Objective:To identify potentially pleiotropic genes for lean body mass ( LBM ) and age at menarche ( AAM).Methods:The discovery sample consisted of 1 692 unrelated female subjects of European ancestry.The replication sample consisted of 801 unrelated female subjects of Han Chinese ancestry.A total of 909,622 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in both samples with the Affymetrix genome-wide genotyping array SNP 6.0.Bivariate genome-wide association analyses were then performed to the appendicular LBM and AAM.Results: Two SNP rs1860547 and rs11030746 identified by the bivariate GWAS were significant at the genome-wide significance (GWS) level;their P-values were <0.05 after replications.In the upstream of rs1860547, two genes KCNA1 and KCNA5 were found to be important for both LBM and AAM.In the downstream of rs11030746, one gene KCNA4 was found.Univariate GWAS also identified both SNPs to be significant at the GWS level; their P-values were <0.05 after replications.In the upstream of rs1860547 , two genes KCNA1 and KCNA5 are found to be important for LBM.In the downstream of rs11030746 , one gene KCNA4 was found.Conclusion:KCNA1, KCNA4 and KCNA5 are likely to be pleiotropic genes closely related to both LBM and AAM in European females.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the DNA protection of polysaccharide and flavonoids in 14 kinds of Chinese herbs of Artemisia annua L. from different growing places such as Hunan, Chongqing, Beijing etc. METHODS: The fluorescence integration intensity of DNA, EB and extracts containing polysaccharide and flavonoids from 14 kinds of Artemisia annua L. were determined with EB as a sensitive fluorescence probe. Constant D was used to directly denote the degree of interaction between the drug molecules with DNA. According to the size of D, the protective action of polysaccharide and flavonoids on DNA was discussed. RESULTS: The order of interaction degree of polysaccharide in extracts with DNA was as follows; Hunan Huaihua > Beijing > Shanxi Yushe > Hunan (Xinzhou cultivation) > Shanxi Xinzhou cultivation in room > Chongqing (Xinzhou cultivation) > Hebei Fuping > Shanxi Dingxiang Nanzhuang > Chongqing > Shanxi Xinzhou Luye > Shanxi Yuxian > Shanxi Grey artemisia (Yangqu) ; The order of interaction of flavonoids in extracts with DNA through determination was as follows; Shanxi Xinzhou Luye > Hunan(Xinzhou cultivation) > Shanxi Xinzhou cultivation in room > Chongqing(Xinzhou cultivation) > Wild Artemisia(Shanxi Xinzhou) > Grey artemisia (Shanxi Yangqu) > Shanxi Dingxiang Nanzhuang > Chongqing > Hebei Fuping > Beijing > Shanxi Yushe > Iron rod Artemisia(Shanxi Xinzhou) > Shanxi Yuxian > Hunan Huaihua. The interaction of artemisia polysaccharide and flavonoids with DNA showed a definite dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSION: The extracts of Artemisia annua L. could interact with DNA, but the degree of interaction was different. The bigger the D was, the stronger the interaction was. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

2 cm) who were treated with endoscopic polypectomy in 2 different means,respectively.Methods The clinic data of 68 children with giant colonic polyps were review analyzed.Thirty-five cases were received endoscopic clips ligation and the other 33 cases were received endoscopic snare resection.Results All the 35 cases out of endoscopic clip ligtion group were sucessfully cured.There were only 3 cases showedl a little bleeding in this group.In the endoscopic snare resection group,there were 10 cases showed bleeding,8 cases showed polypectomy syndrome,1 case transferred into(operation).Conclusions The complication incidence in endoscopic clips ligation group is lower than that in endoscopic snare resection group.The endoscopic clipping brings about an effective and safe way to treat giant colonic polyps in children.

AIM: To investigate the effect of mydriasis optometry combined with amblyopia treatment on refraction and amblyopia changes in children with mixed astigmatism and amblyopia.METHODS: Totally 163 children (289 eyes) of mixed astigmatism and amblyopia from January 2010 to May 2011 were treated.All of the patients received mydriatic optometry and spectaculars with amblyopia therapy and were followed up for 5a to observe amblyopia efficacy and refractive status changes.RESULTS: With 5a, main diameter diopter at distant vision decreased year by year, average decline in the first year was 0.55DS, 0.56DS in the second year, 0.72DS in the third year, 0.95DS in the fourth year, 1.89DS in the fifth year.The spherical equivalent changed from 1.12DS at distant to 0.78DS at near.The corrected visual acuity of all the patients at first visit was 0.2-0.8 with varying degrees amblyopia.After a 5-year treatment, it was effective in 268 eyes (92.7%), in which 165 eyes (57.1%) improved, 103 eyes (35.6%) cured, the results was better as the period of spectaculars wearing was longer.There was 36 eyes (37.5%) improved and 60 eyes (62.5%) cured in 1.50-2.50DC group;118 eyes (74.2%) improved, 41 eyes (25.8%) cured in 2.50-3.50DC group;11 eyes (32.3%) improved, 2 eyes (5.9%) cured, 21 eyes (61.8%) useless in >3.50DC Group.The differences of efficacy among the groups were significant (all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Appropriate spectaculars is the basic for amblyopia treatment.It is effective for most children with mixed astigmatism and amblyopia to take mydriasis optometry and amblyopia treatment.

AlM: To investigated the refraction and cycloplegic effects of 0. 5g/L tropicamide eye drops in various low myopia age groups, and provide clinical guidelines for proper usage of cyclopegic agent in different population.METHODS:Three low myopia age groups (n=45) were selected, non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic auto-refraction using “Shin-Nippon” auto-refractor were performed at various time point for refractive error. The subjective accommodation amplitudes were also collected at each time point.
RESULTS: The accommodation amplitude showed a similar but significant decline between 20~60min after the first cyclopegic drops in all three age groups. However, the decline of accommodation amplitudes were not statistically correlated with the results of “Shin-Nippon”auto-refraction results at different time points.
CONCLUSlON: The refraction time should be arranged according to the cycloplegic effects of tropicamide. Open-field auto-refractor could reduce the usage of cycloglegice drugs in low myopia groups, even for the youngest.

?AIM: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs1157699 in the calcitonin receptor-like receptor ( CRLR ) gene with primary angle closure ( PAC) in a Han Chinese population.?METHODS: All samples, involved 232 PAC cases and 306 controls, were obtained from an epidemiologic survey conducted in Funing, Jiangsu Province, China. Genotyping were carried out by TaqMan-MGB probe using the real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction system to study the relationship between SNP of rs1157699 in CRLR gene and PAC.?RESULTS: The prevalence of CRLRrs1157699 genotype was 67.4%, 30.0%, 2.6% for CC, CT, TT in cases, and 71.3%, 27.0%, 1.7% in controls respectively.There was no difference between the two groups in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of rs1157699 (P>0.05).?CONCLUSION:Our results do not support a significant role for rs1157699 in CRLR with PAC.

Objective To investigate the influence of motor impersistence on functional recovery and prog- nosis of patients with left hemiplegia. Methods A total of 64 in-patients with left side hemiplegia who were able to understand the oral instructions were assigned into a motor impersistence group (n = 31 ) and a control group (n = 34) , respectively, according to the assessment with Scale of Motor Impersistence developed by Joynt. Both groups were comparable in terms of the basic clinical characteristic and motor function of patients except motor impersis- tence. The conventional rehabilitation training programs were adopted for all patients in this study. Brunnstrom func- tional category, Ueda Satoshi hemiplegic finger function assessment scale, upper limb function assessment scale, Berg balance scale, Functional ambulatory category, Modified Barthel Index were employed to evaluate the subjects before and after 1 and 2 months of treatment, with regard to the motor function of their upper limbs, walking ability, activities of daily living performance and balance ability. Results After 1 month of treatment, the patients in the M1 group were significantly improved with regard to the motor function of upper limbs, hand function, standing ba- lance and activity of daily living performance( P0.05 ) , while those in the control group were improved with all the parameters except the lower limb function. After 2 months of treatment, patients in both groups were all significantly improved ( P

We have reported that hypoxia increases the activation of 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO), which converts arachidonic acid (AA) into 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) in small pulmonary arteries (PAs). Through inhibition of Kv channels, 15-HETE causes more robust concentration-dependent contraction of PA rings from the hypoxic compared to the normoxic controls. However, the subtypes of Kv channels inhibited by 15-HETE are incompletely understood. The aim of the present study was to identify the contribution of Kv3.4 channel in the process of pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by 15-HETE using the tension studies of PA rings from rat with Kv3.4 channel blocker in tissue bath; to explore the role of vascular endothelium in15-HETE-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction through denuded endothelia of PA rings; and to define the downregulation of 15-HETE on the expression of Kv3.4 channel in cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) with RT-PCR and Western blot. In the present study, healthy Wistar rats were divided randomly into two groups: Group A with normal oxygen supply and group B with hypoxia. Six days later, the rats were killed. Pulmonary artery rings were prepared for organ bath experiments. Firstly, different concentrations of 15-HETE (10~1 000 nmol/L) were added to the Krebs solution. The isometric tension was recorded using a four-channel force-displacement transducer. Then Kv3.4 channel blocker, 100 nmol/L BDS-I, was added, followed by adding 1 mumol/L 15-HETE, and the isometric tension was recorded. Furthermore, RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to identify the influence of 15-HETE on the expression of Kv3.4 channel in cultured rat PASMCs.The results showed the PA tension was significantly increased both in groups A and B by 15-HETE in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05), especially in group B (P<0.05 compared to control); denuded endothelia enhanced 15-HETE concentration-related constrictions in rat PA rings; Kv3.4 channel blocker, BDS-I, significantly decreased the PA ring constriction induced by 15-HETE (P<0.05); the expressions of Kv3.4 mRNA and protein in rat PASMCs were significantly downregulated by 15-HETE (P<0.05). Based on all the information above, we conclude that Kv3.4 channel is involved in vasoconstriction induced by 15-HETE in rat PAs.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; physiopathology ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; pathology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shaw Potassium Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

Oleanolic acid-precipitated calcium carbonate solid dispersion was prepared by using solvent evaporation method. The microscopic structure and physicochemical properties of solid dispersion were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And its in vitro release also was investigated. The properties of the precipitated calcium carbonate was studied which was as a carrier of oleanolic acid solid dispersion. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis suggested that oleanolic acid may be present in solid dispersion as amorphous substance. The in vitro release determination results of oleanolic acid-precipitated calcium carbonate (1: 5) solid dispersion showed accumulated dissolution rate of.oleanolic acid was up to 90% at 45 min. Accelerating experiment showed that content and in vitro dissolution of oleanolic acid solid dispersion did not change after storing over 6 months. The results indicated that in vitro dissolution of oleanolic acid was improved greatly by the solid dispersion with precipitated calcium carbonate as a carrier. The solid dispersion is a stabilizing system which has actual applied value.
Calcium Carbonate ; chemistry ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oleanolic Acid ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Solubility

'Bronze teeth' reflect the mechanical properties of natural teeth to a certain extent. Their mechanical properties resemble those of a tough metal, and the gradient of these properties lies in the direction from outside to inside. These attributes confer human teeth with effective mastication ability. Understanding the various mechanical properties of human teeth and dental materials is the basis for the development of restorative materials. In this study, the elastic properties, dynamic mechanical properties (visco-elasticity) and fracture mechanical properties of enamel and dentin were reviewed to provide a more thorough understanding of the mechanical properties of human teeth.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Dental Enamel ; physiopathology ; Dentin ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Mastication ; Tooth ; physiopathology