Objective To determine the changes in expression of Ca2+ channel ?1B subunit mRNA in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Methods Twenty-four SD rats weighing 160-220g were randomly divided into 3 groups with 8 animals in each group: (1) neuropathic pain group; (2) sham-operated group and (3) control group. In neuropathic pain group the animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal phenobarbital 50 mg?kg-1 . The left L5 spinal nerve was exposed and ligated and cut. In sham-operated the left L5 spinal nerve was exposed but not ligated and cut. Control group underwent no operation. Bilateral paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey hair stimulation was measured before and 7, 14 days after operation. The animals were killed on the 14th day after operation and the left L5 DRGs were obtained for determination of Ca2+ channel ?1B subunit mRNA by in situ hybridization. Results Mechanical allodynia developed in neuropathic pain group but not in sham-operated group. The expression of Ca2+ channel ?1B subunit mRNA was significantly lower in neuropathic pain group (0.033 ? 0.011) than in sham-operated group (0.065 ? 0.042) and control group (0.066 ? 0.034) (P

Objective To analyze the risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgical procedures.Methods We retrospectively analyzed all gastrointestinal surgical patients nearly 2 years who were in the first affiliated hospital of Kunming Medical University and the first people's hospital of Yunnan province.Results The incidence of AKI was 2.1%.Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis indicated that: age>65 years, emergency operation and serious infection were significantly related with the incidence of AKI.Conclusion AKI is a common complication after gastrointestinal surgical procedures.This study showed that age>65 years, emergency operation, serious infection were risk factors most likely associated with postoperative AKI development.

AIM:To establish the quality control for Finger-citron Formula Granule. METHODS: The TLC,HPLC and fingerprint chromatogram were used to make quality standard. RESULTS: The TLC spots were clear and 5,7-dimethoxy-coumarin showed a good linearity at a range of 0.46-4.14 ?g.The average recovery was(99.01%)(n=6) with RSD 1.58%. CONCLUSION: The method could be used as the quality control of Finger-citron Formula Granule.

BACKGROUND: As a biochemical marker of cytoplasm, the increased activity of creatine kinase (CK) in human spermatozoa is correlated with both the residual cytoplasma and the ratio of sperm with abnormal func tion. It is a marker of mature sperm and associated with the potential of in semination. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of CK activity in sperm and the relative contents of sperm CK-MM and CK-BB isoenzymes between normal fertile males and infertile males, and evaluate its significance in clinical diagnosis of male infertility. DESIGN: Case-control observation. SETTING: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Family Planning Research Insti tute of Sichuan Province. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-four male infertile patients between January 1999 and October 2000 were selected from the Department of Family Planning Sciences of Sichuan Province, who had no aspermatism with their wives proved to be fertile. The average age of subjects were 31 years. Eighty subjects with the sperm count ＞ 2×1010 L-1 were taken as normal sperm group and 14 subjects with the sperm counts ＜ 2×1010 L-1 were considered as oligospermia group. Semen obtained from 27 healthy males who were normal in routine examinations and with children was taken as the healthy control group.METHODS: Semen sample collected by masturbation after abstinence of 3 to 5 days was incubated at 37 ℃ for liquefication and routinely analyzed.Total activity of CK in sperm was determined by using a kinetic spectrophotometry and the relative contents of CK isozyme was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by density scanning of CK isozyme.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sperm counts, percentages of viability and motility of sperm, total CK activity and the relative contents of CK-MM and CK-BB isozyme in spermatozoa.RESULTS: A total of 94 enrolled patients and 27 normal controls were involved in the analysis of results. ①Sperm counts, percentage of viability and motility in oligospermia group ( Ⅱ + Ⅲ, WHO method) were obviously lower than those in the healthy control group, and those in the normal sperm group, except the sperm counts, were remarkably lower than the healthy control group [the sperm counts in healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was (6.05 ±0.81 )×1010 L-1, (7.76±1.37)×1010 L-1 and (1.46±0.19)×1010 L-1 respectively (P ＜ 0.01). The survival rate in healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was 85.1%,56.8% and 58.2%, P ＜ 0.01, and the sperm motility was 62.9% ,34.6% and 29.5% respectively, P ＜ 0.01].②Total activity of sperm CK in oligospermia group was significantly higher than the healthy control group [respectively (9.000±6.117) and (1.933 ±0.943) kat/108 sperm,P＜ 0.05],although that in the normal sperm group (2.800±0.862) kat/108 sperm was a little higher than the healthy control group, while there were no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).③The relative contents of sperm CK-MM isozyme in the normal sperm group and oligospermia group were obviously decreased (that in the healthy control group, normal sperm group and oligospermia group was 30.5%, 19.0% and 18.0% respectively,P ＜ 0.05), which implied a remarkable difference in sperm differentiation between healthy control group and the latter two groups.CONCLUSION: The determination of sperm CK is meaningful for the diagnosis and pathogenesis of oligospermia. More work should be done on the distribution of sperm CK-MM isozyme in different infertile population as well as its importance in the diagnosis of infertility.

Objective To establish a PCR-RFLP method for detection of CD26 mutation of hemoglobin E(HbE)gene.Methods The genome DNA from the family members who were suspected of having HbE combined with beta-thalassemia was amplified using PCR.The PCR products were digested by restriction endonuclease Mnl I,and then separated on PAGE.The electrophoretical patterns were finally analyzed to confirm if CD26 mutation was present or not.Results Four cases with CD26 mutation in two families were successfully screened out.Conclusion Although the incident frequency of CD26 mutation in Sichuan population is not high,it must not be neglected since it may present alone or combined with other type of thalassemia.PCR-RFLP method described in this study is available in screening mutated HbE gene and treating the disease owing to its simplicity,rapidity and specificity.

AIM:To detect the changes of cardiac functions of septic mice in the early stage of sepsis. METHODS:Health male Kunming mice were used in the study. The techniques of 2D,Mmode and Doppler echocardiography were applied to evaluate the cardiac functions before cecal ligation and puncture(CLP) as baseline and at time points of 12 h,24 h,36 h,48 h and 168 h after CLP. The mice survived for 168 h(7 d) were considered as survivals. RESULTS:Compared to the baseline at the time point of 24 h after CLP,the blood volumes of heart return decreased significantly in the early stage of sepsis induced by CLP. LVEDV reduced by 46%. Notable compensatory responses of the hearts in septic mice were observed,especially the systolic functions,in which LVEF and LVFS increased by 27% and 39% ,respectively. However,the compensatory responses of diastolic function were weaker than the systoles. E/A ratio and EDT decreased by 30% and 25% respectively at the time point of 24 h. CONCLUSION:The strong compensatory cardiac functions are one of the factors for supporting the septic animal to survive. Protection of the cardiac functions especially the diastoles is important in the treatment of septic patients.

This article reviews the study on Compound Danshen Tablets. Based on collecting and analyzing literatures, about the pharmacological actions, preparation procedure, quality control methods, dosage improvement, etc. of Compound Danshen Tablets, it is considered that Compound Danshen Tablets has been extensively studied mrecent years, but quality control methods should be improved further and basic research should attract attention.

Objective To investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761 on the expressions of XIAP and Smac following focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Methods A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups: sham-operation group, cerebral ischemi-a/reperfusion group, low-dose EGb761 group, and high-dose EGb761 group (n=10 in each group). A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 1.5 hours and reperfusion for 24 hours was built. EGb761 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg were injected intraperitoneally at one hour before the model building in the low-dose EGb761 and high-dose EGb761 groups. The expressions of XIAP and Smac in brain tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results The expressions of XIAP were 18. 33±4. 01 and 26. 7±3.27 respectively in the low-dose EGb761 and high-dose EGb761 groups, and they were significantly higher than 12. 13±3.44 in the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (all P<0.01), and the high-dose EGb761group was higher than the low-dose EGb761 group (P<0.01). 1he expressions of Smac in brain tissue were 21.33±3.15 and 11.33±2. 10 respectively in the low-dose EGb761 and high-dose EGb761 groups, and they were significantly lower than 28.93±4. 96 in the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group (all P<0.05). The high-dose EGb761 group was significantly lower than the low-dose EGb761 group (P<0.05). Conclusions Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion could induce the expressions of XIAP and Smac. EGb761 intervention could inhibit the expressions of Smac while upregulating the expression of XIAP, and increase the XIAP/Smac ratio. 1his may be one of the protective mechanisms of EGb761 intervention.

BACKGROUND:Hyperhomocysteine can be caused by 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation, and HHcy is the independent risk factor for cerebral stroke.
OBJECTIVE:To study the correlation between plasma homocysteine level and polymorphisms of MTHFR gene C677T of young people in Shenzhen area, and to explore the relationships of plasma hyperhomocysteine level with other clinical indicators.
METHODS:A total of 101 cases with hyperhomocysteine were col ected as experimental group, and 101 cases with normal homocysteine level served as control group (20-45 years old). Genomic DNA was extracted with magnetic nanoparticles method from mouth swab samples of 202 cases. Then the DNA was amplified into target gene fragment by PCR, and amplification product was then sequenced.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The frequencies of CC, CT, TT genotype of MTHFR C677T showed significant differences between the experimental group and the control group (P<0.01). This evidence indicates that the polymorphisms of MTHFR gene C677T can influence plasma homocysteine level of young people in Shenzhen area;TT genotype frequencies and T al ele frequencies in the experimental group were higher than that of control group. Besides, the plasma homocysteine level of TT genotype was significantly higher than that of CT genotype and CC genotype in the experimental group (P<0.05). We can conclude that TT genotype can improve the homocysteine level more than CT genotype;The systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). It indicated that hyperhomocysteine can induce the elevation of blood pressure level;but it is not sure that hyperhomocysteine can increase cholesterol level in our study.

Objective: To develop an HPLC method for determining feruloyltyramine in Pothi chinensis herba. Methods: The HPLC determination was performed on a Thermo ODS-2 Hypersil column(250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) with isocratic elution of metha-nol-0. 4% phosphoric (35:65) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The column temperature was at 25℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 318 nm. Results: Feruloyltyramine showed good linearity,and the recovery was 99. 40% with RSD of 1. 44% (n =9). Conclusion: The method is quick, simple and reproducible, which can be used to control the quality of Pothi chinensis herba.