuma ; Diterpenes ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and related factors of traumatic implantation cyst of the iris. Design Retrospective cases series. Participants Thirty-six cases of traumatic implantation cyst of the iris. Methods Thir- ty-six cases of traumatic implantation cyst of the iris were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures Age, surgical history, history of disease, surgical method of patients. Results All cases of traumatic implantation cyst of the iris were secondary to perforating injury. 10 cases had been undertaken cataract surgery. The histories of disease in 6 months～1 year and 1 year～10 years were 30.56% respectively. Sur- gical exicision was taken in all cases. There were 2 recurrence cases. Conclusion Traumatic implantation cyst of the iris is almost see- ondary to perforating injury. Surgical excision is an effective strategy to treat this disease.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dragon's blood powder with different grain size on the transdermal permeability and adhesion of ZJHX paste.

METHODDragon's blood powder with grain sizes of 4, 19, 55 microm were got by ultrafine grinding technology, and then prepared into rubber pastes A, B, C and D, together with dragon's blood powder with grain size of 93 microm of original description. Franz diffusion cell method was adopted to compare the difference in transdermal permeability of dragon's blood powder with different grain sizes, with dracorhodin as the index, and compared their effect on the adhesion of pastes with initial adhesion, permanent adhesion and peel strength as the indexes.

RESULTQ(s)-t equations of pastes A, B, C, D were as follows: Q(s)=1.369 6t + 3.985 5, Q(s) = 1.262 8t +3.738 1, Q(s) = 1.192 3t + 3.320 6, Q(s) = 1.152 2t + 2.366 1, respectively, which showed that the adhesion of A was the best good.

CONCLUSIONWith the decrease in the grain size of dragon's blood powder, accumulative penetration of dracorhodin increases, which facilitates transdermal permeability and adhesion.

Absorption ; Animals ; Croton ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

Objective To investigate the possible role of interstitial cell of Cajal (ICE)in the pathogenesis of diabetic gastroparesis and the protective effect of"Xiaopi prescription (消痞方)".Methods Fifty healthy male Spregue-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (each n=10):normal, model,and 3 Xiaopi prescription groups:low,middle and high dosages.Diabetes was induced by intravenous injection of alloxan,and equal amount of normal saline was intravenously injected in the normal group.Gastric lavage method was used to administer the traditional Chinese medicine decoction of Xiaopi prescription in corresponding amount (5,10 and 20 g?kg~(-1)?d~(-1)) in respective low,middle and high dosage groups.In the normal control group and diabetic model group,only equal amount of normal saline was administered into the stomach.Gastric emptying rate was measured by method of nutritious semisolid paste;c-kit positive cells of ICC were quantitatively measured with immunohistochemistry assay and computer image analysis system;c-kit mRNA positive cells were quantitatively measured with in situ hybridization and computer image analysis system.Results①Gastric emptying rate:The rate was significantly lower in the model group than that in the normal control group (P0.05),but higher than those in the model group and the low dosage group (all P0.05).②c-kit immmunohistochemistry:c-kit positive cell presented yellow in color,and its membrane was stained yellow,this kind of cells primarily were distributed around the neural plexus in the inter-space between the circular and longitudinal muscular fibers, and around the ganglionic cells forming"sheath-like"structure.The results of numbers of c-kit positive cells in the various groups:the number of the cells in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P0.05),but the numbers in the former two dosage groups were obviously higher than those in the model group (all P0.05),being significantly lower than that in the normal group,middle and high dosage groups (all P0.05),but obviously higher than those in the model group (all P0.05),being significantly lower than that in the normal,middle and high dosage groups (all P

This paper was aimed to investigate the effects of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on the proliferation and differentiation of rat preadipocytes. We examined the expression of sulphonylurea receptor 2 (SUR2) mRNA in preadipocytes and adipocytes obtained by inducing for 5 d and the effects of the inhibitor (glibenclamide) and opener (diazoxide) of ATP-sensitive potassium channels on the expression of SUR2 mRNA in preadipocytes by real-time PCR. Preadipocyte proliferation and cell cycle were measured by MTT spectrophotometry and flow cytometer. The content of intracellular lipid was measured by oil red O staining, cell diameter was determined by Image-Pro Plus 5.0 software and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) mRNA was estimated by RT-PCR. SUR2 mRNA was expressed in both preadipocytes and adipocytes obtained by inducing for 5 d, and the expression in adipocytes was obviously higher than that in preadipocytes. Glibenclamide inhibited the expression of SUR2 mRNA in preadipocyte, promoted preadipocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, increased the cell percentages in G(2)/M + S phase, increased lipid content, augmented adipocyte diameter, and promoted the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA. But the actions of diazoxide were contrary to those of glibenclamide. These results suggest that ATP-sensitive potassium channels regulate the proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes, and PPAR-gamma is probably involved in the effect of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; KATP Channels ; physiology ; Male ; Obesity ; pathology ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Drug ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sulfonylurea Receptors

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of the nerve fibers in the bone tissue and the entry points of these fibers into the bone.

METHODSThe adult tibia was used for the ground sections which were afterwards made into the slice sections by decalcification in ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The ground sections were stained in silver and the slice sections were stained in silver and haematoxylin and eosin (HE) respectively. Then, the samples of the transmission electron microscope and the atomic force microscope were made and observed.

RESULTSIn the human long bone tissue, many nerve fibers were distributed in the membrane, cortical bone, cancellous bone and marrow. The nerve fibers entered the bone from the nutrient foramen, and passed through the nutrient canal, Haversian's canal and Volkmann's canal, and finally into the bone marrow. In the nutrient canal, the nerve fibers, mainly the medullary nerve fibers, followed the blood vessel into the bone. In the cortical bone, the nerve fibers also followed the blood vessels and were mainly distributed along Haversian's canal and Volkmann's canal. In the bone trabecular and bone marrow, there were many nerve fiber endings arranged around the blood vessels, mainly around the tunica media of medium-size arteries in the marrow and around capillary blood vessels, and a few scattered in the bone marrow. There were sporadic nerve endings in epiphyseal plate and no nerve fibers permeated epiphysis to diaphysis. No distribution of nerve fibers could be found in cartilaginous part.

CONCLUSIONSThere are many nerve fibers in bone and the nerve passageway is nutrient foramen, Volkman's canal, Haversian's canal and bone marrow.

Adult ; Humans ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nerve Fibers ; ultrastructure ; Staining and Labeling ; Tibia ; anatomy & histology ; innervation ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo carry out a genetic detection and analysis of Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene in Chinese patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma.

METHODSDNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood cells and fresh pheochromocytoma specimens from 41 patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma were assayed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. The DNA samples of 50 healthy volunteers were extracted from peripheral blood as a control. The PCR products of exon 1, exon 2 and exon 3 were used for molecular analysis of the VHL gene. The genetic detection of family members of VHL gene mutations was also performed.

RESULTSOne of mutations was located at nucleotide 572 (G-->C) in exon 2, presenting a codon 120 from arginine (R) to threonine (T). Tow small insertions were locatated at nucleotide 623T (TTTGTtG) in exon 2, leading to a frameshift mutation. There were also three carriers of G572C and three carriers of 623T (TTTGTtG) in family members of the three cases.

CONCLUSIONThere are some Chinese patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma with tumorigenic VHL gene mutations. It is recommended to use the genetic detection and analysis of VHL gene as a routine examination for patients with sporadic pheoehromoeytoma under the age of 50 years with questionable family history. The genetic detection and analysis of VHL gene may be useful as a marker for the diagnosis of hereditary pheochromocytoma.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Exons ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pheochromocytoma ; genetics ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein ; genetics