OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Linggui Zhugan Decoction (LZD) combined calorie restriction on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), the insulin resistance (IR), and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) of IR model rats.

METHODSTotally 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, the calorie restriction group, and the TCM + calorie restriction group, 12 in each group. Ordinary forage was given to those in the control group, and high fat diet was fed to those in the rest 3 groups for 12 weeks to establish the IR model. After successful modeling, rats in the control group and the model group were continually fed with the original farage for 4 days. The normal saline at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to them by gastrogavage. The normal saline at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to rats in the calorie restriction group by gastrogavage after 4-day calorie restriction. LZD at the daily dose of 20 mL/kg was given to rats in the TCM +calorie restriction group by gastrogavage after 4-day calorie restriction. The body weight, FPG, serum fasting insulin (FINS), insulin resistance index (IRI), and the protein expression of PPAR-y in the omental adipose tissue were compared.

RESULTSAfter 4-day calorie restriction, the body weight obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group and the TCM +calorie restriction group, when compared with the model group (P <0.01). There was no statistical difference between the former two groups (P >0.05). The FINS and IRI obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group (P <0.01, P <0.05). The FPG, FINS, and IRI significantly decreased in the TCM + calorie restriction group (P <0. 05, P <0.01). The protein expression of PPAR-gamma obviously decreased in the calorie restriction group and the TCM + calorie restriction group (P <0.01).The phlegm dampness state was alleviated, with more significant effects shown in the TCM + calorie restriction group.

CONCLUSIONSLZD combined calorie restriction could reduce the body weight, FPG, and IRI of IR rats. Besides, it showed better effects than calorie restriction alone. Its effects in improving IR might be correlated with inhibiting the activities of PPAR-gamma. Meanwhile, it might play a role in inhibiting the differentiation of fat cells.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Caloric Restriction ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-1 (CysLTR-1) and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-2 (CysLTR-2) in the adenoid tissues from children with adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and to explore the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of AH.

METHODSSixty children with AH who were treated by adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy were classified into two groups: simple AH and AH plus allergic rhinitis (n=30 each). Twenty children who underwent tonsillectomy due to recurrent purulent tonsillitis were selected as the control group. The expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the excised tonsil and/or adenoid tissues was determined by immunofluorescence histochemical labeling and integrated optical density measurement.

RESULTSThe expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the adenoid and tonsil tissues increased significantly in both the simple AH group and AH plus allergic rhinitis group compared with the control group (P<0.01). The expression of CysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 in the AH plus allergic rhinitis group increased more significantly compared with the simple AH group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCysLTR-1 and CysLTR-2 are highly expressed in the adenoid tissues from children with AH, suggesting that leukotrienes are involved in the pathogenesis of AH.

Adenoids ; chemistry ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Receptors, Leukotriene ; analysis ; physiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of serine protease Omi/HtrA2 in kidneys of postasphyxial neonatal rats, and to study the effects of Ucf-101 on apoptosis and the expression of Omi/HtrA2 in these rats.

METHODSSeventy-two neonatal Wistar rats of 7-10 days old were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, postasphyxial model, Ucf-101-treated postasphyxialThe postasphyxial model was established by normobaric asphyxiaExpression of Omi/HtrA2 was determined with streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry 2, 24 and 48 hrs after asphyxia. Terminal deoxynuleotidyl-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to ascertain the apoptosis of renal cells.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, OmiHtrA2 expression in renal cells began to increase 2 hrs after asphyxia and peaked at 24 hrs. The expression of Omi/HtrA2 in the Ucf-101-treated postasphyxial group was significantly lower than that in the postasphyxial model group (P<0.01). TUNEL-positive cells began to increase 2 hrs after asphyxia and peaked at 24 hrs in the postasphyxial model group when compared with the control group. The number of TUNEL-positive cells in the Ucf-101-treated postasphyxial group was significantly lower than that in the postasphyxial model group at all time points (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of Omi/HtrA2 in kidneys is increased in postasphyxial neonatal rats. The increased Omi/HtrA2 expression may play an important role in the development of postasphyxial renal injury. Treatment with Ucf-101 can reduce the expression of Omi/HtrA2 in kidneys of postasphyxial neonatal rats and thus reduce renal tububar epithelial cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Asphyxia Neonatorum ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 2 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Infant, Newborn ; Kidney ; chemistry ; Male ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyrimidinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Serine Endopeptidases ; analysis ; Thiones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results of ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation in treating old anterior dislocation of radial head in children.

METHODSFrom Jan.2004 to Jan.2010, 18 patients with old anterior dislocation of radial head were treated with open reduction for radial head and ulnar osteotomy and internal fixation, including 12 males and 6 females with an average age of (6.9 +/- 1.3) years (3 to 15 years). Among them, 15 cases had history of external injury, from injury to operation was for 5-65 months with an average of (24.0 +/- 5.5) months. Limitation of activity occurred in all patients including flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm, without radial nerve injury and obviously radial head deformation.

RESULTSAll incisions obtained primary healing and no nonunion, re-dislocation of radial head and nerve injury were found. All patients were followed up from 9 to 38 months with an average of (17.0 +/- 4.5) months. Union time of fracture was from 2.3 to 3.9 months with an average of (2.8 +/- 0.5) months. Postoperative activity in flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm improved significantly compared with preoperative. The clinical effects were evaluated according to Zhuyukui criteria, 14 patients got excellent results, 3 good, 1 fair.

CONCLUSIONUlnar osteotomy and internal fixation in treating old anterior dislocation of radial head in children can obtain satisfactory results and effectively improve the activities in flexion and extension of elbow joint and rotation of forearm and prevent re-dislocation of radial head.

Adolescent ; Bone Plates ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Joint Dislocations ; surgery ; Male ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ulna ; surgery

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of splenectomy in the treatment of relapsed/refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed in 30 cases with relapsed/refractory AIHA who were treated with splenectomy in our hospital. The pre- and post-operative blood routine indexes and responses were followed up. Results: Among the 30 relapsed/refractory AIHA patients, 20 were pure AIHA (including 13 patients with warm antibody AIHA, 2 with warm-cold double antibody AIHA and 5 with Coombs negative AIHA) and 10 were Evans syndrome. The short-term response was evaluated 10-14 days after operation, and the overall response rate (ORR) of short-term response was 90% [12 cases in complete response (CR), 6 cases in partial response (PR)] in 20 therapeutic evaluable cases. Among 13 patients with long-term follow-up data, except 3 patients with Evans syndrome died (2 cases were refractory to splenectomy, 1 case relapsed after surgery), the ORR of 10 patients with relapsed/refractory pure AIHA at 6 months and 12 months were 90% (9/10) and 70% (7/10), respectively, with a median follow-up of 14 (4-156) months. At the end of follow-up, 3 cases had maintained CR for more than 3 years. Conclusion: The short-term response of splenectomy as a second-line treatment for relapsed/refractory AIHA is satisfactory, and long-term outcome of splenectomy is up to 70% at 1 year. Approximately one-third of patients could maintain sustained remission.
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Splenectomy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons (ELIOT) in treatment of malignant bone or soft tissue tumors around the joints.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to April 2012, nineteen patients with malignant bone or soft tissue tumors around the joints were treated with ELIOT. The tumors were located around the knee joint in 8 patients, around the hip joint in 6 patients, around the elbow joint in 4 patients and around the shoulder joint in one patient. All of the patients underwent limb salvage surgeries. R0 resections were performed in 18 patients, while R1 resection was performed in one patient. The doses of intraoperative radiation ranged from 10 Gy to 22 Gy. The median dose was 19 Gy. More than one ELIOT fields were used in 10 patients because of the large tumor size.

RESULTSSeven patients suffered wound complications. No grade ≥ 3 acute toxicities were observed. One patient developed radiation ulcer and arterial fistula 15 months after surgery and ELIOT, and resulted in amputation finally (grade 4 late toxicity). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) 93 score was 26.26 ± 4.04 (87.5% ± 13.5%), with excellent to good extremity functions in 18 patients (94.7%). Four patients had local recurrences. The estimated locoregional control rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 81.9%, 73.7%, and 73.7%, respectively. Seven patients died of the diseases. The estimated overall survivals of the entire group of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years were 76.3%, 61.2%, and 51.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSELIOT is a safe and well-tolerable technique and could be widely used for patients with malignant bone or soft tissue tumors around the joints with acceptable rates of acute and late toxicity. There is positive significance for controlling the tumor local recurrence, preserving the joint function and improving survival quality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Elbow Joint ; Electrons ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Knee Joint ; Limb Salvage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Particle Accelerators ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the complications and short-term outcomes of patients receiving intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) for locally advanced and recurrent periarticular soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities.

METHODSTwenty-one adult patients with locally advanced and/or recurrent periarticular soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities treated with IOERT were included in this study. Among them 14 patients had recurrent diseases after prior operation and 7 patients with locally advanced disease with primary treatment. The total dose of radiation ranged from 11 Gy to 21 Gy of 6 - 12 MeV beta ray given by intraoperative radiotherapy after complete tumor resection with negative margins. Five patients were given external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with a total dose of 40 - 50 Gy, and 10 patients received chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 15 months. Five patients (23.8%) had tumor relapse, including one patients with local recurrence, one patient with regional recurrence, two patients with distant metastasis and one patient with local recurrence and distant metastasis. The actuarial local control rate at 1 year was 95.2% (20/21), and at 2 years was 90.5% (19/21). Acute skin toxicity (RTOG) within 3 months after surgery included grade I in 6 patients and grade II in 3 patients. Two year late skin toxicity (RTOG/EORTC) included grade I in 4 patients and grade II in 2 patients. Fibrosis included grade I in 3 patients and grade II in 3 patients. Six patients had joint dysfunction (3 patients with grade I and 3 with grade II) and 6 patients had healing problems. One patient got ipsilateral schiatic neuritis 9 months after IOERT. No adverse events occurred during surgery.

CONCLUSIONSIOERT brings tolerable complications of acute and late toxicities and favorable local control rate. IOERT should be followed by postoperative radiotherapy or increase the intraoperative radiation dose for locally advanced and recurrent sarcomas to get a better local control. Otherwise, distant metastasis is one of the main reasons of treatment failure, so chemotherapy should be added to the treatment regimen.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrophy ; etiology ; Electrons ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Extremities ; Female ; Fibrosis ; etiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Neoplasm, Residual ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; adverse effects ; Sarcoma ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Skin ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify gene mutations of a pedigree with inherited factor V (FV) deficiency.

METHODSThe activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FV activity (FV:C) and FV antigen (FV:Ag) tests were performed for phenotypic diagnosis. The genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the proband and all the 25 exons and their flanks of FV gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were screened by direct sequencing and the mutations were further confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion.

RESULTSAPTT, PT, TT, FV:C, FV:Ag of the proband were 249.2 s, 46.6 s, 17.9 s, 0.1% and 1.5%, respectively. FII, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX activities, vWF and Fg were within normal ranges. Taking the GenBank Z99572 sequence as the reference, four mutations were identified in FV gene of the proband. They were a heterozygous two bases deletion in exon 13 (2238 approximately 2239delAG) introducing a frameshift and a premature stop at codon 689, and a heterozygous missense mutation in exon 23 (G6410T) resulting in the substitution of Gly for Val at codon 2079, respectively. The proband's father and mother were heterozygous for G6410T and for 2238 approximately 2239delAG, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe severe FV deficiency of the proband is caused by a frameshift mutation of 2238 approximately 2239delAG and a missense mutation of G6410T, which haven't been identified before.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Factor V ; genetics ; metabolism ; Factor V Deficiency ; genetics ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Prothrombin Time ; Thrombin Time

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of polymorphisms of CDT1 and GMNN gene, two important genes participating in DNA replication, with the risk of sporadic breast cancer.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP) and the primer-introduced restriction analysis (PIRA)-PCR assay to genotype the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms in a case-control study of 427 breast cancer cases and 477 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population.

RESULTSNo significant association of the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms with the risk of breast cancer was found (adjusted OR:1.16, 95% CI:0.88-1.54 for CDT1 GA+AA genotypes and adjusted OR:0.90, 95% CI:0.67-1.21 for GMNN CA+AA genotypes). However, in the stratified analyses, a significant association of CDT1 GA+AA genotypes with breast cancer risk among subjects with family history of cancer was found (adjusted OR:2.21, 95% CI:1.20-4.09).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that the CDT1 838G/A and GMNN 387C/A polymorphisms may not play a major role in the etiology of breast cancer, but CDT1 variant may have a potential role only in genetically susceptible women.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Geminin ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

This study is to investigate the protective effects of the SB203580 against radiation induced mortality and intestinal injury of mice. A total of 67 male C57BL/6 mice (20.0-22.0 g) were matched according to body weight and randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, total body irradiation exposure (IR, 7.2 Gy) only, and IR (7.2 Gy) + SB203580 (15 mg x kg(-1)). 30 days survival rate was observed in the experiment. In intestinal injury experiment, the expression levels of caspase-3, Ki67, p53 and p-p38 were assayed in the mice intestine crypts. The results showed that the 30 days survival rate was 100% (control), 0 (IR) and 40% (IR+ SB203580), separately. Compared to the IR groups, the positive cells of caspase-3, p53 and p-p38 in crypt cells decreased 33.00%, 21.78% and 34.63%, respectively. The rate of positive cells of Ki67 increased 37.96%. Significant difference was found between all of them (P < 0.01). SB203580 potently protected against radiation-induced lethal and intestinal injury in mice, and it may be a potential radio protector.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism