OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of volatile oil of amomum (VOA) on the expressions of mastocarcinoma-related peptide (PS2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) in helicobacter pyloriassociated gastritis (HPG) and to analyze its potential mechanism.

METHODSEighty patients with HPG were randomly assigned to two groups, 42 patients in the treated group treated with 0.5 mL VOA, thrice per day; and the 38 patients in the control group receiving Western tertiary medicinal treatment. Gastroscopic picture and helicobacter pylori (HP) infection (by quick urease and Warthin-Starry stain) of the gastro-membrane, expressions of PS2 and PAF (by immunohistochemical assay and Western blotting) as well as the contents of aminohexose and phospholipid (by Neuhaus method) in the gastric membrane of all patients were detected before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. The clinical efficacy in the two groups was compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 88.1%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (78.9%, P<0.05). After treatment, in the treated group, gastric membranous contents of aminohexose and phospholipid was increased, expression of PS2 elevated but that of PAF lowered, all showing significant difference as compared with those in the control group (P<0.01). In the control group, the expressions of PS2 and PAF changed insignificantly. The radical eliminating rate of HP in the treated group and the control group was insignificantly different between them (76.1% vs. 65.8%, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of VOA for anti-gastritis might be related with its action in increasing the expression of PS2 and decreasing the expression of PAF, and thus regulating the hydrophobicity of the gastric membrane.

Adult ; Aged ; Amomum ; Blotting, Western ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; chemistry ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oils, Volatile ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Peptides ; analysis ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Platelet Activating Factor ; analysis

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm, False ; physiopathology ; Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Epistaxis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

To evaluate the significance of FCM in minimal residual disease (MRD) detection, the immunophenotyping and leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIP) of leukemia cells from 273 adult and 142 childhood patients with B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) were detected by four to six antibody combinations of 4-color CD45/SSC gating multiparametric flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that the B-ALL patients could be classified into 4 subtypes based on different expression CD34 and CD10: subtype I (CD34(+)/CD10(-)), subtype II (CD34(+)/CD10(+)), subtype III (CD34(-)/CD10(+)), subtype IV (CD34(-)/CD10(-)). The LAIP was observed in 100% and 92% patients of subtype I and subtype II, respectively, whereas only 79.2% in subtype III. The incidence of LAIP in total B-ALL cases was 90% by using the antibodies detected in this investigation. There was no significantce different for incidence of LAIP between adult and pediatric patients. LAIP was observed in 77.6% of patients by labeling only CD34/CD10/CD19/CD45 4-color antibody combination. It is concluded that in 90% of childhood and adult B-ALL patients LAIP can be found, which suits MRD detection by multiparameter flow cytometry.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; classification ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Lineage ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; Neprilysin ; analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; classification ; immunology ; pathology

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; prevention & control ; Female ; Glutathione ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIP) in patients with B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) at diagnosis and relapse, and investigate its implications for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection.

METHODSThe immunophenotype of leukemia cells from 410 newly diagnosed and 6 relapsed patients with B-ALL were detected by four to six antibody combination, mainly CD34/CD10/CD45/CD19 of 4-color CD45/SSC gating flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe proportion of CD45 under-expressed or negative in relapsed patients was much higher than that in newly diagnosed patients, being 69.2% and 37.8% respectively. Immunophenotypic changes occurred in 9 relapsed patients (including 8 hematological relapse and 1 central nerves system relapse) when analyzed by paired samples analysis at diagnosis vs at relapse: 4 cases showed CD45 down-modulation and 2 up-modulation; 4 CD34 down-modulation and 2 CD10 up-modulation, while the expression of CD19 remained no change. MRD was observed in all 7 cases of hematological relapse 2 - 4 months before relapse, and the immunophenotype of MRD cells was the same as that in relapse.

CONCLUSIONA high frequency of immunophenotypic changes occurred at relapse and even in MRD before relapse, however the accuracy of MRD monitoring seemed not affected by the FCM strategy used in this investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; methods ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Neprilysin ; immunology ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical significance for minimal residual disease (MRD) detection by 4 color flow cytometry in B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

METHODSMRD was analyzed and followed up by using two panels of 4 color antibodies, mainly CD34/CD10/CD45/CD19, in 671 consecutive bone marrow specimens and 1 cerebrospinal fluid from 98 B-ALL patients. In 26 cases of them the immunophenotyping informations at diagnosis were not available.

RESULTSOf 671 bone marrow samples, 579 were MRD negative with leukemic cells below 0.0001 and 93 were MRD positive with leukemic cells over 0.0001. Of 93 MRD positive samples, leukemic cells below 0.05 were found in 64 bone marrow samples, meanwhile in the other 29 samples leukemic cells were over 0.05. Twenty patients relapsed, 19 were bone marrow relapse and one center nerves system. Fifteen of them were found MRD positive 7 - 17 weeks before relapse including 6 patients having no immunophenotyping data at diagnosis. The percentages of leukemia cells in these 15 patients were all over 0.0001. Two relapsed patients were MRD negative in 3 and 9 months before relapse, respectively. Two relapsed after MRD monitoring stopped. If MRD level was > 0.0001 at the end of induction chemotherapy and 12 weeks of treatment, the rate of relapse was 50% (6/12), while, it was 7.5% (3/40) in MRD negative patients (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONRelapses can be predicted by MRD monitoring, if MRD was positive in the early phase of treatment, the risk of relapse was higher. Based on the characteristics of B cells ontogeny, MRD detection can be done independently of immunophenotypic information at diagnosis.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD19 ; immunology ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm, Residual ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Neprilysin ; immunology ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo summarize the surgical experience of type A aortic dissection.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2006, 54 cases were admitted for Standford type A aortic dissection, including 36 cases of acute aortic dissection and 18 cases of chronic. Thirty-five cases underwent emergence operation and 11 cases underwent selective/limited operation, while 8 cases received medical treatment According to the modus operandi of root of aorta, 9 cases underwent ascending aorta replacement merely, 11 cases for Bentall operation, 12 cases for Wheat operation and ascending aorta replacement, 14 cases for David operation and ascending aorta replacement. According to the modus operandi of aortic arch and descendens, 6 cases underwent right hemiarch replacement, 25 cases for total arch replacement with four branches aortic graft, 24 cases for stent-graft elephant trunk technique. One patient of coronary heart disease and 1 patient of right coronary fracture underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Deep hyperthermic circulatory arrest and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion were applied with aortic arch operation. Surface cooling was applied with selective/limited operation.

RESULTSFour patients died in operation group (8.7%) and 8 died in non-operation group (75.0%). Postoperative complication included 1 mental symptom, 3 pleural/pericardial effusion, 1 hoarseness, 1 sternal rupture and poor wound healing. All the complication were cured. The operative out-hospital patients were followed up (13.0 +/- 14.2) months and the quality of life was satisfied.

CONCLUSIONSStandford type A aortic dissection should be operated aggressively. Expected outcome could be acquired with optimum modus operandi, proper cerebral protection and dealing with postoperative complication timely.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aorta ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

Plant natural products (PNPs) are important sources of innovative drugs. They are mainly obtained by isolation or extraction from plants. Low content and with structural analogues in plants result in high production cost, which restricts the research and application of PNPs. While biopathway construction by synthetic biology provides an alternative for production of PNPs. By biosynthetic pathway analysis of PNPs and reconstructing the biopathway in microorganisms, we can produce PNPs in cell factories efficiently. Recently, several predominantly international reports about biosynthesis of PNPs and its synthetic biology production, triggered the researches of PNPs. Abundant traditional Chinese medicine resources and profound cultural heritage of Chinese medicine make biosynthesis pathway analysis of PNPs to be a research hotspot. And some of the studies have achieved significant progress. Here, recent progress in the biosynthesis of plant natural products and its synthetic biology was reviewed. In particular, the application of new methods and technologies in recent years were summarized and discussed. This will provide reference for the biopathway construction of plant natural products.

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) is the first rate-limiting enzyme of terpenoid biosynthesis in the mevalonic acid pathway (MVA) pathway. It is an important regulatory site in terpenoids metabolism pathway in the cytoplasm. According to the transcriptome database of Cinnamomum camphora, two HMGRs named CcHMGR1 (GenBank: MN163055) and CcHMGR2 (GenBank: MN163056) were cloned by cDNA from C. camphora. The ORF of CcHMGR1 and CcHMGR2 is composed of 1 689 bp and 1 683 bp, respectively, encoding 562 and 560 amino acids. The bioinformatics analysis of CcHMGR1 and CcHMGR2 indicated that the molecular weight of the encoded protein is 59.819 kDa and 59.397 kDa, with a theoretically isoelectric point of 8.20 and 8.61, respectively. There are 2 transmembrane structures without signal peptide existing in the encoded amino acid of CcHMGRs. The analysis of sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree showed that theCcHMGRs belonged to the HMGR family. The camphor is divided into five chemitypes, according to the main chemical compoundsin C. camphora. The results of the real time PCR indicated that the expression level of CcHMGRs in Cineol type was higher than that in Linalool type, iso-nerolidol type, Camphor type and Borneol type. CcHMGRs expressed highest in roots and lowest in branches. In this study, the cDNA full length of CcHMGRs were cloned from C. camphora for the first time. Our results revealed that the expression level of CcHMGRs were different among five chemical types and different plant tissues, and the research provides foundation for further study of the terpenoids biosynthetic pathway in C. camphora.

Seahorse is one the most commonly used medicinal animal in China. Five species of Hippocampus are recorded as seahorse in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Because of the rapid decrease, several other Hippocampus species are often adulterants as medicinal seahorse in the herbal market, which compromise clinical efficacy and pose threat to endangered seahorse species conversation. Herein, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) method was developed to identify the biological sources of medicinal seahorses.Based on the sequences of mitochondrial DNA, five specific primers for Hippocampus trimaculatus, H. kelloggi, H. kuda, H. histrix and H. mohnikei (H. japonicus)were designed, respectively. Multiplex PCR yields the products of 155, 222, 292, 352, 458 bp amplicons in the present of DNA templates of H. kuda, H. mohnikei, H. kelloggi, H. histrix and H. trimaculatus, respectively. This multiplex PCR method which electrophoresis migration of different lengths of DNA bands allowed simultaneous identification of all the five medicinal seahorses in a single assay. It showed that this multiplex PCR assay is useful for the simultaneous identification the biological sources of complex multi-source samples, which could provide a useful tool for the quality control of seahorses.
Animals ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smegmamorpha