Objective To investigate the characteristic of 13C-methacetin breath test (13C-MBT) as a tool to monitor the hepatic function of patients with hepatic carcinoma by comparing with Child-Pugh classification and general liver function. Methods Thirty-nine patients with primary liver cancer, 16 patients with hepatic metastasis and 14 healthy volunteers serving as controls were included in this study. According to Child-Pugh classification, the primary liver cancer patients were divided into A, B and C subgroups. All subjects received 13C-MBT and routine liver function tests after an overnight fast. The three major parameters of 13C-MBT i.e. maximum excretion rate before 40 min (Mwnax40), 13CO2 cumulative excretion of 40 min(CUM40) and that of 120 min(CUM120) were recorded and the two metabolism curves (DOB curve, MV curve) were made. Results (1) In the control, hepatic metastasis and primary liver cancer groups, both the DOB curve and MV curve were similar in shape; the peak time occurred at about 20 min after administration and then the curves lowered progressively. There were significant differences between the primary liver cancer group and the other two groups, but it was not statistically different between the hepatic metastasis group and the controls. The shape was obviously distinct in the groups A, B and C of primary liver cancer. The group A had a single sharp peak curve, group B a relatively flat peak curve with a lower level for a long time after the ascending phase and group C no clear excretion peak or even a negative curve. (2) As to the three parameters of 13C-MBT, there were statistical difference between the primary liver cancer group and the other two groups(P <0. 05). Between hepatic metastasis group and controls,there was statistical difference about CUM120 (P <0. 05), but no statistical difference about Mvmax40 and CUM40. While in the three groups with primary liver cancer groups, there was statistical difference between group A and B in Mvmax40 and CUM40 ( P < 0. 05 ), but no statistical difference between group B and C. As to CUM120, there was statistical difference only between group A and C. (3) Comparing the three parameters of 13C-MBT with routine liver function tests, there was negative correlation with TBA, positive correlation with Alb, PA, ChE and no correlation with ALT, AST, TBil, γ-GT, ALP and PT. (4) There was a good consistency between 13C-MBT and Child-Pugh classification in the evaluation of liver function of patients with liver cancer ( Kappa = 0. 647, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion The value of the three parameters of 13C-MBT is decreased with severity of the liver disease and 13C-MBT may be used to evaluate the reserved hepatic function in patients with primary liver cancer with a diagnostic value equivalent to Child-Pugh classification. The study further confirms that 13C-MBT has correlation with TBA,AIb, PA and ChE.

Objective To analyze the protein expression profile of human glomerular mesangial cells (HMCs) under high glucose and to characterize molecular functions and biological processes. Methods HMCs were divided into high glucose cultured group (30 mmol/L) and normal glucose cultured group (5 mmol/L). The total proteins were extracted after culture for 48 hours. The total proteins of the two groups were separated using two-dimensional fluorescence difference in gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) and analyzed using DeCyder 2-D difference analysis software. The differentially expressed proteins were further identified using in-gel digestion with trypsin, of which peptide extracts were prepared for MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. Protein identifications were searched in the NCBI protein database using the Mascot search engine. Results One hundred and forty-seven protein spots whose expression levels were significantly increased or decreased more than 1.5 folds under high glucose were identified. Ninety-six differentially expression protein spots were analyzed by peptide mass fingerprinting and 37 kinds of proteins were identified. The protein spots of phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP-1), granulysin,ATP synthase H + transporting mitochondrial FO complex subunit F2 were observed only in high glucose group. The expression of 24 proteins was up-regulated by high glucose, including eosinophil cationic protein, RGS membrane-interacting proteins 16 (MIR16), peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, disks large homolog DLG2, breast cancer 2, early onset (BRCA2), Catechol-O-methyltransferase etc. The expression of 5 proteins was down-regulated by high glucose, including O-GlcNAc transferase-interacting protein 106 000 isoform 1, proteasome beta 6 subunit precursor,NEFA-interacting nuclear protein NIP30 etc. Conclusions Expression of 147 proteins in HMCs alters under high glucose. These proteins are involved in the regulation of cytoskeleton, glucose metabolism, cell division, gene transcription, signal transduction, phosphorylation, cell proliferation,apoptosis etc. In-depth analysis of these differentially expressed proteins' function and crosstalk is expected to provide an important experimental basis for clarifying the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective:To study the eftect of plateau environment on the body compositions of soldiers.Methods:A total of 120 male soldiers were selected for the study.All of the study subjects received a physical examination between June and November in 2014.Bio-electrical impedance technique was used to measure the subjects' body composition including 33 parameters such as body mass index (BMI) and body fat mass.Results:Compared to that before entering into the plateau,the levels of 31 parameters were significantly lower after entering into plateau,except the distribution of muscles in left lower limb and ECW/TBW in right upper extremity.Conclusion:The body compositions of soldiers may decrease under plateau environment.This phenomenon need to be interfered purposefully to aTange scientific diets and training intensity.

Objective To investigate the effects of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)losartan on the glomerular protein expression profile of spontaneous type 2 diabetic KKAy mice by two-dimensional differential gel eleetrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.Methods 8-week-old spontaneous type 2 diabetic KKAy mice were randomly divided into losartan (10 mg·kg-1·d-1 given in drinking water) treatment group and non-treatment group.Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were used as normal control.The glomeruli were separated by magnetic bead perfusion through thoracic aorta at age of 20 weeks,then glomerular protein was extracted.The glomerular protein expression profile was investigated by CyDyes minimal fluorescence labelling,two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.Results KKAy mice developed higher body weight and blood glucose,higher urinary microalbumin creatinine ratio at age of 20 weeks than C57BL/6 mice at the same age (all P＜0.05).Losartan treatment markedly reduced urinary microalbumin creatinine ratio [(539.71 ±100.23)mg/g vs (728±177.19) mg/g],attenuated mesangial expansion and the thickening of glomerular basement membrane,but had no effect on the blood glucose.By DeCyder 2-D differential analysis software,62 protein spots of differential expression were found in glomeruli between losartan treatment and non-treatment KKAy mice at age of 20 weeks.Among them,41 proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting.The expressions of 28 proteins were up-regulated by losartan treatment,including glycerokinase,sulfite oxidase,glycine amidinotransferase,adenosylhomocysteinase,etc.The expressions of 13proteins were down-regulaled by losartan treatment,including 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase,ATP synthase subunit d,60 000 heat shock protein,stress-70 protein (alternative name 75 000glucose-regulated protein,GRP75),etc.Six differcntially expressed proteins were found in glomeruli between non-treatment KKAy mice and C57BL/6 mice,and the differential expressions were suppressed by losartan treatment,including dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex,succinyl-CoA ligase (GDP-forming) subunit beta,mitochondrial,ATP synthase subunit d,GRP75,nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X motif 19 and seleniumbinding protein 1.Conclusions Losartan significantly reduces the urinary protein excretion rate and renal pathological lesion of spontaneous type 2 diabetic KKAy mice,and suppresses the differential expression of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit d,GRP75,selenium-binding protein 1,etc in glomeruli.Losartan may play a renoproteetive role by reducing glomerular mitochondrial reactive oxygen species genesis and inhibiting oxidative stress.

Objective The effects of candesartan,an angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) were investigated on advanced glycation end-products accumulation and the receptor for AGE (RAGE) expression in type 2 diabetic KK/Ta mouse kidneys.MethodsKK/Ta mice(n=72)were random divided into three groups(n=24) and it was treated with candesartan [4 mg/(kg·d)] or vehicle from 6 or 12 to 28 weeks of age.BALB/c mice(n=24) treated with vehicle were used as controls.Body weight,blood pressure,blood glucose,urinary microalbumin,urinary creatinine and serum creatinine were measured every four weeks.At 28 weeks,renal expressions of carboxymethyllysine and RAGE were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and/or competitive RT-PCR.Results KK/Ta mice developed high body weight,high blood glucose,and high urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio in KK/Ta mice at 28 weeks of age,and it was significantly higher than that of BALB/c mice [(427.49±89.37)mg/g vs (9.54±3.25)mg/g,P＜0.01 ].Protein and mRNA expressions of RAGE were upregulated in KK/Ta kidneys with increased immunostaining intensities of carboxymethyllysine.Candesartan treatment has markedly reduced urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio [Early treatment group (32.18±9.41)mg/g,Late treatment group (53.20±7.26)mg/g,P＜0.01 ].Treatment with candesartan down-regulated the protein and mRNA expressions of RAGE and reduced the accumulation of carboxymethyllysine.There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups (from 6 or 12 weeks).ConclusionsThe results suggest that candesartan,an ARB,reduces advanced glycation end-products accumulation and subsequent albuminuria by down-regulating RAGE expression in type 2 diabetic KK/Ta mouse kidneys.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is one of the most commonly liver diseases. Food control and proper amount of physical exercise are reliable measures to treat it. TCM has accumulated plenty experiences and found solid basis in treating NAFLD. In this article, we made a summarization and study on mechanism and effective substance of TCM in treating NAFLD clinically.

Objective To investigate the changes of hepatic function before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in primary liver cancer patients with different quantifications and classifications using 13C-methacetin breath test (13C-MBT), and to provide risk predicts for TACE. Methods 28 cases of primary liver cancer patients and 10 cases of metastatic liver cancer patients were selected.General examination items of liver function and 13C-MBT detection were performed on all cases. Primary liver cancer was divided into 4 groups according to the results of 13C-MBT (group 1 was normal or pathological liver damage; group 2 was grade A; Group 3 was grade B; group 4 was grade C). 13C-MBT detection was carried out in week 1 and 4 after TACE. Results The three parameters of 13C-MBT is 13CO2 maximum excretion rate before 40 min/27 (MVmax40), 13CO2 cumulative excretion of 40 min/12 (CUM40), and than of 120 min/28(CUM120). Compared with the parameters [(0.628±0.191)%, (0.628±0.289)%, (0.577±0.286)%] before TACE in hepatic metastasis, there were no statistic effect between week 1 [(0.600±0.187)%, (0.559±0.189)%, 0.587±0.181)%] and week 4 [(0.700±0.230)%, (0.734±0.229)%, (0.724±0.252)%] after TACE. Conclusion The lower classification of 13C-MBT, the more impairment to liver function after TACE. This could provide an important diagnostic basis for TACE.

AIM: To examine the effect of traditional chinese medicine recipe, Taoren Honghua(semen persicae-flos carthami) decoction, on hyperlipidemia without symptom. METHODS: The plasma TC, TG, LDL, HDL, apolipoprotein(Apo) A, Apo B of the patients with hyperlipidemia without symptom were measured using automatic analyzer (shimadiu CL-7200), the production of nitric oxide(NO) was detected by Greiss reaction, and SOD activity and MDA formation were examined using o-trihydroxy benzene and barbituric methotheds, respectively. RESULTS: After oral administration of Taoren Honghua decoction, the plasma levels of TC, TG, LDL, and MDA of the patients were markedly decreased, however, the plasma levels of ApoA, HDL, SOD and NO were significantly increased and almost no change was detected in the plasma level of Apo B. In control group, it was found that although the plasma level of TC, TG and LDL were decreased ( P

Objective To investigate the serum and placental expressions of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and nitric oxide(NO) in fetal growth restriction (FGR),and explore the biological role and mechanisms of ADMA in FGR.Methods Fifty patients with FGR (FGR group)and 50 normal term pregnant women (control group) were detected for the levels of ADMA in maternal sera and placentas with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The level of NO in maternal sera was analyzed with nitrate reductase method,and the placental tissue sections were analyzed with pathological morphologly.Results For FGR group,the main pathological changes were growth retardation of villi,increased syncytiotrophoblast nodules,and the lack terminal villi;and the incidence rate of pathological change of placental tissue was significantly higher than that in control group [64.0％ (32/50) vs 12.0％ (6/50),x2 =7.90,P ＜ 0.01].For the placental pathological change group,the concentrations of ADMA in the placentas and sera were significantly higher than the normal group [placenta ADMA:(2.21 ± 0.72) μmol/L vs (1.69 ± 0.77) μmol/L,t =3.33,P ＜ 0.01;serum ADMA:(2.01 ± 0.70) μmoL/L vs (1.18 ± 0.54) μmol/L,t =6.66,P ＜0.01].The expression of ADMA was up-regulated in maternal sera and placentas from FGR group compared to normal pregnancy [placenta ADMA (2.24 ± 0.81) μmol/L vs (1.53 ± 0.59) μmol/L,t =5.00,P ＜0.01;serum ADMA (1.89 ±0.75) μmol/L vs (1.10 ±0.43) μ mol/L,t =6.45,P ＜ 0.O1].The NO was extremely lower expressed in maternal sera with FGR than normal pregnancy [(39.59 ± 9.15) μmol/L vs (58.02 ± 15.45) μmol/L t =-7.26,P ＜ 0.01)].For FGR group,a significant negative correlation was observed between ADMA and NO expressions in sera (r =-0.693,P ＜ 0.01).Conelusions ADMA was associated with the occurrence and development of the FGR,and its mechanism maybe inhibits NO synthesis to result in placental malperfusion.

Objective To identify susceptible miRNAs for the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and the molecular targets of losartan treatment. Methods The 8-week age KKAy mice were divided into losartan treatment group (10 mg· kg-1· d-1) and non-treatment group,C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group.At age of 20 weeks,body weight,random blood glucose,urinary albumin and urinary creatinine were tested,and kidney morphology was observed.Glomeroli were separated by magnetic beads perfusion,and total RNA were extracted.MiRNAs expression profiles were analyzed by the Affymetrix GeneChip miRNAs arrays. Results At age of 20 weeks,KKAy mice developed higher body weight,higher blood glucose and higher urinary microalbumin creatinine ratio than C57BL/6 mice,and the glomerular basement membrane thickened,mesangial matrix widened.Losartan treatment markedly improved the level of urinary albumin creatinine ratio [(539.71±100.23) mg/g vs (728±177.19) mg/g,P＜0.05)] and pathological lesion of KKAy mice.The miRNA array analysis showed that there were 22 miRNAs differentially expressed between KKAy non-treatment mice and C57BL/6 mice glomeruli at age of 20 weeks.Among them,10 miRNAs were up-regulated,and 12 miRNAs were down-regulated.The expression of 4 miRNAs was down-regulated in glumeruli of KKAy mice treated by losartan compared with that of non-treatment mice.The expressions of miRNA-503 and miRNA-181d were significantly up-regulated in the glumeruli of KKAy mice and inhibited by losartan treatment, Conclusion The expressions of miRNA-503 and miRNA-181d are significantly up-regulated in the glumeruli of KKAy mice and inhibited by losartan treatment,which may be new therapeutic targets of DN.