Glomerular hypertrophy is the main pathological characteristic in the early stage of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and its regulatory mechanism is closely related to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway activity. mTOR includes mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2(mTORC2), in which, the upstream pathway of mTORC1 is phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/serine-threonine kinase(Akt)/adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase(AMPK), and the representative signaling molecules in the downstream pathway of mTORC1 are 4E-binding proteins(4EBP) and phosphoprotein 70 S6Kinase(p70S6K). Some Chinese herbal extracts could improve cell proliferation via intervening the expressions of the key molecules in the upstream or downstream of PIK/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in vivo. As for glomerular mesangial cells(MC) and podocyte, mTOR plays an important role in regulating glomerular inherent cells, including adjusting cell cycle, energy metabolism and matrix protein synthesis. Rapamycin, the inhibitor of mTOR, could suppress glomerular inherent cell hypertrophy, cell proliferation, glomerular basement membrane (GBM) thickening and mesangial matrix deposition in model rats with DN. Some Chinese herbal extracts could alleviate glomerular lesions by intervening mTOR signaling pathway activity in renal tissue of DN animal models or in renal inherent cells in vivo and in vitro.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the diagnosis and therapy experience of vascular ring combined with tracheal compression in infants and neonates.Methods Sixteen cases(including 7 boys and 9 girls,aged 1 day to 12 months)with vascular ring combined with tracheal compression hospitalized in Guangdong General Hospital from Jun.2004 to Dec.2009 were enrolled.In these 16 children,13 cases had congenital heart malformations.All children underwent X-ray,echocardiography and spiral computed tomography examination.Nine cases received bronchoscopy study.Fifteen cases performed surgical division of vascular ring with cardiopulmonary bypass and 1 case underwent vascular ring division and tracheoplasty.Eleven cases received management of congenital heart defect simultaneously.Results Vascular ring anomalies included pulmonary artery sling in 5 children,right aortic arch-left ligmentum/aberrant left subclavian artery in 8 cases,double aortic arch in 1 case,innominate artery compression in 1 case,and pulmonary sling combined with right aortic arch-aberrant left subclavian artery in 1 case.There were 2 ring-sling complex cases in this study.The diagnosis of vascular ring were correctly made by echocardiography in 7 children and made by spiral computed tomography in all 16 cases.Two cases combined with tracheal ring died.In the follow-up study of 11 cases,5 cases were still vulnerable to wheezing.Conclusions The common presentation of tracheal compression in infants and neonates associated with vascular ring are tachypea,stridor,and dyspnea.Multi-slices spiral computed tomography is an important imaging modality.Surgical divisions of vascular ring are safe procedure in most cases and tracheal compression can be relieved by this operation.In patients with severe tracheal stenosis,tracheoplasty should be recommended.

AIMTo study the effects of cryopreservation length on the proliferative potential of hematopoietic cells derived from cord blood.

METHODSUsing Dextran-40 and 10% DMSO as cryoprotectants, separated nuclear cells were stored in liquid nitrogen after they were freezed according programme. One month or 4 months later, they were thawed and expanded in serum-free medium for culture and expansion of hematopoietic cell (SFEM) for 5 weeks. Dynamic results were detected every week.

RESULTSAt the 5th week of expanding, TNC were expanded for 1499.0 +/- 115.6-folds and 1513.0 +/- 110.4-folds, respectively. CD34+ cells and CFCs reached to their highest level at the 2nd week and at the 3rd week. CD34+ cells were expanded for 63.8 +/- 6.1-folds and 62.4 +/- 5.7-folds, respectively. CFCs were expanded for 53.8 +/- 6.3-folds and 54.8 +/- 6.7-folds, respectively. Between the two kinds of cells, statistical significant difference in proliferative potential wasn't detected.

CONCLUSIONIn ideal cryopreservative condition, the cryopreservation length would do not affect the proliferative potential of cord blood hematopoietic cells.

Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of Holter ECG recordings for patients with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSHolter recordings was performed in 76 patients who were diagnosed OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG) within one month from Jan. 2008 to July 2009 in our hospital. Twenty-eight patients were identified as mild OSAHS (AHI < or = 20) and forty-eight patients were moderate-to-severe OSAHS (AHI > 20). The indexes of heart rate variability (HRV), total scores of thirteen sleep apnea risk indexes of Holter recordings and BMI were analyzed by bivariate Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSClinical features (eg. Gender, age, complicated with hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and taken beta-blocker), total scores, the sum of thirteen sleep apnea risk scores collected by Holter recordings (5.64 + or - 2.33 vs. 6.42 + or - 2.22, respectively, P > 0.05) were similar between patients with mild OSAHS and moderate-to-severity OSAHS. VLF/Total Power > 70%, the difference of daytime/nighttime LF Power < -70 and BMI were independent predictors of moderate-to-severe OSAHS with OR 3.98 (1.087 - 14.596), 3.69 (1.106 - 12.285) and 1.28 (1.062 - 1.544), respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSVLF/Total Power and the difference of daytime/nighttime LF Power and BMI could be used as screening parameters to recognize patients with moderate-to-severe OSAHS.

Aged ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the interleukin-17 (IL-17) level of peripheral blood and aggression of bipolar mania. METHODS: Thirty-six patients of bipolar mania were selected as experimental group by DSM-IV-TR and received treatment with quetiapine and lithium. Thirty-six healthy volunteers with similar age and gender were selected as control group. The level of IL-17 at baseline in each group and the level of IL-17 in the experimental group after treatment for 2, 4 and 8 weeks were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The level of IL-17 in experimental group at baseline, after treatment for 2 and 4 weeks were all significantly higher than that in control group. After 8 weeks treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 2, 4 and 8 weeks treatment, the total score and aggression score of Young Mania Rating Score (YMRS) were significantly lower than the baseline level (P < 0.05). In experimental group, the level of IL-17 was positively correlated with the two scores of YMRS at baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Bipolar mania may be related to the up-regulation of IL-17. The level of IL-17 is related to the severity of manic symptoms at baseline, especially aggression symptom.
Aggression/drug effects* ; Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Bipolar Disorder/drug therapy* ; Case-Control Studies ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Lithium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Quetiapine Fumarate/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo search for some substituted alpha-amino phosphonates as leading compounds with the vasodilator effects.

METHODSTarget compounds were prepared from benzyl aldehyde, piperazine and diethyl phosphite using alcohol as solvent via Mannich-type reaction. In isolated rat aorta and in isolated guinea pig ileum, the vasodilator effects of compounds were investigated and evaluated whether they activated muscarine receptor.

RESULTSSeven compounds of substituted alpha-amino phosphonates have been synthesized and identified by IR, 1H NMR and elemental analysis. Three of them, compound 2a, 2b and 2c have vasodilator activity and do not activate M receptor.

CONCLUSIONTwo (2b and 2c) of them were found to have the notable vasodilator effect, and the rates of relaxing are (67 +/- 21) % and (82 +/- 18)%, separately. But they did not activate M receptors on ileum.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; Benzylamines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Ileum ; drug effects ; Molecular Structure ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Organophosphonates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetics of genistein at different doses in Beagle dogs.

METHODSSuspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, genistein was orally administered to Beagle dogs at doses of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1). At various time intervals, 1.5 mL of blood was drawn from the femoral vein of dogs in their front legs. The plasma was treated with beta-glucuronidase. The genistein in plasma was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-tubtyl ether and pentane (v/v = 8:2). The organic phase was removed into the tubes and then evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol. 20 microL solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3P97 software.

RESULTSThe plasma drug concentration-time data were fitted to the two-compartment model. When the dose was 2.67 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound were 52.9 min and 6.7 mg.min. L(-1), respectively. When the dose rose to 5.34 mg.kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound became 224.8 min and 26.1 mg.min.L(-1), respectively. However, when the dose increased to 10.68 mg .kg(-1), the MRT and AUC of parent compound increased to 267.7 min and 33.2 mg.min L(-1), respectively. The AUC of glucuronidated genistein was 33.9, 70.1 and 140.5 mg.min.L(-1) at the dose of 2.67, 5.34 and 10.68 mg.kg(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONDue to significant first pass metabolism, the drug was mainly existed in the form of glucuronidated genistein in the plasma. With the increase of dose, the absorption of genistein became saturated and the half life prolonged.

Animals ; Anticarcinogenic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Dogs ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Genistein ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male

AIM: To observe thickness and morphological changes of bulbar conjunctiva pre- and post epidemic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis ( EHC ) therapy by optical coherence tomography ( OCT) .
METHODS: Observed morphological changes and measured the bulbar conjunctiva thicknesses of 29 cases (36 eyes) of incipient (1-2d) EHC patients, who were received and treated by department of ophthalmology, the Putuo Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2013 to December 2013, by OCT. Then measured the thickness again on 7, 14d after the therapy.
RESULTS: Among 29 patients (36 eyes), 7d after the EHC therapy, in 27 cured eyes, the full-thickness ( before 344. 00±59. 91μm, after 230. 19±22. 16μm, t=11. 75, P<0-01); epithelial thickness ( before 56. 52±6. 19μm, after 51. 37±5. 53μm, t=4. 61, P<0. 01); and stromal thickness (before 287. 11±60. 56μm, after 178. 81±20. 20μm, t=10. 69, P<0. 01) of patients' bulbar conjunctiva were thicker than values measured after therapy with significant difference. Significant difference was also found for full-thickness ( before 361. 39±65. 56μm, after 233. 44±22. 57μm, the difference was statistically significant, t=14. 45, P<0. 01);epithelial thickness ( before 55. 50±6. 72μm, after 46. 67±5-24μm, t=10. 06, P<0. 01) and stromal thickness ( before 305. 61±66. 02μm, after 186. 78±21. 82μm, t=13. 11, P<0-01 ) of patients' bulbar conjunctiva between values measured before and 14d after therapy.
CONCLUSION: The OCT is able to measure the thickness of bulbar conjunctiva in EHC patients. An significant increase was found in full, epithelial and stromal thickness of EHC patients' bulbar conjunctiva. With recovery from the disease, subepithelial fluid, interlaminar fluid and edema of the bulbar conjunctival stroma faded away firstly, which provide references for clinical therapies of the EHC.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of three kinds extracts (saponins, volatile components, polysaccharide components) of Qingxin Kaiqiao Recipe (QKR) in improving learning and memory capabilities of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats.

METHODSA controlled comparison method was used. Totally 56 male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups, i.e., the normal control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Aricept group, the saponin group, the benzene group, and the polysaccharide group, 8 in each group. AD rat model was established by bilateral hippocampus injection of Aβ1-40 (2 µL, 2.5 µg/µL). The next day after modeling rats in the saponin group, the benzene group, and the polysaccharide group, the saponin group, the Aricept group were intragastrically administered with saponin (at the daily dose of 9 mL/kg, 2.1 g/mL) , benzene (at the daily dose of 3.33 mL/kg, 5.7 g/mL) , polysaccharide (at the daily dose of 8.33 mL/kg, 2.28 g/mL), Aricept (at the daily dose of 1.67 mg/kg), respectively, once a day for 2 consecutive weeks from 10 am every day. Equal volume of normal saline was intragastrically administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Learning and memory capabilities were detected using water maze 2 weeks later. Expression levels of synaptotagmin-1 (Syt-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), glia fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP) in the cortex and hippocampus of AD rats were detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSLearning and memory capabilities could be improved by three kinds extracts of QKR. There was no statistical difference in the escape latency between the polysaccharide group and the model group (P >0. 05). The escape lacency was shortened in the rest treatment groups (P < 0.05). The escape latency was obviously prolonged in three kinds extracts of QKR groups, when compared with the Aricept group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, times for crossing platforms were significantly increased in the saponin group and the Aricept group (P < 0.05). Compared with the Aricept group, average times for crossing platforms were significantly lessened in three kinds extracts of QKR groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham-operation group, expression levels of Syt-1, IL-1β, GFAP, and βAPP in the cortex and hippocampus were increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of cortical Syt-1 increased in the saponin group and the benzene group; the expression of cortical IL-1β increased in the benzene group and the polysaccharide group; the expression of hippocampal GFAP increased in the three kinds extracts of QKR groups; expression levels of Syt-1, IL-1β, GFAP, and β-APP in the cortex and hippocampus decreased in the rest treatment groups (all P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Aricept group, expression levels of Syt-1, IL-1β, GFAP, and βAPP in the cortex and hippocampus were significantly increased in three kinds extracts of QKR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThree kinds extracts of QKR might play roles in anti-AD possibly by decreasing expression levels of Syt-1, IL-1β, GFAP, and βAPP in the cortex and hippocampus.

Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Hippocampus ; Interleukin-1beta ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 11 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STR) loci in 484 male individuals from two minority populations, the Hui and Xibe, of Liaoning province, and to evaluate their forensic application values and genetic relationships with other 15 populations of China.

METHODSEleven Y-STR loci in all samples were amplified with PowerPlex Y System, and the PCR products were analyzed by 310 Genetic Analyzer. Cluster analysis and neighbor-joining tree were applied to show the genetic distance among the populations.

RESULTSIn Hui people, 187 haplotypes were identified, and the overall haplotype diversity value was 0.9990. The gene diversity values (GD) for each locus ranged from 0.4783(DYS437) to 0.9679(DYS385a/b); In Xibe people, 237 haplotypes were identified, and the overall haplotype diversity value was 0.9984. The GD value for each locus ranged from 0.3618(DYS391) to 0.9686(DYS385a/b). Comparing with 15 reference populations, the genetic distance between the Hui and Xibe was the nearest (0.0257), and that between the Hui and Yi was the farthest (0.1046), while the genetic distance between Xibe and Korean was also the farthest (0.0978). The NJ tree was similar to the results of clustering analysis and all the 17 populations were clustered into 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONThe genetic distribution of the 11 Y-STR loci in Liaoning Hui and Xibe ethnic groups showed favorable polymorphisms, therefore are suitable for forensic identification and paternity testing in the local area. The study of haplotype diversity among different populations is useful in understanding their origins, migrations and their relationships.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Ethnic Groups ; classification ; genetics ; Genetics, Population ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics