ObjectiveTo observe the effect of the ambulation training on the typical hemiplegic gait in community.Methods50 stroke patients with typical hemiplegic gait were divided into two groups: treatment group was treated with systematic rehabilitation training, 5 times each week for 3 months, and control group accepted self-walking training. The follow-up was performed every week at home. The two groups were assessed by the timed "up & go" test, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA) and Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS).ResultsThe scores of the timed "up & go" test, FMA, and SWLS showed that there weren't significant difference between the treatment group and the control group 1 month after treatment; but the scores in the treatment group were obviously higher than those in the control group 3 months after treatment.ConclusionAmbulation training could improve the typical hemiplegic gait and quality of walking of stroke patients with hemiplegic gait in community.

The aim of laboratory evaluation of basic education is to improve the quality of experimental teaching,which demands thorough reforms of many aspects,including the ranks of teachers,administration,content,methods and instrument of teaching. This article summarizes the experience and achievement of Functional Laboratory Centre,Central South University during under- graduate teaching evaluation by the Ministry of Education in 2006.

In order to efficiently control the quality of the Tibetan medicine Gentianae Szechenyii Flos, the quality standard was established in this study. The tests of water content, total ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of the crude drugs were carried out based on the methods recorded in appendix of Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition, volume 1). The TLC method was established by using reference drug and gentiournoside A as reference substance, and a mixture of ethyl acetate-methanol-water-formic acid (7: 1.5: 1: 0.2) as the developing solvent system on silica gel G TLC plate. The content of gentiournoside A was assayed by HPLC on a Ultimate XB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) column, using methanol-water (0.02% phosphoric acid) (52:48) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature is 25 degrees C and the detection wavelength is at 240 nm. As a result, gentiournoside A and the other constituents were separated and presented the same fluorescence light comparing with the reference substance on TLC detected under the UV light(366 nm). The methodology validation for the assay of gentiournoside A showed that it was in a good linear correlation in the range of 10.01-400.32 mg x L(-1) with the regression equation of Y = 1 539.5X - 33.339 (r = 0.999 7), and the average recovery was 99.68% (RSD 1.92%). The mass fractions of gentiournoside A, water content, ethanol-soluble extractives of 19 batches samples were varied in the ranges of 14.48-31.51 mg x g(-1), 11.25% -12.74% and 24.21% - 31.60%, respectively, and total ash was 4.64% - 6.12% detected from 10 batches samples. The recommended standards of quantitative indexes are that the mass fractions of gentiournoside A and extractives are not less than 15.0 mg x g(-1) (1.5%) and 21.0%, respectively; the water and total ash are not more than 13.0% and 6.0%, respectively.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Gentiana ; chemistry ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control

The relationship of nutrients and microorganisms in soils with polyphenols and total flavonoids of Houttuynia cordata were investigated by measuring nutrients, enzyme activity, pH, concentrations of microbe phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in soils, and determining concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata. The research is aimed to understand characteristics of the planting soils and improve the quality of cultivated H. cordata. The soils at different sample sites varied greatly in nutrients, enzyme activity, pH, microbic PLFAs and polyphenols and all flavonoids. The content of total PLFAs in sample sites was following: bacteria > fungi > actinomyces > nematode. The content of bacteria PLFAs was 37.5%-65.0% at different sample sites. Activities of polyphenol oxidease, concentrations of available P and content of PLFAs of bacteria, actinomyces and total microorganisms in soils were significantly and positively related to the concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata, respectively (P < 0.05) . The Content of fungi PLFAs in soils was significantly and negatively related to concentrations of polyphenols and total flavonoids of H. cordata, respectively (P < 0.05). This study provides evidence that effectiveness of the soil nutrient, which may be improved due to transformation of soil microorganisms and enzymes to N and P in the soils, was beneficial to adaptation of H. cordata adapted to different soil conditions, and significantly affects metabolic accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids of H. cordata.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry ; Soil Microbiology

AIM:To investigate the effects of Akt1 gene transfection into myocardium after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) on mitochondrial permeability transition. METHODS:Forty adult male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups with 8 rats each:control group,I/R group,Ad-gene group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The rats in Ad-gene group were injected with 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 solution including Akt1 gene to the myocardium 48 h before ischemia while those in control group and I/R group were injected with PBS of the same volume. Rats in Ad-blank group were injected with Lipofectamine 2000 of the same volume into myocardium. In Ad-inhibitor group 30 μL Lipofectamine 2000 and gene complexes with LY294002 were injected. Hemodynamics,apoptotic index,the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase,creatine kinase,the expression of Akt1,cytosolic,mitochondrial cytochrome C and MPT were also measured. RESULTS:The lowest level of Akt1 protein expression was observed in control group. The protein expression of Akt1 in Ad-gene group was higher than that in I/R group,Ad-blank group and Ad-inhibitor group. The AI,LDH and CK in Ad-gene group were significantly lower than those in other groups except control group. Transfection of Akt1 markedly reduced the loss of mitochondrial cytochome C after I/R injury. Ad-gene transfection led to a significant increase in absorbance at 540 nm compared to I/R group,Ad - black group and Ad-inhibitor group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Akt1 gene prevents myocardial apoptosis after I/R injury. Akt1 gene also inhibits the opening of mitochondria permeability transition and protects mitochondrial functions of myocardium in I/R injury.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors for the psychological burden of depressive patients' caregivers. Methods We enrolled the chief caregivers of depressive patients who were hospitalized in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital as our subjects. We investigated them by Caregiver Burden Inventory, Social Support Revalued Scale (SSRS) , Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and Suicide Risk Assessment Scale, and learned influencing factors for the psychological burden of these caregivers by multiple linear regression analysis. Results We totally enrolled 101 subjects and collected 96 questionnaires (95.04%) . The 96 respondents scored (24.88±12.94) points in the psychological burden and 54 of which scored more than 20 points, accounted for 56.25%. The positive rate of mental pressure was 65.63%, which was the lowest; the positive rate of social burden was 93.75%, which was the highest. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the objective support (β=-1.856, P=0.002), subjective support (β=0.526, P=0.008) and high suicidal score of depressive patients (β=0.290, P=0.048) were the influencing factors for the psychological burden of depressive patients' caregivers. Conclusion More than half of the caregivers have psychological burden, which is associated with objective support, subjective support and high suicidal score of depressive patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of combination therapy of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) with methotrexate (MTX) on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSTotally 55 male SD rats were stratified by body weight. Nine of them were randomly recruited as the normal control group. The rest 46 were immunized with type II bovine collagen (C II) for establishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model. Forty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to swollen toe degree, i.e., the CIA group, the TMP group, the MTX group, and the TMP plus MTX group, 10 in each group. Rats in the MTX group were administered with MTX (1. 2 mg/kg) , once per week for 4 continuous weeks. Those in the TMP group were administered with 40 mg/kg TMP, once per day for 10 continuous days, and then discontinued for 7 successive days, and continued for another 10 successive days. Rats in the TMP plus MTX group were administered with a mixture of equal dose MTX and TMP, and when MTX was discontinue, TMP was administered according to the way in the TMP group. Equal volume of saline solution was given to rats in the normal control group and the CIA group. Clinical parameters including ankle width (mediolateral diameter) and hindpaw swelling were measured at day 0, 4, 11, 18, and 26 after treatment. Rats were sacrificed 28 days after treatment, their knee joints and ankle joints were collected for pathological analyses. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. Changes of fibrinogen (FIB) and platelet aggregation rate (PAg) were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the ankle width and hindpaw swelling increased significantly (P < 0.01), contents of FIB and PAg increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 increased remarkably (P <0. 01) in the CIA group. Obvious cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperemia and edema of synovial tissues could be seen. Pannus formed and immerged in cartilages, resulting in necrosis. Compared with the model group, changes of ankle width and hindpaw swelling were all alleviated in each medicated group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Of them, the effect was superior in the MTX group to that of the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the MTX group (P < 0.05). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05). Besides, serum levels of FIB and IL-6 were obviously lower in the MTX plus TMP group than in the TMP group and the MTX group (P < 0.01). Levels of PAg and IL-17A were more significantly lowered in the TMP group than in the MTX plus TMP group and the MTX group. Pathological changes could be alleviated in each medicated group, with the optimal effect obtained in the MTX plus TMP group.

CONCLUSIONCombination of TMP with MTX could significantly ameliorate inflammatory reactions and FIB contents of CIA rats.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cattle ; Collagen Type II ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane

OBJECTIVETo explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS).

METHODSThirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression.

RESULTSBy one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONSAbnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Adolescent ; Aged ; DNA Methylation ; Heart Failure ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Qi

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of gastrin on invasiveness of human colon cancer cells and the role of gastrin receptor-focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal transduction pathway in this proess.

METHODSpCR3.1/GR vector expressing gastrin receptor was transfected into a colorectal cancer cell line Colo320 with lipofectamine 2000, and screened by G418. The expression levels of gastrin receptor of the parental cell line Colo320 and the transfected cell line Colo320/GR were assayed by RT-PCR. On the other hand, antisense oligonucleotide of FAK was used to block its expression. The mock transfected Colo320 and sense oligonucleotide Colo320 cells were used as controls. Colo320 and Colo320/GR cells were treated with increasing doses (0 approximately 100 nmol/L) of gastrin. Invasiveness of Colo320 and Colo320/GR cells was determined by Boyden chamber. Phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) tyr-397 was examined by immunoprecipitation and Western-blot.

RESULTSRT-PCR results showed that the Colo320/GR cells had an mRNA level four times as high as that of Colo320 cells. Western blot showed that FAK tyr397 phosphorylation of Colo320 cells was apparently decreased. Colo320 and Colo320/GR cells showed a dose-dependent response to gastrin on invasiveness and phosphorylation of FAK tyr-397. Invasiveness of Colo320 cells reached its climax when concentration of gastrin was 100 nmol/L, and FAK tyr-397 phosphorylation was marked when concentration of gastrin was 10 nmol/L, but the latter decreased when gastrin concentration was increased to 100 nmol/L. Colo320/GR cells had the same tendency as Colo320 cells, but showed an even stronger invasiveness and a higher level of FAK tyr-397 phosphorylation than Colo320 cells. Before gastrin stimulation, the invasiveness of Colo320 cells transfected with antisense oligonucleotides and the controls showed no difference. After gastrin stimulation, the increase in invasiveness was much less than that in the controls.

CONCLUSIONGastrin can evidently promote invasiveness of Colo320 cells via gastrin-gastrin receptor-FAK signal transduction pathway.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Gastrins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of dental operating microscope in clinical treatment of lower incisors with multiple root canals.

METHODS143 mandibular incisors in 128 patients were treated endodontically. Two kinds of preoperative radiographs were taken for each tooth, using straight projection and eccentric projection. The root canal morphology was recorded according to Vertucci's classification. Under dental operating microscope, the teeth with multiple root canals were shaped using Ni-Ti rotary instruments Hero 642, cleaned using sodium hypochlorite, and obturated with vertical condensation technique. The following information was recorded: The number of teeth that were found to have multiple canals in two kinds of preoperative radiographs, and when using and without using microscope. The efficiency of preparation and obturation was analyzed with radiographs before, during and after operation.

RESULTSThe mandibular central incisor with one canal was 73.53% and multiple canals was 26.47% in treated teeth. The mandibular lateral incisor with one canal was 70.67% and multiple canals was 29.33% in treated teeth. By eccentric projection radiograph and treatment using microscope, more teeth with multiple canals were found. No complication was found during root canal preparation. 134 teeth were well filled and 9 showed slight over-filling.

CONCLUSIONWith dental operating microscope, the mandibular incisors with multiple root canals could be treated well in combination with rotary instrumentation and vertical condensation technique.

Bicuspid ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Humans ; Incisor ; Mandible ; Nickel ; Root Canal Preparation ; Root Canal Therapy ; Titanium