Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a kind of neurodegenerative diseases, the most common cause of dementia. Although AD has been studied more than, 100 years and the Aβ and tau theory are most widely accepted among the theories achieved, yet it is not really clear what the mechanism related to AD works up to now. However, it is certain that AD is a kind of diseases resulting from multi-causes. Except for causes correlated with heredity, aging and life habits, environmental role is worth taking into consideration as well. Some metals, such as copper, aluminum, zinc and iron et al, can also have close relationship with AD. Now, we make an overview on the correlative researches in the field.
Aluminum ; Alzheimer Disease ; pathology ; Copper ; Humans ; Iron ; Metals ; adverse effects ; Zinc

Objective To explore the effect of Melatonin(MT) on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (CD4+CD25+Tr)and airway inflammation in asthmatic rat.Methods Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups,8 rats in each group.Asthmatic group:rats were immunized on day 1 and 7 by intraperitoneal inject of mixture of ovalbumin(OVA) and aluminumhydroxide.From day 14,the animals were allenged with aerosolized OVA for 20 min per day for 7 consecutive days.MT group:OVA-sensitized rats were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 mg/kg MT 30 min before each OVA challenge.Dexamethasone group:OVA-sensitized rats were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg Dexamethasone 30 min before each OVA challenge.Control group:OVA for inhalation and MT for intraperitoneal injection was replaced with saline.After the last challenge,peripheral blood was stained to count the percentage of eosinophil(EOS).Then the rats were lavaged and total leukocytes counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were performed after staining with Wright-Giemsa staining.The EOS counts around the airway was counted after the histological section of lung staining with hematoxylin and eosin staining.The serum level of immunoglobulin E(IgE) was detected by immunoenhancement.The change of CD4+CD25+Tr was assessed with flow cytometry.SPSS 10.0 software was applied to analyze data. Results In asthmatic rats,the CD4+CD25+ Tr/ CD4+T cells ratio had significant negative relationship with the EOS counts around the airway and the total leukocytes counts in BALF (r=-0.73 P0.05).There was a significant decrease in the percentage of the eosinophils in peripheral blood,the eosinophil counts around the airway,the total leukocytes counts in BALF and the serum level of IgE in MT group compared with asthmatic group (Pa

The progress in the research of the chemical constituents and their pharmacological activities of Kadsura was summarized. These chemical constituents mainly contain lignanoids and triterpnoids, much of which are characteristic ingredients of the plant and have such activities as anti-oxidation, anti-HIV, and platelet active factor antagonists.
Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cyclooctanes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Dioxoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Kadsura ; chemistry ; Lactones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Activating Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnostic figures for TCM syndrome typing in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.

METHODSA retrospective investigation was carried out in 319 CHD patients hospitalized from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2004 in authors' hospital. Through cluster analysis, descriptive statistics and frequency normalization in combination of clinical observation, the diagnostic figures of TCM syndromes were obtained.

RESULTSThe figures for qi deficiency syndrome were: primary symptoms: chest pain and stuffiness, secondary symptoms: tiredness, short breath, poor appetite, light colored tongue, deep and thready pulse; for qi deficiency with phlegm and blood stasis syndrome: primary symptoms: chest stuffiness and pain, secondary symptoms: tiredness, insomnia, palpitation, obesity, dark red tongue, string and slippery pulse; for turbid-phlegm blocking collateral syndrome: primary symptoms: chest stuffiness, secondary symptoms: cough, expectoration with much white sputum, tiredness, short breath and poor appetite, light colored tongue with white greasy coating, slippery pulse.

CONCLUSIONResearch on diagnostic criteria for TCM syndrome typing could be established upon clinical epidemiologic survey and statistic analysis in combining with specialists' suggestions to primarily set the referrence figures.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina, Unstable ; classification ; diagnosis ; Cluster Analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; classification ; diagnosis ; Qi ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis

AIMTo investigate the inhibition of amyloid beta-protein 42 (Abeta42) production in M146L cells by gamma-schisandrin.

METHODSM146L cells which can produce considerable Abeta42 in vitro were treated with gamma-schisandrin (1.67, 5.00 and 15.00 microg x mL(-1)), beta-secretase inhibitor (S4562, 100.00 microg x mL(-1)) and gamma-secretase inhibitor (S2188, 13.68 microg x mL(-1)), separately. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to assess cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to determine the amount of Abeta42. Western blotting was used to examine C99, an intermediary product of APP cleaved by beta-secretase. beta-Secretase and gamma-secretase activities were assayed by commercial kits.

RESULTSThe CCK-8 assay indicated that different concentrations of gamma-schisandrin had no neurotoxicity on the cultured M146L. And the ELISA test showed that the amount of Abeta42 secreted by M146L cells treated with gamma-schisandrin (5.00 and 15.00 microg x mL(-1)) decreased obviously as compared with solvent control. The results of Western blotting test indicated that there was no change of C99 contents and beta-secretase activity in gamma-schisandrin treated cells, while gamma-secretase activity decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONgamma-Schisandrin inhibited production of Abeta42 in M146L cells through inhibiting gamma-secretase.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Cyclooctanes ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lignans ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; Polycyclic Compounds ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the glucose tolerance and ability of insulin secretion in SD rats in second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Methods SD rats with pregnancy of 15 d were selected as experimental group(n=6),and another 6 rats of the same batch without pregnancy were served as controls(n=6).Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance trials(IPGTT) were conducted in these two groups.Rat islets were isolated after in situ collagenase digestion through pancreatic duct perfusion,islet morphology was observed by inverted phase contrast microscope,and insulin secretion was determined by radioimmunoassay. Results It was revealed by IPGTT that the levels of glucose at 30,60,90 and 120 min were significantly lower in experimental group than those in control group(P

Objective To observe the expressing changes of apolipoprotein M (ApoM),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) under the high glucose culture condition and investigate the inhibitory effects of ApoM overepression on the expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1.Methods HRECs were cultured in DMEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum and 5.5 mmol/L D-glucose and assigned to 6 groups.The cells in the normal control group were cultured in above culture medium;the cells in the high glucose group were treated using the DMEM with 30 mmol/L D-glucose;ApoM was transfected into the cells using lentiviral vector in the ApoM transfected group;lentiviral vector without ApoM sequence was transfected in the empty vector group;the cells transfected by empty vector were cultured in high glucose culture medium in the empty vector+high glucose group;the cells in the ApoM transfection+high glucose group were treated by ApoM sequence transfection and high glucose incubation.The relative expression of ApoM,TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA was detected using real-time quantitative PCR,and the relative expression of ApoM protein was evaluated using Western blot assay.Results Compared with the normal control group,the mRNA expression levels of ApoM,TNF-α and MCP-1 in the high glucose group were significantly increased (t=5.517,3.295,2.555;all P＜0.05).HRECs grew well after infected with lentivirus.The relative expression level of ApoM mRNA in the ApoM transfected group was 236.400±39.270,which was significantly higher than 1.000±0.153 in the empty vector group (t=5.995,P＜0.01).An enhanced protein band of ApoM was seen in the ApoM transfected group,and the protein band was absent in the empty vector group.The relative expression band in the ApoM transfected group was 1.000± 0.249 and 2.978 ± 0.285 in the cells cultured with normal culture medium or high glucose culture medium,respectively,with a significant difference between them (t =5.056,P＜0.01).The relative expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 in the mRNA levels were significantly different among the empty vector group,empty vector+high glucose group,ApoM transfected group and ApoM transfection + high glucose group (F =5.966,P =0.026;F =14.410,P =0.002).Compared with the empty vector+high glucose group,the relative expressions of TNF-α and MCP-1 mRNA were considerably reduced in the ApoM transfection+high glucose group (P=0.017,0.004).Conclusions High glucose environment up-regulates the expression of ApoM,MCP-1 and TNF-α in HRECs.Overexpression of ApoM inhibits the up-regulation of MCP-1 and TNF-α expression induced by high glucose.

Objective To investigate the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) mRNA and protein in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma and their significance as diagnostic markers in predicting the biological behaviour of these tumours.Methods Expression of hTERT mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization in 45 pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas(31 benign,7 suspected malignant and 7 malignant) and 9 normal adrenal medulla samples,hTERT protein was determined by immunohistoebemistry.Results hTERT mRNA was expressed in 5/7 malignant turnouts and 5/7 suspected malignant tumours as compared with 3/31 benign tumours(P

OBJECTIVETo explore significance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) testing in atypical squamous cells, cannot exclude high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (ASC-H).

METHODSPresence of HR-HPV DNA was examined in 45 patients with ASC-H using hybrid capture II (HC-II) test. Colposcopic examination and biopsy were taken all results were evaluated.

RESULTSOverall, 33 of 45 (73.3%) ASC-H cases were biopsy proven cervical intraepithelial lesion (CIN). 36 of 45 ASC-H cases were HPV-DNA positive, including 19 cases of HSIL and over lesion; whereas no HSIL or over was found in 9 HR-HPV negative cases. Sensitivity and negativity predictive value of HR-HPV in ASC-H with HSIL and over lesion were both 100%.

CONCLUSIONSASC-H strongly predicts the presence of HSIL, HR-HPV may serve as a predict select whether a patient with ASC-H should take colposcopic examination immediately, patients with positive HR-HPV should undergo immediate colposcopic examination, while negative HR-HPV is an excellent predictor of the absence of HSIL.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; pathology ; virology ; Colposcopy ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; virology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; virology ; Uterine Cervicitis ; pathology ; virology ; Vaginal Smears ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of the borderline tumor of ovary (BTO).

METHODSA retrospective analysis and comparison were done respectively between the accuracies of diagnoses made by using frozen and paraffin sections from the same tissue blocks for BTO from March 1995 to May 2008 achieved in the Department of Pathology, Guangdong General Hospital. Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to assess the influence of patient and tumor characteristics on the likelihood of underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis.

RESULTSOf the 73 patients analyzed, 39 cases (53.42%) were histologically serous tumors, 32 (43.84%) were mucinous and 2 (2.74%) were endometrioid tumors. Diagnoses identical in those made by using either frozen or routine paraffin sections were 55/73 (75.34%). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of frozen section diagnosis were 87.30% and 85.94%, respectively. Underdiagnosis of frozen section were 18/73 (24.66%). There was no overdiagnosis cases obtained. Univariate analysis showed that tumor diameter and tumor histology were the predictors of underdiagnosis in frozen section analysis. And in multivariate analysis, only tumor diameter, rather than patient age, tumor histology and stage, bilateral side tumor, serum CA-125 and concurrent presence of endometriosis was a predictor of underdiagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSIntraoperative frozen section diagnosis of BTO has a low sensitivity and PPV. Underdiagnosis is not uncommon. Surgical management based on intraoperative frozen section diagnosis should be used with caution.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; CA-125 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Paraffin Embedding ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult