Objective: To explore the neurophysiological properties of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), so as to provide evidence for the diagnosis of HNPP. Methods: Three families (8 individuals) with clinically affected and asymptomatic HNPP patients underwent routine electrodiagnostic tests, including median, ulnar, radial, tibial and proneal motor and sensory nerve conduction, and the results: were compared with those of 30 healthy subjects. Results (1) Prolongation of the distal nerve conduction latencies was the most seen abnormality (92.1%), mainly found in the median and common peroneal nerves, including those with and without symptoms. (2) The rate of motor nerve conduction slowing was 63.2%, mostly seen in the median and common peroneal nerves. (3)The rate of sensory nerve conduction slowing was 89.6%, mostly affecting the sural and median nerves. (4)The conduction block of the ulnar nerve at the elbow was more commonly seen than that of the proneal nerve at the fibular head. Conclusion: Neurophysiological examination is a noninvasive, fast, simple and accurate diagnosis way for clinically suspected HNPP patients, and it can be used for screening the family members of HNPP patients and for prevention of HNPP.

Isotemporal substitution model is a powerful tool to explore the real association between physical behavior and health outcomes, which has the potential of the application in large-scale cohort study. This paper systematically introduces the principle of isotemporal substitution model and its implementation method in specific analysis to provide analytical ideas for the epidemiological research related to physical behavior in China. The baseline data of Regional Ethic Cohort Study in Northwest China conducted in Shaanxi province were used to analyze the relationship between physical behavior and cardiovascular disease with single-factor model, partition model and isotemporal substitution model. The advantages and disadvantages of different models were compared, and the advantages of isotemporal substitution model in quantifying physical activity health risk were introduced. Isotemporal substitution model could qualify physical behavior and health outcomes, which has wide application value in epidemiological research.
Humans ; Cohort Studies ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the recent emerged endemic region of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) regarding its natural reserves, in Charles Hilary, northern Xinjiang and to isolate and characterize the viral geographic strain.

METHODSUsing indirect fluorescent assay to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) specific IgG antibodies from serum of local residents including 2 unconfirmed viral encephalitis patients in 2011 spring-summer. Viruses were isolated from tick samples by inoculating BALB/c mice and BHK-21 cells. For phylogenetic analysis. TBEV NS1 gene fragments were detected by RT-PCR and then subjected to sequence alignment.

RESULTS1760 ticks were captured from the fields to have found that Ixodes persulcatus were dominated among the tick population. Two viral encephalitis patients were diagnosed as TBEV infection. In addition, 35.4% (23/65) local residents were detected positive for presence of TBEV specific-IgG antibodies in serum. After inoculation, morbidity and mortality of BALB/c mice were 72.9% (70/96) and 55.7% (44/79), respectively. TBEV specific-fragments were amplified from brain tissue of dead mice and cells culture supernatant. NS1 sequence alignment showed that the viral isolates were clustered into TBEV far-eastern sub-type, phylogenetically, and were mostly close to the isolates from northeastern China (99%) and Russian strain (98%).

CONCLUSIONIn this study, a new endemic loci of TBE was firstly described in Charles Hilary natural reserve, northern Xinjiang. TBEV geographic isolates belonged to TBEV far-eastern subtype while Ixodes persulcatus and Dermacentor silvarum played crucial roles for disease transition.

Adult ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; RNA, Viral ; genetics

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate remodeling characteristics of coronary lesions in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) versus stable angina pectoris (SA) using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and to explore the relationship between arterial remodeling and clinical presentation or matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) or hyper-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

METHODSWe studied culprit lesions of 38 patients with ACS and 18 patients with SA using IVUS before coronary intervention. The lesion site and a proximal or distal reference site including the external elastic membrane (EEM) area and lumen area were analyzed. Plaque area and remodeling index (RI) were calculated, and directions of arterial remodeling were determined. Positive remodeling was defined as RI > 1.05 and negative remodeling as RI < 0.95. We analyzed the culprit lesion qualitatively, identified high risk plaque and compared them in each group. The blood level of MMP-2, MMP-9 and hs-CRP in each group were also determined.

RESULTSThe plaque area at culprit lesions in patients with ACS was significantly larger (11.94 +/- 4.90 versus 9.17 +/- 3.36 mm2; P = 0.035), and also the RI in ACS group was significantly greater than that of patients with SA (0.972 +/- 0.222 versus 0.796 +/- 0.130; P = 0.003). The distribution of remodeling in these two groups was different: positive remodeling was more frequent in ACS group than in SA group (34.2% versus 5.6%, P = 0.047), whereas negative remodeling was more frequent in SA group (52.6% versus 88.9%, P = 0.003). There was higher incidence of high risk plaque in ACS group compared to SA (76.3% versus 50.0%, P = 0.040). The level of serum MMP-2 in ACS group was higher than that of SA group (250.65 +/- 47.97 microg/L versus 214.21 +/- 47.20 microg/L, P = 0.029). The same applied for plasma MMP-9 (84.26 +/- 9.78 microg/L versus 68.46 +/- 22.82 microg/L, P = 0.038) and serum hs-CRP (3.62 +/- 3.37 mg/L versus 1.48 +/- 1.52 mg/L, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSPositive remodeling, larger plaque area and higher incidence of high risk plaque are associated with ACS, whereas negative remodeling is more common in patients with SA. This association between the extent of remodeling and clinical presentation may reflect a greater tendency that plaques with positive remodeling can cause ACS. The change of level of MMP-2, MMP-9 and hs-CRP in ACS patients may be helpful in investigating vulnerable plaques.

Adult ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; blood ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

BACKGROUND: Estrogen can promote the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), but the molecular mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To study the regulatory effect of estrogen on the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS: The hPDLSCs were isolated and purified by digestion method combined with limited dilution clone method. Three experimental groups were set as follows: osteogenic induction only (control group); 1×10-7mol/L estrogen with osteogenic induction (estrogen group); and 100 μg/L Wnt3a protein with osteogenic induction (Wnt3a group). Alkaline phosphatase activity was detected at 1, 3, 5, 7 days of osteogenic induction. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related proteins β-catenin, P-GSK-3β, GSK-3β, CyclinD1 and osteoblast-related proteins Runx2 and OCN after 7 days of osteogenic induction. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The activity of ALP in all groups increased with time. The expression level of ALP in the estrogen group and Wnt3a group was higher than that in the control group at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of induction (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the former two groups (P > 0.05). The western blot results showed that the expression levels of β-catenin, P-GSK-3β, CyclinD1, Runx2 and OCN in the estrogen group and Wnt3a group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the expression of GSK-3β was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). But there were no differences in the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway related proteins and mid-late osteogenic markers between estrogen group and Wnt3a group (P > 0.05). To conclude, estrogen can enhance the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs, and the underlying mechanism is likely to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in activated hPDLSCs exposed to estrogen.

Objective:To produce 161Tb from enriched 160Gd 2O 3 isotope-enriched target material and realize domestic production of the novel medical isotope 161Tb. Methods:The 160Gd 2O 3 isotope-enriched target material was irradiated with neutrons by the China Mianyang Research Reactor (CMRR). The no-carrier-added 161Tb product was obtained after the processes of target broken, sample dissolution, separation and purification with lanthanide (LN) resin and solution replacement with diglycolamide (DGA) column. Various key indicators such as γ spectral purity, metal impurity content, specific activity, radiochemical purity, and radioactive concentration were used to conduct the quality inspection and the control of 161Tb products. Results:161TbCl 3 of 33.4 GBq was obtained in a single time with the radioactive concentration of 16.8 GBq/ml, nuclear purity more than 99.9%, and radiochemical purity of 99.2%. Metal impurity content was met the established standards, with the specific activity of 6.02×10 17 Bq/mol. The radiochemical purities of 161Tb labeling with 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacetic acid- D-Phe1-Tyr3-Thr8-octreotide (DOTATATE) after 0 and 72 h were 100% and 95.8% respectively. Conclusion:The preparation of no-carrier-added 161Tb by using LN resin has the advantages of high separation performance and high sample loading, which has great significance in the field of medical isotope preparation and lays a good nuclide guarantee for the research and development of domestic 161Tb-labeled drugs.

As one of the main diseases leading to end-stage renal disease, steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome(SRNS) can cause serious complications such as infection. Without effective control, this disease can further lead to the malignant development of the renal function, bringing serious social and economic burdens. As previously reported, the formation of SRNS is mostly related to the podocyte injury in the body, i.e., the injury of glomerular visceral epithelial cells. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt) signaling pathway, nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway, mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)/adenosine monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK), transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1/Smads, and other signaling pathways are classical signaling pathways related to podocyte injury. By regulating the expression of signaling pathways, podocyte injury can be intervened to improve the adhesion between podocyte foot processes and glomerular basement membrane and promote the function of podocytes, thereby alleviating the clinical symptoms of SRNS. Through the literature review, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has unique advantages and an important role in intervening in podocyte injury. In the intervention in podocyte injury, TCM, by virtue of multi-target and multi-pathway role, can regulate and intervene in podocyte injury in many ways, alleviate the clinical symptoms of SRNS, and interfere with the progress of SRNS, reflecting the unique advantages of TCM. On the other hand, TCM can directly or indirectly inhibit podocyte injury by regulating the above signaling pathways, which can not only promote the effect of hormones and immunosuppressants and shorten the course of treatment, but also reduce the toxic and side effects caused by various hormones and immunosuppressants to exert the advantages of small side effects and low price of TCM. This article reviewed TCM in the treatment of SRNS by interfering with podocyte injury-related signaling pathways and is expected to provide a reference for the in-depth study of TCM in the treatment of SRNS, as well as a theoretical basis and a new direction for the clinical application of TCM to shorten the course of treatment of SRNS and delay the progression to end-stage renal disease.
Humans ; Podocytes ; Nephrotic Syndrome/genetics* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; NF-kappa B ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Hormones

Objective:To analyze the known mechanism of toxicology and predict the unknown toxicity in Asari Radix et Rhizoma sinensis by establishing the network relationship of compound, protein, gene and toxicant reaction. Method:After comparing the Asari Radix et Rhizoma candidate compounds obtained from the traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) database and the toxicological information obtained from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database(CTD) database, we screened out 13 toxic components from Asari Radix et Rhizoma. And use the Pharm Mapper Server website to find the detailed information of target proteins of the 13 components. The network structure of these 13 chemical components and their corresponding target proteins were drawn by using Cytospace software, and several target proteins with the highest degree of association were found. ClueGO+CluePedia plug-in of Cytospace software was applied in gene ontology(GO) enrichment analysis of genes and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, so as to determine the pathways through which toxic substances in Asari Radix et Rhizoma might be harmful to human body. Result:The toxic substances in Asari Radix et Rhizoma may induce tumor and cancer formation through p53 signaling pathway, interleukin(IL)-17 signaling pathway, nuclear factor(NF)-kappa B signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-signaling pathway. Asari Radix et Rhizoma could inhibit the central nervous system by regulating apoptosis pathways and neurons, and may also cause other autoimmune diseases by IL-17, TNF-α pathway and apoptosis regulation. Conclusion:This study preliminarily explores related mechanisms of toxicity of Asari Radix et Rhizoma,this method can be used to predict toxicity and explain toxicity mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of autophagy-related protein Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 2 light chain 3 (LC3Ⅱ) in periodontal ligament cells in orthodontic tooth pressure areas. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank control group and nine experimental groups. In the experimental groups, 0.392 N orthodontic force was used to move the first right upper molars for 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, or 7 d. The blank control group did not receive any treatment. The rats were euthanized. Changes in the morphology of the periodontal membrane in the pressure areas were observed through hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ were detected by immunohistochemical staining, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed for the counting of osteoclasts. RESULTS: The HE stains showed that the hyalinization of the periodontal ligament appeared in the pressure areas after 1 day of exertion and was gradually aggravated. The immunohistochemical stains showed that the expression levels of Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ in the experimental groups gradually increased, peaked after 1 h, and then gradually decreased. The expression levels peaked again after 1 d, then decreased to baseline levels at 7 d of exertion. Beclin-1 and LC3Ⅱ were expressed in the osteoclasts. The TRAP stains indicated that the number of osteoclasts started to increase after 1 day. CONCLUSIONS Autophagy may participate in the process of periodontal ligament reconstruction in orthodontic tooth pressure areas by mediating the hyalinization of periodontal ligament and affecting the biological effects of osteoclasts.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; Periodontal Ligament ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tooth Movement Techniques