AIM:To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of lipoic acid (LA) on redox regulation and digestive function in intestine of C57BL/6 mice fed high fat diet (HFD).METHODS:C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n=8). The control group consumed an ordinary diet. The other two experimental groups were fed with a high fat diet,high fat plus 0.1% LA. After 6 weeks,the activities of digestive enzymes were examined. In order to evaluate the antioxidant status of the mice,superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA),total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in intestinal homogenate were measured. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of LA,the gene expression profiles in intestine were examined using the GeneChip microarray system.RESULTS:A depressed antioxidant defense system,accompanied by digestive and absorptive function impairment,was observed in HFD-fed mice. These changes were partially restored in the LA-treated group. DNA microarray analysis of intestine showed that LA ingestion up-regulated the expression of genes related to free-radical scavenger enzymes,digestive enzymes and transporters.CONCLUSION:Treatment with LA improves redox homeostasis and the function of intestine in mice fed HFD. The mechanism may involve preventing oxidative stress by scavenging ROS directly and increasing those of free-radical scavenger enzymes gene expression indirectly.

Burnout, Professional ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the effect of TLR2McAb and TLR4McAb on intestinal flora of DSS-induced colitis in mice. Methods Fifty healthy male BALB/c mice (SPF level), were randomly assigned into five groups: the control group( group A), the UC model group( group B), TLR2McAb intervention group( group C), TLR4McAb intervention group( group D) and TLR2McAb + TLR4McAb intervention group(group E). Clinical symptoms were evaluated by the disease activity index(DAI), while tissue sam ples were evaluated by histological scoring(HS). The quantities of mRNA for IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 were determined by real-time PCR. Meanwhile, fecal samples were obtained directly from the cecum for microbiological studies. Results After the treatment with TLR2McAb and TLR4McAb, DAI and HS were decreased significantly. Compared with group A, inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17 in group B were higher. Compared with group B, expression of these three cytokines in group C to E was all markedly decreased. Group A showed a considerable predominance of Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp,while the UC model group showed a conspicuous increase of Escherichia coli and decreases of Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp. After treatment with TLR2McAb or/and TLR4McAb, Lactobacillus spp and Bifidobacterium spp increased to the normal level. But counts of E. Coli in the three intervention groups were not changed. Conclusion TLR2McAb and TLR4McAb suppressed the development of DSS-induced colitis and increase cecum counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.

Objective To explore the influence of high fat diet on the intestinal gene expression profile in C57BL/6 mice. Method C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to two groups (n=8). The control group consumed an ordinary diet. The experimental group was fed with a high fat diet. All mice were sacrificed at the end of 6 w and the intestinal gene expressions were detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis with Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse U430A consisting of 13 097 genes. Results Among the 13 097 genes obtained from gene expression profile analysis, there were 88 and 179 genes up -and down-regulated respectively, in mice fed with high fat diet compared with the control. The differentially expressed genes were mainly related to free radical oxidative stress, DNA repair, induction of apoptosis, transport, signal transduction and inflammation immune response. Conclusion High fat diet may widely modulate the expression of many genes in the intestine in mice.

Objective To study the mechanism of analgesic effects of the iontophoresis of aconitine on the rat with adjuvant arthritis. Methods Forty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and a therapy group, with 15 rats in each group. The model of rat adjuvant arthritis(AA) was induced by injection of complete Freud′s adjuvant(0.1 ml) into the right ankle joint of the rats. The brain stem, hypothalami and local inflammation tissue of rats in the 3 groups were obtained after 1, 5 and 10 days of treatment, respectively. The concentrations of 5-HT, NE, ?-EP in brain stem, hypothalami and local inflammation tissue were detected with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Results It was shown that the 5-HT content in the inflammatory tissues was not significantly different from that in the model group after 1 day of treatment, but significantly lower than that in the model group after 5 to 10 days of treatment (P0.05). After 5 to 10 days of treatment, the brain stem NE content in the therapy group was significantly higher than that in the model group(P

Objective To explore the puberty and height development in childern with congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency(21-OHD) with the simple virilizing(SV) form.Methods Patients of SV 21-OHD,diagnosed and treated in Tianjin Children's Hospital from Jan.1970 to Jan.2008,were treated with cortisone acetate or hydrocortisone after diagnosed,and blood investigations were performed as part of monitoring,and dosages were adjusted accordingly to obtain normal growth velocity and slow bone age(BA) development.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist(Gn-RHa) was given after the appearance of central precocious puberty(CPP).Forty-one patients(18 females,23 males) had achieved final height before Dec.31st 2008,and their puberty and height development were analyzed in this longitudinal study by contrast the ages and statures of obtaining final height(FH),chronological age(CA) and BA of G2/B2 stage,duration from G2/B2 stage to obtain FH and stature development of different gender during this period and the influences of compliancy on the ages and statures of obtaining FH were contrasted.Results With regarding to the age of testicular volume ≥4 mL,78.26% boys were before 9 years old.As far as the age of breast development was concerned,38.89% girls were before 8 year old and 66.67% menarche occurred before 10 year old.The differences between the duration and stature development of the period from the state of G2/B2 to skeletal maturation of different gender were significant (Pa

Objective To analyze rate of and reasons for not undertaking insulin pump therapy in children with type 1 diabetes(T1DM) and explore potential countermeasures.Methods Two hundred and seventy-eight persons of T1DM,diagnosed in Tianjin Children′s Hospital from Jan.2000 to Dec.2008,were assigned to fill in a questionnaire on T1DM and insulin pump therapy.Reasons for different compliances were analyzed and strategies were explored.Results Eighty-five point twenty-five percent of the children(237 persons) undertook the therapy and 14.75%(41 persons) refused.In the group of younger than 3 years,58.33%(21 persons)accepted the therapy,while in the group of older than 3 years,89.26%(216 persons) undertook it,consequently there was statistically significant difference(?2=23.83,P

Objective To study the clinical features of diagnosis and treatment in children with low-risk myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and improve the diagnosis and treatment.Methods The examinations of 17 children with low-risk MDS were analyzed.The blood concentrations of cyclosporine,one of the therapeutic drugs,were monitored and the responses to the treatments were evaluated.Results Exa-mination of full blood count showed that the reductions of 3 cell types,2 cell types and 1 cell type were 11 (64.7%)cases,5(29.4%)cases and 1(5.9%)case,respectively.Reticulocyte count showed an increase in 82.4% of the patients and normal in 3 cases.Fourteen in 17 cases were hyperplastic marrow and 3 cases were hypoplastic marrow.Among all cases,one lineage,2 lineages and 3 lineages dyspoiesis were seen in 8(47.1%),7(41.2%) and 1 (5.9%)cases,respectively.One case showed no dyspoiesis.Cytogenetics examination showed normal in 10(58.8%) cases and abnormal in 7(41.2%) cases.Fifteen (88.2%) cases had normal proportions of CD59 negative cells,while 2 cases had higher proportions.The blood concentrations of cyclosporine that were tested in 9 cases at the end of the third week were in a range of 95.3-316.5 ?g/L.The therapeutic effect of 10 cases were evaluated at the end of the third month after being treated.Eight cases achieved haematological improvement and 2 cases didn′t.The rate of improvement was 80%.Conclusions The patients of low-risk MDS are mostly school-aged children and pancytopenia is the most common sign.The combination of predisone,cyclosporine and stanozolol agents shows good effect to treat low-risk MDS.The absorption of cyclosporine is different individually,so it is significant to adjust the dosage of cyclosporine according to the concentration regularly in clinical practice.

Objective To evaluate the value of 18 F?NaF PET/CT and MRI in the diagnosis of skull?base bone invasion ( SBBI) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma( NPC) . Methods Sixty?three NPC patients (45 males, 18 females;age range 23-72 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Pa?tients underwent 18 F?NaF PET/CT and MRI to confirm whether the skull base was invaded. The reference standard was based on the follow?up imaging in 6 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of the two imaging modalities were calculated. χ2 test was used to analyze their difference. The SBBI foci and their distribution detected by the two imaging modalities were compared. Results Thirty?four NPC patients demonstrated SBBI in follow?up imaging. The diagnostic sen?sitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 18 F?NaF PET/CT were 97.1%(33/34), 89.7%(26/29), 91.7%(33/36), 96.3%(26/27) and 93.7%(59/63), respective?ly. For MRI, the parameters were 91.2%(31/34), 86.2%(25/29), 88.6%(31/35), 89.3%(25/28) and 88.9%(56/63), respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of the two imaging modalities had no significant difference (χ2=0.162-1.062, all P>0.05) . 18 F?NaF PET/CT detected 133 lesions and MRI detected 97 le? sions, and the clivus was the most common site of SBBI. Conclusions 18 F?NaF PET/CT and MRI have similar diagnostic efficiency in detecting SBBI. 18 F?NaF PET/CT can detect more lesions than MRI do, and has potential advantage for detecting tiny bone lesions in skull base.

Objective To explore clinical characters of type 1 diabetes mellitus with different serum potassium levels in children and adolescent.Methods One hundred and seventy-five patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus were reviewed,they were divided into 3 groups according to the serum potassium level.The patients whose serum potassium