Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

BACKGROUND: Tiantai I consists of gastrodia, Chinese angelica root, areca seed. It has been considered as the roles of invigorating the liver, nourishing marrow, heightening the intelligence and causing resuscitation. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Tiantai Ⅰ on the abilities of learn ing and memory and the activity of central cholinergic system in mice withspontaneous Alzheimer disease. DESIGN: A randomized control observation. SETTING: Shenzhen Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. MATERIALS: Male Kunming mice of 13 months old were raised to 21 months old, of which 52 with spontaneous Alzheimer disease werescreened. They were randomly divided into blank control group, westerndrug control group, Tiantai Ⅰ 6.80 and 20.41 g/kg groups, 13 mice in eachgroup. Another 13 aged mice with normal learning and memory abilitieswere selected as the normal control group at the same time. METHODS: Mice in the western drug control group were treated with0.6 mg/Kg Hydergine, those in the Tiantai Ⅰ 6.80 and 20.41 g/kg groupswere given intragastric administration of Tiantai Ⅰ of 6.80 and 20.41 g/kg, respectively, and those in the normal control group and blank control groupwere given double distilled water of the same volume. The learning andmemory results were examined by the step-down test. Freezing sections ofbrain tissue were prepared, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) fiber was showedaccording to the Hedreen method, and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was detected with Burt and Silver methods, the automatic image analysissystem for biomedical application was applied in the quantitative analysisof AChE fiber and ChAT activity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Effect of Tiantai Ⅰ on the abilities of learning and memory in mice with Alzheimer disease; ② AChE fiberarea density in temporal cortex and hippocampal CA1 region; ③ ChAT ac tivity in Meynert nuclei of basal forebrain. RESULTS: ① Tiantai Ⅰ in ameliorating the abilities of learning and mem ory in mice with spontaneous Alzheimer disease: The error times in theTiantai Ⅰ 6.80 and 20.41 g/kg groups, normal control group and westerndrug control group were obviously fewer than that in the blank controlgroup (5.08±2.18, 3.77±1.48, 3.25±1.27, 6.17±3.12, 9.31±3.65, P ＜ 0.05). ② AChE fiber area density: The AChE fiber area densities in temporalcortex were obviously higher in the Tiantai Ⅰ 6.80 and 20.41 g/kg groups, normal control group and western drug control group than in the blankcontrol group (20.19±4.18, 25.01±6.44, 26.38±6.52, 19.44±4.33, 14.36±3.21, P ＜ 0.05). The AChE fiber area densities in hippocampal CA1 region were obviously higher in the Tiantai Ⅰ 20.41 g/kg groups and nor mal control group than in the blank control group, western drug controlgroup and Tiantai Ⅰ 6.80 g/kg group (13.88±3.07, 14.11±4.36, 6.57±2.30, 10.13±2.94, 9.63±2.40, P ＜ 0.05). ③ ChAT activity: It was obviously high er in the TiantaiI 20.41 and 6.80 g/kg groups, western drug control groupand normal control group than in the blank control group (0.683±0.179, 0.589±0.179, 0.552±0.173, 0.705±0.141, 0.354±0.131, P ＜ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Tiantai Ⅰ can significantly improve the disturbances oflearning and memory in mice with spontaneous Alzheimer disease, and itcan increase the activity of central cholinergic system in a dose-dependentmanner.

BACKGROUND: The early and medium medication has been proved to have a certain effect to patients with Alzheimer disease, can delay its development.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of No. 1 recipe on learning and memory function of spontaneous Alzheimer disease models.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: Shenzhen City Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed at the grade Ⅱ Laboratory of Shenzhen City Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. The experimental animals were mice of Kunming strain.METHODS: Totally 52 Kunming mice, aged 21 months, with spontaneous Alzheimer disease (memory impairment) were chosen, and at random divided into 4 groups: senile dementia, western drug control, tiantai No. 1recipe 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg groups; besides 13 mice with normal learning and memory power were chosen as normal senile group. Hydergine 0.6 mg/kg was given for mice in western drug control group, tiantai No. 1recipe (orthogonally optimized) 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg were respectively given for mice in tiantai No. 1 recipe 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg groups.The medicines above were all prepared into 0.5 mL solution and given by garage, for consecutive 60 days. The mice in normal senile and senile dementia groups were given double distilled water of the same volume. The learning memory power was tested by jumping stand, comparing the numbers of learning error and memory error, latent escaping periods of learning training and latent safe platform of memory test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The improving effect of tiantai No. 1recipe on learning and memory function of spontaneous Alzheimer disease mice.RESULTS: All animals involved in the trial entered the final result analysis without any loss. The error numbers of learning and memory in tiantai No. 1 recipe 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg groups were smaller than that in senile dementia group (5.08±2.18, 3.77±1.48, 9.31±3.65; 1.85±1.21, 1.54±0.88,4.27±2.58), and the error number of learning in tiantai No. 1 recipe 6.80 g/kg group was more than that in tiantai No. 1 recipe 20.41 g/kg group. The escape latent period of learning training was smaller than that in the senile dementia group and the safe platform latent period of memory in tiantai No. 1 recipe 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg groups were longer than that in senile dementia group [(18.9±7.5), (19.9±5.9), (33.7±9.3); (91.7±32.0),(101.5±40.9), (43.6±20.7)s], and the safe platform latent period of memory in tiantai No. 1 recipe 6.80 g/kg group was smaller than that in 20.41 g/kg group.CONCLUSION: There was obvious intellectual disturbance in spontaneous Alzheimer disease mice, tiantai No. 1 recipe can remarkably improve their learning and memory impairments, with a relationship of dose-effect.

BACKGROUND:Neuron nitrogen monoxide(NO) is related to synaptic plasticity and is the key transmitter of normal learning and memory.Neuronal nitric oxide synthase(nNOS) is the biological synthetic enzyme of NO in neurons.The reports have been fewer yet on cerebral nNOS activity in Alzheimer disease(AD) patients,especially on changes in positive neural fibers of nNOS in temporal lobe cortex and hippocapmus CA1 region. OBJECTIVE:To observe cerebral nNOS activity in AD patients, especially on changes in positive neural fibers of nNOS in temporal lobe cortex and hippocapmus CA1 region and effects of Tiantai Ⅰ on nNOS activity. DESIGN:A randomized and controlled trial. SETTING:Institute of Collaboration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Shenzhen City. MATERIALS:The experiment was performed in No.2 Grade Animal Experimental Room of Institute of Collaboration of Chinese and Western Medicine,Shenzhen City.A total of 65 Kunming mice were employed in the experiment. METHODS:The experimental animals were bred till 21 months old and the mice with senile dementia were screened from the aged ones according to the international general standards and methods.The experimental animals were randomized into 4 groups,named as senile dementia group,western drug control,group with small dosage of Tiantai Ⅰ and group with large dosage of Tiantai Ⅰ .In addition,a group with normal learning and memory of the senile mice(simply called senile normal group) was designed.There were 13 mice in each group.In western drug control,hydergine 0.6 mg/kg was prescribed; in the groups of small and large dosage of Tiantai Ⅰ ,the dosages were 6.80 g/kg and 20.41 g/kg respectively,continuously for 60 days.In senile normal group and senile dementia group,the bi distilled water of equal dosage was applied for perfusion.The scores of learning and memory were determined by step down test. Slices of brain tissues were prepared with frozen,nNOS activity was displayed by NBT histochemistry method and the analysis was done systematically with auto micrography in quantity. RESULTS:Learning and memory were significantly decreased in mice with senile dementia(P< 0.01),the positive reaction of nNOS was remarkably weaker compared with normal aged mice.It was the first time to discover that the surface densities of nNOS positive neural fibers in temporal lobe cortex and hippocampus CA1 region [(9.48± 2.09),(5.11± 2.74) respectively]were remarkably lower than those of the normal aged mice [(17.75± 3.47),(11.95± 2.00) respectively](P< 0.01). Simultaneously, it was also the first time to discover that normal correlation was apparent between nNOS activity of cortex and hippocampus and the scores of learning and memory.Tiantai Ⅰ could significantly increase the surface densities of nNOS positive neural fibers in cortex and hippocampus in senile dementia mice, of which, the values of the small dosage were (11.57± 2.44) and (8.18± 2.92) respectively and of the large dosage were (12.59± 2.88) and (9.33± 2.18) respectively,(P< 0.01- 0.05). CONCLUSION:The hypo activity of central nNOS in senile dementia mice resulted in significantly decreased positive neural fibers of nNOS in cerebral cortex and hippocampus.The surface densities of nNOS positive neural fibers in temporal lobe cortex and hippocampus CA1 region were significantly related to the scores of learning and memory.Tiantai Ⅰ could remarkably improve the disturbance of learning and memory in spontaneous senile dementia model and enhance its nNOS activity in cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of real-time 3 dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) for measurement of right ventricular function in the repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) compared to cine magnetic resonance imaging (c-MRI).Methods Thirty-seven randomly selected patients with repaired TOF from Jan.2000 to Jun.2007 in Children's Hospital,Fudan University underwent both RT-3DE and c-MRI for the data of right ventricular enddiastolic volume (RVEDV),right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV),right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF),which were compared to evaluate the reproducibility and correlation of two ways on right ventricular function.Results All the patients completed both RT-3DE and c-MRI on the same day.The correlation for RVEDV,RVESV,RVEF measured by 2 methods was high (r =0.933,0.943,0.911,P =0.000,0.000,0.105),and it showed that consistency existed in RVEF,as difference was only (1.2 ± 4.5) ％.Comparison with c-MRI,RVEDV and RVESV measured by RT-3DE was underestimated,in which difference was (-17.4 ± 16.9) mL,(-9.3 ± 10.5) mL.Conclusions RVEF with RT-3DE can be assessed with acceptable accuracy,but it is not so good for RVEDV and RVESV.Further study needs to be performed to make sure the value of RT-3DE on the assessment of right ventricular function in repaired TOF.

Objective To explore the expression of COX-2 and p38MAPK in patients with trauma MODS. Methods Forty MODS patients were evaluated. The levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells COX-2 and p38MAPK in MODS patients and 40 normal controls was detected by enzyme linked immunosor-bent assay (ELISA). RT-PCR was used to measure the COX-2 mRNA and p38MAPK mRNA expression of in PBMCs. ANOV and correlation analysis were used in statistical analysis. Results The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in MODS group were higher than in control group (all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs and the mRNA expression in dead group were higher than in survival group( all P <0.05). The levels of COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs were positively correlated, (r =0.6 147, P<0.01). The expression of COX-2 mRNA, p38MAPK mRNA of PBMCs and APACHE I scoring were positively correlated (r1 =0.5 009, P1 <0.05,r2 =0. 5 316, P2 <0. 05). Conclusions COX-2 and p38MAPK of PBMCs take part in the onset of MODS, and may service as index to judge the prognosis of MODS.

Detergents ; Immunohistochemistry ; instrumentation ; Oxalic Acid ; Potassium Permanganate ; Staining and Labeling ; instrumentation

Objective To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Propolis alcohol-extract (PAE) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute hepatic damage in mice and to explore the possible mechanism.Methods Sixty-three C57BL/6 MT(-/-)mice were equally randomized into 9 groups.The normal control group and the model group received gastric gavage of normal saline (20 mL?kg-1),four PAE groups were given PAE in the dose of 12.5,25,50 and 100 mg?kg-1 respectively,alcohol +APAP group and alcohol control group received 20 %alcohol 20 mL?kg-1 and PAE control group was given PAE in the dose of 100 mg?kg-1 qd,for 4 consective days.Thirty miniutes after last administration,the mice in the normal control group,PAE control group and alcohol control group received saline 10 mL?kg-1,and the mice in other groups received APAP 380 mg?kg-1 to induce acute hepatic injury.The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined,and the liver tissues were collected for histopathological assessment by HE staining under light microscope.The ratio of glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG),and the content of GSH,GSSG and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver homogenate were also measured.Results Compared with the model group,PAE could markedly decrease serum ALT,AST and LDH activity,reduce the MDA level in liver homogenate,and increase hepatic GSH content and the ratio of GSH/GSSG in the liver homogenate.The hepatic histopathological changes in liver were also significantly ameliorated.In PAE control group,GSH content and the ratio of GSH/GSSG were also increased.However,the above indexes remained unchanged in alcohol control group.Conclusion The propolis alcohol-extract can prevent the liver from PAP-induced acute hepatic injury.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics and antibiotics resistance of nosocomial infection caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia after open-heart operation.METHODS The clinical data of 324 patients with microbiologically documented nosocomial infection from Jan 2004 to Dec 2006 were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS There were 34 infected cases caused by S.maltophilia,and accounted for 10.5% of all infections during the same period.All infected patients had serious original heart diseases,and received previous glucocorticoids and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.Thirty patients prolonged mechanical ventilation time for over 2 weeks.Results of susceptibility test showed that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and levofloxacin were the most active antibiotics,followed by ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin.S.maltophilia presented high resistantce to carbopenems and aminoglycoside antibiotics.CONCLUSIONS Nosocomial S.maltophilia infection is associated with the severity of preoperative underlying heart diseases,prolonged mechanical ventilation and longer period of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy,especially carbopenems antibiotics.

Background There are two types of different questionnaires in dry eye diagnosis.But the associations about two questionnaires or questionnaire and clinical examination are still unclear.To effectively quantize the symptoms is helpful for a correct diagnosis of dry eye disease.Objective This survey was to evaluate the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) and Ocular Surface Disease Index(OSDI) questionnaire for the diagnosis of dry eye and investigate the correlation between the clinical examinations and questionnaires. Methods A perspective cohort study was designed.Sixty-six patients were enrolled in this study.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Peking University First Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any ocular examination.SPEED-based and OSDI-based questionnaires were used to score the dry eye symptom and grouped according to severity of complains.Corneal fluorescence staining,tear film breakup time(BUT),Schirmer I test and tear film interferometry were performed in all patients.The correlations between two questionnaires scores and their association with clinical examinations were evaluated.Results The negative correlations were found between the SPEED-based score or OSDI-based score with BUT value(r=0.390,P=0.001 ;r=-0.395,P=0.001 ),but no significant correlations were seen between the SPEED-based score or OSDI-based score with Schirmer test( r=-0.081,P=0.515; r=-0.080,P=0.525)and tear film interferometry score(r=0.158,P=0.204;r=0.219,P=0.077).The BUT was significantly prolonged in mild symptom group compared with serious group(t=2.339,P=0.022),but no significant difference was seen in Schirmer Ⅰ test and tear film interferometry scores using SPEED-based questionnaire ( t =0.404,P =0.687 ; t =- 0.947,P =0.347 ) ; while the positive fluorescence staining rate between two groups was significantly different (x2 =0.164,P =0.685 ).When using OSDI-based questionnaire,significant difference in BUT was seen among mild,moderate and serious symptom groups ( F =11.871,P =0.000 ),and BUT in mild symptom group was delayed in comparison with moderat and serious groups( P=0.000,0.000).No significant differences were found in Schirmer Ⅰ test,tear film interferometry scores and fluorescence staining rate among three groups(F=1.432,P =0.246; F =2.799,P =0.068; x2 =6.026,P =0.050).SPEED score showed a positive correlation with OSDI score ( r =0.697,P =0.000 ). Conclusions Both OSDI and SPEED are effective tools for the evaluation of symptoms of dry eye.The two types of questionnaires are consistent in symptoms evaluation.