Objective To investigate quantitatively the thermal sensation characteristics of the patients with facial palsy and the value of quantitative thermal test (QTT) in prognostication.Methods The QTT threshold of the fore ear and cheek of 30 patients with peripheral facial palsy was tested,their facial nerve conduction velocity was measured,and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system was used to estimate facial nerve function at 2～3 weeks,a month,two months and half a year post onset.Results It was found that 12 out of 30 patients had abnor- mal QTT threshold value;the majority of them suffered from herpes virus and diabetes.In those with abnormal QTT, 8 were with diabetes mellitus (account for 66.7%),3 with partial shingles (account for 25%),and 1 with positive serum virus infection (account for 8.3%).Those with normal QTT were significantly different from those with abnor- mal QTT,with regard to the House-Brackmann rating scores after 2 and 6 months post onset (P

OBJECTIVETo study the brain protection of baicalin on rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its probable mechanism of action.

METHODSThirty-six male healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, the AD group, and the baicalin group, twelve in each. beta-amyloid protein 1-40 was injected to the bilateral hippocampus of rats in the AD group and the baicalin group to establish the AD rat model. The sham operation was performed to rats of the sham-operative group in the same way. Equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution was injected to the bilateral hippocampus of rats in the sham-operative group. Baicalin was intraperitoneally injected at the daily dose of 40 mg/kg to rats in the baicalin group before and after operation, once daily for 7 successive days. Equal volume of buffer solution was intraperitoneally injected to rats in the sham-operative group and the AD group in the same procedures at the same time points. The expression of hippocampal cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by Western blot. The spatial learning memory capacities was observed using T-morris test. Histological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.

RESULTSResults of the T-morris test showed the spontaneous alternation selective ratio decreased in the AD group (28.33% +/- 7.50%) and the baicalin group (38.33% +/- 7.50%) (both P < 0.05) when compared with the sham-operative group (61.67% +/- 7.50%). There was significant difference between the AD group and the baicalin group (P < 0.05). Results of HE staining showed degeneration and necrosis of cortical and hippocampal neurons in the AD group and the baicalin group. Changes in the AD group were more obvious. Results of Western blot showed the expression of hippocampal cyclooxygenase (COX-2) obviously increased in the AD group, while it obviously decreased in the baicalin group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBaicalin could alleviate beta-amyloid protein induced brain injury, which might be associated with its inhibition on the COX-2 expression.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of primary hypoparathyroidism in adults.Methods The clinical data of 200 cases with adult-onset primary hypoparathyroidism in Peking Union Medical College Hospital during December 1987 to December 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Among them, 128 cases were followed up for a median period of 3 years.Results The major manifestations at their first visits were tetany and numbness in the distal extremities (81.5%,163/200 and 62.0%, 124/200).Thirty-two percent of the cases (62 cases) had history of seizures, and 60.9%( 98/161 ) and 74.4% ( 96/129 ) of them were with intracerebral calcifications and cataracts , respectively.Most of subjects(155/200)had more than one year delay in diagnosis.Hypercalciuria occurred in 67.2%( 86/128 ) of the cases during the follow-up.No significant differences in the clinical characteristics and biochemical markers between the hypercalciuria subjects and the non -hypercalciuria subjects.Renal nephrocalcinosis or stones were found in 6.5%( 5/77 ) of the cases , and kidney function decreased in 6.6%(6/91) of the patients.Kidney function was negatively associated with age and duration of disease.Conclusions The predominant manifestations of primary hypoparathyroidism in adults included tetany and numbness in the distal extremities and seizures .It is often misdiagnosed.Calcium supplement combined with vitamin D or its metabolites effectively relieve clinical symptoms and signs.The serum and urinary calcium levels should be monitored frequently to reduce renal complications .

Aim To investigate the effect of liver X receptor (LXR) activation on the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells in global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) mice,and its mechanisms.Methods A total of 75 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups,namely the sham operation group,the cerebral I/R group and the cerebral I/R with TO901317 treatment (I/R + TO90) group.The I/R mouse model was induced via the bilateral common carotid artery occlusion.HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes in hippocampal CA1 region.Immunohistochemistry was executed to detect hippocampus DCX + cells.Immunofluorescence of BrdU was implemented to detect the proliferation neural stem cell.Morris water maze test was used to assess spatial learning and memory in mice.Western blot was used to detect the expression of hippocampus LXRα,LXRβ,ABCA1,p-ERK1/2,t-ERK1/2,p-CREB,t-CREB,BDNF.Results LXR activation improved cognitive recovery(P ＜0.01),and induced the proliferation of neural stem cells (P ＜ 0.01) in I/R mice.The expressions of hippocampal ABCA1,p-ERK1/2,p-CREB,BDNF in I/R + TO90 group mice also increased (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions LXR activation can induce the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells and facilitate cognitive recovery following global cerebral I/R in mice,which may be related to the activation of hippocampal ERK1/2-CREB-BDNF pathway and then promoting endogenous neurogenesis in the hippocampus DG region of I/R mice.

OBJECTIVETo examine UVB-induced responses in normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) at the cellular and molecular level, and investigated the protective effect of salidroside.

METHODSCells irradiated by UVB at various dosage and their viability was assessed by MTT assays, cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6 after 50 J/m(2) UVB irradiation were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting.

RESULTSOur results confirmed greater tolerance of A341 cells to UVB-induced damage such as cell viability and cell cycle arrest, which was accompanied by differential expression changes in NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6. UVB exposure resulted in HaCaT cells undergoing G(1)-S phase arrest. When treated with salidroside, HaCaT survival was significantly enhanced following exposure to UVB, suggesting great therapeutic potential for this compound.

CONCLUSIONTaken together, our study suggests that A431 respond differently to UVB than normal HaCaT cells, and supports a role for NF-κB, CDK6, and BCL-2 in UVB-induced cell G(1)-S phase arrest. Furthermore, salidroside can effectively protect HaCaT from UVB irradiation.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; radiation effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of radiation injury on nitric oxide (NO) concentration in mouse peripheral blood and liver.

METHODSNIH mice were subjected to gamma-ray exposure at 9.0 Gy and transferred immediately in room temperature condition. NO concentrations in the liver and peripheral blood were examined before and at different time points after the exposure.

RESULTSCompared to that before exposure, NO concentration in the peripheral blood and liver significantly increased after gamma-ray exposure. NO concentration in the peripheral blood began to increase 3 h after the exposure, but that in the liver increased till 6 h after the exposure.

CONCLUSIONRadiation can cause the increase of NO concentration in the peripheral blood and liver, but different tissues may exhibit different response intensities to radiation.

Animals ; Gamma Rays ; Liver ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; metabolism ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Time Factors

0.05).Conclusion The distribution of G990R CASR genotype in PHPT patients is different from healthy women,and R allele is higher in PHPT group.Among PHPT patients,A986S and G990R polymorphisms are associated with serum calcium and ICa levels.Patients with S or G allele have lower levels of serum calcium and ICa.A986S genotype is also associated with serum PTH level and patients with S allele have relatively lower level of PTH.

The aim of study was to establish the packaging system of the recombinant lentiviral vector encoding Gfi1 gene for eukaryotic expression and to realize the efficient, stable expression of Gfi1 32D cells so as to provide effective platform for further studying the development of Gfi1 gene in hematologic malignancies. The three-plasmid recombinant lentiviral vector consisting of transfer plasmid (pLOX-Gfi1/pLOX), the packaging plasmid (pCMVDeltaR8.2) and the envelop plasmid (pMD.G) was prepared and purified. Human embryonic kidney 293T cells were cotransfected with the three plasmids by lipofectamine 2000. After transfection for 48 hours, the viral supernatant was collected and the target cell 32D was transfected with the recombinant lentivirus; the Gfi1 integration and expression in 293T and 32D cells were detected by Western-blot. The results showed that the three plasmids of lentivirus could be transfected into 293T with high efficiency and packaged successfully, and the Gfi1 protein could be detected by fluorescent microscopy. The recombinant lentiviruses carrying Gfi1 could transfer and deliver Gfi1 gene to 32D cells, and the Gfi1 expression in 293T and 32D cell could be detected by Western blot. It is concluded that the recombinant lentivirus carrying Gfi1 can deliver target gene to 32D cells with high efficiency, and the expression of Gfi1 protein is stable in 32D.
Cell Line ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate prospectively the efficacy and clinical significance of ultrasonography (US), helical computed tomography (HCT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs of primary pancreatic carcinoma.

METHODSSixty-eight consecutive patients with pancreatic carcinoma underwent US, HCT, EUS and MRI examinations before surgical exploration. All imaging results in terms of tumor size and locoregional invasion were assessed separately by two diagnostic radiologists and compared with the surgical and pathological findings.

RESULTSAmong the HCT, US, EUS and MRI examinations, EUS had the highest accuracy in assessing tumor size with a regression coefficient for the maximal and minimal diameter of 1.0250 (P = 0.0426) and 0.9873 (P < 0.0001), respectively. In the assessment of locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs, EUS also had the highest accuracy (75.8%) and sensitivity (80.0%), but MRI had the highest positive predicting value (97.4%). None of these four imaging techniques was significantly correlated with the surgical findings when analyzed by univariate logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONEndoscopic ultrasonography may be the most useful imaging technique in assessing tumor size, but for assessing loco-regional invasion of primary pancreatic carcinoma, combination of more than one imaging techniques may be necessary.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; pathology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUNDParathyroid hormone deficiency or resistance may cause hypocalcemia with related symptoms and signs. Lifelong treatment of calcium combined with vitamin D or its metabolites is always necessary for these patients. Here we reported a prospective and open-label trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of domestic-made calcitriol in treatment of hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with confirmed hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism aged (36.5 +/- 11.0) years old were studied. Among them, 16 patients had idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, 2 had pseudohypoparathyroidism and 6 had hypoparathyroidism secondary to cervical surgery. Serum calcium levels were lower than 1.88 mmol/L. Oral calcitriol was administered twice or three times with elemental calcium 1.2 g per day. All patients were followed every 4 weeks throughout the 12-week period. Dose adjustments of calcitriol were based on serum and urinary calcium levels and symptoms of hypocalcemia.

RESULTSTwenty patients were included by the end of this study. Muscular weakness, cramps, extremity paresthesia, Chovestek's sign and Trousseau's sign were relieved in 76.9%, 100%, 94.4%, 93.3% and 78.9% of patients, respectively. Serum calcium, plasma ionized calcium and serum phosphorus levels were (1.54+/-0.25) mmol/L, (0.64+/-0.10) mmol/L and (2.00+/-0.46) mmol/L at baseline, and reached (2.20+/-0.20) mmol/L, (0.95+/-0.06) mmol/L and (1.68+/-0.25) mmol/L (P<0.01) at the 12th week of treatment, respectively. Eighty percent of patients were assessed as effective and 20% as partly effective. Three, four and eight patients had hypercalciuria at the 4th, 8th and 12th week of treatment, respectively, which were reduced by thiazide diuretics. The final dose of calcitriol was (1.09+/-0.50) microg/d.

CONCLUSIONSCalcitriol combined with calcium can be used in treatment of hypocalcemia caused by hypoparathyroidism or pseudohypoparathyroidism effectively and safely. Serum and urinary calcium levels should be monitored during the course of the therapy.

Adult ; Calcitriol ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Calcium ; blood ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; urine ; Hypoparathyroidism ; blood ; complications ; urine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudohypoparathyroidism ; blood ; complications ; urine