Objective To study influences of magnetic field on behavior of depressive rats under chronic unpredictable mild stress,and possible mechanisms under such phenomena.Methods Thirty-six Wistar rats were divided into model group,magnetic field group and control group (n =12 in each group) according to random number table.The model group and the magnetic field group received CUMS stimulation daily for 5 weeks,while the control group received no any treatment.At the end of the fifth week,rats in the magnetic field group were placed in the center of a magnetic machine (400 mT),and the model group was raised freely for4 weeks.The severity of depressive behaviors,cortisol levels and contents of C-reactive protein in blood and urine sample were tested pre-treatment,at the end of 5 weeks and 9 weeks.Results After 5 weeks,consumption of glucose solution of the control group was higher than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).After 5 and 9 weeks,body weights of the magnetic group and the model group were lower than the control group (P ＜ 0.05).At the end of 9 weeks,performance of the magnetic group as indicated by frequency of grid crossing,grooming time and suspending tail test were improved to a significantly greater extent than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the urine content of cortisol in 24 hours in magnetic field and model groups was higher than the control group at the end of 5 weeks,and the serum level of cortisol in the magnetic field group were significantly higher than the model group at the end of 9 weeks (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The 400mT magnetic field can reduce the severity of behavior changes of rats with CUMS-induced depression,which might be attributable to its influence on the cortisol levels in blood and urine.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Erythropoietin ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Microvessels ; chemistry ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Stomach ; chemistry ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tissue Array Analysis ; methods

Objective To study the relationship between insulin induced gene 2 (INSIG2) variant and obesity or lipid metabolism in Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A total number of 2030 school students at the age from 7 to 18 years were selected in Beijing. Physical indicators, serum lipids and the rs13428113 polymorphism in INSIG2 gene were examined for all the subjects. Results The overall mutation rate of the rs13428113 polymorphism (T>C) was 49.3%.The differences of genotype and allele frequencies were not statistically significant among normal-weight, overweight and obesity groups (P>0.05). Among the overweight students, those with CC genotype had higher body mass index, waist-hip ratio, bronchial triceps skin-fold, and anterior superior lilac spine skin-fold than TT/TC carriers. Among the obese group, those with CC genotype had higher total cholesterol level than TT/TC careers (P<0.05). Conclusion The rs13428113 polymorphism in INSIG2 gene was associated with abnormal lipid metabolism in overweight and obese children, which increasing the degree of obesity and abnormal serum lipids.

Objective To study the effect of injured podocytes on glomerular maturation and its underlying mechanism in neonatal mice.Methods Single i.p.injection with puromycin aminonucleoside (PA,0.1 mg/g BW) was given to ICR neonatal mice at day 1 after birth (1 dpp). Littermates injected with normal saline (NS) were used as control.Animals were examined for urine protein,blood pressure,kidney weight/body weight (KW/BW),renal histology at 2,4,8,12, 30,60 and 90 dpp (n=6～9 for each group).Immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR were performed to examine the expression of WT-1,CD31,VEGF,Flk-1,Ang-1,Ang-2,Tie-1 and Tie-2.Results Mice with PA injection had lower kidney weight and body weight at all time points as well as lower KW/BW at 4,8,12 dpp when compared with NS controls.Electron microscopy revealed nearly complete foot process effacement and segmental microvillous transformation as early as 1 day after PA injection.PA-injected kidneys showed fewer capillary loops and decreased maturation index as well as less CD31-positive endothelium in cortical glomeruli at 12 dpp. Glomerular mesangial injury and developing glomerulosclerosis along with proteinuria were noted in PA-injected kidneys starting from 30 dpp.Significantly increased systolic blood pressure was detected at 60 dpp in PA mice.Compared with NS injection,PA injection significantly induced decreased mRNA expression of Flk-1 and Tie-2 as well as increased expression of Ang-1,without obvious changes of VEGF at 2 dpp.Conclusions Podocytes in neonatal kidney of ICR mice are susceptible to PA. Such podocyte injury can alter the expression of VEGF and angiopoietin system in glomeruli,leading to abnormal development of glomerular capillaries,and subsequent proteinuria,hypertension and glomerulosclerosis.

1000 IU/L,TBil 40～250 mg/L,and mild liver dysfunction at beginning of the disease,but acute severe hepatic lesion occurred due to the use of antibiotics,immunodepressant or NSAIDs.Three patients developed liver function failure and died,7 patients' liver function recovered to nor- mal by increasing dosage of glucocorticoid.Conclusion AOSD with mild liver dysfunction is frequently en- countered.During the treatment,acute severe hepatic lesion may occur due to certain drugs.Therefore,any drug used in AOSD with mild liver dysfunction should be cautious.Once acute severe hepatic lesion happens, increases the dosage of glucocorticoid promptly can improve prognosis.

Objective To study the relationship between neuropeptide Y2 receptor(NPY2R) gene rs1047214 polymorphism and obesity or metabolic syndrome in Chinese children and adolescents, in order to provide theoretical evidence for obesity control. Methods 2030 students at the age from 7 to 18 years were selected in Beijing. Physical indicators, blood pressure, serum lipids and fasting blood glucose and the rs1047214 polymorphism in NPY2R gene were tested for all the subjects. Results The mutation rate of the rs 1047214 polymorphism (T> C) was 18.6% and the CC genotype frequency was significantly higher in non-obese subjects (3.7%) than that in obese subjects (1.7%) (P<0.05). The differences of BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WtHR) were statistically significant among the subjects with CC genotype having lower BMI, WC, WHR and WtHR than CT+TT carriers (P<0.05), shown in males, but not in females. There were no statistical significances for WC, WHR or WtHR levels between different genotypes under the general linear regression model, after adjusted for BMI. There were no statistical significances for blood pressure, serum lipids and FPG level between different genotypes. Conclusion The mutation rate of the rs1047214 polymorphism in NPY2R gene in Chinese adolescents was higher than that in foreign populations. Polymorphism seemed to be associated with obesity in males but did not seem to have significant association between polymorphism and other phenotypes of metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo explore the protective effect of baicalin against rotenone-induced injury on PC12 cells, and the po-tential mechanism of action action was also explored.

METHODPC12 cells were injured by rotenone and were treated with different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 μmol x L(-1)) of baicalin at the same time. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT, and morphology was observed by phase-contrast microscopy. The cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The intracellular ROS level was determined by fluorescence microscope with DCF-DA staining. The expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTThe viability of PC12 cells exposure to rotenone for 24 hour was gradually decreased with dose escalating and 1.5 μmol x L was adopted to do the following experiment. Baicalin increased cell viability, improved cell morphology and decreased intracellular ROS level. Moreover, FACS indicated baicalin attenuated the apoptosis induced by rotenone significantly. Western blot showed that Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 expression in rotenone-induced PC12 cells was reversed by baicalin.

CONCLUSIONThis study has demonstrated that baicalin protects PC12 cells against rotenone-induced apoptosis, at least in part, by scavenging excessive ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrion-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Intracellular Space ; drug effects ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Rotenone ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; Walking ; physiology ; Weight-Bearing ; physiology

Objective To explore the correlation between Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VD) and carotid artery atherosclerosis. Methods This case-control study was conducted among 64 AD and 42 VD in-patients and out-patient admitted in Guangzhou Brain Hospital between July 2005 and July 2007, involving also 69 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed to examine the artery shape, intima-media thickness (IMT), shape and size of the arteriosclerotic plaques, and diameter of the common carotid artery at 2 cm from the bifurcation and of the distal internal carotid artery 1.0-1.5 cm from the enlargement of the initial segment. Results Compared with those in the control group, the IMT, vascular diameter and arteriosclerotic plaques in the carotid artery were significantly increased in the dementia patients (P<0.05), but no obvious differences were found between the AD and VD patients. The degree of carotid artery atherosclerosis, represented by the number of plaques, was inversely correlated to the Mini-Mental State Examination scores (r=-0.389, P=0.000). Conclusion Carotid artery atherosclerosis is closely associated with the development of AD and VD, and the degree of atherosclerosis is positively correlated to the severity of dementia.

China ; epidemiology ; Cost of Illness ; Humans ; Wounds and Injuries ; economics ; epidemiology