China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; ultrastructure ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; virology

Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of scavenger receptor A on the catabolism of lipid emulsions and further to see if it differently affects long-chain triglyceride (LCT) and fish oil (FO) emulsions. MethodsA total of 24 C57BL/6J female mice, 10 to 12 weeks old, were randomly divided into 4 groups with 6 mice in each group. Two groups of mice were intravenously injected with dextran sulfate ( DexSO4 ) ( 1 mg/mouse) followed by intravenous injection of [1α, 2α(n)-3H] cholesteryl oleoyl ether [(3H)CEt] labelled LCT or FO emulsions (0.4mg triglycerde/mouse) at 2 minutes respectively, and other two groups were injected by saline as controls before injection of (3H)CEt labelled LCT and FO emulsions. Then, blood was drawn at fixed intervals to measure the radioactivities and the emulsion's fractional catabolic rates (FCR) were calculated. With the same procedures above mentioned, non-radiolabelled LCT and FO emulsions were intravenously injected to mice to determine liver uptake of lipid emulsions under electromicroscopy. Finally, THP1 cell line was used to examine the effects of DexSO4 on cell uptake of LCT and FO emulsions in vitro. ResultsPre-injection of DexSO4 to mice decreased the FCR of both LCT and FO emulsions at 72.38％ and 47.38％ respectively, as compared to controls ( P =0.020 ). Electromicroscopy showed that pre-injection of DexS04 decreased the uptakes of LCT and FO emulsions by Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells similarly. In hepatocytes, no lipid droplets existed in mice with LCT emulsion injection, whereas some lipid droplets were still shown in mice with FO emulsions but with less quantities compared to control mice.In vitro, addition of DexSO4 to medium decreased THP1 cell uptakes of LCT and FO emulsions ( P =0.003 and 0.008) by 30.74％ and 41.60％ respectively. However, no differences were found in the effects of DexS04 on cell uptakes between LCT and FO emulsions ( P =0.080). ConclusionScavenger receptor A plays important roles in catabolism of lipid emulsions to some extent, and it's effects on FO emulsions may be less than LCT emulsions.

Objective:To observe the effects of soybean isoflavones(SI) on uteri and uterine Er?,ER? expression in perimenopausal rats. Method:Female SD rats in age of 7-month-old were used as control and 11-month-old SD rats were divided into 5 groups,model group,diethylstilbestrol group and 3 test groups exposed to three doses of SI(ig:30,12,4.6 mg/kg?d) respectively for 35 d. Serum concentrations of estradiol(E2) ,testosterone(T) ,follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone(LH) were determined. Ultrastructure of uterine luminal surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Expression of ER? and ER? in the uteri were determined by immunohistochemistry. Results:Low dose SI significantly increased serum E2(P

0.05).The methyla tion rates were higher in tumor tissue than those in normal and adjacent mueosa(P

0.05), but the yields of four-year-old and five-year-old Dahuaye and Wuguangye samples were significantly higher than that of Xiaohuaye sample (P0.05). Conclusion The varieties of Dahuaye and Wuguangye are excellent in higher yield and better quality, and both of them can be used as origin seeds in the GAP plantation of C. chinensis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in the elderly. Methods The clinical characters of HCM in 70 elderly patients were retrospectively analysed. Results Among the 196 identified HCM patients, 70 were elders. Out of them, 7 patients(10.0%) were suspected as HCM according to the clinical symptoms, 29 patients (41.4%)were suspected as other cardiac diseases, 34 (48.3%) were diagnosed HCM due to other reasons. Among the 70 patients, 12 patients(17.1%) had history of cerebrovascular diseases, 54 (77.1%) manifested symptoms after 45 years of age and 4 (5.7%) showed no obvious symptoms. Among them, 18 patients were examined by UCG for two times and HCM was diagnosed at the second time. Conclusions HCM in the elderly is not an uncommon disease. The onset of cardiac symptoms is relatively late in the elderly HCM and frequently misdiagnosed; cerebrovascular diseases are commonly seen in elderly HCM patients.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and the mechanism of different dose hepatitis B immunoglohulin(HBIG)on prevention of HBV intrauterine infection and HBV S gene mutation. Methods HBV carrier mothers were randomly divided into three groups.Eighty-one HBsAg carrier pregnant women were divided into HBIG A group.HBIG B group and control group.Each subject in the HBIG A group received 200 U or 400 U(for HBsAg and HBeAg double positive carrier)intra muscularly at 3,2,1 month before delivery.Each subject in the HBIG B group received 200 U intra muscularly at 3,2,1 month before delivery.The subjects in the control group did not receive any treatment.Maternal blood samples were taken before HBIG injection and at delivery.Neonatal blood samples of all newborn infants after birth were taken before immunopropbylaxis.Their sera were ob tained to test HBV markers by enzyme immunoassay(EIA)and HBV DNA by fluorescence quantita- tive polymerase chain reaction(FQ-PCR),then to amplify and sequence HBV S gene region.Results The rate of HBV intrauterine infection in the HBIG group(14.5%)was lower than that in the control group(35.7%)(X~2=4.896,P=0.027).The rate of HBV intrauterine infection of newborns from HBsAg and HBeAg double positive carrier mother in the HBIG A group(37.5%)were lower than control group(100.0%)(X~2=7.273,P=0.007),while the rate was no different in the HBIG B group(71.5%)and the control group(X~2=2.637,P=0.104).Maternal HBsAg titer and HBV DNA level were of no difference among three groups before HBIG injection.Maternal HBsAg titers and HBV DNA levels of the HBIG A group were lower than those of the HBIG B group and the con- trol group at delivery.Among the 26 neonatal serum samples in the HBIG A group,10(38.5%)were positive for anti-HBs,while in the HBIG B group and in the control group,no neonatal serum sam- ples was positive.There was no significant difference of nucleotide and amino acid changes in the S gene between the HBIG group and the control group.Conclusions HBV infection in the uterus may be interrupted by injection HBIG intramuscularly before delivery.More efficacy would be found using variable HBIG dose according to different HBV virema and must be once more again injected just he- fore one week of delivery;anti-HBs transported to the fetus via the placenta and it's may be the im- portant mechanism of HBIG prevention.Asymptomatic HBsAg carrier mother received injections of HBIG before delivery should not influence HBV S gene mutation.Gene mutation of HBV is not the main factor in intrauterine transmission of HBV.

Objective To evaluate the clinical toxicity and efficacy of S-1 combined with γ-ray body stereotactic radiation therapy in treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.Methods Forty-five patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer were randomly divided into two groups.The combination group received γ-ray stereotactic body radiation therapy which was given isodose curve of 50 ％-60 ％,tumor encircling dose of 3.0-4.5 Gy per fraction depended on dimension of tumors,9-12 fractions.Combined with S-1 40 mg/m2,2 times/d,for consecutive twenty-one days for four courses.The control group was given γ-ray stereotactic body radiation therapy only.Toxicities and effects were evaluated according to the criteria of WHO and RTOG.Results The CR rates in combination group and control group were 30.4 ％ (7/23) and 13.6 ％ (3/22),the response rates were 91.3 ％ (21/23) and 63.6 ％ (14/22) (x2 =4.980,P =0.026).The rates of gastrointestinal tract side reaction in combination group and control group were 82.6 ％ and 68.2 ％ (x2 =1.267,P =0.260),myelosuppression in combination group and control group were 78.3 ％ and 63.6 ％ (x2 =1.171,P =0.279).The rate of Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade myelosuppression in combination group were higher than that in control group (x2 =4.874,P =0.027).The median progression-free survival (PFS) rates of two groups were 8 months and 6 months respectively (x2 =1.357,P ＞ 0.05),the median survival period were 17 months and 14 months (x2 =1.017,P ＞ 0.05),1 year survival rates were 60.9 ％ and 54.5 ％ respectively (x2 =0.184,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions S-1 combined with body gamma system treatment can improve local control rate and effective rate for inoperable patients with local advanced pancreatic carcinoma,and the adverse reactions are well tolerated.This method can be used as locally advanced pancreatic cancer chemoradiation safe and effective choice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of arecoline on hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats and to elucidate its possible mechanism.

METHODSForty five Wistar rats were fed with high fructose diet for 12 weeks to induce type 2 diabetic rat model. rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control group, model group and model group were treated with different dose (0, 0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg) of arecoline. After 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin level measured , mRNA expression of liver constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the protein expression of p-AKT and glucose transporter4 (GLUT4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS1.5 mg/kg arecoline could significantly decrease the level of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid, blood insulin level and liver G6Pase, PEPCK, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA level in type 2 diabetes rats. 1.5 mg/kg arecoline also could significantly increase CAR, PXR mRNA level and p-AKT and GLUT4 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONArecoline improved hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats by increasing the mRNA levels of CAR and PXR leading to the creased glucose metabolism and inflammation related genes expression.

Animals ; Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism ; Receptors, Steroid ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism