The ITS/ITS2 barcodes were used to simply and effectively identify Codonopsis Radix and its adulter-ants. In this study, ITS (internal transcribed spacer of unclear ribosomal DNA) regions were amplified using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) from thirty-three samples of Codonopsis Radix and ITS2 regions were obtained from the ITS sequences using the hidden Markov model (HMMer)-based annotation methods. The sequences of ITS/ITS2 regions were aligned and the genetic distances were computed by MEGA5.0. Species identification efficiency of ITS/ITS2 sequences were evaluated using BLAST1 and nearest distance methods. The results indicated that The sequences lengths of ITS regions of Codonopsis Radix were 654-655 bp, and the lengths of ITS2 regions were 239 bp. The intraspecific genetic distances among Codonopsis Radix were obviously lower than the interspecific genetic distance between Codonopsis Radix and its adulterants. Therefore, ITS/ITS2 regions can stably and accu-rately distinguish Codonopsis Radix and its adulterants.

Objective To explore the influence of introducing standardized patient (SP) into problem-based learning (PBL) to the autonomous learning abilities for undergraduate nursing students based on clinical thinking training. Methods To select 2 classes randomly from full-time professional nursing undergraduate classes enrolled in 2012 from Tianjin university of traditional Chinese medicine, was divided into the experimental group and the control group by random number table method. The control group uses PBL teaching mode, and the experimental group adopts introducing SP into PBL teaching mode. Course lasts for 4 weeks, a total of 18 hours. To evaluate two groups nursing students′the percentage of asking questions by themselves and examination results in the end of the course, and evaluate nursing students′autonomous learning ability before and after the course and after three months of clinical practice respectively. Results The percentage of asking questions by themselves and examination results of the experimental group were 87.80%(36/41) and (84.24±5.12) points, (87.85±5.44) points, the control group were 68.89%(31/45) and (81.51±6.63) points, (84.40±7.96) points, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.46, t=2.13, 2.37, P<0.05);There was no statistical significance between two groups in the score of autonomous learning ability before the course (P>0.05), while after course and after three months of clinical practice of the experimental group were (93.71±9.56) points, (103.27±11.92) points, the control group were (85.47 ± 9.28) points , (91.36 ± 10.56) points, the difference was statistically significant (t=3.56, 4.89, P<0.01). Conclusions The teaching mode of introducing SP into PBL can train and improve the autonomous learning ability of undergraduate nursing students,and can provide reference for nursing teaching mode reform.

Objective To explore innovative teaching mode of cultivating the communicated ability of undergraduate nursing students based on standardized patients and then evaluate its effect.Methods To select 2 classes of sophomore randomly,four-year nursing undergraduate enrolling in 2012,was divided into the experimental group and the control group.Experimental group used standardized patients as carrier of skills and control group took dummy patient as carrier of skills lasting for one academic year.Assessed by others and self-assessment was used to evaluate the communicated ability of nursing students at end of the course respectively.Results There was statistical significance between two groups in the score of communicated ability,94.39±8.18 vs 87.04±6.56,t=4.61,P ＜ 0.01.Teachers for clinical communication ability of nursing students and standardized patients for skills and clinical communication ability of nursing students were more satisfied with experimental group,the satisfactory rate in the experimental group was 63％(26/41),37％(15/41) and 56％(23/41) respectively,which were higher than those in the control group [24％(11/45),22％(10/45) and 22％(10/45)],P＜ 0.01.Conclusion It is helpful for increasing communicated ability of nursing students taking standardized patients as practice objects which could be as a reference for building teaching system of nursing students in communication.

AIM: To explore the role of PI3K/Akt/nNOS in Zhouluotong extract resisting diabetic peripheral neuropathy.METHODS:The Schwann cells were divided into normal group ( D-glucose 25 mmol/L) , model group ( D-glucose 100 mmol/L) , Zhouluotong extract Z-6 +high glucose group, Zhouluotong +high glucose group, mecobalamine+high glucose group.The viability, nitric oxide content and the Ca2+-ATPase activity in Schwann cells were determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 , nitric oxide assay kit and Ca2+-ATPase assay kit, respectively.The apoptosis of Schwann cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, Bak and caspase-3, and the phosphorylation levels of nNOS and Akt were determined by Western blotting.The signal pathway of PI3K/Akt was explored by dominant negative PI3K and Akt (δp85 and DN-Akt) transient transfection assay.RESULTS:Under high-glucose culture, the cell viability, nitric oxide content in culture supernatant, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and nNOS in the Schwann cells were significantly increased.The cell apoptosis, the expression of Bax, Bak and caspase 3 in the Schwann cells were significantly decreased by Zhouluotong extract Z-6, compared with model group.In-creased nitric oxide content and the up-regulation of nNOS were observed.However, the effects of blocking PI3K/Akt, the upstream pathway of nNOS , by transfection with DN-δp85 on Akt phosphorylation in the Schwann cells was still unclear. CONCLUSION:Zhouluotong extract Z-6 changes the phosphorylation of nNOS, and the expression of anti-apoptotic fac-tors , caspase-3 and pro-apoptotic factors in Schwann cells under high-glucose culture, thus reducing apoptosis and elevating viability.The relationship to PI3K/Akt/nNOS pathway needs further investigation.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the development of surgical capsule calculi (SCC) within the prostate, and to examine the presence and impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with preoperative assessments using both transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into groups with and without SCC and further categorized into type 1 and type 2 stones based on the location and severity of the calculi. Statistical analysis included chi-square and independent sample t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the patients, 82.2% were diagnosed with SCC. No significant difference in PUA was found between patients with and without SCC. However, a notable disparity in IPP presence was observed, suggesting an inverse correlation with SCC development.Additionally, no significant differences were identified when comparing the two types of SCC based on PUA and IPP measurements. Conclusions The presence of IPP exhibited an inverse relationship with SCC, suggesting diminished urine flow pressure over the prostatic urethra may reduce the likelihood of SCC formation. However, no direct association between PUA and the presence or severity of SCC was identified. These findings highlight the complexity of factors contributing to prostatic calculi development and the potential role of IPP in this context.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the development of surgical capsule calculi (SCC) within the prostate, and to examine the presence and impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with preoperative assessments using both transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into groups with and without SCC and further categorized into type 1 and type 2 stones based on the location and severity of the calculi. Statistical analysis included chi-square and independent sample t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the patients, 82.2% were diagnosed with SCC. No significant difference in PUA was found between patients with and without SCC. However, a notable disparity in IPP presence was observed, suggesting an inverse correlation with SCC development.Additionally, no significant differences were identified when comparing the two types of SCC based on PUA and IPP measurements. Conclusions The presence of IPP exhibited an inverse relationship with SCC, suggesting diminished urine flow pressure over the prostatic urethra may reduce the likelihood of SCC formation. However, no direct association between PUA and the presence or severity of SCC was identified. These findings highlight the complexity of factors contributing to prostatic calculi development and the potential role of IPP in this context.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the development of surgical capsule calculi (SCC) within the prostate, and to examine the presence and impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with preoperative assessments using both transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into groups with and without SCC and further categorized into type 1 and type 2 stones based on the location and severity of the calculi. Statistical analysis included chi-square and independent sample t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the patients, 82.2% were diagnosed with SCC. No significant difference in PUA was found between patients with and without SCC. However, a notable disparity in IPP presence was observed, suggesting an inverse correlation with SCC development.Additionally, no significant differences were identified when comparing the two types of SCC based on PUA and IPP measurements. Conclusions The presence of IPP exhibited an inverse relationship with SCC, suggesting diminished urine flow pressure over the prostatic urethra may reduce the likelihood of SCC formation. However, no direct association between PUA and the presence or severity of SCC was identified. These findings highlight the complexity of factors contributing to prostatic calculi development and the potential role of IPP in this context.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between prostatic urethral angle (PUA) and the development of surgical capsule calculi (SCC) within the prostate, and to examine the presence and impact of intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 90 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy, with preoperative assessments using both transrectal ultrasound of the prostate (TRUS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were divided into groups with and without SCC and further categorized into type 1 and type 2 stones based on the location and severity of the calculi. Statistical analysis included chi-square and independent sample t-tests, with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Of the patients, 82.2% were diagnosed with SCC. No significant difference in PUA was found between patients with and without SCC. However, a notable disparity in IPP presence was observed, suggesting an inverse correlation with SCC development.Additionally, no significant differences were identified when comparing the two types of SCC based on PUA and IPP measurements. Conclusions The presence of IPP exhibited an inverse relationship with SCC, suggesting diminished urine flow pressure over the prostatic urethra may reduce the likelihood of SCC formation. However, no direct association between PUA and the presence or severity of SCC was identified. These findings highlight the complexity of factors contributing to prostatic calculi development and the potential role of IPP in this context.

UNLABELLED: The DNA barcoding method was used to accurately and rapidly identify Corni Fructus and its adulterants. METHODS: Genomic DNA extracted from Corni Fructus and its adulterants were used as templates. The ITS (internal trascribed spacer) regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction. Sequence assembly was performed using CodonCode Aligner V 3.5.4. Genetic distances were computed using MEGA V 5.0. Species identification was conducted using neighbor-joining (NJ) trees. RESULTS: The ITS sequence length of Corni Fructus was 659 bp. The average intra-specific genetic distance of Corni Fructus was 0.005, markedly lower than the inter-specific genetic distance between Corni Fructus and its adulterants (0.357). The ITS2 sequence length of Corni Fructus was 250 bp. No variation was found among the different samples. The interspecific genetic distance of ITS2 between Corni Fructus and its adulterants was 0.571. NJ trees and BLAST results indicated that Corni Fructus and its adulterants can be easily differentiated with monophyly. CONCLUSION ITS/ITS2 regions can accurately and efficiently distinguish Corni Fructus and its adulterants. In addition, the results not only established the foundation for the clinical safety in the utilization of Corni Fructus, but also provided reference for molecular identification of other Chinese herbal medicine and Chinese herbal pieces.
Base Sequence ; Cornus ; classification ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; methods ; Phylogeny ; Species Specificity

BACKGROUNDPeripheral skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be due to the disease per se or as a result of concomitant confounding factors. Although the mechanistic basis for this functional impairment is uncertain, oxidative stress may play a role. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether local oxidative stress is associated with the reduced peripheral skeletal muscle performance in rats with emphysema.

METHODSIn situ mechanical properties of gastrocnemius were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats 5 months after intratracheal instillation of either elastase (EMP, n = 10) or normal saline (CON, n = 10). Lipofuscin inclusions, myocyte apoptosis and antioxidant enzyme activities were examined in the gastrocnemius muscle.

RESULTSLipofuscin inclusions were significantly higher in the gastrocnemius muscle of EMP compared with CON (3.2 + or - 0.4 vs. 1.7 + or - 0.4, P < 0.01). The activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased in muscle homogenates of EMP as compared to CON. No significant differences were found in myocyte apoptosis between EMP and CON (1.2 + or - 0.9 vs. 1.0 + or - 0.8, P > 0.05). EMP decreased the fatigue endurance of gastrocnemius muscle (half-time to fatigue recovery: (150.0 + or - 55.4) seconds vs. (55.2 + or - 29.3) seconds, P < 0.01) and had no effect on maximal tetanic force ((467.4 + or - 36.6) g vs. (493.2 + or - 30.5) g, P > 0.05). A significantly positive correlation was found between the level of lipofuscin inclusions and the half-time to fatigue recovery of gastrocnemius muscle in EMP (r = 0.664, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLocal oxidative stress may have important functional consequences for peripheral skeletal muscle in rats with EMP.

Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Emphysema ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism