Objective To explore the peripheral blood circulating microRNA expression profile of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients by using microRNA array. Methods The whole blood of 3 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 3 patients with cerebral hemorrhage and 3 healthy volunteers were collected for whole blood RNA through Norgen exosome isolation kit, and then underwent quality and density measurement through PCR. The miRNAs expression profile was studied through μParaflorTM microRNA. All the data were analyzed by associated software and statistics methods. Results 8 miRNAs associated with cerebral stroke in ischemia stroke patients and cerebral hemorrhage patients were discovered, and showed significant difference (P<0.05). 11 differential expression miRNAs were found between ischemia stroke patients and control group, and 24 were found between hemorrhage patients and control group. However, after up-regulation, no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). Conclusions Different expression profiles of miRNA between ischemic stroke patients and hemorrhagic stroke patients may provide insights into their roles in the pathogenesis and progression of stroke. The study of miRNA can contributes to elucidate the epigenetics molecular mechanism of acute stroke.

AIMTo establish a comprehensive HPLC analytical method of Huanglianjiedu decoction.

METHODSThis study was performed by HPLC-UV/MS to identify the chemical constituents of the whole and individual herbs of the "Huanglianjiedu decoction". Zorbax Extend C18 (150 mm x 4. 6 mm ID, 5 microm) column was used; the mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile (A) and water (B, with 0.5% acetic acid) with gradient elution; the flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was setup at 25 degrees C. The detection wavelength was 254 nm.

RESULTSThe chromatogram of Huanglianjiedu decoction showed 21 main peaks. Peaks 1, 2, 5 and 18 were from Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Peaks 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. While 10 from Coptis chinensis Franch and 20 from Phellodendron amurense Rupr., Peaks 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 12 came from them together. Peak 7 presented in the chromatograms of the herbs except Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. By comparison of the retention time, the on-line UV spectra and MS spectra, 11 peaks were identified as 5 (geniposide), 9 (jatrorrhizine), 10 (coptisine), 11 (palmatine), 12 (berberine), 13 (baicalin), 15 (oroxin A), 17 (wogonoside), 19 (baicalein), 20 (obaculactone), 21 (wogonin), then eight of them were quantified by HPLC-UV.

CONCLUSIONThe method could represent the characteristics of Huanglianjiedu decoction, and it could be used to evaluate the quality and quantity of Huanglianjiedu decoction. It distinguished between Coptis chinensis Franch and Phellodendron amurense Rupr. by HPLC for the first time.

Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Phellodendron ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; methods

Objective: To find out the pathomechanism of low back and leg pain related to intervertebral disc. Methods: The nucleus pulposus of coccygeal vertebral was transplanted to the cavum epidurale of rats to establish the non-compressive model with transplanted nucleus pulposus. The evoke potentials and morphology of nerve roots were observed. Results: Even without mechanical compression, rats transplanted with nucleus pulposus resulted in significant harm to evoked potential and morphology of cauda equina. Conclusion: The biomechanical and/or immunologic inflammatory effect of nucleus pulposus can result in nerve roots injury and is an important factor in the pathogenesis of low back and leg pain.

For expressing the condolences on the passing away of Dr. Hsiang-Tung Chang, one of the distinguished members of the Chinese Academia of Sciences, the pioneer studies on cortical dendritic potentials that Dr. Chang carried out in the 1950s and the prosperous progresses since then, especially, concerning the modifications of synaptic plasticity by the dendritic back-propagating action potentials were briefly reviewed.
Action Potentials ; Dendrites ; physiology ; Humans ; Neuronal Plasticity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast induced by dexamethasone.

METHODSOsteoblasts were extracted from skulls in newly born (within 24 hours) SD rats, and digested with collagenase. The first passage of cells were used for experiments. Cells were cultured in the medium containing different concentrations of dexamethasone (0, 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) ,10(-4) mol/L). Alkaline phosphatase staining were carried out after 1 week and numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red staining were observed after 3 weeks. Accordingly, following the treatment of 10(-5) mol/L dexamethasone for 1 week, cells were cultured in the medium with serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text). One week after Cumibao (Chinese character: see text) treatment, cells were stained with Alkaline phosphatase and collagen I and PCNA were examined by Western-blot. However, the observation of numbers of mineralized nodes with alizarin red stain required one more week.

RESULTSHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the expression of PCNA, collagen I, alkaline phosphatase and reduce the number of mineralized nodes of osteoblast, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration of dexamethasone could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells, while serum containing Gumibao (Chinese character: see text) could reverse the inhibition.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; analysis ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the function of a novel biosensor used for the rapid determination of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) which is developed by our research group based on suspended immobilized microbial cell system in a completely mixed determining chamber as a substitute of the traditional membrane system.

METHODSActivated sludge was immobilized by PVA gel and used as a bio-sensing element. The novel biosensor was used to measure the short time BOD value and the conventional cultivation method was used for BOD5 measurement.

RESULTSA linear relationship was observed for the difference between the current and the concentration of glucose-glutamic acid (GGA) solution below 200 mg/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.995. The optimal response of the sensor was obtained at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. The sensor response was within 15 min and was reproducible within +/- 5% of the mean in a series of eight samples containing 75 mg/L BOD using standard GGA solution. The novel sensor response was found to be fairly constant over a period of 30 days, with +/- 5% fluctuations.

CONCLUSIONA relatively good agreement is found between BOD estimated by the novel BOD biosensor and that determined by the conventional 5-day BOD method. This novel BOD biosensor has good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility.

Biosensing Techniques ; Boric Acids ; chemistry ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; analysis ; metabolism ; Polyvinyl Alcohol ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sewage ; microbiology ; Temperature

Adolescent ; Asthma ; therapy ; Child ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Therapy ; methods ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome

Electromagnetic Fields ; Magnetic Fields ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Television

The incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines is related to the clinical medication safety, so has attracted wide attentions from the public. With the deepening of studies on the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines represented by 18 incompatible herbs, the incompatibility of theory traditional Chinese medicines has raised to new heights. From the origin of incompatibility theory of traditional Chinese medicines, relationship of herbs, harms of incompatible herbs and principle of prevention to toxic effects of specific incompatible medicines, the innovation and development of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory was explored. Structurally, the incompatibility of traditional Chinese medicines refers to the opposition of two herbs based on seven emotions and clinical experience. The combination of incompatible herbs may lead to human harms, especially latent harm and inefficacy of intervention medicines. The avoidance of the combination of incompatible herbs and the consideration of both symptoms and drug efficacy are the basic method to prevent adverse reactions. The recent studies have revealed five characteristics of incompatible herbs. Toxicity potentiation, toxication, efficacy reduction and inefficacy are the four manifestations of the incompatible relations. The material changes can reflect the effects of toxicity potentiation and toxication of opposite herbs. The accumulation of toxicity and metabolic changes are the basis for latent harms. The antagonistic effect of main efficacies and the coexistence of positive and negative effects are the distinctive part of the incompatibility. The connotation of incompatible herbs plays an important role in the innovation of the traditional Chinese medicine incompatibility theory.
Drug Incompatibility ; Drug Therapy ; history ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; pharmacology ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo overview the contribution of diabetes in the burden of diseases.

METHODSBased on the data published by MOH, prevalence rate, mortality rate, cause eliminated life year were used to calculate the health burden of disease. Meanwhile, direct economic burden of diseases was presented.

RESULTSAccording the calculation, about 23 million of people suffered from diabetes and 90,000 died from diabetes. The cause eliminated life year attributed to diabetes is different between urban and rural, 0.21 years for urban and 0.08 years for rural. Moreover, the direct economic burden reached 1.071 billion RMB, about 1.88% of national health expenditure at the same period.

CONCLUSIONThe burden of diabetes, based on calculation of both health and economic burden, and will give a heavy pressure to the government and society.

China ; epidemiology ; Cost of Illness ; Diabetes Mellitus ; economics ; mortality ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Survival Rate ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data ; Vital Statistics