OBJECTIVE:To study the improvement effects of polydatin on renal fibrosis in rats and its mechanism. METH-ODS:50 rats was were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,positive group(benazepril,5 mg/kg)and poly-datin high-dose and low-dose groups(100,50 mg/kg),with 10 rats in each group. Except for sham operation group,renal fibrosis model was induced by unilateral ureter obstruction. After modeling,administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastri-cally,and sham operation group and model group were given 0.5%sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution once a day for consec-utive 4 weeks. The pathological change of renal tissue was scored. 24 h urinary protein and serum levels of urea nitrogen and creati-nine were determined,and the content of hydroxyproline,mRAN expression of TGF-β1 and FN were detected in renal tissue. RE-SULTS:Compared with sham operation group,pathological score,24 h urinary protein,serum levels of urea nitrogen and creati-nine,the content of hydroxyproline in renal tissue,mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and FN were all increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with model group,24 h urinary protein,serum levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine and mRNA expression of FN in renal tissue decreased significantly in administation groups;the pathology scores,the content of hydroxyproline in renal tis-sue and mRNA expression of TGF-β1 of positive group and polydatin high-dose group were all decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Polydatin can prevent kidney fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction,the mechanism of which may be associated with the mRNA expression down-regulation of TGF-β1 and FN in renal tissue.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative vascular retinal disease. Cryotherapy, laser photocoagulation, intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, scleral buckling surgery and vitrectomy are the main treatments. Treated with cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, patients with a history of ROP have thicker foveas, and the morphology of the fovea and the development of the retinal vessels in the macular area are affected, resulting in abnormal vision development. However, the specific mechanisms by which different treatments of ROP affecting the development of the macula are not yet clear. It still need further study with large samples to verify and explore, whether changes in the levels of intraocular vascular endothelial growth factor changing the process of normal macular development and how the abnormal development of the macula affects visual function.

A method for simultaneous determination of 12 kinds of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water was developed based on liquid-liquid extraction gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector (GC/ECD).The procedural standard calibration was adopted to eliminate the interference of different matrix.The method detection limits for 12 DBPs were 0.08-0.21 μg/L and the entire analytical procedure was finished in 21.50 min.The recoveries were in the range of 80.9%-115.7% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were between 0.9% and 9.9% at different concentration levels (5 and 50 μg/L) in tap water and surface water.The correlation coefficients for all 12 kinds of DBPs were greater than 0.99 in the linearity range of 0.5-200 μg/L.The method was applied to determine DBPs in drinking water and source water.This method was rapid and competent for detection of volatile DBPs in drinking water.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of the fertilization strategy and embryo transfer (ET) time with the incidence of ectopic pregnancy.

METHODSWe selected 3,331 fresh and 2,706 frozen-thawed ET cycles for the patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fresh transfers included 2 546 IVF-ET and 785 ICSI-ET cycles and 2,220 day-3 embryo and 1,111 day-5 blastocyst transfers, while the frozen-thawed transfers included 2,080 IVF-ET and 626 ICSI-ET cycles and 741 day-3 embryo and 1 965 day-5 or -6 blastocyst transfers. We compared the incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy associated with different fertilization strategies and ET time.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy was 1. 41% (36/2 546) in the IVF-ET cycles and 3.44% (27/785) in the ICSI-ET cycles of the fresh transfers, significantly lower in the IVF-ET than in the ICSI-ET cycles (P < 0.01), and it was 1.01% (21/2,080) in the IVF-ET cycles and 0.80% (5/626) in the ICSI-ET cycles of the frozen-thawed transfers, with no remarkable difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The IVF-ET and ICSI-ET cycles included 2,220 fresh day-3 (F-D3) embryos, 1,111 F-D5 blastocysts, 741 frozen-thawed day-3 (T-D3) embryos, and 1,965 T-D5/6 blastocysts. The incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy was 1.71% (n = 38) in the F-D3, 2.25% (n = 25) in the F-D5, 1.35% (n = 10) in the T-D3, and 0.81% (n = 16) in the T-D5/6 group, respectively, significantly lower in the T-D5/6 than in the other three groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy is associated with fertilization strategies, which is significantly lower in frozen-thawed than in fresh embryo transfers.

Blastocyst ; Embryo Transfer ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; adverse effects ; methods ; statistics & numerical data

Objective:To study the effects of pioglitazone on atherosclerosis on ApoE-/-mice,and to investigate the roles of adiponectin and its receptors.Methods:ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat chow for the induction of atherosclerosis and were divided into three subgroups:placebo(n=10),low-dose[10 mg/(kg?d),n=10] pioglitazone therapy,and high-dose[20 mg/(kg?d),n=10] pioglitazone therapy.C57BL/6J wild type mice(n=9) were used as control.Aortic atherosclerosis and intima-media thickness(intima-media thickness,IMT) of abdominal aorta were monitored,and plasma adiponectin was also measured.Expression levels of the adiponectin receptor 1(AdipoR1)and adiponectin receptor 2(AdipoR2) in vessels were analyzed(RT-PCR).Results:(1) Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were observed in ApoE-/-mice but not in wild type mice.Interestingly,these lesions were significantly prevented by high-dose pioglitazone therapy.Compared with wild type mice,ApoE-/-mice had increased IMT of abdominal aorta [(0.290?0.063 vs 0.178?0.012) cm,P

Objective To determine the prognostic significance of non-thyroidal illness syndrome(NTIS) and FT3 on long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with coronary artery disease(CAD).Methods A total of 1 354 patients underwent coronary angiograhy and participated in the study.After screening,984 patients with CAD were enrolled finally and divided into NTIS group and euthyroid group.The admitted patients were also classified into Tertile 1-3 groups based on FT3 value.The relationship of long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality with FT3 was investigated by multivariate Cox regression analysis.Results 129 out of 984 patients had NTIS.As FT3 value decreased,both long-term all-cause mortality (Tertile 1 group 9.6％,Tertile 2 group 11.5％,Tertile 3 group 20.9％,P＜0.01) and cardiovascular mortality (Tertile 1 group 4.5 ％,Tertile 2 group 7.2％,Tertile 3 group 11.0％,P＜0.01) gradually increased.After adjusting for all factors,FT3 (HR =0.614,95％ CI 0.439-0.859)was independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality.FT3 (HR =0.605,95％ CI 0.370-0.986)was also a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality.Conclusion NTIS exists in patients with CAD without myocardial infarction.FT3 reduction is an independent risk factor for long-term all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CAD.

Objective To investigate the direct and indirect MRI manifestations of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)tears and discuss its mechanism and diagnostic value.Methods The study involved 40 patients with ACL tears including 37 males and three females at age range of 16-49 years(mean age of 33 years).Arthroscopy and operation confirmed 28 patients at acute phase of ACL tears,12 at chronic phase of ACL tears,35 with complete ACL tears and five with partial ACL tears.All patients were examined on 1.5T Siemens MRI scanner,with SE,TSE or Medic sequence in multiple directions.The direct and indirect MRI manifestations of ACL tears were retrospectively and statistically analyzed by employing three experienced doctors.Results Among 28 patients with acute tears,the direct MRI signs included signal interruption or non-consecutive(86%),uneven signal(64%)and swelling and thickening ligament(36%).While in 12 patients with chronic teats,the MRI signs manifested swelling ligament(92%),signal interruption or non-consecutive(75%)and uneven signal(58%).The sign of thickening ligament was mainly seen at chronic phase of ACL tears(P ＜0.01).Of 35 patients with complete ACL tears,80% occurred in the middle part of ACL,with low incidence of upper and lower parts.All five patients with partial ACL tears occurred in the anteriomedialis bundle.The indirect MRI signs of ACL tears included 7-shaped deformity of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL)(34 patients,85%),meniscus exposure(26 patients)including 16 with lateral meniscus exposure(62%),bone injury(15 patients)including segond fracture(8 patients,53%),widened joint space(9 patients)including 78% at chronic phase,and tibia antelocation(23 patients,57%).Among 40 patients,37 patients were diagnosed correctly preoperatively,with accuracy rate of 92%.While three patients with partial ACL tears were missed diagnosis preoperatively,with inaccuracy rate of 8%.Conclusion ACL tear is relatively easy to identify preoperatively according to direct and indirect MRI signs in combination with trauma history.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of low T3 syndrome in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) and explore the effect of low T3 syndrome on outcome of AMI.MethodsThree hundred and thirty-eight patients with AMI admitted to cardiac care unit(CCU) underwent examinations of thyroid function and cardial ultrasound,and were further categorized according to thyroid hormone profile.The records of noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP)ventilation utilization,length of hospital stay,mortality during hospitalization were evaluated,and the related factors were analysed.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-nine of the 338 patients(41.12%) with AMI complicated with low T3 syndrome.Free triiodothyronine(FT3) was the independent influential factor for length of hospital stay.Low FT3 was significantly correlated with noninvasive BiPAP ventilation utilization and mortality during hospitalization.The average time of follow-up was(21.4?8.1) months.It was revealed by multivariate Cox regression analysis that FT3 was the chief predictor for cumulative death(risk ratio,4.25;95% confidential interval,2.30-7.87),followed by age and left ventricular ejection fraction.ConclusionThe recognition of AMI complicated with low T3 syndrome plays an important role in predicting the disease severity and outcome.

Objective To explore the role of the DACT2 gene in the occurrence and development of renal cell carcinoma(RCC).Methods The samples of RCC tissues and corresponding tumor-adjacent tissues after radical operation and normal kidney tissues were collected.The methylation specific PCR (MSP) and real time fluorescence reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) methods were adopted to detect the methylation status and mRNA expression of DACT2.The streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) method labeled by immunohistochemistry peroxidase was used to examine the expression of β-catenin protein.Then the relationship between DACT2 gene methylation status and mRNA expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics was analyzed.The relationship between DACT2 gene methylation with mRNA and β-catenin expression was analysed,as well.Results The DACT2 mRNA relative expression level in RCC tissues was 0.427±0.025,which was significantly lower than (0.801±0.047) in tumor-adjacent tissues and (0.872±0.022) in normal tissue,the positive rate of DACT2 gene methylation in RCC tissues was 45.76%,which was significantly higher than 6.78% in tumor-adjacent tissues and 5.08% in normal tissues,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05),while the difference between tumor-adjacent tissues and normal tissues had no statistical significance (P>0.05).The DACT2 gene mRNA expression level in RCC tissues and promoter area methylation occurrence rate had no obvious correlation with the clinical data such as patients age,gender,tumor size,clinical stage and Fuhrman grade (P>0.05).The DACT2 gene mRNA relative level in the methylation group was lower than that in the non-methylation group,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The expression rate of β-catenin protein in cytoplasma in RCC tissues was higher than that in the tumor-adjacent tissues and normal tissues,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05),moreover,DACT2 gen methylation had a positive correlation with β-catenin protein expression (r=0.324,P=0.012).Conclusion The decrease of DACT2 gene promoter area methylation and mRNA relative expression level may participate in the RCC occurrence,but has no relationship with RCC clinical progression.Methylation occurred in DACT2 gene promoter area may be one of reasons causing mRNA relative expression decrase.DACT2 gene methylation occurrence in RCC tissue might be related to the high expression of β-catenin.

In this study, ITS2 barcode was used to identify Bupleurum chinense and B. longiradiatum. The ITS2 regions of 48 samples were amplified and sequenced. The sequences obtained above were aligned and the K2P distances were calculated. We used three methods, BLAST1, nearest distance and phylogenetic tree (NJ-tree), to test the identification ability. The results showed that the maximum intraspecific genetic distance of B. chinense was 0.013, and the minimum interspecific genetic distance between B. chinense and B. longiradiatum was 0.049. The NJ-tree can easily identify B. chinense and B. longiradiatum. Therefore, the ITS2 barcode is suitable to identify B. chinense and B. longiradiatum.
Bupleurum ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control