Objective To investigate the anti-rotavirus effect of Gegen Qinlian decoction on rotavirus (RV)-inducing diarrhea neonatal mice model, and provide evidences for pharmacological and pharmacodynamic studies. Methods Neonatal diarrhea mice model of Kunming family infected with RV-Wa was developed. Symptom, diarrhea ratio and severity level, histological changes of neonatal mice’s small intestine and lung was assessed after Gegen Qinlian decoction (0.78 g/kg) treatment. Results Diarrhea ratio, diarrhea severity level, histological changes of neonatal mice’s small intestine and lung were obviously decreased after Gegen Qinlian decoction (0.78 g/kg) treatment. Conclusion Gegen Qinlian decoction has anti-rotavirus effect on RV induced diarrhea.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of intralesional betamethasone versus triamcinolone acetonide acetate in the treatment of active alopecia areata. Methods A total of 160 patients with active alopecia areata were divided into two groups, test group (n = 100) treated with intralesional betamethasone, and control group (n = 60) treated with intralesional triamcinolone acetonide. Both injections were given once every 3 weeks for 12 consecutive weeks. Results After 12-week treatment, the cure rate, response rate, and total response rate were 60.0%, 32.0% and 92.0% in the test group, respectively, compared to 41.7%, 31.67% and 73.3% in the control group, respectively. A significant increase was observed in the cure rate and response rate in the test group compared with the control group (χ2 = 10.25, 5.06, P < 0.01 and 0.05). During the treatment course, 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 9 (15%) patients in the control group developed localized atrophy of the scalp; 8 (8%) patients in the test group and 3 (5%) patients in the control group developed localized folliculitis; no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the occurrence of adverse reactions (P> 0.05). Conclusion Intralesional use of compound betamethasone injection has a notable therapeutic effect on alopecia areata.

Four small GTPase genes which may be relative to sclerotial development were firstly cloned from medicinal fungus Polyporus umbellatus using rapid amplification of cDNA end PCR (RACE) method. The results showed that full-length cDNA of PuRhoA was 698 bp contained 585 bp ORF, which was predicted to encode a 194 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 21.75 kD with an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.44; the full length cDNA of PuRhoA2 was 837 bp in length and encoded a 194 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 21.75 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.33; the full length cDNA of Puypt1 was 896 bp in length and encoded a 204-aa protein with a molecular weight of 22.556 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.75; the full length cDNA of PuRas was 803 bp in length and encoded a 212-aa protein with a molecular weight of 23.821 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.2. There are fani acyl transferase enzyme catalytic site and myrcene-transferase enzyme catalytic site in PuRhoA1 while the PuRhoA2 only possess myrcene-transferase enzyme catalytic site. Puypt1 contains the Rab1-Ypt1 conserved domain of small GTPase family and PuRas contains the fani acyl transferase enzyme catalytic site. According to the phylogenetic analysis all these four small GTPase clustered with basidiomycete group. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that Puypt1, PuRas and PuRhoA1 transcripts were significantly higher in the beginning of sclerotial formation than that in the mycelia, whereas the transcripts levels of PuRhoA2 gene were particularly lower in sclerotia than that in mycelia, suggesting that these four genes might be involved in P umbellatus selerotial development.

Objective To observe the difference of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) between diabetic and non-diabetic patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD),and to explore whether it was associated with duration of hemodialysis.Methods A total of 120 patients with MHD were divided into diabetic group (40 cases) and non-diabetic group (80 cases) according to the primary disease.The blood samples from the patients before dialysis were selected to test the serum VEGF and plasma MPO and other indicators.The blood samples from April 2012 to March 2013 were labeled diabetic group 1(40 cases) and non-diabetic group 1 (80 cases).The blood samples from April 2013 to March 2014 were labeled diabetic group 2 (40 cases) and non-diabetic group 2 (80 cases).Results The serum VEGF and plasma MPO levels were (74.63 ± 47.43) ng/L,(300.63 ± 235.37) μ g/L in diabetic group 1,and (63.69 ± 43.23) ng/L,(275.35 ± 216.32) μ g/L in non-diabetic group 1,and there were significant differences between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The serum VEGF and plasma MPO levels were (83.32 ± 40.38) ng/L,(414.12 ±265.52) μg/L in diabetic group 2,and (70.89 ±39.74) rig/L,(289.45 ±202.85) μg/L in non-diabetic group 2,and there were significant differences between two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The correlation analysis showed that VEGF was positively correlated with MPO in diabetic group 1 and diabetic group 2 (r =0.632 and 0.763,P ＜ 0.05),and VEGF was positively correlated with MPO in non-diabetic group 1 and non-diabetic group 2 (r =0.610 and 0.713,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Compared with those in non-diabetic MHD patients,VEGF and MPO levels are significandy higher in diabetic MHD patients.In non-diabetic MHD patients and diabetic MHD patients,VEGF and MPO levels will rise gradually with duration of hemodialysis.The expressions of VEGF and MPO are associated with each other.

Objective To explore the bioeffect of different parameters on 4 cell lines by ultrasoundmediated microbubble destruction.Methods The orthogonal experimental design was used to investigate the effect of three factors on the bioeffects of four cell lines under three levels.Three factors included microbubble concentration,sound intensity,irradiation time.Human breast tumor (MCF-7) cells,ovarian tumor (A2780) cells,liver tumor (Bel7402) cells and thyroid tumor (ARO) cells were exposed to ultrasound in the presence of SonoVue.The cell survival rate was determined by MTT methods and the cell luminosity factor was detected by flow cytometry.Results The optimum parameters for Bel7402 and ARO cell were the same (A2B3C2),and they were different from those from MCF-7 (A3B1C1) and A2780 (A1B3C3) cell.The cell survival rates for 4 cell lines were above 75％,and the cell luminosity factors were different among 4 cell lines.Conclusions The optimum parameters by ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction for different cell lines are different,and under the optimum parameters the bioeffects of different cell lines are different.

Objective The aim of the study was to observe the features of nail fold microcirculation in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients and to compare these findings in SSc patients with patients with other connective tissue diseases.Methods Forty patients with SSc and thirty-seven patients with other connective tissue diseases were included in the study and all the patients reported symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon in the hands were also included.Nail fold capillaroscopy (NFC) was performed and the abnormality of nail fold microcirculation between the two groups were compared.The relations between nail fold capillaroscopic findings and clinicolaboratory parameters in SSc patients were analyzed.Statistical analysis were carried out by t-test and Chi-square.Results The loss of capillaries and dilated and giant capillaries and hemorrhage as well as neoangiogenesis were hallmarks of the scleroderma capillary findings,which could be detected by nail fold capillaroscopy.The abnormalities of nail fold microcirculation in SSc patients were more severe and more specific than those in other connective tissue disease patients.The total scores of nail fold capillaroscopy test were obviously higher in SSc patients with lung or esophagus involvement than those patients without these organ involvement,meanwhile,the total scores of nail fold capillaroscopic findiugs were elevated in SSc patients with anti-Scl70 antibody than those with negative group.Conclusion The nail fold capillaries of patients with SSc have specific abnormalities,and nail fold capill-aroscopy could distinguish between SSc and other connective tissue diseases,therefore it could be used as a promising tool for early detection of patients who may have the potential to develop scleroderma and it is also helpful in assessing disease severity.

We wished to assess the role of chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 in recombinant molecules, chart its molecular evolution, screen the wild-type strain, and reveal its value in clinical research. Using a protein BLAST multiple-alignment program, we compared various strains of Chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 sequences. Using a "distance tree" of those results, we created a phylogenetic tree. We applied the Karplus-Schulz method of flexible-region analyses for highly conserved alignments of amino-acid sequences. Gamier-Robson and Chou-Fasman methods were employed to analyze two-level structures of sequences. The Emini method was used for analyses of the accessibility of surface epitopes. Studies of hydrophilic proteins were undertaken using Kyte-Doolittle and Hopp-Woods methods. Analyses of antigen epitopes helped to reveal the antigen index using the Jameson-Wolf method. All sequences in the six strains of chlamydia micro virus capsid protein Vp3 were highly conserved, with the main differences being between Vp3 protein in Chp1 and the other five strains of the micro virus. The viral strain of Vp3 protein was based mainly on micro-alpha helix structures, and multiple epitopes were noted in highly conserved regions. Vp3 protein was highly conserved structurally, and was an important protein of the chlamydiaphage capsid. Vp3 protein has a complicated molecular structure, highly conserved regions with strong immunogenicity, and has considerable research value.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Chlamydia ; genetics ; immunology ; Conserved Sequence ; Epitope Mapping ; Evolution, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombination, Genetic

Objective To evaluate the effect of chlamydiaphage virus protein 2(Vp2) on the recombinant virus and virus screening research, and it clinical value thereof. Methods To compare the Vp2 protein sequences to get the conserva-tive region with COBALT. A phylogenetic tree was built with ProteinBlast of Distance tree. The amino acid sequence in the high conservative region was predicted by the methods of Gamier-Robson and Chou-Fasman, and its flexibe regions were predicted by Karplus method. The hydrophilicity plot was predicted by Kyte-Doolittle and Hopp-Woods method. The sur-face probability was analysed by Emini, and the antigenic index was analysed by Jameson-Wolf method. Results The six Chlamydiaphage Vp2 proteins were the highly conserved sequences. There were obvious differences between Chp1Vp2 and other 5 Vp2 proteins. There were the main structure-alpha helix and some cell epitopes in the high conserved region. Con-clusion Vp2 protein is the important component of chlamydia phage capsid with the conservative nature. Vp2 protein has complicated structures and high conservative region with strong immunogenicity, playing a practical value of research in vi-rus recombinantment and screening the wild strains of chlaymdia trachomatis phage.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of twinkling artifact in urinary calcium stones.Methods Calcium oxalate monohydrate,hydroxyapatite and whitlockite stone phantoms were prepared and embedded in porcine kidneys for ultrasound scanning.The length and width of twinkling artifact were measured.The intensity of twinkling artifact and the contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N ratio) of acoustic shadowing were recorded and all the data was analyzed statistically.Results All the stone phantoms generated twinkling artifact and acoustic shadowing.The difference of the intensity,length and width of twinkling artifact and the C/N ratio of acoustic shadowing had statistically significant each composition (P ＜0.01).There was no overlap between 95％ confidence interval of the intensity of twinkling artifact for any two compositions,and any two compositions of stones could be differentiated by the intensity of twinkling artifact (P ＜0.05).The C/N ratio of acoustic shadowing of calcium oxalate monohydrate and whitlockite stone phantoms were higher than those of hydroxyapatite ones (P ＜0.05).The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve displayed that the cutoff value of 1 127 of the intensity of twinkling artifact could be used to diagnose hydroxyapatite stones.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV) and area under the curve (AUC) were 74 ％,68 ％,69.8％,72.3％ and 0.743 respectively.Conclusions Twinkling artifact could be used to differentiate the calcium stones,which will be helpful for clinical treatment.

Objective To quantitatively analyze the value of color Doppler twinkling artifact and CT in distinguishing urinary stone composition of uric acid from that of cystine,and to assess the ability of color Doppler twinkling artifact and CT to diagnose urinary stone composition of uric acid.Methods Artificial stones made of uric acid and cystihe were inserted in porcine kidneys respectively.Color Doppler ultrasound and CT scanning were performed in vitro and twinkling artifact videos were recorded.The CT attenuation value,the width and length of twinkling artifact (TAW,TAL) were measured.The color pixels representing twinkling artifact intensity (TAI) were calculated.The differences between artificial cystine and artificial uric acid stones in TAW,TAL,TAI and CT attenuation value were compared.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the ability of TAW,TAL,TAI and CT attenuation value to diagnose urinary stone composition of uric acid.Results The TAW [(4.16 ± 1.54)mm vs (4.97 ± 1.93)mm],TAL[(3.75 ± 1.05)mm vs (5.12 ± 2.51)mm] and TAI [(3 005.50 ± 812.33) vs (5 433.86±2 505.81)] of artificial cystine stones were less than those of artificial uric acid stones while the CT attenuation value of artificial cystine stones [(573.75 ± 110.10)HU vs (364.09 ± 67.28)HU] were greater (P ＜0.05).The ROC curve was displayed to diagnose urinary stone composition of uric acid,and the area under curve of CT attenuation value was bigger than that of TAI (0.936 vs 0.817,Z =2.308,P =0.021).Combination of color Doppler twinkling artifact and CT value would dramatically increase the diagnostic accuracy to 98％.Conclusions Both color Doppler ultrasound and CT were reliable examinations for distinguishing urinary stone composition of cystine from that of uric acid.Combination of color Doppler ultrasound and CT would be good references to diagnose urinary stone composition of uric acid.