Objective To explore the activation of circulating platelet in patients with cerebral infarction(CI) and its correlation with CI.Methods The fibrinogen receptor(FIB-R) and P-selectin were used as molecular marker of circulating platelets, which were analyzed by flow cytometry in 80 healthy persons and 127 CI patients in acute and rehabinating period.Results The FIB-R expression on circulating platelet of CI patients in dangerous period was significantly higher than that in steady period and healthy persons(P0.05).Conclusion The activation of circulating platelet has a close relationship with CI. FIB-R may be a sensitive molecular marker of circulating activated platelet. It will help to evaluate the severe extent of CI and give an anti-platelet treatment as soon as possible to improve the prognosis of CI through monitoring the FIB-R of CI patients successively.

Objective To study the degradation of Rhizoma Typhonii polysaccharide with sulfuric acid under the normal and ultrasonic condition. Methods The orthogonal test table L9(34) was used to optimize 4 factors including acid concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature and ultrasonic power, with the yield of the low-molecular-weight polysaccharide as the index. Results The optimal conditions of discomposing Rhizoma Typhonii polysaccharide with sulfuric acid were 10% sulfuric acid, 100 ℃ for 2 h under the normal condition,and the yield of low-molecular-weight polysaccharide was 36.17%. Under the ultrasonic condition, the optimal conditions were 150 W of the ultrasonic power, 5% sulfuric acid, 40 ℃ for 1 h, and the yield was 44.63%. Conclusion The degrading yield of the low-molecular-weight polysaccharide can be increased under ultrasonic condition with sulfuric acid.

Objective To study the mechanisms of increasing amyloid [β1-42 (Aβ42) level by presenilin-1 (PS-1) mutation of V97L.Methods Expression level of neprilysin (NEP) in nontransfected, or mock vector, wild type (wt) PS-1 and V97L-PS-1-transfected SH-SY5Y cells were assessed by reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot.The level of Aβ42 was also assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The mRNA level of NEP was decreased significantly in PS-1 V97L transfected cells (0.650 ± 0.010) compared to that in normal cells (1.090 ± 0.015), wt PS-1 gene (1.040 ± 0.021) and mock (1.080 ± 0.020) stably transfected cell lines (t = 9.236, 10.452, 5.678; all P < 0.01).Although there was a decreased tendency in the protein expression of NEP in PS-Ⅰ V97L transfected cells (1.000 ± 0.126)compared to that in normal cells (1.020 ± 0.110), wt PS-1 gene (1.040 ±0.110), mock (2.130 ±0.130) stably transfected cell lines, nosignificant differences were found.The expression of Aβ42 was increased significantly in PS-1 V97L transfected cells compared to other cell lines (t = 2.109, 3.355, 3.976; all P < 0.01).Conclusions PS-1 V97L mutation can decrease the transcription of NEP, however, in contrast, this mutation also resulted in increased Aβ42.The mechanism needs further analysis.

Background: The conventional therapy for chronic hepatitis C is the combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin. However, it has some adverse effects and does not response to some patients, and it is also very expensive. Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs for chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Search strategy: Electronic and manual searches were conducted and the search ended in July 2009. Inclusion criteria: We included randomized clinical trials testing Chinese herbal medicine vs placebo, non-specific treatment, antiviral treatment, or Chinese herbal medicine combined with antiviral treatment vs antiviral treatment alone. Data extraction and analysis: Selection of trials for inclusion, assessment of methodological quality, data extraction and data syntheses were conducted according to the protocol of a Cochrane systematic review by the authors. Results: Fifty-one randomized trials (involving 3 678 patients) with various methodological quality were included. The studies published in English had good quality, while studies published in Chinese were of poor quality. The pooled results showed that Chinese herbal medicine alone or in combination with antiviral treatment was generally better than non-specific treatment or antiviral treatment alone, and herbal medicine appeared equal to antiviral treatment regarding comprehensive clinical effect in terms of symptoms, liver function and virological response. Regarding virological response including loss of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and anti-HCV antibodies, herbal medicine was better than non-specific treatment, equal to antiviral treatment, and the combination of herbs and antiviral treatment was better than antiviral treatment alone. Similar positive findings were found for liver function improvement. Adverse effects were observed among herbal injections and interferon treatment, and few cases had severe adverse effects. Conclusion: Herbal medicines included in this review have effects in improving symptoms, liver function, and loss of HCV markers in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, for majority of the included trials were published in Chinese and had low quality, the promising effects from some herbs need to be confirmed in rigorous clinical trials, and the design and reporting of trials should follow international standards. Systematic review registration: http://www.cochrane.org, 380700081611301089.

BACKGROUND:The position of median and radial nerves corresponding to elbow is usual y estimated by macroscopical measurements, but there are big data errors when the elbow is bent. OBJECTIVE:To measure and analyze the impacts of elbows in different positions on median and radial nerves under X-ray. METHODS:Ten fresh frozen upper limb specimens were selected. The distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous marks inside the elbow was measured when the elbow was in extension, extension-half pronation, bent at flexion 90 degrees and bent at 90 degrees with the injection of normal saline into the joint capsule, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The positions of median and radial nerves were not influenced when the elbow was in extension or in extension-half pronation (P>0.05). The distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous mark of the elbow was significantly lengthened when the elbow was moved from from extension to was bent at 90 degrees (P<0.05). The intra-articular injection of normal saline when the elbow flexion 90 degrees significantly elongated the distance of median and radial nerves to the osseous mark of elbow (P<0.05). These results suggest that the elbow in different positions can induce the displacement of median and radial nerves. In addition, the distance between median, radial nerves and the osseous marks of the elbow is obviously lengthened when the elbow is in flexion with intra-articular injection of normal saline.

Objective To observe the serum VEGF/ES ratios before and after operation and at clinical relapse in patients with breast cancer, and to discuss the potential effect of tumor surgery and postoperative relapse on the angiogenesis balance. Methods The serum VEGF and ES levels of 59 cases of breast cancer before and after operation and at clinical relapse were determined using competitive enzyme immunoassays and ELISA, (respectively), and compared with the results of 30 cases of benign breast tumors and 59 cases of normal (controls). Results (1) Preoperatively, the serum ES and VEGF levels of breast cancer patients were (significantly) elevated, as compared to the other 2 groups, and the VEGF/ES ratio was 9.1. Postoperatively, at 3 weeks, VEGF level decreased significantly and ES remained at a high level. The VEGF/ES ratio was (3.3). (2)At the time of clinical relapse, serum VEGF level was followed by marked elevation, and the VEGF/ES ratio increased up to 14.2. Multivariate analyses showed that the postoperative VEGF/ES ratio was an independent factor related to the postoperative recurrence of breast cancer. Conclusions Breast cancer surgery may affect the balance between serum VEGF and ES, and the determination of VEGF/ES ratio can have auxiliary value in the assessment of prognosis of breast cancer patients.

AIM:To determine the contents of sinomenine and chelidonine in Tong’an Injection(Caulis sinomenii, Chelidonium majus Linn, etc). METHODS: HPLC was used. The conditions included the gradient elution with methanol-0.1% triethylamine. The detection wavelength was set at 280 nm. RESULTS: The calibration curve was linear in the range of 162-1 620 ?g for the sinomenine and the range of 35-350 ?g for chelidonine, respectively. The average recovery for sinomenine was 99.56% and the relative standard deviation was 0.41%(n=5). The average recovery for chelidonine was 99.46% and the relative standard deviation was 0.62% (n=5). CONCLUSION: The method is simple, rapid and specialty. It can be used for the determination of sinomenine and chelidonine in Tong’an Injection.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of partial fascicle from the ulnar nerve to biceps branch of musculocutaneous nerve to treat brachial plexus injury. Methods Six cases of brachial plexus injury were involved in this group.3 cases were upper trunk injury and 3 cases were accompanied partial lower trunk injury.A partial fascicle of ulnar nerve transfered to repair biceps branch underwent in all cases,phrenic nerve or accessory nerve were transfered to repair suprascapular nerve.The mean time from injury to surgery was 2.8 months.Patients were evaluated with regard to elbow flexion and should abduction ansle,grip strengthen,morbidity of ulnar nerve function lose. Results Five cases out of six got follow up.The mean period of follow-up was 18 months(range from 9-30 months).The average reinnervation time for the biceps muscle was 3.3 months. All the patients' recovery of elbow flexion Was M_3~+-M_5; and the shoulder adduction was 90°-180°;the grip strength was not downgraded. No notable impairment of the donor site nerve function was observed in 4 cases,just 1 case with a little more fascicle been harvested had partial ulnar nerve impairments. Conclusion The use of ulnar nerve partial fascicle to biceps branch combined with phrenic nerve or accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve to reconstruct upper roots avulsion of the brachial plexus is a valid and convenient procedure.It can obtain good functional restoration in elbow flexion and shoulder adduction in a resonable time.The cases with partial lower trunk injury of brachial plexus,the partial fascicle of ulnar nerve can still be used for repair the musculocutaneous nerve.

Background: Xiaochaihu Tang was a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine recorded in ancient Chinese medical book Shanghanlun, and has been widely used for chronic liver diseases especially in Japan. Objective: To assess the beneficial effects and safety of Xiaochaihu Tang, for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Search strategy: Electronic and manual searches were conducted and the search ended in November 2009. Inclusion criteria: We included randomized clinical trials testing Xiaochaihu Tang against placebo, non-specific treatment, antivirals, or combined with antivirals against antivirals alone. Data extraction and analysis: Selection of trials for inclusion, assessment of methodological quality by Jadad score, data extraction and data syntheses were conducted according to the Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group methods. Results: Sixteen randomized trials (involving 1 601 CHB patients) with various methodological quality were included. One trial published in English had good quality, while other trials published in Chinese were of poor quality. The pooled results showed that Xiaochaihu Tang combined with antiviral drugs was more effective in serum loss of hepatitis B viral markers and in improving liver function compared with antiviral drugs alone. Xiaochaihu Tang was not different from placebo in terms of viral clearance or improving liver function. However, Xiaochaihu Tang was superior to non-specific treatment in liver function improvement. There were no adverse effects reported in the trials regarding Xiaochaihu Tang, but adverse effects were reported in patients treated by interferon, and severe adverse effects occurred in few cases. Conclusion: Xiaochaihu Tang in this review appears to be effective in improving liver function and clearance of serum hepatitis B viral markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, due to poor methodological quality in the majority of included trials the potential benefits need to be confirmed in rigorous clinical trials following international standards.

Objective To analyze the status of supply and the affected factors of the home care of the elderly in community of Shenzhen.Methods The investigation was carried out in 78 community health ser-vice centers and 216 elderly from 6 communities using self-designed questionnaire.Results 84% of the el-derly had the demand of home care, 38.1% of them had even received home care services.In 32 demand items of home care, the top 6 were in turn the blood pressure monitoring, the blood sugar monitoring, the health consults, the caregivers guidance, the psychological care, medication instruction.48 of 78 commu-nity health service center provided door-to-door services, 44% of them(home care service center)provided more than 10 projects, 67% of the center provided more than 5 projects, 17% of them provided 2 projects, 30 community health service center did not provide door-to-door service.The main reasons that influenced home care delivery in community were the shortage of nursing staff of home medical care, the risk factors, the medical environment, and the limited health care facilities.Conclusions The elderly has large de-mand to the home care service, home care which the community health center provided is lagging and in short supply.It is imperative to increase the number of community nurses, improve the community home care profession standard and promote stable development of home care.