Objective To investigate the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and clinical manifesta-tions of the patients with citrullinemia, and to promote awareness of, early diagnosis of and better treatment for the disease.Methods One case with citrullinemia was reported, and other eight cases reported in the literature in nearly 14 years were reviewed.Results The case was a 15-month-old girl with type I citrullinemia diagnosed by the mutation analysis of the ASS1 gene performed in local hospital after birth. The patient was admitted to our hospital for recurrent lethargy for a year and the high level of blood ammonia (311 μmol/L, normal range 9-33 μmol/L). The blood ammonia reduced to normal on the 11th day after arginine treatment. On MRI scans, the diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) showed diffuse hyperintensity on bilateral frontal, parietal and temporal cortex, which indicated restricted diffusion due to cytotoxic edema. On the follow-up MRI after 10 day's treatment, the affected regions was similar but the intensity decreased compared to the previous scan,which accompanied by cere-bral atrophy. Eight cases in the literature were reviewed, and the clinical manifestations in these patients were lack of speciifcity, the most common features included feeding dififculties, lethargy, and vomiting. Brain MRI was performed on 7 cases, computed tomography (CT) was performed on 1 case, with the result of cytotoxic edema in 3 cases and atrophy in 2 cases.Conclusions Citrullinemia often lacks of speciifc symptoms in the early phase. Brain MRI could provide the clinician a valuable help for early diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Objective To study the mechanism of hypoxia inducing factor-1α(HIF-1α)pathway in establishment of hypoxia inducing low endometrial receptivity.Methods RL95-2 cell lines.the ideal model of study ER,were cultured in hypoxia condition induced by CoCl2,and the expression of mRNA and protein of HIF-1α and tumor necrosis factor like weak inducer of apoptosis(TWEAK)were measured by reverse transcription-PCR and western blot. The apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow eytometry.Then the mechanism confirmed by comparing the two factors in endometrium and the ultra-appearance of inflammatory reaction and apoptosis between recurrent spontaneous abortion women and control women.Results (1)On difierent time point(0,12,24,48 hour),mRNA expression of HIF-1α were 0.272±0.010,0.354±0.020,0.591±0.020.0.890±0.020,while the expression of TWEAK were 0.104±0.010,0.510±0.020,1.021±0. 020, 1. 237 +0. 040, respectively, the expression level between 12, 24, 48 and 0 hour all showed significant differences (P＜0. 05 ). (2) Protein expression of HIF-1α were 0. 853 +0. 010, 0. 931 ±0. 030,1. 124±0.010, 1.317±0.0 20 respectively, while was 0.042±0.010, 0.091 ±0.010, 0. 131±0.020,0. 205 ±0. 030 in TWEAK expression, the different level were statistically significant ( P＜0. 05 ). ( 3 )With longer culture under hypoxia, the cell apoptosis rate increased obviously. The apoptosis rate of each time point were ( 3.2±1.4 ) %, ( 16. 2 ±3.2 ) %, ( 26. 3±3.5 ) %, ( 31.8±3.5 )%, the differences between 12, 24, 48 and 0 hour had significance (P ＜0. 05). (4) The positive rate of HIF-1α stained in epithelium cells and stroma cells of test group were 32. 3%, 8.4% and 16. 7%, 7. 3% in control group. The positive rate of TWEAK were 28. 3%, 3.9% in recurrent spontaneous abortion group and 11.6%, 2. 7% in control group ( P ＜0. 05 ). The ultra-appearance of inflammatory cell infiltrated and apoptosis were obvious in test group. Conclusions Cell inflammation reaction and apoptosis induced by HIF-1α pathway may participate the mechanism of hypoxia inducing low endometrial receptivity. HIF-1α might become a novel target for improving poor endometrial receptivity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ankylosis ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Micrognathism ; complications ; surgery ; Models, Anatomic ; Skull ; anatomy & histology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; complications ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the impact of dexamethasone on inflammatory response of thyrocytes.Methods Primary thyrocytes were extracted from thyroid tissue of patients with Graves' disease.The cells were stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),and cultured in dexamethasone.Thyrocytes were divided into 4 groups:control group,dexamethasone group,TNF-α + IFN-γ group,and dexamethasone+TNF-α+IFN-γ group.Interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (CXCL10) and CCL2 in supernatant of cell cultured in 4 groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Cell protein in 4 groups was extracted and GSK-3β,P50,and P100 protein were detected by Western blotting.Results MTT assay demonstrated that 10-5 mmol/L concentration of dexamethasone was optimal for cell culture.The CXCL10 level in TNF-α+IFN-γ group was higher than that in the control group and dexamethasone group (P＜0.01),but no difference was found between dexamethasone+TNF-α+IFN-γgroup and TNF-α+IFN-γgroup(P＞0.05).The CCL2 level in TNF-α+IFN-γ group was higher than that in control group and dexamethasone group(P＜0.01).There was a significant lowering of CCL2 level in dexamethasone + TNF-α + IFN-γgroup compared with TNF-α + IFN-γ group (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of GSK-3β and P100 protein was increased in TNF-α + IFN-γgroup compared with control group.The expression of GSK-3β and P100 protein was lower in dexamethasone+TNF-α + IFN-γ group than that in TNF-α + IFN-γ group.Conclusion TNF-α + IFN-γ could stimulate the secretion of CXCL10 and CCL2 in thyrocytes and thus activate the inflammatory response.Dexamethasone could reduce CCL2 secretion.Dexamethasone had little effect on CXCL10.Dexamethasone could reduce GSK-3β and P100 expressions,and inhibit the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and thus the inflammatory response.

Objective To prepare an attenuated Listeria vaccine Lmdd-LMP2A expressing the Ep-stein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A ( EBV-LMP2A) and evaluate its specific anti-tumor effects on nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods The gene fragment encoding EBV-LMP2A was amplified by PCR analysis and then subcloned into the shuttle vector p1565.PCR restriction enzyme digestion and DNA se-quencing were performed to identify the recombinant shuttle vector p1565-LMP2A.The p1565-LMP2A vector was then transformed into competent strains of the attenuated Listeria monocytogenes ( Lmdd) .The recombi-nant attenuated Listeria vaccine strain Lmdd-LMP2A was verified by Western blot assay.The histological sections of spleen and liver tissues were stained by Haematoxylin and eosin ( H&E) for analysis of inflamma-tion.A tumor-bearing HLA-A2 transgenic mouse model was established by subcutaneous injection of CNE-1/HLA-A2/LMP2A nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.The prepared Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine was inoculated into the mice via tail intravenous injection for the evaluation of specific CTL induction and the in vivo anti-tumor effects.Results The shuttle vector p1565-LMP2A and the recombinant attenuated Listeria vaccine strain Lmdd-LMP2A with stable expression of LMP2A protein were successfully constructed.The immunized mice showed mild inflammations with no structural damage and necrosis as indicated by H&E staining.The growth of tumors in tumor-bearing HLA-A2 transgenic mice was significantly inhibited by the immunization of Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine as compared with mice without inoculation.The survival time of mice was prolonged with the immunization of Lmdd-LMP2A vaccine.Conclusion The prepared attenuated Listeria vaccine Lm-dd-LMP2A showed specific anti-tumor effects with the safety advantage, suggesting the possibility of using it for anti-tumor therapy in clinic.

The average life expectancy in Macau is ranking the second in the world, the consumption of fresh medicinal plants is a profound culture in Macau. The paper focus on the distribution of the antioxidant herbs, a comprehensive investigation and analysis the amount of the plant resources was carried out. The antioxidant activity of alcohol extracts was determined by using the DPPH method, and six kinds fresh herbs with high antioxidant free radical activity were screened out. Reference to adult daily dose of vitamin C, it is calculated that the daily dose amount of fresh herbs is less than 200 g. For the expected shortage of resources and the ecological status of Macau, we give some suggestions of herbal introduction in population ecology reconstruction.
Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ecosystem ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Macau ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Cognition Disorders ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Manganese ; toxicity ; Manganese Poisoning ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resistant effect of houttuyfonate sodium (SH) combined with imipenem (IMP) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) biofilms.

METHODThe two-fold dilution method was used to examine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested drug. The crystal violet staining was applied to detect the effect of the combination of 1/2MIC, 1MIC, 2MIC of SH, single IMP, 1/2MIC of SH and IMP of various concentrations on the clearance rate of adherent bacteria, growth of biofilms and alginate production. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-propidium iodide (PI) doubling staining assay was employed to observe the bacterial viability and morphological changes after membrane dispersion of each drug group.

RESULTSodium houttuyfonate could enhance the effect of IMP against pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Particularly, the combination group with the concentration of 2MIC showed the highest effect, with P < 0.001 compared with the negative control group. The above results were proved by the bacterial viability and biofilm morphology under fluorescence microscope.

CONCLUSIONAfter being combined with imipenem, sodium houttuyfonate shows a higher effect against biofilms. It is expected that the combination of the two drugs could improve the clinical efficacy of associated infections.

Alkanes ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Drug Synergism ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbial Viability ; drug effects ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sulfites ; pharmacology

The study is aimed to distinguish morphological characteristics of Dalbergiae Lignum collected from crude drug's markets and establish a identification methods and the quality standard for Dalbergiae Lignum. The macroscopic and microscopic features of Dalbergiae Lignum from crude drug's market were observed, analyzed and compared according to Hongmu specification issued by the People's Republic of China in 2000, and by the characteristics recorded in domestic monograph of Mucai Shibie (wood identification). The redwood of Dalbergiae Lignum cut into small pieces as medicinal material are dry heart wood of mahogany (trees from Dalbergia sp.), which characteristics of the small pieces as crude drug are different. There are differences in macroscopic and microscopic features about texture of wood and color, odor, taste, transverse section, radial section, tangential section. The results can provide basis for identification, application and improment of the quality standard of Dalbergiae Lignum as medicinal material.
China ; Dalbergia ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Herbal Medicine ; economics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Xylem ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry