Adult ; Aged ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Otitis Externa ; diagnosis ; pathology

On account of the dense cuticles of the fresh stem and the light, hard and pliable texture of the dried stem, Dendrobii Caulis is difficult to dry or pulverize. So, it is very important to the ancient doctors that Dendrobii Caulis should be properly treated and applied to keep or evoke its medicinal effects. The current textual research results about the preliminary processing, processing and usage methods of Dendrobii Caulis showed that: (1) In history the clinical use of fresh or processed Dendrobii Caulis as teas and tinctures were very common. (2) Its roots and rhizomes would be removed before using. (3) Some ancillary approaches were applied to shorten drying times, such as rinsing with boiling mulberry-ash soup, washing or soaking with liquor, mixing with rice pulp and then basking, etc. (4) According to the ancients knowledge, the sufficient pulverization, by means of slicing, rasping, hitting or pestling techniques, was necessary for Dendrobii Caulis to take its effects. (5) The heat processing methods for Dendrobii Caulis included stir-baking, stir-frying, steaming, decocting and stewing techniques, usually with liquor as an auxiliary material. Among above mentioned, steaming by pretreating with liquor was most commonly used, and this scheme was colorfully drawn in Bu Yi Lei Gong Pao Zhi Bian Lan (Ming Dynasty, 1591 CE) ; moreover, decocting in advance or long-time simmering so as to prepare paste products were recommended in the Qing Dynasty. (6) Some different processing programs involving stir-baking with grit, air-tightly baking with ondol (Kangs), fumigating with sulfur, which appeared in modern times and brought attractive outward appearance of the drug, went against ancients original intentions of ensuring drug efficacy.
Dendrobium ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history

OBJECTIVETo investigate how network education can improve college students' knowledge on sexual and reproductive health in Ningbo city.

METHODSFrom December 2012 to June 2013, we conducted a questionnaire investigation among college students in Ningbo city about the effects of network education on their knowledge about sexual psychology, sexual physiology, sexual ethics, and reproductive health.

RESULTSA total of 7 362 college students accomplished the investigation, of whom 2 483 (42.1% males and 57.9% females) received network education, while the other 4 879 (24.1% males and 75.9% females) did not. Approximately 47.1% of the male and 28.0% of the female students acquired sexual and reproductive knowledge via network education. Reproductive health-related network education significantly enriched the students' knowledge about the reproductive system and sex, pubertal development, sexual physiology, conception and embryonic development, methods of contraception, sexual psychology, sexually transmitted diseases and their prevention, pregnancy care and eugenics, and environment- and occupation-related reproductive health (P < 0.01). It also remarkably improved their cognitive attitude towards reproductive health knowledge (P < 0.01). Those who received reproductive health-related network education showed a significantly higher rate of masturbation (P < 0.01) but markedly later time of the first masturbation (P < 0.01) than those who did not.

CONCLUSIONNetwork education can enhance the effect of reproductive health education among college students and improve their sexual experience and health.

China ; Contraception ; Female ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Masturbation ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; psychology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of the manipulation reduction combined with small splint fixation for the treatment of fresh closed fracture of radius for shorten hospital stays and reduce medical cost.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to December 2009, 200 patients (ranged the age from 40 to 80 years) with distal radius comminute fracture were treated and divided into CP group (including 21 males and 79 females, with a mean age of (62.98 +/- 0.85) years), and control group (including 20 males and 80 females, with a mean age of (63.19 +/- 0.88) years). All patients were treated manipulation reduction combined with small-splint fixation, control group removed small-splint 30 days after treatment, CP group removed 25 days after treatment. Two groups were checked by X-ray and took traditional chinese medicine (taking Yuanhu tablets, Chuangshangning tablets on the early stage; Guixiangzhenggu pill was taken on the middle stage; Shuanglongjie gu pill on the late stage), functional exercise was guided after removing of small splint. The condition of reduction and position of bone were evaluated and Gartland-Werlley scale was used to evaluate the function of wrist joint.

RESULTSTreatment time in CP group was decreased from (30.08 +/- 3.06) to (25.06 +/- 1.07) days; treatment cost in CP group was decreased from (2 100.00 +/- 332.12) to (1 644.00 +/- 125.20) Yuan. There was no significant difference in reduction and function recover of wrist joint between two groups. The results showed the effects of TCM clinic can be promised.

CONCLUSIONClinical pathway for outpatient can promote standardization of outpatient, short treatment time less medical economic burden, and worth widely used.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractures, Closed ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Splints

OBJECTIVETo discuss clinical effects of complex acetabular fracture.

METHODSFrom January 2005 to December 2010, totally 31 patients with complex acetabular fracture received surgery. There were 21 males and 10 females with an average age of 38.6 years old (ranged, 31 to 57). X-ray, CT, operation scheme and clinical efficiacy were retrospectively analyzed. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery standard was used to evaluate hip joint function.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 36 months with an average of 17.6 months. No complications and neurovascular injury occurred. One case received total hip replacement arthroplasty. There were 17 cases obtained anatomical reduction, 12 cases got satisfied reduction and 2 cases not satisfied. According to American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery standard, 18 cases got excellent result, good in 9 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONComplex acetabular fracture combine with lots of complications and easily had occurre postoperative complications. It can improve curative effect by accurate reduction and reliable fixation and maximize restoring function of hip joint.

Acetabulum ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Hip Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Brix weight per stool (BW) of sugarcane is a complex trait, which is the final product of a combination of many components. Diallel cross experiments were conducted during a period of two years for BW and its five component traits, including stalk diameter (SD), stalk length (SL), stalk number (SN), stalk weight (SW), and brix scale (BS) of sugarcane. Phenotypic data of all the six traits were analyzed by mixed linear model and their phenotype variances were portioned into additive (A), dominance (D), additive x environment interaction (AE) and dominance x environment interaction (DE) effects, and the correlations of A, D, AE and DE effects between BW and its components were estimated. Conditional analysis was employed to investigate the contribution of the components traits to the variances of A, D, AE and DE effects of BW. It was observed that the heritabilities of BW were significantly attributed to A, D and DE by 23.9%, 30.9% and 28.5%, respectively. The variance of A effect for BW was significantly affected by SL, SN and BS by 25.3%, 93.7% and 17.4%, respectively. The variances of D and DE effects for BW were also significantly influenced by all the five components by 5.1%(85.5%. These determinants might be helpful in sugarcane breeding and provide valuable information for multiple-trait improvement of BW.
Alleles ; Body Weight ; Inheritance Patterns ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Saccharum ; anatomy & histology ; genetics ; growth & development

OBJECTIVESTo construct an eucaryotic expression plasmid carrying the BMP7 gene and express in MSCs.

METHODSThe BMP7 gene was cloned into the eucaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1. At the same time, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro. The plasmid carrying the BMP7 gene was transfected into MSCs.

RESULTSPCR and digesting demonstrated that the eucaryotic expression plasmid -pcDNA-BMP7 was obtained. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods showed that the BMP7 gene was expressed in MSCs.

CONCLUSIONConstruction of an eucaryotic expression plasmid carrying BMP7 gene and expression in MSCs provide a sound basis for gene therapy using the BMP7 gene and the ideal seeds for tissue engineering.

Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Engineering ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

OBJECTIVETo study the role of serum from asphyxiated neonates in the inducement of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) adhesion to neutrophils and possible mechanisms.

METHODSHK-2 cells were cultured randomly with 20% serum from neonates (1, 3, and 7 days after asphyxia), pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or placebo. The activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), an indicator of adhesion ability of HK-2 cells to neutrophils in suspensions, was detected by the biochemistry assay. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) of HK-2 cells were examined with the immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe expression of MPO in the post-asphyxial 1-day serum treatment group were significantly higher than that in the PDTC treatment and the control groups as well as the post-asphyxial 3 and 7-day serum treatment groups (P<0.01). The expression of ICAM-1 and NF-kappaB in the post-asphyxial 1-day serum treatment group was also significantly higher than that in the other groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSerum from asphyxiated neonates can induce HK-2 cell adhesion to neutrophils, possibly through activating NF-kappaB and increasing the synthesis and expression of ICAM-1 on the surface of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; complications ; Cell Adhesion ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Kidney Tubules ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; analysis ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; physiology

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily. It is highly related to the formation of metabolic syndrome and the glucose homeostasis, and therefore represents an important drug target against metabolic diseases and diabetes. In recent years, great progress has been made in the agonists, antagonists, and crystal structures of FXR. The diverse FXR ligands and their structure-activity relationship are reviewed in this article. The advances in the crystal structures of FXR in complex with different ligands are also introduced.
Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Azepines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Benzene Derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chenodeoxycholic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Crystallization ; Humans ; Indoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Isoxazoles ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ligands ; Molecular Structure ; Multienzyme Complexes ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Pregnenediones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; agonists ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Structure-Activity Relationship

BACKGROUNDCell-based vascular therapies of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) mediated neovascularization is still a novel but promising approach for the treatment of ischemic disease. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potentials of human umbilical cord blood-derived EPCs (hUCB-EPCs) in rat with acute myocardial infarction.

METHODSHuman umbilical cord blood (hUCB) mononuclear cells were isolated using density gradient centrifugation from the fresh human umbilical cord in healthy delivery woman, and cultured in M199 medium for 7 days. The EPCs were identified by double-positive staining with 1, 1'-dioctadecyl-3, 3, 3', 3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine percholorate-labeled acetylated low-density lipoprotein (Dil-Ac-LDL) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Ulex europaeus lectin (FITC-UEA-l). The rat acute myocardial infarction model was established by the ligation of the left anterior descending artery. The hUCB-EPCs were intramyocardially injected into the peri-infarct area. Four weeks later, left ventricular function was assessed by a pressure-volume catheter. The average capillary density (CAD) was evaluated by anti-VIII immunohistochemistry staining to reflect the development of neovascularization at the peri-infarct area. The graft cells were identified by double immunofluorescence staining with human nuclear antigen (HNA) and CD31 antibody, representing human origin of EPCs and vascular endothelium, respectively. Expressions of cytokines, proliferating cell nuclear angigen (PCNA), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were detected to investigate the underlying mechanisms of cell differentiation and revascularization.

RESULTSThe donor EPCs were detectable and integrated into the host myocardium as confirmed by double-positive immunofluorescence staining with HNA and CD31. And the anti-VIII staining demonstrated a higher degree of microvessel formation in EPCs transplanted rats, associated with a significant improvement of global heart function in terms of the increase of left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP), +dp/dtmax and -dp/dtmax as well as the decrease of LVEDP in rats with EPCs therapy comparing to the control rats (P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of the rat PCNA mRNA and PECAM were both enhanced in the EPCs group compared with that of the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe human umbilical cord blood-derived EPCs could incorporate into new-born capillaries in rat myocardium, induce revascularization and improve the proliferation activity in the peri-infarct area, resulting in the improvement of global heart function. This may indicate a promising stem cell resource in cell-based therapy for ischaemic diseases.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; metabolism ; therapy ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; physiology ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism