OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Spleen- strengthening decoction on GLP- 1 in patients with type II diabetes. METHODS: A randomized double- blind placebo- controlled test was conducted, and through observations for 8 wks, the changes of the two patient groups in plasma glucose, HbA1c, plasma GLP- 1 and Glucagon as well as TCM symptom score were measured for comparison. RESULTS: Before administration of Spleen- strengthening decoction, the two groups showed no significant difference in all of the indexes. After administration, the treatment group recorded lower indexes in fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and plasma Glucagon, but higher index in fasting plasma GLP- 1, with no significant difference seen in other indexes. CONCLUSIONS: Spleen- strengthening decoction can improve glucose metabolism through heightening fasting plasma GLP- 1, and lowering both Glucagon and fasting plasma glucose.

Objective To find an efficient plan for the arrangement of the beds in hospital so that the beds-operating efficiency can be raised and the requirement of patients can be perfectly met. Methods According to the data analyzed via the method of mathematical statistics, optimizing model was built and automatic stimulation program was generated as well as conducted by matlab software. Results The characteristics of bed-occupation condition was acquired by data analysis, the result of optimizing model was stimulated by program and the most efficient plan emerges which was obviously better than the original FCFS (First Come First Serve) Plan. Conclusion The mathematical model built up is of great maneuverability in the practical situation to ameliorate the management efficiency of hospital beds considerably.

OBJECTIVE To set up an intranasal ovalbumin-induced animal model of allergic rhinitis(AR) accompanied with olfactory dysfunction in mice. By observing the olfactory pathway in mice using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) and the relatively morphologic structural and immunological changes in olfactory epithelium, the influence of AR on olfactory receptor neurons(ORNs) was studied.METHODS Forty SD mice were randomly divided into two groups, the research group(n=30) and the control group(n=10). The research group was intraperitoneally injected and intranasal application of ovalbumin to establish an AR mice model. The olfactory function of the mice was evaluated by buried food test(BFT). ELISA was performed to measure the level of IgE in serum. MEMRI images were acquired with a 7.0 T micro-MR scanner. HE staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the tissues morphology change of olfactory mucosa and OMP expression.RESULTS The olfactory function evaluation of the AR mice model indicated that the incidence of olfactory dysfunction in AR mice was 40.0%. The AR mice with olfactory dysfunction had no signal enhancement in MEMRI. The olfactory epithelium became thinner, layer numbers of ORNs were decreased with disorder arrangement and the OMP expression was decreased in AR mice with olfactory dysfunction compared with that in AR mice without olfactory dysfunction(P=0.018) and the control group(P=0.0141).CONCLUSION An animal model of AR accompanied with olfactory dysfunction in mice was successfully established. The influence of AR on ORNs and thus cause the change of the olfactory pathway is one of the major pathogenesis of olfactory dysfunction in AR.

Objective To investigate the expression and activity of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in the cavernous vascular structural remodeling of diabetic rats.Methods 52 adult male SD rats were randomly assigned to experimental group(DM) and control group(NDM).In DM group,diabetes was induced in rats 4 days after intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin.HbA1c was measured on 2,4,8,and 16 weeks after injection.Penile tissues were harvested.The protein expression of TGFβ1 and eNOS in situ was evaluated by the Envision immunohistochemistry.Results Compared to NDM group,the expression of the HbA1c increased significantly in DM group on the 16th week(P ＜0.01),both the penile erection rate and penile erectile times decreased significantly in DM group on the 16th week (P ＜ 0.01),and the value of eNOS decreased on the 16th week(P ＜0.01).The expression of TGF-β1 went up in DM group compared to NDM group on the 8th week (P ＜ 0.01) and sustained to the 16th week (P ＞ 0.05).In DM group,we found that TGF-β1 protein in cavernous body of penis was positively related with age in weeks(r =0.947,P ＜0.01) ; and eNOS in cavernous body of penis was negatively related with age in weeks (r =-0.945,P ＜ 0.01).Meanwhile,the expression of TGF-β was negatively related with the eNOS(r =-0.891,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Our results indicate that TGF-β1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic erectile dysfunction(ED) and TGF-β1 inhibition may be a promising strategy to prevent development of diabetic ED.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound miniature probe(UMP)examination in tumor invasion(T staging) and local lymphatic node metastasis(N staging) for colorectal carcinoma. Methods Preoperative UMP examinations(12 MHz) were performed on 53 patients with colorectal carcinoma undergoing surgeries.The diagnosis accuracy of UMP examination in T and N staging was determined by comparison of the results of operation exploration and histopathologic findings. Results The accuracy in T staging for colorectal carcinoma was 86% with UMP examination,and that for early stage colorectal carcinoma was 100%.The accuracy,sensitivity and specificity in N staging for colorectal carcinoma were 81%,77%,and 84%,respectively with UMP examination. Conclusion UMP examination works well in determining T stage of colorectal carcinoma,especially for early stage colorectal carcinoma and those with tumor stenosis.

BACKGROUND:Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty have been widely applied in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture. However, cement leakage is a major problem in the application of this technology, especial y for the vertebral posterior wal ruptured patients. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of high viscosity bone cement and vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture. METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted in 20 cases receiving high viscosity bone cement and vertebroplasty surgery for osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture. Clinical outcomes were evaluated mainly with use of Visual Analog Scale for lower back pain. Function of lower back pain was assessed using Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated using 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and Frankel score was applied to evaluate neurological function. The anterior vertebral height of the fractured vertebrae was assessed with X-ray. The bone cement leakage, pulmonary embolism, incidence of nearby vertebral fractures and other complications were evaluated during fol ow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al patients were fol owed up for 12-18 months. The anterior vertebral height of the fractured vertebrae, the lower back pain and function, and quality of life were improved significantly after treatment (P<0.05). Al patients got the same neurological symptoms before surgery. The bone cement dispersion was good after treatment, detected by X-ray and CT scan, only two cases appeared with bone cement leakage, but no clinical symptoms were found. There was no cement toxicity or al ergic complications, pulmonary embolism, infection, nerve injury or new fractures. The high viscosity bone cement used in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures can significantly relieve thoracic back pain, improve lower back function and quality of life, and greatly reduce the risk of bone cement leakage.

Objective To assess the clinical outcomes of glutamine supplementation in neonates.Methods The study was designed as a double-blind randomized controlled trial.Totally 100 infants were randomly divided into 5 groups with 20 infants in each group:control group:standard parenteral nutrition (PN);PNI group:PN supplemented with 0.3 g/ (kg·d) glutamine;enteral nutrition (EN) 1 group:EN supplemented with 0.3 g/ (kg·d) glutamine;PN2 group:PN supplemented with 0.3 g/ (kg·d) glutamine;and EN2 group:EN supplemented with 0.3 g/ (kg·d) glutamine,The primary endpoints were the time to establish full enteral nutrition [defined as receiving 120 ml/ (kg·d) enterally],episodes of gastric residuals,total duration of PN,and mortality.The second endpoints were weight gain and head circumference gain,liver function,renal function,days on ventilator,and length of hospitalization.Results Time to achieve full enteral nutrition,incidence of gastric residuals,duration of PN,weight gain (g/d) ,head circumference gain (cm/w),liver function,renal function,and length of hospitalization were not significantly different among all five groups.Days of mechanical ventilation were significantly decreased in PN1 group and PN2 group when compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Intention-totreat analyses showed that,when compared with the control group,PN1 group:RR:1.053;95% CI:0.952-1.164;ENI group:RR:1.333,95% CI:1.035-1.717;PN2 group:RR:1.053,95% CI:0.952-1.164;EN2 group:RR:1.25,95% CI:1.004-1.556.Conclusions Glutamine supplementation may not be able to decrease the time to achieve full enteral nutrition,the incidence of gastric residuals,and the duration of PN.However,pareneral glutamine supplementation does reduce the days on ventilator in neonates.Also,parenteral glutamine supplementation has no obvious influence on mortality.

Objective To investigate the effect of phosphatidylinesitol-3 kinase/serine threonine kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway on expression of beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) in the hippocampus neurons of rat brain. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control group, sham-operated group, insulin group and wortmannin group. Insulin or the specific inhibitor of PI3K, wortmannin was injected into hippocampus neurons to activate or inhibit the signaling pathway in insulin group or wortmannin group, respectively. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot were used to analyze the proteins levels of PI3K/Akt and BACE1. Results In insulin treatment group,among the proteins downstream of signaling pathway, expression of Akt increased (0. 952±0.060 vs 0.835±0.029,t=4.9150, P=0.0001), phospho-Akt set473 increased (0.800±0.075 vs 0.657± 0.025,t=4.5598, P=0.0002), phospho-GSK-3α decreased (0.604±0.062 vs 0.726±0.041, t= 3.5871, P=0.0018 ), and the expression of mature BACE1 and β-CTF significantly decreased. In wortmannin group, the expression of Akt and phospho-Akt ser473 were inhibited; phospho-GSK-3α increased ; mature BACEI (1.004±0.096) and β-CTF (1.031±0.048) increased (t=11.5980, P= 0.0000 and t =4.2194, P =0.0004, respectively). Conclusions PI3K/Akt signaling pathway might effect the expression of BACE1, in which impaired signaling pathway may cause the amyloid precursor protein to be easily processed by BACE1, and thus involves the pathology of Alzheimer' s disease.

Objective: To develop a method for determination of carnitine in serum using HPLC. Methods: The serum proteins were precipitated by acetonitrile and methanol. The organic extract was added derivatizing reagent and the solution was warmed to 60℃ for 2 hours. Atlantis C18 column (4.6 mm?150 mm,5?m)was used as stationary phase and methanol-ispropand-acetonitrile (35∶45∶20,v/v) as mobile phase; flow rate 1.0ml/min, UV wavelengh at 260nm. Results: The typical chromatogram from serum samples showed clear separation of carnitine. Y= 8490X-48200, r= 0.9999. Intra-day RSD was 1.6%-13.2%, and inter-day 1.8%-12.1%. The recovery rate was 98.5%. Conclusion: A method for determination of carnitine in serum using HPLC by adding derivatizing reagent was developed and it is simple, rapid and precise, and can be used for clinical test.

Objective To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) on apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell. Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 orthotopic implantation tumor model was established in nude mice. Primary pancreatic cancer cells and that derived from lymphatic metastasis were primarily cultured. Expression of VEGF-C was inhibited through antisense oligodeoxynucleotide in vitro transfection. Reverse transcription polynlerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometer were used to detect the effect of VEGF-C on apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells and bcl-2. Results After in vitro transfection, mRNA expression level of VEGF-C in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells significantly decreased (P ＜0. 01 ). Apoptosis rate of pancreatic cancer cells derived from spontaneous lymphatic metastasis was (2. 83 ± 1.01 ) %, ( 4. 98 ± 2. 05 ) %,and ( 13.22 ±2. 17) % respectively for control group, SODN group and ASODN group after in vitro transfection among which apoptosis rate in ASODN group increased significantly (P ＜0. 01 ). However, apoptosis rate for pancreatic cancer cells derived from primary tumor had no obvious change (P ＞0.05), with (3.51 ±1.38)%, (4.76 ±2. 16 ) %, and (5. 33 ± 2. 18 ) % respectively in control group, SODN group and ASODN group. The expression level of bcl-2 in pancreatic cancer cells derived from spontaneous lymphatic metastasis decreased significantly (P ＜0. 05) while it had no obvious change in primary pancreatic cancer cells (P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusion To inhibit expression of VEGF-C in pancreatic cancer cell can promote apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell, which is relevant to downregulation of bcl-2;however, it has no obvious effect on primary pancreatic cancer.