Objective To establish a gene diagnosis assay for spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) in children. Method Analysis of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene in 19 SMA patients and in 21 normal controls were performed by using polymerase chain reaction - fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP) method. Result Deletion of exon 7and 8 in SMNt gene were found in all 19 SMA patients, while no such changes were found in normal controls. Conclusion The SMNt gene exon 7 and 8 examine can be applied to SMA gene diagnosis, and the PCR- RFLP method have higher sensitivity and particularity to the SMA diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate intra-and interatrial synchronization in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) by dual gate Doppler and discuss the predictive value of atrial asynchrony for detecting PAF.Methods Twenty-nine patients with PAF as AF group and 24 healthy volunteers as control group underwent echocardiography.The time interval of the onset of a'wave between mitral annular septal and lateral site was T1 by dual gate Doppler,which was used to evaluate left atrial synchronization.The time intervals from the onset of a'wave at tricuspid annular right ventricular free wall site to a'wave at tricuspid annular septal site and mitral annular lateral site were T2 and T3,which were respectively used to evaluate right atrial and interatrial synchronization.The greater time interval predicted the worse synchronization.Compared these indexes between two groups,the most valuable index was obtained and combined with left atrial volume index (LAVI) to predict PAF,its optimal values were found out by ROC curve.Results ①There were no significant differences in many other basic indexes between two groups (P ＞0.05).However,compared with control group,the ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E) and mitral annular velocity of septal site (e'),the diameters and volume indexes of atria were significantly increased in AF group.②T1,T2 and T3 (standardized before and after) increased significantly in AF group (P ＜0.01).Standardized T1 had the largest area under curve (AUC) for detecting PAF.The AUC of standardized T1 and LAVI were 76.6％ and 84.1％.Standardized T1 ≥29.55 ms and LAVI≥ 21.60 ml/m2 were combined for detecting PAF (sensitivity 82.8 ％,specificity 79.2％,AUC 87.1％).③ Standardized T1 was positively correlated with age,left atrial systolic diameter,LAVI,RAVI and E/e'(P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Patients with PAF have worse intra-and interatrial synchronization and left atrial asynchrony can provide predictive value for detecting PAF.Dual gate Doppler is expected to be a new technique for evaluating intra-and interatrial synchronization accurately and detecting the risk of AF.

Objective: We observed the influence of recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) on protein metabolism in hepatocirrhotic rats and investigated mechanisms. Methods: Ninety rats were randomized into three groups(n=30 for each group): group A(normal rats), B(cirrhotic rats) and C(cirrhotic rats receiving rhGH). Rats in group C were subcutaneously given rhGH with a dosage of 1 U/(kg?d) for up to 1 week. The plasma concentrations of albumin(ALB), prealbumin(PA), transferrin(TF) and insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) were detected on experimental day 14. And liver biopsy was taken to examine the expression level of albumin mRNA with TR-PCR. Results: The albumin, prealbumin, transferrin and IGF-1 levels in groups A and C were significantly higher than those in group B. The expression level of albumin mRNA in grup C was significantly higher than that in group B. Conclusions: The rhGH can improve the level of IGF-1 in plasma and improve the expression of albumin mRNA. Moreover, it may significantly improve the synthesis of protein and attenuate hypoproteinemia in cirrhotic rats.

OBJECTIVETo established the rapid tissue propagation system of Epimedium wushanense, in order to provide theoretical basis for industrialized seed cultivation.

METHODTiller buds E. wushanense were used as explants, with MS, B5, WPM as basic media, and added with different concentrations of plant growth regulators such as 6-BA, NAA and GA3, in order to conduct a systematic study on induction and propagation conditions for tiller buds.

RESULTThe suitable method for sterilizing bud was to disinfect with 75% ethanol for 30 s, and then treated with 0.1% HgCl2 for (4 + 2) min for consecutively twice, which could control the pollution rate below 5% and the survival rate above 75%. The optimal medium for bud induction was WPM + 6-BA 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.1 mg x L(-1) + GA3 0.5 mg x L(-1), with the induction rate of 75.5%; meanwhile, the basic medium and 6-BA showed significant effect on the induction rate. The propagation medium suitable for buds was MS +6-BA 2.0 mg x L(-1) + NAA 0.5 mg x L(-1), with the propagation rate of 3.3. The optimal growth of rooting medium was 1/2 WPM + IBA 0.5 mg x L(-1) + activated carbon which (0.05%), with the rooting rate of 90%, three to six strong seedlings in each plant.

CONCLUSIONThe disinfection method suitable for tiller buds and the medium combination suitable for induction, propagation and rooting of adventitious buds are screened out to establish the rapid cultivation system for tiller buds of E. wushanense.

Epimedium ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Shoots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plant Stems ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Time Factors ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

Objective To assess the left ventricular function of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) by speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods 75 AMI patients who had AMI for the first time and have been treated by primary PCI were enrolled.Dynamic images were acquired before PCI,at 6 months after PCI and analyzed by STI.Dynamic images were analyzed for longitudinal peak systolic strain (LPSS),radial peak systolic strain (RPSS) and circumferential peak systolic strain (CPSS) values by STI.According to the comparison of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) before PCI and 6 months after PCI,patients were divided into left ventricular function improved group (△LVEF≥5％) and not-improved group.Results Compared to non-improved group,LPSS (P ＜0.001),RPSS (P ＜0.05,P ＜0.001) and CPSS (P ＜0.001) of improved group were all higher before and 6 months after PCI.LPSS (r =-0.578,P ＜0.001) and CPSS (r =-0.817,P ＜0.001) before PCI were both closely related to △LVEF.In single parameter mode of ROC curve analysis,the area under the ROC curve (AUC) (0.867),sensitivity (94.7％) and specificity (74.4％) of CPSS are relatively higher than other STI parameters.In multiple parameters united mode of ROC curve analysis,AUC (0.897),sensitivity (94.7％) and specificity (74.4％) of LPSS,RPSS and CPSS united were the highest among all the combinations of all STI parameters.Conclusions Left ventricular function improvement of patients with AMI 6 months after PCI is accurately assessed and predicted by STI.CPSS is a strong predictor for left ventricular function improvement 6 months after PCI of AMI patients among all the STI parameters and is an effective indicator for the assessment of left ventricular function improvement of AMI patients.

Objective To explore the dose-dependent and time-dependent effect of docetaxel on the expression of mammalian eukaryotic initiation factor 3 subunit A (eIF3a) in lung cancer cell line. Methods The human lung cancer cell line A549 was treated with gradient concentrations of docetaxel for different time. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression levels of eIF3a and α-tubulin, respectively. Results Docetaxel did not affect α-tubulin expression at either mRNA level or protein level. When A549 cells were treated with high concentration of docetaxel (30 μg/L), the expression level of eIF3a mRNA tended to increase in a time-dependent manner. Protein expression level of α-tubulin was not associated with eIF3a expression significantly in cells treated by docetaxel.Conclusion Docetaxel could slightly increase the expression of eIF3a mRNA, and eIF3a does not regulate the expression of α-tubulin in A549 cells treated by docetaxel.

Objective To investigate the changes of quantitative parameters of dynamic enhanced CT in non-small cell lung cancer before and after targeted therapy,and compare them with the traditional evaluation criteria,in order to find the parameters which can be exploited for timely,objective evaluation of the effect of targeted therapy.Methods The study included 21 patients with targeted therapy who had received dynamic enhanced CT before and after treatment.Enhancement time-density curves were obtained based on the CT values of the lesion at individual time points,and the functional indices:peak height (PH),the time to peak height (Tp),the ratio of PH of the mass to aorta (M/A) and perfusion value were calculated.The effects of the treatment on these indices were evaluated and compared with the effect of the treatment on lesion diameter. Results Twenty-one patients had 33 rechecking results. There was a statistically significant agreement between lesion diameter-based treatment evaluation and perfusion-based treatment evaluation ( U =8.761,P ＜ 0.01 ). The perfusion value decreased in patients with disease regression[before treatment:(0.28 ±0.11 ) ml · min-1 · ml-1,after targeted therapy(0.18 ±0.09) ml ·min-1 · ml-1,t =- 3.2722,P =0.0042],but increased in patients with disease progression[before treatment(0.21 ±0.08) ml · min-1 · ml-1,after targeted therapy:(0.34 ±0.11 ) ml · min-1 · ml-1,t =2.6064,P =0.0403].Conclusions On dynamic enhanced CT in non-small cell lung cancer patients after targeted therapy,perfusion value changed in the same trend as the diameter of tumor.The effectiveness of targeted therapy may be evaluated by perfusion value changes.

Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Brain Stem ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Gene Library ; Motion Sickness ; genetics ; Rats

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Motion Sickness ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Based on the ecological and economic problems in Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) of Chinese material medica, we introduced the origin, concept, features and operative technology of eco-agriculture worldwide, emphasizing its modes on different biological levels of landscape, ecosystem, community, population, individual and gene in China. And on this basis, we analyzed the background and current situation of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica, and proposed its development ideas and key tasks, including: (1) Analysis and planning of the production pattern of Chinese material medica national wide. (2) Typical features extraction of regional agriculture of Chinese materia medica. (3) Investigation of the interaction and its mechanism between typical Chinese materia medica in each region and the micro-ecology of rhizosphere soil. (4) Study on technology of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica. (5) Extraction and solidification of eco-agriculture modes of Chinese materia medica. (6) Study on the theory of eco-agriculture of Chinese materia medica. Also we pointed out that GAP and eco-agriculture of Chinese material medica are both different and relative, but they are not contradictory with their own features. It is an irresistible trend to promote eco-agriculture in the GAP of Chinese material medica and coordinate ecological and economic development.
Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; standards ; Ecosystem ; Humans ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development