Objective To establish the standard for quality control ofQingyan Granule. Methods The chief components of the preparation, Sophora Tonkinensis radix et rhizoma, Adenophorae radix, Lonicera japonica caulis, and Ophiopogonis radix were identified by TLC qualitatively. The contents of licorice glycosides and glycyrrhizic acid were determined by HPLC. The separation was performed on Thermo Syncronis C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5μm) with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile with 0.05% phosphoric acid solution (A)-0.05% phosphoric acid solution (B), and gradient elution (0-8 min, 19%A;8-35 min, 19%→50%A). Detection wavelength was 237 nm, and flow rate was 1 mL/min.Results The spots in TLC were clear. There were spots with same color on the corresponding location of reference substance and reference herbal, negative control without interference. The linear range for licorice glycosides was 0.05-0.5μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.97%, RSD=1.74% (n=9). The linear range for glycyrrhizic acid was 0.1-2μg (r=0.999 9). The average recovery was 99.74%, RSD=1.28% (n=9). Conclusion The method is simple, accurate, with high reproducibility, which can be used for quality control ofQingyan Granule.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of gynecological malignant tumor related multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN).Methods Apply retrospective and comprehensive analysis to the clinical data of 30 patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN.Results Synchronous MPMN were found in 9 patients.Their average age was 50.2 years old and their median age was 49 years old.The neoplasms were located at ovary,uterus,cervix,breast and intestine.Metachronous MPMN were found in 21 patients.Their average age was 57.7 and their median age was 57 years old.The median interval between the first and the second primary malignant neoplasm was 4.0 years.The neoplasms were located at breast,ovary,uterus,gastrointestinal tract,uterine cervix,lung etc.In 30 cases,26 of them were treated by surgical operation and further adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy was conducted as per the neoplasm staging and its pathological results.The rest 4 patients (first primary malignant neoplasms were excised from 3 of them and another one was not treated by surgical operation) received adjunctive treatment of chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy.Followed ups,which varied from 6 to 60 months,were made to 29 patients and 20 out of the 29 were alive.5-year survival rate of patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN was 47.8％,2-year survival rate was 73.9％,and 1-year survival rate was 88.6％.Conclusion Pay more attention to the patients with gynecological malignant tumor related MPMN,examine the high-risk patients with malignant tumor comprehensively,identify whether it is recurrence,metastasis or new growth of malignant neoplasm,and further ensure early diagnosis and proper treatment,avoiding misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

More than 80% of all cases of deafness are related to the death or degeneration of cochlear hair cells and the associated spiral ganglion neurons, and a lack of regeneration of these cells leads to permanent hearing loss. Therefore, the regeneration of lost hair cells is an important goal for the treatment of deafness. Atoh1 is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor that is critical in both the development and regeneration of cochlear hair cells. Atoh1 is transcriptionally regulated by several signaling pathways, including Notch and Wnt signalings. At the post-translational level, it is regulated through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that manipulation of these signaling pathways not only controls development, but also leads to the regeneration of cochlear hair cells after damage. Recent progress toward understanding the signaling networks involved in hair cell development and regeneration has led to the development of new strategies to replace lost hair cells. This review focuses on our current understanding of the signaling pathways that regulate Atoh1 in the cochlea.
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cochlea/physiology* ; Hair Cells, Auditory/physiology* ; Hearing Loss/etiology* ; Humans ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/physiology* ; Signal Transduction/physiology* ; Transcription Factors/physiology* ; Ubiquitin/metabolism* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/physiology*

Hearing impairment has become one of the most common sensory disabilities. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 466 million people were living with disabling hearing loss in 2018, and that number could rise to 900 million by 2050. Conductive hearing loss, which predominantly involves the sound-transmitting route of the outer and middle ear, has been well handled by antibiotics and surgery. However, sensorineural hearing loss, which involves the inner ear and structures further within the auditory pathway, has very limited biological treatment options (current treatment options include only hearing amplification and cochlear implants). Part of the reason for the paucity of therapeutics is due to the complexity of the auditory system and the limited regenerative ability of the hearing sensory cells, hair cells, and connected nerve.

This paper introduces an automatic control system for the cylindrical rotating medicine-storage which is composed of a microcontroller, a motion control chip, a motor driver, the memory, the watch dog, etc. This system is able to restore a larger amount of medicine, and the user can take the medicine more quickly, more accurately and more easily.
Automation ; instrumentation ; Drug Storage ; Equipment Design ; Pharmacies ; Software Design

The changes in potassium currents of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from saphenous arteries and the 2nd-6th order branches of the mesenteric arteries of 4-week tail-suspended rats (SUS) were examined using whole cell patch clamp technique. The resting potential (RP) of the VSMCs from SUS group was more negative compared with that of the control group (CON).The whole cell potassium current densities of VSMCs isolated from the saphenous arteries and small mesenteric arteries in SUS group were significantly larger than those of the CON group.The BK(Ca) and K(V) current densities of VSMCs from saphenous arteries and small mesenteric arteries from SUS group were also significantly larger than those from the CON group.It is speculated that the hyperpolarization of VSMCs and decreased calcium influx through voltage-dependent calcium channels might be one of the electrophysiological mechanisms involved in the depressed vasoreactivity of hindquarter arteries induced by simulated weightlessness.
Animals ; Arteries ; cytology ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Weightlessness Simulation

OBJECTIVECoronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Some studies suggested that CHD begins in childhood. Obesity and dyslipidemia are important risk factors of coronary heart disease. Apolipoprotein (apo)E gene associated with dyslipidemia and coronary heart disease. The present study was designed to investigate the expression status of apoE gene in peripheral blood monocyte and association of apoE gene expression with lipids in children with obesity.

METHODSAmong 32 children with obesity and 32 healthy children without obesity or overweight, ApoE gene expressions were determined by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood monocyte. The concentrations of plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, apoB(100) and apoE were measured.

RESULTSExpression of apoE gene was detected in peripheral blood monocyte. Expression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in children with obesity as compared with control group (0.29 +/- 0.14 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA vs. 0.36 +/- 0.10 moles/mole GAPDH mRNA, t = 2.15, P < 0.05). The more severe was the degree of obesity, the more significantly reduced the expression of apoE gene; the degree of obesity was negatively correlated with the levels of expression of apoE gene (correlation coefficient = -0.40, P < 0.05). Compared with control group, the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and apoB(100) were higher, and those of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, apoA I and apoE were lower in children with obesity [(1.68 +/- 0.50) mmol/L vs. (0.99 +/- 0.54) mmol/L, (4.47 +/- 0.91) mmol/L vs. (3.33 +/- 0.90) mmol/L, (2.23 +/- 0.71) mmol/L vs. (1.13 +/- 0.96) mmol/L, (94.48 +/- 9.97) mg/dl vs. (83.81 +/- 15.64) mg/dl, (1.47 +/- 0.39) mmol/L vs. (1.73 +/- 0.36) mmol/L, (112.71 +/- 27.86) mg/dl vs. (134.80 +/- 45.36) mg/dl, (24.50 +/- 10.92) mg/L vs.(35.07 +/- 9.79) mg/L, respectively, P < 0.05]. ApoE gene expression was associated with plasma lipids metabolism in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was inversely associated with low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, positively correlated with apoE (correlation coefficient = -0.33, 0.35, respectively, P < 0.05). The quantity of apoE gene expression was not associated with total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), apoA I, and apoB(100) (correlation coefficient = -0.19, -0.11, 0.16, 0.09, 0.18, 0.22, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExpression of apoE gene was significantly reduced in peripheral blood monocyte in children with obesity. The quantity of apoE gene expression was associated with degree of obesity and abnormality of blood lipids.

Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Child ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gene Expression ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Male ; Obesity ; blood ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the histochemical staining in the diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

METHODSTo compare the effectiveness of picrosirius red, improved Ponceau trichrome and Masson trichrome staining methods on bone formation tissues in conventional osteosarcoma, paraosteal osteosarcoma, periosteal osteosarcoma, extraskeletal osteosarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, malignant fibrohistiocytoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosis with ossification and calcification.

RESULTSWith modified Ponceau trichrome staining, bone formation tissues showed a homogenous, orange-red interblended with blue in color. From osteoid to mature bone the color changed from orange-red, light blue to dark blue. Fibrotic tissue was stained blue in color with striated appearance. Cartilage was not stained. Picrosirius red method gave bone formation tissues homogenous staining. Along with bone maturation, from osteoid tissue to mineralized bones, the color showed changes from light red, yellow, orange-red, red to dark purple. The cartilage demonstrated homogenous light red in color. Fibrous tissue stained red interblended with yellow in color, striated in shape. With Masson trichrome staining osteoid displayed pale blue and mineralized bone showed dark blue in color. Fibrotic tissue showed a striated blue staining.

CONCLUSIONThe modified Ponceau trichrome and Picrosirius red staining methods are better than Masson trichrome to demonstrate bone formation tissue in osteosarcoma. The former two methods could be also used in study on bone formation.

Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Histocytochemistry ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the effects of 17beta-estradiol (EST) on the phasic and tonic contractile activities of the uterine smooth muscles of SD rats in vitro.

METHODSDifferent concentrations of 17beta-estradiol were added into the perfusion muscular sockets containing uterine smooth muscles of SD rats, and the activities of muscle contraction were recorded at the same time.

RESULTS17beta-estradiol had obvious depression effects on spontaneous rhythmic contraction of the uterine smooth muscles in a concentration-dependent manner, it could considerably decrease muscular tension, the mean amplitudes and frequencies of contractile waves (P < 0.01); it could also suppress the uterine contraction stimulated by KCl, CaCl2 or prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). Based on the contraction of uterine smooth muscle stimulated by KCl, IC50 was 7.278 micromol/L and pD2 was -0.862 when calculated by linear regression method. 17beta-estradiol could also inhibit the maximal CaC12 contraction of uterine smooth muscle in the Ca2+ free Krebs solution, which the ECQ was 1.422 x 10(-3) mol/L, pD2 was 2.847 (control), but the E50 was 3.028 x 10(-3) mol/L, p2 was 2.519 (added with EST) when calculated by linear regression method.

CONCLUSIONThe depression effects of 17beta-estradiol on the spontaneous rhythmic contraction and activated contraction of the uterine smooth muscles of SD rats could be mediated through the blockage of C2+ influx through potential-dependent Ca2+ channels of plasma membrane.

Animals ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Female ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; Myometrium ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore and evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and the short-term outcome of minimally invasive esophagectomy versus open esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to October 2009, 67 patients with esophageal cancer received minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE group), while 38 patients underwent conventional open esophagectomy (OE group: via right thorax, abdomen, left neck). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe clinical data of the two groups were comparable. No significant differences was found in demographics between the two groups. Median blood loss in MIE group was less than that in OE group (chest: 112.3 ml vs. 175.3 ml, P = 0.035, abdominal: 31.4 ml vs. 100.5 ml, P = 0.026). More patients in OE group were transferred to ICU (P = 0.042) and more obvious pain (P = 0.005). The rate of pulmonary infection and intestinal obstruction in OE group were higher than MIE group (P = 0.046 and 0.045). There were no differences in the number of lymph node dissection for two groups, the average was 20.9 and lymph node metastasis rate was 26.9% in MIE group. Mean follow up was (14.0 ± 2.2) months (range, 2 to 29 months). Recurrence rate and survival rate were no differences.

CONCLUSIONThe Minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer is feasible, safe, and reliable short-term effect, and can achieve radical tumor resection, which may lead to better future of surgical treatment for esophageal carcinoma.

Aged ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; Treatment Outcome