Aim To investigate the neuroprotective effects of osthole(Ost)on the primary cultured cortical neurons transfected with APP595/596 gene and its underlying mechanism.Methods Neonatal mouse cortical neurons were transfected with APP595/596 gene to establish AD cell models for the further study.Then,the cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay,and the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)was assayed by LDH kit to evaluate the injury degree.Transferase-mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL)was used to evaluate the cell apoptosis.The expression of β-amyloid peptide(Aβ)and β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1)was measured by immunofluorescence,while the miRNA-107 was measured by RT-PCR.Results Compared to model group,Ost could significantly improve the neurons viability,decrease the LDH release and prevent the apoptosis.Ost also inhibited the expression of Aβ and BACE1 at protein level,while enhanced the expression of miRNA-107 at gene level.Conclusion Ost plays a neuroprotective role in neurons transfected with APP595/596 gene in part through up-regulating miRNA-107.

Diseases of glucose and lipid metabolism disorder,presented rather complicated pathological mechanism,often with clinical pattern of multiple concurrent diseases.Therefore,the traditional single-disease based on treatment methods need improving.In view of plenty of clinical practice,theatrical and fundamental researches,the pathological mechanisms of some chronic disorders,such as hyperlipidemia,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,type 2 diabetes,hypertension,atherosclerosis and severe cardiovascular complications,resulted from the impairment in the metabolism of glucose and lipid were investigated using the method of integrated Chinese and western medicine.Overall,the features of these diseases and their common characteristics were discovered,and accordingly we defined the new concept of glucolipid metabolic disease (GLMD) and put forward the concept of pivot liver of metabolic regulation system.In addition,we developed the therapeutic strategy of modulating liver,starting pivot and cleaning turbidity,for the comprehensive and integrated treatment and prevention of these diseases.The theory of GLMD shared the critical characteristics with precision medicine,taking its own specialty.Finally,the content and approaches for the research of GLMD were proposed,and some essential and core fields in the precision medical research for GLMD were profoundly analyzed and prospected.

Manganese-oxidizing microorganisms are able to oxidize soluble Mn(II) into insoluble Mn oxides. Such microorganisms are very useful in treatment of Mn-contaminated water. In this research, a Mn(II)- oxidizing bacterium Bacillus sp. MK3-1 was isolated from Mn-contaminated soil. This bacterium has high MnCl2 resistance with a MIC of 20 mmol/L. The results showed that it is able to oxidize and remove more than 96% of Mn(II) in the culture medium. The immobilized solid-embedding Bacillus sp. MK3-1can re- moved 87.12% of manganese contaminated water. The final concentration of MnCl2 after the treatment reached the national discharge standard level. Scan electron microscope observation showed that the pro- duced Mn oxides located on the cell surfaces of Bacillus sp. MK3-1. Energy dispersive spectrdmeter analy- sis indicated that the content of manganese of cell surfaces of Bacillus sp. MK3-1 was 19.60% (W/W). At last we amplified a 903 bp multicopper oxidase gene mnxG encoding the putative Mn(II)-oxidizing protein.The product of mnxG showed 86% identity to the reported multicopper oxidase.

Background The current epidemiology study had shown the prevalence of age and sex adjusted dry eye was higher in patients with diabetes than population without diabetes.Further researches demonstrated that the tear film disturbance is common after the phacoemulsification or photocoagulation in the eyes of diabetic patients.Objective The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical features of tear film instability in diabetes patients.Methods One hundred and sixty-two patients with tear-film abnormality referred to Tongren Eye Center from January 1,2010 to September 1,2010 underwent questionnaire about diabetes and other diseases,BUT,Schirmer test.Tear film instability was diagnosed as abnormality of either Schirmer test or BUT and showed as M ( Q25,Q75 ).The right eyes of 162 dry eye patients meeting with the including criteria were enrolled.The patients were assigned to two groups according to with ( 80 patients) or without ( 82 patients) diabetes mellitum.DEQ questionnaire were scored.The percentage of cases with meibomain gland abnormal score ＞ 1 was calculated.Mann-Whitney U analysis and Chisquare analysis were used to compare the difference between the two groups.Results The Schirmer test in diabetic group was 8 ( qualities:5,9 )mm and was longer than 6 ( qualities:5,7 ) mm in non-diabetic patients ( U =2452,P =0.00).The result of BUT test was 3 ( qualities:2,4 ) seconds in diabetic patients and was shorter than 4 (qualities:3,5) seconds in non-diabetic patients( U=2104,P＜0.01 ).The DEQ score of diabetic patients was 15 ( qualities:1 0,19,which was less than21 ( qualities:19,23.25 ) in non-diabetic patients.51.2 ％ ( 41/80 ) diabetic participants and 32.9％ (27/82) nondiabetic participants appeared meibography ( grade larger than 1 ) (x2 =16.07,P=0.00).The percentages of dry eyes were 51.2％ (41/80) and 93.9％ (77/82) respectively in diabetes and nondiabetes groups(x2 =37.24,P＜0.01 ).No significant correlation was found between the diabetes course and DEQ score or meibography( r =0.16,P =0.16 ; r =0.10,P =0.36 ).Conclusions Diabetes patients with tear film instability have longer Schirmer test results,shorter BUT,more severe meibomain glands damage and lower DEQ scores.The dry eye symptom is lack in the diabetic patients though appearing the tear film and meibomain glands damage.Therefore,more attention should be given to ocular surface health in diabetes patients.

To observe the expression of N - cadherin and fibronectin in retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE) cells in vitro under high glucose conditions, furthermore, to explore the effects of high glucose on epithelial -mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RPE cells.
●METHODS: Human RPE (hRPE) cells were cultured in vitro. Containing a final concentration of 60mmol/ L glucose was used for high glucose treatment. The cells were divided into normal glucose group (5. 5mmol/ L, NG) and high glucose group (24, 48 and 72h) respectively. The expression of N - cadherin and fibronectin in hRPE cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence and real -time PCR.
●RESULTS:RPE cells became disorganized and swollen over time under high glucose conditions, especially in 72h subgroup. lmmunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression of N - cadherin in RPE cells under high glucose conditions was decreased compared with that in the control group, while the expression of fibronectin was increased. Real - time PCR results showed that the expression of N - cadherin mRNA in high glucose group was decreased at 24h compared with that in the control group, and declined markedly at 72h ( F = 12. 252, P =0. 000). There were no significant differences between the control group and the high glucose group at 24h, while the differences between the control group and the high glucose group (48 and 72h) were significant respectively (P < 0. 05 ). Meanwhile, the expression of fibronectin mRNA in RPE cells was increased in high glucose group at 24h, and reached the peak at 72h (F = 50. 543, P = 0. 000). There were no significant differences between the control group and the high glucose group at 24h. Compared with the control group, the expression of fibronectin mRNA in hRPE cells was increased significantly in high glucose group (48 and 72h) respectively (P= 0. 000, P= 0. 000).
●CONCLUSlON: The expression of epithelium marker N-cadherin is down - regulated under high glucose conditions in hRPE cells in vitro. Meanwhile, the expression of mesenchymal maker fibronectin is induced and appeared to EMT changes. Results of this study will enrich our growing understanding in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and hopefully lead to novel insights for the pathogenesis and therapeutic treatments.

To investigate the gene mutation in a pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) and to explore the relationship between the mutation and its clinical manifestations, genomic DNA of affected members, the normal member of the pedigree and 50 unrelated normal members was extracted with a whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit and the DNA was used as a template for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated amplification of exon 1 and exon 10 of the STS gene. hHb6 (human hair basic keratin) gene was used as the internal control. Our results showed that the STS gene was deleted in affected members in the pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis. The normal member of the pedigree and 50 unrelated normal members had no such deletion. The proband and his mother had products in the internal control after PCR amplification. The blank control had no product. It is concluded that deletion of the STS gene existed in this pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis, and it is responsible for the unique skin lesions of X-linked ichthyosis.
Gene Deletion ; Ichthyosis, X-Linked/*genetics ; Pedigree ; Steryl-Sulfatase/*genetics

AIM: To observe of cataract phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients with postoperative tear film, and to explore its clinical significance.
METHODS: A total of 106 patients ( 140 eyes ) undergone phacoemulsification were randomly chosen. Subjective dry foreign body sensation were observed at six nodes of period 1d, 1, 2, 3wk, and 1mo. Corneal fluorescein ( FSC ) , basal tear secretion ( SIT ) and tear film break-up time ( BUT) were used to detect functional changes of the tear film. And the correlation between tear film stability and corneal sensitivity was analyzed.
RESULTS: Dry eye cumulative score of postoperative 1d, 1, 2wk was higher than preoperative ( t= 8. 53, P=0.000;t=6. 27, P=0. 000; t=9. 02, P=0. 000). There was no significant difference in dry eye cumulative score at postoperative 3wk, 1mo compared with preoperative ( t=1.91, P= 0. 824; t= 1. 27, P= 0. 069). Corneal epithelial fluorescein staining points of postoperative 1d, 1, 2wk were increased compared with preoperative (t=11. 64, P=0. 000;t=9. 61, P=0. 000; t=8. 87, P=0. 001). There was no significant difference in corneal epithelial fluorescein staining points of postoperative 3wk and 1mo compared with preoperative (t=2. 52, P=0. 746; t=1. 16, P=0. 094). Corneal sensitivity detection values of postoperative 1d, 1, 2wk were significantly higher than that of preoperative (t=9.61, P=0.000;t=9.27, P=0.000;t=11.39, P=0.024), and there was no difference postoperative 3wk and 1mo compared with preoperative (t=1. 19, P=0. 562;t=2. 17, P=0. 501).
CONCLUSION: Phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation will reduce the tear film stability in the short term, but after a long rest will be improved to a certain extent.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the value of dual energy CT (DECT) in the differentiation of mediastinal metastatic lymph nodes from non-metastatic lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: In the study, 57 surgically confirmed NSCLC patients who underwent enhanced DECT scan within 2 weeks before operation were enrolled. Two radiologists analyzed the CT images before operation. All mediastinal lymph nodes with short diameter≥5 mm on axial images were included in this study. The morphological parameters [long-axis diameter (L), short-axis diameter (S) and S/L of lymph nodes] and the DECT parameters [iodine concentration (IC), normalized iodine concentration (NIC), slope of spectral hounsfield unit curve (λHU) and effective atomic number (Zeff) in arterial and venous phase] were measured. The differences of morphological parameters and DECT parameters between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes were compared. The parameters with significant difference were analyzed by the Logistic regression model, then a new predictive variable was established. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed for S, NIC in venous phase and the new predictive variable. RESULTS: In 57 patients, 49 metastatic lymph nodes and 938 non-metastatic lymph nodes were confirmed by surgical pathology. A total of 163 mediastinal lymph nodes (49 metastatic, 114 non-metastatic) with S≥5 mm were detected on axial CT images. The S, L and S/L of metastatic lymph nodes were significantly higher than those of non-metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.05). The DECT parameters of metastatic lymph nodes were significantly lower than those of non-metastatic lymph nodes (P < 0.05). The best single morphological parameter for differentiation between metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes was S (AUC, 0.752; threshold, 8.5 mm; sensitivity, 67.4%; specificity, 73.7%; accuracy, 71.8%). The best single DECT parameter for differentiation between metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes was NIC in venous phase (AUC, 0.861; threshold, 0.53; sensitivity, 95.9%; specificity, 70.2%; accuracy, 77.9%). Multivariate analysis showed that S and NIC were independent predictors of lymph node metastasis. The AUC of combined S and NIC in the venous phase was 0.895(sensitivity, 79.6%; specificity, 87.7%; accuracy, 85.3%), which were significantly higher than that of S (P < 0.001) and NIC (P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS The ability of quantitative DECT parameters to distinguish mediastinal lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients is better than that of morphological parameters. Combined S and NIC in venous phase can be used to improve preoperative diagnostic accuracy of metastatic lymph nodes.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mediastinum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study is to evaluate the effects of Shenmai injection on the temporal alterations of action potential (AP), early afterdepolarization (EAD) and delayed afterdepolarization (DAD) in papillary muscles. The action potentials were recorded by a glass electrode. APD at 90% repolarization (APD9 ) was measured, and spontaneous EAD and DAD were observed. The results show APD90 was significantly prolonged in model group compared with sham-operated group, whereas it was remained unchanged in Shenmai injec- tion treatment group and amiodarone group. The spontaneous EADs and DADs were frequently visible in model group. In conclusion, EAD, DAD and trigger activities increase gradually during pathological progression of rat cardiac hypertrophy, and Shenmai injection could improve the action potential change in rat cardiac hypertrophy.
Action Potentials ; drug effects ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Cardiomegaly ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Injections ; Male ; Papillary Muscles ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the spectrum,diagnosis,time of therapy and management of the congeni-tal heart disease(CHD)in patients with Down′s syndrome(DS).Methods A retrospective report was undertaken of 96 cases in children with DS accompanied by CHD in Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Beijing Anzhen Hospital Af-filiated to Capital Medical University.Data were collected and analyzed about their clinical characteristics,and types of cardiovascular abnormalities,and the important laboratory examinations such as echocardiography and catheterization as well as the procedures of diagnosis and treatments were summarized.Then the interventions,complications and prognosis of different patients were estimated.Results (1)Single congenital heart disease was found in 33 cases (34.38%),a-mong which ventricular septal defect was the most common (14 cases,14.58%),followed by atrioventricular septal de-fect and atrial septal defect (equally,7 cases,7.29%).Multi -cardiovascular abnormalities were discovered in 63 ca-ses,and patent ductus arteriosus turned out to be the most common (42 cases,66.67%).(2)Cat-heterization was car-ried out in 18 cases of serious pulmonary arterial hypertension,and 8 cases were proved resistant pulmonary arterial hy-pertension without operation opportunity.The other 8 cases were estimated as high pulmonary arterial hypertension and medical therapy was suggested before reassessment to reduce surgical risks.(3)Operations were undertaken in 61 ca-ses,among which percutaneous interventional occlusion was performed in 7 cases and surgical interventions were per-formed in 54 patients,in which perioperation complications and death were found in 5 cases and 4 cases,respectively. Conclusions Operation interventions are practicable and most cases recovered well with systematic examinations and assessment in patients with DS and cardiovascular malformations.Early diagnosis and timely interventions are highly suggested.Also close attentions should be paid to follow -up and re -estimation after medical therapy.