In order to provide a scientific basis for the establishment of a Daphnes Cortex medicinal material fungus library and the screening of endophytic fungi that promote the growth of Daphnes Cortex and increase the content of daphnetin, we used Illumina high-throughput testing technology to analyze 9 Daphnes Cortex samples from Gansu and Shanxi provinces. A total of 632 766 valid sequences were obtained, including 348 OTUs, 4 phyla, 20 classes, 48 orders, 108 families, 154 genera, and 208 species. The sum of the first 3 fungal genera account for more than 65% of the total abundance, with the highest reaching 98.4%. Alternaria and Phoma are the main genuses of Daphne giraldii Nitsche, and Altemaria is the dominant genus. The endophytic fungi community of Daphnes Cortex is rich in diversity, and the order of fungal diversity in different producing areas is: Gangu County > Wutai County > Tanchang County.

· AIM: To inspect and compare the functional vision of an aspheric intraocular lens (Tecnis) with those of conventional monofocal silicone and acrylic intraocular lens and multifocal intraocular lens (Array).· METHODS: The IOLs were tested in the eye model, which was designed to be optically equivalent to the theoretical eye model. The eye model is a combination of a spherical photographic lens with 35mm focal length ( IOL put in a water cell)and a charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The images constructed by the lenses are observed on a monitor of personal computer and the contrasts of the images are analyzed by using commercial image processing software.· RESULTS: The modulation transfer function of the eye model equals the scale produced by the theoretical eye model. The images constructed by changing the diameter of aperture stop and IOL.· CONCLUSION: The proposed eye model is useful for testing functional vision and for inspecting differences of intraocular lens.

To investigate the effect of flavonoids from Sophora flavescens in aging mice induced by D-galactose and its mechanism. Totally 60 mice were randomly divided into six groups: the control group, the model group, the piracetam group (positive control group) and flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups. Except for the control group, all of the rest groups were subcutaneously injected with D-galactose (160 mg x kg(-1)) for successively 30 days to establish the sub-acute senescent model. Meanwhile, flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups were respectively administered with 150, 300 and 600 mg xkg-('1)of flavonoids from S. flavescens for 30 days. The learning and memory abilities of mice were determined by avoiding darkness ex-eriment and jumping stair experiment. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) tumor necrosis factor-aα NF-aα the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) Na'(+)K'(+)-ATPase and Ca2(+ )-ATPase in the brain of mice were deter-ined respectively after the behavioral experiments. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase ( DH) in blood serum was also determined and analyzed by microscope after HE staining to observe the changes in hippocampal organizational structure. Compared with the model group, flavonoids from S. favescens medium and high doses groups showed significantly increases in the latency of avoiding darkness and jumping stair experiments; flavonoids from S. fllvescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed de-reases in the numbers of errors in avoiding darkness experiment; the flavonoids from S. flavescens high dose group and the piracetam group showed reduction- n the number of errors in jumping stair experiment (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). Flavonoids from S. flavescens me-ium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed improvements in the activities of SOD, Na'(+)K'(+)ATPase in the brain of mice and declines in the contents of MDA and TNF-aα the activity of MAO-B in the brain of mice, the activity of LDH in blood serum (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). Flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group also showed im-rovement in the activity of Ca2(+ )ATPase, with statistical difference from the model group (P <0 . 5 or P <0 . 1). The pathological result showed decreases in the number of cells of hippocampal dentate gyrus area, sparse cell arrangement, incomplete cellular mor-hology, scarce cytoplasm, blurred boundary between nucleus and cytoplasm, nuclei anachromasis, irregular pyknosis and unconspicu-us nucleoli in the model group. Compared with the model group, flavonoids from S. flavescens low, medium and high doses groups and the piracetam group showed improvements in hippocampal organization tissues. Flavonoids from S. favescens can improve the learning and memory ability of senescent mice induced by D-galactose. Its mechanism may be correlated with the enhancement of anti-oxidative actions by lowering TNF-aαcontent, which results in the stability of cell membrane and the reduction in MAO-B activity.
Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; psychology ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Galactose ; adverse effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method combined with Frenkel exercises in treating ataxia after cerebral stroke. Methods: The recruited 120 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method, while the observation group was given additional lower-limb Frenkel exercises. Before and after treatment and at the follow-up, the ataxic lower-limb function was scored using Berg balance scale (BBS) and international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS), and Barthel index (BI) was adopted to score the activities of daily living (ADL). Results: After treatment, the markedly effective rate was 70.2％ and the total effective rate was 96.5％ in the observation group, versus 39.7％ and 87.9％ in the control group, and the differences in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). The intra-group comparisons showed that the BBS, ICARS and BI scores after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.01).There were significant differences in the BBS score between the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up (P<0.05, P<0.01); the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically insignificant after treatment (both P>0.05), while the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically significant at the follow-up (both P<0.05). The interaction effects between the scoring time of BBS and BI and the group factor were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: Mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling can effectively improve the lower-limb ataxic symptoms and ADL after stroke; when combined with Fenkel exercises, this needling method can produce more significant efficacy.

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiological characteristics of liver diseases in a rural population in Southern Guangxi, China.

METHODSThe enzyme immunoassays was used to detect of HBsAg and AFP. AFP positive serum samples were further examined for concentration of AFP by using a radio immunoassays. Liver morphological changes were measured with ultrasonography of type B.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HBsAg in the studied population was 17.8% (2800/15,701). The prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, clonorchiasis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease were 1.1% (173/15,701), 0.4% (63/15,701), 299.3 per 100,000 (47/15,701), 6.6% (1036/15,701), 4.8% (754/15,701) and 0.3% (47/15,701), respectively. The positive rates of HBsAg and the prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B, cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, clonorchiasis, fatty liver disease in male were significantly higher as compared with those in female (5.98 < or = chi(2) < or = 394.78, P < 0.01). No difference was observed in the prevalence rates of liver cavernous hemangioma and hepatic cysts between male and female. The prevalence rates of intrahepatic bile duct stones was significantly higher in female than in male (chi(2) = 30.80, P < 0.01). The positive rates of HBsAg and the prevalence rates of viral hepatitis B and clonorchiasis were decreased with age. But the prevalence rates of cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, liver cavernous hemangioma, hepatic cysts and intrahepatic bile duct stones were increased with age.

CONCLUSIONThe rural areas in the southern Guangxi are high prevalence regions of liver illness, and the male resident are even at high risk.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; epidemiology ; Liver Diseases ; epidemiology ; Liver Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Rural Population

The distribution information of Cistanche deserticola was collected by interview investigation and field survey, and 55 related environmental factors were collected, the habitat suitability study was conducted based on geographic information system (GIS) and Maximum entropy model. The AUCs of ROC curve were both above 0.9, indicating that the predictive results with the maxent model were highly precise. The results showed that 14 major environmental factors have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of C. deserticola, including vegetation type et al, the suitable distribution areas are mainly concentrated in the central of Alxa Youqi, the north of Alxa Zouqi and the south-east of Ejin Banner, including Tamusu towns, Alateng towns et al, The zoning results basically coincide with the genuine producing areas, and further afford new suitable distribution areas, which can provide reference for the siting of introduction and cultivation of C. deserticola.
China ; Cistanche ; growth & development ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Rain ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of fractional nitric oxide concentration in exhaled breath (FeNO) in assessing the level of asthma control in children.

METHODSA total of 226 asthmatic children were divided into controlled asthma (n= 86), partially controlled asthma (n=63), and uncontrolled asthma groups (n=77). Ninety healthy children were enrolled as controls. FeNO was measured for both asthmatic and healthy children using the Swedish-designed NIOX system.

RESULTSThe control group had an FeNO of 14±6 ppb, the controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 29±26 ppb, the partially controlled asthma group had an FeNO of 32±30 ppb, and the uncontrolled asthma group had an FeNO of 40±32 ppb. The three asthma groups showed significantly higher FeNO than the control group (P<0.05). The uncontrolled asthma group showed significantly higher FeNO than the controlled asthma group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in FeNO between the partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma groups and between the partially controlled and controlled asthma groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAsthmatic children have significantly higher FeNO than healthy children, and FeNO is correlated with the level of asthma control.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Breath Tests ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis

Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism(SSCP) is an effect method for investigating environment microbial genetic polymorphism, with its characterization of rapidness, simplicity, and sensitivity. However, many factors can influence the results of SSCP in the analysis of complex environment samples, and its optimization is highly needed. In this paper, optimal PCR-SSCP conditions were discussed based on PAGE concentration, formamide deionized in denaturing loading buffer, electrophoresis time and temperature. The resluts showed that the optimal conditions were as follows: 16S rDNA V1~V3 was selected as the targeted gene, the ratio of acrylamide to N, N-dimethylacrylamide in 12% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE)gel was 49:1, the ratio of formamide deionized in denaturing loading buffer was 1:3, running the SSCP gel at 300 V for 18 h (under 4 ℃). Aside from this, the validations using samples from a simultaneous desulfurification and denitrification bioreactor were conducted under this optimal conditions.

Objective: To determine the eff ect of probucol on adhesion of human monocytic line THP-1 induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Methods: THP-1 cells were induced by oxLDL in vitro. The CD11b, CD54 expressions and adhesion to human umbilic al vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were measured after treatment with probucol at different concentrations by flow cytometry and β-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-D -glucosminide test. Results: Probucol inhibited the adhesion of oxLDL-induced THP-1 cells to HUVEC and down regulated the expression of CD11b in a dose dependent manner (P<0.01), but there was no inhibition on exp ression of CD54. Conclusion: Probucol can inhibit adhesion and a ggregation of monocyte-macrophages to endothelium in circulation, and may have anti-inflammatory action.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombi-nant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor ( rhG-CSF) used for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Methods Two hyndreds twenty-two cases suffering from small cell lung cancer of PLA General Hospital from 2002 to 2006 were chosen in our retrospective study, and 62 of these cases, used rhG-CSF after chemotherapy,were included in a statistics analysis. Results rhG-CSF was effective for chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression reactions and increasing significantly the number of neutropenia leukocyte and WBC (white blood cell). Average duration of recovery was 3 days and the effective rate was 95. 2%. Conclusion rhG-CSF showed high overall response rate of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression reaction with only a few adverse reactions. But dosage and administration should be adjusted to different patients in different situations.