Association of Apolipoprotein E Polymorphisms with White Matter Lesions and Brain Atrophy

Objective@#Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is mainly synthesized in the liver. So far, it is unknown the relationship among APOE gene polymorphisms and WML, brain atrophy. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the associations of APOE gene polymorphisms in patients with WML and brain atrophy. @*Methods@#A total of 58 patients with WML, 128 patients with brain atrophy, 112 patients with co-occurrence of WML and brain atrophy and 95 healthy elderly volunteers were recruited from Renmin Hospital of WuHan University. @*Results@#Allele E3 was the most common allele. The alleles E2 had significantly higher levels of ApoB and lower age in WML group. The alleles E2 was associated with the lower level of ApoB, LDL-Ch, TCh, and sdLDL in co-occurrence group. The E3/E3 genotype has higher level of sdLDL, but lower age and female frequency in WML. The E3/E4 genotype had higher level of TG, but lower age in WML. Gender, Age, E2, Hyperhomocysteinemia and UA were also significantly associated with disease progression. @*Conclusion@#This study found that clinical data, lipids and metabolic complications were closely related to ApoE genotypes and alleles, and also disease progression and type.

The Development of Services System of Integrated Home Care for the elderly based on Omaha System / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective@#To develop a comprehensive services system of integrated home care for the elderly based on Omaha System.@*Methods@#The Omaha system was used to determine relevant indicators of the content of integrated home care services for the elderly, and identified through the Delphi expert consultation.@*Results@#After two rounds of expert correspondence consultation, the effective recovery rate of the questionnaire was 100.00%, the authoritative coefficient of the experts was 0.872 and 0.851, the variation coefficient of the first and second indexes in the second round of expert correspondence consultation was 0.00 to 0.28, The mean importance ratings ranged from 3.80 to 5.00 on a 5-point scale, and the full score was 33.33% to 100.00%. Finally, four first-level indicators including physiological field, social-psychological field, health-related behavior field, environmental field and other fields were established, as well as 43 second-level indicators.@*Conclusions@#The indicators related to the services system of integrated home care services for the elderly based on Omaha system are reliable and scientific, which can provide reference basis for further understanding the needs of the elderly of integrated home care services, improving the quality of medical care and old-age care services for the elderly.

The Development of Services System of Integrated Home Care for the elderly based on Omaha System / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To develop a comprehensive services system of integrated home care for the elderly based on Omaha System. Methods The Omaha system was used to determine relevant indicators of the content of integrated home care services for the elderly, and identified through the Delphi expert consultation. Results After two rounds of expert correspondence consultation, the effective recovery rate of the questionnaire was 100.00%, the authoritative coefficient of the experts was 0.872 and 0.851, the variation coefficient of the first and second indexes in the second round of expert correspondence consultation was 0.00 to 0.28, The mean importance ratings ranged from 3.80 to 5.00 on a 5_point scale, and the full score was 33.33% to 100.00%. Finally, four first_level indicators including physiological field, social_psychological field, health_related behavior field, environmental field and other fields were established, as well as 43 second_level indicators. Conclusions The indicators related to the services system of integrated home care services for the elderly based on Omaha system are reliable and scientific, which can provide reference basis for further understanding the needs of the elderly of integrated home care services, improving the quality of medical care and old_age care services for the elderly.

Salvianolic Acid B Prevents Iodinated Contrast Media-Induced Acute Renal Injury in Rats via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 Pathway.

Contrast-induced acute renal injury (CI-AKI) has become a common cause of hospital-acquired renal failure. However, the development of prophylaxis strategies and approved therapies for CI-AKI is limited. Salvianolic acid B (SB) can treat cardiovascular-related diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of SB on prevention of CI-AKI and explore its underlying mechanisms. We examined its effectiveness of preventing renal injury in a novel CI-AKI rat model. Compared with saline, intravenous SB pretreatment significantly attenuated elevations in serum creatinine and the histological changes of renal tubular injuries, reduced the number of apoptosis-positive tubular cells, activated Nrf2, and lowered the levels of renal oxidative stress induced by iodinated contrast media. The above renoprotection of SB was abolished by the PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin). In HK-2 cells, SB activated Nrf2 and decreased the levels of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and subsequently improved cell viability. The above cytoprotection of SB was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor (wortmannin) or siNrf2. Thus, our results demonstrate that, due to its antioxidant properties, SB has the potential to effectively prevent CI-AKI via the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed oncogenes in liver cancer stem cells / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Studieshavesuggestedthat oncogene expression in liver cancer stem cels has a certain relationship withtheoccurrence and development of liver cancer, but there is stil a lack of research on bioinformatics and mechanisms. OBJECTIVE:To identify differentialy expressed genes in liver cancer stem cels and to analyze these genes by bioinformatics. METHODS:The human hepatoma cel line HepG2 was the cel tool of liver cancer stem cels to prepare total RNA, andfluorescent labelingexperiment was conducted.Usinggene chipshybridization, mRNA expression profiles were obtained and were screened, and then differentialy expressed mRNAs were obtained,GO and Pathway annotationswere analyzedusing bioinformatics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The detection rate was 73.21% for hybridization experiment, indicating the hybridization experiment is successful. In this study, a total of 38342 mRNA werefound, and after further analysis, 1236 differentialy expressed genes werescreened (P< 0.05, fold change≥2), including599up-regulated and637down-regulated genes, respectively (P< 0.05). Biological functions of differentialy expressed geneswere mainly involved inthe histone H4 acetylation, cel mitosis and proliferation, synthesis and decomposition of cel-associated proteins, chromosome segregation, cel differentiation and apoptosis, signaltransduction, as wel as nutrienttransportation and transcription. Pathway annotationsweremainly related to cytokine-mediated inflammatory signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, Hedgehog and Notch signaling pathways, TGF-Beta, Jak-STAT and so on. These results demonstrate that differentialy expressed genes in liver cancer stem celsarerelatedto the occurrence of liver cancer, and may be involved in the regulation of signaling pathways, which provides a new target for the treatment of liver cancer.

Effects of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) on inflammatory cytokines in a rat model of smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中西医结合学报

Improvement in lung function was reported after acupuncture treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Because an immune response imbalance could be seen in COPD, we hypothesize that electroacupuncture (EA) may play a role in regulating inflammatory cytokines and contribute to lung protection in a rat model of smoke-induced COPD.

The vagus nerve and pulmonary disease / 复旦学报（医学版）

The vagus nerve innervates most visceral organs.Upon activation,vagal efferents release acetylcholine,which influences organ function.In addition,vagal afferents convey information regarding the mechanical and chemical environment of the organ to the central nervous system (CNS).This bidirectional communication provides a mechanism for reflex regulation of the biological function of the organ.In the lung,the vagus nerve modulates airway tone,perfusion and secretion,in addition to its effects on breathing pattern.Recently,the vagus nerve has been recognized to play a role in the pathogenesis of lung disease via neuro-immune interactions.The vagus nerve has significant influences in pulmonary diseases,such as asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer.In disease,the nerve is activated by cytokines,chemokines,and other mediators from many cell types to convey immunologic information to the CNS,which may alter disease outcome.Activation of the vagus nerve also releases neuropeptides to modulate immune cell behavior and can evoke the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway that regulates lung inflammation.Understanding the role of the vagus nerve in neuro-immune interaction may contribute significantly to the clinical management of pulmonary diseases.

Metformin down-regulates the expression of regulators of G protein signaling in OLETF rats / 中国糖尿病杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of regulators of G protein signaling(RGS), including RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 in OLETF rats, as well as the effects of metformin on these expressions. Methods LETO rats were used as control group. Eight-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to two guoups randomly:model and trial(metfomin dose during 8~(th) to 22~(nd) weeks:300mg kg~(-1)·d~(-1);during 23rd to 28th weeks:400 mg·kg~(-1) ·d~(-1))groups. Expressions of RGS mRNA in aorta and heart werequantified by real-time PCR. Results RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA of the thoracic aorta and left ventricle were significantly higher in model group than in control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, metformin significantly reduced their mRNA in trial group (P<0.01). Conclusions Upregulation of RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta and left ventricle of OLETF rats is in correlation with cardiovascular lesions; while downregulation of their expression is in correlation with the action of metformin.