BACKGROUND:It has been known that there exists a close relationship between leptin and obesity.Then,how are serum leptin and insulin related to obesity-related hypertension(ORH)? OBJECTIVE:To study the changes of serum leptin and insulin in elderly men with ORH,and investigate the relationship between leptin resistance and ORH in elderly men. DESIGN: Retrospective controlled study based on diagnosis. SETTINGS:The Department of Neurology and the Department of Nuclear Medicine,Affiliated Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. PARTICIPANTS: Altogether 62 elderly male inpatients or outpatients aged from 60 to 82 years in the Affiliated Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College from October 2001 to June 2002 were selected.The diagnosis of hypertension was based on the diagnostic criteria established by the WHO in 1999:systolic blood pressure(SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and(or) diastolic blood pressure(DBP) ≥ 90 mm Hg. INTERVENTIONS:The content of serum leptin and insulin in 41 hypertensive and 21 normotensive elderly men was determined by the method of radioimmunoassay. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Blood pressure,body mass index (BMI),serum leptin and insulin level. RESULTS:The content of serum leptin and insulin in the hypertensive obese men were increased significantly by 1.8 μ g/L and 2.7 mIU/L,respectively,as compared with that in the normotensives (t=2.212,2.395,P< 0.01). The level of serum leptin and insulin in the ORH patients was increased by 2.7 μ g/L and 4.7 mIU/L,respectively,as compared with that of the normotensives with significant differences (t=3.348,5.113,all P< 0.001). The level of serum leptin in the hypertensive patients older than 70 years was significantly increased by 1.7 μ g/L compared with that of those aged 60 to 70 years(t=2.767,P< 0.05). CONCLUSION:Resistance to leptin and insulin exists in obesity-related hypertension of elderly men and leptin is closely associated with obesity-related hypertension.

On the basis of the Uncaria transcriptome, specific primers were designed for UrSTR. The full-length cDNA of UrSTR (GeneBank: OL310251) was 1 541 bp, encoding 345 amino acid residues, and the promoter region sequence of UrSTR (GeneBank: OL310252) was 1 179 bp. Phylogenetic tree is revealed that UrSTR had a closest relationship with STR from Ophiorrhiza pumila and Ophiorrhiza japonica. Localization of UrSTR protein is revealed located in the vacuole membrane. Plant-care analysis indicated that the promoter region sequence of UrSTR, covering multiple light, stress and hormone-response cis-regulatory elements, and verified transcriptional activity. The results of SDS-PAGE show that pET-28a-UrSTR recombinant protein was successfully expressed, and the size was anticipated. The UrSTR prokaryotic expression system needs to be optimized in the later stage. The research lays the foundation for further purification to study its structure and functional characterization of the UrSTR protein.

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma of stage Ⅰb and Ⅱa treated by surgery,and to investigate their guid roles in available post-operation adjuvant therapy. Methods The clinicopathologic records of 306 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma of stage Ⅰb and Ⅱa who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were retrospectively analyzed, and the prognostic factors were explored by univariate and multivariate methods. Independent prognostic factors were identified by COX proportional hazards regression model. Results The overall 5-year survival rate of these 306 patients was 78.1%. In univariate survival analysis, the poor prognostic factors included poor differentiation, positive pelvic lymph nodes, deep stromal invasion, parametrial extension, tumor size≥4 cm, and lymph vascular space involvement (P

Two new polyesters, talapolyesters G-H (1-2) were isolated from the wetland soil-derived fungus Talaromyces flavus BYD07-13, and their structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the residues were determined by alkaline hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480) of 1-2 was examined.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Talaromyces ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Wetlands

This study aims to explore the impact on patient's liver and kidney function by different dosage of Kudiezi injection. This study retrospectively analyzed 15 228 patients' records from 18 nationwide general hospital information system (HIS). All patients were treated with Kudiezi injection, 1 956 patients that were given doses of > 40 mL, which is above the recommended dose, acted as the observation group. Fifty-five patients receiving the recommended dose of < 40 mL were the control group. Data about alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were collected before and after using Kudiezi injection, changes after treatment were outcomes. Also recorded were: age, costs, length of hospitalization and the patients' condition on admission. Propensity score method was used to balance 71 confounding variables such as gender, age, mortality, and costs. There were no significant difference on the four indexes between the two groups. It is hard to conclude that the use of Kudiezi injection over the recommended dose could influence the four indexes of liver and kidney from this data analysis. More conclusive evidence should be collected by further prospective study.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hospital Information Systems ; Humans ; Injections ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Background Serum cystatin C levels can be used to predict morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, the clinical relevance of serum cystatin C levels in patients with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has rarely been investigated. We designed the present study to investigate whether serum cystatin C levels are associated with cardiac structural and functional alterations in hypertensive patients. Methods We enrolled 823 hypertensive patients and classified them into two groups:those with LVH (n=287) and those without LVH (n=536). All patients underwent echocardiography and serum cystatin C testing. We analyzed the relationship be-tween serum cystatin C levels and LVH. Results Serum cystatin C levels were higher in hypertensive patients with LVH than in those without LVH (P＜0.05). Using linear correlation analysis, we found a positive correlation between serum cystatin C levels and interven-tricular septal thickness (r=0.247, P＜0.01), posterior wall thickness (r=0.216, P＜0.01), and left ventricular weight index (r=0.347, P＜0.01). When analyzed by multiple linear regression, the positive correlations remained between serum cystatin C and interventricular septal thickness (β=0.167, P＜0.05), posterior wall thickness (β=0.187, P＜0.05), and left ventricular weight index (β=0.245, P＜0.01). Con-clusion Serum cystatin C concentration is an independent marker for hypertensive LVH.

Objective:To explore the promoting effects of IL-7 and IL-2 on CD4+CD25-T cells proliferation in vitro and construct a stable culture system in vitro for CD 4+CD25+regulatory T cells from human umbilical cord blood.To compare the inhibiting effects between induced proliferated CD 4+CD25+Tregs and naturally isolated CD 4+CD25+Tregs on PBMCs functional activity.Methods:CD4+CD25-T cells and CD4+CD25+T cells were isolated from human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells by magnetic activated cell sorting ( MACS) system and then expanded in vitro.Four different concentration levels of IL-7 combined with proper concentration of IL-2 were added as inducer and the efficiency and optimal concentration of IL-7 on inducing,CD4+CD25-T cells were analyzed via 4 different methods.Flow cytometry method was used to detect the changes of CD 4+CD25-T cells.The inhibitory effect of expanded CD 4+CD25+T cells on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was tested by MTS.The expressions of Foxp3,IL-10 and TGF-βgenes in CD4+CD25+T cells were test by RT-PCR.Results:The CD4+CD25+T cells from each groups were expanded significantly after three weeks of culture.The results indicated that use of IL-7 combined with IL-2 resulted in the highest cell expansion comparing to the other groups.It was shown by the inhibitory test that the expanded CD 4+CD25+regulatory T cells could inhibit the proliferation of PBMCs ,but IL-7 induced CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells exerted weaker suppressor activity than natural regulatory T cells .Only IL-7 (4 ng/ml) and IL-2 (2 000 U/ml) induced CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells showed the strongest killing activity.Conclusion:We successfully expand CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells in vitro.The protocol is established in which the use of mAbCD 3/CD28 combined with IL-7 and IL-2 resulted in the highest cell expansion ,and intensely expressed cell phenotype of CD 4 and CD25.

Objective:To investigate roles of autophagy in ameliorating sepsis-induced acute lung injury by allicinin in mice.Methods:A total of 152 male Balb/c mice (8-week old) were randomly divided into a sham group,a septic model group,an allicin treatment group,and an autophagy inhibition group.Septic mouse model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Mice in the allicin treatment group were given allicin (30 mg/kg,intra-peritoneal injection) at 6 and 12 h,while those in the autophagy inhibition group were given autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (15 mg/kg,intra-peritoneal injection) at half an hour after allicin administration.Mice in the model and sham group were administered with the same amount of saline.Twenty mice in each group were randomly chosen to observe the 7 d survival rate.The other 12 mice were killed at 24 h,and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (n=6) and lung tissues (n=6) were collected.ELISA was used to detect the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the BALF.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was preformed to show the morphological changes in the lung tissues.Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the lung tissues were examined.The expression of LC3B and Beclin-1 was determined by immunohistochemical analysis.Results:Compared with the sham group,the 7 d survival rate and lung SOD activity were decreased in the CLP group (P<0.05);the lung morphological damage score,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the BALF,MDA content in the lung,and expression of LC3B and Beclin-1 were increased greatly in the CLP group (P<0.05).Compared with the CLP group,the 7 d survival rate,lung SOD activity and the expressions of LC3B and Beclin-1 were increased significantly in the allicin treatment group (P<0.05);the lung morphological damage scores,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the BALF and MDA content in the lung were decreased obviously in the allicin treatment group (P<0.05).Compared with the allicin treatment group,the 7 d survival rate,lung SOD activity,and the expressions of LC3B and Beclin-1 were decreased in the 3-MA group (P<0.05);the lung morphological damage scores,the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the BALF,and MDA content in the lung were increased significantly in the 3-MA group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Allicin may ameliorate sepsis-induced acute lung injury in mice by enhancing the level of autophagy.

Objective To explore the application of interferon(IFN)response-related genes in predicting the outcome of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis C. Methods SuperArray microarray was used to detect the expression of IFN response-related genes in peripheral blood monocytes(PBMC)from chronic hepatitis C patients before treatment. SPSS 12.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Ten patients were classified as rapid responders(RVR)and seven patients as non-RVRs according to the serum HCV RNA level after 4 weeks of treatment in 17 patients. Compared with healthy controls, nine differentially expressed genes were found in RVR patients, one up-regulated and eight down-regulated; eighteen differentially expressed genes were found in N-RVR patients, all down-regulated. Five differentially expressed genes were found between the patients with RVR and N-RVR: four up-regulated genes were PRKCZ, PRKRA, IRF5 and TNFSF10(t =5.44, 3.13, 5.24 and 2.30, P=0. 000, 0.010, 0.005 and 0. 044); one up-regulated gene was IFIT5(t = 2.43, P = 0. 035). Of seventeen patients, 12 were HCV genotype 1b, 5 were HCV genotype 2a. Compared with HCV2a, IFI6 and IFI44 gene in HCV1b were downregulated(t = 2.42 and 2.45, P = 0. 038 and 0. 033). Conclusions The expression of IFN responserelated genes is associated with response to IFN treatment. HCV genotype 1 b is more successful in inducing the down-regulation of IFN response-related genes than that of HCV genotype 2a, thus leading to the resistance to IFN.

Backgroud and Objective Proline-rich tyrosine kinase2(Pyk2) is a Ca~(2+) sensitive,non-receptor tyrosine protein kinase.Previous reports showed Pyk2 involved in development of left ventrieular hypertrophy. The present paper aimed to study the effects of valsartan on ventricular hypertrophy and its effect on the expression of Pyk2 in myocardium in renovascular hypertensive rats(RHR).Methods Two-kidney and one-clip(2K1C) renal hypertensive model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by chronic partial occlusion of left renal artery,and ran- domized to receive valsartan (30 mg/kg?d) or without treatment for 4 or 8 weeks.Left ventricular mass to body mass ratio was measured.Pyk2 protein expression and phosphorylation was detected by Western blotting.Results Blood pressure,left ventricular mass to body mass ratio,Pyk2 activity in myocardium of RHR were increased gradu- ally.Valsartan reduced BP and prevent myocardial hypertrophy(P