Objective Androgen is an important precursor for the synthesis of estrogen in vivo and is involved in the regulation of female reproductive function.In this study, we explored the influence of different lengths of prepubertal exposure to hyperandrogen on the reproductive function of adult female rats. Methods Twenty-five 23-day-old female rats were equally randomized into five groups:oil control, 2-wk dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 4-wk DHEA, 6-wk DHEA, and 8-wk DHEA, injected with oil or DHEA daily for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks respectively, and mated at 80 days old.We detected serum concentrations of total testosterone (tT), estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone ( FSH) and luteinizing hormone ( LH) by ELISA, observed the time of vaginal opening and changes of the estrous cycle, and recorded the rates of mating and pregnancy, the number of the offspring and their survival rate. Results The tT lev-el was elevated after 2 weeks of DHEA injection, fell to normal after drug withdrawal in the 2-wk and 4-wk DHEA groups, and remained at a high level in the 6-wk group.The E2 level was markedly increased in at 2 and 4 weeks but showed a falling trend at 6 and 8 weeks. DHEA injection did not change the level of FSH significantly but re-markably lifted that of LH with the increased concentration of tT.The vaginal opening time was significantly advanced in the 2-wk DHEA group as compared with the controls ([26.60 ±0.89] d vs [35.20 ±
2.49] d, P<0.01).The estrous cycle exhibited no significant change until the 4th week (20.00%vs 86.67%, P<0.05) and returned to normal with drug withdrawal in the 2-wk and 4-wk groups, but not in 6-wk and 8-wk groups.Compared with the oil controls, the rats in the 6-wk and 8-wk groups showed a dramatically lower number of offspring (10.20 ±1.48 vs 6.40 ±1.14 and 6.60 ±1.52, P<0.01) as well as a lower survival rate of the offspring (9.40 ±1.67 vs 5.60 ±0.55 and 5.40 ±1.67, P<0.05).However, no statistically sig-nificant differences were found in the rates of mating and pregnancy among the five groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Prepubertal expo-sure to hyperandrogen may advance adrenarche and gonadarche and affect the initiation of the sexual gland function in female rats.Impro-ving the hyperandrogen status in the early pubertal stage can reverse the disorder of the estrous cycle, while long-term exposure to DHEA may significantly reduce the fecundity at the childbearing age.

Objective To Observe the influence of Zaoshi Jiedu Zhupi Sanjing (ZPSJ) Recipe on insulin sensitivity, serum resistin and inflammatory factors related to the effects of Chinese herbal compound in type 2 diabetic patients with insulin resistance. Methods A single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted. 80 patients with 2 type diabetic patients with insulin resistance were recruited into a control group and a treatment group. The treatment group was treated with ZPSJ Recipe, and the control group was treated with metformin. Results In each group before and after treatment: blood glucose, serum insulin levels, HOMA-IR were significantly decreased (t=7.14, P<0.01 ) ; between the two groups, FPG, FINS showed no significant difference, while TG TCH, HOMA-LR showed significantly differences (t=2.62, P <0.05 ). Within the two groups before and after the treatment: serum IL-6, TNF-a, hs-CRP were decreased in treatment group, (t= 1.85, P<0.05 ) , while TNF-a, hs-CRP were decreased in the control group (t=2.56, P<0.05 ) , while IL-6 did not change significantly. The serum resistin levels were not statistically changed in both groups before and after treatment. Conclusion ZPSJ Recipe can regulate blood sugar, blood fat and improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients with insulin resistance.

Objective To reveal the features of fund sponsored articles and the status of scientific research by analyzing fund sponsored articles in Hubei Region.Methods The papers published from the year of 2001-2010 by the authors of Hubei Region in 11 domestic ophthalmology periodicals were investigated.The amount of funds obtained,funded papers output,research content and direction,and the literature type were calculated by quantitative analysis methods.Results There were 142 of funded projects supported by the National Natural Science Fundation(NSFC),province/ministry and other sourses from the year of 2001 to 2010 in Hubei Region.The amount of projects funded by national was 2.55 times higher in the year between 2006-2010 compared with the year of 2001-2005,meanwhile,province/ministry projects were 1.97 times increased.Among 28698 articles published in 11 ophthalmologic journals(Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology,etc.) between 2001-2010,in which 134 funded articles were published by the authors of Hubei region,accounted for 4.67％ of total papers were supported by varous funds.The papers of applications and basic application were accounted for 43.28％,to explore the pathogenesis and mechanisms were accounted for 30.60％.The subjects of fund sponsored articles were mainly in the field of retine,cornea,glaucoma,lens or cataract.Conclusions Offer as a referance to the ophthalmologist and researchers choose the research direction.Clinical research,continuously research and multidisciplinary cross studies should be strengthed.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular global longitudinal strain in endocardium,middle myocardium and epi cardium of patients with breast carcinoma treated with anthracyclines by two-dimensional layered strain technology.Methods Totally 20 breast cancer patients after surgery without chemotherapy (control group) and 32 breast cancer patients who were treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy were enrolled.The patients treated with chemotherapy were performed transthoracic echocardiography 3 months and 5 months after chemotherapy.Global longitudinal strain (GLS) and each segment (apex,basis and media section) strain in 3 myocardial layers (endocardium,middle myocardium and epicardium) were measured by EchoPAC software.Results Compared with control group,with the extension of chemotherapy cycle,GLS of 3 myocardial layers reduced in breast carcinoma patients treated with anthracyclines (all P＜0.05),but left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had no statistical difference (P＞0.05).Compared with control group,each layer of each segment of longitudinal strain decreased in breast carcinoma patients treated with anthracyclines (all P＜0.05),except the apex section.Conclusion Longitudinal layer-specific strain technology can accurate assess whole and local systolic function of 3 myocardial layers of left ventricular,which can provide a new method for judging myocardial damage.

Objective To explore the expression of IFN-γ and IL-10 in lymphocytes in the process of the graft rejection process following liver transplantation in rats and their biological significances.Methods Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) models were established by modified Kamada two-cuff technique.Recipients were divided into three groups.The allograft group underwent OLT from male Wistar-to-Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.The isograft group of SD-to-SD liver transplantation was complemented with a control group of normal male SD rats that had sham operations.The histological changes were examined,as well as serum and Mrna expression levels of IFN-γand IL-10.Results Serious morphological changes were observed in the allografted hepatic tissue.Many necrotic hepatocytes were seen and vacuolar degeneration of kytoplasm,karyopycnosis even nuclear fragmentation was observed in biliary duct endothelial cells.Many inflammatory cells infiltrated the portal areas,and the architecture of the liver lobules was destroyed.In contrast there were mild morphological changes in isograft hepatic tissue .A few inflammatory cells infiltrated the portal area;the hepatic lobule structure remained and biliary duct endothelial cells were nearly normal.Serum IFN-γ levels (pg/ml)determined by ELISA in the allograft group and isograft group were 386.7±14.4 and 159.8±16.5 respectively(P<0.05);for IL-10,they were 126.3±13.1 and 288.3±17.1,respectively(P<0.05).The semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay showed that expression levels of IFN-γand IL-10 Mrna were similar to those in serum.Conclusion The expression of IFN-γ was obviously advanced in graft rejection following liver transplantation in rats and the expression of IL-10 was depressed. The dynamic equilibrium of T_H1/T_H2 cytokines is very important in the process of graft rejection following liver transplantation in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different administrations of antibodies against adipocyte plasma membrane proteins on growth and fat deposition in rats.

METHODNinety six female SD rats that weighed approximately 140 g were allotted randomly into four groups which were given negitive control yolk and positive yolk containing antibody (IgY) against adipocyte plasma membrane (APM) proteins by intragastric administration (i.g.) and subcutaneous injection (s.c.) respectively. Rats were given 1 ml of yolk for every three days in i.g. groups. Rats were given 1 ml of yolk for 4 consecutive days, and the procedure was repeated after one month. The trial lasted for 75 days after which rats were slaughtered for carcass analysis and sampling.

RESULTSThe body weight gain and food intake of rats were not different between treatment and control groups. In i.g. goups, positive yolk decreased mesemteric fat index, paramertrial fat index and perirenal fat index (P < 0.05), reduced serum triglycerides (P < 0.05) and increased serum free fatty acids (FFA) (P < 0.01), and also decreased serum leptin, insulin and TNF-alpha levels ( P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but did not affect gastrocnemius muscle index and serum cholesterol. In s.c. groups, positive yolk increased gastrocnemius muscle index (P < 0.05), reduced serum triglycerides and serum leptin (P < 0.01), increased serum TNF-alpha (P < 0.05), but did not affect adipose tissue depots, serum FFA, cholesterol and insulin.

CONCLUSIONAdministration of yolk antibody against APM proteins could effectively improve body composition of rats, and the treatment by intragastric administration could give better effect than by subcutaneous injection.

Adipose Tissue ; growth & development ; Animals ; Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Body Composition ; Egg Yolk ; immunology ; Female ; Growth and Development ; physiology ; Immunization ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impacts of biological factors (age and sex) and family factors (socioeconomic status and parenting style) on the early lexical and intellectual development of children in a longitudinal tracking study.

METHODSA total of 38 Mandarin-speaking children aged from 18 to 24 months were surveyed using the Putonghua Chinese Communicative Development Inventory (PCDI), the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), and a self-designed Questionnaire for Parents. All of the subjects were retested using PCDI and ASQ after 6 months.

RESULTSBiological factors accounted for 65% of the variance in lexical development, 10% of which was attributed to gender, in the first survey. After six months, the contribution of age decreased to 26% and gender had no significant impact. Lexical development could positively predict the intellectual development of children. When age and gender were controlled, it accounted for 22% of the variance in intellectual development. Family socioeconomic factors had no significant impacts on lexical and intellectual development. Children's recognition of people and objects around them with guidance of parents in parenting styles could positively predict the intellectual development of children six months later, which accounted for 10% of the variance.

CONCLUSIONSBiological factors play an important role in the early lexical development of children. However, the influence decreases with the increase of age (months). Biological factors, lexical development, and parenting style have a combined influence on children's intellectual development.

Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intelligence ; Language ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Parents ; Social Class

ObjectiveTo study the efficacy of using multileaf collimators with different position and different degree in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques.Methods Ten patients withNPC were administered andanalyzed.Thepenumbra characteristics, dose of target, and radiation conformal indexes (CI) of mode T1 and mode T2 were measured and compared using dose volume histogram generated by Varian Eclipse three-dimensional planning computer system. Mode T1 :The angles of seven coplanar beams were 0°, 52°, 106°, 160°, 212°, 258°and 308°,respectively. There were no restriction on the position and degree of multileaf collimators. Parameters were set and optimized. Mode T2 :The beam angles and the parameters were as same as mode T1. According to the actual situations, the position and the degree of the multileaf collimators were changed. Then thedose optimization was performed. Results Target dose coverage in both mode T1 and T2 could be clinically accepted, and the CI were 0. 82 and 0. 83(t = -0. 25, P =0. 815). The maximum dose reductions in the lens, eyes, optic nerves and corneas were 28. 7% (t = 4. 80, P = 0. 000), 2. 7% (t = 2. 99, P = 0. 021),1.4%(t= 1.05,P=0.032), and 30.5% (t=2.99,P=0. 020), respectively. However, the mean dose and V35 of the parotid were increased by 0. 6% (t = - 2. 82, P = 0. 043) and 9.9% (t = - 2. 05, P =0. 038). ConclusionsOpimization of multileaf collimators can reduce the scattering and leaking rays. Compared with mode T1 ,controlling the position and degree of multileaf collimators could reduce the radiation dose to the eyes and optic-nerves, especially to the lens.

Objective To investigate effects of the amphiphilic peptides on membrane permeability of acinetobacter bauman-nii .Methods The LysAB3 and LysAB3-D (lack of amphiphilic peptides structure gene) was synthesized and inserted into the vec-tor pET28a(+ ) to construct the recombinant expression plasmid (pET28a-LysAB3 ,pET28a-LysAB3-D) .After expression in E . coli BL21(DE3) and purification with Ni2+-NTA Sepharose .Acinetobacter baumannii was observed by scanning electron microsco-py and fluorescence microscope ,pretreated with LysAB3 and LysAB3-D respectively .Results Under scanning electron microscopy , LysAB3-treated acinetobacter baumannii exhibited not only significant abnormalities ,including deep roughening of the cell surface , but also FITC readily accumulated in bacteria .It was different from LysAB3-D-treated .Conclusion These results indicate that the amphiphilic peptides structure increase membrane permeability of acinetobacter baumannii ,which helps LysAB3 degrade bacteria .

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing attention in the study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (ALS)and bone metabolism, which is accompanied by osteopenia and osteoporosis. Interleukin(IL) -6, a cytokine that strongly promotes bone resorption, participates in the regulation of bone metablism.OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between changes of bone mineral density(BMD) and serum IL-6 content in AIS.DESIGN: A controlled non-randomized concurrent study involving patients with AIS and and healthy volunteers.SETTING: The clinic and wards of the department of spinal surgery of a university-affiliated hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six patients with AIS(6 males and 30 females aged 12 to 18 years) were treated in the Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University from July to October 2003, who had a Cobb angle ranging from 34° - 109° and curvature of the thoracic spine. Thirty-six healthy adolescent volunteers(7 males and 29 females within the range of 13 - 18 years old) served as the control group.METHODS: The BMD was measured at L2- L4 and the proximal femur;(including the femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and serum IL-6 determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① BMD of the lumbar spine and femur ② Comparison of serum IL-6 content of all the subjects.RESULTS: The BMD of AIS patients at L2- L4, femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle was 0.79±0. 12, 0.78±0. 12, 0.65± 0. 10, and 0. 69 ± 0. 13 g/cm2, respectively, all significantly lower than the corresponding measurements of the control group(1.09 ± 0. 11, 0.95 ± 0. 11,0. 78 ± 0. 10, and 0. 88 ± 0. 11 g/cm2, respectively, P ＜ 0. 001), whereas the serum IL-6 content in the patients was significantly higher than that in the control subjects ( P ＜ 0. 005). The changes of BMD at the lumbar spine and the three sites of femur were negatively correlated with serum IL-6 in AIS patients( P ＜ 0. 001 ), but not so in the control group( P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The BMD is decreased and serum IL-6 elevated in patients with AIS, and excessive secretion of IL-6 might be one of the important factors of osteopenia in AIS.