Objective To investigate the impact of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism on folicacid for lowering plasma level of homocysteine in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods In the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou university,a total of 180 elderly patients with CHD were randomized to two groups. The study group (91 ptients) received folicacid 5mg once daily and the control group (89 patients) received no folic acid. 8 weeks after treatment, the changes in plasma Hcy were observed and analyzed by MTHFR genotypes (TT vs. CC vs. CT). Results Plasma Hcy of the three genotypes had a statistical significance at the baseline (P<0.001), among which plasma Hcy level was the hightest in patients with genotype TT, while it had on difference in genotypes CC and CT (P = 0.057). 8 weeks after treatment, plasma Hcy level declined up to 24%in the patients with genotype TT in the study group, while it decreased about 6%and 15%in patients with genotype CC or CT, separately. Hcy level was slightly decreased in the patients with genotype CC, CT, or TT in the control group. Conclusions Plasma Hcy level differs statistically in three genotypes, and it is the highest in genotyp TT. Folicacid can effectively lower the level of plasma Hcy in elderly patients with CHD, especially those with genotype TT.

Objective To study the inner diameter and hemodynamics of ophthalmic artery(OA)and central retinal artery(CRA)in hyperuricemia by Enhance-flow(eFlow)imaging and spectral Doppler.Methods One hundred and one patients with hyperuricemia and 30 volunteers were selected,the inner diameter in eFlow imaging and the peak systolic velocities(PSV),the end diastolic velocities(EDV),the resistive index(RI)were measured,and pulsatility index(PI)of OA and CRA were measured by spectral Doppler.The 101 patients were divided into two groups according to the time of diagnosing hyperuricemia,one group had a diagnosis of hyperuricemia for more than five years and the other had such a diagnosis for less than five years.The data were compared by t-test.Then,the patients were further divided into a group of hyperuricemia combined with hypertension and the other without hypertension.The differences between the experimental group and the group of volunteers were carried out by One-way ANOVA,the comparison between two groups were analyzed with SNK.Results The RI(0.68±0.09)and PI(1.3±0.4)of OA in patients who were diagnosed as hyperuricemia for more than 5 years was higher[RI:0.63±0.09,PI:1.1±0.3(t=3.504,P=0.001 ;t=3.164,P=0.002)],the EDV[(6±3)cm/s]of OA was lower than those patients with a diagnosis of hyperuricemia for less than 5 years[(8±5)cm/s,t=1.988,P=0.049].The PSV[(11.5±3.5)cm/s]and EDV[(3.7±1.1)cm/s]of CRA in hyperuricemia combination hypertension group was lower,and the RI (0.88±1.40)was higher than hyperuricemia without hypertension group[PSV:(13.5±4.0)cm/s,EDV:(4.1±1.2)cm/s,RI:0.67±0.08].Conclusion By eFlow and spectral Doppler,we have found that hyperu-ricemia could accelerate OA and CRA atherosclerosis.The eFlow and spectral Doppler are valuable methods to study the hemodynamics in ophthalmic artery of patients with hyperuricemia.

Objective To evaluate the value of gated ~(99)Tc~m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging in detection of myocardial ischemia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Methods Sixty-nine patients with clinically proven hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were divided into 2 groups using coronary angiogram as "gold standard":positive group(n=19,narrowing≥50%) and negative group (n=50,narrowing＜50%).Gated ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging was performed and positive in all 69 patients (41 males,28 females,aged 35-75 years).Comparative analysis between the two groups was carried out using t-test.Results In the positive group,reversible and irreversible perfusion defects were detected in 9 and 10 patients,respectively.Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased to (69.1±2.8)% in 8 patients and decreased to(42.8±2.1)% in 11 patients.In the negative group,reversible and irreversible perfusion defects were found in 37 and 13 patients,respectively.LVEF increased to(70.8±4.0)% in 38 patients and decreased to(48.9±2.7)% in 12 patients.The values of ischemic area,severity and extent of perfusion defect,and LVEF were significantly different between the two groups(t=9.28,16.51,2.65;P＜0.001,＜0.001,＜0.01,respectively).Conclusions Gated ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging is valuable in assessing patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Detection for the presence or absence of coexisting coronary artery disease and myocardial ischemia has an important prognostic indication and management indication for these patients.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypoglycemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Orexins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Molecular imprinting technique (MIT) involves the synthesis of polymer in the presence of a template to produce complementary binding sites in terms of its size, shape and functional group orientation. Such kind of polymer possesses specific recognition ability towards its template molecule. Despite the rapid development of MIT over the years, the majority of the template molecules that have been studied are small molecules, while molecular imprinting of proteins remains a significant yet challenging task due to their large size, structural flexibility and complex conformation. This review, we summarized the research findings over the past years, and discussed the nano-reinforcing materials used to prepare molecular imprinting of proteins and the perspective of these nano-reinforcing materials.
Binding Sites ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Imprinting ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Proteins ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the genetic distributions of salt-sensitivity of four ethnic populations in Hapmap database.

METHODSThe frequencies data (395 subjects) of salt-sensitivity polymorphisms (AGT/M235T, ACE/ID, CYP11B2/C-344T, ADDI/Gly460Trp, GNB3/C825 and CYP3A5/A6986G)of Utah residents with ancestry from northern and western Europe (CEU), Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB), Japanese in Tokyo (JPT) and Yoruba mother-father-child trios in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI) were obtained from International HapMap Project. The good-fit χ(2) test was performed to test whether the frequencies of each genotype reached Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The differences of the genotype and allele distribution and trend analysis were detected via χ(2) test. Furthermore, multiple comparisons between two populations were analyzed by Lancaster's partition of chi-squares.

RESULTSThere were significant differences of each genotype distribution among four ethnic populations (P < 0.05). The distribution of genotype frequencies and susceptible allele frequencies of salt sensitive candidate genes were similar between CHB and JPT. Excepted for GNB3/825T allele (38.8% vs.34.4%, P = 0.521), susceptible allele frequencies in AGT/235T (79.2% vs. 41.2%, P < 0.001), ACE/I (56.5% vs. 43.5%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-344T (74.1% vs. 56.7%, P = 0.001), ADDI/460Trp (51.8% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/A6986 (30.1% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in CHB than in CEU. There distribution of ADDI/460Trp allele was significant lower in YRI (4%) than in CHB (51.8%, P < 0.001). However frequencies of AGT/235T, CYP11B2/-334T, GNB3/825T and CYP3A5/6986A in CHB were significantly lower than those in YRI (P < 0.05). Trend analyses showed significantly increased trend in AGT/235T (41.2% < 79.2% < 92.0%, P < 0.001), CYP11B2/-334T (56.7% < 74.1% < 84.8%, P < 0.001) and CYP3A5/6986A (3.6% < 30.1% < 84.5%, P < 0.001) in CEU, CHB and YRI.

CONCLUSIONSThere are significant discrepancy of salt-sensitivity variant distributions among four ethnic populations in Hapmap database. The frequencies of the susceptible polymorphisms related to salt-sensitivity in Beijing Han population was similar with JPT, higher than in CEU but lower than in YRI, suggesting high salt-sensitive and risk for hypertension in Beijing Han population. Prevention and individual therapy for high-risk population will help to reduce the prevalence of salt-sensitive hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Europe ; ethnology ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; ethnology ; etiology ; genetics ; Nigeria ; ethnology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; pharmacology ; Tokyo ; ethnology ; Utah ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the improvement of specific immune responses induced by plasmid coexpressing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

METHODSAll Balb/c (H-2d) mice were immunized with pGM-CSF/S, pS/GM-CSF, pS or control plasmids. 4 weeks later, anti-HBs titer and the levels of IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the supernatant of splenocytes were detected using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and HBsAg-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activity was measured with a 51Cr release assay, using P815/S transfectants as target cells.

RESULTSThe anti-HBs antibody titers in the serum, the levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and the CTL activity in pcDNA3.1-GM-CSF-S immuned mice were higher than those in PcDNA3.1-S immunized mice (F=4.176, P<0.01; F=31.188, P<0.01; F=31.796, P<0.01; F

CONCLUSIONIt will improve the specific immune responses induced by HBsAg DNA vaccine after it is binded to the gene of GM-CSF.

Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-2 ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the nutritional status, and provide evidence for nutritional treatment option.

METHODSA total of 452 patients with gastrointestinal cancer were selected, including 156 gastric cancer,117 colon cancer, and 180 rectal cancer. The nutritional risk screening 2002(NRS2002) was applied to grade the nutritional risk. A multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to measure the patients' body composition. Albumin (Alb), prealbumin(PA), transferring(Tf), retinol binding protein(RBP), red blood cell(RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit(Hct) were measured after fasting.

RESULTSThe rate of patients with NRS2002 score more than 3 was 70.5%(110/156) for gastric cancer, 53.8%(63/117) for colon cancer, and 46.7%(86/180) for rectal cancer. The score for impaired nutritional status more than 1 for gastric cancer was higher than that for colorectal cancer(P<0.05), while patients with disease score more than 2 was less for gastric cancer(P<0.05). Body mass index(BMI), obesity degree, fat content, fat percentage, and arm circumference were lower in gastric cancer patients as compared to colorectal cancer patients(P<0.05); but protein percentage, muscle percentage, ratio of muscles of arm, and cell mass percentage were higher in gastric cancer patients(P<0.05). The proportions of patients with low Alb, PA, Tf, BC, Hb, Hct were higher for gastric cancer and colon cancer(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with gastric cancer are prone to fat loss and therefore have a higher nutritional risk and malnutrition than those with colorectal cancer. Combination of body composition analysis and laboratory examination may achieve comprehensive evaluation of the nutritional status of patients, and provide the evidence of nutritional therapy by being combined with NRS2002 score.

Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the association of vertical facial skeletal types and sagittal facial skeletal types with anterior alveolar bone thickness.

METHODSAmong 168 cases with malocclusion in early permanent dentition stage, 93 patients were male and 75 patients were female. All patients (aged 10-14 years) were divided into 9 groups by different facial skeletal types, mandibular anterior alveolar bone thickness in patients' lateral cephalometric films were measured. ANOVA were performed to measurement results with the SPSS 13.0 statistical software.

RESULTSThough sagittal facial skeletal types were the same, there were significant differences between different vertical facial types groups. The order was low-angle group, average-angle group and high-angle group according to the size. A high-angle individual often had a thin anterior alveolar bone while a low-angle individual often had the opposite morphology character. There was no statistical significance between skeletal type I, II and III. But group of skeletal type III also had a thin alveolar bone thickness which had no significant difference with high-angle group. Low-angle group III had no significant difference with average-angle group I and II in alveolar bone thickness.

CONCLUSIONSagittal facial skeletal types have little influence on anterior alveolar morphology, but the vertical facial skeletal types have strong connection with anterior alveolar bone thickness.

Adult ; Cephalometry ; Face ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Mandible

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-ralated factor receptors.

METHODSSingle factor model was set up in SD rat. Selecting 14 and 28 days in the experiment. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression of Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), Fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and Fetal licer kinase (Flk-1) at 14 and 28 days after model establishing.

RESULTSThe expression of Flt-1 and Flk-1 at 14 days (the latter was more remarkable) were obviously promoted in High dose group of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz, and higher than that in normal group and model group. The expression of FGFR2 in the high dose group of Aralia echinocaulis Hand -Mazz was also promoted visibility, close to that in the compare group (traditional Chinese medicine), but higher than than in the model group. There was no significant difference among them. At 28 days, the expression of FGFR2, Flt-1 and Flk-1 in all groups decreased except normal group, and got higher expression in model groups than each control groups.

CONCLUSIONAqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz can promote angiogenesis in fracture healing, improve the activity and aggregation of fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes. It also helps to quicken ossification in the cartilage and promote fracture healing.

Animals ; Aralia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects