Objective To study the ultrastructure changes of hippocampus pyramidal cells and capillaries in genetically diabetic mice C57BL/KsJ (db/db).Methods We chose 5 obese C57BL/KsJ db/db mice of 6 weeks old with fast blood glucose (FBG) higher than 11 1mmol/L as diabetic group and 5 normal weight C57BL/KsJ (?/+) mice with FBG lower than 6 0mmol/L as normal group. Mice were killed at 30 weeks and hippocampus samples were embedded in Epon 812. Thin sections were cut with ultrathin microtome and observed with electron microscopes. Results Pyramidal cells of hippocampus in diabetic mice had significant retrograde changes. The basement membrane of capillaries thickened significantly and endothelial cells and pericytes degenerated.Conclusion The significant pathological changes in hippocampus pyramidal cells and capillaries of diabetic mice may related to dysfunction of cognition.

Objective To study the clinical significance of plasma adrenomedullin (ADM) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in the elderly patients with chronic cor pulmonale. Methods The levels of ADM and BNP in plasma of the elderly patients with chronic cor pulmonale (39 cases in the acute stage and 30 cases in remission stage) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Their correlations with PaO 2,ET-1 and the ratio of right ventricular pre-ejection period to the pulmonary flow acceleration time (RVPEP /AT), which reflected the degree of pulmonary hypertension, were investigated. 27 elderly healthy subjects served as a normal control group. Results The levels of ADM and BNP in the acute and remission stages of cor pulmonale groups were both significantly higher 〔(27.31?6.27)ng/L,(17.22?4.15)ng/L and (66.21?12.79)ng/L,(52.74?8.85)ng/L, respectively〕 than those in the normal control group〔(11.18?3.95)ng/L, (34.52?3.34)ng/L, respectively〕. The levels of ADM and BNP in the acute stage were both significantly higher than those in the remission stage (all P0.05). Conclusions The study suggests that ADM and BNP involve in the pathophysiological process of chronic cor pulmonale in the elderly patients and may play a compensatory role in the disease.

Objectives To investigate the clinical significance of plasma adrenomedullin (ADM) concentrations in patients with asthma.Methods The plasma ADM concentrations in 23 asthmatic patients with an acute attack and 18 asthmatic patients in remission stage were measured by radioimmunoassay.Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between two variables.Twenty healthy subjects served as a normal control group.Results The plasma ADM concentrations in asthmatic patients with an acute attack [(28.73?7.12)ng/L]were significantly higher than those of stable asthmatic patients [(13.85?4.48)ng/L,P0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that ADM is involved in the pathophysiological process of acute asthma attack and may play an important role in the inflammation of asthmatic airways.

Acute Disease ; Dermatitis ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Hypersensitivity ; Nervous System Diseases ; Poisoning

The resource of rare and endangered medicinal plant Swertia mussotii Franch. in Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan province were surveyed by ways of documents, interview, quadrat and market investigation. The results indi-cated that Swertia mussotii Franch. mainly distributed in Zuogong and Mangkang of Tibet, Yushu of Qinghai province, Shiqu, Daofu, Kangding, Maerkang, Jinchuan and Xiaojin of Sichuan province. According to the height above sea level, the distribution altitude was from 2 300 m (Kangding of Sichuan province) to 3 900 m (Mangkang of Tibet). There are distributions of Swertia mussotii Franch. within the scope of 2 600 m. The illumination, water, soil, temperature and altitude had significant influence on the distribution, growth and reserve of Swertia mussotii Franch. from different angles. In recent years, there was huge increase of market requirement in Swertia mussotii Franch. which were used in Tibetan medicine Zangyinc he n. Excess collection was the primary cause of rapid decreasing in resource of Swertia mussotii Franch.. It was suggested to strengthen the management of rational collection, as well as to accelerate the development of cultivation and production.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-based standard treatment on obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance (IR) in the elderly.Methods 63 elderly type 2 diabetes patients diagnosed as OSAHS were randomly divided into control group (n =31) and CPAP group (n =32).Patients in control group were treated with conventional therapy including diet control,exercise and antidiabetic drugs,and patients in CPAP group were treated with CPAP treatment combined with conventional therapy.Fasting glucose (FBG),oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT),homeostasis model assessment of IR index (HOMA-IR),body mass index (BMI),apnea-hypopnea index (AHI),lowest oxygen saturation (L-SaO2) and the dosage of insulin application were observed after 7 days,1 month,3 months of the treatment.Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined before and after 3 months of the treatment.Results In CPAP group,levels of FBG and 2 h OGTT glucose,HOMA-IR,AHI,daily insulin dosage were significantly reduced and L-SaO2 was significantly increased after 7 days of the treatment; BMI was significantly reduced after 1 month of the treatment;HbA1c level was significantly reduced after 3 months of the treatment.In control group,L-SaO2 was significantly reduced along with the multiple time points; daily insulin dosage was significantly increased after 3 months of the treatment.There were no significant differences in all observed indicators between groups before treatment.There were significant differences in the observed indicators between groups after treatment except for BMI after 7 days of the treatment.Conclusions Compared with conventional therapy,CPAP-based standard treatment has more efficacy on increasing insulin sensitivity and improving insulin resistance in elderly patients with OSAHS and type 2 diabetes.

Objective To investigate the role of neuroglobin ( NGB) in oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation ( OGD/R ) induced mitochondrial depolarization and reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) production in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y).Methods SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with lentivirus to establish a stable cell line of NGB knockdown ( KD).After treated with OGD/R, cells were collected at different time points to analyze NGB mRNA and protein levels.Furthermore, cells were stained with JC-1 and DCFH-DA to evaluate mitochondrial depolarization and ROS production by inverted fluorescence microscope.Also, to determine the neurotoxicity , we measured the lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) level in the cell culture medium.Results After the treatment of OGD/R, the NGB mRNA and protein started to elevate and peak at 4 h and 8 h (2.04 ±0.35 fold,1.69 ±0.18 fold).Compared with the vector group , NGB KD group had much more mitochondrial depolarization [ JC-1 red/green ( 1.10 ±0.10 ) vs (1.46 ±0.11),P<0.05] and ROS production [DCFH-DA fluorescence (36.30 ±5.32) vs (16.26 ± 2.97),P<0.05].Furthermore, NGB KD groups had a higher level of LDH release [(63.42 ±6.14)%vs (49.65 ±5.09 )%, P <0.05 ].Conclusions NGB plays an important role in the homeostasis of mitochondria.Knockdown of NGB results in increased mitochondrial depolarization , ROS production and neurotoxicity under hypoxia circumstances.

The etiology of 46, XY disorders of sex development is complex and the clinical manifestations are various. Patients with a female phenotype often present with primary amenorrhea during adolescence, which is difficult to find. We analyze the clinical features of 3 cases of female phenotype diagnosed by gene sequencing. The pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment were reviewed.

The clinical manifestations, biochemical parameters and imaging examination, genetic test results, and treatment of 3 cases of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy(X-ALD) patients were reviewed and analyzed, and the structure of adrenoleukodystrophy protein(ALDP) was analyzed. All 3 patients were male. Patients 1 and 2 were childhood cerebral ALD(CCALD), patients 3 was adrenomyeloneuropathy(AMN), and all of them were misdiagnosed at early stage. Brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), and hematologic examinations showed the neurological demyelination of X-ALD, adrenocortical insufficiency, and accumulation of very long chain fatty acids(VLCFAs). Sequencing of ABCD1 gene revealed 3 new pathogenic mutations[c.910delins22(p.A304delins8), c. 887A>C(p.Y296S), and c. 1451_1481del(p.P484fs)], which affected the key structure of ALDP and led to the disease. Patients 1 and 2 received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and their condition continued to progress after surgery. Patient 3 was in stable condition. The misdiagnosis rate of X-ALD is high, clinicians should be vigilant. In this study, 3 new mutations were found, which expanded the ABCD1 gene mutation spectrum in patients with X-ALD. It is important to note that early identification and early diagnosis of X-ALD should be made to reduce misdiagnosis and mistreatment.