Objective To analyze the genetic model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD).Methods The segregation analysis and polygenic multiple threshold model were used to prove the polygenic model and to estimate the heritability and recurrence risk of ADHD in each degree relatives.Results 1. The average heritability of ADHD was (102.47?9.78)%;2.The first-degree relatives of probands were in high risk for ADHD(23.0%)compared with colony prevalence rate(2.6%). The ADHD prevalence of each degree relatives rapidly decreased with the increased magnitude of consanguineous relationship of each degree relatives and ADHD probands. Conclusions The genetic model of ADHD is the most likely polygenic inheritance with major genes, which suggested that the genetic factor might play an important role in the liability variance of ADHD.Apart from the involvement of multiple genes,each gene contributes a small additive effect,and the major genes may be involved as well.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical and epidemiological value of semi-quantitative regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF)imaging in children with school phobia. Methods A total of 20 cases diagnosed with school phobia were examined with rCBF.Twelve were males and the other 8 were females.The mean age was(14.2?2.1)years(11-18 years).Semi-quantitative analysis methods were used to investigate the correlations among gender,age and rCBF. ResultsThere were significant differences in the rCBF of right fronto-parietal lobe,right occipital lobe,caput and putamen,left thalamus and hippocampus,and temporo-occipital lobe between males and females(P0.05).Only the PI of left temporo-parietal lobe of those ≥ 15 years old was significantly different from that of those

Objective To characterize the antibiotic resistance,homology and carbapenemase genotypes of imipenem resistant Acinetobac1ter baumannii isolated from our hospital,and analyze the clonal relatedness of the test strains.Methods Ninety five strains of imipenem resistant A.baumannii were isolated from August 2003 to December 2004 in the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine,Zhejiang University.The MICs of 16 antimicrobial agents against these strains were determined by agar dilution and E-test method.The homology of these isolates was analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).The coding gene of carbapenemases was amplified.PCR products were purified,cloned and sequenced.Plasmid DNA was extracted and purified.Conjugation and Southern blot were performed to locate the position of oxa 23 gene.Results The resistance rates to ampicillin-sulbactam and cefoperazone sulhactam were 67.9% and 30.2%.Polymyxin E had the lowest resistance rate of 17%. The resistance rate to other antimicrobial agents was higher than 90%.The 95 strains,isolated from 10 clinical units,were classified into 6 clones.Clones A and B were predominant clones.All strains produced carbapenemases which were confirmed as OXA 23 by PCR and sequencing analysis.No plasmid was extracted and conjugation was not successful.Southern bolt showed that oxa-23 gene was located on Apal-digested chromosomal segments about 220 kb and 200 kb in Clones A and B,re spectively.Conclusions OXA 23-producing A.baumannii has become one of the most important multi-resistant pathogens in our hospital.Clones A and B have widely spread in our hospital.Oxa-23 gene is located on chromosomal DNA.

Objective To investigate the resistant mechanism of imipenem-resistant K. pneumoniae.Methods The minimal inhibitive concentrations (MICs) of the antimicrobial agents were determined by Etest.Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis (IEF),plasmid extraction,conjugation, transformation,PCR amplification,cloning and sequencing were carried out for analyzing the encoding gene of ?-1actamases.Results Three kinds of ?-1actamases were detected with pIs of 7.2,6.7,and 5.4.in a clinical strain of K.pneumoniae.These ?-1actamases were TEM-I (pI,5.4),SHV-12 (pI,8.2) and KPC-2 ( pI,6.7 ) confirmed by sequencing of the PCR products.Only one band of ?-1actamase with pI 6.7 was displayed in the transformant.A 1500 bp segment,which contained the KPC-2 gene confirmed by nucleotide sequence analysis,was cloned from a 60 000 bp plasmid of the transformant.Conclusion The strain of K.pneumoniae resistant to imipenem produces a plasmid-mediated carbapenemase KPC-2 which belongs to Bush group 2f,class A ?-1actamase.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects

Benzodiazepines(BDZs)are used in clinics for anxiolysis,anticonvulsants,sedative hypnosis,and muscle relaxation.They have high consumptions worldwide because of their easy availability and potential addiction.They are often used for suicide or criminal practices such as abduction and drug-facilitated sexual assault.The pharmacological effects of using small doses of BDZs and their detections from complex biological matrices are challenging.Efficient pretreatment methods followed by accurate and sensitive detections are necessary.Herein,pretreatment methods for the extraction,enrichment,and preconcentration of BDZs as well as the strategies for their screening,identification,and quantitation developed in the past five years have been reviewed.Moreover,recent advances in various methods are summarized.Characteristics and advantages of each method are encompassed.Future directions of the pretreatment and detection methods for BDZs are also reviewed.

For determination the ionic mechanisms of the hypoxic acclimatization at the level of channels, male Spradue-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: control normoxic group and chronic intermittent hypoxic group [O2 concentration: (10 +/-0.5)%, hypoxia 8 h a day]. Using whole cell patch-clamp technique, voltage-gated potassium channel currents (IK(V)) were recorded in freshly isolated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of rat with acute isolated method. The effect of acute hypoxia on IK(V) of PASMCs from chronic intermittent hypoxia group was investigated to offer some basic data for clarifying the ionic mechanisms of the hypoxic acclimatization. The results showed: (1) In control normoxic group, after acute hypoxia free-Ca(2+) solution, the resting membrane potential (Em) of PASMCs was depolarized significantly from -47.2+/-2.6 mV to -26.7+/-1.2 mV, and the IK(V) of PASMCs was decreased significantly from 153.4+/-9.5 pA/pF to 70.1+/-0.6 pA/pF, the peak current percent inhibition was up to (57.6+/-3.3)% at +60 mV, and current-voltage relationship curve shifted to the right. (2) In chronic intermittent hypoxic group, the IK(V) of PASMCs was decreased significantly by exposure to intermittent hypoxia in a time-dependent manner, appeared to start on day 10 and continued to day 30 (the longest time tested) of hypoxia, and current-voltage relationship curve shifted to the right in a time-dependent manner. (3) Compared with the control normoxic group, the percent IK(V) inhibition by acute hypoxia was significantly attenuated in the chronic intermittent hypoxia group and this inhibition effect declined with time exposure to hypoxia. The results suggest that K(V) inhibition was significantly attenuated by chronic intermittent hypoxia, and this effect may be a critical mechanism of the body hypoxic acclimatization.
Animals ; Cell Separation ; Hypoxia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Decoction is one of the most commonly used dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicine. The stability of chemical constituents in decoction is closely related to the clinical efficacy and safety. There were few reports about the influence of metal ions in the stability of chemical constituents in traditional Chinese medicine. However, there is no evidence that metal ions in decoction water need to be controlled. In this study, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (THSG), one of the main constituents in Polygoni Multiflori Radix was studied. Ordinary tap water, deionized water, and water containing different metal ions were used to investigate and compare the influence on THSG. The results showed that after storage in a dark place at the room temperature for 10 days, the degradation of THSG was 7% in deionized water, while undetectable in tap water. The content of THSG could be decreased by different kinds of metal ions, and the effect was concentration-dependent. Moreover, Fe3+ and Fe2+ showed the greatest influence at the same concentration; and our study has shown that THSG decreased more than 98% in Fe and Fe2+ solutions at 500 ppm concentration. In the same time we found out p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (molecular weight: 122.036 7) and 2,3,5-trihydroxybenzaldehyde-2-O-glycoside (molecular weight: 316.079 4) were the main degradation products of THSG in tap water and water containing Cu2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+ and Al3+. The product of THSG dimer with a water molecule was found in water containing Fe3+ and Fe2+. The above results showed that the metal ions in water could significantly influence the stability of THSG in water, indicating that the clinical efficacy and safety of decoction would be affected if the metal ions in water were not under control. It's suggested that deionized water should be used in the preparation of decoction containing Polygoni Multiflori Radix in the clinic to avoid degradation of THSG. Meanwhile, decoction prepared by tap water should be taken by patients in a short time. Our investigation provides important information and reference about the influence of metal ions on the stability of decoctions in other traditional Chinese medicine that have unstable groups such as hydroxyls and unsaturated bonds, etc.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; Ions ; chemistry ; Metals ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polygonaceae ; chemistry ; Stilbenes ; chemistry

In this study, the inhibitory effect of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) on interleukin-17 (IL-17) production in peripheral blood T cells from patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) were investigated, in order to explore the therapeutic potential of hUCMSC in the SpA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were isolated from patients with SpA (n = 12) and healthy subjects (n = 6). PBMNC were cultured in vitro with hUCMSC or alone. The expression of IL-17 in CD4(+) T cells or γ/δ T cells were determined in each subject group by flow cytometry. IL-17 concentrations in PBMNC culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. The results indicated that the proportion of IL-17-producing CD4(+) T cells and IL-17-producing γ/δ T cells of SpA patients were 4.5 folds and 5 folds of healthy controls [CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (3.42 ± 0.82)% vs (0.75 ± 0.25)%, P < 0.01; CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells (0.30 ± 0.10)% vs (0.06 ± 0.02)%, P < 0.01]. After co-culture of PBMNC in patients with hUCMSC, the increased proportions of CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells and CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells in SpA patients were inhibited significantly by hUCMSC [CD3(+)CD4(+)IL-17(+) cells (3.42 ± 0.82)% vs (1.81 ± 0.59)% (P < 0.01); CD3(+)γδTCR(+)IL-17(+) cells (0.30 ± 0.10)% vs (0.16 ± 0.06)% (P < 0.01]. In response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA, 1 µg/ml), PBMNC from SpA patients secreted more IL-17 than that from healthy control [(573.95 ± 171.68) pg/ml vs (115.53 ± 40.41) pg/ml (P < 0.01)]. In the presence of hUCMSC, PBMNC of SpA patients produced less amount of IL-17 [(573.95 ± 171.68) pg/ml vs (443.20 ± 147.94) pg/ml, (P < 0.01)]. It is concluded that the IL-17 production in peripheral blood T cells from SpA patients can be inhibited by hUCMSC, which have therapeutic potential for SpA.
Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Spondylarthritis ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

To evaluate in vitro release and transdermal behaviors of Zhitong cataplasm, modified Franz diffusion cell method was applied to investigate in vitro transdermal absorption of Zhitong cataplasm and the content of tetrahydropalmatine was determined by HPLC. In 24 hours, accumulative release rate of tetrahydropalmatine was 81. 9%, transmission rate was 2.26 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1). In 48 hours, accumulative transdermal rate and transmission rate of tetrahydropalmatine were 20.31%, 0.22 pg x cm(-2) x h(-1). So Zhitong cataplasm had a good release and transdermal properties and transdermal actions were consistent with zero-order kinetics process.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption