Objective To study the inhibitory effects of tea flower extract (TFE) on α-glucosidase and glucose intestinal absorption. Methods Three different postprandial hyperglycemia models (2 g/kg glucose, 4 g/kg sucrose, and 6 g/kg starch) were used, with 8 mice in each group. Oral administration of 150 or 300 mg/kg of TFE, 6.25 mg/kg of acarbose, or water was performed on mice 1 day and 30 mins before the oral administration of 2 g/kg glucose, 4 g/kg sucrose, and 6 g/kg starch at 10 ml/kg of body weight. Blood glucose levels were analyzed chronologically to evaluate the effect of TFE. In vitro studies were also performed to study the inhibitory effects of TFE on α-glucosidase and small intestinal mucosa glycosidase.

ObjectiveTo study the influence of EmbryoGlue on the implantation of embryo and pregnancy outcome in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET).Methods From August 2010 to January 2011,243 infertile patients in Reproductive Medical Center of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital who underwent IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were divided into two groups,including 129 cases used EmbryoGlue as the embryo transfer medium in experimental group and 114 cases used G-2 as embryo transfer medium in control group.Pregnancy outcome were compared between two groups.Results (1) The female age,IVF/ICSI constituent ratio,previous failure cycles and infertile factors of patients did not show statistical difference between experimental group and control group (P ＞0.05 ).(2) The implantation rate of women in experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group [ 30.4％ ( 85/280 ) vs.18.8％ ( 48/255 ),P ＜ 0.05 ] ; Clinical pregnancy rate increased significantly compared with the control group [48.8％ (63/129) vs.34.2％ (39/114),P ＜0.05] ; Multiple pregnancy rate increased significantly compared with the control group [ 34.9％ (22/63) vs.20.5％(8/39),P ＜ 0.05 ] ; Ectopic pregnancy rate decreased significantly compared with the control group [ 4.8％(3/63) vs.17.9％ ( 7/39 ),P ＜ 0.05 ].ConclusionEmbryoGlue can facilitate embryo implantation in IVF-ET and reduce the occurrence of ectopic pregnancy.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of nerve blockade combined with millimeter wave on patients with head acute herpes zoster (HZ) following serious pain.MethodsForty-two patients with head acute HZ following serious pain were randomly assigned to two groups: the combined group which treated with nerve blockade combined with millimeter wave, and the control group which received only nerve blockade. The pain degree (Numeric Rating Scales, NRS), blisters and scabbing were evaluated after treatment.ResultsNRS significantly decreased in both groups after treatment. The blister was earlier to disappear and scabbing was better in the combined group than in the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionNerve blockade combined with millimeter wave can effectively relieve the pain and shorten course of head acute HZ following serious pain.

Animals ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Early Growth Response Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; physiology ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; physiology ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Iron ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To perform mutation analysis of survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1 in two spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients and their parents to evaluate the effects of the two SMN1 gene mutations on the transcript levels of the gene and preliminarily predict their effects on the structure and function of SMN protein.Methods Mutation analysis of SMN1 gene was carried out by multiplex ligationdependent probe amplification,reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and cloning sequencing.Transmission of the mutations was confirmed by the mutation analysis in patients' parents.The full-length SMN1 (SMN1-fl) transcript levels of the patients carrying these subtle mutations were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.Results The two patients were diagnosed as SMA Ⅱ and SMA Ⅲ.They carried p.Val19GlyfsX21 and p.Ala2Gly SMN1 mutations in SMN1 gene,respectively.Both of the two mutations were originated from their fathers.Compared with the healthy individuals (23.5 ± 4.9),the two patients had a significant reduction in the level of SMN1-fl transcripts (t =3.322,P =0.011 (p.Ala2Gly) ;t =6.964,P =0.000 (p.Val19GlyfsX21)).However,compared with the healthy carriers (14.1 ±4.5),the patient with p.Ala2Gly mutation had no significant reduction in the level of SMN1-fl transcripts (13.9 ±3.6,t =0.058,P =0.955) ; however,the patient with p.Val19GlyfsX21 mutation had a significant reduction (4.9± 2.4,t =3.725,P =0.004).Conclusions Two SMN1 gene mutations are identified in our study.The mutation p.Val19GlyfsX21 is a novel mutation and p.Ala2Gly is firstly reported in Chinese SMA patients.p.Val19GlyfsX21 may possibly lead to decreased SMN1-fl mRNA by nonsense-mediated messenger RNA decay,however,p.Ala2Gly has no obvious effects on the amount of the SMN1-fl transcripts,indicating that its deleterious effect may be occurring at SMN protein level or the function of SMN protein.

Objective To analyze the distribution of common chromosomal karyotypes of patients with Turner syndrome (TS), and to explore the correlation between the age and height standard deviation scores (HSDS) on diagnosis.Methods Retrospective investigation was performed for the data of age and HSDS on diagnosis in 273 TS girls(≤ 18.0 years old)diagnosed by chromosomal karyotypes.The main statistical methods were analyzed with t-test and Pearson correlation test by using the SPSS 18.0 statistical software.Results (1) There were 4 kinds of common chromosomal karyotypes in the TS :45, X (87/273 cases,31.9％),46, X, i (Xq) (43/273 cases, 15.7％) ,45, X/46, X, i (Xq) (36/273 cases, 13.2％) and 45, X/46, XX (23/273 cases, 8.4％), respectively, the adolescent TS all had delayed puberty.For the cases with 45, X karyotypes ,3 cases presented mental retardation and 2 cases with organs deformity.(2)The patients with 45 ,X/46,X,i(Xq) karyotypes or with 46,X,i(Xq) karyotypes had the maximum(12.56 age) or the minimum(9.70 age) mean age on diagnosis, respectively, there was a significant difference between 2 groups (t =3.019, P =0.004).The maximum deviation from normal height was found in the patients with karyotypes of 46, X,i (Xq) (HSDS =-4.04), and the minimum deviation was in the patients with karyotypes of 45,X/46, XX (HSDS =-3.16), and there was a significant difference between 2 groups (t =-2.95, P =0.004).(3) More than 75.7％ of TS patients was diagnosed when their heights deviated above 3 SD,and their mean age on diagnosis was 12.10 age,which was 3 years later than those patients within 2 SD.(4) There was a significant negative correlation between the age and HSDS on diagnosis in the groups of common chromosomal karyotypes[45,X、46,X,i(Xq) and 45,X/46,XX] (r =-0.551,-0.560,-0.622,all P ＜ 0.01), except for the group with the 45, X/46, X, i (Xq).Conclusions (1) In this study, the consti-tuent ratios of these 4 common chromosomal karyotypes were different from those in Europe and America's.(2)Patients with 45 ,X may have more severe symptoms than others.(3)The mean age on diagnosis was at least 3.0 years earlier when considered HSDS below-2.00 as an indicator for chromosomal karyotype screening,which would facilitate earlier diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo diagnose and detect the molecular defect in a suspected patient with Prader-Willi syndrome.

METHODSGenetic diagnosis and molecular genetic analysis were performed by using chromosome karyotype analysis, methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR), and linkage analysis using short tandem repeat (STR).

RESULTSThe karyotype of the patient was 45, XX, der(5), t(5;15)(q35;q13), -15, and the parents were 46, XY and 46, XX, respectively, implying that the unbalanced translocation t(5;15) in the patient was de novo. Furthermore, MS-PCR and STR linkage analysis confirmed that the patient's 15q11-13 deletion was resulted from unbalanced translocation on paternal chromosome 15.

CONCLUSIONGenetic analysis should be applied in suspected patients with Prader-Willi syndrome to confirm the diagnosis. Cytogenetic and molecular techniques would be helpful in clinical diagnosis, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Translocation, Genetic ; genetics

The cry gene family, produced during the late exponential phase of growth in Bacillus thuringiensis, is a large, still-growing family of homologous genes, in which each gene encodes a protein with strong specific activity against only one or a few insect species. Extensive studies are mostly focusing on the structural and functional relationships of Cry proteins, and have revealed several residues or domains that are important for the target recognition and receptor attachment. In this study,we have employed a maximum likelihood method to detect evidence of adaptive evolution in Cry proteins, and have identified 24 positively selected residues, which are all located in Domain Ⅱ or Ⅲ. Combined with known data from mutagenesis studies, the majority of these residues, at the molecular level, contribute much to the insect specificity determination. We postulate that the potential pressures driving the diversification of Cry proteins may be in an attempt to adapt for the "arm race" between δ-endotoxins and the targeted insects, or to enlarge their target spectra, hence result in the functional divergence. The sites identified to be under positive selection would provide targets for further structural and functional analyses on Cry proteins.

Objective To optimize the design of the field psychological emergency rescue chest.Methods The deficiencies of the chest were summarized during the drilling and actual application of the psychological rescue unit,and some optimization countermeasures were put forward accordingly.Results The chest was optimized from the aspects of selection of chest body, internal and external layout as well as equipped devices.Conclusion The optimized chest can better meet the needs of the disaster emergency rescue.

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic diagnosis of Angelman syndrome(AS), and provide information for clinic diagnosis and counseling to AS families.

METHODSMethylation specific-PCR (MS-PCR) was used for primary diagnosis of 16 clinically suspected AS cases, and linkage analysis by short tandem repeat (STR) was applied to detect the molecular genetic defect in the nuclear families.

RESULTSIn this study, 10 AS patients were identified by MS-PCR, and 9 of them with maternal deletion in chromosome 15q11-q13, 1 with imprinting defect in chromosome 15q11-q13 were confirmed by STR linkage analysis.

CONCLUSIONMost of the AS patients could be confirmed by MS-PCR. And STR linkage analysis can detect the molecular defect of AS. It is very important for disease diagnosis, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis to perform the related genetic diagnosis.

Angelman Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Pedigree