To study the effect of cholesterol and 25-OH-cholesterol on cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells and the effect of coptisine (Cop) extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) in reducing and regulating cholesterol. In this study, TC, TG, LDL-c and HDL-c were measured by biochemical analysis; mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR, HMGCR and CYP7A1 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. According to the results, cholesterol and 25-OH-cholesterol inducing could decrease in mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR and CYP7A1, so as to increase TC and LDL-c contents. However, Cop could up-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of LDLR and CYP7A1 and down-regulate that of HMGCR, so as to reduce TC and LDL-c levels. These findings suggested that Cop has potential pharmacological activity for reducing cholesterol, and may reduce cholesterol by regulating mRNA and protein expressions of key genes involved in cholesterol metabolism, such as LDLR, CYP7A1 and HMGCR. This study laid a firm theoretical foundation for developing new natural drugs with the cholesterol-lowering activity.
Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To explore the change of activin A(ACT A) in umbilical artery blood of newborns with fetal distress and its clinical significance.Methods Forty healthy pregnant women(control group)and 35 pregnant women with fetal distress (experimental group)were collected.The levels of ACT A of umbilical artery blood in both groups were determined by a solid quantitative biotin-avidin system enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(BAS-ELISA),umbilical artery blood gas were also measured.Results The level of ACT A of umbilical artery blood in fetal distress group was (1 235.89?178.78)ng/L,and that in control group was (627.28?75.24)ng/L,and the level of ACT A of umbilical artery blood in fetal distress group was significantly higher than that in control group(P

Objective To explore the expression and distribution of transient receptor potential cation channel 6(TRPC6)in normal human,mice,rats' renal tissue and the mouse podocyte clone 5(MPC5)for further investigating the relationship between TRPC6 and the protei-nuria-related podocyte molecules.Methods 1.The distributions of TRPC6 in normal human,mice,rats' renal tissue and MPC5 were observed by using the immunochemistry staining.2.The mRNA expression of TRPC6 in mouse renal cortex and differentiated MPC5 was detected by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).3.The protein expression of TRPC6 in human,mice and differentiated MPC5 was detected by using Western blotting.Results 1.In human kidney,TRPC6 showed a weak staining in glomeruli and a strong staining in renal tubules and vessels.In mice and rats' kidney,TRPC6 showed a strong staining in glomeruli and was mainly distributed along the capillary loops of glomerulus and in mesangium.The positive staining of TRPC6 was observed in MPC5,which was distributed evenly on the cell membrane in differentiated podocytes.2.The specific PCR band of TRPC6 was detected in mouse renal cortex and differentiated MPC5.3.The specific protein band of TRPC6 was detected in normal human,mice renal cortex and differentiated MPC5 with the size of 106.Conclusions The expression of TRPC6 is verified in normal human,mice and rats' kidneys,and in differentiated MPC5.These results will benefit for further exploring the relationship between TRPC6 and the proteinuria-related podocyte molecules.

Objective To investigate the effects of cognitive interventions (CIs) in the context of communi- ty based rehabilitation (CBR) on cognitive deficits (CDs) in stroke patients.Methods Ninety-two stoke patients with CDs were randomly divided into a CI group and a control group.All patients were treated with conventional CBR.In addition,the patients in the CI group were also treated with special intervention therapy.The patients in both groups were assessed with the neurological and cognitive status examination (NCSE) for cognitive functioning, the FCA for motor function and the BI for their ability in the activities of daily living.Results The NCSE,FCA and BI scores in the cognitive intervention group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment and also significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment.Conclusion CIs can not only improve CDs,but also enhance recovery of motor function and ADL.

OBJECTIVETo study the ECG features in children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and related factors for the occurrence of arrhythmia secondary to DCM.

METHODSData from 68 children with DCM from January 1998 to March 2011 were studied. The children were classified into three groups: severe arrhythmia (n=42), non-severe arrhythmia (n=20) and non-arrhythmia (n=6). Left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVED), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were compared.

RESULTSAbnormal ECG results were found in all of the 68 children with DCM. Sinus tachycardia (91%) and ectopic pulsatile (86%) were common. LVED in the severe arrhythmia group (74±6 mm) was greater than that in the non-severe arrhythmia group (65±4 mm; P<0.05) and non-arrhythmia group (61±3 mm; P<0.05). LVED in the non-severe arrhythmia group was also greater than that in the non-arrhythmia group (P<0.05). LVEF and LVFS in the severe arrhythmia group were (30±11)% and (22±4)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the non-severe arrhythmia group［(37±12)% and (28±5)%, respectively］and non-arrhythmia group［(45±9)% and (34±7)%, respectively］(P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the LVEF and LVFS between the non-severe arrhythmia and non-arrhythmia groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe common abnormal ECG findings are sinus tachycardia and ectopic pulsatile in children with DCM. Arrhythmia is one of the main clinical manifestations of DCM. The occurrence of arrhythmia is associated with the left ventricular size and heart function.

Adolescent ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; complications ; physiopathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objective To study changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression and neural apoptosis in rat hippocampus and cortex of cesarean delivered offspring.Methods Thirty-eight pregnant SD rats were randomly allocated into 2 groups: 19 rats in vaginal delivery (VD) and 19 rats in cesarean section (CS).Forty-eight fetuses born by VD were kept intact, 40 fetuses were delivered by CS on day 21 of gestation.The fetal brain tissues were taken out on postnatal day 30 and 115, the expression profiles of GFAP in hippocampus and cortex were measured by immunohistochemical staining and western blot Apoptotic cells were detected using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.Results (1) The expression profiles of GFAP: on postnatal day 115, the mean number of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes of hippocampus 29.7 ± 10.9 in VD group was significantly lower than 36.2 ± 2.8 in CS group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The average GFAP-positive cells in the cortex of frontal lobe of 23.2 ±4.6 in VD group was significantly lower than 36.8 ± 5.9 in CS group (P ＜0.01 ).Likewise, on postnatal day 30, the mean number of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes of frontal cortex of 27.8 ± 6.0 in VD group was remarkably lower than 39.4 ± 4.5 in CS group ( P ＜ 0.01 ).The average GFAP-positive cells in the hippocampus of 31.5 ±3.5 in VD group were not significantly lower than 37.2 ±7.0 in CS group ( P ＞0.05 ).The expression of GFAP was detected in hippocampus and frontal cortex by western blot, however,there was no significant different expression of GFAP between VD group and CS group.(2) Neuronal apoptosis: TUNEL staining results indicated that, on postnatal day 115, fewer apoptotic cells scattered in offspring hippocampas subregion were only shown in CS group, never in VD group.No TUNEL positive staining cells were labeled in hippocampal subregion in VD group, therefore significantly lower than that of CS group ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions There were different influences of cesarean section on GFAP expression in hippocampus or cortex in different developmental stage of offspring Cesarean section might increase GFAP expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, even trigger neuronal apoptosis of hippocampus region.

Objectives To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)H558R in SCN5A gene and chronic Keshan disease (KSD) complicated with hypertension,and the relationship between H558R and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD complicated with hypertension.MethodsThirty nine patients with chronic KSD complicated with hypertension and 63 geographical region matched hypertension control subjects were recruited in our study in Fuyu county,Qiqihaer city,Heilongjiang province between 2006 and 2010.H558R polymorphism in case and control groups was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP) and sequenced,and electrocardiography(ECG) characteristics were examined in the two groups.Case-control study analytical methods were applied to analyze the relationship between H558R and chronic KSD complicated with hypertension,and the relationship between H558R and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD patients complicated with hypertension.Results Subjects of genotype 558 TC in the case group had a decreased risk of chronic KSD complicated with hypertension with odds ratio of 0.288[95％ confidence interval (CI):0.104 - 0.794],and subjects of genotype TC in chronic KSD complicated hypertension patients had a decreased risk of QRS prolongation with odds ratio of 0.061 (95％CI:0.006 - 0.612).Conclusions Polymorphism H558R in SCN5A gene may be a predisposition factor of chronic KSD complicated with hypertension and occurrence of arrythmia in chronic KSD complicated with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness are taken as useful surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. In China, the number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis has increased year by year, with the increase of dialysis-related cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to examine carotid stiffness in elderly hemodialysis patients by the ultrasound techniques in order to find out the possible risk factors. METHODS: From January 2006 to February 2010, a total of 87 patients (41 males and 46 females) treated with routine hemodialysis at the 97th Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled in this study. The distensibility coefficient (DC) of the carotid artery was detected by Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus (Philips HBI5000, frequency 12 MHz) for evaluation of arterial stiffness. Serum albumin, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were examined with standard methods. The liner correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to find correlations between them. RESULTS: In this study, the systolic blood pressure was 153.33±25.98 mmHg, DBP 84.22± 10.39 mmHg, TC 4.39±1.05 mmol/L, TG 1.36±0.72 mmol/L, LDL 2.47±0.77 mmol/L, Cr 889.82± 207.38 mol/L, Glu 5.36±1.87 mmol/L, Ca I 2.00±2.19±0.21 mmol/L, and DC 13.39±5.32×10-3/kPa. DC was associated with age (r =-0.459, P<0.001), SBP (r =-0.527, P<0.001), and serum calcium (r =-0.273, P=0.011). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SBP, age, increased serum calcium level, and diabetes were independent risk factors for decreasing DC. CONCLUSION: Systolic blood pressure, age, increased serum calcium level and diabetes in elderly hemodialysis patients are independent risk factors for increased carotid arterial stiffness.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the structure and functional activity of hTNF alpha.

METHODSFour hTNF alpha mutants were constructed, different binding structures and gene responses related with these mutants were studied by the methods of immunoprecipitation and mRNA differential display.

RESULTSThe specific activities and LD50 of the different hTNF alpha mutants indicated their different bioactivities. It was shown that the hTNF alpha mutants had the relative binding affinities to the wild types. The mRNA differential display assay proved that the hTNF alpha mutants stimulated different gene responses.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the specific anti-tumor activities of hTNF alpha mutants are accomplished by inducing different or same gene response at different quantities after its binding to specific receptor.

Amino Acid Motifs ; Apoptosis ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Mutation ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo reclassify retrospectively 370 cases of malignant lymphomas.

METHODSAccording to the WHO new classification, the clinical features and pathology as well as immunophenotype of 370 lymphomas were analysed.

RESULTSIn the 370 lymphomas, there were 359 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) (97.03%) and 11 Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL) (2.97%). Of the 359 NHL, 246 were B-cell lymphomas (68.52%), 108 T-cell lymphomas (30.08%), 1 each histiocytic lymphoma and follicular dendritic cell sarcoma, and 3 NK cell lymphomas. The extranodal lymphomas were 196 cases (54.6%) and the nodal lymphomas 163 cases (45.4%). The incidence of NHL categories were in proper order as follows: diffuse large B cell lymphoma (173 cases, 48.2%) > peripheral T cell lymphoma (54 cases, 15.0%) > mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (31 cases, 8.6%) > NK/T cell lymphoma (25 cases, 7.0%) > follicular lymphoma (21 cases, 5.8%) > anaplastic large cell lymphoma (12 cases, 3.3%).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that the study of malignant lymphomas with WHO new classification have important clinical significance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; classification ; Male ; Middle Aged ; World Health Organization