OBJECTIVE: To develop a kind of Agkistrodon acutus (Günther) DNA test kit, evaluate its quality indexes including specificity, stability, sensitivity and repeatability, and inspect the qualities of commercialAgkistrodon acutus (Günther) samples. METHODS: The Agkistrodon acutus (Günther) DNA test kit was developed and modified according to the method recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). EighteenAgkistrodon acutus (Günther) samples were randomly collected from Beijing, Tianjin, and Changchun. The kit assay was performed to identify these samples with the pharmacopoeia method as the standard control. RESULTS: The kit proved effective after 20 times of freezing and thawing, and repeatability test showed same data for three tests. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.025 g. The specificity test confirmed that 14 samples were genuine, and 4 were adulterants. All of the identification results by the kit assay were in accordance with the ones by the pharmacopoeia method. CONCLUSION: The developed DNA test kit is accurate and effective for identification of Agkistrodon acutus (Günther). Compared with the pharmacopoeia method, it is simpler and more rapid, demonstrating broad prospect in quality inspection of Agkistrodon acutus (Günther).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; genetics ; Animals ; Biological Transport, Active ; Bipolar Disorder ; genetics ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Hepacivirus ; physiology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; R-SNARE Proteins ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution ; Transport Vesicles ; physiology ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Virus Replication

This article elucidates the relationship between the human susceptibility to obesity and gene polymorphisms such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors(PPARs)and PPAR?coactivator-1,along with milestones in the formation and development of capacity for fat deposition during evolutionary history of human.An biological evolutionary analysis,identifying factors favoring the energy stores,may be helpful to the development of preventive public health strategies.

Objective To observe the expression levels of IL-8,IL-4,TNF-α of neonatal mouse with systemic inflammatory response syndrome(SIRS) treated by different doses of dexamethasone.Methods A total of 50 neonatal mice were randomly divided into five groups:blank control group,saline control group and treatment group A,B,C.The saline control group and treatment groups were established into SIRS models,treatment group A:a single high-dose of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg),subcutaneous injection (SC) ; treatment group B:two doses of dexamethasone (1 mg/kg,q1 2 h,total 2 mg/kg,SC) ; treatment group C:four doses of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg,q 1 2 h,total 2 mg/kg,SC) ;saline control group:saline of the same volume (0.4 ml/kg,SC).All mice were detected IL-4,IL-8,TNF-α by ELISA 72 hours after animal models being completed.Results The levels of IL-4,IL-8,TNF-α in saline control group and treatment group A,B,C were higher than those in blank control group respectively (P ＜ 0.05,respectively).The levels of IL-4,IL-8,TNF-α in treatment group A,B,C were lower compared to those of saline control group respectively (P ＜ 0.05,respectively),levels of TNF-α,IL-8 in treatment group B and C were lower than those of treatment group A(P ＜ 0.05,respectively).There were no significant differences in the level of IL-4 among treatment group A,B,and C (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Dexamethasone could lower the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8,TNF-α and anti-inflammatory factor IL-8 of neonatal mouse with SIRS,and the effect of multiple low-doses of dexamethasone on SIRS is significantly better than a single high dose.

Previous studies have revealed Twist,a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor,plays an important role in breast cancer metastasis.To clarify the molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer metastasis,Twist was silenced by RNAi in highly metastatic 4T1 cells.Then microarray chips were used to investigate the gene-expression pattern of the Twist-knockdown 4T1 cells and the normal 4T1 cells.The results indicated that silencing of Twist significantly suppressesed lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in vivo.Direct comparison of gene-expression profiles showed that 167 genes in Twist-knockdown cells differed dramatically in expression levels from those in control cells.Among the 167 genes,26 well-known tumor-associated genes,including 15 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes were found.These genes appear to be regulated by Twist during breast tumorigenesis.The findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which Twist is involved in tumorigenesis.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on uterine prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in rats with primary dysmenorrhea (PD) and to discuss the possible mechanism in EA intervening PD. Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an EA group and an ibuprofen group, with 10 rats in each group. The PD model was established using estradiol benzoate combined with oxytocin in the model group, EA group and ibuprofen group. At the same time of modeling, rats in the EA group were given EA at Guanyuan (CV 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) once a day for 20 min each time for 10 consecutive days. Ibuprofen was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the ibuprofen group. The same amount of normal saline was intragastrically administered once a day for 10 consecutive days in the blank group and model group. The number of writhing of rats in each group within 30 min was compared on the 11th day just after the interventions. The uterine homogenate supernatant was separated and the PGF2α level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was applied for the detection of the expression levels of COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues. Results: Compared with the blank group, the number of writhing in the model group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α, COX-2, phospho-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 proteins in uterine tissues were significantly increased (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the number of writhing in the EA group and ibuprofen group were significantly reduced (both P<0.01), and the expression levels of PGF2α and COX-2 protein in uterine tissues were significantly reduced (both P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in uterine tissues in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the ibuprofen group, the phospho-NF-κB p65 level in the EA group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Conclusion: The mechanism of EA for PD rats may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB and reducing the levels of COX-2 and PGF2α in uterine tissues.

Objective To investigate human pulpal response to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (CH) as pulp capping agents. Methods This study was conducted on 90 intact first and second premolars of human maxillary and mandibular teeth of 30 volunteers. The patients were randomly assigned into three groups with 10 in each group. Under local anesthesia, the teeth were exposed and capped either with MTA, or CH. After 30, 60, and 90 days, 10 teeth of each group were extracted and prepared for histologic ob-servation. The data were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank sum test and paired t-tests (α = 0.05). Results MTA had a higher success rate and resulted in less pulpal inflammatory response and more predictable hard dentin bridge formation than CH (P < 0.05). Conclusion MTA appears to be a suitable replacement for CH in direct pulp capping.

Objective To explore the features of high-frequency ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).Methods The CEUS data and ultrasound data of 147 PTMCS which were reconfirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively,and the CEUS and ultrasonic characteristics of them were summarized.Results Among 147 nodules,144 (97.9％) nodules were hypoechoic,and 3 nodules were isoechoic.Vague edge was found in 136(92.5％) PTMCs,and 126(85.7％) PTMCs were irregular in shape.Totally 92(62.6％) PTMCs were A/T ＞ 1,microcalcifications were found in 81 (55.1％) PTMCs.Besides,26(74.2％) PTMCs were found microcalcification in 35 PTMCs combined with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT),while 55 (49.1％) PTMCs were found microcalcification in 112 PTMCs combined with HT.There were significant differences between them (P ＜ 0.05).The blood distribution of 129 (87.8％) nodules was type Ⅱ.The contrast-enhanced pattern of 147 (100.0％) PTMCs showed in-homogeneous enhancement in 144 (97.9％) nodules,hypoenhancement in 136(92.5％) nodules,and all the nodules without amicula.Conclusions The typical PTMCs are hypoechoic,irregular shapeand vague edge,usually were found as A/T ＞ 1,microcalcification,and type Ⅱ blood distribution.With the method of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,these nodules usually without amicula showed inhomogeneous and hypoenhancement.The incidence of microcalcification is more common when patients with Hashimoto's disease coexisting PTMC.

Objective To evaluate the multi-detector CT (MDCT) on pulmonary changes in post-operative adult receptor of liver transplantation complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods Nineteen adult patients admitted into Tianjin First Center Hospital from January to December 2016 to perform the first time liver transplantation were enrolled in this study. Before operation, the CT showed no significant abnormality in the patients' lungs, after operation MDCT was applied to observe the pulmonary changes of ARDS post-operative complication in the adult receiver of liver transplantation, and the pulmonary changes in different gender of patients were analyzed and compared.Results MDCT showed that after liver transplantation all the 19 patients (100%) had lung pathological changes, of whom 18 cases (94.7%) manifested 2 or more than 2 kinds of pulmonary changes, including consolidation shadows (12 cases, 63.2%), patchy shadows (2 cases, 10.5%), ground glass opacity (6 cases, 31.5%) and pleural effusion (18 cases, 94.7%). In the comparisons between male and female patients with post-operative ARDS after liver transplantation, there were no significant differences in the lung pathological changes shown in MDCT (allP > 0.05) statistically.Conclusion The application of MDCT has great potential value in the evaluation of the disease situation after liver transplantation, that might providehelp to the postoperative treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect of different sex hormones on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake on cultrured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes.Methods We treated cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and adipocytes with different concentrations of 17?-Estradiol or testosterone and the effects were assessed as 2-deoxy glucose uptake.Results After incubation with 17?-Estradiol or testosterone,the ability of insulin-stimulated glucose transport was statistically significantly reduced.Dosage response study demonstrated that(10~(-7) mol/L) testosterone or(10~(-8) mol/L) 17?-Estradiol can induce insulin resistance(P