Objective To construct PPAR?and PPAR?response element (PPRE)-controlled luciferase expression vectors,and to determine whether the traditional Chinese medicine emodin activates PPAR?and improves the glucose uptake by HepG2 hepatocytes.Methods (1) PPAR?and PPRE luciferase expression vectors were constructed and were applied to screen more than 20 ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine. (2) HepG2 cells were incubated with emodin which can activate PPAR?and PPRE luciferase activity,and the PPAR?mRNA expression level was evaluated by RT-PCR/Southern blot.(3) PPAR?and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) proteins were determined by Western blot analysis in HepG2 cells treated with emodin.(4) The glucose uptake rate was measured using 2-deoxy-[~3H]-D-glucose in HepG2 cells after treatment with emodin.Results (1) Emodin stimulated luciferase activity controlled by PPRE in dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.04 to 180?mol/L in COS-7 cells.The highest value was about 4 folds of control in the cells treated with 90?mol/L emodin (P

Objective To analyse the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test(HDDST)-related differences in the clinical and biochemical features of the patients with Cushing's disease Methods Cases were drawn from 60 consecutive patients with Cushing's disease,who were then divided into two groups according to the response to the HDDST.The clinical and biochemical features between two groups were compared.Results(1) Of the 60 patients with Cushing's disease,23.3%(14/60)of patients(group A)did not yield results of suppression with the HDDST,and the others(group B)did.No difference was found in the age[(33.8?10.4 vs 36.2?11.2)years]and duration of illness[(2.1?1.6 vs 3.9?3.1)years]between two groups.(2)In clinical features,the patients in group A were more likely to have edema of lower limbs(64.3% vs 32.6%),hypokalemia (71.4% vs 28.3%),secondary diabetes(57.1% vs 26.1%)and purple striae(85.7% vs 54.3%,all P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liangxuehuoxue Recipe (LXHXF), a compound traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the lung tissue of rats exposed to X-ray radiation.

METHODSSeventy-two Wistar rats were randomized into exposure group (group A, without treatment) and small-, middle- and high-dose LXHXF groups (groups B, C, and D treated with LXHXF at the daily doses of 9, 18, and 36 g/kg, respectively). After X-ray exposure of the right lung at 3 Gy twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks, the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 5th, 12th and 26th weeks, and the lung tissues were taken for immunohistochemistry of the expressions of TNF-α and TGF-β.

RESULTSIn group A, the expression of TNF-α reached the peak level at 5 weeks and TGF-β expression was the highest at 12 and 26 weeks. LXHXF, especially at the middle and high doses, obviously inhibited the expression of TNF-α at 5 weeks; the treatments also resulted in significantly lowered expressions of TGF-β at all the time points of observation as compared with those in group A (P<0.01). The high- and middle-dose groups exhibited no significant difference in the expression levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in the experiment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with LXHXF can effectively inhibit TNF-α expression in the lung tissue in the early stage following radiation exposure, causing even more obvious inhibitory effect on TGF-β in the later stages. A higher dose of LXHXF produces more significant inhibitory effects on TNF-α and TGF-β expressions.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Lung ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Radiation Injuries ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection on the expression of survivin and cell cycle in human tongue squamous carcinoma TSCCa cells.

METHODSThe proliferation of TSCCa cells infected with NDV in vitro was evaluated by means of MTT assay, and survivin expression in the infected cells was detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the changes in the cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cell proliferation index (PI) of the cells.

RESULTSNDV infection resulted in decreased survivin expression and increased apoptosis of TSCCa cells, with reduced cell percentage in G2/M and S phases and lowered PI of the cells, showing significant differences from those of the negative control cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNDV infection can inhibit survivin expression, affect the cell cycle of TSCCa cells and induce their apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Cell Cycle ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Newcastle disease virus ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine preparations on bronchial hyperesponsiness (BHR)-induced cough.

METHODSixty patients with cough due to BHR (shown by positive bronchial provocation test) were randomly divided into Chinese medicine group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) to receive Bufeishenqingre decoction twice a day and 100 mg theophylline sustained-release capsules twice a day for one month, respectively. The changes of the clinical symptoms were observed during the treatment and bronchial infrared imaging was performed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSThe symptoms of patients in the Chinese medicine group were more effectively alleviated than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The difference in the temperature between the bronchial lesions and the surrounding normal mucosa changed more obviously in the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBufeishenqingre decoction can relieve the symptoms and improve the abnormalities in infrared imaging of patients with BHR-induced cough.

Adult ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; complications ; drug therapy ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; Cough ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Theophylline ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDSubclinical apoplexy of pituitary functional adenoma can cause spontaneous remission of hormone hypersecretion. The typical presence of pituitary growth hormone (GH) adenoma is gigantism and/or acromegaly. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with spontaneous partial remission of acromegaly or gigantism due to subclinical apoplexy of GH adenoma.

METHODSSix patients with spontaneous remission of acromegaly or gigantism were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, endocrinological evaluation and imageological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn these cases, the initial clinical presences were diabetes mellitus or hypogonadism. No abrupt headache, vomiting, visual function impairment, or conscious disturbance had ever been complained of. The base levels of GH and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were normal or higher, but nadir GH levels were all still > 1 µg/L in 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Magnetic resonance imaging detected enlarged sella, partial empty sella and compressed pituitary. The transsphenoidal surgery was performed in 2 cases, and the other patients were conservatively managed. All the patients were in clinical remission.

CONCLUSIONSWhen the clinical presences, endocrine evaluation, biochemical examination and imageology indicate spontaneous remission of GH hypersecretion in patients with gigantism or acromegaly, the diagnosis of subclinical apoplexy of pituitary GH adenoma should be presumed. To these patients, conservative therapy may be appropriate.

Acromegaly ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gigantism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; complications ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; Young Adult

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Hyperparathyroidism ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThe accurate and comprehensive assessment of glycemic control in patients with diabetes is important for optimizing glycemic management and for formulating personalized diabetic treatment schemes. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) and glycemic excursions in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODSSeventy-one outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly recruited from Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Using a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS), these patients' blood glucose levels were monitored for three consecutive days to obtain mean blood glucose (MBG) data. Intraday glycemic excursions were evaluated using the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), the largest amplitude of glycemic excursions (LAGE), standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG) and the M-value. Interday glycemic excursion was assessed by absolute mean of daily difference (MODD). Postprandial glycemic fluctuations were evaluated using postprandial glucose excursions (PPGE) and postprandial incremental area under the curve (iAUC). Fasting venous blood samples were collected to measure serum 1,5-AG, whole-blood hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and serum glycated albumin (GA). Clinical markers of glycemia and parameters of glycemic excursions from CGMS were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate stepwise regression.

RESULTSPearson correlation analysis revealed that 1,5-AG was significantly correlated with MAGE, SDBG, M-value, LAGE, PPGE and iAUC (r values were -0.509, -0.430, -0.530, -0.462, -0.416 and -0.435, respectively, P < 0.01), especially in moderately and well-controlled patients, based on defined HbA1c levels. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed a negative correlation between 1,5-AG and the above parameters, but not HbA1c and GA. Finally, HbA1c and GA were positively correlated with MBG and fasting blood glucose (FBG).

CONCLUSIONS1,5-AG was much better than HbA1c and GA as a marker of glycemic excursions in type 2 diabetic patients. Based on these results 1,5-AG is the best metric for assessing postprandial glucose levels in moderately and well-controlled patients, while HbA1c and GA were superior to 1,5-AG for monitoring MBG and FBG.

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Deoxyglucose ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postprandial Period ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of Bushen Huoxue Decoction (BHD), a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, on dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) in the brain of rat models of Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSA total of 120 SD rats were randomized into normal control group, saline model group and BHD-treated group. In the latter two groups, PD rat models were established by direct injection of 6-OHDA to destruct the substantia nigra compact part (SNC) with corresponding treatments. The behavioral changes of the rats were observed. Radioimmunoassay was employed to determine the changes in the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) and maximal binding capacity (B(max)) of DRD2, and immunohistochemistry was used to observe the number of the DRD2-positive cells in the brain of the rats.

RESULTSBHD can markedly improve the behavioral abnormalities of PD model rats. Compared with those in the saline model group, the B(max) of DRD2 in the damaged hemisphere increased while the Kd of BHD decreased significantly after BHD treatment (P<0.01). The number of DRD2-positive cells in BHD-treated group was significantly higher than that in the model group (80.9∓13.59 vs 11.15∓6.78, P<0.01), but showed no significant difference from that in the normal control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONBHD can improve the behavioral abnormalities and increase the cerebral expression and affinity of DRD2 in PD rat models.

Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolic changes of auditory cortex in patients with presbycusis by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS).

METHODSTen normal hearing volunteers (youth group), 10 normal hearing of elderly (aged group) and 8 patients with presbycusis (presbycusis group) were checked with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid (Glu) compound were measured. The differences between the groups were semi-quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSWhen compared with youth group, reduced NAA/Cr, increased Cho/Cr were found in the aged group and presbycusis group (P < 0.05). GABA/Cr ratio and Glu/Cr ratio were significant difference between presbycusis group and youth group (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference in the GABA/Cr and Glu/Cr ratios in the bilateral auditory cortex between the youth group and the aged group (P > 0.05). When compared with aged group, the metabolic changes of auditory cortex in patients with presbycusis were remarkable (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS(1)H-MRS is a noninvasive technique that can provide useful information concerning the metabolic changes of auditory cortex in human. In comparison to the aged group and the youth group, the changes of NAA, GABA, Cho and Glu is found in auditory cortex in patients with presbycusis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aspartic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Auditory Cortex ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Choline ; metabolism ; Creatine ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Presbycusis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism