Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Renal ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Aim:To construct the short hairpin small interfering RNA(shRNA) eukaryotic expression vector specific to mouse lectin like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1(LOX-1) gene and to observe its silencing effect on LOX-1 in RAW264.7 cells.Methods:(1)The pLOX-1-shRNA expression vector was constructed by gene recombination,Then transfected into the cultured RAW264.7 cells.At 48 h after Transfection,the expression of LOX-1 mRNA in RAW264.7 cells were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR,the expression of LOX-1 proteins examined by Western blot.(2) Oil Red O Dyeing experiment was used to show the cellular lipid droplets in lipid-loaded cells.The method of cholesterol oxidase analysis was performed to determine the content of cellular cholesterol.The ability of uptake Dil-ox-LDL in RAW264.7 cells was assayed by fluorescence microscopy.Results: pLOX-1-shRNA expression vector was successfully constructed.Transfection of pLOX-1-shRNA expression vector into RAW264.7 cells down regulaled the expression level of LOX-1 gene,as compared with the control group,transfection of the RAW264.7 cells with LOX 1-shRNA led to a remarkable reduction of the number macrophages transformed into foam cell,and could suppress the uptake of ox-LDL.Conclusion:The pLOX-1-shRNA expression vector can inhibit the expression of LOX 1 in RAW264.7 cells and the transformation of the macrophages into foam,which may he beneficial in searching new gene therapy of atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship between gene polymorphisms of homocysteine (Hcy), metabolic enzymes methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase MTHFR C677T and chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD). Methods The gene polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)in CPHD patients (n=120) and healthy control (HC, n=120), and genotyping was carried on. The automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detect the level of Hcy and other related biochemical indicators. Results There was significant difference in Hcy level between the CPHD group and HC group (P<0.05). The mutation frequencies of CC, CT and TT were 24.17%, 43.33%and 32.50%, 35.00%, 47.50%and 17.50%in the CPHD group and HC group. The mutation frequencies of allele C/T were 45.83%and 54.17%in HC group, and 58.75%and 41.25%in control group. There was significant difference in the overall frequency distribution between the three genotypes (χ2 =8.010, P<0.05). The frequency of T allele was significantly higher in CPHD group than that in control group (χ2=8.025,P<0.05). Conclusion The increased Hcy and its metabolic enzyme MTHFR C677T may be involved in the occurrence and development of CPHD.

Central Nervous System ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Leigh Disease ; pathology ; physiopathology

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Tuberculosis*

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Chinese composite recipe in treating mycotic infection.

METHODSThe growth condition of 7 kinds of fungi cultured on the media containing composite agastache lotion (CAL, consisted of 5 Chinese drugs) of different concentration was observed. Result showed that CAL could inhibit 7 kinds of fungi. Based on the above anti-fungus test, 110 patients with skin tinea or genital candidiasis were treated separately with CAL, western medicine and combined (CAL and western) medicines, the therapeutic effects of the 3 groups were observed and compared.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effect in patients treated with combined medicine was significantly better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of CAL and western medicine could enhance the cure rate in treating skin tinea and genital candidiasis. Attention should be paid on studying Chinese anti-fungal agents.

Administration, Topical ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Agastache ; chemistry ; Aged ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatomycoses ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To assess the value of functional magnetic resonance urography (fMRU)for the unilateral renal function in children with hydronephrosis.Methods Fourteen children with congenital hydronephrosis (unilateral hydronephrosis in 1 2 cases,bilateral hydronephrosis in 2 cases)examined by fMRU in Beijing Children′s Hospital,Capital Medical University,were enrolled.In 7 patients of them,diuretic renal scintigraphy (DRS)was per-formed within 1 0 days before fMRU examination.The following parameters in fMRU,as renal parenchymal volume,volu-metric differential renal function (vDRF),Patlak,Patlak differential renal function (pDRF),index of glomerular filtra-tion rate (GFR)and differential renal function based on index of GFR (gDRF),were calculated and analyzed.Statisti-cal analysis was performed by using SPSS 1 3.0.Results In 7 cases whose fMRU and DRS were examined,the indexes of GFR obtained from fMRU and GFR from DRS were well correlated (r =0.892,P <0.001 )in 1 4 kidneys.The gDRF determined by 2 methods on the left kidneys[the average was(46.80 ±1 9.20)% and(45.1 8 ±20.29)%,respective-ly]had no significant difference (t =0.051 6,P =0.624),which was also highly correlated (r =0.91 2,P =0.004). In 1 2 cases with unilateral hydronephrosis,vDRF,pDRF,index of GFR and gDRF in hydronephrotic side[(43.54 ± 9.61 )%,(42.80 ±1 0.83)%,(38.56 ±29.23)mL/min,(38.37 ±1 3.61 )%]were all less than those in the con-tralateral side[(56.46 ±9.61 )%,(57.1 9 ±1 0.83)%,(57.02 ±26.22)mL/min,(61 .63 ±1 3.61 )%](t =2.326, 2.300,2.422,2.960;P =0.040,0.042,0.034,0.01 3).However,there was no statistical difference in both renal pa-renchymal volume and Patlak between the hydronephrotic and the contralateral side kidneys(t =1 .765,1 .450;P =0.1 05,0.1 75).Conclusions fMRU is a very valuable examination method in evaluating single kidney function in children with congenital hydronephrosis,and able to demonstrate that gDRF,indexes of GFR,vDRF and pDRF decrease in the hydronephrotic kidney.

The study aims to investigate the anti-hepatic fibrosis and anti-inflammatory activities of palbinone, and to explore the internal regulatory mechanism, so as to lay an active foundation for its development as an anti-non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) candidate. First, sulforhodamine B (SRB) method was used to detect the effect of palbinone on the proliferation of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 and rat hepatic stellate cells HSC-T6. Following, in the in vitro hepatic fibrosis cell model that activated by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of palbinone on the transcription level and protein expression level of hepatic fibrosis markers. And the regulating mechanism of palbinone on fibrosis-related genes was analyzed at the same time. In addition, in the inflammatory cell model that induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and nigericin, ELISA was used to detect the effect of palbinone on the released interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level. At the same time, Western blot was used to detect the effect of palbinone on the related proteins of inflammatory pathway. The results showed that palbinone could significantly inhibit the proliferation activity of LX-2 and HSC-T6, and their half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values ​​were (375.11 ± 55.45) and (260.27 ± 36.81) nmol·L^-1, respectively. In addition, palbinone showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the expression levels of TGF-β1-induced fibrosis-related genes, including collagen type Ⅰ α 1 (COL1A1), TGF-β1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1). Mechanism study showed that palbinone may decrease the expression level of Yes-associated protein (YAP), thereby weakening its activation effect on the downstream fibrosis pathway. In addition, palbinone also exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the activity of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and reducing inflammatory factors cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) and IL-1β release. In conclusion, palbinone can not only inhibit the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells by inhibiting the expression of YAP, but also inhibit the expression and release of inflammatory factors at the same time. All these studies provide theoretical support for the development of palbinone as an anti-nonalcoholic steatohepatitis drug.

BACKGROUNDIn this prospective randomized study, we compared the predicted blood and effect-site C 50 for propofol and remifentanil target-controlled infusion (TCI) and the bispectral index (BIS) values at loss of consciousness (LOC) and response to a standard noxious painful stimulus (LOS) in elderly and young patients, respectively. We hypothesized that the elderly patients will require lower target concentration of both propofol and remifentanil at above two clinical end-points.

METHODSThere were 80 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II unpremedicated patients enrolled in this study, they were divided into elderly group (age ≥65 years, n = 40) and young group (aged 18-64 years, n = 40). Propofol was initially given to a predicted blood concentration of 1.2 μg/ml and thereafter increased by 0.3 μg/ml every 30 s until Observer's Assessment of Alertness and Sedation score was 1. The propofol level was kept constant, and remifentanil was given to provide a predict blood concentration of 2.0 ng/ml, and then increased by 0.3 ng/ml every 30 s until loss of response to a tetanic stimulus. BIS (version 3.22, BIS Quattro sensor) was also recorded.

RESULTSIn elderly group, the propofol effect-site C 50 at LOC of was 1.5 (1.4-1.6) μg/ml, was significantly lower than that of young group, which was 2.2 (2.1-2.3) μg/ml, the remifentanil effect-site C 50 at LOS was 3.5 (3.3-3.7) ng/ml in elderly patients, was similar with 3.7 (3.6-3.8) ng/ml in young patients. Fifty percent of patients lost consciousness at a BIS value of 57.3 (56.4-58.1), was similar with that of young group, which was 55.2 (54.0-56.3).

CONCLUSIONIn elderly patients, the predicted blood and effect-site concentrations of propofol at LOC were lower than that of young patients. At same sedation status, predicted blood and effect-site concentrations of remifentanil required at LOS were similar in elderly and young patients. BIS were not affected by age. Low-propofol/high-opioid may be optional TCI strategy for elderly patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperidines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Unconsciousness ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pulmonary function after treatment in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at varying disease severity levels and different gestational ages.

METHODSA total of 107 neonates with RDS were divided into <34 weeks group (65 neonates), late preterm group (21 neonates), full-term group (21 neonates). Another 121 non-RDS children were enrolled as the control group. According to the severity of RDS, the RDS neonates were divided into mild RDS group (grades 1 and 2; 76 neonates), and severe RDS (grades 3 and 4; 21 neonates). The tidal breathing pulmonary function was measured at a corrected gestational age of 44weeks.

RESULTSThe pulmonary function parameters showed no significant differences across the groups of RDS neonates of different gestational ages; the tidal volume per kilogram of body weight (VT/kg) showed no significant difference between the RDS and non-RDS groups, while the RDS group had significantly higher ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time (tPTEF/tE) and ratio of volume to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory volume (vPTEF/vE) than the non-RDS group of the same gestational age (P<0.05). At a corrected gestational age of 44 weeks, the two groups of neonates with varying severity levels of RDS had significantly lower tPTEF/tE and vPTEF/vE than the control group (P<0.05), and tPTEF/tE and vPTEF/vE tended to decrease with the increasing severity level of RDS.

CONCLUSIONSNeonates with RDS have significantly decreased pulmonary function than those without RDS. At a corrected gestational age of 44 weeks, the tidal breathing pulmonary function in neonates with RDS is not associated with gestational age, but is associated with the severity of RDS.

Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; physiopathology