Objective To study the effect of blood glucose variation on gastric emptying and ghrelin expression in diabetic rats,and to explore the relationship between the delayed gastric emptying and the ghrelin expression in different diabetic stages.Methods Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups:a normal control group(NC group),a diabetes mellitus group (DM group) induced by intra- peritoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ),and an insulin-treated group (INS group).After one and four weeks the gastric emptying was measured by intragastric administration of phenol red and the expression of gastric ghrelin was determined by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT PCR.Results After one week of STZ injection,the gastric emptying,the ghrelin integral optical density and the ghrelin mRNA expression decreased significantly in DM group compared to those in NC group and INS group(P0.05).Conclusion Short term hyperglycemia delay gastric emptying through the reduction of gastric ghrelin expression,while long-term hyperglycemia may enhance the expression and release of gastric ghrelin to stimulate food intake and maintain energy balance.

To measure the subfoveal choroidal thickness ( SFCT ) in myopia using Cirrus HD optical coherence tomography ( OCT ), and to explore the relationship between the SFCT, axial length and myopic refractive spherical equivalent.
● METHODS: One - hundred thirty - three eyes of 70 healthy volunteers were recruited, and were divided into emmetropia group, low- degree myopia, middle- degree myopia and high - degree myopia group. SFCT were measured by Cirrus HD OCT, and the relationship between the SFCT, axial length and myopic refractive spherical equivalent were evaluated.
●RESULTS: 1) Average SFCT was (275. 91±55. 74)μ m in normals, that in emmetropia group, low-degree myopia, middle- degree myopia and high - degree myopia group were (290. 03± 34. 82) μ m, (287. 64 ± 51. 51) μ m, (274. 95 ± 56. 83)μ m, (248. 37 ± 67. 98) μ m; 2) the SFCT of high -degree myopia group was significant thinner than that of emmetropia group (P< 0. 05); 3) There was a significant negatives correlation between the SFCT and axial length (P<0. 01), a significant positive correlation between SFCT and myopic refractive spherical equivalent (P<0. 01).
● CONCLUSlON: the SFCT is inversely correlated with increasing axial length and myopic refractive error.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of FOXP1 and Cyclin E gene in primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL) of immunocompetent patients on prognostic significance.

METHODSClinical data of 71 patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL from 2002 to 2007 was analyzed retrospectively. Immunohistochemistry method (HRP-EnVision(TM)) was performed to observe the expression of FOXP1 and Cyclin E gene in tumor tissue samples. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve, survival factors analysis by the Log-rank test and COX proportional hazards regression model.

RESULTSFOXP1 positive was observed in 35 of 51 patients (68.63%) and Cyclin E staining was present in 29 of 50 cases (58.00%). FOXP1(+) patients had a shorter overall survival (OS) than FOXP1(-) ones. 2-year OS rate in FOXP1(+) and FOXP1(-) patients were 23.33% and 73.56%, respectively(P = 0.0015). Cyclin E(+) patients had a shorter overall survival(OS) than cyclinE(-) ones. 2-year OS rate in Cyclin E(+) and Cyclin E(-) patients were 17.56% and 69.76%, respectively (P = 0.0017). Multivariate analysis showed that Cyclin E expression was an independent prognostic factor for shorter OS (P = 0.048). FOXP1 expression might be an important prognostic factor for shorter OS (P = 0.065).

CONCLUSIONCyclin E expression is an independent prognostic factor and FOXP1 expression is a possible prognostic factor for poor clinical outcome in patients with PCNSL.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin E ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To study the morphological characteristics of femurs of adult human and 11 kinds of adult animals from cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and to establish an effective species identification method among various species. METHODS: The 4 cm mid-diaphyseal segment of the femur from adult human (older than 20 years old) at autopsy was obtained. Addi-tionally, the 4 cm ones from 11 kinds of adult animals were obtained. After decalcification, all femurs were made into slices, and then were observed by optical microscope. The 25 indexes were selected and analyzed by step discriminant analysis according to differences between human and mammal, human and poultry, and human and 11 kinds of animals. RESULTS: The histological structure of bone mineral density of middle part of femur had obvious characteristics among the species. And the morphology and number of osteon showed the trend of obvious biological evolution. There were 11 indexes with significant differences between human and 11 kinds of animals to establish some mathematical models to discriminate all species. The correct discrimination rate was 96.3% between human and mammal. The correct discrimination rate was up to 100% between human and poultry, and was 89.4% among human, mammal and poultry. CONCLUSION The mathematical models have good correct discrimination rate among human and the other animals, which could be applied in the practical species identification cases.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Cats ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dogs ; Femur/ultrastructure* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Haversian System/ultrastructure* ; Horses ; Humans ; Sheep ; Species Specificity ; Swine

In recent studies some urea derivatives have been identified as potent anti-tuberculosis agents by targeting mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3). However, this compound series as exemplified by AU1235 exhibited poor in vitro pharmacokinetic profile. With AU1235 as the lead, we have identified a novel benzimidazole series as potential anti-tuberculosis agents by using scaffold hopping approach. Among these synthesized compounds, 2-aminobenzimidazole derivative 8b showed the potent anti-tuberculosis activity with the MIC value of 0.03 microg x mL(-1). This compound also showed improved metabolic stability compared to AU1235. Our investigation indicated that benzimidazole derivatives are the promising lead for further optimization as anti-tuberculosis agents.
Antitubercular Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzimidazoles ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Design ; Humans ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tuberculosis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo establish a stable mandibular fracture model with inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) mutilated for exploring the IAN influence to the expression of collagen I during mandibular fracture.

METHODSJapanese white rabbits were selected and IAN was liberated. The right was leaven as it is and the left was cut off, then 2 mm x 5 mm fracture model was made, and HE staining and chromotropic acid 2R-bright green staining and in situ hybridization of collagen I mRNA were made to detect mandibular fracture healing and collagen I mRNA expression.

RESULTSFracture healing was smooth in IAN conserved side, but delayed in the IAN mutilated side. Collagen I in situ hybridization showed that at one week and two weeks after surgery there were obvious differences between the two sides (P < 0.05), but no difference at three weeks after surgery and four weeks (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe IAN could regulate mandibular fracture healing, and influence collagen I mRNA earlier expression.

Animals ; Collagen ; Mandible ; Mandibular Fractures ; Mandibular Nerve ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and iron status using serum ferritin (SF) as a marker for total iron and to identify the related factors of iron nutritional status among preschool children.

METHODSBy cluster sampling, we recruited 475 preschool children aged 2 to 7 years. A structured questionnaire and diet form were sent to the parents of these children to obtain related information about the socioeconomic level and dietary intakes. After collecting blood samples, the following indexes were measured. Hp IgG antibodies were measured with a dot enzyme-linked immunoassay; hemoglobin, Hct, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood cell distribution width index (RDW) with automatic Complete Blood Count; SF with an immunoradiometric assay. Stool Hp antigen and occult bleeding were measured with ELISA among individuals who were Hp seropositive. Hp status was defined as positive when both serum and stool antigen tests were positive, Hp status was defined as negative when serum antigen test was negative; 24-hour weighting and recording methods were used to dietary survey for three days in May and December 2001, respectively, dietary intakes including energy, protein and micronutrient were calculated using nursery school nutrition software and evaluated by Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean ranks of SF in Hp-positive and Hp-negative children. To obtain an adjusted estimate of the impact of Hp infection on SF, a multivariate analysis of covariance was done to evaluate the different level of SF between Hp infected and non-infected status. The relationship between iron deficiency and gender, age, socioeconomic condition, iron intake, and calcium intake was assessed by univariate analysis. An unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. Iron deficiency status was dichotomized and placed as the dependent variable. Hp infection status was incorporated together with possible confounding factors as independent variables in a final logistic regression model. All the data were managed by EPI Info 5.01a and analyzed by SAS (Version 6.12).

RESULTSTotally 64 children were diagnosed as Hp-positive and 305 as Hp-negative. Mann-Whitney test and multivariate analysis of covariance both showed that SF concentration was significantly lower in Hp infected individuals than non-infected individuals. Adjusted mean level and 95% confidence interval of SF in infected and non-infected children was 23.62 microg/L (7.13 microg/L-78.26 microg/L), 33.48 microg/L (10.28 microg/L-109.06 microg/L), respectively. The relationship between Hp infection and iron deficiency status persisted in logistic regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounding factors (OR: 7.95; 95% CI 2.56 - 24.67).

CONCLUSIONIron nutritional status was reduced in Hp infected preschool children. Hp infection appears to be an independent risk factor or an added stressor on iron status among preschool children.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Helicobacter Infections ; blood ; Helicobacter pylori ; immunology ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nutrition Assessment

BACKGROUNDClinical outcome in patients with primary central nervous lymphoma (PCNSL) is variable and poorly predictable. This study investigated the association of clinical features and immune markers with prognosis of patients with PCNSL.

METHODSOne hundred and fifteen newly diagnosed PCNSL patients at the study institution were considered eligible for this study. Clinical characteristics and biochemical assay data were collected. Immunohistochemical staining of Cyclin D3, Cyclin E, Foxp1, and LMO2 were performed. All cases were followed-up regularly.

RESULTSThe common sites of involvement were frontal lobe (54.8%) and thalamus (16.5%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma composed of 96.5% of the cases. The median overall survival was 22 (4 - 41) months, and the 5-year survival rate was 22.8%. Age > 65 years, serum globulin > 40 g/L, large size of tumor, lymphocyte count ≥ 1 × 10(9)/L, and expression of Cyclin D3 and Cyclin E were associated with poor prognosis of PCNSL. Expressions of Foxp1, LMO2, and CD44 were not related to the survival. Expression of Cyclin E, large tumor size, and high serum globulin were independent prognostic factors for PCNSL.

CONCLUSIONSPCNSL prognosis is relatively poor. Age, high tumor burden, higher lymphocyte count, expression of Cyclin D3, and Cyclin E are inferior prognostic factors for PCNSL.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Central Nervous System Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin D3 ; metabolism ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; LIM Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effects of Cleistocalyx operculatus on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and on the trauma of PC12 cells induced by H2O2.

METHODThe mouse liver homogenate lipid peroxidation assay and PC12 Cell culture and Cell viability (MTT assay) were applied.

RESULTCleistocalyx operculatus showed strong protective effects on lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes in a dose-dependent manner and exhibited potent protective effects on the trauma of PC12 cells induced by H2O2 (200 micromol x L(-1)) when the concentration reached 1.00 g x L(-1).

CONCLUSIONCleistocalyx operculatus may be used as antioxidant to prevent or delay the pathogenesis of neural cell diseases.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Myrtaceae ; chemistry ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats