Objective To study the effects of dammarane sapogenins ( DS-1226 ) on sleep interruption-induced learning and memory impairment in mice.Methods 130 SPF healthy 5 -6-week old male ICR mice were randomly divided into control, model, DS-1226 low dose, DS-1226 medium dose and DS-1226 high dose groups.The behavioral alterations in open field (OF), Morris water maze (MWM) and step-through (ST) tests were detected at 15 days after rotating drum-induced sleep interruption ( SI) .Results The total distance, movement speed, total duration of movement were increased in OF test ( P<0.05, vs.the model group) after treatment.The latency of place navigation was increased from day 5 in the MWM test after 15 d sleep interruption, and the number of crossing in the target quadrant and the percent distance in target quadrant were decreased after 15 d sleep interruption ( P <0.05, vs.the control group), while the latency of place navigation was decreased, and the percent distance in target quadrant and percent time in target quadrant after high dose DS-1226 oral administration ( P<0.05, vs.the model group) were increased.Error times, distance in dark chamber, time in dark chamber and immobility time in dark chamber were increased in training of step through test ( P<0.05, vs.the control group);while these indexes were decreased after DS-1226 oral administration ( P<0.05, vs.the model group) .But there was no significant difference in the step through testing course.Conclusions The results show that orally administrated DS-1226 can ameliorate SI-induced learning and memory impairment, and there is a significant dosage-effect relationship.

OBJECTIVETo improve the recognization and treatment for oral venous lakes (OVL).

METHODSClinicopathologically analysis of 20 cases of oral venous lakes was performed. All the samples were removed by surgically.

RESULTSAll the lesions occurred in senile persons and located under the mucosa. Among the 20 cases, 11 were male patients and 9 were female; 18 of 20 occurred in the lower lip, another two in the upper lip and buccal mucosa. The lesions were 0.3 approximately 1.2 cm in size. Pathologically, the oral venous lake was composed of single or a few large, dilated and irregular veins. Thrombosis and organization were found within the lesions sometimes.

CONCLUSIONSOral venous lakes are a kind of focal anomalies of venous structure. All the 20 cases (with a follow-up time from 8 months to 4 years) has no recurrence after surgical treatment.

Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lip Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Vascular Diseases ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the predictors of long-term remission of type 2 diabetes induced by short-term intensive insulin treatment.Methods Fifty-four cases of diabetes mellitus with the duration of illness less than 5 years received an intensive insulin treatment for 2 weeks.The standard meal test and intravenous glucose tolerance test were performed at the baseline and 24 h after treatment completion respectively.Long-term remission meant that the diabetic patients should maintain the target glyeaemic control without any hypoglyeaemie agent within one year.Results The remission rate was 57.4% (31/54) overall,and even reached to 80.6% (29/36) in patients with the duration of illness less than 6 months,whereas,the remission rate was only 11.1% (2/18) in those with the duration of illness more than 12 months.In another view,the remission rate was significantly higher in the patients with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of less than 7 mmol/L (78.8%,26/ 33) 24 h after intensive treatment than those with FPG level of more than 7 mmol/L (23.8%,5/21,P

X-linked sideroblastic anemia (XLSA) is caused by mutations of erythroid-specific 5-aminolevulinate synthetase (ALAS2) gene. In this study a eukaryotic expression vector of ALAS2 was constructed and transfected into eukaryotic cells to observe the expression of ALAS2 gene. The full length cDNA of ALAS2 gene was inserted into plasmid pDs-red2-N1, named pDs-red2-N1/ALAS2. Then, the vector was transfected into K562 cells via electroporation. At 48 hours after transfection, total RNA from K562 cells was extracted, expressions of ALAS2 gene and protein with red fluorescence in the K562 cells were detected by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The vector was also transfected into COS 7 cells via liposome. Both mRNA and protein expression in COS7 cells were detected by RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy. The result showed that after the pDs-red2-N1/ALAS2 eukaryotic expression vector was digested by KpnI and BamHI, two fragments of 4 700 bp and 1 764 bp were displayed by electrophoresis on agarose gel. Sequence method confirmed that the sequence was correct. RT-PCR amplified the total RNA extracted from the transfected K562 and COS7 cells, and could find mRNA of ALAS2 gene that can't be found in K562 and COS7 cells usually. The expressions of both fluorescein and ALAS2 were significantly increased. The percentage of positive cells reached about 19.2% and 10.7%, respectively. ALAS2 expression lasted for 10 days in COS7 cells and the peak was at the third day. It is concluded that the eukaryotic expression vector of ALAS2 gene is successfully constructed; K562 and COS7 cells transfected with the vector via electroporation and liposome can express ALAS2 protein. So, the vector has the potential in gene replacement and can be used for patients with XLSA in future.
5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase ; genetics ; Anemia, Sideroblastic ; genetics ; therapy ; Animals ; COS Cells ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVECongenital nephrotic syndrome (CNS) is defined as heavy proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome occurring before 3 months of age. It is characterized by early onset, resistance to steroid therapy and progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In recent years, several genes associated with CNS have been identified, such as NPHS1, NPHS2 and WT1. The mutations of these genes have been identified in the patients with CNS in Finland, other European countries, North Africa, North America, and Asia, respectively. However, the investigation of the above genes has not been performed in Chinese CNS patients. In this study, NPHS1 mutations in a Chinese family with CNS were detected and analyzed.

METHODSThere were two CNS patients in the investigated family. The proband, a 45-day-old boy, was born at fullterm and weighed 2700 g at birth. The placenta weighed 450 g. At the age of 10 days, generalized edema, proteinuria, hypoproteinemia, and hypoalbuminemia were found without renal insufficiency. The proband's sister, with the same phenotype and normal renal function, underwent renal biopsy at 5 years of age. Their parents and elder half-sister all had normal phenotypes. Genomic DNA samples were extracted from peripheral bloods of the proband, his family members and 50 unrelated, normal individuals. All 29 exons and exon-intron boundaries of NPHS1 were detected in the proband by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), direct DNA sequencing, and restriction enzyme analysis.

RESULTSThree heterozygous mutations of NPHS1, namely, G928A (D310N), 1893-1900del 8 (CGAAACCG), and G2869C (V957L) were identified in the proband. These mutations involved exons 8, 14, and 21. The same genotype was found in the proband's sister who had the same phenotype, but was not detected in proband's elder half-sister who had normal phenotype. Fifty normal individuals had no these mutations. The proband's mother with normal urinalysis had G928A (D310N) heterozygous mutation, and the father with normal urinalysis had two heterozygous mutations of 1893-1900del 8 (CGAAACCG) and G2869C (V957L). At the same time, three types of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), E117K (rs3814995), S1105S (rs2071327), and IVS27+45c > t, were confirmed in the proband. Another variant, IVS8+68 a > g had also been found.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report about NPHS1 mutations in Chinese CNS kindred. These three heterozygous mutations of NPHS1 are novel genetic defects of CNS, which have not been described before.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; congenital ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Abstract: Rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) is one of the structural domains of pectin whose structure is highly conserved among species. The main chain of RG-II consists of approximately nine galacturonic acids linked by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds, with six well-defined side chains replacing them (A−F). The structures of the disaccharide side chains C and D and the monosaccharide side chains E and F in RG-II from different sources remain essentially the same. In contrast, the oligosaccharide side chains A and B showed slight variability. Structural characterization of RG-II can be achieved by molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and mass spectrometry. The polysaccharides containing RG-II structural domains in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have high medicinal value. Isolation of RG-II can be achieved using endo-polygalacturonase (Endo-PG) and Penicillium oxalicum. A substantial number of RG-II standards can be rapidly prepared from red wine for the development of new quantitative methods to realize the quality control of active polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines and to promote the research process of polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicines.

The residents who had lived for at least 5 years and aged over 20 years old were sampled from urban to rural districts of Jiangsu Province with a stratified cluster sampling technique. B mode ultrasonography and thyroid function determination were carried out in 6 128 persons. The location, diameter, number, boundary, and calcification in thyroid nodules were described by using 7.5 MHz/50 mm transducer of thyroid ultrasonography. TSH was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Free triiodothyronine(FT3)and free thyroxin(FT4)were measured when TSH was abnormal. The crude prevalence of thyroid nodules was 21.12% in total population, 14.55% in male, and 25.24% in female. The standardized prevalence was 15.69%, 11.20%, and 20.40%, respectively. The prevalence was lower in male than in female, and increased with age(P＜0.05). Thyroid nodules in Jiangsu Province were highly prevalent and more attention should be paid to the follow-up, early diagnosis, and treatment.

OBJECTIVETo review the operative technique of trephine arthrodesis of subtalar joints and evaluate its clinical effect.

METHODSFrom June 1998 to October 2006, we performed subtalar arthrodesis on 38 feet of 34 patients for a variety of painful disorders of hindfoot with trephine technique. Clinical and radiologic follow-up evaluations were performed for 45 months on average (range, 21 to 110 months) after arthrodesis.

RESULTSNo severe complications were found in this study except one patient with dropfoot and two with skin necrosis. The average ankle-hindfoot scores of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) was improved from 48.3 preoperatively to 79.2 postoperatively (P<0.05). The pain scores of visual analogue scales (VAS) decreased from 7.2 (range, 3 to 10) preoperatively to 2.6 (range, 1 to 6) postoperatively (P<0.05). Subjectively, the patients experienced improvements in pain, function, cosmesis, and shoewearing. Overall, 30 patients were satisfied and all patients would have this procedure again under similar circumstances. Postoperative radiology showed that complete union was found in 35 feet 6 months after operation, with the successful union rate of 92.1%. There was an increase in arthritic scores for 5 ankles, 4 talonavicular joints, 4 calcaneocuboid joints, and 4 midfoot joints. Nonunion occurred in 3 subtalar joints with anterolateral approach, which required revision arthrodesis.

CONCLUSIONIsolated subtalar arthrodesis with trephine method is an effective procedure for painful malalignment of hindfoot.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthrodesis ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Measurement ; Subtalar Joint ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate and analyze the wounded's state of ear, nose, throat, neck and head injury in Wenchuan earthquake.

METHODSThe 206 wounded cases, who was treated in No. 452 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, were investigated specially with emphasis on injury cause, severity and treatment.

RESULTSThe injured 165 cases among the 206 were in hospital, while the cases who related to the injury of ear, nose and throat were 37 cases (22.4%). Among the inpatients, the trauma of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck included: ear injuries totally 13 cases (including hemotympanum 2 cases), extraneous matter 4 cases, haemorrhagic 4 cases, nasalis and the fracture of nasal bone and nasal sinuses 7 cases (including cerebrospinal rhinorrhea 1 case), zygomatic abscess 1 case, fracture of mandible 4 cases, lip injuries 2 cases and hoarse 2 cases. The inpatients were wounded mostly because of falling and stepping. All the inpatients recovered well after properly management by ENT doctors.

CONCLUSIONSMaxillofacial injury of the wounded those were medical evacuation in the earthquake area, was ignored more readily comparing to the injury of other spots, so specialist should examine early and treat properly the people as soon as possible.

Adolescent ; China ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; therapy ; Disasters ; Ear, External ; injuries ; Ear, Middle ; injuries ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; therapy ; Neck Injuries ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (c-JNK) signaling pathway on voltage-gated potassium channel (Kv) remodeling in left ventricular myocytes of diabetic rats,and explore the intrinsic regulatory mechanism.Methods Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into DM group (n=25,modeling with streptozotocin induction) and control group (n=20,fed with normal diet).Transient outward potassium current (Ito) of rats' ventricular myocytes in DM group and control group was recorded by whole-cell patch-clamp method.The c-Jun activity was detected using a non-radioactive JNK kinase assay kit (Cell Signaling Technology).JNK inhibitor SP600125 was used to incubate the cardiomyocytes of diabetes rats in vitro,and then the changes of I,o in cardiomyocytes were observed.Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor--auranofin (AF) was used to treat the rats' cardiomyocytes incubated with SP600125,and then the changes of Ito in cardiomyocytes were observed.The content of Kv4.2 was tested using anti-Kv4.2 antibody,and the results were analyzed using a UVP bioimaging system.Results The JNK activity in DM group rose more than 1 times compared with control group,while the density of Ito decreased significantly (Control:30.2 ± 3.3pA/pF,n=16;DM:15.3 ± 2.1pA/pF,n=17;P＜0.05).The ventricular myocytes of DM rats were treated with SP600125 (10μmol/Lol/L) for 4 hours,then the Ito density increased to control group level (DM+SP600125:32.3 ± 3.7pA/pF,n=18;Control:30.2 ± 3.3pA/pF,n=16;P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the maximum Ito density between the treated with SP600125 (Control+SP600125:31.6 ± 3.4pA/pF,n=18) and untreated control groups.The Ito density in DM myocardial cells significantly increased after treatment with the membrane permeable protein inhibitor JNKI-1 (10μmol/L),and no changes were found in control group after the same treatment.The augmentation effect of SP600125 on Ito current in DM myocytes was significantly inhibited by TrxR inhibitor auranofin (lμmol/L) (DM+SP600125+AF:15.7 ± 3.3pA/pF,n=15),while AF did not change the Ito density in control group.The expression of Kv4.2 protein was significantly increased in DM rats after administration of SP600125,which was consistent with the changes of Ito current observed in the myocardium of DM rats,although not fully restored to the level of control group myocardium.JNK inhibitor did not markedly alter the expression of Kv4.2 protein in control group myocardium.Conclusions Kv channel remodeling in DM rat's myocardium is redox-regulated,and the Ito remodeling might be assisted with the persistent activation of c-JNK signaling pathway.It has showed that c-JNK activity is significantly increased in DM rat heart and the current density of Kv channels is reduced.The inhibition of JNK signaling pathway can markedly improve Kv channel reconstruction and the process may be regulated by thioredoxin system.