Objective To investigate the variance levels of plasma soluble leukocyte differentiation antigens CD40 (sCD40) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in preeclamptic patients with renal damage and its relationship. Methods A total of 63 pregnant women attended the Department of Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College between August 2008 and June 2010. In the present study included 28 pregnant women with mild preeclampsia and 35 patients with severe preeclampsia. Thirty matched normotensive pregnant women were enrolled in the study as the control group. Expression of sCD40 and sCD40L were determined by ELISA. At the same time, the blood routine, C reaction protein ( CRP),urine routine, 24 hours urine protein excretion, and serum uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. The correlation analysis was performed between the sCD40/sCD40L and the blood biochemical indexes in 3 groups. Results ( 1 ) The median levels of CRP in severe preeclampsia (10. 8 mg/L)and mild preeclampsia group(7. I mg/L)are significantly higher than that of control group (3. 3 mg/L,P ＜ 0. 05 ); The level of CRP in severe preeclampsia group was also higher than that of mild preeclampsia group ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). The median gestational age at delivery in severe preeclampsia ( 32. 5 weeks)was significantly less than that of mild preeclampsia group ( 37. 2 weeks) and normal group ( 38. 6 weeks,P ＜ 0. 05). However no significant differences were observed between mild preeclampsia group and normal group ( P ＞0. 05 ). The platelet count in severe preeclampsia ( 132 × 109/L) was significantly less than those of mild preeclampsia group (212 × 109/L) and normal group ( 216 × 109/L, P ＜ 0. 01 ), but no significant differences were observed in blood platelet amount between mild preeclampsia group and normal group ( P ＞0. 05 ). There was no significant difference in hemoglobin level and white blood cell in three groups ( P ＞0. 05). (2) The sCD40 plasma concentration in severe, mild preeclampsia and normal group was 133.6,126. 5 and 90. 7 ng/L, respectively. The sCD40 L plasma concentrations were 12. 5, 10. 4 and 4. 4 ng/L respectively in the 3 groups. 24 hours urinary protein quantitative was 4. 5 g/d,0. 8 g/d and 0 in the 3 groups respectively. And the UA level was 486 μ mol/L,289 μmol/L and 162 μmol/L. In the above three groups,the monitoring indicators were significantly higher in women with severe preeclampsia group compared with mild preeclampsia and control groups (P ＜ 0. 01 ), and there were also higher in mild preeclampsia group than that in control groups ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The level of plasma Cr ( 89 μmol/L) and BUN ( 5. 32 mmol/L) in severe preeclampsia group were higher than those of mild preeclampsia group (66 μmol/L and 4. 49mmol/L) and control group ( 57 μmol/L and 3.32 mmol/L, P ＜ 0. 05 ). There was no significant difference between mild preeclampsia group and normal group (P ＞ 0. 05 ). (3) The correlation analysis indicated that the level of sCD40 has a positive correlation with 24 hours urinary protein quantitative( r = 0. 434, P ＜ 0. 05 ),also significant positive correlation( r =0. 536,0. 528 ,P ＜ 0. 01 ) between the level of sCD40 and UA or CRP in women with preeclampsia. There was no significant correlation between the level of sCD40 and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, delivery gestational age, Cr, BUN, and platelet count(r =0. 135,0. 183, -0. 133,0. 190,0. 167, -0. 221 ,all P ＞0. 05 ). There were positive correlation between the level of sCD40L and 24 hours urine protein excretion, either UA or CRP( r =0. 591,0. 445,0. 539 ,all P ＜0. 01 ). No significant correlation was found between sCD40 L and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure,delivery gestational age, Cr, BUN, and platelet count( r =0. 178,0. 212, -0. 292,0. 144,0. 135, -0. 273,all P ＞0. 05). There was significant positive correlation between plasma sCD40 and sCD40L ( r =0. 707 ,P ＜0. 01 ). There was no relationship between the level of sCD40, sCD40L and the blood biochemical indexes in normotensive pregnant women ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). Conclusions The plasma concentrations of sCD40 and sCD40 L are significantly higher in pregnant women with preeclampsia compared with the control, which may be involved in the development of preeclampsia and contribute to the kidney damage. The variance levels of sCD40 and sCD40L may be also related to the severity of preeclampsia.

Objective To study the transduction efficiency of expressing human neprilysin by using a lentiviral vector (Lenti-NEP) in mouse embryonic neural stem cells (NSC) in vitro.Methods Primary NSC were harvested from C57BL/6J pregnant mouse at embryonic day 11.5 and transducted with LentiNEP.Immunofluorescent stainingand Western blot were performed to detect NEP protein expression in NSC.Degradation of amyloid beta 1-40 (Aβ1-40) by NEP protein transduced with Lenti-NEP in NSC was analyzed using ELISA and HPLC.Results Over 90％ NSC were successfully transduced with Lenti-NEP via observation of fused protein green fluorescent protein under the microscopy.Expressions of NEP transduced with Lenti-NEP in NSC and of the markers of NSC (nestin) and neuron (MAP2).The enzyme activity of 2.5 μg (21.00 ± 2.51) and 1.0 μg (15.00 ± 0.54) NEP on degrading Aβ1-40 was shown to improve significantly compared to 0.5 μg NEP(8.00 ±0.81,t =40.4 and 12.7,respectively,both P ＜0.01).The activity of NEP was inhibited in the presence of 50 μmol/L phosphoramidon (0.5 pg:0.08 ±0.01 ;1.0 μg:0.04 ±0.01 ;2.5 μg:0.05 ±0.01,t =17.2,51.3 and 14.1,respectively,all P ＜0.01).The hydrolytic cleavage on degrading Aβ1-40 by NEP was 11.4％,28.4％ and 93.7％ with incubation for 1 h,4 h and 12 h,respectively.Conclusions Lentiviral vector successfully delivers NEP gene to NSC in vitro.Targeting on NEP and NSC may provide potential therapeutic tool for Alzheimer' s disease.

Objective Bevacizumab ( BM ) is an angiogenesis inhibitor widely used in cancer therapy, but its off-target effect of proteinuria may lead to discontinuation of treatment.This study was to explore the mechanisms of BM inducing proteinuria in mice. Methods Twenty-four healthy mice were randomly divided into four groups, saline control, low-dose BM, medium-dose BM, and high-dose BM, treated by injection of normal saline and BM at 10, 35, and 60 mg per kg of the body weight, respectively, though the tail vein.At 4 weeks after injection, 24-hour urine was collected to determine the total urine protein and blood obtained from the eyeballs for biochemical analysis.Then all the mice were sacrificed and the kidneys harvested for observation of pathologic changes in the glomeruli as well as for immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and real-time PCR analysis. Results Compared with normal saline,BM obviously elevated the level of 24-hour urine protein, with statistically significant differences between the control and the medium-and high-dose BM groups (0.23 ±0.02 vs 1.14 ±0.13 and 1.43 ±0.10, P<0.01), but not between the control and the low-dose BM (0.23 ±0.02 vs 0.29 ±0.07, P>0.05).No significant differences were observed among the four groups in the levels of Cr, BUN, AST and ALT (P>0.05).Under the optical microscope, the kidneys showed normal structures in the control group, no signifi-cant pathologic changes in the low-dose BM, and vacuolus-like alteration with atrophic glomerular endothelial cells in the medium-and high-dose BM groups.Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the expressions of VEGF and podocin were moderately or strongly positive in the control and low-dose BM groups, by weakly positive or negative in the medium-and high-dose BM groups.Compared with the control group, the expression of the VEGF protein in the renal tissue was significantly decreased in the high-dose BM group (0.76 ±0.09 vs 0.39 ±0.05, P<0.01) but had no remarkable difference from that in the low-dose (0.81 ±0.10) or medium-dose BM (0.64 ±0.08) group (P>0.05), and the expression of the podocin protein was significantly reduced in the medium-dose BM (0.67 ±0.07 vs 0.43 ±0.10, P<0.05) and high-dose BM (0.67 ±0.07 vs 0.19 ±0.04, P<0.01), but not in the low-dose BM group (0.67 ±0.03) (P>0.05).The mRNA expressions of VEGF and podocin were not significantly changed in the low-dose BM group as compared with the control (1.07 ±0.61 and 1.12 ±0.09 vs 1.23 ±0.25 and 1.17 ±0.19, P>0.05) but remarkably de-creased in the medium-dose (0.82 ±0.38 and 0.71 ±0.18) and high-dose BM groups and (0.47 ±0.64 and 0.42 ±0.09) groups (P<0.01). Conclusion Bevacizumab damages glomerular filtration membrane and induce proteinuria partially by down-regulating the protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF and podocin.

4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase is a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in higher plant and may regulate the biosynthesis of ferulic acid in Angelica sinensis. In this study, the homology-based cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique were used to clone a full length cDNA encoding 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase gene (4CL), and then qRT-PCR was taken for analyzing 4CL gene expression levels in the root, stem and root tissue at different growth stages of seedlings of A. sinensis. The results showed that a full-length 4CL cDNA (1,815 bp) was obtained (GenBank accession number: KT880508) which shares an open reading frame (ORF) of 1 632 bp, encodes 544 amino acid polypeptides. We found 4CL gene was expressed in all tissues including leaf, stem and root of seedlings of A. sinensis. The expressions in the leave and stem were increased significantly with the growth of seedlings of A. sinensis (P < 0.05), while it in the root showed little change. It indicates a time-space pattern of 4CL gene expression in seedlings of A. sinensis. These findings will be useful for establishing an experiment basis for studying the structure and function of 4CL gene and elucidating mechanism of ferulic acid biosynthesis and space-time regulation in A. sinensis.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Angelica sinensis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coenzyme A Ligases ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data

Objective To survey the highly risk iodine deficiency regions of Shandong Province and to provide reference basis for further executing urgent iodine supply. Methods The annual document of cretinism in Licheng District in Jinan City and Shouguang City, the two iodine deficiency regions, were referred. Forty children aged 8-10 years of 2 targeted schools from 3 towns out of every targeted region underwent palpation, ultrasonography and As3+-Ce4+catalyzing speetrophotometry for ultra iodine examination. Twenty women aged 18-40 years from 2 villages sampled from every targeted town received ultra iodine examination and edible salt examination of iodine with direct titration. Results No new cretinism and suspected cretinism was found since 1995 in the regions. The goiter rates of children of the two regions detected with palpation and ultrasonography were 7.5% (18/241),6.2% (15/241) and 5.0% (13/259), 1.2% (3/259), respectively. Two hundred forty and 249 urine samples were respectively collected in school children, in which the median urinary iodine was 226.3,282.7 μg/L. One hundred twenty urine samples were respectively collected from the two group of women, resulting a median urinary iodine of 187.2,321.7 μg/L. Eight and 2 salt samples were free of iodine in 120 salt samples collected each region, respectively. The rate of qualified iodized salt was 100%. Conclusions It is not necessary to urgently implement iodine supply in Shouguang City and Licheng District. However, reinforcement of supervise on salt industry and eliminating the hazard from non-iodized and disqualified iodized salt remains in need.

Objective Effectiveness of two kinds of thermochemotherapy infusion from intraarterial approach were studied in the grafted liver VX2 tumors of rabbit.Methods VX2 tumor model was established in 30 Newzland rabbit's livers.Percutaneous transfemoral hepatic arterial catheterization with fixation of the cathether tip inside the feeding vessel was carried out under DSA guidance.All 30 rabbits were divided into three groups(n=10 in each group),normal temperature 100 ml saline+Adriamycin(ADM)infusion(group 1),60℃100 ml saline+ADM continuous perfusion(group 2)and 60℃100 ml saline+ADM intermittent perfusion(group 3).After the perfusion,the lasting time periods of 43-45℃for tumor tissue of group 2 and 3 together with the concentrations of ADM within tumor's tissue were measured.Results Concentrations of ADM were shown as(12.013?2.237)?g/ml,(17.622?1.368)?g/ml,and(11.519?1.225)?g/ml for group 2, group 3 and group 1 respectively.60℃intermittent perfusion vs 60℃continuous perfusion showed P＜0.05, 60℃continuous pefusion vs normal temperature perfusion also showed P＞0.05. 43-45℃period lasting time (min)for 60℃continuous pefusion vs 60℃intermittent pefusion were(4.1?2.7)min and(11.3?3.3)min respectively,the latter was three times more than the former.There were no differences shown betwen the temperature,respiration and heart rate of group 2 and group 3.Conclusion Intermittent intraarterial perfusion thermochemotherapy is a more effective interventional management among all thermochemotherapies.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between tryptase in serum and anaphylaxis. METHODS: The concentrations of tryptase in the sera of heart blood in three persons died from anaphylaxis shock were detected by ELISA. The first sample was obtained from a man, aged 38, died of injecting Amikacin. The second sample was obtained from a man, aged 42, died of injecting Cephradine. The third sample was from a woman, aged 39, died of injecting Lincomycin. All samples were stored in -20 degrees C. RESULTS: The concentrations of tryptase in sera were 52 ng/ml, 121 ng/ml and 0.73 ng/ml. It was unknown why the concentration of tryptase in the third sample was normal. CONCLUSION In fetal anaphylaxia reaction tryptase measurement is a useful indicator, but the diagnosis is not to be based on the test alone.
Adult ; Anaphylaxis/enzymology* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Cause of Death ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Mast Cells/enzymology* ; Postmortem Changes ; Retrospective Studies ; Serine Endopeptidases/blood* ; Tryptases

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of syndrome-differentiation acupuncture on life quality in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) in order to evaluate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSOne hundred and five cases of FD were randomly divided into a syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, a regular acupuncture group and a non-acupoint group, 35 cases in each one. Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Zusanli (ST 36) were selected as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. After syndrome differentiation, Danzhong (CV 17) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were added for those with stagnation of liver qi; Pishu (BL 20) and Weishu (BL 21) were added for those with deficiency of spleen-stomach qi; Qimen (LR 14) and Taichong (LR 3) were added for liver-qi invading stomach and Yinlingquan (SP 9) and Neiting (ST 44) were added for dampness-heat blocking stomach. The selection of acupoints in the regular acupuncture group was the same as main acupoints in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group. The points 10 mm lateral to the main acupoints were selected in the non-acupoint group. The treatment was given once a day, six days as a treatment course and totally two courses were required. The symptom total score, health-related quality of life survey (SF-36) and Nepean dyspepsia index (NDI) were evaluated before and after the treatment as well as one month after the treatment (follow-up visit), respectively. The efficacy was also assessed.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the total effective rate was 87.5% (28/32) in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group, which was superior to 74.2% (23/31) in the regular acupuncture group and 20.7% (6/29) in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared before the treatment, the SF-36, NDI and symptom total score after the treatment and in the follow-up visit were all obviously improved in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group and regular acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), which was the most obvious in the syndrome-differentiation acupuncture group [after the treatment, SF-36: 84.54 +/- 5.93 vs 81.44 +/- 6.22, 63.46 +/- 6.59; NDSI: 18.94 +/- 9.30 vs 21.23 +/- 8.39, 43.93 +/- 11.26; NDLQI: 71.42 +/- 7.23 vs 63.11 +/- 7.06, 54.87 +/- 6.00; symptom total score: 22.06 +/- 15.80 vs 32.52 +/- 16.88, 47.97 +/- 10.92]; the improvement in the regular acupuncture group was more obvious than that in the non-acupoint group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared before the treatment, only NDSI score was improved in the non-acupoint group after the treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe syndrome-differentiation acupuncture could obviously improve patient's life quality in the treatment of FD, which is an effective therapy for FD.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Dyspepsia ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult

Objective To learn the iodine nutritional status of the vulnerable population with different iodine level under the current level of iodized salt in Shandong province and to offer prevention and cure measures.Methods Five groups of vulnerable population including school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age from mountain areas ( Daiyue, Mengyin counties ) , plain ( Luxian,Gaomi counties ) and coastal (Zhaoyuan county ) of five different iodine deficient areas were investigated in 2007.The thyroids of children aged 8 - 10 were checked by palpation and B ultrasound, their edible salt iodine level was detected by direct titration. The lever of urinary iodine of vulnerable population was examined by arsenic and cerium speetrophotometry. Results The goiter rates of 8 - 10 year-old were 1.8%(9/514) and 1.2%(6/514), respectively by palpation and B-ultrasonic. The mean iodine of 501 edible salt samples was 30.95 mg/kg. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 94.6% (474/501). The rate of qualified iodized salt was 90.4% (453/501). The median of urinary iodine was 216.7 μg,/L. The urinary iodine of school children aged 8 - 10, pregnant, lactation women, infants and women of childbearing age were 234.0, 165.5, 162.4, 257.5, 233.0 μg/L, respectively. Conclusions Current iodine nutritional level is basically appropriate in all groups of vulnerable people. The current iodine content of iodized salt could meet the needs of population from different iodine deficient areas of Shandong province.

Six thousand and forty-four subjects in Jiangsu community were enrolled to investigate the relationship between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and blood pressure. It was shown that subclinical thyroid dysfunction, including both the subclinical hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism, had no relationship with increased blood pressure.