Objective To study the molecular biology of rifampin-depending M. Tuberculosis. Methods The seguence (a 319-bp DNA fragment) of rpoB gene were analyzed by automated DNA sequencing machine. (2) The fingerprints of genomic DNA were obtained by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fingerprinting. (3)The protein electrophoresis of bacterium by SDS-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAG).(4) The cases of pulmonary tuberculosis by rifampin-depending strains were retrospectively analyzed. Results (1) rpoB gene sequenced: The point mutationrate of rifampin-depending strainswas 96.7%(29/30) and that of rifampin-residtant strains 81.1%(30/37), P

BackgroundIn an ideal eye there would be no light scattering at all,but the eye media is not optically ideal.Intraocular straylight causes a veil of light and reduction in the contrast of the retinal image and thus decrease the quality of vision.ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of C-Quant straylight meter( Oculus,Germany)in measuring retinal straylight of myopia and post-laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) corneas.MethodsThis is a prospective research.The consecutive 35 eyes of 21 myopic patients and 34 eyes of 22 patients who received LASIK were included in this trail.Retinal straylight was measured for 7 times at a period of time and analyzed quantificational to evaluate the repeatability of measurement.Thirty-eight eyes of 19 patients were measured again at 3-7 days for 3 times at a period of time to assess the reproducibility of C-Quant straylight meter.The mean standard difference (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) were used as the credibility evaluation.This clinical study complied with Helsinki Declaration and the informed consent was obtained prior to the medical procedure.ResultsThe straylight Log(s) of 7 times measurement were all less than 0.95.The mean Log(s) were 0.92±0.12 and 0.93±0.17 respectively in myopia group and post-LASIK group,without statistically significant differences among 7 times measurement( F=0.335,P=0.812;F=1.000,P=0.409).The mean SD for the 7 times measurement was 0.07 Log units.SD and CV increased with the number of measurements.The differences of mean SD and CV between 3 times result and 6 times result were significant different (t =-2.080,P =0.045;t =-2.190,P =0.035 ).No difference was found between different time periods( t =-0.531,P=0.598 ).The difference of the results between two measurements from the same patient was 0.013.ConclusionsC-Quant is a noncontact,noninvade,rapid and convenient method for the measurement of straylight in myopia and post-LASIK eyes due to the high repeatability and reproducibility.

This paper reviews the new progress in the research of fractional carbon dioxide laser in treating hypertrophic scar after burn injury, which remains a challenging problem for burn care surgeons. There have been many traditional therapeutic approaches, such as compression remedy, operation, and so on. However, a satisfactory method is lacking to date. In recent years, the newly developed fractional carbon dioxide laser has been employed to treat different kinds of scars, and it has been proved to be effective in terms of an improvement of scar color, texture, and rigidity. It seems to be a promising method for scar treatment in future.
Burns ; surgery ; Cicatrix ; surgery ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; surgery ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of compound Duzhong Jiangu granule (CDJG) on knee joint osteoarthritis (KJO) of Gan-Shen deficiency with stasis in tendon and muscle syndrome.

METHODSThe randomized controlled method was adopted in this study, comparative study was conducted in 400 patients in the treated group treated with CDJG and 200 patients in the control group treated with Zhuanggu Guanjie pill (ZGP).

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 92% and the curative-markedly effective rate was 47%, which were higher than those in the control group respectively. Moreover, CDJG showed superiority in improving symptoms and with shorter initiating time of action as compared with ZGP. However CDJG had the effect more favourable for patients of mild condition.

CONCLUSIONCDJG is a kind of effective and safe medicine for treatment of KJO.

Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the criterion for efficacy evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERD) and the effect of treatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

METHODSOne hundred and sixteen patients of GERD were randomly assigned to two groups, group A treated with Western medicine and group B with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. Changes of symptoms, TCM syndromes, and endoscopic picture were observed before and after treatment. And the condition of recurrence was also inspected.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 84.5% and 67.2% in group A and B respectively. The long-term efficacy was better in group B than that in group A (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in short-term efficacy between the two groups. But the recurrence happened in both groups after withdrawal of treatment. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients of deficiency syndrome type and coexistence of deficiency and excess syndrome type than that in those of excess syndrome type (P < 0.05), and it was also higher in those whose pathogenesis was associated with mental factor (P < 0.05). In the other 20 patients the treatment was sustained for 10.4 +/- 11.4 months on average. There were 69.0% of the patients with normal esophagus mucosa shown by endoscope examination, and the pathological changes were not coincident with the symptoms and prognosis.

CONCLUSIONSBasically, no case of GERD could be cured, so, it is supposed that the item of "cure" in the criteria of therapeutic efficacy evaluation is advisably made over to "clinical control" or "obvious efficacy", and add an item of "no change" in the criterion. The importance of endoscopic picture for efficacy evaluation is doubtful and needs to be further discussed.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Esophagoscopy ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Omeprazole ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Corbrin shugan capsule for treatment of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis in rats.

METHODSThe rat model of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis was induced by intragastric administration of alcohol repeatedly. The serum procollagen III (PC III), laminin (LN) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) levels were measured with ELISA, and the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver tissue were determined with colorimetric method. Collagen deposition in liver tissue was observed with Masson's staining, and the fibrosis area was measured with digital medical image analysis system (Motic Med 6.0).

RESULTSCompared with the model control group, the serum TIMP-1 and LN levels and hepatic fibrosis area in liver tissue significantly decreased in Corbrin shugan capsule groups with doses of 0.09,0.27 and 0.45 g*kg(-1), and the serum PC III and the Hyp contents in liver tissue also decreased of Corbrin shugan capsule groups with doses of 0.27 and 0.45g*kg(-1).

CONCLUSIONCorbrin shugan capsule can decrease serum PC III, TIMP-1 and LN levels and Hyp levels in liver tissue and hepatic fibrosis area in rats, indicating it may have therapeutic effect on alcoholic hepatic fibrosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Laminin ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Procollagen ; blood ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Jiangbaiweiyan tablet, a Chinese medicine compound composed of Alpinta Officinarum, Cyperus Rotundus, Bulbus Lilii and Rlindera Strychnifolia, on ethanol-induced gastric mucosa injury in rats.

METHODSAcute gastric ulcer was induced in rats with absolute ethyl alcohol. The ulcer index was used to evaluate the extent of the gastric mucosa injury.

RESULTSThe ulcer indexes of the model group, the mid-dose (1.08 g x kg(-1) x d-(-1)1) and high-dose (2.16 g x kg(-1) x d-(-1)) of Jiangbaiweiyan tablet groups were 141.58±47.43, 24.83±23.04 and 2.12±2.58, respectively (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONJiangbaiweiyan tablet has protective effects on ethanol-induced gastric mucosa injury in rats, which may be related to anti-oxidation and enhancing tissue regeneration capacity.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Tablets

To observe the antipyretic effect of Reduning injection (RDN) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever rats and its impact on centric fever medium. Rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the Metamizole group, and high and low-dose RDN groups. Except for the blank control group, all of the rats were injected intraperitoneally with LPS (80 microg x kg(-1)) to observe their body temperature changes. The double-antibody sandwich ELSIA method was adopted to determine cAMP content in hypothalamus and MPO in lung tissues of fever peak rats. The high-dose RDN group can obviously reduce the temperature rise in fever rats, and cAMP and MPO content in hypothalamus. RDN showed significant antipyretic effect, which may be related with the reduction of cAMP content in hypothalamus and MPO in lung tissues.
Animals ; Antipyretics ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fever ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of decreased expression of high mobility group Box-1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

METHODSThree specific siRNAs of HMGB1 were designed and synthesized, and were transiently transfected into HepG2 cells by Lipofectamine 2000. The HMGB1 expression in HepG2 cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. The proliferation activity in vitro was assessed by MTT assay. In situ apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.

RESULTSAll of these specific HMGB1-siRNAs (1, 2, 3) efficiently and specifically inhibited the expression of the HMGB1 gene, and the levels of HMGB1 mRNA were 1.147+/-0.024, 1.014+/-0.042, 0.435+/-0.055, respectively, in HMGB1-siRNAs transfection group, which were significantly lower than that in Lipofectamine 2000 alone group (1.411+/-0.065, P < 0.01). Correspondingly, all of these specific HMGB1-siRNAs (1, 2, 3) could efficiently and specifically inhibit the expression of the HMGB1 protein, and the levels of HMGB1 protein were 0.369+/-0.035, 0.340+/-0.028, 0.097+/-0.020, respectively, in HMGB1-siRNAs transfection group, which were significantly lower than that in Lipofectamine 2000 alone group (0.553+/-0.051, P < 0.01). Of the 3 specific HMGB1-siRNAs, HMGB1-siRNA-3 (siRNAH3) had the highest inhibition rate (80%). The proliferation of HepG2 cells was markedly inhibited by siRNAH3 transfection. Compared to mock-transfection, siRNAH3 transfection dramatically suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells (P < 0.01). Moreover, siRNAH3 can induce apoptosis (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA targeting HMGB1 mRNA can specifically reduce HMGB1 gene and protein expression. siRNAH3 can effectively suppress the proliferation and induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; HMGB1 Protein ; genetics ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering

15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) plays an important role in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Release of nitric oxide (NO) is apparently decreased and activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is impaired in chronic hypoxia. However, little is known whether 15-HETE contributes to eNOS/NO pathway in the constriction induced by 15-HETE. We examined the response of rat pulmonary artery (PA) rings to 15-HETE, the production of NO, total eNOS expression and the phosphorylation of eNOS in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs) stimulated by 15-HETE. Rat PA rings were divided into three groups: endothelium intact group, endothelium denuded group, and nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.1 mmol/L, an inhibitor of eNOS) group. Constrictions to 15-HETE were significantly enhanced in endothelium denuded group and L-NAME group (both P< 0.05 vs endothelium intact group, n= 9); BPAECs were incubated in different conditions to test nitrite production by Greiss method. Nitrite production was significantly reduced by 1 mumol/L 15-HETE (P<0.05), and increased by the lipoxygenase inhibitors, 10 mumol/L cinnamyl 3,4- dihydroxy-[alpha] -cyanocinnamate (CDC, P< 0.05) and 0.1 mmol/L nordihydroguiairetic acid (NDGA, P< 0.01 ); Western blot analysis of extracts from BPAECs incubated with 15-HETE in different time was carried out to test total eNOS expression, and the expression was changed unobviously. Immunoprecipitation (IP) and Western blot analysis of cell extracts from BPAECs treated with 2 mumol/L 15-HETE in different length of time were accomplished, using phospo-eNOS-threonine 495 (Thr495, an inhibitory site) antibody for IP, and eNOS or 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) antibodies for Western blot. 15-HETE depressed eNOS activity by increasing the levels of phospho-eNOS-Thr 495. The data suggest that eNOS/NO pathway is involved in PA constrictions induced by 15-HETE and that 15-HETE depresses eNOS activity by phosphorylation in Thr495 site. The protein interaction between phospho-eNOS (Thr495) and 15-LO is discovered for the first time.
Animals ; Cattle ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; enzymology ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar