Epigenetics has become a hot topic in biomedical research in last a few years.Epigenetics refers to as epigenome,and it is interpreted as epigenetic changes (DNA methylation,histone modifications and non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs) in the regulation of genes expression on chromatin-based pathways rather than a single gene.Epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation,histone modification and miRNA serve as an interface for environmental stimuli and interacts each other to regulate gene expression and control phenotypes of cell.All of those epigenetic factors are essential in the keeping homeostasis of human body and contribute to many biologic conditions.In addition,the application of epigenetic drugs has been come into clinical trials especially in the treatment of cancers,therefore the understanding the mechanism of epigenetics in the development of human diseases and the therapeutic potential of epigenetic regulators in the treatment of human disease will bring us into the epigenetics era in biomedical research.

AIM To examine the role of Cl - channels in endothelin 1 (ET 1) induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS Through cell counting and 3H TdR incorporation, together with [Ca 2+ ] i measurement by fura 2/AM fluorescence, we studied the effects of Cl - channel blockers on proliferation of VSMCs induced by ET 1. RESULTS Cl - channel blocker, DIDS, inhibited 10 nmol?L -1 ET 1 induced proliferation of VSMCs in a concentration dependent manner, however,other Cl - channel blockers such as IAA 94, NPPB, SITS, DPC and furosemide, all failed to inhibit ET 1 induced proliferation of VSMCs. DIDS reduced 10 nmol?L -1 ET 1-induced sustained [Ca 2+ ] i elevation but not Ca 2+ release from internal stores; Pretreatment of cells with 1 ?mol?L -1 nifedipine abolished the inhibitory effect of 3 ?mol?L -1 DIDS on proliferation of VSMCs and [Ca 2+ ] i elevation evoked by 10 nmol?L -1 ET 1 , while after cells were pretreated with 10 ?mol?L -1 SK&F96365, the same concentration of DIDS could also inhibit the aforecited effects of ET 1;3 ?mol?L -1 DIDS had no effect on 30 mmol?L -1 KCl induced elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i. CONCLUSION DIDS inhibited Ca 2+ influx and VSMCs proliferation induced by ET 1 through blockade of DIDS sensitive Cl - channels, and these channels may play important roles in modulating Ca 2+ influx and VSMCs proliferation induced by ET 1.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of the enteral nutrient(Pediasure) on making improvements in nutritional status of children with anorexia.Methods Thirty children were treated with pediasure for 2 months, twice a day, and height(Ht),weight(Wt),AG,TSF,SSF,ASF,RBC,Hb were measured before and after treatment and their appetites,alimentary canal reactions were recorded.Results Compared with the effects after 2 months, the average Ht,Wt,AG,SF all increased, and there was significant difference between pretreatment and after treatment(P0.05). All of the 30 children had no adverse reactions during treatment.Twenty-two children (73.33%) had better appetites and increased the amount of eating after treatment.Conclusion The study suggests that pediasure may be safely used in the treatment of children′s anorexia and effectively improve patients′ nutrition without adverse reactions.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Zinc ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid

Reuse of waste oil in cooking has been the social concern for long time, but until now there is no reliable method to identify the gutter oil.In this work, based on the generation of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes in the refinement of gutter oil, gutter oil and adulterate cooking oil were identified by determining hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal and decanal in oil sample with high perfomance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using O-(3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)propyl)hydroxylamine as the fluorescent derivative reagent.At first, 10 μL of oil sample was dissolved in 200 μL of isopropanol, then reacted with O-(3-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)propyl)hydroxylamine to form the stable derivatives, extracted with acetonitrile and injected into HPLC for analysis.The derivatives were separated on a C18 column within 15 min with ACN-H2O (90∶10, V/V) as mobile phase.The fluorescence detector was set at λex/λem=292 nm/348 nm.The linear range of 5 kinds of long-chain aliphatic aldehydes was 0.01-1.00 μmol/L with limit of detection (LOD, S/N=3) of 0.05-0.10 nmol/L, and the spiked recoveries were 95.6%-101.4%.The results showed that the edible oils obtained from supermarket almost had no hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, decanal, but these aldehydes increased significantly in gutter oil.Thus the 5 kinds of long-chain aldehydes could be used as the indictor of gutter oil.Taking the advantage of good specificity, higher sensitivity, good accuracy and simplicity, the method was suitable for the rapid identification of gutter oil.

OBJECTIVEThis review aims to identify the dimensional structure of the shortened dentine hypersensitivity experience questionnaire (DHEQ-15) using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

METHODSThe Chinese language version of DHEQ-15 was applied to 210 patients with dentine hypersensitivity aged 18-70 years old. The three-dimensional construct was confirmed by CFA.

RESULTSAll the questionnaires were fully completed. The item "Because of the sensations, I take longer to finish a meal than others" was the most frequently reported by the parents. The modified three-factor model is suitable for the data. The chi-square fit statistics/degree of freedom was 2.213, the goodness-of-fit index was 0.905, the adjusted goodness-of-fit index was 0.872, the normed fit index was 0.845, the incremental fit index was 0.962, the Tucker-Lewis index was 0.969, the comparative fit index was 0.977, and the root mean square error of approximation was 0.068.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings generally support the three-dimensional construct of the DHEQ-15. Thus, DHEQ-15 can be used as a valid instrument in patients with dentine hypersensitivity in China.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Guinea Pigs ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Janus Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective:To observe different effects of moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) on electrogastrogram (EGG) of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Methods:A total of 65 cases were randomized into a Zusanli (ST 36) group (n=33) and a Yanglingquan (GB 34) group (n=32) by random serial number, to receive moxibustion therapy to the corresponding point respectively. The 8-lead EGG was used before and after treatment to collect EGG parameter of the gastric body, antrum of stomach, lesser curvature and greater curvature, including the dominant frequency, slow wave percentage, average frequency, response area and motility index. Results:After treatment, the dominant frequency and slow wave percentage were improved in nearly the whole stomach area in Zusanli (ST 36) group, showing statistical significances (bothP<0.05); the slow wave percentage and average frequency were improved in stomach body and antrum of stomach in Yanglingquan (GB 34) group, showing statistical significances (bothP<0.05); moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) had a significantly higher influence on EGG than Yanglingquan (GB 34) , in which the lifting of slow wave percentage was significantly higher than Yanglingquan (GB 34) group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan (GB 34) has the effect of adjusting abnormal EGG pattern in FD patients. Compared with Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) has a superior effect in improving EGG in stomach area.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects, safety of pneumatic lithotripsy and 2 μm laser via transurethral ureteroscope for ureteral calculi accompanied with granulation. Methods27 cases (30 sides) of ureteral calculi accompanied with granulation treated with 2 μm laser and pneumatic lithotripsy via ureteroscope were reviewed. Results28 sides were fragmented successfully in a single procedure. The operation time was 15～45 min (mean 25 min). The intraoperative blood loss was 3～15 ml (mean 5 ml). The postoperative hospitalization time was 3～7 d (mean 5.5 d). 1 upper ureteral stone was pushed back to the renal pelvis and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was needed. The insertion of the ureteroscope was failed in 1 cases, who accepted open operation finally. Double-J tubes were pulled out in all the patients after 1 month, and 26 sides were stone-free. They were followed-up for 3～15 months (mean 8 months), no ureteral stenosis or urinary infection was found. Conclusion2 μm laser and pneumatic lithotripsy via ureteroscope is an effective and safe therapy for ureteral calculi with granulation, especially for those on middle or lower levels.

Objective To study the relationship between pain symptoms and the clinico-pathological features of pelvic endometriosis (EM).Methods One hundred thirty patients with laparoseopic diagnosis of EM were studied retrospectively and the relationship between pain symptoms including dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain(CPP),dyspareunia and dysehezia and the anatomical features of pelvic endometriosis were evaluated.Results One hundred (76.9%)patients with pain symptoms and 30 (23.1%)without were included in this study.The number of patients with mild,moderate and severe dysmenorrhoea was 27 (20.8%),41(31.5%),and 32 (24.6%),respectively.Patients with dyspareunia,CPP and dyschezia were 46(35.4%),45(34.6%) and 67(51.5%),respectively.Compared with patients without dysmenorrhea,the proportion of deep utero-sacral nodules (45.0% vs 13.3%,P=0.00),recto-vaginal nodules (16.0% vs 0,P=0.01),complete obliteration of eul-de sac (41.0% vs 10.0%,P=0.00),and lesions of DIE (51.0% vs 16.7%,P=0.00) was significantly increased in patients with dysmenorrhea. The severity of dysmenorrhea was positively correlated with nodules in uterosacral ligaments (P=0.005,r= 0.302),and invasive depth of uterosacral ligaments (P=0.016,OR=5.085).Among patients with endometrioma,significantly more moderate to severe adhesions were found in patients with dysmenorrhea , compared with those patients without dysmenorrhea(29.1% vs 8.3%,P=0.029).Patients with CPP had more nodules in the utero-sacral ligaments(51.1% vs 30.6%,P=0.018)and DIE lesions(57.8% vs 35.3%,P=0.011),compared with those without.More nodules in the utero-saeral ligaments(46,3% vs 28.6%,P=0.028),recto-vaginal nodules(19.4% vs 4.8%,P=0.01),complete obliteration of cul-de sac(44.8% vs 22.2%,P=0.005)and DIE lesions(53.7% vs 31.7%,P=0.01)were found in patients with dyschezia,compared with those without.Nodules in the recto-vaginal pouch were an independent risk factor of dyspareunia.Conclusion Pain symptoms including dysmenorrhea,dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain,and dysehezia are remarkedly related to endometriotic nodules at the posterior part of the pelvis or those with deep invasions.