OBJECTIVETo explore metabolite profiling changes in serum of rats with pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQDS) and pi-yang deficiency syndrome (PYDS) based on liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) technique, and to explore the essence of Pi-deficiency syndrome (PDS) from small molecule metabolite level.

METHODSTotally 21 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into three groups, the normal control group, the PQDS group, and the PYDS group, 7 in each group. Rats in the PQDS group overate for 1 day and fasted for 2 days. They drank freely and then swam to be exhausted in water at 35 degrees C - 37 degrees C for 15 successive days. The PYDS model was established by the same method for PQDS rats plus drenching 20% Folium sennae water extract (2 mL/100 g), once in the morning and once in the evening for one successive week. After modeling, models were evaluated according to rat general state, changes in body weight and rectal temperature. Serum metabonomic profiles were detected using LC-MS technique. Difference in inter-group metabolite spectrograms was analyzed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Potential biomarkers related to syndrome types in rat serum were selected via the parameter of variable importance in the projection (VIP).

RESULTSThe weight of rats in the PQDS group and the PYDS group decreased more significantly after modeling. The difference in prepost weight was statistically significant from that of the normal control group (P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the PYDS group than in the PQDS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the rectal temperature of rats in the PYDS group and the PQDS group decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It decresed more in the PYDS group than in the PQDS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, levels of PC(19:0)/PE(22:0), PC(17:0)/PE(20:0), capric acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, glucose increased; arachidonic acid, linolenic acid, lauric acid, androsterone, 4-heptanone, dihydroxyacetonephosphate (DHAP) (6:0), and uridine decreased in the PYDS group and the PQDS group. Compared with the PQDS group, levels of PC(22:1), PC (22:6), PE (18:0)/PC (15:0), retinol, and deoxycytidine increased significantly in the PYDS group; PC (18:1), PC(19 :3), PC (20:3), PC (17:0)/PE (20:0), PC (19:1)/PE (22:1), PC (19:0)/PE (22:0), PC (17:1)/PE (20: 1), PC (16:1)/PE (19:1), cholic acid, hippuric acid, furoic acid, undecanedicarboxylic acid, palmitoleic acid, hydroxy stearic acid, eicosatrienoic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, serine, carbamoyl aspartic acid, palmitoyl carnitine, tetradecanoyl carnitine, acetylcarnitine, and linoleylcarnitine decreased more significantly in the PYDS group.

CONCLUSIONSComparative contents of various serum metabolites changed significantly in PQDS and PYQS model groups. Some potential small molecular biomarkers related to PDS were preliminarily identified. These results might provide some data reference for exploring scientific connotation and pathological mechanisms of PDS.

Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Discriminant Analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Qi ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Yang Deficiency ; blood

In order to establish HPLC fingerprint of Liuwei Dihuang soft capsule, and to provide certain reference for an quality control of it, the HPLC method was performed on an Agilent C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) column with acetonitrile-0.02% trifluoroacetic acid as mobile phase, gradient elution volume flow of 1.0 mL x min(-1), column temperature was 30 degrees C, detection wavelength: 0-60 min, 238 nm, 60-70 min, 210 nm. The software for chromatographic fingerprint was applied to analysis different batches of Liuwei Dihuang soft capsule samples. Sixteen mutual peaks were selected as the fingerprint peaks in 12 samples with loganin as the reference peak, and all of the detected peaks were separated effectively. Cluster analysis (HCA) and similarity analysis (SA) were done based on data of 12 samples clustering analysis of 12 batches of samples were divided into 2 categories. Including 7 for the first class, the rest was second, similarities calculated by SA were all above 0.92, indicating a good similarity between the reference and twelve batches of samples, also, the analysis results of HCA and SA basically the same. This method is simple with good precision, repeatability and stability, and provides the basis for Liuwei Dihuang soft capsule quality control.
Capsules ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Quality Control

Clinical reports on cardiac syndrome X (CSX) have been increasing in recent years. In general, CSX does not increase the cardiovascular mortality, but it can affect the patient's quality of life (QOL) and increase the incidence rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Although a variety of drugs and therapies have been utilized in the clinical treatment, the management of CSX still represents a major challenge due to its unclear pathogenesis. It is necessary to explore more effective treatment programs. Many attempts have been made on trials of the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment for CSX and proved that CM has a certain advantage in efficacy to improve clinical symptoms and QOL. CM may provide a new approach for the effective treatment of CSX.
Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolic Syndrome ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life

Objective To Analyze the change trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women from 2005 to 2013 in the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report in order to provide references for the implement of the prophylaxis and treatment of breast cancer. Methods Extracted all the records of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women from 2005 to 2013, applied the Joinpoint regression model to analyze the change trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Chinese women. Results The incidence levels of breast cancer among urban women in China was higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the change trend of urban incidence was stable(t=-0.2, P=0.828), the rural incidence showed an increasing trend(t=7.8, P<0.001). The peaks of urban and rural incidence were in the age group of 50- and the age group of 45- respectively.The mortality of breast cancer among urban women in China was higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the change trend of urban mortality was stable(t=0.8, P=0.458), and the rising trend of rural mortality was obvious(t=3.3, P=0.014). The mortality of urban women began to rise after the age of 30, accelerating to rise after the age of 75, the mortality of rural women began to rise after the age of 30, the change tended to be stable at the age of 55-69, and began to rise after the age of 70 again. Conclusions The incidence and mortality of breast cancer among urban women in China were all higher than that in rural from 2005 to 2013, the rising trend of the incidence and mortality of breast cancer among rural women was obvious, so the prophylaxis and treatment measures of breast cancer should be actively formulated and perfected.

AIMTo explore the effect of Triptolide on airway remodeling and the expression of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases in asthmatic rats.

METHODS40 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): (1) Control group; (2) Asthmatic 4 weeks group; (3) Asthmatic 6 weeks group; (4) Therapeutic 4 weeks group; (5) Therapeutic 6 weeks group. The airway resistance and eosinophilic inflammation of airway wall were observed. The airway wall thickness (WA/Pi), the bronchial smooth muscle thickness (smooth muscle area/Pi) and the number of bronchial smooth muscle nucleus (N/Pi) were measured by image analysis system. The expression of PI3K protein and mRNA were determined by immunohistochemical staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS(1) The expression of PI3K p85alpha protein and mRNA in asthmatic 4 weeks group and asthmatic 6 weeks group were significantly higher than control group, respectively (P < 0.01). The above-mentioned parameters of therapeutic 6 weeks group were significantly lower than those of asthmatic 4 weeks group, asthmatic 6 weeks group and therapeutic 4 weeks group, respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.01 P < 0.05). (2) The WA/Pi, the smooth muscle area/Pi and the N/Pi of asthmatic 4 weeks group and asthmatic 6 weeks group were significantly higher than control group, respectively (P < 0.01). The above-mentioned parameters of therapeutic 6 weeks group were significantly lower than those of asthmatic 4 weeks group, asthmatic 6 weeks group and therapeutic 4 weeks group, respectively (P < 0.01). (3) The airway resistance of asthmatic 4 weeks group and asthmatic 6 weeks group were significantly higher than the control group, respectively (P < 0.01). The above-mentioned parameters of therapeutic 6 weeks group were significantly lower than those of asthmatic 4 weeks group, asthmatic 6 weeks group and therapeutic 4 weeks group, respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe proliferation of airway smooth muscle is a remarkable character of airway remodeling in asthma. The PI3K signal pathway may be involved in the process. Triptolide may reduce AHR and decrease the proliferation of ASMCs by inhibiting the expression of PI3K. It may have potential therapeutic effects in the asthmatic airway remodeling.

Airway Remodeling ; Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Male ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

We investigated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of laboratory confirmed cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Shandong Province,China.A descriptive epidemiological method combined with case investigation was used in this study.Cases information were collected by standard questionnaire and analyzed by Epidata3.1,SPSS 17.0 and ArcGIS10.0 software.Results showed that a total of 154 cases were analyzed and the case fatality rate was 7.1％.Epidemic peak was from May to October,the high incidence areas were located in the middle and east hilly areas of Shandong Province.The characteristic of SFTS cases were farmers (93.5％),and the age was over 40 years.Most of them were living in the hilly areas (85.7 ％),and had outdoor activities within the previous 2 weeks prior to fever onset (83.8 ％).The 16.8％ of them had tick bites history.Tick carrying rates of sheep,cattle,dogs and cats were 66.7％,40％,34.3％ and 12.5％,respectively.Directly contact with bloody secretion of SFTS death cases can be infected with the disease.Major symptoms include high fever (98.1％),anorexia (90.9 ％),fatigue (53.3％),thrombocytopenia (73.4 ％) and leukocytopenia (60.4 ％).The 35.7 ％ cases need to go through more than three referrals for treatment,the interval time between onset and diagnosis was 5 days(3-15),only hospitals above county level can make the correct diagnosis of the disease.Compared with survival patients,the death cases were elderly patients (t =2.03,P=0.044) and with bleeding performance (x2 =13.09,P＜0.01).In conclusion,SFTS is a severe disease with high mortality.Living hilly environment,doing agricultural labor,feeding animals,tick carrying rates of animals and direct contacting with bloody secretion of deaths maybe possible risk factors.To reduce morbidity and mortality of SFTS,measures should be carried out to propagandize the basic knowledge for SFTS prevention and control and to improve the medical treatment skills of doctors in the epidemic foci.

To isolate and identify the influenza virus in Shandong Province in 2009-2010 and analyze the genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene, further study the variation of gene. A total of 17 126 nasopharyngeal swabs from fever patients were collected and detected by real time quantitative RT-PCR method. The results showed 4004 samples were pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus positive, with an overall positive rate as 23.38%. The positive samples were incubated and cultured in MDCK cells. The HA and NA genes of isolated pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus were sequenced, the homology analysis of the HA and NA genes showed an average of 96.9%-99.3% and 99.1%-99.6% sequence identity, respectively, compared with WHO-recommended vaccine strain. The genetic evolution and amino acid substitutions were performed with Mega 4.0 Software. Twenty one amino acids were changed in HA protein, of which 11 were located in the antigenic site; Sixteen amino acids were changed in NA protein, which didn't lead to the changes of enzyme sites. Furthermore, one glycosylation site of HA protein and NA protein were changed respectively. No H275Y mutation in NA protein was found. The results showed that the HA and NA genes of the epidemic strains were highly homologous, some mutations in the HA and NA proteins were found, the antigenic site and glycosylation site of some strains were changed during the epidemic process. All the strains were sensitive to oseltamivir.
China ; epidemiology ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Neuraminidase ; genetics ; Pandemics ; Phylogeny ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify the influenza virus that caused four influenza-like-illness outbreaks in Jining city of Shandong Province in 2009 and analyze the genetic characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) gene, the variation of these genes were studied.

METHODS34 nasopharyngeal swabs from fever patients of four influenza-like-illness outbreaks were collected and diagnosed by real time quantitative RT-PCR method. The positive samples were incubated and cultured for virus. HA and NA genes of isolated pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus were sequenced, the homology analysis was done with DNAStar software and the genetic evolution and amino acid substitutions were performed with Mega 4.0 software. The sequences were compared with WHO recommended vaccine virus, native reference virus.

RESULTSSeventeen of 34 nasopharyngeal swabs were positive, 11 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses were isolated and HA and NA genes of 7 strains were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis for hemagglutinin and neuraminidase gene of Shandong outbreak strains showed that there were 98.4% - 99.6% and 99.2% - 100.0% sequence identity. Compared with WHO-recommended vaccine strain, the reference virus in mainland China strain, eleven amino acids were changed for HA protein, including position 38, 40, 56, 90, 100, 145, 172, 173, 220, 303 and 338, and 38, 40, 303 of HA protein were located in the antigenic determination C cluster, 172, 173 in the D cluster, 56 in the E cluster, site 40 of HA protein were glycosylated. In NA protein, seven amino acids were changed, including position 80, 106, 241, 248, 351, 369 and 386, site 40 of NA protein were glycosylated. No mutations of 275 in NA protein were found.

CONCLUSIONThe HA and NA genes of the epidemic strains showed high homology, some mutations in the HA and NA proteins were found, the antigenic site and glycosylation site of some strains were changed during the epidemic process.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Glycosylation ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Neuraminidase ; genetics

To understand the maintenance and transmission of SFTS virus, the potential vector ticks were collected from sheep, cattle and dogs in the endemic areas of SFTSV in Shandong Province. Among the collected ticks, the dominant species was H. longicornis ticks. Real-time PCR for RNA detection, virus isolation and characterization, genomic sequencing, phylogenetic and antigenic analysis were performed in this investigation. The results showed that the SFTS viral RNA was detected in 2.14% H. longicornis, and a SFTS virus was isolated from one of viral RNA positive ticks collected from sheep. Whole genome analysis of the SFTSV isolates with 11 human-origin SFTS virus revealed a highly pairwise similarity, and the growth curve analysis showed nearly identical in virus yield and the dynamic of virus reproduction compared to human derived viral isolates. Immunofluorescence and neutralization test showed identical serological reaction character of the two different origin viral strains. In this study, the characters of a SFTSV isolate was firstly described, which suggested that the tick species H. longicornis acting important vector role in the transmission of SFTS virus.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; parasitology ; Arachnid Vectors ; virology ; Bunyaviridae Infections ; transmission ; virology ; Cattle ; Cell Line ; Dogs ; Humans ; Livestock ; parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phlebovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Sheep ; Ticks ; virology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive therapy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in reducing the relapse and metastasis of stage II and III colorectal cancer based on conventional Western medicine (WM) therapy.

METHODSTwo hundred and twenty-two patients in total, diagnosed as stage II and III colorectal cancer from February 2000 to March 2006, were recruited from Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area. They were followed-up once every 3-6 months. Twenty cases dropped out from the cohort. The remaining 202 patients were all treated with routine WM treatment [including R0 radical operation, or chemotherapy or/and radiotherapy according to national comprehensive cancer network (NCCN) clinical guidelines]. These patients were assigned to two groups based on whether or not they were additionally treated with TCM comprehensive therapy (orally administered with a decoction according to syndrome differentiation, combined with a traditional patent drug over one year). Ninety-eight patients from Xiyuan Hospital were treated with WM and TCM (combined group), and 104 patients from the General Hospital of Beijing Military Area were treated with WM alone (WM group). The demographic data at baseline were comparable, including the operation times, age, sex, TNM staging, and pathological types. The patients were followed-up for one to five years. Up to now, there are 98, 98, 77, 64, and 47 patients with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of follow-up in the combined group, respectively; and 104, 104, 97, 81, and 55 patients in the WM group, respectively. The results of the 5-year follow-up of all the patients will be available in 2011.

RESULTSThe relapse/metastasis rate of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year were 0 (0/98), 2.04% (2/98), 11.69% (9/77), 14.06% (9/64), and 21.28% (10/47) in the combined group, and were 4.80%(5/104), 16.35% (17/104), 21.65% (21/97), 25.93% (21/81), and 38.18%(21/55) in the WM group, respectively. A significant difference was found in the second year between the two groups (chi (2)=12.117, P=0.000). Median relapse/metastasis time was 26.5 months in the combined group and 16.0 months in the WM group.

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of TCM and WM may have great clinical value and a potential for decreasing the relapse or metastasis rate in stage II and III colorectal cancer after conventional WM therapy.

Cohort Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Secondary Prevention