[Objective] To investigate the epidemiology of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the aged from Luohu district of Shenzhen city and to analyze the related factors. [ Methods ] Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire in Chinese was used to investigate MCI in 410 aged people from eight Communities of Luohu district, Shenzhen. [Results] The incidence of MCI in this survey was 21.46% and the MMSE scoring varied with age, educational level and sex (P

Objective · To investigate the correlation between proportion of natural killer (NK) cells and dendritic cells (DCs) and liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods · Peripheral blood samples were collected from 65 patients with chronic HBV infection and 10 healthy volunteers (HCs group). Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of peripheral NK cells and DCs. The patient were divided into asymptomatic HBV carrier (AsCs) group, chronic hepatitis B in low or moderate grade (CHB-LM) group, and chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB)group.The relationship of the proportion of NK cells, the proportion of DCs, and the ratio of NK/DC with the degree of liver injury was analyzed. Results · The proportion of peripheral NK cells was significantly lower in CHB-LM group (9.29%±1.20%) and CSHB group (3.60%±0.79%) than that in HCs group (14.77%±2.90%) and AsCs group (14.05%±2.32%) (P=0.000). And the proportion of peripheral DCs was significantly higher in CHB-LM group (4.10%±1.18%) than that in HCs (1.67%±0.31%), AsCs (2.05%±0.46%) and CSHB groups (2.08%±0.41%) (P=0.000). The ratio of NK/DC was decreased in CSHB and CHB-LM groups compared to that in HCs and AsCs groups (P=0.000). The correlation analysis indicated the proportion of NK cells was negatively correlated with the levels of ALT, AST, TB and DB (r=-0.50, r=-0.49, r=-0.53, r=-0.51, P=0.000 for all) in patients with chronic HBV infection. Conclusion · The proportion of peripheral NK cells and the ratio of NK/DC in patients with chronic hepatitis B were decreased. The decrease of the frequency of NK cells and the ratio of NK/DC were associated with liver injury in patients with chronic HBV infection.

UDP glucosyltransferase (UDPGT) catalyzes the synthesis of secondary metabolites and plant hormones to regulate plant growth and development, pathogen defense and environmental adaptability. In this study 18 members of the RcUDPGT gene family were cloned from Tibetan Rhodiola crenulata and analyzed using bioinformatics. The tissue-specific expression, abiotic stresses and plant hormones (abscisic acid, auxin, methyl jasmonate) induced expression patterns were identified by real-time quantitative PCR. The bait vector of RcUDPGT (JX228125.1) was constructed to select interacting proteins from an Arabidopsis yeast library. The results of the bioinformatics analysis revealed that RcUDPGT nucleotide sequences were about 1 400 bp and encoded 452-498 amino acids. In the primary protein sequences, C-terminal sequences were more conserved compared with N-terminal regions, which held a PSPG (plant secondary product glycosyltransferase) domain. In the tertiary structures, RcUDPGTs contained a UDP sugar donor recognition binding site. In addition, all genes had multiple phosphorylation sites. The results of qRT-PCR showed that RcUDPGTs genes were expressed in root, stem and leaf. The expression levels were regulated by low temperature/ultraviolet light and various plant hormones (ABA, IAA, MeJA), but the expression patterns were quite different among them. For example, RcUDPGT6, RcUDPGT11, and RcUDPGT17 had the highest expression in leaves and were induced by all three hormones, suggesting that the functions of these genes might be to respond to environmental changes. RcUDPGT9, RcUDPGT10, RcUDPGT14 were most abundantly expressed in roots and were significantly induced by ABA and MeJA hormones, indicating that these genes may be involved in the synthesis and accumulation of salidroside. Yeast two-hybrid results showed that RcUDPGT did not exhibit autoactivation and cell toxicity, and two significant interactional genes were identified, AtKCR1 (AT1G67730.1) and AtSNL4 (AT1G70060). The AtKCR1 gene encodes a β-ketoacyl reductase (KCR) involved in synthesis of very long chain fatty acids. The AtSNL4 gene encodes a homolog of the transcriptional repressor SIN3, which could participate in the ABA hormone signaling pathway and enhance the transcriptional repression of AP2/EREBP class factors in Arabidopsis. These results suggest that the accumulation of the secondary metabolite salidroside in Rhodiola crenulata might be affected by several regulatory mechanisms. The above results may lay the foundation for understanding the adaptive mechanism of Rhodiola crenulata in a high altitude environment and stimulate an in-depth study of the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in this species.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of internal septation for differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions.Methods A total of 26 patients were included in the study,in which 12 patients had 20 lesions of breast carcinoma and 14 patients had 25 lesions of fibroadenoma diagnosed either pathologically or clinically.The differential diagnoistic value of the hypointensive internal septation was analyzed.Results The signal intensity of fibroadenomas and malignant lesions on T_2-weighted fat- suppressed images could be classified as iso- to hyper- intensity,hypointensity and mixed intensity. According to the signal intensity classification,there were 5,11 and 4 cases in patients with breast carcinoma respectively,while 11,10,4 cases in patients with fibroadenoma respectively.There was no statistical difference in the distribution between the two patient groups(?~2=1.764,P=0.414).The shape of fibroadenomas and malignant lesions could be classified as irregular、roundish or lobulated.According to the morphological classification,there were 12,7 and 1 case in patients with breast carcinoma respectively, while 1,7,17 cases in patients with fibroadenoma respectively.There was statistical difference in the distribution between the two patient groups(?~2=23.262,P=0.000).The typical features of fibroadenomas were as follows:lobulated shape,hypointensive internal septations on T_2-weighted or postcontrast images. The diagnostic sensitivity of the three imaging features for fibroadenoma was 68%(17/25),52%(13/25), and 72%(18/25)respectively;and the diagnostic specificity was 95%(19/20),90%(18/20),95% (19/20)respectively.Conclusion The internal septation is a rather specific sign for diagnosis of fibroadenomas.

Recently a great number of new immunodepressants have emerged due to the side effects of steroids.Therefore,relatively more perfect steroid withdrawl regimens have been studied by many researchers at home and abroad.This article reviews the course of steroid withdrawal in liver transplantation,introduces and compares different protocols of steroid withdrawal.

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression profiles of osteoblast-related genes in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow during osteogenic differentiation.

METHODSMSCs were induced to differentiate with MSC osteogenic differentiation medium for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days respectively. Alizarin Red staining was used to detect matrix mineralization. Expression of osteoblast-related genes, including osteocalcin, osteopontin, Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase and collagen type 1, was assessed with quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSOn day 14 after induction of differentiation, cells were stained positively with Alizarin Red. The expression levels of these genes exhibited an upward trend as induction time was prolonged. Exposure to osteogenic differentiation medium less than 21 days did not significantly induce osteocalcin expression; osteocalcin expression levels in the differentiated cells induced for 21 and 28 days were 1.63 and 2.46 times as high as the undifferentiated cells respectively (all P<0.05). Stimulation with MSC osteogenic differentiation medium over 14 days significantly enhanced bone marrow-derived MSCs to express osteopontin and Runx2 genes (all P<0.05). Osteogenic differentiation medium could significantly induce the expressions of alkaline phosphatase and collagen type1 genes (all P<0.05). Their expressions reached the peak levels on day 21, which were increased more than 4- and 3-fold respectively.

CONCLUSIONHuman bone marrow-derived MSCs could exhibit the sequential expression pattern of osteoblast marker genes during osteogenic differentiation in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; genetics ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Osteocalcin ; genetics ; Osteogenesis ; Transcriptome

Objective To investigate the involvement of posterior auricular muscle (PAM) and the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection into PAM in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS)complicated by auricular symptoms.Methods Sixty-three consecutive HFS patients with auricular symptoms such as tinnitus or murmur,"ticking" or a "clicking" sound and discomfort on the same side,referred to our department between July,2009 and January,2010,were enrolled,and the diagnosis of idiopathic HFS was clinically made.The patients were largely randomized into two groups according to the order of referral.One was regular group including 33 cases whose injection sites were routinely at the frontal,orbicularis oculi,zygomaticus and buccinator muscles while another was PAM group including 30 cases,in which 4 units of BTX-A was additionally injected to the PAM.Before and after injection,the test of blink reflex was performed and lateral spread of blink reflex to orbicularis oris(OO)and PAM,I.e.Abnormal muscle response(AMR),were recorded,and the peak-peak amplitude of AMR was measured.The patients were followed up clinically and electrophysiologically at least 4 weeks((29.5±2.5)days) later.Results(1)The patients reported that their auricular symptoms subsided after injection in both groups.The remission rate was 45.5%(15/33)in the regular group and 76.7%(23/30)in the PAM group,respectively,with a higher rate in the PAM group(x2=6.40,P=0.011).(2)In both groups the AMR amplitude decreased significantly after injection.In the regular group,the OO amplitudes (μV) before and after injection were 304.0±30.3 and 129.3±9.6(t =5.820,P =0.000),and PAM amplitudes,298.0±33.3 and 184.7±20.2(t=2.818,P=0.014),respectively.In the PAM group,OO amplitudes were 405.3±66.7 and 116.0±10.0(t=4.214,P=0.001),PAM amplitudes,390.0±53.6 and 72.0±9.7(t=6.011,P=0.000),respectively.(3)The decrease of PAM amplitudes in the PAM group was more significant compared with those in the regular group (t=4.237,P=0.001).Conclusions In HFS patients with auricular symptoms,the electrophysiological studies are helpful for the guidance of treatment;and the auricular symptoms could be better improved after BTX-A injection into PAM in addition to those regular injection sites.

short peptide AS1 screened from the phage random peptide library of 12 amino acids has antigenicity and can react with sera of AS patients. These findings indicate that AS1 could be one of candidate molecules of AS-specific serum markers.

Air ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; Propane ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Workplace