Objective:To compare the anti-obesity effect of green tea and black tea polyphenols and investigate their molecular mechanisms. Method:Rats were divided randomly into four groups:control group,high-fat group,high-fat diet with green tea polyphenols(GTP) supplement group,and high-fat diet with black tea polyphenols(BTP) supplement group. Body weight was determined every 2 w. After 3 months,the changes of epididymal fat tissues weight and serum lipids were observed. Expressions of those genes associated with adipocyte differentiation in epididymal fat tissues of rats were measured by real-time transcription-polymerase chain reaction,including pref-1,aP2,TNF-?,leptin,PPAR-?,C/EBP-? . Results:Both GTP and BTP prevented the increase of body weight and fat induced by high-fat diet and profoundly down-regulated those adipocyte-specific genes,including aP2,TNF-?and leptin. In addition,GTP also up-regulated the pre-adipocye marker — pref-1 and reduced the expression of transcription factor,peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor(PPAR-?) . Conclusion:Tea polyphenols could prevent obesity by reversing the adipocyte differentiation,and GTP possessed stronger inhibitory effect than BTP.

Objective: To investigate the effect of (-) epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and black tea polyphenols on the lipid metabolism related gene expression profile of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Method: The total RNA was isolated from HepG2 cells treated with EGCG (5? mol/L), black tea polyphenols (5?g/ml) or 0.1%DMSO (control) for 8 h and was hybridized to Human 14k cDNA microarray for gene expression profile analysis. Real-time RT-PCR was conducted to confirm microarray data. Results: A total of 13 and 29 genes related to lipid metabolism showed differential change after EGCG or black tea polphenols treatment respectively, of which six genes showed consistent expression. The results of real-time PCR were consistent with the microarray data. Conclusion: The mechanism(s) by which EGCG and black tea polyphenols exerts its effects on lipid metabolism are comprehensive. The novel target identified in this study may provide new evidence for further investigation in the hypolipidemic effects of tea polyphenols.

Objective To investigate the effect of α7nAchR gene 713T>C mutation on the cognitive function and Aβ expression in Alzheimer′s disease(AD)mice.Methods Twenty APPSwe transgenic APPa7KO mice(6 months old,α7nAchR gene knockout)were divided into the mutation type group and wild type group according to the random number table method,10 cases in each group.The mutation type and wild type of AVV-α7nAchR cDNA were respectively injected by lateral ventricle,once per month,for 6 times.The change of cognitive function in mice was examined by Morris water maze.The ELISA method was used to detect Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 expression levels.The Aβ plaque deposit situation was detected by the immunochemical method.Results Compared with the mice in the wild type group,the escape latency and the time of first time to find the platform of the mice in the mutation type group were significantly extended,while Hippocampal Aβ40 and Aβ42 expression levels were significantly increased,the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion α7nAchR gene 713T>C mutation aggravates the cognitive function impairments in AD mice and hippocampal neuron Aβ expression level.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovalein treatment of migraine.Methods We studied 23 patients with migraine who were tested positive in Contrast Transcranial Doppler (TCDc) at the Department of Neurology in Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University between 2010 May and 2011 November.Procedures of transcatheterclosure of patent foramen ovale were performed at Department of Cardiovascular Surgery.At varied time points post-surgery,the patients were re-examined by TCDc and transthoracic echocardiograph (TTE) and followed up by phone interviewed with Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) questionnaire to elevate improvement of migraine.The data was analyzed statistically.Results Percutaneous closure was successful in all patients without major long-term side-effects.At follow-ups at 48-542 days ((247 ± 145) days) post-surgery,the scores of HIT-6 were reduced to 38-70 (51 ± 9),compared to the pre-operative scores of 42-76 (61 ± 8).Disability by migraine had significantly improved (t =4.80,P ＜ 0.05).In 6 patients with migraine with aura,the scores of HIT-6 were reduced to 46-56 (51 ± 3),from preoperative scores of 63-76 (69 ± 4) and their disability affected by migraine had significantly improved (t =6.80,P ＜0.05).In 17 patients with migraine without aura,the scores of HIT-6 after surgery were reduced to 36-70 (52-10) from the preoperative scores of 42-69 (60 ± 8) and disability affected by migraine in this group had significantly improved (t =3.77,P ＜0.05).Among 18 patients having MRI or CT examination before the operation,8 patients had neurological events (such as cerebral infarction,cerebral ischemia) with average age of (44 ± 7) years old.In this group,disability affected by migraine had significantly improved (the HIT-6 scores:49 ± 7 vs 58 ± 10,t =2.49,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Percutaneous closure of PFO showed significant improvement in migraine treatment and it is a safe procedure.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to measure the concentration of adiponectin (APN) in serum and induced sputum in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) and at stable stage and to determine the role of APN as a marker of inflammation in the pathogenesis of COPD. METHODS: All the patients in this prospective study were enrolled from October 2008 to October 2009, including 30 male AECOPD patients from the emergency department, 30 male stable COPD patients from the department of respiratory diseases, and 30 healthy non-smoking male controls from the department of medical examination. The serum and induced sputum were collected from each patient. All of the patients had normal weight (BMI range 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Patients with severe bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis or autoimmune disease were excluded. Cell count and classification was performed for the induced sputum. The concentrations of APN, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Pulmonary function was tested among the three groups. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA analysis or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient test or Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: The concentrations of APN in the serum or induced sputum in AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in stable COPD patients or healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). The concentration of APN in stable COPD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). For the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.739, 0.734, 0.852, 0.857 respectively, P<0.05). For the stable COPD patients, APN was also positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.751, 0.659, 0.707, 0.867 respectively, P<0.05). In addition, for the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in the induced sputum (r=0.439, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: APN is involved in the process of systematic and airway inflammation of COPD. This process is related to neutrophils in the airway, IL-8 and TNF-α. APN could be used as a new marker for inflammation of COPD.

BACKGROUND: As a cytokine highly expressed in internal organs, visfatin could be used as a biomarker of systemic inflammation response for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, but few studies have reported the use of visfatin in severe pneumonia. The present study was undertaken to determine the plasma levels of visfatin in patients with severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 70 patients, including 40 patients with severe pneumonia (group A) and 30 patients with non severe pneumonia (group B) who had been admitted to the ICU from June 2009 to June 2010, were enrolled in this prospective study. And another 30 healthy physical examinees served as healthy controls (group C). Patients were excluded if they suffered from severe diseases of the heart, brain and kidney, cancers, autoimmune diseases, or received special treatment in the latest month. The plasma levels of visfatin, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA, while the level of CRP was determined by immuneturbidimetry, and the routine blood test was performed. Blood gas analysis and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were performed in patients with pneumonia. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's correlation test or Spearman's rank-order correlation test. RESULTS: The plasma level of visfatin in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.001), and the level of visfatin in group B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.001). The plasma level of visfatin was positively correlated with CRP, TNF-α, APACHE II and PMN％ in patients with severe pneumonia (rho=0.653, r=0.554, r=0.558, r=0.484, respectively, P<0.05 for all), while it was negatively correlated with PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 (rho=?0.422, r=?0.543, respectively, P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Visfatin may be involved in the systematic inflammation response in patients with severe pneumonia as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and it is valuable in assessing the severity of pneumonia..

Objective To investigate the immediate therapeutic effect of medicated thread moxibustion on cervical spondylosis.Methods Seventy patients with cervical spondylosis meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to treatment and control groups by using random number table method, 35 cases each. The treatment group received medicated thread moxibustion and the control group, percutaneous superficial needling. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and the Clinical Assessment Scale for Cervical Spondylosis (CASCS) score were recorded in the two groups before treatment and at 30 min and 24 hrs after treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups. Results The VAS and the CASCS scores decreased significantly in the two groups at 30 min and 24 hrs after treatment compared with before treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01). There was no significantly statistical difference in comparing the VAS score between the two groups after the treatment (P>0.05). The CASCS score was lower in the treatment group than in the control group at 30 min after treatment (P<0.01) and lower in the control group than in the treatment group at 24 hrs after treatment (P<0.05). At 30 min after treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01); at 24 hrs after the treatment, the clinical therapeutic effect in the control group was superior to that in the treatment group (P<0.05).Conclusions Medicated thread moxibustion has a definite immediate therapeutic effect on cervical spondylosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of p65 gene inhibited by siRNA on neuronic differentiation in the marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

METHODSThe MSCs were transfected with Rn-p65-siRNA. Fasudil hydrochloride induced MSCs differentiating into neurons. The non-transfected group and negative control group (transfected with negative control siRNA marked by Cy3) were used as controls. The fluorescence expressed by transfected MSCs were observed under inverted fluorescence microscope at 24 h,48 h and 72 h after transfected with negative control siRNA. The viability of MSCs was detected by MTT at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after transfected with Rn-p65-siRNA. The expressions of p65 mRNA and protein in MSCs were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The expressions of p65 protein, NSE, MAP-2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunocytochemical method after transfection for 6 h.

RESULTSThe fluorescence of MSCs was mostly displayed after transfection of 72 hours and the efficiency of transfection was up to 83.3% ± 3.8%. Meanwhile, the p65 mRNA and p65 protein expressed by MSCs of transfected group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); MTT displayed that the viability of MSCs was also significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The best efficiency of induction was observed in the transfected group. There were higher expressions of NSE and MAP-2 than the other group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe p65 gene inhibited by siRNA can promote the marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into neurons.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine ; analogs & derivatives ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Transcription Factor RelA ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Transfection

Metabolomics is an omics subject which studies on the metabolic network of organism and the intrinsic metabolic change of entirety with the aim of clarifying the mechanism of medicinal effect and pathogenesis of disease, is similar to the whole concept theory of Chinese medicine. The mectabolomics technology helps to promote the modern process of traditional Chinese medicine. This article illustrated the application research on the concept of metabolomics, the syndrome of Chinese medicine, quality and components of traditional Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine compounds and so on, explored the problems on the current research and the prospect meanwhile.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate treatment outcomes of mandibular complete denture supported by two endosteal magnetic-attachment implants in edentulous patients with severe mandibular alveolar ridge absorption.

METHODSEight edentulous patients with severe mandibular alveolar ridge absorption were chosen. Each of them was treated with a complete denture supported by two CDIC implants. The implants were inserted at the areas of two the first premolars respectively. After five months, two magnets were adhered to the inside of the complete dentures. Retention, masticatory efficiency and maximal masticatory force were measured before and after the magnets were adhered and six months later.

RESULTSStatistical analysis revealed that retention, masticatory efficiency and maximal masticatory force were all increased after the magnets were adhered (P < 0.01) and six months later (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRetention, maximal masticatory force and masticatory efficiency were significantly increased after the endosteal magnetic attachment implants were applied. It is concluded that mandibular complete denture supported by two endosteal magnetic attachment implants is an effective method for severe alveolar ridge absorption cases.

Alveolar Process ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Denture, Complete ; Denture, Overlay ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Phenomena ; Male ; Mandible ; Mastication ; Middle Aged ; Mouth, Edentulous ; Patient Satisfaction