Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; genetics ; Humans

Objective To establish the disease-syndrome integrated animal models suitable for the studies of TCM through differen- tiating the property of TCM syndromes of spontaneous diseased animal models.Methods With the observation on general behaviors, irritable degree,turning endurance time,pain threshold,urine and stools,luster of hair,growing speed of hair,body weight,tongue condition,degree of eyeball protruding,conjunctiva chroma,blood pressure,heart rate,etc.of spontaneous hypertension rats(SHR) and the comparison with normal rats,the study was carried out on the macroscopic description of property of TCM syndrome of SHR (14～18 weeks of age)and their ethology.Results The blood pressure of SHR at the early stage tended to raise with age growing. Compared with the normal group,the heart rate of SHR rats was obviously quicker(P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlative factors for organic psychotic symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: In the current study, 391 subjects who had undergone forensic identification of the organic mental disorders due to TBI were included, both the demographic and post-traumatic information collected. The relevant data were statistically analyzed in those confirmed as organic psychotic syndrome according to Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders 3rd version (CCMD-3). RESULTS: Fifty-two subjects (13.3%) were identified as organic psychotic symptoms. The chi-square test showed that the detectable organic psychotic symptoms were associated with the marriage status, damage nature, injury severity and treatment, and the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed good fitness of treatment and injury severity with the regression model (OR = 0.044, 95% CI: 0.017-0.114; OR = 2.145, 95% CI: 1.201-3.832, respectively). CONCLUSION The risks of organic psychotic symptoms following TBI can be involved in the alternative of craniotomy for the cases with trauma and moderate brain injury.
Brain Injuries/psychology* ; Humans ; Psychotic Disorders/etiology* ; Risk ; Syndrome

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of CT spectral imaging using quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism. Methods Fifty-three patients underwent CT angiography with spectral imaging mode on a GE Discovery CT750HD scanner. Iodine distribution in the lung parenchyma using the iodine-based material decomposition images was quantitatively measured by post-processing. Monochromatic CT angiographic images were reconstructed from the same data sets and thee images were reviewed for the identification and localization of pulmonary embolism as well as the degree ( partial or complete) of the embolic occlusion. The number and location of perfusion defects were recorded. The iodine content of perfusion defects and normal lung parenchyma on the iodine maps were measured by one reader using an ROI analysis. Comparative analyses were obtained using the Chi-square test for categorical data. Two independent samples rank test and 2 related samples signed-rank test were used to compare iodine densities between different groups. Results CT angiography showed no pulmonary embolism in 33 patients, and iodine distribution was homogeneous. A total of 93 clots with lobar ( n = 26), segmental (n = 54) and sub-segmental (n=13) distribution were detected in 19 patients; Fifty-one clots were occlusive and 42 clots were non-occlusive. The iodine-based material decomposition images of all occlusive clots showed lobar, segmental or sub-segmental iodine distribution defects; whereas eleven of 42 non-occlusive clots had evidence of iodine distribution defects. There was significant difference ( x2 = 39. 94,P＜0. 01 ) in the perfusion defects between occlusive and non-occlusive clots. There was a significant difference in iodine content between normal lung parenchyma [ (1.92 ±0. 54) g/L] and perfusion defects [ (0. 30 ± 0. 20)g/L] (Z= -5.63, P ＜ 0. 01 ). There was a significant difference in the iodine content of peffusion defects before [ (0. 26 ± 0. 23 )g/L] and after anticoagulation [ (0. 94 ± 0. 50 )g/L ] ( Z = -3.93,P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion With the ability of iodine mapping, CT spectral imaging is areliable method in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism both qualitatively and quantitatively, and may be a useful tool in providing information regarding the severity of PE and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of ultrashort waves combined with medication on children with cerebral dysfunction syndrome (CDS) accompanied with pneumonia.Methods76 children with CDS accompanied with pneumonia were randomly divided into treatment group (n=38, treated with anti-inflammatory and ultrashort waves one time per day for ten days) and control group (n=38, treated only with anti-inflammatory). The effective rate and the days of rales vanished of children in two groups after treatment were compared.ResultsIn the treatment group, 14 cases cured, 20 cases got significant result, 4 cases were effective, total effective rate was 100%; in the control group, 10 cases cured, 14 cases got significant result, 9 cases were effective, 5 cases were invalid, total effective rate was 86.8%. There was a significant difference between therapeutic effects of two groups ( P<0.05).ConclusionThe ultrashort waves therapy is an effective method for the children with CDS accompanied with pneumonia.

Objective To make up an exercise prescription based on traditional Chinese medical training (EP-TCMT) for patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Eighty-five pa- tients with stable COPD were randomly divided into a control group (CG group),a traditional Chinese medicine group ( TC group) and an exercise prescription group ( EP group).The patients in the TC and EP groups were giv- en intensive training for 8 weeks.Their 6 rain walk distance (6MWD) and Borg scale scores were assessed before and after the treatment.Results The 6MWD in the TC group increased from 337.68?59.18 m to 386.14?76.71 m,while those in the EP group improved from 348.00?55.94 m to 425.17?53.22 m.The Borg scale scores in the TC group decreased from 3.14?1.94 to 2.32?1.25,while those in the EP group declined from 3.45?1.84 to 1.72?0.70.Conclusion Making up EP-TCMTs is feasible.Additional treatment was found to improve exercise tolerance and decrease dyspnea in COPD patients.Exercise therapy based on traditional Chinese methods is easy and safe.

The experiment's aim was to optimize the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus which through comparing the difference of UPLC fingerprint and contents of toxicity ingredient in water extract of 16 batches of processed sample. The determination condition of UPLC chromatographic and contents of toxicity ingredient were as follows. UPLC chromatographic: ACQUITY BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) eluted with the mobile phases of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acidwater in gradient mode, the flow rate was 0.25 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was set at 327 nm. Contents of toxicity ingredient: Agilent TC-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase was methanol-0.01 mol x L(-1) sodium dihydrogen phosphate (35: 65), flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and detection wavelength was 203 nm. The chromatographic fingerprints 16 batches of samples were analyzed in using the similarity evaluation system of chromatographic, fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine, SPSS16.0 and SIMCA13.0 software, respectively. The similarity degrees of the 16 batches samples were more than 0.97, all the samples were classified into four categories, and the PCA showed that the peak area of chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were significantly effect index in fingerprint of processed Xanthii Fructus sample. The outcome of determination showed that the toxicity ingredient contents of all samples reduced significantly after processing. This method can be used in optimizing the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus.
Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; toxicity ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; toxicity ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; toxicity ; Xanthium ; chemistry ; classification

OBJECTIVESK channels are existed in hearts of mouse, rat, and human. Biochemical evidence indicates that SK2 channels are expressed more in atrial than in ventricular tissue. SK channels are highly sensitive to the calcium concentration of the pipette solution. In the present study, performed whole-cell patch clamp was used to detect the calcium sensitivity of small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels (SK) currents between sinus ryhthm (SR) and auricular fibrillation (AF).

METHODSThe patients who accepted cardiopulmonary bypass were divided into two groups: 21 patients with SR and 8 patients with AF. The enzymatic dissociation method was improved according to the previous research by our lab. The performed whole cell patch-clamp technique was used to record SK2 currents in both SR and AF groups at room temperature.

RESULTSThe SK2 current density was (-2.92 +/- 0.35) pA/pF in SR group (n = 6) vs (-6.83 +/- 0.19) pA/pF in AF group at -130 mV (n = 3, P < 0.05). In SR group, the SK2 current densities in calcium concentration of the pipette solution are (-1.43 +/- 0.33) pA/pF (n = 7), (-2.92 +/- 0.35) pA/pF (n = 6), (-10.11 +/- 2.15) pA/pF (n = 8, P < 0.05); In AF group, the SK2 current densities are (-2.17 +/- 0.40) pA/pF (n = 4), (-6.83 +/- 0.19) pA/pF (n = 3), (-14.47 +/- 2.89 pA/pF) (n = 4, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe SK2 currents recorded in this experiment are voltage-independent, inwardly rectifying and apamin-sensitive. When the calcium concentration of the pipette solution is 5 x 10(-7) mol/L, SK2 current density in AF group are significantly larger than those in SR group. It suggests that SK currents involve the cardiomyocytes electric remodeling in AF. In AF group, the SK2 currents are more sensitive to free calcium ion. It shows that the increased sensitivity of SK2 currents to the calcium contribute to the occurrence and maintenance of AF.

Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Heart Atria ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; physiology

Objective To investigate the role and potential mechanism of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in the inflammatory response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats.Methods The adult male Wistar rats were randomly (random number) divided into seven groups:control group (n =6),sham operation group (n =6),TBI group (n =24),sham operation + normal saline group (n =6),sham operation + Y320 (an immunomodulator acts as an inhibitor of IL-17A) group (n =6),TBI + normal saline group (n =6) and TBI + Y320 group (n =6).The TBI model of rat was established by using free-falling-body impact device.The levels of IL-17A and nuclear transcription factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) in the cerebral cortex were assayed by using Western Blot.The capability of leaming and memory of rats was assessed by Morris water maze.The beam balance test was employed to evaluating the neurological motor performance and the capability of balance.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the levels of IL-17A and NF-κB p65 in the cerebral cortex of TBI,TBI + saline and TBI + Y320 groups increased significantly (P ＜0.05) and peaked at the 3rd day after TBI.Compared with TBI + normal saline group,the level of NF-κB p65 was significantly down regulated by Y-320 (P ＜ 0.05) at the 3rd day after TBI in TBI + Y320 group.The lengths of latency time required for rats to escape to the platform area in TBI + normal saline group were (57.72±3.29) s,(55.63±3.85) s,and (55.02±3.92) sat the3rd,5th and7th days after TBI,respectively;while those in TBI + Y320 group were (35.45 ± 3.04) s,(30.98 ± 2.92) s,and (23.90 ±2.51) s at the 3rd,5th and 7th days after TBI,respectively.Thus,the capability of learning and memory of rats in TBI + Y320 group was improved significantly 3d,5d and 7 days after TBI (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions This study shows IL-17A is involved in the process of secondary brain injury after TBI,and associated with inflammation by activating the NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.

Background The tissue-engineered cornea is becoming the hot spot in the ophthalmologic field,while the research of corneal substitute is in the ascendant,because it is more similar to the corneal morpha and easy to survive in vivo.Objective This study was to investigate the biocompatibility of recombinant human type-Ⅲ collagen/poly9 ( 3-( methacryloylamino ) propyl dimethyl ( 3-sulfopropyl ) ammonium hydroxide ) ( PMPDSAH ) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) (RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN) hydrogel as a tissue-engineered cornea in rabbit eye and its feasibility as the corneal substitute.Methods One hundred and eight rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group( 90 rabbits) and normal control group ( 3 rabbits),and 15 rabbits ( 30 eyes ) used as the donor corneas.RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN,NGF PMPDSAH IPN and corneal grafts were lamellarly transplanted into the right eyes in RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN group,NGF PMPDSAH IPN group and allograft group respectively.The corneal transparency and neovascularization were examined and scored under the slim lamp and compared among three groups using Kraskal-Wallis H test.The corneal epithelization time was observed and compared among these three groups using one way analysis of variance and LSD-t test.The histological examination of corneas was performed at the 3rd day,1st and 2nd week,1 st,3rd and 6th month after the surgery.The immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of K3 in cornea at the 6th month.Results The grafts were well attached in RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN group,NGF PMPDSAH IPN group and allograft group,and no rejection reaction was found throughout 6-month following up.Compared with normal control group,no significant differences were found in the scores of corneal opacification and neovescularization in these three groups (x2 =4.34,P =0.23 ;x2 =2.60,P =0.46 ) at the 6th month.NGF PMPDSAH IPN group achieved reepithelialization in (4.97±0.63) days and was obviously shorted than that in RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN group and allograft group ( t =11.97,P =0.00; t =5.80,P =0.00).The re-epithelialization time in RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN was (6.86±0.71) days,and that of allograft group was (5.87±0.43 ) days,showing a significant difference ( t =6.32,P =0.00).Hematoxylin-eosin staining results demonstrated that implanted materials integrated into the host corneal tissue well and support corneal epithelialization.Part of the material degraded at the 2nd week and degraded completely 1 month later.Regular alignment and distribution of collagen fibers were seen in the regenerated cornea and were similar to those of the normal stroma in 6 months.Immunohistochemistry showed the positive expression of keratin-3 in corneal epithelial cells.Conclusions RHC-Ⅲ/PMPDSAH IPN has a good biocompatibility without toxicity to corneal tissue.Furthermore,NGF can promote the corneal wound-healing and re-epithelialization.The material can be used as safe and reliable corneal substitute after improving the mechanical strength.