There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

Keratorefractive surgery changes the central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal curvature, which could influence the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and non-contact tonometer (NCT) measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP), but not dynamic contour tonometer(DCT). During the procedure of LASIK, there is a transient rise of IOP, which increases the risks of optic nerve damage. Meanwhile, the presence of functioning filtering blebs may affect the choice and outcome of refractive surgery, or even becomes a contraindication of surgery. Steroids are typically used after keratorefractive surgery, which could lead to IOP elevation. Hence it is important to monitor IOP after LASIK and to be aware of inaccurate IOP readings due to corneal flap interface fluid. Treating patients with postoperative elevated IOP after keratorefractive surgery is similar to that for patients with glaucoma. This review will address the issues surrounding the safety, relevant complications and implications of keratorefractive surgeries on glaucoma and relevant diagnostic tests.

0.05).The change of heart rate in 2 groups was greater than that of distilled water respectively(P

Objective To investigate expression of transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) protein in renal tissues,and detect the levels of urinary TGF-?1 and CTGF in rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN).To observe the influence of losartan on expression of the two protein in renal tissue and excretion in urine.Methods Wistar rats were treated by intravenous injection of streptozotocin after right nephrectomy to induce DN rat model.The DN rats were randomly divided into two groups:DN experimental group and losartan treated group.The expression of TGF-?1 and CTGF in renal tissue were determined with immunohistochemical staining,urinary TGF-?1 and CTGF were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) at 6,12 weeks respectively.Results Compared with losartan treated group,urinary protein excretion and the protein expression of TGF-?1 and CTGF significantly increased(P

The cytokines of acute leukemia (AL) patients have certain expression patterns, forming a complex network involved in diagnosis, progression, and prognosis. We collected the serum of different AL patients before and after complete remission (CR) for detection of cytokines by using an antibody chip. The expression patterns of cytokines were determined by using bioinformatics computational analysis. The results showed that there were significant differences in the cytokine expression patterns between AL patients and normal controls, as well as between acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In confirmatory test, ELISA revealed the expression of uPAR in AL. Moreover, the bioinformatic analysis showed that the differentially expressed cytokines among the AL groups were involved in different biological behaviors and were closely related with the development of the disease. It was concluded that the cytokine expression pattern of AL patients is significantly different from that of healthy volunteers. Also, differences of cytokine expression patterns exist between AML and ALL, and between before and after CR in the same subtype of AL, which holds important clinical significance for revealing disease progression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution and drug resistance of acinetobacter isolated from burn wounds.

METHODSThe acinetobacter strains were isolated and identified by routine methods. Based on the recommendation of NCCLS, AmpC enzyme was determined by cefoxiti three-dimensional test, ESBLs by disk diffusion method and bacterial susceptibility by Kirby-Bauer agar diffusion method.

RESULTSAmong the 69 strains of acinetobacter clinically isolated from burn wounds, 52 were baumannii (75.6%). The acinetobacter strains were identified to be highly resistant to 17 kinds of antibiotics. The drug resistance rate of beta-lactamase-producing strains (68.25%) was higher than that of non-beta-lactamase-producing strains (20.33%). The strains isolated in our burn ward exhibited multiple drug resistance which was mainly due to the production of many kinds of beta-lactamases. Among the 38 strains of beta-lactamase-producing acinetobacter, those producing AmpC beta-lactamase (AmpC BLA) accounted for 42.1%.

CONCLUSIONAcinetobacter strain was one of the pathogens in burn wound infection, and its isolation and identification of its drug resistance could be beneficial to the doctors to make right choice of antibiotics.

Acinetobacter ; classification ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Burn Units ; Burns ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo Investigate the differences of sorbitol fermentation related genes and optimize molecular analysis method for distinguishing an epidemic with nonepidemic strains of Vibrio cholerae.

METHODSSequence analysis on four genes of sugar fermentation stimulation protein, periplasmic maltose-binding protein, periplasmic phosphate-binding protein and periplasmic amino acid-binding protein.

RESULTSIn this study, the following data was noticed: for O1 serogroup El Tor biotype V. cholerae, twenty-four epidemic and eight nonepidemic strains were chosen; For O139 serogroup V. cholerae, five epidemic and four nonepidemic strains were chosen. With those genes of sugar fermentation stimulation protein, there were three point mutations. The 106th, 150th, 378th oligonucleotide in epidemic strains were A, A and T, comparing to the nonepidemic strains which were G, G and C. When comparing the protein sequences, epidemic strains had a Threonine at 36th amino acid, whereas nonepidemic strains had an Alanine. The results in O139 serogroup were consistent with those in O1 serogroup El Tor biotype strains. Another two point mutations were found in the genes of periplasmic maltose-binding protein. The 999th, 1003rd oligonucleotides in epidemic strains were A and C, while in nonepidemic which were G and T. For the gene of periplasmic amino acid-binding protein, two point mutations were noticed. The 504th and 690th oligonucleotides in epidemic strains were T and C, but were C and T in nonepidemic. However, no amino acid differences were found in periplasmic maltose-binding protein and periplasmic amino acid-binding protein. For periplasmic amino acid-binding protein gene, there was no difference on oligonucleotide between epidemic and nonepidemic strains.

CONCLUSIONResults suggested that SNPs in these genes might serve as a useful tool to distinguish the epidemic strains from nonepidemic strains. The 36th amino acid mutation of sugar fermentation stimulation protein in epidemic and nonepidemic strains might change the activity of the protein which might be associated with sorbitol fermentation.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Periplasmic Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphate-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sorbitol ; Vibrio cholerae ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the early and mid-term outcome of surgical repair for post-ductal coarctation of the aorta (CoA) under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODSClinical data from 15 patients (11 males, 4 females, mean age 18 +/- 10 years) undergoing surgical repair for post-ductal CoA under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass between January 1999 and December 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 7 isolated cases, 7 cases associated with patent ductus arterious (PDA), 1 case with PDA and ventricular septal defects. Operation was performed under normothermia with partial cross-clamping of descending aorta in 8 cases, compete cross-clamping in 6 cases and temporary shunt in 1 case. Operative techniques adopted prosthetic bypass graft in 9 cases, Gore-Tex patch graft aortoplasty in 4 cases and stenosis resection with end-to-end anastomosis in 2 cases. PDA was ligated at single-stage in 8 cases. Ventricular septal defect was repaired at second stage in 1 case.

RESULTSNo early and late death. Hypertension occurred in 9 cases during early postoperative period but was normalized gradually in 5 cases without medication during follow-up period, from 6 months to 5 years. The arterial blood pressure of lower extremities increased significantly and no hoarseness, paraplegia occurred after operation. No recoarctation and aneurysm formation were found during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSurgical repair of post-ductal CoA under normothermia without cardiopulmonary bypass is safe and effective, which is a procedure of choice for patients with isolated CoA, CoA associated with PDA, or with other intracardiac anomalies that are ready to be repaired at second-stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aortic Coarctation ; surgery ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Temperature ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between GSTM1, GSTT1 and NQO1(C609T) genotypes and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) susceptibility and chromosome abnormalities.

METHODSGSTT1, GSTM1 and NQO1(C609T) genotypes were detected in 52 MDS patients and 241 unrelated controls by PCR or PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThe incidence of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype was significantly increased in MDS patients as compared with controls (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). In individuals with GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype, the odds ratios for MDS risk were elevated to 2.873 (95% CI: 1.491-5.537) and 3.591 (95% CI: 1.717-7.508), respectively. A significantly increased frequency of GSTT(1) null genotype among MDS patients with normal karyotype and increased frequency of GSTM1 null genotype among MDS patients with chromosome abnormalities were found as compared to controls (OR = 5.336, P = 0.005 and P = 0.003, OR = 3.740, respectively). There was no difference in the incidence of NQO1(C609T) genotypes between MDS patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONDetermination of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes may be used as a stratification marker to predicate high-risk individuals for MDS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of paiqian chewing tablet (PQCT) on lead discharging and health in children.

METHODSAdopting self-control and inter-group control method, 94 children with blood lead level exceeding 100 microg/L were randomly divided into the observed group and the control group. The observation period for both groups was 30 days.

RESULTSAt the 20th and 30th day of treatment, the urinary lead output in the observed group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and showed significant difference as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). Besides, the total amount of urinary lead discharging in the observed group was significantly more than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPQCT has markedly lead discharging improvement action with no influence on urinary calcium and zinc excretion. As all the routine indexes of blood and urine ranged within the normal extent, it demonstrated that PQCT was harmless to the health of observed individual.

Child ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; urine ; Lead Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets