Objective To explore the association between disrupted in schizophrenia 1(DISC1) genepolymorphism and schizophrenia and different subtype depression.To verify if DISC1 gene is the common predisposing gene for schizophrenia and depression.Methods The genotypes and alleles in 260 cases of schizophrenicpatients,96 cases of depressive patients with psychotic symptoms,124 cases of depressive patients without psychotic symptoms,and 100 normal controls were examined with polymerase chain reaction(PCR),denaturing polyacrylamide gel elcctmphoresis separation technique.The association was analyzed between DISC1 gene single nncleotide polymorphisms(SNP) locus rs821616 and schizophrenia and different subtype depression.Results The frequeneies of the genotypes T/T,A/T,and A/A were 3.5%,28.0%and 69.5%respectively,the frequencies of alleles T and A were 9.6%and 90.4% respectively in schizophrenia group.The frequencies of the genotypes T/T,A/T,and A/A were 3.1%,24.0% and 72.9% respectively,the frequencies of alleles T and A were 15.6% and84.4% respectively in depression 1 group;The frequencies of the genotypes T/T,A/T,and A/A were 2.4%,23.4% and 74.2% respectively,the frequencies of alleles T and A were 15.3% and 84.7% respectively in depression 2 group;The frequencies ofthe genotypes T/T,A/T,and A/A were 1.0%,16.0% and 83.0% respectively,the frequencies of alleles T and A were 17.0% and 83.0% respectively in control group.There were significant differences in the frequencies of the genotypes (Chi-Square=8.072,P=0.045)and alleles(Chi-Square=8.564,P=0.036) of DISC1 gene among the four groups with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test.After pairwisecomparison each other in the four groups we found that there were significant differences in the frequencies of thegenotypes(Z=-2.802,P=0.005)and alleles(Z=-2.837,P=0.005) of DISC1 gene between patients withschizophrenia and normal controls with non-parametric Mann-Whitney test(two-tailed),there were no significantdifferences between other groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Our results suggest that DISC1 gene polymorphism is associated with schizophrenia significantly,but it is not associated with different subtype depression.This finding do not support the viewpoint that DISC1 gene is the common predisposing gene for schizophrenia and depression.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Jisheng injection (JSI) in protecting heart.

METHODSIsolated heart of rat was preserved in modified Euro-Collins solution (mEC) containing JSI for 20 hrs, and that preserved in simple mEC was taken as control. Then Langendorff isolated rat heart perfusion was conducted. Forty minutes after perfusion, the cardiac function, coronary flow, myocardial water content were determined, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) activity in perfusate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content in myocardial tissue and pathologic change in myocardium were also observed.

RESULTSThe cardiac function and coronary flow of isolated heart preserved in JSI containing mEC was significantly better than those in the control (P < 0.01), with the LDH, CK activity and MDA content significantly lower (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), SOD activity significantly higher (P < 0.05) and pathologic injury milder than those in control, but comparison of cardiac water content between the two groups showed insignificant difference.

CONCLUSIONJSI has good cardiac protective and anti-oxidizing effects.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Heart ; Male ; Organ Preservation ; Organ Preservation Solutions ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reishi ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Polyps ; pathology ; surgery ; Teratoma ; pathology

Pain as a clinical common symptom is one of the most serious problems to threaten human health,therefore,pain management is one of the main aspects of clinical medication.This review briefly described the existing and the novel analgesic targets,in order to study and develop new kinds of analgesic drugs with high efficacy,less side effects and no resistance and addiction,which aims to provide a reference for the clinical application.

Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples of 3 patients from 1 pedigree with congenital nephrogenie diabetes insipidus (NDI) and their 12 family members.The whole coding region of the arginine vasopressin receptor 2 (AVPR2) gene was amplified by PCR and then directly sequenced,A mutation of AVPR2 gene [g1236T→C (L292P)]was found in 3 patients.The patients' mothers were found to have both mutant and normal alleles.

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Foley catheter draining method versus the urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty for hypospadias.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 361 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After operation, 91 of the cases received urine drainage with the Foley catheter (group A) and 270 with a urethral stent plus a gastric tube (group B). We compared the incidence rates of bladder irritation, fistula, urethral stricture, and urethral diverticulum between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found between groups A and B in the incidences of bladder irritation (9.89% vs 10.70%, P > 0.05) and urethral diverticulum (1.09% vs 2.22%, P > 0.05). The incidence rate of fistula was markedly higher in group A than in B (20.80% vs 13.30%, P < 0.05), and so was that of urethral stricture (10.90% vs 5.55%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method is more effective than the Foley catheter draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty.

Aged ; Child ; Diverticulum ; etiology ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Incidence ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; Urinary Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods

In order to obtain active recombinant PNGase F in Escherichia coli, a prokaryotic expression vector pET28a/PNGase F was constructed. Amplification of PNGase F was obtained using PCR technique employing suitable primers designed according to the PNGase F gene sequence from Flavobacterium nmeningosepticum. The expression of PNGase F gene in LB medium or M9 medium led to the formation of inclusion body and soluble protein, respectively. The refolding of the denatured inclusion body was successful by gradual dilution. Further purification of the refolded protein and soluble crude extract from M9 medium with Ni2+ -NTA argarose resulted a 90% purified PNGase F. The purified protein catalyzed the complete and intact cleavage of N-linked oligosaccharides from various glycoproteins. The efficiency of this cleavage was affected by the substrate status in the reaction system. In summary, we have developed an enzyme production system where PNGase F was over-expressed in recombinant E. coli. This system can provide more than 15 mg/L purified active PNGase F. This purified active PNGase F can be used as tools in analyzing the oligosaccharide structure.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavobacterium ; enzymology ; genetics ; Glycosylation ; Peptide-N4-(N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminyl) Asparagine Amidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 is a multifunctional protein. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of using a combination of adenovirus-mediated gene delivery of TIMP-1 plus endostatin and cell transplantation techniques to treat tumor growth and metastasis in mouse melanoma.

METHODSA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the level of TIMP-1 and endostatin in vitro and in vivo. A tumor bearing mouse model and an experimental lung metastasis model in animal experiments were used to explore the therapeutic effect of in vivo production of human TIMP-1 and endostatin after the implantation of primary fibroblasts infected with the indicated adenovirus into tumor-bearing mice and a cytochemical method was used to observe histopathological changes of the tumor. An experimental lung metastasis model was established by injecting B16BL6 cells into the tail vein of mice and adenovirus-infected primary fibroblasts were subcutaneously implanted into the mice 24 hours later. Twenty-one days after tumor cell injection, mice were sacrificed to examine the effect on nodules visible as black forms on the surface of the lungs in B16BL6 cells.

RESULTSTIMP-1 and endostatin were secreted into the supernatants of cultures of Ad-TIMP-1 and Ad-End-infected mouse primary fibroblasts. We also observed that implantation of fibroblasts infected with Ad-TIMP-1 alone, Ad-End alone, or Ad-TIMP-1 plus Ad-End resulted in detectable blood levels which may clearly inhibit the tumor growth and metastasis in a murine melanoma model.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest the high capacity of transfection for the delivery of TIMP-1 or endostatin gene constructs into primary fibroblasts, and demonstrate that the implantation of TIMP-1 and endostatin producing fibroblasts at a site in vivo where direct secretion of TIMP-1 and endostatin into the blood is possible represented a promising approach for the development of cancer therapy.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endostatins ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Melanoma ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism

The pharmacological or toxicological efficacy of drugs can be influenced significantly when their metabolic pathway is induced or inhibited by co-administrated drugs.Metabolism-based drug-drug interactions (DDIs) have a high incidence and are important in clinical therapeutics. Studies on metabolism-based DDIs are now moved to the early stages of drug development, so that adequate assessment of its safety and effectiveness can be facilitated. These studies comprise in vitro and in vivo investigations and an appropriate design of studies is important. In many cases, negative findings from early in vitro and early clinical studies can eliminate the need for later clinical investigations. This article summarizes the background and mechanism of metabolism-based DDIs and focuses on the strategies of these studies.
Drug Interactions ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Humans ; Inactivation, Metabolic ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese herbal therapy on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

METHODSTotally 36 inpatients and outpatients at Department of Nephropathy, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, from June 2011 to June 2013 were recruited in the treatment group, while 20 volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the IgAN group only took Chinese herbal decoctions by syndrome typing for 3 months (except those accompanied with hypertension additionally took antihypertensive agents such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and/or dihydropyridines calcium antagonist). No intervention was performed in the healthy control group. The values of Th1, Th2, and CD4+ CD25+ Treg, and red blood cell number in urine were detected using flow cytometry before and after treatment. 24 h urine protein was detected using inmmunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the CD4+ CD25+ Treg level obviously decreased in the IgAN group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). In the IgAN group, Th1, 24 h urine protein, and urine red blood cell counts were obviously lower after treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with before treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal therapy could reduce urine erythrocyte number and 24 h urine protein of IgAN patients, and down-regulating Th1 expression might be its mechanism.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; Young Adult