The contents of adenosine, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, parishin and sulfur dioxide residue were compared in differently-processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma to provide the basis for a reasonable processing method of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. The analysis was performed on a Merck Purospher STAR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) under gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The eluates were detected at 270 nm, and the column temperature was 35°C. The content of adenosin, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and parishin in processing of boiling or sulfur-fumigated were lower than that of in processing of steaming. Furthermore, the sulfur dioxide residue of sulphur-fumigated groups exceed 400 mg x kg(-1). This stable and reliable method will contribute to the quality control of different processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma.
Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To observe the expression changes of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ(PPARγ) following the secondary injuries in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Seventy-two male SD rats were equally randomized into control group and SCI group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression changes of PPARγ on the 1st, 3nd, 7th 14th, 28th and 56th d of SCI. Western blotting wasemployed to detect the protein expression changes of PPARγ Results Compared with those in the control group, the mRNA and protein expressions of PPARγ in the SCI group on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th d of SCI were significantly increased (P＜0.05), reaching its peak level 14 d after SCI; on the 56th d of SCI, their expression levels in the SCI group were still higher than those in the control group, but no significant differences were noted (P＞0.05). Conclusion The expressions of PPARγare significantly increased following secondary injuries in rats with spinal cord injury, reaching its peak level 14 d after SCI.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of Radix Astragali (RA) on pulmonary tissue endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rats.

METHODSTwenty one healthy male Wistar rats weighing 210-310 g were divided into three group at random with 7 in each. The rats in control group were raised in ordinary room condition; those in hypoxic group were raised in ordinary pressure hypoxic box [concentration of O(2) was (10.0 +/- 0.5)%] for 8 hours a day, for 30 days; those in RA group were raised in the same condition as hypoxic group and treated with an intraperitoneal injection of RA 8 g/kg per day. The rats in the control group and hypoxic group were given the same volume of intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), mean carotid artery pressure (mCAP) were measured via right cardiac catheterization, concentration of NO in pulmonary tissue was measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS(1) The mPAP (mm Hg) (21.9 +/- 1.6) and ET-1 (pg/ml) (309.1 +/- 58.1) in hypoxemic group were significantly higher than those in RA group (16.2 +/- 0.8, 287.7 +/- 57.5) and control group (15.3 +/- 0.8, 241.1 +/- 52.5) (P < 0.01, < 0.05), but the difference between RA group and control group was not significant. (2) NO (micromol/L) in pulmonary tissue in hypoxemic group (6.5 +/- 0.3) was lower than that in RA group and control group (9.2 +/- 0.9), NO in RA group was higher than that in hypoxic group but lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). (3) There was no significant difference in mCAP among the three groups (P > 0.05). (4) Under electron microscope, the endothelial cells of arterioles of the lung tissue of control group were flat and had normal morphology. However, in the lung tissue of hypoxic group, there were proliferation, hypertrophy and swelling of endothelial cells of pulmonary medium and small arteries and plenty of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula in cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONChronic hypoxia can result in reconstruction and endothelial lesion in pulmonary arterioles of rats, elevation of mPAP and ET-1 in pulmonary tissue, and decrease of NO. Injection of Radix Astraglai can reverse the reconstruction of pulmonary vessels partially, regulate the concentration of ET-1 and NO in pulmonary tissue, which may have certain therapeutic effects on pulmonary arteriolar changes induced by hypoxia.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Radioimmunoassay ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of esophagocutaneous fistula in anterior cervical spine surgery.

METHODSThirteen cases with esophagocutaneous fistula in anterior cervical spine surgery were studied.

RESULTSThe causes includes: (1) During the operation, esophagus was oppressed by a clasp for so long time that made a pressure necrosis of the esophagus; (2) Esophagus was injured by loose plates and screws; (3) Loose bone grafts oppressed esophagus; (4) Esophagus was injured by operative appliance in the operation; (5) Esophagus was oppressed by the plate.

DIAGNOSISAfter anterior cervical spine surgery if patients had a high fever, sore throat, swelling incision, and food sediment was found in the incision, esophagocutaneous fistula should be considered. The final diagnosis could be done by esophageal radiography.

TREATMENTFasting cure, nasogastric tube and wound drainage should be used; When the inflammation ended, patients should undergo operation of closure of the esophageal fistula.

CONCLUSIONSThe esophagocutaneous fistula in anterior cervical spine surgery has several causes mentioned above. We should take precautionary measures to avoid the complication, and use appropriate treatment to cure when it happens.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Cutaneous Fistula ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Esophageal Fistula ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular genetics basis for HLA novel allele HLA-DRB1*1212 in Chinese population.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by salting-out method. HLA-DRB1 gene exon 2 was amplified by PCR with group-specific primers from genomic DNA. PCR products were cut back from agarose gels and purified to sequence directly. The polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSO) was performed to confirm the mutations which were detected by sequencing in this study.

RESULTSThe sequencing results showed HLA-DRB1 alleles of the proband as DRB1*090102 and the novel allele. The sequences of the novel allele have been submitted to GenBank (AY899825). Through BLAST analysis, the novel allele was found to be different from DRB1*120101 at position 199A-->C in exon 2, that results in an amino acid change from Ile to Leu at codon 67.

CONCLUSIONThis allele is a novel and has been officially named as DRB1*1212 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVESTo study whether Chinese Medicine Yiqihuoxuetang(YQHXT) could inhibit antisperm antibodies in infertile men, and to explore the therapeutical mechanism of YQHXT.

METHODSThirty infertile men with antisperm antibodies took YQHXT continuously for 60 days. Indirect immuno-fluorescence technique (IFT) was used to detect the levels of CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 ratio before and after treatment.

RESULTSCD4 value and CD4/CD8 ratio after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment (P < 0.05); CD8 value became significantly higher(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that YQHXT could inhibit antisperm antibodies by keeping the balance of T-lymphocyte subpopulation in immunoinfertile men.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood

BACKGROUNDStudies of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of asthmatic patients are limited. This study was to determine the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) treatment on IL-4 and IL-6 in the EBC of asthmatic patients.

METHODSIn a prospective, open-label study, budesonide 200 μg twice daily by dry powder inhaler was administered to 23 adult patients with uncontrolled asthma (mean age 42.7 years) for 12 weeks. Changes in asthma scores, lung function parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], peak expiratory flow [PEF], forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity [FEF50], forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity, maximum mid-expiratory flow rate) and the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-6 in EBC were measured.

RESULTSBoth asthma scores and lung function parameters were significantly improved by ICS treatment. The mean IL-4 concentration in the EBC was decreased gradually, from 1.92 ± 0.56 pmol/L before treatment to 1.60 ± 0.36 pmol/L after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05) and 1.54 ± 0.81 pmol/L after 12 weeks of treatment (P < 0.01). However, the IL-6 concentration was not significantly decreased. The change in the IL-4 concentration was correlated with improvements in mean FEV1, PEF and FEF50 values (correlation coefficients -0.468, -0.478, and -0.426, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe concentration of IL-4 in the EBC of asthmatic patients decreased gradually with ICS treatment. Measurement of IL-4 in EBC could be useful to monitor airway inflammation in asthmatics.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adult ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Breath Tests ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; Interleukin-6 ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Prospective Studies

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using fetal short tandem repeat (STR) loci in maternal plasma as gender-independent fetal DNA marker. DNA from maternal plasma sample was extracted using QIAamp DNA Kit. AmpF1 STR profiler box was used to amplify 9 different polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D3S1358, VWA, FGA, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51), the multiplex fluorescent PCR was used to amplify the STR alleles of fetal DNA in 36 pregnant plasma samples of pregnant women at different pregnancy. Their husbands' DNA isolated from whole blood samples were amplified at the same time. The PCR products were electrophoresis by ABI Prism 377 sequencer, the results of electrophoresis were analysed by Genscan. The presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma by Paternally inherited fetal alleles were detected. The results showed that paternally inherited fetal alleles were detected in 4 cases in early pregnancy (4/6), 19 cases in middle pregnancy (19/20) and 9 cases in late pregnancy (9/10) respectively, the paternally inherited fetal alleles in 4 of 36 cases could not be detected. It is concluded that fluorescent multiplex PCR can be used for amplification of male and female fetal STRs in maternal plasma to obtain genetic information, which may have implication for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of certain hereditary diseases independent of the fetal sex.
DNA ; analysis ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Markers ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sex Characteristics