OBJECTIVE: To study the morphological characteristics of femurs of adult human and 11 kinds of adult animals from cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and to establish an effective species identification method among various species. METHODS: The 4 cm mid-diaphyseal segment of the femur from adult human (older than 20 years old) at autopsy was obtained. Addi-tionally, the 4 cm ones from 11 kinds of adult animals were obtained. After decalcification, all femurs were made into slices, and then were observed by optical microscope. The 25 indexes were selected and analyzed by step discriminant analysis according to differences between human and mammal, human and poultry, and human and 11 kinds of animals. RESULTS: The histological structure of bone mineral density of middle part of femur had obvious characteristics among the species. And the morphology and number of osteon showed the trend of obvious biological evolution. There were 11 indexes with significant differences between human and 11 kinds of animals to establish some mathematical models to discriminate all species. The correct discrimination rate was 96.3% between human and mammal. The correct discrimination rate was up to 100% between human and poultry, and was 89.4% among human, mammal and poultry. CONCLUSION The mathematical models have good correct discrimination rate among human and the other animals, which could be applied in the practical species identification cases.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Cats ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dogs ; Femur/ultrastructure* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Haversian System/ultrastructure* ; Horses ; Humans ; Sheep ; Species Specificity ; Swine

The purpose of this study was to investigate how Zuogui pills from the Kidney-tonifying and Nourishing Yin formula, in combination with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist cetrorelix, affected the ovarian local oxidative stress response in decreasing ovarian reserve (DOR) mice. All animal experiments were carried out in accordance with the guidelines and standards established by Jinan University's Experimental Animal Management Committee. Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-treated DOR mice were given Zuogui pills, cetrorelix, or a combination of the two drugs intragastrically. After treatment, there were changes in the estrous cycle, serum sex hormone levels, oxidative stress-related indexes, growth biochemical factor levels, and SIRT1/P53/P21 expression. In comparison to the model group, the Zuogui pills and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had significantly prolonged estrous periods and shortened interestrous periods, and the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group had a significantly shortened cycle length. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) decreased and estradiol (E₂) increased in all treatment groups compared to the model group, oxidative stress indexes nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased, growth biochemical factors brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF-9) concentrations increased significantly, and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) showed no significant change. SIRT1/P53/P21 immunohistochemical results revealed that, when compared to the model group, the expression of SIRT1 increased while the expression of P53 and P21 proteins decreased in all treatment groups, with the cetrorelix+Zuogui pills group having the largest decrease, with significant differences in all indicators. We conclude that cetrorelix combined with Zuogui pills for kidney nourishing and Yin recipe improved the oxidative stress response in the follicle by regulating the SIRT1/P53/P21 pathway, reducing peroxide product production, protecting ovarian function, and regulating ovarian hormone secretion, and its efficacy is superior to that of cetrorelix or Zuogui pills alone.

Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis

Objective To explore whether autoreactive antibody presents in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism(sIHP).Methods The subjects including 26 patients with sIHP and 112 genealogical members as well as 60 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Anti-parathyroid antibodies in the sera were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence.The levels of calcium,phosphorus and magnesium as well as intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH)in the sera were tested.Results Positive autoantibodies against parathyroid tissue were demonstrated in 10 patients(38%)with sIHP,significantly higher than that of in genealogical members(10%,?~2=13.42,P

A high sensitive and rapid method was developed for the analysis of lappaconitine in mouse plasma using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Detection was performed by positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 585 --> m/z 535 and m/z 356 --> m/z 192, for the quantification of lappaconitine and tetrahydropalmatine (internal standard, IS), respectively. The method was linear over the concentration range of 3.0-2000.0 ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 3.0 ng x mL(-1). Intra- and inter-run precisions (RSD) were both less than 9.9% and accuracy (RE) within +/- 4.8%. After single intravenous injections of lappaconitine hydrobromide at 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg x kg(-1), the elimination half-lives (t(1/2)) were 0.47, 0.48 and 0.49 h, and the areas under the curve (AUC(0-t)) were 55.5, 110.5 and 402.9 ng x h x mL(-1), separately. The pharmacokinetic profile of lappaconitine was linear at relatively lower dose levels (1.0-2.0 mg x kg(-1)). When the dose increased farther to 4.0 mg x kg(-1), the Vz and CL decreased, and the increase fold of the AUC was much larger than that of the dose.
Aconitine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

The objective of this study was to investigate Babesia infection among domestic animals in Western Yunnan Province and provide scientific evidence for developing control measures.A total of 1 073 domestic animals blood samples (274cattle,395 sheep,354 dogs,33 horses and 17 donkeys) were collected in 12 counties in Western Yunnan Province.Genomic DNA was extracted and a near full-length 18S rRNA gene sequence of Babesia was amplified by using nested PCR.Babesia species was identified by Blast program and phylogenetic tree.It was indicated that 50 samples were infected with Babesia,belonging to 5 species and with the infection rate of 4.66％.Among 274 cattle blood samples,11 were infected with Babesia (4.01％).Four of them were Babesia bovis and seven of them were Babesia bigemina.Among 395 sheep blood samples,38 were infected with Babesia (9.62 ％),37 of them were Babesia odocoilei-like parasites and 1 of them was Babesia capreoli-like parasites.Horses and donkeys were negative.In conclusion,domestic animals in Western Yunnan Province are infected with many kinds of Babesia,which threaten stock raising development and human health.It is necessary to strengthen prevention of babesiosis and investigate infection rate of babesiosis in human.

This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L^-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical phenotypes and hereditary patterns of the generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+).

METHODSDetailed family trees were constructed by inquire and physical examinations for the probands of the 15 pedigrees of GEFS+. Some patients received electroencephalography, cranial CT or MRI examination. The seizures and epilepsy syndromes were classified according to the 2001 Seizure International Classification. The clinical data of GEFS+ were reviewed.

RESULTSThe 15 families consisted of 196 individuals. Seventy-five individuals were confirmed with epilepsy. The phenotypes of 64 out of the 75 patients with epilepsy conformed to GEFS+. The 64 patients included 38 males and 26 females (1 deceased) and there was no gender difference in the morbility of GEFS+. The age at onset was all in childhood. GEFS+ had a diversity of phenotypes. Febrile seizures (FS) were confirmed in 44 patients, FS and myoclonic seizure in 1, febrile seizures plus (FS+) in 13, FS+ and absence seizure in 2, FS+ and myoclonic seizure in 1, and FS+ and focal seizure in 3.

CONCLUSIONSThe heterogeneity of phenotypes and genetics may be the hallmarks of GEFS+. FS and FS+ are common phenotypes while FS+ and absence seizure, FS+ and myoclonic seizure, and FS+ and focal seizure are rare. If one of the parents is affected in a GEFS+ family, the susceptibility of their children to GEFS+ is the same no matter what gender of their children is. It is speculated that the hereditary pattern of GEFS+ conforms to autosomal dominant inheritance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; genetics

AIMTo determine the mechanisms of glucocorticoids in inhibiting advanced prostate cancer growth.

METHODSThe cell proliferation and cell cycle of prostate cancer DU145 cells following dexamethasone treatment were determined by proliferation assay and fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Western blot analysis was carried out to evaluate the effects of dexamethasone on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and expression of cyclin D1 in DU145 cells with or without glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction verified the expression of GR mRNA in DU145 cells.

RESULTSDexamethasone significantly inhibited DU145 cell proliferation at the G(0)/G(1) phase. Western blot analysis showed a dramatic reduction of ERK1/2 activity and cyclin D1 expression in dexamethasone-treated cells. The decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in dexamethasone-treated cells was attenuated by GR blockade. Additionally, the effects of dexamethasone in inhibiting cyclin D1 expression were altered by GR blockade.

CONCLUSIONDexamethasone suppresses DU145 cell proliferation and cell cycle, and the underlying mechanisms are through the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 expression. The inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 expression is attenuated by GR blockade, suggesting that GR regulates ERK1/2 and cyclin D1 pathways. These observations suggest that dexamethasone has a potential clinical application in prostate cancer therapy.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

To improve the after-sales service, a survey aimed at the after-serveis of 3 kinds of medical equipment is applied among 68 hospitals in Shanghai Area in 2008.The Stat. and analysis results are showed in the paper, which will certainly channel off suppliers to set up a harmonious market together.
China ; Consumer Behavior ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Collection ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing