Objective To investigate the relationship and mechanism of the serum vitamin D levels with insulin sensitivity and adipokines APN,RBP4,visfatin and TNF-α in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM). Methods A total of 101 patients with gestational diabetes( GDM group) and 50 pregnant women with normal blood sugar( control group) were recruited to detect the serum levels of correlative biochemical indexes,APN,RBP4,visfatin,TNF-α and 25OHD3 using an HPLC method. Twenty-four patients in the GDM group diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency(<25 nmol·L-1 ) were randomized to receive either 1,25(OH) 2D3(0. 25 μg·d-1) orally or no treatment. Serum levels of correlative biochemical indexes were detected after 1 month. Results GDM patients had 25OHD3 levels significantly lower than the control group(P<0. 05),APN levels lower than the control group,and RBP4,visfatin,TNF-α levels significantly higher than the control group(all P<0. 05). After 1 month of 1,25(OH) 2D3 treatment,HOMA-IR increased,while HOMA-β decreased. APN levels was positively correlated(r= 0. 526) with 25OHD3;RBP4,visfatin,TNF-α decreased and were negatively correlated with 25OHD3( r values were -0. 272,-0. 153,-0. 072). Conclusion Vitamin D can reduce the adipokines RBP4,visfatin,TNF-α,increase APN,and thus play a protective role for gestational diabetes.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanisms of primary amenorrhea by using arrayCGH technology. Methods Ten patients with primary amenorrhea and 10 female volunteers with regular menstrual cycles as healthy controls were selected. All patients and control samples were analyzed by conventional chromosome analysis (G-banding technology) and array-CGH technology, respectively. ArrayCGH was performed using Affymetrix Cytogenetic 2. 7M arrays following the manufacturer's standard protocol. Results Both the patient group and control group analyzed by conventional G-banding karyotype technology showed a negative result with a normal female karyotype: 46, XX. The result of array-CGH analysis demonstrated a microdeletion of approximately 110 000 bp located at the end of the short arm of X chromosome [46, X, del (X) (p22. 33 )] were identified in 5 patients, which was not detected in the control group. All healthy control samples by array-CGH analysis showed no pathological DNA copy number variation. Conclusions Array-CGH technology can improve the diagnosis rate of chromosomal disease at the DNA level. It is necessary to provide array-CGH for higher resolution genetic analysis of idiopathic primary amenorrhea patient who can not be identified by conventional technology.

Objective:To explore the application of speckle tracking imaging (STI) stratification strain technique in the assessment of circumferential myocardial function and the myocardial protection of ATP-postconditioning (ATP-PostC) in a rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction.Methods:A total of 40 rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups: pure ischemia reperfusion group (IR group)and ATP-PostC group. STI images were recorded before and 45 min after occlusion of coronary artery, post low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography, 60 and 120 min after reperfusion, respectively. The following parameters were obtained: left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), heart rate (HR), endocardial circumferential systolic strain (CSsys-endo), mid-myocardial circumferential systolic strain (CSsys-mid) and epicardial circumferential systolic strain (CSsys-epi) at left ventricular short-axis level. At different time points after occlusion and reperfusion, 5 experimental rabbits were killed in each group for pathological examination.Results:①Forty-five min after coronary artery occlusion in both groups, the values of LVEF and HR were decreased( P<0.05), and the absolute values of CSsys-endo, CSsys-mid and CSsys-epi were significantly reduced( P<0.01). After LDDSE, the absolute values of CSsys-endo, CSsys-mid and CSsys-epi were increased, which were different from those after blockade( P<0.05). ②After reperfusion, the circumferential strains were not significantly different from those after blockade in IR group ( P>0.05). After blockade, the absolute values of circumferential strains were increased significantly in the ATP-PostC group compared with IR group( P<0.05). In the ATP-PostC group, the absolute values of CSsys-endo at different time points after reperfusion increased significantly compared with that after blockade ( P<0.05). The absolute values of CSsys-endo and CSsys-mid 120 min after reperfusion continued to increase significantly compared with those 60 min after reperfusion( P<0.05). ③Pathological examination: After 60 min of blockade, there was no significant difference in myocardial infarction area between the IR group and the ATP-PostC group( P>0.05). The percentage of infarct areas at each time point of reperfusion in the ATP-PostC group was decreased compared with that after blockade( P<0.05). Compared with the IR group, the percentage of infarct area in the ATP-PostC group was smaller after 120 minutes of reperfusion and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The applications of STI stratification strain technique and LDDSE can assess left ventricular circumferential strains at each of myocardial layers before and after reperfusion in rabbit myocardial ischemia ATP-PostC model, identify and evaluate the function of viable myocardium, and exhibit the significant protective effects of ATP-PostC on myocardial reperfusion injury.

Platinum-based anticancer drugs have been becoming one of the most effective drugs for clinical treatment of malignant tumors for its unique mechanism of action and broad range of anticancer spectrum. But, there are still several problems such as side effects, drug resistance/cross resistance and no-specific targeting, becoming obstacles to restrict its expanding of clinical application. In recent years, supramolecular chemistry drug delivery systems have been gradually concerned for their favorable safety and low toxicity. Supramolecular macrocycles-platinum complexes increased the water solubility, stability and safety of traditional platinum drugs, and have become hot focus of developing novel platinum-based anticancer drugs because of its potential targeting of tumor tissues/organs. This article concentrates in the research progress of the new drug delivery system between platinum-based anticancer drugs with three generations of macrocycles: crown ether, cyclodextrin, cucurbituril and calixarene.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Calixarenes ; Crown Compounds ; Cyclodextrins ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Macrocyclic Compounds ; pharmacology ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Platinum Compounds ; pharmacology

Silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)belongs to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(a classic coenzyme) dependent class Ⅲ histone deacetylases.SIRT1 regulates gene expression through altering the acetylation level of nuclear histone and participates in the regulation of a range of important life activities,such as cardiomyocyte autophagy,nucleocytoplasmic shuttling,cell aging,inflammatory responses,etc.It has been showed that SIRT1 plays an important role in myocardial ischemia by mitigating cardiomyocyte apoptosis and enhancing cellular resistance to oxidative stress under ischemic conditions.This article gives an overview of the mechanisms and research progress of SIRT1 in myocardial ischemia,aiming to serve as a reference for myocardial ischemia therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolism of total terpene ketones from Swertia mussotii with human intestinal bacteria.

METHODTotal terpene ketones were incubated with human intestinal bacteria under an anaerobic environment and at 37 degrees C. The metabolites were extracted by ethyl acetate processing, detected by HPLC-DAD method. A qualitative analysis was made for its metabolites by HPLC-MS.

RESULTEight metabolites were detected from total terpene ketones from S. mussotii with human intestinal bacteria, and two of them were preliminarily identified as gentianine and mangiferin aglycon.

CONCLUSIONTotal terpene ketones can be metabolized with human intestinal bacteria, which provides basis for experiments on the metabolism process total terpene ketones from S. mussotii with human intestinal bacteria.

Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Anaerobiosis ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Intestines ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Ketones ; metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Swertia ; metabolism ; Terpenes ; metabolism ; Xanthones ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of redo CABG.

METHODSThe outcomes of 42 consecutive patients who underwent redo CABG from January 2002 to December 2010 was analyzed. There were 29 males and 13 females, aging from 46 to 78 years old with a mean of (61.2 ± 2.1) years. Off-pump CABG was applied for 31 patients and on-pump CABG for 11 patients. There were 1 patient underwent concomitant aortic valve replacement and 1 patient underwent aortic root and right aortic arch replacement respectively.

RESULTSThree patients died of right ventricle rupture, heart failure and multiple system organ failure respectively and the perioperative mortality rate was 4.8%. The post-operatively mechanical ventilation time varied from 9 to 27 h with a mean of (17 ± 7) h. There was no residual angina and perioperative myocardial infarction in the remaining patients who were all discharged uneventfully. Intraoperative 6 patients had accepted intraaortic balloon counterpulsation. During the follow-up from 6 months to 4.5 years for 38 patients, which showed no evidence of recurrent angina and postoperative coronary CT angiography in 12 patients showed the patency of grafts is good.

CONCLUSIONSatisfactory outcome of redo coronary artery bypass grafting can be achieved if proper indication were choose and reasonable management were performed.

Aged ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Restenosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on TLR4, inflammation factors IL-1β and IL-6 expressions in the prefrontal cortex of vascular dementia (VD) rats; To investigate the brain protective mechanisms of acupuncture. Methods A total of 50 rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, acupuncture group, and placebo-acupuncture group. The animal model of VD was replicated by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) in rats. Acupuncture was performed at three days after surgery, once daily for two weeks. Morris water maze was used to test the cognitive function. The expressions of Iba1 and TLR4 were assessed by immunohistochemical method. Inflammation factors IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA expressions were tested by RT-PCR. Results Compared with sham-operation group, the model group rats showed impaired spatial learning and memory ability, and expression of Iba1, TLR4, and IL-1β, IL-6 increased. Compared with the model group, the spatial learning and memory abilities of the acupuncture group were improved, and the expression of Iba1, TLR4 and IL-1β, IL-6 in the prefrontal cortex decreased. These effects were not found in the placebo-acupuncture group. Conclusion The effect of acupuncture may be achieved by inhibiting microglia activate, decreasing the expressions of TLR4, IL-1β and IL-6 in the prefrontal cortex, resulting in improving spatial learning and memory ability of VD rats.

Heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)is an inducible heme oxygenase and a catalytic enzyme for heme decomposition reactions,which can catalyze the heme decomposition into CO,biliverdin and Fe2+.HO-1 and its metabolites have anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects in human body,and play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,and Huntington's disease.This article will review the production,distribution,and gene structure of HO-1,the biological characteristics of its metabolites,and the role and mechanism of HO-1 in neurodegenerative diseases,in order to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of HO-1.

Wnt signaling plays an important role in the bone development and remodeling. The Wnt antagonist Dkk-1 is a potent inhibitor of bone formation. The aims of this study were firstly to compare the serum Dkk-1 levels in postmenopausal osteoporosis patients with age-matched healthy controls, and secondly, to assess the possible relationship between Dkk-1 and β-catenin, sclerostin, or bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] in the setting of postmenopausal osteoporosis. A total of 350 patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 150 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled, and the serum levels of Dkk-1, β-catenin, sclerostin, OPG, and RANKL were detected by ELISA, and bone turnover markers [CTX, PINP, N-MID-OT and 25(OH)D] were measured by Roche electrochemiluminescence system in two groups. Serum Dkk-1 levels were significantly higher in postmenopausal osteoporosis group than in control group (P<0.001). Univariate analyses revealed that serum Dkk-1 levels were weakly negatively correlated to β-catenin (r=-0.161, P=0.003) and OPG (r=-0.106, P=0.047), while multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels with β-catenin (β=-0.165, P=0.009) and BMD (β=-0.139, P=0.027), and a positive correlation between serum Dkk-1 levels and CTX (β=0.122, P=0.040) in postmenopausal osteoporosis group. No similar correlations ware observed in control group. The results provided evidence for the role of Dkk-1 in bone metabolism and demonstrated the link of Dkk-1 and Wnt/β-catenin in some ways.
Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; blood ; beta Catenin ; blood