OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL) on neuronal apoptosis and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of rats in the cerebral ischemia injury model, and study its possible mechanism.

METHODRats were orally administered SCL high, middle and low dose groups (100, 50, 25 mg x kg(-1)) for 14 days. The cerebral ischemia injury model was established by using the suture-occluded method to rate the neurological functions. The cerebral infarction area was observed by TTC staining. The pathological changes in brain tissues were determined by HE staining. Bcl-2 and Bax expressions were detected by immunohistochemical assay. The protein expressions of p-AKT and AKT were assayed by Western blotting.

RESULTCompared with the model group, SCL high, middle and low dose groups showed reduction in the cerebral infarction area to varying degrees, improve the pathological changes in brain tissues, promote the expression of apoptin Bcl-2 and p-AKT, and inhibit the expression of apoptin Bax.

CONCLUSIONSCL shows a protective effect on rats with cerebral ischemia injury. Its mechanism may be related to the increase in p-AKT ability and antiischemic brain injury capacity and the inhibition of nerve cells.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Phytotherapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To explore the nutritional status and determinants among rural stranded children under 7 years of age. Methods The group of stranded children (n=7585) and the children for control (n=7557) were identified by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling. The ascertainment methods mainly included questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory examination. Results In this study, there were three groups, including the group of stranded children whose single parent left home to look for better job somewhere, the group of stranded children whose parent both left home and the third group serving as control. Prevalent rates on the following items were: stunting -- 14.9%, 17.9% and 16.3%, underweight -- 7.2%, 8.3% and 7.6%, wasting -- 3.1%, 3.4% and 3.3% and anemia -- 18.9%, 20.6%, 18.7% respectively. The prevalent rate of stunting in the group of children with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that those with only one parent did. The prevalence rate of anemia in the group with both parents away from home was significantly higher than that in the control group. Based on multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis, the determinants of stunting among the stranded children were: age, with low birth weight, living alone, being the only child in the family, mother's education level, frequency of eating breakfast and snacks every week, motives of caretakers and the relationship between children and the caretakers. The determinants of underweight among those stranded children were: age of child, with low birth weight, the frequency of eating snacks every week, motives of the caretakers and having rickets. Conclusion The nutritional status among rural stranded children was relatively poor, especially in those whose parents were both away from home, which calls for urgent improvement.

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential molecular mechanisms for Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) improving the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by observing the effect of BTR containing serum on follicle stimulating hormone/cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (FSH/ cAMP-PKA) pathway in in vitro cultured human ovarian granular cells.

METHODSThe primary ovarian granular cells collected from in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer patients were cultured for 24 h. The human and rat serum containing different concentrations of BTR (low, medium, high dose), and their normal serums were co-incubated with ovarian granular cells for 48 h respectively, and then they were divided into the low, medium, high dose BTR groups and the control group. The levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the culture medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. The protein expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells was detected by Western Blot. The mRNA expression of follicle stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and P450 aromatase (P450arom) in ovarian granular cells were detected by Real-time PCR.

RESULTSIn human BTR containing serum groups: Compared with control group, the levels of E2 and cAMP in the culture medium were higher (both P < 0.05) in the medium and high dose BTR groups; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells increased (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expressions of P450arom in ovarian granular cells were higher (P < 0.05, P< 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR groups. In rat BTR containing serum groups: Compared with the control group, the levels of E2 in the culture medium were higher (all P < 0.01), cAMP in the culture medium were higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in the medium and high dose BTR group; the levels of P in the culture medium decreased in the medium dose BTR group (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of FSHR in ovarian granular cells were higher (all P < 0.01), the mRNA expression of P450arom in ovarian granular cells increased in the medium and high dose BTR groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBTR could possibly improve the endocrine function of ovarian granular cells by regulating main effector molecules FSHR, cAMP, P450arom, and E2 in FSH/cAMP-PKA pathway of ovarian granular cells.

Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type I ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Granulosa Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Serum ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the role of flow cytometry (FCM) in detection of polymorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD).

METHODS AND RESULTSTwo patients presented with fever and multiple lymphadenopathy on day 46 and day 50 respectively after successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The symptoms couldn't be controlled by antibiotics. The polymorphic PTLD was diagnosed based on the elevation of bone marrow EB virus DNA and detection of subsets of light chain restricted B cells and/or plasma cells in peripheral blood (PB) samples. The lymphocyte immunophenotypes from PB and/or bone marrow (BM) samples were serially tested by FCM after lowering the dose of immunosupressive agents and treating with antivirus drugs, anti-CD20 antibodies, and cytotoxic T cell infusion. B cells were undetable in two patient, but monoclonal plasma cells appeared or maintained. One patient died after two weeks. Another patient was still on treatment. B cells and plasms cells couldn't be detected in her PB, but there were monoclonal plasma cells in her BM. FCM have a prominent advantage in detect polymorphic PTLD, since it can effectively recognize different cell groups in blood and identify monoclonal subsets. Besides, the immunophenotype of plasma cells in polymorphic PTLD might be different from that in typical plasma cell myeloma.

CONCLUSIONPolymorphic PTLD can be detected and followed up by FCM. BM is more suitable than PB for monitoing the disease. Besides lymph node biopsy, B cell abnormaliity could be detected in PB in allo-HSCT patients.

B-Lymphocytes ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; drug therapy ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; diagnosis

To investigate the mutation site of pathogenic gene in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the relationship between the genotype and clinical phenotype. Methods: Targeted exon capture sequencing was conducted in a HCM proband for 30 coding exons related HCM gene by all exon amplification and high-throughput sequencing. Furthermore, Sanger sequencing was performed in other family member and in 200 healthy volunteers for verification. The familial investigation included in clinical presentation, physical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiography. Results: There were 3/6 blood relatives carrying cardiac myosin-binding protein gene MyBPC3 G772A heterozygous mutation, the mutation site was at 258 amino acid of MyBPC3 as glutamic acid (Glu) was substitute to lysine (Lys), such mutation was not found in rest of family member and not in healthy volunteers. The onset of proband and her daughter was rather late, they had palpitation and chest tightness; echocardiography showed interventricular septum basal segment thickening (16-18) mm. Proband was complicating paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, malignant arrhythmia and heart failure, the maximum pressure gradient of left ventricular outflow was 56 mmHg, which with the high risk for sudden death. Conclusion: Comprehensive gene test has been helpful for clinical stratification, early diagnosis and treatment. MYBPC3 site mutation c.G772A might be the pathogenic mutation in that specific HCM family.

Objective To design and implement a synchronous imaging control system for two modes of cone beam X-ray luminescence CT (CB-XLCT) and CT to provide a software control platform for small animal in vivo imaging.Methods The software control platform was developed with the existing CB-XLCT/CT system,Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 platform,multi thread programming technology and dynamic link library so as to realize synchronous acquisition of two-mode data.The performances of the system imaging were evaluated by designing phantom experiments combined with sparse-view CT reconstruction algorithm.Results The phantom experiments results showed that synchronous imaging control had the acquisition time decreased by 79％ when compared with non-synchronous imaging,and the requirements were met for imaging quality.Conchusion Synchronous imaging control of CB-XLCT/CT facilitates in vivo researches for small animals.

Objective To construct a personalized knee osteotomy instrument(POI)based on 3D printing technology for the total knee arthroplasty(TKA)and to evaluate the precision of POI.Methods The full-length CT scanning and MRI scanning of the affected lower limbs were performed before operation respectively.The data fusion of CT scanning and MRI scanning were performed with the 3D anatomical data,and then the articular cartilage were reconstructed.The force lines were measured with virtual personalized osteotomy,and TKA prosthe-sis installation were calculated by CAD software.Based on CAD mimic,the registration surface of POI for femoral condyle and tibial plateau were designed by Boolean Subraction calculation technique.The shape and limit structure(LS)of POI were designed according to the regis-tration surface and the osteotomy surface.Finally,POI were fabricated by FDM 3D printing technology.Femoral condylar POI and tibial plat-eau POI were manufactured 15 cases in each group.The difference between design and actual values(DDA)of POI and LS size were meas-ured with the DDA of DML calculated.And the deviation of the TKA prosthesis angle from the design value was measured to verify the precision of the osteotomy of POI.Results There was no significant difference in the shape of POI and LS between design and actual values(P>0.05). Moreover,there was no significant difference of DMLs(P>0.05).Meanwhile,there was no significant difference of TKA prosthesis angle be-tween the design and postoperative values(P>0.05).Conclusion 3D printing technique can accurately construct the POI of TKA.POI can accurately register the articular surface and guide the osteotomy in TKA,which is conducive to the precision of TKA operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of parent training combined with methylphenidate treatment on family relationships in children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSFifty-nine parents of children with ADHD under methylphenidate treatment participated in a modified 5-week training program. The intervention effect was evaluated using the Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire, ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home Version (ADHD-RS-IV Home Version), Caregiver Strain Questionnaire, Parent-Child Relationship Self-rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. Parents also completed the training satisfaction survey before and after the intervention.

RESULTSAfter the 5-week parent training, compared with the baseline values, total scores of Conners Parent Symptom Questionnaire and scores of conduct problems and anxiety significantly decreased, and scores of attention deficit, hyperactivity, impulsivity and oppositional defiant behaviors of ADHD-RS-IV Home Version, and Caregiver Strain Questionnaire total scores were all significantly decreased (P<0.05), while total scores of the Parent-Child Relationship Self-Rating Scale and Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale were significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSModified 5-week parent training program may improve parent-child relationship and reduce parenting stress in ADHD families.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Central Nervous System Stimulants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; therapeutic use ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; education ; psychology ; Self Concept

Non-human primates (NHPs) are confirmed as reservoirs of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. In this study, 197 fresh fecal samples from 8 NHP species in Qinling Mountains, northwestern China, were collected and examined using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method. The results showed that 35 (17.8%) samples were positive for tested parasites, including Cryptosporidium spp. (3.0%), G. intestinalis (2.0%), and E. bieneusi (12.7%). Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 6 fecal samples of Macaca mulatta, and were identified as C. parvum (n=1) and C. andersoni (n=5). Subtyping analysis showed Cryptosporidium spp. belonged to the C. andersoni MLST subtype (A4, A4, A4, and A1) and C. parvum 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) subtype IId A15G2R1. G. intestinalis assemblage E was detected in 3 M. mulatta and 1 Saimiri sciureus. Intra-variations were observed at the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi), beta giardin (bg), and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) loci, with 3, 1, and 2 new subtypes found in respective locus. E. bieneusi was found in Cercopithecus neglectus (25.0%), Papio hamadrayas (16.7%), M. mulatta (16.3%), S. sciureus (10%), and Rhinopithecus roxellana (9.5%), with 5 ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genotypes: 2 known genotypes (D and BEB6) and 3 novel genotypes (MH, XH, and BSH). These findings indicated the presence of zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in NHPs in Qinling Mountains. This is the first report of C. andersoni in NHPs. The present study provided basic information for control of cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and microsporidiosis in human and animals in this area.
Animals ; China ; Cryptosporidiosis/*parasitology ; Cryptosporidium/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Enterocytozoon/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Genotype ; Giardia lamblia/classification/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Giardiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Male ; Microsporidiosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Primate Diseases/*parasitology ; Primates/classification/parasitology

BACKGROUNDSclerostin, expressed exclusively by osteocytes, is a negative regulator of bone formation. To gain insights into the action of sclerostin in postmenopausal osteoporosis, we evaluated serum sclerostin levels in postmenopausal women and investigated its possible associations with bone turnover markers in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

METHODSWe detected serum sclerostin, and measured lumbar spine bone mineral density in 650 Chinese postmenopausal women. We also assessed serum levels of β-isomerized C-terminal crosslinking of type I collagen, intact N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen, N-mid fragment of osteocalcin, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and estradiol.

RESULTSSerum sclerostin levels were lower in postmenopausal osteoporotic women compared with non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women ((38.79 ± 7.43) vs. (52.86 ± 6.69) pmol/L, P < 0.001). Serum sclerostin was positively correlated with lumbar spine bone mineral density (r = 0.391, P < 0.001) and weakly negatively correlated with β-isomerized C-terminal crosslinking of type I collagen, intact N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen, N-mid fragment of osteocalcin (r = -0.225, P < 0.001; r = -0.091, P = 0.046; r = -0.108, P = 0.018; respectively) in postmenopausal osteoporosis. There was no significant association of serum sclerostin with age, body mass index, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and estradiol (r = -0.004, P = 0.926; r = 0.067, P = 0.143; r = 0.063, P = 0.165; r = -0.045, P = 0.324; respectively).

CONCLUSIONSclerostin may be involved in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and may play a role in bone turnover.

Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; blood ; Bone Remodeling ; Collagen Type I ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; blood ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Peptides ; blood ; Procollagen ; blood