Objective To establish an early diagnostic test for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) with good sensitivity and specificity. Methods Twenty-five patients with a clinical diagnosis of TBM and 49 controls, including 27 patients with other infectious diseases of central nervous system and 22 patients with noninfectious neurological diseases, were enrolled in our research. We simultaneously detected antimycobacterium bovis BCG IgG secreting cells in both cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood (PBL)by enzyme linked immunospot assay(ELISPOT),repeated insertion sequence IS6110 specific for mycobacterium tuberculosis in CSF by PCR and anti-BCG IgG titre in both CSF and PBL by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results The sensitivity of ELISPOT was 84.0%,much higher than that of PCR(75.0%)and ELISA(52.3%).The specificities of the three tests were 91.8%,93.7%and 91.8%respectively.The numbers of CSF cells secreting anti-BCG IgG tested by ELISPOT were even higher in the early phase of TBM, but declined along with the disease progressing(t=-3.183,P=0.008),which allowed an early diagnosis to be made. Conclusion ELISPOT technique is proved to be the most valuable test for the early diagnosis of TBM.

Objective To assess the effects of 670nm LED (light-emitting diode) to protect the photoreceptor from the light-induced damage in a rat model. Methods 32 SD rats were randomly assigned to one of eight groups: untreated control group, the LED-treated control group, three groups of light-induced damage,and three groups of light-induced damage treated with LED. Light-induced damage result from exposing to constant light for 3 hours of different illuminations of 900,1800 and 2700 lx, respectively. The LED treatment (50 mW) was delivered for 30 minutes at 3 hours before the light damage and 0,24 and 48 hours after the light damage. Retinal function and morphology were measured by electroretinogram (ERG) and histopathology assay. Results The illumination of 900 lx for 3 hours did not damage the rat retina. The illumination of 1800 lx for 3 hours resulted in thinner ONL and no OS and IS. The ratio of damaged area/total retinal area was 0.48±0.12, the damaged thickness of ONL/normal ONL (L5) was 0.39±0.07,and the amplitude of ERG b wave was (431±120) μV. With the LED treatment the ratio of damaged area decreased (M6=0.17±0.12, P5/6=0.002), and the ratio of the damaged thickness of ONL also decreased (L6=0.22±0.09, P5/6<0.01), and the amplitude of ERG b wave increased to (1011±83) μV(P5/6 <0.001). The illumination of 2700 lx for 3 hours caused severed damage to the rat retina and the LED could not protect them significantly. Conclusions 670 nm LED treatment has an evident protective effect on retinal cells against light-induced damage, which may be a simple and effective therapy to prevent or to delay age-related maeular degeneration.

In this paper, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy fingerprint analysis of Marsdenia tenacissima samples was used to develop a reliable method of tracing the geographical origins. Forty-eight samples from four provinces of China were analyzed by FTIR. We analyzed and characterized the fingerprints in both the full spectrum peaks and characteristic peaks, then the principal component analysis and the cluster analysis were carried out. The results of fingerprint analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis can identify the geographic origins correctly, which verified and supplemented each other; the identification results and the actual location showed a high degree of consistency, namely the lower the space distance, the greater the similarity of different samples. These results revealed the obvious superiority and practical value in comparison to the more tedious and time-consuming wet chemistry method normally used. Using appropriate metrology methods can trace the geographical source correctly. The M. tenacissima materials from the region of Maguan should be considered as genuine medicinal materials taking into account the good quality.
China ; Cluster Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; classification ; standards ; Geography ; Marsdenia ; chemistry ; classification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; methods

To offer the reference and method for salt damage in the cultivation of Marsdenia tenacissima, the seeds of M. tenacissima collected from Maguan city ( Yunnan province) were taken as the test materials to study the effects of different priming materials on improving germination and growth under high-level salt stress condition. Four different treatments, which were GA3, KNO3-KH2PO4, PEG-6000, NaCl, combined with ANOVA were applied to test the performance of germination energy, germination percentage, germination index, MDA, SOD, and CAT. The results showed that the seed germination was obviously inhibited under salt stress and the soaked seeds with different priming materials could alleviate the damage of salt stress. Under these treatments, the activities of SOD, CAT the content of soluble protein significantly increased. While the content of MDA significantly decreased. The maximum index was obtained when treated with 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage increased from 52.67% to 87.33% and the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 219.44 respectively. Comparing with the treatment of 1.20% KNO3-KH2PO4, the germination percentage of treating with 300 mg x L(-1) GA3 increased from 52.67% to 80.67%, while the activity of SOD increased from 138.01 to 444.61.
Germination ; drug effects ; physiology ; Marsdenia ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitrates ; pharmacology ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Potassium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Sodium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis. Flavonoid compounds are main chemical constituents of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, which exert anti-inflammatory property. However, the underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms of flavonoid compounds are incompletely understood. It has been reported that isoliquiritigenin, liquiritigenin, naringenin and butein possess anti-inflammatory property. The purpose of this study is to illuminate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of flavonoid compounds based on the protein interaction network (PIN) analysis on molecular network level. 130 targets of the main medicinal ingredients of flavonoid compounds were gained though database retrieval. A protein interaction network of flavonoid compounds was constructed with 589 nodes and 216 interactions. By a graph theoretic clustering algorithm Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE), 26 modules were identified and analyzed by Gene ontology (GO) enrichment. Two modules were associated with anti-inflammatory actions. The most interesting finding of this study was that the anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoid compounds may be partly attributable to inhibite FOS, PTGS2 expression, inhibite of IL-1beta release, and block the MAPK pathway and toll-like receptor pathway.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Dalbergia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Protein Binding ; drug effects ; Protein Interaction Maps ; drug effects ; Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect,safety,and advantage of flexible fixation with paperboard and pad versus short leg plaster in treating the fifth metatarsal base fracture,and establish the standard of diagnosis and treatment of the fifth metatarsal base fractures in flexible fixation with paperboard and pad.

METHODSFrom June 2010 to March 2013,59 patients with the fifth metatarsal base fracture were treated with paperboard and pad fixation or short leg plaster. Patients were enrolled and divided into paperboard and pad treatment group (paperboard group) and short leg plaster treatment group (plaster group) randomly according to the random number table. In paperboard group,there were 29 cases including 9 males and 20 females with an average age of (51.79±11.40) years old; the average course of injury was (11.59±6.58) hours. In plaster group, there were 30 cases including 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (52.13+17.34) years old ;the average course of injury was (11.03±7.06) hours. According to whether the fracture line across the articular surface, in paperboard group there were 14 cases of type A,15 of type B; in plaster group,16 of type A, 14 of type B. According to the degree of dislocation,in paperboard group there were 16 cases of degree I ,13 of degree II ; in plaster group,20 were degree I ,10 were degree II. Fracture was restored according to the type in manual. Patients in paperboard group were treated with paperboard and pad, and patients in plaster group were treated with short leg plaster. Fracture was fixed for 4 to 6 weeks according to fracture healing. On the 2nd, 4th,6th, 8th week and 3rd, 6th month after fixation, patients were followed up, and the foot function score was used to evaluate the function of injured foot. X-ray of injured foot was taken on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week were used to assess fracture healing.

RESULTSAll patients got complete follow-up. The X-ray result showed that all fracture reached at clinical healing on the 8th week after fixation without skin ulcer,nonunion and displacement of fracture. From the 4th to 8th week after fixation, paperboard group had a higher X-ray score than plaster group, but the difference between two groups had no statistically significance. Repeated analysis result showed that there was interact at different time point and between groups,the difference had statistically significance (P<0.01). The foot function score showed that at all time point, paperboard group had a higher score than plaster group, and on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th week, it had statistically significant difference(P<0.01) between two groups. On the 6th months after fixation,the excellent and good rate of paperboard group was 93.10%, higher than that of plaster group, which was 86.67%. But it had no statistically difference(P=0.483) between two groups.

CONCLUSIONUsing paperboard and pad fixation to treat the fifth metatarsal base fracture has the advantage of simplicity operating,reliable fixation, satisfactory effects, easily obtainable material.

Adult ; Aged ; Casts, Surgical ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged

In an attampt to establish the functional expression of STGC3 with doxycycline (Dox) induced Tet-onregulating system in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE2, an ideal experimental platform wasprovided for further studies of STGC3. pTet-on regulating plasmid was transfected into CNE2, and stableexpression of Tet-on was established in CNE2 through G418 select. Then the response plasmid of recombinantpTRE-STGC3 was steadily transfected into positive CNE2/Tet-on cells with hygromycin screen. Dox was used toinduce the expression of STGC3 and a cell clone sensitive to Dox was selected. The best-induced concentrationwas determined with different concentration of Dox induction. Growth curves, clone formation rate and cell cycledistribution were detected after STGC3 gene up-regulated expression with Dox induction. The growth capacity andclone formation potential of CNE2/Tet /pTRE-STGC3 was significantly suppressed, compared with the controls(P

Objective To detect the synergetic effect and mechanism of arsenic trioxide(As2O3)and Trichostatin A(TSA)during inducing apoptosis of HL-60 cells.Methods MTT method was used to test the proliferation of HL-60 cells.Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by FCM.Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in the cells treated by As2O3 and(or)TSA.Results As2O3 combined with TSA could inhibit proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest at G0 and G1.The percent of apoptosis induced by combination of As2O3 and TSA was obviously higher than that of either As2O3 or TSA.Bax gene expression was increased,while Bcl-2 gene expression was decreased,Bax/Bel-2 ratio was up-regulated.Conclusion Synergetic effect by As2O3 and TSA is remarkable in inducing apoptosis of HL-60 cells.Cell cycte arrest and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio play an important role in apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by As2O3,TSA or their combination.

Objective To explore the possibility of the inner vertical outer spiral complex tubular urethra scaffold vascularization in repairing long segment of urethral defect.Methods From August 2014 to October 2015,27 clean male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 3 groups,S1 group was transfected recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) gene lentiviral vector group.S2 group was vascular pedicle transfer tube group.C group was simple stent group.A 3.0 cm inner vertical outer spiral complex scaffold was constructed by using the small intestine acellular matrix (SIS) and polylactic acid copolymer (PLGA) modified by type Ⅰ collagen surface,and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) and smooth muscle cells after transformation from New Zealand white rabbits.In S1 group,the seed cells were transfected by recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene lentivirus,which express VEGF protein.The complex scaffold was used to repair 3.0 cm rabbit urethral defect In S2 group,the untransfected cells were seeded into the scaffold and embedded in the skin near the groin artery 3 weeks for repairing urethral defect with vascular pedicle transfer tube.In group C,the unseeded scaffold was used to repair the urethral defect alone.Postoperative observation and urethrography were followed 4,8 and 24 weeks after implantation.The HE staining,fluorescence tracing,immunohistochemical and scanning electron microscopy were evaluated at the same phase.Results In S1 group,there were one urinary fistula and one urethral stricture-related death,respectively.The urethra was smooth and patent,histological examination showed active hyperplasia of urethral capillary.In S2 group,there were one urinary fistula and two urethral stricture-related deaths,respectively.The urethral was rough,local thinning or dilated.Fat accumulation and mucosal contraction were found in the urethral submucosal,respctively.In C group,there were one urinary fistula,three hypospadias,and three urethral stricture-related deaths.The thickness of the urethra was uneven and stricture bending.The urethral mucosa was poorly repaired and the scar was narrow.HE and CD31 staining showed that S1 and S2 groups were active in the proliferation of urethral capillaries,and the angiogenesis was abundant.VEGF staining showed that the cytoplasm of endothelial cell layer,smooth muscle layer of vascular wall and the urothelial epithelial cell layer were fully expressed at 24 weeks,especially in epithelial cell layer.CKpan staining showed that the epithelium of S1 and S2 group developed to stratified epithelium,and the morphology of urethra was similar to normal urethra at 24 weeks.The urethral epithelial in C group of grew poor as single-level,irregular arrangement,24 weeks is still a lack of effective stratified epithelium.HE and oα-SMA staining showed that the smooth muscle and actin gradually increased in group S1 and S2,α-SMA staining in group C was scarce and increased at 24 weeks.PLGA was encapsulated by the surrounding tissue and the structure of electrospinning was clear after 4 weeks,absorbed and degraded after 8 weeks and absorbed after 24 weeks.Conclusions The inner vertical outer spiral comnplex tubular urethra scaffold maybe a reasonable method in repairing long segment urethral defects,and the methods of tubular urethra scaffold vascularization by transfected VEGF gene recombinant lentiviral vector and vascular flap deserve more research.

AIM: To study the current density of transient outward potassium current (I_(to)) in cells from the epicardial zone of the 1-week and 2-month infarcted rabbit heart. METHODS: Rabbits were infarcted by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery, 1 week as well as 2 months later, the single ventricular myocytes were isolated enzymatically from the infracted area of 1-week infracted rabbit heart (PMI-1 week) and 2-month infracted heart (PMI-2 months), region remote from the infracted zone of 2-month infracted heart (REM-2 months) and free wall of left ventricule from noninfarcted heart (CON). I_(to) was recorded using whole cell patch-clamp techniques. (RESULTS:) Membrane capacitance of myocytes in REM-2 months group was signifitantly larger than that in CON. I_(to)current density (at +60 mV) was significantly reduced in PMI-1 week [(7.5?2.4) pA/pF, n=12] and PMI-2 months [(10.6?4.1) pA/pF, n=18] compared with CON [(17.4?5.2) pA/pF, n=16], P