Objective To explore the association of serum uric acid level with the different states of glucose metabolism and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reflected by creatinine clearance rate and to test the hypothesis that increased GFR is one of the determinants of serum uric acid level. Methods 822 subjects with high risk factors for diabetes in Beijing area underwent a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for screening of diabetes. The subjects were divided into three groups:NGT,IGR and DM after OGTT. SUA and Ccr were compared between three groups. The general linear model was employed to test the relationships of the small FPG intervals with SUA and Ccr. Results The correlations of uric acid level with sex,BMI,TG,HbA1c and Ccr remained significant in a multiple regression analysis. After adjusting sex,BMI and TG,the newly diagnosed DM group had the lowest SUA level(P<0.01) and the highest Ccr(P<0.01). When fasting glucose level was stratified by a grade of 1 to 2mmol/L,we found that the correlation between SUA and FPG levels became significant only when FPG was higher than 7.0 mmol/L(P<0.01) and the correlation between Ccr and FPG levels became significant only when FPG was between 6.0 mmol/L and 10.0 mmol/L (P<0.01). Conclusions This study confirms the previous finding that SUA level decreases in diabetes,and provides a supporting evidence that the increased GFR might contribute to the fall of SUA level

Objective To explore the association of serum uric acid level with the different states of glucose metabolism and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) reflected by creatinine clearance rate and to test the hypothesis that increased GFR is one of the determinants of serum uric acid level. Methods 822 subjects with high risk factors for diabetes in Beijing area underwent a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for screening of diabetes. The subjects were divided into three groups:NGT,IGR and DM after OGTT. SUA and Ccr were compared between three groups. The general linear model was employed to test the relationships of the small FPG intervals with SUA and Ccr. Results The correlations of uric acid level with sex,BMI,TG,HbA1c and Ccr remained significant in a multiple regression analysis. After adjusting sex,BMI and TG,the newly diagnosed DM group had the lowest SUA level(P

Aim To study the activation of Nrf2 in-duced by baicalein ( BAI ) , and its protection against carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4 ) , ethanol and acetamino-phen ( APAP )-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods A reporter gene assay was conducted in human normal liver L-02 cells to detect the activation of transcription factor Nrf2 induced by baicalein. APAP ( 10 mmol · L-1 ) , CCl4 (10 mmol·L-1 ) and Ethanol (100 mmol · L-1 ) were used to induce hepatotoxicity in L-02 cells. After the pre-incubation with Baicalein (0, 1, 10, 25, 50, 100 μmol·L-1 ) for 15 min, cells were administrated with or without those above hepatotoxins. 48 h later, cell viability was detected by 3-(4, 5-dim-ethylthiazol-2-yl ) 2 , 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Results Baicalein (25, 50 μmol· L-1 ) induced the activation of Nrf2 ( P <0. 01 , P <0. 05) in the reporter gene assay. As compared with control, three hepatotoxins ( APAP, CCl4 , Ethanol ) all decreased cell viability ( P<0. 01 ) , and baicalein significantly reversed such decreases in a concentra-tion-dependent manner ( P<0. 01 ) . Conclusion Ba-icalein can induce the activation of transcription factor Nrf2 , which is probably one of the mechanisms con-tributing to the protection of baicalein against hepato-toxins (APAP, CCl4, Ethanol)-induced hepatotoxici-ty.

Objective To analyze the genetic relationship among the different cultivars of Cornus officinalis and provide some foundation for heredity breeding. Methods A modified method of extracting total DNA from the leaves of C. officinalis was selected by improving the traditional method-CTAB, the total DNA was analyzed by RAPD; the genetic similarity correlation was calculated by SPSS 10.0 DICE method, cluster analyses were carried out using Between-groups linkage method, and the genetic dendrogram was established. Results Random primers (22 10-bp) were selected to be used for the PCR, a total of 133 bands were amplified by 12 samples, among which 75 bands were polymorphic, accounting for 56.39%. The cluster analysis indicated that: spindleform itself was one group, short pear-shape and short cylindericform clustered together, the rest longer types clustered together, which reflected the result of artificial selection in the course of cultivating. Conclusion The result keeps accordance with the biologic character and territorial distribution of C. officinalis cultivars; RAPD analysis is an assistant mean for seed breeding of C. officinalis.

Objective To develop questionnaires to indentify research motivation and its related psychological factors for medical postgraduates.Methods The questionnaire was developed based on previous literature and case interview by using self-determination theory as the theoretical framework.Delphi method and stratified factor analysis were used to examine the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Results The questionnaires included 2 sections:research motivation questionnaire and related psychological factors questionnaire.The Cranach's α of each questionnaire was 0.89 and 0.90 and test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.74 and 0.80.The content validity (CVI) of each questionnaire was 0.958 and 0.935,and stratified factor analysis demonstrated that the items of each dimension could account for more than 40％ of the accumulated variance.Conclusion The questionnaires have good reliability and validity and could be applied.

Objective To explore the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)in differentiating brain tuberculomas from me-tastases.Methods Conventional and enhanced MRI as well as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)were performed in 24 cases of brain tuberculomas(immature in 18 cases and mature in 6 case)and 36 cases of metastases.The mean ADC values and relative ADC (rADC)values were calculated from the enhanced and non-enhanced regions of mass and the peripheral edema regions of brain le-sions.Results The mean ADC values and rADC values in the enhanced,non-enhanced and the peripheral edema regions were 796.90×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.1 6,864.85×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.27,1 531.60×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.24 for the immature brain tuberculo-mas;791.95×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.1 6,61 1.80×10 -6 mm2/s and 0.87,and 1 488.45×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.10 for the mature tubercu-lomas;421.95×10 -6 mm2/s and 0.61,961.00×10 -6 mm2/s and 1.36,1 545.00×10 -6 mm2/s and 2.18 for the brain metastases, respectively.There were significant differences in the mean ADC values (H =42.293,P ≤0.05)and rADC values (H =42.575, P ≤0.05)for the enhance regions in the three groups .There were also significant differences in the mean ADC values (H =33.100, P ≤0.05)and rADC values (H =1 7.867,P ≤0.05)for the non-enhance regions.No significant difference in the mean ADC values (H =1.550,P ≥0.05)and rADC values (H =5.511,P ≥0.05)were found for the peripheral edema regions.Conclusion The ADC values of DWI can help to differentiate brain tuberculomas from metastases,when combining with the conventional and enhanced MRI.

Aim To observe the retinal angiogenesis and detect the altered expression of genes related with angiogenesis and oxidative stress during the develop-ment of oxygen-induced retinopathy ( OIR) in newborn mice. Methods OIR was established in newborn mice according to the protocol of Smith et al. Newborn mice at 7 days old were placed into 75 . 5% oxygen for up to 5 days, and then they were put in room air for another 5 days. Retinal neovascularization was ob-served by immunofluorescence staining with cluster of differentiation 31 ( CD31 ) . Gene expression was de-tected using Real-time PCR analysis. Retinal CD31 immunofluorescence staining assay showed that relative hypoxia induced retinal neovascularization in OIR mice after hyperoxia-induced subside of retinal microvascu-lar. Results Real-time PCR analysis showed that vas-cular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and its recep-tor ( VEGFR) such as VEGFA, VEGFD, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 gene expression were increased in OIR mouse as compared to control. Platelet-derived growth factor ( PDGF) and its receptor ( PDGFR) such as PDGFA, PDGFB, PDGFRa, PDGFRb gene expression was also increased in OIR mouse as compared to control. Matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs ) such as MMP2 gene ex-pression were increased in OIR mouse as compared to control. Gene expressions of nuclear factor-related fac-tor ( Nrf2 ) and its downstream genes such as the two subunits of glutamate-cysteine ligase ( GCL):the cata-lytic subunit ( GCLC) and regulatory subunit ( GCLM) were both decreased in OIR mouse as compared to con-trol. Conclusion Our research demonstrates that the expression of genes related with angiogenesis is in-creased in retinas in the development of OIR in mice, whereas the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes is all decreased.

This study aims to evaluate the bioactivity of five components of the traditional Chinese medicine complex prescription Jiangzhi granules against hepatocellular steatosis.

Bibenzyl is a type of active compounds abundant in Dendrobium. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of six bibenzyls isolated from Dendrobium species on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). All those bibenzyls inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation at 10 micromol x L(-1) except tristin, and of which moscatilin was found to have the strongest activity at the same concentration. The lowest effective concentration of moscatilin was 1 micromol x L(-1). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced capillary-like tube formation on HUVECs in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting results showed that moscatilin also inhibited VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Further results showed that moscatilin inhibited VEGF-induced activation of c-Raf and MEK1/2, which are both upstream signals of ERK1/2. Taken together, results presented here demonstrated that moscatilin inhibited angiogenesis via blocking the activation of VEGFR2 (Flk-1/KDR) and c-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signals.

The present study was designed to observe the protection of Grateloupia filicina polysaccharide (GFP) against hepatotoxicity induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice and its underlying mechanism. GFP was intragastrically (ig) given to mice at various doses. After 6 days, the mice were treated with ethyl acetate extract of Dioscorea bulbifera L (EF, ig). Serum levels of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB) were measured, and liver histological evaluation was conducted. Furthermore, reductions of liver glutathione (GSH) amount and glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) activity were tested. The expressions of GCL-c, GCL-m, and HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) in liver were observed by Western-blot. The results showed that GFP (600 mg x kg(-1)) decreased EF-induced the increase of serum ALT, AST and TB, and GFP (400, 600 mg x kg(-1)) inhibited EF-induced the increase of serum ALP. Liver histological evaluation showed that the liver injury induced by EF was relieved after treated with GFP. GFP further increased liver GSH amount and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL activity. The Western-blot result showed that GFP augmented EF-induced the increase of HO-1, and reversed EF-induced the decrease of GCL-c. In conclusion, GFP can act against the oxidative stress liver injury induced by Dioscorea bulbifera L in mice.