The biological effects mediated by vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are involved in the regulation of multiple pathophysiologic processes,including calcium phosphorus metabolism,immune regulation,anti-inflammation,anti-infection and cancer prevention,etc.Autophagy is a eukaryotic cell lysosome-mediated catabolic pathway,which is classified into 3 different types:macroautophagy,microautophagy,and chaperone-mediated autophagy.Since autophagy is vital to maintain energy and metabolism in cells,autophagy dysfunction is closely associated with various pathological processes such as inflammation,infection and tumor.Studies have shown that vitamin D/VDR can affect the different stages of autophagy and regulate inflammation in autophagy.Moreover,vitamin D/VDR and autophagy play an important role in autoimmune disease,diabetes,cardiovascular disease,cancer and other inflammatory diseases.

To evaluate the properties of solidifying volatile oil with graphene oxide, clove oil and zedoary turmeric oil were solidified by graphene oxide. The amount of graphene oxide was optimized with the eugenol yield and curcumol yield as criteria. Curing powder was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of graphene oxide on dissolution in vitro and thermal stability of active components were studied. The optimum solidification ratio of graphene oxide to volatile oil was 1:1. Dissolution rate of active components had rare influence while their thermal stability improved after volatile oil was solidified. Solidifying herbal volatile oil with graphene oxide deserves further study.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Clove Oil ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Eugenol ; Graphite ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; Oxides ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Powders ; Sesquiterpenes

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of close reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating proximal humerus fractures in the aged.

METHODSFrom February 2012 to December 2013,39 patients with proximal humerus fractures were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO group, 21 cases) and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF group, 18 cases). Including 17 males and 22 females in the study, and aged from 67 to 88 years old with an average of (71.8 ± 5.2) years old. In MIPPO group, there were 11 males and 10 females with an average age of (70.0 ± 5.3) years old;and in ORIF group, there were 10 males and 8 females with an average age of (72.0 ± 4.2) years old. Operation time, blood loss during operation, fracture healing time and postoperative complications were recorded. The functions of the shoulder joints were assessed according to Constant-Murley score at final follow-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 11 to 27 months with an average of 18.1 months. The mean blood loss of the MIPPO group was (176.0 ± 57.4) ml,while the ORIF group was (356.0 ± 66.9) ml (t = 7.22,P = 0.01). The operation time of the MIPPO group was (47.4 ± 14.9) min, while the ORIF group was (92.7 ± 15.8) min (t = 0.79, P = 0.03). Fracture healing time in the MIPPO group and ORIF group was (17.6 ± 5.8), ( 21.7 ± 4.9) weeks, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean Constant-Murley score at final follow-up was 89.7 ± 14.5 in MIPPO group, and 81.8 ± 13.2 in ORIF group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMIPPO has advantages of little trauma, less blood loss, rapid recovery, less vascular damage and so on and can effectively treat the proximal humerus fracture in the aged.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Plates ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Shoulder Fractures ; surgery

Objective To investigate the role of methylation of genomic DNA and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene promoter in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods According to the WHO 1999 guideline for diabetes mellitus diagnosis and classification standard,90 patients diagnosed as diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study.All the participants were divided into diabetes mellitus without DN (DM) group (n=48),DN group (n=42) and healthy control group (n=30) accordingly.DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the overall methylation level of genomic DNA.The methylation status of CTGF gene promoter was determined by PCR and sequencing analysis.Serum CTGF protein level was measured by ELISA.Results The overall methylation level of genomic DNA was 5.23％±0.09％ for DN group,4.71％ ±0.03％ for DM group,and 4.37％±0.01％ for healthy control group,with no significant differences among three groups (all P＞0.05).The CTGF promoter methylation level in DN group (22.02％± 12.90％) was significantly decreased,compared to DM group (49.18％±8.01％,P=0.019) or healthy control group (72.18％±19.30％,P=0.000).Moreover,the serum CTGF protein level in DN group [(193.44±11.90) mg/L] was significantly increased,compared to DM group [(127.65±10.30) mg/L,P=0.031] and healthy control group [(95.84±5.10) mg/L,P=0.001]. Conclusion In DN patients,CTGF gene promoter methylation level is significantly decreased,but CTGF protein level is higher as compared to non-DN patients,which indicates that CTGF gene promoter demethylation may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective To investigate the association between Bsml polymorphism in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and diabetic nephropathy in Chinese Han population. Methods PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to test the genotype and allele frequency of Bsml in 304 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM group) and 100 healthy individuals (NC group).The DM group was further divided into non-diabetic nephropathy group (DN0 group,122 cases),minimal albuminuria group (DN1 group,87 cases),and mass albuminuria group (DN2 group,95 cases).Eighty-three DM patients without nephropathy for over 5 years were L-NDN subgroup,and 64 DM patients with nephropathy occurring within the first year were EDN subgroup. Results Genotype and allele frequency of BsmI polymorphism were significantly different between DM and NC group (x2=7.088,P=0.008;x2=5.865,P=0.015).BB+Bb genotype and B allele frequency were significantly higher in DN2 group than those in NC group (x2=14.287,P=0.000;x2=12.621,P=0.000) and DN0 group (x2=8.063,P=0.005;x2=8.173,P=0.004).BB+Bb genotype and B allele frequency were significantly higher in EDN group than those in L-NDN group (x2=7.228,P=0.007; x2=5.853,P=0.016).DN patients with allele B (BB and Bb genotypes)presented higher urinary albumin excretion rates compared with patients without allele B (bb genotype,P＜0.01).The genotype of BsmI was correlated with DN,and allele B was risk factor of DN occurrence and early onset (OR=2.004; OR=2.394). Conclusion VDR gene BsmI polymorphism is associated with DN,and the patients carrying allele B are more involved in mass albuminuria and eady onset of nephropathy.

Objective To construct a eukaryotic expression plasmid vector encoding Cbl-b gene-specific short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs),and to evaluate its interference effect,so as to lay a foundation for further study on the role of Cbl-b in the immunotherapy of malignant melanoma.Methods According to the sequence of Cbl-b cDNA,4 pairs of shRNAs targeting the Cbl-b gene were designed and synthesized,and then inserted into the plasmid PGPU6/GFP/Neo to construct recombinant plasmids.After identification by DNA sequencing,the 4 shRNA expression vectors were cotransfected into 293T cells with the Cbl-b gene eukarytic expresson plasmid,respectively.The knockdown efficiency of these shRNA expression plasmids on Cbl-b expression was evaluated by real-time (RT) fluorescence-based quantitative PCR and Western blot at 48 hours aftert transfection.Results Sequencing analysis revealed that all the 4 pairs of shRNAs were successfully inserted into the eukarytic expression vector PGPU6/GFP/Neo.As RT-PCR and Western blot showed,all the 4 shRNA-expressing vectors could downregulate Cbl-b expession,and the NO.1 shRNA-expressing vector displayed the strongest interference effect(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions A eukaryotic expression plasmid vector was successfully constructed for Cbl-b gene-specific shRNAs,and the most effective shRNA was selected in this study.

Objective To investigate the techniques and influence factors for the respiratory navigator echo triggered whole-heart coronary MR angiography(WH-CMRA)and evaluate its application in visualizing coronary arteries and the image quality.Methods Ninety two volunteers were acquired with WH-CMRA at 3 T MR scanner using respiratory navigator-echo gated TFE sequence.Imaging quality was visually graded as 0—Ⅳ grade according to the visual inspection,average length,diameter and sharpness of coronary arteries.The correlation between the imaging quality and respiratory pattern,heart rate and navigator efficiency was analyzed.Results The imaging quality in 92 cases was that 28 were graded as Ⅳ, 53 were graded as Ⅲ,9 were graded as Ⅱ and 2 were graded as Ⅰ.The successful rate of scan was 88% (81/92).The imaging quality is mainly graded as Ⅳ when the heart rate was less than 75 beats per minute (bpm)and the sharpness of vessel was(48?11)%.When heart rate was more than 75 bpm,the image quality was mostly graded as Ⅲ and the sharpness was(33?15)%.The correlation between heart rate and imaging quality score was negative(r=-0.726,P0.05).Conclusion 3 T WH-CMRA technique could facilitated the visualization of whole coronary arteries at free breathing but having indications on heart rate.

Objective To evaluate in vitro effects of specific small interfering RNA (siRNA)-silencing of the casitas B-lineage lymphoma b (Cbl-b)gene on immunocompetence of primary murine lymphocytes. Methods Spleens were resected from C57BL/6 mice, and splenic lymphocytes were sterily isolated and cultured in vitro. These lymphocytes were divided into 3 groups: silence group transfected with a Cbl-b-specific siRNA using the EntransterTM-R 4000 reagent, negative control group transfected with a negative control siRNA using the EntransterTM-R4000 reagent, blank control group receiving no treatment. After additional culture for 72 hours, ELISA was performed to measure levels of interferon γ(IFN-γ)and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)in culture supernatants of lymphocytes. In addition, the Cbl-b gene-silenced lymphocytes were co-cultured with B16F10 melanoma cells to evaluate their immunocytotoxic effects on melanoma cells. Results Splenic lymphocytes were successfully isolated from C57BL/6 mice and cultured in vitro, and the Cbl-b-specific siRNA was also successfully transfected into the primary murine lymphocytes and effectively down-regulated the expression of Cbl-b gene in them. Compared with the negative control group and blank control group, the silence group showed significantly increased supernatant levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α(all P < 0.05). The immunocytotoxic effect of lymphocytes on melanoma cells was significantly stronger in the silence group than in the negative control group. Conclusion Cbl-b gene silencing can promote secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α by murine lymphocytes, and enhance their immunocytotoxic effects on B16F10 melanoma cells in vitro.

Objective:To observe the clinical characteristics with different peritoneal transport type in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD),and to investigate the factors associated with peritoneal transport function.Methods:The clinical data of 158 CAPD patients were analyzed retrospectively.According to peritoneal equilibration test,a method for evaluation of the peritoneal transport function,the patients were divided into 2 groups:a high average and high peritoneal transport group (Group A,n=84) and a low average and low peritoneal transport group (Group B,n=74).T-he demographics,clinical biochemical indexes and the incidence of cardiovascular complications were compared between the 2 groups.Logistic regression analysis was used to find the factors relevant to peritoneal transport function.Results:The level of serum albumin (ALB) in the Group B was significantly higher than that in the Group A (P＜0.05).The 4 h dialysate/plasma creatinine (D/Pcr),high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),body mass index (BMI),and the rates of cardiovascular complications in the Group A were significantly higher than those in the Group B (P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the D/Pcr was positively correlated with the BMI,serum hs-CRP and cardiovascular complications (r=0.179,0.373 and 0.426,respectively,P＜0.05),while it was negatively correlated with ALB (r=-0.393,P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that the high BMI (OR=1.178,P＜0.05),cardiovascular complications (OR=5.035,P＜0.01),and the low serum ALB (OR=0.852,P＜0.01)were the risk factors for high peritoneal transport.Conclusion:The serum ALB level,BMI and the cardiovascular complications are associated with high peritoneal transport,which are useful markers for predicting the peritoneal transport function before peritoneal dialysis.

OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) in neonatal rats after bilateral common arteries occlusion.

METHODSNinety-six 3-day-old Sparuge-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: ischemia and control. Rats in the ischemia group were subjected to bilateral common arteries occlusion and the rats in the control group were sham-operated. All rats were administrated with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) (50 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection. Rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed 1, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 35 days after ischemia. Using brain paraffin sections and immunofluorescence assays, the number of newborn cells in the SVZ was counted. Newborn neural stem cells and oligodendrocytes in the SVZ were observed, and then double marked with BrdU and nestin or osmium tetroxide (O4).

RESULTSThe number of BrdU+ cells (neural stem cells) in the SVZ in the ischemia group was greater than in the control group 4, 7, 10 and 14 days after ischemia, and reached a peak at 4 days after ischemia (253.1+/- 49.3 vs 133.5+/- 17.7; P< 0.01). By 35 days after ischemia, the number of BrdU+/O4+ cells (oligodendrocytes) in the corpus callosum (56.0+/- 7.2 vs 17.0+/- 6.4; P< 0.01), the septal nuclei (45.0+/- 11.9 vs 20.5+/- 5.0; P< 0.01), the striatum (34.5+/- 4.2 vs 14.5+/- 5.8; P< 0.01) and the olfactory bulb (46.5+/- 6.6 vs 23.5+/- 8.4; P< 0.01) in the ischemia group increased significantly as compared to the control group (P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBrain ischemia can activate the proliferation of neural stem cells in the SVZ and promote neural stem cells differentiation into oligodendrocytes. The immature brain may have the capacity for self-repair after ischemic brain injury.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cerebral Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Female ; Male ; Neurogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stem Cell Transplantation