Objective To investigate the spousal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)and its related factors in HIV epidemic area,which can be beneficial to prevent HIV from transmitting.Methods Three hundred and forty-six couples with one spouse were anti-HIV positive were cross-sectionally investigated.Blood samples were taken from the spouse of subjects whose anti- HIV were positive to detect the anti-HIV antibody and from 70 acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)patients to do the sequencing of the serum HIV provirus DNA.Results In 346 couples,99 were infected by spousal transmission and its transmission rate was 28.6%.One spouse of 125 couples were infected with HIV by paid blood donation,14.4%(18)of the other spouse were infec- ted by spousal transmission.One spouse of 135 couples were infected by paid blood transfusion, 23.7%(32)of the other spouse were infected by spousal transmission.Eighty-six couples were infec- ted by extramarital sexual contact,49(57.0%)got spousal transmission.Thirty-seven(69.8%) subjects were infected by husband-to-wife transmission and 12(36.4%)were from wife to husband. The difference between them was significant(P

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of recombinant OPG-Fc and recombinant RANK protein on the differentiation of osteoclast precursors.

METHODSMouse osteoblasts cell lines were incubated with osteoclast precursors cell lines RAW 264.7 for 9 days with 10(-5) g/L rhRANK or rhOPG-Fc or PBS added to the coculture system. TRAP stain positive cells counting and cortical bone pit formation counting were performed in the 9th day.

RESULTSMultinuleated TRAP stain positive cells were observed in the cocluture systems after 6 days incubation,and plenty of mature osteoclasts could be observed in the 9th day. With the addition of 10(-5) g/L rhOPG-Fc or rhRANK, multinucleated giant cells and cortical bone pit formation couting decreased significantly compared with the control group, and the rhRANK group decreased more significantly than the rhOPG-Fc group.

CONCLUSIONSBoth rhOPG-Fc and rhRANK can inhabit the differentiation of osteoclast precursors and prevent them forming mature osteoclasts,moreover,the rhRANK shows the significant inhabition effect than the rhOPG-Fc.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteoprotegerin ; pharmacology ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saphenous Vein ; transplantation

Objective To study the relationship between facial skin conditions and TCM constitutional types; To provide new means and methods for guidance of skin conservation and skin health improvement from the aspect of constitutional types. Methods Totally 2241 female volunteers in nine provincial capital cities and municipalities participated in this research, and were investigated by web questionnaire. Constitutional types were determined according to the“Classification and Judgment of TCM Constitutional Types”standard issued by China Association of Chinese Medicine. Skin color, glossiness, delicate degree, moistness, firmness, resilience, uniformity and other indicators were scored. Skin conditions were classified into three groups:1-3 score group, 4-6 score group, and 7-9 score group, and the constitutional differences among each group were compared. Results Yang-deficiency and mild constitutional types accounted for the largest proportion. Yellowish skin color accounted for the largest proportion, and the next were white, dark and reddish. Yang-deficiency constitutional type accounted for the largest proportion in 1-3 score group, and the second was Qi-stagnation; Yang-deficiency and mild constitutional types accounted for the largest proportion in 4-6 score group; mild constitutional type accounted for the largest proportion in 7-9 score group. Conclusion People with mild constitutional type got highest score in every skin index, while biased constitutional types influenced the score in varied degrees. The constitutional types which influenced Chinese urban females’ facial skin index more were Yang-deficiency and Qi-stagnation constitutional types.

OBJECTIVETo study the commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellaria Radix, for standardizing market order and achieving industrialization, standardization and modernization of Pseudostellariae Radix.

METHODThe different areas and grade medicinal materials of Pseudostellariae Radix were respectively measured in quantitative characteristics of appearance, and the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was scientifically verified by the content of polysaccharide. Then the determination data were evaluated by spss correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. So combining with the actual production, the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix was formulated.

RESULTCorrelation analysis indicated that the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was reasonable, and the more the grade of Pseudostellariae Radix was high, the more the content of polysaccharide was high. Meanwhile, length as a classification index was not suitable for the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix. Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, combining actual production, the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber were filtrated and the grade was divided into 5 ranks: big, mid- dle, small selected goods, big ungraded goods and small ungraded goods.

CONCLUSIONthe commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix that mainly included the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber was formulated, the standard was divided into 5 grade. Each grade was not only consistent with the present situation of medicinal materials market, it could also reflected the intrinsic quality of Pseudostellariae Radix. In conclusion, the standard could be used as a classifica- tion basis to the commodity specification and grade.

Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo determine whether polymorphism of NOS2A promoter -969G>C is associated with the portal hypertension of liver cirrhosis.

METHODSA case control study covering 106 patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus(HBV) in comparison with 108 controls was performed using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The NOS2A mRNA and protein expression in liver cirrhosis tissues were detected by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot. The recombinant plasmids of NOS2A promoter luciferase reporter gene were constructed and were transfected transiently into HepG2 cells for analyzing the functional activity of the promoter.

RESULTSThe frequencies of the C allele and GC genotype at NOS2A promoter -969G>C were significantly higher in portal hypertension group (16.9%, 33.8%) than in control group(8.8%, 17.6%)(P<0.05), and positive correlation (r=0.18) and association (OR=2.42) were noted. There was no significant difference in frequency distribution between single liver cirrhosis group and control group(P>0.05). The expressions of NOS2A mRNA and protein in liver cirrhosis tissues were more increased in C allele carriers with liver cirrhosis than in G allele carriers with liver cirrhosis, which led to higher functional activity of the promoter. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that NOS2A polymorphism at promoter -969G>C is an independent novel risk factor for the occurrence of portal hypertension in patients with liver cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of NOS2A promoter -969(G>C) is associated with portal hypertension of liver cirrhosis, which results in functional activity increase of NOS2A promoter and is an independent risk factor for portal hypertension.

Adult ; Female ; Fibrosis ; complications ; enzymology ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of puerarin on the neural function and the histopathological changes after ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups as follows: puerarin group (n=10) receiving intravenous infusion of 30 mg/kg puerarin for 10 minutes, control group (n=10) receiving intravenous infusion of the same volume of normal saline as puerarin for 10 minutes, and sham operation group (n=10) undergoing only the surgical exposure of the abdominal aorta. Temporary spinal cord ischemia was induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes and followed by reperfusion. The neural status was scored with the Tarlov criteria at 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion. All the animals were killed at 48 hours after reperfusion and the spinal cords (L5) were removed immediately for histopathological study.

RESULTSThe neural function scores at 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours after reperfusion were higher in the puerarin group and sham operation group than those in the control group (P<0.05). More normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord were present in the puerarin group and sham operation group than those in the control group (P<0.01). There was a strong correlation between the final neural function scores and the number of normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of spinal cord (r=0.839, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPuerarin can significantly ameliorate the neural function and the histopathological damages after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.

Animals ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge.

METHODSThe compounds were separated by means of solvent extraction, chromatography on absorbent resin SP825 and silica gel C18 repeatedly, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical methods and spectral analyses (FAB-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H COSY).

RESULTSSix steroidal saponins were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. They were identified as (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin N, 1), timosaponin E1 (2), (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-methoxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin O, 3) , timosaponin E2 (4), (25R) -26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5alpha-furostane-2alpha, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-xylpyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (purpureagitosid, 5) and marcogenin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 and compound 3 are new compounds, and compound 5 was isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge for the first time.

Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in severely damaged intestinal mucosa due to high-dose 5-FU exposure.

METHODSThirty-two adult C57BL/6J mice were subjected to daily intraperitoneal high-dose 5-FU injection at 150 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days, and on days 1, 3, and 5, the mice were sacrificed to obtain the small intestinal tissue for HE straining and immunohistochemistry for detecting PCNA expression. Another 8 mice with intraperitoneal PBS injection served as the control group.

RESULTSHigh-dose 5-FU exposure of the mice resulted in severe intestinal mucous damage, with complete destruction of the villi and crypts and significantly increased cells positive for PCNA expression (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHigh-dose 5-FU treatment can significantly increase the PCNA index, and the cells expressing PCNA can be closely associated with regeneration of the severely damaged mucosa due to the exposure.

Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Fluorouracil ; adverse effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDLeft ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony has been described to occur in patients with myocardial infarction. Dyssynchrony of left ventricular mechanical contraction produces adverse hemodynamic consequences. This study aimed to test the capacity of geometric rebuilding by aneurysm plication to restore a more synchronous contractile pattern after a mechanical, rather than electrical, intervention.

METHODSA total of sixty patients with anterior myocardial infarction, QRS duration < 120 ms, electively undergoing operation between January 2008 and January 2010 were included for analysis. Real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography was performed to assess LV function, LV systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony by measuring ejection fraction (EF), peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR) and LV dyssynchrony. LV dyssynchrony was defined as the systolic dyssynchrony of the time to reach the minimum systolic volume for 16 LV segments, expressed in percent cardiac cycle, systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI). We compared changes of LV dyssynchrony at different interval times.

RESULTSLV contraction was significantly asynchronous because preoperative SDI was higher, EF, PER and PFR were lowered. Compared with function after operation, LV mechanical intraventricular resynchronization was improved with decreased SDI ((8.7 ± 0.5)% vs. (14.3 ± 1.6)%, P = 0.01); LV function was improved with EF increasing ((43 ± 9)% vs. (37 ± 7)%, P = 0.001), and LV systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony was improved with more rapid PFR (199.4 ± 15.6 vs. 148.4 ± 21.2, P = 0.002) and PER (212.4 ± 14.5 vs. 156.3 ± 26.2, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSSystolic and diastolic dyssynchrony was highly prevalent in patients with aneurysm, irrespective of QRS duration. Aneurysm plication produces a mechanical intraventricular resynchronization.

Aged ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radiography