AIM: To elucidate the mechanism of fibrin in cholesterol gallstone disease. METHODS: Hemostatic indices were systemically examined in the gallbladder bile obtained from 26 patients with gallstones and 17 without gallstones. RESULTS: Significant increases were found in tissue factor (TF) concentration( P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.

METHODSAfter one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.

Animals ; Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatocytes ; Lipids ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Translational medicine is a systemic project because it is patient and clinical problems oriented, aiming at research results application, and involves multidisciplinary cooperation. Studies on molecular events in the precancerous stage, early stage and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) are the CRC hot research topics currently. Investigations on the earliest molecular events can help to find out the markers which may improve the effect of CRC screening and predict CRC liver metastasis and prognosis. Based on the concept of micro environment, molecular targeted drugs to interfere with metastasis and invasion and new concepts of surgical resection margin and neoadjuvant therapy will gain recognition from clinicians.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Translational Medical Research

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of Bryan cervical disc replacement on the function of the cervical spine.

METHODSBryan cervical artificial disc replacement was performed in 164 cases from Dec 2003 to Aug 2007, and all the cases were retrospectively followed up. Among them, 1 disc replacement was done in 132 cases, 2 discs in 28 cases and 3 discs in 4 cases with a total number of 200 artificial discs. There were 102 male patients and 62 female patients. Their age ranged from 25 to 70 years old (with an average of 47 years old). All the cases were operated according to the standard procedure for Bryan artificial disc replacement, and immobilized in a cervical collar for 2 weeks after operation. Motion of the replaced disc in sagittal direction, JOA score and satisfaction rate of the patients were followed up and evaluated.

RESULTSIn this group, no acute complications happened during the operation. All patients returned to work 4 to 6 weeks after operation. The postoperative ameliorate rate of JOA score was 56%. Range of motion in sagittal direction of the operated disc was 14.4 degrees before operation, decreased to 5.7 degrees at 1 week after operation , but improved to 14.7 degrees at the time of final follow-up and was not significantly different from preoperative range. Motion in the upper adjacent disc to the replacement level was 10.9 degrees before operation, decreased to 5.5 degrees at 1 week after operation , and improved to 8.2 degrees at the time of final follow-up but was significantly smaller than preoperative range. The satisfaction rate of the patients was 94%. Loosening of the prosthesis happened in 1 case 6 months after operation but remained stable afterwards. Subsidence up to 1 mm occurred in another case 7 months after operation but also remained stable afterwards. Automatic posterior union occurred in 3 cases in which relative small size artificial discs were implanted.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical outcome of Bryan artificial disc replacement was quite good. Pre-operative range of motion of the cervical spine can be maintained.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; surgery ; Joint Prosthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the biological effects of 585 nm pulsed dye laser (FLPDL) in the treatment of congestive scar.

METHODSBy histological study, collagen VG staining and microvascular staining, we investigated the changes of collagen fibers and the density of microvessels in the congestive scars after FLPDL treatment.

RESULTSHistological and immunohistochemistry examinations showed that FLPDL achieved normal vascularity in the scar after over 3 times of treatment.

CONCLUSIONSPDL treatment can change fundamentally the physiology of wound healing if applied in the early phases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cicatrix ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lasers, Dye ; Low-Level Light Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

Congresses as Topic ; Humans ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

OBJECTIVETo estimate the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with epilepsy, and the factors that may contribute to the prevalence of co-morbidity between ADHD and epilepsy.

METHODSA total of 256 children aged 6-15 years old who were diagnosed with epilepsy were enrolled. The prevalence of ADHD in children with epilepsy, and the factors that may contribute to the development of co-morbidity between ADHD and epilepsy were explored.

RESULTSThe systematic evaluation in 192 patients was completed. Of the 192 children, 81 (42.2%) were diagnosed with ADHD. The earlier the epilepsy onset, the higher the frequency of the co-morbidity of ADHD occurring. The longer the period of antiepileptic medication, the higher the prevalence of the co-morbidity of ADHD. Epileptic children receiving a combination of antiepileptic drugs had a higher prevalence of ADHD. ADHD was more common in children with some specific types of epilepsy, such as Lannox-Gastaut syndrome and generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy, or epilepsy with multifocal epileptic discharges in the EEG record.

CONCLUSIONSADHD occurs frequently in children with epilepsy. The factors associated with increased risk of ADHD include the onset age of epilepsy, the types of seizures or epileptic syndromes, the epileptiform EEG discharges, and the effects of antiepileptic drugs.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antiproliferation effect of cardamonin (CAR) and its possible mechanisms on human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs) cultured in the mimicking insulin resistance (IR) medium.

METHODProliferation of HUASMCs was assayed by MTT method. The mRNA expression of mTOR, Raptor and Rictor was detected by a real-time PCR. The expression content was calculated by Livak method using internal control of beta-actin.

RESULTThe proliferation of HUASMCs cultured in the mimicking IR medium was significantly increased. Both in normal and mimic IR culture medium, cells proliferation was inhibited by CAR (1 x 10(-5), 1 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1)). Pretreated with PD98059 and LY294002, cell proliferation induced by phosphatidic acid (PA) was inhibited, and the mRNA expression of mTOR, Raptor and Rictor was significantly decreased by CAR in the mimic IR medium.

CONCLUSIONIt is implicated that antiproliferation of CAR is involved in mRNA expression decrease of mTOR and its relative protein Raptor and Rictor.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chalcones ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Growth Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein ; Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular genetics basis for HLA novel allele HLA-DRB1*1212 in Chinese population.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by salting-out method. HLA-DRB1 gene exon 2 was amplified by PCR with group-specific primers from genomic DNA. PCR products were cut back from agarose gels and purified to sequence directly. The polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSO) was performed to confirm the mutations which were detected by sequencing in this study.

RESULTSThe sequencing results showed HLA-DRB1 alleles of the proband as DRB1*090102 and the novel allele. The sequences of the novel allele have been submitted to GenBank (AY899825). Through BLAST analysis, the novel allele was found to be different from DRB1*120101 at position 199A-->C in exon 2, that results in an amino acid change from Ile to Leu at codon 67.

CONCLUSIONThis allele is a novel and has been officially named as DRB1*1212 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.