Objective To observe the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin(rh-EPO) on immune function of cyclophosphamide-treated mice.Methods Six-week-old mice were randomly divided into 4 groups.Cyclophosphamide plus normal saline group(CTX(+NS));cyclophosphamide plus lower and higher dosage rh-EPO group(CTX+LDrh-EPO and CTX+HD rh-EPO);normal saline control group(NS).The changes of Hb,WBC,red blood cell immune function((C_3b)-R%),T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness optical density index A(A score),IL-2,TNF-? of 4 groups were observed.Results The CTX + NS group showed lower levels on Hb,WBC,C_(3b)-R%,A score,IL-2 and TNF-? compared with NS normal control group(P0.05).There were positive correlation between C_(3b)-R% and Ascore,C_(3b)-R% and IL-2.Conclusions 1.Cyclophosphamide treated mice have lower Hb,WBC,C_(3b)-R%,A,IL-2 and TNF-? secretion.2.rh-EPO administration have improvements with Hb,RBC immune function,T lymphocyte proliferative responsiveness and IL2 production.

Objective To evaluate the effect of multiplex polymerase chain reaction(Multiple-PCR) in identification of Brucella strains.Methods Six standard Brucella strains (Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella suis,Brucella canis,Brucella ovis,Brucella neotomae) were used as positive controls and Escherichia coli O∶157 and Yersinia enterocolitica O∶9 were used as negative controls.A total of 29 Brucella strains were tested.Brucella strains were amplified by BCSP31-PCR and the species of Brucella with positive results were identified with Multiple-PCR method.Results The results of all 29 amplified Brucella strains were positive with BCSP31-PCR.The identified results of all Brucella strains were positive with Multiple-PCR,including 20 strains of Brucella melitensis,5 isolates of Brucella suis,3 strains of Brucella abortus and 1 strain of Brucella canis.Conclusion Multiple-PCR method is a rapid,specific,simple and low risk method for identification of Brucella species.

Diagnostic Errors ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; Ethylene Dichlorides ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

Akebia trifoliate has been reported to have many pharmacological activities and the roots, petioles and seeds are used to different symptoms. However, the structure and anatomy of its seeds was almost not reported until now. In the present study, we investigated the morphological characters of the fruit and seed, and the anatomical characters of the testa, micropyle, embryo and endosperm, which could provide evidences for the study on classification, identification and application of A. trifoliate. Our results showed that the testa of A. trifoliate consisted of an epidermic cell layer, the sclerenchyma cells layer, the parenchyma cells layer and an innermost pigment layer. At the micropylar region, the outermost epidermal cells were specialized the white caruncle-like structure and the testa included a lot of lignified tissues. Endosperm comprises two layer cells. Outermost yellowish-brown layer cells contains lots of fat droplets, and innermost white layer cells contains lots of aleurone grains and crystalloids.
Germination ; Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Seeds ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of cold or hot properties of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) on biological effect indexes, and analyze the contribution of variables on cold or hot properties, in order to preliminarily establish the discrimination mode for the biological effects of cold or hot properties.

METHODRats were randomly divided into the blank control group, cold TCM groups (Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and Gentianae Radix) and hot TCM groups (Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, Cinnamomi Cortex and Evodiae Fructus), and orally administered with 10 mL x kg(-1) of corresponding TCM water decoctions for 30 d, twice a day. Altogether 53 biological effect indexes correlated to cold or hot properties of traditional Chinese medicines were founded by searching literatures. The data warehouse were established by using data-mining software Clementine12.0. Data of the blank control group, cold TCM groups (Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, Gentianae Radix) and hot TCM groups (Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma, Zanthoxyli Pericarpium, Cinnamomi Cortex) were selected into a training set. C5.0 algorithm and C&R classification and regression algorithm were adopted to define the importance of variable, create the decision trees, and test hot or cold properties of Evodiae Fructus and Scutellariae Radix.

RESULTAccording to C&R classification and regression algorithm, SDH activity of livers was the most important hot or cold property, with the significance closed to 30%. It was followed by triglyceride, liver Na' -K' -ATPase enzyme, muscle glycogen and platelet distribution width, with the accuracy up to 97.39% in models. C5.0 algorithm showed that liver SDH activity was the most important hot or cold property, with the significance closed to 40%. It was followed by triglyceride, GOT, muscle glycogen and liver Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase enzyme, with the accuracy up to 98.26% in models. The possibilities that Evodiae Fructus is in hot property and Scutellariae Radix is in cold property were 100. 00% and 77.78% by using both C&R classification and regression algorithm and C5.0 algorithm.

CONCLUSIONThe SDH activity of liver is the most important biological effect index to distinguish cold and hot properties of TCMs. The discrimination pathway or mode of cold and hot properties is closely related to energy metabolism.

Algorithms ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Glycogen ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; classification ; methods ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Random Allocation ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

The UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer was used to explore the chemical compositions in safflower. The rapid separation of the compositions was conducted by the UHPLC, following by high resolution full scan and MS2 scan, under the positive and negative ion mode. The chemical formula of compositions were deduced by full scan data in less than 5, then the potential structures were confirmed by the MS2 data. Forty-nine compounds were detected, of which 26 was identified, and 5 compounds was validated by the standard substances.
Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To explore the possible factors associated with twice human brucellosis epidemics in Inner Mongolia during 1952 to 2007 to provide scientific tactics for prevention and control brucellosis. Methods Surveillance data and literature about human brucellosis during 1952 to 2007 in Inner Mongolia was collected, descriptive analysis of human brucellosis incidence on distribution in the regions and among occupations was carried out during 1952 to 2007. Results In Inner Mongolia, the first epidemic of human brucellosis peak appeared in the early 1960s, spreading to 12 regions, at an incidence of 55.28/100 000 in 1961, 72.9% of the Brucella infected people were herdsman;another epidemic peak seriously hit middle and eastern regions after 2000, the incidence being 38.44/100 000 in 2005;51.9% and 28.7% of the new brucellosis cases were respectively peasant and herdsman. Conclusions In Inner Mongolia, animal husbandry industry has been rapid developed since the early 1990's, resulting frequent livestock trade without quarantine, at the same time the public health system doesn't match the development, so the epidemic situation of brucellosisbecomes more and more serious after mid-90's, and has reached the peak during 2004 and 2007.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Ulanqab of Inner Mongolia.Methods Three hundred and twenty patients with suspected brucellosis were selected,who had registered in the Ulanqab Center for Endemic Disease Control of Inner Mongolia from April to June 2011.The investigation covered general situation,such as gender,age,occupation and main clinical symptoms and so on.Blood samples were collected,and Rose Bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) was used for serum screening.Those who were tested positive in RBPT were confirmed with tube agglutination test (SAT).Brucellosis was diagnosed according to Diagnostic criteria for Brucellosis (WS 269-2007).Data were analyzed with statistical software(SPSS 17.0).Results One hundred and thirty-four cases were positive in RBPT of the 320 people surveyed,of which 93 cases were positive in SAT; antibody titers were higher than 1 ∶ 100(++),therefore they were diagnosed as brucellosis,and the ratio was 29.1％(93/320).The number of patients with suspected brucellosis who were negative in SAT test was 41,and the ratio was 12.8％ (41/320).Among the 93 people who were infected,the constituent ratio of farmers and herdsmen who engaged in livestock was the highest,accounted for 63.4％(59/93) and 24.7％ (23/93) of the total number of patients ; infection rate of male (30.9％,55/178) was higher than that of females (26.7％,38/142) ; the number(39) of brucellosis patients who were over the age of 51 was the highest,and the ratio is 42.0％.The onset season mainly in May and August; main route of exposure was bare hands lambing,midwifery and contact with infected sheep pollutants.Conclusions Sheep is the main source of human Brucella infection in Ulanqab.It is the key to control the spreading of brucellosis through improving awareness of disease prevention among farmers and herdsmen as well intensifying the prevention and control of Brucella infection between livestock.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Diet, High-Fat ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of low-dose methylprednisolone on serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSA case-control study was conducted among 38 children with MPP who received treatment in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University between January and December 2012, and who had not received glucocorticoids before hospitalization. They were randomly divided into methylprednisolone treatment (n=20) and conventional treatment groups (n=18). The methylprednisolone treatment group was administered with methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg·d) by intravenous drip for three days in addition to conventional treatment. Serum samples were collected from both groups before treatment and on days 4 and 7 of treatment. Twenty-five children who underwent physical examination in the healthcare clinic during the same period were randomly selected as a normal control group, and serum samples were collected on the same day that the physical examination was performed. Serum TNF-α levels in the three groups were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSOn admission, the methylprednisolone treatment and conventional treatment groups had significantly higher serum TNF-α levels than the normal control group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the methylprednisolone treatment and conventional treatment groups. On days 4 and 7 of treatment, the methylprednisolone treatment group had significantly lower serum TNF-α levels than the conventional treatment group (P<0.05; P<0.01). On day 7 of treatment, there was no significant difference in serum TNF-α level between the methylprednisolone treatment and normal control groups, but the conventional treatment group still had a significantly higher serum TNF-α level than the normal control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLow-dose methylprednisolone can significantly decrease serum TNF-α level and inhibit inflammatory response in children with MPP, and may reduce damage caused by inflammatory response.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood