Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of five Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS) patients with severe ostalgia. Methods Five SS patients from the endocrinology department of our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results All the patients were female, with 9.5 year average course of disease, obvious ostalgia, muscle weakness and complaint, limitation of activity, and different degree of exocrine gland impairment. All the patients had different degree of acidosis, disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and dyspoiesis of calcitriol. Among them, three patients were found to have hyperinsulinemia and muscle pathological changes detected by the biopsy. Conclusions System factors must be investigated when patients present the bone symptom. At the same time, muscle problem should not be neglected and the patients should be treated as an entirety.

Background Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)has been reported to have beneficial effect on cardiac dysfunction in post infarction and doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.Objective To investigate the effects of G-CSF on cardiac remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).Methods Thirty-six male wild type mice(WT)were allocated randomly to receive subcutaneously G-CSF(10 ?g/kg per day, n=9),or Ang Ⅱ(2.88 mg/kg per day,n=9),or Ang Ⅱ plus G-CSF(Ang Ⅱ 2.88 mg/kg+G-CSF 10 ?g/kg,n =9)for 4 weeks with untreated WT(n=9)as controls.Blood pressure and cardiac function were measured. Heart weight/body weight ratio,myocyte cross-sectional area and fibrosis area were determined.The mRNA ex- pression of osteopontin(OPN)in myocardium was detected by RT-PCR.The expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE),ACE2 and phosph-p70S6 kinase protein in myocardium were assessed by Western-Blot.Results Ang Ⅱ significantly elevated blood pressure(SBP,Ang Ⅱ:139.7?1.6 vs WT:108.7?2.3 mmHg,P0.05),but significantly attenuated the myocyte cross-sectional area(Ang Ⅱ+G-CSF:181.06?0.11 vs Ang Ⅱ:202.02?0.16 ?m~2,P

The Conus venom is secreted by the duct and theca of venom. Most of conotoxins are composed of 10-40 amino acid residues with several disulfide bridges. They can specifically target neurotransmitter receptors including nAChRs, calcium ion channels, sodium ion channels and potassium ion channels, etc. Some conotoxins, such as that target N-Ca2+ channels, nAChR alpha9alpha10 subtype, TTX-R Na+ channels or NMDA receptors, have potent antinociceptive activities, omega-MVIIA, an Ca2+ channels blocker was approved by FDA in December, 2004 for marketing. Because of lower molecular weight and high specificity, conotoxins are the powerful pharmacology tools and potent analgesics without addiction. This review briefly summarizes the research progress of antinociceptive conotoxins and addresses on their targets and structure-activity relationships.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels ; drug effects ; Conotoxins ; pharmacology ; Sodium Channels ; drug effects ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To appraise and compare protein expression profiles in sera of patients without or with recurrence following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using SELDI-TOF-MS technique,and establish the diagnostic and predictive model. Methods A total of 76 sera (41 from disease free survival patients and 35 from recurrence individuals) were collected pretransplantation and differentially expressed proteins were identified by SELDI-TOF-MS. The intensity values for each peak were analyzed by Biomarker Wizard Software to screen serum proteome biomarkers related to the recurrence post-transplantation. By using Biomarker Patterns Software, the classification trees were generate. from randomly selected samples (30 fingerprints obtained from each group). The sensitivity and specificity of best decision tree were then chosen for blind test with 16 samples (5 from recurrence individuals and 11 from recurrence-free survival patients). Results There were significant differences only in tumor size and the presence of vascular invasion between recurrence group and recurrence-free survival group (P＜0.05). According to serum protein fingerprints, a total of 368 protein peaks were identified at the mass-to-charge ratio (M/Z) value ranging from 2000 to 300 00. There were 22 significant differential proteins between two groups. Among them, 9 proteins were up-regulated and 13 proteins were down-regulated -espectively in recurrence group. The intensity values of differential proteins were input into BPS for classification tree analysis and the best performing tree could distinguish two groups successfully. As a result of blind assessment for this model,a sensitivity of 80.0 % (4/5) and specificity of 72.7 % (8/11) were obtained. Conclusion Some of differential proteins screened by SELDI-TOF-MS technique in the serum may be correlated with the prognoses of liver transplantation patients with HCC. The decision tree may be useful for the clinical application of formulating the indication for liver transplantation, detecting extrahepatic micrometastasis and setting up the diagnostic and treatment strategies.

The data collected from 34 type 2 diabetic patients receiving intensive insulin therapy for six years showed that the yearly mean HbA1C was less than 7.0％,and none of the patients showed severe hypoglycemia,occurrence or evident progression of retinopathy or nephropathy,and the islet β cell function gained improvement.The DQOL score,used to evaluate the quality of patients' life had no significant change during the observation ( P ＞0.05 ).It is satisfactory and safe to maintain long-term glycemic control with prolonged intensive insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes,and that such therapy does not induce untoward influence on the quality of diabetic patients life.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of haemophilia B caused by the novel mutation of Arg327Ile (R327I) in FIX gene.

METHODSThe R327I, R327Ala(A), R327Lys(K), R327Asn(N) and a replacement mutant (FIXβFVII), in which FIX β strand 324-329 was replaced by that of FVII 298-303, expression plasmids were constructed with site-directed mutagenesis method based on the wild-type (WT) FIX expression plasmid. The HEK293 cell was transiently transfected, then the activity of FIX (FIX:C) was assayed by one stage method in the conditioned medium, while the FIX:Ag in both the conditioned media and the cell lysates was measured by ELISA. The molecular weight and the semi-quantity of expressed FIX were analyzed by Western blot. Fluorescent protein expression plasmid was constructed to investigate the synthesis and secretion of the FIX R327I mutation in the viable cells.

RESULTSFIX:C of the R327I mutant protein was 4.49% of the level of the WT in the conditioned medium, and the FIX:Ag of the R327I mutant protein in the conditioned medium and the cell lysates was 31.02% and 129.29% compared to that of WT, respectively. The mutation was characterized as cross-reaction material reduced (CRMR). The viable cell fluorescent assays showed that the R327I protein was more in both the viable cells and in lysosome than that of WT. The FIX:C of the R327A, R327K, R327N and FIXβFVII mutants was reduced compared to that of WT, the reduction of FIX:C of FIXβFVII was the most significantly amount among all the mutants in medium. FIX:Ag of all the mutants in the medium, except that the R327K increased, was reduced. The result of Western blot showed that the molecular weight of R327I protein was the same as that of WT, but the amount of the protein was much less compared with WT in the conditioned medium.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal synthesis and secretion as well as the abnormal function of the R327I mutant protein causes haemophilia B. The residue of R327 as well as the β strand domain of R327 located play important roles of the specific function of FIX.

Factor IX ; genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Hemophilia B ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression profile of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver of scalded rats with wound sepsis, and to analyze its significance.

METHODSSixty male Wistar rats with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald wound on the back were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into wound sepsis group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30, with scald). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was inoculated to the wounds in sepsis group. Corresponding indices were determined to verify the diagnosis of wound sepsis. The rats were sacrificed and fresh liver tissues were obtained at 96 post-scald hours (PSH). Total RNA of liver was isolated with Trizol and the different expression of lipid metabolism related genes in response to burn wound sepsis was assessed by DNA microarray.

RESULTSBy comparing expression profile of the two groups, totally 47 genes were observed to be differentially expressed in rat hepatic tissues, among them 9 genes were related to lipid metabolism. Among them, those which were upregulated were genes in relation with transportation and activation of fatty acid, and those downregulated were genes related in providing energy for fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of wound sepsis in scalded rats can induce changes in the expression of hepatic lipid metabolism related genes in hepatic tissues, and aggravate

Animals ; Burns ; complications ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Lipid Metabolism ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Pseudomonas Infections ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; etiology ; metabolism

To investigate molecular mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine Rheum offcinale against Yersinia pestis, whole genome DNA microarray that contains 4005 annotated genes of Y. pestis was used. The minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of R. offcinale extract against Y. pestis was determined by liquid dilution method. The gene expression profile of Y. pestis was performed after exposured to R. offcinale extract at a concentration of 10 X MIC for 30 and 60 minutes. The total RNA extracted and purified from Y. pestis were reverse-transcribed to cDNA and labeled by Cy3-Cy5 dye. The labeled probes were hybridized to the microarray and the results were obtained by a laser scanner and analyzed by the SAM software. The microarray data was confirmed by RT-PCR. The platform of the DNA microarray-based bacteria transcriptional profiling was eshtablished. The results revealed general gene expression changes of Y. pestis were a global phenomenon. Down-regulation of genes encoding proteins involved in ribosome protein synthesis was a remarkable change. Genes encoding cell envelope and transport/binding proteins were the major changed genes of the Y. pestis in response to R. offcinale.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rheum ; chemistry ; genetics ; Yersinia pestis ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and reliability on the quantitative evaluation of Colles' fracture by multislice CT (MSCT) multiplanner reconstruction (MPR).

METHODSA total of 36 patients with Colles' fracture from July 2011 to July 2014 were investigated in this study. There were 11 males and 25 females with a mean age of (42.5 ± 5.4) years old (ranged 35 to 72 years). All the patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and MSCT scans on wrist joints within 2 days after trauma. Images were sent to the workstation through picture archiving and conserving system (PACS). One associate chief physician independently and respectively measured the dorsal intercalation depth of distal fracture block, palmar angle and dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse on anteroposterior and lateral X-ray film and MSCT-MPR. The time interval between the two measurements was 2 weeks. All the data between the first and second measurement on X-ray and MPR and the mean value between the X-ray and MPR was examined with paired t-test. The pearson analyzed their correlation.

RESULTSAmong the 35 cases, 35 cases of palmar angle, 21 cases of intercalation depth and 16 cases of dislocation of wrist articular surface collapse could be measured on both X-ray and MPR. For the above parameters, the first measurement results were (12.5 ± 3.6)°, (4.5 ± 2.1) mm, (3.7 ± 1.6) mm and the second measurement results were (4.8 ± 2.2)°, (6.4 ± 3.6) mm, (2.5 ± 1.2) mm on X-ray films respectively. The first measurement results on MPR were (14.5 ± 5.3)°, (4.2 ± 1.2) mm, (5.7 ± 2.3) mm, and the results were (13.2 ± 2.6)°, (4.7 ± 2.2) mm, (4.6 ± 2.1) mm for the second measurement respectively. The three parameters between the first and second measurement on plain film had statistical difference and low correlation (r = 0.681, 0.640, 0.345, P < 0.05). The data between the first and second measurement on MPR showed that the dislocation degree of wrist articular surface collapse had statistical difference (P < 0.05) and no statistical significance was found for the other two parameters (P > 0.05), with the moderate correlation (r = 0.954, 0.854, 0.642). The three parameters had low or moderate correlation with each other on X-ray (r = 0.454, 0.532, 0.378, P < 0.05), compared with the mean value on MPR.

CONCLUSIONUsing MSCT MPR images may carry on the multiple parameter measurement of Colles fracture, to make quantitative evaluation, and repeated measurement is better reliability.

Adult ; Aged ; Colles' Fracture ; diagnostic imaging ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; methods