Objective To investigate whether functional Wnt-?-catenin signaling is present in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC),and the effect of blocking this signaling on activation of HSC. Methods?-catenin expression in HSC was examined by immunocytochemistry.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were assessed using a T cell factor (TCF)-dependent luciferase reporter gene (pTOP- FLASH) assay.Wnt signalings in HSC-T6 were blocked by transfecting with a dominant negative TCF (dnTCF) expression plasmid,then the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and collagen typeⅠwere examined by Western blot.Results?-catenin staining was positive in the nuclei of HSC-T6.Luciferase activity in the cells transfected with pTOPFLASH was significantly higher than that in the cells transfected with pFOPFLASH (P

Objective To observe the effects of fosinopril(FOS),a new generation angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(ACEI),on protein and mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1) of rat glomerular mesangial cell(GMC) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS);to demonstrate the preventive mechanism against glomerular sclerosis by applying FOS.Methods The cultured GMC in classic way were divided into 3 groups:control group;LPS group;LPS+FOS group.TGF-?_1 concentration in GMC supernatant fluid was detected by ELISA;TGF-?_1 mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative real-time RT-PCR.Results LPS group was obviously higher than control groups in TGF-?_1 secretion and mRNA expression,while LPS+FOS group decreased distinctively in TGF-?_1 secretion and mRNA expression compared with LPS group.Conclusions FOS has obviously inhibited on TGF-?_1 expression of rat GMC both at protein level and mRNA level,which reveals that it may be an important mechanism by FOS on restraining the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Eleven type 1 diabetic patients who received fixed regime of insulin Glargine were included in the study.The levels of fasting serum insulin were measured for each subject at 6:00 in three consecutive mornings.The variability of mean fasting serum insulin in each subject was 3.3%-41.5% (mean 15.4%).The variability did not correlate with the dose of Glargine statistically.

Twelve cases of Bartter's syndrome were reported and reviewed retrospectively.Usually vomiting was the first sympton in children,while fatigue was common in adults.Bartter's syndrome was characteristic of hypokalemia,metabolic alkalosis,elevations of plasma renin activity,serum angiotersinⅡand aldosterone and juxtaglomerular apperatus hyperplasia.Supplementation of potassium choloride was the main manner of therapy.

This study aims to explore the efficacy of interferon-α (IFN-α) combined with either entecavir (ETV) or adefovir (ADV) therapy versus IFN-α mono-therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients,and to identify the factors associated with treatment outcomes.Totally,159 CHB patients receiving interferon-based treatment for 48 weeks were enrolled in this retrospective study,including IFN-α mono-therapy group (group A,n=44),IFN-α plus ADV group (group B,n=53) and IFN-α plus ETV group (group C,n=62).The primary measures of efficacy assessments were the changes in HBsAg.Cox regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of treatment outcomes.The predictive values of the factors were assessed by ROC analysis.For patients with baseline hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level ＜1000 IU/mL,the reductions in mean HBsAg levels at week 48 were greater in group C than that in group A (P＜0.05).Higher rate of HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in the combined therapy group than in IFN-α mono-therapy group at week 48 (P＜0.05).Two factors were independently associated with HBeAg seroconversion:baseline HBeAg level ＜2.215 log10 index/mL and △HBeAg (.decline in HBeAg from baseline) ＞0.175 log10 at week 12.In conclusion,interferon-α plus ETV therapy can accelerate HBsAg decline as compared with interferon-α mono-therapy in CHB patients with lower baseline HBsAg levels,and the combination therapy was superior to IFN-α mono-therapy in increasing the rate of HBeAg seroconversion.Baseline HBeAg and △HBeAg at week 12 can independently predict HBeAg seroconversion in patients subject to interferon-based therapy for 48 weeks.

Abstract: Objective To understand the mental health literacy level of residents in Hainan Province, and to provide evidence for promoting mental health promotion and improving the mental health literacy level of residents. Methods Multi-stage random sampling method was used to investigate The National Mental Health Literacy Questionnaire among 6 895 residents in 12 districts including Changjiang, Chengmai, Dongfang, Ledong, Lingshui, Haikou Longhua District, Haikou Meilan District, Qionghai, Sanya, Tunchang, Wenchang and Wuzhishan. Results　In the survey 6 895 residents in 12 counties, cities, districts of Hainan Province, 365 of them reached the standard of mental health with the standard rate of 5.3%. The mental health knowledge score was (54.00±17.02) with the standard rate of 7.7%; the self-assessment score was (26.11±3.99) with the standard rate of 75.9%; the score of mental health skill was (26.22±7.25) with the standard rate of 44.8%. The mental health literacy level of medical workers was the highest, with the standard rate of 13.5% (112/830), and the mental health literacy level of farmers was the lowest, with the standard rate of 0.8% (13/1 647). The results of unconditional Logistic regression showed that the factors entering the regression model included educational background (OR=2.268), personal monthly income (OR=1.129), gender (OR=1.302), household registration (OR=0.776), and whether they had participated in mental health related courses OR training (OR=0.511). The higher the educational background and personal monthly income, the higher the psychological quality. The mental health of women was higher than that of men, and that of urban was higher than that of rural, and those who had participated in mental health related courses were higher than those who had not. Conclusions The mental health literacy level of Hainan residents is at a low level, and the influencing factors are multifaceted. It is suggested to strengthen the mental health monitoring comprehensively and carry out rich health education service mode for different groups.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of fosinopril (FOS) on proliferation and secretion of extracellular matrix of rat glomerular mesangial cell induced by LPS.

METHODSIn vitro culture method for glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) of rat was established and passages 3 - 10 of the cells were used in the experiment after identification. The experiment included the following 5 groups: control group (Ctrl), LPS group (LPS), high, medium and low dose FOS groups (FOS1, FOS2 and FOS3 groups, respectively). GMC proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) incorporation method at 24 and 48 h; the changes of laminin (LN), fibronectin (FN) and ColIV protein secretion was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes of LNbeta(2) mRNA expression was detected by semi-quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS(1) LPS could induce the mesangial cell proliferation, FOS inhibited this effect of proliferation induced by LPS. (2) Mesangial cells could secrete some extracellular matrix (ECM) protein in normal culture medium, mesangial cell secreted ECM protein was significantly higher in LPS group than that in Ctrl group (P < 0.01), but significantly lower in all FOS groups than that in LPS group (P < 0.01). (3) Mesangial cell could express LNbeta(2) mRNA in normal culture medium, LNbeta(2) mRNA expression was significantly higher in LPS group than that in Ctrl group at all time points, but was significantly lower in FOS group than that in LPS group.

CONCLUSIONSLPS could induce increased secretion of the ECM, including LN, FN, ColIV; FOS could inhibit the secretion of ECM in GMC in a dose-dependent manner at mRNA and protein levels.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; secretion ; Fosinopril ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats

Objective:To study therapeutic effect of levosimendan combined milrinone on severe refractory heart failure (SRHF) and its influence on serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and uric acid (UA).Methods:A total of 156 SRHF patients were enrolled,randomly and equally divided into levosimendan group and milrinone group,both groups re-ceived corresponding medication based on routine treatment for 7d.Heart rate,blood pressure,serum BNP and UA levels,left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESd),left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDd) and left ventricular e-jection fraction (LVEF) before and after treatment,total effective rate and incidence of adverse reactions were observed and compared between two groups.Results:Compared with milrinone group after treatment,there were significant reduc-tions in heart rate [ (73.79 ± 7.61) beats/min vs.(70.39 ± 7.45) beats/min],systolic blood pressure [ (128.84 ± 13.11) mmHg vs.(121.86 ± 12.53) mmHg],scores of lung wet rales [ (2.05 ± 0.33) scores vs.(1.53 ± 0.21) scores],difficulty breathing [ (2.11 ± 0.36) scores vs.(1.60 ± 0.25) scores] and lower extremity edema [ (2.03 ± 0.34) scores vs.(1.50 ± 0.18) scores],serum levels of BNP [ (459.62 ± 46.27) μg/L vs.(248.73 ± 25.91) μg/L] and UA [ (355.97 ± 36.47) μmol/L vs.(282.75 ± 28.61) μmol/L],LVESd [ (41.62 ± 4.52) mm vs.(36.87 ± 3.71) mm] and LVEDd [ (51.89 ± 5.37) mm vs.(47.85 ± 4.83) mm],and significant rise in 24h urine volume [ (3204.59 ± 321.52) ml vs.(3695.78 ± 370.62) ml] and LVEF [ (42.36 ± 4.31)% vs.(47.85 ± 4.86)%] in levosimendan group,P＜0.01 all.Total effective rate of levosimendan group was significantly higher than that of milrinone group (89.74% vs.71.79%),and incidence rate of adverse reactions was significantly lower than that of milrinone group (5.13% vs.28.21%),P＜0.01 both.Conclusion:Levosimendan therapy can significantly reduce serum BNP and UA levels,improve cardiac function in SRHF patients.It possesses significant therapeutic effect,and it＇s safe and reliable,which is better than milrinone.

Objective :To explore plasma expression levels of human maternal expression gene 3 (MEG3) and urotheli-al carcinoma antigen 1 (UCA1) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and their clinical significance . Methods : A total of 90 AMI patients treated in our hospital were enrolled as AMI group ,and 50 healthy subjects un-dergoing physical examination in our hospital simultaneously were treated as healthy control group .Plasma expres-sions of MEG3 and UCA1 ,serum levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were observed and compared between healthy control group and AMI group on 1h ,3h ,6h and 12h after onset . Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze their correlation .Results : Compared with healthy control group , there was significant rise in plasma MEG3 expression [ (0-002 ± 0-001) vs .0-017 ± 0-003)] ,and significant reduc-tion in UCA1 expression [ (0-027 ± 0-005) vs .(0-017 ± 0-002)] in AMI group on 1h after onset , P＝0-001 both ;after 3h ,there were significant rise in serum levels of CK-MB [ (20-01 ± 3-05) IU／L vs.( (32-10 ± 4-40) IU／L] and cTnI [ (1-01 ± 0-87) ng／L vs.(2-10 ± 0-91) ng／L] in AMI group , P＝0-001 all.Spearman correlation analy-sis indicated that in plasma MEG3 expression was significant positively correlated with serum CK-MB and cTnI levels ( r＝0-351 ,0-368 , P＜0-05 both) ,and plasma UCA1 expression was significant inversely correlated with serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI (r＝ －0-416 ,－0-425 , P＜0-01 both) AMI patients .Conclusion : Plasma MEG3 level significant rises ,and UCA1 level significantly reduces in AMI patients during early onset period .Both are signifi-cantly correlated with CK-MB and cTnI levels ,which may be used as new markers diagnosing early AMI .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene expression and potential functions of transforming growth factor-beta1 in osteophyte development.

METHODSA total of 25 specimens were obtained from individuals undergoing total knee arthroplasty due to severe primary osteoarthritis. Tissue samples were embedded in paraffin wax and made into sections. Hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue stainings were performed. The expressions of collagen I, IIa, IIb, and X were detected by immunohistochemistry. Based on the histomorphology of cellularity and matrix abundance, the glycosaminoglycans content, and the differential expressions of collagen I, IIa, IIb, and X, the osteophytic tissues were classified. For each different type of osteophyte, expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, and results were analyzed using the image analysis system.

RESULTSFive different types of osteophytes were identified as type I, type II, type III, type IV, and type V. Transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA was more and intensely expressed in chondrocytes of type II and III osteophytes, and was less in other types of osteophytes. The difference was significant (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA is mainly expressed in early-mid stages of osteophytes and may play an important role in promoting the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes in the early stages of osteophyte development.

Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteophyte ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics