Objective To investigate the role of depression and C-reaction protein (CRP)in the early development of vascular disease in the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods Totally 396 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in the study,including 196 cases with depression and 200 cases without depression.Depression was evaluated by Hamilton depression scale (HAMD),and CRP was measured using rate nephelometry.The related parameters of wave intensity (WI) such as accelerating wave intensity (W1),decelerating wave intensity (W2),arterial stiffness β,pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep),arterial compliance (AC),pulse wave velocity -wave intensity(PWVWI),pulse wave velocity (PWV) and argumentation index (AI) were detected and compared between the groups. Results The levels of CRP [(8.1±2.8)mg/L vs. (3.9±3.2) mg/L,t=6.411,P=0.000],W2 [(4.82±1.33) mm Hg· m-1 · s-3 vs.(2.27±1.28)mm Hg · m-1 · s-3,t=4.256,P=0.021],arterial stiffness β(12.58±3.23 vs.8.96±2.24,t=4.634,P=0.019),Ep (157.90±52.64 vs.118.24±53.08,t=5.512,P=0.007),PWVβ(7.53± 1.41 vs.6.68±1.56,t=3.982,P=0.024),AI(19.26± 13.21 vs.15.34±10.23,t=3.213,P=0.037)and PWV-WI (7.59±1.67vs.6.63± 1.45,t =2.613,P =0.046) in cases with depression were higher than the cases without depression,while the AC value was reduced (0.70±0.19 vs.0.78±0.21,t=4.676,P =0.017).There was no difference in W1 value between the groups.The CRP level and HAMD score were positively associated with W2 (r=0.470,P=0.000),stiffness β (r=0.582,P=0.000),Ep (r=0.352,P=0.004),PWV-WI (r=0.233,P=0.019),PWVβ (r=0.340,P=0.007) and AI (r=0.265,P=0.015),but negatively related with AC(r=-0.457,P=0.000).HAMD score was positively correlated with CRP level(r=0.328,P=0.003). Conclusions The carotid artery wave intensity W2,blood vessel elasticity parameter β,Ep,AC,PWV-WI,PWVβ and AI determination can evaluate the risk of cardiovascular diseases in elderly diabetes,and higher CRP level and HAMD score may deteriorate its process.

Objective: To establish the yeast expression system for oncostatin M (OSM). Methods:The cDNA encoding human OSM was inserted into pPIC9K vector and transformed into Pichia pastoris. The correct phenotype of recombinants was screened through MD and MM auxotrophic culture medium. The OSM mRNA transcription in the P.pastoris and molecular weight were identified with Northern blot and Western blot. MTT method was used to test the activity of OSM in inhibiting the growth of human melanoma cells. Results: Established P.pastoris system could accomplish human OSM secreting expression. The recombinant OSM with a 30 000 molecular weight amounted to 70% of the total protein in medium supernatant. The OSM showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of A375 cells in vitro. Conclusions：The P.pastoris system of OSM was proved effective with a high expressing level. The secreted recombinant OSM present in supernatant of culture medium would be easy to be purified. It may lay the foundation for the large-scale preparation of OSM in future.

Objective To study the histocompatibility of domestic new type nitinol alloy ventricular septal defect(VSD) occluder in order to test the feasibility for clinical application.Methods The domestic new type nitinol alloy VSD occluder was inserted into 20 healthy dogs with intravenous balanced anesthesia and tracheal intubation,assisted by animal breathing machine respiration.The dogs were given oral antibiotic and would be killed in several months after operation.According to different slaughter time(1,2,3,6 months),they were divided into 4 sections and including 5 dogs in each section.The occluder sites,the intimal coverage and the change of inflammatory cells were observed through gross anatomy,with the help of the light microscope and electron microscope.SPSS 11.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results The thickness of the endocardial enhanced with the time(P

Objective To study the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of solute carrier family 22 member 4 (SLC22A4) and SLC22A5 genes with Crhon's disease (CD) in Chinese Han nationality. Methods SNPs in the entire coding region of SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 genes were screened by direct DNA sequencing in 80 CD patients and 80 healthy subjects, and statistical in Han population. Five SNPs were found in entire coding region (2 in SLC22A4 gene and 3 in distribution of the alleles and genotypes of SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 polymorphisms between CD patients and healthy controls. Conclusion There is no correlation of SLC22A4 and SLC22A5 with CD in Chinese Han nationality.

Advance on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Stellera plants have been conducted. The chemical constituents include terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, volatile oils, and other compounds. Pharmacological studies showed that diterpenoids and biflavones showed strong activities, such as antitumor, anti-HIV, and immune regulations. This review hopes to provide a scientific basis for further research and explorations of the medicinal values of the genus.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; classification

Objective To observe the influence of nandrolone phenylpropionate(NP) on the ultrastructure of aorta in rats with or without movement training,and investigate the side effects of NP on the cardiovascular system. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into sedentary control group,sedentary+medicine group,exercise control group and exercise+medicine group.For the groups with medical treatment,NP of 10 mg/kg one time every three days was injected into the rats via gluteus for eight weeks.For the exercise groups,rats were trained to run on treadmill five days per week for eight weeks.The aortae were sampled and specimens were obtained for transmission electron microscopy. Results The ultrastructure of aorta was normal in sedentary control group.For sedentary+medicine group,mitochondrial swelling,vacuolated cytoplasm and lysis of endothelial cells were observed,disruption of intercellular conjunctions,widening of subendothelial spaces and furcation and breakage of internal elastic lamina were found,and smooth muscle cells changed into synthesis type.For exercise control group,no obvious morphologic change was observed,except that part of the internal elastic lamina disrupted.In exercise+medicine group,breakage and lysis of endothelial cells were observed,widening of subendothelial spaces and lysis of internal elastic lamina were found,and autophagosome and myelinoid body were seen in smooth muscle cells. Conclusion NP may lead to the impairment of endothelial cells and the change of smooth muscle cells into synthesis type.Exercise with NP administration may result in more severe impairment in vessel wall.

AIMTo study the effect of hyaluronic acid chitosan-based microemulsion (HAC-ME) on the permeability of blood brain barrier( BBB) by using Evans blue (EB) as the indicator.

METHODSA formamide extraction-ultraviolet spectrophotometry method was employed to determine the concentrations of EB in each of the tissues. The in vivo distribution of HAC-ME groups containing EB in mice and the fluorescence intensity and diffusion domain of brain slices were all studied.

RESULTSContrasting to the common microemulsion (ME), HAC-ME at the lower concentration of HAC (<5 mg x mL(-1)) could further improve the transporting of EB across the BBB while EB concentration in other tissues decreased, and Tmax was delayed about 30 min.

CONCLUSIONHAC-ME could facilitate the transporting of EB across the BBB and it was concentration dependent. While the brain targeting absorptive capability of HAC-ME was enhanced.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Emulsions ; Evans Blue ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Tissue Distribution

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of normotensive pheochromocytomas ( NP) . Methods This retrospective study included 97 patients with a pathological diagnosis of pheochromocytoma at the Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School during January 2004 to December 2013. All available clinical, biochemical, and radiological records were reviewed in these patients who were then categorized into hypertensive pheochromocytomas (HP) (n=64) and NP (n=33) groups. 97 cases of Adrenal Gland Scale Score of pheochromocytoma were examined, including tissue microscopic pathology assessment, ki67 and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase ( PNMT ) immunohistochemistry and catecholamine type. Biochemical examinations of 95 subjects with primary hypertension ( PH) were recorded for comparative study. Results The patients with NP showed lower proportion of clinical triad than HP, inapparent metabolic disorders, and lower urinary catecholamine levels than HP, but showed higher results than primary hypertension. The weight of tumor was positively correlated with 24 hour urinary norepinephrine level in patients with HP(Y=1. 376+0. 653X,R2=0. 118, P=0. 028), but not in patients with NP;and the size or diameter of the tumor was negatively correlated with PNMT immunohistochemistry in patients with NP(Y=0. 940-0. 356X, R2=0. 494, P=0. 005), but not in patients with HP, indicating that NP may be misdiagnosed clinically. Conclusion Patients with NP have distinct clinical, biochemical, and pathological phenotypes; the phenotypic changes are closely related with the expression levels of catecholamine pathway products during the occurrence and development of the tumors.

Base on the traditional Chinese medicinal materials list that include Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Dao-di Herbs, the common used herbs, endangered species, to analyze the key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list was analysed. Results displayed that the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is 894, the variety number of Dao-di Herbs is 495, the variety number of the common use is 326, the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials from endangered species is 280, and during the third national survey of Chinese material medica resources the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials that were analysed is 360. In the list of Dao-di Herbs and common used herbs over 85% are in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, in the list of the common used herbs over 80% are in the list of Dao-di Herbs, in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and Dao-di Herbs over 10% are in the list of endangered species. The key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list includes three part, the first part includes 563 variery traditional Chinese medicinal materials that need to statistics quantity of resource by field investigation, the second part includes 457 variery that need to monitor the changing situation, the third part includes 280 variery that need to estimated endangered situation.
Animals ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; economics ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; instrumentation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

CD28 family consists of CD28, ICOS, CTLA-4 and PD-1 molecules. The former two are activation receptors and the later two are inhibition receptors. They produce co-stimulatory signals combining with the relevant molecules in B7 family, which plays important role in T cell activation and homeostasis among T subsets. Although the mechanism of signaling by CD28 and CTLA-4 has been well studied, many questions still remain to be answered. Further investigations are required for substantiating the dual-signaling model.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; Antigens, Differentiation ; immunology ; CD28 Antigens ; immunology ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; immunology ; Signal Transduction