OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of natural moxibustion on regulating immune imbalance in asthma rats.

METHODSSeventy SD male rats were divided into a normal group, a placebo group, a dexamethasone group, a big-cake for long-course moxibustion group, a big-cake for short-course moxibustion group, a small-cake for long-course moxibustion group and a small-cake for short-course moxibustion group, ten rats in each one. The rat model of asthma was established by egg albumen sensitization and stimulation in all the groups except the normal group. The natural moxibustion was used in all moxibustion groups, in which big cake of 1 cmX 1 cm size was used in the big-cake groups and small cake of 0.5 cmX 0. 5 cm size was used in the small cake groups. According to relevant acupoints, the natural moxibustion was performed, 5 h per time, once a day. Four times of treatment was considered one course, and three courses were required in the long-course groups and one course was required in the short-course groups. Intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone was applied in the dexamethasone group, which had the same course as long-course moxibustion group. After the treatment, changes of EOS in peripheral blood of asthma rats were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to test the contents of IgE, IL-4 and IFN-gamma in the lung tissue; real-time Q-PCR method was adopted to measure the expression level of transcription factor T-bet and GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) in the lung tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the EOS in whole blood as well as IL-4 and IgE in plasma were all increased in the placebo group (all P< 0. 01), IFN-gamma in plasma was obviously decreased (P<0. 01); while the levels of EOS, IgE and IL-4 were significantly reduced (all P<0. 01), the content of IFN-gamma was increased (P<0. 01) in all moxibustion groups and dexametnasone group. Compared with the normal group, the expression of T-bet mRNA in the placebo group was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Each treatment group could significantly increase the expression of T-bet mRNA and reduce that of GATA-3 mRNA (P<0. 01). Compared with the short-course moxibustion groups, the expression of T-bet mRNA was obviously increased in the long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (both P<0.01), and that of GATA-3 mRNA was reduced (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between long-course moxibustion group and dexamethasone group (P> 0. 05), and also no significant difference could be seen between big-cake moxibustion group and small-cake moxibustion group (P>0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe natural moxibustion could obviously reduce airway inflammation in asthma rats. With time passing, the efficacy is enhanced, indicating evident timeliness, which has no apparent relationship with the size of moxibustion cake.

Animals ; Asthma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Psathyrostachys juncea is a potential source of useful genes, such as the barley yellow dwarf virus resistance, salt tolerance and drought tolerance, for wheat improvement. Conventional sexual hybridization between wheat and Psathyrostachys juncea is very difficult to occur as the two are sexual incompatible. Somatic hybridization is a promising technique for creating hybrids across the sexual border. Here we report a fusion system for somatic hybridization of wheat using PEG method. Mixed protoplasts of two wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Jinan 177) culture cells (cha9 and 176) were used as the recipients to fuse with the donors, the protoplasts of Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV) at an intensity of 380 microW/cm2 for 1 min or 2 min. Sixteen clones were generated in the combination I, (wheat 176 + wheat cha9 + P. juncea 1 min UV treatment) and five of the hybrid clones could differentiate to green plants. All the regenerated clones were confirmed as somatic hybrids by cytological, isozyme, chromosome and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Chloroplast genome of the hybrids was analyzed using 7 pairs of wheat-specific chloroplast microsatellite (SSR) primers. Three clones were obtained from the combination II (wheat 176 + wheat cha9 + P. juncea 2 min UV treatment), and all browned slowly and died in 3 months. This result indicated that the mixed wheat cells was helpful to the formation and regeneration of hybrid callus and the dosage of the UV had significant effect on the development of the fusion products.
Chromosomes, Plant ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Poaceae ; genetics ; growth & development ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Regeneration ; Triticum ; genetics ; growth & development

Objective To investigate the pathogen culturing of the catheter related infection(CRI),cathe-ter related bloodstram infection(CRB)and risk factors after central venous catheter(CVC)of cardiovascular surgery in order to provide the beneficial reference.Methods From Jan 2005 to Dec 2005,a total of 300 cases central ve-nous cathers were determined,and the cusp of the catheters was determined by bacteria cultivation,and blood bacte-ria cultivation.Results The infection happened in 35 of 300 patients with inserted central venous catheter.The cusps of CRI rate was 11.7%.CRB rate was 1.7%.54.3%pathogens were gram-positive cocci,34.3% were gram-negative bacilli,11.4% were fungi.The most common strain were Staphylococcus epidermis,Staphylococcus aureus,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginose,and Candiadia albicans.The infection rate increased obviously when the dwelling time>6 d.Conclusion CRI and CRB are the most severe complication of CVC,and it is important to cut down the death with the early diagnosis and applying antibiotics rationally.

ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence and epidemic trend of human brucellosis between 2007 -2010 in Qian'an county,and to provide a basis for future prevention and control measures. Methods Epidemiological data of brucellosis between 2007 - 2010 were obtained from the national disease surveillance report on management information system, population data were from the national disease surveillance information management system for basic information reporting system, and descriptive epidemiological methods was used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 86 cases were infected with brucellosis in Qian'an county from 2007 to 2010, with 68 cases of male and 18 cases of female, and male to female ratio was 3.78 : 1. Patients were mainly in the age of 20 - 55, with 40 - ＜ 45 year-old group the highest. All patients were local residents. Most professional were livestock acquisition, processing and aquaculture personnel. The majority of patients lived in Jianchang town,with 51 cases, accounting for 59.30％. Thirteen patients were reported in 2007, incidence was 0.0201‰(13/ 647 983). Thirty-nine patients were reported in 2010, and incidence was 0.0563‰(39/657 380). There was a fluctuations increase from 2007 to 2010. In 2007 brucellosis occurred in only two townships(towns), which spread to eight townships (towns) and urban areas in 2010. ConclusionsThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Qian'an is in a spreading trend. We recommend the government to strengthen the quarantine of livestock, and the infected livestock should be timely treated. Strengthen the prevention and control in Jianchangying. At the same time increase the brucellosis propaganda, and enhance self-protection awareness of the occupational groups.

Objective To study the current situation of human brucellosis infection in a population at high risk in Qian'an,and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.Methods Towns with centralized residents working in sheep breeding,transporting,slaughtering and processing in Jianchangying,Muchangkou and Xiaguanying of Qian'an were selected.In each selected town,2-3 villages with relatively centralized households working in sheep farming,transportation and slaughtering were chosen.All of the people who contacted the sheep or their excrement were chosen as monitoring objects,and serological antibody was tested with rose Bengal plate test(RBPT) and serum agglutination test(SAT).Regional,gender,age and occupational distribution of brucellosis were analyzed.Results A total of 367 blood samples were tested,46 of them were positive in both RBPT and SAT with a ratio of 12.53％ (46/367).Male positive rate [13.51％ (30/222)] was slightly higher than that of females [11.03％(16/145)].The rate in Jianchangying was higher than that of other two towns with a ratio of 13.38％(40/299).The veterinary population had the highest ratio of 33.33％(1/3).Conclusions It is necessary to carry out the surveillance on brucellosis and to further strengthen communication with the animal husbandry department,and strengthen protection on key population.At the same time,in order to control the spread of the disease,extensive health education and intervention measures should be carried out.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

METHODSTotally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONDOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Sounds ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence trend and epidemiological characteristics of neural tube defects (NTDs) in perinatal in Zhengzhou city from 1996 to 2005.

METHODSData collected from hospital were used to depict the epidemiology of NTDs in Zhengzhou. All perinatal fetuses born in hospitals had an access within 7 days after delivery. The prevalence were calculated by perinatal'year, sex, birth area (urban versus rural) and maternal age. All monitored perinatal (162,074) accounted for 32.66% from totals (496,203).

RESULTSAll 238 cases were found NTDs, and the overall prevalence rate was 14.68/10,000. The annual prevalence rate presented a decreasing trend during that period. The rates in rural and urban area, in male and female birth were 29.28/10,000 and 9.63/10,000, 11.42/10,000 and 17.74/10,000 respectively. There were significant differences among maternal-age-specific prevalence rates (chi2 = 22.952, P = 0.000). The rates of <20 years group(53.76/10,000) and >35 years group(21.74/10,000) were higher than others.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of NTDs in rural area is higher than that in urban, female's is higher than male's in Zhengzhou. The annual prevalence rates of NTDs presents a decreasing trend in the past ten years.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Distribution ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo study effective active constituents of Cayratia japonica,a genuine herbal medicine from Fujian.

METHODSuch chromatographic methods as Macroporous, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and normal phase silica gel column chromatography were adopted to separate the chemical components of C. japonica.

RESULTThirteen compounds were obtained, and their structures were identified by analyzing multiple spectral data as luteolin(1), apigenin(2), triethyl citrate-(3), 3-formylindole(4), esculetin(5), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate(6), calendin(7), ethyl-trans-3,4-dihydr-oxycinnamate(8), luteolin7-O-D-glucoside(9),5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethyl-5-pentyl-2(5H-furanone(10),ethyl-3,4-dihydroxybenzoate(11), eriodictyol(12) and daucosterol(13).

CONCLUSIONAmong them, compounds 3-8 and 10-12 were separated from the plant for the first time.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Vitaceae ; chemistry

The metabonomics method was used to study the intervention effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on the changes in serum endogenous metabolites in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing, screen out differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and explore the metabolic patterns related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and the processing synergy mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill". Efforts were made to detect SOD and MDA of each group, test rat serum metabolic fingerprints in different stages by using GC-MS, analyze by PCA and PLS-DA methods and screen out potential biomarks through VIP and t test. The results revealed that "Ershen pill" could enhance the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA and identified 10 differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea. Compared with the model group, all of metabolites recovered to varying levels after being intervened with "Ershen pill", with the best effect shown in the "Ershen pill" IV group (salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus + bran-roasted Myristicae Semen). It is speculated that that Psoraleae Fructus and Semen Myristicae in "Ershen pill" show a synergistic effect by inhibiting peroxide, improving aglucolipid, amino acids and energy metabolism, with multiple target sites.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Myristicaceae ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

Biomarkers ; blood ; Child ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; blood ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Humans ; Klinefelter Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Puberty, Precocious ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Teratoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Testis ; pathology