Objective To analyse the characteristics of fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA)of iatrogenic retinal vascular occlu- sion.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 9 eyes of 9 patients with iatrogenic retinal vascular occlusion and 16 eyes of 16 patients with non-iatrogenic retinal vascular occlusion in Beijing Tongren Hospital in 2002-2005.Methods All patients were examined with FFA.The difference of circulation time of retinal vessels both in iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic retinal vascular occlusion patients was compared.Main Outcome Measures The starting perfusion time and the finishing time of retinal artery or vein.Results In pa- tients with iatrogenic(4 cases)and non-iatrogenic(12 cases)central retinal artery occlusion,the finishing perfusion time was separately 79.33?87.04s and 19.20?4.61s; the finishing time of retinal vein was separately 128.07?149.11s and 33.16?15.34s.In iatrogenic(4 cas- es)and non-iatrogenic(4 cases)central retinal artery together with central retinal vein occlusion patients,the finishing perfusion time of retinal artery was separately 211.67?371.26s and 30.07?17.26s;the finishing perfusion time of retinal vein was 232.43?358.52s and 48. 81?11.64s.One patient was ocular artery occlusion.FFA showed that choroidal background fluorescence and central artery were perfused slowly,the vascular fluorescence perfusion was interrupted before it came out of optic disk and the perfusion interruption continued until late stage with extensive peripheral non-perfusion areas.Conclusion The perfusion time of the retinal artery and vein in iatrogenic reti- nal vascular occlusion may be much longer than that in non-iatrogenic retinal vascular occlusion.

Objective To explore the apoptosis and proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes(PBLs) from primary nephrotic syndrome(PNS) and effects of dexamethasone(Dex) on them.Methods Minimal change NS(MCNS), non-minimal change NS(NMCNS) and healthy children were involved in this study. PBLs were cultured in vitro with Dex or PHA+Dex or without PHA and Dex. Apoptosis of PBLs was measured by propidium iodide(PI) staining; The effects of Dex at different concentrons on PBLs′proliferation were investigated by 3H-TdR incorporation.Results The apoptotic rate of vacuity group in MCNS was lower compared with NMCNS and healthy controls(P

Traditional Chinese medical case records in the previous dynasties are vital to the development of traditional Chinese medical theory, but the tremendous amount of data are far beyond a person's ability for comprehension. According to information science, traditional Chinese medical case record data are complicated and intricate experiential data. New technology and methods are needed to solve this difficulty. Knowledge discovery technology plays an important role in analyzing data and uncovering important data patterns, and it will be a useful method in processing such data. This paper briefly presents the methods of knowledge discovery in traditional Chinese medical case record study, and puts forward some necessary academic methods.

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

Objective: To investigate the alterations of bcl-2 gene family in the rat brain and the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis follow ing traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to lateral fluid percussion brain injury(FPBI) of moderate severity. bax and bcl-xL mRNA and protein expression was detected by RT-PCR an d immunohistochemistry. In addition to morphological evidence of apoptosis, TUNE L histochemistry was used to identify DNA fragmentation in situ under both l ight and electron microscope, whereas characteristic internucleosomal DN A fragm entation of apoptosis was demonstrated by DNA gel electrophoresis. Resul ts: bcl-xL mRNA and protein decreased in the ipsilateral hemisphere t o the impact site as early as 6 h post-injury［(67.42±7.54)% and (85.85±5.72)% r espectively］. The decrease in bcl-xL mRNA and protein preceded apoptosis was observed 12 h post-injury. And this was the main cause of up-regulation of the ratio of bax to bcl-xL in the acute period(minutes-hours) followin g FPBI. bax mRNA and protein were observed to rise slowly, doubled 3 d post- injury, returned to sham level slowly. The delayed cell death (days-weeks) migh t associated with the up-regulation of pro-apoptotic gene bax. Conclusio n: The expression of bcl-xL and bax coincide with apoptosis following TBI. The reg ulation of bax and bcl-xL by TBI occur before transcription. The balance of bax/bcl-xL ratio determines the neurocytes to survive or die following FPBI.

Carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are abnormal arteriovenous anastamoses between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. These fistulas may be classified by cause (spontaneous or traumatic), flow velocity (high or low), or pathogenesis (direct or indirect). The most commonly adopted classification is that described by Barrow based on arterial supply. Traumatic CCFs are almost always direct shunts between the internal carotid artery (ICA) and the cavernous sinus. General features of CCFs, which may be apparent with any lesion, including bruit, headache, loss of vision, altered mental status and neurological deficits. Some fistulae may present primarily with hemorrhage before any evaluation can be performed. However, hemiparesis has been rarely observed. Only a literature review of Murata et al reported a case of hemiparesis caused by posttraumatic CCF, in which the fistula resulted in venous hypertension and subsequent brainstem congestion. While in our case, cerebral infarction was caused by total steal of the blood flow. The patient recovered after occlusion of the fistula with a detachable balloon.
Adult ; Balloon Occlusion ; methods ; Carotid-Cavernous Sinus Fistula ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Cerebral Angiography ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; complications ; diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Paresis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Recovery of Function ; Risk Assessment ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Wounds, Nonpenetrating ; complications

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), the pathogenic agent of black rot disease in cruciferous plants, produces large amount of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS), which has found wide applications in industry. For the great commercial value of the xanthan gum, many of the genes involved in EPS biosynthesis have been cloned and the mechanism of EPS biosynthesis also has been studied. In order to clone genes involved in EPS biosynthesis, Xcc wild-type strain 8004 was mutagenized with transposon Tn5 gusA5, and a number of EPS-defective mutants were isolated in our previous work. The Tn5 gusA5 inserted sites of these mutants were located by using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, and results showed that two EPS-defective mutants were insertion mutants of the gene wxcA which involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis. The gene wxcA involved in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis but dose not extracellular polysaccharide in others' report. wxcA::Tn5 gusA5 mutant 021C12, the polar mutant, was complemented with recombinant plasmid pLATC8570 harboring an intact wxcA gene in this work, but the yield of EPS of the wxcA::Tn5 gusA5 mutant was not restored. In order to identify the function of wxcA gene of Xcc 8004 strain, the gene wxcA was deleted by gene replacement strategy, and the no-polar mutant of wxcA was obtained. DeltawxcA mutant strain, named Xcc 8570, was confirmed by using both PCR and southern analysis. Beside the LPS biosynthesis of deltawxcA mutant was affected, The EPS yield of deltawxcA mutant strain reduced by 50% as compared with the wild-type strain 8004. DeltawxcA mutant could be complemented in trans with the intact wxcA gene, and the EPS yield of the mutant was restored. The combined data showed that wxcA gene not only involved in LPS biosynthesis but also EPS yield in Xcc 8004 strain.
Cell Proliferation ; Genes, Bacterial ; physiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; biosynthesis ; Mutation ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; biosynthesis ; Xanthomonas campestris ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the value of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)on differential diagnosis of intracranial cystic lesions.Methods Seventy-six patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed intracranial cystic lesions undergone conventional MRI,DWI and contrast enhanced MRI examination.The signal characteristics of intracrania]cystic lesions on DWI were analysed retrospectively, the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)values of cystic areas were measured quantitatively.Results Nineteen brain abscesses showed hyperintense signal on DWI.Among 34 brain tumors,3 brain gliomas were hyperintense signal,1 brain glioma was isointense signal and 1 metastasis was hyperintense signal;the other 29 brain tumors showed hypointense signal on DWI.The ADC values of all lesions were:(0.62?0.15)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s in brain abscesses,(2.39?0.78)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in brain gliomas,(2.68?0.40)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s in brain hemangioblastomas,(2.79?0.79)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in brain metastases,respectively. There were significant differences between the ADC values of brain abscess and the cystic or necrotic portions of brain glioma,hemangioblastoma,metastasis(P0.05). Seven intracranial arachnoid cysts showed hypointense signal and 16 epidermoid cysts strikingly hyperintense signal on DWI.The ADC values of arachnoid cysts and epidermoid cysts were(2.96?0.36)?10~(-3)mm~2/s and(0.94?0.13)?10~(-3)mm~2/s respectively.There was significant difference between the ADC values of arachnoid cysts and epidermoid cysts(P

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determination of the plasma concentration of aristolochic acid I (AA I ) and aristolochic acid II (AA II) and study their pharmacokinetics in rats.

METHODThe plasma samples were extracted with acetonitrile. The analysis involved a C18 column as stationary phase and methanol, water and acetic acid as mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.0 mL min(-1), the UV detection wavelength was 315 nm. After a single intravenous dose of 5 mg kg(-1) AA in rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated.

RESULTThe calibration curve of AA I was linear over the range from 0.056 mg L(-1) to 56.3 mg L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997. The mean recovery rate was 88.7%. The RSD of within-day and between-day were all less than 8%. And the calibration curve of AA II was linear over the range from 0.192 mg L(-1) to 11.52 mg L(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0. 998 9. The mean recovery was 85.8%. The RSD of within-day was less than 3% and between-day was less than 10%. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated to be as follows: CL = (0.010 +/- 0.003) L min(-1) kg(-1), t(1/2alpha) = (8.2 +/- 1.7) min, t(1/2beta) = (79.6 +/- 28.5) min for AA I; CL = (0.003 +/- 0.001) L min(-1) kg (-1), t(1/2alpha) = (56.7 +/- 38.1) min, t(1/2beta) = (209.3 +/- 37.9) min for AA II.

CONCLUSIONThe established HPLC method is simple and sensitive to determine the concentration of AA I , AA II and the metabolite of AA I in rat plasma. From the result of animal's test, we can find that AA I was quickly eliminated from plasma, the elimination of AA II and Aristololactam-the metabolite of AA I - were slower than that of AA I.

Animals ; Aristolochic Acids ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danning Tablet (DNT) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of damp-heat syndrome type. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded and positive drug parallel controlled trial was performed. One hundred and thirty-five patients were enrolled into the study and divided into two groups: DNT-treated group (n=102) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated group (n=33). Body mass index (BMI), principal symptoms, liver function, blood lipids, iconographic, and compositional parameters were measured before and after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: In the two groups, BMI, distress in hepatic region, fatigue, anorexia, liver function, blood lipids and iconographic parameters were significantly improved, and the improvements of BMI, distress in hepatic region were better in DNT-treated group than in UDCA-treated group. The histological study also showed that DNT had positive effect in treatment of NAFLD. CONCLUSION: DNT is an effective drug to treat patients with NAFLD of damp-heat syndrome type and is more effective than UDCA.