Thyroid hormones (TH) play an imp or tant role in the development and maturity of the mammalian brain. Maternal TH de ficiency, even subclinical hypothyroidism, leads to poor neurodevelopment of the fetus. Screening of pregnant women for hypothyroidism is recommended. Identific ation of the TH-responsive genes in the developing brain and investigation on t heir functions are helpful to provide insights into the molecular mechanisms by which TH influence brain development.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) detection data and hemo‐rheological indicators in diabetes patients to provide reference basis for its treatment and prevention .Methods One hundred and forty‐two patients with typeⅡdiabetes mellitus(T2DM ) in the hospital were selected as the research subjects and divided into the A group(69 cases ,better control) and B group(73 cases ,poor control) according to the HbA1c detection results .Contemporaneous 70 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination were selected as the control (C group) .The detection results of HbA1c ,hemo‐rheology and biochemical indexes were performed the contrastive analysis .Results Except hematocrit and erythrocyte deformation index without statistical difference among 3 groups(P>0 .05) ,the other hemorheologic indicators had statistical differences among 3 groups(P<0 .05) .No matter the HbA1c level in T2DM patients ,the hemorheological indexes ,triglyceride and total cholesterol were higher than those in the healthy people ,When the HbA1c leve was poorly controlled ,the increase degresss of various indexes were more significant .Conclusion The abnormality of hemorheology indices exist in most of the patients with diabetes mellitus .It is recommended that clinic should monitor the HbA1c level for long term and strictly observe the change of hemorheology indexes to guide the clinical treatment for reaching the effects of early vascular protection and prevention of diabetic complications .

Coronary Disease ; Humans ; Smoking

Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor(TSHR)is an important autoantigen whose cleavage and shedding can induce autoimmunity.The TSHR is the main functional receptor of the thyroid.The shedding of the ? subunit plays an important role in the forming of TSAb and balancing between TSAb and TBAb.Research on the cleavage and shedding of the TSHR extracellualar domain helps to gain a deep insight into the structure and function of TSHR,illuminate the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease and find out a new therapy.The structure of TSHR,the mechanism and the significance of its cleavage and shedding are reviewed in this article.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Treatment Failure

Appendicitis ; complications ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intussusception ; complications

Objective: To modify the mono-antigen DNA vaccine of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with ubiqutin, so as to obtain more potent immune response. Methods: We constructed Mycobacterium tuberculosis MPT64 antigen DNA vaccine (pM) and ubiquitin-MPT64 fusion gene DNA vaccine (pUM). The constructed DNA vaccines were intramuscularly inoculated into female BALB/c mice separately. The serum antibodies(including IgG, IgG1,and IgG2a), cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-4) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte(CTL) response were determined in immunized mice. Results: The IgG level in the pM group was higher than that in the pUM group(P<0.01) and the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 in the pM group was lower than that in the pUM group([2.16±0.3] vs [4.48±0.4],P<0.05). The IFN-γ level was higher (P<0.01) and the IL-4 level was lower (P<0.01) in the pUM group than those in the pM group. Furthermore, the pUM group had higher CTL activity than the pM group. It was indicated that the fusion gene DNA vaccine induced weaker humoral immune response but stronger cellular immune response compared to single gene DNA vaccine. Conclusion: The fusion gene DNA vaccine constructed in the present study might be more effective for prevention against tuberculosis than the single gene DNA vaccine.

Objective: To clone the Ag85 A antigen gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and express it in E. coli k802. Methods: The Ag85 A gene was amplified from the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by PCR and was inserted into prokaryotic expressing vector pGEX5T to construct pGEX5T-Ag85A recombinant plasmid. The expression of Ag85A protein in E. coli k802 was induced by IPTG. The expressed protein was purified by affinity chromatography and the antigenicity of the expressed protein was confirmed by Western blotting assay. Results: A band about 0.9 kb in length was obtained by PCR and the recombinant plasmid pGEX5T-Ag85A was successfully constructed. A new band about 58 000 in length was observed after IPTG induction in E. coli. The relative molecular weight of the expressed protein was consistent with that expected. A single protein band of 58 000 in length was obtained after purification. The expressed protein could be specifically recognized by the sera of patients with tuberculosis patients. Conclusion: The Ag85A gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli k802, which paves a way for further studies on diagnosis and therapy of tuberculosis.

Myogenic potentials evoked by air conducted sound (ACS), bone conducted vibration (BCV) or galvanic pulses can be recorded with surface electrodes over contracted muscles. These myogenic potentials are of vestibular origin (utricle and saccule) and so these potentials are called vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs). Since the vestibular system has projections to many muscle systems, there are many such VEMPs. In this review, we discuss the generated origin, response pathway, waveform characteristics and clinical application of ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP).
Humans ; Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials

ObjectiveTo develop an experimental model of orthostatic hypotension (OH) after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rabbits and investigate the effect of tilting table exercise and Shengmaiyin on it. MethodsRabbit model of OH after SCI were induced by complete transection of spinal cord at the T5 spinal segment and raised to 60° head up tilt (HUT) on a tilting table. Tilting table exercise and Shengmaiyin were applied to different groups for 28 d from 4 days after operation. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and pulse rate (PR) were observed with non-invasive sphygmobolometer of rabbit 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 d after the operation. Liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection(HPLC-ECD) was used to detect the concentrations of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine(E) with horizontal position and HUT 60° on the 31st day. ResultsSBP with HUT 60° in rabbits of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in rabbits of SCI group on the 24th day after operation,and the drop in SBP from horizontal position to HUT60° was significantly lower than that in rabbits of SCI group. SBP with HUT 60° in rabbits of exercise group and combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in rabbits of SCI group on the 31st day after operation. The drop in SBP from horizontal position to HUT 60° was significantly lower in rabbits of Shengmaiyin group, exercise group and combined treatment group than that in rabbits of SCI group on the 31st day after operation. The concentration of E and NE of SCI group, Shengmaiyin group, exercise group and combined treatment group was lower than that of sham group, but there was no significant difference among these groups. ConclusionThe treatment with tilting table exercise and Shengmaiyin can improve OH after SCI partially in rabbits without involving norepinephrine and epinephrine significantly. The period of treatment can be shorten when both therapies used together.