Objective To understand the features of cognitive impairment in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Methods The cognitive function of the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and the healthy controls was tested using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS). The change in cognitive function was observed and analyzed before and after L-T4 treatment. Results Fifty-seven patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and the same number of healthy controls were enrolled in this study. There were no significant differences between two groups in biochemical indexes and MMSE score (all P＞0.05). But there were significant differences between two groups in WMS score, including pictures, memories, learning, touch, understanding memory and back several test scores (all P＜0.05). There existed certain degree of cognitive dysfunction mainly displayed in memory, attention, etc. After three months of L-T4 treatment, all had significant improvement (all P＜0.05). Conclusions Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism have cognitive dysfunction, when the thyroid stimulating hormone is restored to normal level, cognitive function is also improved.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenomyoepithelioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Axilla ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Guanylate binding protein-1(GBP-1) is an interferon-induced protein. To observe its antiviral effect against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3), we constructed an eukaryotic expression vector of human GBP-1(hGBP-1). Full-length encoding sequence of hGBP-1 was amplified by long chain RT-PCR and inserted into a pCR2.1 vector, then subcloned into a pCDNA3.1(-) vector. Recombinant hGBP-1 plasmids and pHBV1.3 carrying 1.3-fold genome of HBV were contransfected into HepG2 cells, and inhibition effect of hGBP-1 against HBV replication was observed. Hela cells transfected with recombinant hGBP-1 plasmids were challenged with CVB3, and viral yield in cultures were detected. The results indicated that recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid of hGBP-1 was constructed successfully and the hGBP-1 gene carried in this plasmid could be efficiently expressed in HepG2 cells and Hela cells. hGBP-1 inhibit CVB3 but not HBV replication in vitro. These results demonstrate that hGBP-1 mediates an antiviral effect against CVB3 but not HBV and perhaps plays an important role in the interferon-mediated antiviral response against CVB3.

To establish a replication cellular model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and determine its application in antiviral drug evaluation,we constructed an expression plasmid which contained 1.3 copies of the HBV genome,and measured the level of viral replication after transient transfection in Huh7 cells.We then observed the effect of antiviral drug administration.1.3 fold of the HBV(ayw) gene fragment was cloned into pCR2.1 by PCR and restriction endonuclease digestion.The recombinant plasmid was trans ient transfected into Huh7 cells,HBsAg,HBeAg and HBV DNA in supernatant of Huh7 cells were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR respectively; intracellular HBV replicative intermediates and intracellular HBV transcripts were detected by Southern blot and Northern blot respectively.The antiviral effect of adefovir,a novel anti-HBV nucleotide analogue,was evaluated in this cellular model system.The results indicated that a recombinant plasmid of HBV replicon was constructed successfully; the HBV genome carried in plasmid pHBV1.3 could efficiently replicate and be expressed in Huh 7 cells,adefovir could inhibit HBV replication in this cellular model,and the inhibition was dosage-dependent.The conclusion is HBV replicon,which can initiate viral replication efficiently in hepatoma cells,may be a useful tool in the study of HBV replication and antiviral drug.

Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.

Objective To approach hypertensive patients' understandings of their own diseases, daily behaviors responding to their complaints and the factors affecting their abnormal behaviors. Methods A specially-designed questionnaire survey was adopted and total 98 cases of all internal-patients suffering from hypertension were surveyed. Results The percentage of patients involving in the survey with abnormal psychological orientations is 38.8%. That of patients with abnormal disease confirmation factors is 46.9%. And that of patients with abnormal hypochondria index is 43.9%. The main factors affecting patients' behaviors are Age, Educational Background and Working Stress felt by themselves. Conclusions Nurses should attach more importance to the cognitive trainings of hypertension patients, get along with patients who have abnormal disease response symptoms and especially, pay more attention to Health Education and Psychological Nursing to patients who are seniors, higher-educated or whoever suffering working stress.

This study was purpose to investigate the expression levels of HSP70 and MDR1 genes under heat shock and/or adriamycin (ADM) chemotherapy stimulation. The K562 cells were bathed in water at 43 degrees C for 1 hour, then the heat-treated K562 cells were collected and were cultured at 37 degrees C. The expression of HSP70 was assayed by immunocytochemistry, the growth suppression rate of K562 cells was detected by MTT assay, the function of P-gp and the expressions of HSP70 mRNA, MDR1 mRNA were detected by flow cytometry and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) respectively. The results showed that (1) the synthesis of HSP70 protein in K562 cells treated with high shock (43 degrees C) reached to high level after culture at 37 degrees C for 2 hours, and moved from cytoplasm to nucleolus, the expression of HSP70 began to decrease following 3 hours of culture at 37 degrees C, and gradually reached to normal level after culture at 37 degrees C for 5 hours, the location of HSP70 expression returned to cytoplasm; (2) the expressions of HSP70 mRNA and MDR1 mRNA increased following 43 degrees C heat shock, and were 4 and 5.8 times higher than that of control group at 37 degrees C culture for 2 hours respectively; (3) the expression of P-gp was higher in ADM group than that in control. The expressions of HSP mRNA and MDR1 mRNA increased significantly in heat shock plus ADM group and ADM group as compared with control (p<0.01). It is concluded that the heat shock and ADM chemotherapy both induce over expression of HSP70 and MDR1 which can maintain stability of K562 cells and may be related to formation of the MDR in leukemia.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Response ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Qubi Recipe (QR) on the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha in rats with type II collagen-I induced arthritis (CIA), and to explore its therapeutic roles and mechanism.

METHODSTotally 72 male SD rats of SPF grade were recruited. Twelve were randomly selected as the blank control group. The CIA model was established in the rest 60 rats by subcutaneously injecting type II collagen of bovine emulsion from the tail root and induction of incomplete Freund's adjuvant. On day 15 after primary immunization rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the CIA model group, the Tripterygium Glycosides (TG) group (at the daily dose of 9.68 mg/kg body weight), the high dose QR group (at the daily dose of 6.66 g/kg body weight), and the low dose QR group (at the daily dose of 3.33 g/kg body weight), 15 in each group. Corresponding medication was given to rats in all groups by gastrogavage once daily for 4 successive weeks. An equal volume of pure water was given to rats in the blank control group and the CIA model group by gastrogavage, once daily for 4 successive weeks. The swelling degree of the joints was measured. Rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment. Plasma levels of SOD, MDA, and GSH-Px were measured with colorimetric method. The expression of HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the CIA model group, the swelling degree of the joints was significantly alleviated in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and it was obviously milder in the high dose QR group than in the TG group (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the CIA model group, the activities of GSH-Px could be obviously elevated and activities of MDA lowered in the TG group, the high dose QR group, and the low dose QR group (P < 0.05). Plasma activities of SOD could be obviously elevated in the high dose QR group and the TG group (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the CIA model group, the expression of HIF-1alpha obviously decreased in the TG group and the high dose QR group (P < 0.05), and it showed a decreasing tendency in the low dose QR group with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSQR could markedly alleviate the swelling degree of ankle joints in CIA model rats. Its therapeutic efficacy was superior to that of TG. Its mechanism might be achieved through down-regulating expression of HIF-1alpha in the joint, and regulating activities of SOD, MDA and GSH-Px in the plasma.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Joints ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the function of interferon alpha (IFNalpha) in a Chinese marmot model of hepatitis B, we expressed the Chinese marmot (Marmota himalayana) IFNalpha family gene (IFNA) in eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells.

METHODSEukaryotic and prokaryotic expression plasmids harboring Chinese marmot interferon alpha gene with different genotypes were generated using molecular cloning technology. We detected the biological activity of all expression products by viral protection assay, and analyzed their differences and species restriction of the biological activity.

RESULTSThe Chinese marmot functional genotype IFNalpha was expressed in the baby hamster kidney (BHK) cell line, and these products protected WH12/6 cells challenged by encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). The Chinese marmot IFN-alpha5 also expressed in E. Coli induced by IPTG, and purified fusion protein had antiviral biological activity. The biologic activity displayed differences among different subtype IFNalpha, and it had strict species restriction.

CONCLUSIONThe IFNalpha family gene of the Chinese marmot can be expressed in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells, and the expression products show antiviral activity in a protection assay. This study provides, for the first time, evidence that IFNalpha from the Chinese marmot has an antiviral function in vitro and can be used to improve the efficacy of current therapies for HBV infection in our Chinese marmot model.

Animals ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hepatitis B ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Marmota ; metabolism ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)/open prostatectomy (OP) in the treatment of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe searched Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang and CBM for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing HoLEP with TURP/OP. Comparable data were extracted from eligible studies and pooled for meta-analysis using RevMan5.1.

RESULTSNine RCTs were included in this study, 6 comparing HoLEP with TURP, and the other 3 comparing HoLEP with OP. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with TURP, HoLEP was associated with shorter hospital stay and catheterization time, less hemoglobin loss, longer operative time, and better improvement in international prostate symptom score (IPSS) , peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) and post void residual (PVR) , but the incidences of postoperative urethral stricture and urinary incontinence had no statistically significant difference between the two. Compared with OP, HoLEP showed shorter hospital stay and catheterization time, a lower rate of blood transfusion, longer operative time, and removal of fewer tissues, but the two procedures exhibited no significant differences in either the improvement of IPSS and Qmax or the incidence of urethral stricture.

CONCLUSIONHoLEP is a minimally invasive technique, safe and highly effective for the treatment of BOO secondary to BPH, with its advantages of lower peri-operative morbidity and faster recovery over TURP and OP. However, more high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups need to be carried out to obtain better evidence.

Holmium ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods