Objective: Based on Dincer model, the drying characteristic of Chaenomeles sinensis under different drying condition was investigated in order to provide theoretical foundation for applying Dincer model to analyze heat and mass transfer during Chinese herbs drying process and select suitable drying technology and process. Methods: C. sinensis slice of thickness 12 mm was dried by the three different drying methods, namely air impingement drying, medium and short infrared waved drying and pulsed vacuum drying. Also, 9, 12 and 15 mm C. sinensis slices were dried under air impingement drying method. The drying characteristic, color value, rehydration ration, vitamin C (VC), general flavone, and microstructure were studied. Results: At the same drying temperature, the drying rate sorted in order of size was air impingement drying, medium and short infrared waved drying and pulsed vacuum drying and the drying activation energy was 43.10, 36.95 and 20.37 kJ/mol in corresponding. Decreasing slice thickness enhanced drying rate. The Weibull distribution model simulation result showed that the scale parameter α ranged from 47.85 to 324.51. Smaller α value meant short drying time. The shape parameter β was between 1.218 7 and 1.290 8 under air impingement drying as well as medium and short infrared waved drying method, which showed that drying was falling rate process controlled by internal moisture diffusion. However, the shape parameter β was between 1.218 7 and 1.290 8 under pulsed vacuum drying method, which illustrated that drying was controlled both by internal moisture diffusion and surface moisture evaporation. The calculated moisture diffusion coefficient was ranged from (1.66 × 10-8) to (1.13 × 10-7) m2/s and decreased as α increased. The Dincer model simulation result showed that the lag factor (G) was range from 1.135 6 to 1.337 6, which declared that there was a short raising rate drying period during the initial drying process. Heat transfer Biot number (Bi) value was between 1.171 4 and 136.041 2 and decreased as drying temperature increased. Effective moisture diffusion (Deff) value calculated by Diner model was range from (3.26 × 10-9) to (6.33 × 10-8) m2/s. At the same drying temperature, (Deff) value was larger than (D*), but smaller than (Dcal). Mass transfer (k) was ranged from (9.02 × 10-6) to (8.82 × 10-5) m/s and increased as drying temperature increased. Air impingement drying method was suitable for C. sinensis slice drying, and drying temperature of 60 ℃ and thickness of 12 mm was the most optimum drying process. Under above drying circumstance, the drying time, brightness L*, color difference value ΔE, VC, general flavone and rehydration ratio were 5 h, 62.80 ± 1.70, 19.62 ± 2.60, (1.107 8 ± 0.005 0) mg/g, (36.74 ± 0.60) mg/g and 7.11 ± 0.24, respectively. Conclusion: Such investigation result can provide theoretical foundation for applying Dincer model to describe heat and mass transfer characteristics during Chinese herbs drying and filtrating suitable C. sinensis slice drying method and process.

Objective: Taking Panacis Quinquefolii Radix (PQR) as study object, the drying characteristic and quality was investigated under constant relative humidity (RH) and step-down RH drying method in order to provide foundation for improving drying efficient and quality of PQR. Methods: At drying temperature 55 ℃, the effect of constant RH (20%, 30%, and 40%), step-down RH, when RH 40% was kept for 1, 5, and 9 h and then decreased to 20%, and continuously dehumidification drying conditions on drying characteristic, moisture effective diffusion coefficient, rehydration ratio, shrinkage ratio, total ginsenoside content and microstructure were investigated. Results: With constant RH drying condition, the lower the RH was, the higher the drying rate was. When RH was 20%, the drying time was shortened by 6.8% compared with RH of 40%. With step-down RH drying condition, when RH 40% was held for 5 h and then decreased to 20%, the drying time was shortened by 3.4% compared with dehumidification drying method. Also, a transient increasing drying rate phase was appeared. Moisture effective diffusion coefficient ranged from 1.49 × 10-10 to 2.50 × 10-10 m2/s. Rehydration ratio mainly depended on the damage degree of the PQR cellular structure and the moisture content before rehydrating. Additionally, the rehydration ratio and shrinkage ratio increased with the increase of RH. High RH was benefit for reserving and transferring of ginsenoside content. The microstructure results showed that under continuous dehumidification drying process, the PQR surface was crusted so that the drying time was prolonged and rehydration ratio was decreased. On the other hand, step-down RH drying method was benefit for porous structure formation, which was helpful for shortening drying time and improving rehydration ratio. When RH 40% was kept for 5 h and then decreased to 20%, the comprehensive score of this drying condition achieved its maximum value as (0.61 ± 0.01). Such drying condition was regarded as the best drying process with the rehydration ratio, shrinkage ratio and total ginsenoside content of 2.23 ± 0.12, 0.26 ± 0.06, and (5.01 ± 0.04)%, respectively. Conclusion: Step-down RH drying method can improve PQR drying efficient and quality and such conclusion provided theoretical foundation and technical support for how to adjust RH during hot air drying of PQR.

Background The retina ischemia reperfusion injury (RIRI) can lead to apoptosis,which is associated with many genes.It is very significant to explore the protection of drugs on RIRI-induced apoptosis.Objective This study was to explore the relationship between the expression of Nogo-A and the cell apoptosis as well as the therapeutic effect of NEP1-40 in RIRI retina.Methods The device of raising intraocular pressure (IOP)was used to elevate the IOP for 60 minutes and then restore the IOP to normal for the establishment of RIRI models.Seventy-eight SD rats were randomized to the normal group,RIRI group and NEP1-40 group.PBS of 5 ml/(kg · d)was injected intraperitoneally in the rats of the RIRI group,and NEP1-40 of 8 mg/(L · kg) was used in the same way in the NEP1-40 group.The rats were sacrificed in overdose anesthesia at 6 hours,12 hours and 1 day,2,3,7 days after RIRI to prepare the retinal specimens.The ultrastructure of rat retinas was examined under the transmission electron microscope.Cell apoptosis was assessed by the TUNEL method,and the apoptotic index (AI) was calculated.The expressions of Nogo-A protein and mRNA in rat retinas were detected by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR).Results The ultrastructure of retinal cells were normal in the normal group.Retinal cell organelle dissolution,mitochondria swelling,cavitation,chromatin edge heterochromatin and apoptotic body were seen in the rats of the RIRI group from 12 hours through 7 days after injection.However,only the slight loose of outer membranous disk,inner and outer nuclear layer and retinal ganglion cells,the nucleus gap broadening,shortness of some mitochondrial cristae in the NEP1-40 group.TUNEL-positive cells appeared 6 hours after RIRI and reached peak in 1 day,and gradually declined after that in the RIRI group.A similar pattern was seen in the rats of the NEP1-40 group with a more mild manifestation.Significant differences were seen in the AI values among the different groups at various time points (Fgroup =100.850,P =0.000 ; Ftime =34.309,P =0.000),and the AI values were significantly higher in the RIRI group and NEP1-40 group compared with normal group;while the AI values in the NEP1-40 group was lower than those of the RIRI group (all at P＜0.05).The expressions of Nogo-A protein and mRNA showed a coincident pattern with apoptosis procedure,with a gradually elevated level from 6 hours through 7 days after RIRI and a peak in 2 days,and those in the NEP1-40 group were weaker in comparison with the RIRI group in various time points.Significant differences were detected in the expression of Nogo-A protein and the expression of Nogo-A mRNA among different groups and various time points(protein:Fgroup =164.139,P =0.000;Ftime =21.772,P =0.000.mRNA:Fgroup =93.889,P =0.000 ; Ftime =6.349,P =0.000).Conclusions Nogo-A probably plays an important role in RIRI.NEP1-40 can protect retinal cells from apoptosis following RIRI through down-regulating the expression of Nogo-A.

BACKGROUND:Using experimental animals to simulate diseases of human being is the basis of studying etiology and treatment of the diseases, so the diseases of nasal cavity and sinus need suitable experimental animals as models.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the regional anatomy of rhino-sinus in rabbits and its performance through CT imaging, and to discuss the feasibility of applying a rabbit model to the study of animal rhino-sinusitis.
METHODS:Routine coronal and axial scanning images of rhino-sinus of New Zealand rabbits were performed through Discovery CT750 HD. The rhino-sinus anatomy was then observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The nasal septum is located on both sides of the nasal cavity. The lateral wal of rabbit nasal is composed of maxil ary turbinate, middle turbinate, the inside of the middle turbinate and inferior turbinate. The maxil ary sinus cavity is the largest one and ethmoid sinus, sphenoid sinus and frontal sinus are relatively much smal er. Al these sinuses are paired and symmetrical. The rhino-sinus in rabbit is displayed clearly in CT scan. The anatomical location of rabbit is similar to that of human;however, the maxil ary sinus of rabbit is greater than that of human correspondingly, which is suitable for operating and applying to surgical anatomy and imaging analysis. The rabbit model of rhino-sinus can be applied to simulate human rhino-sinusitis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects and safety of penetrating needling on head acupoints for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR).

METHODSEighty-one cases of PAR were randomly divided into an acupuncture group (41 cases) and a medication group (40 cases). Penetrating needling at head acupoints was adopted from Baihui (GV 20) to Qianding (GV 21) and from Shangxing (GV 23) to Shenting (GV 24) in the acupuncture group. A to tal 4-week treatment was given to the patients with 3 treatments a week. Loratadine tablet and azelastine hydrochloride nasal spray were given to the medication group continuously for 12 days. A follow-up was carried out 3 months after the treatment. The efficacy, symptom score and physical sign score, and side accidents were observed in both groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 95.1% (39/41) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 82.5% (33/40) in the medication group (P < 0.05). The total scores of clinical symptoms and each partial scores after the treatment, and total scores of clinical symptoms in follow-up were obviously decreased in both groups (all P < 0.01), the nasal obstruction score and the total scores of clinical symptoms in the acupuncture group were better than those in the medication group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Obvious side-effect had not been found during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONPenetrating needling at head acupoints is a safe therapy for patients with PAR, and favorable effects can be found in both short term and long term.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To mitigate Lycii Fructus surface crust and save drying time during drying process, vacuum pulsed drying technology was applied to dry Lycii Fructus so as to investigate moisture diffusion regulation and build the drying model. Methods The effect of different drying temperature (50, 55, 60, and 65 ℃), vacuum pressure holding time (5, 10, 20, and 30 min), and atmosphere pressure holding time (2, 4, and 8 min) on drying characteristics, moisture diffusion coefficients and drying activation energy was explored in vacuum pulsed drying process. Weibull model distribution was used to simulate and analyze Lycii Fructus drying curves. Results All the drying temperature, atmosphere pressure holding time, and vacuum pressure time holding time had significant influence on drying time. When drying temperature, atmosphere pressure holding time, and vacuum pressure time holding time was 60 ℃, 4 min, and 10 min, respectively, the minimum drying time was achieved to be 284 min. Weibull distribution model can be well described the vacuum pulsed drying process of Lycii Fructus. The scale parameter was related to drying time and decreased as drying temperature increased. The drying temperature, atmosphere pressure holding time, and vacuum pressure time holding time had little influence on the shape parameter. The shape parameter was associated with drying method. The moisture diffusion coefficient and activation energy were calculated to be 2.02 × 10-8-3.56 × 10-8 m2/s and 36.27 kJ/mol, respectively. Conclusion Weibull distribution model can well describe the moisture diffusion regulation of vacuum pulsed drying process of Lycii Fructus. The drying result had a great significance for predicting, controlling and optimizing drying process. On the other hand, the research could provide technical basis for industrial drying of Lycii Fructus by vacuum pulsed drying technology.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the polymorphism of TNF-α gene 308, 238 locus and the susceptibility to pneumoconiosis.

METHODSEighteen published case-control studies about TNF-α gene 308, 238 locus polymorphism and pneumoconiosis susceptibility were searched out from sino-foreign databases from January 1994 to December 2010. Meta-analysis was applied on the published research to calculate the pooled OR value (95%CI) and stratified analyze the types and species of pneumoconiosis.

RESULTSEleven of the published research articles were selected into the analysis, including 10 research focusing on TNF-α gene 308 locus, with 1408 cases and 1639 controls in total. The meta-analysis showed that comparing with Gln/Gln carriers, Arg/Arg, Arg/Gln, Gln/Arg + Arg/Arg carriers were 1.89-fold (95%CI: 1.10 - 3.24), 1.53-fold (95%CI: 1.25 - 1.87), and 1.56-fold (95%CI: 1.28 - 1.90) more susceptible to pneumoconiosis, respectively. The stratified analysis showed that among coal workers, the TNF-α gene 308 locus Arg/Arg, Arg/Gln, Gln/Arg + Arg/Arg carriers were separately 2.29-fold (95%CI: 1.22 - 4.29), 1.56-fold (95%CI: 1.20 - 2.03), 1.64-fold (95%CI: 1.28 - 2.11) more susceptible to pneumoconiosis than Gln/Gln carriers; and among Asian people, the TNF-α gene 308 locus Gln/Arg, Gln/Arg + Arg/Arg carriers were separately 1.58-fold (95%CI: 1.28 - 1.95) and 1.57-fold (95%CI: 1.28 - 1.94) more susceptible to pneumoconiosis than the Gln/Gln carriers. Four case-control research focus on the study of TNF-α gene 238 locus, including 391 cases and 391 controls in total. The analysis showed that comparing with the non-carriers, TNF-α gene 238 locus Arg/Arg, Arg/Gln, Gln/Arg + Arg/Arg carriers were 6.03-fold (95%CI: 1.35 - 26.97), 1.87-fold (95%CI: 1.07 - 3.30) and 2.36-fold (95%CI: 1.37 - 4.07) more susceptible to pneumoconiosis.

CONCLUSIONTNF-α gene 308, 238 locus Arg/Arg, Gln/Arg, Gln/Arg + Arg/Arg carriers are more susceptible to pneumoconiosis.

Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

A new method for the preparation of oligonucleotide microarray for gene expression detection was found. The key techniques and standards of quality controlling for preparation of oligonucleotide microarray was explored using gene of human 23 kD highly protein and Luciferase and mouse cytokine-associated genes. By the using of a software system MProbe, oligonucleotide probes were designed and BLAST. All the probes have a very high specificity, i.e. except target sequence, the similarity between the probe and non-target sequences is less than 70% and the hairpin structure are not exist in all probes. All the probes have the same length 40. GC contents in all probes are in a narrow scope (from 45% to 55%). All the probes are modified with amino at 5' or 3' terminal. The satisfied images with good sensitivity and very high specificity were obtained by the using of the methods above and also using of positive and negative controls and some internal controls(house keeping gene) to quantitate and balance expression of genes. High specificity, good sensitivity and stability have been verified by three continuous experiments using the oligonucleotide microarray to study gene expression profile of normal mouse breast grand tissue. The oligonucleotide microarray for expression detection prepared using our method have high specificity, good sensitivity and stability et al. It may be a more advanced method for analysis of gene expression profile.
Animals ; Cytokines ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; genetics ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methylation Oct4 in orientation induced differentiation in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

METHODSMice BMSCs were isolated and purified from bone marrow by adherent culture,and then identified by morphology and immunocytochemistry.Mouse osteoblastic cells were cultured by bone fragments inoculation,and then identified by alkaline phosphatase(AKP)staining and alizarin red staining.BMSCs were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts in vitro. Indirect immunofluorescence staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT PCR)were used to detect the expressions of Oct4 in BMSCs before and after induction.The methylation status of Oct4 gene in mouse BMSCs was explored by a methylation specific PCR before and after induction

RESULTSThe isolated mice BMSCs massively proliferated in vitro and formed cell colones with uniform morphology.Positive expressions of CD29,cKit,and CD44 and negative expression of CD34 were found in the isolated cells.After 10 days[DK]'[DK] induction,both AKP and the alizarin red were positive in cells and osteoblastic cells isolated from mice skull bones.The indirect immunoinfluorescence staining and RT-PCR also showed that the Oct4 expression in the directed differentiation of mouse BMSCs was down-regulated.The CpG island of Otc4 gene promoter in mouse BMSCs became methylated during the induced differentiation.

CONCLUSIONSMice BMSCs and osteoblasts were successfully cultured in vitro in this studyOct4 may be involved in the maintenance of adult stem cell pluripotency.The down regulated expression of Oct4 gene in mouse BMSCs during the directed differentiation may contribute to the methylation of CpG island in Otc4 gene promoter.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the morphologic classification and its clinical significance of giant left atrium (GLA) combined with mitral valvular disease.

METHODSBetween January 1993 and December 1999, a total of 62 consecutive patients with mitral valvular disease, whose preoperative left atrial endodiastolic volume index >/= 300 ml/m(2) or endosystolic diameter >/= 6.0 cm, were enrolled as research candidates. Morphologically, GLA was classified by Q Hierarchical cluster analysis according to the right or left side cardiothoracic ratio of the left atrium (r- or l-LATR) on an anteroposterior chest roentgenogram and the ratio of the distant diameter of the left main bronchus to the approximate diameter of the left main bronchus (LBDd/Dp) or to the trachea (LB/TR) on an left anterior oblique chest roentgenogram.

RESULTSAccording to r-LATR and l-LATR, the morphology of GLA was classified clinically into three types: type L (l-LATR >/= 0.6 and r-LATR < 0.58), type R (r-LATR >/= 0.58 and l-LATR < 0.6) and type B (r-LATR >/= 0.58 and l-LATR >/= 0.6). According to LBDd/Dp and LB/TR, GLA in type L and B was further classified into two subtypes, respectively: left posterior downward type (L(I) and B(I)), in which LBDd/Dp is equal or exceeds 0.38 or LB/TR is equal or exceeds 0.33, and left posterior upward type (L(II) and B(II)), in which LBDd/Dp is less than 0.38 or LB/TR less than 0.33.

CONCLUSIONThe morphologic classification of GLA may represent the main pathophysiological changes of GLA and might be a guideline for the selection of the optimal plication procedures of GLA in patients with valve diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiomegaly ; pathology ; Female ; Heart Atria ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; pathology ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; pathology