OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of recipe for invigorating kidney on expression of estrogen receptors in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: The rats, which were given high-cholesterol diet after ovariectomy, were chosen as experimental subjects. After fed kidney-invigorating recipe for 16 weeks, the rats were killed and the levels of serum lipid and estradiol of these rats were examined. The expressions of estrogen receptor alpha and beta mRNAs in aorta, pituitary gland and hypothalamus, and the affinity of estrogen receptor-ligand were also detected. RESULTS: The kidney-invigorating recipe could increase the expression levels of estrogen receptor alpha and beta mRNAs in different parts such as aorta, pituitary gland and hypothalamus, and enhance the affinity of estrogen receptor-ligands. CONCLUSION: The recipe for invigorating kidney may meliorate atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rats by regulating the estrogen receptors.

Objective:The effect of “BU SHEN Decoction” on serum lipid, nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET), and micro structure of the endothelial cell was observed in experimental post menopause atherosclerosis rabbits.Methods: The post menopause atherosclerosis rabbit model was established by feeding high cholesterol diet after the rabbits had been given the castration operation and injected with bovine serum albumin. After “BU SHEN Decoction” had been given for 12 weeks, the blood sample was collected. Results: “BU SHEN Decoction” can decrease the serum cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG)( P

Objective To compare the effects of fluvastatin and valsartan on the inflammatory cytokines in the early stage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy and their protective effects on to diabetic nephropathy. Methods Ninety patients with early stage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy were divided into three groups, 30 patients receiving routine hypoglycemic agents (DN1) as control,30 patients receiving routine hypoglycemic agents plus valsartan (DN2) and the other 30 receiving routine hypoglycemic agents plus fluvastatin (DN3). Blood glucose, blood lipid,serum creatinine and C reactive protein(CRP),24-hour urine protein,urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and several inflammatory cytokine were measured before and after treatment. Results ( 1 ) No significant difference of the levels of serum CRP,TGF-β1,IL-6,TNF-α, IL-18 at the baseline were observedamong these three groups.In the DN2 group,after treatment,IL.6 was([15.99±2.87]ng/L and[17.64±2. 131 ,P <0. 05) ,TGF-β1 was ( [33.54 ±10. 69] μg/L and [40. 11 ± 12. 08] μg/L,t = -2. 921 ,P <0. 01 ),IL-18 was ( [139.65±66. 37] ng/L and [158.74±74. 20]ng/L,t = -2.053,P <0. 05),CRP was ( [5. 12±3. 54] mg/L and [6. 08 ±3. 39] mg/L, t = - 2. 072, P < 0. 05 ) after and before treatment, respectively. All abovemented indices significantly decreased after treatment. In the DN3 group, IL-6 was ( [15. 39 ±2. 77] ng/L ng/L,t = -3. 651 ,P <0. 01 ) ,TGF-β1 was ( [31.19 ±10. 48] μg/L and [37. 11± 11.76] μg/L,t = -2. 963,P<0.01),IL-18 was ([141.54 ±66.65] ng/L and [158.01±73.23] ng/L,t = -2. 182,P <0.05),CRP respectively. All abovemented indices significantly decreased after treatment No significant difference was observed on inflamaory factors after treatment between the DN2 and DN3 group ( P > 0. 05). (2) In the subgroup that there was no difference in blood pressure between before and after treatment in both the DN2 and DN3 group,in the DN3 group,UAER was ([63. 1 ±31.7] μg/min and[82.9±40.0] μg/min,t = -2. 145,P <0. 05) ,24 h total urokinase protein was ( [0. 14 ±0. 11] g/24 h and [0. 18±O. 15] g/24 h, t = - 2. 438, P <0. 05 ), microalbuminuria/urine creatinine was ( [ALb/Cr] [114. 7±68. 1] mg/g and [162.0±83.8] mg/g,t = - 2. 399, P < 0. 05 ) after and before treatment. All abovemention indices significantly decreased after treatment. In the DN3 group, UAER was ( [65.5 ±32. 6]μg/min and [83.5 ±42. 1]μg/min,t = - 2. 131, P <0. 05 ),24 h total urine protein was ( [0. 14 ±0. 11] g/24 h and [0. 18±0. 15] g/24 h, t = - 2. 438, P < 0. 05 ),0. 05 ) after and before treatment. All abovemention indices significantly decreased after treatment. No significant difference was observed after treatment between the DN2 and ON3 group ( P > 0. 05 ). Conclusion Both valsartan and fluvastatin are able to protect the renal function of patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy by decreasing the levels of urine proteins and correlated serum inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To investigate the effects on IL-6 and PGE2 expression in wear-particles-induced osteoblast cells by blocking calcium phosphatase (Cn)/ activated T nuclear factor (NFAT) pathway. Methods Fetal Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. Osteoblast were prepared from the calvariae of rats . Osteoblast cells were incubated in four group according to different supplementation:(1) neither Ti particles nor 11R-VIVIT (Control group), (2) only Ti particles (Ti group), (3) both Ti particles and 11R-VIVIT (Ti/VIVIT group), and (4) only 11R-VIVIT (VIVIT group). Cells were incubated for 96 hours and the expression of NFATc1 protein was detected by western blot. The expression of IL-6 and PGE2 in liquid supernatant of osteoblast were detected at 6, 24 and 96 hours by ELISA. Results The expression of NFATc1 in the Ti group was higher than that in the Control group (P < 0.01), but in Ti/VIVIT group that was significantly lower than in the titanium particle group (P < 0.01). The IL-6 and PGE2 expression in the supernatant of the Ti group were significantly increased than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The IL-6 and PGE2 in the Ti/VIVIT group were significantly lower than that in the Ti group (P < 0.05). Conclusions 11R-VIVIT peptide specific blockade of Cn/NFAT signaling pathway significantly inhibited IL-6 and PGE2 of osteoblast cells induced by titanium particles.

Objective To investigate the metabolic changes and the metabolites distribution of different hippocampal regions (head,body and tail)in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)using 1 H-MRS for early diagnosis.Methods The hippocampal multivoxel 1H-MRS at 3.0 T was scanned in 30 patients with AD and other 30 normal cognitive elders (NC)as contrast.The data obtained were processed at a workstation.The hippocampus was divided into 3 parts (head,body and tail),and the ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr),myoinositol (MI)/Cr and MI/NAA were calculated respectively.The metabolite ratios and distribution changes were compared between group AD and NC.Results Compared with the group NC,the NAA/Cr in group AD in bilateral hippocampal body and tail was decreased,whereas the MI/Cr and MI/NAA in bilateral body and tail,MI/NAA in left head were opposite (P<0.01).In group NC,the NAA/Cr was gradually decreased from the bilateral hippocampal heads to tails (P<0.01),however,the MI/NAA was opposite (P<0.01).No distribution differences in every metabolic ratios of bilateral hippocam-pus were found in AD group (P>0.05).Conclusion Metabolic changes and disappearance of the normal distribution in different hippocampal regions detected by 1 H-MRS provide helpful clues for early diagnosis of the AD.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model imitating post-menopausal atherosclerosis in rabbit and observe the effect of the herbal formula of tonifying-kidney on this animal model. METHODS: The New Zealand rabbits were treated with ovariectomy, high cholesterol diet plus immune injury, and both of ovariectomy and high cholesterol diet plus immune injury respectively. The blood lipid level and the intima and media of the aorta were observed. RESULTS: The rabbits treated with ovariectomy and high cholesterol diet plus immune injury changed markedly and had low level of estrogen, high levels of CHOL, TG and dysfunction of the arterial endothelium cells. however, the chinese herbal formula of tonifying-kidney could relieve these changes. CONCLUSION: The New Zealand rabbits treated with both of ovariectomy and high cholesterol diet plus immune injury could result in the changes imitating post-menopausal atherosclerosis, and it could be improved by the treatment of herbal formula of tonifying-kidney, so we think that the changes of the animal model are related to the deficiency of the kidney in traditional Chinese medicine.

PURPOSE: . To compare the sagittal condylar inclination (SCI) in dentate individuals measured by the different methods with mechanical articulator (MA), virtual articulator (VA), and a jaw tracking device (JTD) system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: . A total of 22 healthy dentate participants were enrolled in this study. For MA workflow, the SCI was obtained by a semi-adjustable articulator with protrusive interocclusal records. The SCI was also set on a VA by aligning intraoral scan (IOS) with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and facial scan (FS), respectively. These virtual workflows were conducted in a dental design software, namely VAIOS-CBCT and VAIOS-FS . Meanwhile, a JTD system was also utilized to perform the measurement. Intraclass correlation was used to assess the repeatability within workflows. The bilateral SCI values were compared by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test for each workflow, and Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc p-value Bonferroni correction were used to compare the differences among four workflows. The agreement of VAIOS-CBCT , VAIOS-FS , and JTD compared with MA was evaluated by Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: . Intraclass correlation of the SCI revealed a high degree of repeatability for each workflow. There were no significant differences between the left and right sides (P > .05), except for VAIOS-CBCT (P = .028). Significant differences were not found between MA and VAIOS-FS (P > .05). Bland-Altman plots indicated VAIOS-CBCT , VAIOS-FS , and JTD were considered to substitute MA with high 95% limits of agreement. CONCLUSION . The workflow of VAIOS-FS provided an alternative approach to measure the SCI compared with MA.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change of plasma level of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) in patients with coronary heart disease, and to explore the effect of hyperinsulinemia. METHODS: This study was carried out at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, China, from September 2009 to May 2010. Thirty patients with coronary artery disease (the CAD group) were confirmed by coronary angiography, 29 patients with CAD plus hyperinsulinemia (the CAD+HIns group), and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls (the control group). The peripheral blood sample from the anticubital vein was collected aseptically in all the subjects to measure the RBP4 by enzyme linked immunosorbent-assay (ELISA). The height, weight, body mass index (BMI) the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), the blood pressure, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG), the fasting insulin (Fins), the 2-hour postprandial inslulin (2hPIns), and the homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was measured. The lipids, high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), uric acid(UA), free fatty acids (FFA) were all examined. RESULTS: The level of plasma RBP4 in the CAD+HIns group was higher than that in the CAD group and the control group (both P<0.01), with no significant difference of plasma RBP4 between the CAD group and the control group (P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the plasma RBP4 level was significantly correlated with BMI, FPG, FIns, 2hPIns, HOMA-IR, TG, HDL-C, UA, and hsCRP (r=0.259, 0.331, 0.582, 0.452, 0.600, 0.236, -0.290, 0.243, 0.231, respectively; all P>0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that BMI, 2hPIns, and HOMA-IR were the independent factors related to RBP4. CONCLUSION The plasma level of RBP4 does not increase in the CAD group, but it is high in the CAD +HIns group. RBP4 level is related to BMI, lipids, UA, and other cardiovascular risk factors. BMI, 2hPIns, and HOMA-IR are the independent factors associated with RBP4.
Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; blood ; complications ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma ; analysis ; metabolism ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To establish rat models of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) induced by different methods,to assess the serum levels of several related hormones,to examine the morphological changes in the ovaries,and to discuss their significance.Methods Letrozol,sodium prasterone sulfate,or sodium prasterone sulfate combined with human chorionic gonadotropin were used to establish rat models of PCOS.Radioimmunoassay was used to measure the serum levels of hteinizing hormone(LH),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),estrogen(E_2),progesterone(P),testosterone(T),prolactin(PRL),and insulin(INS).HE staining was used to examine the morphological changes of the ovaries.Results Comparing with the normal group A,the serum FSH was increased and the serum progesterone was reduced in the group B,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The serum testosterone was significantly higher in the group B than in the group A(P<0.01).The levels of serum sex hormones and insulin were not significantly different in the group D and C(P>0.05).In comparison with the group C,the levels of serum testosterone and LH/FSH ratio was significantly increased in the group E.(P<0.05).Comparing with the group D,the serum levels of progesterone and testosterone were significantly increased in the group E(P<0.05).The ovaries in the rats of groups A and C showed almost a normal histyology,with mature follicles and dominant follicles.Polycystic changes were observed only in the ovaries of groups B,D and E.Conclusion At the aspect of affecting the level of sex hormones in serum and changing the ovarian morphology.adopting letrozol tablets or sodium prasterone sulfate combined with HCG to induce rat PCO model is more close to clinic manifestations and meets the criteria of PCO animals.In the rat PCOS models induced with letrozol or with sodium prasterone sulfate combined with HCG,either the serum levels of sex hormones and ovarian histology are quite similar to those of human clinical appearance,and may well meet the modeling requirements for future experimental studies of polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the plasma adiponectin concentration in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients combined with abnormal glucose metabolism, and to explore the clinical significance of adiponectin. METHODS: Eighty-seven hospitalized CHD patients confirmed by coronary angiography from August 2009 to April 2010 at Xiangya Hospital were enrolled and divided into 3 groups according to their glucose metabolic state: 31 patients were selected as a simple CHD group, 28 were selected as a CHD combined with impaired glucose tolerance group (CHD+IGT group), and the other 28 as a CHD combined with diabetes mellitus group (CHD+DM group). The 31 healthy subjects who got health checkup at the same time were enrolled as a normal control group (NC group). Plasma adiponectin was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The height, weight,waistline and blood pressure of all the subjects were checked, and the fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, lipids, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), free fatty acids (FFA), the liver function and the renal function were checked as well. The body mass index and the homeostasis model were assessed for insulin resistance. RESULTS: 1) Plasma adiponectin in the CHD group, the CHD+IGT group, and the CHD+DM group was all lower than that in the NC group (P<0.05); 2) Compared with the CHD group, the plasma adiponectin in the CHD+DM group was the lowest, followed by the CHD+IGT group, and there was significant difference in the 3 groups (P<0.05); 3) Plasma adiponectin level was positively related with the high density lipoprotein cholesterol-C (HDL-C) (r=0.483, P<0.01), while it was negatively related with the hs-CRP and Gensini score (r=-0.489, P<0.05;r=-0.252, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Plasma adiponectin concentration is reduced in the CHD patients, and significantly reduced in CHD patients combined with abnormal glucose metabolism. Plasma adiponectin concentration decreases significantly with the severity of abnormal glucose metabolism. CHD and the abnormal glucose metabolism are important influence factors for plasma adiponectin. That plasma adiponectin level significantly decreases may be the superimposed results of CHD and abnormal glucose metabolism. Plasma adiponectin combined with HDL-C, hs-CRP and Gensini score may provide the reference in the judgement of the severity of CHD patients with abnormal glucose metabolism.
Adiponectin ; blood ; Aged ; Coronary Disease ; blood ; complications ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged