Objective To explore the protective effect of selenium, an antioxidant, on fluoride-induced renal injury in rats and find out the optimal level of selenium against fluoride toxicity and its valid molecular target.Methods All 80 male weanling SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups by body weight as follows: normal control group(drinking tap water), fluoride exposed group (drinking water containing 50 mg/L of NaF), low, middle,high selenium exposed groups(drinking water containing 0.375, 0.750, 1.500 mg/L of Na2SeO3) and low, middle,high Se-fluoride groups (drinking water containing both 50 mg/L NaF and three doses of Na2SeO3 as abovementioned, respectively). After 6 months, the rats were killed then the oxidation level and nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)expression level in kidney were measured. Results The weight of the fluoride exposed group[(695.95 ± 55.89 )g]was significantly deceased than the controls[(782.69 ± 56.12)g, P ＜ 0.01]. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity of fluoride exposed group[(55.86 ± 5.09)U/mgprot] was not significantly different but decreased. Tatal antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) activity in fluoride exposed group [(7.54 ± 1.35)U/mgprot] significantly decreased than the controls[(9.03 ± 0.37 )U/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. In addition, a significant increase of malondialdehyde ( MDA )in fluoride exposed group[(3.86 ± 0.31 )mnol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05] was observed than the controls[(3.14 ± 0.32)nmol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. GSH-Px activity of high Se-fluoride group[(74.99 ± 8.41 )U/mgprot] was significantly higher than the fluoride exposed group[(55.86 ± 5.09)U/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05] and its MDA level[(3.17 ± 0.20)nmol/mgprot] was lower than the fluoride exposed group[(3.86 ± 0.31 ) nmol/mgprot, P ＜ 0.05]. NF-κB expression levels of fluoride group, high selenium group and low Se-fluoride group(0.360 ± 0.015,0.367 ± 0.007,0.376 ± 0.006,respecyively) were obviously increased compared with the controls(0.312 ± 0.022, P ＜ 0.05); it was significantly lower in high Se-fluoride group(0.312 ± 0.005) than in fluoride exposed group(0.360 ± 0.015, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Na2SeO3 of 1.5 mg/L is the optimal dose against chronic fluorosis on kidney injury under this experimental condition.NF-κB is likely to be a target molecule of the selenium as an antagonist on fluorosis.

ObjectiveTo explore effect of family rehabilitation on motor function of stroke patients.MethodsTo provide family rehabilitation with community guide for 106 stroke patients, and observe therapeutic effect.ResultsFamily rehabilitation was effective on 106 cases, and the earlier therapy started, the better effect was.ConclusionFamily rehabilitation is playing an important role in treatment of stroke patients.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; blood ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; blood ; metabolism

[Abstract] Objective To evaluate the clinical and endoscopic manifestations of abdominal type allergic purpura in adult patients as the evidences in reaching early diagnosis. Methods The clinical and endoscopic manifestations of 32 patients with abdominal type allergic purpura were analyzed retrospectively. Re-SllltS All the patients complained of paroxysmal abdominal colic, 59. 4% patients complained of nausea and vomiting, 50% patients had hematochezia and haematemesis, the occult blood test was positive in all patients, and 25% patients had elevated level of amylase in the blood and urine. Purpura was found in 2-10 days after the presentation of abdominal pain. Endoscopy found hyperaemia, edema, bleeding spots, erosion and ulcer in gastroenterologic mucosa. Duodenal, ileum and caecum had more severe mucous lesions, but the esophageal mucosas in all patients were normal. The clinic and endoscopic misdiagnosis rates were 87.5% and 85.7% respectively. Glucocorticoids were the especially effective medicine in its treatment, while those agents for relieving spasm or antacids were ineffective. Conclusion Many scattered bleeding spots and snow flower-like ulcers on the gastrointestinal mucosa are the most important findings in adult abdominal type allergic purpura patients. Clinic manifestations of these patients are very severe abdominal colic in indefinite sites and merely with mild abdominal objective signs is the important characteristic feature.

Objective To optimize methods of culturing smooth muscle progenitor cells(SPCs) from mononuclear cells(MNCs) of peripheral blood. Methods Human MNCs isolated from buffy coat were seeded on M-199 with bovine pituitary extraction.On the eighth day outgrowth cells were stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor-BB(PDGF-BB).Fifteen days later,immunofluorescence,Western blot or RT-PCR was used to analyzed the expression of smooth muscle cell specific ?-actin(?-SMA),smooth muscle myosin heavy chain(SM MHC),Calponin,CD34,Tie-2 and Flk-1,and fluorescence activated cell sorter was employed to examine ?-SMA positive cells ratio. Results The cells stimulated by PDGF-BB for 15 d were positive for ?-SMA,SM MHC,Calponin,CD34 and Flk-1,but negative for Tie-2.The ?-SMA positive cells ratio was(90.57?5.63)%,significantly different from that of the control(P

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combining auricular point sticking and a healthy diet to treat simple obesity in children aged 6-9 years old.Methods: A total of 190 eligible obese kids were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method, with 95 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by auricular point sticking plus guide on a healthy diet, while the control group was only provided with the guide on a healthy diet. The therapeutic efficacy was observed after intervention for three consecutive months, as well as the changes in body mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and subcutaneous fat thickness. Results: After the 3-month intervention, the total effective rate was 91.6％ in the observation group, versus 74.7％ in the control group, and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P<0.01); in both groups, the BM, BMI, WC, HC, and subcutaneous fat thickness all decreased significantly (P<0.05), and were lower in the observation group than in the control group, showing statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking plus a healthy diet is safe and effective in treating simple obesity in children, producing more significant efficacy than healthy diet intervention alone.

Three SNaPshot multiplex assays were developed to test 23 coding region single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and one control region SNP outside hypervariable regions (HVR)I and II, which was aimed at increasing the discrimination power of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typing in forensic casework, and confirming haplogroup assignments of mtDNA profiles in both human population studies and medical research. The selected SNPs targeted the East Asian phylogeny. These multiplex assays were validated by comparing with the sequencing analysis of samples chosen randomly. The mtDNA variations of 100 unrelated individuals from the Wuhan population in China were examined and classified into 31 haplotypes, and the haplotype diversity was estimated to be 0.952. The multiplex SNaPshot method is rapid and robust, and suitable for large-scale screening studies of mtDNA variability.

OBJECTIVEKawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile illness of childhood. The etiology of KD remains unknown. Multiple theories exist, including an infectious etiology and an immunological abnormality. Cardiac involvement ranges from myocarditis and pericarditis in the acute stage to the development of coronary artery aneurysms later in the course. The present study aimed to explore the effect of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in Kawasaki disease and its relationship with damage to the coronary arteries during the development of KD.

METHODSPlasma MCP-1 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MCP-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was measured by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in comparison of three groups: 56 patients with KD, 60 age-matched patients with non-infectious diseases, and 66 age-matched febrile patients with various diseases.

RESULTSPlasma MCP-1 concentration and MCP-1 mRNA expression in PBMC of patients with active KD [(409.55 +/- 97.42) pg/ml] and (1.97 +/- 0.77) were higher than those of control group. Plasma MCP-1 levels and MCP-1 mRNA expression of inactive KD group [(301.64 +/- 71.55) pg/ml] and (1.31 +/- 0.39) were significantly higher than those of non-infectious diseases patients. There was a marked increase in patients with inactive KD than those of non-infective patients, but there were no significant differences between inactive KD and febrile patients. Plasma MCP-1 levels and MCP-1 mRNA expression were markedly increased in KD patients with coronary artery lesions than those in patients without coronary artery lesions.

CONCLUSIONPlasma MCP-1 concentration and MCP-1 mRNA expression in PBMC were significantly increased in patients with KD, and they were higher in KD with coronary artery lesions. It indicates that MCP-1 may be a useful parameter for monitoring disease activity in patients with KD.

Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the major constituents of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS recognition and signal transmission are key events in the host defense reaction towards Gram-negative bacteria and are associated with many disorders. Multiple signaling pathways are involved in the response to LPS. With the help of LPS-binding protein and CD14, TLR4 binds with LPS, then recruits myeloid differentiation factor 88 and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase, and further phosphorylates and activates TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6). The activated TRAF6 leads to the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB and MAP kinase's pathways that involves in LPS-induced cellular responses and the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL8.
Acute-Phase Proteins ; metabolism ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; chemistry ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the expressions of plasma stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and CXCR4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and aimed to explore the significance of SDF-1 and CXCR4 mRNA in KD.

METHODSFifty-six children with KD (12 cases complicated by coronary artery lesions) and 60 age and gender-matched healthy children (normal controls) were enrolled in this study. Plasma SDF-1 levels and CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC were measured using ELISA and real-time quantitative PCR at the acute and convalescence stages of KD.

RESULTSPlasma SDF-1 levels (1833 +/- 395 ng/L vs 1126 +/- 408 ng/L; P < 0.05) and the CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC (6.57 +/- 2.81 vs 2.58 +/- 1.01; P < 0.01) in KD patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls at the acute stage. Both plasma SDF-1 levels and CXCR4 mRNA expression in KD patients decreased significantly at the convalescence stage, but nevertheless remained higher than those in the normal controls. The patients with concomitant coronary artery lesions showed higher CXCR4 mRNA levels than without at the acute stage (8.19 +/- 2.39 vs 6.13 +/- 2.77; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma SDF-1 concentration and CXCR4 mRNA expression in PBMC increased in KD patients. CXCR4 mRNA might be involved in the development of coronary artery lesions in KD.

Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines, CXC ; blood ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics