Comparison on radiation effective dose and image quality of right coronary artery on prospective ECG-gated method between 320 row CT and 2nd generation (128-slice) dual source CT.

This retrospective study was to compare the image quality of right coronary artery (RCA) and effective radiation dose on prospective ECG-gated method between 320 row computed tomography (CT) and 2nd generation (128-slice) dual source CT. A total of 215 candidates underwent CT coronary angiography using prospective ECG-gated method, 120 patients enrolled in 320 row CT group, and 95 patients in dual source CT group. We divided RCA image quality scores as 1/2/3/4, which means excellent/good/adequate/not assessable and heart rates were considered, as well as the radiation dose. There is no statistically significant difference of RCA image quality of Score 1/2 between 320 row CT and 2nd generation dual source CT, but lower heart rate (<70/min) improved RCA image quality. Meanwhile, the 2nd generation dual source CT scan have significant lower radiation dose. For patients with high level heart rate variation, both prospective ECG-gated method of 320 row CT scan (Toshiba) and 2nd generation dual source CT scan (Siemens) basically provided good image quality on RCA. There is an advantage of effective radiation dose reduction in prospective ECG-gated method using the 2nd generation dual source CT scan. After the iodine contrast agent was injected into elbow vein, the threshold triggering method was used to carry out prospective gated scanning, and the acquired fault image was reconstructed by the standard post-processing software of each manufacturer. The radiation dose value is obtained through the dose report automatically generated after each scan.

[Protective effect of Ginseng Guipi Pill on liver injury in rats with spleen failing to control blood syndrome and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Ginseng Guipi pill on rats with spleen failing to control blood syndrome and its effect on liver. Methods: Forty SPF male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10) and experimental group (n=30). For the first 42 days, the experimental group swam for 30 minutes every day, eating for one day and fasting for two days (diet disorder). On the 43rd to 72nd day, the rats were injected with low-molecular-weight heparin calcium to induce hemorrhage on the basis of exhaustion of swimming and diet disorder to construct a rat model of spleen failing to control blood syndrome. Those thirty rat that successfully established the model were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10), model control group (MD), natural rehabilitation group (NR) and Guipi Pill group (GP). On the 73rd to 103rd day, the MD group continued to apply factors (exhausted swimming, eating disorder, and injection of low-molecular-weight heparin calcium), the NR group and the GP group stopped applying the factors , the GP group was daily administered with Ginseng Guipi Pill solution (0.2 g/ml, 10 ml/(kg·d)) , and the NR group was given an equal dose of saline. After the 103 days, blood and liver samples were collected, and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and total protein (TP) content were detected, the number of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) content and hematocrit (HCT) were detected, the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were determined by ELISA kit, the levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase3 in liver tissue were detected by Western blot. The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase3 mRNA in liver tissue were detected by real-time PCR. Results: Compared with the control group, the serum levels of ALT, AST and TBil in the model group were increased significantly, while the serum level of TP was reduced significantly (P＜0.01), the number of RBC, HGB content and HCT were decreased significantly (P＜0.01), the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were increased (P＜0.05), the Bcl-2 protein and mRNA levels were reduced, Bax and Caspase3 protein and mRNA levels were increased significantly (P＜0.01); Compared with the model group, the serum levels of ALT, AST and TBil were significantly lower in the natural rehabilitation group and the Guipi Pill group, the level of TP was increased significantly (P＜0.01), the blood RBC, HGB and HCT were increased significantly (P＜ 0.01), the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased (P＜0.05), the levels of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were increased significantly, the Bax, Caspase3 protein and mRNA levels were decreased (P＜0.05); Compared with the natural rehabilitation group, the serum levels of ALT, AST and TBil were reduced , and the TP content was increased significantly in the Guipi Pill group (P＜ 0.01), the number of RBC was increased significantly in the Guipi Pill group (P＜0.05), the levels of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were increased (P＜0.05),the level of Caspase3 protein was decreased (P＜0.05), the expression of Bax mRNA was reduced significantly (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Ginseng Guipi Pill has protective effect on liver injury in rats with spleen failing to control blood syndrome. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition the liver cell apoptosis and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

[Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with the stem and leaf of blacktartary buckwheat and its effects on the pancreas and spleen].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of the black buckwheat leaf (BBL) in type 2 diabetes mellitus mice and its effects on pancreas and spleen. METHODS: Forty male C57 / B16 mice (SPF) were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group (n=10) and the experimental group (n=30), the experimental group were fed with high sugar and high fat, combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin in small dose to establish the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Those thirty model mice were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10), diabetes mellitus group (DM), low dose of BBL (DM+L) treated group, high dose of BBL (DM+H) treated group. The mice in the NC group and the DM group were given normal saline per day, and the DM+L group and DM+H group were treated with black tartary buckwheat at the doses of 0.21g/kg·d-1 and 0.42g/kg·d-1 respectively. After 14 days. All mice were executed by cervical dislocation, then blood samples were collected, pancreas and spleen were removed for subsequent experiments. The serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCH) and insulin were detected. TNF-α protein in spleen tissue was detected by ELISA kit. The morphology of pancreas tissue was observed by HE staining, and the spleen coefficient was calculated. The expression levels of insulin receptor substrate-1(IRS-1) mRNA and IRS-1 protein in pancreatic tissue were detected. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the serum levels of FBG, TC and TCH in the model group were increased significantly, while the serum level of insulin was decreased significantly (P＜0.05), the expression of TNF-α protein in spleen tissues was obviously raised, the expressions of IRS-1 mRNA and IRS-1 protein in pancreatic tissue in model group were decreased significantly (P＜0.05). Compared with the model group, the serum levels of FBG, TC and TCH were decreased significantly in the BBL treated groups. The serum insulin level, spleen coefficient, TNF-α protein expression level in spleen tissue, IRS-1 mRNA expression and IRS-1 protein expression levels in pancreatic tissue in BBL treated group were increased significantly (P＜ 0.05). High-dose black tartary buckwheat leaves (0.42g/kg·d-1) exerted a more significant effect. CONCLUSION: Stem and leaf of black bitter buckwheat has significant therapeutic effects on reducing blood sugar and blood fat in type 2 diabetic mice, and has certain protective effects on pancreas and spleen of diabetic mice.

[The effect of AdipoRon on insulin sensitivity of mouse skeletal muscle cells and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of AdipoRon, an adiponin receptor agonist, on insulin sensitivity in mouse myoblast cell line (C2C12) and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: C2C12 was induced to differentiate into myoblasts by using horse serum. Then the cells were divided into 6 groups (9 double wells):blank control group, high dose AdipoRon group, low dose AdipoRon group, insulin group and the low dose AdipoRon with PI3K inhibitor (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase) group and the insulin with PI3K inhibitor group. After cultured for 12 h, the supernatant was collected and glucose consumption was measured. Cell proliferation was tested by using CCK8. In the 6-well plate, C2C12 was induced to differentiate into myoblasts. The drug was incubated for 12 h and the mRNA level of GLUT4 was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the levels of glucose consumption in high dose AdipoRon group, low dose AdipoRon group and insulin group was increased significantly (P<0.05). After adding PI3K inhibitor, the levels of glucose consumption in the above mentioned three groups were not different from that in blank control group. high dose AdipoRon group, low dose AdipoRon group and insulin group had proliferation, but only the insulin group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of GLUT4 mRNA in AdipoRon high dose group, low dose AdipoRon group and insulin group were all higher than those in control group (P<0.05). After adding PI3K inhibitor, GLUT4 mRNA level was not statistically significant compared with blank control group. CONCLUSIONS: AdipoRon can increase the consumption of glucose without affecting cell proliferation, which may play a role in improving insulin sensitivity, but the specific mechanism remains to be further studied.

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid from Royal jelly: a potential medicine for RA.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) are known to produce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cause joint destruction. The purpose of this study is to develop a potential medicine for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: To this end, first, the MMPs inhibition factor was purified from an alkali-solubilized fraction of RJ (Apis mellifera) by C18 reverse-phase column chromatography and identified as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA) by LTQ XL analysis. Next, Experimental test 10H2DA how to inhibited the activities of MMPs: with RASFs isolated from rheumatoid tissues by enzymatic digestion, cultures in monolayers were treated with 10H2DA (0.5mM, 1mM, and 2mM) or PBS for 2h followed by stimulation with TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) for 2h, mRNA. Protein levels of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were measured by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the DNA-binding activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and the protein kinase activity of p38, ERK and JNK by kinase assay. RESULTS: The molecular investigation revealed that the 10H2DA-mediated suppression was likely to occur through blocking p38 kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase-AP-1 signaling pathways. In contrast, 10H2DA had no effect on extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity, NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity and IkappaBalpha degradation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that 10H2DA may be of potential therapeutic value in inhibiting joint destruction in RA.

[Regulating effects of Paecilomyces cicadae polysaccharides on immunity of aged rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Paecilomyces cicadae polysaccharide (PCPS) on the immunological function of aged rats in vivo. METHOD: The young and old rats were administered with normal saline as control groups, and the rats from test group were sc given 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) dosage of PCPS for 3 weeks. The phagocytizing rate and index of PMphi, AMphi to S. aureas were observed, and the colorimetric MTI was used to analyze the proliferative activity of spleenocytes which had been stimulated with ConA or LPS. We also inspected the ability varing of ACP, LDH, ARG of spleen, and observed the ultramicro structure of spleen under the SEM. RESULT: The phagocytosis of Mphi was lower in aged group than that in young' s group, and the proliferative activity of spleenocytes was lower too. The activities of ACP, LDH, ARG of spleen were extremely decreased (P < 0.01) in aged rats as well. The proliferative activity and phagocytotic rate were both extremely increased in PCPS groups (P < 0.01), and the mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum of spleen were accrementition as well (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PCPS could enhance the phagocytizing function of PMphi, AMphi of aged rats in vivo, and strengthen the immune function of spleen and its proliferative activity as well. Then the immunity of aged rats could be improved. The PCPS may be an anti-aging agent.

Spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation in the patients with phenylketonuria in Beijing area of China / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the mutation spectrum and the distribution of minihaplotypes (STR/VNTR) of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene and explore the correlations between genotype and phenotype of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Beijing area of China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>(1) Fifty cases with PKU were involved in this study. PKU was identified by the Neonatal Screening Center of Beijing. All 13 exons and their flanking intronic sequences of PAH gene of these patients were amplified and then subjected to SSCP analysis and direct sequencing. (2) The distribution of polymorphic locus of short tandem repeat (STR) and variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) was analyzed by PCR and denaturing gel electrophoresis. (3) The correlations between genotype and phenotype were studied by analysis of the matching rate between the expected and observed phenotypes. The predicted phenotype was determined on the basis of the sum of the assigned values of the two mutant alleles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) A total of 34 different mutations were detected with the relative frequency of 95% among 50 PKU patients. The prevalent mutations in this study were: R243Q (20%), EX6-96A > G (11%), Y356X (9%), and V399V (7%). The next common mutations were R111X (5%), R413P (5%), R252Q (3%) and A434D (3%). Thirty-four detected mutations were distributed throughout the whole PAH gene, except exon 1, 8 and 13. Exon 7 and 11, with the mutant rate 34% and 19% respectively, seemed to be the hot mutant areas/regions of PAH gene. (2) The minihaplotypes (STR/VNTR) of 34 mutations were identified in this research. The STR and VNTR showed 8 and 3 alleles, respectively. Among them, 244 bp (44%) and 240 bp (34%) were the prevalent STR alleles. Meanwhile, the VNTR3 (83%) was the most common VNTR allele in PKU patients. (3) A better consistency (81.5%) between expected and observed phenotypes was revealed by analysis of correlation between genotype and phenotype. Especially in classic PKU, the consistency rate was up to 87.5%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) The frequency distribution of common PAH gene mutations in Beijing region was close to that of Tianjin and Yunnan regions, while it was different from that of Southern regions of China, such as Guangzhou, especially Taiwan. The PAH mutation with a highly heterogeneous trait was also demonstrated in this study. (2) STR and VNTR minihaplotype will prove helpful to trace the origins of PAH mutations and to analyze the genetic drift. However, the most minihaplotypes of the STR/VNTR are similar, so it is necessary to associate some other polymorphic loci with the STR/VNTR minihaplotype to analyze the different mutations. (3) The fact that a better consistency existed between phenotypes and genotype with most PKU patients suggested that the study of the genotype of PKU patients would be helpful to the individualized treatment and to genetic counseling for their families.</p>

Opposite effects on tumor growth depending on dose of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides in C57BL/6 mice.

We report here the investigation on the effects of Achyranthes bidentata polysaccharides (ABPS) against Lewis lung cancer (LLC) in C57BL/6 mice. Depending on its doses administered in vivo, ABPS was shown to have inhibitory as well as stimulative effects on tumor growth in LLC-bearing C57BL/6 mice. ABPS at low dose could significantly inhibit LLC growth, while high dose treatment of ABPS stimulated, rather than inhibited, LLC growth in C57BL/6 mice. Tumor cell cycle analysis revealed that more tumor cells arrested at G2/M phase after daily low dose intraperitoneal injection of ABPS for consecutive 15 days. The spleen weight increased markedly in LLC-bearing C57BL/6 mice treated with high dose of ABPS. However, the spleen cytotoxicity activity was significantly despaired in mice of high dose treatment of ABPS. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expressions of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA were markedly up-regulated in spleens from mice treated with a high dose of ABPS by RT-PCR reactions, suggesting that the low dose of ABPS inhibits tumor growth via its effect on tumor cell cycle distribution, rather than activation of NK activity as previously suggested. We postulate that the stimulation of tumor growth by high dose of ABPS is associated with dysfunction of NK cell and up-regulation of IL-6 mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in murine spleen.

Rational design of an EGF-IL18 fusion protein: implication for developing tumor therapeutics.

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine. This protein has a role in regulating immune responses and exhibits significant anti-tumor activities. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important growth factor that plays a central role in the regulation of cell cycle and differentiation. It was proposed that a targeted delivery of IL-18 by generation of IL-18-EGF fusion protein might decrease adverse effects and result in enhancing cytotoxic and antitumor activities. In the present study, a fusion protein, consisting of EGFR binding domain fused to human IL-18 mature peptide via a linker peptide of (Gly(4)Ser) 3, was constructed and expressed in the insect cell line Sf9 using Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. We showed that the purified recombinant fusion protein induced similar levels of IFN-gamma to that of native IL-18 protein in human PBMC in the presence of ConA. Furthermore, EGF receptor competitive test in human epithelial cancer A431 cell line showed that EGF-IL18 fusion protein can specifically bind with EGFR by competing with native EGF protein. These suggest that this rationally designed protein can be further developed as novel tumor therapeutics.