Background The orbital fibroblasts (OFs) in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) play important roles in the proliferative and inflammatory response.Seeking the drug which inhibit OFs growth is of a vital significance for the prevention and treatment of TAO.Research documented that colchicine has an anti-fibrosis effect.But its influence on OFs of TAO patient is few known.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of colchicine on growth and apoptosis of OFs in vitro.Methods The retroobital connective tissue was obtained form 3 TAO patients and cultured using explant method.OFs were passaged and identified by immunochemistry,and 3-8 genetaions of cells were used in the study.Colchicine at the concentrations of 1 × 10-8,1 × 10-7,1 × 10-6,1 × 10-5,1 ×10-4 mol/L was added into the RPMI 1640 with 10％ fetal bovine serum(FBS) to incubated the cells for 24,48 and 72 hours respectively,and only RPMI 1640 was used to culture the cells as the control group.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8)was used to detect the absorbance value (A450) of OFs for the evaluatuion of OFs and the inhibitory rate of colchicine to OFs.The colchicine of 1 ×10-6,1 ×10-5,1 × 10-4 mol/L was added into the culture medium for 48 hours,and then the apoptotic rate of the cells and the cell percentage in various cellular cycle was assayed by flow cytometry(FCM).The expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)in the cells was detected by immunochemistry to assess the influence of colchicine on the serection of the cells.Results Cultured cells showed the spindle-like in shape and the cell number was significantly increased with the incubation time.After incubated with 1 × 10-4,1 × 10 5,1 × 10-6,1 ×10-7,1 × 10-8 mol/L colchicines,the A450 values were gradually reduced with the increase of the concentrations of colchicine(F ion =62.004,P＜0.05),and significant differences were found between different contrations of colchicine groups(all P＜0.05).Aslo,gradually declined A450 values of the cells were seen with the lapse of culture time among the groups(Ftime =459.582,P＜0.05).The inbitory rate of colchicine to the cells was elevated with the increase of concentrations.The apoptotic rates of the cells were (1.73 ± 0.15) ％,(21.04 ± 4.56) ％,(31.84 ±6.21)％and(35.32±5.56)％ in the control group and 1 × 10-6,1 × 10-5,1 × 10 4 mol/L colchicine groups respectively,with statistically significant difference among the 4 groups (F =83.905,P＜0.05).With the increase of concentrations of colchicines,the cell percentage in G2 +M phase lessened gradually,showing significant difference among the control group and the 1 × 10-6,1 × 10-5,1 × 10-4 mol/L colchicine groups (F =20.443,P＜0.05).The expression of the TGF-β in the cells was (97.60± 2.09) ％ in the control group,and that in the 1 × 10-4 mol/L colchicine group was (44.43 ± 3.96) ％,presenting a significant difference between them (t =65.330,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Colchicine can induce apoptosis of OFs and inhibit the prolilferation of OFs in a time-and dose-dependent manner probably by decreasing the TGF-β secretion

Objective To investigate clinical significance of proinsulin and true insulin in obese children with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).Methods There were 21 IGT and 52 normal glucose tolerance (NGT) children. Control cases were 40 normal children. The levels of serum fasting proinsulin,true insulin,insulin,c-peptide and glucose were measured in all the subjects.Results 1.Levels of fasting proinsulin,c-peptide, glucose, insulin, true insulin and homeostasis insulin resistance in obese children with IGT showed significant difference compared with NGT (P

Adolescent ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Femur Head ; blood supply ; pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male

Purpose:To evaluate the differences in expression of carcinoembryonic antigen mRNA (CEA mRNA) in various tissues and its use in the diagnosis of digestive tract carcinoma.Methods:There were 35 patients with digestive tract carcinoma and 12 patients with non carcinoma disease in the study. The expression of CEA mRNA in the digestive tract tissues specimens was detected with nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT PCR). A contrast test was detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in blood sepcimen with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:The expression of CEA mRNA in cancer tissues with RT PCR was 29 (82.86%) with positive results and that of CEA in blood with ELISA was 15 (42.86%) in the patients with digestive tract carcinoma. The difference in positive results was significant ( P

Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of endoscopic findings in Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP),especially when abdominal pain preceded the cutaneous lesions.Methods The clinical data and gastroscopic findings in 37 cases of children with HSP were studied and analysed retrospectively in order to detect the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa.The biopsy was taken in the pathological changeing place,and the relationship between clinical and endoscopic findings was analyzed.Results Detection rate of the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa was 62.2%,31.3% of which experienced only cutaneous lesions,100% of which presented the acute abdominal pain.Three patients were not checked up the pathological changes.Of them,1 had arthritis,2 had Henoch-Schonlein nephritis.Characteristically endoscopic findings in the stomach and duodenum mucosa were found.The endoscopic findings included anabrosis,hyperemia,edema and hemorrhage.Conclusions Detection rate of the pathological changes in the stomach and duodenum mucosa is higher.Endoscopy is very helpful to the early diagnosis of HSP in children,especially abdominal pain presented firstly.

Objective To describe the genetic epidemiologic features of alopecia areata (AA) patients in China and to presume the possible genetic mo del of AA.Methods A case-controlled study of 1032 AA patients was performed to analyze the effect of genetic factors on the liability to AA.Complex segreg ation and heritability analysis were performed using Falconer's method and SAGE-REGTL programs.Results The mean age of onset was 28.98 ? 13.43 years.The d ifference in the mean age of onset was not significant between males and females.A total of 82.6 percent of patients experienced their first episode of AA befo re the fourth decades of life.A positive family history of AA was obtained in 8 7 patients (8.43%).The prevalences of AA were 1.58%,0.19% and 0.03% in the firs t-,second-and third-degree relatives of the probands respectively,which were significantly higher than those in the controls(P

Objective To analyze the differential proteomics of ASMC stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 and to investigate the relations of protein profiles of ASMC to asthma and possible targets for the treatment of bronchial asthma.Methods The total proteins of ASMC stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 were separated by immobilized pH gradient(IPG)-based 2-DE and the differentially expressed protein spots were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE detected approximately(840?21)spots on wild IL-13 samples and(892?17)spots on mutant IL-13 samples(n=3)and(685?19)spots matched.Six significantly differential proteins were subjected to MALDI-TOF-MS analysis and three of them were identified as stathmin 1,Ribosomal protein p~0 and NADH dehydrogenase.Conclusions ASMCs stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 present different proteomic profiles that may shed some light on the mechanism for the asthma causing effect of wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy difference of electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome.

METHODSNinety male patients of methamphetamine addiction were randomized into an electroacupuncture group, an auricular acupuncture group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. In the electroacupuncture group, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Jiaji (EX-B 2) at T5 and L2 were selected bilaterally. In the auricular acupuncture group, jiaogan (AH(6a)), shenmen (TF4), fei (CO14) and gan (CO12) were selected unilaterally. The treatment was given 3 times a week, totally 12 treatments were required. In the control group, no any intervention was applied. Separately, before treatment and after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks treatment, the scores of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome, Hamilton anxiety scale and Hamilton depression scale were observed in each group.

RESULTSThe total score of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome, anxiety score and depression score were obviously reduced in 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment as compared with those before treatment in the electroacupuncture group and the auricular acupuncture group (all P < 0.05), and showed a trend of gradual decline as the extension of treatment. In 1,2,3,4 weeks of treatment, the total score of withdrawal syndrome, anxiety score and depression score in the electroacupuncture group and auricular acupuncture group were lower significantly than those in the control group (all P < 0.05), in which, the total score of withdrawal syndrome in the electroacupuncture group was lower significantly than that in the auricular acupuncture group in the 4th week of treatment (3.69 +/- 2.446 vs 5.73 +/- 3.169, P < 0.05); the anxiety scores were lower significantly than those in the auricular acupuncture group in 3 and 4 weeks of treatment (8.19 +/- 4.57 vs 9.65 +/- 4.24, 5.27 +/- 2.89 vs 7.38 +/- 3.10, both P < 0.05); the depression scores were lower significantly than those in the auricular acupuncture group in 2, 3 and 4 weeks of treatment (15.35 +/- 5.64 vs 19.81 +/- 5.37, 10.96 +/- 4.52 vs 15.00 +/- 4.53, 7.96 +/- 2.69 vs 12.35 +/- 3.59, all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at the body points and auricular acupuncture play the therapeutic role in the treatment of methamphetamine withdrawal syndrome, anxiety and depression. The longer time the treatment is with electroacupuncture at the body points, the more obvious the efficacy will be on the above symptoms.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methamphetamine ; adverse effects ; Middle Aged ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This paper is aimed to microscopic identification of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) using an in situ imaging method. In this study, two kinds of Zingiberaceae seeds, Amomi Rotundus Fructus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, were investigated by synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (IXPCT) imaging method. The results showed that the microstructures of these Zingiberaceae seeds could be clearly obtained from the virtual slices information in different observing angles. It proves that IXPCT is an effective imaging method, which can provide the imaging information for the microscopic identification of the intact TCMs in situ and non-destructively.
Amomum ; cytology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Seeds ; cytology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

RT-PCR amplification of ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene was successfully performed based on the total RNAs extracted from ginseng hairy roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 using a modified guanidine isothiocyanate-method. Sequence analysis of this gene revealed that its sequence was consistent with the sequence of a previously reported ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene (GenBank No. AB009030). This gene was inserted into pMD-119T simple vector and transformed into E.coli DH5?. Furthermore antisense plant expression vector of this gene was constructed using the pBI121 vector, laying foundation for studies on antisense regulation of ginseng ?-amyrin synthase gene.