AIM:To establish a qualitative fingerprint analysis with capillary GC. METHODS:HP-INNOWAX column(30 m?0.53 mm,1.0 ?m),column temperature:90 ℃(15 min)4 ℃/min180 ℃(5 min)2 ℃/min200 ℃(3 min)10 ℃/min220 ℃(5 min),FID detector temperature:230 ℃. RESULTS:Compared with reference peak of Sec-butyl-cis/trans-1-propentyl disulfide,17 common peaks on fingerprints of the oil from ferula sinkiangensis K.M.Shen were indicated by the method with satisfied stability,precision and repeatability. CONCLUSION:There are good similarities among 10 batches of essential oil from Ferula sinkiangensis K.M.Shen,and this method is reliable,simple and provides a reference standard for the quality control of Ferula sinkiangensis K.M.Shen.

Objective To determine the protective effects and potential mechanism of activating retinoid X receptor (RXR) on rat cardiomyocytes H9c2 against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced oxidative injury.Methods The model of H-/R injury was established with hypoxia for 2 hours and reoxygenation for 4 hours in cardiomyocytes of H9c2,and 9-cis-retinoic acid (c-RA) was obtained as RXR agonist,and HX531 as RXR antagonist.Cultured cardiomyocytes were randomly (random number) divided into four groups:sham group,H/R group,H/R + c-RA-pretreated group (100 nmol/L c-RA) and H/R +c-RA + HX531-pretreated group (2.5 μmol/L HX531).We measured the cell viability by MTT (methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium),apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes by using flow cytometry,and mitochondrial membrane potential by JC-1 fluorescent probe,protein levels of Bcl-2,Bax and cleaved Caspase-9 with Western blot.All measurement data were expressed as (-x ± s),and statistically analyzed using One-way ANOVA and Dunnett-t test.Differences were considered significant when P ＜ 0.05.Results Pretreatment with RXR agonist enhanced cell viability,reduced apoptosis ratio,stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential.Dot blotting experiments demonstrated that under H/R stress conditions,Bcl-2 protein level decreased,while Bax and cleaved Caspase-9 increased.The c-RA administration prior to H/R stress prevented these effects,however,overall protective effects of activating RXR on rat cardiomyocytes against H/R induced oxidative injury were abolished when pretreated with RXR pan-antagonist HX531.Conclusions Activating RXR has the protective effects against H/R injury in rat cardiomyocytes H9c2 through attenuation of mitochondria apoptosis signaling pathway.

Objective To assess the agreement between gonioscopy and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in detecting angle closure in Chinese patients with shallow anterior chamber.
Methods An observational comparative study of the two different examination methods was conducted. Patients with normal intraocular pressure and temporal peripheral anterior chamber depth less than a quarter of corneal thickness based on slit lamp examination were included in this study from December 2007 to May 2009 in the outpatient clinic of First Hospital of Tsinghua University. Gonioscopy was performed with a Goldman goniolens in dark room first and followed by full beam light and indentation. If the filtering trabecular meshwork was invisible or any peripheral anterior synechia was found, that quadrant of the angle was considered closed. UBM was first undertaken in a darkened room then repeated with normal room lighting. If iridotrabecular apposition was showed, that quadrant of the angle was considered closed. The status of angle closure of each quadrant with different methods was recorded.
Results 85 eyes of 46 patients were included in this study. The agreement between gonioscopy and UBM was poor (κ<0.4) with Kappa analysis in both dark and light conditions in each quadrant. The accordance of agreement between gonioscopy and UBM was hardly affected by age or sex, while in dark condition, eyes with deeper anterior chamber (P=0.005) or plateau iris configuration tended to produce different results (P=0.075) in the 2 methods.
Conclusion Gonioscopy and UBM are both indispensable methods for detecting angle closure, neither can completely replace the other.

Objective To investigate the effect of 9-cis retinoid acid(c-RA),a retinoid X receptor(RXR)agonist,on hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)induced apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyoeytes,and to explore the mechanism.Method Cultured cardiomyocpes were randomly divided into three groups:normal group treated with vehicle(N group),H2O2 group treated with 100 μmol/L H2O2(H group),and c-RA group pretreated with 100nmol/L c-RA(H+R group).Cell viability was detected by MTT.Morphological changes of apoptotic cardiomyocytes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining under fluorescence microscope.The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry.Mitochondrial membrane potential(△(ψ)m)was measured by JC-1 dye.Cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)production was detected by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe.All measurement data wIe expressed as(x±s),and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis and Dunnett test.Differences were considered significant when P was＜0.05.Results Treatment with c-RA significantly enhanced cell viability,reduced apoptosis ratio,stabled mitoehondrial membrane potential and reduced level of cellular reactive oxygen species.Conclusions RXR agonist c-RA inhibits H2O2-induced myocyte apoptosis in cultured rat neonatal cardiomyocytes,which may be related to alleviate oxidative stress injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore and compare the clinical effects of three immuno-potentiators and their influence on immune function in preventing and treating recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRI).

METHODSSeventy-two children with RRT were assigned to three groups, the 23 patients in the M group treated with milkvetch extract oral liquid, the 23 in the P group treated by P-transfer factor and the 26 in the U group treated by Utilins injection. Clinical effect was compared among three groups after treatment, and changes of T cell subgroups as well as immune antibodies were detected before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe markedly effective rate in the M, P, and U group was 69.6%, 65.2%, and 73.0% respectively, and the total effective rate 87.0%, 82.6%, and 92.3%, showing an insignificant difference among them (all P>0.05). After treatment, the levels of CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ rose obviously in the three groups (all P<0.05); levels of CD8+ in the M group and the P group lowered significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01), but with no significant difference among three groups in the changes of T cell subgroups (all P>0.05). Serum levels of IgG in all the three groups, IgA in the P group and the M group, and IgM in the M group and the U group rose significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01), with statistical difference presented in comparing of IgA level in the P group with that in the other two groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effects and the outcomes of immunological indexes' changing are similar in RRI patients treated by the three immuno-potentiators. They all can enhance the immunological function of the organism, strengthen the disease-resistant ability of patients, and reduce the incidence of RRI. Among them, the milkvetch extract oral liquid is worthy of spreading due to its lower cost, simple administration, exemption from painful injection, and good compliance.

Administration, Oral ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Secondary Prevention ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To survey the knowledge of the Urumqi population in Xinjiang on the awareness and the protection of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation.Methods Three hundred and twentyfour subjects from Urumqi were investigated with a questionnaire about the basic knowledge of UV,the UV protection methods,the awareness and application of sunscreens,and the channels through which they acquired the knowledge.Results A total of 324 subjects completed the questionnaire.Only 78.0％ knew the harmful effects of UV,62.0％ of them knew that UV could lead to skin photo-aging,and 54.9％ knew that UV irradiation could cause skin cancer.Sunscreens were the main choice for UV protection (58.0％).Regarding sunscreens,38.3％ subjects knew the meaning of SPF,and only a small percentage of subjects (17.3％) were aware of the meaning of PA.About 25.3％ of subjects applied sunscreens every day,43.2％ used sunscreens sometimes,and 18.5％ did not use it at all.The main factor of choosing sunscreens was brand popularity and the main information sources to get the knowledge of UV and UV protection were TV advertisements.Conclusions This study shows that the knowledge of UV and UV protection of the Urumqi population is acceptable,but the protections are insufficient,which should be strengthened and guided through dermatologists and multiple media.

Objective To evaluate the immunogenicity of an immune complexed hepatitis B vac-cine ( HBsAg-HBIG immune complexes , IC) in mouse and cynomolgus monkeys by using recombinant hepa-titis B vaccine ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae, HBsAg) as the control .Methods BALB/c mice were vaccinated with single dose of IC and single dose of HBsAg respectively and then serum samples were collected at differ -ent time points for the detection of dynamic anti-HBs by using ELISA .The serum anti-HBs titers in BALB/c mice vaccinated with different immunization strategies were also analyzed .ELISPOT assay was performed to detect the numbers of IFN-γSFC and IFN-γpositive rate in splenocytes of BALB/c mice intramuscularly im-munized with IC, HBsAg or standard hepatitis B vaccine at 5μg/mouse.ED50 was measured to evaluate the stability of IC.Twelve cynomolgus monkeys were equally divided into two groups and immunized with high dose (100 μg) and low dose (20 μg) of IC respectively and then , serum anti-HBs levels at different time points were detected .Results The serum anti-HBs titers in IC immunized group at different time points were higher than those immunized with HBsAg .Moreover, the anti-HBs titer induced by two doses of IC reached a level comparable to that elicited by three doses of HBsAg .ELISPOT assay showed that both the numbers of IFN-γSFC and IFN-γpositive rate were the highest in IC immunized group as compared with those immunized with HBsAg and standard hepatitis B vaccine .IC had a lower ED50 than HBsAg, indicating a good long term stability .Cynomolgus monkeys immunized with high or low dose of IC produced high levels of anti-HBs titer during a long time period .Conclusion IC has a higher immunogenicity inducing both hu-moral immunity and cellular immunity as compared with HBsAg or standard hepatitis B vaccine .

BACKGROUND:Retinoid X receptor (RXR) plays a central role in the regulation of intracellular receptor signaling pathways. The activation of RXR has protective effect on H2O2-induced apoptosis of H9c2 ventricular cells in rats. But the protective effect and mechanism of activating RXR in cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced oxidative iniury are stillunclear. METHODS:The model of H/R injury was established through hypoxia for 2 hours and reoxygenation for 4 hours in H9c2 cardiomyocytes of rats. 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis RA) was obtained as an RXR agonist, and HX531 as an RXR antagonist. Cultured cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into four groups:sham group, H/R group, H/R+9-cis RA -pretreated group (100 nmol/L 9-cis RA), and H/R+9-cis RA+HX531-pretreated group (2.5 μmol/L HX531). The cellviability was measured by MTT, apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes by flow cytometry analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) by JC-1 fluorescent probe, and protein expressions of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved caspase-9 with Western blotting. Allmeasurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation, and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Dunnett test. Differences were considered significant whenP was <0.05. RESULTS:Pretreatment with RXR agonist enhanced cellviability, reduced apoptosis ratio, and stabled ΔΨm. Dot blotting experiments showed that under H/R stress conditions, Bcl-2 protein level decreased, while Bax and cleaved caspase-9 were increased. 9-cis RA administration before H/R stress prevented these effects, but the protective effects of activating RXR on cardiomyocytes against H/R induced oxidative injury were abolished when pretreated with RXR pan-antagonist HX531. CONCLUSION:The activation of RXR has protective effects against H/R injury in H9c2 cardiomyocytes of rats through attenuating signaling pathway of mitochondria apoptosis.

Bacterial N-Acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated quorum sensing is involved in the regulation of diverse biological functions. As the bacterial pathogen population density increases, AHLs concentration secreted by pathogen reaches a threshold and then interacts with their intercellular receptor and triggers expression of virulence genes. It is a promising approach to biologically control bacterial disease in plants and animals by manipulating bacterial AHL-quorum sensing with AHLs-degrading enzyme and AHL analogue.

Objective To observe the effects of losartan and amlodipine on blood pressure,plasma levels of leptin,adiponectin and norepinephrine (NE) and insulin sensitivity in obese hypertensive patients.Methods The levels of plasma leptin and adiponectin were determined by RIA and the plasma NE level was assayed by high- performance liquid chromatography.Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was evaluated using the homeostasis model.Results Compared with basal levels,after 16-weeks' therapy,plasma leptin,HOMA-IR and body mass index were significantly decreased in losartan group [(35.6?18.5 vs 32.0?17.1)?g/L,P