Brain Abscess ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Cerebellar Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Ear Diseases ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

To explore the new method of discriminating Cistanche deserticola, Cynomorium songaricum and Orobanche pycnostachya by using PCR amplification of specific alleles. 30 samples of the different C. deserticola, 21 samples of C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, the ITS sequences from C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya were amplified by PCR and sequenced unidirectionally. These sequences were aligned by using ClustulW. Specific primer was designed according to the ITS sequences of specific alleles, and PCR reaction system was optimized. Additionally, compare with the identification of specific PCR method and DNA sequence analysis method. The result showed that the 331 bp identification band for C. deserticola and the adulterants not amplified bands by a single PCR reaction, which showed good identification ability to the three species. PCR amplification of specific alleles can be used to identify C. deserticola, C. songaricum and O. pycnostachya successfully.
Alleles ; Cistanche ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) for hospital death events in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods The clinical data of 202 patients with CAP in Changhai Hospital and Second People's Hospital of Wuxi between Sep. 2006 and Sep. 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical and laboratory parameters, including the serum CRP level, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum creatine concentration were collected from Hospital Information System (HIS) and Laboratory Information System (LIS). The patients were divided into two groups according to the final death (CAP related complications) or survival of patients in the hospital. The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis and multivariable logistical model were used to assess the predictive value of CRP on hospital death events. Results The median (interquartile range) serum CRP level of survival patients and patients who died during the hospital stay were 167. 00(132. 50,208. 50) mg/L and 327. 00(246. 25, 411. 50) mg/ L, respectively (Z= - 7. 481,P<0. 001). ROC analysis showed that CRP was an effective predictor for hospital death of CAP patients, with the area under curve (AUC) being 0. 85 (95%CI: 0. 78-0. 91). The optimal cot-off value for serum CRP was 230. 50 mg/L, with the sensitivity being 0. 83(95%CI: 0. 76-0. 89) and specificity being 0. 79(95%CI: 0. 65-0. 89). Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusted for age, serum creatinine and ESR, CRP on admission was still independently associated with hospital death of CAP patients (.OR = 13. 42, P<0. 01). Conclusion Increased CRP is an independent risk factor for hospital death events in patients with severe CAP.

Brain ; abnormalities ; pathology ; surgery ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Zengjing Capsule No. 1 (ZJC1) on morphology and motility of sperm in patients with oligospermia (OSM).

METHODSSeventy-two OSM patients were assigned to 2 groups by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, they were treated respectively by ZJC1 and Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP). The changes of density, motility and morphology of sperm in patients before and after 3-month treatment were examined using computerized WLJY-9000 colour semen analysis system with refined Papanicolaou's stain.

RESULTSThe density, motility and morphology of sperm were improved and sperm deformity rate was significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01), but the effects in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZJC1 can enhance the density and motility of sperm and reduce the sperm deformity rate in patients with OSM.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Brain ; cytology ; physiopathology ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Cisterna Magna ; Immunohistochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stromal Cells ; transplantation

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is a critical transcription factor for cell proliferation and survival. It is activated within cells by many cytokines to mediate immune and inflammatory responses to injury. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by Crohn′s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestinal tract. STAT3 has been shown to be abnormally activated in IBD colon tissues by many pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier and excessive innate immune and Th17 responses. The persistent chronic inflammation eventually leads to intestinal fibrosis and stenosis. In addition to immune responses, STAT3 is also involved in intestinal fibrosis in IBD by promoting the transcription of fibrosis-related genes. Colitis-associated cancer (CAC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of colorectal cancer and is associated with chronic inflammation-induced IBD. STAT3 has also been associated with CAC initiation and development. STAT3 is overactivated in tumors, which leads to suppression of the anti-tumor activity of immune cells and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. In the present article, we summarize the role of STAT3 in IBD and CAC and the research progress of the related drugs developed for UC and CAC treatment.

OBJECTIVETo examine the effects of rat marrow stromal cells (rMSCs) on gene expression of local brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) after injection of rMSCs into Cistern Magnum of adult rats subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODSA modified Feeney's TBI model was created in 48 adult rats. rMSCs were harvested from 3-month-old rats, and injected into Cistern Magnum in 24 rats subjected to TBI (Group cell transplantation). Saline was given through Cistern Magnum to another 24 rats subjected to TBI (Group saline control). Animals were sacrificed 1, 2 and 3 weeks after intervention, and special brain tissue blocks were dissected for total RNA extraction from each block. BDNF and NGF mRNA were reverse-transcribed into cDNA and further expanded by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of target genes was evaluated using semi-quantitative methods.

RESULTSGroup cell transplantation had higher BDNF and NGF gene expressions than Group saline control during a period of less than 3 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSrMSCs transplantation via Cistern Magnum in rats subjected to traumatic brain injury can enhance expressions of local brain NGF and BDNF to a certain extent.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Brain Injuries ; metabolism ; therapy ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Gene Expression ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stromal Cells ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and safety of the peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) as a venous access for newborns who need a long-term venous transfusion.

METHODSSixty-five newborns receiving PICC and 80 newborns receiving peripheral intravenous catheters (PIV) from April 2006 to February 2008 were included in this study. A retrospective cohort study was used to compare the indwelling time of catheters, catheter-related mechanical complications, the incidence of sepsis, and the mortality between the two groups.

RESULTSThe indwelling time of catheters in the PICC and the PIV groups was 18.75+/-7.62 days (range:7-62 days) and 1.49+/-0.57 days (range: 30 minutes to 4 days) respectively. The indwelling time of catheters in the PICC group was significantly longer than that in the PIV group (<0.01). The incidence of catheter-related mechanical complications in the PICC group was significantly lower than that in the PIV group (27.7% vs 63.8%; <0.01). There were no significant differences in the incidence of sepsis and the mortality between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe application of PICC can cause a decrease in the number of venous puncture. PICC is a safe and effective venous access in newborns.

Catheterization, Central Venous ; adverse effects ; Catheterization, Peripheral ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Sepsis ; etiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the minimal invasiveness of laparoscopic operation for colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSForty cases with pathologically proven colorectal carcinoma were divided into laparoscopic group (n=20) and open surgical group (n=20). Perioperative alterations of peripheral blood IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, CRP, sICAM-1 and WBC CD11b were compared between the two groups. TNF-alpha, IL- 6, IL- 8 and sICAM-1 were determined by ELISA, CRP by scattered radiation turbidity comparison and WBC CD11b by flow cytometry with monoclonal antibody PS- CD11b, M2Ab.

RESULTSThe postoperative cytokine levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in open surgery group were significantly higher than those in laparoscopic group (P< 0.05). Dynamic level of sICAM-1 at 6 and 24 hours after operation in open surgery group were significantly higher than those in laparoscopic group. Peripheral WBC CD11b decreased to the lowest level at 6 hours after operation in open surgery group,significantly lower than that in laparoscopic group (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic surgery for colorectal carcinoma exerts less effects on patients than traditional open surgery, and can maintain patients defense function,therefore it is less invasive.

Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood