Aromatase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Calcium ; therapeutic use ; Diphosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; therapeutic use ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Postmenopause ; Vitamin D ; therapeutic use

Nerve growth factor is one of the most important factors playing an important role in regulating the growth, development and survival of the neuron. The purified NGF from human placenta has been reported, the tissue from which can be isolated the NGF is very limited. It is important for basic research and clinic application to expression hNGF by genetic engineering. By polymerase chain reaction,gene fragment encoding the mature part of ?-NGF was amplified using the DNA of human placenta as template. The fragment was sequenced and inserted into expression vector pET-15b, and the recombinant expression vector pET15b-NGF was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3)pLysS. After inducing with IPTG the NGF was higher expressed up to 25% of the total cell proteins. The expression product was purified with metal chelate affinity chromatography on Ni-IDA agarose under denaturing condition. The purity of rNGF was higher than 90% and yield of rNGF was 4.56mg/L expressing bacteria. SDS-PAGE revealed the NGF expression product had a Mr 16kDa. Western-blot displayed the recombinant product had strong immunological activity with rabbit anti-human ?-NGF polyclonic antibodies. The expression products were dealed with solubilizing inclusion bodies and refolding protein. The test of nerve fiber growth of chicken embryo DRG neurons displayed rNGF had biological activity.

The paper described the rationality of traditional and modern application of prepared decoction pieces of herbal medicine on basis of application, statistics and comparison analysis of three forms of drugs of traditional Chinese herbal pieces prepared for decoction, prepared decoction pieces in small packing and granules; and illustrated different opinions correlative to the three forms of drugs; put forward the counter-measures and proposals for the problems facing the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction; the paper stated clearly that the traditional Chinese herbal pieces for decoction should not be replaced, instead, the viewpoint and the reasons on its application must be holding on; and the trend of development and expectations of the Chinese herbal pieces for decoction were predicted as well.
Dosage Forms ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between neck lymph node metastasis and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression at the invasive tumor front of oral squamous cell carcinomas(OSCC).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry LsAB technique was used to observe the expression of MMP-2 at the invasive tumor front and center of OSCC, and the correlation between the expression of MMP-2 in OSCC and neck lymph node metastasis were respectively analyzed by statistics.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated that MMP-2 existed in all 71 cases, which the expression of MMP-2 at the OSCC front was more significant than that of MMP-2 at the OSCC center (P < 0.01), and related to neck lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of MMP-2 at the OSCC front could be considered as an index of judging the present of neck lymph node metastasis of OSCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation in mice.

METHODSThe biological effects of infrasound on the activities of 3beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-betaHSDH) and acid phosphatase(ACP) of the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculate were observed when exposure to 8 and 16 Hz infrasound at 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 dB for 1 day, 7 days and 14 days or 14 days after the exposure.

RESULTSWhen exposure to 8 Hz infrasound, the enzyme activities of 3-betaHSDH increase as the sound pressure levels increase. Only when the sound pressure levels reach 130 dB, the enzyme activities began to decrease exceptionally. When exposure to 16 Hz, 80 dB infrasound, no significant difference between the treatment and control group in the activities of 3-betaHSDH could be observed, but the injury of the polygonal cells had appeared. When exposure to 16 Hz, 100 dB infrasound, the activities of 3-betaHSDH started to increase. The cell injury still existed. When exposed to 16 Hz, 120 dB infrasound, the local tissue damage represented. Fourteen days after the mice exposure to 8 Hz, 90 dB and 130 dB infrasound for 14 days continuously, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation began to recover at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the poorer the tissue recovery.

CONCLUSIONThe biological effects of infrasound on the polygonal cells in adrenal cortex zona fasciculation response to the frequency of the infrasound are found at certain action strength range, but this characteristic usually is covered by the severe tissue injury. When exposure to infrasound is stopped for a period of time, the local tissue injury of the adrenal cortex zona fasciculation could recovers at certain extent, but the higher the exposure sound pressure level, the more poorer the tissue recovery.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenal Cortex ; cytology ; enzymology ; Animals ; Environmental Exposure ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Noise ; Zona Fasciculata ; enzymology ; Zona Reticularis ; enzymology

OBJECTIVETo improve the accuracy and sensitivity of cell membrane chromatography (CMC) and evaluate the feasibility of CMC in the study of subtype receptors.

METHODSPlasmids were used to transfer alpha(1B)-AR cDNA into human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell lines to obtain cell lines stably overexpressing the subtype receptors. HEK293 alpha(1B) cell membrane stationary phase (CMSP) was prepared by immobilizing the cell membrane on silica. The retention time of 9 alpha(1)-adrenoceptor ligands and capacity factors(kappa'(HEK293 alpha1B)) were calculated. The capacity factors of rat liver tissue and primary cultured rat hepatocytes were also calculated for a correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe calculated capacity factors (kappa') were positively correlated to the published pKi values. The affinity rank orders were identical. The longest retention of the 9 alpha(1)-adrenoceptor ligands occurred on CMSP prepared with HEK293 alpha(1B) cell lines, while CMSP obtained from rat liver tissue showed the shortest retention of the ligands.

CONCLUSIONCMC proves practical in the study of the subtype adrenoceptors. The accuracy and sensitivity of CMC can be improved using HEK293 alpha(1B) cell membrane.

Animals ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Chromatography, Affinity ; methods ; DNA, Complementary ; metabolism ; Female ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Kidney ; cytology ; embryology ; Ligands ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 ; metabolism ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To analyze the tendency of hospital based surveillance incidence rates of birth defects in Guangdong province to provide reference evidence for related intervention program. Methods Data from hospital based birth defects surveillance of Guangdong province during 1997-2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The overall surveillance rates of birth defects in Guangdong province showed an increasing trend form 98.9 per 10 000 birth in 1997 to 244.2 per 10 000 birth in 2007. Among the frequently seen birth defects, the rate of congenital heart diseases increased sharply, but the rates of congenital talipes equinovarus, polydactyly, cleft lip with/without cleft palate showed a slight increasing trend.It seemed that there was a significant difference between different maternal age interval and gender of the infants. Mother's illness, drug use, and exposure to environment harmful factors in early pregnancy stage, high maternal age, negative bearing history were the suspect risk factors for birth defects. Conclusion The increasing trend of surveillance rate of birth defects seemed to be comprehensively affected by the factors as: method being adopted, target and extension of birth defects surveillance, technology used for diagnosis, kinds of risk factor,and quality control on surveillance programs.

OBJECTIVETo detect humoral immune response against different function regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic patients, and further to investigate the correlativity between anti-HCV antibody titers and HCV RNA concentration.

METHODSUsing recombinant dominate epitope antigens, e.g. HCV Core, NS3, NS4, NS5 and chimeric HVR1, a set of ELISA test reagents was formulated. Then, titers of antibodies against HCV different regions and the RNA concentration of HCV in chronic patient sera were detected by ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR technique, respectively.

RESULTSGreat differences have been noted in antibody titers and positive rate of different HCV function regions in chronic patients. Antibodies against HCV Core and HVR1 have the highest positive rate, then NS3, NS4, and NS5 in sequence.

CONCLUSIONThe titer of antibodies against different regions of HCV in chronic patients has good correlation with HCV RNA concentration.

Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood

OBJECTIVETo examine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphism and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), analyzing association of polymorphism with classical risk factors.

METHODSA total of 124 patients (including 84 Han population and 40 Uygur population) with angiographically verified CAD or myocardial infarction were prospectively evaluated. Data referring to hypertension, diabetes, and tobacco consumption were recorded. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, Apo A1 and B, and triglycerides (TG) were determined. DNA was obtained from 124 patients and 70 controls. In order to determine Apo E genotypes, DNA was PCR amplified and digested with HhaI. The genetic polymorphism of Apo E is due to three common alleles, epsilon (epsilon) 2, epsilon3, epsilon4, at a single autosomal gene locus. These alleles determine the six phenotypes E2/2, E3/3, E4/4, E4/2, E4/3, and E3/2.

RESULTSIn Uygur population, the frequency of the epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 was 0.155, 0.648, and 0.197 respectively. In Han population, the frequency of the epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 was 0.081, 0.772, and 0.146 respectively. In the patient group, the frequency of the epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 was 0.060, 0.758, and 0.182 respectively. In the control group, the frequency of the epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 was 0.193, 0.671, and 0.136 respectively. epsilon2 frequency of Uygur' patients and controls was 0.050 and 0.290 respectively. Serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, TC, and TG values tended to decrease from the Apo E-4 phenotypes to Apo E-2 phenotypes. When deletion polymorphism of epsilon2 was compared with the common risk factors for CAD, its risk ratio (RR) is 4.38.

CONCLUSIONSThese studies confirm and find that Apo E phenotype distribution in Uygur population differs significantly from that in Han population in Xinjiang. CAD patients have significantly lower epsilon2 allele and slightly higher epsilon3 or epsilon4 allele frequency than controls, especially in Uygur population. It shows protective effects of epsilon2 on CAD.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Angina Pectoris ; genetics ; Angina, Unstable ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; DNA ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupuncture on cortical functional areas of the patient with ischemic stroke activated by the index finger motion.

METHODSThe cortical magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were carried out in 15 cases of ischemic stroke during the index finger motion at acupuncture or non-acupuncture. The distribution of the cortical functional areas activated and the size of the activated region and the intension of signals were measured.

RESULTSThe finger motion with no acupuncture could activate the contralateral primary somatomotor area (M1), contralateral premotor area (PMA) and contralateral first somatosensory area (S1). The finger motion with acupuncture could activate the same areas and also activate ipsilateral M1, focus area contralateral superior parietal lobule, contralateral superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral insular lobe, etc.. Both the area of the activated region and the minimum signal in the finger motion with acupuncture were statistically significantly larger than those in finger motion with no acupuncture.

CONCLUSIONRehabilitation of motor functions of the patient with ischemic stroke by acupuncture is related with improvement of blood circulation functional area in the cortex.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; rehabilitation ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fingers ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; Stroke Rehabilitation