OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tangke Decoction (TD) on the expression of TGF-beta1/Smad4 of rats with early diabetes and to explore the effect and mechanism of TD against the renal injury induced by diabetes.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n = 12), the model group (n = 10), the Chinese herbs prevented group (n =10), the Chinese herbs treated group (n = 10), and the Western medicine control group (n = 10). TD (18 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the Chinese herbs prevented group immediately after successful modeling for 12 weeks, once daily. At the 4th week of successful modeling, rats in the rest 4 groups were administered by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group. Benazepril suspension (1 mg/kg) was administered by gastrogavage to rats in the Western medicine control group for 8 weeks, once daily. TD (18 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage to rats in the Chinese herbs treated group for 8 weeks, once daily. The body weight, kidney weight, index of kidney weight, fasting blood sugar, 24 h urinary albumin excretion rate were examined after experiment. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed by HE staining, Masson staining, and electron microscope. The expression of renal transforming growth factor-beta1, (TGF-beta1) and Smad4 were detected using immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the body weight of rats decreased significantly; the kidney weight, index of kidney weight, blood sugar, 24 h urinary protein excretion, the urinary albumin excretion rate,TGF-beta1 and Smad4 expression increased significantly in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the aforesaid indices were improved in each treatment group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the Western medicine control group, the kidney weight, index of kidney weight, blood sugar, 24 h urinary protein excretion, and the urinary albumin excretion rate were obviously improved in the Chinese herbs prevented group (P < 0.01). The renal pathological changes were most obvious in the model group significantly, but they were improved in all treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONTD could obviously improve the symptoms of diabetes and down-regulate the expression of renal TGF-beta1 and Smad4 of early diabetic nephropathy rats, which suggested that TD had certain preventive effect on early diabetic nephropathy.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To express,purify and identify recombinant hepatitis E virus(HEV) pb166-GST fusion protein using GST gene fusion system and investigate its potential role in researching Hepatitis E diagnostic antigen field.Methods The recombinant E.coli BL21 performed by our own laboratory was used to induce the HEV pb166-GST expression with IPTG.The products were purified by BD Biosience GST purifying system.The specific expression was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.The experiment conditions and results were described and analysed.Results The resolved HEV pb166-GST fusion protein on SDS-PAGE showed a major band at position of 43 kD.The expressed proteins had a single expected band after purify and the protein was recognized by anti-GST antibody on PVDF membrane.Conclusion The recombinant HEV pb166-GST fusion protein is expressed in recombinant E.coli BL21 efficiently in this way,and might be used as a candidate for diagnostic antigen of HEV.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical treatment of the posterior dislocation of the elbow with coroniod and radial head fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2004 to March 2009, 9 patients with terrible triad of the elbow were reviewed. There were 7 males and 2 females (4 left elbows and 5 right elbows), with an average age of 41.2 years, ranged from 21 to 67 years. The radial head fractures were classified according to the Schatzker-Tile criteria: 4 patients had the fractures of type I, 3 patients had type II and 2 patients had type III. The ulnar coronoid fractures were classified according to the Regan-Morrey criteria: 2 patients had the fractures of type I, 5 patients had type II and 2 patients had type III. The general approach was used to repair the damaged structures sequentially from deep to superficial, through coronoid, anterior capsule, radial head, and lateral ligament complex to common extensor origin. If there was valgus instability in the elbow after the operation, the medial collateral ligament should be repaired with nonabsorption sutures. The plaster was applied for 7 to 10 days with elbow flexion in 90 degrees and the forearm in full pronation. Unrestricted motions and rehabilitation began at the 8th week after operation. Recovery of regular occupation depended on the degree of physical activity required, and it typically took 3 months for heavy physical laborers to return to work.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 6 months to 5 years, with a mean duration of (31 +/- 6) months. At the 3rd month after operation, the mean rang of motion in flexion and extension of the elbow was (102 +/- 3) degrees (ranged from 80 degrees to 110 degrees), and the mean range of motion in pronation and supination of the forearm was (135 +/- 6) degrees (100 degrees to 150 degrees). According to the criteria of the Mayo scoreing system, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case. Three patients had heterotopic ossification at the 6th month after operation. Among them, 2 patients had no effects on elbow function and were not treated, 1 patient had effects on flexion-extension of the elbow and was treated with resection of heterotopic ossification through lateral approach combined with early rehabilitation, the MEP score of the patient improved from fair to good.

CONCLUSIONThe key points for treating the terrible triad of the elbow are to restore the elbow normal anatomy and early rehabilitation to avoid the elbow stiff.

Adult ; Aged ; Elbow Joint ; injuries ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Dislocations ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Ulna Fractures ; complications ; physiopathology ; surgery

AIMTo study the relationships between dyspnea and respiratory drive or respiratory muscle function in COPD.

METHODSThirty-one patients with COPD and 26 normal subjects were involved in the study. Routine pulmonary function, pulmonary diffusing capacity, P0.1, PI(max) were measured at rest. Oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), minute ventilation (VE) etc were observed during exercise test. Dyspnea was assessed with Borg Scale (BS) simultaneously. Arterial blood gas measured before and after exercise.

RESULTS(1) PI(max) of COPD (5.33 +/- 1.95) kPa decreased compared with the normal subjects (7.02 +/- 2.53) kPa, P < 0.05, P0.1 of COPD (0.37 +/- 0.12) kPa increased compared with the normal subjects (0.26 +/- 0.09) kPa, P < 0.05, inspiratory drive efficacy (V(T)/P0.1) of COPD (1.6 +/- 0.31) L/kPa decreased than that of the normal subjects (2.1 +/- 0.53) L/kPa, P < 0.05. P0.1/PI(max) of COPD (0.069 +/- 0.021) was higher than that of the normal individuals (0.037 +/- 0.009), P < 0.01. (2) Peak exercise dyspnea was correlated with dyspnea at rest and P0.1/PI(max) (r = 0.41, P < 0.05 and r = 0.48, P < 0.05, respectively), and P0.1/PI(max) was also positively correlated with the change in BS from rest to maximal exercise (deltaBS) (r = 0.44, P < 0.05) in COPD patients.

CONCLUSIONIn COPD, breathlessness during exercise is not simply related to hyperinflation and the damaged gas exchange, but also to the relatively increased respiratory drive and dysfunction of respiratory muscle.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Dyspnea ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Respiratory Function Tests

Objective: To analyze the features and patterns of acupoint selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) by data mining technique. Methods:Relevant clinical studies published before 25 June, 2017 were searched in databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang). Results:A total of 122 papers were included, involving 69 points. It was found that the top three points on the frequency list were Zusanli (ST 36), Zhongwan (CV 12) and Weishu (BL 21). The points selected were distributed in 11 meridians, in which the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Conception Vessel, and Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang ranked the top and accounted for 74.0％ of the total frequency. Of the involved specific points, Five Shu-Transmitting points, crossing points and Back-Shu points ranked the top, accounting for 47.1％. The analysis of association pattern has shown that Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhongwan (CV 12) won the highest support rate in the paired groups; Zusanli (ST 36), Weishu (BL 21) and Zhongwan (CV 12) had the highest support rate among the point groups. The Five Shu-Transmitting points and the Lower He-Sea points had the highest support rate among the specific point groups. Conclusion: The data mining results of the studies on acupuncture-moxibustion for CAG are substantially in line with the acupuncture-moxibustion treatment theories in traditional Chinese medicine. The results can reflect the acupoint selection patterns in treatment of CAG and provide reference for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of CAG in clinic.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of adenosine on endothelin-1 (ET-1) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and reperfusion and explore the possible mechanism of no-reflow.

METHODSTwenty-four mini-swine were randomized into three study groups: control group (n=8), adenosine treated group (n=8), and sham-operated group (n=8). The mini-swine in the groups were subjected to 3 hours of coronary occlusion, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion except those in the sham-operated group. The levels of ET-1 in blood sample, normal, infracted reflow and no-reflow myocardium were evaluated by radioimmuno-assay (RIA). The gene expressions of ET-1 in normal, infracted reflow and no-reflow myocardium were quantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSIn both control group and adenosine group, compared with that at the baseline, ET-1 in blood sample significantly increased at 5 minutes and 180 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, as well as 5 and 60 minutes of reperfusion (all P < 0.01). In adenosine group, the levels of ET-1 were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In both control group and adenosine group, compared with that in normal myocardium, ET-1 levels in both infarcted reflow and no-reflow myocardium significantly increased (both P < 0.01), with the level of ET-1 in no-reflow myocardium significantly higher than that in infarcted reflow myocardium (P < 0.01). In adenosine group, the level of ET-1 in infarcted reflow myocardium was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). In both control and adenosine groups, compared with that in normal myocardium, the gene expression of ET-1 in infarcted reflow myocardium was significantly up-regulated (P < 0.01), while that of ET-1 in. no-reflow myocardium significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01). In adenosine group, the level of ET-1 in infarcted reflow myocardium was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe endothelium injury may be one of the important mechanisms for no-reflow phenomenon. Adenosine cay prevent endothelium from injury to reduce no-reflow.

Adenosine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature

Major and profound changes have taken place in China over the past 30 years. Rapid socioeconomic progress has exerted a great impact on lifestyle, ranging from food, clothing, working and living conditions, and means of transportation to leisure activities and entertainment. At the same time, new health problems have emerged, and health services are facing new challenges. Presently, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the top health problems of the Chinese people, and pose a serious challenge to all engaged in the prevention and control of these diseases. An epidemic of CVD in China is emerging as a result of lifestyle changes, urbanization and longevity. Both national policy decision-making and medical practice urgently need an authoritative report which comprehensively reflects the trends in the epidemic of CVD and current preventive measures. Since 2005, guided by the Bureau of Disease Prevention of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China and the National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases of China, nationwide experts in the fields of epidemiology, clinical medicine and health economics in the realms of CVD, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, completed the Report on Cardiovascular Diseases in China every year. The report aims to provide a timely review of the trend of the epidemic and to assess the progress of prevention and control of CVD. In addition, as the report is authoritative, representative and readable, it will become an information platform in the CVD field and an important reference book for government, academic institutes, medical organizations and clinical physicians. This publication is expected to play a positive role in the prevention and control of CVD in China. We present an abstract from the Report on Cardiovascular Diseases in China (2010), including trends in CVD, morbidity and mortality of major CVDs, up-to-date assessment of risk factors, as well as health resources for CVD, and a profile of medical expenditure, with the aim of providing evidence for decision-making in CVD prevention and control programs in China, and of delivering the most authoritative information on CVD prevention and control for all citizens.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronary Disease ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Diabetes Complications ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias ; complications ; epidemiology ; Epidemics ; Heart Failure ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Metabolic Syndrome ; Motor Activity ; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Overweight ; complications ; epidemiology ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Stroke ; epidemiology ; mortality ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDTransforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) exerts strong fibrogenic potential in culture-activated HSCs. Smad4 is a key intracellular mediator for the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of growth factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the antisense Smad4 gene on Ito cell line, LI90.

METHODSThe recombinant retroviral vector pLXSN-Smad4 was constructed by cloning the rat antisense Smad4 cDNA into the retroviral vector pLXSN. Retroviruses with or without the antisense gene were obtained by transfecting pLXSN-Smad4 and pLXSN vectors into PA317 cells. Human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) LI90 were infected with these retroviruses followed by selection with G418. The expression of Smad4 was detected by Northern and Western blots. Cell biological characteristics, including cell growth curve, 3H-TdR and 3H-proline uptake by HSCs and the production of extracellular matrix were assessed.

RESULTSmRNA and protein expressions of Smad4 in LI90 cells transfected with retrovirus containing the antisense Smad4 gene were much lower than those in LI90 cells transfected with empty vector or parental LI90 cells. Cells hypoexpressing the Smad4 gene exhibited a slower rate of growth, a lower uptake of 3H-TdR and 3H-proline (P < 0.01), and smaller production of th extracellular matrix, compared with parental LI90 cells and cells transfected with empty retrovirus.

CONCLUSIONSThe antisense Smad4 gene can suppress the expression of the Smad4 gene, reduce endogenous production of Smad4 mRNA and protein, block TGF-beta1 signaling pathway, inhibit activation of Ito cells, obstruct the growth of Ito cells, decrease the production of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our results may provide a basis for the development of antifibrotic gene therapy.

Cell Line ; DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Smad4 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo obtain allelic loss mapping and define the minimal lost region on chromosome 1q21 in gastric carcinomas, and explore role of 1q21 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the development and progression of gastric carcinogenesis.

METHODSUsing 7 high-density microsatellite markers and PCR method, lq21 LOH was analyzed in 30 paired specimens of fresh gastric carcinoma, and the relation between 1q21 LOH and the clinicopathological features of the malignancy was tested.

RESULTSThe LOH frequency on chromosome 1q21 from these gastric carcinoma tissues reached 60% (18/30). The LOH frequencies of the microsatellite markers D1S514, D1S2696, D1S498, D1S305, D1S2624, D1S2635 and D1S2702 were 13.3%, 10%, 20%, 23.3%, 33.3%, 40% and 23.3%, respectively. The minimal lost region on 1q21 LOH in the gastric carcinoma tissues was located in the region between D1S2624 and D1S2707, in the vicinity of D1S2635. No significant relations of 1q21 LOH to the patients' age, gender, location of the primary foci, clinical staging, or the tumor differentiation were noted (P>0.05), but 1q21 LOH was correlated to lymph node metastases of the malignancy (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigher frequency of 1q21 LOH occurs in gastric carcinoma cells, suggesting the presence of potential tumor suppressor genes closely associated with gastric carcinogenesis near the region of D1S2635.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics

Esophagustype cervical spondylosis is easily misdiagnosed or missed diagnosed for its lower incidence. The pathological basis manily concerned with compression of osteophyte for esophageal and tracheal wall and local inflammatory reaction. The diagnosis of disease is generally not difficult. Especially dynamic esophagogram could not only show degree of cervical degeneration and osteophyte shape, but also could clearly observe location and degree of osteophytosis indenting esophageal and tracheal. Recently, the treatment of esophagustype cervical spondylosis has been the focus of attention. It is generally believed that conservative treatment could alleviate disease but could not cure it. More and more scholars tend to treat disease by surgical resection of osteophyte to relieve compression for esophagus, and clinical symptoms could obviously improved. However, long-term follow up is lack, and further follow-up effect is lack of powerful support, anddifferent treatment methods and surgical procedures are lack of comparative research.