OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining the content of caffeic acid in compound Yinhuangjiedu decoction using high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE).

METHODSThe optimized HPCE for determining caffeic acid content utilized a fused-silica capillary tube (75 microm x 60 cm, effective length of 53 cm) with 20 mmol/L borate as the running buffer (pH=9.18), a constant voltage of 12 kV, a sampling time of 5 s at 25 degrees celsius, and UV detection wavelength at 313 nm.

RESULTSThe linear range of caffeic acid was 20-100 microg/ml.

CONCLUSIONHPCE is simple, rapid, and sensitive for quality control of the compound Yinhuangjiedu decoction.

Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo detect the character of surgical treatment of massive soft tissue sarcoma in the shoulder girdle and analyze the impact factor to the result.

METHODSSeven patients with massive soft tissue sarcoma in the shoulder girdle were treated in our department between 2005 and 2009. There were 4 males and 3 females. All the patients were referred to our hospital after local recurrence post-operatively. The mean age was 43.8 years old (range 14 - 75). The maximum diameter of the tumor varied from 10 to 16 centimeters. All the patients were performed surgery, wide margin in 4 cases and marginal margin in 3 cases. Five were performed tumor resection and reconstruction with latissimus dorsi muscle flap transfer and skin graft. One was reconstructed with advanced skin flap and skin graft. The other one was treated with skin graft. The diagnosis included 3 malignant fibrous histiocytomas, 1 low grade myxoid fibrosarcoma, 1 Primitive neuroectodermal tumor, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 dermatofibrosarcomas protuberans. The MSTS score system was used to evaluate the shoulder function.

RESULTSSeven patients were followed up with long time. The mean follow up was 29 months (range 10 to 46 months). Two patients suffered local recurrence and one died of pulmonary metastasis 6 months after the second surgery for local recurrence. One patient suffered pulmonary metastasis. The last four patients were disease-free at the end of follow-up. The function of shoulder girdle was satisfactory. The mean MSTS score was 28.

CONCLUSIONSSoft tissue sarcomas in the shoulder girdle are easy to be misdiagnosed and mistreated. Wide surgical margin was the key impact factor to the local recurrence of soft tissue sarcoma in the shoulder girdle. The surgical margin and invasion of the tumor are the key factor to the prognosis. The soft tissue defect after surgery is often reconstructed by muscle flap transfer or skin flap transfer. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap transfer is often used.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Shoulder ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of dipeptide of glutamine and alanine on patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

METHODSA total of 46 patients (31 males and 15 females, aged 7-68 years, (47+/-9.6) years on average) with severe traumatic brain injury were randomized into two groups: Group G (n=23) and Group C (n=23). The patients in Group G received nutritional remedy with the dipeptide of glutamine and alanine, whereas the patients in Group C received routine nutritional therapy only. GCS changes, the length of stay in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU), the mortality,the count of lymphocytes, related complications including lung infection and hemorrhage of alimentary tracts, etc, were examined and recorded.

RESULTSThe fatality rate and the length of stay in NICU in Group G was lower than these in Group C (P larger than 0.05), but no obvious difference was found in GCS changes of the patients between the two groups (P larger than 0.05). The patients with lung infection and alimentary tract hemorrhage in Group G were less than those in Group C (P larger than 0.05). The count of lymphocytes in Group G was more than that in Group C (P larger than 0.05), but no difference was found in other nutritional data.

CONCLUSIONSDipeptide of glutamine and alanine can increase the resisting stress and anti-infection ability of patients with severe traumatic brain injury, which can also lower the mortality and shorten the NICU stay.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine ; therapeutic use ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; Child ; Dipeptides ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glutamine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the myocardial damage in rats fed with corn from Keshan disease area added with bean puree. Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups according to their body weights, and fed with corn, corn from Keshan disease area added with bean puree, corn from non-endemic area. The GSH-Px activity of vena cardalis blood was examined in 1 and 3 months, rats were sacrificed after being fed for 6 months to examine the heart changes with HE stain. Results The three groups of GSH-Px activity were different in 1 and 3 months respectively(F=23.60,72.46, all P<0.01); GSH-Px activity was (181.58±22.15), (44.76±28.59)U/L in rats fed with corn, was (195.03±17.66), (30.38±3.35)U/L in those fed with corn added with bean puree from Keshan disease area, lower than the group fed with corn of non-endemic area[(340.90±95.42), (125.17±13.64)U/L, all P < 0.01]. But the difference of GSH-Px activity between simple corn group and corn adding bean puree groups of Keshan disease area was not obvious(P>0.05). Myocardial damage incidence of the three groups was 3/9,1/9,2/7. Difference among three groups did not have statistical significance(χ2=1.33, P> 0.05). Conclusions Only corn from Keshan disease area may induce myocardial damage pathology change. Adding bean puree into corn does not increase damage.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the distribution characteristics of HCV genotypes and subtypes in patients with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus, HIV)/HCV co-infection in Kunming based on the nucleocapsid protein gene sequence of HCV (hepatitis C virus). Methods　Serum was collected from HIV/HCV co-infected patients with household registration in 14 county-level cities, districts and counties under the jurisdiction of Kunming, who admitted to Yunnan Provincial Infectious Disease Hospital from March to August 2019. The viral RNA was extracted from the serum, reverse transcribed to synthesize cDNA, and the HCV nucleocapsid protein gene-specific primers were used for nested PCR amplification. The positive amplification products were sequenced, bioinformatics software such as DNAstar and MEGAX were used for sequence analysis. Results　A total of 64 samples from co-infected patients with clinical diagnosis of suspected HIV/HCV were collected and amplified by HCV nucleocapsid protein gene-specific primers, of which 17 samples were amplified positively. The results of sequence analysis showed that the sequences of 9 cases were located in the same evolutionary branch as the HCV 3b subtype sequence, and the nucleotide homology was 93.3%-95.2%; the sequences of 5 cases were located in the same evolutionary branch as the HCV 1b subtype sequence, and the nucleotide homology was 96.8%-97.6%; the sequence of one case and the subtype sequence of HCV 3a gene were located in the same evolutionary branch, and the nucleotide homology was 95.2%; the sequence of one case and HCV 6n gene subtype sequence were located in the same evolutionary branch, and the nucleotide homology was 97.9%; One case was located in the same evolutionary branch as the HCV 6u gene subtype sequence, and the nucleotide homology was 98.4%. Conclusions　HCV 1b, HCV 3a, HCV 3b, HCV 6n and HCV 6u genotypes or subtypes of HCV are prevalent in Kunming, and HCV 3b is the most prevalent genotype.

Background The treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains a challenge for most urologic surgeons. We studied a cumulative cohort of patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) who underwent photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) and evaluated the efficacy and safety of this procedure.Methods A total of 196 patients with lower urinary tract obstruction symptoms secondary to BPH were treated using laser vaporization of the prostate under sacral canal anesthesia at our institutions. The therapeutic results were assessed using following variables: the safety and efficacy of sacral anesthesia, blood loss, operative time, indwelling catheterization. Preoperative and perioperative parameters were evaluated in the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-void residual urine volume (PVR) and the change of sexual function. Patients were also assessed for 3-month follow up. Results PVP was performed successfully for all patients. There were 195 patients under sacral anesthesia and 1 patient under epidural anesthesia. Mean operative time was (45.2±18.5) minutes. The mean IPSS decreased from (26.6±3.2) to (5.6±1.4) and the QoL score decreased from (5.7±0.4) to (1.6±0.5), respectively (P<0.05), while mean Qmax increased from (6.7±2.5) ml/s preoperatively to (19.6±2.4) ml/s, PVR decreased from 158.4 to 25.8 ml, respectively (P<0.05). Average catheterization time was (1.8±0.9) days. There was no significant blood loss or fluid absorption during the period of PVP. Complications consisted of transient dysuria in 3 patients (1.5%), delayed gross hematuria in 5 patients (2.5%), respectively. Significant improvement in clinical outcomes were noted as early as 3 months after PVP treatment.Conclusions PVP is considered as a high satisfaction rate by patient and a minimal postoperative complication. Hence, PVP is a novel, safe, effective and minimal invasive treatment for patients with symptomatic BPH.

OBJECTIVETo study the cytotoxicity induced by chrysotile asbestos (CA), rock wool (RW) and wollastonite (WS).

METHODSV79 cells were divided into 4 groups. i.e. CA group, WS group, RW group and control group (200 microl PBS). The exposure concentration of dusts was 100 mg/L, The cell viability was detected by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assays. The technique of scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the change of V79 cells.

RESULTSSiO2 was main constituent for 3 kinds of dusts. In MTT assay, the cell viability of RW and WS groups was 64.8% and 65.7%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that (54.5%) of CA group (P < 0.01). In LDH assay, the LDH activity of RW and WS groups [(15.7 +/- 50.9), (12.3 +/- 3.7) U/L, respectively] was significantly lower than that [(20.2 +/- 0.9) U/L] of CA group (P < 0.05). In scanning electron microscopy examination, it was found that the two ends of V79 cells in CA group contained a great deal of fibers remaining bodies, but the V79 cell appearance in RW and WS groups was normal.

CONCLUSIONThe cytotoxicity induced by RW and WS is significantly lower than that induced by CA for V79 cell.

Animals ; Asbestos, Serpentine ; toxicity ; Calcium Compounds ; toxicity ; Cell Line ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cytotoxins ; toxicity ; Lactate Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Mineral Fibers ; toxicity ; Silicates ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effects of bird-pecking moxibustion in children of hand, foot and mouth disease, and to analyze the mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-five children of hand, foot and mouth disease were randomly divided into 3 groups, a combined moxibustion and medicine group (n = 22), a Chinese medicine group (n = 29), and a western medicine group (n = 24). The combined moxibustion and medicine group was treated with bird-pecking moxibustion combined with routine western medicine, the Chinese medicine group with oral administration of Chinese medicine and routine western medical therapy, and the western medicine group with routine western medicine. After treatment of 7 days, the therapeutic effects on skin rash, oral herpes, constipation or loose stool, dyspepsia and anorexia, etc. were comprehensively assessed, and their therapeutic effects were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.5% in the combined moxibustion and medicine group, 86.2% in the Chinese medicine group, and 83.3% in the western medicine group, the former being significantly better than those of the other two groups (both P < 0.05). The combined moxibustion and medicine group was significantly better than the other two groups in the relieving time of skin rash, oral herpes, constipation or loose stool, dyspepsia and anorexia, etc. (all P < 0.05)

CONCLUSIONThe combined moxibustion and medication can effectively improve symptoms of the digestive tract, shorten duration of disease, reduce pain in the patient with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Therapy ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo construct a lentiviral expression vector for RNA interference of human CDH22 gene, and assess its gene silencing effect in colorectal cancer cells to provide a basis for investigating the role of CDH22 gene in the signaling pathway involved in human colorectal carcinoma metastasis.

METHODSHuman CDH22 gene short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequence was designed using a software available on-line. After synthesis and annealing, the double-stranded oligonucleotides (dsOligoe) were cloned into the pENTR(TM)/U6 plasmid followed by sequence analysis. A positive clone was subcloned into pLenti6/BLOCK-iT(TM)-DEST vector and transformed into stb13 competent cells, with also verification by sequencing. The recombinant lentivirus was harvested from 293FT cells contransfected with the positive recombined plasmid and lentiviral packing materials. SW480 cells were infected with the recombinant lentivirus and the cells with stable CDH22 knock-down were screened by blasticidin selection. CDH22 expression in the cells was determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSA recombinant lentiviral vector expressing shRNAs against CDH22 gene was obtained and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Fifteen clones of SW480 cells infected with the recombinant lentivirus were selected, and clone 11 exhibited substantial knock-down of CDH22 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONThe lentiviral shRNA expression vector targeting human CDH22 gene capable of stable CDH22 gene knock-down in SW480 cells has been successfully constructed, which provides a basis for further study of the relationship between human colorectal carcinoma and CDH22 gene.

Base Sequence ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo identify the region in PRL-3 gene promoter where the transcriptional factor Snail can bind.

METHODSPRL-3 promoter and the possible binding sites of the transcription factors were analyzed by bioinformatical methods. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and PCR were performed using the antibody specific for Snail to verify the binding of Snail to PRL-3 promoter.

RESULTSAccording to the prediction by TRED, a promoter prediction software, PRL-3 gene promoter was located between -700 bp to 299 bp of PRL-3 gene. Many possible transcription factor binding sites such as for Snail, n-MYC, ARNT, E74A, NF-kappaB, NRF-2 and AML-1 were predicted by Consite, a promoter analysis web system. Interestingly, a 5'-CACCTG-3' core sequence and other related sequences of Snail binding sites were found in the promoter region of PRL-3 genes by Consite software. Two regions in PRL-3 promoter were validated to allow binding of Snail by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis of SW480 cells.

CONCLUSIONSSnail regulates the activity of PRL-3 gene by binding to the promoter of PRL-3 gene in SW480 cells.

Base Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Computational Biology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Software ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism