[Objective] To observe the therapeutic effect of oral use of heat-clearing, damp-removing and toxicity-clearing herbal medicine combined with ultrasonic wave and herbal medicine mask treatment in treating acne simplex (AS). [Methods] Two hundred and ten cases of AS were randomized into groups A and B. Group A ( n=113) was treated with modified Yinchenhao Decoction and Qingfei Decoction for oral use and added with ultrasonic wave and mask prepared with herbal medicine including Borneolum Syntheticum, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Scutellariae, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Fructus Forsythiae; group B ( n=97) was treated with metronidazole 0.2 g, tid, and vitamin Bg 20mg, tid, as well as erythromycin ointment for external application. After a 4-week treatment, the therapeutic effect was compared. [Results] The total effective rale was 80.6% in group A and 41.3% in group B, and the markedly effective rate was 50.5% in group A and 28.9% in group B, the difference being significant (P

Objective To observe the influence of different extraction technologies on baicalin content in QinShao tablet. Methods Determine the changes of baicalin content in two different decocting methods: 1 to decoct Baical Skullcap Root together with other Chinese medicines, and 2 to decoct Baical Skullcap Root after other medicines. Results The result showed the later decocting method (decoct baical skullcap root later) can increase the content of baicalin by 5.2mg/g. Conclusion To decoct Baical Skullcap Root after other medicines in QinShao tablet can increase the content of baicalin and thus enhance its clinical therapeutic effects.

Halohydrin dehalogenase is of great significance for biodegradation of the chlorinated pollutants, and also serves as an important biocatalyst in the synthesis of chiral pharmaceutical intermediates. A putative halohydrin dehalogenase (HheTM) gene from Tistrella mobilis KA081020-065 was cloned and over-expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant enzyme was purified by Ni-NTA column and characterized. Gel filtration and SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the native form of HheTM was a tetramer. It exhibited the highest activity at 50 degrees C. The nature and pH of the buffer had a great effect on its activity. The enzyme maintained high stability under the alkaline conditions and below 30 degrees C. HheTM catalyzed the transformation of ethyl(S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate in the presence of cyanide, to give ethyl (R)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyrate, a key intermediate for the synthesis of atorvastatin.
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; chemistry ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydroxybutyrates ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rhodospirillaceae ; enzymology ; genetics

Objectives To investigate the incidence of brain injuri in premature infants in ten hospitals of seven large cities in China sponsored by the Subspecialty Group of Neonatology of Pediatric Society, China Medical Association. Methods All premature infants with gestational age less than 37 weeks in ten hospitals were given routine cranial ultrasound within three days of birth, and then repeated every 3-7 days till the discharge from the hospital during January 2005 to August 2006. Results Incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and severe IVH were 10.8% (406/3 768) and 2.4% (92/3 768) with 22.6% (92/406) for grade 1, 54.7% (222/406) for grade 2, 17.2% (70/406) for grade 3 and 5.4% (22/406) for grade 4 in nine hospitals; incidence of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and cystic PVL were 2.3% (112/4 933) and 0.3% (16/4 933) with 85.7% (96/112) for grade 1, 12.5% (14/112) for grade 2, and 1.8% (2/112) for grade 3 including all ten hospitals, respectively. Risk factors associated with increased severity of IVH were vaginal delivery (OR = 1.874, 95% CI = 1.172 - 2.997, P < 0.01), perinatal asphyxia (OR = 1.598, 95% CI = 1.077 - 2.372, P < 0.05), mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.988, 95% CI= 2.448 -6.948, P< 0.01), and amniotic fluid contamination (OR = 2.192, 95% CI = 1.054 - 4.544, P< 0.05). Risk factors that might result in the development of cystic PVL were vaginal delivery (OR = 1.400, 95% CI = 1.186 - 1.652, P < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.000, 95% CI = 1.015 - 8.864, P < 0.05). Conclusions These data reflect basically the prevalence of brain injuriy in premature infants in major cities of China. However, more than 60% of population lives in the rural area, further multicenter investigation including the rural area is expected to be undertaken in future.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the neuroprotective effect of memantine, a non-competitive antagonist at the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, against hypoxic ischemia (HI) by exploring its regulation on the expression and synthesis of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene in neonatal rat models with cerebral HI.

METHODSMemantine was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 20 mg/kg in neonatal rat models either before (PRE group) or after (POST group) induction of HI. The expression and synthesis of the HSP70 gene and its corresponding product were determined by rapid competitive PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSThere was an increase in the expression of HSP70 mRNA two hours after induction of HI, which reached its peak at 48 hours, then decreased gradually. The same expression occurred at relatively low levels in the control group. Also, HSP70 synthesis was detected as early as 2h after HI, reached its peak between 48 and 72 hours, then declined over time. After memantine administration, the expression of the gene and its synthesis of the corresponding product decreased significantly during the time intervals 24 - 72 h for the gene and 48 - 72 h for the product compared to the HI group.

CONCLUSIONIt was shown that HI is very sensitive to the expression of the HSP70 gene and synthesis of its corresponding product, which could be regulated by memantine. The latter may have the ability to reduce brain damage; thus decreased HSP70 mRNA expression could be a marker for HI. It is suggested that memantine can be a promising agent for neuroprotection against HI, although an overall and objective assessment of memantine is required to see if it can be used on neonates clinically later on.

Animals ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Memantine ; pharmacology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley