Isolation of high-quality genomic DNA from dried and processed crude drug is the key for the DNA identification of Dendrobii Caulis. The DNA extract of Dendrobii Caulis was firstly compared using different method to isolate genomic DNA from dried and processed crude drug, including commercial DNA extracted kit and CTAB method. Using modified CTAB method (extracted from large samples), the genomic DNA was successfully isolated from Dendrobii Caulis, including Huangcao and Fengdou. The ITS regions were amplified using the purified DNA as template, and then cloned and sequenced. These ITS sequences were compared with data from Genbank database and our lab, 14 Dendrobium species and five similar species were identified from "Huangcao" and "Huangcao" slice, while six species and three similar species from "Fengdou" according to their sequence similarity. The study demonstrated that the dried Dendrobii Caulis could be identified using DNA molecular method, which could overcome deficiencies and limitations of traditional identification method and has a certain application prospects.
DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Dendrobium ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To evaluate the CT and MRI characteristics of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma(PCNSL)in immunocompetent patients,and enhance its diagnosis level.Methods CT and MRI data of 20 patients with PCNSL confirmed by histo-pathology were analyzed retrospectively.MRI scans were performed with and without Gadolinium contrast.Two of them had contrast-enhanced CT scan;six had CT scan without contrast administration;1 had CT scan with both non-contrast and contrast enhancement.Re- suits Totally,38 lesions were found in all patients:14 lesions of them were single and 24 lesions were found in 6 patients.Generally,the lesions were located in the surface and/or midline of the brain.The signal features and density were similar to meningioma,and strongly enhancing after contrast administration.Thirty-six of the 38 lesions had spicular sign peripheral to the lesion.Conclusion Although the manifestations of the PCNSL are variety,there are still many characteristics in the medical imaging,especially in the locations,the signal features,and spicular sign in the edge of the lesions after contrast material injection.

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristic of the fMRI brain map in patients undergoing needling at Zusanli (ST36) by reinforcing method for exploring the essence of Meridian-Collaterals and the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating diseases.

METHODSTwenty-six healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to two groups by double blinded method, 16 in the acupoint group and 10 in the non-acupoint group. Using GE Signa 1. 5 T superconducting MRI system, the fMRI was performed with Gradient echo-EPI sequence. Post-processing of fMRI data was performed using the Functool software (GE-ADW4.0) to generate positive correlation coefficient brain functional activating images and the data was analyzed statistically using SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSBrain functional area was elicited in 13 out of the 15 patients in the acupoint group and 10 in the non-acupoint group. Among them, the temporal elicited area in the acupoint group showed specificity (Fisher's Exact test, P = 0.022) and only the difference in contralateral hemisphere activation rate was of statistical significance (McNemer test, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONAcupoints has its own specific brain activated areas. The therapeutic effect of acupoint might be mediated through brain to treat diseases and regulate functional disorder of organs. There exists special transmission channel of meridian.

Acupuncture ; methods ; Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic predictors of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic feature data of 61 patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma proven by pathological examination from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2005 were collected. Expression of survivin, CD44, nm23, p53, Ki-67, MDR-1 and CD95 was detected by immunohistochemical staining in 30 patients with available histologic specimens. The correlation between these factors and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSIn univariate analysis, performance status, LDH level, clinical stage, initial treatment response, CD56, Ki-67 and CD95 were found to be the prognostic factors associated with time to progression (TTP) in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma, while the performance status, B symptoms, LDH level, initial treatment response, Ki-67 and CD95 were demonstrated as prognostic factors related to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, clinical stage, initial treatment response and performance status were independent prognostic factors for TTP, while the latter two factors were independent prognostic factors of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONClinical stage and initial treatment response, and performance status are found to be independent prognostic factors for TTP, whereas the latter two factors are demonstrated as independent prognostic factors of the overall survival. Overexpression of Ki-67 may be an unfavorable prognostic factor, but overexpression of CD95 may be a favorable one.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; statistics & numerical data ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nose Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; fas Receptor ; analysis

OBJECTIVEIt has been proposed that aberrant immunity of local bowel mucosa may cause ulcerative colitis (UC) and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) may play a role in the development of this disease. To investigate the role of TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B in childhood UC, the expression of TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B in the bowel mucosa and their relationship were studied.

METHODSUsing anti-CD68, anti-TNF-alpha and anti-NF-kappa Bp65 antibodies, the cytokine immunoreactivities in the bowel mucosa of 39 cases of childhood UC (active UC: n = 21, non-active UC: n = 18) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The control specimens of normal bowel mucosa were collected from 7 cases with colorectal polyp or abdominal pain by sigmoidoscopy.

RESULTSThe numbers (median: interquartile range) of CD68(+) cells, TNF-alpha(+) cells and NF-kappa Bp65(+) cells were 44.0 (31.5 - 48.2), 42.7 (19.5 - 65.0) and 50.7 (30.0 - 58.0) in the active UC mucosa, and were 9.2 (7.9 - 16.6), 5.5 (2.5 - 9.1) and 4.2 (3.0 - 8.4) in non-active UC mucosa, and 5.3 (4.3 - 8.7), 3.0 (0.0 - 6.3) and 3.3 (0.0 - 4.0) in the control mucosa, respectively. The levels of CD68, TNF-alpha and NF-kappa Bp65 expressions in the active UC were significantly higher than those in the non-active UC (P < 0.001) and the controls (P < 0.001). The expression level of CD68 in non-active UC was much higher than that in the controls (P = 0.008). Using the correlation analysis, a positive correlation between TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B activation was found (r = 0.885, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSMacrophages TNF-alpha and NF-kappa B may play an important role in the pathophysiologic mechanism of childhood active UC. The activation of NF-kappa B may be associated with the release of TNF-alpha.

Adolescent ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis

OBJECTIVEDuodenal salami ulcer is a common disease found on routine endoscopic examination in children. The purpose of the study was to explore the characteristics and the clinicopathological features of duodenal salami ulcer in children and to deepen the understanding of duodenal salami ulcer.

METHODSThe endoscopic results of 117 cases with the duodenal salami ulcer were analyzed. The specimens of gastric antrum and duodenal bulb were subjected to HE and Giemsa staining and were examined for any alteration in histopathology and infection with Helicobacter pylori (Hp). The duodenal mucosa was stained with AB (pH 2.5)/PAS in order to diagnose the duodenal metaplasia.

RESULTSThe major endoscopic finding was a kind of hoarfrost, which was dotty or flaky, covered on the hyperemic and edematous mucosa. The detection rate of this change was 2.29% (117/5 106) of all the endoscopic examinations in children and the rate among cases with duodenal ulcer was 49.2% (117/238). The histopathology was characterized by a heavy infiltration of mainly lymphocytes, plasmocytes and neutrophilic granulocytes, frequently accompanied by superficial erosion. Sixty-one cases were pathologically diagnosed as chronic active duodenitis, superficial erosion in 45; chronic duodenitis in 50; eosinophilic duodenitis in 6. Detection rate of Hp in gastric antrum was 58% (68/117) of all cases. Detection rate of Hp infection and gastric epithelium metaplasia in duodenal bulb was 11.1% (13/117) and 31.1% (37/117), respectively. However, detection rate of Hp in gastric antrum was 25.0% (1 203/4 810) in 4 810 cases of normal duodenal bulb and chronic duodenitis in the same period. Detection rate of Hp in duodenal bulb was 0% and the detection rate of gastric epithelium metaplasia in duodenal bulb was 2.7% (128/4 810). All these detection rates were much higher than those of the specimens collected during the same period with normal duodenal bulb and chronic duodenitis (P < 0.001). Twenty-one cases were reexamined by endoscopy after having been treated with antacids or antacids and antimicrobial agents for 4 weeks. The lesions were healed up and no scars were found.

CONCLUSIONDuodenal salami ulcer in children had a special manifestation of duodenal inflammation or erosion but not a real ulcer. It was caused by the Hp infection in gastric antrum or duodenal bulb and the increase of gastric acids. The therapeutic principles were antacid and antimicrobial agents. The prognosis was good.

Adolescent ; Child ; Duodenal Ulcer ; complications ; pathology ; Duodenum ; pathology ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Pyloric Antrum ; pathology

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of electrothermal acupuncture plus joint mobilization in treating knee osteoarthritis.Methods One hundred patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized to treatment and control groups, 50 cases each. The control group received Maitland's technique and the treatment group, electrothermal acupuncture in addition. The Osteoarthritis Index score was recorded and cytokines (IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α) contents were measured in the two groups before and after four weeks of treatment. The clinical therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.Results The total efficacy rate was 91.5％ in the treatment group and 80.0％ in the control group; there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). There were statistically significant pre-/post-treatment differences in the WOMAC score and cytokines in the two groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant post-treatment differences in the WOMAC score and cytokines between the treatment and control groups (P<0.05).Conclusion Electrothermal acupuncture plus joint mobilization is an effective way to treat knee osteoarthritis.

15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) plays an important role in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Release of nitric oxide (NO) is apparently decreased and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is impaired in chronic hypoxia. However, little is known whether 15-HETE contributes to eNOS/NO pathway in the constriction induced by 15-HETE. We examined the response of rat pulmonary artery (PA) rings to 15-HETE, the production of NO, total eNOS expression and the phosphorylation of eNOS in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) stimulated by 15-HETE. Rat PA rings were divided into three groups: endothelium intact group, endothelium denuded group, and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 mmol/L, an inhibitor of eNOS) group. Constrictions to 15-HETE were significantly enhanced in endothelium denuded group and L-NAME group (both P< 0.05 vs endothelium intact group, n= 9); BPAECs were incubated in different conditions to test nitrite production by Greiss method. Nitrite production was significantly reduced by 1 mumol/L 15-HETE (P<0.05), and increased by the lipoxygenase inhibitors, 10 mumol/L cinnamyl 3,4- dihydroxy-[alpha] -cyanocinnamate (CDC, P< 0.05) and 0.1 mmol/L nordihydroguiairetic acid (NDGA, P< 0.01 ); Western blot analysis of extracts from BPAECs incubated with 15-HETE in different time was carried out to test total eNOS expression, and the expression was changed unobviously. Immunoprecipitation (IP) and Western blot analysis of cell extracts from BPAECs treated with 2 mumol/L 15-HETE in different length of time were accomplished, using phospo-eNOS-threonine 495 (Thr495, an inhibitory site) antibody for IP, and eNOS or 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) antibodies for Western blot. 15-HETE depressed eNOS activity by increasing the levels of phospho-eNOS-Thr 495. The data suggest that eNOS/NO pathway is involved in PA constrictions induced by 15-HETE and that 15-HETE depresses eNOS activity by phosphorylation in Thr495 site. The protein interaction between phospho-eNOS (Thr495) and 15-LO is discovered for the first time.
Animals ; Cattle ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; enzymology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The concept of neurovascular units studies the interaction between neural cells and blood vessels, regards the blood-brain barrier as the core,and relates with the neurodegenerative diseases.This paper reviewed the relationship be-tween neurovascular units and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease,multiple sclerosis,etc.

Exosome is a hot topic in the field of medical research in recent years, which can serve as new carriers for cell-to-cell communication, and show great potential in the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke. microRNA containing in exosomes plays an important role in it. This article reviewed the research progress of exosomes in ischemic stroke on biomarkers, drug carriers, neurovascular remodeling, and treatment.