Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Methylmalonic Acid ; blood

Objective To investigate the prevalence of virulence genes(ply, pspA, nanA, lytA, psaA) among Streptococcus pneumoniae recently isolated from clinical patients. Methods The 133 strains were isolated from patients in three teaching hospitals in Chongqing from 2006 to 2008. Polymerase chain reaction was used to screen for virulence genes (ply, pspA, nanA, lytA, psaA). Results The positive rate of lytA, psaA, ply, nanA and pspA in 133 clinical isolates were 94.7%, 85.0%, 82.7%, 84. 2% and 60.2%, respectively. The positive rates of the lytA, psaA, ply, nanA and pspA genes in 87 common serotypes isolates was 100%, 87.4%, 86.2%, 89.7%, 67.8%, respectively. Conclusion The total positive rates of five virulence genes in the 133 clinical strains were high. The positive rates of five genes in the com-mon serotypes isolates were higher than those in the no-common serotypes. These genes are important virulence genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. They could be candidates for protein vaccine of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Diabetes mellitus is a typical metabolic disease.Its complications cause the main damage and lead to high mortality and disability eventually.The exact mechanism of diabetes is still unknown at present,and no radical cure of it is available.Therefore,the prevention of diabetes has become a priority.Metabolomics as a new technology can identify and measure the entire metabolic changes in the organism,and therefore has been widely applied to diabetes related studies with its enormous potential.

Objective To evaluate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on drug resistance of the cisplantin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line(A2780CP).Methods The A2780CP cells were randomly divided into control group and test group.The cells in control group and test group were incubated in culture media alone and in culture media containing Ganoderma lucidum 0.5 mg/ml for 48 h respectively.The resistance index(RI) of A2780CP was determined by WST-1 assay.The expression of Akt,Bcl-2 and p53 protein was measured by Western blot.Results The RI was significantly deeressed,the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 protein was down-regulated,while p53 protein expression was up-regulated in test group as compared with control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Ganoderma lueidum can reduce the resistance of A2780 CP cells to cisplantin by down-regulating the expression of Akt and Bcl-2 and up-regulating p53 expression in A2780CP cells.

OBJECTIVETo establish social stress induced depression-like model in mice of C57BL/6 strain, and to assess its reliability using differenf behavioral methods.

METHODSTotally 20 male mice of C57BL/6 strain were divided into the normal group and the stress model group by random digit table,10 in each group. Another 10 CD1 mice were subjected to social stress. Mice in the normal control group received no stress, while those in the model group received social stress for 10 successive days. Behavioral assessment was performed using social interaction test (SIT), the elevated plus-maze (EPM) test, tail suspension test (TST), respectively. Serum cortisol level was detected by ELISA to assess the reliability of the model.

RESULTSIn the social interaction test when the social target (CDI mice) was inexistent, mice in the normal control group spent longer time in the social interaction zone and less time in the corner zone (P < 0.05); mice in the model group spent less time in the social interaction zone and more time in the corner zone (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal group when CDI mice existed, mice in the model group spent less time in the social interaction zone and more time in the corner zone (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the total times for entry into open arms, close arms, and the maze were obviously reduced (P < 0.05), and the proportion of entering open arms was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the model group. In TST, the motionless time within the last 4 mm was prolonged in the model group (P < 0.05). The serum cortisol level in the model group was obviously elevated (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSocial stress induced depression-like animal model in mice of C57BL/6 straineasquite reliable and possibly suitable to be used in integrative medicine research of combination of disease and syndrome model.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Depression ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Social Behavior ; Stress, Psychological

Objective To observe the effect of hot spring medicated bath regimen which is guided by the theory of constitution distinction of TCM.Methods According to the standard of Constitution Classification and Decision of TCM which is published by China Association of Chinese Medicine to assess the standard-compliant volunteers,then make the volunteers have physical-chemical indexes checked and hot spring medicated bath taken.At last,re-assess the constitution of the individual and re-check the indexes.Results After the drug bath,the levels of total cholesterol (TCH),low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C),thyroid stimulating factor(TSH),and IL-1 of the patients who were both yang deficiency and phlegm-dampness decreased significantly (t values were 2.093,2.045,2.092,and 2.13,respectively; P＜0.05); the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C),cortisol,and free thyroxine T4 (fT4) increased significantly (t values were 3.731,2.571,and 3.027,respectively; P＜0.05) ; the pulse rate raised obviously (t=8.323,P＜0.01) ; both of the systolic (t=4.405,P＜0.01) and diastolic (t=2.782,P＜0.01)blood pressure dropped.After the drug bath,the levels of fT4 and IL-1 of the patients who were yang deficiency significantly increased (t values were 3.709 and 3.339,respectively; P＜0.01); the waist circumference reduced (t=2.831,P＜0.01),the pulse rate rised (t=9.605,P＜0.01) ; both of the systolic (t=5.281,P＜0.01)and diastolic (t=6.573,P＜0.01)blood pressure dropped.After the drug bath,the levels of pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure of the patients who are phlegm-dampness changed significantly:the pulse rate raised (t=4.702,P＜0.01),the diastolic blood pressure dropped(t=6.096,P＜ 0.01).As the effect analysis showed,the Ridit data of the criterion group which consists of summation was 0.5.Compared with the criterion group,the total effective rate of the yang deficiency group was 74.1％,which was statistically significant (R=0.55,P＜0.05).The total effective rate of the phiegm-dampness group was 81.8％,which had no statistical significance (R=0.48,P＞0.05).The total effective rate of the both yang deficiency and phlegm-dampness group was 77.4％,which was statistically significant (R=0.46,P＜0.05).Conclusion The Wuyi hot spring medicated bath regiman is helpful to the constitution type of yang deficient and phlegm-dampness,which can help warming yang and benefiting qi,living blood links contact us nourishing the skin,reducing blood fat,lowering blood pressure,improving the immune function and so on.

Objective To compare the social, economic and technical benefits before and after HIS is introduced into the hospital. Method Weighted-factor method and t test were applied to the analyses of technical benefit, medical workload, working efficiency and economic benefit. Results Service efficiency to individual patient was enhanced greatly than before (P

Objective To observe the effect of medicinal wine regimen which is guided by the theory of constitution distinction of TCM.Methods 76 patients were selected from all patients enrolled in wine style health experience from February 2011 to December 2011 in line with the corresponding physical characteristics.Among these 76 patients,23 patients were Yang deficiency constitution,34 were phlegm dampness constitution,and 19 were yin deficiency constitution.All these patients were taken a physical and chemical examination after taking the medicinal wine for a month.Results ①Examination index comparison before and after the treatment in different physical constitution patients:in phlegm dampness constitution patients the pulse were slowed (t=2.122,P＜0.05) after taking the blood fat reducing wine,and physical type of conversion points were lowered (t=4.86,P＜0.01); in Yang constitution patients,the systolic blood pressure (FT4),free thyroxine T4,physical type of conversion points were all significantly decreased [t values were 2.735,3.672,12.93,P＜0.05 or 0.01] after taking Guilu Erxian wine; in Yin deficiency patients,adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH),interleukin-1 (IL-1),interleukin-2 (IL-2) were all increased [t values were 2.355,2.645,3.829,P＜0.05 or 0.01] after taking Ziyin-Buxue wine.② Comparison of the clinical curative effect:according to the type of constitution transformation changes,the total effective rate was more than 70％.According to Ridit test,except yin deficiency physique (t=1.85,P＞0.05),patients in both phlegm dampness constitution and yang deficiency constitution groups showed statistical difference after the treatment than before (t=4.86 and 12.93,P ＜0.01).Conclusions Blood fat reducing wine can improve phlegm dampness constitution; Ziyin-Buxue wine can improve Yin deficiency constitution and enhance immune function; Guilu Erxian wine can lower blood pressure and improve Yang deficiency constitution.

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of Xiaoyao Powder (XYP) combined with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in treating HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the effect on their quality of life (QOL).

METHODSTotally 193 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB confirmed by liver biopsy were randomly assigned to 2 groups, Group A (94 cases) and Group B (99 cases). IFN-alpha1b was subcutaneously injected to patients in Group A at the dose of 50 microg, thrice per week. Those in Group B additionally took XYP. The therapeutic course for all was 24 weeks. Clinical efficacy was observed by assessing ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBeAg conversion rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, and symptoms integral. The evaluation of QOL was performed by using chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) score. Adverse reaction occurrence rate was observed in the two groups.

RESULTSBetter effects were obtained in Group A on ALT restoration rate, HBeAg negative rate, HBV DNA negative rate, complete response rate, partial response rate, TCM symptoms integral, the total effective rate of TCM sysmptoms, CLDQ score, and adverse reaction rates, showing statistical difference when compared with Group B (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXYP could elevate the efficacy of TCM symptoms of HBeAg-positive CHB patients and anti-viral effect, improve their QOL, and reduce adverse reaction of IFN-alpha.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the effects and the mechanism of visfatin on MIN6 cell signaling pathway and apoptosis induced by palmitate.Human recombinant visfatin promotes protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellularsignal regulating kinase (ERK)1/2 phosphorylation in dose-and time-dependent manner,and prevents MIN6 cell from apoptosis induced by palmitate (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The activation of Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathway may be one of the molecular mechanisms of visfatin.