Objective To explorethe effect of Bailingcapsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) inrats withadenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis .Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ani mal models were established and SDrats were dividedinto mo-del group (n=30) ,treatment group (n=30) andcontrol group(n=30) ,randomly .Experi mental rats were harvested at 7 w,12 w,17 wafter onset of experi ment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology ,i mmunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) ,transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and a-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in kidneys at three ti me points mentioned above ,respectively .Results Compared with controlgroup ,24 h urinary proteinin model grouplost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three ti me points relative to controlgroup(P0 .05) rel-ative to control group.There was significant difference at 12 wand 17 w(P

Objective To explore the effect of Bailing capsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition( EMT) in rats with adenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis animal models were established and SD rats were divided into mo-del group ( n = 30), treatment group ( n = 30) and control group( n = 30), randomly. Experimental rats were harvested at 7 w, 12 w,17 w after onset of experiment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology, immunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 )and a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidneys at three time points mentioned above, respectively. Results Compared with controlgroup, 24 h urinary protein in model group lost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three time points relative to controlgroup ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Urinary NAG in model group was markedly higher than that in control group from 7 w after onset (P ＜ 0.01 ) andwas increasingly raised at 12 w and 17 w (P＜0.01). The value of blood BUN and Cr in model group increased at 7 w (P＞0.05) rel-ative to control group. There was significant difference at 12 w and 17.w (P ＜ 0.01 ). Histologically, kidneys in model group, at 7 w,exhibited tubular casts and gently tubular dilation, granuloma in cortex, mononuclear cells infiltration in tubulointerstitial areas, andmild interstitial fibrosis. At 12 w, the degree of tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis gradually aggravated. Up to 17 w, diffusetubular dilation or atrophy was observed and focal tubules disappear. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was exhibited. In normal kidneys, im-munohistochemistry suggested that the light expression of BMP-7 was detected in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and marked ex-pression was identified in distal tubule, collecting duct, and renal tubular epithelial in junction area between cortex and medulla. How-ever, the expression of BMP-7 in kidneys of model group significantly decreased with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and was nega-tive correlation with the expression of TGF-β1(r = -0. 981 P＜0.01) and α-SMA (r= -0.975 P＜0.01). Bailing capsule ad-ministration protected the expression of BMP-7 and reduced TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression before 12 w(P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Ourstudy shows an anti-fibrotic reno-protective function of Bailing capsule in rats with tubulointerstitial fibrosis via prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition at early stage. However, the beneficial effect lost with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.

METHODSeparation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

RESULTIn 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

CONCLUSIONFingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygala ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

Objective To evaluate the effect of astaxanthin against radiation-induced lung fibrosis in mouse model and to investigate the underlying mechanism. Methods A total of 60 female C57BL/6 mice were evenly randomized into control group, model group (IR) and astaxanthin-treated group (IR+AST). Mouse models of radiation-induced lung fibrosis were generated by thoracic irradiation with a single dose of 16 Gy. Mice in IR+AST group were orally administrated with astaxanthin (25 mg/kg) daily for 7 days both before and after irradiation. Then the mice were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8 and 16 weeks after radiation, and the lung samples were collected in each group for morphological observation. The severity of fibrosis was evaluated by Masson's trichrome after radiation. The oxidative stress was determined by malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay kit, the collagen deposition was measured by hydroxyproline (Hyp) assay kit, and the serum level of transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1) was measured by ELISA. Results Pathological staining results showed that the pulmonary fibrosis became more severe along with time increase after irradiation, and astaxanthin attenuated the fibrosis formation. Compared with irradiation model group, the MDA level in IR+AST group was significantly lower (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and SOD level was significantly higher (P<0.05 or P<0.01) at different time points. Radiation increased the serum TGF-β1 and Hyp content in lung tissue at 4, 8 and 16 weeks post irradiation, and astaxanthin significantly reduced TGF-β1 and Hyp contents (P<0.05 or P<0.01)). Conclusion Astaxanthin can effectively alleviate radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF), which is probably via inhibition of TGF-β1 expression and reduction of lipid peroxidation injury.

Objective To evaluate the effect of health education in controlling the iodine deficiency diserders(IDD) in order to provide reference data for the further prevention and control. Methods Each village of 3 towns in Congjiang County was selected in 2007, where the health education lasting for 10 months had been implemented in the school students of 3-6 grade and the villagers. The school students of 3-6 grade and 30 housewives in the villagers were investigated for their IDD control knowledge, the salt consuming conditions as well as the sales of both rough and fine salt at a salt retail site in each village before and after the health education was implemented. Results The awareness rate of the knowledge of IDD control in the students and housewives was 91.4% (581/636) and 78.3% (282/360), respectively after intervention, which significantly increased (χ2= 532.044, 326.117, both P < 0.01) compared with the rate of 28.2% (184/652) and 11.4% (41/360) before intervention. The proportion of consuming fine salt was 91.8%(146/159) and 95.6%(86/90), significantly inereased(χ2= 236.623, 135.350, both P < 0.01) compared with 6.1%(10/163) and 7.8% (7/90) found before intervention. The selling proportion of fine salt at the salt retail site in the village was 60.0%(900/1500), significantly increased(χ2= 824.176, P < 0.01) compared with 10.0%(150/1500) before intervention. Conclusions Health education and promotion is solid foundation for effectively controlling IDD, through which the students and villagers are actively and voluntarily involved in the program and hence have formed good living and hygiene habits, thus expected effect has been obtained.

Objective To report a peliosis hepatic in child and review literature and discuss.Methods Case history was inquired.Physical,labtoratory,imagement and histopathology of liver biopsy(HE staining) were examed.Results A 4-year old girl appeared dermatitis with erythema and herpes at local skin where was bit by insect before onset.The girl appeared fever,cough,then abdominal pain,hepatomegaly,pleural effusion and ascites.Lab examination revealed slight elevation of aspartate transaminase,?-glutamyltranspeptidase and alkaline phosphatase.The liver B-mode ultrasonography and CT scan revealed hepatomegaly with density heterogeneity of the parenchyma.The liver biopsy revealed many small capsule filled with blood cells.Conclusions Clinical characteristics of the disease are fever,upper abdomen pain,janundice,ascites and hepatomegaly.The diagnosis shall be combined with the pathologic biopsy of liver.

Objective　To observe the changes of the concentration of Ca2+, contents of cAMP, CaM and activity of Ca2+/CaM-PK II in pheochromocytoma PC12 cells after combined soman and hypoxia injury. Methods　The changes of ［Ca2+］, and activity of CaM, cAMP and Ca2+/CaM-PK II in PC12 cells were studied after combined soman and hypoxia injury with radioimmunoassay. Results　The changes of ［Ca2+］, the contents of CaM, cAMP were significantly higher in hypoxic and soman intoxicated group than in soman intoxicated group and control group under hypoxia; but the activity of Ca2+/CaM-PK Ⅱ were significantly decreased. Conclusion　［Ca2+］, CaM, cAMP and Ca2+/CaM-PK Ⅱ exert important role in the damage of PC12 after combined soman and hypoxia injury.

Objective The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence and clinical characteristics of human coronavirus NL63 infection in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Changsha.Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) samples were collected from 1185 hospitalized children with ALRTI at the People's Hospital of Hunan province,between September 2008 and October 2010.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to screen for coronavirus NL63,which is a 255 bp fragment of a part of N gene.All positive amplification products were confirmed by sequencing and compared with those in GenBank.Results The overall frequency of coronavirus NL63 infection was 0.8％,6 (60％) out of the coronavirus NL63 positive patients were detected in summer,2 in autumn,1 in spring and winter,respectively.The patients were from 2 months to two and a half years old.The clinical diagnosis was bronchopneumonia ( 60％ ),bronchiolitis ( 30％ ),and acute laryngotracheal bronchitis( 10％ ).Four of the 10 cases had critical illness,4 cases had underlying diseases,and 7 cases had mixed infection with other viruses. The homogeneity of coronavirus NL63 with those published in the GenBank at nucleotide levels was 97％-100％.Conclusion Coronavirus NL63 infection exists in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 infections are common in children under 3 years of age.There is significant difference in the infection rate between the boys and the girls:the boys had higher rate than the girls.The peak of prevalence of the coronavirus NL63 was in summer.A single genetic lineage of coronavirus NL63 was revealed in human subjects in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 may also be one of the lower respiratory pathogen in China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the prognostic factors influencing overall survival (OS) in patients with spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC-SR).

METHODSThe medical records of 44 patients with HCC-SR treated in our department from January 1, 2005 to April 1 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and prognostic data of 19 HCC-SR patients who received curative hepatectomy were compared with data of 137 HCC patients with no SR who were managed by curative hepatectomy during the same period. Type of HCC-SR was defined according to previously established criteria. The clinicopathological data were evaluated for possible associations with OS of HCC-SR by univariate analysis with the Kaplan-Meier method followed by multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTSWhile some clinical features differed between the HCC-SR patients and non-HCC-SR patients, the postoperative prognosis was comparable between the two groups: (1) The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year postoperative cumulative recurrence rates were 78.9% (15/19), 89.5% (17/19), 94.7% (18/19) and 94.7% (18/19) in the HCC-SR group but 43.1% (59/137), 54.0% (74/137), 59.1% (81/137) and 66.4% (91/137) in the non-HCC-SR group respectively, and the differences reached statistical significance (P = 0.006, 0.003, 0.002, and 0.014); (2) The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year postoperative disease-free survival rates were 10.5% (2/19), 5.3% (1/19), 5.3% (1/19) and 5.3% (1/19) in the HCC-SR group but 40.1% (55/137), 21.2% (29/137), 12.4% (17/137) and 4.4% (6/137) in the non-HCC-SR group respectively, and only the 1-year disease-free survival rate was significantly different (P = 0.032); (3) The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year postoperative OS rates were 42.1% (8/19), 10.5% (2/19), 5.3% (1/19) and 5.3% (1/19) in the HCC-SR group but 59.1% (81/137), 32.8% (45/137), 19.0% (26/137) and 6.6% (9/137) in the non-HCC-SR group, and none of the differences reached statistical significance (P = 1.972, 0.061, 0.200, 1.000). Multivariate analysis identified that severity of concomitant liver cirrhosis, levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), choice of treatment modality, and type of HCC-SR acted as factors influencing OS.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with HCC-SR receiving curative hepatectomy have higher postoperative recurrence rates than their non-HCC-SR counterparts, but the two groups have similar postoperative OS rates. OS is influenced by severity of concomitant liver cirrhosis, level of AFP, choice of treatment modality, and type of HCC-SR.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUNDBoth procalcitonin (PCT) and plasma endotoxin levels cannot be solely used for a definite diagnosis of bacteremia or sepsis, and there has been few study comparing the values of the two biomarkers for the diagnosis of bacteremia. The aim of this study was to identify bacteria causing bacteremia and evaluate the role of the two biomarkers in the diagnosis of bacteremia in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

METHODSThe medical records of 420 patients in ICU were retrospectively reviewed. Patients (n = 241) who met the inclusion criteria were subjected to blood culture (BC) for the analysis of the endotoxin or PCT levels. The exclusion criteria included the presence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus and/or AIDS, neutropenia without sepsis, pregnancy, treatment with immunosuppressive therapies, or blood diseases such as hematological tumors. Patients' BC episodes were divided into BC negative, Gram-negative (GN) bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi groups. The PCT and plasma endotoxin levels were compared in the different groups.

RESULTSA total of 241 patients with 505 episodes of BC were analyzed. The GN bacteria group showed higher levels of PCT and endotoxin than the BC negative, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi groups. GN bacteremia was more prevalent than Gram-positive bacteremia. The GN bacteremia caused by non-Enterobacteriaceae infection presented higher endotoxin level than that by Enterobacteriaceae, but no significant difference in PCT levels was observed between the two groups. The plasma endotoxin significantly differed among different groups and was bacterial species dependent.

CONCLUSIONSPlasma endotoxin was more related to GN than to Gram-positive bacteremia, and that endotoxin level was species dependent, but PCT level remained relatively more stable within the GN bacteria caused bacteremia. Both GN and positive bacteria caused bacteremia in the ICU patients in different regions of China. And PCT is a more valuable biomarker than endotoxin in the diagnosis of bacteremia.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacteremia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged