Objective To investigate the elasticity and hemodynamics of femoral artery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods Subjects recruited in this study were divided into three groups,healthy control ( n =30),T2DM patients with femoral arterial intima-media thickness(IMT) ＜1.0mm ( n =32) and IMT≥1.0 mm( n =22).The IMT and diameter were measured by two-dimensional ultrasound.The blood velocity in early and late systolic stages and early diastolic reverse blood velocity,resistance index and pulsatile index were measured by pulse Doppler.The stiffness parameter,pressurestrain elasticity modulus,arterial compliance,argumentation index and one-point pulse wave velocity were measured by echo-tracking technique.Results The early diastolic reverse blood velocity,resistance index,pulsatile index,stiffness parameter,pressure-strain elasticity modulus and one-point pulse wave velocity were significantly elevated in T2DM patients compared with healthy control (P ＜ 0.05),the arterial compliance was significantly lower in T2DM subjects.Stiffness parameter,pressure-strain elasticity modulus and one-point pulse wave velocity were more pronounced in the patients with IMT≥1.0 mm than those with IMT ＜ 1.0 mm ( P ＜0.05).Conclusions There is atherosclerosis in femoral arteries in patients with T2DM.A decrease in arterial elasticity occurs prior to the morphological changes in vascular atherosclerosis,the arterial elasticity abnormality causes insufficient blood supply to peripheral tissues.

Objective To analyze risk factors of elasticity of common femoral artery(CFA)and popliteal artery(PoA)in type 2 diabetic(T2DM)patients by echo-tracking(ET)technique.Methods Thirty healthy subjects(control group)and sixty-eight T2DM patients were enrolled in this study.The stiffness β of common femoral and popliteal artery were automatically measured by ET technique.The differences in ordinary and biochemical indices between control group and T2DM group were compared and analyzed by the method of linear regression and multiple linear regression.Results In both control and the T2DM group,β of CFA and PoA were significantly correlated with age,systolic blood pressure.TC, LDL,ApoB and LPa of CFA were also significantly correlation with β in T2DM group(P<0.05).Conclasions The stiffness of CFA and PoA in patients with T2DM increased followed by the increase of age, systolic blood pressure,TC,VLDL,ApoB and LPa.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Icariin (ICA) on serum receptor activator of NFkappaB-ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) production and bone destruction in type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSThe CIA rat model was established in all rats, except those in the normal group (n = 8) using bovine type II collagen and complete Freund's adjuvant. Totally 24 CIA rats with arthritis index (AI) > or = 6 were selected and divided into the model group, the methotrexate (MTX) group, and the ICA group according to the AI score, 8 in each group. Normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group by gastrogavage. MTX at the weekly dose of 5 mg/kg was given to rats in the MTX group. ICA at the daily dose of 20 mg/kg was given to rats in the ICA group. All medication lasted for 4 weeks. The AI scores were recorded once a week. Histomorphologic changes of the ankle joint were observed by HE staining. The bone destruction and the osteoporosis of the foot phalanx were detected by X-ray. Serum levels of RANKL and OPG were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSAfter 4-week intervention, when compared with the model group, AI score and Larsen score were significantly lower, the serum RANKL concentration and the RANKL/OPG ratio obviously decreased, while the serum OPG concentration obviously increased in the CIA group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the MTX group, the aforesaid indices decreased, but without statistical difference (P > 0.05). Results of HE staining indicated that hyperplasia of joint synovium, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the degree of articular cartilage destruction were obviously alleviated in the ICA group.

CONCLUSIONICA could alleviate or lessen the degree of articular cartilage destruction in CIA rats, and its mechanism might be associated with reducing serum levels of RANKL and elevating levels of OPG, thus further decreasing the ratio of RANKL/OPG.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; pathology ; Collagen Type II ; adverse effects ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Osteoprotegerin ; blood ; RANK Ligand ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The fasting and 2 h levels of glucagon, somatostatin ( SS), and C-peptide during 75 g oral glucose tolerance test in 60 patients with type 2 diabetes and 34 normal subjects were determined. Compared with control group, the fasting levels of glucagon and SS and 2 h levels of SS after glucose loading significantly decreased,while the fasting and 2 h levels of C-peptide increased in diabetes group. The 2 h levels of these hormones were significantly higher than the fasting levels in two groups. Compared with control group, the increased folds of glucagon ( 1.40±0.48 vs 1.20±0. 30, P＜0. 05 ) and SS( 2.79±2. 17 vs 1.14±0. 22, P＜0. 01 ) levels after glucose loading were higher and that of C-peptide level ( 3.58 ±3. 10 vs 8. 33 ± 6. 99, P＜0. 01 ) was lower in diabetes group. The levels of fasting glucagon were positively correlated with that of fasting SS in two groups( both P＜0. 01 ). These results suggest that disturbance exists in hormones from α and δ cells besides the dysfunction of β cells in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Lactobacillus casei was selected as an antigen delivery vehicle for the development of oral vaccine to express recombinant LTB and porcine parvovirus (PPV) VP2 protein. The fusion protein gene encoding PPV VP2 protein and LTB, was cloned into the surface expression vector pPG, and then the recombinant expression vector pPG-VP2-LTB was electrotransformed into Lactobacillus casei 393, generating recombinant strain pPG-VP2-LTB/L. casei 393. After induced by 2% Lactose in MRS broth, an about 78 kD protein was detected in the recombinant Lactobacillus casei by SDS-PAGE. The result of Western blot indicated that the protein possessed the antigenic specificity same as the native virus protein. The result of the whole bacteria cell ELISA indicated that the LTB protein was expressed at the same time. The results of indirect immunofluorescence test and immuno-gold electron microscopy showed that the interest protein was expressed on the surface of L. casei 393. The results provide potential for the development of lactic acid bacteria oral vaccine of PPV, which used LTB as mucosal adjuvant.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in silica-induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) from macrophage cell line.

METHODSThe human macrophage cell line THP-1 was incubated with silica suspension. Cell media were collected and TNFalpha levels in the supernatants measured with ELISA. To examine the involvement of TLR4 in silica-induced TNFalpha release, the neutralizing antibody (HTA125) against human TLR4 receptor was employed to pretreat THP-1 cells prior to silica treatment. Moreover, murine macrophages expressing wild type or mutated TLR4 were also treated with silica to verify the effect of TLR4 in silica-induced TNFalpha release.

RESULTSCompared with the control group [(3.18 +/- 0.41) pg/ml], the TNFalpha release in cells exposed to 100 microg/ml silica for 4 h and 8 h [(4.71 +/- 0.84), (6.22 +/- 0.58) pg/ml, respectively] increased 1.48 and 1.96 fold, respectively. Pretreatment of THP-1 cells with 20 microg/ml HTA125 antibody significantly blocked silica-induced TNFalpha release by 27%. Furthermore, the TNFalpha content released from cells expressing mutated TLR4 reduced by 30% in compared with that from the cells expressing wild type TLR4 after silica stimulation.

CONCLUSIONTLR4 mediates silica-induced TNFalpha release from macrophages.

Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the psychological impact of mastectomy on women with breast cancer.

METHODSQuestionnaires were answered by 90 patients after mastectomy for breast cancer. The data were collected and analyzed regarding the age, occupation, education, income and living place of the patients. Their psychological changes were compared and evaluated statistically using chi-square analysis.

RESULTSMastectomy caused psychological impact on half of the patients, which included fear of cancer, feeling of body incompleteness, inconvenience in working and social communication, less sexual act and low spirit. 79 percent of the patients considered breast reconstruction unnecessary. 54 percent did not know that the breast could be reconstructed. The patient feelings differed with the age, occupation, income and living place.

CONCLUSIONMastectomy hurts patient psychological health.

Age Factors ; Body Image ; Breast Neoplasms ; psychology ; surgery ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Fear ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; psychology ; Mastectomy ; psychology ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the effect of mitochondrial calcium uniporter(MCU)regulator 1(MCUR1)on proliferation,cell cycle and apoptosis of K562 cells and the possible molecular mechanism.Methods Recombinant plasmid vectors containing short hairpin RNAs(shRNAs)targeting MCUR1 were transfected into K562 cells,before the K562 cells stably expressing low MCUR1 were selected with G418.The expression of MCUR1 mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)assays.Western blotting(WB)assays were used to detect the expressions of MCUR1,P53,BAX and BCL2.The proliferation,cell cycle and apoptosis of K562 cells were detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assays and flow cytometry, respectively.Results The results of qRT-PCR and WB assays revealed that MCUR1 was stably down-regulated at mRNA and protein levels in the K562 cells transfected with shRNAs targeting MCUR1.Knockdown of MCUR1 significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, induced the cell apoptosis, but did not influence the cells cycle.Meanwhile, knockdown of MCUR1 increased the expression of P53 protein and the ratio of protein BAX/BCL2 in K562 cells.Conclusion MCUR1 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis in K 562 cells.

ed in vitro and in vivo,which was inhibited by aspirin treatment.

BACKGROUNDDespite outstanding antiplatelet properties of aspirin and clopidogrel, some patients taking these drugs continue to suffer complications. Antiplatelet resistance appears to be a new prognostic factor in acute coronary syndrome patients for clinical events associated with stent thrombosis (ST). However, there is no optimal method to identify it and assess its correlation to clinical outcomes. This study sought to evaluate the predictive value of antiplatelet resistance assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry for the risk of early ST in patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent coronary stenting.

METHODSPlatelet responses to aspirin and clopidogrel in 86 patients with acute coronary syndrome were measured by whole blood impedance aggregometry. Spontaneous platelet aggregation was defined as antiplatelet resistance identified by the increased electrical impedance. The clinical endpoint was early stent thrombosis during 30-day follow-up after coronary stenting.

RESULTSThe prevalence of aspirin resistance, clopidogrel resistance and dual resistance of combined clopidogrel and aspirin resistance were 19.8%, 12.8% and 5.8% respectively. Diabetes, female and higher platelet counts were more frequently detected in clopidogrel-resistant and dual-resistant patients. During 30-day follow-up, the patients with clopidogrel resistance and dual resistance had higher incidence of early stent thrombosis (18.2% vs. 1.3%, 40.0% vs. 1.2%, P < 0.05). Binary Logistic Regression analysis indicated that dual resistance remained an independent predicator for early stent thrombosis (odds ratio 34.064, 95%CI 1.919 - 604.656, P = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONSAntiplatelet resistance assessed by whole blood impedance aggregometry is paralleled to clinical events, and dual antiplatelet resistance is an independent predicator for early stent thrombosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome. As a physiological assessment of platelet reactivity, whole blood impedance aggregometry is a convenient and accurate option for measuring antiplatelet resistance and hence predicting early stent thrombosis.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Aged ; Coronary Thrombosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies