The rate of bone turnover in postmenopausal women accelerates and the newly formed osteoid is poorly mineralized, resulting in the loss of bone mineral content. Meanwhile, the requirement for calcium increases as more bone matrix needs to be mineralized. On the other hand, the reduction of serum estrogen level impairs the absorption of calcium in intestinal tract and the reabsorption in kidney, resulting in the decreased absorption and increased excretion of calcium. Therefore, sufficient calcium intake is critical for maintaining the bone structure in postmenopausal women. The reference intake of calcium differs greatly among different countries. In 2000, China established the adequate intake of calcium for Chinese women aged 50 years and older as 1000 mg/d. Diets provide the optimal source of calcium to prevent osteoporosis. Although calcium supplements have been demonstrated to be beneficial for the bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, its impact on fracture risk and cardiovascular diseases remains controversial. Available evidences suggest that calcium supplements combined with vitamin D are unlikely to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To evaluate the effect of flurbiprofen axetil pretreatment on the level of central β-endorphin in a rat model of incisional pain.Methods Fifty-four SPF male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 6-7 weeks,weighing 180-230 g,were divided into 3 groups (n=18 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),incisional pain group (group Ⅰ) and flurbiprofen axetil pretreatnent group (group FA).At 30 min before the model of incisional pain was established,fat emulsion 1 ml was injected via the caudal vein in group Ⅰ,and flurbiprofen axetil 6 mg/kg (diluted to 1 ml in fat emulsion) was injected via the caudal vein in group FA.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) was measured at 1 day before establishment of the model and 1,6 and 12 h after establishment of the model (T1-3).The rats were sacrificed after measurement of pain threshold at T1-3,and the lumbar enlargement segment of the spinal cord and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus specimens were obtained for determination of β-endorphin content (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and β-endorphin expression (by immunohistochemistry).Results Compared with group C,the MWT was significantly decreased at T1-3 in I and FA groups,the content and expression of β-endorphin in the spinal cord were significantly decreased at T2,3,and the content and expression of β-endorphin in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were increased at T1 in group Ⅰ,and the content and expression of β-endorphin in the spinal cord and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were significantly increased at T1-3 in group FA (P＜0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,the MWT was significantly increased,and the content and expression of β-endorphin in the spinal cord and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were increased at T1-3 in group FA (P＜0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which flurbiprofen axetil pretreatment produces analgesic effect may be related to the increased level of central β-endorphine in a rat modal of incisional pain.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of high-dose methylprednisolone pulse treatment on peritumoral edema induced by supratentorial brain tumors.Methods Thirty-five patients with supratentorial brain tumors and peritumoral edema were treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy before surgery and the edema index of every patient was calculated by MRI examinations before and after methylprednisolone treatment.Results After methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the edema indexes of the light, medium and severe edema patients reduced by 1.79%, 8.81% and 12.02% respectively. The edema indexes of the medium and serious patients were significantly lower than that before treatment ( P<0.01). But the edema index of the light edema patients was not significantly different with that before treatment ( P>0.05).Conclusion High-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy has an obvious effect on medium and serious peritumoral edema induced by supratentorial brain tumors and has no serious adverse reactions.

BACKGROUND: It is proposed that elevated serum homocysteine is an important independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), and 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the key enzyme for homocysteine metabolism. The relationship between genetic mutation of MTHFR and IS remains controversial.OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of hyperhomocysteinemia and two MTHFR gene polymorphisms with IS in Northwest Chinese population.DESIGN: Case-control study.SETTING: Department of Neurology, First Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, and Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ischemic stroke (71 males and 26 females) treated between November 2001 and May 2002were recruited, who were diagnosed by CT scan or MRI in the Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. The control group consisted of 94 subjects (58 males and 36 females) without history of ischemic stroke. All the subjects were free of intracranial hemorrhage, cancer, renal dysfunction, and none used multivitamins or estrogen.METHODS: Serum homocysteine was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was employed to detect the genotype at the two sites of C677T and A1298C in MTHFR gene.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum homocysteine levels and the genotypic frequency frequencies of the two mutations of MTHFR.RESULTS: The 677T allele frequency was 59.3% in IS patients and 44.7% in the controls, showing significant differences (P=0.006), but no difference in 1298C allele frequency was detected between the two groups (22.7% vs 19.7%, P ＞ 0.05). Homozygous 677TT genotype was closely associated with hyperhomocysteinemie (P ＜ 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis,677T gene mutation and hyperhomocysteinemie were all associated with the IS, with an OR of 1.870 and 1.031 (P＜ 0.05), respectively.CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemie is a risk factor of IS, and C677T mutation significantly increases homocysteine levels, and serves also as an independent genetic risk factor of IS.

Objective To investigate the relationship between androgen level and body adipose tissue content and distribution via a cross sectional survey in healthy women aged 40 to 60 years. Methods A total of 222 women were divided into 4 groups according menstruation status, i.e. reproductive stage, early perimenopausal stage, late perimenopausal stage and postmenopausal stage. Serum level of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. Body adipose tissue content and distribution were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results In women aged 40 to 60 years, DHEA, TT and FAI level of reproductive stage women was (12.3±4.1) nmol/L, (0.56±0.22) nmol/L and 1.15 (quartile:0.71 to 1.85), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of early perimenopausal stage women was (12.0±3.4) nmol/L, (0.56 ± 0.24) nmol/L and 1.37 (quartile: 0.89 to 1.61), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of late perimenopausal stage women was (14.2 ± 4.7) nmol/L, (0.62 ± 0.18) nmol/L and 1.38 (quartile:1.12 to 1.63). DHEA, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal stage women was (11.6±3.5) nmol/L, (0.45±0.22) nmol/L and 0.94 (quartile:0.47 to 1.49). DHEA, TT and FAI level of perimenopausal stage women was comparable with those of reproductive stage women (P>0.05), however, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal women was significantly lower than those of reproductive stage women (P=0.001, 0.014). The total adipose percentage of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (35 ± 6)%, (35 ± 5)%, (37 ± 4)%and (37 ± 5)%. The adipose percentage in“android”area of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (43±5)%, (43±4)%, (47±5)%and (46±5)%. The total adipose percentage was similar in 4 groups (P=0.312). Compared with reproductive stage women, adipose percentage of“android”area increased in late perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (P=0.026). Women with higher FAI level presented higher adipose tissue content and higher percentage of centrally distributed adipose tissue (r=0.28, P=0.003). Conclusions Body adipose tissue tends to distribute centrally from perimenopausal stage. Androgen level is related to body adipose tissue content and distribution, but may not be the main reason of changes of fat distribution in middle life women.

BACKGROUND:Autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,as the current latest therapy is widely used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases,however,the treatment on myasthenia gravis is still in the primary stage.OBJECTIVE:To create the model of myasthenia gravis with autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in rats and to observe clinical manifestation,attenuation rate of repetitive nerve electric stimulation action potential and titer of serum acetylcholine receptor Ab in the models.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized control animal experiment was performed at the Human Anatomy Laboratory,Medical College of Zhengzhou University between July and December 2007.MATERIALS:Totally 50 female Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups,a normal group(n=10),an adjuvant control group(n=10),a stem cell transplantation group(n=15),and a model control group(n=15).METHODS:Rats in the normal group were intact.Rats in the adjuvant group were subjected to the same volume of saline and cyclophosphamide.Rats in the stem cell transplantation group were used to make experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis by intraperitoneally infusing with serum of myasthenia gravis patients.Bone marrow stem cells were mobilized by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.Autologous peripheral blood stem cells were collected and then were transplanted via tail vein injection after the pretreatment regimen of cyclophosphamide.Rats in the model control group were treated with an equal volume of peripheral blood,and with other procedures as the stem cell transplantation group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Swimming time and survival rate of rats from each group after stem cell transplantation;attenuation rate of repetitive nerve electric stimulation action potential and titer of serum acetylcholine receptor Ab were measured at 4 and 9 weeks after stem cell transplantation.RESULTS:The survival rate was higher in the stem cell transplantation group than in the model control group(P

Objective To study the HLA-DRB1 genotupe and their relation with OBI infection.Methods HLA-DRB1 genotyping was conducted in 102 patients OBI infection and 201 health controls,by using polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT)method.The association between HLA-DRB1 genotype and OBI was also studied.Results Compared to 201 health controls,the allele frequency of HLA-DRB1 * 0405 (1.980 4％) (x2 =12.477 0,P =0.000 0,OR =16.367 3) * 0803 (4.257 3％) (x2 =30.689 8,P =0.000 0,OR =36.454 5)、* 1101 (5.545 9％) (x2 =4.471 2,P =0.034 5,OR =1.903 8)、* 1201 (1.481 6％) (x2 =8.591 9,P =0.003 4,OR =12.151 5) were markedly higher.The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1 * 0701(2.230 8％) (x2 =5.585 5,P=0.018 1,OR=0.417 7)、* 1301 (0.245 4％) (x2 =4.513 7,P=0.033 6,OR=0.147 4) 、* 1302(0.491 4％) (x2=11.369 1,P=0.000 7,OR=0.000 0) 、* 1312(0.245 4％) (x2 =5.0198,P=0.025 1,OR=0.136 5) 、* 1501(4.257 3％) (x2=10.763 1,P=0.001 0,OR=0.000 0)was obviously lower than than in HBV patients.Conclusion HLA-DRB1 * 0701、* 1301、* 1302、* 1312、* 1501 are closely related with susceptibility to OBI,and HLA-DRB1 * 0405、* 0803、* 1101、* 1201 is closely related with resistance to OBI.

Objective To investigate the effects of transforming growth factorβ1(TGFβ1)and β3 (TGFβ3)gene transfer on MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression in hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6).Methods TGFβ1 and TGFβ3 expression plagmids were constructed.The recombinant expression plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-=TGFβ1 and pcDNA3.1(+).TGFβ3 were transfected or cotransfected into HSC-T6.At 24,48 and 72 h after transfection,the expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were detected by real-time quantitative PCR,and the expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 protein were detected by Western blot.The recombinant expression plasmid pcDNA3.1(+).TGFβ1 was transfected into HSC-T6,and positive clones were selected by G418.The positive clones were transfected by the recombinant expression plasmid pcDNA3.1(+).TGFβ1,and the expression of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected at 48 h after transfection.Results After transfection with peDNA3.1-TGFβ1,MMP-2 and TIMP-1 increaged remarkably in HSC-T6 cells(P＜0.05),but MMP-9 remained at the sanle level;After transfection with pcDNA3.1-TGFβ3,expression levels of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA were not changed,but TIMP-1 protein increased remarkably(P＜0.05);in cotransfection group,the expression of MMP-2 was higher than that in the blank and the control groups(P＜0.05),but MMP-9 level was not changed and TIMP-1was decreased compared with that in the TGF-β1 transfection group(P＜0.05).After TGFβ3was transfected into positive clones,the change of MMP-2 wag not significant(P＞0.05).but MMP-9 increaged and TIMP-1 decreased significantly at 48 h after transfection(P＜0.05).Conclusions TGFB3 may inhibit liver fibrosis by increase the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9,and decrease the activity of TIMP-1.

Objective The study was to evaluate DWI for quantifying liver fibrosis. Methods A total of 12 volunteers, 47 patients who had chronic HBV or HCV hepatitis and underwent liver biopsy [Scheuer score for fibrosis(S) and inflammation(G)] were enrolled in this study. They were scanned using a 1.5 T MR unit with b value of 0,250,500,750, 1000 s/mm~2. ADCs at b_(250-1000) and b_(500-1000) were the average ADCs of b=250, 500, 750, 1000 s/mm~2 and b=500, 750, 1000 s/mm~2. The studied the correlation between Scbeuer scores and ADC values, and conducted Mann-Whitney U test and Logistic regression to evaluate ADC for prediction of fibrosis scores. Results The average ADCs were (1.41± 0.11),(1.37±0.09), (1.27±0.05), (1.26±0.04), (1.22±0.06) mm~2/s respectively from SO to S4, stage at b=750 s/mm~2 (F=18.31, P<0.01). With the increase of fibrosis score, the average ADC decreased gradually, the two were better negatively correlated at b_(250-1000)(r=-0.727, P<0.01) than other b values. Using b_(750) and the two combined b values, the found significantly lower ADCs in S2 or greater versus S1 or less and in S3 or greater versus S2 or less fibrosis (P<0.01). The best predictor for S2 or greater was b_(750) with the largest AUC of 0.909, sensitivity of 85.7%, and specificity of 100.0% (ADC ≤1.35×10~(-3) mm~2/s). The best predictor for S3 or greater was b_(250-1000) with the largest AUC of 0.864, sensitivity of 69.6%, and specificity of 95.8% (ADC≤1.53×10~(-3) mm~2/s). Conclusion DWI can be a good predictor for scoring liver fibrosis for S2 or S3 stage above, while b_(750) and the combined b values are suitable for evaluation.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the physicochemical properties and bicompatibility of carbon-nanotubes/hydroxypatite/chitosan scafflod for bone tissue engineering. MethodsMWCNT/n-HA/CS scaffolds wre generated by solution blending and freeze-drying technology.The morphology and composition of the scaffolds were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, after this, the results of which mixed CNTS in scaffolds were evaluated. The effects of MWCNT/n-HA/CS scaffolds on adherence and proliferation of rabbit bone marrow stroma cells were assessed by scaffolds surface seeding methods, and using scanning electron microscopy, MTT assay to observe their adhesion and proliferation on scaffolds.Results MWCNT/n-HA/CS scaffolds showed abundant homogeneous pores with (87.26％) porosity. 66％ fracture strength of the scafflod was improved by MWCNT,and porosity decreased by 3％. Conclusion MWCNT/n-HA/CS scaffold can be prepared with solution blending and freeze drying process, which has fair poriness, good mechanical strength and tissue compatibility and can be applied as a bone graft material.