Objective To investigate the effects of Xanthoceraside on the learning and memory impairment induced in mire by innacere-broventricular injection of aggregated amyloid β peptide _(1-42)(Aβ_(1-42)). Methods Learning and memory functions in mice were examined us-ing step-through test and water maze test. Biochemical determination of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) and choline acetyl transferase (ChAT) were measured with spectrophotometric melhod. Results Administration of Xanthoceraside reduced number of error and prolonged the laten-cy in step-through test in mice impaired by Aβ_(1-42) (P < 0.05,P< 0.01,respectively). In water maze test,the swimming time decreased in mice treated with Xanthoceraside compared with the model mice impaired by Aβ_(1-42) (P< 0.05,P< 0.01,respectively). The results of bio-chemical determination showed that decrease level of AchE and ChAT in mice impaired by Aβ_(1-42) were significantly ameliorated by Xantho-ceraside administration (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Conclusion Xanthoceraside has the effect of improving learning and memory impairment in mice inducel by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ_(1-42) via enhancing the cholinergic system functions.

The aim of the present study is to analyze the generation of osteoporotic vertebral bone induced by malnutrition during growth period and analyze its effects for disc degeneration, based on biomechanical and histomorphometrical study. Mechanical and histomorphological characteristics of lumbar vertebral bones and discs of rats with calcium free diet (CFD) were detected and tracked by using high resolution in-vivo micro-computed tomography (in-vivo micro-CT), finite element (FE) and histological analysis. Twenty female Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old, approximate weight 170g) were randomly divided into two groups (CFD group: 10, NOR group: 10). The CFD group was maintained on a refined calcium-controlled semisynthetic diet without added calcium, to induce osteoporosis. All lumbars (L1~L6) were scanned by using in vivo micro-CT with 35 micrometer resolution at 0, 4, 8 weeks to track the effects of CFD on the generation of osteoporosis. The results of morphological characteristics showed that BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.N in CFD group were significantly decreased over time (p<0.05), while those in NOR group were statistically increased over time (p<0.05) in the most lumbars (L1~L6). We also investigated the contrary tendency in Tb.Sp and SMI, compared to the above results in each group. In the simulated compression test using FE models, the structural effective modulus of CFD group significantly decreased (p<0.05), whereas that of NOR group was statistically increased, depending on the measuring time (p<0.05). The present study observed remarkable histological changes of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrous by water loss in CFD group, compared with NOR group. These findings indicated that calcium insufficiency was the main factor in the generation of osteoporosis and it induced lumbar vertebral disc degeneration. This study is a valuable experiment to firstly evaluate osteoporotic vertebral bone and disc degeneration induced by malnutrition during growth period from a biomechanical and histomorphometrical point of view.
Animals ; Calcium ; Diet ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Malnutrition ; Osteoporosis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Track and Field

OBJECTIVETo establish a new method on stratification analysis when the stratification limits of confounding factors was not clear or contradictory.

METHODData on a study of diabetes mellitus in Guangdong province collected in the year of 1997 and 1998 was analyzed using cluster-stratification analysis.

RESULTSThe efficiency of stratification analysis was improved and the confounding bias was effectively controlled with information bias avoided when the clusters-stratification analysis was applied.

CONCLUSIONThe problem was logically solved using cluster analysis as an assistant stratification means.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Bias ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Risk Factors

Scar endometriosis, which is characterized by ectopic endometrial-like glands and stroma surrounding scar tissue, is rare and presents diagnostic challenges due to its inconsistent presentation. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman who had previously undergone two cesarean sections and a hysterectomy, in whom a mass in the subcutaneous layer of the lower abdomen was incidentally discovered by computed tomography (CT). A physical examination revealed a linear cesarean scar with a palpable, pigmented mass. An enhanced abdominal CT scan revealed an approximately 3.5-cm ill-defined soft tissue mass infiltrating the rectus abdominis muscle. A desmoid tumor was suspected based on the radiological findings, and endometriosis was also considered in light of the patient’s medical history. Wide mass excision was performed, ensuring 5-mm margins. The mass was completely excised, and a histopathological examination revealed endometriosis. Due to its rarity, scar endometriosis in the abdominal area can be easily misdiagnosed. Therefore, a heightened suspicion of scar endometriosis should be maintained in female patients with a history of abdominal or pelvic surgery presenting with an abdominal mass. Although imaging modalities can play a supportive role in the diagnosis, an extensive medical history assessment and comprehensive physical examination remain crucial.

Renal involvements of POEMS syndrome are not rare. In some reports, almost 50% of patients show proteinuria. There are some case reports of renal involvement in POEMS syndrome in Korea, but there are no reports about clinical features of renal involvement in POEMS syndrome in Korea and its frequency. We report a case of POEMS syndrome with nephropathy and clinical features of renal involvement in POEMS syndrome in Korea. The most frequent symptoms in POEMS syndrome in Korea were polyneuropathy, edema and ascites. Renal involvement was found in 40% of patients. If there were unknown cause of edema and renal failure when combined with polyneuropathy, considerations should be taken into patients for POEMS syndrome even though POEMS syndrome is very rare.
Ascites ; Edema ; Humans ; Korea* ; POEMS Syndrome* ; Polyneuropathies ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency

Objective To study the effect ofprocyanidine (PC) on the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs),determine the expression changes of miR-221,and to investigate the mechanism involved.Methods HUVECs were cultured in vitro and treated with PC (5,25,50,75,100μg/ml) for 24 hours,and a PC concentration of 50μg/ml was screened by CCK-8 assay for the follow up experiment,then the cell proliferation activity was detected by the wound healing assay.The expression of miR-221 in HUVECs was detected by real-time quantitative PCR;MiR-221 target genes were predicted in miRWalk database,and the target genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG pathway.Results Compared with the control group,the HUVECs treated with PC for 24h,their proliferation activity in PC 5μg/ml group did not change obviously (P＞0.05),and in PC 25,50,75 and 100μg/ml groups decreased in a concentration dependent manner (P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the migration ability of PC 50μg/ml group decreased markedly (P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the expression of miR-221 increased after treatment with PC 50μg/ml (P＜0.01).Go analysis indicated that the target genes of miR-221 were mainly related to cell proliferation,migration,gene translation and so on.The target genes related to cell proliferation and migration were ADAM17,KIT,PDGFD and so on.KEGG pathway analysis showed that the target genes of miR-221 enriched 5 signal pathways,such as FoxO,PI3K-Akt and so on.Conclusions Low concentration of PC has no effect on the proliferation activity of HUVECs.A certain concentration of PC can inhibit the proliferation and migration of HUVECs,of which the mechanism may be involved with the up-regulation of miR-221 and FoxO,PI3K-Akt and other signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVETo determine the applicability of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for rapid detection of aneuploidies in prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSA total of 561 prenatal samples were analyzed in parallel by MLPA and traditional karyotyping. Another 20 clinical samples with known common chromosome abnormalities were also determined by MLPA to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of MLPA. The results obtained from MLPA were compared with that from traditional karyotyping.

RESULTSThe results were available within 48 h. A total of 38 aneuploidies were identified by MLPA, including 20 cases of trisomy 21, 10 cases of trisomy 18, 1 case of trisomy 13, 4 cases of Turner syndrome, 1 case of Klinefelter syndrome, 1 case of 47, XYY trisomy and 1 case of 48,XYY, +18. MLPA was able to detect all the expected aneuploidies with 100% accuracy. The results obtained from MLPA agreed with traditional karyotyping. Among 561 prenatal samples, the results of 550 samples were concordant with those of karyotyping, and the coincidence rate of MLPA was 98.04%.

CONCLUSIONMLPA is a rapid, simple and reliable method for detection of the most common chromosome aneuploidies in prenatal diagnosis. MLPA is a valuable tool in prenatal clinical practice.

Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the emotional and depressive differences between severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients whose occupations were doctor/nurse and others.

METHODSDuring the three months when SARS was explosive in 2003, 524 questionnaires were collected from Xuanwu Hospital, You'an Hospital, Xiaotangshan Hospital, Renmin Hospital and Ditan Hospital in Beijing. There were 109 questionnaires finished by patients as doctors/nurses themselves. For a background matching, 109 questionnaires were also finished by the others.

RESULTSFrom 218 questionnaires, we found that the score on emotional condition (46.6204 +/- 8.4408 vs. 41.6789 +/- 8.612 95, P < 0.001) of SARS patients whose jobs were doctor/nurse was higher than the other groups on while the score of SARS patients whose jobs were doctor/nurse was lower than the other groups (37.7615 +/- 9.026 61 vs. 41.2844 +/- 9.655 25, P = 0.006) regarding depressive condition. The scores of emotional and depressive condition were all correlated with the factor as "I can not master my future".

CONCLUSIONDoctors/nurses having SARS had less emotional and depressive conditions than the others, which might due to the difference in medical knowledge, working condition and the route of infection, suggesting that psychological intervention in the post-SARS period called for attention.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Depression ; psychology ; Female ; Health Personnel ; psychology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Patients ; psychology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; psychology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To study the prevalence and distribution of mental disorders among registered and non-registered residents in Shenzhen. Methods An epidemiological survey on mental disorders were carried out in Shenzhen by stratified multi-stage randomized sampling method; 7134 respondents were assessed through face-to-face interview, using the WHO standardized version on World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI3.1). Results (1)The weighting prevalence of mental disorders was 21.87%. The prevalence of non-registered residents was significantly higher than that of the registered residents (22.34% vs. 19.99% ; OR= 1.15,95%CI: 1.03-1.29; P<0.05) and the prevalence of females was significantly higher than that of males (22.68% vs. 19.67%; OR=1.20,95%CI: 1.07-1.34; P<0.05). The weighting prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders and psychoses were 9.62%, 14.45% and 1.40%, respectively. (2) The weighting twelve-month incidence of mental disorders was 13.42%. The incidence of non-registered residents was significantly higher than that of the registered residents (13.80% vs. 11.90%; OR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.03-1.36; P<0.05). (3)The co-morbidity rate between mental disorders was 35.76%. (4)The prevalence and severity of mental disorders were associated with sex, household situation of registration, marital status, education, economic condition and occupation status. Conclusion Mental disorders have become common diseases and serious public health problem in Shenzhen, with non-registered residents and females deserve more attention.

PURPOSE: Patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDXs) can provide more reliable information about tumor biology than cell line models. We developed PDXs for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) that have histopathologic and genetic similarities to the primary patient tissues and evaluated their potential for use as a platform for translational EOC research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We successfully established PDXs by subrenal capsule implantation of primary EOC tissues into female BALB/C-nude mice. The rate of successful PDX engraftment was 48.8% (22/45 cases). Hematoxylin and eosin staining and short tandem repeat analysis showed histopathological and genetic similarity between the PDX and primary patient tissues. RESULTS: Patients whose tumors were successfully engrafted in mice had significantly inferior overall survival when compared with those whose tumors failed to engraft (p=0.040). In preclinical tests of this model, we found that paclitaxel-carboplatin combination chemotherapy significantly deceased tumor weight in PDXs compared with the control treatment (p=0.013). Moreover, erlotinib treatment significantly decreased tumor weight in epidermal growth factor receptor–overexpressing PDX with clear cell histology (p=0.023). CONCLUSION: PDXs for EOC with histopathological and genetic stability can be efficiently developed by subrenal capsule implantation and have the potential to provide a promising platform for future translational research and precision medicine for EOC.
Animals ; Biology ; Cell Line ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Female ; Hematoxylin ; Heterografts* ; Humans ; Mice ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Precision Medicine ; Translational Medical Research ; Tumor Burden