Objective To explore the changes of the Klotho protein expression in blood serum of hypertensive patients with brain harm,so as to investigate the incidence mechanism of brain harm caused by hypertension and the associated risk factors.Methods The research objects were recruited from the hypertensive in-patients and healthy individuals from health examination during September 2007 to March 2008 in our hospital.There were 56 hypertensive patients without syndrome,104 hypertensive patients with brain harm,and 30 normal control individuals,They all were marched in sex and age.Klotho protein concentration of blood serum,cholesterin,creatinine,blood glucose and blood pressure of these 3 groups were tested.And correlation analysis of the above factors and the patients' ages and hypertension medical records was performed.Results The Klotho protein concentration of blood serum in the normal control group was obviously higher than that of the hypertensive patients without syndrome and those with brain harm(P

Objective To observe the effect of valsartan on brian ultrastructure, Klotho gene and micro-inflammatory factor [intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-1)] expression in spontaneously hypertensive rat models. Methods Ten male spontaneously hypertensive rats of 22 weeks age were selected and randomly divided into a hypertension group and a valsartan intervention group, while another 5 Wistar-kyoto rats were set as a normal contrast group. The brain ultrastructure of the 2 groups was observed by electron microscope. The expression of micro-inflammatory factor (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1)and Klotho gene was detected with RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot, respectively. Results The cerebral neuron damage of spontaneously hypertensive rats whose ultrastructure showed cell-pyknosis, chromatin margination and typical apoptotic body formation were alleviated after the intervention of valsartan. RT-PCR showed that the gene expression of Klotho increased while ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased after valsartan intervention. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot also showed that the protein expression of Klotho increased, while ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 decreased after valsartan intervention. ConclusionValsartan can improve the brain ultrastructure of spontaneously hypertensive rats by increasing the expression of Klotho.

Objective To observe the apoptosis and expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4's mRNA in ischemia-reperfusion injured rat renal tubular epithelia cells (NRK-52E) in vitro, and effect of Cordyceps Sinensis (CS) extractant.Methods Cultured NRK-52E cells were divided into a control group, a model group, and a CS preincubated group. All first removed media and incubated with antimycin A for 1 h, and then recovered the media to simulate the ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. We detected the apoptosis ratio of cells by flow cytometer and the mRNA expression of TLR-4, Bax, Bcl-2 gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at different time points.Results In ischemia-reperfusion injured NRK-52E, the apoptosis ratio rose as time passed (P＜0.05). We also observed increased mRNA expression of TLR-4, Bax (P＜0.05) and deceased expression of Bcl-2 (P＜0.05). Compared with the model grpup, the CS preincubated NRK-52E cells showed apparent tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion injury, which manifestated lower apoptosis ratio (P＜0.05), decreased expression of mRNA of TLR-4, Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2 (All Ps＜0.05). Conclusion The number of apoptosis cells and the expression of TLR-4 mRNA inceased with ischemia-reperfusion injury of NRK-52E in vitro. CS can prevent the NRK-52E cells from ischemia-reperfusion injury by downregulating TLR-4 gene.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes and clinical significanes of TNF?α,IL?1,IL?10 and HMGB?1 in patients with tuberculosis. Methods Fifty?nine patients with active tuberculosis were enrolled in this study. The patients received the standard chemotherapy and the curative effect of the patient was evaluat ed according to the outcome classification in our country. The peripheral blood serum from the patients during the treatment and 12 healthy volunteers were collected. The concentrations of serum TNF?α,IL?1,IL?10 and HMGB?1 were detected by ELISA tests. Results Significant decreases of the concentrations of serum TNF?α,IL?1 and HMGB?1 were shown in patients from the initial treatment,to retreatment and extra?pulmonary tuberculosis (P<0.01),and the serum IL?10 was increased significantly (P<0.01) along with the chemotherapy and improvement of the disease. At the beginning of the treatment ,the levels of 4 kinds of inflammatory factors had no significant differences between the completed and uncompleted treatment patients (P>0.05). At the end of the treatment , the levels of serum TNF?α,IL?1 and HMGB?1 of the uncompleted treatment group were significantly higher than the normal levels (P<0.01) ,but the level of IL?10 was significantly lower than the normal level (P<0.01). Conclusion The dynamic testing of the inflammatory cytokines contributes to evaluation and judgement of the curative effect and the condition of patients with the active tuberculosis.

Objective] To observe the clinical effect of Yiyuan Shengjing Decoction on similar climacteric syndrome of breast cancer after treated with tamoxifen. [Method] Choose 60 cases of breast cancer, randomly divide them into control group 30 cases and treatment group 30 cases, the control one were treated with tamoxifen and oryzanol, the treatment one, with tamoxifen and Yiyuan Shengjing Decoction. After 4w, evaluate the efficacy, compare their clinical symptoms score, hormone levels and endometrium thickness, and calculate the clinical relieving rate. [Result] After treatment, both groups clinical symptoms were relieved more than before treatment, with difference of statistical meaning; comparing on clinical symptoms scores, the treatment was much less than control one, with statistical meaning; on clinical relieving rates, the treatment group reached 83.33%, while 26.67% for control one, both had difference of statistical meaning. The comparison of reproductive hormone levels and endometrium thickness, the difference had no statistical meaning. [Conclusion] Yiyuan Shengjing Decoction treating breast cancer similar climacteric syndrome after treated with tamoxifen had marked cure effect, without influencing reproductive hormone level and endometrium thickness.

Objective To explore effects of fosinopril and losartan on renal Klotho expression and oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and the mechanisms underlying the protection against renal damage. Methods Fifteen male SHRs (22 weeks old) were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=5 in each group): a SHR group, a fosinopril group ［10 mg/(kg?d)］, and a losartan group ［50 mg/(kg?d)］. Age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were chosen for a control group. Eight weeks later, tail arterial pressure, 24 hours urinary protein (Upro)，urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) were measured. Renal pathological changes were examined under light microscopy by HE staining. The renal mRNA and protein expression of Klotho were determined by RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining or Western blot. The levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined.Results The typical pathological characteristics of hypertensive renal damage were observed in the kidney of the SHR group．Compared with the SHR group, the systolic pressure, Upro, and urinary NAGase, the content of MDA and renal pathological damage was reduced while the renal Klotho expression and activities of TAOC, Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in the fosinopril or losartan group. There was no significant difference in renal Mn-SOD level among the 4 groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Fosinopril and losartan can exert protection against hypertensive renal damage through upregulating Klotho expression as well as reducing oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVETo compare the accuracy of mesiodistal tooth angulation measurements by using traditional panoramic radiographs and cone beam CT (CBCT) panoramic images.

METHODSPlaster models of 15 volunteers with individual normal occlusions were collected. The functional occlusal plane and tooth long axis on the plaster models were marked from the right first molar to the left first molar in the upper and lower dental arches. A radiographic stent, which contains radiopaque markers near the functional occlusal plane and approximating the root axis, was fabricated for each model. Traditional panoramic radiographs and CBCT scan images were obtained from each patient, with the radiographic stent seated on the dentition. A panoramic image reconstruction was made from the CBCT volumetric data by using related software. The CBCT panoramic image data were oriented parallel to the maxillary or mandibular functional occlusal plane containing all the radiopaque markers when measuring the maxillary or mandibular teeth, respectively. The mesiodistal tooth angulations of the plaster model, traditional panoramic radiographs, and CBCT panoramic images were measured and compared. Multivariate analysis of variance and Dunnett-t test were performed to compare the differences among the three methods.

RESULTSThe difference among the three methods was statistically significant (P = 0.00). Significant differences compared with the model measurement were found in two teeth (upper second premolar and lower second premolar) among twelve teeth (P = 0.00) in traditional panoramic measurement. CBCT panoramic measurement was not significantly different to model measurement.

CONCLUSIONTraditional panoramic radiographs do not provide a more reliable measure of mesiodistal tooth angulation, whereas CBCT panoramic image is an tool for evaluating mesiodistal tooth angulation.

Bicuspid ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Arch ; Dental Occlusion ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Tooth ; Tooth Root

Objective To investigate the effect of high glucose and losartan on cell proliferation and cyelooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression in normal human mesangial cells (NHMCs), and to examine the effect of losartan on COX2 and transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-β1) expression in a model of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods NHMCs were cultured in vitro in high glucose media with or without losartan. NHMCs proliferation and COX2 expression were determined by WST-1, Western blot,and RT-PCR. The rat model of DN was produced by injections of streptozocin (STZ). After the treatment with losartan for 4 weeks, glomerular hypertrophy, urinary thromboxane B2(TXB2) and 24 h urinary pro-tein counts were measured,and COX2 and TGF-β1 expressions were investigated using immunohistochem-ical techniques and RT-PCR. Results Losartan dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of NHMCs in response to high glucose. Losartan also decreased COX2 expression in NHMCs at high or low glucose concentrations. In vivo experiments found kidney weight/body weight (KW/BW), urinary TXB2 and 24 hurinary protein counts increased significantly in the DN group. Losartan reduced KW/BW, urinary TXB2,and 24 h urinary protein counts and significantly suppressed the over-expression of COX2 and TGF-β1.Conclusion Losartan reduces COX2 expression in NHMCs, especially at high glucose concentrations.Losartan could suppress the expression of COX2 and TGF-β1 in the kidney of DN rats and attenuate the renal lesions caused by DN.

Objective To investigate the expressions of metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1 )and calcium activated protein 43 (Cap43)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)tissue,and to clarify the relationship between the expressions of MTSS1,Cap43 and the clinicopathological features of ESCC.Methods 80 cases of ESCC tissue and 30 cases of normal adjacent-cancer tissue were collected,and the protein and mRNA expressions of MTSS1 and Cap43 in ESCC tissue and normal tissue were detected by streptavidin-perosidase (SP)immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR;their relationships with the clinicopathological features of ESCC were analyzed.Results The positive expression rate of MTSS1 in normal esophagus tissue was significantly higher than that in ESCC tissue detected by SP (83.3%vs 21.3%,P<0.01)and RT-PCR (0.703±0.085 vs 0.295±0.065,P<0.01),However,the positive expression rate of Cap43 in normal esophagus tissue was significantly lower than that in ESCC tissue by SP method (16.7%vs 76.3%,P<0.01)and by RT-PCR (0.236±0.052 vs 0.693±0.078,P<0.01).The mRNA expression levels of MTSS1 and Cap43 in ESCC tissue were significantly related with the invasive extent, histological differentiation,TNM stage,and lymphatic metastases (P<0.05)of ESCC,but not related with the age,sex,tumor size and pathological type (P>0.05). The mRNA expression of MTSS1 was negatively correlated with the expression of Cap43 (r=-0.457,P<0.05).Conclusion The low-expression of MTSS1 and over-expression of Cap43 in ESCC tissue may contribute to tumor invasion and metastasis;the imbalance of MTSS1 and Cap43 may be one of the mechanisms of tumor invasion and metastases.

Objective To determine the role of fosinopril and valsartan intervention in Klotho, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) gene expression in hypertensive renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) in the kidney tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). MethodsWe randomly divided 20 male 22-week-old SHR into 4 groups (5 in each group):a hypertension group (SHR group), a fosinopril group ［Fos group, 10 mg/( kg·d) gavage］, a valsartan group ［Val group, 10 mg/( kg·d) gavage］， and a fosinopril plus valsartan group ［Fos + Val group, fosinopril 10 mg/( kg·d) + valsartan 50 mg/( kg·d) gavage］. Another five 22-week-old male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used as controls. Through monitoring the weight of the rats, tail artery pressure, 24-hour urine protein by fosinopril and/or valsartan intervention after the 8-week trial. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Klotho, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and PAI-1 in the kidneys.Results RT-PCR showed that in the SHR group, Klotho mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased(P＜0.01), while mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and PAI-1 were significantly higher compared with the WKY group(P＜0.01). With fosinopril and / or valsartan intervention, Klotho mRNA expression in the Fos group (P＜0.01), Fos + Val group (P＜0.01), Val group (P＜0.05), Klotho protein expression in the Fos group(P＜0.05), Fos + Val group (P＜0.05), Val group (P＜0.01), were significantly increased compared with those in the SHR group. The mRNA and protein expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and PAI-1 in the Fos group, Val group, and Fos + Val group were significantly lower than those in the SHR group (P＜0.01). The expression of Klotho mRNA had negative correlation with the expression of MMP-9 mRNA (r= -0.864, P<0.01), TIMP-1 mRNA (r=-0.725, P<0.01) and PAI-1 mRNA (r=-0.785, P<0.01). The Klotho protein expression had negative correlation with the expression of MMP-9 protein (r=-0.614, P<0.05), TIMP-1 protein (r=-0.579, P<0.05), and PAI-1 protein (r=-0.552, P<0.05). Conclusion Anti-aging gene Klotho and the genes related with extracellular matrix degradation gene MMP-9, TIMP-1, PAI-1 are involved in hypertensive renal injury. The expression of Klotho and MMP-9, TIMP-1, and PAI-1 is closely correlated. Fosinopril and valsartan which increase the Klotho mRNA and protein expression can alter the expression of Klotho-MMPs/TIMPs, which may be the main mechanism to prevent interstitial fibrosis.