ObjectiveTo establish the reference intervals for ALT,AST,GGT and LDH among the Han nationality in Beijing.MethodsThe document C28-P3 issued by CLSI was a guideline about how to define,establish,and verify reference intervals in the clinical laboratory.IFCC had established multicenter enzymes reference intervals based on the guideline.Exclusion criteria were designed for screening candidate reference individual according to the document C28-P3 and the multicenter study's experience.Blood specimens were collected from 315 healthy individuals aged 20 to 60 years old,including 132 males and 183 females.Reference materials were used to ensure the accuracy of the test results of the four liver enzymes.The methods which used to test the four liver enzymes could be traced to the IFCC enzymes reference measure procedure,the reagent of ALT and AST included pyridoxal phosphate.Results There was statistically difference between males and females of the referenceranges forALT, ASTand GGT.Therefore,gender-specific reference intervals were established as ALT:8.2 -50.8 U/L (F),12.7 -71.8 U/L (M) ; AST:15.0 -36.7 U/L ( F),16.6 -51.1 U/L (M) ;GGT:9.0 -37.3 U/L (F),12.0 -50.9 U/L (M).For LDH,the reference interval was 127 -224 U/L,as no significant gender difference was found.ConclusionsThe reference intervals for the four liver enzymes based on the population of the Han nationality in Beijing are established.The upper reference limit for ALT in Beijing Han population is higher than that from other similar studies.

The case is the cornerstone of case teaching. The construction of case database can support case teaching and its orderly development. The clinical cases of gynecology of Chinese medicine were collected, sorted and processed in combination with the teaching syllabus and teaching objective. Operating platform was based on the Excelltable. The column was divided into overview, menstrual disorders, leukorrhoeal diseases, pregnancy disease, postpartum disease and miscellaneous diseases of gynecology with hierarchical set of 15 modules per column, including basic information, complaints, history, symptoms, physical examination, diagnosis, application purpose and context and so on. And the corresponding search term was also selected. Cases can be divided into introduction cases and improvement ones according to their easiness and difficulty , into typical cases and atypical ones according to their feature types. Case database content also needs to be constantly revised by teaching activities to make it more suitable for clinical teaching.

Background A main cause of visual impairment in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment due to contraction of fibrovascular membrane.To explore the pathogenic mechanism of fibrovascular membrane is a new target for the prevention and management of PDR.Objective This study was to determine the change in expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and pigment epithelium derived factor(PEDF) in the proliferative membranes of patients with PDR after intravitreal injection of avastin,an anti-VEGF agent.Methods This study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of Tianjin Medical College,and written informed consent was obtained from each patient before enrollment.A prospective randomized-controlled study was designed.Twenty-six eyes of 24 patients with PDR scheduled for surgery were enrolled from January to June,2008 in Tianjin Medical College Eye Hospital.The patients were randomized into the simple vitrectomy group and avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,with matched gender,age and disease duration.1.25 mg (0.05 ml) of avastin was intravitreally injected prior to surgery,and vitrectomy was performed 10 days after injection in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,and only vitrectomy was given in the simple vitrectomy group.Preretinal membrane was collected during the surgery.Expression of VEGF,CTGF and PEDF in the preretinal membranes was assayed by immunochemistry.Results VEGF,CTGF and PEDF were expressed in the cytoplasm.The rate of VEGF expression in the preretinal membranes was 30.77％ in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group,showing a significant reduction in comparison with the simple vitrectomy group(100.00％)(U =4.000,P＜0.01).The rate of expression CTGF was remarkable elevated in the avastin injection combined with vitrectomy group compared with the simple vitrectomy group (92.31％ vs.62.54％)(U=7.500,P=0.048).However,no significant difference was found in the expression rate of PEDF between the two groups(100.00％ vs.92.31％) (U =65.500,P =0.299).Conclusions The results suggest that intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs resulted in the decrease of VEGF expression and increased CTGF expression in proliferative membranes from patients with PDR.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absolute bioavailability of caffeic acid in rats and its intestinal absorption properties.

METHODThe absolute bioavailability (Fabs) of caffeic acid was obtained after iv (2 mg x kg(-1)) or ig (10 mg x kg(-1)) administration to rats. The intestinal absorption of caffeic acid was explored by the recirculating vascularly perfused rat intestinal preparation. Caco-2 cell model was applied to measure the permeability of caffeic acid from apical to basolateral said (A-B) and from basolateral to apical said (B-A).

RESULTA two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was best to describe the pharmacokinetics of caffeic acid following iv or ig administration. The Fabs of caffeic acid was 14. 7% , and its intestinal absorption was 12.4%. The values of Papp A-->B and Papp B-->A of caffeic acid were retained stable while its concentration was changed. The efflux ratio values in this study surveyed were above 2.0, and suggesting caffeic acid was active transport.

CONCLUSIONCaffeic acid was shown to have poor permeability across the Caco-2 cells, low intestinal absorption and low oral bioavailability in rats.

Animals ; Biological Availability ; Caco-2 Cells ; Caffeic Acids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Animals ; Carps ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fish Proteins ; genetics ; Hydroxylation ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; Lakes

Objective To analyze variations of hepatic vein in healthy people with 64-slice spiral CT.Methods Seventy-five healthy subjects underwent multi-slice spiral computed(MSCT)hepatic venography.The anatomy of the junction of the hepatic veins with the inferior vena cava and the intrahepatic drainage territory of the hepatic veins and tributaries were evaluated.The hepatic veins were classified according to three anatomic classification(Nakamura's,Marcos's and Kawasaki's classification)methods respectively.Results There was a common trunk of the middle and left hepatic veins before joining the IVC in 86.7%(65/75)of the cases.In 13.3%(10/75)of the cases,the three main hepatic veins joined the IVC separately.The ratios of Nakamura's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 49.4% (37/75),37.3%(28/75),and 13.3%(10/75)respectively.The ratios of Marcos's classification type A,B,C of hepatic veins were 56.0%(42/75),24.0%(18/75),and 20.0%(15/75)respectively. The ratios of Kawasaki's classification type Ⅰ,Ⅱ of hepatic vein were 40.0%(30/75)and 60.0% (45/75).Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT hepatic venography can provide visualization of peripheral hepatic venous branches in details.

Objective To study the effects of selenium deficiency,iodine deficiency and combined selenium and iodine deficiency on bone and cartilage growth in the parental and the first filial generation rats. Methods Forty-eight weanling healthy SD rats were randomly divided into selenium deficieney, iodine deficiency, combined selenium and iodine deficiency and control groups according to their body mass. These rats were fed with selenium deficiency, iodine deficiency, combined selenium and iodine deficiency, and normal fodder, respectively. The parental rats (about 3 months old) were mated in each group 8 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Right tibias and left knee joints were collected when the parental generation rats were about 6 months and the first filial generation rats were about 3 months old. Tibial length, mid-shaft tibial diameter, and articular cartilage diameters of the right tibias were measured by vernier caliper. Left knee joints were embedded and cut into sections and the thickness of the growth plate cartilage, layers of proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes in growth plate cartilage were observed under the light microscope. Results The selenium deficiency had significant effect on serum selenium level of the parental and the first filial generation rats(F value were 239.56,232.68, P< 0.01), and also on serum T4 level of the first filial generation rats(F value were 6.95, P < 0.05). The iodine deficiency had significant effect on serum T3 and T4 level in the two generations rats(F value were 14.11,14.05,30.29,34.53, P < 0.01 ). There were interactions between selenium deficiency and iodine deficiency on serum T4 level in the first filial generation rats (F= 5.99, P< 0.05). The serum selenium of selenium deficiency group[ (30.28 ± 6.34), (43.95 ± 9.75)μg/L],combined selenium and iodine deficiency group[ (30.33 ± 5.18), (35.40 ± 3.16)μg/L] were significantly lower than iodine deficiency group[(345.83 ± 29.55), (245.24 ± 9.95)μg/L] and the controls[ (358.64 ± 30.50), (236.50 ±9.75) μg/L] in the two generations. The serum T3 of combined selenium and iodine deficiency group [(0.55 ± 0.05 ),(0.88 ± 0.14)nmol/L] were significantly lower than the controls[(0.75 ± 0.08), (1.26 ± 0.26)nmol/L] in the two generations. The serum T4 of iodine deficiency [ (24.11 ± 2.29), (42.10 ± 8.92) nmol/L ] and combined selenium and iodine deficiency group[ (20.66 ± 1.93), (26.55 ± 5.98)nmol/L] were significantly lower than the controls[ (36.15 ±2.74), (52.79 ± 8.84)nmol/L] and selenium deficiency group[ (28.12 ± 3.33), (52.02 ± ll.99)nmol/L] in the two generations. The selenium deficiency and iodine deficiency had significant effect on tibial length, thickness of the growth plate cartilage, layers of proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes in first filial generation rats(F values were 24.31,6.98,40.76,56.15,25.24,82.82, 10.07,5.57, P <0.05 or <0.01). There were interactions between selenium deficiency and iodine deficiency on tibial length, thickness of the growth plate cartilage, layers of proliferative and hypertrophic chondrocytes (F values were 5.68,24.86,41.82,9.12, P <0.05 or <0.01 ). The tibial length of the selenium deficiency group[ (33.17 ± 0.34)mm] and combined selenium and iodine deficiency group[ (31.30 ± 0.87)mm] were significantly lower than the controls[ (34.12 ± 0.32)mm, P< 0.05]. Thickness of the growth plate cartilage [ (1.60 ± 0.18)mm ], layers of proliferative chondrocyte (8.54 ± 0.81), and hypertrophic chondrocyte (4.95 ± 0.37)of the combined selenium and iodine deficiency group were significantly decreased when compared to the selenium deficiency group[ (3.03 ± 0.10)mm, 14.68 ± 0.84,6.60 ± 0.31], iodine deficiency group[ (2.90 ± 0.09)mm, 13.75 ±0.33,6.61 ± 0.84 ] and the controls [ (3.19 ± 0.09) mm, 14.94 ± 0.36, 6.64 ± 0.26, P <0.05]. Thickness of the growth plate cartilage, layers of proliferative chondrocyte of the iodine deficiency group were lower than the controls(P<0.05). Conclusions Selenium deficiency impair tibial growth in first filial generation rats, iodine deficiency retarded the chondroncyte proliferation and decreases the thickness of growth plate cartilage in first filial generation rats, and combined selenium and iodine deficiency significantly impair the growth of bone and cartilage in first filial generation rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of butenolide (BUT) on cultured chondrocytes differentiation and the possible protective effects of selenium (Se).

METHODSEx-vivo cultured chondrocytes were divided into six groups: (1) Control group (without BUT and Se); (2) Se 0.1 microg/ml control group; (3) BUT 0.1 microg/ml group; (4) BUT 1.0 microg/ml group; (5) BUT 5.0 microg/ml group; and (6) BUT 1.0 microg/ml + Se 0.1 microg/ml group. The expression of collagen II (Col II), collagen X (ColX), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in (or around) chondrocytes in all groups were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expressions of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT + Se group were significantly higher than those in the 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group (P < 0.05). The expressions of bFGF and PTHrP of BUT groups were significantly higher than those in the Se and control groups (P < 0.05). No expression of ColX was observed in all groups.

CONCLUSIONBUT can affect the collagen II synthesis of the chondrocytes. Selenium supplementation may play a protective role.

4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; T-2 Toxin ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of Robo1 in lung cancer tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues as well as lung cancer brain metastasis, and explore the correlation of Robo1 expression to lung cancer brain metastasis.

METHODSSP (streptavidin-peroxidase) staining method was used to examine the Robo1 expression in specimens from 80 cases of NSCLC, 52 cases of adjacent non-cancerous tissues and 72 cases of lung cancer with single brain metastasis (without metastasis in other organs). The Robo1 expression was further examined in 17 self control cases with lung cancer tissues and their brain metastasis tissues. The results were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of Robo1 among adjacent non-cancerous tissues, lung cancers tissues and the lung cancer brain metastasis tissues were 1.9% (1/52), 13.8% (11/80) and 40.3% (29/72), respectively, and significant differences were detected among them (P < 0.05). During the 17 self control cases, the positive expression rate of Robo1 in lung cancer tissue and their brain metastasis tissues were 17.6% and 64.7%, respectively, with a significant difference between them (P < 0.01). Among the 72 cases of lung cancer brain metastasis, the median survival time of cases with positive Robo1 expression was 10 months, significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression of Robo1 (17 months, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe positive expression rate of Robo1 was increased in sequence from the lowest in adjacent non-cancerous tissues, intermediate in the lung cancer tissues to highest in the lung cancer brain metastasis tissues. The expression of Robo1 in lung cancer brain metastasis is negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with lung cancer brain metastasis. Robo1 may promote the genesis and progression of lung cancer and lung cancer brain metastasis as a cancer-promoting oncogene.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo reseach the correlations between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and angiogenesis in pharyngeal tissue of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSBiopsies were obtained by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty from 40 patients with mild to severe OSAHS. Control specimens of palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arch mucosa were retreved from 6 patients with chronic tonsillitis and proved have no related disorders. HE was used to observe the changes of pharyngeal tissue, immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against COX-2, VEGF, microvessel density (MVD) (marked with CD34).

RESULTSCOX-2 and VEGF mainly expressed at pavement-epithelium and glandular epithelium of pharyngeal tissue, and stronger COX-2 and VEGF expression was found in midrange and severe OSAHS than mild and control group (P < 0.01), so as MVD. COX-2 expression was correlated positively with VEGF expression, and had significant correlation with MVD. VEGF expression had the same correlation with MVD. These three targets had considerable relation with apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest O2 saturation at night.

CONCLUSIONThere was angiogenesis which had important relationship with hypoxia degree in patients of OSAHS, and COX-2 and VEGF play a crucial role in its development.

Adult ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Pharynx ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism