Objective To study the expression of E-cadherin( E-cad), p-catenin(β-cat) in labial salivary glands of patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS) in order to explore their role in pathogenesis. Methods Biopsies of labial salivary glands were obtained from 52 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls. The immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of E-cad and β-cat. Anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were measured. Semi-quantitative analysis was performed by image analysis software. Ultra-structural changes was used by electron-microscopic techniques. Results ① The area of expression, optical intensity and the accumulated optical intensity of the E-cad group [(2513±1086) μm2, 0.212±0.041, 566 ±297 ] were lower than normal controls. The expression level was reduced as the increase of lymphocyte infiltration focus. ② The area of expression, the optical density and the accumulated optical density of the β- cat group [(12 324±7883) μm2, 0.113±0.031, 566±297] was lower than those of the control group. The expression level was reduced as the increase of the lymphocyte infiltration focus. ③ The E-cad expression and the p-cat expression was positively correlated in the labial gland of patients with pSS. ④ Howev-er, there was difference in the expression of E -cad and β -cat between patients with positive SSA and negative SSA antibodies. Conclusion In salivary samples, the expression of both E-cad and p-cat in patients with pSS is lower than those of the controls. Anti-SSA/SSB antibodies are important parameters of pSS and they may be involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.

ObjectiveTo introduce the indications and operative procedure of anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar ligaments in patients with chronic instability of the distal radioulnar joint(DRUJ),and report its preliminary clinical results.Methods From October 2008 to June 2009,6 patients with instability of the DRUJ underwent anatomical reconstruction using a free palmaris longus tendon graft,including 4 males and 2 females with an average age of 22 years.A 5 cm dorsal incision was made between the fifth and sixth extensor compartments.An L-shaped flap was created in the DRUJ capsule.This flap is then elevated proximally to expose the articular surface of the DRUJ and the proximal triangular fibular cartilage complex(TFCC).A tunnel was made through the radius.The other tunnel was made between the ulnar neck and the fovea of the ulnar head.A whole-length palmaris longus tendon graft was taken.The volar opening of the radius tunnel was exposed through a longitudinal incision radial to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon.One end of the graft was pulled to the palmar side easily through the tunnel.A hemostat was penetrated through the volar capsule to the volar side proximal to the remaining TFCC.The end of the graft was grasped with the hemostat and pulled back along this tract.Both graft limbs were passed through the ulnar tunnel to exit at the ulnar neck.One limb of the tendon was passed around the ulnar neck and deep to the ECU sheath.With the forearm in neutral rotation,the limbs were pulled taut,tied together,and secured with sutures.Immobilize the extremity in a long-arm plaster splint with the forearm in neutral position for 4 weeks,and changed to a short arm cast for an additional four weeks.ResultsThe average follow-up period for all 6 patients was 14 months(range,9-24).No infection and sensory nerve branch disturbance occurred.The pain symptom was reduced and the grip force was improved significantly.A functional evaluation was performed using the modified Mayo wrist scoring system.All patients had better wrist scores postoperatively in the short (mean,95) term compared to preoperatively(mean,69).Five patients satisfied with the final result.Conclusion Anatomic reconstruction of the distal radioulnar ligaments is indicated for chronic DRUJ instability without osteoarthritis,it is a reliable method with a very good short term follow up result.Restoration of the radioulnar ligaments offers the best possibility to restore the normal DRUJ primary constraints and kinematics.

OBJECTIVETo study whether Danggui Shaoyao Powder (DSP) is by way of improving pineal function to realize its anti-aging effects.

METHODSForty aged rats were randomly divided into the sham operated group (A), the pinealectomized group (B), the sham medicated group (C), the pinealectomized and medicated group (D). The medication given was gastric perfusion of DSP for 3 weeks. Learning and memory ability of rats was observed using Morris water maze and the serum melatonin (MLT) concentration of the rats was measured by radio-immunoassay.

RESULTSThe average escape latency in Group B was significantly longer than that in other groups (P <0.05). The times of passing through the platform and the percentage of swimming distance in Group C were significantly higher than those in other groups (P <0.05). The serum MLT was higher at daytime than at night in Group C and D (P <0.05); that at daytime in Group C was higher than Group A (P <0.05) and also higher in Group D than Group B; that at daytime was higher in Group C than Group D; that at night markedly decreased in Group D as compared with Group B (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDSP could increase the melatonin secretion and improve learning and memory ability. Since its effects reduced after pinealectomy, it could be deduced that improving pineal function should be one of the action mechanisms for anti-aging.

Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Learning ; drug effects ; Melatonin ; blood ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pineal Gland ; drug effects ; secretion ; Powders ; Rats

Objective To test the RET-proto-oncogene in a multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2( MEN2) family for confirming the diagnosis and classification , guiding treatment and prevention , and improving the prog-nosis.Methods There were 2 patients of MEN2 with clinical diagnosis and 1 asymptomatic first-degree relative in the pedigree .PCR and direct gene sequencing of PCR produces were used to scan the entire 21 exons of RET-proto-oncogene in the 3 members of the pedigree and 3 normal controls .Results The 2 patients and 1 asympto-matic first-degree relative in the pedigree all had a mutation of the codon 634 in exon 11.It was a heterozygous missense mutation C634R(TGC → CGC).The 3 normal controls showed no abnormalities .Conclusion The gene test of RET proto-oncogene helps to confirm the diagnosis of the pedigree as MEN 2, which can guide the treatment and help identify one asymptomatic mutation carrier .

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis and the relationship between the histopathologic score and the expression of VEGF.Methods Adjuvant arthritis was established in Wistar rats by inoculating complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). We calculated the arthropathologic score and the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein at different stages after CFA inoculation.Results In model group the arthropathologic score and expression of VEGF protein in synovium increased significantly all the time (P

The cDNA fragment encoding the truncated GP5 and the full-length M protein of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrone Virus (PRRSV) were orderly fused to the downstream of glutathione S-transferase (GST) of pGEX-KG expression vector, resulting in the fusion expression plasmid pKG-56. After transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and induced by IPTG, the results of SDS-PAGE showed that the GST-GP5-M fusion protein was expressed in high level. Western-blot was performed to confirm that the expressed fusion protein could specifically react with antiserum against PRRSV. The fusion protein was further purified and used as an antigen to establish a novel PRRSV ELISA diagnose assay (P56-ELISA). Comparison between P56-ELISA and the abroad kit IDEXX-ELISA showed the two methods had 94.1 percent agreement by detecting 205 serum samples, indicating that the indirect P56-ELISA was specific and sensitive. The correlation between virus neutralization antibody of the infected pigs (not convalescent pigs) and antibody response to the fusion protein GP5-M was further studied. The regression function analysis suggested that there was no significant correlation between ELISA antibody response (OD630 nm) to the fusion protein GP5-M in clinical serum and their specific neutralizing titers.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glutathione Transferase ; metabolism ; Open Reading Frames ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Swine ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIMTo synthesize new fluoroquinolone analogues as antibacterial compounds.

METHODS AND RESULTSBy reaction of acryl chloride(chloro-carbonic ester) with sodium sulfocyanate, acyl isosulfocyanic ester were easily obtained. Twelve 7-(4-acylamino-thiocarbamoyl-1-piperazinyl) fluoroquinolone analogues (1-12) were synthesized through modifying the 7-piperazine of norflorxacin and ciprofloxacin with isosulfocyanic ester synthesized above. The structures of synthesized compounds were characterized by 1HNMR, IR and elemental analysis.

CONCLUSIONAntibacterial activities of the new compounds were evaluated in vitro compared with norflorxacin. Compounds 5, 7, 10 and 12 showed antibacterial activities.

Anti-Infective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis ; drug effects ; Ciprofloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Fluoroquinolones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Norfloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression changes of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in neuropathic pain.

METHODSEighty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 180-220 g were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 12) : control group; S3, S7, and S14 groups: rats received the sham operation, the mechanical pain threshold was measured, and then the rats were decapitated and the ipsilateral lumbar spinal cord dorsal horn and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) samples were obtained on the 3rd, 7th, 14th postoperative day, respectively; C3, C7, and C14 groups: the chronic sciatic nerve constriction (CCI) model was established, the mechanical pain threshold was measured and the samples were obtained on the 3rd, 7th, 14th postoperative day, respectively. The expression level of mGluR5 mRNA and protein in the spinal cord and DRG were measured using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.

RESULTSIn the CCI group, the mechanical pain threshold in each observation day was significantly lower than in the sham operation group (P < 0.05). In the spinal cord, the expressions of mGluR5 mRNA and protein were significantly elevated in the C3 group than in the S3 and the control group (P < 0.05). On the 7th and the 14th postoperative day, no significant difference was found in the expression of mGluR5 mRNA and protein between CCI groups and the sham operation groups or the control group. No change was detected in DRG mRNA or protein.

CONCLUSIONmGluR5 is differentially expressed in spinal cord in response to neuropathic pain, which suggests that mGluR5 may be involved in the mechanism of neuropathic pain.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuralgia ; metabolism ; Pain Threshold ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Metabotropic Glutamate 5 ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Naohuandan (NHD) in treating senile dementia (SD).

METHODSClinical study: Fifty-eight patients with SD, whose diagnosis conforms to the Diagnostic Standard of DSM-IV issued by American Association of Psychiatry, were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups. The 30 patients in the treated group were treated with NHD, 4 capsules each time, 3 times daily. The 28 patients in the control group were treated with Piracetam, 1.6 g each time, 3 times daily. The therapeutic course for both groups was 3 months. The therapeutic efficacy was estimated and compared by comprehensive scores of memory and cognition, scores of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Experimental study: Rats were divided into the control group, the model group and the high-dosage and low-dosage NHD treated groups. The protective effect of NHD on the per-oxidative damage of hippocampal neurons in beta-amyloid protein induced SD model was observed and the related criteria were determined.

RESULTSClinical study showed that both NHD and Piracetam could improve the clinical symptoms of patients, the two medicines showing insignificant difference in total effective rate. But NHD was better in elevating MMSE score and lowering ADL score in patients than Piracetam (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Experimental study showed that (1) 24 and 72 hrs after modeling, the activity of SOD and GSH were lower and the level of MDA higher in the model group than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the model group at the corresponding time points, in the high-dosage NHD group, SOD and GSH were higher, MDA was lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); but in the low-dosage NHD group, SOD at the 72nd hr was higher (P < 0.05) and MDA at 24th and 72nd hrs was lower (P < 0.01). And most of the criteria in the high-dosage NHD group was improved better than that in the low-dosage NHD group. (2) The survival rates of neurons in various groups were not different significantly (P > 0.05) 24 hrs after modeling, but that in the high-dosage NHD group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.01) and in the low-dosage NHD group 72 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNHD is an effective Chinese herbal preparation for treatment of SD, and its mechanism is related with its inhibition on peroxidative injury and protection on neurons.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Acromioclavicular Joint ; injuries ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Dislocation ; classification ; surgery