We tried to clarify the effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the cases of diabetic retinopathy. The 12 male patients and 21 female patients of diabetic retinopathy are administered Kampo extracts.
Most of the patients were classified as a simple type or a preproliferative type. These patients were divided into three types of pathological conditions diagnosed by Traditional Chinese Medicine such as “deficiency of Qi” “Yin-deficiency” and “deficiency of Oi and Yin” accompanied stagnation of pathological blood.
After the administration of Kampo extract for over 6 months, the effects were recognized in more than 80% of the patients from the observation on absorption of hemorrhage and white flecks of the retina and the improvement of visual acuity.
The basic pathological conditions should be considered for prescription of formulations for diabetic retinopathy.

Objective To investigate the isolation and antimicrobial resistance of hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.Methods The cultured bacteria were identified by API 20NE system.The susceptibilities of bacteria were detected by disk diffusion method and the results were confirmed with the rules of NCCLS/CLSI.The hypermutable strains were identified byhigh concentration of rifampin-resistant growth assay.Results Among analyzed 100 strains,37 strains(37.0%) were hypermutable.The resistant rates of hypermutable strains to imipenem,meropenem,cefoperazone/sulbactam,piperacillin/tazobactam,ceftazidime,cephfime,aztreonam,amikacin and ciprofloxacin were significantly higher than those of non-hypermutable strains.The multidrug resistance rates of hypermutable strains were also higher than those of non-hypermutable strains.Conclusion The hypermutable strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sourced from chronic respiratory tract infections dominantly.The hypermutable strains were hyper-resistant and multidrug resistant to many antibiotics,so strengthened monitoring should be encouraged to control the prevalence of hypermutable Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

The Ebola virus belongs to the Filovirus family, which causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever (mortality, 25%-90%). An outbreak of infection by the Ebola virus is sweeping across West Africa, leading to high mortality and worldwide panic. The Ebola virus has caused a serious threat to public health, so intensive scientific studies have been carried out. Several vaccines (e.g., rVSV-ZEBOV, ChAd3-ZEBOV) have been put into clinical trials and antiviral drugs (e.g., TKM-Ebola, ZMAPP) have been administered in the emergency setting to patients infected by the Ebola virus. Here, recent advances in vaccines and drugs against the Ebola virus are reviewed.
Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Ebola Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Ebolavirus ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans

Objective To explore the correlation of E-cadherin expression and the sensitivity to EGFR-TKI molecular targeted therapy. Methods Eight kinds of cells,MCF-7,MDA-MB-231,T24,SiHa,H460,SK-HEP-1,MHCC97-H and THP-1 were treated with EGFR-TKI PD153035 and gefitinib,respectively,for 48 hours. The drug-sensitivity was detected by MTT,and the IC50 of cells were calculated. The E-cadherin protein were detected and compared. Results Followed with PD153035 and gefitinib treatment,the survival rates of MCF-7,MDA-MB-231,T24 and SiHa significantly reduced,and more E-cadherin protein expressed. However, the survival rates of the H460, SK-HEP-1, MHCC97-H, and THP-1 cells showed opposite results. Conclusion The sensitivity of epithelial cancer cells to EGFR-TKI is correlated with E-cadherin expression. E-cadherin may play a significant role on regulateing the sensitivity to EGFR-TKI molecular targeted therapy. E-cadherin is a key biomarker for recruiting appropriate patients for EGFR-TKI molecular targeted therapy.

Objectives To investigate HPV infection and its correlati on with the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibito r of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). Meth ods HPV6/11 and 16/18 DNA were detected using in situ hybridization in 26 case s of VSCC, 21 cases of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and 10 specimens o f normal skin. The expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was measured by immunohistoche mical method in these three groups. Results The infection rates of HPV6/11 and 16/18 in VSCC and VIN were 69.23% (18/26) and 38.46% (10/26), 42.86% (9/21) and 28.57% (6/21) respectively, and no HPV6/11 or 16/18 DNA was discovered in norma l skin epidermis. The expression rates of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in VSCC, VIN and norm al skin epidermis were 92.31%(24/26) and 76.92% (20/26), 90.45% (19/21) and 80.9 5% (17/21), and 80.00% (8/10) and 50.00% (5/10) respectively. MMP-9 expression in HPV positive lesions was higher than that in HPV negative lesions, but no sig nificant difference of TIMP-1 expression was observed in HPV positive and negati ve lesions. Conclusions HPV infection may play a role in the development of VS CC. The higher expression of MMP-9 comparing with that of TIMP-1 may be an early marker of tumor progression in VSCC, and HPV infection may facilitate the invas ion and metastasis of VSCC.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship of resistance and ?-lactamases of Acinetobacter baumannii.METHODS The bacteria cultured were identified with API 20NE system.The susceptibilities of the bacteria were detected by disk diffusion method.The ?-lactamases produced by these strains were characterized by three-dimensional test and 2-mercaptopropionic acid inhibition assays.RESULTS In 150 strains,the resistant rates of strains were 4.0% to cefoperazone/sulbactam.The resistant rates to imipenem,meropenem,piperacillin/tazobactam,ampicillin/sulbactam and levofloxacin were between 20.0% and 55.0%.The resistant rates to ceftazidime,cefepime,aztreonam and amikacin were above 60.0%.Three-dimensional test showed that 37 strains(24.7%) produced extended spectrum ?-lactamases(ESBLs),66 strains(44.0%)produced AmpC enzymes and 16 strains(10.7%)produced carbapenemases,in which 12 strains(8.0%) produced metallo-?-lactamases.CONCLUSIONS The resistant rates of A.baumannii to routine antibiotics are high except cefoperazone/sulbactam and carbapenem.It is the most important reason for multi-drug resistance that the strains of A.baumannii produce ESBLs,AmpC enzymes and metallo-?-lactamases.

Objective To investigate the acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, nasal membrane local toxicity of the Magnolia biondii Pamp volatile oil nanometer bangosome. Methods Kunming mice and SD rats were selected as experimental material. Kunming mice were used in the acute and subacute toxicity tests by intragastric administration of Magnolia biondii Pamp volatile oil nanometer bangosome with different dosage and different time, and SD rats were used in the nasal membrane local toxicity test by nose dropping, while the control group was treated with intragastric administration of or nose dropping with normal saline for the same dosage. The treatment course lasted fifteen days. At the end of the tests, the general condition, routine blood test, function index of live and kidney, organ humid weight index, histological changes of liver and kidney and ultra microstructure change of rat nasal membrane were obtained and compared with the control group. Results In the acute toxicity test, the daily maximum tolerant dosage by intragastric administration was equal to 222.7 times of the clinical routine, with no marked toxic reaction. In the subacute toxicity test, the general condition, blood test, organ humid weight index and histological changes of live and kidney in different dosage groups were similar to the control group. While in the function index of live and kidney, uric acid was stepped down in the middle and large dose groups, and total bilirubin was decreased in the large dose group. The nasal membrane local toxicity test revealed that there was little change in the ultra microstructure of rat nasal membrane.Conclusion The Magnolia biondii Pamp volatile oil nanometer bangosome may have little toxicity by intragastric administration and nose dropping.

To study the chemical constituents of the branches of Tamarix rasissima, repeated silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography and recrystallization were applied for chemical constituents isolation and purification. Ten phenolic compounds were isolated from the n-BuOH fraction and their structures were elucidated by physical properties and spectra analysis such as UV, ESI-MS and NMR as monodecarboxyellagic acid (1), ellagic acid (2), 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (3), 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), 3, 3'-di-O-methylellagic acid-4'-O-alpha-D-arabinfuranoside (5), ferulic acid (6), isoferulic acid (7), caffeic acid (8), 4-O-acetyl-caffeic acid (9), and 4-methyl-1, 2-benzenediol (10). All compounds except for isoferulic acid were isolated firstly from this plant except for isoferulic acid, and compounds 5, 9 and 10 were obtained from Tamarix genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tamaricaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the pharmacodynamics and therapeutic effect of Jiakang Ⅰ oral liquid.METHODS:The drug actions of tapazole,NS and Jiakang Ⅰ were compared in the animal model of hyperthyroidism.205 hyperthyroidism cases were treated with Jiakang Ⅰ in a double blind design and the therapeutic effect was observed.RESULTS:Pharmacodynamic observation revealed that Jiakang Ⅰ could decreased T3,T4 and increase TSH significantly in rats.Compared with control group treated with tapazole or NS,in Jiakang Ⅰ group,T3 and T4 were obviously reduced and TSH was increased and the clinical symptoms were alleviated without any marked adverse reaction.CONCLUSION:The hyperthyroidism animal model can be applied to evaluating the pharmacodynamic effect of Jiakang Ⅰ.This drug has satisfactory therapeutic effect on hyperthyroidism.

Background Chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs) can cause the termination of ocular dominance plasticity in the visual cortex.Recently,protein tyrosine phosphatase σ (PTPσ) has been identified as a receptor that inhibits CSPGs.However,whether PTPσ and its downstream molecules participate in the reactivation of ocular dominance plasticity in adult visual cortex has not been studied.Objective The present study was to investigate the changes in the expression of the PTPσ,probabilistic neural networks (PNNs),and molecules downstream of PNN,such as N-cadherin/β-catenin,after the reactivation of adult visual cortical plasticity.Methods Fifty-four SPF Long Evans rats were grouped according to different postnatal week (PW) as the PW1 (6 rats),PW3 (6 rats),PW5 (6 rats),PW7 (24 rats),and PW9 (12 rats) groups,and the upper and lower eyelids were sutured in the 12 rats from the PW7 group for 14 days to establish the binocular plasticity reactivation models.Expression of PTPσ and PNNs in the rat visual cortex was detected using immunochemistry,and changes of PTPσ mRNA,N-cadherin mRNA and β-catenin mRNA expression in the rat visual cortex with plasticity reactivation were assessed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT Q-PCR).The use of animals followed the Regulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The expression level of PTPσ mRNA was significantly higher in the PW9 group than that of the binocular plasticity reactivation models and the PW7 group (t =1.965,3.526,P＜0.01).The staining of the rat visual cortex for PTPσwas localized to the cellular membrane,cytoplasm and axon.Cell densities of the PW9 group in the Ⅱ-Ⅲ layer,Ⅳ layer and Ⅴ-Ⅵ layer of the visual cortex were elevated in the PW9 rats compared with the PW7 rats (t =24.593,23.444,13.556,P＜0.01) and rats from the binocular plasticity reactivation model (t =44.111,43.000,16.556,P＜0.01).Cell densities for PNNs in the Ⅳ and Ⅴ-Ⅵ layers were significantly increased in the PW9 rats in comparison with the PW7 rats (t=1.926,P＜0.01 ;t=1.370,P＜0.05),but the cell density in the Ⅱ-Ⅱ layer has no statistical significance (t=0.889,P＞0.05).However,cell densities for PNNs in the Ⅱ-Ⅲ and Ⅳ layers in the binocular plasticity reactivation models were lower than those of the PW9 rats (t =2.556,4.585,P＜0.01).Compared with PW1 rats,the expression levels of the N-cadherin mRNA in the PW3,PW5,PW7,PW9 rats were lower (t =28.932,28.988,27.083,28.908,P＜0.01),but those in the PW7 rats were enhanced in comparison with the PW3 rats,PW5 rats and PW9 rats (t =1.848,1.904,1.825,P＜0.01).No significant difference was seen in the expression of the N-cadherin mRNA between the PW9 rats and rats from the binocular plasticity reactivation model (t =0.072,P＞0.05).A statistically significant increase was found in the β-catenin mRNA expression in the PW1 rats compared with the PW3,PW5,PW7 and PW9 rats (t =3.918,3.534,2.645,4.652,P＜ 0.0 1),as well as between rats from the binocular plasticity reactivation model and the PW9 rats (t =0.570,P＜0.01).Conclusions PTPr,PNNs and β-catenin are involved in the reactivation of ocular dominance plasticity in the adult visual cortex.