Background and purpose:The E-cadherin as a pivotal structural protein is important for cellular polarity and maintainance of normal tissue morphology and cellular differentiation. Recently some study investigated the impact of the C/A genetic polymorphism at-160 from the site of the E-cadherin gene promoter on susceptibility in NPC. To evaluate the association of the E-cadherin gene promoter-160 C/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk in a Chinese population, we designed a hospital-based case-control study. Methods:Subjects included in this study were 303 patients deifnitely diagnosed with NPC, and 318 matched healthy controls. We used TaqMan Probe method for analyzing polymorphism. Results:The A/A genotype was associated with increased risk of NPC after being adjusted for age and gender (adjusted OR=2.09, 95%CI:1.03-4.22, P=0.04). When 2 gender groups were analysed respectively, female group with A/A genotypes showed a higher risk (OR=7.57, 95%CI:1.57-36.47, P=0.012). Besides, among NPC patients compared with males A/A genotype, females with A/A genotype had a signiifcant risk(OR=2.66, 95%CI:1.14-6.20, P=0.024). Conclusion:The A/A genotype of E-cadherin promoter-160 C/A might be genetic risk factor for NPC, especially female patients.

Objective To explore the relationship between substance P(SP),somatostatin(SS) expression and change of morphology structure in jejunum of arsenism rats.Methods Acoording to sex and body mass,forty five clean grade SD rats were divided into control(0.0 mg.kg-1.d-1),low-dose arsenic(0.4 mg.kg-1.d-1) and high-dose arsenic(10.0 mg.kg-1.d-1) groups,n =15.The rats in low-and high-dose groups were treated with As2O3(2,50 mg/L) through drinking water for 4 months,respectively.Morphology changes of jejunum were observed by histological technique-HE staining and SABC immunohistochemistry.SP and SS positive cells in the jejunum were observed and counted,and its average gray value was analyzed with image analysis software (Biomias).Results Some jejunal villi were irregular in arsenism rats; with some brush border loss and irregular; goblet cells increased; infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria; and vacuoles in some intestinal gland cells.The differences of SP and SS positive cells between groups were statistically significant (F =608.54,227.59,all P ＜0.05).Compared with the control group (0.94 + 0.21,1.14 + 0.14),SP and SS positive cells in low-and highdose arsenic groups(1.85 + 0.25,1.83 + 0.24 and 4.24 + 0.33,3.31 ± 0.41) were significantly higher(all P ＜0.05),and high-dose arsenic group was significantly higher than the low-dose arsenic group(all P ＜ 0.05).The differences of average gray values of SP and SS positive cells between groups were statistically significant(F =68.43,26.57,all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group(133.76 ± 3.61,137.57 ± 5.49),SP and SS positive cells in low-and high-dose arsenic groups(125.13 + 2.35,131.28 ± 5.66 and 118.30 ± 4.58,124.03 ± 3.94) were significantly lower(all P ＜ 0.05),and high-dose arsenic group was significantly lower than the low-dose arsenic group (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Up-regulation of SP,SS may be related to jejunal mucosal injury and morphology structure in arsenic poisoning rats.

Objective To study the molecular mechanism of renal injury of chronic arsenic poisoning rats induced by the expression of cysteine caspase-8 and P53 in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.Methods Sixty healthy SD rats were divided into three groups,high-,low-dose group,and control group,n =20 in each group.The rats in high and low dose groups were treated with As203 through drinking water,10.0 and 0.4 mg/kg,respectively.The control rats were given distilled water.Four months later,serum and urinary arsenic level was determined,and kidney specimens were taken.The expression of cysteine caspase-8 and P53 in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells was detected by histological technique-HE staining and SABC immunohistochemistry.In addition,cell number counting and image analyses were used in the study.Results The number of caspase-8 positive cells of renal proximal tubule in control group,low-and high-dose group was 3.33±1.32,31.14±8.02 and 46.50±7.20 cell number/visual fields,respectively,which was increased with dose increasing(all P ＜0.05);the average gray value was 151.34±6.40,133.58±4.63 and 128.34±16.28,respectively,decreased with dose increasing(all P ＜0.05).The number of P53 positive cells was 3.17±1.59,26.29±4.23 and 47.00±6.22 cell number/visual fields,respectively,increased with dose increasing (all P ＜ 0.05) ; the average gray value was 142.54±8.06,121.48±5.68 and 101.89±6.35,respectively,decreased with dose increasing (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The increase of caspase-8 and P53 positive cells is one of the molecular mechanisms of renal injury induced by arsenic poisoning.

Objective To study the relation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in serum and tumor necrosis fac- tor-?in serum and amniotic fluid in predicting ehorioamnhionitis in patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Methods The levels of MMP-9 in serum and TNF-?in serum and amniotie fluid were measured by ra- dioimmunoassay and ELISA in 67 cases with premature rupture of membranes as study group and 40 cases normal full-termed pregnant women as controls group.Results(1)The levels of TNF-?in amniotie fluid and MMP-9 in serum in study group were significantly higher than those in controls group(P0.05).(2)In study group,the levels of MMP-9 of serum in0.05).Conclusions The levels of TNF-?in amniotic fluid and MMP-9 in serum were valuable clinical indices for identification of chorioamnionitis in patients with PROM.The levels of MMP-9 in serum also could assess the time of rupture of membranes and the degree of ehorioamnionitis.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brugada Syndrome ; Cardiac Conduction System Disease ; Coma ; etiology ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective:To describe the electroclinical features of the coexistence of epilepsy and narcolepsy.Methods:The electroencephalography database was searched using the terms “epilepsy” and “narcolepsy” over a four-year period from January 2016 to December 2019 in the Xijing Hospital. The clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of patients with coexistence of epilepsy and narcolepsy were studied.Results:Five patients with comorbidity for epilepsy and narcolepsy were found, of which three patients were female, two patients were male. The age at epilepsy onset and narcolepsy onset was 2-12 years and 8-17 years, respectively. There were two patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, one with sleep-related hypermoter epilepsy, one with epilepsy with retardation of brain development, one with symptomatic epilepsy with cognitive decline. All the patients had narcolepsy with cataplexy, which followed the onset of epilepsy by three months to eight years. All the patients accepted 24 h video electroencephalography monitoring and multiple sleep latency test. Interictal epileptic discharges were found, mean sleep latency was<8 min, and two or more sleep onset rapid eye movement periods were recorded. Duloxetine hydrochloride can effectively improve the drowsiness and catalepsy symptoms of narcolepsy, and seizures did not worsen in patients using duloxetine hydrochloride.Conclusions:Both generalized and focal epilepsy can occur in narcolepsy with cataplexy. Duloxetine hydrochloride may be safe and effective in treating narcolepsy in patients with epilepsy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Zige lyophilized powder for injection in improving the acute cerebral microcirculation disturbance in rats.

METHODWindow craniotomy was performed for rats after the drug administration for 14 days. The experimental microcirculation disturbance model was duplicated with high molecule dextran. After the drug administration, the micro-vein diameters of cerebral pla mater of various groups were observed and recorded under the biological microscope. The blood flow volume was monitored by laser Doppler flow-meter. HCT was measured by the electric resistance method. The hemorheological indexes were detected by the auto-hemorheological instrument.

RESULTZige lyophilized powder for injection (16.40, 32.70, 65.40 mg x kg(-1)) could significantly expand the micro-vein diameter of cerebral pla mater, improve the downward trend of the blood flow volume, and reduce the various hemorheological indexes.

CONCLUSIONZige lyophilized powder for injection shows the effect in improving the cerebral microcirculation.

Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Amyloid β protein (Aβ) is closely involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and one of the main strategies for AD treatment is antagonizing the neurotoxicity of Aβ or even clearing the Aβ deposited in the brain. The present study was aimed to observe the effects of intrahippocampal injection of Aβ₃₁₋₃₅ on the spatial learning and memory of rats by using Morris water maze technique, and explore the neuroprotective effects and possible mechanism of [Gly14]-humanin (HNG) against Aβ-induced deficits in learning behavior. The results showed that bilateral intrahippocampal injection of 2.0 nmol Aβ₃₁₋₃₅ significantly increased the mean traveled distance of rats in searching for the hidden underwater platform and decreased the distance percentage in the target quadrant in probe test after withdrawal of platform, whereas pretreatment with HNG (0.2 nmol and 2.0 nmol) suppressed Aβ₃₁₋₃₅-induced increase in the traveled distance and decrease in swimming distance percentage. Application of Genistein (40 nmol), a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor, almost completely blocked the antagonistic effects of HNG against Aβ₃₁₋₃₅. These results indicate that HNG can dose-dependently prevent against Aβ₃₁₋₃₅-induced impairment in spatial learning and memory of rats, and the neuroprotective effects of HNG might involve the activation of endogenous tyrosine kinase pathway, suggesting that up-regulation of the tyrosine kinase signaling by using HNG might be of great significance for the improvement of cognitive function in AD.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Memory ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Spatial Learning ; drug effects

Objective: To explore application of 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in aged patients with hypertension. Methods: A total of 223 aged patients with hypertension treated in our hospital from Feb 2013 to Feb 2015 were selected. According to age, patients were divided into young age group (60～79 years, n=137) and advanced age group (≥80 years, n=86). Another 80 normotensive aged people undergoing physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were regarded as healthy control group. The 24h systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) were measured and compared between three groups. Results: Ambulatory blood pressure: compared with healthy control group, there were significant rise in 24h mean blood pressure (BP) [24hSBP: (117. 63±11. 53) mmHg vs. (132. 04±11. 23) mmHg vs. (144. 26±12. 87) mmHg], daytime BP [dSBP: (119. 85±13. 20) mmHg vs. (134. 26±13. 52) mmHg vs. (146. 83±10. 64) mmHg]and nighttime BP [nSBP: (115. 48±9. 74) mmHg vs. (128. 76±10. 85) mmHg vs. (141. 67±13. 42) mmHg]in young age group and advanced age group (P＜0. 05 or＜0. 01). Compared with young age group, there were significant reductions in 24h DBP, dDBP and nDBP, and significant rise in 24h SBP, dSBP, nSBP, 24h PP, dPP and nPP in advanced age group (P＜0. 05 or ＜0. 01). Conclusion: The 24h ABPM can effectively display the blood pressure abnormal fluctuations in aged patients with hypertension, and the higher age is, the greater blood pressure abnormal fluctuation is.

Objective To study the anti-fatigue effect of methylphenidate hydrochloride oral fast dissolving films (MPH-OFDF) and its mechanism .Methods 60 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups as:normal control group (physiological sa-line) ,model group (physiological saline) ,Yiqiyangxue oral liquids positive group (7 .00 mg/kg) ,MPH-OFDF high-dose group (5 .20 mg/kg) ,MPH-OFDF middle-dose group (2 .60 mg/kg) and MPH-OFDF low-dose group (1 .30 mg/kg) .Besides the normal control group ,model group and positive group were orally administered ,the other groups are administered with the drug once daily sublingually daily for consecutive 15 days .The mice were put in the load-weighted swimming test 30 min after the last oral administration ,then the anti-fatigue effect was assessed based on recording exhausting swimming time and detec-ting the levels of serum lactale dehydrogenase (LDH) ,creatine kinase (CK) ,triglycerides (TG) in mice .Results Compared with control group ,the middle-dose and the high-dose MPH could prolong the exhausting swimming time (P<0 .05 ,P<0 .01) and decrease the activity of LDH and CK significantly (P<0 .05 ,P<0 .01);in addition the middle-dose MPH could decrease the content of TG (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The MPH had marked anti-fatigue effect that may be associated with reduced ser-um LDH ,CK and TG .