OBJECTIVE: To extract sperm DNA from mixed stain by the modified differential lysis method combined with silicon bead method and to evaluate its application value. METHODS: Fifty-two mixed stains containing female STR genotypes detected by differential lysis method were collected. The sperm DNA was extracted by the modified method combined with silicon bead method, then genotyped with the Identifiler Kit, and compared with the results of genotyping by the conventional differential lysis method as control. RESULTS: Of the 52 samples, 38 samples with sole male STR genotypes in all loci were detected. The detection rate of male STR genotypes was 98.08% through the modified method combined with silicon bead method. CONCLUSION The modified differential lysis method combined with silicon bead method can be used in extraction of sperm DNA from mixed stain.
DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Silicon ; Spermatozoa

Objective To establish high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD) method for the determination for metanephrine and normetanephrine in 24 h urine, and provide a superior test for the diagnostic of pheochromocytomas over plasma/urine catecholamine.Methods MCX solid-phase cartridge was used for extraction of metanephrine and normetanephrine,HPLC-ECD was used for their measurements.The intra-assay CVs,interassay CVs and recoveries of metanephrine and normetanephrine were also calculated.104 hypertensive patients without pheochromocytomas and 5 pheochromocytomas patients were selected in this study.The concentrations of metanephrine and normetanephrine were compared with the plasma and 24h urinary catecholamines concentrations.Results The intra-assay CV,inter-assay CV and recovery of metanephrine were 5.9%, 7.5%,91.1% respectively;the intra-assay CV,inter-assay CV and recovery of normetanephrine were 6.3%,6.6%,88.5%,respectively.The MN,NMN,plasma CA and urine CA of all pheochromocytomas patients were positive.MN and NMN were negative in controls,while plasma CA and urine CA are false positive in 15 patients and 14 patients in controls,respectively.Conclusions The study establish a fast and accurate method for quantification of metanephrine and normetanephrine in 24 h urine by HPLC-ECD.These findings also prove that it is the best biochemical assays for pheochromocytomas at present.

Objective:To evaluate the anti-HIV-1 activity of two new nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), JB25 and JB26, in combination with 3 approved drugs (AZT, EFV, SQV)in vitro.Methods:The serially diluted 10 concentrations of JB25 and JB26 were combined with 7 serially diluted AZT, EFV and SQV respectively.The combination was added to 384 cell culture plates and then cocultured with HIV-1 ⅢB infected MT-2 cells for 3 days. Finally, the HIV-1 production was determined by measuring the expression of reporter genes of TZM bl cells. The data were analyzed by MacSynergy Ⅱ software.Results:The average capacity of synergism/antagonism of JB25 with AZT, EFV and SQV was 244.45/-5.05(nmol/L)~2%, 119.58/-65.93 (nmol/L)~2% and 145.83/-0.32 (nmol/L)~2% respectively;the average capacity of synergism/antagonism of JB26 with AZT, EFV and SQV was 398.90/0(nmol/L)~2%, 103.62/-0.49(nmol/L)~2% and 138.473/-0.27 (nmol/L)~2% respectively. Conclusion:Two new NNRTIs JB25 and JB26 develop synergism when combined with 3 approved drugs, respectively. MacSynergy Ⅱ software could evaluate the anti-HIV-1 activity of drug combination.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of experimental varicocele (VC) on the serum testosterone (T) and intratesticular testosterone in adolescent rats.

METHODSA VC rat model was established by partial ligation of the left kidney vein in 20 SD rats, and another 20 were included in a sham operation group as controls. At 4 and 8 weeks, the concentrations of the serum T and intratesticular T were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The testis tissues were homogenized and the extract liquid taken for RIA.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the level of serum T declined at 4 and 8 weeks in the VC group, but not significantly (P > 0.05), so was that of bilateral intratesticular T at 4 weeks, and with statistical significance at 8 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWithin 8 weeks, experimental VC could reduce the level of bilateral intratesticular T, but not that of serum T. Varicocele could damage Leydig cells.

Animals ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; blood ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; B7-1 Antigen ; blood ; CD28 Antigens ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience from treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSRetrospective analysis of seven patients with SARS in Ditan hospital treated since April 22 in 2004 was performed.

RESULTSIn the 7 patients, 2 were male, 5 were female, and the average age was (35.3 plus/minus 11.3) years. The main clinical manifestations were fever, cough, minor or serious dyspnea, nausea, signs of injury to other organs, and so on. The treatment regiments included oxygen, small dosage and short period of methylprednisolone (1 to 2 mg/kg), use of ventilator, psychological intervention, and treatment of underlying diseases, after which, all the 7 patients recovered.

CONCLUSIONRational use of methylprednisolone and timely use of ventilator were the key steps of treatment.

Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cross Infection ; drug therapy ; therapy ; transmission ; Female ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; therapy ; transmission ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; deficiency ; Humans ; Syndrome

Objective: To investigate the determinants affecting the heart rate deceleration capacity (DC) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Methods: One hundred patients with DCM (DCM group) and 202 healthy subjects (control group) were respectively enrolled. Echocardiography and 24 hours electrocardiogram were performed in all subjects. DC value was compared between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis was made to evaluate the related determinants of DC ((age, sex, echocardiographic parameters including the left atrial diameter (LAD) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)). Results: (1) DC value was significantly lower in DCM group than in control group( (4.40±2.03) ms vs. (7.30±1.81) ms, P<0.01), prevalence of DC value≤4.5 ms was significantly higher in DCM group than in control group (62% vs. 6%, P<0.01). (2) DC value in the DCM group decreased in proportion to increasing LAD dimension, DC value was (5.60±2.04) ms, (4.50±2.07) ms and (3.60±1.62) ms (P<0.05) in DCM patients with LAD≤40 mm, 40 mm50 mm, respectively. (3) DC value in the DCM group was negatively related to the LAD (r=-0.366, P<0.01), positively related to the LVEF (r= 0.241, P<0.01), but not related with age and sex. Multiple factors regression analysis showed that increased LAD was related to the reduced DC values independtly. Conclusion DC value of the patients in the DCM group is decreased, which indicate the decrease of the vagus nerve tension, and increased LAD is related to the reduced DC value independtly in DCM patients.

This paper summarizes the current research on chemical structure, pharmacology and structure-activity relationship of antitumor constituents, including quinoline and indole alkaloids, stilbenoids, diterpenes, pentacyclic triterpenes, flavones, lactones, amyloses, proteins et al, of chinese herbal. The prospect of studies of antitumor medicinal plants is discussed.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo investigate effects of developmental lead exposure on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in different brain regions and on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats. On the basis of these observations, we explored possible mechanisms by which lead exposure leads to impaired learning and memorizing abilities in children.

METHODSA series of rat animal models exposed to low levels of lead during the developing period was established (drinking water containing 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.075% lead acetate). NOS activities in the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum and the brain stem were determined with fluorescence measurement and levels of mRNA expression of the NMDA receptor 2A (NR2A) subunit and NMDA receptor 2B (NR2B) subunit in the rat hippocampus were measured with Retro-translation (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThere were no differences in the body weight of rat pups between any of the groups at any given time (P>0.05). The blood lead level of Pb-exposed rat pups showed a systematic pattern of change: at 14 d of age, it was lower than that at 7 d of age, then rising to the peak level at 21 d and finally falling to lower levels at 28 d. The hippocampal NOS activities of lead-exposed groups were all lower than that of the control group on the 21st and 28th day (P<0.01). NOS activities in the cerebellum of lead-exposed groups were all lower than that of the control group on the 21st and 28th day (P<0.001) and the NOS activity of the 0.025% group was significantly lower than that of the 0.05% and 0.075% groups on the 28th day (P<0.05). NOS activity in the cerebral cortex of the 0.075% group was significantly lower than that of the control, 0.025% and 0.05% groups on the four day spans (P<0.001). There was no significant difference of NOS activity in the brain stem between any lead-exposed group and the control group on the four day spans. In the 0.05% and the 0.075% groups, the level of NR2A mRNA expression was higher than that in the control group at 7 d and 14 d of age (P<0.05). In the 0.025% group, the level of NR2A was found to be higher than that in the control group at 7 d of age only (P<0.05). No significant differences were found for the levels of NR2B mRNA expression between any of the groups at any given time.

CONCLUSIONSNOS activity in the hippocampus, the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum are inhibited by lead exposure. The degree of the inhibitory effect depends on the time span of exposure and the lead concentration. Developmental low-level lead exposure was found to raise the level of NR2A mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats. Developmental low-level lead exposure does not affect the level of NR2B mRNA expression in the hippocampus.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Female ; Lead ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism