The market and literature were studied to understand the existing situation of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex goods, and the collected samples were analyzed, combined with the actual production, a new standard of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex commercial specification and grade was drafted. Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex goods was divided into two categories according to the source in the old standard. Then each category was divided into four kinds of specifications according to the site. Each kind of specification was divided into several grades according to the length and weight. To judge the quality of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex goods was mainly based on the appearance quality. In the new standard, the classification of commercial specification and grade is based on the thickness, magnolol and honokiol content. The goods of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex can be divided into three specifications: Tongpu, Genpu and Doupu. Tongpu is divided into three grades, the remaining two are not graded.
Magnolia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: The proper placement of the prosthesis during total knee arthroplasty(TKA) is a key factor that will affect the restored function of the knee.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the position and axial alignment of the tibial prosthesis in order to improve knee function and stability after TKA.DESIGN: A self-control study.SETTING: Orthopaedic department in the affiliated hospital of a university.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 12 patients(4 males and 8 females) received TKA due to severe osteoarthropathy or rheumatic arthritis in the Orthopaedic Departnent of the Affiliated Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, from May 1999 to September 2004. One received bilateral TKA and 11 received unilateral TKA(4 in the left knee and 9 in the right knee).METHODS: TKA was performed in standard procedure and special attention was paid to the proper placement of the tibial prosthesis. Evaluation on lateral genual stability and HSS knee function was made before and after operation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Lateral genual stability before and after TKA. ② Genual function scale ( concerning pain, function, range of motion, muscle strength, flexion deformity and stability).③X-ray observation.RESULTS: Knee-Society-Scores were evaluated in the 12 patients. Before TKA, 3 knees had mild lateral instability, 7 moderates and 2 severe instabilitys. After TKA, only one knee was mildly unstable and no knee had moderate or severe instability. The mean scores of HSS scale increased from 41 before operation to 89 after operation with the effective rate of 91.7% (11/12).CONCLUSION: The precise placement of tibial prosthesis can increase stability of the knee and relieve pain as well as improve knee function and motion.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin Ⅱ has been found to induce atrial electrical remodeling, which can be blocked or inhibited by allicin.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of allicin on angiotensin Ⅱ-induced calcium channel current and intracellular free calcium concentration in human atrial myocytes.DESIGN: A randomized controlled study based on human atrial myocytes freshly isolated.SETTING: Cardiology department of a military medical university of Chinese PLA.METHODS: This study was carried out from June 2003 to June 2004 in the Laboratory of Cardiology Department, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Ten patients with congenital heart disease who underwent extracorporeal circulation surgery were included in the study. Among them, there were 6 males and 4 females with the average age of 15 ± 6 years. Tissue samples were taken from their right auricle and sent to the lab, where the atrial myocytes were freshly isolated. There were four co-administration of angiotensin Ⅱ (0. 1 μmol/L)and allicin(50 μmol/L).The conventional whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique was used to detect membrane electric current of Ca2 + in L type. Confocal microscope was used with Fluo-3/AM as calcium indicator to detect changes of intracellular free calcium concentration immediately and 15 minutes after drug intervention, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The peak density of electric current of Ca2 + in L type and alteration of fluoresence intensity of intracellular free calcium concentration.electric current of Ca2 + in L type in human atrial myocytes was significantly increased by angiotensin Ⅱ of 0. 1 μmol/L[( - 12. 77 ± 1. 61) vs ( -5.78affect electric current of Ca2+ in L type in human atrial myocytes group, the peak density of electric current of Ca2 + in L type was significantly lower than that in angiotensin Ⅱ group[ ( - 8.75 ± 0.97) pA/pF, P ＜ 0. 05 ].in angiotensin Ⅱ group was significantly higher than that in control and allicin groups[(2 610.1±112.6, (299.2±27.3)%; 653.9±42.5, 0;simultaneously with angiotensin Ⅱ, the alteration of intracellular fluoresence intensity was much lower than that in angiotensin Ⅱ group[ ( 1284.9 ± 85.2,(96.5±8.4)%;P ＜0.05].CONCLUSION: Allicin antagonizes angiotensin Ⅱ-induced increase in the peak density of electric current of Ca2+ in L type and intracellular calcium overload, which may relieve atrial electrical remodeling.

Objective To investigate the predictive factors and prognosis of early intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Clinicopathological dats of 184 HCC patients with intrahepatic recurrence after curative resection were collected.Thirteen clinicopathological factors and prognosis after recurrence were retrospectively analyzed. Results Univariate analysis showed that preoperative scrota alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)>100 ng/ml,tumour size>5 cm,venous invasion and intra-operative blood transfusion were predictive factors of early intrahepatic recurrence,and selum albumin<35 g/L was marginally predictive factor.Multivariate analysis showed that serum AFP>100 ng/ml,tumour size>5 cm and venous invasion were independent predictive factots of early intrahepatic recurrence.The survival of patients suffering from early recurrence was significantly shorter than those with late recurrence.with median survival period of 12 mos vs 18 mos(P=0.012).Conclusion Serum AFP,tumour size and venous invasion were independent predictive factors of early intrahepatic recurrence in HCC patients after radical resection of the primary tumor.Early intrahepatic recurrence implies poor prognosis.

Objective To screen for the causative genes involved in the occurrence and development of minimal changes nephritic syndrome(MCNS) and to furtherly assist the genetic diagnosis and treatment of MCNS.Methods Human genome U133 Array Set from Affymetrix Inc was used to evaluate gene expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) isolated from 7 children with primary MCNS and 7 age-matched health volunteers.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and real-time PCR were performed to identify the findings of gene chip.Results Of 33 000 genes detected,969 genes showed significant difference between children with(MCNS) and healthy volunteers;552 genes were up-regulated,while 417 genes down-regulated significantly.Findings from RT-PCR and real-time PCR were consistent with those of gene chip.Conclusions Gene chip of expression patterns is a powerful method to detect expression difference of genes correlated with MCNS.Occurrence and development of MCNS can be a complicated process that many correlative genes may participate in.

Objective To investigate the role of signal transduction of toll-like receptors(TLRs)in immunological pathogenesis in children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP).Methods Thirty children with actue ITP and 30 age-matched healthy children were studied.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the levels of TLR 1-10 and signal transducing molecules,and cytokines associated with TLRs,such as IL-1?,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF)and IFN-?/? mRNA.Expressions of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40,CD80 and CD86 in mo-nocyte/macrophage(MC)was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with healthy control group,the mRNA levels of TLR3,7,8 and 9 in ITP group were significantly up-regulated(Pa0.05).Transcription le-vels of MyD88-dependent and-independent pathway molecules such as MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4,TRAF6,TAK1,TRIF,TRAM,TBK-1 and IFN-? were significantly up-regulated in acute ITP(Pa0.05).Conclusion Aberrant activation of toll-like receptors signaling may be one of the initiating factors of immune dysfunction in children with acute ITP.

Objective To detect and analyze thyroid tumor by two-dimensional sonogram and Doppler parameter, and evaluate the value of high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosing thyroid benign and malignant tumors. Methods The ultrasonic images of 104 thyroid tumor from 80 patients with typical features were collected. Thyroid tumor was classified into benign and malignant nodules, based on the shape, border, or the rear wall echo, echo attenuation loss, internal echo, and microcalcifications in two-dimensional sonogram and systolic blood peak velocity (Vmax) and resistant index (RI) in Doppler examination. The expected results of high frequency ultrasound were compared with pathological results on consistency and error rate. Results Prediction of benign tumor by high frequency ultrasound was 66, and pathology 61, consistency rate of the two was 92.4%. Prediction of malignant lesions was 38, and pathological examination 32, consistency rate of the two was 84.2%. The total coincidence rate was 89.4%(93/104) and the error rate was 11.6%( 11/104). Conclusions The typical features of thyroid tumor on high-frequency ultrasound are helpful in diagnosis of benign or malignant nodules, which is valuable in guiding clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the role of negative-regulatory factors of toll-like receptors (TLRs)signal pathways in immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease(KD).Methods Thirty-two chil- dren with Kawasaki disease and 16 age-matched healthy children were studied.Reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR)and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4,TRAF6,T1/ST2,IRAK-M,Triad 3A,and proinflammatory factors such as IL-1?, IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-?,in peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages(MC).The expression of TLR4 protein in MC was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results①Compared with the control group,the mRNA levels of TLR4, MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4 and TRAF6 in KD group were up-regulated significantly(P＜0.01),and the expression level of TLR4 protein was also found to be up-regulated in KD group during acute phase.It was detected that expression levels of TLR4 protein in KD with coronary artery lesion(KD-CAL~+)was significantly higher than that of KD without coronary artery lesion(KD-CAL-)[flow cytometry:(6.5?1.7)% vs(11.9_+2.4)%,P＜0.01].②The expression level of negative-regulatory factors such as IRAK-M and Triad3A were significantly up-regulat- ed in acute phase of Kawasaki disease,while the mRNA levels of IRAK-M and Triad3A in KD-CAL~+ group was found to be significantly lower than those of KD-CAL~- group(P＜0.01).No difference of T1/ST2 mRNA expres sion level was detected among all groups(P＞0.05).③The expressions of proinflammatory eytokines such as IL-1?, IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-?in monoeytes/macrophages during acute phase of Kawasaki disease were higher than those of the control group(P＜0.01),and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in KD-CAL~+ group was significantly higher than that of KD-CAL~- group.Conclusion Relative insufficient expression of negative-regulatory factors, such as IRAK-M and Triad3A,maybe correlate with immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease.

To study the effect of pulchinenoside (PULC) on the Frizzled (FZD) expression of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats. AA rats were prepared through the toe injection with complete Freund's adjuvant to culture fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The effect of the oral administration with PULC on the FZD8 expression was detected by the real time qPCR. The effect of FZD8 knockout on the expressions of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 were detected by MTT and ELISA. The role of miR-375 in the abnomal expression of FZD8 was detected by the real time qPCR. The results showed signfiicant decrease in the FZD8 expression among AA rats, FLS proliferation ater FZD8 knockout and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 expressions and notable increase in miR-375 expression after the oral administration with PULC. The up-regulated miR-375 expression can inhibit the FZD8 expression. PULC may inhibit the FZD8 expression by up-regulating the miR-375 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; administration & dosage