The changes in intracellular Ca and metabolism of lipid in human monocyte-macrophages as interacted with glycosylated LDL (glc-LDL) were studied and compared with normal LDL group. The intracellular Ca in glc-LDL group was higher than in normal LDL group (P

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of hypopara thyroidism-deafness-renal dysplasia(HDR) syndrome in children.Methods According to the symptoms,signs,laboratory examination and the previous published papers of other authors,the disease of the child was diagnosed and treated,and some related literatures were reviewed.Results The 12-years-old boy presented with tetany and deafness and Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs were positive.The initial laboratory studies showed that the serum concentration of calcium was lower,parathormone was in the low limit of normal range and alkalin phosphatase was normal.An audiography revealed the pattern of sensorineural deafness in all frequencies.Abdominal CT revealed that his right kidney was not observed and creatinine clearance rate was low.After treated with calcium carbonate and vitamin D,the symptoms and the signs were improved.Conclusion HDR syndrome is a rare disorder and less recognized in children,and therefore more attention should be paid to avoid missing diagnosis.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

Aim To investgate the mechnism through which ginkgolides affect learning and memory capabilities of the Alzheimers disease-like rats. Methods Okadaic acid(OA)was injected into the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus and the rats were gavaged with ginkgolides. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed through Morris water maze behavioral test, and the expressions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and ChAT were observed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results Compared with the control rats, the capabilities of learning and memory were lowered significantly(P

This study investigates the protective role of IMM-H004, a novel coumarin derivative, on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) in mice. All animal experiments in this paper have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The experimental animals were divided into three groups, including sham group, model group, and IMM-H004 treatment group. Serum biochemical indicators were detected and H&E staining was used to assess liver damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analysis the mRNA content of inflammatory factors. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to observe neutrophil infiltration. Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The results showed that IMM-H004 could significantly reduce the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). H&E results showed IMM-H004 could alleviate liver damage caused by HIRI. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased by IMM-H004 administration. Meanwhile, IMM-H004 could markedly inhibit neutrophil infiltration. Furthermore, IMM-H004 could significantly down-regulate the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β, inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Our results confirmed that IMM-H004 could protect mice from HIRI and provide a theoretical foundation for IMM-H004 application for treating HIRI.

Background Human paired box gene 6 (PAX6)encodes a transcriptional regulator.It is essential for eye and brain morphogenesis.Mutation of PAX6 gene isresponsible for many congenital ocular malformations,such as aniridia.Aniridia is a autosomal dominant inheritance mode.Objective In this study,PAX6 gene mutation was analyzed in three Chinese families with aniridia through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.Methods The blood specimens were collected from 5 suffers and normal individuals of 3 aniridia families to extract DNA.The sequences of extron 4-13 were designed based on PAX6 gene.The primer was amplified by PCR and sequenced and compared with the known PAX6 gene sequence.This study complied with Declaration of Helsinki and approved by ethic committee of Sichuan University.Written informed consent was obtained from each individual before any medial examination.ResultsThere were 5 suffers in the 3 families.A heterozygous mutation (c.718 C＞T) in PAX6 gene was identified in 2 patients of family A.This mutation caused an amino acid substitution of arginine to termination codon at position 240 ( p.Arg240X) of PAX6 protein.No similar change in the normal families.No any the alteration of PAX6 gene was detected in family B whatever suffers and normal individuals.In family C,a deletion mutation of c.331 delG ( p.Val111 SerfsX13 ) in PAX6 gene was found.The deletion of one base caused frame shift mutation of PAX6 protein,and no such mutation was seen in other families.Conclusions Mutation of PAX6 gene appeares to be causative mutations of the disease in family A and C.

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment of primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) of the pancreas.

METHODSOne patient with PNET of the pancreas was reported in this article. The corresponding literatures on the diagnosis and treatment was reviewed.

RESULTSThe patient was diagnosed as pancreatic PNET by her clinical, microscopic, and immunohistochemical features as well as cytogenetic analysis after the resection of the tumor located in the uncinate process in PUMC Hospital. Radiochemotherapy was given after the operation for 8 months and no recurrence was observed. Since PNET of pancreas have no specific clinical symptoms and most patients have jaundice and/or abdominal pain, the diagnosis depended on the immunohistochemical features of positive P30/32(MIC2) and at least two of the neural markers. The cytogenetic analysis showed translocation mainly harbored the characteristic t (11; 22) (q24; q12). Since pancreatic PNET were highly aggressive, early chemotherapy, close follow-up, and immediate surgical interventions were required as early as possible.

CONCLUSIONPNET can occur in pancreas, and diagnosis and treatment should be made as early as possible to improve the outcome.

Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of pioglitazone on advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and expression of peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). To investigate the possible role of PPARgamma in mediating AGEs induced proliferation of VSMCs.

METHODSPrimary cultures of smooth muscle cells from rat aorta were exposed to AGEs of different concentrations and different times prior to co-treatment with pioglitazone and AGEs. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was adopted for the quantification of the cell proliferation ratio and PPARgamma expression was determined by RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting.

RESULTSAGEs increased the proliferation of VSMCs. AGEs treatment to VSMCs decreased mRNA and protein levels of PPARgamma in a time- and dose-related manner (P < 0.05). Pioglitazone inhibited the AGEs-induced proliferation of VSMCs in vitro.

CONCLUSIONSActivating PPARgamma in VSMCs, pioglitazone may play a role in anti atherosclerosis. The reduction in PPARgamma expression may be implicated in vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of proline-rich tyrosine kinase-2 (Pyk2) in human primary colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and it's prognostic significance.

METHODSThe expression of Pyk2 was retrospectively examined with immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 108 tissues of primary CRC. The correlation of Pyk2 expression to prognosis and relevant clinical factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe rate of Pyk2 low-expression in CRC was 56.5% (61/108). The expression of Pyk2 correlated significantly to the histological grade (P < 0.05) and the TNM stage (P < 0.05), while no correlation between Pyk2 expression and age, tumor size (P > 0.05). Patients with Pyk2 over-expression had significantly higher 5-year survival rate (66.0%) than those with Pyk2 low-expression (31.4%). Pyk2 expression, together with carcinoma histologic grade and TNM stage were prognostic factors to CRC on the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONSPyk2 expression can be a prognostic factor to the CRC patients together with other predictors.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Female ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

AIMTo study the basis of actions of Gualou xiebai baijiutang.

METHODSGuided by bioactivities, chemical and chromatographic ways were applied to isolate and purify the prescription. The chemical structures were identified by chemical and spectral ways. The activities on cardiovascular system of the pure compounds were measured.

RESULTSSeven steroidal compounds were isolated and identified from the active parts.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 5 and 6 showed good anti-platelet aggregation activities induced by ADP and PAF. The IC50 of compound 5 and 6 induced by 2 mumol.L-1 ADP were 0.082 and 0.078 mmol.L-1, and the IC50 induced by 0.5 mumol.L-1 PAF were 0.182 and 0.151 mmol.L-1, respectively.

Allium ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Trichosanthes ; chemistry