Objective: To observe the changes of urine metabolic profile of Wuzhuyu Decoction in rats with deficiency cold and vomit, and explore its possible mechanism of treatment of deficiency cold and vomit syndrome. Methods: A rat model of deficiency cold and vomit was prepared by a composite method (rhucax + cisplatin). Rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, and Wuzhuyu Decoction group. UPLC-MS/MS combined with principal component analysis and partial least squares analysis were used to analyze urine data and identify potential biomarkers. Diversified ROC curves were used to validate differential metabolites; Pathway Analysis database was used for topological analysis of differential metabolites; R and Cytoscape were used for correlation analysis and modular analysis of metabolites. Results: The urine metabolic spectrum of control group and model group were completely separated. Wuzhuyu Decoction group was close to the control group, indicating that the model was successfully replicated; And Wuzhuyu Decoction can interfere with the symptoms of deficiency cold and vomit in rats, suggesting that the rat body had a tendency to return to normal state. Through modular analysis of 34 urine differential metabolites, the deficiency cold and vomit treatment was revealed to affect biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, citric acid cycle (TCA cycle) pathways. Modularity analysis revealed that there was close relationship between 10 modules; Alanine, leucine, tyrosine, tryptophan, isoleucine, succinic acid, alanine, fumaric acid, malic acid, isocitrate, and other biological targets can thus be used as markers of deficiency cold and vomit. Conclusion: Wuzhuyu Decoction can improve the physiological characteristics of the model of deficiency cold and vomit. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism and lipid metabolism in rats.

The pharmacokinetic research of traditional Chinese medicines (TMC) is an inalienable part of the chain of TCM modernization and plays an important role in the TCM novel drug development. However, the researching method and system that is consistent with the specific characteristics of TCM, i.e., multiple-components and targets, is still lacking. Furthermore, the current understanding of the critical scientific questions of TCM pharmacokinetics remains still unclear. This review makes a brief summary of our recent developments on the pharmacokinetic exploration of TCMs, mainly including integral pharmacokinetic study of multiple components, herbalome analysis both in vitro and in vivo, mechanism based compatibility study for herbal components interactions, and the representative pharmacokinetic study for single herbal compound. Furthermore, the critical scientific questions of TCM pharmacokinetics are discussed based on understanding the requirements of novel drug developments from TCM.
Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of low level manganese (Mn) exposure on the serum neuroendocrine hormones levels of the welders.

METHODSThe exposure group consisted of 41 male welders, 40 male workers without exposing to harmful agents served as controls. The serum contents of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (TST) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) of 81 subjects were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay.

RESULTSThe geometric mean value of airborne Mn concentrations was 0.03 mg/m(3) (0.003 - 0.519 mg/m(3)) in the welding circumstances. The levels of Mn in red blood cells (RBCs) and urinary Mn of the exposure group were significantly higher than those of control group (P < 0.01). The contents of serum LH and TSH of the exposure group were 2.89 ± 0.69 mIU/ml and 1.45 ± 0.56 uIU/ml, which were significantly lower than those (3.82 ± 1.61 mIU/ml and 2.19 ± 1.28 µIU/ml) of control group (P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH, FSH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years were significantly lower than those of the control group, The serum TST level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly higher than those of the control group and group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years, the serum FSH level of the group exposed to Mn for < 5 years was significantly lower than that of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 5 ∼ years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The serum contents of PRL, LH and TSH of the group exposed to Mn for 10 years were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). There was negative correlation between blood (RBC) Mn and urinary Mn (r = -0.310, P < 0.05), also there was negative correlation between serum PRL and serum TST (r = -0.409, P < 0.01), the positive correlation between serum LH and serum FSH was observed (r = 0.361, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study showed that the long exposure to low level of Mn may decrease the levels of serum PRL, LH and TSH in workers occupationally exposed to Mn, which can influence the metabolism of neuroendocrine hormones to certain extent.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Manganese ; Occupational Exposure ; Prolactin ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood ; Thyrotropin ; blood ; Welding

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cell subset in peripheral blood caused by gestational age and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) with or without labor to verify the role of regulatory T cells in pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated regulatory T cell distribution in the peripheral blood of pregnancies during the first trimester (group I, n=2), the second trimester (group II, n=12), and the third trimester without PROM and labor (group III, n=15). In addition, we evaluated pregnancies in the third trimester complicated by PROM (group IV, n=4) and labor with no complication by PROM (Group V, n=5). Comparisons were made with non-pregnant controls (group VI, n=4) using flow cytometry. RESULTS: During uncomplicated pregnancy, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population decreased with advancing gestational age (group I=3.35+/-0.47, group II=2.91+/-1.44, group III=2.81+/-1.36, group VI=2.52+/-0.71, p=NS). When we compared group IV with group III and V to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cells with PROM, the CD4(+)CD25(bright) regulatory T cell population was significantly decreased in group IV compared to group III (p=0.001) and group V (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: The present results revealed that the regulatory T cell population increased in early pregnancy but decreased in pregnancies complicated by PROM, indicating that regulatory T cells might be related to the maintenance of pregnancy.
Antigens, CD4/immunology ; Female ; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture/*immunology/physiopathology ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/*immunology ; Labor, Obstetric/*immunology/physiology ; Pregnancy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology/physiology

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to verify the correlation between gestational sac volume (GSV) from automatic tracing mode the VOCAL-imaging program and gestational age and to construct the nomogram of gestational sac volume as the new biometric parameter in early pregnancy. METHODS: The cross-sectional study has been conducted in 242 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. 47 cases were excluded due to early pregnancy failure, fetal malformations, elective abortion, age discrepancy, etc. In 195 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies from 5 to 12 weeks' menstrual age, gestational sac volume, mean sac diameter and crown-lump length were measured for the assessment of gestational age. Gestational sac volumetry was carried out with automatic method and manual method of the VOCALTM (Virtual Organ Computer- aided AnaLysis) for the comparison between two methods. The collected data were analyzed for mean, standard deviation, 90% reference interval, 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of gestational sac volume, mean sac diameter and CRL, and the nomogram were constructed. RESULTS: Polynomial regression analysis demonstrated the statistically significant positive correlation between gestational age and gestational sac volume by automatic tracing mode (R2 0.826, p<0.001), gestational sac volume by manual tracing mode (R2 0.844, p<0.0001), mean sac diameter (R2 0.763, p<0.0001) and crown-lump length (R2 0.950, p<0.0001). The 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles of the gestational sac volume were calculated and the nomogram was tabulated. In determining gestational age, the standard deviation (SD) of gestational sac volume by automatic tracing mode is 5.6 days, the SD of gestational sac volume by manual tracing mode is 5.2 days and the SD of MSD is 6.6 days. CONCLUSION: we can conclude that three-dimensional GSV with automatic tracing mode of the VOCAL-imaging program can be used as the new biometric measurement in determining gestational age. Gestational sac volumetry with automatic tracing mode of the VOCAL-imaging program have been proven available and convenient method and it can be recommended in 5-7 weeks' of gestation, when CRL is not clearly visualized.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Gestational Age* ; Gestational Sac* ; Nomograms ; Pregnancy

Objective To discuss the clinical value of transabdominal sonography after bowl preparation in diagnosis of ileocecal valve syndrome ( IVS) .Methods The ultrasonic features of IVS in 37 cases were summerized and correlated with the follow-up findings after conservative treatment or the pathologic results after operation .Twenty-eight cases were confirmed by follow-up and 9 cases by operative pathology.Results Among the 37 cases of IVS,28 were idiopathic IVS (75.7%,28/37) and 9 were secondary IVS (24.3%, 9/37%).For the secondary cases, the primary diseases included 5 acute appendicitis,2 Meckel diverticulum,1 terminal ileitis and 1 carcinoma of ascending colon .The diagnostic accuracy rate of ultrasound was 89.2%(33/37).Misdiagnosis rate was 10.8%(4/37),including 1 case of idiopathic and 3 cases of secondary IVS .The IVS ultrasonic images coulde be displayed clearly using 7.0-10.0 MHz probes.In fasting examination,three ultrasonic characteristic signss were found in interminal ileum region at the right lower abdomen .And these features were bagel-shaped sign [91.9%(34/37),average size (1.9 ±1.6) cm ×(0.8 ±0.3) cm],short sleevelet-shaped sign [91.9% (34/37,average size (2.1 ± 0.4)cm ×(1.3 ±0.2) cm],and rose-shaped sign [83.8% (31/37),average size (1.4 ±0.2) cm × (1.0 ±0.2) cm].The shapes of some signs were changeable when the probe compressed .In the case of idiopathic IVS ,several pathologic changes could be seen on sonography after intestinal tract filling of oral 20%mannitol,including slight thickened mucosa and submucosa of erminalileum ,enlarged ieocecal valve and the crocodile-mouth sign.Conclusions Transabdominal ultrasonic examination with high frequency probe after bowl preparation plays an important role in diagnosis of IVS .The method is simple and accurate and should be recommended and applied clinically .

Objective To analyze and estimate, the treatment of patients with histologically confirmed subependymal giant-cell astroeytoma (SEGCA). Methods The data from 23 patients with SEG-CA who were diagnosed between February 1995 and February 2008 were retrospectively evaluated. Various combinations of surgery and radiotherapy had been used for treatment. Results Total resection was 16 cases, subtotal resection was 7 cases, radiotherapy was 17 cases. The average follow-up time was 53 months.One postoperative SEGCA recurrence. Epilepsy was totally disappeared in 17.6% (3/17), partly disappeared in 47.1%(8/17). All cases survived. Conclusions The key of treatment is total resection. The significance of radiotherapy is not sure. The overall prognosis of SEGCA is favorable.

Objective To examine the diagnosis and outcomes in the treatment of the patients with histologically confirmed central neurocytoma (CNC). Methods The data from 71 patients with CNC who were diagnosed between March 2003 and December 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. Various combinations of surgery, and radiotherapy had been used for treatment. Results The average bulk of tumors was 40 cm3. The median follow-up was 22 months. The 22 months overall survival and local control rate was 95.8%(68/71) and 95.6%(65/68), respectively. Conclusions The overall prognosis is favorable although the follow-up is not very long. Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy can significantly improve local control.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Proton-Translocating ATPases ; genetics ; Young Adult