Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; diagnosis ; therapy

0.05),but a significant difference at weeks 4,8,and 12 between two groups(P

To perform a systemic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of PET (CT) and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) for diagnosing neuroblastoma (NB),electronic databases were searched as well as relevant references and conference proceedings.The diagnostic accuracy of MIBG and PET (CT) was calculated for NB,primary NB,and relapse/metastasis of NB based on their sensitivity,specificity,and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUSROC) in terms of per-lesion and per-patient data.A total of 40 eligible studies comprising 1134 patients with 939 NB lesions were considered for the meta-analysis.For the staging of NB,the per-lesion AUSROC value of MIBG was lower than that of PET (CT) [0.8064±0.0414 vs.0.9366±0.0166 (P＜0.05)].The per-patient AUSROC value of MIBG and PET (CT) for the diagnosis of NB was 0.8771±0.0230 and 0.6851±0.2111,respectively.The summary sensitivity for MIBG and PET (CT) was 0.79 and 0.89,respectively.The summary specificity for MIBG and PET (CT) was 0.84 and 0.71,respectively.PET (CT) showed higher per-lesion accuracy than MIBG and might be the preferred modality for the staging of NB.On the other hand,MIBG has a comparable diagnosing performance with PET (CT) in per-patient analysis but shows a better specificity.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the serum levels of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) level and type 2 diabetes mellitus in a community population.

METHODSA total of 255 residents (aged 45-85 years) were randomly selected from 4 communities in Guangzhou to examine the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure (BP), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum A-FABP and fasting insulin (FINs) levels. The cases were divided into 3 groups according to blood glucose level, namely the normal group (group A, n=90), impaired glucose tolerance group (group B, n=85), and diabetic group (group C, n=80), and the A-FABP levels were compared between them.

RESULTSCompared with group A, the subjects in groups B and C showed significantly increased FPG, 2hPGh, HbA1C, HOMA-IR, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and waist circumference (P=0.000) as well as FINs, WHR, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) , TG, and HDL-C (P=0.038, 0.047, 0.01, and 0.046, respectively). Compared with group B, group C showed significantly higher FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, TG, and SBP (P=0.00), with also higher levels of FINs, BMI, WC, DBP, and HDL-C (P=0.012, 0.006, 0.03, 0.019, and 0.029, respectively). A-FABP increased significantly in the order of group A, B, and C (P=0.00), and this result was not affected by the differences in age between the 3 groups (P>0.05). A-FABP level was positively correlated to FPB, 2hPG, FINS, WHR, BMI, WC, SBP, and HOMA-IR, but inversely to TG and HDL-C (P=0.00).

CONCLUSIONElevated serum A-FABP is closely related to glucose metabolism disorder, and A-FABP may serve as a useful marker for the occurrence and development of type 2 diabetes in the community population.

Adipocytes ; chemistry ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; etiology ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serum ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of oxymatrine on chronic heart failure induced by isoproterenol (ISO) and to observe its effects on ADMA metabolism pathway in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats.

METHODMale Sprague-Dawley rats were given oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) orally for 14 days. Heart failure was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (5 mg kg-1 d-1 ) at the 8th day for 1 week. Serum parameters, haemodynamic parameters, Heart weight, and histopathological variables were analysed. Expression of protein levels were measured by Western blot.

RESULTOxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly attenuated serum content of cTn I, improved left ventricle systolic and diastolic function and left ventricular remodeling, reduced the ISO-induced myocardial pathological changes compared with ISO group. In addition, oxymatrine (100,50 mg kg-1) significantly reduced serum level of ADMA (P <0. 01), normalize the reduced dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) expression (P <0. 01) , but had no effect on the isoproterenol-induced upregulated protein arginine methyltransferases 1 expression.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could ameliorate the experimental ventricular remodeling in ISO-induced chronic heart failure in rats and the mechanism involved in reducing serum content of ADMA and increased DDAH2 expression.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Amidohydrolases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDThe non-operation treatment of intra-abdominal trauma guided contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is one of the hottest research topic. Gelatin/thrombin/calcium (GTC) was developed as a novel haemostatic agent for non-operable intra-abdominal trauma. We hypothesized that GTC can achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model by percutaneous injection under CEUS guidance.

METHODSForty Wister rats received large liver injuries by haemostatic clamp and were randomly divided into four groups, according to the haemostatic agent used. These included normal saline (NS) group A, lyophilising thrombin powder (LTP) group B, GTC group C, and absorbable α-cyanoacrylate (ACNA) group D. Each injury site was treated with one of the above materials and total bleeding time was recorded. All liver wounds were evaluated using CEUS at three periods: pre-injury, injury and post-treatment. The liver wounds were also evaluated by histology 3, 6, and 9 days after injury and the extents of abdominal adhesions were recorded.

RESULTSThe sensitivity of CEUS (100%) in detecting blunt traumatic liver lesions was significantly higher than conventional ultrasound (42.5%). Bleeding times at the injury site in the GTC group C ((129.3 ± 14.0) seconds) and ACNA group D ((5.2 ± 1.0) seconds) were significantly shorter than those in the NS group A ((369.5 ± 48.8) seconds, P < 0.01) and LTP group B ((324.7 ± 52.22) seconds, P < 0.01). The LTP group B showed no significant difference compared with the NS group A. Gross examination of liver tissue revealed that there were fewer intra-abdominal adhesions in the GTC group C (10%) than in the ACNA group D (100%). Histopathologic examination showed that GTC was completely absorbed after nine days.

CONCLUSIONSGTC, delivered by percutaneous injection under CEUS, may achieve haemostasis (without the use of pressure) within a short time in a large wound model. GTC is absorbable and may prevent intra-abdominal adhesions. Therefore, it may be the optimal choice for first aid treatment of large abdominal wounds in the setting of blunt trauma.

Animals ; Calcium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Gelatin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hemorrhage ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Hemostatics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Injections ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thrombin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanisms of decorin inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in renal tubular epithelial cells.

METHODHK-2 cells in vitro were divided into 4 groups: (1) negative control group; (2) decorin group, added with decorin 100 ng/ml ; (3) TGF-beta1 group, added with TGF-beta1 10 ng/ml; (4) decorin and TGF-beta1 group, added with decorin 100 ng/ml and TGF-beta1 10 ng/ml. The protein level of phosphor-ERK, phosphor-PI3K, phosphor-Smad(3) and beta-catenin was detected by Western blotting method. The snail mRNA level was tested by real time-PCR, while the lymphoid enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1) mRNA level was measured by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe snail (2.59 +/- 0.70:1.02 +/- 0.13) and LEF-1 mRNA (1.85 +/- 0.08:0.30 +/- 0.11) were significantly up-regulated, meanwhile the protein level of phosphor-ERK (1.11 +/- 0.09:0.47 +/- 0.07), phosphor-PI3K (14.79 +/- 1.02:2.48 +/- 0.06), phosphor-Smad(3) (0.95 +/- 0.02:0.08 +/- 0.01) and beta-catenin (1.46 +/- 0.20:0.49 +/- 0.05) were significantly increased in TGF-beta1 group compared to control group, while there were no statistically significant difference in all figures between control group and decorin group. The phosphor-ERK protein level (0.58 +/- 0.08) and the snail mRNA level (1.24 +/- 0.03) were significantly down-regulated in TGF-beta1 and decorin group compared to TGF-beta1 group, however there were no statistically significant differences in the level of phosphor-PI3K (15.84 +/- 1.64), phosphor-Smad(3) (0.90 +/- 0.04) and beta-catenin (1.42 +/- 0.09) between these two groups.

CONCLUSIONDecorin inhibited EMT induced by TGF-beta1 which may be through blocking the ERK signal transduction pathway.

Cell Dedifferentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Decorin ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; pathology ; Proteoglycans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of potassium deficiency on glucose and insulin metabolism in primary hyperaldosteronism, including aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA).

METHODSTotally 178 patients who were diagnosed as primary hyperaldosteronism (103 patients with APA and 75 with IHA) were divided into hypokalemia group and normal potassium group according to their serum potassium levels. All patients received 3 hours of oral glucose tolerance test and aldosterone test to observe the relationship among glucose, insulin and serum potassium.

RESULTSArea under curve of serum potassium, area under curve of plasma insulin, and fasting serum insulin were significantly lower in the hypokalemia group than in the normal potassium group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); area under curve of glucose and aldosterone level were significantly higher in the hypokalemia group than in the normal potassium group ( P < 0. 05 ) . The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in IHA than in APA (57. 3% vs 38. 8% ; P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONHypokalemia may play an important role in inhibiting insulin secretion in primary hyperaldosteronism.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; complications ; metabolism ; Hypokalemia ; complications ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; etiology ; Middle Aged

Recently, suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) has been shown to be an inducible endogenous negative regulator of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathway which is relevant in inflammatory response, while its functions in acute liver failure and HBV-induced acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the role of SOCS3 in the development of mouse hepatitis virus strain 3 (MHV-3)-induced acute liver failure and its expression in liver and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with HBV-ACLF. Inflammation-related gene expression was detected by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The correlation between SOCS3 level and liver injury was studied. Our results showed that the SOCS3 expression was significantly elevated in both the liver tissue and PBMCs from patients with HBV-ACLF compared to mild chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Moreover, a time course study showed that SOCS3 level was increased remarkably in the liver of BALB/cJ mice at 72 h post-infection. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were also increased significantly at 72 h post-infection. There was a close correlation between hepatic SOCS3 level and IL-6, and the severity of liver injury defined by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, respectively. These data suggested that SOCS3 may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of MHV-3-induced acute liver failure and HBV-ACLF.

This study was aimed to establish ELISA for recombinant bovine IFN-gamma (BovIFN-gamma) detection and provide a new method for diagnosis of pathogenic infection. The total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes cultured with PHA mitogen stimulation. Then bovine IFN-gamma (BovIFN-gamma) gene cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pET28a to obtain the expression plasmid designated as pETBovIFN-gamma. The pETBovlFN-gamma was further transformed into competent E. coli BL21 cells and a 18kD His-tagged protein as expected was expressed after IPTG induction. By using purified recombinant BovIFN-gamma as antigen and lymphocyte-hybridoma technique, four hybridoma cell lines which stably secreted monoclonal antibodies against rBovIFN-gamma were generated, designated as A7, A10, G6, and G10. The immunoglobin subset was identified as IgG1 . Western-blotting analysis and ELISA demonstrated that the monoclonal antibodies secreted by all the four hybridoma cell lines could react specifically to the recombinant BovIFN-gamma, but not irrelative proteins such as Ag85B, ESAT-6-CFP-10 and GM-CSF, suggesting that the four hybridoma cell lines were rBovIFN-gamma specific monoclonal antibodies. A sandwich ELISA was established by using A10 secreted monoclonal antibody and rabbit polyclonal antibodies against BovIFN-gamma, HRP labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. The results indicated that the sensitivity was 2ng/mL. This sandwich ELISA to detect BovIFN-gamma paved the way to develop a sensitive method for specific infection detection such as bovine tuberculosis diagnosis.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Antibody Specificity ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Cattle ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Hybridomas ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction