The present study was aimed to explore the relationship of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta3 gene SfaNI polymorphism (rs3917201 locus) and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in people of the Uygur's Nationality and Han's in Xinjiang, China. TGFbeta3 gene fragment including SfaNI was amplified and purified as the template of the primer extension reaction thenafter. The single base extension reaction was carried out u sing SNP specific extension primer. The products were purified and analyzed by MALDI-TOF. The test showed that there were not significantly different frequencies of AA, AG, GG genotypes and alleles between the whole NSCL/P group and the whole control group (P > 0.05). Within the Uygurs or Hans, the frequencies of genotypes between the whole NSCL/P group and the whole control group were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The distributions of the A, G alleles between the NSCL/P group and the control group were not significantly different within the Uygurs (P > 0.05), but significant different within the Hans (P < 0.05). In all the NSCL/P patients, frequencies of genotypes and alleles were not significantly different between Uygurs and Hans (P > 0.05), and not significantly different (P > 0.05) either between Uygurs and Hans in all the healthy persons. The results proved that TGFbeta3 gene SfaNI polymorphism may not be related to NSCL/P in Xinjiang Uygur people, while the occurrence of NSCL/P in Han population may be related to frequency of the A and G allele of SfaNI polymorphism.
Alleles ; China ; Cleft Lip ; ethnology ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; ethnology ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of lamivudine (LAM) combined with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) de novo and entecavir(LTV) monotherapy in treatment of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related decompensated cirrhosis for one year. METHODS: Sixty HBV-infected patients with decompensated cirrhosis treated with LAM combined with ADV de novo and 40 patients treated with ETV were enrolled. Liver and kidney function, HBVDNA, HBVM, AFP, US or CT scan of liver were tested every 1-3 month. The treatment efficacy was evaluated at month 12. RESULTS: By month 12, the HBV DNA negative rates in LAM combined with ADV de novo group (45 cases) and ETV monotherapy group (30 cases) were 51.1% and 60.0% respectively. There was no significant difference(P>0.05). The HBeAg negative rates in LAM + ADV group and ETV group were 30.4% and 26.7% respectively. There was no significant difference (P>0.05). The ALT normalization rates in two groups were similar. Viral breakthrough happened in 2 cases (4.4%) by month 12 in LAM + ADV group, and no viral resistance was observed, while viral breakthrough happened in 1 case (3.3%) by month 12 in ETV group. Improvement of liver function was obvious in both groups, for CTP and MELD scores decreased distinctly. The accumulative total mortality or liver transplantation rates were 9.4% and 8.7% respectively in LAM + ADV group and ETV group. No increase in blood creatinine above the upper normal limit was observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both of LAM combined with ADV de novo and ETV monotherapy are best choice in treatment of patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis. They can inhibit HBV replication obviously, improve liver function and decrease mortality.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Humans ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective To study the changes of umbilical blood lactate,pH, blood sugar(BS),bilirubin, electrolyte, osmotic pressure (OP) in the newboms with fetal distress.Methods Thirty-five newborns with fetal distress (distress group) and 40 healthy new-borns (control group) were studied. Distress group were divided into distress group Ⅰ and distress group Ⅱ respectively, based on without or with neonatal asphyxia. Concentration of umbilical blood lactate was determined with enzyme method, pH, BS,serum total bilirubin (BIL), serum electrolyte (Na+ ,K+ ,Ca2+ ) and OP were analyzed respectively. Results 1. The difference of incidence of newborn asphyxia between distress groups (29.03%) and control group (2.50%) was statistically significant. 2. Compared with the controls and distress group Ⅰ, the umbilical blood lactate concentration significantly increased in distress group Ⅱ (P 0.05).The incidence of hyperglycemia was significantly elevated in distress groups than that in the control group. 4. Lactate concentration in distress I and distress fl group showed negative correlation with pH. Conclusion The concentration of umbilical blood lactate can provide the proof for diagnosis and prognosis of fetal distress.

Objective: To assess the renal cortical perfusion parameters by the imaging of computed tomography (CT) in patients of essential hypertension (EH) with target organ damage.
Methods: A total of 90 subjects with the entire information including 59 EH patients were studied. The EH patients were divided into 2 groups: EH + target organ damage group,n=30 and EH without target organ damage group,n=29. In addition, there was a Control group,n=31 healthy volunteers. All subjects received 128-slice dual-source CT renal perfusion scanning, the quantitative perfusion of renal cortex blood lfow (BF), blood volume (BV), time to peak (TTP) and the mean transit time (MTT) were examined and compared among different groups.
Results: There were 90/97 (92.8%) participants eligible for perfusion analysis. Compared to Control group, EH without target organ damage group had the similar parameters of BF, BV, MTT and TTP,P>0.05. While EH + target organ damage group had decreased BF (214.6 ± 36.1) ml/(min?100 ml ) than Control group (262.1 ± 26.6) ml/(min?100 ml ),P<0.01, and BV, TTP, MTT were similar to Control group,P>0.05. Compared to EH without target organ damage group, the EH + target organ damage group presented decreased BF (214.6 ±3 6.1) ml/(min?100 ml ) vs (268.9 ± 33.1) ml/(min?100 ml ), P<0.01 and prolonged MTT, TTP,P< 0.05.
Conclusion: CT imaging may evaluate the renal cortical perfusion changes, and especially BF which can relfect the renal perfusion more sensitively than other parameters in EH + target organ damage patients.

Objective: To quantitatively study the incidental extra-cardiac ifndings (ECFs) by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) in order to better recognize those lesions in clinical practice.
Methods: A total of 1169 suspected CAD patients received CCTA in our hospital from 2011-06 to 2013-03 and 1030 patients were enrolled in this study. There were 589 in-patients, 441 out-patients and 549 patients≥60 years of age,481 patients < 60 years of age. 3 physicians evaluated the incidental ECFs in the full ifeld of view (FOV) in different window level and window width for lung, mediastinum, thorax and upper abdominal areas. Clinical relevance of ECFs were classiifed by corresponding scores. Score 1, the patients with severe lesion need immediate treatment, score 2, the lesion with clinical and prognostic signiifcance and score 3, the ifnding without clinical signiifcance.
Results: There were 197/1030 (19.1%) patients having 224 ECFs and 27 (2.6%) patients having 2 ECFs; 90/1030 (8.7%) patients having 106 signiifcant lesions including 3 (0.3%) of lung cancer and 8 (0.8%) of pulmonary embolism; 107 patients with 118 lesions without signiifcance. ECFs were found in 114/589 (19.4%) in-patients and in 83/441 (18.8%) out-patients, P>0.05; 76/481 (15.8%) of patients < 60 years of age and 121/549 (22.0%) of patients≥60 years,P<0.05.
Conclusion: Unexpected ECFs detection rate was 19.1% in patients undergoing CCTA without further radiation exposure by reconstruction with the full FOV setting, and 8.7% of ECFs had clinical signiifcance. Radiologists should routinely analyze the extra-cardiac organs in CCTA.

Objective To observe the regulation of sry-related high-mobility-group box-containing 2 (Sox2) on epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and on the sphere formation rate of glioma stem cells .Methods Promoter reporter plasmids of epidermal growth factor homologous receptor ErbB2 ,ErbB3 ,ErbB4 were respectively constructed .Sox2 expression plasmid was co-transfected together with the reporter plasmid into U251 cells .Then the luciferase activity was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter assay sys-tem to test the regulation of Sox2 on ErbB2 ,ErbB3 ,ErbB4 promoters .Sphere formation assay was used to observe selfrenew of the cancer stem cells after transfection of Sox 2 .The expression of EGFR and ErbB2 proteins in the spheres was examined by Western blot .Results Sox2 could dose-dependently increase the ErbB2 ,ErbB3 ,ErbB4 promoter drived luciferase activity .Sox2 promotes the sphere-forming rate of U251 cells and upregulates the expression of EGFR and ErbB2 in the spheres .Conclusion Sox2 could up-regulate the expression of EGFR and promote selfrenew of glioma stem cells .

Membrane proteins are the main undertakers of biofilm function, and also the most important target group for innovative drug discovery and research. About 60% of drugs targets are membrane proteins. Due to the obvious aggregation and denaturation tendency of membrane proteins in aqueous solution, it is difficult to simulate the membrane like environment to maintain the correct conformation of membrane proteins in vitro, which results in the slower-growing research on the structure and function of membrane proteins and related ligand drugs than that of water-soluble proteins. Membrane protein stabilization technology is the premise of establishing high specificity, high sensitivity and high throughput drug screening methods for membrane protein ligands, which is of great significance. In this paper, some techniques for stable separation and purification of membrane proteins are reviewed, including detergents, artificial membranes, polymers, lentiviral particles and so on, as well as their specific applications in drug screening.

In this study, modification technology by surface coating was used to improve the flowability of powder of Chinese herbs extracts. Seven kinds of powder of Chinese herbs extracts were coated with 1% silica nanoparticles using an under-driven Comil. The powder characteristics tester was used to evaluate the flowability of uncoated and coated powders. Surface morphology and particle size distribution of powders were compared by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscope. The powder hygroscopicity was also investigated. The results showed that, after modification, angle of repose, angle of spatula, compressibility and adhesiveness extremely decreased, and flowability index substantially increased, the powder flowability was significantly improved, especially Gegen and Dahuang extracts powders. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the distribution of silica nanoparticles on the host drug particle surfaces. There were no remarkable changes in the particle size distribution and hygroscopicity of all powders after coating. Therefore, Comilling for surface coating modification technology was an effective method to improve the flowability of Chinese herbs extracts and suggested a possible way forward to enhance the quality of Chinese drugs pharmaceutics in their study and manufacture.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Powders ; chemistry ; Surface Properties