Objective To determine the moisture content in Polygoni multiflori Radix rapidly by near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods The moisture content of the samples were determined by oven drying method and the near-infrared spectrum data were collected by near-infrared spectroscopy.The quantitative test model of moisture content in Polygoni multiflori Radix was established by chemometrics methods and was validated with validation samples. Results The correlation coefficients, root-mean-square error of calibration (RMSEC), root-mean-square error of predication (RMSCP) and the root-mean-square error of cross-validation ( RMSECV ) of the calibration model was 0. 984 75, 0. 161, 0. 181 and 0. 471 64, respectively.The absolute deviation of the analytical and predictive values of 21 validation samples was -0.35%-0.28%, and the average recovery was 99. 87%. Conclusion Near-infrared spectroscopy can be used to determine the moisture content of Polygoni multiflori Radix rapidly and accurately.

Objective To investigate the effect of curcumin on apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in hippocampus during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats with spontaneous hypertension (SH) .Methods One hundred and thirty-five male rats (homologous with WKY) with SH and 90 male normotensive WKY rats, weighing 275-325 g,were used in this study. The WKY rats were randomized into 2 groups ( n = 45 each) : sham operation group (WS group) and cerebral I/R group (W-I/R group) . The rats with SH were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 45each) : sham operation group (S-S group), cerebral I/R group (S-I/R group) and curcumin group (S-C group) .Global cerebral ischemia was produced by 4 vessel-occlusion method. The bilateral common carotid arteries were only exposed but not ligated in W-S and S-S groups. Intraperitoneal corn oil 10 ml/kg was injected at 30 min of reperfusion in W-I/R and S-I/R groups. Intraperitoneal curcumin 100 mg/kg was injected at 30 min of reperfusion in S-C group. Three animals in each group were sacrificed at 2 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d and 7 d of reperfusion and their brains were harvested for determination of apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the expression of JNK3 and PSD95in hippocampus. Results The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly increased in S-S group compared with W-S group ( P < 0.05) . The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly increased and the expression of JNK3was up-regulated in S-I/R group compared with S-S group ( P < 0.05) . The number of apoptotic neurons was significantly decreased and the expression of JNK3 was down-regulated in S-C group compared with S-I/R group (P <0.05) . There was no significant difference in the expression of PSD95 among all the groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusion Curcumin can inhibit apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and the mechanism is related to down-regulation of the expression of JNK3 in hippocampus. The mechanism by which curcumin down-regulates the expression of JNK3in hippocampus may not be related to PSD95 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Blood stem cells (BSCs) are the most primitive cells in the immune system and can be differentiated into many kinds of cells. As the regulatory cells of immune response, dendritic cells (DCs) have been attracted more and more attention in the field of autoimmune diseases. Due to different resources of precursor cells, DCs have different cytokines, ideal cytokine matching,applying orders, and experimental cultured conditions. Furthermore, development, phenotypic expression, and mature degree are still different.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- a ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on the culture system and provide improved method for inducing functional DCs in vitro, derived from cord blood CD34+ hematopoietic precursor cells (HPC).DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Observational study, which was performed in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nanjing Medical University from March 2005 to November 2005.MATERIALS: The cord blood was collected from neonatal umbilical cord in the 81 Hospital of Nanjing City. CD34 monoclonal antibody coated magnetic bead system (MACS) was provided by Miltenyi Biotec Company, Germany; human recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), human recombinant interleukin-4 (rhlL-4), and human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α (rhTNF-α) by Pepro Tech Company, USA.METHODS: CD34+HPC were isolated and purified from umbilical cord blood by using a high-gradient magnetic cell sorting system (MACS). Then the cells were cultured with different culture medium which contained different combinations of cytokines:GM-CSF and TNF-α (GT) or GM-CSF, TNF-α and IL-α (GTI) in order to be induced to differentiate into dendritic cells (DCs).The DCs derived from CD34+HPC were identified for their morphology and phcnotype by FACS and laser scanning con_focal fluorescence microscopy, and also for their abilities of inducing proliferation of allogenic T cells by 3H-TdR incorporation assay.RESULTS: The purity of selected CD34+ cells with MACS was more than 90%. DCs could be obtained from CD34+HPC by the culture in presence of GM-CSF and TNF-α or GM-CSF, TNF- o and IL-4. With the time of culture lasting, the cells expressed lower level surface antigen of CD34 and HLA-DR (P ＜ 0.05), and possessed the phenotypes of DCs characterized by higher expression of CD80, CD86, CD83 and CDIa. At 13-15 days, the cells possessed higher level of phenotypes of DCs compared to 7-9 days and 10-12 days. DCs induced with GTI culture system expressed higher levels of surface antigen CD80, CD86, CD83,CD 1 a and a lower level of CD 14 than those induced with GT culture system. DCs displayed typical morphology and property and expressed higher level surface antigen of CD86 and CD80, especially expressed CD86 when they were induced with proper cytokines of GM-CSF and TNF- α added at 0 hour, and of IL-4 added at 48 hours.CONCLUSION: DCs can be generated from CD34+HPC by proper culture system, the design of GM-CSF + TNF- α + IL-4(GM-CSF and TNF- α were added at 0 hour, IL-4 was added at 48 hours) is preferred.

Objective To study the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP) and the activation of DCs in OVA-induced murine asthma model, and investigate the effects and underlying mecha-nisms of TSLP on lung inflammation. Methods Thirty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, OVA group and TSLP neutralizing antibody treated group. The asthma model was evaluated by airway responsiveness and histological analysis of lung tissues ; The levels of TSLP mRNA in lungs were determined by quantitative real-time PCR; The expression of TSLP in lungs were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot; The expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 in BALF was detected by FACS. Results Both the histological analysis of lung tissues and the airway responsiveness were all consistent with the characteris-tic of murine asthma model. The expression of TSLP and TSLP mRNA in the OVA group was significantly in-creased compared with blank group. The expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 in BALF from OVA group was increased significantly compared with the control group. Furthermore, treating mice with TSLP neutralizing antibody reduced the expression of CD40, CD80, CD86 on dendritic cells, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the OVA group. Conclusion Our study indicate that TSLP was highly expressed in the bronchial epithelia of murine asthma model, via upregulation of CD40, CD80, CD86, induce DCs to active CD4~+ T cells and pro-duce type 2 responses, so that aggravating the lung inflammation of asthma. Blocking TSLP is capable of in-hibiting the production of Th2 cytokines, thus presents a promising strategy for the treatment of asthma.

Objective To investigate the correlation between stroke volume variation (SVV) and blood volume during hypovolemia.Methods Twenty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 20-64 years,with body mass index (BMI) of 20-30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective orthopedic operation were enrolled in this study.Anesthesia was induced with dexamethasone,midazolam,propofol,fentanyl and cisatracurium,and maintained with sevoflurane,fentanyl and cisatracurium.Then the patients received endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.Heart rate (HR),mean arterial blood pressure (MAP),central venous pressure (CVP),arterial pressure-based cardiac output (APCO),SW,systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and cardiac index (Cl) were recorded 5 minutes after endotracheal intubation.Blood was taken from the central vein at a rate of 30-50 ml/min and the volume was 5％ of the whole blood volume,and then haemodynamic parameters mentioned above were recorded after the haemodynamics were kept stable for 5 minutes.Blood was taken again with the method mentioned above and the haemodynamic parameters were recorded.Then 6％ hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 was infused at 50-70 ml/min via the right internal jugular vein,and the volume was equal to 5％ of the whole blood volume,and then haemodynamic parameters were recorded after the haemodynamics was kept stable for 5 minutes.Fluid replacement was performed again using the method mentioned above and the haemodynamic parameters were recorded.Linear correlation of the changes in blood volume (difference between the blood volume at each time point and the baseline value) with dSVV (difference between the value monitored at each time point and the baseline value) was analyzed.Results Significant changes were found in SW,APCO and Cl after each change in blood volume (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),while no significant changes were found in HR,MAP,CVP and SVR after each change in blood volume.The change in blood volume was negatively correlated with dSVV (r =-0.875,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion There is high correlation between SVV and blood volume during hypovolemia.And SVV can reflect the changes in blood volume accurately and can be used for volume therapy during hypovolemia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between stroke volume variation (SVV) and blood volume during hypovolemia.MethodsTwenty ASA Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients,aged 20-64 yr,with body mass index 20-30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective orthopedic operation,were studied.Anesthesia was induced with dexamethasone,midazolam,propofol,fentanyl and cisatracurium and maintained with sevoflurane,fentanyl and cisatracurium.The patients were tracheal intubated and mechanically ventilated.HR,MAP,CVP,arterial pressure-based cardiac output (APCO),SVV,systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and cardiac index (CI) were recorded 5 min after tracheal intubation.Blood was taken from central vein at a rate of 30-50 ml/min,the volume was 5％ of the whole blood volume and the haemodynamic parameters mentioned above were recorded after the haemodynamics was kept stable for 5 min.Blood was taken again as the method mentioned above and the haemodynamic parameters were recorded.6％ HES 130/0.4 was then infused at 50-70 ml/min via right internal jugular vein,the volume was equal to 5 ％ of the whole blood volume and the haemodynamic parameters were recorded after the haemodynamics was kept stable for 5 min.Fluid replacement was performed again using the method mentioned above and the haemodynamic parameters were recorded.Linear correlation of the change in blood volume (difference between the blood volume at each time point and the baseline value) with dSVV (difference between the value monitored at each time point and the baseline value) was analyzed.ResultsThere was significant change in SVV,APCO and CI after each change in blood volume ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),while there was not always significant change in HR,MAP,CVP and SVR after each change in blood volume.The change in blood volume was negatively correlated with dSVV ( r =- 0.875,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThere is high correlation between SVV and blood volume during hypovolemia and SVV can reflect the change in blood volume accurately and be used for volume therapy during hypovolemia.

In recent years, more and more people have recognized the importance of patients' family in the intensive care unit (ICU) in medical care, and advocated the use of patient- and family-centered care (PFCC) in the ICU. This article explains the content (family presence, family support, communication with family members, consultations and ICU team members, environmental issues) and significance of PFCC in the ICU, and provides guidance for the practice of PFCC in China.

Objective To evaluate the BALB/c murine infective effects in different concentrations and different aerosol challenge times by Bordetella pertussis.Methods Four experiment groups according to different concentrations and different aerosol challenge times were designed.BALB/c murines were challenged by aerosol way.Group 1: 1010cfu/mL Bordetella pertussis challenge 15 min, group 2: 1010cfu/mL challenge 30 min, group 3: 109cfu/mL challenge 30 min, group 4: 1011cfu/mL challenge 30 min, using the normal saline challenge 30 min as control.At 0d,3d,7d,14d and 21d after challenge, the WBCs of all groups were measured and lung tissues were homogenized to calculate the bordetella pertussis clone in lung.Results After 3 days of challenge, WBCs in all groups were slightly increased.The WBCs of group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 were significantly increased after 7 days, with the average numbers of 8.52×109 per/L, 1.74×1010per/L, 1.15×1010per/L and 5×1010per/L, respectively.After 14 days, they were 1.77×1010per/L, 1.67×1010per/L, 1.27×1010per/L and 3.84×1010per/L respectively.WBCs in all groups were dramatically declined after 21 days.The WBC of negative control group had no obvious change during the whole process with the stable number of 3.4~7.0×109per/L.Bordetella pertussis were detected in lung of all experimental groups in each sampling point.The CFU in lung wase at peak at 7d or 14d after challenge, which was obviously decreased at 21d.Conclusion This aerosol challenge method can establish a bordetella pertussis infection mouse model successfully.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of domestic orlistat and imported orlistat in Chinese overweight and obese patients. Methods In a randomized, double-blinded and positive-controlled study, 228 adults (BMI 24-< 40 kg/m~2) evaluated at seven research centers were randomized to receive domestic orlistat or imported orlistat 120 mg 3 times a day with an energy-controlled diet for 24 weeks. Results After 24 weeks, domestic orlistat treated patients got significant weight-loss (5.0±3.7) kg, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat treated patients (4.5±3.5) kg (P=0.3922).Compared with the findings before treatment, there was significant decrease of systolic blood pressure (4.4±11.5)mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and serum levels of TC (0.54±0.79) mmol/L and LDL-C (0.32±0.64) mmol/L in the domestic orlistat treated group(compared with levels of baseline, P< 0. 0001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the changes of blood pressure and lipid levels. Both groups had similar adverse event profiles, most of which were mild and transient gastrointestinal events. There were no serious adverse events in beth groups. Conclusions Domestic orlistat combined with a light low-energy diet promoted significant weight loss, which was comparable with that of imported orlistat after 24 weeks of treatment. There was also improvement in blood pressure and serum levels of TC and LDL-C. Domestic orlistat was as effective and safe as imported orlistat in the treatment of obesity.

Objective The management of medical projects of the National Key Research and Development Program of China is difficult.Thus this article aims to analyze the common problems and summarize the preparatory work before the project initiation.Methods Comprehensively adopted the methodologies of literature analysis,survey investigation to analyze the common problems before the project initiation,and then particularly summarize the preparatory works for biomedical research,especially for clinical research,from the perspective of investigators.Results Proposed several aspects that should take into consideration before the initiation of the projects..clarify the organizational management framework,play the role of kick-off meeting,organize tailored training on financial management,prepare research protocol and related documents,seek Institutional Review Board approval and conduct clinical research registration,normalize document managment,formulate project management plan,and prepare research facilities timely.Conclusions Investigators should develop a detailed project management plan before initiation of the project,preparation work should focus on personnel,financial resources,facilities,research progress,quality,data,etc.