Objective To explore the effect of bergamots volatile oil on relieving cough,asthma and eliminating phlegm in asthmatic rats and guinea-pig.Methods Bergamot essential oil was extracted by steam distillation,and the experimental guinea-pigs and mice were divi-ded into 3 groups with high,moderate and low doses of bergamot essential oil respectively(1.080,0.540,0.108 g?kg-1for guinea pig,1.753,0.877,0.175 g?kg-1 for mice).The other group were pre-treated with normal saline as model control group,and animals were fed with acute-brochisis-syrup,aminophylline,and xianzhuli oral-liquid as positive drug control groups.After the medication,the guinea pigs were sprayed with citric acid or histamine in a confined glass to induce cough or asthma,while the latent period of cough or asthma attack was detected.The mice were injected phenol red solution through the abdominal cavity,and the tracheal phenol red secretion volume was measured.Results The latent period of cough in high,moderate and low dose of bergamot volatile oil groups and acute-brochisis-syrup group were significantly longer than that of the model control group(Pa

Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

To against the emergence of drug-resistent candidiasis, the studys of synergism of natural compounds combine with antifungal agents in vitro showed a continuous growth in recent years. The paper reviewed recent progresses to compare the synergetic effect by FICI method, and to conclude the synergetic mechanisms which have been confirmed as a reference for futher study.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; physiopathology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

Objective To report a case of deep mycosis caused by Rhizomucor chlamydosporus. Methods Medical history,histopathology and laboratory examination were investigated,and fungal identifi- cation by microscopy and culture as well in the patient.Results The patient,a 41-year-old male,initially presented with mild-tender and progressively aggravating masses on the right glutea,both groins,and back of the head of pancreas.Later,ulcer,necrosis,and black crusts developed at the primary lesions accompanied with nausea,vomitting and dysfunction of liver.Pathological examination revealed a chronic granuloma- tous inflammation in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue;and branching,nonseptate and broad hyphae in multinuclear giant cells,tissue spaces and blood vessel lumens,and,few PAS-positive septate hyphae as well as basophilic chlamydospores located in multinuclear giant cells.The isolate was identified as R. chlamydosporus.Conclusions The case of deep mycosis caused by R.chlamydosporus began with invasive granuloma,followed by necrotic ulcer,with condition aggravating rapidly,and the patient finally died of se- rious cachexia.

Objective To evaluate the use of gated SPECT in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and the effects of percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) on myocardial perfusion.Methods 99 Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) images were performed in 31 HOCM patients before PFSMA and in 15 patients 3-7 d after PTSMA.The images in different left ventricular segments were analysed by using scores.Results In 99Tcm-MIBI images, uptake decreased at the septal regions in 12 HOCM patients (80.0%, 12/15) after PTSMA, 18F-FDG images also showed decreased uptake at the septal regions in 5 HOCM patients (33.3%, 5/15) after PTSMA.Conclusion 99Tcm-MIBI images might be an important method to evaluate PTSMA results, and 18 F-FDG images showed important value as reference.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type (CSA) treated with thermosensitive moxibustion at different dosages.

METHODSSixty cases of CSA were randomized into a saturated moxa dosage group and a regular moxa dosage group, 30 cases in each one. The thermosensitive moxibustion was adopted in the two groups. The mild suspended moxibustion was applied at two acupoints with the strongest thermosensitization. In the saturated moxa dosage group, the moxibustion time was determined by the disappearance of thermosensitization. In the regular moxa dosage group, 15 min was required on each acupoint. The treatment was given twice a day for first 4 days in the two groups. Since the 5th day, the treatment was given once a day, continuously for 10 times, and totally 14 days were required. The score of symptoms and function and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups before and after treatment as well as 6-month follow-up after treatment.

RESULTSThe curative and effective rate was 56.7% (17/30) after treatment and 60.0% (18/30) in 6-month follow-up after treatment in the saturated moxa dosage group, which were superior to 26.7% (8/30) and 30.0% (9/30) in the regular moxa dosage group respectively (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The scores of clinical symptoms and function after treatment and in follow-up were improved apparently as compared with those before treatment in both groups (all P < 0.01). The scores of clinical symptoms and function after treatment and in follow-up in the saturated moxa dosage group were increased much more apparently than those in the regular moxa dosage group (after treatment: 22.32 +/- 4.64 vs 17.43 +/- 3.21; in follow-up: 23.01 +/- 4.76 vs 18.32 +/- 2.13, both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe thermosensitization moxibustion of saturated dosage achieves the superior short-term and long-term efficacies in the treatment of CSA as compared with the regular moxibustion dosage.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; Spondylosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Vertebral Artery ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression changes of acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) on Chlamydia pneumoniae (C.pn) induced foam cell formation.

METHODSHuman monocytic cell line (THP-1) was induced into macrophages by 160 nmol/L phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for 48 h, and were randomly allocated into four groups: negative control group (50 microg/ml LDL for 48 h); positive control group (50 microg/ml ox-LDL for 48 h); C.pn infection group (50 microg/ml LDL plus 1 x 10(5), 4 x 10(5), 5 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) IFU C.pn for 48 h or 1 x 10(6) IFU C.pn for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h); ACAT inhibitor 58-035 plus C.pn infection group (1, 5, 10 microg/ml ACAT inhibitor 58-035 pretreatment for 1 h, 50 microg/ml LDL and 1 x 10(6) IFU C.pn for 48 h). The mRNA and protein expressions of ACAT1 were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Lipid droplets in cytoplasm were observed by oil red O staining. The contents of intracellular cholesteryl esters were detected by enzyme-fluorescence.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of ACAT1 were significantly up-regulated in positive control cells compared those in negative control cells and further upregulated by C.pn infection in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner (all P < 0.05). There were significantly increases in the accumulation of lipid droplets and the ratio of cholesteryl ester to total cholesterol in positive control cells as compared with negative control cells and these were further aggravated by C.pn (at the concentrations of 5 x 10(5) and 1 x 10(6) IFU for 48 h) and C.pn infection induced increases in the accumulation of lipid droplets and the ratio of cholesteryl ester to total cholesterol could be significantly attenuated by ACAT inhibitor 58-035 (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChlamydia pneumoniae induces THP-1-derived foam cell formation by up-regulating the expression of ACAT1.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Background: Calibration is a critical component for the reliability, accuracy, and precision of mass spectrometry measurements. Optimal practice in the construction, evaluation, and implementation of a new calibration curve is often underappreciated. This systematic review examined how calibration practices are applied to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry measurement procedures. Methods: The electronic database PubMed was searched from the date of database inception to April 1, 2022. The search terms used were “calibration,” “mass spectrometry,” and “regression.” Twenty-one articles were identified and included in this review, following evaluation of the titles, abstracts, full text, and reference lists of the search results. Results: The use of matrix-matched calibrators and stable isotope-labeled internal standards helps to mitigate the impact of matrix effects. A higher number of calibration standards or replicate measurements improves the mapping of the detector response and hence the accuracy and precision of the regression model. Constructing a calibration curve with each analytical batch recharacterizes the instrument detector but does not reduce the actual variability. The analytical response and measurand concentrations should be considered when constructing a calibration curve, along with subsequent use of quality controls to confirm assay performance. It is important to assess the linearity of the calibration curve by using actual experimental data and appropriate statistics. The heteroscedasticity of the calibration data should be investigated, and appropriate weighting should be applied during regression modeling. Conclusions This review provides an outline and guidance for optimal calibration practices in clinical mass spectrometry laboratories.