The effects of D-polymannuronic sulfate (DPS) on the norepinephrine (NA) or potassium chloride (KCL)-induced contraction of rat aortic rings were studied in this paper. The results showed that DPS at the final concentration of Img ? L-1 inhibited the contraction of aortic rings e-voked by NA or KCL and shift doseresponse curves for NA or KCL to the right in a non-parallel fa-sion and depressed their maximal response, implicating that DPS afforded the noncompetitive antagonism on contraction of rat aortic rings induced by NA or KCL. This finding suggested that DPS exerted an inhibitory action of potential-dependent calcium channel and that of receptor-operated calcium channel in vascular smooth muscle.

AIM　To investigate the inhibitory effects of D-polymannuronic sulfate (DPS) on the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) and its related mechanisms. METHODS　Rat aortic smooth muscle cells pretreated with DPS in concentrations ranging from 0.001 μg*mL-1 up to 100 μg*mL-1 were incubated at 37℃ for 24 h, followed by addition of bFGF (50 ng*mL-1) or IL-1 (50 U*mL-1) for another 24 h. The effects of DPS on the proliferation of VSMC were evaluated by MTT assays. VSMC were pretreated with DPS in concentrations ranging from 0.001 μg*mL-1 up to 1 μg*mL-1, followed by addition of L-NAME (0.1 μg*mL-1) or bFGF (50 ng*mL-1) for 24 h. Supernatant nitric oxide (NO) was determined with NO assay kit, while supernatant angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS　DPS exerted antiproliferative effects at concentrations ranging from 0.01 μg*mL-1 to 10 μg*mL-1, and its maximal effect was observed at the concentration of 1 μg*mL-1. Also, the suppressing actions of DPS on the proliferation of VSMC were diminished by increasing the concentrations of bFGF or IL-1. Furthermore, DPS increased NO synthesis and decreased Ang II and ET-1 contents released from VSMC in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION　DPS afforded the antiproliferative effects on bFGF- or IL-1-treated VSMC and its underlying mechanisms were associated with enhancement of NO synthesis and decrement of Ang II and ET-1 production/release in vitro.

Objective To detect the expressions of miR-155,T helper type 17 (Thl7) cells,and Th17 cellspecific transcription factor RORγt and effector cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 in peripheral blood and skin lesions from,and to evaluate their relationship in,patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 37 patients with AD and 33 age-and sex-matched healthy controls,and biopsy specimens from the lesional and perilesional skin of five patients with severe AD as well as from the normal skin of five healthy human controls.Real-time fluorescence-based reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was employed to measure the mRNA expression levels of miR-155,RORγt and IL-17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and skin specimens,flow cytometry to detect the percentage of Th17 cells in PBMCs,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the plasma concentration of IL-17.Statistical analysis was done using independent sample's t test,one-way analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference test,and linear correlation analysis.Results Compared with the healthy controls,the patients with AD showed a significant increase in Th17 cell percentage (1.78％ ± 0.52％ vs.0.47％ ± 0.15％,P＜ 0.01),mRNA expression levels of miR-155 (5.78 ± 1.78 vs.1.82 ± 0.46,P＜ 0.01),RORγt (6.08 ± 1.04 vs.1.64 ± 0.52,P＜ 0.01) and IL-17 (7.09 ± 1.75 vs.1.71 ± 0.46,P＜ 0.01),as well as in the plasma concentration of IL-17 ((2.51 ± 6.15) pg/ml vs.(11.80 ± 2.24) pg/ml,P＜ 0.01).There was a sequential decrease in the expression levels of miR-155,RORγt and IL-17 mRNA from lesional skin,perilesional skin to normal skin (F =41.803,17.040 and 37.064 respectively,all P ＜ 0.01).The miR-155 mRNA expression level in PBMCs was positively correlated with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index,Th17 cell percentage,RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expression levels as well as IL-17 plasma concentration (r =0.405,0.426,0.402,0.410 and 0.408 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the miR-155 expression level was positively correlated with RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expression levels in lesional and paralesional specimens (r =0.428 and 0.435 respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The up-regulated expression of miR-155,Th17 cells and their effector cytokine IL-17 may be associated with the development of AD.

Objective To explore the brain changes of electroacupuncturing (EA) different acupoints of peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods Eighteen patients with left PFP were randomly divided into three groups. Six of them received electroacupuncturing left Dicang, 6 received electroacupuncturing left Hegu, and 6 received electroacupuncturing left Houxi. fMRI data were obtained from scanning of the whole brain. Functional data were processed by SPM99 software and functional responses were established with t-test analysis (P<0.05). Results Electroacupuncturing Dicang and Hegu on the left induced decreasing of signal in bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus, signal increased of right precentral gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and right insular, while electroacupuncturing Houxi on the left induced decrease of signal in bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, left lentiform nucleus, right middle temporal gyrus, right cerebellar tonsil, signal increased of right caudate head, right cingulate gyrus, brainstem, cerebellar vermis and right parahippocampal gyrus. Conclusion Electroacupunctuing Hegu and Dicang can cause corresponding functional activation in cerebrum, while electroacupuncturing Houxi can not, suggesting that there is association between cerebral and acupoint of owned meridian.

A s an im portant part of epigenetic m arker, D N A m ethylation involves in the gene regulation and attracts a w ide spread attention in biological auxology, geratology and oncology fields. In forensic science, because of the relative stable, heritable, abundant, and age-related characteristics, D N A m ethyla-tion is considered to be a useful com plem ent to the classic genetic m arkers for age-prediction, tissue-identification, and m onozygotic tw ins' discrim ination. V arious m ethods for D N A m ethylation detection have been validated based on m ethylation sensitive restriction endonuclease, bisulfite m odification and m ethylation-C pG binding protein. In recent years, it is reported that the third generation sequencing m ethod can be used to detect D N A m ethylation. T his paper aim s to m ake a review on the detection m ethod of D N A m ethylation and its applications in forensic science.

Objective To evaluate the effects of interferon therapy after curative surgical intervention on improving prognosis of patients with hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods We searched randomized clinical trials from 1990 to 2015 on interferon therapy after curative surgical intervention in patients with hepatitis C-related HCC from the Cochrane Library,the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,MEDLINE and Embase.A Meta-analysis was carried out using Revman 5.Results There were 7 studies included in this research.The results showed that interferon therapy after curative surgical intervention in patients with hepatitis C-related HCC reduced the recurrence rate of HCC at 3 years (RR =0.84,95％ CI 0.73 ～0.97,P ＜0.05).The therapy could not improve the 3-year survival rate in these patients (RR =1.04,95％ CI 0.90 ～ 1.21,P ＞ 0.05).Stratified subgroup analyses showed interferon therapy after liver resection reduced the recurrence rate (RR =0.62,95 ％ CI 0.39 ～ 1.00,P =0.05).For patients with tumors less than 3 cm,interferon therapy reduced the recurrence rate (RR =0.82,95％ CI 0.69 ～ 0.98,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Interferon therapy after curative surgical intervention improved prognosis in patients with hepatitis C-related HCC.

Objective To investigate the influence of donepezil on neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) under the cerebral ischemic conditions. Methods Sixty mice were randomly assigned to a sham +vehicle group, a middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) + vehicle group and a MCAO + donepezil group, 20 in each group. A model of MCAO was established. Neural stem cells/progenitor cells were labeled by Mash1, and neuroblasts were labeled by doublecortin (DCX). The expressions of DCX in the SVZ cells of each group were detected by immunofluorescence. The expressions of Mash1 and DCX in the SVZ cells of each group were quantified by Western blot. Results 10 days after MCAO was undergone, DCX-positive cells were seen in the SVZ of each group, and the expressions of DCX and Mash1 in MCAO + vehicle group were markedly increased as compared with the sham + vehicle group (P < 0.05), and that in MCAO + donepezil group were significantly increased as compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion As a kind of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil can promote neurogenesis in SVZ under the cerebral ischemic conditions.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Xiezhuo Zhubi Decoction combined with Etoricoxib for the treatment of acute gout arthritis.Methods Seventy acute gout arthritis patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,35 cases in each group.Based on the fundamental treatment,the control group were given oral use of Etoricoxib and the treatment group was treated with Xiezhuo Zhubi Decoction combined with Etoricoxib.The treatment for both group lasted for 7 days.Before and after treatment,the changes of blood uric acid,C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in both groups were observed.After treatment,the clinical efficacy was evaluated,and the toxic and adverse effects were also monitored.Results (1) In the treatment group,the total effective rate was 91.4％;in the control group,the total effective rate was 71.4％.There were significant differences between the two groups(P ＜ 0.05).(2) After treatment,blood uric acid,C-reactive protein and blood sedimentation rate were much improved in both groups (P ＜ 0.05 compared with those before treatment),and the treatment group had better effect on improving blood uric acid and C-reactive protein(P ＜ 0.05).(3) The control group had 3 cases of nausea,while no adverse reactions occurred in the treatment group.Conclusion Xiezhuo Zhubi Decoction combined with Etoricoxib is effective for the treatment of acute gout arthritis,and its effects on relieving clinical symptoms and decreasing blood uric acid and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are better than Etoricoxib alone.

OBJECTIVETo assess the practicality of rapid prenatal screening for Down syndrome (DS) by polymerase chain reaction-short tandem repeat (PCR-STR) method, and to determine the genotypes of 7 STR loci in ethnic Chinese Han from Weifang region.

METHODSSeven STR markers (D21S11, D21S1411, D21S1412, D21S1413, D21S1414, D21S1432 and D21S2039) from chromosome 21q22.1-22.2 region were selected. Amniotic samples from 978 high-risk pregnancies and peripheral blood samples from 82 patients suspected with DS were tested with PCR-STR. And the results were verified with G-banding analysis.

RESULTS(1) All of the 1060 samples were successfully tested by PCR-STR. For normal individuals, the patterns obtained by PCR-STR were two bands with 1:1 area ratio or a single band. For DS cases, by contrast, the patterns revealed either three bands with area ratio of 1:1:1 for two STR loci, or three bands with area ratio of 1:1:1 for one STR loci and two bands with 2:1 or 1:2 area ratio for two STR loci. Based on analysis of the 7 STR markers, 14 amniotic fluid samples and 26 peripheral blood samples were regarded as DS positive. (2) For the 978 amniotic fluid samples, cytogenetic analysis was successful in 961 (98.3%), among which 44 had an abnormal karyotype. These included 14 trisomy 21 (12 standard type, 1 mosaicism and 1 translocation). 17 cases which failed amniocytic culture were normal upon fetal blood karyotyping. (3) Cytogenetic analysis was successful in all of the 82 peripheral blood samples, and has identified 30 (36.6%) abnormal karyotypes, among which 26 were trisomy 21 (including 4 with translocation form). (4) For DS positive cases, STR 1-4 showed three bands with area ratio of 1:1:1, or there were 2-4 loci with two bands with an area ratio of 2:1 or 1:2. All of the DS cases detected by PCR-STR were confirmed by karyotyping. (5) All of the 7 selected loci were informative, with their degrees of heterozygosity ranging between 0.624 and 0.812. D21S2039 and D21S1412 had the highest heterozygosities (> 0.80), D21S1411 and D21S1432 had the lowest (< 0.70). D21S11 and D21S2039 showed the highest rate (≥ 40%) of three bands with area ratio 1:1:1. However, D21S1411, D21S1432 and D21S1413 markers had the highest rate of homozygosity (≥ 30%).

CONCLUSIONPCR-STR assay may provide an effective alternative for rapid prenatal DS screening. The 7 selected STR markers are highly informative. The result has featured good accuracy and reliability.

Adult ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of the fasting blood glucose (FBG) and blood fat of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after surgery, meanwhile to analyze the influence on blood glucose and blood fat after the changes of body mass index (BMI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSpO2). METHOD: Thirty-one patients with severe OSAHS were performed Z-palatoplasty (ZPP) or ZPP combined with genioglossus advancement with hyoid suspension (GAHM). Cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and FBG were detected before and after surgery. RESULT: Preoperative HDL was negatively related to BMI and AHI, but not LSpO2. After surgery the BMI, AHI, LSpO2, HDL and FBG were all improved. The change of HDL had correlation with the changes of BMI and AHI, and there was linear correlation with HDL and BMI (r= -0.36). CONCLUSION The surgery of ZPP and ZPP combined with GAHM can improve the AHI, LSpO2, BMI, the FBG and blood fat of the patients with OSAHS. Lose weight and rectifying sleep disordered breathing were important to improve glycolipid metabolism disorder of the patients with OSAHS.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; physiopathology ; surgery