Objective To examine the association between the insertion/deletion polymorphism in intron 4 of ecNOS gene (ecNOS4b/a) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the Han people of Tianjin, China. Methods The genotypes of ecNOS4b/a polymorphism were detected by PCR-minisatellite DNA detection technique. 70 healthy volunteers, 48 patients with type 2 diabetes without DN, 35 patients with type 2 diabetes and DN without chronic renal failure (CRF), 45 patients with DN in type 2 diabetes with CRF, and 58 patients with non-DN CRF were investigated. Results (1) One case (a female DN patient without CRF) with a rare genotype, the heterozygote of 447 bp and 420 bp, was found. (2) The frequency of allele a in type 2 diabetes without DN group was higher than that in control nonsignificantly (x2 = 1. 672, P = 0. 196) . (3) The frequency of allele a in DN group was lower than that in type 2 diabetes without DN group nonsignificantly (x2 = 1. 082, P = 0. 298). (4) The allele frequencies were similar between the DN without CRF group and the DN with CRF group (Continuity correction x2 = 0. 002, P = 0. 967). (5) The frequency of allele a in DN with CRF group was lower than that in non-DN CRF group significantly (x2=4. 360, P = 0. 037). Conclusions (1) Allele a is not a risk factor of DN in the Han people of Tianjin; (2) The frequency of allele a is lower in the Han people of Tianjin than that in Japanese(4. 3% vs 10. 1% , x2 = 4. 898, P = 0. 027); (3)There are different roles of ecNOS in DN-induced CRF and non-DN CRF.

Objective To observe the intluence ot chemokine RANTES influence on cardiac allograft acute rejection caused by alloreactive memory CD4+ T cells (Tm) adoptive transfer.Methods Heterotopic heart transplantation (HTx) from Balb/c donors to C57BL/6 recipients was performed by anastomosis of the vessels of the neck.Mice undergoing heterotopic heart transplantation received either adoptive transfer of 1 × 106 CD4+ Tm from the spleen of alloantigen-primed C57BL/6 mice or no cells (control group).After the cardiac transplantation,the mean survival time (MST),mean histologic rank of rejection,relative gene expression and serum concentration of RANTES in the cardiac grafts.Results (1) The percentage of CD4+ Tm was 26.83％ at the spleen of alloantigenprimed mice; (2) The MST was 5.17 ± 0.17 days in the CD4+ Tm+ HTx group versus 7.76 ± 0.21 days at the HTx group (control group) (P＜0.01); (3) The histological tests revealed that mean histologic rank of rejection activity in the sections of cardiac allografts on the day 5 post grafting was grade 3.92 ± 0.08 in the HTx+ CD4+Tm group versus grade 2.67 ± 0.14 in HTx group (P＜0.01) ;(4) The relative gene expression level of RANTES was 2.6 ± 0.21 in the CD4+ Tm + HTx group,significantly higher than in the control group (P＜0.01) ; (5) The serum concentration of RANTES in the CD4+ Tm+ HTx group was 223.6 ± 16.79 pg/mL,higher than in the control group (120.7 ±9.47 pg/mL,P＜0.01).Conclusion Alloreactive CD4+ Tm contribute to the increased expression and secretion of RANTES,and cardiac allograft acute rejection was more extensive in the CD4 + Tm + HTx group.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a common complication of infections, burns, traumas, surgeries, poisonings, and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The present study aimed to investigate prognostic value of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with sepsis. METHODS: Periphery blood from 28 patients diagnosed with sepsis was collected on day 1 and 7 after hospitalization in the ICU of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital between December 2013 to April 2014. The blood was used for analyses of Treg ratio using flow cytometry and for analyses of blood routine test, C-reactive protein (CRP), bilirubin, procalcitonin (PCT), and coagulation. APACHE II and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were also investigated. The results were compared between two outcome groups of survival or death to evaluate prognostic value for sepsis. RESULTS: The patients had an average age of 60.36±15.03 years, APACHE II score 16.68±7.00, and SOFA score 7.18±3.78. Among the 28 patients, 12 had severe trauma (42.9％), 10 had septic shock (35.7％), and 9 (32.2％) died. The median ratio of Tregs was 2.10％ (0.80％, 3.10％) in the survival group vs. 1.80％ (1.15％, 3.65％) in the death group (Z=–0.148, P=0.883) on day 1; however it was significantly changed to 0.90％ (0.30％, 2.80％) vs. 5.70％ (2.60％, 8.30％) (Z=–2.905, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: With better prospects for clinical application, dynamic monitoring of Tregs ratio in peripheral blood has potential value in predicting prognosis of sepsis.

Ethanol can be produced from lignocellulose by first hydrolysing the material to sugars,including hexose,and pentose,and then fermenting the hydrolysate to ethanol.Hydrolysis using dilute-acid has advantages over other methods.However,compounds which inhibit fermentation are generated during this kind of hydrolysis.Therefore,it is important to focus on microorganisms metabolizing xylose and tolerating/decomposing inhibitors,on detoxification methods of hydroly- sates with low-cost and facilitated to scale-up,and different fermentation modes in ethanol production from hydrolysate.This review summarized the advance in above aspects.

Objective To analyze negative lymph nodes of 34 non-small cell lung cancer(NCLC) patients with total correction by means of fluorescent quantitation PCR and immunohistcchemistry,and to form molecular bi- ology staging.Methods Clinical data and tissue samples of 193 lymph nodes were collected from 34 patients under- going resection for non-small cell lung cancer.Using fluorescent quantitation reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry method,lymph nodes were examined for CEA gene mRNA,P53 and CK to form molecular biology staging.All the patients were followed-up for an average of forty months.Results The CEAmRNA was identified in 21.7% (42/193) lymph nodes negative patients from 17 patients(17/34,50%); TMN staging was up-regulated in 8 patients;positive lymph nodes were increased in 9 patients.P53 and AE1/AE3 were identified 9.8%(19/193) from 11 patients,18.6 % (36/193)from 15 patients,separately;TMN staging was up-regulated in 2 patients of P53 examination and 5 patients of AE1/AE3 analysis;positive lymph nodes were in- creased in in 7 patients of P53 examination and 11 patients of AE1/AE3 analysis.There was obvious statistical sig- nificance in them,but the molecular biology staging based on the three markers was not an independent factor on re- currence and metasis of lung cancer.Conclusion CEAmRNA.P53 and AE1/AE3 analysis could find lung cancer micrometasis more sensitively to form molecular biology staging which was relative to the prognosis,but not an inde- pendent prognostic indicator.It might be good to the therapy strategy after operation.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of health education on lung function and quality of life in stabilized patients with chronic pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS117 stabilized COPD patients were randomly devided into 4 groups with numbers as 31,26, 20 and 40 identified as Groups 1 to 4. Patients in Group 1 did not receive health education, but Groups 2,3 and 4 received one, two, three or more times health education in file. FEV1, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC and SGRQ score were compared pre and 6-month post the health education program.

RESULTSHealth education seemed successful in delaying the decline of FEV1, FEV%, FEV1/FVC and groups 2-4 were superior to group 1(P < 0.05) while groups 3 and 4 were superior to groups 1 or 2(P < 0.05). Health education was effective in raising the SGRQ score among the stabilized COPD patients with groups 2-4 superior to group 1 (P < 0.05) while groups 3 and 4 superior to groups 1 or 2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHealth education could effectively delay the decline of both lung function and quality of life in stabilized patients with COPD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; physiopathology ; Lung Diseases ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Recovery of Function

Background Macular edema following phacoemulsification with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is a main factor to influent visual function.The administration of traditional medicine can relieve tissue edema,but its preventive and treatment efficacy on macular edema after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation remaines unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification with IOL implantation.Methods A case-controlled observational study was designed.One hundred and eighty eyes of 150 patients with age-related cataract were randomized into operation group and operation + medicine group.Phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed in both groups,but huoxuehuayu decoction was orally administered for 14 days in operation+medicine group.The best corrected visual acuity,inflammatory reaction of the ocular anterior segment,and macular edema were recorded before operation and 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks,and the central macular thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography.Results Twelve weeks after surgery,the ratio of visual acuity ≥ 1.0 was in significantly higher in operation+medition group than that of in operation group (x2 =1.066,P＞0.05).One week after surgery,the eyes of the aqueous flare were much nore in the operation group than that of operation+medicine group(x2 =9.341,P＜0.05).The thickness of the central fovea was significantly increased in both groups at 1 week,2,4,6,8 and 12 weeks after surgery,showing significant differences in comparison with preoperation (operation group:P ＜ 0.01 ; operation + medicine group:P ＜0.05).Macular edema occurred in 13 eyes in operation group during the following-up duration,including 11 eyes with thickened fovea and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema.Maeular edema disappeared in 10 eyes 12 weeks later.In the operation+medition group,3 eyes happened macular edema,including thickened fovea in 2 eye and cystoid macular edema in 1 eye.Four to six weeks after surgery,macular edema disappeared in 3 eyes 12 weeks later.The fovea thickness in the operation+medicine group was statistically significantly lower from 2 through 8 weeks after surgery than that in the operation group(t=2.315,2.323,3.104,2.470,P＜0.05).Conclusions Oral administration of huoxuehuayu decoction is helpful for the restoration of the anterior ocular segment.Huoxuehuayu decoction can protect macula from the edema induced by phacoemulsification.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of huoxuehuayu decoction on macula after phacoemulsification. Into A, B groups. The 80 eyes of A group were treated by conventional phacoemulsification; the patients (60 eyes) of B group were given huoxuehuayu decoction orally for two courses after phacoemulsification. Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), corneal and aqueous conditions ,thickness of macular central fovea and changes of macular retinal tissue in A, B groups were observed before surgery, 1 day; 1 week,2,4,6,8 weeks and 3 months after surgery. Was significantly higher than that of group A. One week after surgery the ratio of mild aqueous flare in group B was significantly lower than that of group A. The thickness of central fixation was significantly increased in both groups 1 week, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks and 3 months after phacoemulsification; the difference between 2 to 8 weeks after surgery and pre-operation showed statistical significance in both groups. 11 eyes in A group had macular edema during 2 to 6 weeks after surgery, including 9 eyes with fovea thickened and 2 eyes with cystoid macular edema, and seven eyes' edema disappeared in 3 months. 2 eyes in B group had macular edema, including 1 eye fovea thickened and 1 eye cystoid macular edema, during 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, and the two eyes' edema disappeared 3 months after surgery. The fovea thickness in group B during 2 to 8 weeks after surgery was statistically lower than group A. Phacoemulsification.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Yuantong Capsule (YTC) in treating vascular dementia (VD).

METHODSEighty-three patients of VD were randomized on ratio of 2:1 into two groups, the 54 patients in the treated group were treated with YTC orally administered, 3 times a day, 1 capsule in each time. The remaining 29 patients in the control group were treated with Hydergine orally, 3 times a day, 2 mg in each time. The therapeutic course for both groups was 2 months.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effect in the treated group was significantly better than that in the control group, significant difference (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) was shown in comparison of the two groups in terms of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and activity of daily living (ADL) test, symptoms scoring, total effective rate, and laboratory indexes findings.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of YTC in treating VD was obvious.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Capsules ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ergoloid Mesylates ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nootropic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy