Objective To explore the protective effects of polysaccharide from Panax japonicus on free fatty acid in different parts of hepatic cell injury. Methods Polysaccharide of Panax japonicus was prepared through different concentrations of ethanol precipitation and was named as 30%polysaccharide component (pc), 60% pc and 90% pc. Palmitic acid (PA) was used to induce a cellular model of steatosis in HepG2 cells in order to screen the intervention viability of polysaccharide of Panax japonicus. MTT method was used to detect cell viability, and Oil Red O staining was used to demonstrate steatosis. Total RNA was extracted to detect the expression level of the relevant genes. Results MTT results showed that the 30% pc significantly increased cell viability compared with the model group;Oil Red O staining showed that the number of intracellular lipid droplets was significantly reduced in the 30% pc compared with the model group;RT-PCR results showed that expressions of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-related gene glucoese-regulated protein, CCAAT enhancer binding protein homologous protein and TNF-αwere significantly lower in the 30% pc compared with the model group, and there was no significant difference compared with normal control group. Conclusion The 30%ethanol precipitation fraction of polysaccharide from Panax japonicus significantly reduced PA-induced steatosis in HepG2 cells. Its mechanism was possibly realized through intervention in endoplasmic reticulum stress-related response.

Objective To analyze the clinical data of patients with Cushing's syndrome(CS)and to un-derstand the relationship between glucose metabolism and CS .Methods Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the level of insulin, body mass index(BMI), 24-hour urinary free cortisol(24h UFC), family history of diabetes in patients with CS were retrospectively analyzed .Results The course of disease in patients of CS complicated with diabetes mellitus ( CS/DM) group was longer than CS complicated with impaired glucose tolerance ( CS/IGT) and CS complicated with normal glucose tolerance (CS/NGT)group.66.67%of patients with CS/NGT have insu-lin resistance .Logistic regression analysis indicated that age , course of disease , midnight plasma cortisol were risk factors of CS induced diabetes mellitus .CS/DM group had higher proportion of family history of diabetes . 24h UFC and BMI had no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05).Conclusions Age, course of disease , midnight plasma cortisol are risk factors of CS induced diabetes mellitus .OGTT and insulin level de-termination are necessary for diagnosis and intervention treatment at the early stage .

Background and purpose: Increasing evidence has indicated that polymorphisms in the microRNA (miRNA, miR) binding site of target gene can alter the ability of miRNA and modulate the risk of cancer. We aimed to investigate the association between a miR-520a binding site single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs141178472 in the PIK3CA 3’UTR and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese Han population. Methods:The polymorphism rs141178472 was analyzed in a case-control study, including 386 colorectal cancer patients and 394 age-and sex-matched controls. The relationship between the polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer was examined by statistical methods. Results:Individuals carrying the rs141178472 CC genotype or C allele had an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CC vs TT, OR=1.716, 95%CI:1.084-2.716, P=0.022;C vs T, OR=1.258, 95%CI:1.021-1.551, P=0.033). Furthermore, the expression of PIK3CA was detected in the peripheral blood mononucleated cell of colorectal cancer patients, suggesting that mRNA levels of PIK3CA might be associated with SNP rs141178472. Conclusion:These ifndings provide evidence that a miR-520a binding site polymorphism rs141178472 in the PIK3CA 3’UTR may play crucial roles in the etiology of colorectal cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of age on the association between normal thyroid hormone level and coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods A total of 1163 euthyroid patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) from January 2013 to June 2014 were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups:the young and middle-aged group (＜60 years,n=602) and the elderly group (≥60 years,n=561),and each group was sub grouped into the CAD and non-CAD group according to CAG.Height,body weight,and levels of serum lipid,fasting blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin,free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured.Results In the youth and middle-aged group,309 patients (51.3％) were diagnosed as CAD,and there was no significant difference in the levels of FT3,FT4 and TSH between CAD and non-CAD patients [(5.3±0.6)mmol/L vs.(5.3±0.5)mmol/L,(11.8 ±1.9)mmol/L vs.(11.8±1.8) mmol/L,(2.0±1.1) mIU/L vs.(2.0±1.0)mIU/L,all P＞0.05].In the elderly group,357 patients (63.6％) were diagnosed as CAD,and the FT3 level was lower in the CAD patients than in the non-CAD patients[(5.1±0.6)mmol/L vs.(5.2±0.5) mmol/L,P＜0.01].Logistic regression demonstrated that FT3 was an independent influencing factor for CAD in elderly patients (OR=0.564,P＜0.01).Conclusions The association between normal thyroid hormones levels and CAD varies along with age.Thyroid hormones have no relationships with CAD in the young and middle-aged people.The decline of FT3 level may increase the risk of CAD in the elderly.

Objective To discuss the protection mechanism of total saponins from Panax japonicus on acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Methods HepG2 cells were used to establish CCl4-induced liver cell injury model in vitro experiments. Mouse model of acute liver injury was caused by 1%CCl4 oil on Balb/c. Mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and medicine group. Mice in the medicine group were given a gavage with 20 mL/kg total saponins from Panax japonicus, while mice in the other two groups were given a gavage with the same amount of stroke-physiological saline solution. MTT method was used to detect the activity of hepatic cells. The pathological changes of mouse liver were examined by HE staining. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the expression of transforming growth TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA. Results Compared with normal group, less hepatic cells survived in model group (P<0.01);compared with model group, more hepatic cells survived in medicine group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that damages in liver tissues of medicine group significantly improved than those in model group. RT-PCR results showed that the levels of TGF-β, TNF-α, and expression of TLR4 mRNA increased more significantly than those in model group;the expression of TGF-β, TNF-α, and TLR4 mRNA in medicine group decreased more significantly than those in model group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Conclusion The total saponins from Panax japonicus has a protective effect on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.

[Summary] To discuss the clinical features and treatment of primary adrenal lymphoma( PAL) with empty sella(ES).The lymphoma of the patient was nonspecific,the levels of serum sodium, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and gonadotropin were decreased.MRI confirmed ES, CT showed bilateral adrenal enlargement.CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the adrenal gland revealed a cytological diagnosis of diffused large B cell lymphoma( DLBCL).The patient had received R-CHOP chemotherapy, which results in a complete functional recovery and the tumoral masses disappeared.PAL combined with ES was rarely reported, which is difficult to diagnose due to complex hormone levels.

Objective To confirm a case of pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy) at the molecular level by gene sequencing.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a 26-year-old male patient with pachydermoperiostosis and his parents,and DNA was extracted from these blood samples.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify all the exons of HPGD and SLCO2A1 genes,and gene sequencing to identify gene mutations.According to sequencing results,the spatial structure of relevant proteins was predicted.Results Gene sequencing showed a homozygous frame-shifting mutation c.310_31 1delCT (p.L104AfsX3) in exon 3 of the HPGD gene in the patient.His mother was a heterozygous carrier of the mutation,but no mutation was identified in his father.The prediction of spacial structure of proteins revealed that the above gene mutation could shorten the length of the encoded peptide by about 60％.Conclusion Typical clinical manifestations and imaging findings are helpful for the primary diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis,while mutation analysis of HPGD and SLCO2A1 genes is a main approach to its final diagnosis.

P21-activated kinases (PAK) participate in a variety of important cellular activities, such as cytoskeleton remodeling, cell migration, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis or survival. PAK also has an important impact on brain development, neuronal differentiation, and regulation of synaptic plasticity in the nervous system. PAK abnormalities result in diseases including cancer, Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neural retardation. Therefore, it is of vital physiological significance to investigate the neuronal function of PAK. In this paper we review the advancement of research on the neuronal biological function and the underlying mechanisms of PAK.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Movement ; Cytoskeleton ; physiology ; Humans ; Nervous System ; enzymology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Neurons ; physiology ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology ; p21-Activated Kinases ; physiology

Aortic Aneurysm ; etiology ; Bacteremia ; complications ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Staphylococcal Infections ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate regulation function of anodonta glucan HBP-A on chondrocytes through Wnt pathway in vitro.

METHODSRat chondrocytes were cultured and differentiated induced with IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) in vitro. Chondrocytes were divided into five groups:IL-13 group,IL-1beta + IWP-2 (5 microM,Wnt pathway inhibitor) group, IL-1beta + HBP-A (0.3 mg/ml) group and IL-1beta + IWP-2 + HBP-A group. Wnt-3a, beta-catenin (24 h,48 h,72 h) and MMP-13(72 h) genes expression were detected by Rt-PCR, while beta-catenin, MMP-13, Sox-9 and coll-II (48 h) protein expression were measured by Western-blot.

RESULTSAfter induction of IL-1beta, gene expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were increased,so were the protein expression of beta-catenin and MMP-13. In contrast,protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were declined. Following addition of HBP-A, Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and MMP-13 were shown as induction of IL-1beta, but protein expression of Sox-9 and Coll-II were upgraded. Combining HBP-A with IWP-2 led to the lowest level in Wnt-3a, beta-catenin gene and beta-catenin protein expression and highest expression of Sox-9 protein.

CONCLUSIONHBP-A could not only delay the differentiation of chondrocytes through downgrading the signal expression of Wnt/beta-catenin,but also adjust the expression of Wnt-3a, beta-catenin and Sox-9 when combinated with the Wnt inhibitor.

Animals ; Anodonta ; chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glucans ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Rats ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; Wnt3A Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism