Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; blood ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect of Tianhuang Huoxue Tongluo Decoction (THTD) in treating acute hemorrhagic stroke.

METHODSSeventy-two patients were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 32) and the control group (n = 40), they were treated with conventional Western medicine treatment and to the patients in the treated group, THTD was given additionally starting from the 6th day of disease for 30 days.

RESULTSComparison of the neurofunction deficit scoring on the 15th day and the 30th day after treatment was significantly different in both group (P < 0.05). The markedly improving rate in the treated group was 71.88%, which was better than that in the control group (55.00%, P < 0.05), and no relaptic hemorrhage or secondary infarction case was found in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONTHTD may have bi-directional regulation on coagulation mechanism and fibrinolysis promoting mechanism, thus to benefit the resolving and absorption of hematoma in stroke patients, which plays important role in preventing relapse and secondary infarction, raising the cure rate, reducing mortality and disability rate.

Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Secondary Prevention ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; etiology

Objective To investigate the rule of the cerebral tissues aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in acute and chronic hepatic failure mice.To study the molecular biologic mechanism of the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Sixty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,including acute(n=25),chronic hepatic failure(n=25)and control group(n=15). Thioacetamide(TAA)intraperitoneal injection produces the acute and chronic hepatic failure models.All rats in groups were examined with MR DWI.We Observed the distribution of abnormal signal on DWI.The DWI single values of top and lateral cortex of parietal lobe,peripheral region of lateral ventricle in the highest hyperintensity section of brain were measured.Blood ammonia values were examined.The pathologic and immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR examination for brain specimen were performed.All date were analyzed with statistical methods.Results The mean values of blood ammonia were significantly different (P0.05).Conclusions Increase of the blood ammonia was the main cause for the brain energy metabolic abnormality and AQP-4 mRNA and protein expression.The hyperammonemia was the key factor in the occurrence and development of the hepatic brain edema.The abnormal findings in DWI signal could reflect the range and degree of the brain edema and AQP-4 protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of "reducing south and reinforcing north" needling method on hypertension of type of yang-hyperactivity due to yin-deficiency,

METHODSNinety cases of hypertension were randomly divided into a treatment group (n=59) treated with "reducing south and reinforcing north" needling method, and a control group (n=31) treated with capoten and aspirin. Their therapeutic effects on symptoms and blood pressure were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.2% in the treatment group and 77.4% in the control group, the treatment group being better than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in the two groups decreased (P<0.05), but with no significant difference between the two groups in the therapeutic effect of reducing blood pressure (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION"Reducing south and reinforcing north" needling method and oral administration of capoten and aspirin have similar effect in reducing blood pressure, and the treatment group is better than the control group in improving symptoms.

Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; therapy ; Yin Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo explore the method of rapid detection of skin fungi and the significance of conventional diagnosis liquor worker tinea corporis and tinea cruris using arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction AP-PCR.

METHODSAmong liquor workers who were 50 tinea corporis patients, 58 tinea cruris patients and 50 health persons, we amplified the DNAs of the dermatophytes were amplified using AP-PCR and random primers OPD18 5'-GAGAGCCAAC-3' and OPAA11 5'-ACCCGACCTG-3', at the same time, the dermatophytes with microscope were detected and cultured.

RESULTSAP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 45 patients(90.00%) among 50 liquor worker patients with tinea corporis, 31 patients(62.00%) had the positive results of microscope detection, and 41 patients(82.00%) had the positive results of standard culture. Among these workers who suffered from tinea corporis, T.rubrum, T.mentagrophyte, M. canis and E.floccosum were detected by AP-PCR. T.rubrum, T.mentagrophyte and M.canis were detected by standard culture. AP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 53 patients(91.38%) among 58 liquor worker patients with tinea cruris, 37 patients(63.79%) had the positive results of microscope detection, and 48(82.76%) had the positive results of standard culture. Among the 58 workers who had tinea cruris, T.rubrum, E.floccosum and T.mentagrophyte were detected by AP-PCR and standard culture. Among 50 health persons, AP-PCR analysis detected fungal DNA in 3 persons(6.00%). The detection result with AP-PCR indicated that the kinds of fungi were T.rubrum and T.mentagrophyte. No one health person had the positive result in detection of fungi using microscope detection. Only one(2.00%) health person was detected to be infected by fungus with cultural way. The kind of fungus was T.rubrum.

CONCLUSIONAP-PCR is a rapid, sensitive and specific detection method for occupational dermatophyte patients. It can be used to detect and diagnose professional dermatophytosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tinea ; diagnosis ; etiology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate miR- 125b regulation mechanism by identifying miR-125b target genes and its function in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSThe bioinformatics software and database were applied to predict and analyze target genes of miR-125b. The vector contained the target gene 3'-UTR portion cloned into a luciferase reporter construct. A luciferase reporter assay was performed following co-transfection of small molecular miR-125b mimics and target gene wild-type or mutant plasmid into HEK-293T cells. Further in leukemia cell lines NB4 and HL-60, the protein level of target gene was measured by Western blot after overexpression miR-125b. Finally, the viabilities of NB4 and HL-60 cells were measured by CCK-8 assay at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h after electroporation.

RESULTSBcl-2-antagonist/killer 1 (Bak1), a pro-apoptotic gene, was a target gene of miR-125b by software predicts. Reporter vector containing the 3'-UTR Bak1 wild and mutation sites were co-transfected with small molecule analogues of miR-125b in HEK-293T cells. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay system showed that miR-125b significantly suppresses the reporter gene activity containing Bak1 3'-UTR by about 53.8% (P<0.05), but it didn't suppresses the reporter gene activity containing 3'-UTR Bak1 mutation. Western blot showed that miR-125b mimics significantly down-regulated the expression of Bak1 in human leukemia cell lines NB4 and HL-60. Meanwhile, the growth rate of cells treated with miR-125b obviously increased compared with that in control by CCK-8 test (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur findings strongly indicated that BAK1 was a downstream target gene of miR-125b, and miR-125b promoted proliferation in human AML cells at least partially by targeting Bak1, so we speculated that miR-125b as an oncogene could be a potential therapeutic target for treating AML.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; HEK293 Cells ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Transfection ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSodium valproate inhibits proliferation in neuroblastoma and glioma cells, and inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in hepatoblastoma cells. Information describing the molecular pathways of the antitumor effects of sodium valproate is limited; therefore, we explored the mechanisms of action of sodium valproate in the human hepatoblastoma cell line, HepG2.

METHODSThe effects of sodium valproate on the proliferation of HepG2 cells were evaluated by the Walsh-schema transform and colony formation assays. Sodium valproate-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells was investigated with fluorescence microscopy to detect morphological changes; by flow cytometry to calculate DNA ploidy and apoptotic cell percentages; with Western blotting analyses to determine c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), p-JNK, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 and -9 protein expression levels; and using JC-1 fluorescence microscopy to detect the membrane potential of mitochondria. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance by SPSS 13.0 software.

RESULTSOur results indicated that sodium valproate treatment inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Sodium valproate induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells as it: caused morphologic changes associated with apoptosis, including condensed and fragmented chromatin; increased the percentage of hypodiploid cells in a dose-dependent manner; increased the percentage of annexin V-positive/propidium iodide-negative cells from 9.52% to 74.87%; decreased JNK and increased phosphate-JNK protein expression levels; reduced the membrane potential of mitochondria; decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax; and activated caspases-3 and -9.

CONCLUSIONSodium valproate inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, triggered mitochondria-dependent HepG2 cell apoptosis and activated JNK.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatoblastoma ; metabolism ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Valproic Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEThe minor allele T of rs113420705 (C/T) in caspase-3 gene (CASP3) has been found to significantly increase the risk of Kawasaki disease (KD) and complicate coronary artery lesions (CALs) in Japanese children. In this study, we have explored association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CASP3 gene and clinic phenotypes of KD.

METHODSA total of 238 unrelated KD patients and 364 healthy controls with matched age, gender and ethnic origins were recruited. Genotypes of the 3 SNPs were determined with PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequencing. Allelic, genotypic and haplotypic frequencies were compared between patients and controls, patients with and without CALs, and patients resistant to and responsive to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.

RESULTSThe T allele and T carriers of rs113420705 were significantly more common in KD patients than controls. A significant difference was also detected in haplotype distribution between patients and controls, where two haplotypes involving the T allele of rs113420705 showed higher frequencies in the patient group. Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the 3 SNPs were similar between patients with and without CALs and those resistant to and responsive to IVIG treatment.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that CASP3 probably plays an important role in KD. The T allele of rs113420705 may provide a useful marker for KD susceptibility, although no association between this SNP and clinical prognosis and treatment effect of KD has been found among the selected Chinese children patients.

Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVECblC is the most common type of methylmalonic acidemia with homocysteinemia. MMACHC is the coding gene. This study aimed at understanding clinical features and gene mutations in 2 Chinese pedigrees who had late-onset methylmalonic acidemia complicated with homocysteinemia.

METHODThe clinical data of 2 cases were analyzed. The MMACHC gene mutation was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing.

RESULTThe age of onset was 13 years and 12 years, respectively. They both presented with nervous system symptoms. The main clinical features were developmental retardation and degradation, including motion, speech and intelligence. One patient complained of anemia. The other patient was misdiagnosed as having a viral encephalitis. Both patients showed remarkable elevation of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels in urine. Both had received therapy with vitamin B(12). The symptoms were rapidly relieved. The follow-up till now showed apparent improvement in the 2 cases. Three mutations in the MMACHC gene were found in the two Chinese pedigrees. Both patients were compound heterozygotes of two mutant alleles: one patient had a G-to-A transition at nucleotide 482 (G482A) that caused an arginine-to-glutamine substitution at position 161 of the protein (R161Q), and a deletion of AAG at nucleotide 658_660 (658_660delAAG) which resulted in lysine deleting at position 220 of the protein (K220del); the other patient had a G482A and a G-to-A transition at nucleotide 609 (G609A) that caused a tryptophan-to-termination codon substitution at position 203 of the protein (W203X). Otherwise, the authors also detected parents of two families. Each had a heterozygote of one mutation.

CONCLUSIONLate-onset methylmalonic acidemia patients had a variety of clinical manifestation, the first symptom was mainly abnormality of nervous system. One case was accompanied with hematological abnormalities. Two patients were vitamin B(12) responsive. In this study, the mutations were all detected on the fourth exon, the G482A mutation was probably associated with late-onset cases.

Adolescent ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Methylmalonic Acid ; blood ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Vitamin B 12

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of children with Tourette syndrome.

METHODA prospective, multi-center, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 195 children aged 5-17 years with Tourette syndrome. The patients were assigned to two groups: aripiprazole group (n=98) and tiapride group (n=97), with the treatment dosage of 5-25 mg/d and 100-500 mg/d, respectively. After 12 weeks treatment, the clinical efficacy was assessed by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score, and adverse reactions were observed by side effects symptoms scale, blood biochemical indexes, and electrocardiography.

RESULTSignificant pre- and post-treatment differences were ascertained for motor tic, phonic tic, function damage and total scores of YGTSS in the both groups from the second week of treatment (P<0.0001). Compared with the tiapride group, the aripiprazole group showed a more significantly decreased function damage score of YGTSS by the second week of treatment (P<0.05). After 12 weeks treatment, total scores of YGTSS in the aripiprazole group decreased from 53.74±15.71 at baseline to 24.36±16.38, while in the tiapride group from 51.66±13.63 to 23.26±15.31. The mean reduction scores of YGTSS were 29.38 in the aripiprazole group and 28.40 in the tiapride group at the end of treatment, and the clinical response rates were 60.21% and 63.92%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was similar in the aripiprazole and tiapride groups, with 29.6% and 27.8% respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions between aripiprazole and tiapride groups and no severe adverse events were found in either group.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that aripiprazole showed similar therapeutic effect to tiapride in treatment of children with Tourette syndrome. Aripiprazole was safe and well tolerated in Chinese population, and can be considered as a new valid option for the treatment of tic disorders.

Adolescent ; Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aripiprazole ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Quinolones ; therapeutic use ; Tiapamil Hydrochloride ; therapeutic use ; Tourette Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome