Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Sparganium stoloniferum. Methods: Column chromatographic techniques were applied to isolate the constituents. The chemical structures of the constituents were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data. Results: Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as β-sitosterol palmitate (1), β-sitosterol (2), azelaic acid (3), docosanoic acid (4), 6,7,10-trihydroxy-8-octadecenoic acid (5), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (6), sanleng diphenyl-acetypene (7), ferulic acid (8), 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-benzoic acid (9), 2,7-dihydroxy-xanthone (10), glycerol ferulate (11), and daucosterol (12). Conclusion: Compounds 3,4, and 9-11 are obtained from the plants of Sparganium L. for the first time.

Gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Decreased insulin sensitivity is a significant etiological factor of T2DM. Adipocytes, myocytes, and hepatocytes are the three major target cells for insulin. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of TMAO on the insulin sensitivity of these target cells. Research results indicate that in different ages of db/db diabetic mice, plasma TMAO levels were increased. TMAO significantly inhibits the insulin signaling pathways in these three major insulin target cells, reduces glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myocytes and downregulates genes related to gluconeogenesis in primary mouse hepatocytes. Furthermore, in mice with normal insulin sensitivity, elevating plasma TMAO levels to those seen in db/db mice using a minipump results in impaired glucose tolerance and hyperinsulinemia. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Experimental Animal Welfare Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College). Mechanistic studies suggest that TMAO exposure increases the levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins in these three major insulin target cells. In summary, TMAO directly attenuates insulin sensitivity in insulin target cells, and its mechanism of action may involve enhancing endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective Tocomparetheefficacybetweenstentingandmedicationinpatientswith vertebralarteryoriginstenosis.Methods Theclinicaldataof82patientswithmoderatetoseverevertebral artery origin stenosis (stenosis rate >50%)from January 2011 to January 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. They were divided into either a stent+medication group (n=40)or a medication group (n=42)according to the different treatment methods. The degree of vascular stenosis,restenosis rate,incidence of cerebral ischemic events,and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)of the patients for DSA reexamination at one year were documented,and comprehensive analysis were conducted. Results (1 )44 stents were implanted in 40 patients,1 of the patients still had residual stenosis of 60% because of the stenosis plaque was harder despite twice balloon dilations. No serious perioperative complications occurred. The success rate of the operation was 97. 5%. The vascular stenosis rate of vertebral artery origins in patients of the stent+medication group was improved significantly,and decreased from 73 ± 13% to median 11%(8%,50%)at one year after stenting. (2)After 1 year,11 patients (27. 5%)had in-stent restenosis in the stent +medication group,including 2 patients (5%)had stent fracture at the same time. Four patients (9. 5%)in the medication group had complete occlusion of vertebral artery,but only 2 had corresponding clinical symptoms. (3)There was no significant difference in the NIHSS scores after the treatment between the stent+medication group and the medication group (Z=1. 678,P=0. 093). The total ischemic events in patients of the stent+medication group was 7 (17. 5%),compared with the incidence of ischemic events in 16 patients (38. 1%)in the medication group,there was significant difference (χ2 =4. 306, P=0.038).Conclusion Stentingissafeandeffectiveforpatientswithvertebralarteryoriginstenosis.It may significantly improve vertebral stenosis,and it is better than medication alone for preventing the occurrence alone of the posterior circulation ischemic events,however,the high in-stent restenosis rate for vertebral artery origin stenosis is still an important problem to be solved.

The aim of this study was to detect the localization and level of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins during in vitro capacitation of guinea pig sperm. Sperm from mature guinea pigs were incubated in modified TALP under 5% CO_2 in air at 37 ℃. The capacitation effect was assessed by chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence were used to analyze the level and localization of tyrosine phosphorylation. The results showed that guinea pig sperm underwent a time-dependent increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation during the in vitro capacitation and the percentage of protein tyrosine phosphorylated sperm increased from 36% to 92% from the beginning of incubation to 7h incubation. Also, there was a shift in the site of phosphotyrosine-specific fluorescence from the head of sperm to both the head and the flagellum of sperm. Moreover, there were three proteins phosphorylated in this experiment. After 0 to 0.5h incubation, the protein of 40kDa was detected by anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody, and the intensity of this protein increased in the following incubation. Then, after 1h incubation, another protein of 80kDa was found and the level of this protein reached the highest point at 3h. Also, in 3h incubation, a protein of 45kDa was detected and the intensity of this protein increased in the following incubation.

BACKGROUND:Neuromuscular junction structure has defects in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, mainly presenting acetylcholine receptor structure fragmentation and the reduction of spine-like processes on thepostsynaptic membrane. It is generaly recognized that the structural defects are induced by structural damage of muscle cels and muscle fiber necrosis. OBJECTIVE:To explore the reasons of damage on neuromuscular junction in mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. METHODS: We introduced Duchenne muscular dystrophy models of male mdx mice and male Dko mice. After gene identification, they were used for tests. Male C57BL/6 mice were selected as normla controls. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was utilized to detect pathological changes in muscles. Neuromuscular junction structure was revealed using immunofluorescence staining. The differences in dystrophin expression, pathological features and neuromuscular junction structure were compared in mouse models of two kinds of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The introduced mouse models were accorded with the requirement of our experiment in aspects of genotype and protein expression levels. The number of acetylcholine receptor was apparently reduced in the neuromuscular junction of two kinds of mouse models. Although dko mouse muscles presented more obvious inflammatory infiltration and muscle fiber damage compared with mdx mice, but there was no significant difference in the damage to neuromuscular junction between them, and acetylcholine receptor fragmentation was identical. The evidence suggested that structural damage of neuromuscular junction and inflammatory pathological response are independent events. There is no direct relationship between them. Dystrophin gene deficiency is the main cause of the fragmentation of the acetylcholine receptor.

Objective To develop a scale of assessing inpatient′s risk factors of chemotherapy drugs permeability. Methods Designed a questionnaire for expert information collecting based on literature review,and employed the Delphi method to develop a set of indicators to measure inpatient′s effective store seepage risk factors. Fifteen experts finished the 2-round survey. Results Expert's enthusiasm was high, the two rounds of enquiry for effective questionnaire recovery rate was 100%. Expert's authority was very high, the average duration of clinical practice was 23.8 years, the average duration of nursing management was 13.1 years, the rate of familiarity about this kind of research was 100%, the recognition degree in the accumulation of theoretical knowledge, the clinical practice and the home or abroad research degree was 93%, 100%and 73%respectively. Two rounds of enquiry for expert advice of Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96 and 0.98 respectively, experts tend to agree that the scale had good consistency, high credibility, delivery system eventually formed contains, vein, the static drop time (static) chemotherapy, more routine chemotherapy, liquid type, drug factors, social support, cooperation degree, liquid volume, mission 11 dimensions such as level of understanding, the nurse puncture store effective seepage risk factors assessment of 42 items. Conclusion The inpatient′s effective store seepage risk factor assessment scale developed by using the Delphi method is reliable for assessing effective store seepage risk factor of hospitalized patients .

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture in promoting the lung recovery in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to discuss its advantage and safety in lung recovery. Method Forty-four patients were randomized into two groups, 22 cases in the treatment group and 19 in the control group finally (with 3 dropouts). In addition to the required aerobic exercises, the treatment group received active acupuncture treatment and the control group received placebo acupuncture treatment, with acupoints from the Spleen and Stomach Meridians and Conception Vessel as the major points, 2-3 sessions a week, for 14 sessions in total. The body mass index (BMI), athletic ability, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), pulmonary function and inflammation indexes [interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] were observed before and after the treatment. Result After the treatment, the improvements in the six-minute walking distance, CAT and pulmonary function scores were statistically more significant in the treatment group than those in the control group (P<0.05,P<0.01); the serum content of TNF-α was increased more significantly in the control group than in the treatment group (P<0.05); there was no significant change in BMI in the treatment group, while a significant decrease of BMI was found in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture plus exercises can boost the lung recovery in remission-stage COPD and reduce the adverse reactions brought by sports fatigue.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is among the most common malignancies in southern China. Deletion of genomic DNA, which occurs during the complex pathogenesis process for NPC, represents a pivotal mechanism in the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs). In many circumstances, loss of TSGs can be detected as diagnostic and prognostic markers in cancer. The short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) is a frequently deleted chromosomal region in NPC, with 3p21.1-21.2 and 3p25.2-26.1 being the most frequently deleted minimal regions. In recent years, our research group and others have focused on the identification and characterization of novel target TSGs at 3p, such as RASSF1A, BLU, RBMS3, and CHL1, in the development and progression of NPC. In this review, we summarize recent findings of TSGs at 3p and discuss some of these genes in detail. A better understanding of TSGs at 3p will significantly improve our understanding of NPC pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.
Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

With the development of various laboratory testing techniques such as serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) , a large number of asymptomatic or normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) can be diagnosed early. PHPT has become the third most common endocrine disease affecting human health. Currently, most PHPT, especially normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism, are not primary diseases and may be related to vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and/or insufficient calcium supplementation. That is, the relative hypocalcemia caused by long-term vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and/or insufficient calcium supplementation leads to parathyroid hyperfunction, stimulates parathyroid hyperplasia, and secretes excessive parathyroid hormone to compensate for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus balance. When it is in the initial reversible stage, it can be cured by internal medicine; if it progresses freely, long-term hypocalcemia stimulation will lead to excessive parathyroid hyperplasia and even tumor occurrence with the formation of so-called PHPT and parathyroidectomy has to be performed. Therefore, routine screening of bone mineral density, calcium, magnesium, phosphours, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone and other bone metabolism indicators in the physical examination of general population is beneficial to the prevention and treatment of bone metabolism diseases, urinary stones and hyperparathyroidism. At the same time, attention should be paid to identifying the stage of prehyperparathyroidism in which vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency and insufficient calcium supplementation will stimulate parathyroid hyperfunction. Active intervention on prehyperparathyroidism is an effective way to avoid the development of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Intracranial arterial calcification (IAC) is an easily identifiable entity on plain head computed tomography scans. Recent studies have found high prevalence rates for IAC worldwide, and this may be associated with ischemic stroke and cognitive decline. Aging, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and chronic kidney disease have been found to be associated with IAC. The severity of IAC can be assessed using different visual grading scales or various quantitative methods (by measuring volume or intensity). An objective method for assessing IAC using consistent criteria is urgently required to facilitate comparisons between multiple studies involving diverse populations. There is accumulating evidence from clinical studies that IAC could be utilized as an indicator of intracranial atherosclerosis. However, the pathophysiology underlying the potential correlation between IAC and ischemic stroke-through direct arterial stenosis or plaque stability-remains to be determined. More well-designed clinical studies are needed to explore the predictive values of IAC in vascular events and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
Aging ; Arteries* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Head ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; Methods ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Weights and Measures