Objective To investigate the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in the endometrium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its effect and significance in the cause of hyperplasia and carcinoma;and investigate the factors which affect the activation of the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Methods Collected 52 patients diagnosed as PCOS who were taken dilation and curettage of uterus as study, while 32 non-PCOS patients matched as control group. Serum hormonal parameters, fasting blood glucose and insulin were measured in all patients. The PCOS patients were sub-group as insulin resistance group and non-insulin resistance group; all the patients were carried out pathology inspection of endometria, and the PCOS patients were sub-group as endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma group and normal endometrium group based on the outcome of pathology inspection. Western blot were performed to detect the expressions of ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2), the activation of ERK1/2. Results (1)The expression of pERK1/2 [(61 ±13)%] in the endometrium in PCOS group was higher than that in the control [(44 ±10)%, P ＜0.01]. (2)The expression of p-ERK1/2 was significantly increased in group of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma [ ( 70 ± 11 )% ] compared to that in group of normal endometrium [ (55 ± 10)% ,P ＜ 0.01 ], while there were significant difference between group of insulin resistance [ (63 ± 13 )% ] and group of non-insulin resistance [ (55 ±7)%, P ＜0.01 ]. (3) Fasting insulin level, insulin area under the curve and body mass index were related to the expression of p-ERK1/2 in endometrium with PCOS, the correlation coefficient were 0.447, 0.456 and 0.381, respectively ( all P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions The MAPK/ERK signaling pathway in endometrium with PCOS was overactivation, which was related to the endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma; while the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway were effected by insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia.

Objective To evaluate the significance of the mannose-binding lection (MBL) gene polymorphism at code 54 of exon 1 and MBL serum level and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the severity of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults.Methods A prospective observation was conducted.104 adults Han patients with CAP hospitalized in Tianjin People's Hospital were enrolled.Frequencies of MBL54 alleles and genotypes were measured.The patients were evaluated by pneumonia severity index (PSI) score and were graded.Serum MBL was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and serum CRP was detected by immunoturbidimetry before and 4 days and 7 days after the treatment.100 healthy control subjects with the same region,age,gender,nationality were enrolled as control group.Serum MBL and CRP levels were compared between CAP group and the control group or among different grades of PSI,and the correlation was analyzed.Results The variation of GGC→GGC in MBL54 was found in CAP patients and controls.Similar frequencies of genotypes (x2=0.018,P=0.893) and alleles (x2=0.019,P=0.903) of MBL54 with wild type and mutant type were found between two groups.The serum MBL level (mg/L) before and 4 days and 7 days after the treatment in CAP group was increased followed by the reduction and they were 3.75 ± 1.78,4.53 ± 1.99 and 4.04 ± 1.91,respectivelv,which were significantly higher than those in control group (2.84 ± 1.41,all P＜0.01).The serum CRP levels (mg/L) in CAP group were gradually declined,and they were 66.88 ± 40.47,51.21 ± 37.54,36.91 ± 36.02,respectively,which were significantly higher than those in control group (6.96 ± 2.19,all P＜0.01).There were 12 cases with PSI grade Ⅰ,32 cases with grade Ⅱ,20 cases with grade Ⅲ,22 cases with grade Ⅳ and 18 cases with grade V in CAP patients.There was no significant difference in frequencies of MBL54 genotypes among different grades of PSI (x2=1.210,P=0.876) and between general ward and intensive care unit (x2=0.569,P=0.451).No differences in the serum MBL level before (F=1.313,P=0.279) and 4 days (F=1.705,P=0.165) and 7 days (F=1.684,P=0.170) after the treatment were found among different PSI grades.The serum MBL level 4 days after the treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment,then decreased to the level before treatment on the 7th day after treatment in CAP patients with grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ.There was significant difference in serum CRP level before (F=23.179,P=0.000) and 4 days (F=26.601,P=0.000) and 7 days (F=10.358,P=0.000) after the treatment among different PSI grades in CAP patients.The serum levels of CRP in patients with different PSI grades were gradually decreased with time prolonged,the higher the PSI grade,the more obscure the serum CRP decrease.No correlation was found between PSI grade and serum MBL before and 4 days and 7 days after the treatment (before treatment:r=-0.205,P=0.145; 4 days after treatment:r=-0.062,P=0.662; 7 days after treatment:r=-0.063,P=0.656),and positive correlation between PSI grade and serum CRP was found (before treatment:r=0.809,P=0.000; 4 days after treatment:r=0.842,P=0.000; 7 days after treatment:r=0.702,P=0.000).Conclusions The MBL54 codon genotypes had no effect on the susceptibility of CAP.The serum MBL was elevated and dynamic changes with increasing treatment time in CAP patients were shown.MBL can be used as a reaction of CAP in acute stage.But it cannot be used as an inflammatory marker for the severity of CAP.

A yeast strain KM12 , which can convert conjugated anthraquinone of rhub arb to free anthraquinone , was screened. And it is identified as Kluyveromyces marxianus by 26S rDNA. The percentage of free an-thraquinone in total anthraquinone of rhub arb as an indicator was used to investigate the effect of culture medium component and fermentation processing conditions, such as seed age, fermentation time and liquid volume on con-version of conjugated anthraquinone by KM12. The optimal fermentation medium was determined by orthogonal test L9(43) and the composition (%) is yeast extract 1, glucose 2, and rhubarb 2. The 5% (V/V) of the seed culture inoculated 36-48 h was inoculumed to fermentation medium in shake flask to ferment at 30℃, 200 r?min-1 for 4 days. TLC analysis showed most of conjugated anthraquinone decomposed or converted into free anthraquinone in fermented rhub arb . It was concluded that the side effect of severe diarrhea caused by Chinese medicine rhub arb can be alleviated through fermentation processing by KM12 strain .

Through our pre-investigation and literature analysis, it was found that rhubarb could be categorized into two types, chrysophanol-type and rhein-type, based on the proportion of the two constituents in the total content of anthraquinones after acid hydrolysis. In this paper, the antimicrobial activities of chrysophanol-type and rhein-type rhubarbs against Staphylococcus aureus were compared with microcalorimetric analysis, in order to illustrate the bioactive differentiability between the two chemotypes. For the aim to display the distinction of chrysophanol and rhein percentage in total anthraquinones, the sampling volume was regulated to make the total anthraquinones equivalent, thus, the antimicrobial difference was only attributed to the difference of chemotypes. The results indicated that the antimicrobial difference between the two chemotypes was confirmable labeled at the biothermokinetic parameters of S. aureus growth affected by the rhubarb samples. The growth rate constant (k1) of the first exponential phase for the growth of S. aureus affected by the rhein-type rhubarb was significantly lower than that of chrysophanol-type (P<0.01), which suggested stronger antimicrobial activity of rhein-type rhubarb than that of chrysophanol-type. However, the antimicrobial activities of rhein-type rhubarbs were not positively correlated to the contents of rhein. It suggested that the antimicrobial activity of rhubarb might be related to some unknown components which were of same accumulating pattern of rhein. The findings in present study provided some experimental evidence on categorizing rhubarb into two chemotypes through the difference of antimicrobial activity on S. aureus by microcalorimetric analysis and, further, offered references to revision of the commercial specification of rhubarb from chemical view.

Objective To establish an objective method for evaluating the intrinsic characteristics between cold and hot nature of Chinese materia medica(CMM)through the different effects of Mahuang decoction(MHD)and Maxing Shigan decoction(MSD)on animal temperature tropism.Methods The equipment with cold/hot pads was used to investigate the variety ofthe temperature tropism between two groups of mice treated by MHD and MSD,respectively.Meanwhile,the activities ofadenosine triphosphatase(ATPase),superoxide dismutase,succinate dehydrogenase,and malondialdehyde were measured.Results After treated by MHD,the macroscopic behavioral index of remaining rate on warm pad(40 ℃)of mice decreasedsignificantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of cold tropism,meanwhile,the internal indices of ATPase activity and oxygen consuming volume increased significantly(P < 0.05),suggesting the enhancement of energy metabolism.On theother hand,the above-mentioned indices in MSD group changed on the inverse way.Conclusion The relative drug natureof MHD and MSD revealed in this study is consistent with the theoretical prognostication or definition.It indicates that theinternal cold and hot nature of CMM could be reflected in ethological way on the changes of animal temperature tropismwhich might be internally regulated by body energy metabolism.

Objective: To elucidate the correlation between the single nucleotide polymorphism of CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane member 5 ( CMTM5 ) gene rs723840 and the occurrence of high on aspirin platelet reactivity ( HAPR) . Methods:The present study is a case-control study. A total of 210 hospitalized patients in Peking University First Hospital were enrolled. Aspirin response was assessed by 0. 5 g/L arachidonic acid (AA)-induced platelet aggregation ratio (PR), and ≥3/4 quartile of PR of the population was defined as HAPR. Accordingly all the enrolled 210 coronary artery diseases ( CAD) patients were divided into HAPR group and No-HAPR group. The genotypes were determined by poly-merase chain reaction ( PCR) and sequencing analysis for rs723840 of CMTM5 gene. Results:The geno-type frequencies in rs723840 C>T of CMTM5 gene conformed well to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both HAPR group and No-HAPR group. Between the two groups, the genotypes frequencies in HAPR and No-HAPR groups were 48 . 4%, 51 . 6%, 0 . 0% and 73 . 7%, 22 . 9%, 0 . 034%, respectively ( P=0. 004). The C, T allele frequencies were significantly different in the two groups (P =0. 031,OR =0 . 501 , 95%CI:0 . 264-0 . 947 ) . Conclusion:Our study finds a significant correlation between CMTM5 gene rs723840 polymorphism and high on aspirin platelet reactivity.

Objective:To elucidate the correlation between urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 ( 11 dhTxB2 ) and clinical efficacy of aspirin treatment in patients with type 2 diabete and coronary artery disease ( CAD) . Methods:In this prospective cohort study, 169 aged patients with type 2 diabete accom-panying CAD in Peking University First Hospital were enrolled. The level of urinary 11dhTxB2 was detec-ted using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. Low aspirin response or high on aspirin platelet reactivity (HAPR) was defined as urinary 11dhTxB2>1 500 ng/g. All the included patients were divided into two groups based on the results, HAPR group and No-HAPR group. Results:Baseline urinary 11dhTxB2 of the patients with type 2 diabete accompanying CAD was ( 3 687 ± 3 052 ) ng/g, while the urinary 11dhTxB2 was (1 954 ± 859) ng/g in patients after 100 mg/d aspirin treatment (P<0. 001). Preva-lence of HAPR in patients with type 2 diabete accompanying CAD were 32 . 5%. Within a mean follow-up time of 12 months, the outcomes occurred more frequently in HAPR group than in No-HAPR group ( P<0 . 05 ) . Conclusion:Urinary 11 dhTxB2 can be recognized as an effective indicator in evaluating aspirin clinical efficacy of patients with type 2 diabete accompanying CAD.

Objective To study the effects of oxytocin antagonists-atosiban on pregnancy outcome after thaw embryo transfer (TET).Methods Between Jul.and Dec.2012,a total of 120 women undergoing TET in Reproductive Medical Center,General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were randomly allocated into atosiban and control group.They were all transferred 2 or 3 top quality embryos at phase of 7-8 cells.Patients in atosiban group were administered by intravenous administration of atosiban before 30 minutes of embryo transfer with a total administered dose of 37.5 mg.In the control group,no special treatment was given before embryo transfer.All patients in 2 groups underwent progesterone luteal support regularly after embryo transfer,then the clinical rate of pregnancy,implantation and early abortion was compared.Results The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle and implantation rate per transfer were 60％(36/60) and 30.0％ (48/160) in the atosiban group,which were higher than 42％ (25/60) and 20.3％ (31/153) in the control group (all P ＜ 0.05).Early abortion rate was 6％ (2/36)in the atosiban group,which was no statistical difference comapring with control group [16％ (4/25),P ＞ 0.05].Conclusion It was suggested that atosiban treatment before embryo transfer can improve the outcome of pregnancy,and increase clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate after TET.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of rosuvastatin in Chinese patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODA systematic search of Pubmed, EMBase, CENTRAL, CBMdisc, CNKI and WANFANG databases up to January 2013 was performed to identify studies comparing rosuvastatin with a placebo or other statins on carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) with a minimum follow-up of 6 months in Chinese patients. Meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.0 software after the strict evaluation of the methodological quality of the included studies independently by two reviewers.

RESULTSTwenty-eight studies involving 1 392 individuals were included in this review. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) between rosuvastatin and placebo or control on IMT was 0.28 mm (95%CI 0.14-0.42, P < 0.01), with 0.31 mm (95%CI 0.14-0.49, P < 0.01) on 6-8 months and 0.16 mm (95%CI 0.05-0.27, P = 0.005) on 12 months, respectively. Analysis on studies in core journals showed the WMD between rosuvastatin and placebo or control on IMT was 0.18 mm (95%CI 0.09-0.27, P < 0.01). The WMD between rosuvastatin and other statins on IMT was 0.06 mm (95%CI 0.04-0.08, P < 0.01). The WMD between rosuvastatin and placebo or control on plaque score was 0.89 (95%CI 0.78-0.99, P < 0.01). The WMD between rosuvastatin and placebo or control on plaque area was 1.46 (95%CI 0.67-2.25, P < 0.01).Reports of adverse effect were elevated liver enzyme (2.30%, 19/825), elevated muscle enzyme (0.73%, 6/825), muscle aches (0.61%, 5/825).

CONCLUSIONSRosuvastatin therapy is effective and safe to decrease IMT in Chinese patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

Carotid Artery Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo probe into the influences of different granule sizes and to prepare procedures on rational clinical usage of rhubarb based on chemical equivalence.

METHODThe effects of particle size, extract solvent, extract time and repeat times, and pre-extract or pro-extract of rhubarb on the extract amounts of the anthraquinones (AQs) were compared.

RESULTThe different prepare procedures investigated in the paper revealed significant influence on the extract amounts of the AQs and those extracts were not chemical equivalent. Ethanol extracted more AQs than water did, when other conditions were same. When extracted with water, the rhubarb of piece size 0.8-1.2 cm could extract relatively high amount of AQs nearly equal to superfine grinded powders, and the former was cheap. The water extraction of AQs showed an increasing trend with the extraction time extended. And pro-extract manner with water could extract more AQs than pre-extract manner with a extraction time of 30, 60 min. The water extraction of AQs repeated two times exceeded half of the amount of totally six times. When extracted with ethanol, the rhubarb of fine powders could extract relatively high amount of AQs nearly equal to superfine grinded powders. And pre-extract manner with ethanol could extract more AQs than pro-extract manner. The ethanol extraction of AQs increased in 30 min and then increased slower. The ethanol extraction of AQs repeated two times exceeded 70% of the amount of totally six times. So, the optimal conditions for water extraction rhubarb were pro-extract, two times repeated and 30 min per time; and the optimal conditions for ethanol extract were pre-extract, two times repeated and 30 min per time.

CONCLUSIONThe different prepare procedures showed significant influence on the extraction of rhubarb AQs. There is great need to establish a good usage practice (GUP) for Chinese Materia Medica to maintain rational clinical usage.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry