Objective To investigate the effects of kidney-deficiency on auditory cortex metabolism in the elderly by using the proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS).Methods 50 volunteers,including 20 young subjects and 30 older subjects matched for gender,were measured by pure tone audiometry、“kidney-deficiency”-related test and were executed 3.0 T multi-voxel 1H-MRS tests,The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA),choline (Cho) and lactate (Lac) to creatine (Cr) were measured and were compared between the two groups.The t-test analysis were used for statistic process.The relationship between auditory cortex metabolism and the symptom of kidney-deficiency was also analyzed.Resnlts The result of kidney-deficiency-related test and pure tone audiometry revealed that there was significant difference between the two groups and the older subjects had the more severity kidney-deficiency and high-frequency hearing loss (t=6.335、19.558,P＜0.05).The NAA/Cho ratio in the auditory cortex in the older group was significantly lower than that in the younger group (t=2.90,P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between two groups for the ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr (t=1.415、0.927,P＞0.05).Decrease of the ratio of NAA/Cho in the older group is significantly related with kidneT-deficiency(r=- 0.773,P=0.025).Conclusion kidney-deficiency play a very important role in the hearing loss and reduction of the number of neurons in auditory cortex of older healthy subjects.It suggests one possible underlying mechanism for the speech perception difficulties exhibited by aging adults.

Aim To investigate the effects of ursolic acid from loquat leaves on proliferation inhibition and expression of PPAR-γ 、TGF-β1 in rat hepatic stellate cells, so as to explore the mechanism of anti-hepatic fibrosis of UA.Methods HSC-T6 cells were randomly divided into blank group, rosiglitazone control group, the low, medium and high concentration of UA group to detect the cell proliferation inhibition by CCK-8 after 24,48,72 h.The content of type collagen Ⅰ in cell culture supernatant of each group was examined by ELISA.The expression of PPAR-γ mRNA, TGF-β1 mRNA in HSC-T6 cells exposured were examined by real-time quantitative PCR.Effects on HSC-T6 PPAR-γ and TGF-β1 protein from each group were detected by immunocytochemical method.Results CCK-8 results showed that the inhibitory rate of UA on cell proliferation increased with the prolongation of drug action time(P<0.01).ELISA results showed that with the increase of the concentration of UA, the content of type Ⅰ collagen content decreased(P<0.01).Real-time PCR results showed that with the increase of the concentration of UA, and the expression of PPAR-γ mRNA increased, the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA decreased(P<0.01).The results of immunocytochemistry showed that the expression of PPAR-γ protein was increased, and the expression of TGF-β1 protein was decreased with the increase of the concentration of UA(P<0.01).All effects mentioned above were dose-dependent.Moreover, the effects in the high concentration groups were stronger than those in control group.Conclusion UA can inhibit the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells, Which may be associated with the up-regulation of PPAR-γ expression and the down-regulation of TGF-β1 expression.

Objective To observe the effect and the skin flap necrosis situation of low concentration methylene blue dye in sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer compared with normal concentration methylene blue dye.Methods One hundred and thirty-eight cases patients with early breast cancer who were treat by sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery in Breast surgery Department of Sichuan ProvincialTumor Hospital from June 2016 to February were selected,and randomly divided into low concentration methylene blue dye group (n =69) and common concentration methylene blue dye group (n =69).Observed and recorded the sentinel lymph node detection and skin flap necrosis of relevance ratio(1％ and 0.1％ concentration methylene blue dye) concentration methylene blue dye in both two groups.Results There were no significant differences in terms of number of sentinel lymph node detection,the detection rate and false negative rate in two groups,while the rate of cutaneous necrosis in low concentration methylene blue dye group was lower (5.8％ vs.0％,P =0.025).Conclusion The effect of low concentration methylene blue dye in sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer is the same as that of common concentration while the low concentration group with fewer side effects.

Objective To explore the clinical features of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes (MELAS) syndrome in fratemal twins brothers.Methods The clinical data,the results of laboratory examinations,electroencephalogram (EEG),imaging,and gene detection,and the process of diagnosis and treatment were retrospectively analyzed the fraternal twin brothers with MELAS syndrome.Results The proband,a 7-year-old male,had intermittent headaches,vomit and twitching at onset.He suffered from exercise intolerance,fatigue,accompanied by short stature and hairy.The fasting blood lactic acid level was increased.Multiple video EEG showed the slowdown of background activity.Head MRI showed recurrent lesions with the characteristics of migration and variation.The point mutation rate of mtDNA A3243G was 34.7％.The diagnosis of MELAS was confirmed.At the same time,his fraternal twin brother was screened and found that his point mutation rate of A3243G was 30.0％.Although there was no clinical symptom at that time,he was onset with convulsion after 3 years.Conclusions Gene detection and family screening are helpful for the early diagnosis of MELAS.The mutation rate of A3243G is very high,which can cause an early onset and serious clinical symptoms.

Objective To compare the therapeutic effectiveness and safeness of venlafaxine sustained‐release capsules and citalopram tablets in the treatment of post‐stroke depression .Methods 60 patients were randomly divided into venlafaxine group (n=30)and citalomram group(n=30) for 8 weeks treatment .Hamilton rating scale for depression(HAMD) and treat‐ment emergent system scale (TESS) were used to evaluate the efficacy and side effects ,respectively .Results After 4‐8 weeks of treatment ,both scores of HAMD of the two groups decreased significantly(P<0 .05) ,but there was no difference between the two groups(P>0 .05) .The total scores of HAMD in venlafaxine group were notably lower than citalopram group after 2 weeks(P<0 .05 ) .There was no significant difference in side effects between the two groups(P>0 .05) .Conclusion There was no significant difference in gross curative effect and side effects between two groups ;venlafaxine worked faster compared to citalopram .

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of stromal-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in the migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the underlying signal transduction mechanism.

METHODSRat bone marrow-derived MSCs were infected with 100 ml recombinant adenovirus containing human SDF-1alpha gene (Ad-hSDF-1alpha), and the cell migration changes were observed at 1, 2, and 3 days after the infection. Twelve hours after Ad-hSDF-1alpha transfection, the MSCs in separate cultures were treated with wortmannin (50 nmol/L), LY294002 (10 mmol/L), PD98059 (50 mmol/L), U73122 (10 mmol/L), AMD3100 (0.1 g/L), or verapamil (50 nmol/L), respectively, and the signal transduction pathways involved in MSC migration were analyzed.

RESULTSThe MSCs grew in colonies after transfection with Ad-hSDF-1alpha, but this growth pattern was substantially attenuated after treatment with wortmannin, LY294002, PD98059, U73122, AMD3100 and verapamil, among which U73122 and AMD3100 treatments resulted in the most conspicuous inhibitory effects.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of SDF-1 in promoting MSC migration is related to mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C, and protein kinase signal pathways.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; physiology ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transfection ; Type C Phospholipases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the penetrating ability of fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

METHODSTwo prokaryotic expression plasmids pET15b-EGFP and pET15b-PEP-1-EGFP were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to express EGFP and fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP, respectively. The expressed EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP were purified with Ni(2+) -resin affinity chromatography, and their capabilities of transduction into human umbilical vein endothelial cells were evaluated. The time- and dose-dependent transduction of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP and its stability in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells were observed. The toxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP was detected by MTT method.

RESULTSEGFP failed to be transduced into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, whereas PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein was transduced into cells shortly in 5 minutes. Its transduction was time- and dose-dependent and the fluorescence in the cells were detected even 27 hours later. No cytotoxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was detected even when the dose reached up to 200 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONPEP-1-EGFP fusion protein can efficiently transduce the target protein into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which provides a basis for future researches on the transduction of antioxidant enzymes mediated by the cell-penetrating peptide, PEP-1, in ischemia-reperfusion injury therapy.

Cells, Cultured ; Cysteamine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of prunrllae oral solution in treating hyperthyrea.

METHOD56 cases with hyperthyrea were randomized into two groups; group A1 was treated by classic method, B1 was treated by classic method combined with prunrllae oral solution. The size, vessel caliber of thyroidea, volume of blood flow and blood flow rate pre-and post-treatment were measured by color supersonic, meanwhile, 20 normal thyroidea were measured as control group.

RESULTThe size and vessel caliber of thyroidea of the two groups pre-treatment were obviously bigger than those of the control group, the volume of blood flow and blood flow rate were obviously slower than those of the control group (P < 0.001), the sizes of thyroidea of the two groups became smaller, especially the group B1 was more obvious, and there was no significant difference in the size of thyroidea between group B1 and control group.

CONCLUSIONIt is indicated that combined treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (prunrllae oral solution) and western medicine is superior to western medicine in treating hyperthyrea.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Antithyroid Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graves Disease ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Methimazole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of magnesium sulfate in vascular calcification, to explore the role and the mechanism of magnesium sulfate in vascular calcification.

METHODSThe vascular calcification model was established by administration of vitamin D3 plus nicotine (VDN) in SD rats. To estimate the extent of calcification by Von Kossa staining, calcium content and alkaline phosphatase activity, osteopontin (OPN) mRNA were determined by using semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.The malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) content and activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) were measured by biochemistry.

RESULTSA strong positive staining of black/brown areas among the elastic fibers of the medial layer in calcified aorta by Von Kossa staining, calcium content and ALP activity in calcified arteries increased by 3.9-and 3.4-fold as compared with the controls. The expression of OPN mRNA was up-regulated by 40% (P < 0.01). The lipid peroxidation products MDA in vascular were increased 2.0-fold (P < 0.01). The NO content and SOD activity were greatly decreased by 64% and 72% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with controls. However, calcium content and ALP activity in VDN plus magnesium sulfate group were lower than those in VDN group. Low and high dosage magnesium sulfate obviously relieved degree of calcification in the cardiovascular tissues in a dosage-dependent manner (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMagnesium sulfate plays a role in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification by reducing vascular calcification and decreasing vascular injury.

Animals ; Cholecalciferol ; adverse effects ; Magnesium ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nicotine ; adverse effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Vascular Calcification ; chemically induced ; pathology

Ammonium perchlorate (AP), mainly used as solid propellants, was reported to interfere with homeostasis via competitive inhibition of iodide uptake. However, detailed mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, AP was administered at 0, 130, 260 and 520 mg/kg every day to 24 male SD rats for 13 weeks. The concentrations of iodine in urine, serum thyroid hormones levels, total iodine, relative iodine and total protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in thyroid tissues were measured, respectively. Our results showed that high-dose perchlorate induced a significant increase in urinary iodine and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), with a decrease of total iodine and relative iodine content. Meanwhile, free thyroxine (FT4) was decreased and CAT activity was remarkably increased. Particularly, the CAT activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggested that CAT might be enhanced to promote the synthesis of iodine, resulting in elevated urinary iodine level. Furthermore, these findings suggested that iodine in the urine and CAT activity in the thyroid might be used as biomarkers for exposure to AP, associated with thyroid hormone indicators such as TSH, FT4.
Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Homeostasis ; drug effects ; Iodine ; metabolism ; urine ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Perchlorates ; pharmacology ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thyroid Gland ; metabolism ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Triiodothyronine ; blood