Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on serum peptide YY (PYY) and nesfatin-1 in obese patients with insulin resistance. Methods: Ninety-eight obese patients with insulin resistance were divided into a control group and an observation group by the random number table method, with 49 cases in each group. The control group received exercise and dietary interventions, and the observation group received additional acupuncture treatment to the exercise and dietary interventions. The body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, fasting insulin (FINS), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels were compared before and after treatment. The efficacy was evaluated after treatment. Results: The total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the BMI, body fat percentage, and serum TG and TC levels decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05), and were significantly lower in the observation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The FINS, FPG, HOMA-IR, and serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels of the control group were not significantly changed after treatment (P>0.05). The FINS, FPG and HOMA-IR of the observation group decreased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), and were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The serum PYY and nesfatin-1 levels of the observation group increased significantly after treatment (P<0.05), and were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on exercise and dietary interventions, acupuncture is effective for obese patients with insulin resistance. It can reduce the BMI, body fat percentage, blood lipids, blood glucose, and serum insulin levels and improve insulin resistance. The action may be associated with the up-regulation of serum PYY and nesfatin-1.

ObjectiveTo explore whether the biocompatibility of phosphorylcholine (PC) modified alginate-chitosan microcapsules could be improved. MethodsPC modified alginate-chitosan microcapsules were obtained by high-voltage electrostatic system.Bradford method was adopted to determine the adsorption amounts of bovine serum albumin by chitosan alone and PC modified chitosan.Alginate-chitosan-PC microcapsules (experimental group) and alginate-chitosan microcapsules ( control group) were respectively implanted into the peritoneal cavity of mice and retrieved 4 weeks after transplantation.Fibrosis of the capsules was evaluated by HE staining.Glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) assay was used to assess the insulin secretion response of encapsulated and nonencapsulated rat islets. Results The adsorption amount of protein was 189.4 μg/mg and 90.5 μg/mg respectively by chitosan alone and PC modified chitosan.The difference had statistical significance ( t =5.549, P ＜ 0.05 ).In contrast to the control group, the cellular reaction on the surface of the modified microcapsules was weaker, with no obvious fibrosis found.The insulin secreted by encapsulated islets and nonencapsulated islets was( 3.298 ± 1.680 ) μIU/ml VS (4.299 ± 1.159 ) μIU/ml ( t =1.096, P ＞ 0.05 ) in response to low-glucose stimulus and( 11.783 ± 4.175 ) μIU/ml VS ( 12.875 ± 2.268 ) μIU/ml ( t =0.514, P ＞ 0.05 ) in response to high-glucose stimulus.Conclusions PC can improve the biocompatibility of alginate-chitosan microcapsules, with no effect on the biological function of encapsulated islets.It may be more appropriate to use modified microcapsules encapsulating islets for transplantation.

Objective To investigate the characteristic,diagnosis,clinical staging, treatment and clinical prognosis of occult breast carcinoma (OBC). Method Forty-six cases of OBC were analyzed retrospectively with the clinical and follow-up information that were confirmed by postoperative pathologic diagnosis from November 1981 to November 2005. Results All patients showed axillary node enlargement as the first sign and were operated.The operation included axillary node excision in 2 patients,radical mastec-tomy or modified radical mastectomy in 44 patients. Forty-five cases got follow-up for 1-22 years,33 cases had existed 3 years,18 cases had existed 5 years,8 cases had existed 10 years. Conclusions For axillary mass which causes are uncertain ,the possibility of OBC should be considered .Meanwhile excision and pathological examination is necessary.The metastatic histological structure and immunohistochemical index of the axillary nodes usually provide important clue for the source of this tumor.Radical or modified mastectomy is the best method, and pest-operative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy should be done. It has been showed that targeted therapy is very important to breast cancer with C-erbB-2 positive recently.To the cases that neck lymphatic metastasis is M4G3 positive by immunohistochemical examination and no primary focus clinically, the diagnosis of OBC should be considered. The cases without primary focus have better prognosis than those with primary focus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the electrophysiological effect of Xin' an granule (XAG) on ventricular muscle cell in ischemic rabbits.

METHODSA total of 48 rabbits were divided into the normal group and the ischemic group, and then subdivided into three groups, the control group, the high and low-dose XAG groups, 8 in each group. Rabbits in the low-dose XAG group and the high-dose XAG group were gastrogavaged XAG at the daily dose of 0. 85 g/kg and 3.40 g/kg, while the others in the control group were given the equal dosage of normal saline. All the rabbits were treated three times per day for successive 10 days. The rabbit model of ischemia was established by intravenous injected with 2. 5 U/kg posterior pituitary injection. Five minutes later, the monophasic action potential (MAP) and electrocardiogram (ECG) of each rabbit in the different groups were recorded and compared.

RESULTS(1) To normal rabbits, XAG could significantly shorten the action 50% and 90% potential duration (APD)50 and APD90 of ventricular muscle cell (P < 0.05 ), and high-dose of XAG could significantly increased the Vmax of MAP(P <0. 05). (2) While to ischemic rabbits, XAG could significantly prolong APD50 and APD90, and significantly increased the action potential amplitude (APA) and Vmax of MAP (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSION(1) XAG can significantly shorten APD50 and APD90 of ventricular muscle cell, and high-dose XAG significantly increase the Vmax of MAP of normal rabbits. (2) XAG can delay and alleviate the manifestation characteristics of action potential of ventricular muscle cell during ischemia.

Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; physiology ; Rabbits

Objective To explore the suitable delayed time of MSCT mesenteric venography and to probe the value of different post-processing methods.Methods 49 patients with abdominal pain (group A)underwent MSCT mesenteric venography with a delayed time of 15-20 s after the arterial phase,and the CT showed the mesenteric vein(MV)was normal.Meanwhile,other 49 ones with abdominal pain (group B)underwent conventional biphasic CT with a delay-time of 35 s after arterial phase.The CT value and diameter of superior mesenteric vein between two groups were compared,and the grading,scoring and display of mesenteric vein with different post-processingmethods were assessed.Results The diameters of SMV were (10.52±2.19)mm in group A and (9.88±2.60)mm in group B,exhibiting no statistically significant difference (P >0.05);Meanwhile the average attenuations of SMV were (1 96.55±40.59)HU in group A and (1 64.32± 28.35)HU in group B,exhibiting a statistically significant difference (P<0.05).In addition,the display ability and scoring of mesenteric vein and its branches on volume rendering (VR)in group A were better than those in group B (P <0.05).VR was better in display of the vascular space distribution than maximum intensity projection (MIP)and sliding thin slab maximum intensity projection (STS-MIP),the STS-MIP was better in display of tiny blood vessels than VR and MIP,and the curved planner reformation (CPR)was superior in display of vascular lumen and the relationship with adjacent structures.Conclusion The image quality of mesenteric vein with the delayed time of 1 5-20 s after arterial phase is superior to that with delayed time of 35 s,and different advantages of the post-processing methods are showed in display of MV.

Objective Follow-up monitoring was carried out in infants infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) so as to find out whether breastfeeding could bring about changes of CMV viral load.Methods Saliva of the neonates born in Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from Nov.2010 to Feb.2012,was collected for CMV screening.Premature infants,or the infants with seriously infectious diseases and deformities were excluded,such as severe intrauterine infection,congenital immune deficiency disease and so on.The full-term infants with aymptomatic infection were divided into the artificial feeding group and the breastfeeding group,and followed up for 6 months.During the 1st,the 3rd and the 6th month after their birth,their saliva and their mother's breast milk were collected.The method of realtime fluorescent quantitative PCR was adopted to test the changes in the viral load of CMV-DNA in the saliva and breast milk.Meanwhile,head B-ultrasound test,otoacoustic emission hearing screening,liver function test,blood routine analysis and so on were performed.Results Among infants from both artificial feeding group and breastfeeding group,during the 1 st,the 3 rd and the 6th month after birth,no significant changes in the DNA viral load of saliva and breast milk cytomegalovirus were found (t =2.832,3.161,3.475,all P ＞ 0.05).And in breastfeeding group,the cytomegalovirus DNA viral load in breast milk were 3.125 × 103 ±2.017 × 102 (the 1st month),2.688 × 103 ±2.251 × 102 (the 3rd month),3.016 × 103 ±2.613 × 102 (the 6th rmonth),also no significance during the time (F =1.725,P =0.667).Meanwhile,the head B-ultrasound,otoacoustic emission hearing screening,liver function test,blood routine analysis,etc showed no clinical significance (F =1.725,P =0.667).Conclusions In the CMV-infected neonates,even if CMV in breast milk is tested to be positive,breastfeeding can continue without causing secondary symptoms of infection.

Objective To observe the dynamic expressions of kielin/chordin-like protein (kcp) in mouse model of hepatic fibrosis and the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7)intervention on the expressions,and to explore a new target for treatment of fibrosis.Methods A total of 50 healthy male ICR mice were divided into three groups:control group(n=10) ; model group (n=30) and BMP-7 treatment group (n=10).The model group was further divided into three subgroups according to different time points:subgroups of 4,8 and 12 weeks with 10 mice in each subgroup.The mouse model of hepatic fibrosis was established by hypodermic injection of carbon tetrachloride(CCl4 ).The mice in BMP-7 treatment group began to receive human recombmant BMP- 7via intraperitoneal injection after 8 weeks of the first administration of CC14 and lasted for 4 weeks.The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST) and albumin (Alb) were detected.The pathological changes of liver were observed under optical microscope after HE and Masson staining.The dynamic expressions of kcp mRNA and protein of each group were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The comparison of means among groups was done by univariate ANOVA.Results In model group,ALT and AST levels increased,while Alb level gradually decreased,and peaked at week 12.BMP-7treatment could reduce the changes,and there were significant differences among groups (F=23.501,34.600 and 16.244,respectively; all P＜0.05).In normal control group,the expressions of kcp mRNA and protein were low,while those in model group were gradually increased.BMP-7 treatment could achieve remission and the changes were all significantly different among groups (F=30.362 and 10.727,respectively; P＜0.01 or 0.05).The expression of kcp mRNA was positively correlated with levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 mRNA and BMP-7 mRNA (r=0.760 and 0.769,respectively; both P＜0.05).Conclusions BMP 7 can improve the hepatic fibrosis in mice.kcp may play an important role in the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis which is a potential therapeutic target for hepatic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND:Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-volerate (PHBV) is a noticeable tissue engineering material of polyhydroxyalkanoates family. It has the properties of low immune rejection response and good biocompatibility, and its degradation products are non-toxic.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biocompatibility of PHBV membrane material and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s in vitro.
METHODS:Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s at passage 3 were seeded upon PHBV membrane as experimental group and upon conventional culture plates as control group. Then we calculated the adherent cel number of two groups at 1, 2 and 4 hours and got the cel adherent rate. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay was used at days 2, 4, 6, 8 to observe the cel proliferation of two groups. Fluorimetric method with the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 was used to detect the DNA content of cel s at days 3, 6, 9 and 12 in both groups. After cel s were seeded upon PHBV membrane for 5 days, the cel growth upon the material was examined under a scanning electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When the cel s were cultured for 1 hour, the adherent rate in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group;but there were no significant differences between two groups at the other two periods. No difference was found in the cel proliferation and the DNA content between the two groups. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s seeded upon PHBV membrane for 5 days grew wel with spindle morphology and the intercel ular connections were tight and more extracel ular matrices were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Taken together, PHBV membrane material shows a good biocompatibility with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s.

Objective To investigate the effects of angelica solution on chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats.Methods Thirty SD rats were randomized into normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group.The model of rat chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was made by method of isobaric hypoxia.Angelica solution were injected before hypoxia,while the other two groups were injected normal saline.After 28d of hypoxia,pulmonary artery pressure were measured.Expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in pulmonary artery were detected by immunohistochemical staining.The index of wall thickness of rat pulmonary arteriole-percentage of the wall area in the total vascular area(wA%) were measured by a computerized image analyzer.Results The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were10.50±1.90,35.36±9.11,18.32±2.30 (mm Hg);wA% of the three groups were 52.71±5.16,82.38±8.43,64.58±9.54 (%),mPAP and wA% were significantly higher in the hypoxic group than those in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and angelica solution-protected group (P<0.01).PCNA expression of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were 3.15±1.10,24.50±5.72,12.67±3.46 (%).The PCNA expression in the pulmonary artery was significantly higher in the hypoxic group than those in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and in the angelica solution-protected group (P<0.01).iNOS expression of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were 2.13±1.01,17.33±3.53,37.50±7.04 (%).iNOS expression in the pulmonary artery was higher in the hypoxic group than those in normoxic group (P<0.01),and angelica significantly increased iNOS expression in comparison with the normoxic and hypoxic groups (P<0.01).Conclusion Angelica solution alleviates chronically hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension in rats by inhibiting the espression of PCNA in pulmonary artery and up-regulating the expression of iNOS.

Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicines which possess laxative, lipid-lowering, and weight-loss activities, but the active compounds of lipid-lowering and underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet clear. This study aims to explore the effects of chrysophanol on the mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and lipid metabolism in human liver carcinoma Huh-7 cells, which is one of the active compounds obtained from Rhubarb. A reporter gene assay was used to test the transcription of SREBP. The intracellular triglyceride and total cholesterol contents were measured by using commercially available test kits. The SREBPs target genes expressions were measured by Quantitative Real-Time PCR. Cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8. As the results shown, chrysophanol (40 μmol · L(-1), 16 h) could notably inhibited human SRE promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner and decrease intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes were significantly downregulated by chrysophanol treatment. However there are no significant differences on cell viability when compared with the control group. These results suggested that chrysophanol might improve lipid metabolism through suppressing the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes to attenuate intracellular lipid accumulation.
Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; analysis ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins ; pharmacology ; Triglycerides ; analysis