ObjectiveTo investigate the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).MethodsData of 278 patients with acute traumatic CSCI admitted from 1988 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pneumonia was the major complication following acute CSCI and discovered by radiography during the first 3—33 days after injury. The all cases were nosocomial pneumonia and G- bacilli were main pathogens, particularly pseudomonas aeruginosa. The incidence of pneumonia of patients with score ≤6 according to the criteria of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) was significantly higher than those with ASIA score >6 (P<0.001).ConclusionThe high incidence of pneumonia in the CSCI is associated with the level and completeness of the injury. The G- bacilli causing nosocomial infection are main pathogens.

Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is a glycoprotein expressing on the surface of neurons, glial cells, bone cells and natural killer cells. NCAM plays an important role in the process of cell - cell adhesion and cell migration, and is also a model protein to study polysialic acid. In this paper, NCAM gene from mouse mammary gland cells (NMuMG) was cloned into eukaryotic expression vectors pcDNA3.1(+) and transfected into mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells ldlD-14. The stable transfection over-expressing NCAM was obtained through the G418 selection and confirmed by Western blotting. Due to unique characters of ldlD-14 cells, carbohydrate chain of NCAM molecule can be easily manipulated with or without adding galactose in the serum free medium, and this modification can provide the basis for further studies on the effect of glycosylation on NCAM molecular function.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Galactose ; Glycosylation ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; cytology ; Mice ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; biosynthesis ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Sialic Acids ; chemistry ; Transfection

Multi-target drugs attract increasing attentions for the therapy of complicated neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, a computer-assisted strategy was applied to search for multi-target compounds by the pharmacophore matching. This strategy has been successfully used to design dual-target inhibitor models against both the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). Based on two pharmacophore models matching and physicochemical properties filtering, one hit was identified which could inhibit AChE with IC50 value of (0.337 +/- 0.052) micromol x L(-1) and PARP-1 by 24.6% at 1 micromol x L(-1).
Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Computer-Aided Design ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors

A new flavonoid glycoside, (-)-2S-8-methyl-5,7,4'-trihydroxyflavanone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with five known ones, quercetin-3-O-(2"-galloyl)-α-L-arabinoside (2), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-arabinoside (3), guaijaverin (4), trifolin (5) and hyperin (6), was isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus robusta. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by NMR, HR-ESI-MS, CD spectra data and physicochemical methods. In addition, 2-6 were isolated from E. robusta for the first time.
Eucalyptus ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

Objective To explore the effects of gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris L.on inflammatory reaction and permeability of blood-brain barrier in rats following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and their potential mechanisms. Methods Sixty SD rats were divided into sham operation group,model control group,gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris L.at low-dose (10 mg?kg-1 )and high-dose groups(30 mg?kg-1 ).Cerebral ischemia -reperfusion model was established with suture emboli method in middle cerebral artery of rats.Neural injury scores,the contents of Evans blue ( EB) and myeloperoxidase( MPO) activities in rat brain were measured 24 hours after the cerebral reperfusion post 2 h ischemia.Content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in rat brain was detected by ELISA; expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) in rat brain was determined by Western blot. Results Compared to the model control group,the neurological deficit scores were significantly decreased(P<0.05),MPO activities and EB contents decreased(P< 0.05 or P< 0.01) in the treatment groups.The expression levels of TNF-α were significantly lower in the treatment groups(0.760±0.110) mg?g-1 and (0.670±0.073) mg?g-1 compared to (0.920±0.128) mg?g-1 in the model control group ( P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). The MMP-9 expression levels were (1.770± 0.181)% and(1.480±0.146)%,significantly lower than(2.200±0.186)% in the model control group(P<0.01). Conclusion Gross saponins of Tribulus terrestris L. exert neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats through inhibiting the inflammatory reaction and decreasing the permeability of blood-brain barrier,which may be associated with the decrease of the TNF-α content and downregulation of the MMP-9 expression.

To investigate such physical indexes as hygroscopicity, angle of repose, bulk density, fillibility of compression of mixed powder of directly compressed auxiliary materials and fermented cordyceps powder by using micromeritic study methods. The results showed that spray-dried lactose Flowlac100 and microcrystalline cellulose Avicel PH102 had better effect in liquidity and compressibility on fermented cordyceps powder than pregelatinized starch. The study on the impact of directly compressed auxiliary materials on the powder property of fermented cordyceps powder had guiding significant to the research of fermented cordyceps powder tablets, and could provide basis for the development of fermented cordyceps powder tablets.
Cellulose ; chemistry ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Fermentation ; Lactose ; chemistry ; Powders ; chemistry ; Tablets ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To explore the activation and apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) and the effects of triptoIide(TP) on them. Methods The changes of activation and apoptosis were observed on cultured PBLs in children with HSP and healthy controls ,and the effects of TP were compared respectively. Expression of CD3, CD25 and apoptosis rate of PBLs were assayed with flow cytometry. Results The percentage of CD3+ CD25+ cell was significantly higher (P

Objective To investigate and analyze the clinical and imageological features of skull base erosion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma( NPC). Methods 67 NPC patients proved by pathology were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent both CT and MRI plain plus enhancement scan. Scan slices were performed from oral pharynx (lower border of second cervical vertebra) to suprasellar cistern by axial CT scans and axial, sagittal and coronal MRI scans. Results (1) 52 patients with skull base erosion were found with MRI, and only 35 patients with CT. The following structures and figures were difined with CT and MRI respectively: pterygoid plates 8,14; clivus 22,25 ; petrous apex 25 ,28 ; sphenoid body or sinus 19,25; sphenoid wing 9, 12; cavernous sinus 14,17. The display difference between CT and MRI had statistical significance ( x2= 9. 47 , P = 0. 02). (2) CT- defined skull base erosion was most bone destruction , however, not only bone destruction but also tumor crossing skull base structure could be defined by MRI. (3) The incidence of headache was 82.7% (43/52) , cranial nerve palsy was 67. 3% (35/52) , both headache and cranial nerve palsy was 57. 7% (30/52). Conclusion Headache and cranial nerve palsy are primary characteristics of the skull base erosion in NPC. MRI is superior to CT in defining both bone erosion and brain tissue abnormality.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Bushen Zhuangjin Decoction (BZD) containing serum on the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by mechanics stimulus.

METHODSThe BZD containing serum was extracted. The chondrocyte nutritive media was divided into 3 groups, i.e., the common nutritive medium group, the blank rabbit serum medium group, and the BZD nutritive medium group. The apoptosis of chondrocytes was induced by continuing mechanics stimulus in 24 h. Then the chondrocytes were collected. The apoptosis rate of chondrocytes was determined by flow cytometry. The contents of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and nitric oxide (NO) in the corresponding media were determined.

RESULTSThe apoptosis of chondrocytes in the BZD nutritive medium group (19.55 +/- 7.98)% was lower than that of the common nutritive medium group (39.32 +/- 13.45)% and the blank rabbit serum medium group (37.87 +/- 9.67)%, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The contents of IL-1beta and NO were also lower in the BZD nutritive medium group with statistical difference when compared with those of the other two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBZD containing serum could protect mechanics stimulus induced apoptosis of chondrocytes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cartilage, Articular ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-1beta ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Serum

Objectives:To evaluate essential medicines accessibility from the availability, drug price level and affordability perspective in Beijing. Methods:Data was collected from a sample of a Beijing social security database on diabetes in 2013 and a field research on 4 primary healthcare institutions. The essential medicine equipping rate, medium price ratio ( MPR) and poverty-inducing effect were selected as accessibility indicators. Results:Among 21 sample drugs, the nitrendipine, magnesium sulfate, sodium nitroprusside, prazosin, phentolamine and glyburide e-quipping rates are less than 15%. The 9 sample drugs MPR varied from 1. 3 to 27. 4. The hypertension, hyper-lipemia and diabete poverty-inducing rate varied from 0. 44% to 0. 70% in urban areas, and varied from 1. 17% to 1. 88% in rural areas. Conclusion:Some essential medicines in Beijing are equipped with a very low rate, but have a high price level, and the poverty-inducing population is large. We recommend strengthening the monitoring of es-sential medicines accessibility and introducing appropriate supporting policies.