Objective To research the morphological classification of inferior angle of scapula based on CT 3D reconstruction and its clinical significance. Methods A total of 290 scapular bones data were collected from People's Hospital of Lu Xian County and measured based on CT 3D reconstruction. The scapular bones images were reconstructed by CT 3D technique. Reference points; g was the inferior scapular angle, n was the inferior glenotubular nodule, m was the intersection of the scapular ganglion and the medial edge of the scapula, k was the upper scapular angle, r was the notch of the scapular glenoid, h was the intersection of point g to mr. The parameters of inferior angles of 290 scapular bones, including the thickness of point g (the thickest part of inferior angle of the scapula), the length of the line gn, line gm, and line gh, and the angle of ∠ ngm, ∠ gmk (the projection of the scapular coronal plane), and ∠ gmk' (the projection of the scapular sagittal plane) were observed and measured by CT 3D technique. Results Under the CT three-dimensional reconstruction, the inferior angle of scapula was classified into three types; accessory angle-type ( 175, 60. 34%), U-type ( 81, 27. 93%) and V-type (34, 11. 73%). In addition, there was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the V type on the thickest part of the g point and gn (P<0.05); U-type and V-type with paragonai gm-significant difference (P<0.05); There was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the U shape on gh (P<0.05); there was a significant difference between the auxiliary angle type and the U shape on ∠ gmk' (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the inferior angle of the bilateral scapula on mngm (P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the result of CT three-dimensional reconstruction, the inferior angle of scapulae have three anatomical types, with the accessory angle-type as the main type, and the morphology and classification of it are of certain clinical implication.

According to the designed specific primers of gene fragment based on the Salvia miltiorrhiza transcriptome data, with the method of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), this study cloned full-length cDNA sequence of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl-4-diphosphate synthase gene from Salvia miltiorrhiza bge.f.alba, this sequence is named as SmHDS and its GenBank registration number is KJ746807. SmHDS, 2 529 bp long, contains an ORF of 2 229 bp, encodes 742 amino acids, including 5' UTR 170 bp and 3' UTR 130 bp. Using bioinformatics software, having made a homology analysis of the obtained sequence, we can have a conclusion that SmHDS have a close genetic relationship with HDS of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Analysis result of prokaryotic expression revealed that in Escherichia coli, SmHDS expressed target proteins which in size are comparable with the protein predicted. Meanwhile, the 4 factors which can influence the protein expression were optimized, the 4 factors are inducing temperature, inducing time, IPTG concentrations and density of inducing host bacterium (A600). The optimal expression conditions of SmHDS were 30 degrees C until the A600 is 0.6, and add IPTG to a final concentration of 0.2 mmol x L(-1), and the induction time of 20 h. It provides theoretical basis for the further study of the function of 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl-4-diphosphate synthase in the biosynthesis of tanshinone compounds.
Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; biosynthesis ; Enzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; enzymology ; genetics

BACKGROUNDStudies indicated that Mer might be the main contributor to the specific internalization of photoreceptor outer segments (POS) in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is very important to understand the mechanism of POS phagocytosis under the pathway of Mer and its ligands. The objective of this study was to identify changes in gene expression profiles caused by Mer gene knockout (Mer-/-) during phagocytosis of POS in RPE.

METHODSRPE from both Mer-/- and wild-type (WT) mice were isolated and cultured to the 3rd passage. POS were subjected to culture medium with 20 nmol/L Gas6 and protein S to activate specific mer-mediated phagocytosis. RPE phagocytosis was evaluated by phagocytosis assays and differential gene expression identified by microarray at 3 and 12 hours; the 0-hour time point served as the control. Three independent samples for each Mer-/- or WT RPE were subjected to the same protocol of microarray. Five genes were confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR).

RESULTSThe Mer-/- RPE had less internalized POS than WT RPE after both 3 and 12 hours in phagocytosis assay. Compared to WT RPE and the 0-hour control, 38 and 45 different known genes were increased and 68 and 59 known genes were decreased in Mer-/- RPE after 3 and 12 hours, respectively. Abnormal POS phagocytosis in Mer-/- RPE was associated with significant gene expression changes in, for example, signal transduction (WNT, MAPK), phagocytosis (Vav3, Hsd11b1), cytoskeleton components (Myo7a), and metabolism, in a time-specific manner. QPCR results showed Vav3, Hsd11b1, Myo7a, Rtn2 and Itga8 in those independent samples were consistent with microarray.

CONCLUSIONGene expression profiles modulated in a time-specific manner in Mer-/- RPE indicate a possible internalization mechanism for abnormal POS phagocytosis, which gives insight into the mechanism of retinitis pigmentosa caused by the mutation of MerTK in humans.

Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice, Mutant Strains ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Phagocytosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium ; cytology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To detect the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in patients with Hailey-Hailey dis- ease (HHD).Methods PCR and direct sequencing were performed in 17 patients and 120 healthy controls to screen the mutations in the exons of ATP2C1 gene.Results Eight mutations were identified in nine probands, including three deletion mutations (nt1464-1487 del/nt1462-1485del,1523delAT,2375delTTGT),three splice site mutations (360—2A→G,1415—2A→T,2243+2T→C) and two missence mutations (C920T and G1942T).None of the above mutations was found in the controls.Conclusion Eight specific novel mutations were identified in nine probands of HHD,which could be causative factors of the disease.

Pseudomonas sp. M18 is one of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria capable of producing two kinds of anti-fungal agents: phenazine-1-carboxilic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (Plt). The pqsR gene, which encodes a LysR family member PqsR, was amplified from chromosomal genome of strain M18. Using the homologous recombination technique, a chromosomal pqsR inactivated mutant strain M18PRG was constructed in Pseudomonas sp. M18. To study the effect of pqsR gene on Plt biosynthesis, the dynamic curves of Plt production by strains M18 and M18PRG was measured in KMB media. As a result, Plt production of the pqsR mutant was three to four folds higher than that of its parent strain M18. The Plt production was restored to the wild-type level when strain M18PRG was complemented with pqsR gene in trans. The regulation of pqsR gene on Plt production was further confirmed by the pltA′-′lacZ translational fusion analysis. These results indicate that pqsR gene negatively controls the Plt biosynthesis. Additionally, by analyzing the growth curves of wild type strain M18 and pqsR mutant, wecan readily find that PqsR has a negative influence on cell growth. It was also shown that the production of red pigments in strain M18 required the expression of pqsR gene. In conclusion, the data presented in this study clearly demonstrate that PqsR acts as a global regulator involved in many physiological activities in Pseudomonas sp. M18.

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the influencing factors of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODSA hospital-based case-control study was conducted in patients with NAFLD and controls without NAFLD in a hospital from January to August in 2007. All data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSOne-way analysis of variance found that the two groups were significantly different in cigarette smoking, alcohol and tea comsumption, movement index, speed of food intake, frequency of social engagement, kinds of edible oil, marine products, family history of NAFLD, hypertension, higher blood sugar, abnormality of blood fat, higher level of ALT, higher level of AST, hyperuricemia, obesity, decrease of high density lipoprotein (HDL), and increase of low density lipoprotein. By non-conditional logistic stepwise regression analysis, 12 of 18 factors were used to construct a model, ten of which were the risk factors and two were protective factors of NAFLD. Risk factors included obesity (OR=6.35), hypertension(OR=3.82), dyslipidemia (OR=2.95), decrease of HDL (OR=2.85), hyperglycemia (OR=2.82), increase of ALT (OR=2.80), hyperuricemia (OR=2.35), HBsAg positive (OR=1.99), family history of fatty liver (OR=1.79) and frequently intake of marine products (OR=1.58), and protective factors included tea drinking (OR=0.72) and exercise (OR=0.90).

CONCLUSIONSThere are many influencing factors of NAFLD, and life styles are the key factors. Genetic background may also play some roles in NAFLD.

Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Odds Ratio ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Adenomatoid Tumor ; diagnosis ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed

Comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis is often carried out throughout the entire period of drug development, the common approach for the assessment of pharmacokinetics between different treatments requires that the individual PK parameters, which employs estimation of 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of average parameters, such as AUC and Cmax, these 90% confidence intervals then need to be compared with the pre-specified equivalent interval, and last we determine whether the two treatments are equivalent. Unfortunately in many clinical circumstances, some or even all of the individuals can only be sparsely sampled, making the individual evaluation difficult by the conventional non-compartmental analysis. In such cases, nonlinear mixed effect model (NONMEM) could be applied to analyze the sparse data. In this article, we simulated a sparsely sampling design trial based on the dense sampling data from a truly comparative PK study. The sparse data were analyzed with NONMEM method, and the original dense data were analyzed with non-compartment analysis. Although the trial design and analysis methods are different, the 90% confidence intervals for the ratio of PK parameters based on 1000 Bootstrap are very similar, indicated that the analysis based on NONMEM is a reliable method to treat with the sparse data in the comparative pharmacokinetic study.
Area Under Curve ; Confidence Intervals ; Humans ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Pharmacokinetics ; Sampling Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method to reconstruct the defect of the distal foot.

METHODSA distally based dorsum pedis island flap pedicled with the first dorsal metatarsal artery was designed and transferred to the defect of the distal foot.

RESULTSFive patients were treated with this flap, which ranged from 2 cm x 4 cm to 6 cm x 7 cm in size. Four flaps survived completely, one flap had marginal necrosis and healed after conservative therapy.

CONCLUSIONSThe reverse first dorsal metatarsal artery flap, with good blood circulation and easy manipulation, is a good option for the defects of the distal foot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metatarsus ; blood supply ; Middle Aged ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Young Adult