Child ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; etiology ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; diagnosis

Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; physiology ; Humans ; Individuality ; Male ; Memory, Short-Term ; physiology ; Neuropsychological Tests ; standards ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of exercise on serum adiponectin and adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) level in skeletal muscle of insulin-resistant rats. Methods A total of 30 healthy male rats were randomly divided into a control group ( NC, n = 8) and a high-fat group ( HF, n = 22), fed with normal chow and high fat diet, respectively. Eighteen weeks later, the high-fat group was randomly divided into a high-fat diet control group (HC, n = 10) and an exercise group (HE, n = 12). The HC and HE group were continually fed with high fat diet, while the HE group was administered with swimming training for 6 weeks in addition at the same time. After 24 weeks, the insulin sensitivity index was calculated, and serum adiponectin level was detected by using ELISA. The expressions of AdipoR mRNA in skeletal muscle were detected with real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results After 18 weeks, compared to NC group, the insulin sensitivity index of HF group decreased significantly. It suggested that insulin resistance appeared in HF group. Twenty-four weeks later, compared to NC group, the ISI of HC group was significantly decreased, meanwhile the level of serum adiponectin, expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle of HC group were 71.9% , 59.9% and 69.2% of those of the NC group, respectively; compared to HC group, the ISI was increased significantly by exercise, meanwhile the expression of AdipoR1 mRNA in skeletal muscle was significantly increased by 1.33 times, however the level of serum adiponectin and the expression of AdipoR2 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not altered in HE group. Conclusion Six weeks of exercise improves insulin sensitivity through increasing the expression of AdipoRI mRNA in skeletal muscle.

Objective To investigate the expression and correlation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and sFlt-1 in the preeclampsia placenta,and discuss their significance in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.Methods Placentas were collected from 20 pregnant women with preeclampsia as study group and 15 normal pregnant women as control group.The expressions of HIF-1?,VEGF and sFlt-1 protein were semi-quantitatively analyzed with immunohistochemical assay and mRNA level was determined using reverse transcription polymerasc chain reaction(RT-PCR)technique. Results(1)the expression of HIF-1?and sFlt-1 protein in preeclampsia group obviously increased.Strong (+++)positive expression was observed in 9 and 11 cases respectively,significantly higher than in control group(2 and 3 cases)(P＜0.05),however,VEGF expression obviously reduced in preeclampsia group(P＜0.01).(2)the level of HIF-1?and sFlt-1 mRNA in preeclamptic placenta was 0.604?0.013, 0.898?0.041,significantly higher than 0.208?0.007 and 0.559?0.244 in normal placenta(P＜0.05). Although the level of VEGF mRNA increased in preeclampsia placenta,it was not significantly different from that in normal placenta(P＞0.05).The ratio of VEGF mRNA/sFlt-1 mRNA obviously reduced in preeclampsia group and was significantly lower than in control group(P＜0.05).(3)in preeclampsia group,HIF-1?mRNA expression was positively correlated with the expression of sFlt-1 mRNA(r=0.577, P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with the ratio of VEGF mRNA/sFlt-1 mRNA(r=-0.376,P＜0.05).Conclusion Abnormal high HIF-1?expression in preeclampsia placenta indicates that HIF-1?might play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia,possibly through affecting the cytotrophoblastic invasion and placental vascular reconstruction via the modulation of VEGF and sFlt-1 gene transcription.

ObjectiveTo study the state of oxidative injury induced by sodium arsenite(NaAsO2) in SV-40-immortalized normal uroepithelial (SV-HUC-1 ) cells.Methods SV-HUC-1 cells were exposed to different concentrations of NaAsO2[0(control),1,2,4,8,10 μmol/L] for 24 h,intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined by flow cytometry,and the content ofintracellular nitrotyrosine(NT) and the 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels of cell culture medium were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results After 24 h treatment,ROS levels(81.76 ± 4.91,95.23 ± 2.17,126.61 ± 17.95,126.74 ± 27.77,114.18 ± 9.65) of SV-HUC-1 cells in the 1,2,4,8,10 μmol/L NaAsO2 exposure groups were significantly higher than those of the control group (69.84 ± 1.28,P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ),ROS levels and exposure dose were positively correlated significantly(r =0.818,P＜ 0.01); the content of NT in the 10 μmol/L NaAsO2 exposure group[(919.66 ± 206.33) μg/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group[ (238.19 ± 38.28)μg/L,P ＜ 0.01 ],NT content and dye concentrations of arsenic also had dose-response relationship (r =0.617,P ＜ 0.01); after 24 h the cells were treated with arsenic,no significant difference of 8-OHdG content in the culture medium was observed(F =2.127,P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionNaAsO2 can cause SV-HUC-1 cell oxidative damage.

Objective To study the effects of semiconductor laser irradiation and high voltage static electric fields on small vessel damage in diabetic rats.Methods Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups:8 rats in a normal group and 42 in a diabetic model group.The diabetic models were created by intrape- ritoneal injection of streptozocin.The diabetic model rats were randomly divided into four subgroups:a diabetes group,a semiconductor laser treatment group,a high voltage static electric field treatment group and a comprehensive treatment group receiving combined semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure.The rats in each treatment group were subjected to the corresponding intervention.After 20 days of treatment,the venous blood, kidney tissue and myocardium tissue of the rats were collected,and the concentrations of blood glucose,insulin,en- dothelin and tissue were detected.Results Compared with the normal group,a significant increase in blood glu- cose and endothelin was observed in the diabetic model group,along with significantly decreased blood insulin and significant small vessel endothelium proliferation in the kidney tissue.Compared with the diabetes group,endothelin levels were significantly lower in all 3 treatment groups,and blood insulin was also higher in the comprehensive treat- ment group.Conclusion There were severe abnormalities in blood glucose,insulin and endothelin as well as mild impairment of small vessel endothelium proliferation in the diabetic rats.Semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure have a role in treating and preventing these conditions in diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Astragalus on cardiac function and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSForty-five patients of Xin-qi deficiency or Xin-yang deficiency types were assigned to the Chinese medicine (CM) group and the Western medicine (WM) group by a randomizing digital table. Standard treatment for correcting heart failure, including digoxin, diuretics, etc. was administered to both groups, but to the CM group oral medication of Astragalus granule was given additionally at the dosage of 2.25 g twice a day, the treatment for both was continued for two weeks. NYHA cardiac functional grading, serum TNF-alpha level, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and walk distance in 6 min (WD) were measured before and after treatment, and a correlation analysis was carried out.

RESULTSAfter therapy, the level of TNF-alpha in the two groups decreased (P < 0.05) and it was lower in the CM group [(54.77 +/- 9.34) microg/L] than in the WM group [(62.10 +/- 9.94) microg/L] (P < 0.05); LVEF in the two groups increased (P < 0.05) and it was higher in the CM group [(64.45 +/- 12.47)%] than that in the WM group [(56.03 +/- 13.33)%] (P < 0.05); both groups' WD increased (P < 0.05) and it was longer in the CM group [(446.97 +/- 68.82) m] than in the WM group [(345.40 +/- 63.62) m] (P < 0.05); the improvement of cardiac functional grading in the CM group was outstriper than the WM group (P < 0.05). The improvement in cardiac function was negatively correlated with TNF-alpha level.

CONCLUSIONAstragalus can alleviate the calcium overload-induced myocardial damage and improve both systolic and diastolic functions of heart in patients with CHF.

Aged ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Chronic Disease ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Ventricular Function, Left ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective To analyze the causes of misdiagnosis and mistreatment of Dravet syndrome. Methods Patients with Dravet syndrome diagnosed according to clinical features and SCN1A gene mutation detection were recruited within recent 3 years. The patients were grouped into correct diagnosis-treatment group and misdiagnosis-mistreatment group according to whether the patients had ever been misdiagnosed and mistreated by sodium channel blockers. The clinical features were compared between two groups. Results Thirty-five cases with Dravet syndrome were collected and the rate of misdiagnosis reached 40%, Nine cases were misdiagnosed as symptomatic focal epilepsy, 4 as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and 1 as Doose syndrome. The average age of onset in misdiagnosis-mistreatment group was (5.50 ± 3.56) months,and the age of confirmed diagnosis was (83.57 ± 105.62) months. The percentage of abnormal EEG, onset seizure with partial seizure, the seizure frequency within the first year from onset, onset with afebrile seizure, patients with status epilepticus or cluster seizures was higher in misdiagnosis-mistreatment group but it showed no significant statistical significance when compared with that of correct diagnosis-treatment group. The percentage of patients with mental retardation and focal neurological signs was significantly higher in misdiagnosis-mistreatment group (P=0.005 and 0.002, respectively). Conclusions Dravet syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed as symptomatic focal epilepsy. The appearance of focal neurological signs and mental retardation before confirmed diagnosis are important factors for misdiagnosis. Gene mutation screening will be helpful for differential diagnosis of Dravet syndrome.

Objective To explore the relationship between genetic variation in PAF-AH V279F and coronary heart disease among Han population in Beijing.Methods A case-control study was held which enrolled 124 patients with coronary heart disease and 103 normal subjects.The genotype of PAF-AH V279F was determined with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction(AS-PCR)method. Results The highest frequency of PAF-AH V279F genetic variation was VV genotype(92.2%),the next was VF genotype(5.8%)and the lowest was FF genotype(2.0%)among the studied Han population in Beijing.In the coronary heart disease group the frequency of 279 V→F carriers was significantly higher than in the control group(19.3% vs.7.8%,P＜0.05)and F allele frequency was also higher(12.1% vs.4.9%,P＜0.01).Among the coronary heart disease group,the V279F variation frequency and the F allele frequency were significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in those without myocardial infarction(27.3% vs.13.0%,17.3% vs.8.0%,both P＜0.05).In multiple logistic regression analysis,the odds ratio(OR)of V279F genetic variation for coronary heart disease was 1.919(95% CI:1.448-2.544,P=0.033).Conclusions The PAF-AH V279F genetic variation may be a novel genetic marker for high risk of coronary heart disease.