Objective To evaluate the capacity of MTD method to distinguish between Myeobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacteria.Methods Ten standard strains(including 1 H_(37)Rv strain and 9 nontuberculosis mycobacteria strains),94 clinical strains(including 48 Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 46 nontuberculosis mycobaeteria strains)and 40 sputum specimens were tested by MTD method(AMPLIFIED-MTI))and traditional methods.The results of these methods were compared.Results For all Myeobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacteria strains,the agreement of MTD method and traditional method was 100%.And the positive detectable rate for sputum samples was 65% that was obviously higher than that for the direct smear(5/40),concentration smear(10/ 40)or culture(5/40).Conclusion MTD is a rapid test for identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobaeteria with high sensitivity and specificity.

In the current study, nine flavonoids were isolated and purified from 75% ethanol extract of Selaginella uncinata (Desv.) Spring by column chromatographic techniques over macroporous resin, polyamide, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and pre-HPLC. On the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data analyses, these compounds were elucidated as cirsimarin (1), nepitrin (2), apigenin-6-C-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin-6-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8-C-α-L-arabinopyranoside (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), 2,3-dihydroamentoflavone (6), 4'-O-methylamentoflavone (7), 2,3-dihydro-4'-O-methyl-amentoflavone (8), and 2,3,2",3"-tetrahydron-4'-O-methyl-robustaflavone (9). Compounds 1-5 belong to flavonoid glycosides and were isolated from the genus Selaginella for the first time.
Flavonoids ; analysis ; Selaginellaceae ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the blockade effects of soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) expressed in vivo on B7-H1/PD-1 signal transduction,and inhibitory effect in pulmonary metastasis of melanoma with combi- nation of Hsp70-B16 antigen peptides in mice.Methods The pulmonary metastasis model of melanoma was established in mice.Immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry were utilized to detect the expres- sion of PD-1 and B7-H1 respectively in pulmonary metastasis loci.Four days after the inoculation of tumor cells,forty murine models of pulmonary metastasis were randomly divided to be immunized with normal sodium (group A),empty vector pcDNA3.1 (group B),PDlA plasmid (group C) respectively via tail vein injection,subcutaneous injection of Hsp70-B16 antigen peptides (group D) or with the combination of intra- venous PDlA plasmid and subcutaneous Hsp70-B 16 antigen peptides (group E).The local infiltration with lymphocytes in pulmonary metastasis loci was observed and a series of immunological parameters were assessed 17 days after the inoculation of tumor cells.Results The melanoma pulmonary metastasis model was successfully established.There were a lot of PD-1 positive cells in these loci,and B7-H1 molecule was massively expressed on the surface of B16 cells in metastasis loci.The pulmonary metastasis was inhibited in the mice of group E,and the inhibition rate was 95%,higher than that in other groups (53%,76%,9% in group C,D,B,respectively).The quantity of CD8~+ T cells in pulmonary metastasis loci,cytotoxicity of spleen lymphocytes to tumor cells,and serum concentration of IL-2 and IFN-?were all significantly elevated in the mice of group E as compared with those of other groups (all P

OBJECTIVETo observe the three-dimensional distribution of vessels, and to establish a new method for measurement of blood flow velocity in mice cerebral cortex using two-photon laser scanning microscopy and fluorescence probe labeling technique.

METHODSThe mouse was made cranial window surgery and injected Texas-Red through tail vein after anesthetized. The three-dimensional imaging of vessel was obtained through z-stack scanning, and blood flow velocity was quantified through line scanning.

RESULTSWe could detect vascular distribution for more than 500 µm depth using two-photon microscopy. The velocity of blood flow was (0.59 ± 0.12) mm/s in capillary.

CONCLUSIONThe method for observing the brain blood flow by two-photon microscopy was established, which could achieve quantification of single vascular blood flow velocity and provide experimental evidence for basic research and medical applications.

Animals ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Brain ; blood supply ; Capillaries ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Hemodynamics ; Mice ; Microscopy, Fluorescence

The role of pulchinenoside (PULC) in the regulation of MeCP2 expression was investigated in RA model rats. Adjuvant arthritis rats were used as RA model rats, and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the RA model rats were cultured. The effect of 100 mg x kg(-1) PULC gavage treatment on the MeCP2 expression and the effect of MeCP2 siRNA on the expression of SFRP2 and β-catenin were detected by real time qPCR and Western blotting. The role of PULC in the FLS proliferation was detected by MTT. The results showed that the MeCP2 expression was down-regulated, the SFRP2 expression was up-regulated and the FLS proliferation was inhibited in FLS after therapy. MeCP2 siRNA significantly inhibited the MeCP2 expression, up-regulated the SFRP2 expression and inhibited the β-catenin expression in FLS from RA model rats. PULC may increase the SFRP2 expression, inhibit the Wnt signaling and inhibit the FLS proliferation in FLS from the RA model rats by inhibiting the MeCP2 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Yishen Jianpi Huayu Decoction (YJHD) in treating chronic renal insufficiency (CRI).

METHODSForty-three patients with CRI were selected and randomly assigned into two groups, the 24 patients orally administered with YJHD in the treated group and the 19 administered with coated aldehyde oxystarch in the control group, the therapeutic course was 2 months. The symptom, physical sign, kidney function, blood lipids of patients were observed before and after treatment and the comprehensive clinical efficacy of the treatment was evaluated.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 87.5% and 52.6% in the two groups respectively, it was significantly higher in the treated group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The improvement of kidney function, blood lipids, and hemorrheologic parameters in the treated group were superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYJHD is effective in treating chronic renal insufficiency.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy

To study the effect of pulchinenoside (PULC) on the Frizzled (FZD) expression of adjuvant arthritis ( AA) rats. AA rats were prepared through the toe injection with complete Freund's adjuvant to culture fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The effect of the oral administration with PULC on the FZD8 expression was detected by the real time qPCR. The effect of FZD8 knockout on the expressions of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 were detected by MTT and ELISA. The role of miR-375 in the abnomal expression of FZD8 was detected by the real time qPCR. The results showed signfiicant decrease in the FZD8 expression among AA rats, FLS proliferation ater FZD8 knockout and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 expressions and notable increase in miR-375 expression after the oral administration with PULC. The up-regulated miR-375 expression can inhibit the FZD8 expression. PULC may inhibit the FZD8 expression by up-regulating the miR-375 expression.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; administration & dosage

Objective To analyze the relation between ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging and pathological changes in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).Methods Ten normal control and 29 patients with LN underwent ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging.The LN patients were divided into two groups:silent LN (SLN) group,18 patients;and obvious LN (OLN) group,11 patients.For each case,glomerular filtration rate (GFR),peak time (t_p),half excretion time (t_(1/2)) and the excretion rate at 20 min (R_(20)) were calculated.Assessment of renal function on the scintigraphic images was evaluated by nuclear medicine physicians.The t-test,Fisher'exact probability and R×C association were used for data analysis.Results There were significant differences between normal people and two goups of LN in tp(t=5.3,9.3,both P＜0.05),t_(1/2)(t=6.9,12.0,both P＜0.05)and R_(20)(t=10.1,12.1,both P＜0.05).As to GFR,there was significant decrease in OLN patients(t=4.1,P＜0.05),but not in SLN patients(t=1.7,P＞0.05).Diagnoses of renal function by renal dynamic imaging were compared with the renal pathological changes (r=0.2273,P＜0.05).Conclusions ~(99)Tc~m-DTPA renal dynamic imaging is useful for evaluation of the early stage renal function for LN patients and to diagnose LN patients with no symptom of renal impairment.It may help to assess the degree of renal parenchymal damage while obviating the need for renal biopsy in these patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate pathological changes in the epileptogenic foci of children with intractable epilepsy and their clinical significance.

METHODSThirty children with intractable epilepsy were included in the study. The epileptogenic foci were surgically resected and pathological changes in the obtained specimens were observed under a light microscope (LM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSUnder the LM, cortical dysplasia was found in 14 cases (47%), hippocampal sclerosis in 11 cases (37%), dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor in 1 case (3%), ganglioglioma in 1 case (3%), and encephalomalacia in 3 cases (10%). The TEM observation revealed pathological changes in the ultrastructure of the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, such as changes in the number of synapses and synaptic structure, decrease in neurons and karyopyknosis, swelling and degeneration of astrocytes, and changes in mitochondrial structures.

CONCLUSIONSPathological changes in the hippocampus and extra-hippocampal cortex, especially synaptic remodeling, may be the morphological basis for spontaneous recurrent seizures in children with intractable epilepsy. The pathological changes and epileptiform activity are related to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission.

Adolescent ; Brain ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Infant ; Intelligence ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of testosterone on neointimal proliferation and blood lipids after balloon-induced aorta injury in male rabbits.

METHODSTwenty-five male white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups with 5 in each. G1 underwent sham castration served as control group, rabbits in remaining 4 groups were castrated. One week after the castration, rabbits in G3, G4, G5 groups received 3 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg testosterone undecanoate i.m, respectively, G2 was not received. Two weeks after the castration, deendothelializing balloon-induced injury in right iliac artery was performed in all animals. Two weeks after the injury, blood samples were drawn for measurement of plasma testosterone and lipids, and the right iliac arteries were excised for computer imagining analysis.

RESULTCompared with G1, plasma levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL) in G3, G4 and G5, gradually decreased, plasma levels of high density lipoprotein(HDL)gradually increased. There were most significant differences of plasma TC, TG and LDL(P<0.05) between G2 and G1. There were not significant differences of plasma TC, TG, HDL and LDL among all groups before endothelial denudation and 2 weeks after endothelial denudation (P>0.05). In G3, G4 and G5 the intimal area and radio of intima/media gradually decreased, there were significant differences between G2, G3, G4 and G1(P<0.05), the differences between G1 and G2 were most significant, and those of G5 were close to G1. Endothelial cell repair was observed with electron microscope. Endothelial cells from G2 to G5 became smoother gradually, which in G5 were very close to G1.

CONCLUSIONTestosterone inhibits the intima proliferation induced by balloon-induced injury and improves blood lipids levels. The effects are enhanced by the dose increasing.

Animals ; Aorta ; pathology ; Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Hyperplasia ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Testosterone ; pharmacology ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Tunica Intima ; pathology