Background Oxidative stress is thought to be responsible to diabetes-complicated cataract.Our previous study demonstrated that as an iron chelator,deferiprone can protect lens from oxidative damage.Objective This further study aimed to investigate the role of deferiprone on the formation of diabetic-complicated cataract.Methods Forty 6-week-old Wistar rats were included in the study and randomized into 4 groups.Eight of them were used as the normal control group.Diabetes mellitus animal models were established in 22 rats by the carbonhydratediet and fat diet and the intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ).The deferiprone of 50 mg and 100 mg were intragastrically given in 8 model rats respectively after 3 days once a day for 8 weeks.The opacification of lenses was examined under the slit lamp weekly after treatment.The animals were sacrificed and the lenses were obtained at the eighth week of deferiprone injection.The concentrations of water-soluble protein ( WSP),urine-soluble protein (USP) and alkali-soluble protein (ASP) in rat lens suspension were detected by Bradford method.The super oxide dimutese (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were determined spectrometically using xanthine oxidase,thiobarbituric acid,dithio bis-nitrobenzoic acid.Results No evidently differences were found in the content of the WSP,USP and ASP among the these groups( F=1.73,0.18,0.09,P＞0.05).The contents of MDA in 50 mg deferiprone group and 100 mg deferiprone group were ( 1.05 ± 0.10 ) mmol/g and ( 1.05 ± 0.22 ) mmol/g respectively,showing a significant decline in comparison with diabetic model group (P＜0.05).The SOD and GSH contents in lens were (321.29±16.57) U/mg,(322.07±22.16) U/mg and (7.83±0.65 ) mg/g,(7.70±0.77 ) mg/g respectively in 50 mg deferiprone group and 100 mg deferiprone group and were considerably elevated in comparison with ( 298.70± 14.69 ) U/mg and ( 5.47 ± 1.01 ) mg/g of diabetic model groups ( P＜0.05 ).No significant differences were found in the indexes mentioned above between 50 mg and 100 mg deferiprone groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Deferiprone can reduce oxidative stress and improve the energy metabolism of the lens in diabetic rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of iodine supplementation on improvement of developmental quotient (DQ) at the critical period of infant brain development.Methods Pregnant,lactating women and infants less than 3 years old were supplemented with iodized oil in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture(Linxia Prefecture) Gansu Province in 2006-2010.Before and after the intervention(2006,2007-2010),five townships were randomly selected in the north,the south,the east,the west and the center of eight counties(cities) of Linxia.One village was chosen from each of those townships and 20 infants,20 pregnant women and 20 lactating women were randomly selected in each village(insufficient was made up from the neighboring villages).Urinary iodine(UI) level of the infants,pregnant and lactating women were determined by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry.DQ value of infants was measured before and after supplementation of iodized oil in 2006 and 2010.UI value of pregnant,lactating women and infants was monitored every year after iodine supplementation.Results Before iodine supplementation(2006),the median UI level of pregnant,lactating women and infants was 89.28,84.85,107.3 μg/L,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the medians UI level in 2007,2008,2009 and 2010 were,respectively,pregnant women:136.0,187.8,118.2,175.8 μg/L; lactating women:135.2,159.8,187.5,163.5 μ g/L; infants:139.6,174.7,190.7,168.4 μg/L.Before iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 92.8 ± 16.3,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 93.7 ± 20.0,91.4 ± 20.0,92.4 ± 19.0,90.3 ± 20.0,96.4 ± 22.1,respectively.After iodine supplementation,the DQ value of infants was 104.3 ± 13.8,and the average score of gross motor,fine motor,adaptive capacity,language and social behavior was 104.8 ± 21.5,104.1 ± 17.2,104.8 ± 16.1,99.9 ± 19.1,108.0 ± 22.7,respectively,which were higher than that before iodine supplementation (t =-10.43,-10.77,-13.78,-14.28,-9.96,-15.33,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Iodine deficiency at the critical period of brain development can affect the intellectual development of infants and young children at all functional areas of intelligence.Iodine supplementation at the critical period of brain development can prevent mental retardation caused by iodine deficiency disorders.

The change of the effective components (liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin) contents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) before and after compatibilities in Sini decoction was studied in this paper. Taking single GRR decoction, GRR-Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (ALRP) decoction, GRR-Zingiberis Rhizoma (ZR) decoction and Sini decoction as test samples, the contents changing of the four effective components of GRR were measured by HPLC. The results showed that the contents of the four effective components of GRR in the single GRR decoction was higher than that in other samples, and the sequence was single GRR decoction > GRR-ZR decoction > GRR-ALRP decoction > Sini decoction. The contents of liquiritin were 11.18, 9.89, 9.67, 9.17 mg · g(-1); the contents of glycyrrhizic acid were 20.76, 15.58, 11.30, 8.52 mg · g(-1); the contents of liquiritigenin were 0.66, 0.57, 0.45, 0.24 mg · g(-1); the contents of isoliquiritigenin were 0.14, 0.07, 0.03, 0.01 mg · g(-1). Therefore, the effective components of GRR decreased obviously after GRR compatibility with ZR providing scientific basis for GRR relieving the strong nature of ZR. The effective components of GRR decreased sharply after GRR compatibility with ALRP providing scientific support for the material foundation research of GRR reducing the toxicity of ALRP. The effective components of GRR decreased further in Sini decoction indicating that the three medicines in Sini decoction were interactional, which reflecting the scientific connotation of the mutual-restraint/mutual-detoxication, mutual-promotion/mutual-assistance compatibilities in Sini decoction.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effect of Abro1 on acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)/acute lung injury(ALI)in mice.Methods Abro1 knock-out(KO)mice and wild type(WT)mice were both randomly divided into two groups for intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)or normal saline.At 6 or 24 hours after treatment, the pathological changes in lung tissue were observed by HE staining.At 6 hours after treatment,inflammatory immune cells and cytokines production(IL-6)in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were examined.Myeloperoxidase(MPO)and the mRNA level of IL-6 in the lung tissue were compared.Results At 24 hours after treatment, compared with WT mice treated with LPS,Abro1 KO mice showed a significantly lower lung injury score.At 6 hours after treatment,Abro1 depletion resulted in reduced levels of inflammatory immune cell infiltration and cytokines production(IL-6)in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(P<0.05).In addition,the MPO content and the mRNA level of IL-6 in the lung tissue were much lower than those in WT mice treated with LPS for 6 hours(P<0.05).Conclusion Abro1 deficiency can attenuate LPS-induced ARDS/ALI.

Objective To investigate the genetic characteristics of patients with thalassemia gene in Ningbo City.Methods Totally 313 patients with thalassemia gene diagnosed during March 2015 to April 2016 in Ningbo First Hospital were included in the study.The results of routine blood test,hemoglobin electrophoresis and gene test,as well as the gender and origin distribution of patients with thalassemia gene were analyzed.Results Of the 313 patients who carried the thalassemia gene,there were 289 females and 24 males with a median age of 29 years,ranging from 1 d to 57 years after birth.And of the 313 patients,75 carried the α-thalassemia gene,230 β-thalassemia and 8 composite thalassemia.The average value of hemoglobin was around 100 g/L and the average value of erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was less than 80 ft.Abnormal hemoglobin was usually found in α-thalassemia.81.74％ (188/230) of β-thalassemia had abnormal hemoglobin electrophoresis.Most of the patients were women who were diagnosed of anemia in routine prenatal examination.The number of patients,who came from Ningbo City or one of whose grandparents came from Ningbo City,was closed to 50％.Among 20 α-thalassemia patients coming from Ningbo City,genotype of--sea was the commonest genotype,accounted for 70.00％ (14/20).Among 82 β3-thalassemia patients coming from Ningbo,genotype of IVS-Ⅱ-654 was commonest genotype,accounted for 54.88％ (45/82).Genotypes of 2 composite thalassemia coming from Ningbo City were αcs compound IVS-Ⅱ-654 and-α3.7 compound CD41-42.Conclusions In Ningbo City,the incidence of thalassemia in women in Ningbo is higher than that in men.The morbidity of β-thalassemia genotype is apparently higher than that of α-thalassemia,and genotype of IVS-Ⅱ-654 in β3-thalassemia patients is the commonest genotype.

Objective To establish a magnetic nanoparticles separation-based quantitative real-time PCR(RT-PCR)assay for fast and accurate detection of Plasmodium falciparum and providing a technical support for improving the control and preven-tion of imported malaria. Methods According to the conserved sequences of the P. falciparum genome 18SrRNA,the species-specific primers and probe were designed and synthetized. The RT-PCR was established by constructing the plasmid standard , fitting the standard curve and using magnetic nanoparticles separation. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were evaluat-ed. Results The relationship between the threshold cycle(Ct)and logarithm of initial templates copies was linear over a range of 2.5×101 to 2.5×108 copies/μl(R2=0.999). Among 13 subjects of entry frontier,a P. falciparum carrier with low load was de-tected by using the assay and none was detected with the conventional examinations(microscopic examinations and rapid tests). Conclusion This assay shows a high sensitivity in detection of P. falciparum,with rapid and accurate characteristics,and is especially useful in diagnosis of P. falciparum infectors with low parasitaemia at entry-exit frontier ports.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of preoperative CTO lesions by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and to compare the lesion characteristics and clinical data of patients with subsequent vs failed PCI.Methods A total of 113 patients were randomly selected and 116 vessels were analyzed by CCTA before PCI.The patients were further investigated as PCI success group vs PCI failure group according to their PCI result.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors that affected the success of CTO intervention.The ROC curve was used to determine and evaluate the CT-CTO score and J-CTO score for diagnostic efficacy.Results The success rate of PCI was 55.2％.64 lesions were successfully opened,with the success rate of 72.4％.The prevalence of smoking in patients in the PCI failure group was significantly higher than that in PCI success group (65.4％ vs.42.2％,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in age,gender,history of hypertension,diabetes mellitus,and myocardial infarction(P ＞ 0.05).Statistical differences were observed between the PCI success group and the PCI failure group in the presence of occlusion segment head-end bifurcation,occlusion severe incision,severe calcification (calcification ≥ 180°),occlusion segment length ≥ 20 mm,occlusion of calcification lesions,occlusion segment distal shape of the unambiguous of fiber cap shape of the distal occlusion segment under CCTA(P ＜ 0.05).In the PCI failure group,approximately 17.3％ of the patients had previous attempt to open the CTO lesions,which were higher than the PCI success group (9.4％).However,The difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the unambiguous distal fibrous cap of the occlusion segment and the occlusion of the proximal branch and the occlusion length ≥20 mm were the main factors affecting the failure of CTO intervention.In terms of prediction,the predictive value 30 CT-CTO score yielded a higher area under the ROC curve than that of the J-CTO score (0.8776 vs 0.7387,P ≤ 0.05).Conclusion CT angiography can predict the success rate of intervention for CTO lesions.Compared with J-CTO score,CT-CTO score has a higher predictive value.Unambiguous fiber cap shape,occlusion segment head end bifurcation,occlusion segment length ≥20 mm were the independent risk factors that affecting the success of CTO operation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between moderate to severe periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) and to examine the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in subjects with CHD and/or moderate to severe periodontitis.

METHODSSerum CRP levels, serum lipids [low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG)] and clinical periodontal parameters [clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP)] were measured and analyzed in coexistent moderate to severe periodontitis and CHD patients (n = 47), CHD patients (n = 28), moderate to severe periodontitis patients (n = 40), and healthy subjects (n = 40).

RESULTSThe serum CRP levels in control group, moderate to severe periodontitis patients, CHD patients and patients with both diseases were (1.30 +/- 0.15), (2.44 +/- 0.18), (5.99 +/- 0.82) and (6.88 +/- 0.71) mg/L, respectively. The differences among these four groups were significant (P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that moderate to severe periodontitis patients exhibited markedly elevated odds of having CHD (OR = 2.417, 95% CI: 1.126 - 6.659). The total cholesterol levels were also significantly different among the four groups (P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONSThe moderate to severe periodontitis was associated with elevated serum CRP levels which may in turn affect the initiation and progression of CHD, and may be a risk factor for CHD.

Adult ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; blood

Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Hemorrhage ; prevention & control ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo synthesize Gal-BSA-SPIO as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent targeting asialoglycoprotein (ASG) receptors in the liver and observe its role in MRI detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

METHODSGal-BSA was synthesized by means of reductive amination and mixed with SPIO in ice bath to prepare Gal-BSA-SPIO complex. Twenty rabbits bearing VX2 liver tumor underwent MRI enhanced by SPIO (n=10) and Gal-BSA-SPIO (n=10), and the T2 values of the liver and tumor before and after the contrast imaging were measured. Fresh human normal hepatic tissues (n=3), cirrhotic tissues (n=4) and HCC tissues (n=6) were obtained and incubated with Gal-BSA-SPIO followed by Perl's Prussian blue staining to observe the distribution of ASG receptors.

RESULTSThe size of the Gal-BSA-SPIO particles was 34.4 nm. The 20 rabbits bearing VX2 tumor, with tumor size ranging from 3 mm to 12 mm, showed isointense signal in the liver and hypointense signal in the tumor on T1WI, and isointense signal in the liver and slightly hyperintense signal in the tumor on GRE T2*WI. The signal intensity of the liver decreased slightly or moderately after administration of SPIO in the rabbits, and administration Gal-BSA-SPIO resulted in obvious reduction in the signal intensity of the liver. The signal intensities of the tumors did not exhibit obvious changes after the administration of SPIO or Gal-BSA-SPIO. Histological examination revealed numerous blue iron deposits in the Kupffer cells in SPIO group and in the hepatocytes in Gal-BSA-SPIO group, but not in the tumors in either of the groups. The human liver specimens incubated with Gal-BSA-SPIO contained numerous blue iron deposits in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and cell membrane in normal liver tissue, but the deposits were reduced in the cirrhotic tissue and almost absent in the HCC tissue.

CONCLUSIONGal-BSA-SPIO can specifically bind to ASG receptors on hepatocyte membrane to improve the tumor-liver contrast-to-noise ratio.

Animals ; Asialoglycoprotein Receptor ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Contrast Media ; chemical synthesis ; Dextrans ; Female ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; chemistry ; Galactose ; chemistry ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Rabbits ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry