Objective To observe the effect of extract from Branchlets roses on blood glucose and glucose tolerance in diabetes mice induced by alloxan.Methods Diabetes animal model was established by alloxan.Dividing the model mice into eight groups:model group,water extract high,middle,and low dose (3.70,1.85,and 0.93 g/kg) group,and ethanol extract high,middle,and low dose (2.75,1.37,and 0.70 g/kg) group,and metformin (positive drug,200 mg/kg) group,and normal mice were taken as control group.Drug was ig administered to mice 3 d after molding once daily.Blood glucose test paper was used to determine fasting blood glucose 0,10,20,and 28 d after modeling,and the glucose tolerance test was performed 30 d after modeling.Results The extract of Branchlets roses from all the groups could decrease the blood glucose and improve the glucose tolerance,and showed a certain dose-effect relationship.In all the extracts,the alcohol extract had the best effect,but the effect was not as good as the positive control drug metformin hydrochloride group.Conclusion The extract of Branchlets roses can reduce the blood sugar content of diabetic mice,and improve the glucose tolerance.

BACKGROUND:Rapid loss of liver-specific functions of the cultured hepatocytes limits the development of hepatocyte-based therapies. OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional culture system based on col agen hydrogel that enables to enhance liver-specific functions for a long period during culture of hepatocytes. METHODS:Hepatocytes were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and then encapsulated into liquid type Ⅰcol agen solution that was premixed with hepatocyte growth factor and Dulbecco's modified Eagle’s medium to create hepatocyte/col agen hydrogel compounds. The compounds were inoculated into a 96-wel plate. After gelation, culture medium was added. Light microscope, hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the morphological characteristics and ultrastructure of the cultured hepatocytes. The cellsupernatant was col ected and tested for albumin secretion and urea synthesis. Periodic acid-schiff staining, immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time PCR were also used to further clarify liver-specific phenotype or function of the hepatocytes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Light microscope revealed that hepatocytes were round shape and distributed uniformly in col agen hydrogel. The three-dimensional hepatocyte culture system exhibited similarities to liver-like structure and tight junction were formed between hepatocytes after 14 days of culture. (2) Within the three-dimensional culture system, hepatocytes remained positive for periodic acid-schiff staining, albumin and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4αpositive after 14-day culture, which provided the convincing evidence of highly differentiated primary hepatocytes with functions of glycogen and albumin synthesis. (3) The albumin and urea productions in the three-dimensional culture system had a significantly higher level than in the two-dimensional culture, and could remain at a high level at least for 15 days. (4) The expression levels of hepatocyte-specific genes including Albumin, HNF-4α, Claudin-3, CYP1A1, CYP3A1 and G6P were significantly improved in the three-dimensional culture as compared with the two-dimensional culture. The col agen hydrogel based three-dimensional culture system provides a valuable model to enhance the hepatocyte functional maintenance and lay the foundation for the development of hepatocyte-based therapy for liver disease.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect of the treatment with intravenous(Ⅳ)ibandronate com- bined with chemotherapy on patients with skeletal metastases.Method:138 patients with skeletal metastases were randomly divided into ibandronate group combined with chemotherapy(68 cases)and simple chemotherapy group(70 cases).The controlled group took a standard chemotherapy project but combined the treatment group took a chemotherapy project plus ibandronate.In a week after the chemotherapy,68 cases of the treatment group were treated with ibandronate 4mg in NS 500ml by intravenous infusion once 4 weeks for 3 months.The effect was evaluated when the three cycles finished.Result: There was a statistical difference(P

AIMTo identify a novel isoform of adaptin 2 beta subunit (named Ap2beta-NY) and to investigate its relationship with testicular development and spermatogenesis.

METHODSUsing a human testis cDNA microarray, a clone (Ap2beta-NY), which was strongly expressed in adult testes but weakly expressed in embryo testes, was sequenced and analyzed. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the tissue distribution and expression time pattern of Ap2beta-NY were determined.

RESULTSAp2beta-NY was identified and has been deposited in the GenBank (AY341427). The expression level of Ap2beta-NY in the adult testis was about 3-fold higher than that in the embryo testis. PCR analysis using multi-tissue cDNA indicated that Ap2beta-NY was highly expressed in the testis, spleen, thymus, prostate, ovary, blood leukocyte and brain, but not in the heart, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and pancreas. In addition, Ap2beta-NY was variably expressed in the testes of patients with spermatogenesis-disturbance and spermatogenesis-arrest but not expressed in those of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, which implied that, in the testis, Ap2beta-NY was restrictively expressed in germ cells.

CONCLUSIONAp2beta-NY is an isoform of Ap2beta and may be involved in regulating the process of spermatogenesis and testis development.

Adaptor Protein Complex beta Subunits ; chemistry ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA Splicing ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; metabolism

Adult ; Biopsy ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Background There have been an abundance of literature on the analysis of the mechanical characteristic of the sclera at the entire seleral level in high myopia.However,some recent studies on high myopia are focused on the mechanical changes of the sclera on a cellular level. Objective This experiment was purposed to study how transforming growth factor-β2(TGF-β2)affected sclerotic desmocytes and the mechanical behaviors of scleral fibroblasts in the posterior part of the eyes in guinea pigs with experimental myopia. Methods Induced myopic animal models were established by wearing-10.00 D concave lens for 30 days in lateral eyes of 2-week-old guinea pigs.The fellow eyes were used as control group.Another 5 matched animals served as normal controls.The scleral fibroblasts of each group were purified with the tissue explant method and passaged for 2 generations in vitro.Cultured cells were identified by immunochemistry with vimentin,desmin,keratin and S-100 antibodies.Different concentrations of TGF-β2(0,1,10,100mg/L)were added into serum-free DMEM for 24 hours,and the viscoelastic properties of scleral fibroblasts were measured by micropipette aspiration technique. Results Compared with the fellow,eyes and normal control eyes,the equilibrium modulus and apparent viscosity in model eyes were significantly higher(P＜0.05).After treatment of TGF-β2,the equilibrium modulus and apparent viscosity in the model group and fellow eyes were positively correlated with the concentrations of TGF-β2(r=0.743,r=0.533,r=0.654,r=0.576,P＜0.05).Following the addition of 1 mg/L TGF-β2 and 10 mg/L TGF-β2,the equilibrium modulus and apparent viscosity of scleral fibroblasts were significantly reduced in model eyes compared with fellow eyes(P＜0.05).No significant difference was found in the equilibrium modulus and apparent viscosity of scleral fibroblasts between model eyes and fellow eyes after treatment with 100 mg/L TGF-β2(P＞0.05). Conclusion TGF-β2 car increase the mechanic indexes in a concentration.dependent manner.1 mg/L,10 mg/L TGF-β2 can lower the equilibrium modulus and apparent viscosity of scleral fibroblasts of normal eye and thus cause more changes in the mechanical behavior of scleral fibroblasts.

BACKGROUNDNeonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is caused by a deficiency in pulmonary surfactant (PS) and is one of the main reasons of neonatal mortality. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant for prophylaxis of NRDS.

METHODSForty-five pregnant women who were due for preterm delivery and whose fetuses' lungs proved immature were divided into two groups. Fifteen women (study group) were administered one dose of pulmonary surfactant injected into the amniotic cavity and delivered within several hours. Nothing was injected into the amniotic cavity of 30 women of the control group. The proportion of neonatal asphyxia, NRDS, mortality and the time in hospital were analyzed to determine if there was any difference between the two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups for neonatal asphyxia. Foam tests showed that higher proportion of neonates in the study group than in the control group (56.3% vs 13.3%, P < 0.05) had lung maturity. A greater number of control neonates (11/30, 32.3%) had NRDS, compared with the neonates given PS via the amniotic cavity before delivery (1/16, 6.3%, P < 0.05). The neonates in the study group spent nearly 10 days less in hospital than the control group [(32.4 +/- 7.6) days vs (42.0 +/- 15.7) days, P < 0.05], but the difference in mortality between the two groups was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSIntra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant can significantly reduce the proportion of NRDS and the time in hospital of preterm neonates. Whether this method can reduce the mortality of preterm neonates needs to be evaluated further. Intra-amniotic administration of pulmonary surfactant provides an additional effectual means for NRDS prophylaxis.

Amnion ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; administration & dosage ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; prevention & control ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESIn order to understand the effect of long term consumption of mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder on skeletal health in children, biological effects of mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder, dephytinized mineral-unfortified soy milk powder and fresh mineral-fortified cow milk were compared.

METHODSTotally, 90 boys aged 12 to 14 years were involved in the study and were given daily with mineral-fortified dephytinized soy milk powder, dephytinized soy milk powder and fresh fortified cow milk, respectively, for two months. The blood samples were collected from all the subjects for measuring activity of serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase and serum level of oesteocalcin, and the urine samples were collected for determining urine C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTx).

RESULTSAfter two-month intervention, serum level of oesteocalcin increased significantly in the all groups, (16.42 +/- 11.25) micro g/L for the group with fortified soy milk powder, (18.86 +/- 11.57) microg/L for the group with unfortified soy milk powder and (13.81 +/- 10.06) microg/L for the group with fortified cow milk, respectively. The activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase significantly decreased in the all groups, by (0.28 +/- 0.40) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1) for the group with fortified soy milk powder, (0.26 +/- 0.35) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1) for the group with unfortified soy milk powder, and (0.17 +/- 0.28) micromol x s(-1) x L(-1) for the group with fortified cow milk, respectively. As well as, urine level of CTx decreased significantly, by (349.1 +/- 380.3) mg/L for the group with fortified soy milk powder, (260.4 +/- 412.4) mg/L for the group with unfortified soy milk powder, and (354.4 +/- 404.7) mg/L for the group with fortified cow milk, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLong term consumption of mineral-fortified and dephytinized soy milk powder could improve bone mass retention and calcium nutrition status efficiently in children.

Adolescent ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; physiology ; Child ; Dietary Supplements ; Food, Fortified ; Humans ; Male ; Minerals ; pharmacology ; Phytic Acid ; metabolism ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVESIn order to understand the absorption and utilization of calcium, iron and zinc in cow milk, soy milk powder and dephytinized soy milk powder in the children and adolescents, and to lay a foundation for the improvement of protein and mineral nutrition in Chinese residents with popularizing consumption of soy milk powder.

METHODSTotally, 57 boys aged 12 to 14 years were selected and divided into three groups, matched by age, hemoglobin concentration, height and weight. The boys were given 220 ml of fortified and dephytinized soy milk, soy milk or cow milk, respectively, containing calcium 270 mg, iron 4 mg and zinc 4 mg, which were labeled with stable isotopes (44)Ca, (58)Fe and (70)Zn in a single serving size, and their feces were labeled with brilliant blue and dysprosium. Feces specimens were collected for all the subjects and absorption rate of calcium, iron and zinc were measured for all the children who took fortified and dephytinized soy milk, soy milk or cow milk, respectively. Calcium in feces was measured with heat ionized mass spectrometry, and recovery of (58)Fe and (70)Zn in feces and content of dysprosium were measured with induction coupling iso-ionic mass spectrometry, and then absorption rates of iron and zinc were calculated and adjusted by the recovery rate of dysprosium.

RESULTSIron absorption rate was (6.7 +/- 3.8)% in soy milk powder group, (15.5 +/- 9.2)% in the cow milk group and (20.6 +/- 7.3)% in dephytinized soy milk powder group, respectively. Calcium absorption rate was (43.5 +/- 10.7)%, (64.2 +/- 11.4)%, and (50.9 +/- 6.6)% in the three groups, respectively. Absorption rate of zinc was (11.3 +/- 6.5)%, (31.2 +/- 10.4)% and (20.1 +/- 7.4)%, respectively. Significant increase in absorption of calcium, iron and zinc was observed in the groups with fortified and dephytinized soy milk powder, as compared with those consuming nondephytinized soy milk powder. Absorption rate of calcium and zinc was significantly higher in the group with cow milk than that in the group with dephytinized and fortified soy milk powder, and iron bioavailability was lower in the group with cow milk than that with dephytinized soy milk powder, with no significant difference. Absorption rates of calcium, iron and zinc were higher in children of China due to their long term adaptation to dietary intake of lower mineral and protein, and higher fiber.

CONCLUSIONSBioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc in soy milk powder could be increased by dephytinized treatment for it.

Absorption ; drug effects ; physiology ; Adolescent ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Child ; Food, Fortified ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Male ; Minerals ; metabolism ; Phytic Acid ; pharmacology ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Zinc ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the therapeutic effect of five-needle-in-nape acupuncture treatment and the routine acupuncture treatment for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a five-needle-in-nape (FNN) group and a routine acupuncture (RA) group (n=30 in each group). Ya-men (GV 15), Tianzhu (BL10), Zhiqiang acupoint (Extra) were needled and the training of swallowing was practiced when needling in FNN group. Lianquan (CV 23), Tongli (HT 5), Zhaohai (KI 6) were needled in RA group. The course of acupuncture treatment consisted of needling once time every day, six times a week for two weeks. The therapeutic effects were evaluated after two courses of acupuncture treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 93.3% in FNN group, better than that of 80.0% in RA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect in FNN group was better than that of RA group for poststroke pesudobulbar paralysis dysphagia.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Bulbar Palsy, Progressive ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome