OBJECTIVEThe study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of astragaloside IV (ASI) on the activation of microglial cells.

METHODAfter pre-incubated with ASI for 2 h, microglial cells BV-2 were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) for 1. 5 h and 24 h, respectively. Secretion of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium was measured by Griess method. Production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was detected by ELISA approach. Cellular gene expressions of CD11b, TNF-α, interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were examined by quantitative-PCR analysis. Total and phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB was analyzed by Western blot method.

RESULTASI could significantly inhibit the increased secretion of TNF-α and NO from BV-2 cells upon IFN-γ stimulation (P < 0.001). Further study showed that ASI significantly down-regulated gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and exhibited a trend to reduce that of iNOS. IFN-γ and ASI have no obvious effect on gene expression of CD11b. Moreover, ASI inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, IκB and NF-κB elicited by IFN-γ stimulation.

CONCLUSIONASI could restrain microglial activation through interfering STAT1/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, reducing gene expres- sion of IL-1β and TNF-α, and thus inhibiting the production of proinflammatory mediators such as NO and TNF-α.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

This paper aims to establish a method for the determination of sulfur dioxide in sulfur fumigation Chinese herbs. Sample powder and hydrochloric acid solution were isolated by paraffin layer in order to avoid early reactions, with the generation of sulfur dioxide, headspace with airtight needle was used to transfer sulfur dioxide into gas chromatograph, and detected with thermal conductivity detector. The analytical performance was demonstrated by the analysis of 12 herbs, spiked at four concentration levels. In general, the recoveries ranging from 70% to 110%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 15%, were obtained. The limit of detection (LOD) was below 10 mg x kg(-1). Standard addition can be used for low recovery samples. The method is simple, less time-consuming, specific and sensitive. Methods comparison revealed that gas chromatography is better than traditional titration in terms of method operability, accuracy and specificity, showing good application value.
Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Fumigation ; Limit of Detection ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sulfur ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis

Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of gallbladder chaotic dynamics after partial gastrec-tomy. Methods 140 cases operated by partial gastrectomy after 6 months were randomly examined, they in-cluded one group of 40 cases by Billroth type and the other 100 cases by Eiselsberg type. The ultrasonograph was applied to evaluate the function of gallbladder dynamics and radio-immunity method to determine the content of CCK at the time of having no food and 30 minutes after med. Results BV and RV of Eiselsberg group were bigger than Billroth Ⅰ obviously P<0.05. Gallbladder contraction rate displayed not well obvi-ously as too. The plasm level of CCK had no manifested distinctions in empty stomach cases of the 2 groups, but the increasing gradient plasm level of CCK in Billroth Ⅰ exceeded Eiselsberg type. Conclusions The pathogenesis of gallbladder chaotic dynamics after partial gastrectomy was correlated with the alterative type of partial gastrectomy, the reduction of CCK plasm level, the damage of anterior vagal trunk hepatic branches during the operations and so on led to the disorder of gallbladder emptying and induced cholecystolithiasis.

Objective To study the role of Mycoplasma genitalium(Mg)infection in chronic non- bacterial prostatitis.Methods Culture and two PCR systems were performed on prostatic secretion specimens from 487 patients with chronic non-bacterial prostatitis and 75 health men in Changchun regions. Results positive rate of Mg in the prostatic secretion from the 487 patients was 7.39% (36/487);In the controls,the positive rate of Mg was 1.33%(1/75).The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (X~2=3.88,P

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the enhancement patterns of liver metastases and their influencing factors using dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). METHODS: A total of 240 patients (139 male and 101 female; 58.5±11.2 years of age) diagnosed with liver metastases in our hospital were enrolled in this study to evaluate tumor characteristics using CEUS. A comparison of enhancement patterns with tumor size and primary tumor type was performed using the chi-square test. The differences between quantitative variables were evaluated with the independent-sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The enhancement patterns of liver metastases on CEUS were categorized as diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement (133/240, 55.4%), rim-like hyperenhancement (80/240, 33.3%), heterogeneous hyperenhancement (10/240, 4.2%), and isoenhancement (17/240, 7.1%). There were significant differences in the enhancement patterns during the arterial phase based on the nodule size (p=0.001). A total of 231 of the nodules showed complete washout during the portal phase, and 237 nodules were hypoenhanced during the delayed phase. The washout time was correlated with tumor vascularity, with a longer washout time observed in hypervascular metastases compared to hypovascular metastases (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement followed by rapid washout was the most common enhancement pattern of liver metastases on CEUS and was affected by the nodule size and tumor vascularity. Small metastases were prone to show diffuse homogeneous hyperenhancement. Hyper-vascular metastases showed a significantly longer washout time compared to hypovascular metastases.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Contrast Media/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply/*diagnostic imaging/secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography/*methods ; Young Adult

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) were biodegradable thermoplastics. Due to their broad applications, direct biosynthesis of PHA from inexpensive substrates, such as carbohydrates, is actively pursued. It has been recently revealed that (R)-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP: CoA transacylase (PhaG) played an important role in this pathway. In this study, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed for the rapid and specific identification of phaG gene from various bacteria. Using the PCR strategy, the complete open reading frames of two phaG genes from Pseudomonas stutzeri 1317 and Pseudomonas nitroreducens 0802 were cloned from the genomic DNA and functionally expressed in Pseudomonas putida PHAGN-21. Furthermore, this strategy was successful applied in non-Pseudomonas strains, such as Burkholderia. These results suggest that PhaG-mediated pathway of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates was widespread among bacteria.
Acyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Burkholderia ; enzymology ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polyhydroxyalkanoates ; biosynthesis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pseudomonas ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Alignment

Objectives: To compare the short-term and mid-term outcomes of elderly patients (>60 years old) with valvular heart disease (VHD) underwent bioprosthetic or mechanical valve replacement. Methods: Between January 2007 and December 2010, 559 elderly patients underwent valve replacement in Fuwai Hospital, clinical data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively (319 cases with bioprostheses vs 240 cases with mechanical prostheses). After matching, data from 192 cases in each group were compared. Results: The mortality within 30 postoperative days were similar (2.1% in both groups). All-cause death during follow up was also similar between the two groups (13.6% vs 13.7%, P=0.98). There was no statistically significant difference on the hospital readmission rate between the two groups (25.5% vs 35.9%, P=0.17). No significant difference was found on thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events free survival between the two groups (144 cases vs 138 cases, P=0.78). Conclusions: Short-term and mid-term survival and readmission rate are similar for the elderly VHD patients receiving bioprosthetic or mechanical valve replacement.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae ; drug effects ; genetics ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Hemolysin Proteins ; genetics ; Hemolysis ; Mice ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Aged ; Beijing ; China ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiological features of tic disorders (TD) among schoolchildren in Wenzhou area.

METHODSStratified cluster sampling was carried out to investigate TD in 9742 schoolchildren aged 7 to 16 years old in Wenzhou.

RESULTSThe average prevalence rate of TD among school-age children was 104/10 000 (166/10 000 for males, 29/10 000 for females). There was a significantly higher prevalence rate for males than that for females (chi(2) = 43.96, P < 0.001, prevalence ratio = 5.7, prevalence ratio 95% CI: 3.20 - 10.30). The prevalence rates of clinical subtypes in males was significantly higher than that of females while pupils was significantly higher than that in high school students (chi(2) = 11.33, P < 0.01, prevalence ratio = 2.2, prevalence ratio 95% CI: 1.37 - 3.43). Prevalence rate of transient tic disorders (TTD), chronic motor vocal tic disorder (CMVTD), tourette syndrome (TS) were 34/10 000, 27/10 000 and 43/10 000 respectively with the highest among 9-10 years old group. The mean onset age of TD was 8.5 +/- 2.8 years. The peak of onset was among 6-10 year olds. The rate of delayed diagnosis of the disorders was 69.3% and the median in delayed diagnosis was 1.0 year.

CONCLUSIONTD is a common disease with high rate of misdiagnoses among schoolchildren in Wenzhou area. Physicians and population should be trained to identify the syndromes and to practice correct diagnosis and effective treatment as early as possible.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sex Factors ; Tic Disorders ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Tourette Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control