OBJECTIVETo investigate a new method for the analysis of IR fingerprint spectra of Radix Glycyrrhizae.

METHODTwo indexes, common peak ratio and variation peak ratio, are used to compare the IR spectra of various Radix Glycyrrhizae samples, and the values are calculated by means of sequent analysis.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe dual-index sequence method provides a good approach to discriminate Radix Glycyrrhizae samples of different species and geographical origins.

China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Ecosystem ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; methods

Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology

OBJECTIVEA new pattern recognition method suitable for traditional Chinese patent medicine was established in this paper, which is named as the Dual index grade sequence pattern recognition.

METHODIn this method the quality gradation was defined mathematically relying on normal distribution. By this way samples can be clustered and classified depending on which quality gradation is wanted, and the grading samples quantitatively relative to quality can be performed simultaneously. Especially, the redundant information with respect to pattern recognition hiding in dual index sequences of samples can be removed effectively by applying the good grade sequences, which make the pattern recognition results accurate excellently. This approach possesses the advantages of both supervised classification and unsupervised cluster methods. Samples can be clustered and classified at the same time without any standard samples, and the operation is accomplished based on the good grade similar sequences themselves being as the classifying marks. Moreover, the subclasses in each class can be identified more subtly.

RESULTThe infrared fingerprint spectra of extracts of 27 kinds of Mingmu Dihuangwan pills and Zhibo Dihuangwan pills samples extracted with ethanol were analyzed with the method proposed in this paper. The results showed that these pills can be classified in their subclasses clearly, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Dual index grade sequence pattern recognition is a new and effective one for identifying complex biological products made from complex herbal medicines.

Cluster Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; classification ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

OBJECTIVETo investigate dissolution properties among different components with various polarities and to distinguish these groups from each other.

METHODUltraviolet fingerprint spectra (UV FPS) of the components from Baishao (Radix Paeoiae Alba) and Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) with various proportions, extracted with chloroform, ethanol and water successively, were obtained. The analysis was performed on the absolute and relative absorptions of peaks in UV FPS.

RESULTDissolutions in different rates and in synergy among chemical components were observed, by which different components can be distinguished.

CONCLUSIONDissolution kinetics and processes of the various chemical components from medicinal herbs are of great difference.

Chloroform ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Ethanol ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; methods ; Water

OBJECTIVEThe sex therapy is not yet popularized at present. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the combination of the improved sex therapy and oral sildenafil on erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSA total of 3130 Uigur cases of ED received in Xinjiang Bogda Hospital were divided into a control group (n=625) and a trial group (n=2505), the former treated with oral sildenafil alone, and the latter by the combination of the improved genital therapy and sildenafil, both for 3 months and followed up at 6 and 12 months after the treatment. The therapeutic effects were evaluated and compared using IIEF-5.

RESULTSThe IIEF-5 scores of the control group were 12.80 +/- 3.76 and 18.10 +/- 2.61 before and after the treatment, and 17.35 +/- 2.73 and 16.64 +/- 2.63 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, while those of the trial group were 12.73 +/- 3.52 and 19.06 +/- 4.07 before and af- ter the treatment, and 19.86 +/- 2.42 and 20.47 +/- 2.38 at 6 and 12 months, respectively, with statistically significant differences either between pre- and post-treatment (P < 0.05) or between the control and trial groups at 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination of the improved sex therapy and oral sildenafil is superior to sildenafil alone in the treatment of ED, and its efficacy is relatively stable at 12 months.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; ethnology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Purines ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Sildenafil Citrate ; Sulfones ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMenopausal symptoms and sleep difficulty were physiological processes that were affected by genetic and other factors. This study was to investigate the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and sleep quality in menopausal transition (MT) and postmenopause (PM) women in Taiyuan, Shanxi.

METHODSA community-based survey of women's menopausal symptoms and sleep quality was conducted between July 2012 and May 2013 at six municipal districts of Taiyuan, Shanxi. A sample of 2429 women aged 40-59 years was divided into four groups: early MT, late MT, early PM, and late PM. Sleep quality in the past 2 weeks before the interview was recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0.

RESULTSThe prevalence of menopausal symptoms was 49.8%. Mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were observed in 28.9%, 18.5%, and 2.5% of participants, respectively. The highest prevalence of menopausal symptoms occurred in the early postmenopausal stage; the subsequences were the late postmenopausal stage and the early MT stage. Interestingly, among the 13 items of modified Kupperman index, the five most common symptoms were fatigue, arthralgia and myalgia, decreased libido, insomnia, and nervousness. Meanwhile, 55% perimenopausal women had poor sleep.

CONCLUSIONSMenopausal symptoms are common but mild among women in Taiyuan, Shanxi during MT and PM. In these stages, the prevalence of poor sleep is high.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Postmenopause ; physiology ; Sleep

OBJECTIVETo study the interaction between polymorphisms of estrogen receptor (ER) gene and puberty on bone mineral density (BMD).

METHODSOne hundred and forty-six boys aged 13-17 years were divided into two groups according to their first spermorrhea. DNA was analyzed for Xba I and Pvu II genotypes by PCR-RFLP. BMD of the total body, forearm and lumbar spine was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The relationship between polymorphisms of ER gene and BMD in these two groups was analyzed.

RESULTSThe BMD at all sites in the spermorrhea group was significantly higher than that in the un-spermorrhea group. The independent contribution of ER genotypes to BMD at two pubertal stages was analyzed after adjusting co-variables. In the un-spermorrhea group, the BMD at distal 1/10 and 1/3 forearm of those carrying pp genotype was significantly higher than that of the non-carries, whereas in the spermorrhea group BMD in those carrying the same genotype was significantly lower than that in the non-carriers. Similar results were obtained by haplotype analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that body weight, age and the first spermorrehea were the dominant determinants for BMD. BMD at forearm might be influenced by interaction between ER genotype and the first spermorrehea.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphisms of ER gene play a different role in BMD influenced by the first spermorrhea. Chinese boys carrying p or x allele should pay more attention to their bone mass.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Bone Density ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Puberty ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of recombinant human endostatin (rh-ES) on cell adhesion, metastatic potential and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma HCCLM6 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe changes in the cell proliferation status of HCCLM6 cells treated with different concentrations of rh-Endostatin in vitro was measured with MTT assay, and their invasiveness and migration were assayed using transwell cell culture chamber. The cell adhesion assay was carried out on 96-well plate precoated with matrigel.

RESULTSRh-ES showed inhibitory effect against the proliferation of HCCLM6 cells after a 72-h treatment. The adhesion, metastatic potential and invasiveness of the cells were obviously inhibited by rh-Endostatin in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONRh-ES inhibits the adhesion, invasiveness and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro, and the mechanism needs further investigation.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endostatins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathologic factors related to recurrence and metastasis of stage II or III colon cancer after radical resection.

METHODSThe clinical and pathological data of 628 patients with stage II or III colon cancer after radical resection from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2008 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall recurrence and metastasis rate was 28.5% (179/628). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 70.3% and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 78.5%. Univariate analysis showed that age, smoking intensity, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, gross classification, histological differentiation, blood vessel tumor embolus, tumor gross pathology, multiple primary tumors, preoperative and postoperative serum concentration of CEA and CA19-9, and the regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy were correlated to recurrence and metastasis of colon cancer after radical resection. Multivariate analysis showed that regional lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, the regimen of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and preoperative serum concentration of CEA and CA19-9 were independent factors affecting the prognosis of colon cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONRegional lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, elevated preoperative serum concentration of CEA and CA19-9, the regimen of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with single fluorouracil type drug are independent risk factors of recurrence and metastasis in patients with stage II-III colon cancer after radical resection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Colectomy ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intracellular localization of S100A4 in gastric carcinoma cells and the relationship between S100A4 expression status and lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSWestern blotting analysis was performed to locate the expression of S100A4 protein in sub-fraction components of frozen tissues. S100A4 protein expression was also determined by immunohistochemical method in 131 samples of gastric cancer and 20 samples of matched metastatic lymph nodes.

RESULTSThirty-two of 131 (24.4%) gastric carcinoma showed positive S100A4 nuclear expression and 50/131 (38.2%) carcinoma showed positive cytoplasmic expression. In 32 samples with positive S100A4 nuclear expression, 30 (93.8%) carcinomas had positive lymph node metastases. S100A4 nuclear expression level was higher in gastric carcinoma with lymph node metastasis (29.1%) than that without lymph node metastasis (7.1%) (P=0.016).

CONCLUSIONNuclear expression of S100A4 is associated with lymph node metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4 ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology