Aim To investigate the effects of Ang Ⅱ receptor antagonist irbesartan on the expressions of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase(MT1-MMP) in high glucose-cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs).Methods High concentration glucose and irbesartan were used to stimulate the cultured rat GMCs in vitro.The mRNA and protein expressions of CTGF and MT1-MMP were detected with semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.The secreted collagen Ⅳ in the supernatants of the GMCs was detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay(ELISA).Results Compared with control group,the expressions of CTGF were continuously increased in GMCs under high concentration glucose medium;otherwise the mRNA and protein levels of MT1-MMP in GMCs were decreased in a time-dependent manner at the same time.These changes were accompanied by increased secretion of collagen Ⅳ.Irbesartan could inhibit those changes induced by high glucose.Conclusions High glucosecould induce the expression of CTGF and inhibit the expression of MT1-MMP in GMCs.Irbesartan could inhibit the secretion of ECM in GMCs under high concentration glucose medium,partly by regulating the expressions of CTGF and MT1-MMP.

To evaluate the treatment effect of the late avascular necrosis of femoral head with concentrated autologous bone marrow and impaction autologous bone graft. The clinical data of 35 patients with late avascular necrosis of femoral head treated with the above methods was analyzed retrospectively with the University of Pennsylvania staging system, and evaluated with Harris hip score system. Among the 35 patients, there were 8 at stage Ⅲ, 23 at stage Ⅳ and 4 at stage Ⅴ. The preoperative Harris hip scores ranged from 43-72 with the average scores of 49. The patients were followed up for at least one year with the mean time of 2 years and 3 months. Two patients (preoperative at stage Ⅴ) had received total hip replacement duo to severe pain and ostarthritis. The imageology in 5 patients showed that the femoral head appearance collapsed little compared with that before operation, but their subjective feelings were well. All the femoral heads of left patients remained the shape after operation, complains of pain disappeared or lessened. The overall successful rate was 94% (33/35). In Harris scale, there was 1 patient with 92 scores, 17 with 80-89 scores, 3 with 70-79 scores and 2 patients

BackgroundHigh myopia is one of leading causes of blindness,so far the pathogenesis remains unclear.Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs6885224 and rs12716080 in CTNND2 gene were recently found to be associated with high myopia in Singaporean Chinese.But whether these SNPs are related with the pathogenesis of high myopia in Han Chinese is worth studying,Objective This study was to investigate the relationship between the genetic variations of the CTNND2 gene and high myopia in Han Chinese.MethodsA case-controlled association study was designed.Nine hundred and thirty-three individuals with high myopia and 1227age- and gender-matched normal subjects were included in this study.The 5 ml of periphery blood was obtained from all subjects for the extraction of genomic DNA.The target DNA was amplified using PCR and purified by the SNaPshot method.Four SNPs rs12716080,rs917012,rs6885224 and rs16901340 in the CTNND2 gene were genotyped.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Sichuan Provincial People Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before his/her enrollment.Results The frequencies of the genotypes rs6885224,rs12716080,rs917012,rs16901340 SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) ( P=0.181,0.085,0.732,0.313,0.264,0.663,0.084,0.196).There were no significant differences in genotypes frequency distribution ( in turn P =0.654,0.406,0.828,0.403 ) and allele frequency distribution of the CTNND2 gene ( in turn P =0.377,0.209,0.743,0.198) between the high myopia group and normal control group.The haplotypes (TA and GA)frequencies of rs12716080 and rs917012 in the high myopia group were significantly different from those of the normal control group(TA:0.784 vs.0.719;GA:0.087 vs.0.136) (x2 =6.115,P=0.013 ;x2 =6.634,P=0.010),but those of GG were similar between the high myopia group and normal control group ( 0.123 vs.0.143,x2 =0.889,P =0.346). ConclusionsThe SNPs rs12716080,rs917012,rs6885224 and rs16901340 in CTNND2 gene were not responsible for high myopia,however,the haplotypes of rs12716080 and rs917012 are susceptible for high myopia in Han Chinese.

Adult ; Efficiency ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the protective effect of methylene blue (MB) on blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury after focal cere-bral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. Methods 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=6), model group (n=6) and MB treatment group (n=6). The left middle cerebral arteries were occluded for 1 hour and reperfused. MB was infused intra-venously immediately after reperfusion (3 mg/kg) and again 2 hours post-reperfusion (1.5 mg/kg), while normal saline was administered in the model group. The sham-operated group was treated as same as the model group without occlusion and infusion. HE staining was used to observe the histological injury in the cortex around the infarcted region 47 hours after reperfusion, while albumin immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the permeability of the BBB, and immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining were used to exam-ine the expressions of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin-4 (AQP-4). Results HE staining showed that cells and blood ves-sels were not intact in the cortex around the infarcted region in the model group and they were better in the MB treatment group. The expres-sions of the albumin, GFAP and AQP-4 were higher in the model group than in the sham-operated group (P<0.01), and were lower in MB treatment group than in the model group (P<0.05). The double immunofluorescence staining showed the colocalization of GFAP and AQP-4 in the astrocytes. Conclusion MB may ameliorate the BBB disruption induced by focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion through reducing glio-cyte proliferation and down-regulation of AQP-4 expression in rats.

This study investigates the protective role of IMM-H004, a novel coumarin derivative, on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) in mice. All animal experiments in this paper have been approved by the Ethics Committee of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The experimental animals were divided into three groups, including sham group, model group, and IMM-H004 treatment group. Serum biochemical indicators were detected and H&E staining was used to assess liver damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed to analysis the mRNA content of inflammatory factors. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to observe neutrophil infiltration. Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The results showed that IMM-H004 could significantly reduce the serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). H&E results showed IMM-H004 could alleviate liver damage caused by HIRI. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were decreased by IMM-H004 administration. Meanwhile, IMM-H004 could markedly inhibit neutrophil infiltration. Furthermore, IMM-H004 could significantly down-regulate the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1β, inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Our results confirmed that IMM-H004 could protect mice from HIRI and provide a theoretical foundation for IMM-H004 application for treating HIRI.

Child ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; complications ; Panniculitis ; etiology ; Subcutaneous Tissue

Humans ; Infant ; Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker on the quality of life (QOL) including appetite, defecation, and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

METHODSTotally 147 patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor were assigned to 4 groups according to different treatment methods, i.e., the supportive treatment group (A, 20 cases), the acupressure treatment group (B, 41 cases), the magnetic sticker treatment group (C, 40 cases), and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker treatment group (D, 46 cases). They were respectively treated with different methods, supportive treatment for group A, acupressure for group B, magnetic sticker for group C, and a combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker for group D. The scores of food intake, defecation frequency, sleep time, Karnofsky, and QOL were compared before treatment and at day 14 after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of food intake, defecation frequency, and sleep time were obviously improved in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between group D and group A (P < 0.01). In addition, in comparison with A group, both Karnofsky score and QOL score increased in B, C and D groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe assisted therapy of the combination of acupressure and magnetic sticker could ameliorate QOL such as the digestive functions and sleep in patients with advanced gastroenteric tumor.

Acupressure ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of Shen-nourishing and menstruation-regulating method (SNMRM) combined with Triptorelin Acetate Injection (TAI) on patients with luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS).

METHODSSixty-two LUFS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group. TAI was given to patients in the control group while SNMRM + TAI was given to those in the treatment group. The ovulation rate and the pregnancy rate were observed in the two groups.

RESULTSThe ovulation rate in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group, but without significant difference (85.53% versus 79.07%, P > 0.05). The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group (56.25% vs 30.00%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of LUFS by SNMRM + TAI could improve the ovulation rate and the pregnancy rate, indicating that LUFS patients' ovary functions could be improved by using different menstruation regulating methods during different follicular development phases.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; Menstruation ; drug effects ; Ovarian Diseases ; drug therapy ; Ovarian Follicle ; physiopathology ; Ovulation ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Triptorelin Pamoate ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult