Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of nodular panniculitis disease in children. Methods Clinical data of 13 cases with nodular panniculitis disease were reviewed retrospectively. Their etiology,clinical manifestation,misdiagnosis cause,pathologic characteristics, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Results Its clinical manifestation was multiform and showed mainly as fever and hypodermic nodule. Concomitant damages to digestive, respiratory, circulatory and renal system might occur in those children with the system type of this disorder. Conclusion Pediatric nodular panniculitis disease can be easily misdiagnosed and lack of specificity in the early stage, and complicates multiple organs damage.

Objective To explore the relationship between the inflammatory reaction and insulin function in children with critically ill.Me-thods Ninty-six children with critical disease in Oct.2003 to Oct.2006 were enrolled in the study.Blood sugar,plasma insulin,C-peptide,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-?,C reactive protein(CRP)were measured in the peak period and convalescence.Results Blood sugar and plasma levels of insulin,C-peptide,TNF-?,CRP were significantly higher in the peak period than those in the convalescence(Pa

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of oxymatrine on serum cytokines and hepatic fibrotic indexes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSEighty-two CHB patients were randomly assigned to the control group treated with Western routine therapy and the treated group treated by Western routine therapy plus oxymatrine. The treatment course was 24 weeks. Another group with 20 healthy subjects was set as the normal control group. The serum levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), hyaline acid (HA), collagen type IV (C-IV) and laminin (LN) were measured by ELISA and RIA before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe serum levels of TGF-beta1, IL-6, HA, C-IV and LN in CHB patients were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01). After 24-week treatment with oxymatrine, these abnormal indexes in the treated group were significantly lowered, as compared with those before treatment and in the control group, the differences were significant (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could lower the levels of cytokines, including TGF-beta1, IL-6, etc. in patients with CHB, which might be one of the mechanisms of its action in reversing liver fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo discuss the optimal immunization dose by observing the immunoprotective effects of different doses of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum (Chinese strain) signaling protein 14-3-3 (rSj14-3-3).

METHODSSj14-3-3 gene was amplified by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), subcloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET28a, then transformed into E.coli to express by inducing. Purified rSj14-3-3 was prepared through SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), electroelution, dialysis, then BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups and immunized in rSj14-3-3 protein followed by challenging infection (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups were immunized in 50 microg, 100 microg and 300 microg antigen, respectively. The 4th, 5th groups were immunized in Freund's adjuvant and normal saline controls). After 6 weeks of challenging infection, the mice were killed and the worm and egg reduction rates were calculated. And the mice sera in different time were taken to examine the specific anti-Sj14-3-3 IgG.

RESULTSrSj14-3-3 protein was expressed successfully. After immunizing and challenging, worm reduction was found to be 28.20% in the 1st group, 43.10% in the 2nd group, 40.00% in the 3rd group, respectively. Number of eggs in liver tissue was reduced by 41.80%, 57.50%, 55.70%, respectively. Compared the results of the tested groups to the controls, the differences were of significance by t-test (worm reduction rate: t = 6.8 in the 1st group, t = 8.7 in the 2nd group, t = 7.3 in the 3rd group, P < 0.01 in all tested groups. Egg reduction rate at the group's number above: t = 11.23, t = 11.54, t = 7.99, P < 0.01 in all tested groups). As compared the results between the tested groups by chi(2), the differences were of significance between the 1st and the 2nd groups (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 8.96, P < 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 15.69, P < 0.05), between the 1st and the 3rd groups, the differences were also of significance (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 6.52, P < 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 12.52, P < 0.05). The difference was not of significance between the 2nd and the 3rd groups (worm reduction rate: chi(2) = 1.20, P > 0.05; egg reduction rate: chi(2) = 0.93, P > 0.05). In all tested groups, total anti-Sj14-3-3 specific IgG rose markedly. IgG(1) and IgG(2a) subtypes were high, but IgG(2b) and IgG(3) were near the background in four subtypes tested.

CONCLUSIONImmunoprotection of rSj14-3-3 should have some relations with immunization dose, and the protection obtained from immunizing mice by using 100 microg antigen was the best.

14-3-3 Proteins ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; immunology ; Antibody Formation ; Antigens, Helminth ; blood ; Female ; Helminth Proteins ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; Schistosoma japonicum ; genetics ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; Vaccination

Fingerprint technology is the key technology in modern Chinese medicine research, while spectrum-effect relationship research is the advanced stage of fingerprint research. Spectrum-effect relationship research can reveal the relationship between fingerprint and pharmacological effect through multiple statistical analyses, which can be used in Chinese medicine research. Spectrum-effect relationship has been used in many areas of Chinese medicine research, such as effective basis of single and compound Chinese medicine research, component compatibility research, processing mechanism research, pharmacological effect forecast research, technology optimization research, and so on. This paper systematically reviewed the application of spectrum-effect relationship in Chinese medicine research, and indicated some problems in spectrum-effect relationship research. At last, the authors give an outlook of the future of spectrum-effect relationship research.
Animals ; Biomedical Research ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Spectrum Analysis

Seventy Escherichia coli isolates recovered from diseasedchickens diagnosed with colibacillosis in Henan Province,China, between 2004 and 2005 were characterized forantimicrobial susceptibility profiles via a broth doublingdilution method. Overall, the isolates displayed resistanceto trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100%), oxytetracycline(100%), ampicillin (83%), enrofloxacin (83%), and ciprofloxacin(81%), respectively. Among the phenicols, resistance wasapproximately 79% and 29% for chloramphenicol andflorfenicol, respectively. Molecular detection revealed thatthe incidence rates of the floR, cmlA, cat1, cat2 and cat3were 29, 31, 16, 13, and 0%, respectively. Additionally,10% of the isolates were positive for both floR and cmlA.As these antimicrobial agents may potentially inducecross-resistance between animal and human bacterialpathogens, their prudent use in veterinary medicine ishighly recommended.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; *Chickens ; China/epidemiology ; Chloramphenicol/pharmacology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli/*drug effects/growth & development ; Escherichia coli Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Poultry Diseases/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Thiamphenicol/analogs & derivatives/pharmacology

OBJECTIVESalmonella isolates recovered from retail meats that were collected in supermarkets and free markets in Xi'an and Yangling areas of Shaanxi province were studied to determine antibiotic susceptibility.

METHODAntimicrobial susceptibility to 14 antibiotics of 193 salmonella isolates were determined by using agar dilution method, which was recommended by National Committee of Clinical Laboratory Standard (NCCLS), and E.coli ATCC25922 and E.faecalis ATCC29212 as standard control strains.

RESULTSThe 44.6% of the salmonella isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, followed by resistance to kanamycin (40.9%), tetracycline (37.8%), amoxicillin (26.9%), ampicillin (25.4%), gentamicin (23.3%) and chloramphenicol (21.8%). Some isolates also showed resistance to fluoroquinolones, the rates for ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, levofloxacin and gatifloxacin were 22.3%, 21.8%, 20.8% and 21.2%, respectively. 55 isolates (28.5%) were multidrug resistant (MDR) strains, 28 of 193 isolates (14.5%) could resist at least 13 antibiotics, 24 isolates (12.4%) were resistant to from 4 to 12 antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONSalmonella isolates recovered from retail meats in Xi'an district of Shaanxi province were seriously resistant to antimicrobials commonly used as human and veterinary medicine.

Animals ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Food Microbiology ; Goats ; Meat Products ; microbiology ; Salmonella ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Sheep ; Swine

PURPOSETo investigate the in vitro effect of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against Nogo receptor (NgR) on neurite outgrowth under an inhibitory substrate of central nervous system (CNS) myelin.

METHODSThree siRNA sequences against NgR were designed and transfected into cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) to screen for the most effcient sequence of NgR siRNA by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining. NgR siRNA sequence 1 was found the most efficient which was then transfected into the CGCs grown on CNS myelin substrate to observe its disinhibition for neurite outgrowth.

RESULTSCompared with the scrambled control sequence of siRNA, the NgR siRNA sequence 1 significantly decreased NgR mRNA level at 24 h and 48 h (p <0.05), which was recovered by 96 h after transfection. NgR immunoreactivity was also markedly reduced at 24 and 48 h after the transfection of siRNA sequence 1 compared with that before transfection (p<0.05). The NgR immunoreactivity was recovered after 72 h post-transfection. Moreover, the neurite outgrowth on the myelin substrate was greatly improved within 72 h after the transfection with siRNA sequence 1 compared with the scrambled sequence-transfected group or non-transfected group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA-mediated knockdown of NgR expression contributes to neurite outgrowth in vitro.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Myelin Sheath ; physiology ; Neuronal Outgrowth ; physiology ; Nogo Receptor 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDChildhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is one of the most frequently recognized syndromes among the idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs). CAE is considered to be a genetic disease, with a possible polygenic inheritance pattern. The genes responsible for CAE have not been identified yet. The object of this study was to investigate whether or not CAE is associated with the gene encoding the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type-A receptor subunits alpha5 (GABRA5) and beta3 (GABRB3) in a Chinese population.

METHODSFive microsatellite DNA repeats, 69CA, 85CA, 155CA1, 155CA2, and A55CA1, adjoining chromosome 15q11-q13, were used as genetic markers. Both case-control study and transmission/disequilibrium tests (TDTs), as well as fluorescence-based semi-automated genotyping techniques, were used in 90 CAE patient-mother-father trios and 100 normal controls of Han ethnicity to conduct association analysis.

RESULTSThe frequencies of allele 5 of 69CA, alleles 2 and 8 of 85CA, alleles 6 and 7 of 155CA1, allele 2 of 155CA2, and alleles 1 and 11 of A55CA1 were significantly higher in CAE patients than in normal controls. To prevent spurious associations arising from population admixture, we further conducted TDT tests in the 90 CAE trios. The results of TDT analysis further suggested that microsatellite DNA repeats 85CA, 155CA1, and 155CA2 were associated with CAE.

CONCLUSIONSGABA type-A receptor subunit genes GABRA5 and GABRB3 may be either directly involved in the etiology of CAE in the Chinese population or in linkage disequilibrium with disease-predisposing sites.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy, Absence ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Protein Subunits ; Receptors, GABA-A ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential gene expression of ependymomas.

METHODSFour fresh samples of ependymomas and 1 of normal brain tissue were collected during operation. The extracted total RNAs were converted as (32)P tagged cDNA probes, which were then hybridized with the Atlas Human Cancer Array, producing the array based hybridization maps following the protocol provided with the kit. A set of special software was applied to the analysis and RT-PCR was performed to test the result.

RESULTIn comparison with the normal brain tissue, there were 31 upregulated gene and 1 downregulated gene in ependymomas, most of which were firstly found to be differentially expressed in this kind of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe discrepancy of gene expression profiles between ependymomas and normal brain tissues is highly put through and effectively detected with cDNA array, which provides new information for the further research on the molecular mechanisms of this lesion.

Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Ependymoma ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction