ObjectiveTo study the correlation of urinary iodine and thyroid function in elderly men in Harbin,and to provide the basis for formulation of health measures for the elderly.MethodsSeventy five cases of clinically healthy elderly men were enrolled for check-up of urinary iodine,thyroid function and B-ultrasound in Geriatric Ward the Forth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in 2010.The subjects of investigation were divided into iodine appropriate and iodine sufficient groups and thyroid function parameters and B-ultrasound results were compared.ResultsThe average age of the 75 cases of healthy elderly men was (79.07 ± 4.78) years old and the median of urinary iodine was 198.4 μg/L.There were 62.67％ (47/75) elderly males whose iodine nutritional status was appropriate,but there were still some individuals(6.67％,5/75) in the iodine excess state.The level of TSH of the iodine appropriate group [(1.91 ± 0.82)mU/L] was lower than that iodine sufficient group [(4.98 ±0.60)mU/L,t =12.58,P ＜ 0.05],while the level of FT3 of the iodine appropriate group[(4.71 ± 0.56)pmol/L]was higher than that iodine sufficient group[(3.31 ± 0.43)pmol/L,t =12.18,P ＜ 0.05].But the difference of FT4between the two groups [(14.91 ± 3.12),(14.06 ± 2.79)pmol/L] was not statistically significant (t =1.40,P ＞0.05].The thyroid volume of iodine sufficient group[(20.9 ± 6.1 )cm3] was higher than that iodine appropriate group [(17.9 ± 5.6)cm3,t =2.11,P ＜ 0.05].ConclusionsSufficient quantities of iodine intake may affect the thyroid of elderly people.Whether the quantity of iodine intake of the elderly population should be decreased or not need to be further studied.

BACKGROUND: Stable reliable experimental animal models are needed urgently in scar research.OBJECTIVE: Scar animal models of nude mice are evaluated with histological method to define optimal opportunity for using.DESIGN: Randomizly controlled and repetitively measured design.SETTING: Department of Burn, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at the Center for Animal Experiment, Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University between January 2004 and March 2004. Fifteen nude mice aged 4-6 weeks were provided by Center for Animal Experiment, Medical College, Sun Yat-sen University (of either gender with body mass of 15-25 g). Hyperplastic scar was gained from samples of exairesis in patients with burn after healing which is hyperplastic scar for half a year.METHODS: Human hyperplastic scar was grafted at dorsa of nude mice to establish scar animal models. After graft for four weeks, 5 experimental animals were killed every week, and grafts were gained. 100 g/L formalin was used to fix samples for 3 weeks. Picric-sirius red polarized light method was used to detect the graft and clinical materials, and histological feature was observed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Results of film reading of picric-sirius red polarized light method. ②Analytic result of computer image.RESULTS: ①Results of film reading of picric-sirius red polarized light method: The grafts showed the same feature of diffused distribution of mainly yellow and red thick fiber with thin-mesh green fiber under polarized light in every time segment group. ②Analytic result of computer image: In clinicopathological hyperplastic scar, type Ⅰ collagen was about 74%; type Ⅲ collagen accounted for about 26%. In the graft from 4-6 weeks, the contents of type Ⅰ collagen were (74.52 ±0.47)% , (74.43 ±0.53)% ,(74.69±0.63)%, respectively; The contents of type Ⅲ were (25.48±0.47)%, (25.57±0.53)%, (25.31±0.63)%, respectively, which had insignificant difference (P ＞ 0.05 ).CONCLUSION: In the time segment designed by experiment, the feature of graft and clinical material is coincident, which is accorded with the characteristics of hyperplastic scar. The detection of collagen of scar tissue with picric-sirius red polarized light method is a simple effective method for assessing the tissue of hyperplastic scar. Establishing scar models with nude mice is effective and stable.

Purpose: The main treatment options of neurogenic bladder remains catheterization and long-term oral medications. Metabolic interventions have shown good therapeutic results in many diseases. To date, no studies have characterized the metabolites of the detrusor muscle during neurogenic bladder. Using metabolomics, new muscle metabolomic signatures were identified to reveal the temporal metabolic profile of muscle during disease progression. Methods: We used 42 Sprague-Dawley rats (200±20 g, males) for T10 segmental spinal cord injury modeling and collected detrusor tissue and performed nontargeted metabolomics after sham surgery, 30-minute, 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour, 5-day, and 2-week postmodelling, to identify the dysregulated metabolic pathways and key metabolites. Results: By comparing mzCloud, mzVault, MassList, we identified a total of 1,271 metabolites and enriched a total of 12 metabolism-related pathways with significant differences (P<0.05) based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. Metabolites in several differential metabolic pathways such as ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, Steroid hormone biosynthesis, and carbon metabolism are altered in a regular manner before and after ridge shock. Conclusions Our study is the first time-based metabolomic study of rat forced urinary muscle after traumatic spinal cord injury, and we identified multiple differential metabolic pathways during injury that may improve long-term management strategies for neurogenic bladder and reduce costs in long-term treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and related signaling pathways of ginsenoside Rb1 in the treatment of coronary artery lesion (CAL) in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease (KD). METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, an aspirin group, a low-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group (50 mg/kg), and a high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group (100 mg/kg), with 12 mice in each group. All mice except those in the control group were given intermittent intraperitoneal injection of 10% bovine serum albumin to establish a mouse model of KD. The mice in the aspirin group, the low-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group, and the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group were given the corresponding drug by gavage for 20 days after modeling. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of coronary artery tissue. ELISA was used to measure the levels of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in serum and coronary artery tissue. Western blot was used to measure the relative expression levels of proteins involved in the regulation of the AMPK/mTOR autophagy signaling pathway and the PI3K/Akt oxidative stress signaling pathway in coronary artery tissue. RESULTS: The observation of pathological sections showed that compared with the model group, the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had significant improvement in the symptoms of vascular wall thickening, intimal edema, fiber rupture, and inflammatory infiltration of endothelial cells. Compared with the control group, the model and low-dose ginsenoside Rb1 groups had significant increases in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and coronary artery tissue (P<0.05); the model group had significant increases in the expression levels of P-AMPK/AMPK, P-mTOR/mTOR, and P-P70S6/P70S6 in coronary artery tissue (P<0.05) and significant reductions in the expression levels of P-PI3K/PI3K, P-AKT/AKT, and P-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in coronary artery tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the aspirin group and the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had significant reductions in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05); the low- and high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 groups had significant reductions in the expression levels of P-AMPK/AMPK, P-mTOR/mTOR, and P-P70S6/P70S6 (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner between the two groups (P<0.05); the low-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had no significant change in the expression level of P-PI3K/PI3K (P>0.05) and had significant increases in the expression levels of P-AKT/AKT and P-GSK-3β/GSK-3β (P<0.05), while the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had significant increases in the relative protein expression levels of the above three proteins (P<0.05). Compared with the low-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group, the aspirin group and the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had significant reductions in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05); the high-dose ginsenoside Rb1 group had significant increases in the expression levels of P-PI3K/PI3K and P-AKT/AKT (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Ginsenoside Rb1 can effectively alleviate CAL in a mouse model of KD in a dose-dependent manner, possibly by regulating the AMPK/mTOR/P70S6 autophagy signaling pathway to inhibit CAL inflammation and regulating the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β oxidative stress signaling pathway to exert a biological activity of protection against coronary artery endothelial cell injury.
Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Ginsenosides ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

In order to investigate the expression of recombinant TPO gene in COS-7 cells and in vivo of the mouse model, eukaryotic expressing plasmid pcd2/TPO with human TPO cDNA was constructed with DNA recombinant techniques. The plasmid pcd2/TPO was transiently transfected into the COS-7 cells by means of lipofection, the naked pcd2/TPO plasmid was injected into the skeletal muscle of mice with electric pulses. RT-PCR and ELISA methods were used to detect the TPO expression of the transfected COS-7 cells, both showed high level expression. The MTT test showed the expressed TPO had proliferative activity to TPO-dependent cell line. High efficiency of gene transfer in transgenic mice was also observed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods. The serum TPO level [(1 185 +/- 264) ng/L] in transgenic mice was quite different compared with the normal mice [(250 +/- 76) ng/L]. All these results provided solid foundations for the research of TPO gene therapy in the future.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid on the chloride channels and cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to detect the current, and cell imaging technique was applied to measure cell volume. The properties of the currents induced by ursolic acid were investigated by changing the extracellular osmotic pressure, replacing the extracellular anions and applying chloride channel blockers. The results showed that, under isotonic conditions, the background current was weak and stable. When perfusing the cells with ursolic acid (100 nmol/L), a large current (-59.86 pA/pF ± 4.86 pA/pF at -80 mV, 78.92 pA/pF ± 6.39 pA/pF at +80 mV) was induced. The chloride current showed outward rectification and negligible time- and voltage-dependent inactivation. The reversal potential (-4.83 mV ± 0.30 mV) of the current was close to the calculated equilibrium potential for Cl⁻ (-0.9 mV). The permeabilities of the channel to different anions were ranked in order as follows: Cl⁻ = I⁻ > Br⁻ > gluconate. Hypertonic solutions inhibited the current induced by ursolic acid. The chloride channel blockers, tamoxifen (20 μmol/L) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpro-pylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 μmol/L), suppressed the current. Furthermore, ursolic acid decreased the cell volume by (11.78 ± 1.20)% in 1 h, and the effect was inhibited by NPPB. These results suggest that ursolic acid can activate chloride channels, resulting in outflow of Cl⁻ and decrease of cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
Carcinoma ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Size ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of P-selectin in the penile vascular epithelial cells and the morphological changes in the ultrastructure of the penile cavernous tissues of smoking rats, and to explore the pathogenesis of smoking-induced erectile dysfunction.

METHODSFifty healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control, a long-term heavy smoking group, a long-term light smoking, a short-term heavy smoking and a smoking cessation group. Their erectile function was tested by subcutaneous injection of apomorphine (APO), the P-selectin expression in the penile vascular epithelial cells detected by ELISA and the morphological changes in the ultrastructure of the penile cavernous tissues observed under the transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSThe levels of P-selectin were 10.78 +/- 1.71 ng/L, 62.62 +/- 5.95 ng/L, 40.06 +/- 3.97 ng/L, 41.37 +/- 4.06 ng/L and 22.80 +/- 3.15 ng/L respectively in the normal control, long-term heavy smoking, long-term light smoking, short-term heavy smoking and smoking cessation groups, with significant differences between the control group and the other four (P < 0.05). Electron microscopy showed abnormal arrangement of endothelia, penile cavernous sinuses and smooth muscle cells, disrupted continuity of endothelia, damaged ultrastructure of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the penile cavernous tissue, and obvious proliferation and fibrosis of interstitial tissues in the smoking rats.

CONCLUSIONSmoking increases the P-selectin expression in the penile vascular epithelial cells and damages the ultrastructure of the penile cavernous tissue, which may be the main contributors to smoking-induced erectile dysfunction.

Animals ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Male ; P-Selectin ; biosynthesis ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; blood supply ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoking ; adverse effects

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Modified Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule in treatment of gastrointestinal type cold with exogenous wind-cold and endogenous damp stagnation syndrome.Methods A multi-center and double-blind double-dummy randomized controlled trial was conducted.440 patients of gastrointestinal type cold with exogenous wind-cold and endogenous damp stagnation syndrome were enrolled from Januarary to July 2013.They were randomly divided into two groups,the trial group of 330 cases and the control group of 110 cases.The trial group was given Modified Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule and Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule analogue three times a day for 3 days.The control group received Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule and Modified Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule analogue three times a day for 3 days.Clinical symptoms,signs and symptoms and adverse effect were observed and blood test,routine urine and stool test,feces occult blood,hepatorenal function and electrocardiogram were examined before and after treatment.Results In terms of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome and efficacy after treatment,the clinical healing rates of the trial group and the control group were 50.000％,35.455％ for full analysis set and50.464％,35.780％ for per protocol set.The overall effective rates were 94.848％,76.364％ for full analysis set and 96.285％,77.064％ for per protocol set.There were significant differences between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).In addition,there were significant differences in clinical healing rates and overall effective rates of symptoms including diarrhea,nausea and vomiting,rhinobyon and rhinorrhea,fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm and abdominal swelling and pain between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).However,the difference in overall effective rates of headache and lightheadedness symptom were significant (P ＜ 0.05) except for clinical healing rate.No adverse effects were found in the trial.Conclusion Modified Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule is effective and safe in treatment of gastrointestinal type cold with exogenous wind-cold and endogenous damp stagnation syndrome and its effect is better than that of Huoxiang Zhengqi Soft Capsule.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the 2057 urban adults in Wuhan was 10.74%, being 13.47% in males and 4.99% in females.The prevalence increased with aging,blood uric acid level and insulin resistance index.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the failure reasons of operation for spinal tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia and methods of the second operation.

METHODSSpinal tuberculosis paraplegic patients (18 males, 14 females) were reviewed retrospectively. They have been treated with failing decompressive surgery from January 2001 to December 2006. Seventeen patients received anterior debridement surgery via transpleural approach while the other 15 patients received posterolateral decompression surgery via costotransverse approach. Twenty-two patients got chemotherapy after the surgery.

RESULTSTwenty-three patients were treated by anterior debridement, decompression and graft placement via transpleural approach (9 received the single-stage posterior instrumentation). Five patients received posterolateral debridement and decompression via extrapleural approach. Two patients, recur focus be eliminated. Two patients were given sinus debridement surgery alone. All patients were given anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. The paraplegia was recovered completely in 26 patients, and partly in 5 patients.

CONCLUSIONSInadequate treatment results in defeated operative. The proper selection of operative modalities and timing on the basis of systematically anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy remains the best mode of therapy for spinal tuberculosis complicated with paraplegia. And it is also essential to choose a radical debridement surgery to decompress the spinal cord and to reconstruct the stability of spine.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraplegia ; complications ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery