AIM:To investigate the relationship between serum ghrelin level and body composition including bone mineral content (BMC),fat mass(FM) & lean mass(LM) in premenopausal women with different thyroid functional status.METHODS:We measured the serum ghrelin levels by radioimmunoassay (RIA),the serum levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and sensitive thyroid-stimulating hormone (sTSH) by chemiluminescene immune assay.The total body composition including total BMC,FM and LM was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 71 premenopausal women with different thyroid functional status (33 hyperthyroidism,18 hypothyroidism and 20 normal subjects).RESULTS:(1) The level of serum ghrelin in patients with hyperthyroidism was significantly lower than that in patients with hypothyroidism (P0.05).The serum ghrelin level was correlated negatively with FT3(r=-0.318,P0.05).CONCLUSION:The serum ghrelin level in the premenopausal women with different thyroid functional status may correlate with the total BMC,LM and body weight.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the application of prognosis evaluation of ulnar nerve injury by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). METHODS: The metabolites of first dorsal interossei (FDI) of two hands from 12 healthy volunteers and 1 volunteer with complete ulnar nerve injury were detected by 1H-MRS and the data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: For the FDI of healthy adults, the female peaks area of extra-myocellular lipids (EMCL) was higher than the male (P < 0.05); There was no significant difference in Cho, Cr and intra-myocellular lipids (IMCL) between male and female (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in all the peaks area between the left and right hand (P > 0.05). The EMCL peak of the injury side was higher than that of the healthy side, and the area of FDI was reduced in the volunteer with ulnar nerve injury. CONCLUSION Noninvasive and quantitative detection of 1H-MRS may be valuable for prognosis evaluation of peripheral nerve injury.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods* ; Sex Distribution ; Ulnar Nerve/metabolism*

From an ethanol extract of Euphorbia micractina roots, seven steroids fifteen aromatic derivatives were isolated by a combination of various chromatographic techniques, including column chromatography over macroporous resin, silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis as stigamast-5-ene-3beta, 7alpha-diol(1), stigamast-5-ene-3beta,7beta-diol(2), stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol-7-one(3), stigmast-4-en-6beta-ol-3-one(4), stigmast-1, 4-dien-3-one(5), stigmast-3,6-dione(6), beta-sitosterol(7), scopoletin(8), aesculetin(9), 6-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxycoumarin(10), quercetin(11), 3,3', 4'-tri-O-methylellagic acid(12), p-hydroxyphenylethyl anisate(13), m-hydroxyphenylethyl alcohol(14), (E)-cinnamic acid(15), (E)-ferulic acid(16), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid(17), vanillic acid(18), p-hydroxybenzoic acid(19), ethyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (20), ethyl gallate(21), and methyl gallate(22). These compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Steroids ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the features of familiar facial palsy,ophthalmoplegia and dysphagia characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance in a family and to discuss the classification and pathogenesis of the disease.Methods Clinical,electrophysiological,pathological examinations were performed and blood samples were obtained from 5 patients and 26 family members.PCR protocol was used to identify a certain gene. Results In the 5 patients receiving physical examination,all had ptosis,external ophthalmoplegia,facial paralysis,dyphagia,hoarseness,decreased pharyngeal reflex;4 had amyotrophy of muscle of tongue,temporal nuscle,masseter and muscles of distal lower limbs;3 had proximal limb asthenia and distal limbs amyotrophy.Compared to those of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy(OPMD)with similar symptoms and signs,both electrophysiological manifestation and pathological findings of the family members supported the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy,but the(GCG)6(GCA)3GCG in the first exon of PABPN1 mutated neither in normal family members nor in patients.Conclusions This family presents clinical manifestations somewhat resembling to those of OPMD and distinctive to other disorders,but has a totally different genetic background from OPMD.It may be a new subtype of muscular dystrophy.

Objective To explore the effect of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide(CEES) poisoning on keratinocyte migration and the regulatory role of microRNA(miR)-34a.Methods MTS was used to detect the viability of cells exposed to CEES in order to select an appropriate dose of CEES exposure in this in vitro model.The protein level of keratin 5 and keratin 10 was detected to assess cell differentiation status .Scratch assay was applied to evaluate cell migration ,and miR-34a silencing in keratinocytes was achieved by transfecting chemically synthesized miR-34a specific miRNA inhibitor.t-ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 levels closely related to cell migration were detected using Western blotting .Results An in vitro CEES exposure model of keratinocytes was established at the optimal concentration of 0.5 mmol/L CEES in the viability test , and this dose was chosen to evaluate cell migration changes .The migration of cells was significantly inhibited 24 h after CEES exposure , accompanied by no changes in morphology and keratin 5/10 levels.Silencing of miR-34a significantly increased the migration of cells exposed to CEES , which could be blocked by adding 5 μmol/L U0126 , an ERK1/2 phosphorylation selective inhibitor.Conclusion Silencing of miR-34a can significantly increase keratinocyte migration and partially reverse the inhibition of CEES-caused migration , which could be mediated by ERK 1/2 pathway activation .

OBJECTIVETo observe cerebral protective effect of muscone (nasal administration) on traumatic brain injury model rats.

METHODSSD rats were divided into the sham-operation group, the model group, and the treatment groups according to random digit table, 50 in each group. Traumatic brain injury model was established by controlled cortical strike. Rats in the sham-operation group received surgery and anesthesia procedures only, with no strike. Muscone (1.8 mg/kg) was delivered to rats in the treatment group using in situ nasal perfusion, 30 min each time, twice daily for 7 successive days. Water content of brain tissue was detected in each group before intervention (T1), at day 3 of intervention (T2), day 5 of intervention (T3), and after intervention (T4), respectively. Expression levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were detected using immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operated group, water content of brain tissue increased (P < 0.05), and expression levels of NGF and BDNF decreased in the model group at T1, T2, T3, and T4 (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, water content of brain tissue decreased (P < 0.05), and expression levels of NGF and BDNF increased (P < 0.01) in the treatment group at T1, T2, and T3.

CONCLUSIONNasal administration of muscone could reduce water content of brain tissue, alleviate cerebral edema, promote secretion of BDNF and NGF by olfactory ensheathing cells in traumatic brain injury rats.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Cycloparaffins ; pharmacology ; Nerve Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the risk factors influencing early and late recurrences after resection of primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver (PCCCL).Methods 214 PCCCL patients treated by curative resection from January 1996 to March 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.Recurrences were classified into early (≤1 year) and late (＞1 year) recurrences.Results 99 patients developed recurrences,with early recurrence in 28 patients and late recurrence in 71 patients.The 3-and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for recurrent PCCCL were significantly worse than those with no recurrence (68.7％ and 46.2％ vs 72.2％ and 64.3％,P=0.003).The 1-,3-and 5-year OS rates for late recurrence were 100％,80.3％ and 54.6％,which were significantly better than those with early recurrence (85.7％,39.3％ and 25.0％,P=0.001).On multivariate analysis,aminoleucine transferase (ALT) level and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for early recurrence,while age was the only significant risk factor for late recurrence.Conclusions The time to recurrence was the main determinant for prognosis of recurrent PCCCL,Clarifying the different risk factors for early and late recurrences will help postoperative follow-up,early detection of recurrence,and hopefully will improve survival.

Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors of primary clear cell carcinoma of the liver(PCCCL). Methods A total of 214 PCCCL patients treated by curative resection from January 1996 to March 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The 1-,3-,and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for PCCCL patients were significantly better than those of non-clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma ( NHCC ) patients ( 90.2％,70.6％,and 55.9％ vs 82.8％,62.7％ and 47.7％,P =0.001 ).Tumor size was significantly smaller in PCCCL group than in NHCC group ( x2 =4.37,P =0.04 ).Tumors of PCCCL group had a lower incidence of vascular invasion ( x2 =9.42,P =0.002) and a better differentiation than those of NHCC group ( x2 =4.30,P =0.04).Serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) level,tumor size,liver cirrhosis,and vascular invasion were independent risk factors impacting OS and disease-free survival (DFS) of PCCCL. Conclusions PCCCL is an uncommon subtype of HCC and has different clinicopathologic characteristics from NHCC. Complete surgical resection is the optimal treatment for PCCCL and its prognosis is much better than that of NHCC.

Objective: To explore the determinants for health-seeking behavior of the residents after cough for more than 3 weeks in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, in order to provide reference for prevention and control of respiratory diseases. Methods: A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit the community residents aged 5 years and above in Yiwu. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted to collect demographic information, features of cough and health-seeking behaviors in the past month. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Results: Among 6 374 residents investigated, 152 cases had a cough for more than 3 weeks in the past month, accounting for 2.48%. They were( 45.00±21.15 ) years old, including 70 ( 46.05% ) males and 82 ( 53.95% ) females. About 58.55% ( 89 ) of them sought medical treatment. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that females ( OR=2.100, 95%CI: 1.005-4.391 ), middle school education level ( OR=0.406, 95%CI: 0.168-0.983 ), family annual income of 100 000 to 199 999 yuan ( OR=2.993, 95%CI: 1.215-7.373 ) were associated factors for health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks. Conclusion The rate of health-seeking behavior after a cough for more than 3 weeks among the residents in Yiwu is 58.55%, which is associated with gender, education level and income.

OBJECTIVETo obtain the polymorphism data of six short tandem repeat (STR) loci, i.e. D9S925, D11S2368, D14S608, D15S659, D17S1290 and D20S470, in Chinese Han population in Shanxi province, and to evaluate the usefulness of the polymorphism data in forensic science.

METHODSThe D9S925, D11S2368, D14S608, D17S1290 and D20S470 primers were synthesized according to GenBank, while the D15S659 primers were self-designed. These primers were used to amplify DNA from 194 unrelated individuals collected from Shanxi Han population. Then the amplified fragments were separated by electrophoresis in 3130 Genetic Analyzer. GeneMapper3.2 software was used to analyze the results.

RESULTSThe distributions of genotypes for the six STR loci were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of the six STR loci were from 0.750 to 0.860, and the heterozygosity ranged from 0.756 to 0.894, and the discrimination power were from 0.920 to 0.965, and the probability of exclusion were from 0.519 to 0.784. The combined probability of exclusion and the combined discrimination power were 0.9988 and 0.99999998, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe data indicated that D9S925, D11S2368, D14S608, D15S659, D17S1290 and D20S470 loci have high probability of exclusion and discrimination power. They can be used as genetic markers in forensic test and personal identification.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; ethnology ; genetics ; Genetic Loci ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic