The CO I gene sequences of Qianghuoyu, Pachytriton labiatus and Gehyra mutilata were achieved by PCR amplification and bi-directional sequencing. Furthermore, a pair of specific primers SJYW1 and SJYW2 in the non-conservative district were designed through sequence alignment. The PCR reaction condition was established by changing the annealing temperature and cycle numbers. The results showed that 350 bp DNA fragment was amplified from Qianghuoyu in PCR with annealed temperature at 54 °C and the cycle number was 25 cycles, whereas not any DNA fragment was amplified from P. labiatus and G. mutilata under the same reaction condition. This method is well-performed in the identification of Qianghuoyu for its excellent specificity and repeatability.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Objective To observe the effect of different thyroid hormone level on the expression of synaptotagmin Ⅰ(Syt Ⅰ) in adult rat hippocampus. Methods All 28 adult male SD rats were assigned randomly into hypothyroid, hyperthyroid and control group, hypothyroid group was established by daily intraperitoneal injections with propylthiou raci(PTU, 10.0 mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks and hyperthyroid group with L-Thyroxine (L-T4, 0.5 mg/kg body weight) for 3 weeks. Radioimmunity method was used to assay the levels of serum T3 and T4, immunohistochemical S-P technology to assay the levels of Syt Ⅰ protein in hippoeampus CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG). The layers analyzed in the different subfields include the polymorphic cell layer(the stratum oriens, SO), pyramidal cell layer(PCL), stratum radiatum (SR), lacunosum-molecular layer (SLM) in CA1 and CA3, granular cell layer(GL) and molecular layer(ML) in DG. Results The levels of serum T3 and T4[(0.34±0.12), (41.03± 11.37)nmol/L]in the hypothyroid rats were significantly lower than those in the control group[(0.65±0.15), (55.20±10.68)nmol/L, P < 0.01 or < 0.05], and the positive granule of Syt Ⅰ was significantly lower in PCL and SR of CA1 and CA3, GL of DG. The average optical value responsible for Syt Ⅰ immunoreactivity was obviously reduced in SO(0.048±0.007), PCL(0.299±0.035), SR(0.042±0.007), SLM(0.038±0.006) of CA1, PCL(0.085± 0.019), SR(0.040±0.011), SLM (0.038±0.006) of CA3, GL (0.076±0.019) of DG than normal controls (0.068± 0.014, 0.376±0.053, 0.053±0.008,0.056±0.009,0.118±0.026,0.052±0.010,0.053±0.009,0.099±0.015; P< 0.01 or < 0.05). Serum T3 and T4 levels [(1.43±0.30), (157.18±19.95)nmol/L]of hyperthyroid rats were significantly higher than those of control group(P < 0.01). The value was reduced in PCL(0.322±0.050), SR(0.039±0.006), SLM (0.042±0.006) of CA1, PCL(0.098±0.034), SR(0.046±0.013), SLM(0.046±0.010) of CA3 and GL(0.085± 0.024), ML (0.042±0.009) of DG (P < 0.05 or < 0.01). Conclusion Adult-onset of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can reversibly decrease the expression of Syt Ⅰ in CA1, CA3 and DG regions of hippocampus.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the monosaccharide composition in the polysaccharides from Rhaponticum uniforum, determine the content of monosaccharide, and provide some references for further research.

METHODThe monosaccharide composition was determined by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). Phenol-sulfuric acid method was used for the determination of the content of polysaccharide.

RESULTThe monosaccharides composition in polysaccharides from R. uniforum are glucose, arabonose and fructose. Their molar ratios are 1 : 1.61 : 2.21. The content of polysaccharide is 95.78%, taking the mixture of monosaccharide compositions as reference substances.

CONCLUSIONHPAEC-PAD can be used to analyze the monosaccharide composition in the polysaccharide with high precision, and the method of phenol-sulfuric acid is simple, convenient and reliable.

Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Leuzea ; chemistry ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo determine two flavonoid compounds in Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) simultaneously with HPLC method.

METHODBavachin and corylin isolated from PC and purified in our laboratory were used as the reference compounds. The HPLC separation was carried out on an Techsphere ODS column using mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol and 20 mmol.L-1 ammonium acetate buffer pH 4.0 (67:33), and the UV detection wavelength was 240 nm.

RESULTSimultaneous determination of bavachin and corylin was achieved. The linear range was 1.25-20 micrograms.mL-1 for both bavachin and corylin. The average recovery of bavachin and corylin was 94.9% and 96.2%, and RSD was 3.1% and 3.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report on simultaneous determination of bavachin and corylin in PC with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki67) with sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSSamples of pretreatment biopsies and the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy in 32 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma were collected, and the expression of Ki67 and VEGF were detected by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies. The correlation of Ki67 and VEGF expression with clinicopathological factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe level of VEGF expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033), depth of tumor invasion (P = 0.007) and TNM stage (P = 0.016), but not with histological type, tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). However, VEGF expression was found to be negatively and significantly correlated with the sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (P = 0.016), and a transient increase of VEGF expression was detected in the resected specimens after neoadjuvant therapy (P = 0.035). Ki67 labeling index (Ki67-LI) was found to be significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.028), but not with tumor size, age and gender of the patients (P > 0.05). It was also found that tumors with lower Ki67-LI expression were more sensitive to neoadjuvant therapy than that with higher expression of Ki67-LI (P = 0.032). In contrast with VEGF, the Ki67 expression level decreased after neoadjuvant therapy, but no statistical significance was found between pretreatment and posttreatment specimens (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary results of this study demonstrate that the expression of VEGF and Ki67 in pretreatment biopsy of rectal adenocarcinoma may be used as a biomarker to predict tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Rectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG contents and the severity of craniocerebral injury.

METHODSTotalling 143 patients with craniocerebral injury were divided into 3 groups according Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, namely the mild injury group with GCS score of 12-15 (n=41), moderate injury group with GCS score of 9-11 (n=71) and severe injury group (GCS score 3-8, n=32). Another 9 patients with congenital hydrocephalus were also recruited as the control group. The CSF and blood samples were collected from these patients to measure the IgG contents 4 and 14 days and 1, 2, and 6 months after the injury, respectively. Physical disabilities of the patients were estimated with Rappaport's disability rating scale (DRS), whose correlations with CSF and blood IgG contents were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the early stage of moderate to severe brain injury, the IgG content was lowered significantly in the blood but increased in CSF as compared with the control patients (P<0.05), and the changes in CSF and blood IgG displayed a significant correlation with the severity of the injury (r=0.950, P<0.01). During the recovery of severe brain injury, DRS score was in inverse correlation with blood IgG content but in positive correlation with CSF IgG content (Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.800, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the early stage of brain injury, detection of blood IgG content may help with the assessment of the injury severity. During the recovery of the injury, dynamic monitoring of blood and CSF IgG contents provides clues of the outcome of the patients and benefit the modification of the treatment plan.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Injuries ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

This study was aimed to explore the role and mechanism of AML1a in abnormal hematopoiesis in mice. Plasmids pMSCV-FLAG-AML1a-IRES-YFP and pMSCV-IRES-YFP together with envelope-encoding plasmid pECO and packaging plasmid pGP were respectively transfected into 293T cells by using a method of calcium phosphate precipitation to produce retrovirus. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) from male C57BL/6J mice were transfected with the retroviral vector MSCV expressing FLAG-AML1a fusion protein and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP). The cells were cultured in M3434 semi-solid medium for colony formation assay and in M5300 fluid medium containing murine IL-3 (mIL-3), IL-6 (mIL-6) and SCF (mSCF) for long-term culture. The results showed that transfection of AML1a into BMMNC enhanced colony formation, colony size of the AML1a group was significantly larger than that of the control group, and the colonies were mainly composed of CFU-E and CFU-GEMM. In the long-term culture, AML1a-transfected BMMNC showed differentiation block, while the control cells were in a more mature stage. It is concluded that AML1a may block the normal hematopoiesis at the stage of primitive progenitors. At the same time, AML1a also enhances the proliferation activity of primitive progenitor cells.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and gastro-esophageal anastomosis in right thoracic cavity.

METHODSThe clinical data of 120 patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and gastro-esophageal anastomosis in right thoracic cavity from March to December 2011 was analyzed retrospectively. In the video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group, there were 60 patients [41 male and 19 female patients with aver age of (62 ± 7) years old] who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and gastro-esophageal anastomosis in right thoracic cavity. In the routine thoracotomy group, there were 60 patients [39 male and 21 female patients with aver age of (62 ± 9) years old] who underwent routine thoracotomy esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and gastro-esophageal anastomosis in right thoracic cavity. Operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative total thoracic drainage in 3 days, total number of harvested lymph nodes, hospitalization, cost of hospitalization and complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTThe operations were carried out successfully in two groups. There was no perioperative death in all patients. There was no statistical difference in intra-operative blood loss, postoperative total thoracic drainage and cost of hospitalization between the two groups. Operation time of rideo-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group was significantly longer than that of thoracotomy group ((188 ± 38) minutes vs. (138 ± 50) minutes, t = 6.171, P = 0.000), but postoperative hospitalization was significantly lower ((14 ± 3) d vs. (18 ± 6) d, t = -4.093, P = 0.000) and total number of harvested lymph nodes was lower (17 ± 9 vs. 21 ± 11, t = -2.058, P = 0.042). There was significantly statistical difference in total postoperative main complication (25.0% vs. 48.3%, χ(2) = 7.033, P = 0.008). And postoperative incisional infection of VATE group patients was significantly lower than that of thoracotomy group patients (6.7% vs. 25.0%, χ(2) = 7.566, P = 0.006).

CONCLUSIONSVideo-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma and gastro-esophageal anastomosis in right thoracic cavity is technically feasible and safe, with minimized trauma and quick recovery. The recent result is satisfactory.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thoracotomy

Objective To analyse the status and related factors of physical development of ninth grade students in China,so as to provide reference and scientific basis for the development of adolescent’ physical health promotion programs.Methods Multiple linear regression and binomial Logistic regression models were used to analyse the data from 7 840 ninth grade students in the 2016 China Education Panel Survey.Results There were differences in the distribution of height and weight between urban and rural and between boys and girls.From the age of 14 to 16,boys were taller and heavier than girls(height cm：171.69±6.95 vs 161.54±5.58, weight kg：60.43±13.19 vs 53.21±11.69), and urban students were taller and heavier than rural students(height cm：167.93±8.16 vs 165.80±7.94；weight kg：58.18±13.16 vs 55.94±12.78). The rate of physical fitness of boys was lower than that of girls(51.8% vs 87.8%), and that of urban boys was lower than that of rural boys(45.7% vs 58.9%), and that of urban girls was higher than that of rural girls(92.0% vs 84.6%). The average age of first spermatorrhea was 13.62±1.23 years for boys and 12.87±1.07 years for girls. Sexual development of urban students appeared earlier than rural students. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that height and weight were related to bring single-child and sleep time. Height was also related to parents’height, nationality, family economic level and exercise time, weight was also related to parents’ weight (all P<0.05). Binomial Logistic regression analysis showed that physical fitness level was related to gender, nationality, nutritional status, weight, high calorie intake, exercise time, etc (all P<0.05). Correlative factors of male first spermatorrhea were nationality, urban residence, singleton , sleep time, physical fitness level, while female menarche was related to exercise time, lunch spot and nutritional status (all P<0.05). Conclusions Comprehensive efforts and cooperation are needed to promote the normal development and physical health of the students.

BACKGROUNDRelapses occur frequently in patients with lupus nephritis. Renal biopsy is the gold standard for assessing renal activity and hence guiding the treatment. Whether repeat renal biopsy is helpful during flares of lupus nephritis remains inconclusive. In the present study, we retrospectively reviewed the patients with lupus nephritis who had more than one renal biopsy with the hope to find the clinical value of repeat biopsy.

METHODSPatients who had a diagnosis of lupus nephritis and two or more renal biopsies were selected from the database of the patient pathology registration at this renal division. Renal biopsy was evaluated according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification of lupus nephritis. The pathological patterns and treatment regimens were analyzed after a repeat biopsy.

RESULTSWe identified 44 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with serial renal biopsies. In total, there were 94 renal biopsies. Overall, the pathological transition occurred in 64% instances according to the ISN/RPS class. When the transition was analyzed according to proliferative, membranous or mix lesions, it showed different profile: 35% in patients with proliferative lesion, 23.5% patients with mix lesions, 100% in patients with pure membranous lesion. The pathological transition could not be predicted by any clinical characteristics. After the repeat renal biopsy, 34% of patients had a change in their treatment regimens.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathological conversion was very prevalent in patients with lupus nephritis. However, the transitions became less prevalent when they were analyzed according to pure membranous, proliferative, and mix lesion. Repeat biopsy might be helpful to avoid unnecessary increased immunosuppression therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male