OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 8-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photodynamic therapy (PDT) on the cell proliferation, apoptosis and collagen secretion in keloid fibroblasts and to provide the theoretical base for ALA-PDT treatment of keloids.

METHODSFibroblasts from keloid patients were cultured to the third generation in vitro and incubated in 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L of δ-aminolevulinic acid for 3 h in the darkness. Then they were exposed to 635 nm wavelength red light ( 30 J/cm2 ) and continued incubation 24 h after irradiation. CCK-8 assay was used to detect proliferation inhibition rate of fibroblasts. The content of hydroxyproline was measured by colorimetric method. The expression of p-Akt and programmed cell death 4 ( PDCD4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe inhibition rate of keloid fibroblasts were respectively 0, (8.30 ± 1.01)%, (29.48 ± 3.27)%, (52.01 ± 5.34)%, (79.99 ± 5.85)% with the presence of difference concentrations (0, 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L) of ALA. The content of hydroxyproline were respectively (9.540 0 ± 0.352 42), (6.242 5 ± 0.224 85 ), (5.107 5 ± 0.534 88), (3.490 0 ± 0.623 48), (2.945 0 ± 0.514 10) μg/mg. The relative expression of p-Akt were respectively 1, 0.75 ± 0.12, 0.52 ± 0.14, 0.41 ± 0.18, 0.32 ± 0.09. The relative expression of PDCD4 were respectively 1, 1.18 ± 0.19, 1.51 ± 0.22, 0.15 ± 0.30, 2.44 ± 0.22. The difference was statistically significant when compared the group of 1, 3, 6, 9 mmol/L with 0 mmol/L (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn concentration within the range of 1-9 mmol/L, ALA could inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts significantly, promote fibroblasts apoptosis and reduce the content of hydroxyproline in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that 8-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy may be a potential treatment for keloid.

Aminolevulinic Acid ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Collagen ; secretion ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; secretion ; Humans ; Keloid ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Light ; Photochemotherapy ; methods ; Photosensitizing Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To assess the safety of living environment by the elderly, further clarify the relevant factors of the elderly fall in the living environment. Methods The self- made assessment form of fall-related factors of living environment for elderly patients was used to survey 1 076 elderly. Likert five grades score was used for each item, and the higher score demonstrated the safer living environment. Results In the assessment of the safety of living environment, the indoor physical environment (3.94 points), home furniture safety (3.66 points) score was better;home ground and the channel (3.32 points) and outdoor activities places (3.57 points) score was lower. Scores of home′s ground and channel, furniture safety, indoor physical environment and living environment of urban elderly were (23.56 ± 6.49), (44.52 ± 7.72), (11.93 ± 2.49), (105.03 ± 17.82) points, which were better than (22.46 ± 6.39), (42.73 ± 7.95), (11.53 ± 2.39), (101.55 ± 18.15) points of rural elderly (t=2.471-3.495, P <0.05). Conclusions The indoor physical environment, home furniture safety got higher scores, and the scores of ground-channel environment and outdoor activities places were relatively lower. Scores of the safety of living environment in urban are better than in rural. It suggests the elderly living environment need to reduce the incidence of falls.

Objective To analyze the effect of modified Yulin Decoction on hormones and ovarian function in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF).Methods 142 cases of patients with POF and kidney-yang deficiency syndrome were selected and randomLy divided into the control group (n=64) and the observation group (n=78).Levels of serum hormones and ovarian function,the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the scores and levels of hormones.After treatment, levels of serum FSH, LH and E2 were significantly decreased in the two groups, and the changes were more obvious in the observation group than the control group (P<0.05).After treatment, TCM symptom scores of two groups were significantly decreased, and the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Yulin Decoction is significantly effective in the treatment of POF of spleen and kidney-yang deficiency syndrome.It can significantly improve the level of estrogen, adjust endocrine and relieve clinical symptoms.

As a clinical diagnosis and treatment of low back pain,straight leg raising test has been used most commonly more than 100 years.It is simple and practical,and has a high clinical value.As a very mature orthopedic special examination,straight leg raising test progress in non-orthopedic applications more often than orthopedic aspects.Of course,the most important thing is the diagnosis of low back pain,followed by the treatment of low back pain,and then can be used as a respiratory and circulatory aspect of diagnosis and treatment options.This article elaborated the principle of straight leg raising test and the clinical research progress in order to give the clinician some guidance.

OBJECTIVE: To prepare indapamide sustained release capsules and investigate its release in vitro. METHODS: Blank pellets, hydrated magnesium silicate, hypromellose cellulose, triethyl citrate, Eudragit RL 100, Eudragit RS 100, Eudragit LS 55, etc, were used as materials to prepare indapamide sustained release capsules The content was determined by HPLC, and the effects of different solid weight gains of sustained release material on release of indapamide from capsules were evaluated by in vitro release test. RESULTS: The release in vitro of the sustained release pills met the requirements when the solid weight gain of the materials was 5.0% to 5.3%. CONCLUSION: The optimum preparation technique of indapamide sustained release capsules is established, which has guiding significance for the practical manufacture.

Autophagy is an important homeostatic cellular recycling mechanism responsible for degrading injured or dysfunctional cellular organelles and proteins in all living cells. Aging is a universal phenomenon characterized by progressive deterioration of cells and organs due to accumulation of macromolecular and organelle damage. Growing evidences indicate that the rate of autophagosome formation and maturation and the efficiency of autophagosome/lysosome fusion decline with age. Dysfunctional autophagy has also been observed in age-related diseases. Autophagy disruption resulted accumulation of mutated or misfolded proteins is the essential feature of neurodegenerative disorders. However, in cancers, fibroproliferative diseases or cardiovascular diseases, autophagy can play either a protective or destructive role in different types of disease, and even in different stages of the same disease. The review will discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autophagy and its important role in the pathogenesis of aging and age-related diseases, and the ongoing drug discovery strategies for therapeutic intervention.
Aging ; Autophagy ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Lysosomes ; metabolism ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Phagosomes ; metabolism ; Protein Folding

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of ultraviolet B (UV-B) induction on the content of two kinds of secondary metabolites in mulberry leaves and differential proteomics under UV-B induction. METHODS: The HPLC chromatograms of secondary metabolites in leaves before and after UV-B induction were established and quantitative analysis of two kinds of secondary metabolites was performed. The subcellular structure of mulberry leaves under UV-B induction was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Proteomic analysis of mulberry leaves was performed using two-dimensonal electrophoresis (2-DE). RESULTS: The subcellular structure of mulberry leaves was destroyed under UV-B induction. The contents of moracin N and chalcomoracin in mulberry leaves were increased with the dark incubation time and they maximized at 36 and 40 h, respectively. The result of proteomics showed that the abundance of chalcone synthase (CHS) which is the key enzyme of flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was increased significantly. CONCLUSION: The secondary metabolism especially for flavonoids biosynthesis in mulberry leaves is changed under UV-B induction and dark incubation, which result in the increased moracin N and chalcomarcin.

Objective To determine the clinical features of Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia and antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae, providing the basis for rational use of antibiotics. Methods Eighty-six strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the sputum specimen which collected from the inpatients in our hospital from Dec 2008 to Dec 2010,which were identified with Bio Merieum Vitek 2. A total of 86 children were enrolled in the study, which were divided into hospital infection/colonization group (n = 68) and community infection group (n = 18). Clinical information were recorded. Extended spectum β-lactamase (ESBLs) and antibiotic susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae were determined. Results Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in children mainly occured in infants, especially in infants with basic diseases.Clinical manifestations of Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia had no much difference from common pneumonia. The detection rate of ESBLs was high(76. 7%). ESBLs were found in 64 strains of the hospital infection/colonization group (94. 1% ,64/68) ,while in 2 strains of the community infection group (11. 1% ,2/18).There was a significant difference between the two groups (P ＜0. 01). The drug resistance of hospital infection/colonization group was significantly higher than that of community infection group. The strains of hospital infection/colonization group were sensitive with cefotan, piperacillin/tazobactam, carberpenem, amikacin and ciprofioxacin only, while were highly resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins and monoamine antibiotics.The average hospital stay of the hospital infection/colonization group was (15.0 ± 7. 1) d, while the other was (8. 2 ± 3. 8) d. There was a very significant difference between the two groups in average length of stay (P＜0.01). Conclusion Klebsieila pneumoniae pneumonia in children mainly occurs in infants with basic diseases. The symptoms are untypical. Klebsiella pneurmoniae multi-drug resistance is a serious problem,which must be paid attention to. We should make a difference between the two groups when antibiotics were prescribed.

Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is a major global health issue that leads to end-stage renal disease which untreated.The use of stem cell therapy provides a new perspective in this area.Reviewing the experimental studies of stem cell therapy on CKD,many different,and even contradictory reports in this area were found.In this paper,the recent reports,and present several key issues of experimental stem cell treatment on CKD were reviewed,including the source of stem cell,the sort of experimental animal,the time of treatment and other experimental details.Hoping these may lead more understanding in this area.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences in the accumulation and biosynthesis of metabolites in different lactic acid of Pseudostellariae Radix. METHODS: 1H-NMR based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to investigate the chemical compositions and find the different metabolites in cultivated Pseudostellariae Radix and its wild-type. RESULTS: Thirty-five metabolites were identified in the 1H-NMR spectra, and 15 of which showed remarkable differences. The multivariate statistical analysis showed that the cultivated Pseudostellariae Radix and its wild-type could be distinguished obviously. The contents of isoleucine, linolenic acid, lactic acid, alanine, lysine, glutamic acid, glutamine, acetoacetic acid, succinic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, phenylalanine, and sucrose in cultivated Pseudostellaria heterophylla were lower than its wild-type, while the cultivated Pseudostellariae Radix contained more xylose, raffinose, and fumaric acid. CONCLUSION: This study will provide basic information for exploring the quality formation mechanism and revealing the accumulation and biosynthesis of metabolites in different ecotypes of Pseudostellariae Radix.