BACKGROUND: Due to the trouble of body image and self-esteem, more and more women hope to reduce their body mass.OBJECTIVE: To assay the characters and correlation between body image and self-esteem in women who reduce weight positively.DESIGN: Transect investigation.SETTING: Department of Dermatology of Xiangya Hospital and Xiangya Second Hospital of Central South University. PARTICIPANTS: Totally 100 patients for weight loss was collected in Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Xiangya Hospital Affiliated to Central South University from November 2002 to September 2003 and they were included in experimental group. Severe physical disorders or other chronic physical disorders were excluded, such as cardiac vascular disease and diabetes and various metal disturbances were excluded too. In addition,the patients did not taken psychoactive drugs recently. Those were in over-body-mass group if body mass index(BMI) ≥ 24 and those were in normal body mass group if BMI＜24. In the control, there were 100 healthy women participating in the study in volunteer at the same time. The exclusive standards for them were same as the experimental group and they did not taken psychoactive drugs recently and had done nothing for weight loss in 5 years.METHODS: After instructed, the receptors filled up the following questionnaire: a self-rating scale of body image(SRSBI) and the self-esteem scale (SES). SRSBI is the subjective assessment on the beauty and strength of the body individually. SES is the assessment on holistic perception of self-value and self-acceptance.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of SRSBI and SES in weight loss women.RESULTS: According to intention, general results of SRSBI: The score in experimental group(15.14±9.99) was higher than that in the control (7.89±6.18) (t= 6.15, P＜0.001) . The score was(15.65±10.36) in normal body mass group and was(13.81 ±10.03) in over-body-mass group. By the comparison between both, no difference presented(t=0.91, P ＞0.05) . Results of SES: the score in experimental group (27.01±4.19)was lower than that in the control(28.23±3.65) (t= 2.16, P＜0.05).The score was(27.31±4.50) in normal body mass group and was (26.86±3.82) in over-body-mass group. By the comparison between both,no difference presented (t=0.54, P＞0.05) . It was indicated in linear correlation analysis on SRSBI and SES in experimental group that the correlation coefficient between SRSBI and SES was-0. 088(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION: The people who seek for weight loss actively present inferior subjective perception of body image and low level of self-esteem, and there is no correlation between both of them and neither of them is relevant t.o obesity.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of diffusion-weighted(DWI) MRI on basis of the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC),and the diagnostic value of pure molecular diffusion coefficient (D),perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D *) and perfusion fraction (f) in first onset NPC.Methods From December 2011 to January 2013,40 consecutive patients (26 men,14 women; median age,52 years) with suspected NPC were examined on a 3.0 T MR scanner.DW imaging was performed by using a single-shot echo-planar sequence with 13 b-values (0,10,20,30,50,80,100,150,200,300,400,600,800 s/mm2).MR imaging was compared with endoscopy and biopsy for the detection of NPC.Mean interval time between MR imaging examination and subsequent nasopharyngeal biopsy was 3 days (range,0-11 days).The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to the pathological results,group A was subjects with NPC (17 men,9 women; median age,35) and group B was ones with nasopharyngeal chronic hyperplastic inflammation(NPH) (9 men,5 women; median age,35).The D,D * and f were measured and compared in patients with first onset NPC and nasopharyngeal hyperplasia (Mann-Whitney test).Results IVIM DWI was successful in 24/26 with NPC and 12/14 with NPH.D value was significantly lower in A group compared with B group [mean,(0.70 ± 0.13) ×10-3 mm2/s vs (0.78 ± 0.05) × 10-3 mm2/s ; U =2.05,P ＜ 0.05],as was f value [mean,(16.25 ±1.46) ％ vs (26.20 ± 3.90) ％ ; U =11.16,P ＜ 0.01].However,D* value was significantly higher in Agroupas compared with B group[mean,(161.8 ±23.56) × 10-3 mm2/s vs (55.28 ± 17.05) × 10-3 mm2/s; U =13.90,P ＜0.01].Conclusions IVIM DWI is a feasible technique for investigating first onset NPC and D value has a certain value in differentiating NPC and NPH.D* value has an important potential value in distinguishing benign and malignant NPC.

Objective To explore the effects of Na+ H-exchanger 1(NHE1) knockdown on ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) protein expression levels and cholesterol efflux in the hypoxic RAW264.7 cells.Methods The RAW264.7 cells were infected with lentiviral vectors expressing shRNA specific for NHE1(siNHE1) or scramble RNA (siNC).The expression of NHE1 at mRNA or protein level was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting respectively in the infected cells after 24 h in a hypoxia condition.In the meantime,the methods of SNARF-1,Fluo-4 NW andSuc-LLVY-aminoluciferin were employed to determine NHE1 activity,intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and calpain activity,respectively.Furthermore,ABCA1 protein levels were detected by Western blotting in the 24 h hypoxic cells.In parallel,the intracellular cholesterol content and cholesterol efflux were analyzed by the methods of combined enzymatic HLPC and 3 H-cholesterol.Results The hypoxia condition versus the normoxia condition up-regulated NHE1 mRNA and protein expression level and activity by 2.48 folds,1.28 folds and 61.96％ (all P＜0.05),and increased[Ca2+]i and calpain activity by 4.51 folds and 2.41 folds(all P＜0.05).Whereas the NHE1 mRNA and protein expression and activity at the presence of hypoxia were inhibited by siNHE1 with the inhibition ratio of 84.95％,60.75％ and 66.44％,respectively (all P＜0.05)and[Ca2+]i and calpain activity were reduced by 59.23％ and 54.66％ (P＜0.05).Furthermore,the ABCA1 protein level was 61.67％ lower in the hypoxic cells than in the normoxic cells (P＜0.05),and siNHE1 was increased by 56.52％ after treatment of Hypoxia.Hypoxia elevated intracellular total cholesterol and cholesterol ester by 74.57 ％ and 101.81％ (all P＜0.05).Treatment with siNHE1 in the hypoxia condition can reduce total cholesterol and cholesterol ester by 34.24 ％ 及 49.66 ％ (all P＜0.05).Hypoxia reduced the cholesterol efflux by 34.79％(P＜0.05),which were partially reversed by siNHE1.Conclusions NHE1 might play an important role in hypoxia-induced ABCA1 protein attenuation and reverse cholesterol transport dysfunction through[Ca2+]i/calpain pathway.

Objective To explore the value of DWI ADC in the diagnosis of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) at 3.0 T and investigate the mechanism by comparison with liver enzyme and pathological findings. MethodsForty-two New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into ( n ＝ 6,each) six IRI groups by rank sum test. The IRI animals underwent left lobar ischemia for 60 min and were reperfused 0. 5 h, 2. 0 h, 6. 0 h, 12. 0 h, 24. 0 h and 48. 0 h later. One Sham operative group underwent laparotomy without liver ischemia. T2 WI, T1 WI, DWI and contrast-enhanced T, WI were performed with 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner in each group respectively. For DWI, b-values of 20, 50, 100,200,300,400,500 and 600 s/mm2 were used respectively. Blood samples were taken to detect the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at different time points. Liver samples were examined histologically after MRI scanning. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences, followed by LSD-t test for multiple comparisons. ResultsOverall, ADC decreased markedly at the early IRI phase ( 0. 5 h), drastically increased in the 2.0 h group, and then ascended slightly from 6. 0 h to 48.0 h after reperfusion, except for a transient decrease at the time point of 24. 0 h. When b values were 20, 50, 100,200 and 300 s/mm2, the ADC values in the Sham group were (3.47 ±0.53) × 10-3, (3.11 ±0.39) ×10-3, (2.87 ±0.19) ×10-3, (2.56 ±0.37) × 10-3 and (1.95 ±0.33) ×10-3mm2/s, (2.63±0.31)±10-3, (2.47±0.32) ×10-3, (2.12±0.38) ×10-3, (2.01±0.51) ×10-3and (1.61 ±0.17) ×10-3mm2/s in the 0.5 h group, (2.72 ±0.09) ×10-3, (2.51±0. 11) ×10-3, (2.28 ±0.30) ± 10-3, (1.96 ±0. 14) × 10-3 and (1.58 ±0. 17) × 10-3mm2/s in the 24.0 h group, respectively. ADC of 0. 5 h and 24. 0 h groups were significantly lower than that of Sham group (P＜0.05) when b value was under 300 mm2/s.In the Sham, 0.5 h, 2.0 h, 6.0 h, 12.0 h,24.0 h and 48. 0 h IRI groups, they were (80±8), (181 ±34), (413 ±62), (474 ±83), (424 ±41 ),(332 ±41 )and(302 ±39) U/L for the levels of ALT,and (79 ± 10), (454 ±55), (547 ±72), (607±31 ), (649 ±79), (785 ±49) and ( 1526 ± 167) U/L for the AST respectively. The levels of AST and ALT in IRI groups were significantly higher than those in the Sham group ( P ＜ 0. 01 ).Histological findings showed diffuse hepatocytes swelling and erythrocytes depositing in the hepatic sinusoids, portal area, central venous and arterials at the initial phase.With the injury aggravated, inflammatory cell infiltration,hepatocyte nuclear condensation of apoptosis, sinusoidal dissociation and coagulation necrosis developed eventually. Conclusion 3.0 T DWI can monitor the pathological process of rabbit liver ischemia reperfusion injury dynamically, and provides a feasible imaging modality for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

blood of patients.

Objective To explore mutation diagnosis and discuss the pathogenic and clinical characteristics of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).Methods DNA sequencing combined with denaturing highperformance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) method was used to diagnose patients and parents.Results A new nonsense mutations c.503C ＞ G(p.S168 *) was identified.Conclusions NF1 is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease.Most of them are caused by new mutations.Genetic diagnosis of sporadic cases is very important for treatment and the future generations.

The chemical constituents of Desmodium sambuense were studied. Chromatographic techniques were applied to isolate and purify the constituents, and the structures were identified on the basis of physico-chemical and spectroscopeic methods. Thirteen compounds were isolated from the 75% ethanol extract of Desmodium sambuens and elucidated as beta-amyrin(1), betulic acid(2), daucosterol(3), triacontanoic acid(4), lup-20(29)-en-3-one(5), tetracosanoic-2,3-dihydroxypropylester(6), stigmast-5-ene-3beta, 7alpha-ol (7),methyl phaeophorbidea(8), o-hydroxy benzoic acid(9),beta-sitosterol(10),d-catechin(11), luteolin (12), epigallocatechin (13). All of the compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUNDEndothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent mitogen involved in tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of ET-1 on the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cells SPC-A1.

METHODSCell number was measured by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] assay. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSET-1 (1×10⁻¹⁵ -1×10⁻⁸ mol/L) enhanced SPC-A1 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, with the greatest effect beginning at 1×10⁻¹¹ mol/L. Effect of ET-1 (1×10⁻¹⁰ mol/L) on the proliferation of SPC-A1 cells was completely blocked by BQ123 (1×10⁻⁷ mol/L), a highly selective endothelin receptor A (ETA) antagonist (P < 0.05), not by BQ788 (1×10⁻⁷ mol/L), a highly selective endothelin receptor B (ETB) antagonist. BQ123 could significantly reduce the basal growth of SPC-A1 cells (P < 0.05), but BQ788 had no such effect. Proliferation induced by ET-1 (1×10⁻¹⁰ mol/L) could also be blocked by the addition of either ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA, 0.4mmol/L) or nifedipine (1μmol/L). ET-1 had no significant effect on SPC-A1 cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONSET-1 enhances SPC-A1 cell proliferation by the activation of ETA receptor. Ca(2+) influx from voltage dependent calcium-channel contributes to this process.

Objective To approach the efficiency of second-trimester prenatal screening using two serum markers for Down's syndrome (DS).Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted on the results of prenatal screening using two serum markers,alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin(free-β-hCG),in 50 cases of DS pregnancy identified among 60 931 pregnant women received prenatal screening from November 1997 to April 2008 in Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Hospital.Results Among the 50 DS cases,the detection rate of DS was 50% (25/50) when taking free-β-hCG≥2.5 MoM as the cut-off,with the positive rate of screening was 6.6%.And the detection rate of DS would be 18.0%(9/25) when taking AFP≤0.5 MoM as the cut-off,with the positive rate of screening was 4.6%.When the risk cut-off value of DS was set at 1/270,the detection rate changed to 52.0%,and the positive rate of screening was 4.7%;and the two figures changed to 62.0% and 5.5%,respectively,when the risk cut-off was set to 1/300.Thirteen DS cases showed the risk value between 1/1000 and 1/300,among which two were monomarker abnormality.Thirteen (26.0%) of the 50 DS fetus were found to have one or two abnormality markers by ultrasound scan,among which one was DS low risk,and the other 12 were DS high risk in serum screening.Conclusions The second-trimester prenatal screening using AFP or free β-hCG for Down's syndrome is effective in identifying DS pregnancy with limited specificity and sensitivity.But the detection rate can be elevated by the combination of these two markers.The second trimester systemic ultrasound scan is not ideal for DS identification,but it can increase the specificity and sensitivity of serum prenatal screening.