Pericellular matrix (PCM) is a narrow tissue region surrounding chondrocytes, which "chondron" with its enclosed cells. A number of studies suggested that PCM is rich in proteoglycans, collagen and fibronectin, and plays an important role in regulating microenvironment of chondrocytes. Direct measures of PCM properties through micropipette aspiration technique showed that PCM was different from mechanical property of chondrocytes and nature extracellular matrix. However, the function of PCM is not clear, and need further study.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Chondrocytes ; chemistry ; cytology ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans

Objective To explore the characteristics of selective attention function in patients with silent cerebral in-farction (SCI) and depression, the relationship between depression, selective attention and cognitive dysfunction. Methods Eighty-two patients with SCI and 82 normal subjects were selected and evaluated by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and Stroop color-word test (CWT). Patients with SCI were further classified into depression subgroup and no-depression subgroup based on the score of HAMD. Results The score of MoCA was lower in SCI group (23.11 ± 5.41) and was much lower in depression subgroup (20.31 ± 5.44) compared with control group (28.70 ± 2.18) (all P<0.01). Compared with control group, the reaction times of card A, B, C and Stroop interference effects (SIE) were prolonged in SCI group. The reaction time of card A, B, C and SIE were (33.25±14.10);(42.45±15.18);(104.68 ± 25.08) and (62.24 ± 21.53) in depression subgroup, respectively. The error counts of card B, C and SIE were in-creased (P<0.05) in SCI group. The error counts of card B,C and SIE were (3.59±2.14), (15.67±7.20) and (12.08±6.46) in depression subgroup, respectively. The scores of MoCA were negatively correlated with the reaction time and error counts of SIE (r=-0.429,r=-0.500,all P<0.01).The location of infarction was correlated with the score of HAMD and error counts of SIE to some degree: both of the scores were higher in patients with left infarction compared with right infarction and were higher in patients with cortex infarction compared with subcortex infarction. Conclusion The present study revealed that patients with SCI and depression have selective attention deficit which is closely correlated with the level of cognitive function.

Objective To understand and master the situation of residents consumption of iodized salt in Chenzhou city of Hunan province,to identify problems and take appropriate interventions to ensure the residents consumption of qualified iodized salt,and to provide a scientific basis for elimination of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD).Methods According to the National Iodized Salt Monitoring Program (Amendment) and the Evaluation Scheme for Elimination of Iodine Deficiency Disorders at the County Level,the monitoring counties,towns and villages were selected in Chenzhou city from 2008 to 2011,the content of iodine in salt was detected using direct titration.The data was analyzed by SPSS 17.0 and Excel 2003.Results A total of 12700 salt samples were tested from 2008 to 2011.The iodized salt coverage rate,the qualified rate of iodized salt,the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt and the rate of non-iodized salt was 99.19％ (12597/12700),96.33％ (12135/12597),95.55％(12135/12700) and 0.81％ (103/12700),respectively.There were significant differences between each year from 2008 to 2011 (x2 =13.99、42.35、48.45、13.99,P all ＜ 0.01).The coefficient of variation was 21.19％.The median and average of iodine content in salt samples was 32.2 mg/kg and 31.9 mg/kg,respectively.Compared with the median and average of iodized salt content,there was no significant difference between each year from 2008 to 2011 (t =2.941,P ＞ 0.05),while there was significant difference among the 11 counties(t =2.983,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The goal of eliminating IDD has realized in the city of Chenzhou since 2010.To consolidate the IDD control results,surveillance should be strengthened in future.

Objective To study prospectively the likelihood and the affecting factors of endometrial cell dissemination into the peritoneal cavity during hysteroseopie procedures.Methods A total of 121 patients with benign endometrial pathology underwent hysteroscopy combined with laparoseopy.All the patients had pelvic washings performed just before and after the procedure of hysteroscopy.We collected the peritoneal washings and analyzed the peritoneal cytology changes in both groups pre-and post-hysteroscopy, as well as the dissemination rate related to the time of hysteroscopy,the intrauterine distention pressure,the volume of distention media,and the feature of endometrial conditions.Results The ratio of positive endometrial cells in the peritoneal washings of post-hysteroscopy group was 51.2%(62/121),which was significantly higher than pre-hysteroscopy group,38.0%(46/121)(P0.05).Conclusions Hysteroseopic procedures may have a risk of disseminating the endometrial cells into peritoneal cavity.Under a certain uterine distention pressure,the rate of dissemination is correlated with hysteroscopie duration.

Objective To study the effect of low intensity laser irradiation on wound healing and the expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin beta-1 (IL-1β) in wounded tissue.Methods Steam was used to scald 60 BALB/c mice.They were then randomly divided into a laser group and a control group with 30 in each group.The wounds in the laser group were irradiated with a low-intensity He-Ne laser,while the control group was given the same treatment except that the instrument was turned off.The wound healing rate was calculated,and the full wound thickness was measured and a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of TGF-β1 and IL-1β right after the scalding and 1,3,7 and 14 days later.Results Seven and 14 days later,the wound healing rates in the laser group were (51.48 ± 5.89) ％ and (73.96 ± 7.25) ％,respectively.Compared with the control group at the same time points,the difference was statistically significant.In the laser group the expression of TGF-β1 had increased significantly at days 1 and 3,then increased to a maximum at day 7.It was significantly greater than in the control group at all three of those time points.At day 14 the expression of TGF-β1 in the laser group was significantly lower than in the control group.The expression of IL-1 β in the laser group had decreased significantly at days 1 and 3,and gradually reduced to a minimum at day 7.It was significantly lower than in the control group at all three of those time points.Conclusion Low intensity He-Ne laser irradiation can accelerate wound healing after scalding,at least in mice.Its effect may be related to its regulation of the expression of IL-1 β and TGF-β1.

Modern drying technology was used to explore suitable drying process to provide scientific basis for improving drying processing methods of Scrophulariae Radix. Controlled temperature and humidity drying, vacuum drying apparatus, microwave vacuum drying apparatus, short infrared drying device were used to gain samples for analyzing. The character appearance, concentration of main components and power consumption indicators were chosen for preliminary judging. Six major components, including iridoids and phenylpropanoids were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS method. The contents of polysaccharides were determined by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The character appearance with controlled temperature and humidity drying and short infrared drying meet the pharmacopoeia standard (Ch. p, edition 2015), while samples with vacuum and microwave vacuum drying apparatus didn't. Compared to fresh sample, concentrations of harpagide, harpagoside, aucubin and catalpol were lower in the dried samples. Angoroside-C showed no significant change before and after drying. Concentration of acteoside increased after drying. Samples with controlled temperature (70 degrees C) and humidity (15% - 10%) drying had high content and short drying time. The better drying process of Scrophulariae Radix was controlled temperature and humidity drying. The method will provide the reference for the drying technology standard of roots medicine.
Desiccation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scrophularia ; chemistry

AIMTo investigate the correlation between reversal effect of cepharanthine hydrochloride (CH) on multidrug resistance (MDR) in drug-resistant cell line EAC/ADR and the nuclear transcription factor-KB (NF-KB).

METHODSCytotoxicity was determined by the tetrazolium (MTT) assay in vitro. An EAC/ADR cell homograft model was established to investigate the effect of CH on reversing MDR in vivo. The constitutive activity and activation of NF-KB by drugs were measured by Dot-Enzyme-linked Immune Sorbent Assay (Dot-ELISA).

RESULTSCH was shown to potentiate the cytotoxicity of ADR, a 13- fold reversal effect of resistance was achieved in vitro. In mice bearing EAC/ADR cell homografts, CH was found to prolong the survival time of animals bearing tumor. Increase in life span over control was 75. 37%. In addition, the constitutive activity of NF-KB and activation of NF-KB by chemotherapy were lowered by CH.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that CH is able to reverse drug resistance and its mechanism may be related to suppressing the constitutive activity and activation of NF-KB by drugs.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzylisoquinolines ; Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Stephania ; chemistry

Resource of traditional Chinese medicine residue is an inevitable choice to form new industries characterized of modem, environmental protection and intensive in the Chinese medicine industry. Based on the analysis of source and the main chemical composition of the herb residue, and for the advantages of membrane science and technology used in the pharmaceutical industry, especially membrane separation technology used in improvement technical reserves of traditional extraction and separation process in the pharmaceutical industry, it is proposed that membrane science and technology is one of the most important choices in technological design of traditional Chinese medicine resource industrialization. Traditional Chinese medicine residue is a very complex material system in composition and character, and scientific and effective "separation" process is the key areas of technology to re-use it. Integrated process can improve the productivity of the target product, enhance the purity of the product in the separation process, and solve many tasks which conventional separation is difficult to achieve. As integrated separation technology has the advantages of simplified process and reduced consumption, which are in line with the trend of the modern pharmaceutical industry, the membrane separation technology can provide a broad platform for integrated process, and membrane separation technology with its integrated technology have broad application prospects in achieving resource and industrialization process of traditional Chinese medicine residue. We discuss the principles, methods and applications practice of effective component resources in herb residue using membrane separation and integrated technology, describe the extraction, separation, concentration and purification application of membrane technology in traditional Chinese medicine residue, and systematically discourse suitability and feasibility of membrane technology in the process of traditional Chinese medicine resource industrialization in this paper.
Biomedical Research ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Membranes, Artificial ; Phytotherapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

The incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines is related to the clinical medication safety, so has attracted wide attentions from the public. With the deepening of studies on the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines represented by 18 incompatible herbs, the incompatibility of theory traditional Chinese medicines has raised to new heights. From the origin of incompatibility theory of traditional Chinese medicines, relationship of herbs, harms of incompatible herbs and principle of prevention to toxic effects of specific incompatible medicines, the innovation and development of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory was explored. Structurally, the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines refers to the opposition of two herbs based on seven emotions and clinical experience. The combination of incompatible herbs may lead to human harms, especially latent harm and inefficacy of intervention medicines. The avoidance of the combination of incompatible herbs and the consideration of both symptoms and drug efficacy are the basic method to prevent adverse reactions. The recent studies have revealed five characteristics of incompatible herbs. Toxicity potentiation, toxication, efficacy reduction and inefficacy are the four manifestations of the incompatible relations. The material changes can reflect the effects of toxicity potentiation and toxication of opposite herbs. The accumulation of toxicity and metabolic changes are the basis for latent harms. The antagonistic effect of main efficacies and the coexistence of positive and negative effects are the distinctive part of the incompatibility. The connotation of incompatible herbs plays an important role in the innovation of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory.
Drug Incompatibility ; Drug Therapy ; history ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; pharmacology ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional