Objective To understand the mechanism of cerebral energy failure after hypoxia ischemia at the molecular level and to establish the protocol for the safe and effective treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods One hundred neonatal rats were divided into normal control group and hypoxic-ischemic(HI) group. SD rats of both groups were decapitated at the time of 2 h,24 h,48 h,72 h and 7 d after HI.These tissues of cerebrum,cortex and hippocampus were taken out to explore the influence of HI on the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 genes with the method of RT-PCR.Results There was an enhancement in the expression of GLUT1 and GLUT3 genes with the increasing of day age. The expression was more intense in hippocampus than that in cortex. However, HI could significantly enhance the expression of GLUT genes. The expression was higher in cortex than that in hippocampus. The expression of two genes reached the peak at 24 h after HI, but was significantly lower than that in control group at 7 d after HI.Conclusion The increased expression of GLUT genes can maintain the energy supplement for the brain and delay a cascade reaction of cerebral energy failure.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Yiqi Huoxue Tongyang Xiezhuo Recipe (YHTXR, capable of supplementing qi, activating blood, warming yang, and discharge turbidity) in treating coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD). and chronic heart failure (CHF) with carotid plaque patients, and to explore new ways of Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 69 CAHD-CHF patients of qi deficiency phlegm stasis syndrome (QDPSS) with carotid plaque were recruited in this study using parallel cohort method. They were assigned to the treatment group (35 cases) and the control group (34 cases). Patients in the control group received routine treatment of Western medicine, while those in the treatment group were additionally treated with YHTXR (twice daily). The therapeutic course for all was three months. Cardiac function levels, echocardiography, carotid plaque, blood lipids and safety indicators were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment the improvement of cardiac function levels was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Decreased LDL-C levels were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), LDL-C, TC, TG in the treatment group between before and after treatment (P < 0.05). LDL-C and TG also decreased in the control group after treatment (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction, carotid IMT, or TC in the control group between before and after treatment (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in stroke volume, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, the area of carotid artery plaque, or HDL-C in the two groups between before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSYHTXR could effectively improve cardiac functions of CAHD-CHF patients of QDPSS with carotid plaque, reduce blood lipids and IMT. It had no significant adverse reactions for elderly patients in short term.

Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lipids ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; drug therapy ; Qi ; Ventricular Function, Left

Objective To investigate the features of familiar facial palsy,ophthalmoplegia and dysphagia characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance in a family and to discuss the classification and pathogenesis of the disease.Methods Clinical,electrophysiological,pathological examinations were performed and blood samples were obtained from 5 patients and 26 family members.PCR protocol was used to identify a certain gene. Results In the 5 patients receiving physical examination,all had ptosis,external ophthalmoplegia,facial paralysis,dyphagia,hoarseness,decreased pharyngeal reflex;4 had amyotrophy of muscle of tongue,temporal nuscle,masseter and muscles of distal lower limbs;3 had proximal limb asthenia and distal limbs amyotrophy.Compared to those of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy(OPMD)with similar symptoms and signs,both electrophysiological manifestation and pathological findings of the family members supported the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy,but the(GCG)6(GCA)3GCG in the first exon of PABPN1 mutated neither in normal family members nor in patients.Conclusions This family presents clinical manifestations somewhat resembling to those of OPMD and distinctive to other disorders,but has a totally different genetic background from OPMD.It may be a new subtype of muscular dystrophy.

Objective To compare anatomically the potential incidences of injury to the nerve roots of ventral and dorsal rami caused by the transarticular screws and Magerl lateral mass screws in the fixation of subaxial cervical spine.Methods Fixations with the transarticular screws and Magerl lateral mass screws were performed in this study.For each kind of fixation,20 screws were inserted from C3 to C7 in two specimens.A 20-ram long screw was used to over-penetrate the ventral cortex.The anterolateral aspect of the cervical spine was carefully dissected to allow ob- servation of the screw-ramus relationship.Results The overall percentage of nerve violation was significantly lower in the transarticular screw fixation(45%)than in the Magerl lateral mass screw fixation(90%).The difference was sta- tistically significant between the two fixation methods(P＜0.05).The greatest percentages of nerve violation caused by the transarticular screws and lateral mass screws were found at the dorsal ramus,25% and 45%,respectively. Conclusion The potential risk of nerve root violation caused by the transarticular screw technique is lower than that by the Magerl lateral mass screw technique in the lower cervical spine.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of 64-slice spiral computer tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)in diagnosis of pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods:Sixty-two patients suspected of PE were examined by 64-slice spiral CTPA.The image findings combined with their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Twenty-four of the 62 patients were confirmed to have PE by clinical data,laboratory examination and follow-up examination.64-slice spiral CTPA discovered 152 involved branches in the 24 PE patients,including 4 branches in left and right pulmonary trunk,52 in lobar pulmonary arteries,82 in segmental pulmonary arteries,and 14 in subsegmental arteries.Four types of PE were detected in our group,including eccentric filling defect in 58 branches,central filling defect in 49 branches,total occlusion of the pulmonary arteries in 21 branches,and mural embolism of host artery in 24 branches.The diagnosis accuracy of 64-slice spiral CTPA in the present group of patients was 100%,with no missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.Besides,64-slice spiral CTPA could reflect the location,morphology,involvement and degrees of PE.Conclusion:64-slice spiral CTPA is a rapid,accurate and non-invasive diagnostic approach for PE.It is the first choice in clinical screening of PE and may serve as a gold standard for diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

Chinese traditional patent medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis(PBCRBS) originated from traditional Chinese medicine theory and had approved efficacy and safety standards. However, its compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism is not clear. To analyze the compatibility regularity and anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS, a statistical and bioinformatics analysis was carried out using traditional Chinese medicine inheritance support system (TICMISS, V2.0) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA). The compatibility regularity analysis shows that the most commonly used herb combinations are Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge.), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.) and Honghua (Carthamustinctorius L.). The anti-thrombotic mechanism analysis reveals that 25 ingredients have an effect on 29 thrombosis related molecules which 23 molecules are related to inflammation response. Furthermore, there are 5 inflammation molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF, IL1β) served as major targets. At the same time, Danshen, Chuangxiong and Honghua mainly used as sovereign herb or minister herb in the application of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS probably has an effect on anti-thrombotic activity through inhibiting the inflammatory response. In summary, the most commonly used herb combinations of Chinese traditional patent medicine for PBCRBS are Danshen, Chuanxiong and Honghua. Inhibiting inflammatory response, especially inflammation related molecules (NOS2, PTGS2, IL6, TNF and IL1β), is probably a new starting point to clarify the anti-thrombotic mechanism of Chinese patent medicine for PBCRBS.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Computational Biology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo inquire into the relationship between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene D9N, N291S and S447X polymorphisms and the development of cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RLFP) techniques were used to detect three common mutations of LPL gene exon D9N, N291S and S447X in 157 obese children and 175 normal controls. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels between children with different genotypes were compared.

RESULTSThe D9N and N291S gene mutations were not detected in either the obese or the control groups. There were no significant differences in the frequency of S447X gene mutation between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the levels of plasma lipid and lipoprotein between children with S447 and X447 genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSD9N and N291S gene mutations may not be risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity. S447X gene mutation might not play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in childhood.

Adolescent ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Obesity ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical roles of Jiawei Shentong Zhuyu Decoction (JSZD) in preventing the occurrence of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and to observe its effect on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

METHODSTotally 100 patients prepared for surgical operation due to lumbar intervertebral disc herniation were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random number table, 50 cases in each group. Patients in the treatment group additionally took JSZD, one dose per day, taken in two portions, once in the morning and once in the evening. Those in the control group took Celecoxib Capsule (200 mg each time, once per day) and Mecobalamin Tablet (0.5 mg each time, 3 times per day). They only took Mecobalamin Tablet from the 11th day. All patients were treated for 30 days. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was performed before treatment, at week 1, after treatment, at 6 months of followed-ups, and at 12 months of followed-ups. And the levels of TNF-alpha in the peripheral blood were observed before treatment and at one month after treatment.

RESULTSTotally 93 patients completed the followed-up study. The JOA scores were improved after treatment, at 6 and 12 months of followed-ups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The JOA score at 6 months of followed-ups was superior in the treatment group to that of the control group (P < 0.05). Five patients (accounting for 10.6%) suffered from FBSS in the treatment group, while 9 (accounting for 19.6%) suffered from FBSS in the control group. The treatment group was superior to the control group (P < 0.05). The TNFalpha level was improved after treatment in the two groups. Of them, the improvement of TNF-alpha in the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe application of JSZD was effective for preventing the occurrence of FBSS, and improved the serum TNF-alpha level.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the distribution of HLA-B alleles in the Chinese Yi ethnic group and its association with HIV infection.

METHODSOne hundred and six unrelated healthy HIV negative and 73 HIV positive Chinese Yi ethnic individuals were typed by PCR-SSP.

RESULTSThe frequency of alleles B*07, Bx 35, and B*46 were increased in HIV-1-positive subjects, whereas the alleles B*55, B*44 and B*78 were absent in the HIV-infected persons studied. The B*46 allele was present in a significantly higher gene frequency among HIV-1-positive individuals (P=0.02, OR=3.32, 95% CI=1.13-9.78) compared with control subjects.

CONCLUSIONHLA-B*46 may be associated with its susceptibility to HIV-1 infections.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; HIV Infections ; blood ; genetics ; HIV Seropositivity ; blood ; HIV-1 ; pathogenicity ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Soil salinity is an important issue, as most crop plants are low in salt tolerance. Salt tolerance, a complex, multifactorial, and multigenic process, has been known to be a quantitative trait. The identification of the salt stress responsive genes or salt tolerance genes is essential for the breeding programs. Most recent efforts have been focused on the products of structural genes (transport proteins, ion channels, enzymes of solute synthesis) while little attention were paid to the regulatory aspects of these proteins. Since the first aquaporin gene from plants was cloned and functionally expressed in 1993, there has been a growing interest in the molecular biology of MIPs (membrane intrinsic proteins) and their bearing on the biophysics of water flow across plant membranes. In the last decades, studies on Mangroves, a special kind of wood plants, grow in high-salt and flooding conditions have been concentrated almost exclusively on their physiological and ecological characteristics. Kandelia candel, one of the dominant species of mangroves along the Chinese coast, lacks salt glands or salt hairs used for removal of excess salt in other mangroves. This makes K. candel a perfect model to study the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance in mangrove plants. Using cDNA RDA, a cDNA-specific modification of genomic representational difference analysis, a series of salt responsive genes of Kandelia candel were cloned. Among these gene fragments, a 183 bp fragment (termed as SRGKC1) encoding a tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) in Kandelia candel (KCTIP1) was identified. Based on the sequence of SRGKC1, two gene specific primers were designed, and the 3' and 5' end of the KCTIP1 gene were obtained using the SMART RACE cDNA Amplification Kit. RACE products were purified from low-melting agarose, and sequenced directly with GSPs as the sequencing primers. A 500-bp fragment corresponding to the 3'end of this gene was obtained using the GSP1 primer, and a 690 bp fragment corresponding to the 5' end of this gene was obtained using the GSP2 primer. Two primers that flank the putative open reading frame (ORF) were designed to obtain the cDNA containing the complete ORF by RACE PCR reaction. The full-length cDNA of KCTIP1, containing a 756 bp open reading frame (ORF), was approximately 1.1 kb; the start codon was located at the nucleotides of 99-101 and stop codon at the nucleotides of 855-857 followed by a poly (A) tail. The KCTIP1 cDNA sequence in this research was released in GenBank with accession number AF521135. Using ExPASy Proteomics tools provided by EMBL, the isoelectric point and MWt of KCTIP1 are estimated as 5.77 and 26.3 kD respectively. Transmembrane prediction analysis revealed the deduced KCTIP1 protein sequence contains six transmembrane regions at amino acid residues of 20 - 42, 57 - 79, 86 - 108, 113 - 135, 142 - 164 and 217 - 239. Two highly conserved asparagine-proline-alanine (NPA) motifs were located at 85 - 87 and 199 - 201 amino acid residues respectively. KCTIP1 is also predicted to contain the Cys residue (Cys 118) that are shown to confer Hg-sensitivity in Arabidopsis gamma-TIP and delta-TIP. Similarity analysis showed that KCTIP1 shared 77% - 79% amino acid sequence identity with the TIPs from Vitis berlandieri, Brassica oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana. Expression analyses indicated that KCTIP1 had different expression among species of Mangroves. Expressions of KCTIP1 in Kandelia candel, Rhizophora apoculata and Ceriops tagal were suppressed by salt, and were insensitive to salt stress in unknown species of Mangroves. Previous studied showed that salt conditions might result in large and rapid changes in extracellular water potential and serious disturbance to the cytoplasm. In order to compensate for this imbalance, the relative contribution of water channels to flow across the root could thus vary. K. candel is a species that is native to intertial zone of tropical and subtropical coast and is well-adapted to salt conditions. The coordinated down-regulation of aquaporins in this plant may decrease membrane water permeability and thus increase the cellular water conserva- tion during periods of salt stress. The results reported here are consistent with the postulated roles for tonoplast water channels in regulating the hydraulic permeability of the vacuolar membranes and in adjusting the water homeostasis of the protoplasm under various physiological conditions. The identification of KCTIP1 as one of salt-responsive genes implies that intracellular osmotic equilibration is a part of salt-tolerant mechanisms in Mangroves.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; Rhizophoraceae ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment