[Genetic mutation analysis of a kindred with a patient suffering from 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency].

Objective: To detect CYP17A1 gene mutation in a patient with 17 alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20-lyase deficiency and her family members.

Method: Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of the patient, her parents and twin sister. The 8 exons of CYP17A1 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened for mutations by sequencing.

Tau as a potential novel therapeutic target in ischemic stroke.

Stroke is associated with high mortality and major disability burdens worldwide, but there are few effective and widely available therapies. Tau plays an important role in promoting microtubule assembly and stabilizing microtubule networks with phosphorylation regulating these functions. Based on the "ischemia-reperfusion theory" of Alzheimer's disease, some previous studies have focused on the relationship of tau and Alzheimer lesions in experimental brain ischemia.

Expression of CYP3A23/1, CYP3A2, PXR, CAR and HNF4alpha in large-for-gestational-age neonatal rats.

Background: The available information about hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes in the large-for-gestational-age (LGA) neonate is limited.

Objective: To determine whether LGA status alters expression of the cytochrome p450 enzymes, CYP3A23/1 and CYP3A2, and nuclear receptors PXR, CAR and HNF4alpha.

Methods: Appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and LGA pups from 10 litters of rats (n=15 pups/group) were used.

Long-time course of protease-activated receptor-1 expression after intracerebral hemorrhage in rats.

Thrombin plays an important role in brain injuries associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 is responsible for the vast majority of the thrombin's cellular activation functions. We tested the hypothesis that thrombin-induced brain damage after ICH, at least in part, is mediated by PAR-1.

Neurogenic hypothesis of cardiac ischemic pain.

Coronary heart disease is the major cause of death worldwide and is affecting millions of people in both developed and developing countries. Patients with myocardial ischemia typically experience chest pain (angina pectoris). Traditional viewpoint of ischemic cardiac pain might be related to "mechanical hypothesis" in early time and "chemical hypothesis" in modern time.

Effects of intrauterine undernutrition on the expression of CYP3A23/3A1, PXR, CAR and HNF4alpha in neonate rats.

Cytochrome P-450 3A (CYP3A) together with its nuclear receptors plays a critical role in drug metabolism. The present study investigated the effects of undernutrition in utero on hepatic mRNA and protein expression of the enzyme CYP3A23/3A1 and nuclear receptors including pregnane X receptor (PXR; NR1I2), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3) and nuclear factor-4alpha (HNF4alpha; HNF4A) in neonatal rats. At gestational day 2, pregnant rats were randomly divided into two groups: nourished (fed ad libitum) and undernourished (50% of nourished group).

[Expression of ghrelin and calcium channels in pancreas of neonatal rats with different birth weight].

Objective: To investigate the effect of the intrauterine environment on pancreas ghrelin and L-type calcium channels of islet like cell clusters (ICCs) in neonatal rats.

Methods: Different birth weight neonatal rat models were established. The samples of entire pancreas or ICCs were collected at the first day after birth.

[Age-dependent alteration of insulin and ghrelin expression in pancreatic islets of intrauterine growth-retarded rats].

Objective: To evaluate the age-dependent alteration of insulin and ghrelin expression in the pancreatic islets of intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) rats during development and to identify the role of ghrelin in insulin resistance induced by IUGR.

Methods: Neonatal SD rats were divided into normal birth weight group (N group) and intrauterine growth-retarded group (I group). Plasma glucose, ghrelin and serum insulin were analyzed at day 1, 3, 7 and 10 and at week 2, 3, 4,8 and 12 after birth.

Changes of ghrelin following oral glucose tolerance test in obese children with insulin resistance.

Aim: To characterize changes in ghrelin levels in response to oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and to correlate changes in ghrelin levels with changes in insulin and glucose following OGTT in Chinese obese children of Tanner I and II stage with insulin resistance.

Methods: 22 obese children with insulin resistance state were divided into four groups according to their Tanner stage and gender: boys of Tanner I (BT-I), boys of Tanner II (BT-II), girls of Tanner I (GT-I), girls of Tanner II (GT-II). Ghrelin, insulin and glucose were measured at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min following OGTT.

[Identification of a novel missense mutation of the DAX-1 gene in a Chinese pedigree with X-linked adrenal hypoplasia congenita].

Objective: Inactivating mutations of DAX-1 give rise to the X-linked form of adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC). Affected individuals are at risk of early postnatal Addisonian crisis, but the variable phenotypic expression of DAX-1 insufficiency renders this diagnosis challenging. This study aimed to understand the clinical features and identify DAX-1 gene mutation of the affected individuals and their relatives in a Chinese adrenal hypoplasia congenita kindred.

[Research on secretion expression in Pichia pastoris and function of the HC-pro gene of watermelon mosaic virus].

HC-pro gene of Watermelon Mosaic virus was obtained by RT-PCR was 1371bp in length. It was cloned into pPI(9K, then the eucaryotic recombinant expression plasmid pPIC9K-WHC was constructed. After being linearized with restriction endonuclease Sal I , the recombinant plasmid was transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 by electroporation.

Precise analysis of combination homogeneous-inhomogeneous-material superresolution filters with double-tunable modes.

By using a Jones matrix, the precise expression for the pupil function of a two-adjustable-mode superresolving filter, a combination of a radial birefringent plate and a glass annular plate, is obtained. This filter can provide superresolution in both radial and axial adjustment operations, which can supplement each other in setting accuracy and superresolution range in practical use. As an adjustable filter, it is less dependent on wavelength.

Association analysis of gamma2 subunit of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor and voltage-gated sodium channel type II alpha-polypeptide gene mutation in southern Chinese children with febrile seizures.

We attempted to identify the prevalence of the R188W mutation of the SCN2A gene and the K289M mutation and single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 of the GABRG2 gene in children of southern China who have febrile seizures. Neither mutation was found in our subjects. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs211014 AA genotype was overrepresented in the febrile-seizures group compared with controls (62.

Metabolic syndrome in obese children born large for gestational age.

Objective: This study was to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and insulin release in Chinese obese children born large-for-gestational age (LGA) with those born appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA).

Methods: Obese children were divided into LGA group (n = 60) and AGA group (n = 312); clinical and metabolic characteristics were collected. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to detect glucose and insulin concentration at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min.

The effects of intrauterine undernutrition on pancreas ghrelin and insulin expression in neonate rats.

Ghrelin has a correlation with insulin secretion, beta-cell development, and diabetes in crucial development period. The aim of this study was to compare the changes in plasma ghrelin, insulin, and glucose concentrations, and variation of ghrelin expression in the pancreas in response to intrauterine malnutrition in newborn rats. Pregnant rats at day 2 were randomly divided into two groups: nourished (fed ad libitum; NR) and undernourished rats (UR).

Nine cases of childhood adrenal tumour presenting with hypertension and a review of the literature.

Aim: To describe the clinical features, treatment and outcome of children adrenal tumors presenting with hypertension.

Methods: The records of nine children under 16 years of age with adrenal tumours presenting with hypertension were analysed. Details were recorded for family history, clinical presentation, biochemistry, imaging, histology, treatment and outcome.

[Effect of recombinant human growth hormone on glucose metabolism in children with growth hormone deficiency].

Objective: Numerous studies in children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) show that recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment results in significant catch-up growth, but some papers reported that the children who underwent rhGH therapy might be at increased risk of diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rhGH treatment on blood glucose and insulin metabolism in children with GHD and the relationship between growth hormone (GH) and glucose homeostasis.

Methods: In this study, 44 children with GHD treated with rhGH [0.

[Metformin hydrochloride ameliorates adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with metabolic syndrome].

Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MS) in adolescents was reported to be closely associated with cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. However, no unified treatment measure for MS in adolescents is currently available. The aim of this study was to measure the changes of serum adiponectin levels, insulin sensitivity and other biochemical markers after metformin therapy in adolescents with MS, which might provide some information for set up a unified therapeutic measure for MS in adolescents.

[Study on pharmacokinetics of PVP coated beta-elemene liposome in rats].

Objective: To study the pharmacokinetics of PVP costed beta-elemente liposmes in rats.

Methods: Gas chromatography was established to determine the concentration of beta-elemene in plasma of rats after administered through i.g.

Deviation of optical constants extracted in terahertz transmission spectroscopy.

We present a simulation with a Lorentz oscillator model to evaluate the accuracy of the extracted optical constants in terahertz transmission spectroscopy. The contributions of various error sources including the deflection of the incident angle, the delay-line timing error, and two other kinds of noises are analyzed. It is revealed that the influence of the deflection angle is an approximate parabolic dependence.

[Double stranded RNA (RNA interference RNAi) in different creatures].

Double stranded RNA could degrade mRNA of target gene. It is a useful way for studying gene function. It is used widely in different creatures,such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Zebrafish, Mouse.

Multivesicular liposome formulation for the sustained delivery of breviscapine.

Breviscapine, a well-known bioactive flavonoid ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively used in clinic to treat ischemic cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases in China. In order to prolong the duration of the drug in the circulation, reduce the frequency of injection administration and subsequently afford patient compliance, multivesicular liposome (MVL, namely DepoFoam) was utilized as a sustained-delivery system for breviscapine. In vitro release and in vivo pharmacokinetics of MVLs containing breviscapine (bre-MVLs) following intramuscular injection to rats were investigated compared with those of traditional liposomes containing breviscapine (bre-TLs).

In vitro and in vivo studies of different liposomes containing topotecan.

Liposome as a carrier of topotecan (TPT), a promising anticancer drug, has been reported in attempt to improve the stability and antitumor activity of TPT. However, the biodistribution pattern of TPT liposome in vivo and PEG-modified liposome containing TPT have not been studied systemically. In this paper, the in vitro stability and in vivo biodistribution behavior of several liposomes containing TPT with different lipid compositions and PEG-modification were studied.

[Expression of P53 and Bax in rat liver induced by microcystin LR in vivo].

Objective: To examine the expression of P53, Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rat liver after exposed to microcystin LR.

Methods: SD rats received microsystin LR by gastric perfusion. The expression of P53, Bax and Bcl-2 in liver was detected by Western blot.

Altered expression of p53, Bcl-2 and Bax induced by microcystin-LR in vivo and in vitro.

It has been reported that MC-LR could induce apoptosis in a variety of cell types. Although the induction of oxidative stress and mitochondrial alteration played critical role in MC-LR induced apoptosis, but the exact mechanisms of MC-LR induced apoptosis are still unknown. In spite of extensive studies on MC-LR mediated cell damages, there is little information on the protein expression of p53 and Bcl-2, Bax in vivo and in vitro, which are vital regulator of apoptosis in response to a variety of stimuli.