Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Dan-Hong Injection and Methycobal combined therapy in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods 72 cases of peripheral neuropathy and type 2 diabetes(conformed to ADA standard published in 1999)were randomly separated into an experimem group and a control group.Members in the experiment group were treated with Dan-Hong injection 20ml/day i.v.and Methycobal 500ug/day i.m.Members in the control group were treated with Methycobal only.At the end of 2 weeks'therapeutic courses,motor nerve conducdon velocity (MNCV)and sural nerve conduction velocity(SNCV)were evaluated.Results The overall effective rate was 92.1% in the experiment group and 67.6% in the control group,showing significant difference between the two groups(P＜0.01).The post-therapeutic values of both SNCV and MNCV were significantly different from those of previous treatment.(P＜0.01)The post-therapeutic values of SNCV and MNCV of the experiment group were also significantly different from those of the control group(P＜0.05).No evidently relative adverse effects were observed in both groups.Conclusions Combined therapy of Dan-Hong injection and Methycobal was more effective in controlling the clinical activity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

This study investigated the effect of puerarin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) injured with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). HUVEC were divided into three groups: a control group, a model group (H₂O₂ 400 μmol·L^-1) and a puerarin-treated group (3, 10, 30 and 100 μmol·L^-1). HUVEC were cultured with varied concentration of puerarin for 2 h and treated with H₂O₂ for another 24 h. Cell proliferation was detected by a CCK-8 assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential was measured by a JC-1 fluorescent probe. A transwell chamber assay was adopted to observe cell migration ability. Mitochondrial respiratory function was measured in a two-chamber titration injection respirometer (Oxygraph-2k). The expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The expression of pyroptosis-mediated proteins, including cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), N-gasdermin D (N-GSDMD), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor (P2X7R) was detected by Western blot. The results show that 400 μmol·L^-1 H₂O₂ treatment for 24 h causes obvious damage to HUVEC. Compared with the model group, puerarin protected against cellular injury in a dose-dependent manner, with the greatest effect at a dose of 30 and 100 μmol·L^-1. Puerarin significantly decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and improved mitochondrial function. Puerarin inhibited cell migration induced by H₂O₂, suppressed the expression of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α, and down-regulated the pyroptosis-mediated protein. These changes are statistically significant (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate that puerarin has a protective effect against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage of HUVEC by inhibiting the migration of HUVEC cells. The mechanism may be related to improved mitochondrial respiratory function and inhibition of pyroptosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sintering temperature on the physical and mechanical properties of dental zirconia toughened ceramic (ZTC).

METHODS3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia compacts were prepared by dry press method and then sintered at 1,490 degrees C, 1,530 degrees C, 1,570 degrees C and 1,610 degrees C respectively. The physical properties and bending strength were then measured.

RESULTSThe result of the study indicated along with the rise of sintering temperature density and shrinkage of ZTC increased, but the pore structure decreased. It also showed the peak of bending strength was in 1,570 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONSIn terms of sintering temperature and bending strength among the selected temperature, the best sintering temperature of 3 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia should be about 1,570 degrees C.

Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Hardness ; Temperature ; Tensile Strength ; Yttrium ; chemistry ; Zirconium ; chemistry

To construct the Bac-to-Bac expression system of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), a transfer vector was constructed which contained an Escherichia coli (E. coli) mini-F replicon and a lacZ: attTN7: lacZ cassette within the upstream and downstream regions of the BmNPV polyhedrin gene. B. mori larvae were cotransfected with wild-type BmNPV genomic DNA and the transfer vector through subcutaneous injection to generate recombinant viruses by homologous recombination in vivo. The genomic DNA of budded viruses extracted from the hemolymph of the transfected larvae was used to transform E. coli DH10B. Recombinant bacmids were screened by kanamycin resistance, PCR and restriction enzyme (REN) digestion. One of the bacmid colonies, BmBacJS13, which had similar REN profiles to that of wild-type BmNPV, was selected for further research. To investigate the infectivity of BmBacJS13, the polyhedrin gene was introduced into the bacmid and the resultant recombinant (BmBacJS13-ph) was transfected to BmN cells. The budded viruses were collected from the supernatant of the transfected cells and used for infecting BmN cells. Growth curve analysis indicated that BmBacJS13-ph had a similar growth curve to that of wild-type BmNPV. Bio-assays indicated that BmBacJS13-ph was also infectious to B. mori larvae.

BACKGROUNDDiagnosis and appropriate treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remain major challenges. We sought to elucidate that persons who share a household with drug resistance tuberculosis patients are at high risk for primary drug resistance tuberculosis and how to prevent these outbreaks.

METHODSWe used 12-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit and 7-locus variable-number tandem repeat to identify household transmission of extensively drug resistant and multiple drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in three families admitted in Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital affiliated with Tongji University. Drug susceptibility tests were done by the modified proportion method in the MGIT 960 system in the same time. Clinical data were also obtained from the subjects' medical records.

RESULTSAll of the six strains were defined as Beijing genotype by the deletion-targeted multiplex PCR (DTM-PCR) identification on the genomic deletion RD105. Strains from family-1 had the same minisatellite interspersed repetitive unit (MIRU) pattern (232225172531) and the same MIRU pattern (3677235). Strains from family-2 had the same MIRU pattern (2212261553323) and the same MIRU pattern (3685134). Strains from family-3 did not have the same MIRU pattern and they differed at only one locus (223326173533, 223325173533), and did not have the same VNTR pattern with two locus differed (3667233, 3677234).

CONCLUSIONSHousehold transmission exists in the three families. A clear chain of tuberculosis transmission within family exists. Tuberculosis susceptibility should be considered when there is more than one tuberculosis patients in a family. Household tuberculosis transmission could be prevented with adequate treatment of source patients.

Adult ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Radiography ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; diagnostic imaging ; transmission ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the performance of BNII auto-analyzer system in detecting C3 and C4.

METHODSCLSI protocols (EP15-A, EP6-A, EP9-A2) and other relevant literatures were use to or evaluate the precision, accuracy, linearity of C3 and C4 detection by the auto-analyzer system, and the results were compared with the recognized standards.

RESULTSThe relative bias of C3 and C4 was less than one third of the CLIA'88 standard and the precision met the clinical requirement. The results tested by DADE BNII system were not compatible with those by Roche Modular System. C3 showed good linearity in the tests (R2>0.975, P<0.05) with a linearity range of 0.18-5.1 g/L. The linearity of C4 was not available because of lack of high-level samples.

CONCLUSIONThe performances of DADE BNII System basically meet the recognized standards in clinical detection of C3 and C4, but the method comparison needs further validation.

Autoanalysis ; methods ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; instrumentation ; methods ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Complement C4 ; analysis ; Humans ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; instrumentation ; methods ; Proteins ; analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

This study was to investigate the protective effects of puerarin on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury and the underlying mechanism. The MI/R-model was established by ligating the left anterior descending artery (LAD) for 60 min followed by 24 h reperfusion, puerarin (10, 30, and 100 mg·kg^-1) was orally administered 20 min before reperfusion. Cardiac function, myocardial infarct index, cardiac damage markers, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis index were measured to evaluate the protective effects of puerarin on MI/R injury. The activation of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway were determined by Western blot. All animal experimental procedures were approved by the ethics committee of the Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The results showed that puerarin could significantly improve cardiac function, reduce myocardial infarct size, decease the levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and suppress cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Meanwhile, puerarin could notably decrease the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Western blot analysis revealed that puerarin could downregulate the expression of TLR4, Myd88, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cleaved-caspase 1, cleaved-gasdermin-D (GSDMD), IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the phosphorylation levels of inhibitor of NF-κB α (IκBα), IκB kinase β (IKKβ), and NF-κB. These findings demonstrated that puerarin could alleviate MI/R injury by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, possibly via TLR4/Myd88/NF-κB pathway.

Objective To establish a method performance verification project and experimental method for the clinical chemiluminescence immunoassay.Methods Referring to CLSI evaluation protocols and pertinent literature,and by combining our actual works,we designed a verification procedure and experimental method.By Using these above,the precision,accuracy,analytical sensitivity,analytical measurement range,clinical reportable range and biotic interval of AFP on the Bayer Centaur 240 chemiluminescence immunoassay system were verificated.Results would be compared with the declaration of the manufacturer or desirable specifications derived from biologic variation.Results The results showed that the between-day inaccuracy on AFP levels at 77.4 ng/ml and 168.0 ng/ml was 5.70% and 4.84% respectively,these were consistent with manufacturer's inaccuracy claimed.The relative bias between the results measured for calibrator at four levels and target value was less 5.0%,and the relative bias between the results measured for EQA control sample at five levels and target value was-3.4% to 11.9%.Lower limit of detection was 1.04 ng/ml,lower slightly manufacturer's analytical sensitivity claimed.Biologic limit of detection was 2.65 ng/ml-3.53 ng/ml,functional sensitivity was 3.53 ng/ml.Analytical measurement range was 3.53-912.00 ng/ml,within manufacturer's liner range claimed.Clinical reportable range was 3.53-182 400.00 ng/ml.Reference interval was 0.6-7.7 ng/ml,within manufacturer' s claimed.Conclusions The main performances of the detection system are accorded with the declaration of the manufacturer.The performance verification procedure and experimental method of our research ars simple and practical,which has important significations for building medical laboratory and laboratory accreditation, improving quality of the chemiluminescence immunoassay.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (LOX-1) on secretion of adhesive molecules mediated by ox-LDL in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODSHUVECs with different concentration of ox-LDL (0, 10, 20, 50, 100 microg/ml) were incubated for 24 h, or HUVECs were pretreated with 250 microg/ml poly (I) or 250 microg/ml carrageenan for 2 h and then incubated with 50 microg/ml ox-LDL for another 24 h. Expression of LOX-1 was determined by realtime RT-PCR and Western blot. mRNA and protein of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.

RESULTSIncubation of HUVECs with ox-LDL (10-100 microg/ml) enhanced the expressions of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.01). On the contrary, ox-LDL did not affect the expression of VCAM-1 by HUVECs. The expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin induced by ox-LDL were reduced in HUVECs pretreated with 250 microg/ml poly (I) or 250 microg/ml carrageenan for 2 h and then incubated with 50 microg/ml ox-LDL for 24 h. This showed that both poly (I) and carrageenan obviously decreased the expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin induced by ox-LDL.

CONCLUSIONox-LDL may upregulate the expression of LOX-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, and LOX-1 blocker may partly inhibit this upregulation. The results suggest that the expression of inflammatory molecules induced by ox-LDL in HUVECs is mediated by LOX-1.

Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Cells, Cultured ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Oxidized LDL ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class E ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism