Objective To explore the prognostic value of 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM)for target organ damage (TOD) in the elderly hypertension patients. Methods Two hundred and thirty two elderly hypertension patients who were involved at least one target- organ damage experienced 24 h ABPM. All subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the number of TOD and the clinical situation of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal complications. 24 h ABPM recordings of each group were compared with one another. Results The number of TOD were highly correlated with 24 h average systolic pressure, nighttime average diastolic pressure, abnormal circadian rhythm and pressure burden. The difference was significant between patients involved 3 TOD and those with 1 TOD(P

Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Nose Diseases ; etiology ; surgery ; Pancreatitis ; complications ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Ulcer

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the combined effect of octreotide and Dachaihu decoction on the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).METHODS:Wistar rats (n=50) were randomly divided into sham group, SAP group, octreotide group, Dachaihu decoction group and combination group.The quantity of ascites was measured.The levels of amylase, alanine aminotransferase and creatinine in the serum were examined.The morphological changes of the pancreatic tissues were observed by HE staining.The activation of NF-κB and IκBαexpression were determined by Western blot.The mRNA expression with ICAM-1 and IL-1 was detected by qPCR.RESULTS: Combined treatment with octreotide and Dachaihu decoction effectively reduced the quantity of ascites and the levels of amylase, alanine aminotransferase and creat-inine in the serum in SAP rats.Moreover, combined treatment significantly inhibited SAP-induced activation of NF-κB and decrease in IκBαprotein expression, accompanied by a decrease in ICAM-1 and IL-1 mRNA expression.CONCLU-SION:Combination of octreotide with Dachaihu decoction effectively attenuates SAP by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway and ICAM-1 and IL-1 expression.

Objective To probe the periodontal ligament regeneration following the implantation of bone marrow mesenchymal cells ( BMSCs ) sheet-collagen membrane-BMSCs sheet sandwich complex.Methods BMSCs cell sheet-collagen membrane-BMSCs sheet complexes were compounded on the root surface of teeth of Beagle dogs.All the dogs were killed on 4 and 12 weeks after implantation.Periodontal ligament regeneration was observed by radiological means, HE staining and Sirus-red staining.Results Compared with collagen membrane group and blank control group, there was a clearly periodontal ligament like tissue and Sharpey′s like fibres formation in test group only.Conclustion Cell sheet-collagen membrane-cell sheet sandwich complex can effectively improve the periodontal ligament regeneration.

Objective To analyze the sequence of microsatellite and the flanking sequence from four populations of Oncomelania hupensis. Methods We cloned 159 SSR-PCR amplification products of a commonly used primer, (CA)8RY, using O. hupensis genomie DNA as template, and sequenced 82 products Results The sequences obtained were novel O. hupensis genomic sequences but not repeat simple sequence. It was observed that 36 out of 82 clones contained microsatellites between priming sites.The flanking sequences of certain microsatellite were invariant. Both (GA/CT). and (TTAGGG/CCCAA)n were found in four populations of O. hupensis. However, (CAA)n were found only in O. hupensis from Fuqing,Fujian province and (TCTCTG), were found only in O. hupensis from Guichi,Anhui province and (GAA/TTC)n, (CAA/TTG)n, (CAT), were found only in O.hupensis from Puge,Sichuan province. Conclusion The results obtained by SSR-PCR should not be interpreted as the amplification of microsatellite loci, and analytical rules similar to those for Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA should be used. SSR-PCR could not make the most of the priority of microsatellite. It seems better to amplify the microsatellites with the primers designed on the basis of the flanking sequence.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play an important regulatory role in the plantarbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbiosis. However, the biological action of CDPKs in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains unclear. In the present study, a CDPK encoding gene, designated as DoCPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX193703), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods, for the first time. The full length cDNA of DoCPK1 was 2137 bp in length and encoded a 534 aa protein with a molecular weight of 59.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.03. The deduced DoCPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain and four Ca2+ binding EF hand motifs. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated that DoCPK1 was highly homologous (85%) to the Panax ginseng PgCPK1 (ACY78680), followed by CDPKs genes from wheat, rice, and Arabidopsis (ABD98803, ADM14342, Q9ZSA2, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis showed that DoCPK1 was closely related to CDPKs genes from monocots, such as wheat, maize and rice. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoCPK1 was constitutively expressed in the included tissues and the transcript levels were in the order of roots > stems > seeds > leaves. Furthermore, DoCPK1 transcripts were significantly accumulated in roots 30 d after fungal infection, with 5.16 fold compared to that of the mock roots, indicating involvement of DoCPK1 during the early interaction between D. officinale and Mycena sp., and a possible role in the symbiosis process. This study firstly provided important clues of a CDPK gene associated with OM symbiosis, and will be useful for further functional determination of the gene involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiosis.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, composed of MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K), MAPK kinase (MAP2K), and MAPK, is abundantly conserved in all eukaryotes. MAPK along with MAPK cascade plays a vital regulatory role in the plant-arbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbioses. However, the biological function of MAPK in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains elusive. In the present study, a MAPK gene, designated as DoMPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX297594), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The full length cDNA of DoMPK1 was 1 263 bp and encoded a 372 aa protein with a molecular weight of 42.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.07. The deduced DoMPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain (39-325) and MAP kinase signature (77-177). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that DoMPK1 was highly homologous (71%-85%) to MAPK genes from various plant species and was closely related to those from monocots. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoMPK1 was constitutively expressed in leaves, stems, roots and seeds, and the transcript abundance was not significantly different in the four included tissues. Furthermore, DoMPK1 transcript was markedly induced in roots at 30 d after fungal infection, with 7.91 fold compared to that of the mock inoculated roots, suggesting implication of DoMPK1 in the early D. officinale and Mycena sp. interaction and an essential role in the symbiosis. Our study characterized a MAPK gene associated with OM symbiosis for the first time, and will be helpful for further functional elucidation of DoMPK1 involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiotic interaction.

Objective To study the effect of the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger with antigout activity on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 in rats.Methods Healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (3 rats of each group):three groups of the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvi-cina Roger ( test groups, the low dose group, the middle dose group and the high dose group with equivalent to 1, 2, 4 g? kg -1, respectively), two positive control groups and one blank control group.The rats in the low dose, the middle dose and the high dose test groups were adminis-tered daily by gavage at corresponding dose of the petroleum ether frac-tion of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger for 10 consecutive days.The rats in positive control groups were treated by dexamethasone ( 100 mg? kg-1? d-1 , ip, daily for 4 days ) or phenobarbital ( 80 mg? kg-1? d-1 , ip, daily for 3 days ) .Blank control rats received equivalent volume of sterile normal saline daily by gavage for 10 consecu-tive days.The levels of CYP450 activity, mRNA, protein in rat liver mi-crosome were analyzed by LC/MS/MS or RP-HPLC-FLD, RT-PCR, Western blot, respectively.Results CYP1A2 activity, protein expression and mRNA levels were increased signifi-cantly in a dose-dependent manner with the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger at low, middle and high dose, respectively.Conclusion The petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachis-vicina Roger can induce CYP1A2 in rats, suggesting the potential of drug-drug interactions between the petroleum ether fraction of ethanol extracts of Polyrhachisvicina Roger and the inducers, inhibitors, or substrates of CYP1A2.

Objective To explore the expression of P -glycoprotein ( P-gp) in rat liver during acute inflammation ( AI ) and the possible mechanism involved.Methods Twenty rats were randomly divided into two groups:model group (n=10) and control group (n=10).The rats in model group were treated by a single 5 mg? kg -1 intraperitoneal injec-tion of lipopolysaccharide ( LPS).Control rats received equivalent injec-tion of sterile normal saline.The levels of P-gp, ubiquitinated P-gp and 26 S proteasome activity in both groups were analyzed by Western blot, immunoprecipitation and fluorescence detection, respectively. Results Compared to the control groups, ubiquitination levels of liver P-gp and 26S proteasome activity in model groups were significantly in-creased ( P<0.01 ) , accompanied by an decrease of liver P-gp protein expression level. Conclusion The participation of the ubiquitin -proteasome system in down-regulation of liver P-gp expression levels under AI conditions.

ObjectiveAnalyzing the left atrium and pulmonary vein morphologicallv by 64 multislice spiral CT(MSCT)scan to guide the catheter ablation of Atrial fibrillation.MethodsTwo hundred and thirty-two patients(146 cases in atrial fibrillation group and 86 cases in control group)received 64 MSCT examination of the left atrium and pulmonary vein.The incidence of anatomical variation of pulmonary vein was compared between atrial fibrillation group and control group. For each group,the anatomical morphology ot every pulmonary vein and the auricle of left atrium was analyzed, the diameter of the orifice of each pulmonary vein and the size of left atrium were measured.ResultsSixty-four MSCT of left atrium and pulmonary vein could demonstrate detailed connecting type between left atrium and pulmonary Veins and the possible anatomieal variation. Anatomical variation of pulmonary vein in this study accounted for 16.8% (39/232)of total sample. For both groups,orifices of pulmonary veins appeared oval and their superoinferior diameters were larger than their anteroposterior diameters. There was significant difference in the inner diameter of left atrium between atrial fibrillation group and control group[atrial fibrillation group:(39.47±8.98)mm,control group:(36.94 ±5.49)mm,P=0.02],while there was no difference in the diameters of orifices ot puhnonary veins between two groups [ superoinferior diameters of pulmonary veins in atrial fibrillation group:left-up(18.15±1.35)mm,left-down(16.96 ±1.18)mm,right-up(17.50±