Blood Coagulation ; Blood Viscosity ; China ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Blood Coagulation ; Blood Viscosity ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; International Cooperation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Four screening methods, colorimetric assay, blood-plate hemolysis method, surface tension activ- ity and oil spreading technique were introduced to isolate strains producing bio-demulsifiers from 6 different bacteria source samples. The results of various screening methods were evaluated in this paper. Seventeen demulsifying strains were obtained, which are qualified in demulsification test of kerosene model emulsions. Among them, 5 strains showed high demulsifying ability, achieving 70% plus demulsifying ratio within 24 hours. Petroleum-contaminated soil, excess sludge from biological process treating oilfield produced water and sludge from municipal wastewater treatment plant were the best among all tested sources. Due to the determination limit, the colorimetric assay and blood-plate hemolysis method are not competent to screen bio-demulsifiers strains. The measurement of surface tension and oil spreading method were easy but accu- rate methods to isolate bio-demulsifiers strains. Although demulsification test of model emulsion is an effec- tive technique to target strains with the capability of breaking emulsions, it is sophisticated and time-con- suming. Thus it is recommended to use surface tension and oil spreading methods in pre-screening and vali- date the results in demulsification test with kerosene model emulsions.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Carcinoma ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; metabolism

Activation of microglia plays a vital role in the initiation and maintenance of specific neuropathic pain states. By activating microglia in central nervous system, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) can promote the release of proinflammatory cytokines and neuroactive compounds, participate in the initiation and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and trigger the opiate side effects. Therefore, TLR4 may be a potential therapeutic target for neuropathic pain. Inhibition of TLR4 has shown some biological effects in neuropathic pain models and ibudilast (the TLR4 pathway-inhibiting agent) has been approved for for phase 2 clinical trials. This article briefly reviews the structure, function, and mechanism of TLR4 as well as the development of TLR4-targeted drugs.
Humans ; Neuralgia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different changes after maxillary protraction between the cleft and non-cleft patients with anterior crossbite.

METHODSProspective controlled clinical trial was carried out. Eighteen patients (aged 9.6 +/- 1.2 years) with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) were chosen as the experimental group. Eighteen non-cleft patients (aged 9.8 +/- 1.4 years) with similar malocclusions were selected as control group. All the patients were before puberty according to the evaluation of the hand wrist radiograms. Hyrax appliance and reverse headgear were used in both experimental and control groups. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before and after treatment. Computerized cephalometric analysis was carried out. Paired t tests or t test were performed using software package SAS 8.1.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the main changes in experimental group were: SNA +1.45 degrees , A-TFH +2.19 mm, SNB -2.18 degrees , ANB +3.64 degrees , MP/SN +2.78 degrees , LL-EP +0.88 mm in UCLP group. And in control group were: SNA +1.42 degrees , A-TFH +2.12 mm, SNB -1.32 degrees , ANB +2.68 degrees , MP/SN +1.47 degrees , LL-EP -1.37 mm.

CONCLUSIONSBefore puberty, maxillary protraction could accelerate maxillary forward growth in UCLP patients and the changes were similar to non-cleft patients. The occlusal relationship and soft tissue profile were improved significantly in both patients with or without cleft. The amount of mandibular posterior rotation in patients with UCLP was larger than in those with no cleft.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Cleft Lip ; surgery ; therapy ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw Relation Record ; Male ; Malocclusion ; therapy ; Maxilla ; growth & development ; Osteogenesis, Distraction

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ferment powder caterpillar fungus on cytochrome P450 isozymes CYP1A2, CYP3A4 and CYP2E1.

METHODThe methods of Cocktail probe drugs were used. The rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group were given ferment powder caterpillar fungus once daily orally for ten days. Another group received orally normal saline one daily as the blank control. After ten days of treatment, the rats were given probe drugs of coffine, dapsone and chlorzoxazone and the blood was taken out by femoral catheterization. The plasma concentration of probe drugs were determined by HPLC. Data of plasma drug level-time were disposed with DAS Ver 2.0.

RESULTThe metabolism of caffeine and dapsone speeded up after receiving ferment powder caterpillar fungus, but the metabolism of chlorzoxazone was hardly changed.

CONCLUSIONIt suggested that ferment powder caterpillar fungus tended to be the inducer of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. But the CYP2E1 was hardly affected.

Animals ; Caffeine ; metabolism ; Chlorzoxazone ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Dapsone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Fermentation ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate results of total knee arthroplasty using the long-stem tibial component combined with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis for the treatment of proximal defects.

METHODSFrom January 2011 to May 2013, 10 patients (11 knees) were treated with total knee arthroplasties using the long-stem tibial component with metallic tibial wedge of knee prosthesis. All the patients were female and the average age was 67 years old (ranged, 60 to 77 years old). All the patients were osteoarthritis. All the patients were classified as T2A style. The patients were evaluated according to knee score system (KSS).

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12 months on average (ranged 3 to 29 months). The clinical outcome was assessed using KSS score, including knee pain score, knee stability score, knee range of motion score and knee walking score, knee stairs score. There were significantly differences at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months between pre-and postoperative KSS score.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanical stability of tibial fixation in primary TKA is significantly increased by using the long-stem tibial component with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis, even in the presence of poor proximal bone.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Knee Prosthesis ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tibia ; abnormalities ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe whether garlicin could ameliorate pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis in rats through partial inhibiting transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) mediated Smads signal.

METHODSForty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, i. e., the sham-operation group, the model group, the garlicin group, and the Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) group, 10 in each group. The pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis rat model was prepared using coarctation of aorta. Three days after modeling 5.0 mg/kg garlicin injection was administered to rats in the garlicin group, 20 mg/kg TMP injection to rats in the TMP group by peritoneal injection, while normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the sham-operation group and the model group. Four weeks after medication, the changes of myocardial collagen were observed by picrosirius red staining. The myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen areas (PVCA) were calculated. The serum transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression was detected using ELISA. The TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue was observed using immunohistochemical assay. The changes of myocardial Smad2 and Smad7 mRNA expressions were detected using Real-time RT-PCR. The effects of garlicin on TGF-beta1 mediated Smad Signaling through luciferase assay were further verified using Mv1 Lu-(CAGA) 12-Luc cell line response to TGF-beta1.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, the myocardial levels of CVF and PVCA, the serum TGF-beta1 level, and the TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the PVCA level, the serum TGF-beta1 level, and the TGF-beta1 protein expression in the myocardial tissue of the garlicin group and the TMP group obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P 0O 01). The Smad2 mRNA expression was up-regulated while Smad7 mRNA expression down-regulated in the model group. The Smad2 mRNA expression was obviously down-regulated in the garlicin group and the TMP group (P < 0.05). The Smad7 mRNA expression was obviously up-regulated in the TMP group (P > 0.05). One to 2 microg/mL garlicin could obviously inhibit the luciferase activities of corresponding TGF-beta1, under the stimulation of 2 ng/mL TGF-beta1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGarlicin ameliorated pressure overload induced myocardial fibrosis in rats through partial inhibiting TGF-beta-Smads signal pathway.

Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of garlicin on fibroblasts proliferation and type I collagen synthesis and explore its anti-fibrosis mechanism.

METHODSGarlicin was added into the culture fluid of NIH3T3 cell, taking Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae as the control medicine. The spiking of H3-thymidine DNA was detected, also the hydroxyproline (HOP) concentration in the culture fluid by alkali digestion method and the protein expression of type I collagen in NIH3T3 cells by immunofluorescent staining.

RESULTSThe NIH3T3 cell growth and proliferation rate were obviously reduced after garlicin treatment concentration-dependently in range of 0.2 - 5 microg/mL; HOP level and protein expression of type I collagen also lowered.

CONCLUSIONGarlicin could inhibit NIH3T3 cell proliferation, reduce the synthesis and protein expression of type I collagen so as to exert the anti-fibrosis effect.

Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Garlic ; chemistry ; Hydroxyproline ; analysis ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells