Objective To analyze the genotypes of clinical varicella-zoster virus(VZV) isolates in Tibet.Methods The samples of vesicular fluid from patients with chickenpox or zoster were collected to isolate VZV in human embryonic fibroblast cells.Furtherly,the isolated VZV were identified by indirect immunofluorescence assay and the positive ones were continuely cultured in vitro to get their genome DNAs.Then,PCR and nucleotide sequencing were performed on the part of open reading frames 1,21,50,54.To confirm the genotypes of isolated virus strains,the gene sequences obtained from PCR products were compared with that in GenBank of VZV Dumas strains,and their restriction enzyme sites were analyzed via Primer 5.0.Results Ten clinical isolates of VZV were obtained from sixteen specimens,the positive isolation rate was 62.5％.Gene analysis showed that among all the ten clinical isolates of VZV in Tibet,three strains are genotype A1,four are genotype A2 and the other three are genotype J1.Conclusion The VZV genotype distribution in Tibet was tightly related to their special geographic locations.

The effect of anisodine on brain monoamine was studied in 30 rats. The brain monoamine levels of caudate nucleus, hippocampus, diencephalon, brain stem and cerebral cortex were estimated by fluoro-metric method in drug-treated rats and saline-treated controls. Only the NE level of the brain stem was significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals 48 hours after injection. There were no significant differences in the dopamine values between anisodine-treated rats and saline-treated controls, while the 5HT and 5HIAA levels were significantly increased in anisodine-treated animals. The relation of brain monoamines to learning and memory is discussed. The increased 5HT and 5HIAA levels caused by anisodine may play a role in the impairment of memory.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the contents determination of 5 heavy metals in Ershiwuwei shanhu pills, and to investigate the contents of heavy metals in Ershiwuwei shanhu pills produced by 5 manufacturers from different districts of Tibet. METHODS:Ershiwuwei shanhu pills were digested by HNO3-HClO4(4:1,V/V).The contents of 3 heavy metals as Cu,Pb, Cd in samples were measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry(FAAS). The contents of 2 heavy metals as As,Hg in samples were measured by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry(HG-AAS). RESULTS:5 kinds of heavy metals have good linear relationship in the corresponding mass concentration range(all r≥0.999 1). The limits of detection of Cu,Pb, Cd were 0.001 6,0.041 2,0.036 3 mg/L,and the limits of quantitation were 0.005 3,0.137 3,0.121 0 mg/L;the limits of detection of As,Hg were 0.325 7,0.692 3 μg/L,and the limits of quantitation were 1.085 7,2.307 7 μg/L. RSDs of precision tests were ≤5.54%(n=6);RSDs of stability tests were all≤3.79%;RSDs of reproducibility tests were ≤3.72%. The average recovery rates were 91.34%-110.11%(RSDs were 0.66%-6.80%,n=6). Results of contents determination showed that the contents of Cu in samples from 5 manufacturers were not out of limits,but the contents of Cd and Hg were all out of limits; the contents of Pb in samples from 4 manufacturers were out of limits,and the contents of As in samples from 2 manufacturers were out of limits. CONCLUSIONS:The established method has good accuracy,sensitivity,stability and reproducibility,and it is suitable for contents determination of 5 heavy metals in Ershiwuwei shanhu pills. To some extent,there is a problem of excessive heavy metals in samples from 5 manufacturers.

OBJECTIVE:To study the anti-tussive and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous extract of Pegaeophyti Radix Et Rhizoma(P. Radix Et Rhizoma). METHODS:In the experiment,there were a model group,a positive control group [30 mg/kg co-deine for mice,18.38 mg/kg codeine for guinea pigs,20 mg/kg indometacin for mice and 15 mg/kg indometacin for rats] and P. Ra-dix Et Rhizoma low-dose,medium-dose and high-dose groups [2.0,4.0 and 8.0 g(medicinal materials)/kg for mice;1.2,2.4 and 4.8 g (medicinal materials)/kg for guinea pigs;1.4,2.8 and 5.6 g (medicinal materials)/kg for rats],with 10 animals in each group. The above-mentioned animals were given corresponding drug ig for 4 consecutive days,and then strong ammonia spraying method and sulfur dioxide stimulation method were employed to induce cough in mice and citric acid spraying method to induce cough in guinea pigs to observe the incubation period and times of cough,auricular swelling method to observe xylene-induced au-ricular swelling in mice and pedal swelling method to observe carrageenin-induced pedal swelling in rats. RESULTS:Compared to the model group,Aqueous extract of P. Radix Et Rhizoma could prolong the incubation period and reduce times of cough induced by strong ammonia spraying and sulfur dioxide stimulation in mice of positive control group and P. Radix Et Rhizoma medium-dose and high-dose groups;it could prolong the incubation period of and reduce times of cough induced by citric acid spraying in guinea pigs of positive control group and P. Radix Et Rhizoma medium-dose and high-dose groups;it could alleviate xylene-induced auricu-lar swelling in mice of positive control group and P. Radix Et Rhizoma medium-dose and high-dose groups;it could alleviate carra-geenin-induced pedal swelling in rats of positive control group and P. Radix Et Rhizoma medium-dose and high-dose groups. There were statistically significances (P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Aqueous extract of P. Radix Et Rhizoma has anti-tussive and anti-inflammatory effects on the experimental animals.

Objective To evaluate the standardized drug treatment and its influence factors of patients,with coronary artery disease,in hospital and one year after discharge.Methods The study enrolled sequentially 165 patients who were firstly diagnosed of coronary artery disease,61 cases with stable angina,67 cases with unstable angi-na and 37 cases of acute myocardial infarction,by coronary artery angiography from 2010 to 2012.The standardized drug treatment and its influence factors of patients were analyzed at hospital and 1 year after discharge in the present study.Results Fifty five percent patients with coronary artery disease at hospital regularly took the four drugs,anti-platelet agents,statins,beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The ratio decreased to forty five percent one year after discharge(χ2 =81.04,P <0.01).The reasons of the irregular medication taken were optional withdrawal(61%),following the doctors′advice(15%),economic hardship(20%) and the drugs′adverse reaction(4%).Conclusion The results of the present study showed that the rate of regular medication in patients with coronary artery disease is low in hospital and 1 year after discharge.The major reasons of the irregular medicine taken were the patients′optional withdrawal and the consciousness of second prevention was lack in doctors in our hospital.Therefore,the increase of the consciousness of regular standardized treatment in prima-ry care physicians and strengthen the management of the patients after discharge form hospital.

Objective To assess the effects of gonadectomy on carcinogenesis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by chemical substances in rat model. Methods Fifty male and 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats (age of 5-6 weeks) were equally divided into four groups: male experimental (surgical castration) and control groups and female experimental (surgical castration)and control groups. The HCC model was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and Nnitrosomorpholine (NMOR) in SD rats. The effects of gonadectomy on occurring and development of HCC were observed. Results The incidence of HCC in female experimental group was higher than that in female control group (11/11 vs 5/14, P=0. 001), while it was lower in male experimental group than that in male control group (3/10 vs 12/12, P=0. 001). It was demonstrated that gonadectomy could increase the growth of HCC (P=0. 013) and tumor metastasis (P=0. 036) in female rats, but not in male rats. The formation of liver cirrhosis and HCC was found at 8 and 16 weeks in male experimental group, at 12 and 20 weeks in male control group, at 16 and 20 weeks in female experimental group and at 12 and 16 weeks in female control group. These findings showed that gonadectomy could improve the development of carcinogenesis in female rats and delay the carcinogenesis in male rats. Conclusion Sex hormones, especially estrogens, may be involved in development and metastasis of rats HCC.

To study the functions of human Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2IIIc (FGFR2IIIc) gene in cancer cells, breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231 were infected by recombinant adenoviruses containing FGFR2IIIc and its S252W mutant, respectively. FGFR2IIIc gene was amplified from an existing plasmid and its S252W mutant was obtained by overlapping extension PCR. These two genes were separately cloned into the adenoviral shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV, confivmed by DNA sequencing linearized, and co-transformed into Escherichia coli BJ-5183 with the adenoviral vector pAdEasy-1. The resulting recombinant expression vectors Ad-FGFR2IIIc and Ad-FGFR2IIIcS252W were linearized and transfected into HEK293A cells to get adenoviral particles. GFP was used to verify the gene expression. The recombinant adenoviral particles were harvested, titrated, and then infected MDA-MB-231 cells. The expression of FGFR2IIIc and its S252W mutant were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, and the effect of these recombinant adenoviruses on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation was analyzed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry. The results showed the recombinant adenoviral particles could infect MDA-MB-231 cells and express the target proteins. MTT showed that both FGFR2IIIc and its S252W mutant inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation, but the mutant was more effective. Flow cytometry showed that both FGFR2IIIc and its S252W mutant arrested MDA-MB-231 cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, resulting in low cell proliferation.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Objective To analyze the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of patients with spinal epidural lipomatosis (SEL) in high-altitude areas and to determine the optimal cut-off value for diagnosis with epidural fat thickness. Methods This retrospective study included patients who underwent lumbosacral MRI examination for lumbosacral pain in Ping’an District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haidong City, China from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. The epidural fat thickness in vertebral segments T12/L1 to L5/S1 was compared between the SEL group and the non-SEL group. The diagnostic efficacy with different cut-off values at each vertebral segment was evaluated. Between-group comparisons were performed using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or modified chi-square test. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. The DeLong test was used to compare AUC between the two groups. Results A total of 370 patients were included (60 in the SEL group and 310 in the non-SEL group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, height, body weight, and body mass index between the two groups (all P > 0.05). At different vertebral segments, the epidural fat thickness was significantly higher in the SEL group than in the non-SEL group (all P < 0.05). The cut-off values for SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness in segments T12/L1 to L5/S1 were 2.23, 4.25, 4.85, 5.57, 7.21, and 8 mm, respectively. The AUC of MRI SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness in segment L5/S1 was the highest (0.945, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.916-0.966, P < 0.001). SEL diagnosis with epidural fat thickness > 8 mm in segment L5/S1 was the most accurate, with an AUC of 0.931 (95% CI: 0.901-0.955, P < 0.001), a sensitivity of 95.0%, and a specificity of 91.3%; this AUC was significantly higher than those of diagnosis with other cut-off values (all P < 0.05). Conclusion SEL patients have significantly increased epidural fat in the spinal canal. Epidural fat thickness > 8 mm in segment L5/S1 can be used for diagnosis of SEL with improved efficiency and accuracy.