BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease induced by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Its pathogen and the mechanism of the relapse and remission m the course of the disease are still unknown. Most of the MS research centers are looking for the pathogenic polypeptide epitope in proteolipid protein(PLP), myelin sheath basic protein (MBP) and oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) OBJECTIVE: To compare the proliferation of T cell lines(TCL) in MS induced by myelin sheath and delipidated myelin sheath towards 11 components of myelin sheath to mainly search the possible pathogenic polypeptide epitope in PLP, and investigate the possible effects of abnormal dcgrease in myelin sheath.DESIGN: A case-controlled trial.SETTING: Department of neurology in a hospital of a university.PARTICIPANTS: Mononuclear cells(MNC) of 16 MS cases(clinical relapsing-remitting type, patients did not receive any immunosuppresant for at least 3 months when their peripheral blood samples were taken) and 12 HLA-DR15 healthy volunteers were furnished by Dr. Trotter JL of MS Research Center of Washington University from the cell database.INTERVENTIONS: MS-TCL and normal TCL were induced twice by stimulation with myelin sheath and delipidated myelin sheath in vitro by cell culture in vitro. TCL proliferation was tested by 11 antigens including PLP,MBP, M87-106, P30-49, P40-60, P89-106, P95-117, P117-137,P139-151, P178-191, and P185-206.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference of scintillation counting in every minute of every well, and the stimulative index of each well were calculated, and the mean wells with positive proliferation of TCL towards each antigen were confirmed as well.RESULTS: The general specific proliferation towards myelin sheath antigens was bigger in MS group than control group 5.49 ±5.31 to 3.10 ± 3. 17, and delipidated myelin sheath-induced TCL was bigger than myelin sheath-induced one 5. 49 ± 5.31 to 3.41 ± 4. 83 . Delipidated myelin sheath significantly changed the immune responses of MS group,especially the changes of responses towards P30-49, P40-60, P89-106,P117-137, P139-161, and P185-206 were significant compared with that the control group only responded to two polypeptides, which indicated that the antigen epitope of MBP, PLP, M87-106, P95-117, P40-60, and P185-206 might have significance in the triggering of MS autoimmune responses.CONCLUSION: TCL induced by MS myelin sheath has different proliferation towards antigen components of myelin sheath from control group. Delipidated myelin sheath significantly increases TCL proliferation in MS group, which suggests that if MS patients developed abnormal degrease in myelin sheath, TCL would produce autoimmune response towards self-myelin sheath, MBP, PLP and its polypeptide segments all can trigger MS or aggravate the state of the illness. Our finding supports the hypothesis of MS autoimmune pathogenic mechanism.

Objective To explore biomechanical properties and clinical results of a new type of dynamic Hoffmann external fixator(NDHEF)for tibial shaft fractures.Methods Fifteen specimens of adult tibia were randomly divided into three groups and osteotomized obliquely in the mid part of the tibia.These specimens were fixed with NDHEF,improved Hoffmann external fixator(IHEF)and maltifunctional external fixator(MEF)re- spectively.The axial compression,bending,torsion and stress shielding tests were performed on the specimens in each group for biomechanical comparison.From 1995 to 2004,40 cases of open tibiofihular fractures were treated with NDHEF and 88 cases with IHEF and their clinical results were analyzed and compared.Results The biomechanical tests showed that the compressive rigidity,bending rigidity and torsion rigidity of NDHEF were similar to those of IHEF(P＞0.05)but significantly stronger than those of MEF(P＜0.05).The stress shielding of NDHEF was obviously weaker than that of other external fixators(P＜0.05).All the 128 cases were followed up for 12 to 36 months(average,16.8 months).The mean substantial bone healing time for NDHEF treatment was 22.3 weeks and that for IHEF was 26.8 weeks.The difference was significant(P＜0.05).The rates of delayed union and malunion were all 7.5% for NDHEF,but 15.9% and 4.5% respectively for IHEF.The difference was insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusions The biomechanical performance of NDHEF is superior to that of IHEF,for it can diminish the stress shielding and accelerate bone healing.It is a good external fixator for tibial fractures.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between Chinese medical types of coronary heart disease (CHD) [i.e., phlegm turbidity syndrome (PTS) and qi deficiency syndrome (QDS)] and their metabolites.

METHODSRecruited were 65 CHD patients including 37 cases of PTS and 28 cases of QDS. Serum endogenous metabolites in the two syndrome types were determined by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer (GC/MS), and their differences between their metabolic profiles analyzed.

RESULTSMore than 100 chromatographic peaks were totally scanned. Chromatograms obtained was matched with mass spectrum bank, and finally we got the category contribution value of 46 kinds of substances. Results of MCTree analysis showed patients of PTS and patients of QDS could be effectively distinguished. Compounds contributing to identify the two syndromes were sequenced as serine, valine, 2 hydroxy propionic acid. Comparison of metabolites showed contents of serine and 2 hydroxy propionic acid were higher in patients of PTS than in patients of QDS (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe differences in the metabonomics of CHD TCM syndrome types could provide material bases for TCM syndrome differentiation of CHD, indicating that metabonomics technologies might become a new research method for TCM syndrome typing.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Disease ; metabolism ; therapy ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metabolome ; physiology ; Metabolomics ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Research ; Sputum ; Syndrome

The clinical and mechanism studies of acupuncture and moxibustion in treatment of dementia from modern literature in recent 15 years are reviewed. In clinical studies, changes of scores for relative dementia scale and daily life scale, relative laboratory indexes, imaging indexes and physical diagnostic indexes after acupuncture are explored. In studies of mechanisms, dementia models are established with different methods and changes of various indexes were observed. Studies find that acupuncture and moxibustion can improve intelligence and social activity ability, increase therapeutic effect and have good effects on important indexes of dementia. However, the criteria for diagnosis, therapeutic effects, syndrome standardization, evaluation of long-term therapeutic effects and prognosis for dementia still need to be further studied.
Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Alzheimer Disease ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Syndrome

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanosomes ; Metaplasia ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; cytology ; pathology ; Oxyphil Cells ; cytology

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; microbiology ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo improve the method for monitoring sleep state and respiratory rhythm of SD rats, providing a solution for rats' chewing on the wires, signal loss and instability problems in the animal model of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).

METHODSWe improved monitoring electrodes of both electrocorticogram (ECoG) and electromyogram (EMG), signal circuit and animal operation.

RESULTSOperation time was shortened and wound exposure time was reduced, which made it easier for postoperative recovery. The ECoG and EMG signals were more stable with sharp image, and signal circuit lines had better conductivity and material durability, achieving continuous monitoring for a long time and high success rate. We could precisely distinguish the sleep wake state and the sleep apnea events in rats according to these signals.

CONCLUSIONThe improved method is more reliable and practical to test the small animal model of SAS, and is more easily to operate and the signals are more stable.

Animals ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Electromyography ; methods ; Models, Animal ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Rats ; Respiration ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis

In this study, efforts were made to collect 88 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions for treating ADHD from public literatures, establish a medication database and conduct data mining on the efficacy, properties, tastes, meridian entries and compatibility regularity of TCMs by using frequency analysis, association rules analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed 33 herbs with a high frequency (≥ 10%). The top 12 frequently applied ADHD herbs were respectively Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome, Polygalae Radix, Prepared Rehmanniae Radix, Os Draconis, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizome, Poria, Concha Ostreae, Testudinis Carapacis et Plastri, Paeoniae Alba Radix, Schisandrae Fructus Chinensis, Fructus Corni, Dioscoreae Rhizoma. The top seven types of frequently applied ADHD herbs by effect were respectively tonic herb, sedative herbs, livei-wind calming herbs, heat clearing herbs, astringent herbs, awaking herbs and damp clearing and diuresis promoting herbs. The top three properties were warm, cold and neutral, with warm as the dominance. The top three tastes were sweetness, bitterness and acridity, with sweetness as the dominance. The top three meridian entries were liver meridian, heart meridian and kidney meridian. The association rules analysis showed commonly used herbal pairs. Polygalae Radix-Acori Tatarinowii Rhizome, Concha Ostreae-Os Draconis, Prepared Rehmanniae Radix-Fructus Corni-Os Draconis. Eight highly frequent cluster prescriptions were summarized based on the cluster analysis. This study indicates that basic TCM prescriptions for treating ADHD were principally composed of tonics (nourishing liver and kidney, invigorating heart and spleen) and tranquilization, which were supplemented with herbs for calming liver, clearing heat, promoting qi-circulation, promoting blood-circulation, reducing phlegm and calming endogenous wind. The combination of multiple data mining techniques can reflect the clinical medication regularity of herbs for treating ADHD in an overall and objective manner.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Meridians

Objective To investigate the role of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump in fluoroquinolones resistance by Shigella. spp and to explore the significance of AcrAB-TolC efflux pump on mutation of acrR, soxS and marOR as well as on drug re?sistence. Methods Drug resistant bacteria were selected by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. After addition of efflux pump inhibitor carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), change of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)s of nilidixic acid, Levofloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin were examined. The DNA binding region of acrA, acrB, soxS, acrR and marOR gene in these mutants were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Results Among the 159 clinical isolates of Shigella,11 strains are resistant to fluoroquinolone. After the addition of CCCP, MICs of 2 fluoroquinolone resistant strains decreased; the MICs of 7 fluoroquinolone resistant strains did not change; MICs of 2 fluoroquinolone resistant strains in?creased. The corresponding nucleotides C, A, T, T on the 36th to 39th of marOR gene were missing, showing by sequencing, in fluoroquinolone resistent strains which might be regulated by the efflux pump gene AcrAB-TolC. Conclusion Efflux pump inhibitor could restrain the activity of efflux partially. The mutations of marOR might play an important role in fluoroquino?lone resistent by shigella.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of automated urine formed elements analyzer and/or urine dipstick analyzer for examination of urinary formed elements in screening urinary tract infection (UTI). Methods 148 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from the UTI patients and 284 fresh midstream clear-catch urine samples from non-UTI subjects were selected. Bacteria culture was performed for bacterial colony counting and identification. Bacteria counts ( BACT), yeast-like fungus and WBC were performed by UF-looOi automated urine formed elements analyzer. Leukocyte esterase test (LEU) and nitrite test (NIT) were performed by URISYS 2400 urine dipstick analyzer. We evaluated data obtained from urine dipstick analyzer, UF-1000i and combination of UF-1000i with urine dipstick analyzer and the results was compared with those obtained from quantitative bacterial culture. Then we evaluated the sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy. Results Among the 148 patients with UTI, the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture was 73.6% (109/148), the positive rate of LEU and NIT detected by dipstick test 26. 4% (39/148).There was significantly statistical difference between bacterial culture and strip test(χ2 = 55.68 ,P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of urine flow cytometry by UF-1000i with either positive of BACT and WBC was 91.2%(135/148), which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. There was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 14. 70, P < 0. 05 ). The positive rate of anyone positive among BACT, WBC, LEU and NIT was 94. 6% (140/148) when detected with combination of dipstick test and UF-1000i, which was higher than the positive rate of the quantitative bacterial culture. And there was significant difference between two methods (χ2 = 20. 45, P < 0. 05 ). The sensitivity of dipstick test was low (26. 4% ,39/148 ), and specificity was high ( 99. 3%, 282/284 ) . The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value of BACT detected by UF-1000i in diagnosing urinary tract infection were 92. 6% ( 137/148 ), 39. 8% ( 113/284 ). 44. 5% ( 137/308 ) and 91.1% ( 113/124 ), respectively. If the dipstick test was combined with UF-1000i, the sensitivity, negative predictive value, specificity, positive predictive value and accuracy were 98.0% ( 145/148 ), 97.1% ( 100/103 ). 35.2% (100/284) ,44. 1% (145/329) and 56. 7% (245/432), respectively. Conclusions The combination of urine dipstick test and automated urine formed elements analyzer UF-1000i plays an important role in early diagnosis of UTI. And it has significant value in diagnosis of UTI, especially for the patients with negative bacterial cultures of urine sample.