Objective To evaluate the usefuluness of the color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) in subclinical atrial septal defects(ASD).Methods We reviewed 122 cases of subclinical ASD in adult which were first detected with CDFI.Results We found most of the patients were women and elder people,and no more special clinical symptoms and signs can be found.Color Doppler flow imaging had characteristic abnomallities making the dosis of ASD possible and easily with a high degree of accuracy in patients in whom the clinical presentation was atypical different magnitudes of left-to-right shunt were revealed in all these patients.Conclusion CDFI is a good noninvasive technique in the diagnosis of subclinical atrial septal defects.

Based on the research methods and technologies of science of Chinese materia medica, chemistry and mi-crobiology, the resource material conversion of functional material, biomass energy, nutrients in castoff from Chinese materia medica industrialization is promoted by microbial transformation. This will help enhance the resource utiliza-tion value, extend resource industry chains, and realize Chinese materia medica resource industry with the best use of everything, resource-saving and environment-friendly recycling economy development.

The DNA fragment sized 2 139bp, the same Sequence with AtKup1 gene from Arabidopsis thalianna was used as the templates for DNA family shuffling. The shuffeld AtKup1 gene library was expressed in the mutant of 5. cerevisae in which potassium transporter gene TRK1 and TRK2 were knocked out by homologous recombination. Then the screening was carried out in the low potassium media containing 5. 0 mmol/L KC1 and no histidine in it. it was found that both of diverse and wild AtKup1 gene can rescues the trk1△trk2△yeast mutant strain in low [ K + ] medium. The growth of 2 clones yeast containing diverse AtKup1 were beter than that of AtKup1 wild gene transformant. The sequencig results of the shuffeld AtKup1 showed that there were 2 nucleotide changed, which resulted in 2 amino acid variations in it compared with the original AtKup1. The potassium uptaking capacity of shuffled AtKup1 gene increased significantly when it was transformed into tobacco.

Objective To investigate the influences of mutation at precore and basic core promoter(BCP) region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the immune response of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The number of specific CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC) of CHB patients were tested by cytokine flow cytome- try(CFC) and HBV core18-27 peptide.HBV precore and BCP fragments were directly sequenced. Results Twenty-one(38.9%) samples were HBV precore G1896A mutation.Twenty-six(48.1%) samples were BCP region 1762/1764 combined mutation.Thirteen(24.1%) stains were three sites mutated simultaneously.Stimulated with HBV core 18-27 in vitro,the specific CTL level was signifi- cantly higher in the patients with G1896A mutation and BCP region mutation [(0.41?0.09)%, (0.36?0.08)%,(0.48?0.08)%,respectively]than those without mutation[(0.11?0.06)%, P

Modern drying technology was used to explore suitable drying process to provide scientific basis for improving drying processing methods of Scrophulariae Radix. Controlled temperature and humidity drying, vacuum drying apparatus, microwave vacuum drying apparatus, short infrared drying device were used to gain samples for analyzing. The character appearance, concentration of main components and power consumption indicators were chosen for preliminary judging. Six major components, including iridoids and phenylpropanoids were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS method. The contents of polysaccharides were determined by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The character appearance with controlled temperature and humidity drying and short infrared drying meet the pharmacopoeia standard (Ch. p, edition 2015), while samples with vacuum and microwave vacuum drying apparatus didn't. Compared to fresh sample, concentrations of harpagide, harpagoside, aucubin and catalpol were lower in the dried samples. Angoroside-C showed no significant change before and after drying. Concentration of acteoside increased after drying. Samples with controlled temperature (70 degrees C) and humidity (15% - 10%) drying had high content and short drying time. The better drying process of Scrophulariae Radix was controlled temperature and humidity drying. The method will provide the reference for the drying technology standard of roots medicine.
Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scrophularia ; chemistry

BACKGROUND:Tissue factor (TF) is the initiation factor of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, and plays a critical role in the process of thrombosis. This study aimed to investigate the expression of TF and to explore their clinical effect on the pulmonary artery after acute pulmonary thromboembolism. METHODS:Thirty-four Japanese white rabbits (Level II animals) supplied by Tianjin Medical University were randomly assigned into:group A, specimens of the pulmonary artery taken 3 hours after pulmonary embolism (n=8); group B, specimens of the pulmonary artery taken 8 hours after pulmonary embolism (n=8); group C, specimens of the pulmonary artery taken 24 hours after pulmonary embolism (n=8); and control group, pseudo-operations performed without injection of autologous blood clots (n=10). The animal model of pulmonary thrombo-embolism was established by injection of autologous blood clots into the jugular vein through a 5F catheter, and was confirmed by digital subtraction angiography. The mRNA expression of TF in different parts of the pulmonary artery was accessed by RT-PCR. Theq test was used if there was a significant difference in a given continuous variable among the three groups assessed by ANOVA. The experiment equipment was supplied by the State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. RESULTS:The TF expression in the specimen adjacent to emboli was stable at 3, 8 or 24 hours after embolism. The mRNA expression of TF at 3 and 8 hours after embolism was lower in the specimens taken from the distal end of the morbid pulmonary artery than those adjacent to emboli. While at 24 hours after embolism, there were similar mRNA levels in specimens either adjacent or distal to emboli. CONCLUSION:The high level of TF expression in pulmonary artery tissue adjacent to emboli could lead to locally increased coagulation activity, indicating the necessity of initiating anti-coagulation treatment as soon as possible after acute pulmonary embolism.

Objective To explore the mechanism of opioid-psychic dependence involving the aspects of pre-receptor and receptor by observing the changeable expressions of glutamate neurotransmitter and NR2B of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor in the neuroanatomical circuit of ventral temental area, nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex (VTA-Nac-PFC) of rats subjected to morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Methods The models of CPP were validated by escalating doses of morphine in rats (n=16). The colorimetry and immunohistochemistry ways were applied to detect the contents of glutamic acid and the expression level of NR2B in VTA, Nac and PFC. Results As compared with those in the control group physiological saline), the prolonged detention time of white compartment in the model group was notably observed (P<0.05), and increased content of glutamic acid and expression level of NR2B in fields of VTA, Nac and PFC in the model group were significantly detected (P<0.05). Conclusion Increased level of giutamic acid and expression level of NR2B in nuroanatomieal circuit of VTA, Nac and PFC could play key roles in inducing morphine-psychic dependent rats.

BACKGROUNDPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a storage vehicle of growth factors has been successfully used in clinical applications, but in most cases the platelets were autologous. However, the large volume of blood withdrawn has detrimental effects on patients with anemia or poor general health. To overcome these limitations, this study was designed to separate the growth factors in homologous platelet-rich plasma.

METHODSThe gel chromatography with Superdex-75 column was applied to separate PRP supernatants into 4 major fractions. Then the four fractions were vacuumed freeze-dried and re-dissolved in phosphate buffered saline. Proteins concentrations in PRP and in four fractions were detected by bicinchoninic acid protein assay; platelet derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) levels were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The effects of fractions on the proliferation of human marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were determined by 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTSPRP supernatants were separated into four major fractions by gel chromatography. The proteins recovery was 96.72%. Of the four fractions, fraction B contained the highest TGF-beta1 and PDGF-AB levels, and the highest proteins concentrations. Cell proliferation curves of MSC demonstrated that fraction B and C induced a remarkable increase of MTT values compared to the untreated culture (P < 0.05), and the effects of fraction B and C showed no significant difference compared to the PRP group (P > 0.05). Fraction A and D showed no significant difference to the negative control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe growth factors in PRP supernatants could be preliminarily separated into four fractions by gel chromatography, and the freeze-drying fractions retained the biological activity of growth factors. The growth factors were mostly presented in fraction B and C, and they promoted cell proliferation effectively.

Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Gel ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; chemistry ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Transplantation ; Child ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Suspensions ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vitiligo ; therapy

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have shown that the functional brain activity in the resting state is impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. However, most studies focused on the relationship between different brain areas, rather than the amplitude or strength of the regional brain activity. The purpose of this study was to explore the functional brain changes in AD patients by measuring the amplitude of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) signals.

METHODSTwenty mild AD patients and twenty healthy elderly subjects participated in the fMRI scan. The amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was calculated using REST software.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy elderly subjects, the mild AD patients showed decreased ALFF in the right posterior cingulate cortex, right ventral medial prefrontal cortex, and in the bilateral dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. No brain region with increased ALFF was found in the AD group compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe reduced activity in the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex observed in the present study suggest that the functional abnormalities of those areas are at an early stage of AD. The ALFF analysis may provide a useful tool in fMRI study of AD.

Aged ; Alzheimer Disease ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gyrus Cinguli ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prefrontal Cortex ; physiopathology