It has been demonstrated that connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) may enhance proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts,inhibit the functions of osteoblasts,increase osteoclastogenesis in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis,stimulate proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes,and induce angiogenesis in vivo and vitro.Above all,CTGF plays an important role in sustaining growth of skeleton and cartilage,and thus maintaining bone quantity.

Genotypes of estrogen receptor gene (ER) α and β in 110 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and 100 control subjects were examined by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism.The haplotype analysis was conducted by SHEsis on-line computing platform.The results showed that there were no differences in the genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of ERα at Xba Ⅰ and Pvu Ⅱ enzyme cutting sites between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).There existed significant differences in the genotype frequencies and allele frequencies of ERβ at Rsa Ⅰ and Alu Ⅰ enzyme cutting sites between these two groups (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜0.01).The risk of NAFLD in postmenopausal women with R or a allele was 1.833 (95％ CI1.209-2.779,P＜0.05)or 1.782 (95％ CI 1.037-3.061,P＜0.05) fold of that with allele r or A.The frequency of r-A haplotype in ERβ was significantly lower in NAFLD group than that in control group (OR =0.529,95％ CI 0.348-0.805).Logistic regression analysis showed the relationship of fasting blood glucose,triglyceride,body mass index,diastolic pressure,Alu Ⅰ genotype with NAFLD (all P＜0.01).The risk of NAFLD in postmenopausal women with Aa/aa genotype was 1.345 (95％ CI 1.028-2.505,P＜0.05) folds of that with AA genotype.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between hyperuricemia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) by observing the prevalence of NAFLD among healthy individuals with different levels of serum uric acid.Methods The data of 5 230 persons from medical centers for health examination were analyzed,such as height,weight,blood pressure,blood lipids,blood sugar, hepatitis-related markers, and abdominal color Doppler ultrasound examination were conducted in the fasting state.The diagnosis of NAFLD was made according to the diagnostic criteria adopted by China Institute of Liver Disease and Alcoholic Liver Disease Group.Results The incidences of overweight or obesity, hypertension,hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome were raised with serum uric acid greater than 333 μmol/L in male and＞233 μmol/L in female subjects(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Excluding the metabolic syndrome in male subjects, the incidence of NAFLD was increased with serum uric acid,＞333 μmol/L in males or ＞233 μmol/L in females(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). In further studies with subjects without any metabolic syndrome, the detection rate of NAFLD was higher in males than in females at the same serum uric acid level(P＜0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, body mass index, blood glucose, and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid grading were risk factors of NAFLD(OR 1.344, 2.500, 1.292, 1.279, 1.244, 1.256 respectively).Conclusion A high serum uric acid level is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF) on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and RANKL ( receptor activator of NF-κB ligand ) in human osteoblasts, as well as the mechanisms involved. Methods Human osteoblasts were treated with rCTGF. The expressions of OPG and RANKL were assessed by Western blotting. The expressions of focal adhesion kinase ( FAK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were also observed. Results rCTGF inhibited RANKL protein expression in a dose-and time-depentent manner in human osteoblasts, while the expression of OPG kept unchanged. rCTGF induced activation of p38MAPK and dephosphorylation of FAK in human osteoblasts, but had no effect on ERK and JNK phosphorylation. p38MAPK inhibitor SB23058 abrogated the inhibitory effect of rCTGF on RANKL in human osteoblasts. Conclusion rCTGF inhibits the expression of RANKL in human osteoblasts via activation of p38MAPK and dephosphorylation of FAK.

Human osteoblast was treated with recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF). This experiment showed that rCTGF increased membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein expression in a dose- and time-depentent manner in human osteoblasts. rCTGF induced activation of p38 MAPK in human osteoblasts. p38 MAPK inhibitor SB23058 abrogated the effect of rCTGF on the expressions of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human osteoblasts.

Objective To investigate the effects of recombinant human connective tissue growth factor (rCTGF) on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in human osteoblasts. Methods Human osteoblasts were treated with rCTGF, cell proliferation was measured by [3 H] -thymidine ([3 H] -TdR) incorporation method,the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was determined using α-nitrophenyl phosphate as a substrate, the expression of type Ⅰ collagen was determined by Western blotting, osteocalcin in conditioned media was measured by radioimmune assay, and cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry. Results rCTGF promoted proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts in a dose-depentent manner, rCTGF increased ALP activity, osteocalcin and type I collagen secretion in a dose-depentent manner, rCTGF inhibited human osteoblastic apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. Conclusion rCTGF can promote osteoblastic proliferation, and differentiation and protect osteoblast against apoptosis, suggesting that CTGF plays an essential role in bone metabolism.

Objective:To research the best processing method of ginger juice baking for Rhizoma coptis. Methods:The total con-tent of four alkaloids including berberine hydrochloride determined by HPLC was used as the evaluation index, and an L9(34)orthogo-nal design with three factors including the amount of ginger juice, baking temperature and baking time and variance analysis were ap-plied to study the ginger juice baking technology for Rhizoma coptis. Results:The best processing conditions were as follows:Rhizoma coptis was soaked with 15% ginger juice, baked at 150℃ for 40 min, and withdrawn to be cool. Conclusion:The optimal ginger juice baking technology for Rhizoma coptis is reasonable, which can be used to guide the standardized production of Rhizoma coptis with gin-ger juice baking.

Objective:To research the best processing method for Bupleurum chinense DC.by orthogonal tests.Methods:With the contents of saikosaponin a and saikosaponin d as the indices,the L9(34) orthogonal table was used to study three factors including the amount of wheat bran,pot temperature before heating and processing time.The orthogonal design was applied to study the processing technology of Bupleurum chinense DC.fried with wheat bran.Results:The best processing method was as follows:100 g Bupleurum chinense DC.was mixed with 10 g wheat bran and fried at 290 ℃ for 80 seconds.Conclusion:The optimized processing technology is reasonable,reliable and highly reproducible,which provide reference for the processing of Bupleurum chinense DC.with wheat bran.

-β2 was positively correlated with OPG (r=0. 432,P<0. 01). Conclusions The reference ranges of serum TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in healthy adult females are established. Both TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 of them are correlated with OPG and ieptin.

Objective To investigate cyclic mechanical stimulation on expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and to explore the rote of MAPK involved in the process.Methods Expressions of CTGF protein and mRNA in MG63 cells were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR,respectively. Phosphorylation levels of p38, ERK, JNK were examined by Western blot. Results Cyclic mechanical stimulation upregulated expressions of CTGF protein and mRNA. The levels reached a maximal response of 2-3 fold after 3-6 h. ERK and JNK signal pathways were activated by cyclic mechanical stimulation, the phosphorylated proteins increased within 10 min of stretch, phosphorylated ERK reached maximal levels by 60 min of stretch, phosphorylated JNK reached maximal levels by 15-30 min of stretch, but not for p38 signal pathway.Only the inhibitior of JNK signal pathway (SP600125) markedly suppressed stretch-induced CTGF expression,meanwhile the inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) and p38 (SB203580) did not show such effect. Conclusion Cyclic mechanical stimulation upregulates CTGF expression via JNK-dependent pathway in MG63 cells.