Objective To detect molecular characterization of the promoter and 5′UTR region of ATP7B gene in Chinese children with Wilson disease (WD) and explore the distribution of polymorphisms and mutations in different ethnicity.Methods One hundred and ten patients with WD and 90 healthy children were enrolled into the study and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand configuration polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequence analysis.Results 1.Five polymorphisms were identified as follows, -1294T→G,-105C→G,-116C→T ,-132delGCCGC and -75A→C(transcription start site as +1). The former three ones had never been reported before. The fourth one had not been reported either in China. 2.The polymorphism -132delGCCGC and -75A→C both exhibited with allelic frequency at above 70%, which was much higher than other races. The -132delGCCGC polymorphism shared almost complete linkage disequilibrium with the -75A→C polymorphism (in 98% patients) and their regularity was 96.9%.3. Almost all the polymorphisms distributed in flanking sequence of EXON 1 in Chinese. Race and geological distribution may be dominant factors of the variability of promoter and 5′UTR region of ATP7B gene.Conclusions Three novel polymorphisms and a linkage disequilibrium with the -132delGCCGC and -75A→C were identified in Chinese with WD. It also suggests that the mutation in the promoter of ATP7B is uncommon in Chinese patients.

Objective:To investigate the effect of dihydromyricetin (DMY) on LPS-induced septic shock in mice and the related underlying mechanism.Methods:The LPS-induced septic shock mice model was established after the mice were pre-treated by DMY for 7 days.The mortality rate was calculated at 24,48,72,96,120,144 and 168 h after the mice were intraperitoneal injected with LPS.For elucidation of underlying mechanism ,RAW246.7 were pre-incubated with DMY for 1 h,and then stimulated by LPS 100 ng/ml.Western blot was performed for determination of P-ERK,P-JNK and P-p38 expression.Immunohistochemistry was applied to explore c-Fos and c-Jun nucleus translocation.Results:DMY could significantly inhibit LPS-induced mice mortality.Inhibitory effect of DMY on the phosphorylation of JNK and p 38 contributed to the anti-inflammatory effect of DMY in vivo.Furthermore , DMY obviously prevented c-Fos and c-Jun nucleus translocation.Conclusion:The anti-inflammatory effect of DMY is attributed to the suppression on c-Fos and c-Jun nucleus translocation ,via inhibition of the phosphorylation of JNK and p 38.

Objective To investigate the leukemia incidence among residents in the vicinity area of a nuclear installation.Methods The data were collected by the retrospective survey.Diagnosis is based on the medical records in all the relevant hospitals.The study area was those residential areas within 10 km of radium surrounding the installation.All residents who had lived in the study area for six months and over were recruited into the study group.Results The survey ascertained 643 newly diagnosed leukemia cases in the study area during 1997 to 2007.The crude rate was 2.51/100,000,and its standardized rate to national population structure was 2.53/100,000.The incidence rate in the study area was slightly lower than that in the whole city.No increase trend was detected during the period.Conclusions No significant difference of the leukemia incidence rate was found between the vicinity area of the nuclear installation and the whole city.

OBJECTIVETo study the infrared (IR) fingerprint spectra of Coptis chinensis for different parts, ages, and heights, and to analyze the integrate rules about the content of berberine component in Coptis chinensis for different parts, ages, and heights.

METHODThe Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was applied to detect the infrared spectra of Coptis chinensis samples rapidly and non-separately.

RESULTSThe IR spectra of the root, leafstalk, and fibre of Coptis chinesis have their unique features. The content of berberine component in Coptis chinensis was different for different parts and the sequence: root > leafstalk > fibre. When Coptis chinensis grows, the content of berberine component in leafstalk also increases. The content of berberine component in leafstalk which planting in 1 200 m was less than that in 1 300, 1 400, and 1 500 m. The ages and heights provide no obvious influences on the content of berberine in the root of Coptis chinensis.

CONCLUSIONUsing FTIR spectroscopy, the quality of Coptis chinensis can be controlled, which provides a useful method for the standardized planting of Coptis chinensis.

Altitude ; Berberine ; analysis ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of combined treatment with lamivudine and famciclovir on chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODSNinety patients with chronic HBV infection were divided into 3 groups. Group one had 28 patients and was treated with combination of lamivudine (0.1 g/d, PO) and famciclovir (1.5 g/d,PO) for 24 weeks. Group two and three had 30 and 32 cases, respectively, and were treated with lamivudine 100 mg/day PO and famciclovir (1.5 g/d,PO) alone. All the patients had positive markers of HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBcAg in serum assayed by ELISA and of HBV DNA tested by PCR.

RESULTSThree strategies of treatment had no different effects on the change of patients' ALT levels. The serum HBV DNA became negative after treatment in 89.3% (25/28) of patients treated with combination of lamivudine and famciclovir, 66.7% (20/30) of patients treated with lamivudine, and 40.6% (13/32) of patients treated with famciclovir. The rate of serum HBeAg loss in 3 groups were 28.6% (8/28), 23.3% (7/30) and 21.9% (7/32), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination treatment of lamivudine and famciclovir for chronic HBV infection is safer than and superior to that of either drug alone.

2-Aminopurine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDParthenolide has been tested for anti-tumor activities, such as anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis in recent studies. However, little is known about its role in the process of tumor angiogenesis. This study aims to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of parthenolide on the proliferation, migration and lumen formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

METHODSDifferent concentrations of parthenolide were applied to the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 cells. After 24-hour incubation, the culture supernatants were harvested and used to treat human umbilical vein endothelial cells for 24 hours. Then an inverted fluorescence phase contrast microscope was used to evaluate the human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 in the culture supernatant of the MDA-MB-231 cells was then measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays.

RESULTSSuppression of proliferation, migration, and the lumen formation capacity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was observed in the presence of the culture supernatants from the breast cancer cell line treated with different concentrations of parthenolide. Parthenolide decreased the levels of the angiogenic factors MMP-9, VEGF, and IL-8 secreted by the MDA-MB-231 cells.

CONCLUSIONSParthenolide may suppress angiogenesis through decreasing angiogenic factors secreted by breast cancer cells to interfere with the proliferation, migration and lumen-like structure formation of endothelial cells, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. It is a promising potential anti-angiogenic drug.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Sesquiterpenes ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAs the incidence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing, prevention of the disease should be considered as a crucial objective in the near future. Several studies have shown angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may contribute to the prevention of new-onset type 2 diabetes. This study was conducted to determine if ARBs as monotherapy or combination therapy may experience a decreased incidence of new-onset type 2 diabetes and prevent cardiovascular events.

METHODSRelevant experimental and clinical studies were identified by searching MEDLINE (1969 to May 30, 2011) to extract a consensus of trial data involving the effect of ARBs on prevention of new-onset type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials versus placebo/routine therapy. A random-effects model was utilized. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTSEleven trials were identified, including 82 738 patients. ARBs prevented new-onset type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 0.8 (95%CI 0.76, 0.85)). Regardless of indication for use, essential hypertension (seven trials), impaired glucose tolerance (one trial), cardiocerebrovascular disease (two trials) or heart failure (one trial), reductions in new-onset type 2 diabetes were maintained (0.75 (0.69, 0.82), 0.85 (0.78, 0.92), 0.80 (0.76, 0.85) and 0.80 (0.64, 0.99), respectively). No statistical heterogeneity was observed for any evaluation. However, ARBs did not significantly reduce the odds of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction and heart failure versus control therapy among all of these studies. But ARBs did reduce the odds of cardiac death and heart failure among the heart failure study versus control therapy.

CONCLUSIONARBs have significant ability to reduce risk of developing new-onset type 2 diabetes but does not improve cardiovascular outcomes over the study follow-up periods among all of included studies.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypertension ; prevention & control ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Objective To analyse the relative factors of the linear growth velocity(GV)in girls with central precocious puberty(CPP)during gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog(GnRHa)therapy,and to investigate the factors affecting the height gain during two-year GnRHa treatment.Methods In 86 girls aged (8.04?1.28)years with CPP treated with GnRHa for more than 2 years,the data including target height,age of onset,pubertal course,chronological age,bone age,linear GV,serum estradiol level and mature index of vaginal smear were analyzed,then the correlations and stepwise regression were performed.Results During GnRHa therapy,GV decreased year by year.The GV in the second year(GV_(2nd))was negatively correlated with the age of onset,bone age(BA_0,BA_2)and chronologic age(CA_0,CA_2)at the onset and by the end of the first year of GnRHa therapy(r=-0.37,-0.59,-0.57,-0.51 and-0.52,respectively,all P

Objective To explore the detection methods for cognitive dysfunction of the major depression in Elderly and analyze their clinical significance.Methods Using matched-pairs study,42 patients with seniie de- pressive disorders(experimental group)and 42 normal aged people(control group)were examined with auditory e- voked potential P300(event related potential,ERP-P300)and SECF,respectively.Results It was found that the scores with registration,span,recall,classification and total score of the subjects in the experimental group were sig- nificantly lower than those in the control group(P

Professor SHAO Jing-Ming devotes his life in clinical practices for more than 80 years. He is an eminent specialist acupuncture with abundant clinical experiences. He establishes the unique method of needling of tri-points and penta-needles which achieves significant effectiveness for the treatment of asthma. He has taught for more than 50 years with unique educational method. A great amount of experts appear in the circle of TCM after receiving his unique training. He devotes his life to composing books on acupuncture and moxibustion. He devotes his life and his heart to promoting the development of acupuncture and moxibustion, and makes remarkable contribution in this field.
Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; history