Objective To investigate the effect of ginsenoside on degeneration of learning and memory in aged mice and the mechanism. Method Eighty female C57BL/6J mice aged 20-mo were randomly divided into control group and three ginsenoside treatment groups at dosage of 25,50,100 mg/(kg bw?d) respectively by drinking. In addition, 20 female C57BL/6J mice aged 3 mo were used to be young control group. Eight mo later, the learning and memory abilities of the mice were checked by Morris water maze. Thereafter, the mice were killed by decapitation,and their serum was collected to determine the level of SOD, GSH-Px and MDA. Hippocampal morphology was examined by Nissl stain; and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus was studied using Western blot method. Results 50,100 mg/(kg bw?d) ginsenosides administration could significantly shorten the escape latency of the aged mice in Morris water maze. Furthermore,the alleviated oxidative stress and up-regulated expression of BDNF were observed in 50, 100 (mg/kg?d) ginsenosides groups compared with aged control group. Serum level of GSH-Px was higher in 25 (mg/kg bw?d) ginsenosides group compared to that of aged control group. The number of Nissl-positive cell had no significant difference between all groups. Conclusion 50,100 mg/(kg bw?d) ginsenoside can significantly delay the degeneration of learning and memory in aged mice by lowering oxidative damage and up-regulating BDNF expression in hippocampus.

Objective To study the relationship between the selection of tube tension in digitalchest radiograph and image quality.Methods When tube current was fixed at 4 mAs, the choice of X-ray tube voltage changed from 60 to 120 kV.CDRAD2.0 contrast details phantom and normal human chest were exposed by X-ray system with 7 kinds of tube voltage (the difference between tube voltage was 10 kV) ,and the X-ray incidental dose of phantom surface was measured.Five radiologists with 3 years working experience evaluated the image quality on monitor and calculated the image quality factor (IQF) and image reading score.Statistics analysis was then performed by using ANOVA test and t test.According to the results, the optimum tube voltage range was determined.Results (1) The incidental dose of phantom surface increased with the higher tube voltage.(2)When the tube voltage was changed from 60 kV to 120 kV, the IQF value observed in CDRAD2.0 phantom image on monitor was 75.0±10.4,57.1±6.4,52.7±2.5,47.9±4.5, 46.0±3.8,46.0±2.8,45.2±3.5 ,there was significant statistical differences between groups(F=19.10, P<0.01).(3)The integrated score of the chest image quality in the tube voltage 90 kV and 120 kV were 12.4±0.9 and 13.0±0.7, respectively, and there was no statistical difference between two groups(t= 1.500,P>0.05).Conclusions (1)With the increase of tube tension,the display capacity of display device gradually strengthened.When the tube tension exceeded 90 kV, the increase of image quality on monitor was not evident.(2) With proper radiation dose, the value of tube tension in digital X-ray chest photograph was about 90 kV.

This article was aimed to explain the distribution of syndrome and study the change of pathogenesis in patients of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk-window (AECOPD-RW) based on clini-cal investigation. The data of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome of patients diagnosed as AECOPD into AECOPD-RW were collected from 8 hospitals. The database was established. Data was analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software. The results showed that among 15 basic syndromes, the syndrome of lung-qi deficiency was with the high-est frequency, which was followed by the syndrome of kidney-qi deficiency and syndrome of phlegm-dampness. A-mong 14 combined syndromes, the syndrome of lung-kidney qi deficiency and the syndrome of phlegm-dampness ac-cumulated in the lung were with the highest frequency. The common syndromes of AECOPD-RW were the syndrome of lung-kidney qi deficiency combined with the syndrome of phlegm-dampness accumulated in the lung, the syn-drome of lung-kidney qi deficiency, the syndrome of lung-spleen qi deficiency combined with the syndrome of phlegm-dampness accumulated in the lung, the syndrome of lung-spleen qi deficiency, the syndrome of lung-kidney qi-yin deficiency combined with the syndrome of phlegm-dampness accumulated in the lung, the syndrome of lung-kidney qi-yin deficiency, the syndrome of lung-kidney qi deficiency combined with the syndrome of phlegm-stasis accumulated in the lung, and the syndrome of lung-kidney qi-yin deficiency combined with the syndrome of phlegm-stasis accumulated in the lung. It was concluded that the main common syndromes of AECOPD-RW was the mixture of deficiency and excess. There was relatively less pure deficiency and excess syndrome.

Smu_195c is a protein with 86 amino acids in Streptococcus mutans, a primary pathogen for human dental caries. The specific function of Smu_195c is still unknown and there are no conserved domains in it. In order to find out its function, the gene encodes Smu_195c was cloned and expressed in E. coli as N-terminally 6*His tagged recombinant protein. Two crystal forms were obtained by the hanging drop method. Form Ⅰ belongs to space group P6122 or P6522 with the unit cell parameters a = b = 62.93 (A), c= 90.63 (A), γ=120° and form Ⅱ belongs to the space group P41212 or P43212 with the unit cell parameters a =b=57.97 (A), c = 103.51 (A).Crystals from the protein with His-tag belong to form Ⅰ, however, crystals from the protein without His-tag belong to both.

Objective This study was to explore the expression and significance of HMA2 in bladder cancer , analyze its correlations to clinicopathologic and recurrence of bladder cancer. Methods The expression of HMGA2 protein in 148 specimens of bladder cancer and 30 specimens of normal bladder tissues was detected by immunohistochemtry, its correlations to clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Results There was no expression of HMGA2 protein in normal bladder tissues,while the expression level of HMGA2 protein was getting higher with the increase of tumor pathology grade and stage. The positive rate of HMGA2 protein was 21.3% in G1 bladder cancer, 60. 3% in G2 bladder cancer, 82.1% in G3 bladder cancer, its difference is significant (P＜0. 001). It was significantly lower in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer than in muscle invasive bladder cancer (43.3% vs 72. 7%, P=0. 003). The patients were followed up for 2～95 months, patients of recurrence was 64,HMGA2 protein expression was significantly higher in patients with recurrence than with non-recurrence (54.7% vs 25.0%, P=0. 007). Conclusions The expression of HMGA2 protein was highly in bladder cancer, the positive rate of HMGA2 protein expression was related with classification,TMN stage and recurrence, but not with sex, age, tumor number (P＞0. 05). The detection of the expression of HMGA2 protein is in favor of diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of bladder cancer.

Oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)was performed in 419 first-degree relatives(FDRs)of type 1 diabetes mellitus. GADA, IA-2A, and IAA were determined by radioligand assay, and the positive rates were 7.16%, 1.43%, and 1.26%, respectively. Intravenous glucose tolerance test(IVGTT)and nateglinide-OGTT were performed in 39 controls, 11 first-degree relatives with positive autoantibody(Ab+group), 14 ones with negative autoantibody(Ab-group)during 5-7 days.The first-phase insulin release(FPIR), area under insulin release during 0-10 min [AUC0-10] of IVGTT and the value of(ΔI30/ΔG30)of nateglinide-OGTT in Ab+group were lower than those of control and(2.75±0.37 vs 3.61±1.05)mU/mmol, all P＜0.05]. The 1st min insulin release in Ab+group was lower than that of Ab-group [(3.80±0.30 vs 4.52±0.70)mU/L, P＜0.05]. The HOMA-IR was higher in Ab-group than that in control group(2.92±1.04 vs 1.96±1.22, P＜0.05). The results suggest that the positivity rates of autoantibodies in FDRs of type 1 diabetes mellitus are very close to those of Caucasian. There exist insulin secretion defects in FDRs with positive autoantibody while insulin resistance in FDRs with negative autoantibody.

Objective The present study was designed to investigate the risk factors affecting bleeding during percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods The records of 218 patients with percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed.The mean age was 48 years ( range,19 -70).One hundred and forty six patients had staghore stones,and 7 patients had previous open or percutaneous nephrolithotomy histories.Forty-one patients had concomitant diabetes mellitus,and 89 cases had hypertension.The following factors including age,sex,BMI,diabetes status,hypertension status,stone type,calix of puncture,previous open or percutaneous nephrolithotomy history,number of accesses,size of accesses,operative time,and surgeon experience were analyzed.Univariate analysis and multivariate step regression analysis were used for statistical assessment. Results 207 procedures were successfully performed,and 11 patients failed because of difficulty to establish the accesses.Single-tract was used in 176 cases and multiple-tract was used in 31 cases.163 cases were performed via a 18 F access and 44 cases via a 24 F access.The mean operative time was 78.4 min.The overall blood transfusion rate was 7.7％,and stone type ( P =0.034),diabetes ( P =0.030),number of accesses ( P =0.019 ),size of accesses ( P =0.008) and operative time (P =0.001 ) were the risk factors affecting blood transfusion requirement.The average hemoglobin (Hb) drop after percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures was 11.2 g/L,and stone type ( P ＜ 0.001 ),diabetes ( P =0.015 ),number of accesses ( P =0.016),size of accesses ( P ＜ 0.001 ) and operative time ( P ＜ 0.001 ) were the risk factors affecting Hb drop.The following covariates including Hb drop:age,sex,BMI,previous open or percutaneous nephrolithotomy history,hypertension status,calix of puncture and surgeon experience were not risk factors affecting blood transfusion requirement and Hb drop.Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that diabetes ( OR =1.75 ),stone type ( OR =1.92),number of accesses ( OR =2.45 ),size of accesses ( OR =1.32) and operative time ( OR =1.66) significantly increased risk of bleeding. Conclusions Stone type,diabetes,number of accesses,size of accesses and operative time were the risk factors affecting blood loss during percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Objective To explore the expression of CXCR7 in bladder cancer and analyze its clinical significance and relationship with bladder cancer recurrence. Methods The expressions of CXCR7 protein in 148 specimens of bladder cancer and 30 specimens of normal bladder tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining and its clinical significance was then analyzed. Results The expression of CXCR7 protein was higher in bladder cancers than in the adjacent normal tissues (P＜0.01). CXCR7 protein expression rates were 49. 4% and 71.2% in mutifocal tumors and unifocal tumors, while 34.0%, 65.8% and 78. 6% in G1, G2, and G3 tumors, respectively (P＜0. 01). Expression of CXCR7 protein was higher in muscle invasive bladder cancers than in non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (72. 7% versus 51.9% ,P＜0.05). In patients followed up for 2-95 months, CXCR7 protein expression was significantly higher in patients with recurrence than with non-recurrence (64. 1% versus 32.5%, P＜0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rark test showed that the recurrence-free survival was significantly different between the group of lower CXCR7 expression group and the higher expression group (P＜0.01). Conclusions The expression of CXCR7 protein is high in bladder cancer and the analysis of CXCR7 protein expression is potentially valuable in prognostic evaluation of bladder cancers. CXCR7 may play a role in the development of bladder urothelial cell cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) on the myocardial cells of mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with hyperuricemia (HUA), and clarify the mechanism thereof. Methods The mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cultured with 25mmol/L high glucose (HG) medium were divided into two groups: HG plus 300μmol/L sodium palmitate for 18 hours as high glucose and high fat (HG+HF) group, and HG+HF plus 1500μmol/L uric acid (UA) for 18 hours as HG+HF+HUA group. Then the myocardial cells in HG+HF+HUA group, by use or not use UCP2 inhibitor genipin, were further divided into two groups: vehicle group and genipin group. In order to verify the mechanism of UCP2 in myocardial cells injury caused by high glucose, high lipid and high uric acid, the myocardial cells were divided again into genipin group and genipin+N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group. Accordingly, the apoptosis of myocardial cells were measured by flow cytometry at specific time, the mRNA and protein expressions of UCP2 were determined by q-PCR and Western blotting, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DHE staining and ELISA. Results The apoptosis rate of myocardial cells increased obviously, and the expression levels of UCP2 decreased and of ROS elevated significantly in HG+HF+HUA group than in HG+HF group (P<0.05). As the expression levels of UCP2 decreased by genipin intervention, the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells and ROS level in HG+HF+HUA group increased more obviously (P<0.05). In contrast, such an effect was reversed by the application of antioxidants NAC (P<0.05). Conclusion UCP2 can inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate the apoptosis of myocardial cells induced by high glucose, high fat and high uric acid.

Deoxycytidylate (dCMP) deaminase is an enzyme belonged to dCMP cyt deam family. The dCMP deaminase from Streptococcus mutans UA159 was cloned and expressed in E. coli, and purified to homogeneity. The FPLC size exclusion chromatography analysis reveals that the S. mutans dCMP deaminase forms hexamer in solution. The protein was crystallized using hanging drop vapour-diffusion method and diffracted to a resolution of 3.1 (A). The diffraction data were collected at BSRF beamline3W1A. The crystals belong to P213 space group, with unit cell parameters a = b = c = 113.2(A), α =β = γ = 90°. Assuming there are two subunits per asymmetric unit, the Matthews coefficient is 3.6 (A)3 ·Da-1. This is the first crystallization report of the wild-type deoxycytidylate deaminase.