OBJECTIVETo develop a method for the determination of salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin in Shuangdan granules.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB C18 column with a linear gradient elution of phosphoric acid-water (0.05:100) and phosphoric acid-acetonitrile-methanol (0.05:4:96) was used. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1) and column temperature was set at 25 degrees C. The UV detection wavelength was set at 230 nm.

RESULTThe linear ranger was of 0.710-22.7 microg for salvianolic acid B and 0.103-3.30 microg for paeoniflorin. Three batches of Shuangdan granules were analyzed, and the content of salvianolic acid B ranged from 6.46-11.6 mg x g(-1) and paeoniflorin ranged from 1.44-1.78 mg x g(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, reproducible, reliable, and could be used for quantitative control of Shuangdan granules.

Benzoates ; analysis ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the surgical approaches and therapeutic effect of lymphatic malformations located in head and neck in children. Methods Eleven cases of lymphatic malformations in the region of head and neck in children encountered between Jan. 1998 and Dec. 2008 in Peking University First Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Initial diagnosis was made based on the physical examination and then confirmed by MR and Enhanced CT imaging. Surgical therapy was used for patients with lymphatic malformation which exceeds 4 cm. The operative technique was as follows: mass resection and superficial parotidectomy (4 cases), mass resection and total parotidectomy (2 cases), mass resection with neck dissection (2 cases), mass resection with neck dissection and sternotomy (1 case), marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve dissection and mass resection (2 cases). Dissection outside the false capsule was applied during the operation and facial nerve was dissected from bole to terminal arborization. Results The mass was completely removed in all 11 cases without organ dysfunction and obvious dysfigurement. The cure rate was 100%. Three cases suffered from a branch of facial nerve paralysis because of tension and 1 case had a Homer's syndrome after operation. One ease needed a blood transfusion (150 ml ) during the operation. All cases have been followed up with excellent results from 6 to 121 months, 32 months of the median, no mass recurrence. Conclusions Dissection outside the false capsule of mass and dissection of facial nerve were applied in the surgical treatment of huge lymphatic malformations. These methods are effective in the preservation of function and avoidance of abnormality.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture therapy on Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSFifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham-operation group, a model group, a Fengfu-Taichong group and a Shuanggu Yitong group. PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-Hydroxyl-Dopamine into right corpora striata, and by microinjection of normal saline in sham-operation group. Rats in normal group, sham-operation group and model group were not treated. In Fengfu-Taichong group, the rats were treated by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) on the basis of the PD model, and by electroacupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16), "Taichong" (LR 3), "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) in Shuanggu Yitong group, once daily for 2 weeks. GDNF and Ret expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe number of GDNF positive cells and the content of Ret receptor increased significantly in the two electroacupuncture groups compared with those in the other groups (all P < 0.01), and the expression of GDNF increased significantly in Shuanggu Yitong group compared with that in Fengfu-Taichong group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can not only increase the expression of GDNF, but also enhance its effect. "Shuanggu Yitong" method is better than simple acupuncture at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) in increasing expression of GDNF.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Gene Expression ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDRecent studies showed that aminoglycosides destroyed the cochlear cells and induced ototoxicity by producing reactive oxygen species, including free radicals in the mitochondria, damaging the membrane of mitochondria and resulting in apoptotic cell death. Bcl-x(L) is a well characterized anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family. The aim of this study was to determine the potential cochlear protective effect of Bcl-x(L) as a therapeutic agent in the murine model of aminoglycoside ototoxicity.

METHODSSerotype 2 of adeno-associated virus (AAV2) as a vector encoding the mouse Bcl-x(L) gene was injected into mice cochleae prior to injection of kanamycin. Bcl-x(L) expression in vitro and in vivo was examined with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry separately. Cochlear dissection and auditory steady state responses were checked to evaluate the cochlear structure and function.

RESULTSThe animals in the AAV2-Bcl-x(L)/kanamycin group displayed better auditory steady state responses hearing thresholds and cochlear structure than those in the artificial perilymph/kanamycin or AAV2-enhanced humanized green fluorescent protein/kanamycin control group at all tested frequencies. The auditory steady state responses hearing thresholds and cochlear structure in the inoculated side were better than that in the contralateral side.

CONCLUSIONSAAV2-Bcl-x(L) afforded significant preservation of the cochlear hair cells against ototoxic insults and protected the cochlear function. AAV2-mediated Bcl-x(L) might be an approach with respect to potential therapeutic application in the cochlear degeneration.

Aminoglycosides ; toxicity ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; toxicity ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Hearing Loss ; chemically induced ; Kanamycin ; toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics

Ginsenosides, belonging to a group of saponins with triterpenoid dammarane skeleton, show a variety of pharmacological effects. Among them, some ginsenoside derivatives, which can be produced by acidic and alkaline hydrolysis, biotransformation and steamed process from the major ginsenosides in ginseng plant, perform stronger activities than the major primeval ginsenosides on inhibiting growth or metastasis of tumor, inducing apoptosis and differentiation of tumor and reversing multidrug resistance of tumor. Therefore ginsenoside derivatives are promising as antitumor active compounds and drugs. In this review, the derivatization methods, ginsenoside derivatives and their anti-tumor structure-activity relationship have been summarized for providing useful information for the research and development of novel antitumor drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrolysis ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Panax ; chemistry ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo explore the mutations of Wolfram syndrome I gene (WFS1) in families affected by non-syndromic low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (NS-LFSNHL).

METHODSTwenty eight individuals from 6 pedigrees with hereditary non-syndromic low frequency sensorineural hearing loss as a dominant trait and cases of control were collected in the present study. The coding sequence of WFS1 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and direct DNA sequencing was performed to screen the entire coding region of the WFS1 gene for mutations in the WFS1.

RESULTSThree heterozygous missense mutations (2016 G-->T, 2379 G-->4A, 2766 G-->A) in the WFS1 gene were found in two families. Mutations in WFS1 were identified in all patients tested of the two pedigrees. None of the mutations was found in at least 280 control chromosomes and normal individuals of the families. These missense mutations affecting conserved amino acids in two pedigrees.

CONCLUSIONSMutations in WFS1 are one of causes of non-syndromic low frequency sensorineural hearing loss, and the majority of mutations are missense mutations. Genetic counseling and genetic testing may be useful in the management of patients with this type of hearing loss.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Wolfram Syndrome ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the personality traits and intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in chronic primary insomnia.

METHODSThirty-seven patients with chronic primary insomnia (insomnia group) and 44 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in the study. The AEPs were examined in insomnia and control groups; the personality traits were studied by Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) and Zuckerman-Kuhlman's Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ); and the mood states by Plutchik-van Praag's Depression Inventory (PVP).

RESULTThe scores of neuroticism-anxiety and depression in insomnia group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01); and the scores of impulsivity and aggression-hostility were also higher than those in control group (P<0.05); N1-P2 amplitude of AEP increased with stimulus intensity, which were significantly different in 70, 80, 90,100 dB (P<0.01). There were significant correlations between activity and N1 latency at 80 dB, activity and P2 latency at 100 dB (r=0.270, r=0.276, P<0.05); and between total scores of sensation seeking scale and N1-P2 amplitude (r=0.3746, r=0.35329, P<0.01) at 70 and 90 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group. There were significant correlations among experience seeking and N1-P2 amplitude, experience seeking and slope rate (P<0.01) at 70, 80, 90, 100 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group (r=0.539, r=0.3439, r=0.439, r=0.3278). There were significant correlations between sensation seeking of boredom susceptibility and slope rate (r=-0.282998, P<0.05) in insomnia group. There were significant correlations between thrill and adventure seeking and N1-P2 amplitude(r=0.2789, P<0.05) at 90 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group; there were significant correlations between PVP and N1-P2 amplitude (r=-0.3434, r=-0.3158, P<0.05) at 70 dB and N1 latency at 80 dB in insomnia group.

CONCLUSIONChronic primary insomnia sufferers have higher levels of neuroticism-anxiety, depression, aggression-hostility and impulsivity, and some are correlated with stimulus intensity dependence in AEP.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; complications ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Personality ; physiology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; complications ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Using the absorbent resin, silica gel and ODS column chromatography as well as semi-preparative HPLC, ten compounds were isolated from 70% ethanol extract of tubers of Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright, and their structures were elucidated as trigoneoside XIIIa (1), parvifloside (2), trigoneoside IVa (3), deltoside (4), protobioside (5), lilioglycoside k (6), zingiberensis newsaponin I (7), deltonin (8), prosapogenin A of dioscin (9), and trillin (10) on the basis of NMR and MS spectral data analysis. Among these compounds, 1, 3, 5 and 6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. In the screening test on platelet aggregation, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited induction effect on platelet aggregation, while compound 9 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation in vitro.
Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of fusidic acid cream and halometasone cream in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris.Methods Fifty-four patients with psoriasis vulgaris were enrolled in this study and were divided into observation group and control group.26 patients in observation group were treated with halometasone cream,28 patients in control group were treated with fusidic acid cream combined with halometasone cream.The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and abverse events of treatment were recorded.At the same time,34 normal people taking physical examination were selected as health group,the infections of pathogenic microorganism were compared between psoriasis vulgaris patients and normal people.Results The pathogenic infection rate of patients with psoriasis vulgaris was 72.22％,the infection rate was 75.00％ in observation group and 69.23％ in control group.The infection rate in health group was 38.24％,the difference in the pathogenic infection rate was statistically significant between paitents with psoriasis vulgaris and normal people (P ＜0.05).After treatment,the rate of negative infections was 95.24％ in observation group and 72.22％ in control group,there was significant difference between two groups (P＜0.05).The PASI scores and VAS scores of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group (P＜0.05).The total effective rate of treatment was 71.43％ in observation group and 34.62％ in control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in rate of adverse events between observation group and control group (P ＞0.05)Conclusion The pathogenic infection is closely correlated with psoriasis vulgaris,fusidic acid cream combined with halometasone cream has good efficacy and safety in treatment of psoriasis vulgaris and worth of popularization and application.

Objective To assess the methodology and quality on Meta-analysis used in papers being published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology.Methods Computerized literature searching was carried out in Wanfang Medical Online to collect articles that Meta-analysis was used in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology since it was founded till December,2012.Manual retrieval was also conducted.Two researchers independently screened for literature and extracted data.Disagreements were resolved through discussion or by resort to a third reviewer if consensus was not reached.Qualities on methodologies or on the processes of reporting and reviewing,were evaluated by both AMSTAR and PRISMA scales.Statistical calculations and analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0.Results Fifty-five papers on meta-analyses were included in this study.Results on the qualities of methodology or evaluation showed that only 2 articles (3.6％) were rated as high,35 articles (63.7％) as moderate and 18 (32.7％) as low.The quality on methodology being used in literature had improved since 2008.However,there were still some problems seen in the following areas as the list of studies (included and excluded),comprehensive search on literature,quality of the included studies having been assessed and documented,etc.Results on evaluation of quality showed that the included reviews had high quality on the titles of the report,sources of information,summary measures and synthesis of results.However,areas as:structured summary,methods on searching,data collection,risk of bias in individual studies,summary of evidence,limitations,funding etc.,were still lack of comprehensive reports.Conclusion Articles on Meta-analysis published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology provided substantial evidence for more reliable information on the etiology and risk factors of the studies.However,both of the qualities on methodology and reports in the included literature presented problems at different levels that called for careful improvement.