Objective To investigate the clinical features of multiple endocrine neoplasia ( MEN) associated with pheochromocytoma and anesthetic management during perioperative period. Methods Medical records of 12 patients who were operated upon for MEN associated with pheochromocytoma in our hospital from April 1977 to April 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data, clinical manifestation, family history, biochemical examinations, type of MEN, the order of different surgical procedures for patients who had multiple operations and changes in hemodynamics were collected and analyzed. Results The 12 patients accounted for 5.6% (12/213) of the patients with pheochromocytoma admitted in the same period. Nine of the 12 patients had a diagnosis of MEN Ⅱa (Sipple syndrome) and three mixed MEN. Four patients with MEN type II a had a positive familial history. Five patients with other coexistent endocrine disorders underwent the excision of pheochromocytoma first, and only two of them had hypertensive symptoms when they were admitted. Seven patients without a history of hypertensive episodes received surgical treatment for pheochromocytoma as a second operation. The excision of pheochromocytoma was performed under general anesthesia ( in 8 patients ) or epidural anesthesia (in 4 patients). Marked hemodynamic fluctuations were recorded in 8 patients. There was no death.Conclusion Pheochromocytoma associated with other endocrine disorders in MEN may manifest itself as the main clinical symptom or most frequently as an occult tumor. Recognition of this feature is of importance to the improvement of diagnosis and treatment of both pheochromocytoma and MEN.

Aim To investigate and evaluate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of scavenger receptor type AI, the human ?-interferon activation site (GAS) elements regulatory systems of SR-AI expression wasfirst established in the Xenopus oocytes. Methods A plasmid, in which the human SR-AI gene was constructed downstream from the GAS elements, was microinjected into the nucleus of Xenopus oocytes. The oocytes then were cultured in the smooth muscle cell conditioned medium (SCM), In which the cell were cultured with the treatment of oxLDL for 2 days. In the other groups, the oocytes were treated with SCM containing the nature medicines ligustrazine, and the positive control drug ?-interferon respectively. Results The results demonstrated that SCM could upregulate the expression of SR-AI in this system, this action was suppressed by ligustrazine and ?-interferon. Conclusion Similar to the action of ?-interferon, ligustrazine can prevent the over-expression of SR-A induced by oxLDL, via their effect on the GAS elements regulatory pathway.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of curcumin in reducing blood lipids by establishing gene expression system of human low density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) in Xenopus Laevis oocytes (XLO).

METHODSThe expression of LDL-R on cytomembrane was determined using immuno-fluorescent, ligand-fluorescent and immune colloidal gold techniques after human LDL-R containing p3.7 LDL plasmid was led into nucleus. And the expression of LDL-R gene in XLO was quantitatively determined by ELISA after being interfered with different concentrations of curcumin.

RESULTSThe human LDL-R gene could be expressed on XLO, which could be significantly enhanced by curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion One of the paths of curcumin in reducing blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis was improving LDL-R gene expression and increasing the LDL-cholesterol absorption of cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Microinjections ; Oocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Receptors, LDL ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Xenopus laevis

BACKGROUNDPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a kind of ligand-activated transcription factors binding to peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), a specific recognition site. It is thought to play a critical role in glucose and lipid metabolism and in inflammation control. The aim of this study was to establish a new cellular model for the quick screening of lipid-lowering drugs, which may be effective as PPAR-gamma ligands on the PPRE-mediated pathway regulatory system.

METHODSTwo plasmids were constructed: pXOE-PPARgamma, in which the human PPARgamma gene was in the downstream of TFIIIA gene promoter, and pLXRN-PPRE-d2EGFP, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was subcloned into PPRE. The xenopus oocytes were injected with these two plasmids, and consequently treated with prostaglandin E1, pioglitazone, and different kinds of lipid-lowering drugs. After 3 days, the oocytes were observed under a fluorescence microscope. To confirm the drug action,we injected pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid into the oocytes, which then treated with prostaglandin E1 and Hawthorn flavonoids. The mass of expressed lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the cells was determined by enzyme labeling linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe expression of EGFP was only induced by prostagalandin E1, pioglitazone, Hawthorn flavonoids. A concentration-response relationship was seen between expressed EGFP and Hawthorn flavonoids. The levels of LPL in both Hawthorn flavonoids groups and PPARgamma ligand prostagalandin E1 group injected with pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid increased significantly (< 0.001) compared with controls, and a concentration-response relationship was observed between LPL mass and Hawthorn flavonoids.

CONCLUSIONSIt is possible to establish a PPRE regulatory EGFP reporter system in xenopus oocytes to monitor the activity of PPARgamma ligand. Hawthorn flavonoids can increase the expression of gene downsteam of PPRE by effect on the PPRE pathway regulatory system.

Alprostadil ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Crataegus ; Female ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; biosynthesis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; physiology ; Peroxisome Proliferators ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; Response Elements ; physiology ; Xenopus

OBJECTIVETo realize human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and hepatitis C virus(HCV) super-infected with hepatitis G virus(HGV or GBV/C) and to probe into the mechanism of these virus infection in the body.

METHODSHIV and HCV load were tested by the quantitated RT-PCR in the HIV or HCV infected plasma samples respectively and the HGV RNA was detected in all of the samples. Then some of the HGV positive were sequenced.

RESULTS123 of 317 HIV patients were positive for HGV, the positive rate was 38.8%. Among the 91 HCV patients, 19 were positive for HGV. The positive rate is 20.9% which was less than that of HIV patients. HIV load of the patients super-infected with HGV was less than that of those without HGV[(1.8+/-0.6)x10 copies/ml compared with (1.9+/-1.1)x10(2)copies/ml]; while HGV and HCV super-infection did not influence the HCV RNA load significantly [(1.5+/-0.6)x10(4) copies/ml compared with (5.4+/-1.8)x10(4)copies/ml]. The HGV sequences from HIV or HCV patients were compared and showed no difference markedly.

CONCLUSIONThe rate of the HIV and HGV super-infection is higher than that of HCV. HGV may inhibit HIV reproduction in the body while superinfection.

GB virus C ; HIV ; physiology ; HIV Infections ; virology ; Hepacivirus ; physiology ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Virus Replication

Adult ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms and effective target points of lipid-lowering drug, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, and study the effect of curcumin on the expression of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in macrophages in mice.

METHODSMacrophages in mice were treated with curcumin, which was purified from the ethanolly extraction of Rhizoma Curcumae Longae for 24 h. The LDL receptors expressed in the macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and assay of DiI labeled LDL uptake by flow cytometer.

RESULTSIt was found for the first time that 10 micromol/L-50 micromol/L curcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of LDL receptor in macrophages in mice, and a dose-effect relationship was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONOne of the lipid-lowering mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, was completed by the effect of curcumin through the up-regulation of the expression of LDL receptor.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; Mice ; Receptors, LDL ; drug effects ; genetics ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics

BACKGROUND: The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and metabolic disorders is complex and highly associated. The impairment of adipogenic capacity in pre-adipocytes may promote adipocyte hypertrophy and increase the risk of further metabolic dysfunction. We hypothesize that intermittent hypoxia (IH), as a pathophysiologic feature of OSA, may regulate adipogenesis by promoting macrophage polarization. METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were exposed to either IH (240 seconds of 10% O₂ followed by 120 seconds of 21% O₂, i.e., 10 cycles/hour) or intermittent normoxia (IN) for 6 weeks. Stromal-vascular fractions derived from subcutaneous (SUB-SVF) and visceral (VIS-SVF) adipose tissues were cultured and differentiated. Conditioned media from cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages after air (Raw) or IH exposure (Raw-IH) were incubated with SUB-SVF during adipogenic differentiation. RESULTS: Adipogenic differentiation of SUB-SVF but not VIS-SVF from IH-exposed mice was significantly downregulated in comparison with that derived from IN-exposed mice. IH-exposed mice compared to IN-exposed mice showed induction of hypertrophic adipocytes and increased preferential infiltration of M1 macrophages in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) compared to visceral adipose tissue. Complementary in vitro analysis demonstrated that Raw-IH media significantly enhanced inhibition of adipogenesis of SUB-SVF compared to Raw media, in agreement with corresponding gene expression levels of differentiation-associated markers and adipogenic transcription factors. CONCLUSION: Low frequency IH exposure impaired adipogenesis of SAT in lean mice, and macrophage polarization may be a potential mechanism for the impaired adipogenesis.
Adipocytes ; Adipogenesis ; Animals ; Anoxia ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; In Vitro Techniques ; Inflammation ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Macrophages ; Male ; Mice ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Transcription Factors

Objective To study the influence of HBV-DNA with different load levels of HBsAg-positive among fathers on the rate of neonatal cord blood HBV-DNA.Methods Using HBsAg and HBV-DNA as screening indicators for pregnant women and their husbands from an obstetric clinic.161 pregnant women whose HBsAg and HBV-DNA were negative,but HBsAg was positive among their husbands and their newborns,were selected.Blood samples from those pregnant women,their husbands and their newborns were collected to detect the related indicators.Using ELISA to detect hepatitis B virus markers(HBVM),and FQ-PCR to detect the levels of HBV-DNA load.According to neonatal cord blood HBV-DNA detection guideline,newborns with cord blood HBV-DNA positive were selected as cases,others as controls.Results(1)Result of the study showed that there was a dose-response relationship between paternal serum HBV-DNA load levels and neonatal cord blood HBV-DNA positive rates in newborns(trend χ~2=64.117,P=0.000).The rate of vertical transmission of HBV from HBsAg-positive father to infant in the paternal serum HBV-DNA＞1.0×107 copies/ml group was significantly higher than HBV-DNA＜1.0×107 copies/ml group(χ~2=71.539,P=0.000).(2)There was a positive rank correlation between semen positive HBeAg and vertical transmission of HBV from HBsAg-positive father to infant(χ~2=6.892,P=0.009).Conclusion There was a dose-response relationship between paternal serum HBV-DNA load levels and neonatal cord blood HBV-DNA positive in newborns.Paternal serum HBV-DNA≥1.0×107 copies/ml and with HBeAg positive status were risk factors of vertical transmission of HBV from HBsAg-positive father to infant.

Objective·To detect the effects of propofol sedation on cognitive function in rats and its mechanism. Methods?·?Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. control group, 100?mg/kg group and 300?mg/kg group. Rats were administrated intraperitoneally with propofol (10?mg/mL, 100?mg/kg or 300?mg/kg). The mRNA levels of brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF)-TrkB/p75 signal molecules in rat hippocampus were evaluated by realtime PCR 45 min after propofol treatment. Learning and memory ability was examined by inhibitory avoidance (IA) test after propofol treatment. Results?·?The mRNA levels of BDNF in the hippocampal tissue were (1.20±0.13) fold (P=0.002) and (88±12) % (P=0.044) of that in control group, respectively, in 100?mg/kg group and 300?mg/kg group after injection of propofol. The mRNA levels of TrkB were (1.01±0.11) fold ( P=0.982) and (86±11) % (P=0.018) of that in control group, respectively, in 100?mg/kg group and 300?mg/kg group. The mRNA levels of p75 were (1.02±0.10) fold (P=0.778) and (1.59±0.18) fold (P=0.000) of that in control group, respectively, in 100?mg/kg group and 300?mg/kg group. There was no significant difference of the 24 h IA memory retention latency between 100?mg/kg group and control group. The 24 h IA memory retention latency in 300?mg/kg group was significantly decreased compared with control group (P=0.028) and 100?mg/kg group (P=0.020). Conclusion?·?Propofol dose-dependently regulates the expression of BDNF-TrkB/p75 signal molecules, and high dose propofol may reduce cognitive function via BDNF-TrkB/p75 signal.