Objective To observe the expression of Glu、mGluR 5 and EAAT 1 in bone tissues of ovariectomized osteoporotic rats and the effects of Total Flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae (TFRD) on it. Methods 45 SPF 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were randomly divided into sham operation (Sham, n=15) group and ovariectomized (OVX, n=30) group. The osteoporotic(OP) model was established by bilateral ovariectomy, 14 weeks later, we measured bone mineral density(BMD) by dual-energy X-ray and determined that OP model was successfully replicated, OVX group rats were then divided into OVX group (n=15) and OVX+TFRD group (n=15). The OVX+TFRD group was given TFRD for 12 weeks. Glutamate (Glu), metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR 5), and Glutamate/Aspartate Transporter (GLAST/EAAT 1)’s expression of femur was examined in order to clarify the characteristics of bone glutamate signaling pathway and the effects of TFRD on it. Results Glu and ionotropic receptors mGluR 5 mainly distributed in bone marrow cells and osteoblasts closed to the bone marrow cavity walls. There were no significant differences in Glu expression among Sham group, OVX group and OVX+TFRD group. The mGluR 5 expression of OVX+TFRD group was significantly higher than that of Sham group and OVX group(P=0.009), while no significant difference was found between the latter two groups. In addition to large distribution in bone marrow cells, small amount of transporter EAAT 1 was noted to express in bone cells of the bone lacunae. There were no significant differences in EAAT 1 expression among the three groups. Conclusion In bone glutamate signaling pathway, this study demonstrated that TFRD could significantly improve the ionotropic receptor mGluR 5’s expression, but had no inlfuence for Glu and EAAT 1.

Objective To investigate the relationship between job burnout and psychological health diathesis of the senior medical workers in Tianjin.Methods 263 medical workers were tested by Psychological Health Diathesis Scale (PHDS) and Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory (CMB[).Results (1) Total detection rate of burnout was 69.3％.Detection rate of mild burnout was 43.0％,moderate 20.2％,and severe 6.1％.(2) Explain rate of self-concept and emotionality to the job burnout was 31.5％.Conclusion Job burnout is prevalent in the senior medical workers in Tianjin.Emotionality,interpersonal diathesis and self-concept,to some extent,can forecast job burnout.

Allergic rhinitis (AR), with an increasing uptrend of the prevalence in many developed and developing countries, is a global health problem that affects people of all ages and ethnic groups. However, data on the prevalence of self-reported AR in western China are rare. This study investigated the epidemiological features of self-reported AR in western China. In the cross-sectional, population-based study, a validated questionnaire survey on self-reported AR was carried out in 4 major cities in western China by multistage, stratified and cluster sampling, from January to December 2008. The total prevalence rate was 34.3%, with 32.3% (Chongqing), 34.3% (Chengdu), 37.9% (Urumqi), 30.3% (Nanning), respectively. The prevalence presented to increase with age before 30 years old while decrease with age after 30 years old, and the highest prevalence was in 19-30 years group in Chongqing, Chengdu and Nanning which significantly showed "persistent and moderate-severe" type (P<0.0001); In Urumqi, there wasn't a significant increasing or decreasing trend of prevalence rate with age but with an "intermittent and mild"predominance (P<0.0001). There were no distinct sexual differences in prevalence rates in the 4 cities. The morbidity was positively related to monthly average temperature and sunshine (r=0.76645, P=0.0036; r=0.67303, P=0.0165), but negatively associated with relative humidity (r=-0.64391, P=0.0238) in Urumqi. Interestingly, the monthly morbidity was negatively associate with average temperature, sunshine and precipitation in Nanning (r=-0.81997, P=0.0011; r=-0.60787, P=0.0360; r=-0.59443, P=0.0415). Self-reported AR is becoming common in western China with a rapid development in recent years, affecting about three persons out of ten. The climatic factors may have an indirect impact on the prevalence rate through the effects on the local allergens.

Objective To explore the relationship between the inflammatory reaction and insulin function in children with critically ill.Me-thods Ninty-six children with critical disease in Oct.2003 to Oct.2006 were enrolled in the study.Blood sugar,plasma insulin,C-peptide,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,C reactive protein(CRP)were measured in the peak period and convalescence.Results Blood sugar and plasma levels of insulin,C-peptide,TNF-?,CRP were significantly higher in the peak period than those in the convalescence(Pa

ObjectiveTo evaluate the app li cation value of the Dipstick Dye Immuno assay (DDIA) for screening chemotherapy targets of schistosomiasis in a lower endemic area. Methods[ WT5”BZ]In a lower endemic area of schistosomiasis a random sample of 463 individuals from a natural village were examined using miracidium hatching metho d, Kato Katz's method, DDIA, DGS COPT and ELISA. The positive rates of these a ss ays were compared. ResultsThe positive rate of stool examination was 3.9% in 463 individuals. The positive rate of DDIA was 15 8%. The positive rate in 18 stool positive subjects was 94 4% with Youden In dex 0 81. The positive rate of DGS COPT was 8 9% . The positive rate in 18 stool po sitive subjects was 72 2% with Youden Index 0 66. The positive rate of ELISA w as 18 4%. The positive rate in 18 stool positive subjects was 83 3% with Youden In dex 0 68. ConclusionDDIA was more suitable for application in screening target population in lower endemic areas than other im munoassys.

Objective To establish a scientific and objective evaluation model of the comprehensive performance of immunocolloidal gold qualitative rapid detection kits, and to provide a reference for the overall evaluation of similar products. Methods Based on the various factors affecting the performance of qualitative rapid detection kits, a comprehensive performance evaluation index system consisting of 4 first-level indicators and 18 second-level indicators was constructed.The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method were combined to determine the weights for the evaluation indicators and graded thresholds.The model was then used to evaluate the performance level of 6 brands of furazolidone metabolite rapid test kits. Results According to maximum membership degree principle, the evaluation of brand A, B, C, D, E and F were graded as good, excellent, middle, excellent, middle and excellent, respectively.Then the scores of 6 brands were calculated according to the hundred-mark system, and brand B had the highest score.This was consistent with the actual use experience. Conclusion The application of this model can make the evaluation results more comprehensive and accurate, providing reference for rational evaluation and selection of qualitative rapid detection kits.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of chemokine receptor CXCR4 in colorectal carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathological parameters, and to reveal the role of CXCL12/CXCR4 in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSCXCR4 expression was studied in 53 colorectal cancer tissues and 27 normal tissues by immunohistochemistry. Its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal cancer patients were analyzed. The CXCR4 expression in tumor and normal specimens and its metastatic sites were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSFifty-three colorectal cancer patients,collected from July 2005 to February 2007 in our hospital,were enrolled in this study. CXCR4 was positive in 39 cancer tissue specimens(73.6%) and its high expression rate (in > 50% of cells) was 45.3%. High CXCR4 expression rate was significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases (N(1)+N(2): 65.4%) than that in those without metastases(N(0) 25.9%). There were also associations between the high CXCR4 expression and the vascular and lymphatic vessel invasions (P<0.01). Meanwhile, there was a rising trend of high expression rate according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage and pathologic grade,but no significant difference was found(P>0.05). There were no significant correlation of CXCR4 expression with clinicopathological parameters such as tumor location, tumor size, depth of tumor invasion(P>0.05). In addition, the CXCR4 mRNA expression in primary tumor specimens (n=27) from AJCC stage IIII( patients was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. CXCR4 mRNA expression of liver metastasis specimens(n=5) was significantly higher as compared with the primary colorectal cancer specimens(P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSChemokine receptor CXCR4 is associated with the progression of colorectal carcinoma. High CXCR4 expression is associated with metastasis. The CXCL12-CXCR4 signaling pathway may be a potential novel target of therapy for patients with colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationships among the aberrant methylation of Runx3 gene promoter, the Runx3 protein expression and clinicopathological features in gastric cancer.

METHODSMethylation specific PCR was used to measure the promoter methylation status of Runx3 gene in tumor and the adjacent normal mucosal tissues from 40 patients with gastric cancer. Protein expression of Runx3 was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe frequency of promoter methylation of Runx3 gene in gastric cancer tissue(55.0%) was significantly higher compared to the adjacent normal tissues (12.5%)(P<0.01). The positive rate of protein expression of Runx3 in gastric cancer tissue(37.5%) was significantly lower compared to the adjacent normal tissues (100%). There was marked association between hypermethylation and negative protein expression (P<0.05). The frequency of Runx3 promoter methylation was associated with histological type, N grade, and tumor stage.

CONCLUSIONThe promoter hypermethylation is a main mechanism of reduced or loss expression of Runx3 gene, which may provide molecular diagnosis and stage evaluation of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology

Ligustrazine, one of the major effective components of the Chinese traditional medicinal herb Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort, has been reported plenty of biological activities, such as protect cardiovascular and cerebrovascular, neuroprotection and anti-tumor, et al. Because of its remarkable effects, studies on structural modification of ligustrazine have attracted much attention. Ligustrazine synthetic derivatives reported in recent decades are mainly derived from four primary intermediates (TMP-COOH, TMP-OH, TMP-NH2, HO-TMP-OH). To explore the neuroprotection activitiy of ligustrazine intermediates, six ligustrazine intermediates (2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13) were synthesized and their protective effects against CoCl2-induced neurotoxicity in differentiated PC12 cells were studied. The target compounds were prepared via different chemical methods, including oxidation, substitution, esterification and amidation without changing the structure nucleus of ligustrazine. Compared with TMP (EC50 = 56.03 micromol x L(-1)), four compounds (2, 5, 12 and 13) exhibited higher activity (EC50 < 50 micromol x L(-1)) respectively, of which, compound 2 displayed the highest protective effect against the damaged PC12 cells (EC50 = 32.86 micromol x L(-1)), but target compounds 8 and 11 appeared lower activity (EC50 > 70 micromol x L(-1)). By structure-activity relationships analysis, the introduction of carboxyl, amino to the side chain of ligustrazine and appropriately increase the proportion of ligustrazine may contribute to enhance its neuroprotective activity, which provides a reference for the design, synthesis and activity screening of relevant series of ligustrazine derivatives in the future.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; Cobalt ; toxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Neuroprotective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; PC12 Cells ; Pyrazines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats

Vine tea has been used as an herbal tea by several ethnic minorities for hundreds of years in China.Flavonoids,a kind of indispensable component in a variety of nutraceutical,pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications,are identified to be the major metabolites and bioactive ingredients in vine tea.Interest-ingly,vine tea exhibits a wide range of significant bioactivities including anti-oxidant,anti-inflammatory,anti-tumor,antidiabetic,neuroprotective and other activities,but no toxicity.These bioactivities,to some extent,enrich the understanding about the role of vine tea in disease prevention and therapy.The health benefits of vine tea,particularly dihydromyricetin and myricetin,are widely investigated.However,there is currently no comprehensive review available on vine tea.Therefore,this report summarizes the most recent studies investigating bioactive constituents,pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms of vine tea,which will provide a better understanding about the health benefits and preclinical assessment of novel application of vine tea.