Objective To evaluate left ventricular systolic function by real-time three-dimension speckle tracking imaging (RT3D-STI) in coronary artery diseases (CHD) patients,to determine the clinical value of RT3D-STI in CHD.Methods 34 control subjects and 55 patients with CHD by coronary angiography were involved.Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS),left ventricular global circumferential strain (GCS),left ventricular global radial strain (GRS),left ventricular global area strain (GAS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),etc,was acquired by RT3D-STI,respectively.The parameters by RT3D-STI to diagnose CHD were analyzed.Results Compared with control group,GLS,GCS,GRS and GAS were significantly decreased in CHD group (P ＜ 0.05).The area under receiver operating characteristics (AUC) curve of GLS to diagnose CHD was 91.6％.The cutoff value,the sensitivity and Youden index of GLS were-12.5,90.3 ％ and 0.612,respectiuely.The cutoff value,the sensitivity and Youden index of GAS were-23.0,95.8％ and 0.539,respectiuely.GLS,GAS correlated well with LVEF in CHD group (r =-0.860,r =-0.926).Conclusions GLS is the most sensitivity and GAS is the most specificity in the all of strain parameters.RT3D-STI can early show the changes of left ventricular global systolic function in patients with CHD.

To investigate physicians' knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in tertiary hospitals in northeast China.Physicians from 77 tertiary hospitals in northeast China were surveyed with a questionnaire,which included questions such as risk factors,symptoms,exacerbations,comorbidities and diagnostic criteria of COPD.Besides cigarette smoking,air pollution and pulmonary infections,only 22.5％ (40/178) physicians recognized that the biomass fuels may induce COPD.Totally 59.0％ (105/178) physicians recognized the importance of spirometry to the diagnosis of COPD.Besides dyspnea,cough,sputum production,wheezing and chest tightness,only 23.7％ (42/177)of physicians considered that limitation of activity was an important symptom of COPD.65.5％ (116/177)physicians believed that recurrent lung infections was one of the most important comorbidities of COPD.However,less than 30％ [20.9％ (37/177)-28.8％ (51/177)] physicians were aware of the other important comorbidities.The physicians of tertiary hospitals in northeast China need to be systematically educated on COPD to meet the new guideline.

In this review, we described the taxonomic study of the Fritillaria medicinal plant in the recent years. The taxonomic study of the Fritillaria medicinal plant was carried out from three main aspects: the traditional morphological character, the characteristic constituents of the plant and genotyping and species identification of Fritillaria by DNA chips. By comparison, we concluded that the DNA chip technology can provide a rapid, high throughput for genotyping and quality assurance of the plant species verification. It is the most prosperous method of species identification of the plant.
Cevanes ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; genetics ; Fritillaria ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; genetics ; Genotype ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Plant Leaves ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo provide a simple method to identify different of herbal drugs of Fritillaria.

METHODThe X-ray diffraction spectra of five Fritillaria powders were obtained by X-ray diffractometry (XRD).

RESULTBy analyzing the diffraction peaks of starch over the 2theta diffraction angle in the range of 10 degrees-30 degrees, we concluded that the crystal type of starch in F. thunbergii, F. ussurensis, F. pallidifloca and F. hupehensis was B-type. However, the crystal type of starch in F. cirrhosa was CB-type. The degree of crystallinity of starch was 42.1%, 43.6%, 37.7%, 35.9% and 30.8%, corresponding to F. thunbergii, F. ussurensis, F. pallidiflcoca,F. cirrhosa and F. hupehensis.

CONCLUSIONBased on the differences of crystallinity of starch and X-ray diffraction spectra of Fritillaria powders, different species of Fritillaria can be identified.

Crystallization ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; classification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Species Specificity ; Starch ; analysis ; X-Ray Diffraction

AIMTo investigate the water-soluble phenolic glycosides from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum.

METHODSColumn chromatography techniques were used to isolate the chemical constituents, physico-chemical constants and spectroscopic analysis were employed for structural elucidation.

RESULTSBulbophyllinoside (1), a new phenolic glycoside and three known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum Lindl. Their structures were determined as 3-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-( 6'-O-beta-apiofuranosyl) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-methoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucopynanoside (2), 3, 5-dimethoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-alpha-D-glucopynanoside (3) and syringin (4).

CONCLUSIONBulbophyllinoside (1) is a new compound.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Solubility ; Water ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDTissue-engineered heart valves have the potential to overcome the limitations of present heart valve replacements. This study was designed to develop a tissue engineering heart valve by using human umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and decellularized valve scaffolds.

METHODSDecellularized valve scaffolds were prepared from fresh porcine heart valves. EPCs were isolated from fresh human umbilical cord blood by density gradient centrifugation, cultured for 3 weeks in EGM-2-MV medium, by which time the resultant cell population became endothelial in nature, as assessed by immunofluorescent staining. EPC-derived endothelial cells were seeded onto the decellularized scaffold at 3 x 10(6) cells/cm(2) and cultured under static conditions for 7 days. Proliferation of the seeded cells on the scaffolds was detected using the MTT assay. Tissue-engineered heart valves were analyzed by HE staining, immunofluorescent staining and scanning electron microscopy. The anti-thrombogenic function of the endothelium on the engineered heart valves was evaluated by platelet adhesion experiments and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA).

RESULTSEPC-derived endothelial cells showed a histolytic cobblestone morphology, expressed specific markers of the endothelial cell lineage including von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31, bound a human endothelial cell-specific lectin, Ulex Europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1), and took up Dil-labeled low density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL). After seeding on the decellularized scaffold, the cells showed excellent metabolic activity and proliferation. The cells formed confluent endothelial monolayers atop the decellularized matrix, as assessed by HE staining and immunostaining for vWF and CD31. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the occurrence of tight junctions between cells forming the confluent monolayer. Platelets adhesion experiments suggested that the neo-endothelium was non-thrombogenic. The expression levels of eNOS and t-PA genes in the neo-endothelium were quite similar to those in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

CONCLUSIONSEPCs isolated from the human umbilical cord blood can differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro and form a functional endothelium atop decellularized heart valve scaffolds. Thus, EPCs may be a promising cell source for constructing tissue-engineered heart valves.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Platelet Aggregation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; genetics ; metabolism ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of cryopreserved and thawed peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) fractionated return infusions in children. 35 children patients with malignant tumors (13 acute leukaemias, 15 neuroblastomas and 7 malignant lymphomas) received fractionated return infusions of cryopreserved stem cells after undergoing high-dose chemotherapy without or with total body irradiation. The toxicities of 70 return infusions were evaluated. All patients were mobilized by chemotherapy plus recombination human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), and then PBSCs were collected by a separator CS-3000 plus or COBE spectra-4. The grafts were cryopreserved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSD) and stored in liquid nitrogen. There were totally 70 PBSC transfusions. The total volume of PBSCs transfused: 190 - 420 ml (265 +/- 73 ml or 13.7 +/- 4.2 ml/kg) with a mean of (4.43 +/- 1.91) x 10(8)/kg of PBSCs, and 0.94 +/- 0.18 g/kg of DMSO. The single dose: 90 - 300 ml (132 +/- 37 ml or 6.6 +/- 5.2 ml/kg) with a mean of 0.68 +/- 0.12 g/kg of DMSO. Symptoms occurring during the infusions were recorded. All patients were monitored for 24 hours after infusion. Pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory rate were recorded every 15 minutes. At four hours before and 8 hours after infusion, urinalysis was performed. Serum potassium, sodium, creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were examined within 24 hours before and after the first infusion. The results showed that the toxicities observed included hemoglobinuria in 54 return infusions (77.1%), headache in 28 (40.0%), nausea in 24 (34.3%), vomiting in 17 (24.3%), and abdominal pain in 8 (11.4%). Patients who received a graft > 200 ml tended to have a higher frequency of hemoglobinuria, headache, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain (P<0.01), and they disappeared quickly, too. Total bilirubin increased after the first return infusion (P<0.01), and there was a significant correlation between the volume of infusion and the degree of total bilirubin increase (r=0.8977, P<0.01). No renal failure or shock occurred. It is concluded that transient hemoglobinuria, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are common toxicities associated with PBSC autograft, and these toxicities are related with a single volume of PBSCs transfused. Total bilirubin increase is correlated with the volume of infusion. In a word, the toxicity is less frequent and lower severe in children with fractionated infusions of cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Headache ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Hemoglobinuria ; etiology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Lymphoma ; therapy ; Male ; Nausea ; etiology ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Neuroblastoma ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Recombinant Proteins

OBJECTIVETo study pharmacological effects of PEC (the oral liquid which consists of Panax quinquefolium, Epimedium brevicornum, Schisandra chinensis Bail and Cervus eplaphus) on mice.

METHODExperiments were carried out through swimming test, step-through, spontaneous activity and sleeping time.

RESULTWhen 5-10 mL x kg(-1) of PEC was given orally for 7 days, it could prolong swimming duration of mice in water tank, and increase the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency. PEC could also improve cognitive-deficiency induced by taking off sleep with force in mice after given orally for 7 days. The PEC could increase the spontaneous activity in mice, antagonize the inhabitation induced by Valium, and shorten the sleeping time caused by sodium pentobarbital.

CONCLUSIONPEC has strong potential neuro-pharmacological activities such as anti-fatigue, improving cognitive-deficiency in mice.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Panax ; chemistry ; Pentobarbital ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Schisandra ; chemistry ; Sleep ; drug effects ; Swimming

OBJECTIVETo provide a quick and simple method to identify different Chinese medicine material of Fritillaria.

METHODThe thermograms and differential thermograms of nine Fritillaria powders were obtained by thermal analyzer.

RESULTBy analyzing the thermograms of nine Fritillaria powders, we concluded that the thermal stability of nine Fritillaria powders was much different each other due to the different geography origin. The thermal stability of F. hupehensis was highest among nine Fritillaria, while F. ussurensis was the lowest. The different Fritillaria showed their own DTA spectra respectively.

CONCLUSIONAccording to the differences in the thermal properties of nine Fritillaria powders, the origins of Fritillaria could be easily identfied.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; methods ; China ; Climate ; Ecosystem ; Fritillaria ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Powders

OBJECTIVETo distinguish spermatic cord torsion from acute orchitis by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI).

METHODSThirteen patients with acute orchialgia were examined by CDFI. The clinical data of diagnosis and treatment were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSThe findings of CDFI showed lower or even no blood flow in the testes in 8 cases, which were diagnosed as spermatic cord torsion. Among them, 1 received manual detorsion and 7 were proved by operations. The other 5 showed abundant blood flow signal in the testes and were diagnosed as acute orchitis or epididymo-orchitis. After the use of antibiotics, their symptoms were relieved and the blood flow of the testes reduced upon reexamination.

CONCLUSIONSCDFI plays an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of spermatic cord torsion, and could be regarded as a detecting method of first choice for patients of acute orchialgia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; diagnostic imaging ; Testis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; methods