Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of determination for serum insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP 3) protease activity. Methods Serum IGFBP 3 protease activity in normal persons, parturient pregnant women, acromegalic patients and patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) was determined by Western blot technique. Results Serum IGFBP 3 protease activity in parturient pregnant women, acromegalic patients,normaladultsanduntreatedGHDpatientswere (75.2?2.2)%, (68.6?3.9)%, (22.7?3.1)% and (13.4?4.2)% respectively. Serum IGFBP 3 protease activity in GHD increased to (29.0?6.8)% after treatment with recombining human somatropin (rhGH) for six months. Conclusions Serum IGFBP 3 protease activity is modulated by GH and affects serum levels of members of GH IGF Ⅰ axis.

Objective: To study the effect of sulforaphane (SUL) on cell growth inhibition, cell cycle, apoptosis and its mechanism in different breast cancer cell lines. Methods: By means of MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting, the effects of the SUL different concentrations on cell growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, F3Ⅱapoptosis and expression of p34cdc2 and Cdc25C were studied. Results: (1) SUL had strong inhibition effects on the cell growth of tested mammary cancer cell lines, in which the sensitivity of ERP cell lines to SUL was stronger than that of ERN cell line. (2) SUL exhibited obviously G2/M cell cycle arrest to F3Ⅱ and two kinds of ERP cell lines at 5-10?mol/L, whereas no effect on the cell cycle of ERN cell line. (3)The mechanism of hindering transition of F3 Ⅱ cells from G2 phase to M phase was enhancing the phosphorylation of Cdc2, down-regulating the expression of Cdc25C, and inducing inhibition to thedephosphorylation of cyclin B1-Cdc2 complex. (4) No apoptosis was observed under tested conditions. Conclusion: Sulforaphane exhibited obvious differences in the inhibiting effects on the cell proliferation and cell cycle arrests of four different tested breast cancer cell lines, and did not induce apoptosis in F3Ⅱcell line under tested conditions. The mechanism of cell cycle arrest of F3Ⅱcell line appears to involve enhancing the phosphorylation of Cdc2, and down-regulating the expression of Cdc25C.

Objective To analyze the genotypic characteristics of T. violaceum, and offer evidence for molecular epidemiological study of causative agents of pediatric tinea capitis, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Methods The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisim (RFLP) of the nontranscribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA-NTS) was assessed by using 5 restriction enzymes, including HaeⅢ, Bgl Ⅰ,MspⅠ, DdeⅠ and MboⅠ, for 30 clinical isolates of T. violaceum from children with tinea capitis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Nine strains of T. violaceum from Beijing and 2 strains from Taiwan served as the control.Results All the 41 strains of T. violaceum were classified into 12 genotypes with the restriction enzyme Ddel.Ten genotypes were revealed in the 30 strains from Xinjiang; among them, 17 strains showed 7 different genotypes (D, F, G, H, I, J and K) with a high intraspecies diversity in comparison with the Beijing and Taiwan isolates; the remaining 13 strains from Xinjiang showed 3 genotypes, which were shared by the Beijing and Taiwan isolates. Conclusions The T. violaceum isolates from children with tinea capitis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have unique genotypes, but also show genetic homogeneity with the strains from Beijing and Taiwan, hinting the genetic diversity of T. violaceum.

Objective: The effects of purple-fleshed sweet potato anthocyanin (PSA) on anti-oxidation and anti-aging were investigated. Methods: The effects of different doses of PSA(100、 500、1000 mg/kg bw)on the serum T-AOC were investigated in aged mice after administration for 3 d, 10 d and 18 d. The content of MDA, the activity of serum SOD and blood GSH-Px were measured, and compared with those in Vit E and control group after 30 d. Result: PSA significantly increased the serum T-AOC in aged mice, and this increment was higher when given longer. PSA significantly decreased MDA and enhanced SOD and GSH-Px activities. The efficiency on antioxidative capacity of aged mice at PSA 100 mg/kg bw was equivalent to that of vitamin E at the same amount (100 mg/kg bw). The antioxidation state of 13 mo mice given PSA at 1000 mg/kg bw was near to that of 4 mo mice. Conclusion: PSA has marked effect of antioxidation and can delay aging.

OBJECTIVETo study the value of serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in differential diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

METHODSTo measure serum IGFBP-3 levels by RIA in normal children and adolescents, GHD children and short-stature children without GHD.

RESULTSSerum level of IGFBP-3 in 129 children with untreated GHD and with no pubertal development was 1.6 +/- 0.9 mg/L, which was less than that in normal group of the same age, but overlapped with the normal children in Tanner stage I. After six-month treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), serum level of IGFBP-3 in 59 GHD significantly increased from 1.3 +/- 0.7 mg/L to 2.7 +/- 0.9 mg/L, accompanied by an increase of body heights, growth velocities and serum level of IGF-1. Serum level of IGFBP-3 in 55 short-stature children without GHD was 3.3 +/- 2.2 mg/L, which was not significantly different from that in normal group.

CONCLUSIONSerum IGFBP-3 level can reflect the status of GH secretion in children with GHD and is a useful marker for differential diagnosis of GHD.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Body Height ; drug effects ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the relationship between the mutation of ERG11 gene,a target of azole antifungal drugs (fluconazole,itraconazole,voriconazole),and azole-resistance in Candida albicans isolates from patients with AIDS.Methods Ninety-three Candida albicans strains were isolated from patients with AIDS.DNA was extracted from these isolates,and ERG11 gene was amplified by PCR followed by bidirectional sequencing.DNAman software was used to compare the resultant sequence with the reference sequence of ERG11 gene (GenBank accession no.X13296).Then,different base sequences were translated into amino acid sequences to determine whether missense mutations occured.Results A total of 40 mutation sites were identified in these isolates,including 27 silent mutations and 13 missense mutations.One or no missense mutation was detected in Candida albicans strains resistant to 1 antifungal agent,while those resistant to 2 or 3 antifungal agents simultaneously harbored 2 or 3 missense mutations.Conclusion The missense mutations in ERG11 gene are probably connected with azole resistance in Candida albicans.

Objective: To investigate oral health related quality of life and associated factors of adolescents between 12 and 15 years old, and to provide countermeasures and suggestions for oral health promotion of adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 3 840 adolescents aged 12-15 through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. The oral clinical examination and oral health questionnaire were conducted. Descriptive analysis, non-parametric testing and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the oral health-related quality of life and associated factors. Results: Oral problems showed moderate to severe impact on quality of life,especially on eating (27.1%). Ordinal Logistic regression analysis showed that low sugar intake frequency, few teeth with gingival bleeding, no history of dental pain in the past 12 months,no history of tooth injuries, and administrative region of residence (Nanhai, Shunde) were associated with higher oral health-related quality of life,(OR=0.6-0.8，P<0.05). Conclusion The oral health-related quality of life of adolescents in Foshan was slightly better than the average national level. It is recommended to accurately formulate and ensure the full implementation of oral public health measures based on the comprehensive analysis of the local area, and combine various efforts to strengthen education on reducing excessive intake of sugar, prevent gingival bleeding, relieve and treat toothache in time, pay attention to adolescents with histories of dental trauma, and update the concepts of receiving oral health examination for the adolescents themselves, parents and teachers, and help adolescents develop the habit of regular oral examinations.

A 13-year-old girl initially complained of thrombocytopenia 3 years ago and had positive antinuclear antibody(ANA),weakly positive anti-double-stranded (anti-ds) DNA antibodies and decrease of C3 1 month ago.She was admitted to the ward following dyspnea and intermittent cough for three days this time.The initial diagnosis was systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The clinical manifestation after admission involved multiple organs such as liver,kidney and spleen.However,cirrhosis could not be explained by SLE.Besides,anti-dsDNA as a specific index for SLE was only weakly positive in this case and the decrease of C3 was independent to activity of the disease.Abnormal signals in bilateral basal ganglia confirmed by MRI could not be explained by SLE,either.Therefore,the initial diagnosis as SLE was suspicious.Further laboratory test showed low ceruloplasmin and increased 24 urine Cu to correct the diagnosis as hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) and pulmonary infection.Gene sequence analysis revealed heterozygous mutation in ATP7B gene (a splice site mutation:c.1708-5T ＞ G;a missense mutation:c.2333G ＞ T,p.Arg778Leu).HLD should be suspected in any patient with liver abnormalities of uncertain causes along with involvement of multiple systems.Gene sequence analysis is helpful to early diagnosis of HLD.

To investigate the alteration in Golgi and blood-brain barrier after cerebral hemorrhage in SD rats, and to evaluate the effect of butylphthalide on blood-brain barrier. 
 Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed into 4 groups: a control group, a sham group, an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) group, and a butylphthalide group. Brain tissue was collected at 48 h after the blood brain barrier permeability was examined. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) were conducted to explore the change of GM130, Cdc42 and tight junction protein and mRNA expression in rat brain after ICH. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to explore the distribution of ZO-1 and Occludin in the cerebral vascular endothelial cells around the hematoma.
 Results: The Evans blue (EB) extravasation in the ICH group were much greater than that in the sham group (P<0.05). Butylphthalide treatment significantly decreased Evans blue extravasation compared to the ICH group (P<0.05). Results of Western blotting and real-time PCR showed that GM130, Cdc42, ZO-1/Occludin were decreased (P<0.05). The intervention of butylphthalide significantly upregulated the expressions of Cdc42 as well as ZO-1/Occludin (P<0.05), but exerted no effect on GM130 (P<0.05). Immunofluorescent staining showed that GM130 was co-localized with Cdc42 and administration of butylphthalide improved the expression of Cdc42 around the hematoma without affecting the expression of GM130. IHC showed that expressions of occludin and ZO-1 around the hematoma were significantly decreased in the ICH group (P<0.05), whereas butylphthalide treatment elevated the expressions of ZO-1 and occludin around the hematoma compared with the ICH group (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: Morphology of Golgi apparatus is altered and the blood-brain barrier is destroyed after ICH. The application of butylphthalide can alleviate neurological impairment and blood-brain barrier disruption, which is related to the up-regulation of Cdc42, but not GM130.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Endothelial Cells ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley