Humans ; Prune Belly Syndrome

Objective To explore the effect of methylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARy) gene promoter in liver and its mRNA expression changes on decreasing of insulin sensitivity in fetal growth restriction (FGR) rats.Methods Twenty pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups on their first day of pregnancy:normal-protein group (NP) and low-protein group (LP),ten in each.During pregnancy the LP group rats were fed with low-protein diet (8.00％ protein),while the NP group rats were fed with normal-protein diet (20.00％ protein).The offspring rats were fed with standard feed after 21 days of birth.Male offsprings in NP group were as control offsprings,and male FGR offsprings in LP group ware as FGR offsprings.At day 3,7,14,30,60 and 90,fasting blood of offsprings was collected to measure fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin(FINS).Then insulin resistance index of homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated to evaluate insulin sensitivity.At day 7 and 90,liver tissue of male offsprings was collected to extract DNA and total RNA.The methylation level of PPARγ gene promoter and its mRNA expression were detected by methylation specific-polymerase chain reaction (MS-PCR) and reverse transcription-RCR,respectively.The relationships between methylation of PPARγ gene promoter and mRNA expression and insulin sensitivity were analyzed by Pearson correlation and nonparametric test method.Results (1) The mean offspring birth-weight of LP group was (4.92±0.36) g,which was lower than that [(6.43±0.59) g] of control group (t=14.73,P＜0.05).In LP group,the incidence of FGR offspring was 88.2％ (97/110) and the FGR incidence of male ones was 94.1％ (48/51).(2) At day 90,compared with control offsprings,FPG [(8.95±1.83) mmol/L vs (6.21±1.14) mmol/L,t=-3.291,P＜0.05],FINS [(59.57±9.89) mU/Lvs (36.10±7.32) mU/L,t=-4.916,P＜0.05] and HOMA-IR (0.967±0.297 vs 0.410±0.135,t=-4.472,P＜0.05) of FGR offsprings were significantly higher; while ISI of FGR offspring was lower than that of control offsprings (-3.043±0.294 vs -2.172±0.354,t=4.774,P＜0.05).(3) There was no significant difference in methylation degree of PPARγ gene promoter in liver between FGR and control offsprings at day 7 (0/8 vs 2/8,Fisher exact test,P＞0.05).The methylation degree of PPARγ gene promoter in liver in FGR offsprings was significantly higher than that of control offsprings at day 90 (8/8 vs 2/8,Fisher exact test,P＜0.05).Compared with control offsprings,PPARγ gene mRNA expression level of FGR offsprings decreased significantly at day 90 (4.3.07±7.51 vs 146.72± 40.66,t=7.09,P＜0.05).mRNA expression of PPARγ gene was the lowest in exhaustive methylation offsprings (27.2± 1.6),and then in partial methylation ones (47.3±33.0),the highest in no methylation ones (144.6 ± 21.2) (P＜0.05).(4) The correlation analysis showed that PPARγ mRNA expression level negatively correlated to the level of FPG (r=-0.819),FINS (r=-0.906) and HOMA-IR (r=-0.860),P＜0.05 respectively; but positively correlated to ISI level (r=0.947,P＜0.05).Conclusions Hypermethylation in promoter region of PPARγ gene might inhibit gene transcription,and be involved in the occurrence of insulin resistance in FGR rats.

The leading cause of drug withdrawal from market and clinical trials failure is drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Varying clinical, histological and laboratory features of DILI, as well as undefined underlying mechanisms, hinder patients to be diagnosed in the early-stage of the disease and receive effective treatments. Conventional indicators, like serum transaminases and bilirubin, have inevitable limitations referring to sensitive prediction and specific detection of DILI. In order to reduce the occurrence of DILI, researchers have attempted to discover potential biomarkers with higher specificity and sensitivity from blood and urine in recent years. This article aims to review recent advances in biomarkers of DILI.
Biomarkers ; blood ; urine ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Using MS as basic medium, supplemented with 1.0 mg · L(-1) IBA, the adventitious roots of Tripterygium wilfordii were induced, and the good adventitious root culture system was established by leaves or callus induced by leaves as explants. The adventitious roots were also induced with 2.0-4.0 mg · L(-1) NAA and the good adventitious root culture system established by using suspension cells from callus as materials to induce adventitious root. The content of triptolide of three adventitious roots culture system were exceeded in the natural root bark. The content of triptolide of AR3 adventitious roots was the highest about 5.3 times as that in the natural root bark. By using 5 L stirred fermentor during pilot enlarge cultivation, compared with 250 mL flask cultivation, the adventitious roots increment and secondary metabolites content per liter medium showed no significant difference. The accomplishment of this analysis laid a foundation by tissue culture production of the secondary metabolites of T. wilfordii.
Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Plant Growth Regulators ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tripterygium ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the potential effect of Guizhi plus Gegen Decoction (GGD) in improving learning and memory of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced neuroinflammatory mice and its possible mechanisms.

METHODSTotally 63 male ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control (n = 13), the model group (n = 13), the low dose GGD group (n = 10), the high dose GGD group (n = 14), and the positive control group (n = 13). Mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (0.33 mg/kg) to induce Alzheimer's disease (AD) model. Mice in the high and the low dose GGD groups were administered with 12 g/kg or 6 g/kg by gastrogavage for 4 successive weeks. Mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with minocycline (50 mg/kg) for 3 days. By the end of treatment LPS were injected 4 h before behavior test each day, and then behavior test was conducted in mice of each group. Effect of GGD on learning and memory of AD mice was observed by using open field test, novel object recognition task, and Morris water maze.

RESULTSOpen field test showed there was no statistical difference in the movement time and the movement distance among all groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that LPS and GGD had no effect on locomotor activities of mice. In novel object recognition test, AD mice spent significantly shorter time to explore novel object after they were induced by LPS (P < 0.05), while for AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups, their capacities for exploration and memory were significantly improved (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). Results of Morris water maze showed that AD mice exhibited increased escape latency (P < 0.05) and spent much less time in swimming across the original platform (both P < 0.05). However, AD mice in the low and high dose GGD groups had obvious shortened latency and increased time percentage for swimming (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONGGD possessed certain improvement in learning and memory disorder of LPS induced AD mice.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neuritis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Phytotherapy

Objective:To analyze and summarize the characteristics and pattern in the selection of points and meridians by searching the clinical research literature about acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia in the recent 17 years.Methods:By searching Chinese and English databases,such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI),PubMed,etc.,the points in 52 articles in conformity with the requirements were analyzed by frequency statistics by the order of meridians,major points,and adjunct points to summarize the rules and characteristics of the point selection.Results:In 52 articles,there were 21 articles on ear acupuncture and 31 articles on acupuncture-moxibustion treatment.Ten meridians were involved in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia,and the leading 3 meridians were the Bladder,Stomach and Gallbladder Meridians.There were 34 points,10 extraordinary points and 37 ear points were used in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia.The top 10 major points were Jingming (BL 1),Taiyang (EX-HN 5),Cuanzhu (BL 2),Fengchi (GB 20),Baihui (GV 20),Hegu (LI 4),Guangming (GB 37),Sibai (ST 2),Chengqi (ST 1) and Sizhukong (TE 23).The top 5 adjunct points were Zusanli (ST 36),Shenshu (BL 23),Ganshu (BL 18),Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taixi (KI 3).Conclusion:Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of amblyopia is characterized by the selection of the points mainly from yang meridians,based upon syndromes differentiation plus personal experience,and the points mainly around the eyes and by stressed use of ear points.

Objective To investigate the cellular immune response to the recombinant DNA vaccine CRT120/HPV6bE7 in mice. Methods The recombinant encoding HPV6bE7, linked with CRT120, was constructed in pcDNA3.1 eukaryotic vector with the report gene GFP. The pcDNA3.1-GFP -HPV6bE7 was transfected into B16 cells by a lipofectamine kit. The C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with recombinant DNA plamids. The T-cell phenotype in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the immunized mice was measured by flow cytometry. The CTL activity of the lymphocytes from the spleens and lymph nodes, and the levels of IL-2 and IFN-? were analyzed. Results The constructed recombinant plasmid CRT120/HPV6bE7 was analyzed. Positive transfected cell clones were established and could stably express the target gene HPV6bE7. Compared with HPV6bE7, CRT120/HPV6bE7 plasmid enhanced to a greater extent CD8+ T-lymphocyte differentiation, the number of TCR?? T-lymphocytes and the levels of IL-2 and IFN-? (all P

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of maternal prenatal education on promoting breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods Gravidas who were admitted to Peking University First Hospital for any risk of preterm delivery from November 2013 to December 2014 and preterm infants admitted to the NICU (length of stay ≥ 5 d) of the same hospital during the same period were involved.All the gravidas received prenatal education and completed questionnaires.Two hundred and ninety-five preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups including education group (n=125) and non-education group (n=170) according to whether their mothers received prenatal education or not.Conditions of the preterm infants during hospitalization and after discharge and breastfeeding rates were comparatively analyzed between the two groups.T test,Chi-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used for statistical analysis.Results (1) There were 380 gravidas received questionnaires.Among them,346 (91.1％)completed the questionnaires and were recruited in this study.Only 31.8％ (110/346) of these gravidas were active in learning more about breastfeeding and 46.2％ (160/346) of them lacked confidence in breastfeeding after the appearance of preterm delivery signs.There were significant improvements in their attitudes towards considering breastfeeding seriously and discussing with their family,confidence in breastfeeding,the importance of colostrum and how to breastfeed a preterm infant in hospital after maternal prenatal education (all P＜0.001).Prenatal education was thought to be helpful in 77.5％ (268/346) of the gravidas.(2) The two groups of preterm infants showed good homogeneities in gestational age,gender,birth weight and other basal conditions as well as in incidences of in-hospital complications and conditions after discharge (all P＞0.05).Proportions of breast milk intake (breast milk intake over total dairy intake) in preterm infants were higher in education group than those in non-education group within 5 d after birth [0.0 (0.0-16.5)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-2.5)％,Z=-3.422],＞5-≤ 7 d [33.7 (0.0-82.8)％ vs 0.0 (0.0-50.3)％,Z=-3.070],＞7-≤ 14 d [75.2(23.5-96.4)％ vs 47.6(0.0-92.2)％,Z=-2.345] and during hospitalization [58.4 (21.0-78.8)％ vs 31.9 (0.0-71.7)％,Z=-3.902] (all P＜0.05).Breastfeeding rates were higher in education group than those in non-education group at the age of 5 d [47.2％(59/125) vs 27.1％ (46/170),x2=12.747],7 d [70.4％ (88/125) vs 51.2％ (87/170),x2=11.031],three months [83.3％(65/78) vs 56.1％ (60/107),x2=15.297] and six months [64.5％ (49/76) vs 49.1％ (53/108),x2=4.282] (all P＜0.05).Exclusive breastfeeding rates in the first,third and sixth months after birth were higher in education group [45.7％(53/116),42.3％ (33/78) and 36.9％ (28/76)] than those in non-education group [21.3％ (32/150),28.0％ (30/107)and 22.2％ (24/108)] (22=17.847,4.091 and 4.703,all P＜0.05),respectively.Conclusions Most gravidas with risk factors of preterm delivery have no confidence on breastfeeding.Prenatal maternal education is an effective and feasible intervention to improve breastfeeding rate for preterm infants in NICU from early hospitalization till six months after birth.

Objective To study the state of erythrocyte immune function in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia,and analyze the influence of various clinical status on erythrocyte immune function.Methods Fifty-two neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled and 104 healthy neonates as the control group.The adherence rate of complement 3b-receptor on the surface of red blood cell(RBC-C3bRR) and the immune complex adherence rate of red blood cell(RBC-ICR) were detected with erythrocyte saccha-romycete rosettet test.Results 1.The level of RBC-C3bRR in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia was lower than that in control group,and the level of RBC-ICR in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia was higher than that of control group(Pa0.05).3.Comparing the neonates with unconjugated bilirubin of different concentrations,there were significant difference in RBC-ICR(Pa0.05).4.There were positive correlation between RBC-ICR and bilirubin,unconjugated bilirubin in the neonates(Pa0.05).Conclusion Erythrocyte immune function in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia is obviously lower than that of control group and it is influenced by the concentratron of bilirubin and the time of phototherapy.

Hemorrhage of the basal ganglia is common in hypertensive patients, and most of the cases are spon- taneous unilateral hemorrhage. Traumatic basal ganglia hemorrhage is uncommon, while bilateral hemorrhage of the basal ganglia after trauma is an extremely rare entity. This report described a rare case of bilateral hemorrhage of the basal ganglia after head trauma. We also analyzed the mechanisms and reviewed relative literatures.
Basal Ganglia Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed