Aim To study effects of total flavonoids from stems and leaves of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi(SSF)on learning and memory deficits, automatic dyskinesia, neural and hepatic pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations.Methods Aluminum toxic model of mice was produced by introperitoneal injection (ip) of AlCl_3 for 50 d. Behavioral test of mice was used to examine the learning and memory ability;the number of automatic action determined the automatic dyskinesia;the neural and hepatic pathological changes were assessed by alterations of cerebral cortex and liver;MDA level and SOD activity in brain and liver were measured to evaluate free radicals.Results AlCl_3(100 mg?kg~-1 ,ip,50 d)resulted in a decreased ability of learning and memory in water maze task, lowered automatic action numbers, neuronal-hepatic-pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations, as compared with control group. The dose of SSF 50, 100 and 200 mg?kg~-1 significantly reversed the above pathological changes in toxic mice caused by aluminum. Conclusion SSF could reduce cognitive deficits and automatic dyskinesia, improve neuronal-hepatic-pathological changes and free radicals abnormal alterations.

Objective To evaluate the academic status of the researchers in pediatric department of Peking university first hospital, we conducted bibliometric analysis of research on the scientific publications. Methods The total number, first authors, and the citing and cited conditions of these papers published from 1999 to 2000 were analyzed by bibliometric methods. Results There were total 513 papers including 275 original articles published in 59 journals from 1999 to 2003.There were 238 papers written in Chinese, of which 188 papers (79 %) were from the core journals. In the 37 original articles written in English, 31 papers(83.8 %) were select-ed by science citation index(SCI).The average of impact factors (IF) of sourcing journals was 1.447(0.107 -7.717). The averages of IF per year ranged from 0. 768 to 2.206.The original articles selected by SCI were totally cited 38 times. Every article was cited 1.41 times in average.Of all 275 papers,each had an average of 9.8 citing reference, increasing from 8.1 in 1999 to 12.0 in 2003.About 80.7 % of those references were written in foreign languages.The Price's index of those papers was 43.2%.Conclusions The number of papers kept improving in the past 5 years, and had a significant improvement in 2003.The authors showes great talents to use English articles as their main information sources. But the utilization of the last published papers in this subject should be im-proved.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Danlou Tablet (DT) on inflammatory reaction, and expressions of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PLA2), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), and to analyze potential mechanisms.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomly and equally divided into five groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Western medicine (WM) group, the low dose DT group, the high dose DT group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were fed with basic forage for 12 successive weeks, while AS rat model was established in rats of the other four groups by feeding high fat and sugar forage plus intraperitoneal injection of vitamin D₃. Normal saline, atorvastatin calcium suspension (at the daily dose of 1.8 mg/kg), low dose DT suspension (at the daily dose of 450 mg/kg), and high dose DT suspension (at the daily dose of 900 mg/kg) were administered to rats in the model group, the WM group, the low dose DT group, the high dose DT group respectively by gastragavage for 8 successive weeks. The general condition of all rats was observed. Rats were sacrificed after gastric administration and their serum collected. Serum levels of lipids (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C) and inflammatory factors [IL-6, TNF-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LP-PLA2), secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2)] were detected. Pathological changes of thoracic aorta were observed by HE staining. Protein and gene expressions of LP-PLA2 and sPLA2 in thoracic aorta were measured by Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, rats in the model group were in low spirits and responded poorly. Typical atherosclerotic plaque could be seen in thoracic aorta of rats in the model group. Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, ox-LDL, LP-PLA2, and sPLA2 significantly increased (P < 0.05); protein and gene expressions of LP-PLA2 and sPLA2 in rat thoracic aorta increased (P < 0.05) in the model group. After 8 weeks of intervention, rats in 3 medication groups appeared active, and HE staining showed subsidence of plaque in rat thoracic aorta. Compared with the model group, serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, ox-LDL, and LP-PLA2 decreased in 3 medication groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); serum sPLA2 level decreased, protein and mRNA expressions of LP-PLA2 and sPLA2 in rat thoracic aorta decreased in the WM group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); protein and mRNA expressions of LP-PLA2 in rat thoracic aorta significantly decreased in the low dose DT group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and those of LP-PLA2 and sPLA2 decreased in the high dose DT group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDT could fight against inflammatory reaction and AS possibly through inhibiting LP-PLA2 expression and reducing ox-LDL production.

1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase ; blood ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Male ; Phospholipases A2 ; blood ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tablets ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo determine the role of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the secondary dentin formation and mineralization of the mice.

METHODSThe differences of the mandible mineralization between the wild-type and 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene knockout mice at 6 weeks old were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) histochemistry staining.

RESULTSThe ratio of caries were increased significantly, while the secondary dentin was reduced significantly, the deposition of type I collagen and osteocalcin on the secondary dentin of occlusion surface was decreased significantly, but the deposition of the Biglycan on the dentin was increased significantly, the active of ALP on the odontoblasts were reduced significantly in 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene knockout mice compared to that in the wild-type littermates.

CONCLUSION1,25(OH)2D3 deficiency lead to a defect in the secondary dentin formation and mineralization and caries of the mice.

Animals ; Dentin ; Dentin, Secondary ; Mandible ; Mice ; Osteocalcin

OBJECTIVETo assess whether polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Chinese Han children.

METHODSThe study has included 87 patients with ALL, 22 patients with AML and 120 healthy controls. All subjects were analyzed with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and sequencing.

RESULTSA 677CT genotype of the MTHFR gene was associated with decreased risk of ALL (OR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.07-0.79). However, MTHFR A1298C genotypes were not associated with the risk of either disease. 677TT/1298AA and 677CC/1298AC genotypes were associated with increased risk of ALL(OR=3.78, 95% CI: 1.38-10.40; OR=3.17, 95% CI: 1.18-8.53, respectively), whereas the genotype 677CT/1298AA was associated with susceptibility to AML (OR=0.23, 95% CI: 0.06-0.97).

CONCLUSIONOur data suggested that C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene may increase the risk of childhood AML.

Acute Disease ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of γ-glutamyl hydrolase gene (GGH) 452C/T genotype and allele frequency in children with acute leukemia (AL) and healthy children.

METHODSBone marrow samples from 92 children with AL and peripheral blood samples from 124 healthy children were obtained to prepare complementary DNAs (cDNAs). The cDNAs were analyzed for a GGH 452C/T polymorphism by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (RT-PCR-DGGE) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe frequencies of the AL patients with TT, CT and CC genotypes were 2.2%, 13.0% and 84.8%, and the frequencies of the control children were 1.6%, 16.9% and 81.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in GGH genotype or T allele frequency between the two groups (P> 0.05). However, the T allele frequency in Han Chinese children was significantly different from those reported in Japanese, Mexican and African-American populations.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of 452C/T polymorphism of GGH gene in Han Chinese children has been determined. The results suggested that an ethnic difference may exist.

Acute Disease ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukemia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase ; genetics

Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by an infection with Echinococcosis multilocularis.The liver is the primary organ of alveolar echinococcosis.Alveolar echinococcosis is usually characterized by invasive growth and consequently iscalled"parasitic cancer."Resection of radical lesions is a preferred and effective treatment for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.End-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis often occurs with parasiticcirrhosis,such as secondary biliary cirrhosis,congestive liver cirrhosis or Budd-Chiari syndrome.Few studies have examined hepatic multilocular echinococcosis leading to cirrhosis.This article reviews the aspects of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis involving the invasion of important blood vessels and bile ducts,thereby leading to secondary biliary cirrhosis and congestive liver cirrhosis caused by hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for GC fingerprint determination of the chemical constituents in Herba Asari.

METHODGC and GC-MS were used to optimize the fingerprint determination method, and identify the main peaks in the GC fingerprint.

RESULTA preferable method for GC fingerprint determination of the chemical constituents in Herba Asari was established.

CONCLUSIONA general acquaintance of the chemical constituents in Herba Asari can be obtained by using the preferable GC fingerprint determination method, which is useful for quality evaluation of the crude drug of Herba Asari.

Anisoles ; analysis ; Asarum ; chemistry ; classification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Monoterpenes ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Safrole ; analysis

To investigate the Fe2+ effects on root tips in rice plant, experiments were carried out using border cells in vitro. The border cells were pre-planted in aeroponic culture and detached from root tips. Most border cells have a long elliptical shape. The number and the viability of border cells in situ reached the maxima of 1600 and 97.5%, respectively, at 20-25 mm root length. This mortality was more pronounced at the first 1-12 h exposure to 250 mg/L Fe2+ than at the last 12-36 h. After 36 h, the cell viability exposed to 250 mg/L Fe2+ decreased to nought, whereas it was 46.5% at 0 mg/L Fe2+. Increased Fe2+ dosage stimulated the death of detached border cells from rice cultivars. After 4 h Fe2+ treatment, the cell viabilities were > or =80% at 0 and 50 mg/L Fe2+ treatment and were <62% at 150, 250 and 350 mg/L Fe2+ treatment; The viability of border cells decreased by 10% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. After 24 h Fe2+ treatment, the viabilities of border cells at all the Fe2+ levels were <65%; The viability of border cells decreased by 20% when the Fe2+ concentration increased by 100 mg/L. The decreased viabilities of border cells indicated that Fe2+ dosage and treatment time would cause deadly effect on the border cells. The increased cell death could protect the root tips from toxic harm. Therefore, it may protect root from the damage caused by harmful iron toxicity.
Iron ; toxicity ; Oryza ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development

Background Since the measurement method establishment of serum ferritin abroad in early period of theseventies, the iron deficiency had been divided into two types: the non-anemia and anemia types. In orderto go step further studies, we must ertablish the bemoglobin targets of the two types. Methods One hurdred and fifty-two children in experimontal group, from 6 to 7 years old, and allcome from Qinghai province. There are 29 children in Xining city, 24 in Guide, 26 in Gongbe, 40 in Gui-nan and 33 in Maduo countics. There are 36 health children aged from 6 to 7 years old in the controlgroup, and all comes from Beijing. The Hb, RBC, HCT, HCTW and FEP wcre determined. Results The three targets correlating with Hb (Hb, MCH and MCHC); correlating with RBC (RBC,HCT and MCV); the two targets correlating with RBC_weight (HCTW and CMCW) and correlating withFEP of RBC(FEP and MCEP) have very significant difference between experimental group and control group. Conclusion The determination values of the 10 targets are not same in children in different districts,and the values of all the target: are increased on different degree along with the increase in altitude of ele-vation. There is very important significance on the studies of iron deficiency and altitude hypoxia to establish the normal values of the 10 targets.