To generate recombinant adenovirus expression vector of human Sema4C gene and observe its expression in mouse myoblasts cell line C2C12 for ensuring easy access to investigate the role of Sema4C gene during myogenesis. The recombinant plasmid was packaged and amplified after being transfected in HEK293 cells through Lipofectamine. After infecting C2C12 myoblasts with recombinant adenovirus vector, the adenoviral infection efficiency was determined by confocal microscope which showed that the expression of green fluorescence could be detected at 12h and then reached peak at 24h after recombinant adenovirus infection. The infection efficiency was almost 100% confirmed by FACS examination. Detection of WB indicated that the expression of Sema4C in C2C12 of recombinant adenoviral infection group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of diagnosis and treatment program of integrative medicine (IM) on level 2 hypertension in the young and middle-aged patients and their ambulatory blood pressure.

METHODSA randomized, placebo parallel and controlled, multi-center clinical trial was performed. Totally 199 young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (99 cases) and the control group (100 cases). All received combined hypotensive treatment program by taking Nifedipine Sustained Release Tablet and Hydrochlorothiazide as basic drugs. Patients in the treatment group additionally took Western medicine (WM) combined Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily), while those in the control group additionally took WM combined simulative agents of Jiangyabao serial drugs (0.31 g per tablet, 2 tablets each time, twice daily). The treatment course was 8 weeks for all, and 24-week follow-ups performed. 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and casual blood pressure, and their efficacies were compared between the two groups, and safety assessed as well.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, daytime and night casual blood pressure, as well as 24 h ambulatory blood pressure were all obviously improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). Average diastolic and systolic blood pressures at night decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in total efficacies of daytime casual blood pressure or ambulatory blood pressure (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJiangyabao serial drugs combined WM in treating young and middle-aged level 2 hypertension patients showed obvious effect in improving night blood pressure, especially for night diastolic blood pressure.

Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Integrative Medicine ; Middle Aged ; Nifedipine

Objective To study changes of trigemino-cervical reflex (TCR) in patients with Kennedy's disease (KD). Methods The parameters of TCR were analyzed among patients with KD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and healthy controls. Results The parameters of ipsilateral P19, N31, A and contralateral P19, N31, A among patients with KD were (23.91±4.84), (35.45±4.76) ms, 1.24± 0.33 and (24.34±4.82), (36.20±4.91) ms, 1.19±0.25, respectively. Compared with the healthy controls((18.37±2.16), (28.50±1.56) ms, 1.90±0.43; (18. 72±2. 18), (29. 19±1.43) ms, 1.84 ± 0. 40), the difference in each parameter was significant (ipsilateral : t = 5.77, 8. 19, -6. 64; contralateral:5.05, 7.62, -7.77, all P<0.01). Conclusion The parameters of TCR were abnormal in KD patients, indicating that the trigeminal nerves and the bulbar may be involved in the disease.

Objective To investigate new cases of endemic cretinism in high-risk areas of Inner Mongolia, the prevalence of endemic goiter, the implementation of comprehensive measures, and to provide scientific basis for developing control strategies against iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Methods In 2007 and 2008, a search for new cretin cases was conducted among children under the age of 10 in 11 historical serious epidemic cretinism prevalent areas of Songshan district, Keshiketeng qi, Kalaqin qi, Zhalaite qi, Zhuozi county,Liangcheng county, Qingshuihe county, Helin county, Dongsheng district, Zhungeer qi and Yinjinhuoluo qi. Three to 5 towns were selected in each qi(county, district) and 3 to 5 village primary schools were selected in each town.One hundred and twenty to 200 children aged 8 to 10 were selected in each school to inspect thyroid by B ultrasound and palpation and to test intelligence and urinary iodine. Two villages were selected in each town and 30 households were selected to determine urinary iodine of housewives and salt iodine. Results A total of 56 cases of suspected cases of endemic cretinism were found from the 11 counties but no case was confirmed. The goiter rate of children aged 8 to 10 was 5.2% (309/5922) by palpation and 4.3% (252/5922) by B-ultrasound. The median urinary iodine of children aged 8 to 10 was 241.5 μg/L, and urinary iodine was 100 to 300 μg/L, accounted 65.9%(3901/5920). Median urinary iodine of the 9 Qis(counties, districts) was in the range of 200 and 300μg/L.Higher than 5% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 50 μg/L was zero. Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 1. The median urinary iodine of housewives was 225.6 μg/L, and lower than 50 μg/L accounted for 2.2%(35/1597). Higher than 10% of the 11 Qis(counties, districts) with urinary iodine lower than 100 μg/L was 4. A total of 2109 households were investigated and 97.45%(2055/2109) of them ate iodized salt and 2.55%(54/2109) of them ate non-iodized salt. Conclusions In the 11 investigated counties, goiter rate of children has decreased to less than 10%, and no new cretin was found. It could be concluded that the fulfillment of prevention and control of IDD is effective. The iodine nutrition of children and women of childbearing age is in an adequate level. The coverage rate of iodized salt has maintained at a higher level, the sales network is sound, the salt price is reasonable and salt is easy to get and the children's intelligence is protected effectively. But, the health education about IDD is still weak, need to be reinforced.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on cell proliferation, type I collagen secretion and integrin beta 1 expression in human kidney fibroblast (KFB).

METHODSKFB were cultured and stimulated by PNS in vitro. The cell proliferation, type I collagen secretion and integrin beta 1 expression in KFB were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) and flowcytometry respectively.

RESULTSWithin its optimal concentration range and effective time range, PNS could obviously inhibit the proliferation, type I collagen secretion and integrin beta 1 expression (all P < 0.05) in human KFB.

CONCLUSIONPNS would possibly be an effective drug for renal interstitial fibrosis prevention and treatment.

Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Kidney ; cytology ; pathology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study whether total saponins of Panax notoginseng (PNS) can prevent renal interstitial fibrosis occurrence through blocking the IL-1alpha induced tubular epithelial cell and decrease the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM).

METHODSNormal rats' tubular epithelial cells NRK52E were cultured in vitro, their morphological changes were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope and scanning electron microscope. Flow cytometry technique and immuno-histochemical method was used to detect the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and ELISA was used to quantitatively detect the fibronectin (FN) in the supernatant

RESULTSIL-1alpha could induce the transdifferentiation of tubular epithelial myofibroblast, showing hypertrophy of cells elongated and fusiform-shaped, with significantly enhanced expression of alpha-SMA and increased secretion of FN (P<0.05). After adding PNS of different concentrations, the morphology of cells restored close to normal tubular epithelial cells, with the increase of alpha-SMA expression and FN secretion significantly inhibited (P<0.05) in dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). But addition of different dosages of PNS alone showed no effect on tubular cells.

CONCLUSIONIL-1alpha could induce the transdifferentiation of tubular epithelial myofibroblast, promote the deposition of ECM component FN. PNS could inhibit IL-1alpha induced the transdifferentiation of NRK52E and secretion of ECM, therefore, PNS could be taken as a new drug for prevention and treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis and terminal stage of renal diseases.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; analysis ; Fibrosis ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-1 ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; Panax ; chemistry ; Rats ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

China ; Congresses as Topic ; Fatty Liver ; Humans

Objective To analyze the clinical features of 27 Chinese patients with Kennedy's disease(KD), a sex-linked inheritance disorder. Methods We collected the clinical data of 27 KD patients whose diagnosis were confirmed by gene examination to analyze their clinical features, as well as their serum levels of sex hormones and biochemical indicators. Results Patients with spinal and bulhar muscular atrophy tend to have an adult onset, exhibiting a slow progression of lower motor neuronal weakness and atrophy involving limbs and bulbar zones. Part of the invalids presented signs of androgen insensitivity such as gynecomastia or reduced sexual function, even though their degrees of sex hormones were normal. There was mild motor functional lesion which correlated with the course of the disease ( r = 0. 77, P = 0. 000). The degrees of creatine kinase ( ( 920. 10 ± 495.54 ) U/L ) and triglyceride ( ( 3.27 ± 2. 78) mmool/L) increased mildly and was significantly different from the levels of healthy ones (107.20 U/L,t =7.517,P =0.000;1.40 mmol/L, t =2.687,P =0.017). Conclusions Basically, Chinese KD patients present the same clinical features as the literature reports, however they have distinctive aspects such as elevated degree of triglyceride. The present research can help us to understand the features of Chinese KD more particularly.

Objective To investigate the correlation of CAGs repeat size and age of onset in patients with Kennedy's Disease (KD).Methods We detected the number of CAG repeats in the androgen receptor genes in 30 patients with KD.The correlation of CAGs repeat size with age of onset was analyzed.At the same time,the Appel scale that could represent the degree of motor functional impairment was scored in every patient.The correlation of Appel scale with CAGs repeat size and the course of disease were analyzed.Results Significant correlation was found between the number of CAGs with age of onset (r= -0.671,P <0.01 ).There was also correlation between the Appel score and the course of disease (r=0.855,P<0.01 ),but no correlation between the Appel score and the number of CAGs (r =0.100,P =0.601 ).Conclusions It is found that in Kennedy' disease,as well as in other CAG repeat diseases,the length of polyglutamine tract determines the age of onset ,but has no correlation with the severity of the disease.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of transvaginal endoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods The clinical data of 88 female patients who underwent cholecystectomy at the Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from May to November, 2009 were retrospectively analysed. Among all the patients, 32 received transvaginal endoscopic cholecystectomy ( NOTES group) and the remaining 56 patients received laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Thirty-two patients who received LC at the same period were selected (LC group)acccording to age, body mass index, type and severity of disease to conduct a matched case-control study. The differences in time span of postoperative pain, anodyne dose, enterokinesia recovery time, operation time, out-ofbed activity time, average hospital stay and hospitalization expenses between the two groups were compared using the paired t test. Results Cholecystectomies were successfully carried out for all the patients. The intraoperative blood loss, operation time, degree of pain, anodyne doses, enterokinesia recovery time, out-of-bed activity time,average hospital stay and hospitalization expenses were (5.7 ± 1.5 ) ml, ( 76 ± 27 ) minutes, 2.2 ± 0.6, ( 10 ±6) mg, (25±5) hours, (9±3) hours, (2.1 ±1.2) days and (1.12±0.34) ×104 yuan in NOTES group, and they were ( 13.9 ± 3.1 ) ml, (38 ± 16) minutes, 6.7 ± 1.5, (28 ± 8) mg, (45 ± 8) hours, (26 ± 6) hours,(4.3 ± 2.1 ) days and ( 1.54 ± 0.18 ) × 104 yuan in the LC group. There were significant differences between the two groups (t = 5.098, - 4.712, 2.417, 3.203, 3.089, 4.136, 4.786, 3.917, P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion Transvaginal endoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible, and it is superior to tranditional LC.