Effect of saikosaponin-d on rat's glomerular mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix hyperplasia in vitro / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) proliferation and hyperplastic extracellular matrix (ECM) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to provide experimental proof for its use in prevention and treatment of glomerulosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat's MCs were cultivated and identified. The cultured MCs were stimulated by LPS and incubated with different concentrations of SSd. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, LDH assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Type IV collagen (Col IV), fibronectin (FN) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the conditioned medium were measured by ELISA. The expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), c-Jun and c-Fos were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treated by SSd, MC proliferation was inhibited, cells in G0/G1 phase increased, and apoptosis induced. Moreover, secretion of Col IV, FN and TGF-beta1 and the expressions of CDK4, c-Jun and c-Fos in MC were inhibited.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The inhibitory action of SSd on glomerulosclerosis was realized through inhibiting the expressions of CDK4, c-J un and c-Fos.</p>

Study on tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in Northern Chinese population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To emphasize early differential diagnosis from patients with hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and to evaluate the treatment and long-term outcome of patients with tetrahydrobiopterin synthase (BH4) deficiency in Northern Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1992 to 2005, a total of 618 patients with HPA were diagnosed and/or cared for in our outpatient clinic. Urinary pterin analysis, detection of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in blood, and then BH4 loading tests were carried out to differentiate BH4 deficiency in these patients from classical phenylketonuria. BH4 deficient patients were treated with BH4, levodopa and 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) immediately while the diagnosis was done to disease. Patientso blood phenylalanine levels, psychomotor and intelligence development were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 38 cases were diagnosed as BH4 deficiency, all of them were revealed as 6-pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency from the extremely decreased urine biopterin, normal DHPR activities and drop down of blood phenylalanine level to normal range within 4 to 8 hours after BH4 loading. The most common manifestations were progressively psychomotor and mental retardation to patients even after taking early dietary treatment. The patients were diagnosed and treated with drugs at the ages of 2.1 months to 13 years. With 4 patients died of pneumonia, 7 patients refused to treatment, only 27 patients were under treatment and followed up. The average full scale development or intelligence quotient (DQ/IQ) of patients who were treated within and after 6 months were 86+/- 10 or 66+/- 7 respectively. Development was not even in different aspects. A significant negative correlation was observed between the level of the DQ and the age of treatment commenced (r was -0.714, P< 0.01). Eleven patients experienced the extrapyramidal movement disorders, 3 of them combined with epilepsy. The extrapyramidal disorders were controlled by administration of levodopa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The differential diagnosis for BH4 deficiency should be carried out in all patients with HPA. PTPS deficiency is the most common form of BH4 deficiency in Northern Chinese population. The long-term outcome of these patients benefits from diagnosis and treatment with BH4, levodopa and 5-HTP as early as possible.</p>

Effect of hospice care on the quality of life and psychological state of aged mortal inpatients / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the influence of hospice care on the life quality and psychological state of aged mortal inpatients.@*METHODS@#Seventy-six aged patients were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=38). The research group was treated with hospice care, while the control group was treated with conventional nursing. Before and after more than one month of the interference, the quality of life, social support, satisfied degree, anxiety, and depression mood were investigated.@*RESULTS@#All the indexes, such as total scale of life quality, appetite, spirit, sleep, family comprehension and coordination, recognition of cancer, attitude to therapy, and facial expression of the mortal inpatients after the interference, were raised and higher than those of the controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Life satisfaction index and the total scale of social support and subjective support, utilization ratio of support were raised and higher than those of the controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The level of anxiety and depression was decreased and lower than the control (P<0.05 or P<0.01).@*CONCLUSION@#Hospice care can raise the life quality, subjective support, utilization ratio of support and life satisfaction of aged mortal inpatients. It could decrease the negative mood, such as anxiety and depression and improve the psychological state.