Objective To assess the quantitative relationship between the distribution of Himalayan marmot and its ecological environment,the terrain,the temperature and the precipitation,using remote sensing and geographic information system in Qinghai province.Methods The distribution of Himalayan marmot was located by Google Earth and ArcGIS software and by using field survey data provided by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.The corresponding ecological environment of marmot including terrain,temperature and precipitation were derived from the spatial information datasets.All results were processed according to the overlay and statistics analysis using ArcGIS software.Results Seventy-seven point twenty-seven percent(153/198) of Himalayan marmot were distributed in the area of elevation between 3000 and 4000 meters.The number of marmot reached the highest when the slope was between 0 and 17 degrees,and aspect range was between 91 and 270 degrees,180 degree was as south direction.During the period with the maximum temperature of the warmest month of 14.3-17.5 ℃,17.6-20.8 ℃ and 20.9-24.0 ℃,the distribution of marmot reached 95％(186/198) of the total area.Meanwhile,most of the marmot were presented in the area with average precipitation of 46-108 mm.Conclusions A quantitative analysis of appropriate ecological environment of Himalayan marmot in a large scope is carried uul successfully using remote sensing and geographic information system.The study indicates that spatial information technology has important applications in plague prevention and control.

To research the effect of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata compatibility on cardiac toxicity in rats by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, and explore the endogenous markers and molecule mechanism. Different compatibility of Shenfu decoction were given to male Wistar rats at dosage of 20 g · kg(-1) for 7 days, collected the serum, and analyze the endogenous metabolites effected by Shenfu formulation by principal component analysis and partial least-squares analysis. Results showed that content of glutathione, phosphatidylcholine and citric acid decreased in mixed-decoction group, while ascorbic acid, uric acid, D-galactose, tryptophan, L-phenylalanine increased. The results showed cardiac toxicity of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata in Shenfu mixed-decoction. Shenfu co-decoction group showed a similar or weaker trend compared with control group, but most of them do not have a statistically significant. The results indicated the scientific basis of Shenfu compatibility by comparison of co-decoction group with mixed-decoction group. Shenfu compatibility can reduce cardiac toxicity induced by Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, and citric acid, glutathione, phosphatidyl choline, uric acid might be regarded as potential markers of cardiotoxicity.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; Cardiotoxicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Glutathione ; blood ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Male ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Principal Component Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The aim of present study is to investigate the cardioprotective effect of a new compound acetyl ferulaic isosorbide (AFI), composed of ferulaic acid (FA) and isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) by esterification in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R). Male Sprague-Dawley rats, subjected to 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion, randomly received one of the following treatments separately: SHAM, I/R (MI/R + solvent), SF (MI/R+SF, 40 mg x kg(-1), ig), ISMN (MI/R + ISMN, 30 mg x kg(-1), ig), SF + ISMN (MI/R + SF + ISMN, 40 mg x kg(-1) + 30 mg x kg(-1), ig) and AFI (MI/R + AFI, 10 mg x kg(-1), ig). Left ventricle developed pressures (LVDP) and the maximal first derivative of developed pressure ( +/-dP / dtmax) were monitored throughout the experiments. Myocardial infarction size, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) production were determined at the end of reperfusion. Compared with SF, ISMN or SF + ISMN treatment groups, AFI treatment decreased infarction size (n=8, P < 0.01), improved cardiac function as evidenced by increased LVDP and +/- dP/dtmax (n=8, P < 0.05), increased serum SOD activity, reduced serum CK and LDH activities, H2O2 and MDA production (n=8, P < 0.05). The new compound AFI showed a stronger cardioprotective effect against MI/R injury than SF, ISMN or their combined administration did.
Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Electrocardiography ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; blood ; Isosorbide Dinitrate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

BACKGROUND:Synovitis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of early knee osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To compare synovial inflammation in a rabbit mode of knee osteoarthritis induced by injecting low concentration of papain at different time points,thus providing reference for the study on synovitis in knee osteoarthritis.METHODS:Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into four groups,and received the injection of 0.5 mL mixture of 2％ papain with 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine into the right knee at 1,4 and 7 days,respectively.The model rabbits were respectively sacrificed at 1,2 and 3 weeks after the last injection,and the rabbits in the blank control group were killed at 3 weeks.The local skin temperature and circumference of the knee were recorded,and the synovium and infrapatellar fat pad were separated from the right knees for histopathological observation and ELSA.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At the 1stweek after modeling,joint effusion was significantly increased,local skin temperature and circumference of knee joint were higher than those at the 2nd,and 3rd weeks.The levels of interleukin-1,tumor necrosis factor-α and matrix metalloproteinase-13 in the synovium in the three experimental groups were higher than those in the blank control group at 1,2 and 3 weeks after modeling;the levels peaked in the 1st week,but no significant fluctuation appeared in the 2nd and 3rd weeks.There were synovial tissue hyperplasia,thickening,and inflammatory cell infiltration in the 1st,2nd and 3rd weeks,and the proliferation of synovial tissue increased significantly with time.These findings indicate that the intra-articular injection of low concentration of papain and 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine mixtures contributes to a rabbit model of knee synovial inflammation within 1 week,with significantly joint effusion.However,significant synovial tissue thickening and vascular hyperplasia are observed;meanwhile,the joint effusion is decreased obviously.

A method for the determination of trace elements such as lead, arsenic and mercury in cream cosmetics by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) with suspension sampling was developed. The mixed solvents of water,tetrahydrofuran,methanol and were used to disperse paste, cream, and additives of triton X-100 to promote the test liquid uniform. The test suspension fluid were taken into the sample carrier,drying and then introduced into TXRF. Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate) (P(VP-co-VAc)) was added to curing sediments,inhibiting proliferation. Triton X-100 and P(VP-co-VAc) were found to have the function of reducing mercury loss in the drying process. The loss of elements in the drying process and the effect of triton X-100 and P(VP-co-VAc) were investigated. The effect of cream matrix, element interference, spectral line and the inner standard were discussed. The calibration curves for quantitative analysis were established using matrix standards, so the error of software decomposition peak and the error caused by thick sample were avoided within a certain range. In this work,the linear correlation coefficients of Pb,As and Hg calibration curve were greater than 0.998 The detection limit of Pb,As and Hg in the solution were 0.005,0.004 and 0.006 μg/mL,respectively. Relative standard diviations(RSDs, n=11) of Pb, As and Hg were 7.8%-14.9%,6.6%-13.3% and 7.6%-14.6% respectively. The results of Pb, As, and Hg in cream cosmetics determinated by this method agreed with those obtained from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and the value of standard reference material. The TXRF method was proved to be accurate,simple and valuable in determination of trace heavy metal ions in cosmetic samples.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze pathological characteristics of organs recovered during forensic autopsy submitted by legal medicine experts. METHODS: From Baoji city, 358 cases of forensic autopsy specimens from a series of routine exams were collected. And histopathological diagnoses were reviewed. RESULTS: Majority of the 358 cases were young men. The major causes of death were trauma, sudden death and poisoning. The cause of death was determined with histology in 250 cases. No typical histological changes were noted in 101 cases. The tissue autolysis and decomposition were present in 7 cases. The major pathological diagnosis was cardiovascular disease, followed by diseases in respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems. CONCLUSION Forensic autopsy with its professional characteristics, is different from regular autopsy. When diagnosing cause of death by histopathological examination, pathologists should collaborate with legal medicine experts to know the details of the cases, circumstances surrounding the death, and specific forensic pathological characteristics.
Anxiety ; Autolysis ; Autopsy ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; China ; Cooperative Behavior ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Forensic Pathology ; Humans ; Interprofessional Relations ; Male

OBJECTIVETo establish the DNA microarray to detect influenza viruses and avian influenza viruses, and identify their virulence.

METHODSHemagglutinin (HA), neuramidinase (NA) and nucleoprotein(NP) genes were chosen simultaneously as targets for designing a microarray used for detection of viruses and identification virulence. The nucleic acid were amplified by single primer amplication (SPA). And then its specificity,sensitivity and reproducibility were evaluated.

RESULTSThe microarray was able to specially detect H1N1, H3N2, B influenza viruses and H5N1, H9N2 avian influenza viruses. Their limits were 8HAU, 16HAU, 32HAU, and 8HAU, 8HAU respectively. The limit for virulence was 32HAU. When samples were analyzed by both RT-PCR and microarray in parallel, the results agreed in 83.9% (47/56).

CONCLUSIONThe microarray can detect and distinguish five tested viruses, and especially identify virulence. It not only supplies an assistant tool for clinical diagnosis and control of infectious disease, but also is valuable for controlling and preventing outbreak of avian influenza epidemic.

Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; virology ; Microbiological Techniques ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Orthomyxoviridae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; RNA, Viral ; analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Virulence ; genetics

AIM To compare the components difference between Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl.et Paxt.(LFL)and Lonicerae japonicae Flos(LJF),and to evaluate the medicinal value of LFL,so as to provide reference for the development and utilization of LFL and LJF.METHODS With 70%methanol as extraction solvent,the components were analyzed by UPLC-TOF-MS,and the contents of 20 components were determined by HPLC-QQQ-MS.The components difference was determined by multivariate statistical analysis.RESULTS A total of 52 components were identified in the buds of LFL and LJF.There were 4 different components in LJF,and the contents of 20 quantitative components were significantly different.The contents of isochlorogenic acid C,ferulic acid,luteolin and rutin in the buds of LFL were more than 2 times that of LJF,and the contents of marchanic acid and marchanin were 11.96 times and 37.23 times that of LJF respectively.Maganin,isochlorogenic acid A,maganic acid,rutin and dicomachanic acid are the key differentiating components of LFL and LJF.CONCLUSION The buds of LFL and LJF have similar species,but the content difference is obvious.The buds of LFL have important medicinal value,which need further development and utilization.

BACKGROUNDImmune cells within a tumor microenvironment have shown modulatory effects on tumor angiogenic activity. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypervascular tumor that reportedly increases the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor tissues. This study investigated the correlation between Tregs infiltration and angiogenic status in RCC.

METHODSThirty-six patients with RCC were enrolled in the present study, and twenty age-matched healthy donors were included as the control. Tregs were defined as CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low/-) T cells. The frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in surgical resection specimens were measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Microvessel density (MVD) was calculated on slides stained with CD34 antibody. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to evaluate the correlation between the frequencies of Tregs in TILs and VEGF values, as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD determinations.

RESULTSCompared to healthy controls, the frequency of peripheral blood Tregs was significantly increased in patients with RCC (P < 0.05). The percentage of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was higher than that of peripheral blood Tregs in patients with RCC (P < 0.01). In addition, the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was shown to significantly correlate with the pathological stage (P < 0.05) and nuclear grade (P < 0.01). Importantly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs and VEGF protein expression (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD score (r = 0.39, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese observations suggest that the high pro-angiogenic status of RCC may be associated with the accumulation of Tregs in the local microenvironment. Angiogenesis networks may be connected with immune tolerance units and cooperate with each other to facilitate tumor growth and progression.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

BACKGROUNDThe long term prognosis of unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenting is controversial. This study was conducted to evaluate the immediate and long term outcomes of LMCA stenting in Chinese patients and to determine which factors affect the outcomes.

METHODSFrom May 1997 to March 2003, 224 patients in 23 hospitals underwent elective unprotected LMCA stenting with bare metal stents. Their clinical records were analysed to ascertain immediate and long term outcomes of LMCA stenting as well as factors influencing the prognosis.

RESULTSStents were implanted into LMCA successfully in 223 cases (99.6 %). One death (0.5%) and one case of non-Q wave nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) occurred in hospital. The mean follow-up time was (15.6 +/- 12.3) months. Cardiac death developed in 10 cases (4.5%), noncardiac death in 2 cases (0.9%), nonfatal MI in 4 cases (1.8%), target lesion revascularization (TLR) of LMCA in 26 cases (11.7%) and TLR of nonLMCA in 37 cases (16.5%). Univariate analysis showed that cardiac death correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 40%), female gender and LMCA combined with multivessel disease; that major adverse cardiac events (MACE) correlated with LVEF < 40%, bifurcation lesion and incomplete revascularization. Logistic regression analysis revealed that LVEF < 40% and female gender were independent predictors of cardiac death and MACE. Follow-up angiography was performed in 102 cases (45.7%). The restenosis rate was 31.4%.

CONCLUSIONSLong-term outcomes of stenting for selected patients with unprotected LMCA stenosis is acceptable. It should be performed in inoperable or low risk patients with LVEF > or = 40% and isolated LMCA disease or LMCA combined with multivessel diseases in whom complete revascularization can be obtained.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; therapy ; Coronary Restenosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome