Aneurysm, Dissecting ; genetics ; Aortic Aneurysm ; genetics ; Diseases in Twins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective The 4-and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis,whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects.We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.Methods Polymerase chain reaction- restrictive fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls.Odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.Results The most frequent genotype was COMT~(Val/Val)(47.2%,52/110)in control group and COMT~(Mal/Met)(58.3%,77/132)in endometrial cancer group.The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rhein on the development of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThe animal models were made with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) mixed with vegetable oil (3/2, v/v), which was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 6 weeks, and with 5% ethanol for free drinking water. At the same time, Rhein was administrated at the dose of 25 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. The changes of both biochemical markers, such as the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PCIII) in serum and SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, and related histopathological parametres were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, there were three kinds of changes in the larger quantity of rhein treated group. (1) The levels of ALT, HA, PCIII in serum and MDA in liver homogenate were decreased significantly (from 150 U/L +/- 16 U/L to 78 U/L +/- 18 U/L, 321 microg/L +/- 97 microg/L to 217 microg/L +/- 75 microg/L, 31 microg/L +/- 14 microg/L to 16 microg/L +/- 6 microg/L and 3.67 nmol/mg +/- 0.68 nmol/mg to 1.88 nmol/mg +/- 0.34 nmol/mg, respectively, t > or 2.977, P<0.01). However the level of SOD in liver was increased (from 62.45 NU/mg +/- 8.74 NU/mg to 91.26 NU/mg +/- 14.04 NU/mg, t=4.453, P<0.01). (2) The expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in liver were markedly reduced (P<0.05 and P<0.01). (3) The collagen staining positive area was decreased and the grade of fibrosis was reduced significantly in liver (P<0.05 and P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRhein can protect hepatocyte from injury and prevent the progress of hepatic fibrosis in rats, which may associate with that rhein plays a role in antioxidation, anti-inflammation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; analysis ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of the effect of low-frequency rotary constant magnetic field on high-fat and high-protein diet-induced fatty liver in rats.

METHODSFatty liver model was established in SD rats by feeding on a high-fat and high-protein diet daily. The enzyme activity changes in the serum and liver homogenate were detected at 10, 14, and 18 weeks, and the pathological changes of the liver were observed with optical and electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn magnetic field intervention group, the concentration of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were significantly decreased, and the activity of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, superoxide dismutase and the concentration of malondialdehyde in the liver homogenate were significantly increased. Under optical microscope and electron microscope, the rats in the model group showed diffusive adipose degeneration in the hepatic cells with large lipid droplets, which became large vacuoles after fat extraction, indicating fatty necrosis. In magnetic field intervention group, remarkably smaller lipid droplets and lessened hepatic cell adipose degeneration were observed.

CONCLUSIONLow-frequency rotary constant magnetic field has beneficial effect on fat metabolism, leading to reduced lipid peroxidation and structural recovery of the degenerated hepatic cells.

Animals ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Magnetic Field Therapy ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is one of the most effective formulation approaches to enhance the water solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, maintenance of physical stability of amorphous drug is one of the main challenges in the development of ASD. Crystallization is a process of nucleation and crystal growth. The nucleation is the key factor that influences the physical stability of the ASD. However, a theoretical framework to describe the way to inhibit the nucleation of amorphous drug is not yet available. We reviewed the methods and theories of nucleation for amorphous drug. Meanwhile, we also summarized the research progress on the mechanism of additives influence on nucleation and environmental factors on nucleation. This review aims to enhance the better understanding mechanism of nucleation of amorphous drug and controlling over the crystal nucleation during the ASD formulation development.

To detect chromosome translocation t(11;18) (q21;q21) and the nuclear expression of bcl-10 in gastrointestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in Chinese, a possible API2-MALT fusion transcript specific to t(11; 18) (q21; q21) in tumors from 42 cases of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (29 cases of low grade MALT lymphoma, 13 cases of transformed MALT lymphoma) and 40 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma was examined by means of RT-PCR and proved by DNA-sequencing. Bcl-10 expression was examined by immunohistochemical method. The results showed that t(11;18) (q21;q21) was 14% positive in cases of low grade MALT lymphomas and 46% positive in transformed MALT lymphomas, but none in cases of DLBCL. Bcl-10 nuclear expression was seen 61% in low grade MALT and 69% in transformed MALT lymphoma. It was suggested that t(11;18) (q21;q21) was related to the prognosis and development of highly advanced MALT lymphoma but not relevant to DLBCL. Bcl-10 nuclear expressions were not significantly different between these two groups, which remains to be explained.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; B-Cell CLL-Lymphoma 10 Protein ; Carrier Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Nucleus ; chemistry ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; chemistry ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

Diagnosis, Differential ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parasomnias ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Seizures ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sleep Stages ; physiology

Objective To evaluate the enhanced magnification endoscopy in the diagnosis of Barrett esophagus,and to explore the relationship between mucosal surface patterns and pathological epithelial types of Barrett esophagus.Methods Enhanced magnification endoscopy was performed 'after spraying 2%-3% acetic acid on the surface of distal esophagus in 40 Barrett esophagus patients.Mucosal specimen were biop- syed.Results According to the mucosal types of Toyoda in 2003,there were three mucosal types:Ⅰ dot pat- tern 7(17.5%),5 of 7(71.4%)fundie type,Ⅱ reticular pattern 24(60.0%),16 of 24(66.7%)fundic type,Ⅲ cerebroid/villous 9(22.5%),intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia.Conclusion Enhanced magnifi- cation endoscopy helps to identify areas with intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia,and is useful in the diagno- sis of Barrett esophagus.

Objective To investigate the effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,and to evaluate the relationship between brain reorganization and motor recovery.Methods Nine AIS patients and 9 healthy volunteers were assessed by fMR1 during passive finger clenching at a pace of 1 Hz.The fMRI results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Lateral indices (LIs) and activated regions were calculated,and the relationship between LI and muscle strength was examined.Results In the control group,activation was observed in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the bilateral supplementary area (SMA) during the passive movement.In the AIS group,similar results were recorded dur- ing unaffected hand movement,but the ipsilateral activation areas were greater than those on the eontralateral side during movement of the affected hand.LI results confirmed that movement of the affected hand mainly elici- ted activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere.Conclusion The different fMRI manifestations of patients and nor- mal subjects reflect brain compensation,and fMRI is valuable for studying the correlation between motor function and brain reorganization.

In the etiology study of epidemiology, selection bias will lead to the fact that the research sample cannot represent the general population, the association between exposure and outcome among those selected for analysis differs from the association among those eligible, and the true causal association cannot be inferred. Directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) could visualize complex causality, introduce the Collider-stratification bias using simple graphics language, provide a simple and intuitive way to identify Selection bias, different types of selection bias are verified by the graphic structure of the Collider-stratification bias. In practical studies, there may be multiple biases at the same time, improper adjustment of the collider will lead to Collider-stratification bias, open a backdoor path, even change the size and direction of the confounding bias. In order to obtain an unbiased estimate of the exposure to the outcome, it is necessary to identify the collider and avoid the adjustment to prevent the occurrence of Collider-stratification bias by using DAGs.