This study is to analyze and identify the water soluble components of water buffalo horn (Bubali Cornu, WBH), and also establish a method for investigating these components. Shotgun proteomic analysis identified proteins in WBH aqueous extraction: keratin, collagen, desmoglein, etc. Ultrafiltration and LC-MS/MS were used to separate and identify the peptides in WBH aqueous extract, as a result, identified peptides were mainly derived from nonspecific degradation products of keratin and collagen, which including C-terminal peptides and non C-terminal peptides. Hypoxanthine, uridine, guanosine, and adenosine were identified by comparing with the standards. The strategy in present study could be used in analyzing water soluble components of animal horn derived TCM. It provides a reference for investigation of the material basis of animal horn derived TCM.
Animals ; Buffaloes ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Guanosine ; Horns ; chemistry ; Hypoxanthine ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Peptides ; Proteomics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Uridine

Viewing from some TCM concepts and basic characteristics of health, assimilating the operationalization concerning thinking and procedure of modern scientific research, the pilot form of Health Scale of TCM--initial health scale of TCM (iHSTCM) based upon TCM theory was developed. From November 2002 to January 2003, the domain, facets and items of HSTCM were finally established by analyzing the data from a survey of 652 persons in Guangzhou City using iHSTCM. In conclusion, the HSTCM has its theoretical ratio-nality and is applicable. It could be further applied in TCM clinical practice.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Health ; Health Promotion ; methods ; standards ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo review the clinical features of the thoracolumbar fracture with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in order to avoid delayed or missed diagnosis.

METHODSFive patients of thoracolumbar fracture with AS treated from April 2005 to June 2007 in our department were studied retrospectively, male 4 cases, female 1 case, the age from 26- to 72-years-old with an average of 44.8 years. Analysis including: case history, number of the ankylosed vertebras, characteristic of fracture, active state rheumatism.

RESULTSThe patients had the history of AS for average 22.6 years. The mean number of the ankylosed vertebras was 18.2. Of the 5 cases, 1 case encountered traffic accident, 1case was sprained, and 3 cases without trauma were diagnosed as stress fracture. Two cases were trans-vertebra fracture: the fracture line was through T6, T7, or L1 vertebral body respectively; 3 cases were through the disc space: 2 cases were through L1,2 disc space, 1 case was through L2,3. No compression fracture and neurological injury were found. The acute inflammatory index such as ESR and CRP in 4 cases didn't correlate with the degree of pain. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) hadn't significant effectiveness in relieving pain. The patients were diagnosed as 'relapse' of AS in other hospital, and had been misdiagnosed for average 1.51 months.

CONCLUSION1) the fracture is prevalent at the middle or late period of AS when extensive ankylosis has been existed at the thoracolumbar region; 2) the fracture is common at the lower thoracal spine and the upper lumbar spine, and the majority is the stress fracture; 3) the fracture line may be through the vertebral body, but more often through the disc space; 4) it is like an exacerbation of AS and therefore to be missed diagnosis; 5) when the back pain exacerbated suddenly in the middle or late period of AS, the degree of pain not correlating with acute inflammatory index, and the NSAIDs ineffective, the thoracolumbar fracture should be considered.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; complications ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of Xue Hanjing oral fluid on mice immunological function.

METHODThe weight of thymus gland and spleen and the function of abdominal cavity macrophage were measured. Production of the hemolysin antibody, the immunoglobulin of blood serum and complement and the proliferation of T lymphocytes were observed respectively by means of microblood, immune-turbidimetry and MTT staining.

RESULTXue Hanjing oral fluid could enhance index of the thymus gland and spleen and the phago-percent of abdominal cavity macrophage, increase the immunoglobulin of blood serum(IgG and IgM), and accelerate production of the hemolysin antibody and the proliferation of T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONSXue Hanjing oral can reinforce immunological function in mice.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hemolysin Proteins ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Poaceae ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this anatomic study was to investigate the intramuscular neurovascular configuration and to evaluate whether the muscle could be split into two functional units in transplantation.

METHODSTen fresh cadavers and ten preserved cadavers were used in the study. A mixture of lead oxide, gelatin and water was injected to the femoral artery of the fresh cadaver. The rectus femoris muscle with its neurovascular pedicles was dissected and radiographed.

RESULTSThree vascular patterns of the rectus femoris muscle were found in the 40 cadaver legs. The muscle received its blood supply through a single vascular pedicle (12.5%), or a dominant pedicle with 1-2 ramified (80%), or two dominant vascular pedicles (7.5%).

CONCLUSIONSThe study provided a detailed description on the intramuscular neurovascular territories of the rectus femoris muscle. Based on the neurovascular supply of the muscle, it is possible to subdivide the muscle into two functional units for segmental muscle transfer.

Cadaver ; Humans ; Quadriceps Muscle ; blood supply ; innervation ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical and imaging features of a patient with adult-onset Krabbe disease and to detect the underlying genetic mutations.

METHODSClinical and cranial MRI features of the patient were analyzed. Pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, cranial MRI features and diagnostic criteria for the disease were discussed.

RESULTSThe patient had presented asymmetric limb weakness and difficulty in walking. Electromyography suggested peripheral nerve demyelination. Cranial MRI showed increased signal intensity in white matter with involvement of the corticospinal tracts. Screening of GALC gene mutation has found the patient to be heterozygous for T1685C (Ile562Thr) and homozygous for A1921G (Thr641Ala), both of which were considered to be polymorphisms. In addition, he was heterozygous for G136T (Asp46Tyr), which had not been described previously.

CONCLUSIONClinical manifestations of adult-onset Krabbe disease may be atypical. Cranial MRI and galactocerebroside activity assay should be carried out for patients featuring chronic progressive corticospinal tract injury. An Asp46Tyr mutation probably underlies the disease in the current case.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; Radiography

OBJECTIVEPPTA and c-fos mRNA expression were detected in dog caudalis subnucleus of trigeminal spinal tract nucleus (VC) induced by trauma occlusion in order to investigate orofacial pain mechanism.

METHODSThe occlusal surface of the first and second maxillary right molars in 15 dogs were unilaterally raised 1.5 mm with casting Ni-Cr inlay which were fixed in Class I hole. On days 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 after teeth operation, the VC of right and left sides were removed. PPTA and c-fos mRNAs were detected in experimental and control groups with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS(1) The basal levels of PPTA and c-fos mRNAs were extremely low and poorly detectable in VC in control animals. (2) The expression of PPTA mRNA in VC of traumatic side was up regulated from 3 days after inlay was fixed in molar and reached peak level during 14 to 30 days and then down-regulated gradually and no significant difference was noted between 60 days group and control group. (3) c-fos mRNA expression was more intense during 3 to 7 days compared with the control group but undetectable in the other experimental period. (4) Both PPTA and c-fos mRNAs expression in VC of trauma occlusal side were more intense than that in the contralateral side.

CONCLUSIONSThe present results show that both PPTA and c-fos mRNA expression are elevated in dog's VC induced by traumatic occlusion. The primary afferent terminal of orofacial area is sensitized, which suggest one kind of mechanism of orofacial pain in the condition of traumatic occlusion.

Animals ; Dental Occlusion, Traumatic ; physiopathology ; Dogs ; Facial Neuralgia ; etiology ; Protein Precursors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Tachykinins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Trigeminal Nucleus, Spinal ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the expressions of plasma membrane calcium ATPasel (PMCA1) of human lens epithelial cell B-3 (HLEB-3) at both mRNA and protein levels in the presence and absence of ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation.Methods HLEB-3 was cultured in RPMI 1640 medium,and the cytotoxic effect of different concentrations of ZnO (0 μg · mL-1,2.5 μg · mL-1,5.0μg · mL-1,10.0 μg · mL-1) on HLEB-3 was investigated in the presence and absence of UVB irradiation.DAPI staining was used to monitor the effect of ZnO on HLECB-3 nuclei,and cell apoptosis was evaluated using annexin V-FITC/PI staining in the presence and absence of UVB irradiation.In addition,the intracellular calcium ion (Ca2 +)levels were assayed using Fluo-3/AM staining,and the expression levels of both PMCA1 mRNA and protein within HLEB-3 were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results DAPI staining showed that the ZnO-treated HLEB-3 displayed a concentration-dependent apoptosis,and UVB irradiation could further aggravate the cytotoxic effect of ZnO on HLEB-3.In addition,in the presence of UVB irradiation,concentration gradient of ZnO (2.5 μg · mL-1,5.0 μg · mL-1,10.0 μg · mL-1) increased the intracellular calcium ion levels [from (156.34 ±4.59) nmol · L-1 to (173.88 ±7.17)umol · L-1,(289.02 ± 9.09) nmol · L-1,(488.36 ± 48.16) nmol · L 1,respectively] and upregulated HLEB-3 apoptosis,with statistical difference (all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,the expression level of PMCA1 in the 2.5 μg · mL-1,5.0 μg · mL-1,10.0 μg · mL-1 ZnO-treated epithelial cells was accordingly 0.75,0.57 and 0.41 as much as that in the 0μg · mL-1 ZnO-treated cells in the absence of UVB irradiation (all P ＜ 0.05),and was accordingly 0.64,0.24 and 0.09 in the present of UVB irradiation,with significant difference (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both ZnO nanoparticle and UVB irradiation can exert cosuppression effect on HLEB-3 via calcium-mediated signaling pathway,indicating it has great potential for the treatment of posterior capsular opacification with UVB irradiation.

Objective To summarize the manifestation and treatment of acquired hemophilia A in pa- tients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Method A case was investigated retrospectively and the lit- erature was reviewed.Results A 25-year-old woman with a 5 year history of SLE was admitted to hospital due to abdominal pain.She was diagnosed with acquired factorⅧinhibitor deficiency based on a prolonged activated partial-thromboplastin time(APTT,135.3 s),reduced factorⅧactivity(0.9%)and factorⅧin- hibitor(26.1 BU/ml).Sonography and magnetic nuclear resonance of the abdomen confirmed the presence of a retro-uterine hematoma.The patient was initially treated with intravenous pulse and oral corticosteroids,factorⅧplasma concentrated and intravenous immunoglobulin.Clinical and biological improvement was promptly obtained.Conclusions Attention should be paid to the association between SLE and acquired hemophilia A. Combination therapy may be recommended as initial therapy for the management of acquired hemophilia A in patients with SLE.But no standardized treatment can be recommended at present.

Objective To study the clinical value of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) as a biomarker in evaluating its prognosis,monitoring and follow-up of the postoperative patients with non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Serum CYFRA21-1 was determined by radioimmunoassay for 207 patients with NSCLC before and after surgical operation at Tongji Hospital,Shanghai.Relationship between serum CYFRA21-1 and the prognosis,recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer was analyzed retrospectively.Results The patients were followed-up for 37 months in average.Preoperative serum CYFRA21-1 was positive in 42.0% (87/207) of all the cases,48.8% (60/123) of squamous cell earcinama and 34.6% (27/78) of adenocarcinoma,with statistical significance (X~2=3.901,P