Objective To investigate the significance of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γexpression in the lung tissue of rats with chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPAH). Methods Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=10 for each group):normal control group (NC), hypoxia control group-one-week (HC-1w), hypoxia control group-two-week (HC-2w) and hypoxia control group-three-week (HC-3w). Normal control group was raised under normal oxygen condition in ventilated animal cage for three weeks. The other HC groups were placed in a low oxygen chamber (O2 concentration of 10%) from 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (8 h/d) everyday by one week, two weeks and three weeks. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) were detected. The index of right ventricular hypertrophy RV/(LV+S) was measured by dissecting rat heart. The morphological changes of the small pul-monary arteries were observed by HE staining, and the percentage of vascular wall thickness (WT%) was calculated. The ex-pression level of PPARγprotein was detected by Westren blot assay. Results The mPAP, RVSP and RV/(LV+S) were sig-nificantly higher in HC groups than those of NC group (P<0.05). The morphology of pulmonary arteries showed vessel wall thickening and vessel lumina stenosis in HC groups compared with that of NC group. The PPARγexpression in lung tissue was significantly lower in HC groups than that of NC group, and the downward trend was more obvious with the extension of time. Conclusion PPARγplays an important role in the occurrence and development of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hyper-tension.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of Sennae Folium combined with mannitol for bowel cleaning on multi-slice spiral CT bowel imaging. METHODS:52 patients receiving multi-slice spiral CT imaging examination in our hospital during Jun. 2011 to Jun. 2012 were collected retrospectively,and then divided into control group(22 cases)and observation group(30 cases) according to the methods of bowel preparation. Both groups fasted for 12 h before examination. Sennae Folium 20 g soaked in boiled water 500 ml for half an hour was given to patients in control group 12 h before examination,and then was soaked in boiled water 500 ml again for drinking and other pure water 1 000 ml was also given to patients. Sennae Folium 10 g soaked in boiled wa-ter 500 ml was given to patients in observation group 1 d before examination and 2 h after breakfast;soaked in boiled water 500 ml again 2 h after lunch;10% mannitol 500 ml and pure water 1 000 ml were given to patients after supper. Both groups received multi-slice spiral CT bowel imaging until the patients defecated watery stool after medication. The effective rate of bowl cleaning, image quality and the incidence of ADR were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS:The effective rate of bowel cleaning was 100% in observation group,which was significantly higher than that of control group(81.82%),with statistical significance(P<0.05). The excellent and good rate of imaging quality was 96.67% in observation group,which was significantly better than that of control group(81.82%),with statistical significance(P<0.05). The incidence of ADR as abdominal distension,nausea,intestinal mucosa damage in observation group were significantly lower than those of control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Sennae Folium combined with mannitol is effective method to prepare enteric multi-slice spiral CT imaging exam-ination,and perform good bowl cleaning effect,high image quality and low incidence of ADR.

Objective To evaluate characteristic clinical and imaging findings of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) in dual-phase contrast enhancement MSCT.Methods The dual-phase contrast enhancement MSCT images of 23 lesions in 20 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic NET were studied retrospectively.Their clinical presentations,imaging characters as well as the intensities of lesions and normal pancreas in each phase were measured,and the following indices were calculated.First,the absolute enhancement of lesions,including the increasing of CT value of the maximum enhancement area within a tumor in arterial phase,that was named A1 in short,and that of the minimum enhancement area was labeled as A2.The same ROI measured increasing CT values in portal venous phase was labeled as V1 and V2 respectively.Secondly,the relatively enhancement indices comparing with the normal pancreas in the same patient within the same phase were calculated.This included the differences between the maximum,as well as the minimum,enhancement areas of tumors and the normal pancreas in arterial phase,which was named as AP1 and AP2 respectively,and those differences in portal venous phase,which were labeled as VP1 and VP2 respectively.All of the tumors were graded as G1 to G3 according to the WHO classification in 2010.A Kruskal Wallis test were performed to compare differences of tumor diameters and the enhancement indices.The change trend of enhancement indices varying with pathology grading were described.Fisher exact test was used to find differences of clinical and imaging characters.Results Twenty-three lesions in 20 patients included 13 lesions in grade 1 (G1),8 in G2,and 2 in G3.Among the 10 patients with G1 NET,7 of them had no endocrine symptoms,while the other 3 had endocrine symptoms.Six of them had no abdominal pain,while 4 of them complained of it.All of the 10 patients with G1 NET had no hepatic metastasis.Among 8 patients with G2 NET,4 of them were with endocrine abnormality,and the other 4 were not.Five of them complained of abdominal pain while the other 3 did not.Six of them had no hepatic metastasis,and 2 of them had.Both of the 2 patients with NET in G3 did not have any endocrine abnormality,and one of them complained abdominal pain.Both of them were with hepatic metastasis.There was no difference between groups that whether or not endocrine syndrome and abdominal pain was presented (x2 =2.238,0.713,P =0.318,1.000),while hepatic metastasis was of significant differences (x2 =9.516,P =0.003).Tumor location,distinct outline,necrosis and/or calcification were not significantly different.Tumor enhancement showed a probable trend of decrease in group of higher grade.A1 decreased from (126.4 ± 45.7)HU to (38.7± 8.5)HU (x2 =7.254,P=0.027),A2 decreased from (94.1 ±31.1)HU to (22.8 ± 14.0) HU (x2 =7.323,P =0.026) and AP1 dropped from 80.6 HU(-21.8 — 169.7 HU) to -36.7 HU(-41.6—-31.7 HU) (x2 =6.778,P =0.034).All of the indices mentioned above were of significant difference and the other indices showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Quantitative assessment of their enhancement patterns may provide useful information to preoperative grading of pancreatic NET,and tumors in a higher grade may show poorer enhancement.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Head ; innervation ; Humans ; Neuritis ; therapy

Objective The study aimed to assess the relationship between the plasma resistin,obesity and insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods We measured fasting plasma resistin in 60 NAFLD patients and 28 matched normal control subjects from Oct.2005 to Feb.2006.The level of plasma resistin was measured by ELISA method.Insulin resistance by homeostasis model(HOMA),height,weight,waist circumstance,hip girth,waist to hip ratio(WHR),body mass index(BMI),blood pressure,blood glucose,total cholesterol,triglyceride,HDL-cholesterol,LDL-cholesterol,aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and fasting insulin were measured as well.Results Plasma resistin levels were higher in NAFLD patients as compared to controls(8.56?2.5 vs 6.39?2.81,P

Objective To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs 653765 and rs514049 inADAM10gene and clinical characteristics in asthma in Han Chinese children. MethodsA case-control study was performed in that research, and 221 children with asthma were recruited and an other 236 normal children were recruited as controls. The genotypes of two SNPs in ADAM 10 gene were detected using PCR-RFLP. And all data were analyzed by SPSS 19 . 0 . Results In case-controlled study, we found the frequency of TT genotype in case group was higher than that of controlgroup (P=0 . 028 ), and the frequency of T allele was higher than that of control group (P=0 . 008 ). The genotypes and alleles of rs 514049 was not associated with asthma (P=0 . 604 , 0 . 356 ).There were no difference in serum ADAM 10 levels between asthma and control group (P=0 . 238 ), but in asthma group we found patients with TT genotype may have a higher level ADAM 10 than the one with CC genotype (P=0 . 034 ). The polymorphism of rs 653765 was not associated with the level of C-reaction protein, the number of LYM, IgE and EOS% (P>0 . 05 ). Conclusions The genotype of rs 653765 in ADAM 10 gene was associated with asthma in the central of China, and T allele was a risk factor. The polymorphism of rs 653765 might be associated with the levels of ADAM 10 .

microRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-protein-coding RNAs,which play important roles in the cell proliferation,differentiation,apoptosis,as well as activation of oncogenic and antioncogenic signals.Researches show that the abnormal expressions of miRNAs are closely related to the tumorigenesis,histological type,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of lung cancer.So miRNAs may be the most potential and promising therapeutic targets for lung cancer.

High density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C) has received extensive attention because of its cardiovascular protective effects.Recent studies showed that HDL could promote reverse cholesterol transport ( RCT ) , be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, and induce angiogenesis. Apolipoptrotein A-I (apoA-I), the most abundant protein of HDL, plays a pivotal role in the HDL mediated-functional activities.Short peptides based on the amphiphilic alpha helix structure of apoA-I have been designed and aimed at imitating the function of apoA-I.The function and metabolism of these mimetic peptides depend on their amino acids component and sequence , and have been proved to exert protection in against cardiovascular disease , infection, inflammation and oxidative damage, metabolic syndrome and tumor.Clinical trials confirmed their benefits, but high cost put them out of the practical applications..

Objective To investigate the effect of combined Metformin and esomeprazole therapy on plasma levels of gastrin,blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and insulin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled study of 41 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted.Patients were randomly assigned into treatment group(combination therapy with Metformin 0.5 g,bid or tid and Esomeprazole 20 mg,qd,for 12 weeks)and placebo group(Metformin monotherapy 0.5 g,bid or tid,for 12 weeks).Fasting blood samples were taken from vein before and after treatment.Fasting serum levels of gastrin,glucose,HbA1c,insulin,lipids,liver and renal functions were compared between the two groups.The homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) and insulin secretion index (HOMA-β)were calculated,and complications were recorded.Results There were no significant differences in body mass index and waist circumference between the two groups.Serum gastrin level was slightly increased in the treatment group 12 weeks after treatment,but without statistically significance [(127.20±9.21)ng/L vs.(131.53±7.84)ng/L,P＞0.05],and serum gastrin level had no significant differences in the placebo group before and after treatment [(128.42±4.58)ng/L vs.(127.51±3.47)ng/L,P＞0.05].However,there were no significant differences in the changes of blood glucose,HbA1c,insulin,HOMA-β and HOMA-IR before versus after therapy,and between the two group(all P＞0.05).Conclusions Combined Metformin and insulin therapy cannot increase serum gastrin and insulin levels and has no significant effect on reducing blood glucose and HbA1c levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To investigate the effects of Puerarin on glucose and lipid metabolism and gastric motility in early period type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats.Methods Rat model of T2DM was established by high fat-sugar diet fed and low-dose streptozotocin-treated. SD rats were divided randomly into normal control group (NC), normal+Puerarin group (NP), diabetes control group (DC) and diabetes+Puerarin group (DP). NP and DP rats were given Puerarin 400 mg/(kg?d) once per day for 5 weeks, NC and DC rats were given PBS. Half time of gastric emptying and emptying rate were evaluated by SPECT. The serum level of FBG, GSP, FFA, TC, TG and INS were measured by kit.Results Compared with NC group, DC rats had higher FBG, FFA, TC, GSP, TG and emptying rate, but INS and half time of gastric emptying decreased significantly (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with DC group, TG, GSP, FFA and emptying rate of DP rats were reduced (P<0.05), but had more half time of gastric emptying (P<0.05). The results of multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed that FBG related to half time of gastric emptying.Conclusion Type 2 diabetic rats have faster gastric motility, higher blood glucose and lipid. Puerarin might improve the disorders of GSP, TG, FFA and gastric emptying in diabetic rats.