Angiotensin-Ⅱ-induced apoptosis was widely involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, etc. The mechanism of angiotensin-Ⅱ-induced apoptosis is complicated, including the receptor (AT1R and AT2R) level regulation, Fas/FasL pathway, and the regulation by p53 family, Bcl-2 family, Caspase family, Ang-(1-7), etc. Mitochondria damage and oxidative damage play important roles in the apoptosis process. This article reviews the previous researches on angiotensin-Ⅱ-induced apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of DNA methyltransferases 1, 3A and 3B in CD4+ T cells of MRL/lpr mice, and explore their relationship with the expression levels of methylation-sensitive genes (ITGAL, CD70). Methods CD4+ T ceils were isolated from spleens of 16-week-old MRL/lpr and BALB/c control mice by anti-CIM antibody labeled magnetic beads. Transcription levels of DNA methyhransferases 1, 3A and 3B and methylation-sensitive genes(ITGAL, CD70) were measured by real-time mice when compared with BALB/c control mice and the difference was significant (P<0.05), while the expression of DNMTI and DNMT3A showed a tendency of decrease (P>0.05). The mRNA expression of CD70 was significantly higher (P<0.01), but the expression of ITGAL had no significant difference between the two P<0.01 ). Conclusion Decreased expression of DNMT3B may attribute to the elevated expression of methylation-seusitive gene CD70, thus lead to the dysfunction of CD4+ T cell and play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To explore the association between the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) gene polymorphism and Chinese Han systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Methods Pyrosequencing technique was used to genotype the 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the samples of patients and normal individuals. Results Not only these 3 SNPs, but also the haplotypes composed by them showed significant difference between the SLE patients and normal individuals[rs11889341:P=0.012 02, OR (95%CI)=1.22( 1.044～1.424); rs7574865:P=0.003 454, 0R(95%CI)=1.25(1.076～1.451 ); rs8179673: P=0.004 275, OR (95%CI)=1.274 (1.079～1.505)]. Conclusion rs11889341, rs7574865 and rs8179673 of STAT4 are associated with the pathogenesis of Chinese Han SLE, and the STAT4 gene is a susceptibile gene for SLE in a few racial cohorts.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of the patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) in our hospital in the past seven years, and to achieve better comprehension of this kind of disease. Methods Five patients with PSIS (4 males, 1 female) in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, regarding clinical manifestation, laboratory and imaging data. Results The clinical features of 5 cases of PSIS were as follows: (1) growth retardation; (2) high incidence of breech delivery; (3) 159-165 cm in body height; (4) retarded bone age; (5) average intelligence; (6) adenohypophyseal dysfunction in clinical and laboratory examinations; (7) normal posterior pituitary function; (8) MRI with gadolinium contrast revealed no pituitary stalk and anterior pituitary hypoplasia with ectopic posterior pituitary. The pathogenesis of PSIS is not clear. Appropriate hormonal replacement therapy is the only effective way. Conclusion PSIS is rarely seen and its clinical feature is different from pituitary dwarfism and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The realization for this syndrome should be emphasized and early therapy is essential.

Hormones and epigenetic characteristics in a patient with clinically diagnosed adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) were analyzed. Results indicated that plasma ACTH increased, while cortisol, testosterone, LH and FSH decreased. LH, FSH and testosterone did not sufficiently respond to GnRH or hCG stimulation. Gene analysis indicated that C368F mutation was located in exon 1 of DAX-1 gene.

Ovotestis is a rare disorder of sexual differentiation in which the gonads have both ovarian and testicular elements. The patients always present with ambiguous external genitalia, and there are usually with serious disorder between chromosomal sex, gonadal sex, social sex, and psychological sex. The definite diagnosis and gender confirmation, appropriate surgery in internal genitalia and orthomorphia in external genitalia, as well as psychological support are essential for a multidisciplinary medical group in managing this disease. The medical data of two children with ovotestis who were reared as boy or girl respectively were analyzed.

OBJECTIVE On the basis of the different shapes of upper airway(UA)obstruction and collapse characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS), the effect of modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP)combined with coblation in OSAHS operations on patients with AHI≥20,which could be done selectively to patients with various or multiple UA obstructive sites, was explored. METHODS 30 patients of OSAHS were diagnosed and analysed by polysomnography(PSG)to have AHIs≥20. Based on the shapes of their UAs classified according to the degree of the shortened lateral and radial vectors,the UPPP was modified in two ways: either the lateral vector or the radial vector was amplified, or both could be amplified with coblation. All patients were analyzed by questionnaires(PSG)Muller's maneuver and oral cavity measurement pre-and 6 months post-operation. RESULTS 86.7 % of the patients showed a decrease of at least 25 % in AHI . Velopalatal insufficiency never occurred. CONCLUSION The modified-UPPP combined with coblation can be used selectively on patients based on their UA shapes.

Thirty cases of pituitary stalk interruption syndrome were divided into normal height (group 1) and short stature (group 2).There was no significant difference in growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ levels between two groups(P＞0.05).Expected height and body mass index in group 1 were higher than those in group 2,while testosterone,cortisol,and FT4 were lower.Height were positively correlated with age,expected height,birth weight,and body mass index.The height of patients with pituitary stalk interruption syndrome depended on both genetic factors and the hormones from pituitary-target gland.

This paper reviewed the subjective and objective evaluation tools of sleep disorders, and summarized evaluation indicators of sleep disorders, so as to provide a theoretical support and practical reference for the diagnosis of sleep disorders, intervention and related researches.

Objective To investigate the effects of rhein on insulin sensitivity of diabetic rats induced by high fat feeding and low dose streptozotocin (STZ), and the possible mechanisms. Methods (1) Fifty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC,n=15) and diabetes group (DM, n=40). The NC rats were fed with regular chow and DM rats were fed with high fat diet. Five weeks later, the DM rats were injected with STZ 30 mg/kg once. The 30 diabetic rats were randomly divided into two subgroups, diabetic control group (DM-C) and diabetic group treated with rhein (DM-T). DM-T rats received intragastric administration of rhein and DM-C rats were given equal doses of solvent. All rats were sacrificed eleven weeks later, the blood sample was collected. The body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1C, triglycerides (TG), tolal cholesterol (TC), glycosylated serum protein (GSP) and Fasting insulin (FINS) concentrations were examined.The insulin sensitive index (ISI) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) werecalculated. (2) The PPART and GLUT-2 expression in hepatic tissue were detected by immunohistoehemistry and Western-blot. Results At the end of experiment the FBG [(22.57±3.23 vs 7.11±1.44) mmol/L,P<0.01],HbA1C[(12.49±1.96 vs 8.36±0.84)%, P<0.01], TG [(0.89±0.29 vs 0.58±0.17)nunoL/L,P<0.01],GSP [(57.29±4.14 vs 13.43±2.70)μmoL/L, P<0.01] and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α,(1.365±0.133 vs 1.233±0.159) μg/L, P<0.05] and the liver weight index (0.032±0.004 vs 0.024±0.002, P<0.01) in DM-C rats were higher than those in NC rats. Besides, the ISI of DM-C rats decreased [In(ISI),-5.46±0.61 vs -4.81±0.75, P<0.05] and HOMA-IR elevated [In(HOMA-IR),2.34±0.64 vs 1.70±0.78,P<0.05]. The expression of PPARγ [11 131.7(5 723.1-18 979.4) vs 48 782.1(21 576.7-108 829.5), P<0.01] and GLUT-2 (0.98±0.35 vs 1.29±0.27, P<0.05) of DM-C rats decreased markedly compared with NC rats. Compared with DM-C rats, FBG [(15.94±3.16) mmol/L], HbA1C[(10.51±1.74)%], GSP[(47-31±6.09) μmol/L] in DM-T and the In (HOMA-IR), (1.86±0.30) rats decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and In (ISI), of DM-T rats increased (-4.97±0.29, P<0.05). The expressions of PPARγ [35 156.3(24 554.3-86 660.9)] and GLUT-2 (1.55±0.55) of DM-T rats were up-regulated markedly compared with DM-C rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Rhein decreased FBG, HbA1C and GSP, and improved the insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats, which might be related to the up-regulated expressions of PPARγ and GLUT-2 in hepatic tissue.