Epicatechin content in Uncaria macrophylla Wall. was determined by RP-HPLC. As aresult, the epicatechin contents were 0.38％ in the hook and stem, and 0. 820％ in the leaf. Thus it seemedto be more worthwhile to produce epicatechin from the leaf rather than from the hook and stem.

A new and efficient reaction system has been set up, in which the MseⅠ primers were fluorescent labeled for auto-sequencer. PCR reagents and primers and adapters of MseⅠ and EcoRⅠ, which were synthesized, the AFLP protocol has been modified, and reaction and electrophoresis conditions were optimized, the results obtained can be comparable to that of AFLP fluorescent labeled AFLP kits with less cost.

Objective To observe the effects of low frequency ultrasound on carotid artery plaque and artery stenosis. Methods 156 patients with carotid atherosclerosis were divided into treatment group (n=80) and control group (n=76). The control group was administered routine medicine, while the treatment group accepted low frequency ultrasound therapy in addition. The size and shape of carotid artery plaque, severity of stenosis and the level of lipid were observed before and after treatment, and the side-effects were recorded. Results The intima-media thickness (IMT), diameter of plaque, plaque score decreased after treatment in both groups, and decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05); while the frequence of moderate stenosis and severe stenosis was less (P<0.05). The levels of low density lipoprotein- cholesterol and total cholesterol decreased in both groups after treatment (P<0.05), and decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). No serious side-effect was observed. Conclusion Low frequency ultrasound can reduce the atherosclerotic plaques in carotid artery and relieve the stenosis.

Objective To detect the expression of bone morphogenetic protein receptor Ⅱ ( BMPR Ⅱ ) in human focal cortical dysplasia ( FCD Ⅱ b). Methods Fourteen specimens of FCD Ⅱ b surgically removed and pathologically verified were collected from June 2008 to June 2010 and the expression of BMPR Ⅱ in the normal brain tissues and the pathological specimens was detected by means of immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results In the normal brain tissues, BMPR Ⅱ was widely expressed in the cortical neurons of the grey matter, with no positive immunostaining in the white matter. In the cortical lesion of FCD Ⅱ b, BMPR Ⅱ was strongly expressed in the misshapen cells including balloon cells (BCs) , dysmorphic neurons (DNs) and giant neurons (GNs). Positive BMPR Ⅱ expression was also observed in the reactive astroeytes and low level expression of BMPR Ⅱ was found in the normal-appearing (NA) neurons. Western-blot analysis showed that BMPR Ⅱ expression tended to be lowered in the FCD Ⅱ b specimens compared with the normal brain tissues ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion The expression of BMPR Ⅱ is altered and reduced in the FCD Ⅱ b, suggesting that BMP signal pathway may participate in the pathogenesis of FCD.

In order to investigate the effect of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide-modified silk biomaterial on the adhesion and proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), MSCs of third generation were seeded onto the surface of RGD-decorated silk (silk-RGD group), silk alone (silk group) or tissue culture plate (TCP group). After incubation for 4 or 12 h, MSCs were examined quantitatively by using precipitation method for cell attachment. The cell proliferation, which was defined as cell density, was compared among the three groups after culture for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. Cell skeleton, which was labeled fluorescently, was observed under laser confocal microscope after 24 h of culture. The results showed that cell adhesion rate in silk-RGD group was higher than in silk group (P<0.05), but similar to that in TCP group after incubation for 4 or 12 h (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the cell proliferation among the three groups at different time points (P>0.05 for all). Laser confocal microscopy revealed that in silk-RGD group, MSCs, strongly fluorescently stained, spread fully, with stress fibers clearly seen, while in silk group, actin filaments were sparsely aligned and less stress fibers were found. It was concluded that RGD peptide could improve the adhesion of MSCs to the silk scaffold, but had no impact on the proliferation of the cells.
Biocompatible Materials/*chemistry ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology ; Cell Adhesion/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/*cytology ; Oligopeptides/*chemistry ; *Silk/chemistry ; Tissue Scaffolds

BACKGROUND: Presently, the biomaterial used in ligament tissue engineering such as collagen protein, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, small intestinal submucosa, glycan and nanomaterial are characterized by rapid degradation, resulting in inflammatory reaction after applying in host.OBJECTIVE: To investigate mechanical strength and in vitro degradation of silk scaffold and explore the reaction to macrophages.DESIGN: Controlled experiment.SETTING: Experiments were performed at the Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from September 2004 to January 2005.MATERIALS: White raw Bombyx mori silkworm fibers of size 20/22 (according to the manufacturer) were obtained from the market. Bundles of 30 parallel fibers were prepared for a bundle of scaffold, which was put into fervens 5g/L Na2CO3for degumming. Ratio of Na2CO3 solution (Ml) to raw silk (g) was 1000.METHODS: In vitro degradation: 8cm long silk scaffold was weighed after drying. Subsequently, the silk scaffold was separately dipped into phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and 1.0g/L collagenase prepared with PBS. Twelve weeks later, silk scaffold was weighed to calculate weight loss rate. Simultaneously, tensile test was performed to detect the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of samples. Culture of monocyte strain RAW264.7:2×108L-1 macrophage suspension (1mL) were separately added in a silk scaffold group, a control group and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group. At days 1 and 7, cell supernatant was collected from each group. Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Changes in weight loss rate and UTS of the silk matrices after incubated with collagenase and the PBS. ②TNF-αlevels in the supernatant of each groups at days 1 and 7.RESULTS: Mass of silk matrices reduced by over 50% after incubated with collagenase for 8 weeks, but no change was found in PBS. UTS decreased by over 50% 8 weeks after incubated with collagenase, but no change was detected in PBS. At days 1 and 7, TNF-α levels in the supernatant was less in the silk scaffold group; TNF-α levels in the supernatant was significantly higher in the LPS group than in the silk scaffold group (P<0.01), but no significant difference in TNF-α levels was measured between the silk scaffold group and the control group (P>0.05).CONCLUSION: After 12-weeks degradation, silk scaffold still has good mechanical properties. Macrophages possess immunological inertia at days 1 and 7 after inoculated with macrophages.

The article has analyzed the policy co-ordination, Industry coverage and technical experience of the global medical device nomenclature (GMDN) to our country, argued the feasibility on the application of GMDN in our medical device administration system, provided some reference on building the naming system of medical device in our country.
Equipment and Supplies ; Feasibility Studies ; Industry ; Terminology as Topic

Objective To investigate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LTCBDE) in treatment of patients with secondary extrahepatic bile duct stones. Methods Eighty-seven cases of our hospital patients with secondary to extrahepatic bile duct stones were randomly divided into the laparoscopic bile duct exploration and T tube drainage surgery (LCBDE) treatment group and the laparoscopic transcystic duct exploration of common bile duct lithotomy (ltcbde) treatment group. The observation focused on the operation time, bleeding volume , postoperative transfusion , postoperative drainage time , postoperative hospitalization time , cost of hospitalization, postoperative recovery time and complications compared clinical efficacies. Results LTCBDE group of patients in operation time (2.1 ± 0.5) was longer than that of the control group (1.6 ± 0.4), (P <0.001), while the bleeding volume, postoperative fluid volume, postoperative drainage time, postoperative hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses and postoperative recovery time were (17.4 ± 5.4), (6 550.4 ± 1 076.9), (3.5. 1.6), (4.1 ± 1.7), (12 243.5 ± 2 379.6), (11.3 ± 3.5) were lower than that of the group LCBDE (22.1 ± 7.5), (8 304.2 ± 1 394.8), (32.9 ± 10.4), (6.4 ± 2.4), (14 098.1 ± 2 897.3), (16.1 ± 5.7) P, respectively (P values were defined as 0.001, 0, 0, 0.015, 0.001, 0 individually); LTCBDE group of patients with bile leakage, acute peritonitis rates were 1/46,1/46,in which those were lower than the corresponding LCBDE in 6/41, 7/41 (P values were 0.033, 0.016, separately). Conclusion According to indications, LTCBD surgery has the advantages of less injury, less cost, less complications and so on. It has important significance to improve the condition of patients with secondary extrahepatic bile duct stones.

Objective To evaluate the activation patterns in the cortexes of expressive aphasics after stroke so as to explore the pathogenic mechanism of expressive aphasia.Methods Blood oxygen level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was the method of choice.It was administered to 9 subjects with expressive aphasia at 1 to 3 months post-stroke onset and to 10 healthy controls.Active areas in the patients' brains were observed using a block-designed picture-naming task,and language function was tested with the China Rehabilitation Research Center's aphasia examination (CRRCAE).The control group received BOLD-fMRI only.SPM8 software was used to process the fMRI data.Results Differences were observed in the mapping of activated areas between the two groups,but many activated areas showed no difference.Significant differences in activation were observed in areas associated with vision,language and cognition,including the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus,the bilateral superior temporal gyrus,the bilateral insula,the bilateral basal ganglia,the left superior frontal gyrus,the left middle frontal gyrus,the left precentral gyrus,the left thalamus,and the left middle temporal gyrus.All the patients had activated cortex regions associated with visual processing in the left and/or right hemisphere,such as the middle frontal gyrus,the middle temporal gyrus,the lingual gyrus and the fusiform gyrus.The activation volumes in the left hemisphere were significantly smaller than those in normal adults.Regions related to language such as the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area),the left middle frontal gyrus,and the right inferior frontal gyrus (the mirror region of Broca's area) were activated in some of them.While the activation frequency,activated volume and activation intensity generally were all less in the patients than in the controls,the activation intensity in the right superior temporal gyrus,the bilateral superior parietal lobule and the left inferior temporal gyrus were stronger.Conclusions Language production may be associated with multiple,interconnected regions.The right hemisphere participates in natural language processing.Aphasia damages both linguistic and cognitive areas,reducing activation in Broca's aphasia.Activation areas in the left hemisphere and the right inferior frontal gyrus decrease significantly,while some regions in the right hemisphere are relatively more activated.The right inferior frontal gyrus may play a different role in language recovery at different periods of aphasia after stroke.