Objective To investigate the relationship between glucose excursion and cognitive function in aged type 2 diabetes. Methods A total of 248 aged type 2 diabetes were recruited in this study,all of them wore continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) for 3 d to evaluate the glucose excursion including mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) which was used for assessing intra-day glycemia variability,and mean daily difference (MODD) which represented day-to-day glycemic variability.During the period of CGMS monitoring,all subjects accepted mini mental status examination (MMSE) for evaluating cognitive function.The relationships of MAGE and MODD with performance on cognitive tests were assessed. Results The over intra-day glucose excursion group had lower MMSE score than the narrow intra-day glucose excursion group[(24.25±6.75)vs.(25.97±0.47),P=0.025].The MMSE score was decreased in over day-to-day glucose excursion group compared with the narrow day-to-day glucose excursion group [(24.21 ± 6.47) vs. (26.01 ± 5.49),P =0.019]. A statistically significant association was observed between MAGE and the score of MMSE(r=- 0.308,P＜0.001),and between MODD and MMSE(r=-0.226,P =0.001).Conclusions Glucose excursion may affect cognitive function in aged type 2 diabetes.The over glucose excursion decreases the score of MMSE.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of donepezil versus huperzine in the treatment of elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Methods Total 122 elderly patients with MCI were divided into two groups:donepezil treatment (5.0 mg once daily) (n=71) and huperzine treatment group (0.1 mg twice daily) (n=51).All the patients were followed up for 24 weeks.Before and 12 weeks,24 weeks after drug treatment,the cognitive functions were evaluated,including MMSE,MOCA,ADAS-cog,CDR,GDS,ADL,HIS and HAMD.Results There was no significant difference in age,sex,education time and neuropsychology rating scales between the groups before drug use.As compared with the score before drug use,the donepezil group showed a significant increase in MMSE after 12-weeks (t=4.47) or 24-weeks (t=6.16) (P＜0.01),a decrease in the score of ADAS-cog after 12-weeks (t=2.33,P＜0.05) or 24-weeks( t=3.68,P＜0.05),and an increase in the score of MOCA after 24-weeks drug use (t=2.56,P＜0.05).The huperzine group showed significant improvement in MMSE after 24-weeks drug use (t=2.80,P＜0.05),but there was no difference in other time points or in the score of MOCA and ADAS-cog as compared with the score before drug use.After 24 weeks' treatment,the donepezil group had higher MMSE (t=2.01,P＜0.05) and lower ADAS-cog (t=2.09,P＜0.05) scores than the huperzine group.30 patients (total effective rate was 42.3 ％) and 9 patients (total effective rate was 17.6 ％ ) became improved in donepezil and huperzine group,respectively,with significant difference (x2 =8.26,P＜0.01 ).There were 5 cases in the donepezil group and 3 cases in the huperzine group getting slight side-effects which disappeared by continuing to take drugs or by adjusting drug taking time.Conclusions Donepezil and huperzine as the cholinesterase inhibitors are effective and safe,and the efficacy of donepezil is faster and better in treating elderly patients with MCI.

OBJECTIVETo explore effective pretreated methods for hydrosalpinx before frozen embryo transfer (FET).

METHODSA randomized controlled study was performed on 229 FET cycles of hydrosalpinx patients. They were assigned to two groups by random digit table, Group A (94 cases), Group B (89 cases), and Group C (46 cases). Patients in Group A received transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx combined with auricular point sticking. Those in Group B received transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx group. Those in Group C received no transvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx. Pregnancy outcomes of FET, endometrial and subendometrial blood flow distribution on the embryo transfer day were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the endometrial thickness on FET day, the number of transfer embryos, the number of transferred good quality embryos among the three groups (P > 0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate and the embryo implantation rate were significantly higher in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.05), and the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.05). The early abortion rate and the transfer cycle cancel rate were significantly lower in Group A than in Group C (P < 0.05). Type A endometrial and subendometrial blood flow distribution was dominant in Group A, which was significantly higher in Group A than the rest two groups (P < 0.05). Type A distribution rate was also significantly higher in Group B than in Group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTransvaginal aspiration of hydrosalpinx combined with auricular point sticking before FET could improve the endometrial receptivity and improve outcomes of IVF.

Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

Objective To investigate the effect of catalpol from Radix Rehmanniae on A?25-35-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells.Methods PC12 cells were routinely cultivated and treated by A?25-35(final concentration,20 ?mol/L) 24 hours after the addition of catalpol or saline.Forty-eight hours later,cells were examined for viability and apoptosis by MTT method and TUNEL method,respectively,while Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA expression were analyzed by semi-quantitive RT-PCR. Results Catalpol could significantly elevate the viability at 1?10-5 mol/L and 1?10-4 mol/L(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between blood eosinophil (EOS)level and steroid doses in patients of bullous pemphigoid (BP).

METHODSA total of 82 untreated BP inpatients (n=49) and outpatients (n=33) were enrolled in this study. The blood EOS level and the steroid doses before and after treatment were recorded. The correlation between EOS level and steroid doses was analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSEOS increased in 69 BP patients (84.15%); on the contrary, only 10% of normal controls had increased EOS (t=1.99,P<0.001). In 44 inpatients, the blood EOS remained high before steroid treatment, and quickly returned to normal level after the disease became stable. There was a linear correlation between EOS and steroid doses (Spearman analysis,r=0.496,P<0.001). In 5 patients who were treated by non-steroid approach, EOS level also declined after the disease was resolved.

CONCLUSIONEOS can be one of useful indicators for the application of steroids in the treatment of BP.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

To explore the influence of matrix materials in complicate ingredients on traditional Chinese medicine and investigate the excipients selection model based on balanced release characteristics of multicomponents, the influence of HPMC (K4M, K15M, K100M) and Carbomer (934P, 971P, 974P) was illustrated by testing in vitro release of ginsenoside-Rg1, ginsenoside-Rb1 and notoginsenoside-R1 in Panax notoginseng saponins (model drug, PNS). According to in vitro release results of PNS matrix tablets in water and artificial intestinal juice, the release curves were analyzed with Peppas equation and simulating factor (f). Significant differences in k value and n value among ginsenoside-Rg1, ginsenoside-Rb1 and notoginsenoside-R1 existed in various formulations. The release behaviors from various excipients could be described with Non-Fickian transport or super Case II transport pattern. The f2 values for ginsenoside-Rg1, ginsenoside-Rb1 and notoginsenoside-R1 in 971P matrix tablet containing 30% Carbomer 971P were 74.91, 53.45, 57.89 in water and 79.35, 55.51, 51.89 in artificial intestinal juice, respectively. The release profiles fit for the regulation of FDA. The result revealed that the balanced release rates of Rg1, Rb1 and R1 in 971P matrix tablet were obtained.
Acrylates ; chemistry ; Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Excipients ; chemistry ; Ginsenosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Tablets

OBJECTIVEIn order to improve the irrigation for Panax notginseng growing seedlings, different mulching ways were carried out to investigate the effects of double mulching.

METHODField experiment was applied to study soil moisture, soil temperature and bulk density of different mulching ways while the germination rate and seedlings growth also were investigated.

RESULTCompared with the traditional single mulching with pine leaves or straw, double mulching using plastic film combined with pine leaves or straw could reduce 2/3 volumes of irrigation at the early seedling time Double mulching treatments didn't need to irrigate for 40 days from seeding to germination, and kept soil moisture and temperature steady at whole seedling time about 30% and 9.0-16.6 degrees C, respectively. The steady soil moisture and temperature benefited to resist late spring cold and germinate earlier while kept germination regularly, higher rate and seedlings quality. In contrast, single mulching using pine leaves or straw had poor soil moisture and temperature preserving, needed to irrigate every 12-day, meanwhile dropped the germination and booming time 14 days and 24-26 days, respectively, reduced germination rate about 11.3%-8.7%. However, single pine leaves mulching was better than straw mulching. In addition, though better effects of soil moisture and temperature preserving as well as earlier and higher rate of germination with single plastic films mulching had, some disadvantages had also been observed, such as daily soil temperature changed greatly, seedling bed soil hardened easily, more moss and weeds resulted difficulty in later management.

CONCLUSIONTo the purpose of saving water and labor as well as getting higher germination rate and seedlings quality, double mulching using plastic films combined pine leaves at the early time and single mulching removing plastic films at the later time is suggested to apply in the growing seedlings of P. notoginseng.

Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate DNA repair in CHL cells and HeLa cells after DNA damage induced by different oxidative agents.

METHODSCHL cells and HeLa cells were exposed to various damaging agents, CHL cells: H(2)O(2) for 25 min, K(2)Cr(2)O(7) for 105 min, doxorubicin (Dox) for 75 min HeLa cells: H(2)O(2) for 25 min, K(2)Cr(2)O(7) for 105 min; then cells were continuously cultured for 0-3 h after washing. Alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (ASCGE) assay was used to detect DNA strand breaks.

RESULT(1) DNA strand breaks were induced in CHL cells after exposure to H(2)O(2) K(2)Cr(2)O(7) or Dox, which were repaired evidently after continuous culture for 1 h(P<0.01). The damages induced by H(2)O(2) or K(2)Cr(2)O(7) were repaired completely after culture for 2-3 h. However, the demage induced by Dox was repaired incompletely. (2) DNA strand breaks were induced also in HeLa cells after exposure to H(2)O(2) or K(2)Cr(2)O(7), which were repaired evidently after continuous culture for 0.5 h(P<0.01),and completely after culture for 1 h. (3) The regression coefficient related to the rate of comet cells and repair time was statistically different (P<0.05) between CHL cells and HeLa cells.

CONCLUSIONDNA damage induced by Dox is repaired more difficult than that induced by H(2)O(2) or K(2)Cr(2)O(7). The repair initiates immediately after DNA damage in both of cells, but more rapidly in HeLa cells than in CHL cells.

DNA ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; DNA Repair ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on the STAT3 pathway and its downstream target genes of nude mice hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenograft, and to explore its mechanism for treating HCC.

METHODSThe subcutaneous xenograft model was established using HepG2 cells. When the subcutaneous transplanted tumor was formed, naked mice were randomly divided into two groups, the BBP group and the control group. Mice in the BBP group were administered with BBP by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks, while mice in the control group were administered with normal saline by gastrogavage, once daily for 3 consecutive weeks. The body weight and the tumor volume were measured once per week. By the end of medication, the tumor weight was weighed and the tumor inhibition ratio calculated. The apoptosis of the tumor tissue was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). The expression of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax), B cell lymphoma/eukemina-2 (Bcl-2), cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK4), cyclinD1 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of signal transducers and transcription activators 3 (p-STAT3), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bax, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1 were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSBBP could inhibit the tumor volume and tumor weight, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Results of TUNEL showed that BBP could significantly induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells. Results of RT-PCR showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and down-regulate mRNA expression of Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1. Immunohistochemical results showed that BBP could up-regulate the expression of Bax and inhibit the protein expression of p-STAT3, PCNA, Bcl-2, CDK4, and cyclinD1.

CONCLUSIONBBP could induce the apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma cells and inhibit their proliferation by regulating STAT3 pathway.

Animals ; Bile ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Ursidae ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To study the role of arrestin domain-containing protein 4( ARRDC4) in regulation of enterovirus 71(EV71) triggered innate IL-6 production and the underlying mechanism .Methods THP-1-derived macrophages (t-M?) were transfected with ARRDC4 specific siRNA and negative control siRNA .The expression and production of IL-6, replication and virus titer of EV71, and the activation of signaling pathway adaptors were analyzed with quantitative real -time PCR, ELISA and Western blot.Results Upon EV71 infection, ARRDC4 was upregulated.ARRDC4 silencing could enhance mRNA expression and production of IL-6, thus increasing the replication and virus titer of EV71.In ARRDC4 silenced t-M?, the activation of p-65,IκBα,ERK,JNK and p38 was promoted.Conclusion ARRDC4 promotes EV71-t riggered IL-6 production by enhancing the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway to inhibit EV71 infection, contributing to positive regulation of anti-EV71 innate immune responses .