OBJECTIVEThere is growing evidence indicating that reactions of inflammatory system play an important role in stroke and development of carotid plaques. It is purposed to understand the relationship between serum level of c-reactive protein (CPR) and size of cerebral infarction, carotid plaques and prognosis of ischemic stroke.

METHODSA total of 121 patients with ischemic stroke were included in the study. Serum level of CRP was measured within 72 hours after onset of index stroke. All patients were scored by CNDF based on deficit in their clinical neurological function, and examined with CT/MRI and carotid duplex ultrasound scanning.

RESULTSLeukocyte count and blood glucose level at admission were significantly higher in the group with abnormal serum level of CRP than those with normal one (P = 0.045 and P = 0.021, respectively). Incidence of territory infarction (42 cases, 61.76%) was also significantly higher than that of lacunar infarction (23 cases, 43.4%), with P = 0.044. Occurrence of carotid plaques was higher in the former (32 cases, 65.30%) than that in the latter (17 cases, 34.69%), with P = 0.035. CNFD scores were higher in the former (ranging 6 - 35, with a median of 18) than those in the latter (ranging 6 - 28, with a median of 11), with Mann-Whitney U test, P = 0.0001. And, more severe prognosis was also found in the former than in the latter, with P = 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONSerum level of CRP was an important prognostic marker for carotid plaque and stroke.

Aged ; Arteriosclerosis ; complications ; Biomarkers ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Carotid Stenosis ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Stroke ; diagnosis ; pathology

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of death in premature neonates, and it is caused by the failure of morphological and biochemical lung maturation (synthesis and secretion of lung surfactant). It is known that cortisol, thyroxine, prolactin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and estrogen accelerate the lung maturation. Cortisol and thyroxine are currently used in the antenatal treatment for the prevention of RDS in premature neonates. In order to evaluate the effect of EGF on the levels of cortsol, thyroxine, and prolactin, this study was undertaken. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with and without EGF was directly injected into the 25 days gestational fetus in uterus. Blood was collected for the measurement of cortisol, thyroxine, and prolactin one day or two days after the injection. Body weights and lung weights were also measured. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in body weights and lung weights between PBS-treated group(control group) and EGF-treated poup(experimental group), 24 hours and 48 hours after the injection. 2. 24 hours after the injection, the levels of cortisol were significantly inaeased in the EGF-treated group compared with those in the PBS-treated group. However 48 hours after the injection, there was no significant difference in the levels of cortisol between the two groups. The levels of thyroxine and prolactin in the EGF-treated group did not significantly differ from those in the PBS-treated group 24 hours and 48 hours after the injection. In conclusion, in vivo, the synthesis of cortisol may be affected by EGF treatment, which suggests that the action of EGF for lung maturation may be partially mediated by the increased endogenous levels of cortisol.
Body Weight ; Cause of Death ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Estrogens ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; Prolactin* ; Rabbits* ; Thyroxine* ; Uterus ; Weights and Measures

Adipocyte differentiation is a very complex process in which whole-cell changes are accompanied. Among them, type I procollagen gene has been shown to specifically decrease during adipocyte differentiation; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism. To examine how type I procollagen gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription during adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used as an in vitro model. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression of type I procollagen gene was dramatically reduced during adipocyte differentiation. Time-course analysis indicated that decrease in mRNA expression occurred at early stage of differentiation. Studies on several stable cell lines showed that transcriptional activities of both alpha1 and alpha2 promoters decreased significantly during adipocyte differentiation. Despite extensive deletion-promoter analyses, however, we could not identify the cis-element responsible for the switch-off of type I procollagen gene during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the transcriptional repression of this gene occur through general transcription machinery rather than a specific cis-element. In conclusion, down-regulation of type I procollagen mRNA expression during adipocyte differentiation is due to repression of its promoter activity through general transcription machinery.
3T3 Cells ; Adipocytes/cytology/*metabolism ; Animal ; Cell Differentiation/*genetics ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I/*genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Mutation ; Procollagen/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

Adipocyte differentiation is a very complex process in which whole-cell changes are accompanied. Among them, type I procollagen gene has been shown to specifically decrease during adipocyte differentiation; however, little is known about the molecular mechanism. To examine how type I procollagen gene expression is regulated at the level of transcription during adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line was used as an in vitro model. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that mRNA expression of type I procollagen gene was dramatically reduced during adipocyte differentiation. Time-course analysis indicated that decrease in mRNA expression occurred at early stage of differentiation. Studies on several stable cell lines showed that transcriptional activities of both alpha1 and alpha2 promoters decreased significantly during adipocyte differentiation. Despite extensive deletion-promoter analyses, however, we could not identify the cis-element responsible for the switch-off of type I procollagen gene during adipocyte differentiation, suggesting that the transcriptional repression of this gene occur through general transcription machinery rather than a specific cis-element. In conclusion, down-regulation of type I procollagen mRNA expression during adipocyte differentiation is due to repression of its promoter activity through general transcription machinery.
3T3 Cells ; Adipocytes/cytology/*metabolism ; Animal ; Cell Differentiation/*genetics ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I/*genetics/metabolism ; Down-Regulation/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Mutation ; Procollagen/*genetics/metabolism ; Promoter Regions (Genetics) ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Repressor Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic

Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between abdominal fat volume and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome in obesity people.

METHODSFrom July 2009 to July 2010, 50 patients with BMI > 25 were prospectively selected for study from the patients who complained of snoring in the Respiratory department. The patients were divided into OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group according to the result of sleep apnea monitoring. All the patients also received full abdominal CT and the whole abdominal fat volume was measured by 3-D CT reconstruction system. SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe whole abdominal fat volume in the two groups was analyzed by T- test, which was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.01). It showed that there was a statistical relationship between OSAHS and abdominal fat in obesity people.

CONCLUSIONIn obesity people, OSAHS has a close relationship with abdominal fat volume. The abdominal fat volume is markedly higher in OSAHS patients than that in non-OSAHS people.

Abdominal Fat ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; diagnostic imaging ; Prospective Studies ; Radiography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of serum reproductive hormones with male aging and to compare the differences in the hormone levels among different age groups or between township and rural males of the same age group.

METHODSUsing cluster and stratified sampling, we recruited 434 healthy old and middle-aged (40-69 years) males, 198 from the township and 236 from the rural communities. We determined the concentrations of serum total testosterone (tT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (fT), bio-available testosterone (Bio-T), and obtained the testosterone secretion index (TSI) and free testosterone index (fTI). Meanwhile, we included fifty-nine 20-39 years old males from the same communities in a control group.

RESULTSWith the increase of age, the serum tT levels did not change significantly, while the levels of serum LH and SHBG increased, and those of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI decreased gradually. Statistically significant differences were found among the four different age groups in all the parameters of reproductive hormones (P < 0.01), except in the serum tT level (P > 0.05). The serum tT level was not significantly correlated with aging and LH (P > 0.05). Serum LH and SHBG had a marked positive correlation with aging, and SHBG with LH (P < 0.01), while fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were negatively correlated with aging and the LH level (P < 0.01). Serum LH, TSI and fTI showed statistical differences (P < 0.05), while fT and Bio-T exhibited extremely significant differences (P < 0.01) between the township and rural males in the 40 -49 yr group, and in the same age group, the increase rates of serum LH and SHBG and reduction rates of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were higher in the rural men than in the township residents. However, the results were just the opposite in the 50 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum LH, SHBG, fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI changed with aging in a gradientmanner in the old and middle-aged males, but no significant changes were observed in the level of serum tT. There were statistical differences in many parameters of serum reproductive hormones among different age groups or between township and rural males.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aging ; metabolism ; China ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-viral mechanism of kurarinol through studying its influence on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surface program death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS69 cases of CHB, HBV DNA > or = 10(4) copies/ml, HBeAg positive, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 positive, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit of normal value(ULN).69 cases were randomly divided into two groups:34 cases in treatment group,600 mg of kurarinol glucose injection was used for intravenous dripping, once a day, one month later, 200 mg of kurarinol capsule was used orally,three times a day and 200 mg of silybin meglumine tablet was used orally, three times a day. 35 cases in control group, only silibin meglumine tablet was used, method and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. Three months later, their peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression, non-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression and level of HBV specific CTL,HBV DNA and HBeAg negative rate and liver functions were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS3 months after treatment, peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression of the treatment group decreased compared with that before treatment (t = 2.39, P < 0.05), it also decreased compared with that of the control group 3 months after treatment (t = 2.26, P < 0.05), HBV specific CTL increased compared with that before treatment( t = 3.01, P < 0.01), it also increased compared with that of the control group after treatment (t = 2.65, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of non-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression compared with that before treatment (P > 0.05), and there was no significant difference compared with that of the control group after treatment (P > 0.05). HBV DNA of 11 cases (32.5%) turned negative ( HBV DNA < 500 copies/ ml), higher than that of the control group after treatment (2 cases, 5.71%) chi2 = 7.99, P < 0.01, HBeAg of 9 cases (26.47%) turned negative, higher than that of the control group after treatment (1 case, 2.86%), chi2 = 7.75, P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONKurarinol can increase level of HBV specific CTL by down-regulating peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression of CHB patients, which may be one of the possible mechanisms that kurarinol can remove or inhibit HBV of CHB patients.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDOxymatrine has certain antiviral effects in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but its exact mechanism is unclear. The objective of the present study was to explore oxymatrine's antiviral mechanism by studying its effect on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surface programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression in CHB patients.

METHODSSixty-five CHB patients who had HBV DNA(3)10(4) copies/ml, positive HBeAg, positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit of normal value (ULN) were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n = 33), treated with an intravenous infusion of 600 mg oxymatrine in glucose solution once a day for a month, then with a 200 mg oxymatrine oral capsule three times a day, and a 200 mg silibin meglumine tablet three times a day; control group (n = 32) patients were treated only with silibin meglumine tablet, method and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. Three months later, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression, HBV-specific CTL level, HBV DNA, HBeAg, and results of liver function tests were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThree months post-treatment, in the treatment group, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression ((19.42 ± 15.94)%) decreased significantly compared to the pretreatment level ((31.30 ± 24.06)%; P < 0.05), and decreased significantly compared to that of control group three months after treatment ((29.45 ± 21.62)%; P < 0.05). HBV-specific CTL level ((0.42 ± 0.07)%) significantly increased compared with the pretreatment ((0.29 ± 0.15)%; P < 0.01), and the control group posttreatment level was (0.31 ± 0.15)% (P < 0.05). HBV DNA level in 11 cases became negative (HBV DNA < 500 copies/ml, 33.33%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (two cases, 6.25%; χ(2) = 7.45, P < 0.01), HBeAg of nine cases turned negative (27.27%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (one case, 3.13%; χ(2) = 7.27, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could downregulate peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression in CHB patients, increase HBV-specific CTL level, which may be one of the possible mechanisms by which oxymatrine clears or inhibits HBV in CHB patients.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; analysis ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; chemistry

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation for pediatric adenoid hypertrophy (AH). Methods: A total of 60 children with AH were randomized into an observation group and a medication group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with pediatric Tuina treatment, and the medication group was treated with 0.05％ mometasone furoate nasal spray. The changes of main clinical symptom score, quality of life (QOL) score and X-ray nasopharynx lateral film were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate of the observation group was 90.0％, and that of the medication group was 66.7％. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, the A/N value [ratio of adenoid thickness (A) and nasopharyngeal cavity width (N)] of posterior nasopharyngeal lateral film did not show significant change in either group (P>0.05). After treatment, the clinical symptom scores in both groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.001), but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the QOL scores of children in both groups decreased, and the intra-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.001), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: Tuina manipulation is effective in treating pediatric AH, and produces a better effect in improving traditional Chinese medicine symptoms and QOL than 0.05％ mometasone furoate nasal spray.