Objective To investigate the effect and possible signal pathway of brain - derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on apoptosis of rat embryo brain cells suffering from intrauterine hypoxic - ischemic injury. Methods The uterine arteries of the pregnant rats were clamped for 30 minutes in both experimental group and control group. BDNF(2 ?g) was injected into rats in experimental group while saline was injected into rats in control group through caudal veins. The samples were collected at 24, 48 and 72 hours re-spectively after artery clamping. Neuroapoptosis of different groups induced by ischemic damage was measured by TUNEL assay. The expression of extracellular signal - regulated kinase(ERK)and c - Jun - N - terminal kinase(JNK) were observed by immunohisloche-mistry.Results The number of apoptosis cells after hypoxic - ischemic injury increased progressively with time.The apoptosis cells number in experimental group were much lower in number than those of ischemic control group.The expression of ERK increased while the expression of JNK decreased in experimental group, comparing with that of the ischemic control group, with statistical signif-icance (P

Objective To study the association between serum free fatty acid (FFA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods According to the classification criteria,a total of 90 newly diagnosed AS patients,223 healthy individuals and 82 patients with non-inflammatory diseases were divided into three groups,and biochemistry and immunology biomarks were measured in all individuals.One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the difference between the three groups in the serum indexes,and Logistic regression analysis was used to identify AS risk factors associated with AS.Results There were no significant differences in gender,age,body mass index (BMI),white blood cells (WBC),high-level data link control (HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein control (LDL-C),lipoproteins [Lp (a)],alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and TG in the three groups,and our results showed that serum FFA was statistical different between the three groups (F=24.191,P＜0.01),the serum level of FFA in patients with AS was higher compared with patients with noninflammatory diseases and healthy controls [(0.48 ±0.18) mmol/L,(0.28 ±0.09) mmol/L,(0.29±0.16) mmol/L;t=-5.969,P＜0.01;t=5.106,P＜0.01].Seral IgA,IgG,IgM levels,ESR and CRP were statistically different between the three groups (F=14.870,P＜0.01;F=16.464,P＜0.01;F=4.124,P=0.018;F=97.002,P＜0.01;F=22.069,P＜0.01).Gender,age,BMI,serum IgA,IgM,ALP,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a) and TG levels were not associated with AS by logistic regression analysis.However,serum IgG level,ESR and CRP were associated with AS [OR05％CI):1.659(1.032,2.660),P=0.037;OR05％CI):1.340(1.005,1.787),P=0.046;OR05％CI):1.820 (1.025,3.232),P=0.041],and there is an association between FFA and AS was observed in logistic regression analysis (OR=1.132,95％CI:1.014-1.421,P=0.033).Conclusion We suggest that incre-ased FFA is closely associated with AS,and may be an underlying risk factor for AS.

Objective To evaluate the usefulness of brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) during temporary carotid balloon occlusion testing. Methods Temporary balloon occlusion testing was performed on 31 patients with internal carotid artery aneurysms. During the balloon occlusion, 99mTc-ethylcysteinate dimer (ECD) was injected intravenously about 5 rain before balloon deflation, followed by SPECT data acquisition. SPECT images were visually evaluated, and the severity of hypoperfusion on the occluded side was classified using 4 grades (normal, mild, moderate, and severe). The count ratio of the occluded side to the contra-lateral side (L/N ratio) was also analyzed. Results SPECT after temporary occlusion showed mild, moderate or severe hypoperfusion in 24 patients, whereas neurologic deterioration was observed in only 4 patients. The L/N ratios were 0.98±0.03in normal perfusion (7 patients), 0.89+0.03 in mild hypoperfusion(11 patients), 0.81±0.03 in moderate hypoperfusion(7 patients), and 0.66±0.04 in severe hypoperfusion(6 patients)(P=0.000). Conclusion SPECT is a useful, convenient, sensitive way to detect cerebral hypoperfusion during carotid occlusion.

Objective To compare the complete ablation rate of radiofrequency (RF) ablation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in the treatment of uterine ifbroids with different blood supply. Methods One hundred and ten patients with 146 uterine ifbroids in Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2009 to December were randomly divided into two groups and treated with HIFU or RF respectively. Each group had 55 patients. All patients were examined by color Doppler lfow imaging before the treatment. The blood supply of ifbroids were semi-quantitatively classiifed into three grades including G1, G2 and G3. The HIFU group had 15 patients with 20 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 32 patients with 38 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 8 patients with 10 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The RF group had 14 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G1, had 31 patients with 42 ifbroids in which blood supply was G2, and had 10 patients with 18 ifbroids in which blood supply was G3. The complete ablation rates of the two treatments were evaluated by contrast-enhanced ultrasound one week before and after treatments. Fibroids which had no contrast agent perfusion and smooth boundary were completely ablated. Statistical analyses were used to compare the complete ablation rates and postoperative complications rates of these two methods. Results When ifbroid′s blood supply was G1, the complete ablation rate was 80.0%(16/20) and 88.9%(16/18) in HIFU and RF group, respectively. The difference was not statistically signiifcant (χ2=0.563, P>0.05). When ifbroid′s blood supply was G2 and G3, the complete ablation rate in HIFU and RF group was 90.5%(38/42) vs 55.3%(21/38) and 72.2% (13/18) vs 20.0% (2/10), respectively. There was statistically difference between these two groups (χ2 =12.778, P < 0.05;χ2=7.049, P < 0.05, respectively). Postoperative complications included fever, abdominal pain, pelvic effusion and vaginal discharge and unilateral lower limb numbness. The incidence of complications was lower in HIFU group than that in RF group, which was 9.1%(5/55) and 27.3%(15/55) respectively, This difference was statistically signiifcant (χ2=6.111, P<0.05). Conclusions HIFU and RF are both effective in treating uterine ifbroids with few blood supply. However, RF can be more effective than HIFU in treating hypervascular ifbroids. Therefore, RF might be able to apply to majority of the ifbroids. As a non-invasive therapy, HIFU is more suitable for hypovascular ifbroids and could be the ifrst therapy in clinic.

HPLC-ELSD was applied to explore the absorption mechanism of pulchinenosides (B3, BD, B7, B10, B11) in rats. The experimental results showed that the absorption rate constant, Ka value (B3, BD) and Permeability coefficient, Peff value (B3, B7) displayed significant difference (P <0.05) in various intestinal segments, The Ka value and Peff value of PRS was different from each other with the highest absorption in duodenum (duodenum > jejunum > colon > ileum); The PRS displayed excessive satuation as the concentration increased over 0.05-2.5 g · L(-1). There were no obvious linear correlations between Peff values and concentrations in duodenum (0.6007 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.7727); Ka and Peff value declined when the PRS was perfused with P-glycoprotein promoter digoxin, on the other hand, inclined when perfused with P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil with significant difference among PRS B3, BD, B7, B11 (P <0.05). All the above results demonstrated that B3, BD, B7 were greatly influenced by absorption sites, duodenum was the main absorption site; PRS didn't entirely transported in a concentration dependent manner, and the transporter-protein involved the transportation, so the intestinal absorption of the five pulchinenosides was not entirely passive diffusion; and PRS might be the substrates of P-glycoprotein.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; physiology ; Animals ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Oleanolic Acid ; pharmacokinetics ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; pharmacokinetics

Structure of natural product-ursolic acid was modified for increasing its antitumor activity. Ursolic acid was acylated, esterified, hydrolized or oxidized to obtain target pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with different substitutes. Sixteen derivatives of ursolic acid were designed and synthesized including eleven new compounds. Anti-tumor activities of ursolic acid and these derivatives against HeLa, SKOV3 and BGC-823 cells in vitro were investigated by MTT assay. The results indicated that compounds 7a and 8a were found to have stronger cell growth inhibitory than ursolic acid on HeLa cells and SKOV3 cells separately, and are worth to be intensively studied further.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Triterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the serum leptin and adiponectin levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients, and their relationship with insulin resistance.

METHODSA total of 120 cases were enrolled and divided into two groups: NAFLD group (n = 60) and normal control group (n = 60). The serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were measured by ELISA. The body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (Tchol), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HOMA-IR (homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance) were detected and analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the serum leptin level in NAFLD group was Significantly higher [(12.37+/-1.99) microg/L vs (5.20+/-1.03) microg/L, P less than 0.01], while the serum adiponectin level was significantly lower [(12.69+/-2.83) mg/L vs (22.83+/-4.61) mg/L, P less than 0.01]. HOMA-IR was also much higher in NAFLD group than that in control group[(4.86+/-0.63) vs (1.91+/-0.41), P less than 0.01]. Logistic regression analysis showed that leptin was positively correlated with WHR (beta value = 8.175, P less than 0.01), HOMA-IR (beta value = 0.974, P less than 0.01 ), FBG (beta value = 0.564, P less than 0.01 ). In contrast, adiponectin inversely associated with HOMA-IR (beta value = -0.495, P less than 0.01 ) and BMI (beta value = -0.314, P less than 0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe increased serum leptin level and decreased serum adiponectin level in NAFLD patients independently associated with HOMA-IR.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Leptin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Objective To investigate the status of dental caries in the human of Tang dynasty. Methods All teeth in 62 human skulls of Tang dynasty excavated from the Chang'an county in Xi'an city were examined and analyzed by statistics. The difference of prevalence in different group including age, sex and tooth position was tested with Chi-square test. Results The prevalence of dental caries was 62.9%. And there were 92 caries teeth, which was 14.6% of the whole teeth. The root caries(33.3%) was more than the oeclusal caries(28.7% ). The most frequent recorded caries were the third molar, followed by the second molar, then the first molar. There was no significant difference between male and female. Conclusions The dental caries was popular in human of Tang dynasty, but the prevalence lowers than the modem people. And with the human evolution and the improvement of the social productivity, the prevalence of dental caries was gradually ascending.

Objective To explore the factors that affect the excretion rate of methotrexate and the occurrence of adverse reactions in high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy for osteosarcoma patients.Methods Retrospectively analyzed methotrexate excretion,liver injury,kidney injury,bone marrow suppression and other adverse drug reactions in 97 high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy cycles of 28 patients with osteosarcoma.The concentration of methotrexate in the blood at 0,24,48,72 h and the level of white protein in the blood were also analyzed.Results When the peak concentration of methotrexate(0h,Cmax)≥700 μmol·L-1 the risk of excretion delay increases:the incidence was 23.21％in group with Cmax ≥ 700 μmol·L-1,and it was 5.00％in group with Cmax＜700 μmol·L-1,(P＜0.05),but when the peak concentration was≥1 000 μmol·L-1,the risk of delayed excretion did not increase further:the incidence was 16.00％in group with Cmax 1 000 μmol·L-1,and it was 15.49％in group with Cmax＜1 000 μmol·L-1,(P＞0.05).Methotrexate blood Cmax has no significant correlation with the occurrence of important adverse reactions such as liver injury and bone marrow suppression.There was significant correlation between low serum albumin level and bone marrow suppression in patients.The average albumin level in group with bone marrow suppression was(39.1±3.4)g·L-1,which in without bone marrow suppression group was(41.2±4.0)g·L-1(P＜0.05).Conclusion During high-dose methotrexate chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma,delayed excretion and adverse reactions should not be prevented by lowering the peak concentration.The albumin level of patients is an important factor affecting the occurrence of bone marrow suppression.

Objective:To summarize the clinical data of anti-factor H antibody-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in children, and analyze the risk factors for disease recurrence and poor prognosis.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on 52 children with anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS in Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2011 to November 2021.Patient information about the genetic background, clinical and renal pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis were collected.Then, the disease recurrence and prognosis were analyzed using the survival curve and Cox regression model. Results:In 52 children, there were 33 males and 19 females.The average age of onset for aHUS was 2.4-12.8 years, and 92.3%(48/52) of the children developed symptoms at the age of 4-12 years.The copy numbers of complement factor-H-related 1 (CFHR1) and complement factor-H-related 3 (CFHR3) genes were calculated in 42 children.Among the 42 cases, 18 cases (42.9%) had CFHR1 homozygous deletion, and 83.3% (15/18) of them also had CFHR3 homozygous deletion.All the patients were given plasma therapy.Besides, 76.9% (40/52) of the children were treated with immunosuppressive therapy (steroid and/or immunosuppressant) at the first onset of the disease.About 86.5%(45/52 cases) of the patients received immunosuppressive therapy in the course of disease, and the immunosuppressive treatment lasted for 6-20 months in total.The median follow-up time was 58 (28, 91) months.Among 52 patients, only 12 patients (23.1%) suffered disease recurrence.The relapse-free survival rate in children with CFHR1 homozygous deletion was significantly lower than that in children with non-homozygous deletion ( χ2=4.700, P=0.030). The relapse-free survival rate in children with CFHR1 and CFHR3 homozygous deletions was also significantly lower than that in other children ( χ2=4.181, P=0.041). At the end of the follow-up, 73.1%(38/52) of the children had normal renal function and no persistent proteinuria or hypertension.23.1%(12/52 cases) of the children had persistent proteinuria and/or hypertension.One child had Stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease, and 1 child was dialysis dependent. Conclusions:Anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS is prone to occur in children aged between 4-12 years old, who respond well to plasma therapy and immunosuppressive therapy.Children with anti-factor H antibody-associated aHUS and CFHR1 and CFHR3 homozygous deletions have a high recurrence rate.Treatment with immunosuppressive therapy and assessment of the copy number of CFHR1 and CFHR3 genes in the early stage of the disease are important for preventing disease recurrence and improving prognosis.