The COI gene as DNA barcode was used to identify the Manis pentadactyla and its adulterants in order to provide a scientific basis for the molecular identification of M. pentadactyla. Genomic DNA was extracted from experimental samples using the DNA extraction kit. The COI genes were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced bi-directionally. Obtained sequences were assembled using the CodonCode Aligner. The neighbor-joining (NJ) tree was constructed by MEGA 6.0. The results indicated that COI sequences were successfully amplified and NJ trees results indicated that M. pentadactyla and its adulterants can be easily identification. Therefore, the COI gene is an efficient barcode for identification of M. pentadactyla and its adulterants,which will provide a new technique for the market supervision.
Animals ; Cattle ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; Mammals ; classification ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Sheep ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To assess the clinical value of dual-energy CT (DECT) Volume software in quantitative analysis of urate crystals.Methods The DECT data of 60 gout patients based on the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were analyzed retrospectively.The volumes of urate crystals were quantitatively analyzed by using Volume software with two senior radiologists.The results were statistically analyzed.Results Seventy-two joints of 60 gout patients were scanned by DECT.40 of 43 joints had urate crystals in foot and ankle with the average volume of (0.621±0.742) cm3;18 of 19 joints had urate crystals in knee with the average volume of (0.842±1.086) cm3;10 of 10 joints had urate crystals in hand and wrist with the average volume of (0.796±0.583) cm3.There was no statistical difference for volume measurement between two doctors (P>0.05).The volumes of urate crystals in 4 patients with regular medication were reduced.Conclusion Volume software of DECT can quantitatively analyze urate crystals with a good repeatability, which has high application value in clinical diagnosis and treatment monitoring of gout.

Background and purpose:Drug resistance is a major cause of failure in lung cancer chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of YAP on doxorubicin resistance in lung cancer and its underlying mechanism. Methods:Doxorubicin resistant lung cancer cell clones were established from parental sensitive cancer PC9 cell line via in vitroinduction, and the expression of YAP was analyzed. YAP was down-regulated via shRNA to different levels. MTS assay was employed to determine cell proliferation and drug sensitivity. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and uptake of Rh-123. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) assay were used to determine the expression of ABCB1, ABCC1, p53, Runx2, ITGB2 and ErbB4. The phosphory-lation of serine/threonine kinase (AKT) was determined as well.Results:Doxorubicin resistant PC9/Adr cell clone was obtained with over-expressed YAP. Expression of YAP in PC9/Adr cells was down-regulated to different levels via shR-NA. After YAP silencing, cell proliferation was reduced, while sensitivity to doxorubicin was increased. The cell cycle was significantly halted by G0/G1 phase. Doxorubicin induced-apoptotic rate and cellular uptake of Rh-123 were increased,with positive correlation to YAP silencing level. Western blot and QRT-PCR results showed that after YAP silencing, ABCB1, ABCC1, Runx2, ITGB2, and ErbB4 proteins were down-regulated, while the expression of p53 was up-regulated. Phosphorylation of AKT was inhibited as well.Conclusion:Over-expression of YAP is involved in doxorubicin resistance in PC9/Adr cell line. Silencing of YAP could restore doxorubicin sensitivity. The mechanism involves regulation of drug resistance-related genes and promotion of apoptosis.

Objective To explore the clinical outcomes of surgical treatment of brachial plexus cord terminal branch injuries combined with rupture of major upper limb vessels and discuss the optimal timing and surgical procedures.Methods From June,2007 to June,2012,there were 9 cases of the brachial plexus cord terminal branch injuries with concomitant major vessel injuries.Two cases had combined subclvian arterial injuries,1 had combined the first part of axillary arterial injuries,1 had the third part of axillary arterial injuries and 5 had brachial arterial injuries.Depending on the region,type and severity of the injuries,nerve and vascular reconstruction was done simultaneously in the acute phase of the injuries in 3 cases and in the subacute phase in another 2 cases.In 4 cases,the vessels were repaired acutely while nerve reconstruction was carried out in a second stage.Results Nine patients were followed-up from 50 to 78 months with an average of 61.8 months.There was no necrosis of the affected limbs.CTA showed that all the artificial blood vessels were patent after surgery.Nerve functions recovered to various extents.The muscle strength was recovered to grade 3 or better in 9 patients,except 3 cases in which the intrinsic muscles were control by ulnar nerve.(S) or better sensory recovery was seen in all repaired nerve area in 4 patients,and S3 or better sensory recovery was seen in part of the repaired nerve area in 5 patients.Conclusion The brachial plexus cord terminal branch injury is rare and complicated,which request a reasonable treatment program.Under the guideline of saving life first,primary and simultaneous reconstruction of both the nerves and vessels should be attempted by microsurgical treatment whenever possible for improving the success rate of surgery and a better functional recovery.

Objective To investigate the status of the readiness for hospital discharge and pain degree in inpatients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures, and the correlation between them.Methods A cross-sectional analysis of survey data from a sample of 252 patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures was conducted in a grade A tertiary hospital in Xi′an from January 1st, 2016 to June 30th, 2016. The status of the readiness for hospital discharge and pain level were investigated through the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) respectively. Pearson correlation coefficient method was used to detect the correlation between the two target factors. Results The average score of readiness for hospital discharge was 7.71±1.55. The mean NRS score decreased from 7.8 ± 0.8 at baseline to 2.7 ± 0.6 before discharge. The scores of each dimensions of readiness for hospital discharge from high to low were expected support, personal status, and coping capacity. There was a negative correlation between discharge readiness and pain degree in patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures (r =-0.537, P<0.05). Conclusions The status of the readiness for hospital discharge among the patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic fractures is in a medium to high level before discharge. The pain degree is significantly decreased to a lower level. There is a negative correlation between the readiness for hospital discharge and the pain degree.

0.05).The serum PICP of tubercular meningitis children after 4 neeks glucocorticoid therapy (108.85?46.13) ?g/L was significantly lower than that in control group((154.38)?47.98) ?g/L and glucocorticoid- pretreatment (152.99?44.78) ?g/L (P

Autophagy is a process of bulk degradation of proteins and organelles in cytoplasm.Autophagy has many normal physiological functions in cellular catabolism; therefore is essential for cell homeostasis. In some circumstances autophagy can induces cell death, namely autophagic cell death. Recent studies have suggested that autophagy plays an important role in both normal tissue development and a variety of diseases, including cancer. Therefore, the strategy targeting autophagy pathway may represent a new way of cancer treatment.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; Autophagy ; physiology ; Cell Death ; physiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction

To investigate the upregulated genes associated with cold acclimation, a cold acclimation model was established based on Balb/C mouse. mRNA of muscle and liver were isolated, and the upregulated genes of these tissues were studied by representational differential analysis (RDA). The upregulated genes then were sequenced and searched by Blast software in GenBank database. The results showed that some genes were upregulated and possibly associated with cold acclimation. Three of these genes, transferrin, fibrinogen B-beta-chains and a new gene fragment (Genbank ID: AF454762), were confirmed to be upregulated by RNA slot-blot analysis. The finding of these genes might contribute to further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cold acclimation.
Acclimatization ; genetics ; Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Gene Expression ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation

AIM:To investigate the clinical effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs combined with laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema (DME).METHODS: Totally 94 patients (141 eyes) with DME from June to December 2015 in our hospital were selected and randomly divided into combined group of 47 cases (68 eyes, ranibizumab combined with laser therapy) and the control group of 47 cases (73 eyes, laser treatment).The levels of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular central retinal thickness (CRT), total macular volume (TMV) and macular edema level were compared between the two groups at different time after treatment.RESULTS: The mean values of BCVA in the combined group were higher than those in the control group at 2, 6 and 12wk, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).At 2, 6 and 12wk after treatment, the CRT and TMV values of the combined group were lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).After treated for 12wk, patients with macular edema of combined group was 80.9% in mild level, 17.7% in moderate level, 1.5% in severe level, those of the control group was 60.0%, 31.5%, 5.5%, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The effect of anti-VEGF drugs combined with laser therapy for DME patients is better than that of single laser therapy alone.