Objective To explore the feasibility of using the quantitative reference extract of ginkgo leaf total lactones instead of single component reference for the quantitative assay of Ginkgo Folium.Methods HPLC-ELSD method was performed by using a Diamonsil C18 column (250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm) with methanol-water as the mobile phase at the gradient elution mode.Flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1.The parameters of ELSD detector were as follows,the drifit tube temperature was 105 ℃,and the flow rate of nitrogen(N2) was 3 L·min-1.Results The linear ranges of ginkgolide A,ginkgolide B,ginkgolide C,and bilobalide were 0.735-5.879 μg (r=0.999 6),0.404-6.060 μg (r=0.999 6),0.296-4.439 μg (r=0.999 6),and 1.001-6.006 μg (r=0.999 7),respectively.The recoveries and RSD of the four components were 95.6% (4.0%),97.3% (4.5%),99.3% (5.0%),and 100.4% (2.1%),respectively.Conclusion The quantitative reference extract of ginkgo leaf total lactones can be used as the substitute for the determination of terpene lactones.

Objective To establish a calcification mode in vitro of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) induced by β-GP. Methods Primary HVSMCs were obtained from human embryo by plant method and confirmed by stain with α-sm-actin antibody. The cells after 4-6 passages were divided into two groups.The control group was incubated with normal DMEM medium while the calcification group was incubated with the medium containing 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate for 10 days.Calcification was confirmed by alizarin red S stain and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) assays. Results The primary cells observed by S-P stain were positive and the cells after being stained were pale yellow. After being induced with β-GP, the cells of calcification group began concentric growth and formed vesicles. Alizarin red S staining showed that the reaction of calcifying nodules was red,ALP activity was higher than that of controls at various time points(4 d,6 d,8 d and 10 d,P＜0.01 ).Conclusion The HVSMCs could be induced into calcification in vitro by β-GP, and this model contribates to further studies of vascular diseases.

BACKGROUNDQacA, a main exporter mediating the multidrug-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to a variety of antiseptics and disinfectants, possesses a topology of 14 alpha-helical transmembrane segments (TMS). Our study aimed to determine the importance and topology of amino acid residues in and flanking the cytoplasmic end of TMS5.

METHODSSite-directed mutagenesis was used to mutate 5 residues, including L146, A147, V148, W149 and S150, into cysteine. A minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and transport assay with or without N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) were performed to analyse the function of these mutants.

RESULTSAll of the mutants showed comparable protein expression levels. MIC analysis suggested that mutant W149C showed low resistance levels to the drugs, but the mutations at L146, A147, V148, and S150C had little or no effect on the resistance level. And the results of the fluorimetric transport assay were in agreement with those of MIC analysis, that is to say, W149C did not allow transport to the substrates to be tested, while the other mutants retained significant transport ability. The reaction of the different mutant proteins with Fluorescein-NEM revealed that the mutant L146C was highly reactive with NEM; the W149C and S150C mutants were moderately reactive; A147C was barely reactive and V148C showed no reactivity.

CONCLUSIONSThe study identified that residues W149 and S150 situated at the interface of the aqueous: lipid junction as functionally important residues, probably involved in the substrate binding and translocation of QacA.

Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Ethylmaleimide ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; metabolism ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; chemistry ; physiology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility and actuality of MR imaging on diagnosis and evaluation of velopharyngeal insufficiency preoperatively.

METHODSSince 2002, six patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency were examined with MRI using midsagittal, coronal, and axial images, contrast with radiography, to affirm configuration and movements of soft palate, posterior and lateral pharyngeal walls, and velopharyngeal opening for the choices of following surgeries.

RESULTSMRI visualizes directly and measures objectively the shorter soft palate, confined movements of soft palate, lateral or/and posterior pharyngeal wall, and deeper and enlarged velopharyngeal opening, which were coincided with clinical symptoms and affirmed by observations in the following operations, surpassing radiography.

CONCLUSIONSMRI is effective, actual, and uninvasive in imaging and measuring the velopharyngeal insufficiency, thus has a potential role in investigation and planning surgical repairs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo develop a new method for reparation of cleft lip, and to evoke more colleagues for advance practices and study, in order to determine her indication and contraindication as soon as possible.

METHODS48 cases were included into this study. Trilobate flap were designed in floor of nose and lip area in cleft side, rotate two of the three flaps upwards, respectively to elevate the tip of nose, and to reconstruct the floor of nose. As for the left flap, it was derived transversally to opposing side, sutured with the flap of non-cleft-side.

RESULTSWith this technique, less tissue was lost, better vertical lengthening and good formed cuspids-bow was achieved, and the scar was a parallel line being symmetry to the philtrum column opposite. Meanwhile, because the tension was mainly located in the area where there was no mini flaps, the blood supply was good enough, rarely occur any necrosis in the tip of flaps. All cases in this study obtained perfect healing, with good appearance at nostrils and floor of nose.

CONCLUSIONSIn use of the method of trilobate flap, we can draw down the peak of the cuspids bow effectually, hence avoid the addition cut in the lower part of the lip, decrease the scar on skin, as well as nice reconstruction of floor of nose, philtrum column and nostril. Because lack of long term study, we evoke more colleagues for cooperation in advance study.

Cleft Lip ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Nose ; abnormalities ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo study how to perform the hearing screening on the infants in the rural area.

METHODSThree thousand nine hundreds and twenty-two infants, about 84% of them from rural, were born in the People Hospital of LaiZhou City from January to December in 2004. The infants were performed fast hearing screening by transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) after the birth in 2-7 days. The fail cases were checked again after 4-6 weeks, and then were diagnosed if they still failed after following-up.

RESULTSThe infants (3612/3922, 92.1%) have been checked by TEOAE, and the examination was free in the poverty cases. The rate passed on the first check was 69.96% (2527/3922), but 1085 infants failed (30.4%), while 310 infants have not been checked (7.9%). In the 1085 cases that should be rechecked, there was only 633 cases (58.34%) accepted the check on time, while 452 cases (41.66%) missed. In the 163 cases with high-risk infants in 2004, 114 infants (69.96%) were checked, but 49 infants (29.04%) were not checked. Fourteen cases failed in the recheck, and 11 of them were checked by ABR. Two cases were found to be moderate and severe hearing loss in binaural respectively and 4 cases with mild hearing loss in monaural while 3 cases were normal.

CONCLUSIONSIt is necessary and viable for the infants on hearing screening in the rural area It should be set up and perfected the model for infants on hearing screening in rural area as soon as possible; it should be free for the poor infants to make sure everyone enjoy the health care.

China ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; methods ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous ; Rural Population

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum iron(SI) and essential hypertension (EHT) based on population-based samples.

METHODSUsing clustering multistage sampling method, all the people above 18 years old in the target population were investigated. Blood pressure was measured and the questionnaire was used to find out related factors. Five milliliters fast vein blood were drawn and the serum were used for testing on serum iron (SI) and other elements such as blood sugar, cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), serum sodium, serum potassium, serum calcium etc. A case control study was carried out with EHT patients from the selected population as case group, and the other healthy peoples as controls. Database was created by Fox Pro and SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe concentrations of SI, with (17.75 +/- 7.66) micromol/ L in EHT group and (17.23 +/- 7.83) micromol/L in control group, showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups. The concentrations of SI also showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the high DBP and normal group with the average level as (17.84 +/- 7.58) micromol/L in high DBP group and (17.26 +/- 7.85) micromol/L in normal group. Data from monovariate analysis showed that the increase of SI was a risk factor for EHT, DBP and SBP. By multivariate analysis for EHT, while SI still existed in the model (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.057-1.590), but for SBP the results almost remained the same (OR = 1.285, 95% CI:1.102-1.498).

CONCLUSIONData from the results showed that SI was probably a risk factor for EHT.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; epidemiology ; Iron ; blood ; Risk Factors

Objective To analyze the current status of exercise and exercise self-efficacy (ESE) and its influencing factors in middle-aged and elderly patients with high blood pressure, and to provide a basis for the intervention of patients with hypertension in the community. Methods The stratified random sampling method was used to select 546 patients with hypertension who had received hypertension management for one year in the community. The general condition, exercise condition, and ESE scores were collected using survey questionnaires. Chi-square test was applied to analyze the difference of exercise efficacy score among different characteristic objects, and analysis of regression method was applied to analyze the influencing factors of exercise self-efficacy. Results A total of 546 people were surveyed in this study, of which 67.03% of hypertension patients participated in exercise. The main exercise program was walking healthily (87.43%). A total of 262 people (47.99%) had strong performance on ESE score, while 284 people (52.01%) had weak self-efficacy. The univariate unconditional logistic regression analysis found that there were significant differences in the distribution of educational level, family monthly income, years of hypertension, whether they received the guidance from family doctors, whether they exercised and whether they warmed up before exercise (P<0.05). The multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that educational level of junior high school and low average monthly household income were the risk factors affecting exercise efficacy, and the guidance of family doctors, exercise, and hypertension less than 5 years were the protective factors affecting exercise efficacy. Conclusion The exercise self-efficacy of middle-aged and elderly patients with hypertension in this community is at a medium level, and family doctors should carry out targeted interventions based on influencing factors to improve exercise self-management ability.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is prevalent in obesity and is associated with many metabolic abnormalities. The relationship between OSAS and bone metabolism is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of OSAS and bone metabolic markers. Methods: A total of 119 obese males were enrolled in this study in spring months from 2015 to 2017. All candidates underwent polysomnography, and their bone mineral density (BMD) and the serum levels of total procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (t-P1NP), N-terminal midfragment of osteocalcin (N-MID), β-C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β-CTX), vitamin D (VD), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured. The analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis were performed for data analyses. Results: No significant differences in the mean values of BMD were observed among the obesity, mild-to-moderate OSAS, and severe OSAS groups; and the serum levels of t-P1NP and β-CTX in the severe OSAS group were significantly higher than those in the obesity group (48.42 ± 23.78 ng/ml vs. 31.98 ± 9.85 ng/ml, P < 0.001; 0.53 ± 0.24 ng/ml vs. 0.41 ± 0.13 ng/ml, P = 0.011, respectively). The serum level of VD in the obesity group was significantly higher than those in the mild-to-moderate and severe OSAS groups (both P < 0.001), and decreased as the severity of OSAS increased (P < 0.001). The serum level of PTH in the severe OSAS group was significantly higher than those in the obesity and mild-to-moderate OSAS groups (both P < 0.001). The results of correlation analysis indicated that the level of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was correlated with the levels of t-P1NP (r = 0.396, P < 0.001), VD (r = -0.404, P < 0.001), and PTH (r = 0.400, P < 0.001), whereas the level of minimum Osaturation (SaOmin) was correlated with the levels of VD (r = 0.258, P = 0.016) and PTH (r = -0.376, P < 0.001). Conclusions The levels of bone resorption and formation markers in patients with severe OSAS were significantly increased compared to obese men, and the severity of OSAS was correlated with the serum levels of t-P1NP, VD, and PTH.
Biomarkers ; blood ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications