Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of urine Cystatin C(Cys C) for renal function impairment in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE).Methods The urine Cys C concentration was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 47 cases of HIE newborns(25 cases were mild HIE and 22 cases were moderate-severe HIE) within 3 days after their birth.Twenty-three cases without perinatal asphyxia or other factors which could result in renal function impairment were selected as control group.Urine Cys C with urine retinal-bindingprotein(RBP),?2-microglobulin(?2-MG) and fractional sodium excretion(FENa%) were analyzed by kolmogorov-smirno in each group.Results Compared with control group,the concentration of urine Cys C,RBP and the levels of FENa% in HIE newborns were significantly elevated.The levels of urine Cys C in moderate-severe HIE newborns were significantly higher than those in mild HIE newborns(Pa

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of the latest BladderScan BVI9400 on measuring bladder volume.

METHODSTwo bladder phantoms were selected for investigating the accuracy of BVI9400. 341 patients with the iU22 ultrasound examinations were followed by BVI 9400. The difference and correlation between BVI9400 and iU22 were contrastively analyzed.

RESULTSThe relative difference between results from BVI9400 and phantom volume was 2.5% and 1.36%. There was a strong correlation for patients between BVI9400 and iU22 (R = 0.96, P < 0.001). The relative difference between BVI9400 and iU22 decreased with the increasing of bladder volume and had no significant difference with patient's gender (P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONBladderScan BVI9400 had the ability of high accuracy and good stability of measured data. In view of quick and conveniences, BVI9400 could be as auxiliary equipment on pelvic tumor to evaluate whether the bladder volume during fractional radiotherapy was consistency with that during CT positioning.

Objective To investigate the correlations between the clinical manifestations based on pathologic grades and renal pathological features of Henoch - Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)in children. Methods The clinical data of 77 patients with HSPN in the Department of Nephrology,Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Ja-nuary 2004 to March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between clinical manifestation and pathologi-cal features was analyzed. Results Among the 77 patients,21 cases(27. 3% )had both abdominal symptoms,and ar-thritis was reported in 15 cases(19. 5% ),28 cases(36. 4% )had abdominal symptoms and arthritis,and 13 cases (16. 9% )had no such symptoms. Hematuria and proteinuria were the most common clinical types[48. 1%(37 / 77 ca-ses)],followed by simple hematuria or proteinuria[27. 3%(21 / 77 cases)],nephrotic syndrome[23. 4%(18 / 77 ca-ses)],and chronic nephritis[1. 3%(1 / 77 cases)]. The major of pathological changes in HSPN were grade Ⅱ[46. 8%(36 / 77 cases)]and grade Ⅲ[45. 5%(35 / 77 cases)],the minority of them were grade Ⅰ[6. 5%(5 / 77 cases)]and grade Ⅳ[1. 3%(1 / 77 cases)]. The severity of urine protein was positively associated with pathologic classification (r s = 0. 472,P = 0. 000). According to the glomerular deposition of immune complex,there were 6 types. The percen-tage of deposition of IgA + IgM was 62. 3%(48 / 77 cases),IgA + IgG + IgM was 19. 5%(15 / 77 cases),IgA 14. 3%(11 / 77 cases),that of IgA + IgG 1. 3%(1 / 77 cases),and the IgM 1. 3%(1 / 77 cases),no Ig 1. 3%(1 / 77 cases). In these cases,76. 6%(59 / 77 cases)had complements C3 deposition;pathologic stage characterized by Ⅲ level and a-bove were common[54. 2%(32 / 59 cases)],Ⅱ level 42. 2%(25 / 29 cases),Ⅰ level 3. 4%(2 / 59 cases). Among the different types of immune complex depositions,there was no statistically significant difference in pathological types of distribution,while the clinical type and complements C3 deposition were significantly associated with pathologic classifi-cation(rs = 0. 361,P = 0. 001). Sixty - two cases were rated as level 1(80. 5% ),and 15 cases was level 2(19. 5% );in different clinical group,rating in glomeruli was statistically different(χ2 = 17. 2,P = 0. 004). Renal tubular interstitial rating of all the patients were level 1(100% ). Conclusions The severity of urine protein,complements C3 deposition is associated with pathologic classification. Pathologic classification can basically reflect the renal damage in HSPN.

Objective To investigate the wall shear stress(WSS) in the common carotid artery of type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM) patients,and analyzed the spatial distribution of WSS by using quantitative visualization of blood flow shear stress analysis software.Methods Eighteen male type 2 DM subjects were enrolled as DM group and 18 age-matched healthy subjects were selected as control group.None of the participants was hypertensive,hyperlipidemic or a cigarette smoker.Intimal-medial thickness (IMT),number and size of plaques in the common carotid artery were evaluated by high-resolution echo-Doppler.Color Doppler flow images of common carotid arteries in the two groups were extracted from DICOM files.WSS in the common carotid arteries was calculated by shear stress visualization quantitative analysis software,and the corresponding spatial distribution maps of WSS were designed.Results WSS of the common carotid arteries in the control group were ranged from 4 to 14 dyne/cm2.WSS of the common carotid arteries in the DM group were ranged from 2 to 8 dyne/cm2.Compared to mean WSS value [(6.96 ± 1.17)dyne/cm2] of common carotid arteries in the control group,mean WSS value [(3.14 ± 0.79)dyne/cm2] of common carotid arteries in the DM group was significantly lower (t =9.380,P =0.000).Six diabetic participants had a plaque in one carotid artery and no lesions in the contralateral carotid.Among these subjects,mean WSS was significantly lower in the side with lesion (t =7.324,P =0.000).Therefore,IMT of common carotid arteries in participants was significantly inversely related to WSS (r =-0.76,P ＜0.01).Conclusions The common carotid arteries of DM patients are more prone to atherosclerosis which is associated with reduction of WSS.The hemodynamic profile might represent an additional factor contributing to the increased prevalence and severity of carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic patients compared with general population.

There are many different opinions about the taxonomy of plant pathogenic coryneform bacteria since they were departed from genus of Corynebacteria. In recent years, they were classified into 5 genus, including Clav-ibacter, Curtobacterium, Arthrobacter, Rhodococcus and Rathayibacter. Some new points of view about their taxonomy have been published thereafter. The changing of taxonomy is maily because of the methods'altering from old to new molecular and polyphasic taxonomy, and the latter is in continuously development. Taxonomy of plant pathogenic coryneform bacteria somehow depends on the cooperation of phytopathologists, microbilogists and other scientists.

0.05)and the TNM staging (P=0.55).A mild elevated compared other pathological classification was found in small cell lung cancer (0.191?0.275).Conclusions The results showed that RFQ-PCR was suitable for measurement of the mRNA level of PLKI in bronchoscopic bioptic specimens.This study suggest elevated expression of PLK1 might play a important role in development of lung cancer,so that PLK1 might be a potential tumor marker for Lung cancers.Advanced studies will be needed to clarify that PLKI mRNA level do not relate to TNM staging and pathological classification.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV)gene mutation at 1896 in precore region with genotype and replication of HBV and the liver function of patients.Methods:HBV precore 1896 site mutation,the genotype of HBV and serum content of HBV DNA were determined by PCR in 60 patients positive of HBV DNA.Chemiluminescence miacropaticle immunoassay(CMIA)was used for detection of serum HBeAg and HBeAb.Liver function parameters were ob- tained by routine biochemistry method.Results:The alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level in HBV with 1896 site mutation was significantly higher than that in the wildtype virus.Site mutation at 1896 had no correlation with HBeAg,HBV genotype and HBV DNA content.HBV DNA content in patient with genotype C was significantly higher than that with genotype B(P

To investigate the mechanism by which Schisandra Chinensis mediates the phenotypic transformation of microglia via microRNA-124 (miR-124)-based regulation of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, a model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of BV2 cells. Cells were treated with different doses of Schisandra Chinensis extract (SCE). MiR-124 inhibitors and negative control sequences (NC inhibitor) were transfected into LPS-induced BV2 cells and treated with SCE. The MTT assay was used for cell activity detection; an NO kit was used to measure NO release; ELISA kits were used to measure the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Microglia markers, including ionized calcium binding adapter molecule-1 (IBA-1) and arginase-1 (Arg-1), and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were evaluated by immunofluorescent staining. NF-κB p65, IBA-1, Arg-1, TLR4, myeloid differentiation primary factor 88 (MyD88), inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B kinases-α (IKK-α), IL-10, TNF-α were detected by immunoblot. SCE at concentrations ranging from 31.25 to 250 μg·mL^-1 had no significant effect on cell activity. SCE treatment significantly inhibited NO release induced by LPS (P < 0.001, P < 0.01), increased the level of IL-10 (P < 0.05), and decreased the level of TNF-α (P < 0.001). In addition, SCE significantly reduced the expression of TNF-α, IBA-1, TLR4, and MyD88 (P < 0.01, P < 0.001) and elevated the expression of IL-10, Arg-1, NF-κB P65 and IKK-α (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). SCE treatment could also promote the expression of miR-124 (P < 0.01). However, transfection with the miR-124 inhibitor increased TNF-α (P < 0.001), decreased the level of IL-10 (P < 0.05), increased the mRNA level and the protein expression of TNF-α and IBA-1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001), and decreased the mRNA level and protein expression of IL-10 and Arg-1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.01). In addition, the inhibition of TLR4 and MyD88 was attenuated. In conclusion, SCE appears to inhibit the activation of TLR4 signaling pathway by upregulating miR-124 so as to inhibit microglia M1 polarization and promote microglia M2 polarization.

Litsea cubeba is one of aromatic medicinal plant belonging to family Lauraceae. The roots, stems and fruits of L. cubeba have been widely applied as folk medicines in some districts in China for relieving rheumatism and cold, regulating Qi (meridian) to alleviate pain. Previous studies revealed that this species contains major alkaloids, in specific aporphines, and minor flavonoids, lignans as well. Related pharmacological investigations demonstrated its activities and clinical applications on cardiovascular diseases, anti-cancer, against rheumatoid arthritis, relieving asthma and anti-allergic effects, as anti-oxidants, and so on. As an effort for further exploration of this bioactive ingredients and potential drug development, this paper summarizes most phytochemical and pharmacological results. Further, future prospects are also included.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the key protein in regulating stress response. It can be activated under heat, oxidative or another stress conditions. Dominant-positive and dominant-negative HSF1 are two types of HSF1 mutants. Both of them gain the DNA binding activity in the absence of stress. In addition, dominant-positive HSF1 acquires transcriptional activity, which dominant-negative HSF1 does not acquire. In this paper, the progress of using these HSF1 mutants in the research of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular diseases will be discussed.
Genetic Therapy ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Mutant Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; therapy