OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the relationship between DPN and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODSThe data of the in-patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) were retrospectively studied. A total of 200 T2 DM patients were divided into DPN group (n = 136) and non-DPN group (n = 64) according to peripheral neuropathy. The basic clinical data and the incidence rate of DR were compared between two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to study the risk factors of DPN.

RESULTSThe course of disease, the level of BMI, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), 2 hour postprandial blood glucose (2 hPG), 2 hour glucose C peptide (2 hC-P) and the incidence rate of the DR were significantly different between two groups (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that significant differences were observed in T2 DM complicated by DR (P = 0.023), the course of disease (P = 0.008), the level of HbA1c (P = 0.006), BMI (P = 0.000) and 2 hC-P (P = 0.065).

CONCLUSIONDiabetic retinopathy, the course of disease, the level of BMI,HbA1c and 2 hC-P are the risk factors for type 2 diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is positive correlated with diabetic retinopathy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; C-Peptide ; blood ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo identify the original plant of "Daibaijie", commonly used Dai herb.

METHODThe literature review, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology, chemistry were used to analysis.

RESULTDaibaijie's historical scientific name, Dregea sinensis Hemsl., was mistakenly given "Daibaijie" and D. sinensis have significant differences from the distribution, morphology and anatomy, pharmacognosy, molecular biology and chemical composition. "Daibaijie" matches with the characteristics of Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in English.

CONCLUSIONDaibaijie's original plant is M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon. The description and illustration of M. tenacissima (Roxb.) Moon in Flora of China in China are wrong. The illustration of M. tenacissima in Flora of China in English is wrong too.

China ; ethnology ; Herbal Medicine ; Marsdenia ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Components, Aerial ; anatomy & histology ; classification

Objective To assay serum apelin level in obesity and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and body fat parameter,glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance index,etc.Methods Sixty-two patients with type 2 DM and 72 subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were selected and each group was divided into obese and non-obese subgroups according to body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m~2 or

This study was aimed to investigate the efficiency of modified methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction i.e. nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, used to detect the promoter methylation of p16 gene in six hematological malignant cell lines, and to explore the application in selection of hematological malignant cell lines with promoter hypermethylation, and make them to be an idel cell models for studying the relationship between gene methylation and expression. DNAs were denatured by NaOH and then were subjected to bisulfite modification and a nested-MSP was used to amplify the promoter region, nested MSP product of p16 gene promoter was analyzed and sequenced. The results showed that the hypermethylation of p16 gene was detected in CA46 and U266, however, Molt4, K562, HL-60 and Jurkat cell lines were unmethylated. In conclusion, p16 gene methylation in hematological malignant cell lines can be perfectly detected by nested-MSP method, which is simple, sensitive and specific for screening all kinds of hematological malignant cell lines with p16 gene methylated.
Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; HL-60 Cells ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Lymphoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of using an intracavitary convex array probe for detecting the distal extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by transoral carotid ultrasonography (TOCU).

METHODSForty patients underwent examinations with bilateral ICA inspected with an intracavitary convex array probe by TOCU to observe the internal diameter, visible length, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI).

RESULTSEight of the 40 patients were excluded from the observation for the presence of carotid plaques. The examination was terminated in two patients due to sensitive throat and severe pharyngeal reflex. The rest of the patients completed the examination of the internal diameter, visible length, PSV, EDV and RI, which showed no statistically significant differences among them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing intracavitary convex array probe, the distal extracranial ICA disease can be diagnosed with higher accuracy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Herbal Compound 861 (Cpd 861) on collagen synthesis and degradation in rat mesangial cells exposed to high glucose.

METHODSThe third to fifth passage of rat mesangial cells were exposed to high glucose and Cpd 861 at a concentration of 0.25-4.00 g/L for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Benazepril (10(-7)-10(-3) mmol/L) was selected as positive control. The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium colorimetric assay was used to evaluate the effect of Cpd 861 on cell proliferation. After incubation with Cpd 861 at a concentration of 2.00 g/L for 48 h, the protein secretions of collagen type IV, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. And rat mesangial cells were harvested to determine MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β1 and HGF mRNA expression by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCpd 861 inhibited cell proliferation induced by high glucose in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Compared with high glucose, collagen type IV production was decreased significantly by Cpd 861 (P<0.01). Cpd 861 increased the protein secretions and mRNA expressions of MMP-9 and HGF, whereas the protein secretions and mRNA expressions of TIMP-1 and TGF-β1 were reduced markedly (P<0.05). The ratio of MMP-9 to TIMP-1 was enhanced by Cpd 861 significantly. There was no significant difference in all above-mentioned effects between Cpd 861 (2.00 g/L) and benazepril (10(-5) mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONThe anti-glomerulosclerosis mechanisms of Cpd 861 were partly attributed to its effects of inhibiting mesangial cell proliferation, decreasing collagen synthesis and enhancing collagen degradation.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; biosynthesis ; secretion ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Glucose ; toxicity ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; secretion ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mesangial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteolysis ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; secretion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the phenotypic characteristics of human fetal liver cells (FLCs) and to obtain the homogenous hepatic progenitors with cloning.

METHODSImmunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to determine the phenotypes of the FLCs. The proliferating colonies were isolated using clone ring in different culture conditions. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression after further cultivation.

RESULTSThe cultured FLCs showed a non-typical epithelial morphology. The positive rate for hepatic cell specific markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (Alb), cytokeratin 8 (CK8) and CK19 were approximately 28.1%, 84.7%, 55.1% and 9.1% respectively. Furthermore, the FLCs expressed the hematopoietic stem cell markers CD34 and CD45 with percentages of 0.04% and 0.09%. 71.8% and 75.3% of the FLCs were positive for the mesenchymal cell marker CD105 and CD166. Most of the colonies showed an elongated morphology, some with an unregular spreading-out morphology, only a small number of colonies with an epithelial-like morphology. RT-PCR results showed that among the 19 colonies obtained after further cultivation and the percentages of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), AFP, Alb and CK19 were 52.6%, 21.1%, 52.6% and 84.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe clonal culture system is beneficial to obtain the homogenous hepatic progenitor cells from the heterogeneous culture of FLCs.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetus ; cytology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective To investigate the effect of lentivirus-mediated shRNA silencing SFRP5 on proliferation,in-vasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. Methods A SFRP5-knockdown recombinant plasmid was constructed and successfully transfected it into pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1,blank plasmid transfection was treated as negative control and untreated cells as blank control group. The expression of SFRP5 at RNA and protein level in cell were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, CCK-8 assay was applied to examine the effect of SFRP5 silencing on the proliferation, the cell migration of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 was ana-lyzed by Transwell migration assay and cell scratch test was used to examine the cell invasion in PANC-1 cell. Results Stable transfected shRNA-SFRP5 cell of pancreatic cancer line was established successfully.The prolifera-tion capacity of SFRP5 group was significantly higher as compared to the negative control and blank control group by CCK8 assay(P<0.01).Similarly, cell invasion and migration of SFRP5 group were significantly higher compared to the negative control and blank control group(P<0.01). Conclusions SFRP5 lentiviral interference vectors can effectively decrease SFRP5 gene expression in PANC-1 cell of pancreatic cancer, thereby promoting cell proliferation,invasion and migration.

Objective To investigate the effect of lentivirus-mediated shRNA silencing SFRP5 on proliferation,in-vasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. Methods A SFRP5-knockdown recombinant plasmid was constructed and successfully transfected it into pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1,blank plasmid transfection was treated as negative control and untreated cells as blank control group. The expression of SFRP5 at RNA and protein level in cell were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot, CCK-8 assay was applied to examine the effect of SFRP5 silencing on the proliferation, the cell migration of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 was ana-lyzed by Transwell migration assay and cell scratch test was used to examine the cell invasion in PANC-1 cell. Results Stable transfected shRNA-SFRP5 cell of pancreatic cancer line was established successfully.The prolifera-tion capacity of SFRP5 group was significantly higher as compared to the negative control and blank control group by CCK8 assay(P<0.01).Similarly, cell invasion and migration of SFRP5 group were significantly higher compared to the negative control and blank control group(P<0.01). Conclusions SFRP5 lentiviral interference vectors can effectively decrease SFRP5 gene expression in PANC-1 cell of pancreatic cancer, thereby promoting cell proliferation,invasion and migration.

OBJECTIVETo study an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica", to control and prevent students from schistosoma infection.

METHODSTwelve primary schools of four heavy endemic counties (districts) with schistosomiasis in the Poyang Lake areas were selected as the study fields, of which, ten schools were the experimental groups, and the other two schools were the control groups by cluster random sampling. All enrolment students were the target population. The baseline survey was carried out in 2005, and an intervention model, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", was applied in the experiment groups in 2006 - 2008, then the effect of intervention was assessed.

RESULTSBefore intervention (2005), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 14.75% (324/2196) and 16.58% (91/549), and the different was not significant (χ(2) = 1.14, P > 0.05); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 14.71% (323/2196) and 11.84% (65/549) in experimental and control groups, and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 2.98, P > 0.05); the rate of contacting infected water were 15.44% (18 988/122 976) and 15.03% (4622/30 744) in experimental and control group and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 3.13, P > 0.05); and the infection rate of schistosomiasis of experiment control groups were 9.65% (212/2196) and 10.56% (58/549), the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 0.41, P > 0.05). After one year intervention (2006), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 97.79% (2032/2078) and 18.11% (98/541), and the different was significant (χ(2) = 1794.31, P < 0.01); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 99.09% (2059/2078) and 13.49% (73/541) in experimental and control group, and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 2077.45, P < 0.01). After 1 - 3 years intervention (2006 - 2008), there were no any contactors with infected water and infectors with schistosome in students of the experiment group in successive 3 years. While in the control group of the same period, the rate contacting infected water were 16.12% (4884/30 296), 11.11% (3079/27 720) and 12.25% (3451/28 168); the infection rate of schistosomiasis were 8.87% (48/541), 7.47% (37/495) and 7.95% (40/503), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe intervention model of health promotion, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", can effectively control and prevent students from infecting schistosoma japonica in heavy endemic areas with schistosomiasis.

Animals ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Schistosomiasis ; prevention & control ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; School Health Services ; Schools ; Students