Communicable Disease Control ; Humans ; Research

Objective: To investigate the cognitive impairment features in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI) and vascular cognitive impairment-no dementia(VCI-ND).Methods:Sixteen normal elders,10 patients with aMCI and 12 patients with VCI-ND were recruited.The normal elders were selected from communities in Shanghai,while the aMCI and VCI-ND patients were selected from outpatient clinic.All participants ranged in age of 50～80 years,with education level of junior middle school or above,and they completed cranial CT or MRI and a series of neuropsychological tests.Results:In the three memory tests,aMCI group performed worst.The scores of both aMCI and VCI-ND groups were lower than that of the normal elders.For example,the delayed recall scores of the Rey-Osterrich complex figure test in the three groups were(18.8?9.5)(normal),(5.6?5.6)(aMCI) and(9.6?7.0)(VCI-ND)(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of Qianggu Granule (QGG), Diacerein Capsule (DC), and QGG + DC in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA, belonging to Gan-Shen insufficiency induced vein stasis syndrome), and to explore the clinical advantages of QGG + DC.

METHODSNinety patients in line with the diagnosis standard were randomly assigned to three groups, i. e., the QGG group (30 case, treated by QGG), the Western medicine treatment group (30 case, treated by DC), and the combination therapy group (30 case, treated by QGG +DC). Then the patients' symptoms and signs were scored. Meanwhile, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), comprehensive efficacy, and adverse reactions, etc. were assessed.

RESULTSThe ache could be obviously alleviated, the patients' joint function could be improved, and their quality of daily activities could be elevated in all the 3 groups. There was statistical difference in the symptoms and signs scores, CRP, ESR, and TNF-alpha before and after treatment (P < 0.05). Better effects were obtained in the combination therapy group (P < 0.05). As for the comprehensive efficacy, it was better in the QGG + DC group than in the QGG group and the DC group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe comprehensive therapeutic efficacy of applying QGG + DC in treating KOA (belonging to Gan-Shen insufficiency induced vein stasis syndrome) was superior to using QGG or DC alone. Besides, no obvious adverse reaction occurred.

Adult ; Anthraquinones ; therapeutic use ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

Based on the transcriptome data, we cloned the open reading frame of IiHCT gene from Isatis indigotica, and then performed bioinformatic analysis of the sequence. Further, we detected expression pattern in specific organs and hairy roots treated methyl jasmonate( MeJA) by RT-PCR. The IiHCT gene contains a 1 290 bp open reading frame( ORF) encoding a polypeptide of 430 amino acids. The predicted isoelectric point( pI) was 5.7, a calculated molecular weight was about 47.68 kDa. IiHCT was mainly expressed in stem and undetectable in young root, leaf and flower bud. After the treatment of MeJA, the relative expression level of IiHCT increased rapidly. The expression level of IiHCT was the highest at 4 h and maintained two fold to control during 24 h. In this study, cloning of IiHCT laid the foundation for illustrating the biosynthesis mechanism of phenylpropanoids in I. indigotica.
Acyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Isatis ; chemistry ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Quinic Acid ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Shikimic Acid ; metabolism

AIM: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of modified acidic fibroblast growth factor (maFGF) in anoxic reperfusion of rat hearts. METHODS: Using Langendorff apparatus, we established the model of anoxia/reperfusion of isolated hearts to compare the protective effects of maFGF and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). The changes of left ventricle development pressure (LVDP) and maximal rates of rise of ventricular pressure(dp/dt_~max ), maximal rates of decline of ventricular pressure (dp/dt_~min ) were determined, changes of LDH and MDA levels,SOD activity in efflux from coronary artery were also detected at different time point. RESULTS: Pretreatment with maFGF and aFGF produced a similar protective effect on myocardium during anoxia /reperfusion, including promoting obviously heart functional recovery after myocardial anoxia/reperfusion and reversing changes of LDH, MDA contents and SOD activity induced by anoxic/reperfusion. CONCLUSION: maFGF has a protective effect on anoxia/reperfusion heart, and the mechanism of this effect may be related to suppression of lipid peroxidation.

AIM: To study the effect of glycine on body weight and lipid metabolism in mice. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into four groups, control, high-fat diet group (HF), glycine group (Gly), and glycine treatment group (Gly+HF). The mice were fed with normal diet and high-fat diet for 12 days, respectively, and then were treated with glycine solution by intraperitoneal injection. Finally, the serum was collected to measure serum lipid, epididymal fat-pads, pararenal fat-pads and abdominal fat-pads were taken out to weight. Moreover, pathologic changes in liver were observed. RESULTS: The body weight of HF group was obviously lower than that in control; the body weight and adipose tissue content of Gly group were obviously lower than those in control; the body weight and adipose tissue content of Gly+HF group were obviously lower than those in HF group; the levels of TC and TG in Gly group were obviously lower than those in control; there was no statistical difference in serum lipid between Gly+HF and HF groups. In addition, marked hepatic steatosis in HF group, and slight hepatic steatosis in Gly+HF group were found. CONCLUSION: Gly can decrease the body weight and adipose tissue content and serum lipid in normal diet and high-fat diet mice, and it also can prevent hepatic steatosis.

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms by which siduqing, a Chinese medicine, protects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute renal dysfunction. METHODS: Mice were divided randomly into control, LPS, siduqing treatment and siduqing groups, and treated intragastrically with siduqing at a dose of (1 000) g/L (0.2 (mL/10 g) body weight) or distilled water (0.2 (mL/10) g body weight) twice a day for 3 days, LPS (30 mg/kg) or normal saline was injected intraperitoneally on day 3, followed by intragastrical administration with siduqing at a dose of (1 000) g/L (0.2 (mL/10 g) body weight) or distilled water (0.2 (mL/10 g) body weight). Blood was collected for determining urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) contents, renal tissue for examining superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In addition, electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure changes in kidney, and RT-PCR was performed to detect renal intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression. RESULTS: LPS significantly increased serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) contents, and produced an obvious pathological change in renal ultrastructure, which were significantly attenuated by siduqing treatment. Moreover, siduqing treatment increased renal SOD activity, also markedly suppressed an increase in renal MDA production and ICAM-1 mRNA expression induced by LPS. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that siduqing protects against LPS-induced acute renal injury through inhibiting ICAM-1 mRNA expression, enhancing renal SOD activity and attenuating oxidant stress.

AIM: To investigate the effect of siduqing decoction,a Chinese medicine,on survival rate and multiple organ dysfunction in mice challenged with LPS. METHODS: Mice were administered intragastrically with Siduqing decoction or distilled water (0.2 ml/10 g) twice a day for 3 days,two hours after Chinese herbal medicine treatment on day 3,LPS or normal saline was injected intraperitoneally,and survival rates in each group were recorded at 12-h intervals. In another experiment,mice were sacrificed at 12 h after LPS,lung,liver,kidney and small intestine were collected and processed for the H & E staining. In addition,Blood was collected at 10 h after LPS injection for determining alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity,blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) contents. RESULTS: At 96 h after LPS injection,the survival rate (27%, n =34) was lower in LPS group than Siduqing treatment group (65%, n=31,P

Objective To explore the changes of plasma melatonin(MT)level in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)neonates,and elucidate the function of rnelatonin in the pathogenesis and the prognosis of HIE.Methods Fourty HIE neonates were divided into 2 groups,20 mild HIE neonates and 20 moderate or severe HIE ones.The femoral vein blood were collected in 48 h and on 7 d after birth in mild HIE group,and in 48 h,on 7 d and(14±4)d after birth in moderate on severe HIE group.Twenty normal term infants served as control group.The level of plasma MT was determined with enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with control group[(8.003±1.840)ng/L],The MT level in mild HIE group in 48 h after birth[(13.311±4.025)ng/L]was higher(P＜0.01),but there was no difference on 7 d[(6.605±1.269)ng/L](P＞0.05);The MT level in moderate or severe HIE group in 48 h after birth[(5.487±1.997)ng/L]was lower(P＜0.01),but it was higher on 7 d[(16.201±5.594)ng/L](P＜0.01),there was no difference on(14±4)d[(6.799±1.765)ng/L](P＞0.05).Conclusion MT may have protective action on HIE.The prognosis of HIE with rising MT level in 48 h after birth is better than that with lower MT level.

Objective To study treatment of Vancouver type-B periprosthetie femoral fractures after total hip arthroplasty.Methods There were 10 cases with Vancouver type-B periprosthetic femo- ral fractures after total hip arthroplasty being treatment,including three cases with type-B1 undergone open reduction and allografi strut to fix the fracture,two with type-B2 undergone open reduction and revi- sion with a long stem and five with type-B3 undergone open reduction,revision with a long stem and al- lograft strut to restore bone.The mean duration of follow-up was 27 months(8-36 months).The Harris Hip Score and radiographs were used to evaluate the outcome.Failure of the procedure.was defined as the need for revision surgery because nonunion of fracture,implant loosening,and infection.Results All cases obtained successful fracture healing,with no stem loosening or infection.Of all,nine cases were a- ble to walk by themselves but one needed aid in walking.The Harris Hip Score was 83 at the time of the final follow-up.Osseous union of the allograft to the host femur occurred in eight hips and mild graft re- sorption in two.The cotex thickness of host femur was increased more than 3-5 mm.Conclusions Stem stability and bone quality are important factors determining the outcome of treatment for periprosthet- ic femoral fracture after hip arthroplasty.Good outcome can be achieved by adopting different treatments according to sub-classification of Vancouver type-B fractures.The allograft strut for the treatment of a Vancouver type-B periprosthetic femoral fracture can not only provide fixation,but also make fracture heal fast and augment bone mass and strength.