Objective To investigate the value and limitations of ultrasound determination-evaluated brachial artery endothelial function in elderly diabetic patients. Methods High-resolution two-dimensional ultrasound was used to determine brachial artery(BA) flow-mediated vasodilation(FMD) during reactive hyperemia. Endothelial function was evaluated by FMD in 67 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Results In diabetes versus normal control group,the BA diameter and flow velocity showed no significant difference (P＞0.05) at basal state,but showed significant decreases (P＜0.05) after reactive hyperemia. Single-factor correlation analysis showed that FMD was in negative correlation with disease course, TG, ISI and age (r=-0.2357,-0.2215 and -0.3256, -0.2415,(all P＜0.05～0.01),and showed no correlation of FMD with BMI, TC, FBG, HbA1c, FIns. Conclusions FMD has a value in evaluating the flow-mediated endothelial dysfunction in older T2DM patients, while our analysis of the results should consider the patient's age, gender, race, disease course, blood lipids and other factors.

Objective To construct the recombinant of hepatocellular carcinoma-targeting adenovirus containing r-Caspase-3 gene and provide the gene therapic strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The pAdTrack-EAFP-PALB was constructed and the r-Caspase-3 gene was subcloned into the vector. The linearized shuttle plasmid was homogenously recombined with AdEasy-1 in BJ5183 cells. The candidate clone was analyzed by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequencing, and then pAdEasy-EAFP-PALB/r-Caspase-3 vector was digested with PacⅠand transfected into AD293 cells for packaging and amplifying, recombinant virus was constructed successfully. Infection titer and efficiency of recombinant virus were monitored by green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression. The expression of r-Caspase-3 in infected HepG2 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The apoptosis of HepG2 cells was detected by SRB dyeing method. Results Shuttle vector pAdTrack-EAFP-PALB/r-Caspase-3 was correct after identification by restriction endonuclease analysis and sequencing. By PCR and PacⅠ restriction endonuclease analysis, the homologous recombinant of pAdEasy-EAFP-PALB/r-Caspase-3 was successful. The expression of GFP was observed when linearized pAdEasy-EAFP-PALB/r-Caspase-3 was transfected into AD293 cells. AD293 cells could be infected repeatedly by recombinant adenovirus. The expression of r-Caspase-3 gene on HepG2 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot methods respectively, which confirmed that the Ad-EAFP-PALB/r-Caspase-3 was constructed successfully. The specificity of Ad-EAFP-PALB/r-caspase-3 which targeting induced hepatocellular carcinoma cells was founded by SRB dyeing test. Conclusion The Recombinant of hepatocellular carcinoma-targeting adenovirus containing r-Caspase-3 gene was constructed successfully and which established the foundation of r-Caspase-3 gene therapy in future research to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical value of platelet membrane glycoproteins CD 62p ,CD 63 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).Methods The levels of CD 62p ,CD 63 were measured by FCM in 64 cases of type 2 DM (31 cases with microangiopathy,33 cases without microangiopathy) and 30 normal individuals.Serial measurements were carried out in 16 patients before and after treatment.Results The levels of CD 62p ,CD 63 in type 2 DM were significantly higher than those in controls (P

Objective To investigate the levels of serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4 )and related factors in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Eighty type 2 diabetic and patients 30 non-diabetic subjects were recruited into obese-diabetic group [body mass index (BMI) 1525 kg/m~2],normal-weighted diabetic group(BMI < 25 kg/m~2)and control group(BMI < 25 kg/m~2). Serum adiponectin(APN), RBP4 and hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c)triacylglycerol (TG),total cholesterol (TC).high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)and were measured on fasting samples. BMI, waist/hips girth ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. The correlation between RBP4 and other factors was analyzed. Results The concentration of RBP4 was significantly increased in obese-diabetic group and normal-weighted diabetic group compared with that in control group [ (30.02 ± 5.32), (20.10 ± 5.45), (12.02 ± 3.45) mg/L] (P < 0.01). The concentration of RBP4 was higher in obese-diabetic group than that in normalweighted diabetic group (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed serum RBP4 was positively associated with TG,BMI,FBG, WHR,FINS,HOMA-IR and negatively associated with APN (r = 0.225, 0.697, 0.323,0.557, 0.272, 0.461, -0.398). Conclusions The concentration of RBP4 is significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients compared with that in normal subjects. RBP4 possibly plays an important role in the insulin resistance and the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes.

Objective To investigate the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in glomerulosclerosis secondary to adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal control group and adriarnycin-induced nephropathy group(model group). Eight rats were sacrificed at 2nd week, 4th week, 8th week, 12th week respectively. Histopathological changes of renal tissue were observed under light microscope and glomerulosclerosis index was evaluated. The expression of IL-17 was measured by RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. The expression of IL-1β was detected by ELISA. Results Compared with control group, the expressions of IL-17 mRNA, IL-17 and IL-1β protein were higher in model group of the 8th week (P=0.041, P=0.000 and P=0.007 respectively), even they were further higher in model group of the 12th week than that in the control group (all P=0.000). In model group of the 12th week, the level of IL-17 protein had positive correlation with IL-1β and glomerulosclerosis index (P=0.037, P=0.021 respectively). Conclusion IL-17 expression is elevated and may contribute to glomerulosclerosis in adriamycin-induced nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients with macrovascular complications. Methods All of 115 subjects were divided into 3 groups: normal control group (35subjects), T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group (40 subjects) and simple T2DM patients group (40 subjects). Serum RBP4 and hs-CRP was detected and fasting blood glucose(FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipopretein cholesferel (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesferol(LDL-C) and fasting insulin(FINS) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and HOMA-IR was calculated. The correlation of RBP4 and other factors were analyzed.Results The concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP were significantly increased in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group and simple T2DM patients group compared with those in normal control group [hs-CRP:(9.12±4.21),(2.01±1.96), (0.98±0.36)mg/L; RBP4:(30.70 ± 5.45), (20.02±5.32),(12.02±3.45)mg/L] (P<0.01). Also,the concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP were significantly increased in T2DM patients with macrovascular complications group compared with those in simple T2DM patients group (P<0.01). Univariate analysis showed that serum RBP4 was positively associated with LDL-C,BMI,FBG,hs-CRP,FINS,HOMA-IR (r=0.325, 0.597, 0.323, 0.571, 0.275, 0.463,P<0.05 or <0.01).Conclusions The concentrations of RBP4 and hs-CRP are significantly higher in T2DM patients. The changes of RBP4 and hs-CRP are closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetic macrovascular complications.

Objective The purpose of this study is to compare the most comfortable levels and neural re-sponse imaging threshold between children of cochlear implants with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome and normal inner ears. Methods Thirty-eight implanted children participated in this study and were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 32 patients with normal inner ears and group B 6 patients with radiographically proven large vestibular aqueduct syndrome. All of the patients were the recipients of the cochlear implants by Advanced Bionics. The initial time for the first programming session was approximately one month after surgery. The psychophysical tests included M- level tests. Programming techniques used in the test were suitable for the age of patients. Sound-Wave 1.4 software was used to test tNRI. Results Using the rank sum test, M-level and tNRI of electrode 3,7,11 and 15 did not differ significantly between group A and B(P>0. 05). Conclusion The parameters of mapping are not significantly different between the implanted children with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome and normal inner ear. The management and procedures of mapping used to the subjects with normal inner ear can be applied to the children with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of abdominal acupuncture in treating patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).
Methods:Forty-five eligible OVCF patients were randomized into an abdominal acupuncture (AA) group, a body acupuncture (BA) group and a medication group according to the random numbers generated by the SPSS 11.5 version software, 15 subjects in each group. Patients in the medication group were intervened by Ossotide injection (intravenous injection), Caltrate (oral administration), Alfacalcidol (oral administration), and Salcatonin injection (muscular injection). In addition to the intervention given to the medication group, patients in the AA group additionally received acupuncture at Zhongwan (CV 12), Xiawan (CV 10), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shuifen (CV 9), and Huaroumen (ST 24); while patients in the BA group additionally received acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2, superior and inferior to the affected area) points, Ashi points, Weizhong (BL 40) and Chengshan (BL 57). For the AA and BA groups, the acupuncture treatment was given once a day, 6 d per week, for 3 weeks in total. Prior to the intervention, and respectively after 1-week treatment, 2-week treatment and 3-week treatment, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Barthel index (BI) were adopted to evaluate pain degree and activities of daily living (ADL).
Results:After intervention, the VAS and BI scores were significantly changed in the three groups (P<0.05). Respectively after 1-week, 2-week and 3-week treatment, the VAS and BI scores in the two acupuncture groups were significantly different from those in the medication group at the same time point (P<0.01). After 1-week and 2-week treatment, the improvements of VAS and BI scores in the AA group were more significant than those in the BA group(P<0.05); after 3-week treatment, there was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score between the two acupuncture groups (P>0.05), but a significant difference was found in comparing the BI score (P<0.05).
Conclusion:Abdominal acupuncture can produce a more significant effect in improving VAS and BI scores in OVCF patients than body acupuncture and pure medication treatment, and it’s efficient and causes few sufferings.

Objective To observe the effect of Vitamin E on advanced glycosylation end-products(AGEs) and their receptors in renal tissue of diabetic rats.Methods Rat diabetic nephropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ.Rats were allocated to normal control group(NC group),diabetes mellitus group(DM group),and Vitamin E group(VE group).All rats were treated with corresponding drugs for 8 weeks.During and after the treatment,the general state,blood glucose level(BGL),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),serum creatinine(Scr),urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1C),clearance rate of creatinine(Ccr) and kidney weight/body weight ratio were determined in different groups.The fluorescence microscope was used to observe advanced glycosylation end-products fluorescence intensity in iced slices.The expression of RAGE in rats' renal tissue slices was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results ① Compared with those in NC group,GLU,HbA1C,BUN,UAER,kidney weight/body weight ratio,contents of AGEs,and RAGE increased significantly(P

Objective To prepare nanobubbles and analysis its application for enhanced ultrasound imaging of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Methods Nanobubbles were prepared using a thin-film hydration-sonication method. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the nanobubbles for SCLC H446 cell line. The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of xenografted SCLC tumors in 10 nude mice was performed using nanobubbles and micro-scale microbubbles, and compared with livers. The time-intensity curve (TIC) was obtained using the Gamma variate and the following parameters were calculated, including area under the curve, time to peak, arrival time, peak intensity, and half-peak time. Results Nanobubbles with spherical shape distributed homogeneously, without obvious aggregation, the mean diameters was (392.1 ±48.6) nm and average zeta potential was (-16.8 ±2.9) mV. The MTT results indicated that the nanobubbles had no obvious cytotoxicity toward H446 cell line within the concentrations used for in vivo ultrasound imaging with nanobubbles (5 μg/ml). CEUS with the nanobubbles showed significantly higher peak intensity, and half-peak time [(18.14 ±0.62) s, (141.55 ±8.21) s] in comparison with the micro-scale microbubbles [(14.82 ±0.51) s, (120.43 ±8.73) s] (P= 0.033, 0.040). There was no significant difference in time to arrival, area under the curve and time to peak (all P>0.05). Compared with livers, the nanobubbles in xenografted SCLC tumors showed significantly shorter time to peak, lower peak intensity and area under the curve, and higher half-peak time (all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in time to arrival (P > 0.05). Conclusion Nanobubbles ultrasound enhanced contrast agent shows good stability and contrast-enhancement effect in vitro, and provides an experimental basis for targeting ultrasound imaging and therapeutics of SCLC.