Objective To investigate the potential mechanisms of vascular dementia (VD) by comparing the neuroethological and pathological changes of two VD models, established with spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the rat, of which the bilateral carotid arteries were ligated. Methods Ten male SHRs were employed and defined as hypertension control group. Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to operation group (bilateral carotid arteries were ligated), sham group and control group. All rats enrolled in the operation group were undergone a permanent ligation of bilateral carotid artery (2-VO). The memory function of rats was estimated by the mean escape latency of Morris water maze. The morphological changes of neuron cells in the frontal lobe, temporal lobes, hippocampus and thalami were observed with HE staining, while the changes of white matter around cerebral ventricles were checked with LFB staining, and the demyelination of nerve was calculated. Results The memory function of rats in SHR control group and Wistar operation group was decreased compared with that of the rats in sham group and control group (P0.05). Conclusions SHRs without intervention and Wistar rats undergone 2-VO can be used to reproduce the ideal VD model. Both chronic permanent hypoperfusion and hypertension may lead to the loss of neurons and myelin which may result in memory dysfunction. Hypoperfusion is even more harmful than hypertension. The present study suggests that loss of neurons and myelin may play a role in the VD.

Object To establish a process for the preparation of QINGXUE JIANGZHI CAPSULE(Hemocathartic Antilipemia Capsule)  Methods The study was carried out by uniform experimental design guided by the content of total organic acid and polysaccharide in the resulting preparation, to optimize the ratio of solvents used for the extraction, time needed for the decoction and alcoholic concentration for precipitation Results The most favorable preparative conditions were: decocting the drug twice with 10 times of water for 60 min each time, and precipitate the product at a concentration of 50% alcohol Conclusion Products prepared by this process ensured the content of total organic acid with no loss of polysaccharides

ObjectiveTo explore the causes for descending of the serum testosterone (T) in middle-aged and elderly men with metabolic syndrome (MS).MethodsFifty-six male patients aged between 45 and 83 years old were investigated.Blood pressure,height and weight were measured,and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.Biochemical indice in fasting state [ fasting blood sugar (FBG),total cholesterol (TC),triglycerides (TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ],fasting insulin (FIN),and the level of serum testosterone) were detected.An insulin resistance index (IR) was calculated using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA).Participants were divided into the MS group and the non-MS group according to CDS diagnostic standard.The relationships between the level of serum Testosterone and each index were analyzed.ResultsThe level of serum Testosterone was significantly lower in the MS group than that in the non-MS group [ (9.97 ± 3.87 ) nmol/L vs.( 13.73 ± 3.93 ) nmol/L,t =3.337,P ＜ 0.01 ].Multiple regression analysis showed that the level of serum testooterone was negatively correlated with age,waist circumference and HOMA-IR ( regression coefficients:- 0.214,- 0.329,- 0.317; standardized regression coefficients:- 0.730,- 0.597,- 0.313 ; t =- 5.833,- 4.681,- 2.686 respctively; P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThe level of serum testosterone descends in middle-aged and elderly men with MS.The level of serum testosterone is closely related to age,waist circumference and insulin resistance

Objective To present a miniaturized nucleic acid amplification system for spot rapid detection .Methods A miniaturized nucleic acid amplification system with structured packed porous media of particles to uniform the air temperature was designed according to the working principle and heat transfer characteristics of an air -heated nucleic acid amplification system.Thermodynamic simulation and temperature cycling test were carried on to verify the feasibility of the system.Results The structured packed porous media of particles worked well in uniforming the air temperature of the system and the temperature uniformity could reach 0.8℃.The miniaturized nucleic acid amplification system with a volume parameter of 80 mm ×40 mm ×20 mm(length ×height ×width)was portable.The average rate of heating was 10℃/s while the average rate of cooling was 5℃/s.Compared with standard PCR instrument , the miniaturized nucleic acid amplification system performed well in the process of amplification and met the requirements of preliminary design .Conclusion The miniaturized nucleic acid amplification system with a rapid reaction velocity and portable volume could be applied to nucleic acid detection of unknown samples on the spot .

Objective To explore the relationship between ERG4 gene overexpression and azole resistance in clinical Candida albicans strains. Methods The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)M27-A2 broth microdilution method was conducted to evaluate antifungal susceptibility of 34 clinical Candida albicans isolates in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from these Candida albicans strains and transcribed into cDNA. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of ERG4 gene. Statistical analysis was carried out by a two-sample t-test. Results The expression level of ERG4 mRNA was significantly higher in fluconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (4.20 ± 2.56 vs. 1.72 ± 1.33, t = 3.99, P < 0.05), higher in itraconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.60 ± 2.47 vs. 1.66 ± 1.61, t = 3.71, P < 0.05), and higher in voriconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.99 ± 2.72 vs. 2.07 ± 1.58, t = 2.91, P <0.05). Further more, increased ERG4 mRNA expression was also observed in isolates cross-resistant to all the three azole antifungal agents compared with those susceptible to all of them (4.49 ± 2.73 vs. 1.69 ± 1.82, t = 3.81, P < 0.05). Conclusions The overexpression of ERG4 gene may be associated with cross resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole in clinical Candida albicans strains, but its exact role is expected to be investigated through downregulation of the ERG4 gene.

OBJECTIVETo study the regulatory role of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS ) in the development of bronchial asthma by examining the effects of LPS on serum IL-4, serum IL-8 and pulmonary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in mice with asthma.

METHODSTwenty-seven BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into control, asthma and LPS-treated asthma groups (n=9 each). Serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations were measured using ELISA. VEGF expression in lung tissues was examined using the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSSerum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations in the asthma group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). LPS treatment significantly decreased serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations compared with the asthma group (P<0.05), although levels were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Airway VEGF expression in the asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). LPS treatment significantly decreased airway VEGF expression compared with the asthma group (P<0.05), although concentrations remained higher than in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLPS can decrease serum IL-4, serum IL-8 and pulmonary VEGF expression in mice with asthma, and thus can possibly reduce both airway inflammation and airway vascular remodeling.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Female ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; physiology

Objectives To investigate the relationship of sex difference with serum bisphenol-A (BP-A),adiponectin and metabolic syndrome (MetS)in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension(EISH).Methods A retrospective study of the clinical data was conducted in 540 subjects from the Cardiology and Geriatric Department in the Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University,Changzhi Municipal People,s Hospital and the Department of Cardiology of Shanxi Medical University,First Clinic Hospital from January 2010 to December 2013.Elderly patients with EISH were divided into male group(n=270)and female group(n=270).Meanwhile 560 older health persons were severed as controls,including 300 females and 260 males.The changes of BP-A and adiponectin (Ad) concentration were measured.The blood lipid,insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR),blood pressure,body mass index,heart rate variability and ultrasonic change of heart and blood vessel were tested regularly.Results The level of serum BP-A[(0.89±0.10)ng/L vs.(0.57±0.04)ng/L]and [(0.64±0.10)ng/L vs.(0.55 ± 0.08)ng/L] were higher in male EISH vs in male control,and in female EISH than in female control (F =23.76,23.86,all P ＜ 0.01),respectively.The levels of adiponectin were lower in male EISH vs control[(4.9±1.4)ng/L vs.(10.5±2.7)ng/L and in female EISH vs control(6.0±1.3) ng/L vs.(11.5±3.3)ng/L),F=13.10,16.20,all P＜0.01.Root mean sequare of the successive normal sinus RR interval difference(rMSSD)were lower in male/ female EISH than control groups(F=13.10、13.70,P ＜0.01).Serum BP-A level was positively correlated with the bocly mass index and systolic pressure (r =0.38,0.54,P ＜ 0.01),and was negatively correlated with serum Ad and rMSSD(r=-0.46,-0.42,P＜0.01).Conclusions Obvious gender difference in changes of serum BP-A exists in older patients with EISH.Network cytokines may take part in the pathophysiological process of the obesity related hypertension.

Objective To investigate the relationship between refractory hypertension and renal hemodynamics in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.Methods ESRD patients were classified into:patients with refractory hypertension (group A) and patients with normal blood pressure(group B).Renal hemodynamic indices were ex- amined by duplex ultrasonography.Fasting serum lipid (TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a),ox-LDL) and serum parathyroid hormane (PTH) were determined in all patients.Results Significant differences were found in renal hemodynamic indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV),mean flow velocity (MV),pulsatility index (PI),renal- aortic ratio (RAR) and in clinical index such as Lp(a) and ox-LDL between the two group.Refractory hyperten- sion patients had lower renal hemodynamic indices and higher Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels than in patients with con- trolled BP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that refractory hypertension was related with PSV,EDV,Pl and RAR,but not relevant with sex,age,dialysis time,hematocrit,BUN,creatinine,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C, PTH,MV and RI.Conclusion Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and severe disorder in renal hemodynamics is likely the cause for refractory hypertention in ESRD patients.The rise of serum Lp(a) and ox-LDL might acceler- ate renal artery atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist on the proliferation of mouse pancreatic β cell line MIN6 cells.Methods The viability,changes of cell cycle,mRNA levels of S phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2) and p27,and protein levels of Skp2 and p27 in MIN6 cells treated with LXR agonist T0901317 were determined by the CCK-8 method,flow cytometry,real-time RT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results The viability of MIN6 cells treated with 1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μnol/L of T0901317 were (98.54 ±0.94)％,(87.03 ±0.93)％ and (75.57 ± 1.85)％ of the controls,respectively,and there was significant difference among them (F =301.90,P ＜ 0.01).The percentages of G1 phase cells in the MIN6 cells treated with 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L of T0901317 were (35.93 ±2.25)％,(38.45 ±0.91)％,(45.46±1.34)％ and (53.28 ± 1.14) ％,respectively,and there was significant difference among them (F =80.83,P ＜ 0.01).Similarly,the percentages of S phase cells in the MIN6 cells treated with 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmoi/L of T0901317 were (52.87 ± 1.19) ％,(48.65 ± 0.85) ％,(36.31 ± 1.37) ％ and (31.45 ± 1.22) ％,respectively,and there was also significant difference among them (F =221.30,P ＜ 0.01).The protein levels of p27 in the MIN6 cells treated with 10 μmol/L of T0901317 (2.84 ± 0.14) were significantly higher than that in the controls (2.28 ± 0.10) (t =4.54,P ＜ 0.05),while there was no significant difference in the mRNA levels of p27 between them (t =0.28,P ＞ 0.05).However,10 μmol/L of T0901317 significantly decreased mRNA (0.52 ± 0.02,t =29.22,P ＜ 0.01) and protein levels (0.98 ± 0.12 vs 1.89 ± 0.01,t =10.98,P ＜ 0.01) of Skp2 in MIN6 cells.Based on the control siRNA transfection group as a reference (100％),the cell survival rates of the p27 siRNA transfection group,10 μmol/L of T0901317 treatment group and the intervention group (p27 siRNA transfection + T0901317 treatment) were (100.97 ± 1.08) ％,(75.03 ± 1.83) ％ and (86.67 ± 2.45) ％,respectively.There was no significant difference between the control siRNA and p27 siR-NA transfection groups (t =1.542,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the control siRNA transfection group,the cell survival rates of the T0901317 treatment group decreased (t =23.58,P ＜ 0.01).There was also significant difference in the cell survival rates between the T0901317 treatment group and the intervention group (t =7.77,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The activation of LXR may induce pancreatic β cell cycle arrest by up-regulating the expression of p27 and down-regulating the expression of Skp2.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic impact of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for fungal pathogens in fluid samples,and to evaluate the feasibility of fast PCR diagnostic method for the invasive fungal infection.Methods The sterility body fluid samples from 60 cases hospitalized immunocompromised patients with clinical underlying diseases and suspect of invasive infections with fungi between January 2008 and December 2011 were processed for microscopy and cultures.Applying fungal ITS4 and ITS86 universal primers to amplify pathogenic fungi genes from the sterility body fluid with method of rapid PCR.The results were compared between the standard and PCR methods.Results Humoral direct clinical specimens by PCR amplification of DNA fragments with the scan results were similar.Positive rate of PCR test with clinical body fluid samples and the traditional fungal cultivation was similar.There was no significant statistical difference [38.3％ (23/60) vs 33.3％ (20/60),P ＞ 0.05].Conclusions PCR test is feasibility with clinical fungal diagnosis from directly humoral specimens.To amplify the clinical sterility body fluid samples with ITS fungal universal primers and PCR method might provide an accurate and rapid approach to detect the pathogenic fungi.Its methods on early diagnosis and prognosis of invasive fungal infections are of guiding significance.