The in-depth study on the law of drug pair compatibility and its mechanism has important scientific connotation for the clinical prescriptions and the improvement of curative effect. In recent years, many prevention and treatment of cerebral ischemic injury found that the rational use of Chinese materia medica pairs by optimizing the combination of Chinese medicine compound played a multi-target, multi-level role in the ischemic brain tissue of the neurovascular units, multi-channel regulation of the relevant signal pathways, which can significantly reduce the damage of ischemic penumbra brain tissue, relieve the inflammatory cascade and reperfusion injury caused by cerebral ischemia injury, promptly restore the blood flow in the brain and effectively protect the neurons, achieve “re-flow” and “brain protect” similar effects, and further promote the repair of nerve function.

Aqueous two phase system(ATPS) provides a gentle, non-denaturing separation environment for proteins, enzymes. While high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) is a liquid-liquid partition chromatography which uses centrifugal force to hold the stationary phase and facilities the mobile phase partitioning through the stationary phase, it can produce high separation efficiency with large sample loading capacity. However, the ordinary HSCCC apparatus (Type J ) fails to retention a satisfactory stationary phase of ATPS because of its high viscosity and low interfacial tension. Nevertheless, the later designed cross-axis planetary centrifuge system(X-CPC) can produce a greater lateral force field and enhances significantly the retention of the ATPS stationary phase. A review of the application of these CCC techniques with ATPS in the separation of proteins was given. Meanwhile, new techniques such as pH-peak focusing CCC and dye-ligand affinity CCC and some new CCC column design for improvement of separation efficiency and retention of ATPS stationary phase are introduced.

TCM syndrome differentiation system (TCM-SDS) possesses a complex nonlinear characteristic, which determines the falt that the evaluation of TCM efficacy should not be simplified to a causal or linear relationship. Previous selected indexes and methods for evaluating curative effect of Child's pneumonia have their limitations. This paper mainly introduces several thoughts and methods formed in the exploratory researches, employing data mining technology in this field. We believe that efficacy evaluation research of Child's pneumonia on the basis of standardized study of TCM-SDS is a scientific work. Applying data mining method in processing enormous and multilayer information of TCM differentiation has strong advantages in screening evaluating indexes of Child's pneumonia. Meanwhile, some major concerning technical categorizations and implementing strategies for the research are also introduced.
Algorithms ; Automatic Data Processing ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Phytotherapy ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

?AlM: To analyze and study the changes of intraocular pressure ( lOP) , visual field and P-ERG on patients with big cup/disk (C/D) in 24h.
?METHODS: A total of 120 cases ( 240 eyes ) diagnosed with big C/D (C/D>0. 3) were divided into group A (C/D<0. 6, 67 cases, 114 eyes ) and group B ( C/D≥0. 6, 73 cases, 126 eyes). Forty cases (80 eyes) with small C/D (C/D≤0. 3) were chosen as control group. All cases underwent 24h lOP examination, vision examination of 30-2 SlTA - standard static threshold and pattern electroretinogram ( P-ERG) examination. The differences between the examination indexes of the three groups were analyzed.
?RESULTS:There was no significant statistical difference in the 24h average lOP (P>0. 05) among the three groups, while the amplitudes had significant statistical differences (P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, the lOP amplitudes of group B were obviously higher, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05). ln terms of static threshold visual fields, the mean deviations (MD) and pattern standard deviations (PSD) of the three groups had significant statistical differences ( P < 0. 05 ). Comparison between every two groups:compared with the control group, the MD and the PSD were significantly increased in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05); while there was no significant statistical difference in group A (P>0. 05);Compared with group A, the MD and the PSD were significantly higher in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05). ln terms of P-ERG examination, there was no significant statistical difference in P50’s latent periods among the three groups (P>0. 05), but there were significant statistical differences in amplitudes (P<0. 05). Comparison between every two groups: compared with the control group, the P50’s amplitude was significantly decreased in group B, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05), while there was no significant statistical difference in group A (P>0. 05); Compared with group A, the P50’s amplitude of group B was significantly lower, and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0. 05).
?CONCLUSlON: When the patients’ C/D is no less than 0. 6, there are obvious changes of 24h lOP, static threshold visual field and P-ERG’s P50 wave. For patients with big C/D, a single lOP examination is far from sufficient, so an in-depth visual function examination should be performed. Meanwhile, it’s feasible to regard C/D 0. 6 as a screening criterion for suspected glaucoma.

Ten isoflavonoids were isolated from the heartwoods of Caragana changduensis Lion f. by means of various column chromatographic techniques. Based on the detailed spectral data analysis (MS and NMR), as well as comparison with the literatures, their chemical structures were determined as 7,2'-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone (1), 4'-hydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyisoflavone (2), 5, 7, 4'-trihydroxy-2',5'-dimethoxyisoflavone (3), prunetin (4), afrormosin (5), odoratin (6), genistein (7), texasin (8), pratensein (9), and 6,7,3'-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone (10). Among them, compounds 1-3 and 9-10 were isolated from the Caragana genus for the first time. All the compounds were obtained from this species for the first time. In the preliminary assays, compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 possessed significant inhibitory effects on NO production, with IC50 values of 48.12, 25.32, 62.71, 43.59 μmol x L(-1), respectively.
Animals ; Caragana ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Nitric Oxide ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; RAW 264.7 Cells

Notopterygium incisum is the important medicinal materials of the Tibetan-Qiang medical system in China, also one of the rare and endangered medicinal materials in the Plateau areas in the meantime. Taking the planting of in Sichuan province as an example, research on the N. incisum in Sichuan utilize remote sensing and GIS techniques, bind growth environment factor, including height factor, average annual precipitation, average annual temperature, forest information, were chosen according to habitat conditions. And combine field measurement to verify. The results indicate that N. incisum resources in Sichuan province were mainly distributed in the alpine valley and the northwest of the plateau, which suitability distribution areas of 4145 km2 approximately and accounting for 2% of the total area. Suitability areas accounting for more than 2% of the respective total area in Heishui county, Lixian county, Xiaojin county, Kangding county, ect. According to the field investigation and the related document information record, drawn that the suitability distribution based on RS and GIS were corresponded with the actual distribution areas of N. incisum resources. It's feasible to divide the suitability distribution area of N. incisum using RS and GIS, which will provide a scientific basis for a comprehensive investigation of the distribution as well as its rational exploitation and protection.
Apiaceae ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Geographic Information Systems ; Telemetry

BACKGROUNDB7-H3 has been widely studied in the context of tumor progression in recent years, and behaves as a tumor cell marker in a variety of tumors including colorectal carcinoma. The mechanism of B7-H3 in tumor progression is complicated and not clear yet. Studies have revealed that B7 family molecules are expressed on infiltrated lymphocytes as well as tumor cells in tumor microenvironment, which indicates that different expression pattern may lead to different clinical outcomes.

METHODSThe expression of B7-H3 was detected in tissues of 98 colorectal carcinoma patients by using immunohistochemistry. Then the expression of B7-H3 on CD3(+) T lymphocytes isolated from fresh cancer tissues of 12 colorectal carcinoma patients was analyzed by flow cytometry assay. The relationship between the expression of B7-H3 on CD3(+) T lymphocytes and patients' clinical pathological parameters was demonstrated with statistical analysis.

RESULTSPatients with more CD3(+) T cell infiltration survived much longer than patients with less CD3(+) T cell infiltration (P < 0.05); B7-H3 was highly expressed by infiltrating CD3(+) T lymphocytes in colorectal carcinoma tissues. The expression of B7-H3 was found to be significantly related with lymph node metastasis status (P < 0.05), but not with the patient's gender, age, tumor size, differentiation degree, depth of tumor invasion, Dukes' stage, distant metastasis and whether or not mucinous adenocarcinoma was present (P > 0.05). Moreover, the survival time of patients with low expression of B7-H3 was obviously longer than those of high B7-H3 expression patients, but the seven-year survival rate showed no difference between the high and low B7-H3 expression patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe negative costimulatory molecule B7-H3 on infiltrating CD3(+) T lymphocytes in colorectal carcinoma bears importance in the clinical pathological progress and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; B7 Antigens ; analysis ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; immunology ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Survival Rate ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVEHypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonates. Early and accurate diagnosis is helpful not only for assessing prognosis but also for making treatment decisions. The aim of this study was to explore the value of early assessment of HIE by applying the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in acute (within 72 hours), subacute or chronic stages of HIE in comparison to conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical practice.

METHODSImages and clinical charts of fourteen term neonates with clinically diagnosed severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated in the NICU from January 2006 to February 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion criteria were: term infant (37 approximately 42 weeks) and high clinical suspicion of severe HIE (low Apgar scores, need for resuscitation, metabolic acidosis, acute encephalopathy (eg, hypotonia, coma, seizures). All examinations were performed on a 3.0-T MRI system (Philips Intera Acheva Magnetom Vision) with echo-planar imaging capability with the use of a standard protocol. The imaging protocol for all the patients contained diffuse weighted images (EPI-SE, TR = 2144 ms, TE = 56 ms), T1-weighted images (TR = 389 ms; TE = 15 ms; slice thickness = 4 mm) as well as T2-weighted images (TR = 3035 ms; TE = 100 ms; slice thickness = 4 mm). The studies were first performed within 72 hours of life in these 14 consecutive patients, including both standard T1, T2-weighted image and DWI; follow-up MR studies were performed for 4 patients at the ages of 7 days, for 4 at 14 days, for another 3 at ages of both 21 days and 8 months.

RESULTSFirst inspection (on an average of 48 hours after birth): routine T1, T2-weighted images showed normal images in all patients, while diffusion images showed symmetric high intensity signal in the lateral thalami and posterior limbs of internal capsules (PLIC). Following up: on day 7, routine MRI showed both symmetric T1 prolongation and T2 slightly shortening in lateral thalami, DWI showed abnormal high signal intensity in bilateral basal ganglion (mainly in the back site of lentiform nuclei, putamen) and the cortex around central sulcus, but the previous hyperintensity in lateral thalami and PLIC disappeared. On day 14, routine MRI showed symmetric T1 prolongation, T2 shortening in bilateral thalami, lentiform nuclei and cortex around central sulus. On day 21, routine MRI showed T1 prolongation, T2 shortening in bilateral thalami and basal ganglion while previously obvious PLIC disappeared, whereas DWI showed normal images. Eight months later, deeper cerebral sulus, dilation of ventricles and widening of extracerebral space were shown.

CONCLUSIONDiffusion-weighted imaging has proved more sensitive than conventional MR imaging sequences in detecting acute cerebral infarction in adult subjects. DWI is proposed as a method for early detection of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. In this study, DWI showed the same focus (lateral thalami and PLIC) and similar extent of the injury in these severe HIE patients in the early stage after birth (in 72 hours). The sites which showed hyperintensive signals in DWI were consistent with the foci in subsequent follow-up by routine MRI. Thus, DWI is supposed to be a technique for early assessment of the extent of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and the prognosis in clinic. Though DWI is superior to the other imaging modalities in detecting ischemia, diffusion restriction is not necessarily indicative of permanent damage. The abnormal image on DWI may not last long. However, in chronic stage, the follow-up conventional MRI may compensate the inadequacy of DWI.

Brain ; pathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; Diffusion ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; metabolism ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Stroke ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESevere and persistent hypoglycemia often leads to brain damage in neonatal period although precise definition of hypoglycemia remains controversial. Little is known whether hypoglycemic brain damage happens to the neonates with hypoglycemic symptoms in early neonatal period and no criteria to diagnose the hypoglycemic brain damage are available. The present study aimed to characterize the clinical symptoms and brain damage by MRI diffusion-weighed imaging in the newborn infants with severe hypoglycemia in order to demonstrate the early findings of their brain damage.

METHODSThe 6 newborn infants with severe hypoglycemia (whole blood glucose ranging from 0.48 to 1.7 mmol/L) were enrolled in this study, 3 of them were premature infants, 2 were small-for-gestational age infants and 1 was an infant born to a diabetic mother. These infants had a gestational age from 35 to 40 weeks and birth weight from 1545 g to 3900 g. They had no history of perinatal asphyxia, findings indicating sepsis, intracranial infection, inborn error of metabolism or endocrine disorders. They received MRI scans from 24 hours to 48 hours after admission with the sequences of T1WI, T2WI and DWI. The parameters for T1WI of FFE CLEAR were TR/TE 126 ms/2.3 ms, Flip 80; for T2WI of TSE SENSE TR/TE 1856 - 3238 ms/80 - 100 ms, TSE Factor 15. The parameters for DWI were TR/TE 2463 ms/48 ms, EPI factor 45 and b value of 1000, respectively. Two radiologists who knew nothing of the patients' history judged the scanned results.

RESULTSThe 6 newborn infants with severe hypoglycemia showed apparent symptoms and signs indicating dysfunction of central nervous system. Repeated seizures, lethargy and apnea were the most common manifestations. Moreover, seizures recurred in 4 newborns when their blood glucoses remained in normal rage. The main types of seizure were focal and multifocal myoclonus. Intermittent widespread low voltage was seen in 2 cases by 24 hour-EEG. The first time of hypoglycemia was detected from 6 hours to 53 hours after birth in 5 cases, but 12 days in one case, the minimum mean value of blood glucose was 1.05 +/- 0.44 (0.48 - 1.70) mmol/L and repeated hypoglycemia persisted for 47.3 +/- 38.8 (4 - 96) hours. The first MRI scan was accomplished from 2 days to 5 days of life, except for one at 15 days of age. The occipital cortex and white matter were involved most frequently in all cases, but parietal region was involved in 3 cases. Occipital and/or parietal regions showed hyperintensive signals indicating "water restriction (cytotoxic edema)" on DWI for 6 cases at first scan; meanwhile hypointensity on T1WI and hyperintensity on T2WI were seen in 4 cases and one case respectively, the involved area became swollen that the occipital or parietal cortex indistinguishable from subcortical white matter. Three cases received the second scan at about two weeks of age. Hypointensity on T1WI and hyperintensity on T2WI were demonstrated in all, but hypointensity on DWI in one case only and normal signals on DWI in the others. One case was followed-up at 3 month of age, he developed normally, but delayed myelination was found on posterior limb of internal capsule and optic radiation without occipital and parietal cerebral atrophy.

CONCLUSIONSCerebral occipital and parietal regions are the most vulnerable in severe hypoglycemic condition, changes of which could appear earlier on DWI than on T1WI and T2WI. But the relationship between the early findings on MRI DWI and prognosis remains to be studied further.

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; etiology ; pathology ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; blood ; complications ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Nervous System Diseases ; blood

OBJECTIVETo distinguish lingual thyroglossal duct cyst (LTDC) from laryngomalacia in newborn infants.

METHODSData of 10 newborn infants with laryngeal stridor and dyspnea, admitted to the department of neonatology in our hospital during December, 2004 to August, 2007, who were finally diagnosed with LTDC though previously diagnosed as congenital laryngeal stridor in other hospitals, were summarized and analyzed.

RESULTSInspiratory stridor with chest wall retractions was cardinal symptom of newborn with LTDC. A slightly gray and round cyst with smooth surface at the base of the tongue was found with laryngoscopy. On computed tomography examination of larynx, a well-circumscribed lesion with low intensity was detected at the base of the tongue protruding into the air passage. Pathological examination demonstrated that the cyst wall was composed of tabular and columnar epithelium.

CONCLUSIONSLTDC is a common disease in newborns, which is similar to laryngomalacia. For neonates suspected of LTDC, laryngoscopic examination should be performed first, while laryngeal CT scan is an important diagnostic basis. Cyst puncture can ameliorate the symptoms of the patients, while surgical removal is the method of radical cure.

Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; diagnosis