The molecular delivery vectors used in gene therapy need provide the features of safety,stability, efficiency and capacity. The current studies on the structure and action mechanism of pRNA, a packaging RNA of phage?29, showed that pRNA with multiple binding sites can through cell membrane easily and escort exogenous molecules to target cell, without inducing immune reaction. As an ideal nano-scale gene therapy vehicle, pRNA presents a promising application in delivering multiple therapeutic components to detect and treat human diseases.

Objective To investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the tubulointerstitium damage in progressive diabetic kidney disease. Methods A rat model of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN) was developed successfully by combination of dietary induced insulin resistance and low dose STZ induced hyperglycemia after unilateral nephrectomy. Female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: control rats, type 2 diabetic rats and type 2 diabetic rats treated with fluvastatin (2mg/kg/d). After 6 weeks, blood glucose, serum insulin, serum triglyceride and cholesterol, serum creatinine, and urinary protein were measured respectively. The protein expressions of c Jun and tansforming growth factor (TGF) ? 1 were studied by immunohistochemistry. TGF ? 1 gene expression was studied with a RT PCR technique. Results Fluvastatin at lower doses, which did not influence blood glucose and blood lipid level, significantly inhibited expression of c Jun protein(0 2536?0 0180 vs 0 5855?0 0314, P

Objective To observe the effect of the early reinforced control ability training of the trunk and pelvis on the motor function of patients with stroke.MethodsFifty-six patients with stroke were randomly divided into the therapy group and control group with 28 cases in each group. The patients of two groups were treated with regular rehabilitation training, forty-five minutes at a time, twice one day; at the same time the patients of the therapy group were administrated with the control ability training in the trunk and pelvis, twenty minutes at a time, twice one day. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale (FMA), the Barthel Index (BI) and functionality ambulation category (FAC) were used to assess the motor function of the patients, before and after the treatment.ResultsTwo months after treatment, there was a significant increasing in the FMA, BI, FAC and hemiplegia gait analysis assessment in the both groups ( P<0.05～0.01), but the walking ability of the therapy group was significantly better than that of the control group ( P<0.05).ConclusionCombined the early reinforced control ability training of the trunk and pelvis with routine rehabilitation training is obvious effect on the motor function of the patients with stroke.

Objective To explore the protocol that induced marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiating into islet-secreting cells in vitro and to provide new clues for the sources of islet transplantation.Methods Using a defined culture medium and technique for transdifferentiation, MSCs from adult SD rats were guided into specific insulin-secreting cells. The expressions of nestin and islet-specific hormones and proteins, such as insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx-1) were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence cytochemistry staining before and after induction. The expressions of pancreatic islet cell differentiation-related transcripts, such as nestin, insulin 1, glucose transporter 2 (GLUT 2), Isl-1, Pdx-1, Pax-4 and Pax-6 were detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). In addition, the quantity of insulin secretion was examined using radioimmunoassay. Results Five hours after induction, (44.6±7.3)% of differentiated MSCs expressed nestin and it increased to (61.8±8.4)% 24 hs after induction, but the expression of nestin almost disappeared at day 14. In the meantime, islet-like cellular clusters appeared after day 14 and became more apparent by day 28. Differentiated cells were found to be immunoreactive to insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and Pdx-1, and expressed insulin 1, GLUT 2, GK, Isl-1, PDX-1, Pax-4, Pax-6 mRNA. In addition, the results of cumulative quantities of insulin of 24 hs and the stimulation index showed that differentiated cells were able to produce insulin at higher levels, and displayed glucose-dependent insulin release in vitro. Conclusions Adult rat MSCs can be differentiated into insulin-secreting cells in vitro. This approach might lead to widespread cell replacement therapy for Type 1 diabetes.

In this study, UPLC-MS/MS was adopted to determine the contents of five ephedrine alkaloids (Norephedrine, Norpseudoephedrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Methylephedrine) in plasma and urine in rats after the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, in order to discuss the effect of the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum on plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion characteristics. According to the results, after being combined with Gypsum, the five ephedrine alkaloids showed similar pharmacokinetic changes, such as shortened t(max), accelerated absorption rate, but reduced AUC(0-t) and V(z)/F, which may be related to the increase in urine excretion. Besides, Gypsum was added to enhance C(max) of Pseudoephedrine and prolong MRT(0-t) of Methylephedrine, so as to enhance the anti-asthmatic effect of Ephedrae Herba and resist the toxic effect of Norephedrine and Ephedrine. This study proved the scientific compatibility of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and provided a reference for studies on the prescription compatibility regularity and relevant practices.
Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Animals ; Calcium Sulfate ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urine ; chemistry

Objective To compare and analyze the formula composition based on their herbal nature for wind, cold, and dampness arthralgia. Methods The ancient formulas for wind, cold, and dampness arthralgia were searched and the database was established. The top 30 high-frequency herbs were analyzed with frequency, hypothesis testing and association rules. The nature, taste, and meridian distribution were used as the variable quantities for clustering analysis. Results Totally 338 formulas were collected, including 122 formulas for wind arthralgia, 110 formulas for cold arthralgia, and 106 formulas for dampness arthralgia. There are 21 same herbs among the top 30 high-frequency herbs;Tonic herbs were the highest frequently used, followed by the divergence of cold herbs in wind arthralgia, interior-warming herbs in cold arthralgia, and damp-resolving herbs in dampness arthralgia. The frequently used herbs in each kind of formula compared with other two kinds were:Cinnamomi Cortex, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Notopterygii Rhizome et Radix, Paeoniae Radix and Astrragali Radix in formulas for cold arthralgia, Poria and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma in formulas for dampness arthralgia. Three kinds of formulas are given priority to slight warm, followed by warm and neutral. Classification is clear when most of the formulas were clustered into five classes according to their herbal nature in each kind of formula. Conclusion The three kinds of formulas cross each other but with own characteristics. A variety of data mining methods can be used to analyze scientific connotation of therapeutic principle for arthralgia.

Noise of ECP (external counterpulsation) comes from the frequent movement of the electromagnetic valve iron core hitting the top of the valve body and the orifice of the bottom, and the high pressure and large air stream rubbing the orifice. This article studies the method to reduce mechanical noise of the electromagnetic valve core, that is to reduce the above movement energy and the hitting force. The method is used in ECP devices with grafying results. This noise controlling technology may reduce the noise of the electromagnetic valve from higher than 50dB to less than 25dB.
Counterpulsation ; instrumentation ; Electromagnetic Phenomena ; instrumentation ; Electronics ; instrumentation ; Equipment Design ; Equipment Failure ; Humans ; Microcomputers ; Noise ; prevention & control ; Software

Objective： This study was designed to investigate the relationship between expression level of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) or P-glycoprotein (P-gp) genes and chemotherapy efficacy or clinical drug resistance in the patients with malignant lymphomas. Methods： Using the methods of semi quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry (FCM), The authors examined the expression level of MRP and P-gp of 46 lymphoma patients. Results： The expression level and positive rate of P-gp in the recurrent patients was higher than that in untreated patients (P<0.001). There was no difference in MRP gene expression level and positive rate between recurrent and untreated patients (P>0.05). Chemotherapeutic effective rate in P-gp positive patients (26.67％ ) was lower than that in P-gp negative patients (83.87％ )(P<0.001). While there was no difference between MRP gene positive and negative patients, their chemotherapy effective rate had no difference. Relevant analysis showed that there was no correlation between MRP and P-gp (r-0.0808, P>0.05). Conclusion： P-gp expression correlates to multidrug resistance, and is the major mechanism of clinical drug resistance of lymphomas, whereas, MRP gene does not appears to play any role in that course.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to conduct a survey of the oral health status of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province. This study was also conducted to prepare caries prevention planning in the region.

METHODSOn the basis of the Oral Health Surveys: Basic Methods of WHO and the Third National Oral Health Epidemiological Sample Survey Scheme, we investigated caries infecting disabled individuals who live in one big city (Xichang city), three counties (Bhutto county, Muli Tibetan autonomous county, and Huili county), and 46 towns and villages of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province, by multi-stage stratified and cluster sampling.

RESULTSAmong 3,439 disabled individuals, 2,085 were males and 1,354 were females; among these individuals, 815 live in the city and 2,624 live in rural areas. Furthermore, 2,177 were Han natives and 1,262 were Yi natives (ethnic). The caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 87.1% and 9.53, respectively. In Yi, the caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 85.8% and 9.93, respectively; in Han, the caries prevalence rate and mean DMFT of disabled individuals in Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province were 87.9% and 9.29, respectively. No significant difference was found in the two groups of native (P > 0.05). A very low filling rate of 0.2% was also recorded.

CONCLUSIONDisabled individuals from Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province exhibited a high prevalence of caries in permanent teeth. The oral health status of this special group of disabled individuals should be provided intensive care.

Objective To investigate the association between the tumour necrosis factor-α-863(TNF-α-863) polymorphism and gout in Han population from the city of Tangshan.Methods We recruited 80 gout patients and 80 healthy individuals into this study.The polymorphisms of TNF-α-863 site were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction(PCR-LDR).The frequencies of different TNF-α-863 genotypes/alleles were analyzed in the gout group and the control subjects.Results No significant differences were observed in the genotype frequencies(x2=2.8807,P=0.0897) and allelic frequencies(x2=4.2646,P=0.1187) of TNF-α-863 site in the comparison between gout and control groups.Conclusion The result of our study suggests that the polymorphism of TNF-α-863 site may not related to gout in Han population in Tangshan.