Objective: To explore and evaluate the biomechanic relationships between different depth of pedicle screw penetration with the sagittal plane reconstruction in thoracolumbar fracture. Methods:Six fresh cadaveric specimens of lumbar spine from L_1 to L_3 were used to make the model of thoracolumbar fracture. The system of universal spine system( USS )pedicle screw was adopted with the 6 mm diameter of screw. Each of two Schanz screws was implanted into the pedicles of L_1 and L_3 A canulated screw was fixed into the former of vertebral body in L_1 and L_3, and the distance of the two canulated screws was taken as the normal height. The axial loads were given while the pedicle screws were implanted at the depth of D1, D2 and D3, and the distance of the two canulated screw was measured as well as the distance was reduced to the normal height by axial load. The index measured included of the depth of pedicle screw penetration, the height of fractured vertebral body and afterload. Results: Along with the increasing of afterload, the height of injured vertebral body was increased accordingly, but the extent was different at three depth of pedicle screw penetration (D1, D2, and D3). While the injured vertebral body was reduced totally (reduced distance 0.00 mm), there was (2 630±13) g of afterload needed in Dl depth, and (2 339±61) g and(2 221± 164) g of afterload in D2 and D3 depth respectively. There was significant difference in distance between D1, D2 and D3 (P< 0.01), however, no significant difference between D2 and D3 (P> 0.05). Conclusion: There is a relationship in the depth of pedicle screw penetration, the capacity of reduction and sagittal plane reconstruction. The depth of pedicle screw had a significant effect on the capacity of reduction for the injured vertebral body, which would be the best option in biomechanics when the pedicle screw was implanted more than 1/2 pedicle or all of it.

The flower color of Dendrobium catenatum(D. officinale) tends to fade during storage. In order to clarify the influence of storage conditions on the pigment components in flowers, two conditions were applied:temperature and illumination. The contents of pigments in the D. catenatum flower were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC, and the changes of them during storage were analyzed. The results showed that illumination and temperature had an effect on the pigments of D. catenatum flower during sto-rage. Illumination significantly promoted the degradation of pigments. The contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were significantly lower than those in the dark. The total chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanins in the light samples were decreased by 46.5%, 63.4%, and 69.2% respectively. Illumination had a greater effect on fat-soluble pigments than water-soluble pigments. Among the three temperature treatments, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin were as follows:-20 ℃>4 ℃>room temperature, it is indicated that-20 ℃ was the best temperature to maintain the stability of pigment composition. The contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin in the light samples decreased by 34.8%, 69.0%, 72.5%, 61.6%, 36.1%, respectively. After storage for 5 months, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyanin constituent at-20 ℃ was significantly higher than those at 4 ℃ and room temperature. The results show that light avoiding and low-temperature can effectively slow down the degradation of pigment components. Therefore, it is suggested that D. catenatum flower should be stored in light avoiding and low-temperature conditions in actual production and processing, which can prolong the usable time.
Anthocyanins/analysis* ; Carotenoids/analysis* ; Chlorophyll/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Drug Storage ; Flowers/chemistry* ; Light ; Pigments, Biological/analysis* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Spectrophotometry ; Temperature

The on-site labeling and localization tracking of membrane proteins in pathogenic bacteria are tedious work. In order to develop a novel protein labeling technology at super resolution level (nanometer scale) using the photoactivatable localization microscopy (PALM), the chimeric protein of the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the photoactivatable mEos2m protein were expressed in the non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis. The recombinant bacteria were fixed on slide, activated by 405 nm laser and subject to PALM imaging to capture photons released by the fusion protein. Meanwhile, colony and cell morphology were visualized under regular fluorescent stereomicroscope and upright fluorescent microscope to characterize fluorescence conversion and protein localization. The fusion proteins formed a "belt"-like structure on cell membrane of M. smegmatis under PALM, providing direct evidence of on-site imaging of membrane proteins. Expression of fusion protein did not compromise the localization properties of OmpA. Thus, mEos2m could be used as a labeling probe to track localizations of non-oligomer oriented membrane proteins. This indicates non-pathogenic M. smegmatis could be served as a model strain to characterize the function and localization of the proteins derived from pathogenic M. tuberculosis. This is the first report using PALM to characterize localization of membrane proteins.
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; chemistry ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Light ; Microscopy ; methods ; Mycobacterium smegmatis ; chemistry ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; chemistry ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Stochastic Processes

OBJECTIVEThe studies were carried out on the physiologic characteristics of Panax notoginseng seeds during the after--ripening process in order to understand the seed's biochemical and physiological changes and lay the foundation for the germplasm conversation and breeding research of P. notoginseng seeds.

METHODDynamic changes of storage material contents, respiratory rate and protective enzymatic activity were determined by normal biochemical and physiological measuring methods.

RESULTThe respiratory rate increased continuously during the stratification process, the contents of starch, soluble protein, crude fat decreased and the content of water-soluble saccharide increased with the embryo development, activities of CAT, POD and SOD increased with the raise of MDA content.

CONCLUSIONP. notoginseng seed's biochemical and physiological changes interacted with its embryo morphological changes to complete its after-ripening development.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; physiology ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

METHODSA sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. Normal gastric wall was examined by CEUS in 8 healthy volunteers and the results were compared with the findings on multislice computed tomography. Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer proved by biopsies who received preoperative CEUS examination were involved in this study, and the CEUS result was compared with postoperative pathological findings.

RESULTSThe normal gastric wall presented a one-layer structure in the portal venous phase and a three-layer structure in the arterial and equilibrium phase including a slightly hyper-enhanced inner layer, a hypo-enhanced intermediate layer, and a markedly hyper-enhanced outer layer, which corresponded histologically to the mucosal, submucosal, and muscular-serosal layer, respectively. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography and CEUS in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 72.9% and 88.1% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (chi(2)=4.37, P=0.036).

CONCLUSIONSCEUS shows the normal gastric wall as a one- or a three-layer structure, which provides a theory base for CEUS in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. CEUS is a useful diagnostic method for preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonography ; methods

The non-starch polysaccharides,mainly composed of glucomannans,are the major bioactive compounds in Dendrobium catenatum. In order to evaluate the quality of the medicinal materials and guide the production and processing,a quantification method of non-starch polysaccharides was established by stems of D. catenatum C15 strain collected from the pear epiphytic cultivation. The non-starch polysaccharides were obtained by " water extraction,α-amylase pretreatment,and alcohol precipitation once" method. The contents of starches,non-starch polysaccharides and monosaccharides were analyzed. In addition,the system suitability was tested. Compared with method of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia( 2015 edition),the contents of total polysaccharides,glucose,and mannose were decreased by 20. 9%,58. 8% and 1. 6% respectively. The method effectively digested starch and retained non-starch polysaccharides,and the analysis result was accurate and repeatable. Therefore,it is suitable for the content measurement of non-starch polysaccharides of D. catenatum. Furthermore,it could be an alternative method for quality control of D. catenatum and a reference in the determination of non-starch polysaccharides in other starch-containing medicinal materials.
Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; Starch ; analysis

OBJECTIVEIn order to provide a theoretical foundation for the medically effective ingredient-based selection of elite cultivars in Comnus officinalis, a study has been conducted on the variation in medicinal effective ingredients of the fruit from the genuine producing areas, the correlation among effective medicinal ingredients and the correlation between effective ingredients and fruit shape as well as nutritional indexes.

METHODThe completely mature fruit was collected from the genuine producing areas Chunan county and Lin'an city of Zhejiang province. The contents of colchicine, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were determined by HPLC, and vertical diameter/transversal diameter of the fruits, soluble solid matter and percentage of fresh flesh to the fruit were also measured.

RESULT(1) Ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and colchicine in fruits ranged from 0.1010% to 0.4786%, 0.0149% to 0.1274% and 0.59% to 2.30%, respectively, and their RSD were 34.33%, 40.48% and 28.50%, respectively. (2) The correlation between effective ingredients and that between effective ingredients and fruit shape as well as nutritional indexes were as follows: the content of ursolic acid was significantly correlated with that of oleanolic acid with a correlation coefficient of 0.9796; both ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were in significantly negative correlation with soluble solid matter with a correlation coefficient of -0.5544 and -0.5118, respectively; colchicine was significantly associated with soluble solid matter with a correlation coefficient of 0.2412; colchicine, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were in significantly negative correlation with the percentage of fresh flesh with a correlation coefficient of -0.2507, -0.2443 and -0.2406, respectively; three effective ingredients showed no correlation with the ratio of vertical diameter to transversal diameter of the fruit.

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant difference in effective ingredients among individual trees, which means that there is a big potential for selection of cultivars. Individual tree-based selection should be mainly adopted when effective ingredients are used as a main index in selection on the basis of the correlation among effective ingredients and that between effective ingredients and fruit shape as well as nutritional indexes, while ursolic acid could be combined with oleanolic acid to be used as an index and a preliminary screen could be conducted using soluble solid matter.

China ; Colchicine ; analysis ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Triterpenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the content variation of triptolide in medicinal material of Tripterygium and provide theoretical basis for the hereditary improvement, the gathering and process, the quality evaluation and the provenance division in medicinal material of Tripterygium.

METHODHPLC method was used to determine the content of triptolide.

RESULTThe relations between triptolide and germplasm, growth year, gathering season were found out basically.

CONCLUSIONThe triptolide contents in xylem are affected by hereditary factors remarkably. While the triptolide contents in phloem are not affected obviously. The accumulation of triptolide needs the certain growth years. However when growth is beyond certain years, the triptolide content decreases with the disintegration of secondary metabolism in xylem. The triptolide in xylem is highest in winter and decreasing in growing season. The triptolide in phloem is less affected by the season.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Epoxy Compounds ; analysis ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seasons ; Species Specificity ; Time Factors ; Tripterygium ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Xylem ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the genetic polymorphism and genetic relationship of different provenances of Leonurus japonicus.

METHODGenetic relationship in 19 provenances, which came from nationwide origins were measured by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with ISSR marker.

RESULTTwenty ISSR primers were selected from 100 ISSR primers and used for ISSR amplification. A total of 164 bands were generated, of which 117 bands were polymorphic bands (the percentage of polymorphic band, PPB = 71.34%). The similarity coefficients were calculated with NTsys 2.10e software and the dendrogram were constructed with UPGMA. Nineteen samples were divided into 3 types using the cluster analysis according to their genetic similarity coefficient.

CONCLUSIONResults from the cluster analysis were correlated significantly with the morphological characteristics and geographical location of 19 samples. The data indicate that ISSR technique is useful to determine genetic diversity and genetic relationship among Leonurus provenances, providing a scientific basis for genetic breeding, differentiation and new cultivar selection.

China ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Variation ; Leonurus ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic

The flower of Polygonatum cyrtonema has good edible and medicinal values. In this study, four samples of P. cyrtonema flowers from different regions were selected as test materials. The contents, composition and antioxidant activities of lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components were determined under different light and temperature conditions, which help to reveal the discoloration reason and the composition variation patterns during storage. The results showed that light and temperature had different effects on the lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components in the dried flowers during storage. After storage for 4 weeks, the contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, phenols and saponins in the samples exposed to light respectively decreased by 62.62%, 66.4%, 68.7% and 43.4% compared with those in the dark. The decreases in the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lutein, β-carotene and zeaxanthin were 64.64%, 56.74%, 59.2%, 77.7% and 45.4%, respectively. The contents of pigments and components in the samples stored at-20 ℃ were significantly higher than those at room temperature and 4 ℃, indicating that low temperature was conductive to the stability of lipid-soluble pigments and alcohol-soluble components. The samples stored at low temperature and in the dark had the strongest free radical scavenging activity. The results suggest that P. cyrtonema dried flowers should be stored in low temperature environment without light, which can slow down the degradation of internal components. The study provides a theoretical basis for the production, processing and storage of P. cyrtonema flowers.
Antioxidants ; Carotenoids ; Chlorophyll A ; Flowers ; Polygonatum