OBJECTIVE: To optimize the preparation process of Xiangsha Liujun Granule. METHODS: By the orthogonal design. taking the rates of recovery of volatile oil, Ginsenoside Re and qualified granules as the indexes, we optimized the oil extracting conditions, the decocting conditions and the conditions of granulation by spayer. RESULTS: The optimum oil ex- tracting conditions for four kinds of herbs(Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae etc.) were that water was 30 times of herbs in weight, soaking time was 3 hours and extracting time 15 hours. The optimum decocting conditions for four kinds of herbs(Fuling etc.) were that water was 15 times of herbs in weight, soaking time was 3 hours and decocting time 4 hours, herbs were decocted twice. The optimum conditions of granulation by sprayer were that the fliud extract was 2 times of Dextrin in weight, the rel- ative density of the fliud extract was 1. 30(measured at 25℃), the voltage of sprayer was 120 volts, the period of shaking bag was 65 times(shaking bag back and forth twice in each period). CONCLUSION: The results of the experiment make it clear that the preparation process of Xiangsha Liu jun Granule is stable and feasible.

Abstract: Malaria, an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium infection, is one of the most important public health problems worldwide. Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended by WHO as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in malaria-endemic areas. The application of artemisinin and its derivatives has played an integral role in reducing the global incidence of malaria. However, in recent years, the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance has brought great challenges to global malaria control and elimination. At present, the mutation of K13 gene on chromosome 13 of Plasmodium falciparum is most closely related to artemisinin resistance, but in recent years, studies have shown that K13 cannot explain all artemisinin resistance. This article reviews the recent research progress in the field of artemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, including definition of artemisinin resistance, detection methods and molecular markers related to resistance. In addition, some of the issues discussed in this review remain controversial and require further study.

Objective To investigate the clinical value and prenatal diagnosis feasibility of fetal aberrant right subclavian artery(ARSA) with fetal echocardiography.Methods The data of 39 fetuses with ARSA were retrospectively reviewed.The prenatal and postnatal medical records,including the presence of fetal abnormalities,cardiac defect,karyotype and the outcomes of each pregnancy were collected.Results The echocardiographic feature of ARSA was that an ARSA arises as a fourth branch of the arch,from the descending aorta behind the trachea,crosses the thorax between the trachea and the spine,to reach the right arm.The overall incidence of ARSA was 2.3 ％ (39/17 280),23 cases (59.0 ％) as an isolated malformation,16 cases (41.0％) combined with cardiac defect and extracardiac abnormalities,9 cases (23.1％) with chromosomal abnormalities.23 cases underwent termination of pregnancy,2 cases died in uterus and 14 cases were born live.Isolated ARSA group had lower incidence of chromosomal abnormalities (8.7％ vs 43.8 ％,P ＜ 0.05) and higher fetal survival rate (56.5％ vs 6.2％,P ＜0.05) than the combined detects group.Conclusions The fetus with ARSA complicated with aneuploid karyotype,cardiac defects and extracardiac anomalies are at hight risk of poor prognosis.

AIMTo study the structure and crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine.

METHODSKarl Fischer titrimetry, FTIR, thermal analysis, single and powder X-ray diffraction were used for the studies of the structure of chlorobenzylidine and for the identification of two forms of chlorobenzylidine.

RESULTSChlorobenzylidine and its diastereoisomer have been studied in this article. They can be distinguished by their different melting points. Two crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine (form A and form B) have also been detected and studied. Form A was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, it crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P1(-), with two formula units per cell, is monohydrate. Karl Fischer titrimetry, FTIR, thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction were used for identification of the two forms.

CONCLUSIONThe studies of structure and crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine are very useful for the clinical research and the selection of recrystallization process.

Benzylidene Compounds ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Differential Thermal Analysis ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Polycyclic Compounds ; chemistry ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of serum reproductive hormones with male aging and to compare the differences in the hormone levels among different age groups or between township and rural males of the same age group.

METHODSUsing cluster and stratified sampling, we recruited 434 healthy old and middle-aged (40-69 years) males, 198 from the township and 236 from the rural communities. We determined the concentrations of serum total testosterone (tT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (fT), bio-available testosterone (Bio-T), and obtained the testosterone secretion index (TSI) and free testosterone index (fTI). Meanwhile, we included fifty-nine 20-39 years old males from the same communities in a control group.

RESULTSWith the increase of age, the serum tT levels did not change significantly, while the levels of serum LH and SHBG increased, and those of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI decreased gradually. Statistically significant differences were found among the four different age groups in all the parameters of reproductive hormones (P < 0.01), except in the serum tT level (P > 0.05). The serum tT level was not significantly correlated with aging and LH (P > 0.05). Serum LH and SHBG had a marked positive correlation with aging, and SHBG with LH (P < 0.01), while fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were negatively correlated with aging and the LH level (P < 0.01). Serum LH, TSI and fTI showed statistical differences (P < 0.05), while fT and Bio-T exhibited extremely significant differences (P < 0.01) between the township and rural males in the 40 -49 yr group, and in the same age group, the increase rates of serum LH and SHBG and reduction rates of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were higher in the rural men than in the township residents. However, the results were just the opposite in the 50 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups.

CONCLUSIONThe levels of serum LH, SHBG, fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI changed with aging in a gradientmanner in the old and middle-aged males, but no significant changes were observed in the level of serum tT. There were statistical differences in many parameters of serum reproductive hormones among different age groups or between township and rural males.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aging ; metabolism ; China ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

We report here a case of pentastomiasis infection in a 3-year-old girl who had high fever, abdominal pain, abdominal tension and anemia. Ultrasound scanning of the abdomen revealed disseminated hyperechoic nodules in the liver and a small amount of ascites. Abdominal MRI showed marked hepatomegaly with disseminated miliary nodules of high signal intensity throughout the hepatic parenchyma on T2-weighted images; retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and disseminated miliary nodules on the peritoneum were also noted. Chest CT showed scattered small hyperdense nodules on both sides of the lungs. The laparoscopy demonstrated diffuse white nodules on the liver surface and the peritoneum. After the small intestinal wall and peritoneal biopsy, histological examination revealed parenchymal tubercles containing several larvae of pentastomids and a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration around them. The pathological diagnosis was parasitic granuloma from pentastomiasis infection.
Abdomen, Acute/*parasitology ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Parasitic Diseases/*diagnosis ; *Pentastomida ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among serum reproductive hormone levels, serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels, metabolic syndrome (MS), and the components of MS in middle-aged and elderly males.

METHODSUsing the cluster and stratified sampling methods and a unified structured questionnaire, we conducted a survey among 948 men aged 40 - 80 years in the rural community, measured their basic physical parameters, and obtained their reproductive hormone levels, serum Hcy concentrations, and metabolism-related indicators. We collected 868 valid questionnaires along with their serum samples, divided the subjects into an MS and a non-MS control group in a 1:1 ratio, and measured their serum Hcy concentrations.

RESULTSAmong the subjects included, 132 were diagnosed with MS. Nonparametric tests showed statistically significant differences between the MS and non-MS groups in the waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.05), but not in age (P > 0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the two groups in the levels of serum tT, SHBG, LH, and FTI (P < 0.05) , but not in the concentrations of serum Hcy (P > 0.05). The concentration of serum Hcy exhibited no correlation with BMI, SBP, DBP, FBG, TG, and HDL-C (P > 0.05) and had no influence on MS.

CONCLUSIONThe concentration of serum Hcy is not significantly correlated with MS, nor with its components. The levels of male serum reproductive hormones are associated both with MS and with its components.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Reproduction ; Rural Population ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Testosterone ; blood ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the time-dependent level changes of microRNA and 18S rRNA and the different postmortem interval (PMI) in rat cardiac muscle. METHODS: SD rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and placed at ambient temperature 25 degrees C with a humidity of 50%. Total RNA was extracted from the rat cardiac muscle at different time points after death. The levels of miR-1-2 and 18S rRNA were examined using real-time PCR in rat cardiac muscle. The results were expressed by cycle threshold (Ct) value to explore relationship between PMI and Ct value, and the regression functions were established to estimate PMI. RESULTS: The miR-1-2 level in rat myocardial tissue showed no significant changes within 120 h after death, and then began to decline. The 18S rRNA level increased gradually within 96 h after death, and then declined slowly. The nonlinear relationships were established between Ct value (18S rRNA), deltaCt value (difference between 18S rRNA and miR-1-2) and PMI. The R2 of conics fitting were 0.9487 and 0.8072, respectively. CONCLUSION Ct value of 18S rRNA and deltaCt value present a good correlation with PMI, and can be markers for estimating early PMI.
Animals ; Forensic Pathology ; Male ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA Stability ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/metabolism* ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Time Factors

Objective:To explore the short-term prognostic factors for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in children.Methods:The clinical data of children with GBS from 24 hospitals in 10 provinces/municipalities/autonomous regions in southern China (south of Huaihe River) from January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The factors affecting the short-term prognoses of children were explored.Results:In these 78 children (50 males and 28 females), the average age was 9.53±5.44 years, and 19 were under 5 years old. Fifty children had history of prodromal events; 28 children had cranial nerve involvement, and 22 had autonomic nerve involvement. Five children needed assisted respiration, and one died during hospitalization. There was no statistically significant difference in percentage of children having poor short-term prognosis (scores of Hughes GBS disability scale≥3 at discharge) between children with different ages, children having different days from onset to admission, children with different clinical classifications or electrophysiological classifications, children with different treatment plans, children having presence or absence of prodromal events, children having presence or absence of cranial nerve involvement ( P>0.05). The proportion of children having poor short-term prognosis in children with autonomic nerve involvement was significantly higher than that of children without autonomic nerve involvement (31.8% vs. 10.7%, P<0.05). Conclusion:The short-term prognosis of children with autonomic nerve involvement is poor.

Objective::To clone p-coumaroyl quinate/shikimate 3' -hydroxylase gene from Lonicera macranthoides, and analyze its bioinformatics and expression patterns with chlorogenic acid content, in order to speculate the functions of LmC3H1 gene from L. macranthoides. Method::The full-length cDNA sequence of LmC3H1 gene was cloned by reverse trascription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and RACE techniques. The bioinformatics analysis of the gene sequence was carried out by using relevant software.Real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(Real-time PCR) and HPLC were used to determine relative expression of LmC3H1 and content of chlorogenic acid in stems, leaves and flowers of different flowering stages. Result::The LmC3H1 (GenBank: MN177695) gene was cloned, and the open reading frame (ORF) of it was 1 533 bp in length and encoded 510 amino acids. The molecular formula was C₂₆₁₈H₄₁₃₄N₇₁₈O₇₂₇S₂₂, the relative molecular mass was 58 005.32, and the isoelectric point was 8.92.It was a hydrophilic protein located in the chloroplast with a transmembrane region LLLIPAVLFLISLVYPLI, and contained a conserved domain CYTOCHROME_P450(433-422 aa) in cytochrome P450.The results of Real-time PCR showed that LmC3H1 was expressed in different degrees in stems, leaves and different flowering stages of L. macranthoides. In the flower development stage, the relative expression of white bud stage was the highest, followed by flower buds and white flowering stage. The ratio of flower to stem and leaf was the highest, and the relative expression of flower was the highest. The HPLC results showed that the content of chlorogenic acid increased from greenish white to golden yellow in flowering stage and golden yellow flowering stage. Among the different organs, the flower had the highest chlorogenic acid, and the stem showed the lowest. Conclusion::The LmC3H1 gene of L. macranthoides is cloned, suggesting that LmC3H1 might be involved in the biosynthesis of L. macranthoides chlorogenic acid. This study provides a basis for further studying the functions of the gene and exploring the biosynthesis and regulation mechanism of L. macranthoides chlorogenic acid, while laying the foundation for the genetic improvement of L. macranthoides.