Aim To investigate the glycosidic constituents in the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum Hance. Methods The isolation and purification of glycosides were done with column chromatography on macro porous resin, polyamides and Sephadex LH-20, whilst the structure elucidation was done by HRCI-MS and NMR (1D and 2D ) methods. Results A glycosidic ester identified as 4'-hydroxy-2'-methoxyphenol-β-D-{ 6-O-[ 4"-hydroxy-3", 5"-dimethoxy ( benzoate ) ] }-glucopyranoside ( I), along with a known compound n-butyl-β-D-fructopyranoside (II) , were isolated and characterized. Conclusion Ⅰ was found to be a new compound, named as alpinoside A, whilst Ⅱ was isolated from the genus Alpinia for the first time.

OBJECTIVE To understand the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus epidermidis causing urinary tract infection. METHODS Thirty five isolates were collected in the patients with urinary tract infection during 2003-2004 to test the minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) to erythromycin,ampicillin,cefoxitin,ceftriaxone,teicoplanin,ciprofloxacin,tetracycline,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin.The genes of ermA,ermB,ermC,msrA,mecA,and icaA were amplified by PCR.The biofilm producing of the isolates was determined by the quantitative method.The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) was used to discriminate the homology among the isolates. RESULTS Among the isolates,MRSE accounted for 71.4%.The antibiotic susceptibility to erythromycin,ampicillin,ceftriaxone,ciprofloxacin,tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 22.8%,6.34%,34.9%,26.9%,44.4% and 62.2%,respectively,whereas to teicoplanin and vancomycin were 99.2% and 100%.All the isolates resistant to cefoxitin carried mecA.ermC Was the predominant determinant among the erythromycin resistant isolates.Among the 14 icaA positive isolates,10 isolates were biofilm producing.All the isolates were classified into 18 types by PFGE. CONCLUSIONS The high and multiple antibiotic resistance of S.epidermidis isolates causing urinary tract infection were shown.The detection of icaA gene in clinical S.epidermidis isolates was a signal of their pathogenicity.

Objective To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Euphorbia sonngarica. Methods Compounds were isolated by Sephadex LH-20,MPLC,and silica gel column chromatographies. Their structures were identified by spectral methods together with physicochemical analysis.Results Eleven compounds were isolated from the roots of E.sonngarica.They were identified as cryptomeridiol (Ⅰ),betulin(Ⅱ),betulinic acid(Ⅲ),3?-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid(Ⅳ),7-oxo-?sitosterol (Ⅴ),erythrinasinate(Ⅵ),octaeosanoie acid(Ⅶ),1-octacosene(Ⅷ),24-methene-cycloartenol(Ⅸ),eu- phol(Ⅹ),?-sitosterol(Ⅺ).Conclusion CompoundsⅠ-Ⅷare isolated from this plant for the first time.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum interleukin(IL)-18 in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF)and its relationship with relevant indexes. Methods Sixty patients with CRF were divided into three groups: patients with CRF (CRF group, n = 18) ,patients with bemedialysis (HD group, n = 22) and patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD group,n = 20). 20 healthy subjects were taken as controls. The levels of serum IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected by means of ELISA. Serum albumin (ALB) ,total cholesterol (TC) ,triglyceride (TG) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were detected by con-ventional means. The GFR was measured by using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study (MDRD) equation. Differences in continuous variables between the three groups were evaluated. Results The lev-els of serum IL-18 were significantly increased in CRF[(497.7 ± 120.7) ng/L], HD[(538.1 ± 113.2) ng/L] and PD[(565.7 ± 122.1) ng/L] patients than those in healthy subjects[(163.9±42.2) ng/L] (P <0.01). Further-more,serum IL-18 levels in HD patients were higher than these in CRF patients (P <0.05). Serum IL-18 levels in CRF were positively related to serum TNF-α,hs-CRP and SCr(r =0. 636,0.436,0.367,P <0.01) ,and negatively related to GFR(r = -0.515 ,P <0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum IL-18 are markedly increased in patients with CRF,HD and PD,and related to the levels of TNF-α,hs-CRP and GFR,so IL-18 might be an important marker of sub-clinical inflammation in patients with chronic renal failure.

Background Retinal development continues during the early postnatal period in mammals.Correct arrangement of layers and precise location of various cells in the retina are vital for forming normal visual function during critical period plasticity.Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)provides highquality in vivo retinal imaging and the possibility to measure retinal thickness longitudinally. Objective The present study was to investigate the changes of retinal thickness during critical period plasticity in rats. Methods In vivo consecutive scanning of retinal image was performed in 10 SPF Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day 14(P14),P18,P21,P24 and P42 with SD-OCT,and retinal histopathological examination was used to detect retinal morphologic changes at the same postnatal ages in 20 matched rats.The whole retinal thickness,the thickness from inner limiting membrane(ILM)to inner plexiform layer(IPL),the thickness of inner nuclear layer(INL)and the thickness from outer nuclear layer(ONL)to retinal pigment epithelium(RPE)were measured using Cirrus HD-OCT system and HMIAS-2000 Imaging System in retinal sections.The measurement parameters by Cirrus HD-OCT and those by hematoxylin-eosin staining were compared.The use of animals followed the Statement of National Institute of Health (USA). Results In vivo high-resolution images of rat retinas with SD-OCT compared well with histology,which enabled quantitative comparison of the SD-OCT and histological data during critical period plasticity in rats.From P14 to P42,the retinal thickness gradually decreased with the increase of rat ages(F=15.425,P=0.000),and so were the thickness from ILM to IPL,the thickness of INL and the thickness from ONL to RPE(F=3.973,P=0.007;F=17.529,P=0.000;F=7.038,P=0.000).The retinal thickness,thickness of INL.thickness from ONL to RPE measured by Cirrus HD-OCT were significantly correlated with those measured by retinal sections among P14,P18,P21,P24 and P42 rats(r=0.794,P=0.000;r=0.784,P=0.000;r=0.681,P=0.000). Conclusion SD-OCT is a demonstratably valuable technology to study the structure of retinas in rats.The retinal thickness is shown to reduce in thickness throughout the development of the retina during critical period plasticity due to the decrease in thickness of INL and the distance from the ONL to RPE,as illustrated by OCT scanning.

Objective To study the changes of flow parameters of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in children with abdominal type Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) using color Doppler ultrasound.Methods Ten children with abdominal type HSP and 17 controls were included in present study.The blood flow parameters of SMA[including peak velocity(PV),end-diastole velocity(EDV),resistant index(RI)]were measured at acute and recovery stage separately.Statistical analysis was conducted among groups.Results PV were (41.57±8.02)cm/s,(33.38±7.44)cm/s and (35.34±9.73)cm/s in acute stage,recovery stage and control group,respectively.There was no statistically significant difference among groups(F=2.471,P=0.10).EDV were(7.63±4.28)cm/s,(4.23±2.57)cm/s and (3.77±0.87) cm/s in acute stage,recovery stage and control group,respectively.There was significantly significant differences between acute stage group and other two groups(t=0.066,P=0.025;t=0.059,P=0.003).RI were (0.85±0.17),(1.00±0.15) and (1.04±0.13) in acute stage,recovery stage and control group,respectively.Also there was significantly significant differences between acute stage group and other two groups(t=1.391,P=0.020;t=1.239,P=0.026).Conclusion For abdominal type HSP in children,the changes of PV,EDV and RI of SMA were significant,which may help us determine the stage of disease.

Background Ultraviolet irradiation promotes cellular apoptosis by affecting the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,including human lens epithelial cells (LECs).Gene associated with retinoid-interferoninduced mortality-19 (GRIM-19),a cell death regulatory protein,is essential for the assembly and function of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ.However,whether LECs apoptosis induced by ultraviolet irradiation is related to GRIM-19 is still unclear.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the apoptosis of human LECs caused by ultraviolet with GRIM-19 expression in vitro.Methods Human LEC line(SRA01/04)was cultured in α-MEM containing 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were exposed to ultraviolet ray at doses of 0,30,60,90,120 or 150 mJ/cm2 when cell growth reached the logarithmic phase and 80％ confluency.The rate of apoptosis of the cells was assayed using flow cytometry,and the level of expression and relative amount of GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) were detected by Western blot.The relationship between apoptosis and the GRIM-19/β-actin value among the different treatment groups was compared using One-way ANOVA,and the correlation of LECs apoptosis rate and GRIM-19 expression level was assessed by Pearson linear analysis.Results A significant difference was found in the apoptosis rate among the different treatment groups(F=149.32,P＜0.01).Compared with the 0 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation group,the apoptosis rate of LECs was significantly increased in the 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups (q =17.02,-25.20,-29.41,-8.61,P ＜ 0.01).The expression of the GRIM-19 protein in the LECs suspension was enhanced by ultraviolet irradiation at 60,90,120 and 150 mJ/cm2.The relative expression of the GRIM-19 protein (GRIM-19/β-actin) was significantly different among the various groups (F=6.87,P＜0.05),and the GRIM-19/β-actin values in the 60,90,120,150 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet irradiation groups were elevated in comparison with the un-irradiated group(2.01±0.76,2.98± 1.80,3.97± 1.61,2.42± 1.28 vs.0.56±0.23),which showed statistically significant differences (q =4.12,-5.04,-7.09,-3.85,P ＜ 0.01).In addition,a positive correlation was seen between the rate of apoptosis and the expression of the GRIM-19 protein(r=0.71,P＜0.01).Conclusions GRIM-19 is expressed in normal human LECs.The apoptosis of human LECs accompanies the up-regulation of GRIM-19.The expression of GRIM-19 in LECs increases with ultraviolet irradiation in a doseindependent manner.

Background Epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT) of human lens epithelial cells (LECs) induced by transforming growth factor-β2 (TGF-β2) is the main mechanism in the pathogenesis of posterior capsular opacification(PCO).Seeking an effective drug capable of inhibiting this process is important for the prevention and treatment of PCO.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of rapamycin (RAPA)on the proliferation of human LECs and TGF-β2-induced EMT.Methods Human LEC strain(SRA01/04)was cultured in DMEM with high glucose and 10％ fetal bovine serum.The cells were consequently cultured in serumfree DMEM with 5 mg/L TGF-β2,TGF-β2+10 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA or TGF-β2 +10 000 mg/L RAPA for 72 hours,and SRA01/04 cultured in serum-free DMEM were used as control.The proliferation rate(A490)of SRA01/04 in the different groups was detected using the MTT assay and the rate of inhibition of RAPA was calculated.The expressions of the α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and E-cadherin(E-cad)mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,respectively.The changes in the expression of α-SMA and E-cad in SRA01/04 were evaluated by Western blot 24,48 and 72 hours after TGF-β2 +400 mg/L RAPA treatment.Results The A490 value of SRA01/04 was 0.680±0.020,0.550±0.013,0.480±0.014,0.400±0.011 and 0.200±0.019 in the control group,TGF-β2 group,TGF-β2 + 10 mg/LRAPA group,TGF-β2 + 100 mg/L RAPA group,TGF-β2 + 1000 mg/L RAPA and TGF-β2 + 10 000 mg/L RAPA group,respectively,showing a gradually declining trend in SRA01/04 rate of proliferation with increasing RAPA concentrations (F =101.920,P =0.000).RT-PCR and Western blot assay showed that the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA (α-SMA mRNA/β-actin mRNA)and protein (α-SMA/β-actin)in the cells were significantly increased in the TGF-β2 treatment group.However,with exposure to RAPA,the relative expression levels of α-SMA mRNA and protein were significantly lowered with increasing RAPA concentrations,but the expression levels of E-cad mRNA and protein were raised (α-SMA mRNA:F =294.660,P =0.000 ; α-SMA protein:F =346.950,P =0.000 ; E-cad mRNA:F =264.250,P =0.000 ; E-cad protein:F =317.327,P =0.000).In addition,after exposure to 400 mg/L RAPA,the expression levels of α-SMA protein gradually reduced and those of E-cad protein gradually increased with increasing treatment durations,showing significant differences among the different time points (α-SMA:F =693.864,P =0.000 ;E-cad:F=369.286,P =0.000).Conclusions RAPA can inhibit the proliferation of SRA01/04 in vitro and arrest EMT of SRA01/04 induced by TGF-β2 in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

Objective To evaluate the effect of combination treatment by psychological intervention and a new atypical antipsychotic Paliperidone extended-release tablets(paliperidone ER)on first-episode schizophrenic out-patients.Methods All 62 patients diagnosed as first-episode schizophrenia by DSM-Ⅳ were randomly allocated into,combination treatment group and control group,for a 12-month treatment study.The combination treatment group was treated by paliperidone ER once a day and psychological counseling once a month,while the control group was treated only by paliperidone ER.The efficacy and social function were assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS)and Personal and Social Performance Scale(PSP)individually at baseline,and following 1,3,6,9,12 months.The remission rate was calculated at the end of the 3rd,6th,9th month.The safety and tolerability were assessed using Barnes Akathisia Scale(BARS),extrapyramidal side effects scale(SAS)and involuntary movement scale(AIMS).Results Twenty-seven patients of combination treatment group and seventeen patients of the control group completed the trial with the discontinuation rate 12.9% and 45.2%,respectively.The difference between the above two groups was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The mean total score of PANSS and the PSP of the both groups were significantly improved(P＜0.05)after treatment.PANSS total score reduced more than 30% compared with baseline,and PSP total score increased more than 7.The remission rate of combination treatment group was 74.2%,51.6% and 67.7% at the end of 3rd,6th,and 9th month,which was better than the control group(45.2%,38.7% and 38.7%)(P＜0.05).Both incidence and types of adverse events were almost same between the two groups.The major adverse events were extrapyramidal symptoms,tachycardia,gastrointestinal discomfort and akathisia.Conclusion Paliperidone ER treatment combined with psychological intervention on first-episode schizophrenia out-patients can improve their treatment compliance by reducing the discontinuation rate.And this combination treatment can increase the remission rate and improve social functioning of the patients.

OBJECTIVE To give experimental basis for further investigation on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm resistance,we investigated the erythromycin repression of the planktonic,resuspended and biofilm cells.METHODS log Reduction of the planktonic,resuspended and biofilm cells of S.epidermidis strain 1457 and wild isolate S 68 was tested under 100 MIC erythromycin.The cells inside biofilm were observed by transmission electron microscope.RESULTS log Reduction of the planktonic and resuspended cells of S.epidermidis 1457 were 5.56?0.11 and 5.28?0.08,respectively,after 4h under 100 MIC erythromycin,which was higher than that of biofilm cells(P0.05).The tendency of the log reduction of isolate S 68 was the same as that of strain 1457.The cells of biofilm without erythromycin were spherical and of even distributed,but the swelling,liquefied cells and cell debris were observed in the biofilm with erythromycin after 12h.The arrangement of cells inside biofilm with erythromycin was looser than that without erythromycin.CONCLUSIONS The erythromycin resistance of biofilm cells is higher.Biofilm can give protection for the bacteria to avoid the killing of action by antibiotics.