Objective To explore the protective effect of atorvastatin on irradiated endothelium and the thrombomodulin(TM)expression.Methods Cultured human coronary artery endothelial cells(HCAEC)and human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)were treated by atorvastatin at the final concentration of 10 μmol/ml for 10 min,and then irradiated with 2 and 25 Gy.Cell cycles status and TM expression were quantitatively measured by flow cytometry 24 hours after irradiation.Protein C activation in endothelial cells was also assessod.Results After administration with atorvastatin for 24 h,the TM expression increased by 77%,59% and 61% in normal control group,2 Gy group and 25 Gy group,respectively(t=27.395,26.420,58.065;P=0.000).The protein C levels decreased by 23% and 34% compared with the normal group post-irradiation to 2 and 25 Gy,but increased by 79% and 76% compared with the irradiated control group after administration with atorvastatin.The rates of cell apoptosis decreased by 6% and 16% in 2 Gy and 25 Gy groups,respectively after administration with atorvastatin for 24 h(t=4.178,17.863;P=0.000).Conclusions Atorva statin can protect endothelia cell from irradiation-induced apeptosis by increasing TM expression and protein C activation.

AIM:To evaluate the clinical effects of femto-LASIK using new Ziemer LDV Z6 femtosecond laser machine (Z6).
METHODS: Two - hundred cases ( 400 eyes ) was randomly separated into two groups: Group A included 200 eyes which corneal flaps were made by Z6, and Group B included rest of 200 eyes which corneal flaps were examined by a traditional Ziemer LDV CrystalLine femtosecond laser machine (CrystalLine). Visual acuity, slit lamp, refraction, Sim-K average, intraocular pressure (IOP), non-invasive tear break-up time (NIAvg-BUT), operation difficulty and complications were compared between two groups preoperatively and postoperatively.RESULTS:There was no significant differences between two groups in visual acuity, refraction, Sim-K average, IOP and NIAvg - BUT either preoperatively or 6mo postoperatively (P>0. 05). Although there were significant differences in operation difficulty and complications were found between two groups ( P< 0. 05 ), there was no serious complication in any group. Furthermore, a clear demarcation line could be observed in the cornea of Group A postoperatively.
CONCLUSION:More careful and strict requirements are needed when using the new Z6 femtosecond laser for corneal flaps.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of postmenopausal osteoporosis ( PMOP) in Chongqing region,and provide the theoretical basis for osteoporosis prevention and treatment. Methods A hospital-based case-control study was conducted and standardized questionnaire was applied in this project. All patients were informed of the purpose of this study and signed an informed consent form. The protocol and consent form were approved by the Ethics Committee of Third Military Medical University. Non-conditional logistic model was used to estimate the association between risk factors and PMOP. Results After adjustment for some potential confounding factors,multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis indicated that family history of hip fracture ( OR = 8. 567,95% CI 3. 463 to 12. 620) ,lower body mass index ( OR = 3. 081,95% CI 1. 344 to 5. 632) ,and parities ( OR = 2. 539,95% CI 1. 263 to 4. 175) were significantly positive correlated with the incidence of PMOP. However,frequently exercise ( OR = 0. 276,95% CI 0. 152 to 0. 730) ,tea drinking ( OR =0. 354,95%CI 0. 209 to 0. 764) and older at menopause ( OR =0. 621,95%CI 0. 327 to 0. 942) were significantly negative correlated with it. Conclusion Family history of hip fracture,lower body mass index and higher parities are the risk factors of PMOP in Chongqing region. Besides,frequent exercise,tea drinking and proper endogenous estrogen level are the protective factors.

Growth of animal is largely regulated by growth hormone (GH). In this study, the GH gene was isolated and cloned from the genomic DNA library from Rongjiang pig, a Chinese local swine, using polymerase chain reaction technique. The complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.903 kb genomic fragment containing Rongjiang swine GH gene has been determined. The GH gene contained five exons and four introns similar to the GH genes of other mammalians and exhibited 97%~99% identity to the GH genes of the four western meat-type breeds and nine Chinese local pigs. Polymorphism of GH genes was analyzed by using the restriction enzymes Dde I, Nar I and BsmN I in four western meat-type breeds and ten Chinese local pigs. Five polymorphic restriction sites, with Dde I at the base 622 (G/A) in exon 2 and 274 (T/C) in 5o-flank, with Nar I at 631 (G/A) in exon 2, and with BsmN I at the base 841 (T/C) in intron 2 and 1358 (A/G) in exon 4, were identified. The polymorphic restriction site at 1358 (A/G) leaded to the GH mature protein of Rongjiang pig differing from that of four western meat-type breeds and eight Chinese local breeds at the residue Val108 substituted by Ile108. According to the crystal structure of human GH mature protein, this Ile108 substitution might result in a lower affinity of GH for its receptor in Rongjiang breed.
Animals ; Breeding ; China ; Cloning, Molecular ; Exons ; Growth Hormone ; genetics ; physiology ; Introns ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Species Specificity ; Swine

Borneol is a traditional Chinese medicine. In the past few years, many studies showed that borneol can improve the bioavailability of other drugs, promoting drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier, so the potential drug interactions between borneol and other medicines have attracted great attention, but the influence of borneol to CYP450 and its isoforms are rarely reported. In this research, male Wistar rats were orally administered by borneol for 7 days, then the mRNA and protein expression and the activities of CYP2D were detected, we also compared the pharmacokinetic parameters of CYP2D's specific substrate between control group and borneol group. The results show that borneol (33, 100 and 300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) have no significant effect on CYP2D, while the activites of CYP2D increased 1.71, 1.97 and 2.89 times comparing to the control group. At the same time, borneol (300 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) caused the C(max) decreased 10.6% (P > 0.05), AUC(0-∞) decreased 27.5% (P < 0.01), CL/F increased 41.1% (P < 0.01), V(z)/F increased 23.1% (P > 0.05) of dextromethorphan. Our data provided that borneol speed up dextromethorphan's elimination in vivo. Since the activity of CYP2D can be induced by borneol, the metabolic interactions might happen when borneol and the substrate drug CYP2D are used together.
Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Bornanes ; pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inducers ; pharmacology ; Dextromethorphan ; Drug Interactions ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Abstract BACKGROUND: Looking for the early diagnosis of acute rejection indicators after liver transplantation can assess the risk after liver transplantation quickly and effectively, and T lymphocytes play the significant role in acute rejection. OBJECTIVE:To observe the relationship between acute rejection and variation of expression of T cel subset in blood after liver transplantation in rhesus monkey. METHODS: The sixteen liver transplant models in rhesus monkey which were constructed successfuly by the method of “double-cuff and one support tube” were divided into two groups randomly: experiment group (no treated by immunosuppressant in perioperative period) and control group (treated by immunosuppressant in perioperative period). Then the blood specimen and liver tissue respectively were colected at 6, 12, 24 and 72 hours after operation. The levels of alanine transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were detected with the fuly automatic biochemical analyser. The levels of CD4+/CD8+were tested by flow cytometry. The liver tissue in rhesus monkey after liver transplantation was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The degree of acute rejection was evaluated by Banff Score System. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Acute rejection appeared in the experiment group at 12, 24, and 72 hours after liver transplantation. Levels of alanine transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 24 and 72 hours after transplantation (P < 0.05). The expression of CD4+/CD8+of the experiment group and control group began to rise at 6 hours after surgery, but the experiment group increased the most obvious. CD4+/CD8+ expression was significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group at 24 and 72 hours after transplantation (P < 0.05). Morphological pathology was severer, and Banff score was higher in the experiment group than in the control group at 72 hours (P < 0.05). These data suggested that the variation of expression of CD4+/CD8+was earlier than the change of liver tissue pathology and the change of liver function in the early acute rejection after liver transplantation. The rise of level of CD4+/CD8+ after liver transplantation indicated the increase of celular immunity in body, which had an important role in the early diagnosis of acute rejection after liver transplantation.

Objective To investigate the trend of liver function changes in untreated adult patients with Graves’ disease in China, and to analyze the associated factors. Methods Patients with newly diagnosed as well as recurrent Graves’ disease from January 2006 to August 2014 were enrolled. They were over 18 years old and did not receive any treatments, Examination of liver function, thyroid function, and thyroid related antibodies as well as tests regarding virus hepatitis were performed. Results A total of 1 254 patients were enrolled. 33 patients with virus hepatitis were ruled out. Ultimately, 1 221 patients matched the criteria of our trial, with 347 males and 874 females [(39. 3 ± 9. 5) year old]. After inclusion, they were assigned to 2 groups according to their liver function results(605 in normal group and 616 in abnormal group). Compared to normal group, patients in the abnormal group were older [(40. 1 ± 9. 2 vs 38. 5 ± 8. 7) year old, P<0. 05] and with higher proportion of females(81. 8% vs 61. 2% , P<0. 05). Regarding the thyroid function and related antibody tests, some patients yielded results that were extremely high so as to exceed the upper limit of the normal range. These patients were more frequently seen in the group with abnormal liver function. The patients whose thyroid function parameters exceeded the upper limit had higher level of alanine aminotransferase[ALT,(37. 69 ± 7. 51 vs 31. 90 ± 5. 95) U/ L, P<0. 05], aspartate aminotransferase[AST, (31. 97 ± 5. 09 vs 27. 88 ± 3. 82) U/ L, P<0. 05], direct bilirubin[DBiL, (5. 58 ± 0. 77 vs 4. 54 ± 0. 71) μmol/ L, P<0. 05]than the group whose thyroid function on the detected range. In the patients with all results detected, patients in abnormal liver function group had higher level of triiodthyronine[T3 , (5. 42 ± 0. 29 vs 4. 94 ± 0. 33) nmol/ L, P<0. 05], thyroxin[T4 ,(217. 53 ±14. 32 vs 204. 22 ±13. 54) nmol/ L, P<0. 05], free triiodthyronine[FT3 ,(15. 88 ± 2. 86 vs 14. 48 ±4. 83) pmol/ L, P<0. 05], free thyroxin[FT4 ,(48. 91 ±8. 45 vs 42. 95 ±6. 14) pmol/ L, P<0. 05], thyroid peroxidase antibody[ TPOAb, (402. 75 ± 89. 99 vs 210. 70 ± 44. 63) IU/ ml, P < 0. 05] and thyrotrophin receptor antibody[TRAb,(14. 08 ± 5. 24 vs 9. 04 ± 2. 58) IU/ L, P<0. 05]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients’ age(OR=0. 98, 95% CI 0. 97-0. 99), gender(OR=0. 94, 95% CI 0. 91-0. 97), level of FT4 (OR=3. 08, 95% CI 2. 19-4. 32), TPOAb(OR = 0. 98, 95% CI 0. 97-0. 99), and TRAb(OR = 1. 07, 95% CI 1. 01-1. 12) were independent risk factors of their liver dysfunction. Conclusion Graves’ disease may lead to liver dysfunction, which is much more common and severe in elder and female patients, as well as patients who are suffering from hyperthyroidism and raised level of thyroid related antibodies.

Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a syndrome after acute infection of poliovirus and sequelae of polio. The incidence of PPS is high, and more in old patients. The pathological features of PPS include chronic nerve damage affected muscles, result in fatigue, pain, breathing and sleep disorders, fall risk, and so on, which impair their health and quality of life. The hypotheses of pathogenesis of PPS in-clude over load of motor neurons, and the continuous existence of the poliovirus, etc. PPS is a stable neuromuscular disease progressing slowly.

Objective To study the clinical characters,the mode of inheritance of osteogenesis Imperfecta in a Chinese Family and effect of bisphosphonate on Osteogenesis Imperfecta.Methods Clinical data of proband and their family members were collected.The family patterns were mapped.clinical features were summarized and analyzed.Results(1)Clinical features:There are sixty members of four generations in the family.20 cases including proband's mother and cousin were diagnosed as having OI type Ⅰ based on clinical manifestations.15 cases of blue sclera,16 cases of dentinogenesis imperfecta,5 cases of hearing loss and 3 cases of fracture.Thyroid cancer and Turner's syndrome was found in Proband's mother and cousin respectively.(2)The genetic map showed that the disease was autosomal dominant inheritance.(3)Treatment:The proband,her mother and her cousin were treated with alendronate for two years.Bone pain relieved and bone mineral density increased significantly,and no fracture occurred so far.Conclusion(1)This OI family was diagnosed as having OI type Ⅰ.The mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant inheritance.(2)Bisphosphonates may be an effective drug for treatment of OI.

Objective To investigate the value of Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) in the screening for aspiration after stroke.Methods 81 patients with acute stroke received examinations of both SSA and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Examination of Swallowing (FEES). The SSA was then measured against the FEES study for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for aspiration in acute stroke patients. The relation between the Results of SSA and pneumonia post-stroke was analyzed.Results Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of SSA for aspiration were 95.0%, 53.7%, 66.7% and 91.7%, respectively. The patients with positive result on SSA had a higher incidence of pneumonia ( P＜0.05).Conclusion SSA is a valid and valuable screening tool for aspiration in acute stroke patients.