AIM:To establish a simple RP-HPLC method for determining levodopa in Mucuna pruriens var.utilis,and study the levodopa content in different parts of Mucuna pruriens var.utilis and in various growth periods two cultispecies(white flower and purpleflower). METHODS: A RP-HPLC method was used for the determination of levodopa on a Polaris RP-C18(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m) column.The mobile phase was methanol-potassium dihydrogne phosphate(10∶90,pH3.38)for seed,flower,leaf,stem and root,and methanol-potassium dihydrogne phosphate(5∶95,pH3.17)for pod.The detection wavelength was at 280 nm,and flow rate was 1 mL/min. RESULTS: The levodopa content in seed and white-flower cultispecies were higher.In the growth periods,the levodopa content was higher in the sample collected when the pod matured and became dry. CONCLUSION: White-flower cultispecies of M.pruriens var.utilis is the good cultispecies.matured and dry pod is the optimal harvesting time for this herbal medicine.

Objective To analyze the independent factors affecting the prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients undergoing radical operation.Methods The clinical characteristics and follow up data of the 97 patients with GIST underwent radical opsration from January,2001 to January,2003 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods.Results In the univariate analysis of the 97 cases,gender,tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count,and Gleevec administration postoperatively were found to be related to the prognosis of GIST.Multivariate Cox model analysis showed that tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count,and Gleevec administration postoperatively were independent prognostic factors for patients with GIST.Conclusions Tumor location,tumor size,tumor cell type,necrosis,mitotic count are important prognostic factors for patients with GIST undergoing radical operation.

Objective To obtain the optimal extraction process of Prunella vulgaris L.Methods With the dependent variables of ethanol concentration,reflux time and solvent fold,and dependent variable of the amount of baicalin,Central Composite Design/Response Surface Method was applied to optimize the reflux extraction process.Predictions were carried out by comparing the observed and predicted values.Results The optimum conditions of extraction process were 45% ethanol,2 hours for reflux,4 fold sovent.Regression coefficients of binomial fitting complex model was 0.9759.Bias between observed values and predicted values was-3.86%.Conclusion The optimum model is simple,precise and highly predictive.

Objective To research the clinical value of serum thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) in screening thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy.Methods The concentration of serum TPOAb and TSH(thyroid-stimulating hormone) was detected by MEIA and CMIA in 75 cases of pregnant women with thyroid disfunction,and 145 cases of pregnant women without tyhroid dysfunction (as control group).Results There were significant differences in both TSH and TPOAb levels between pregnant women with and without thyroid dysfunction(P0.05). So the normal serum TSH could not completely exclude the thyroid dysfunction in pregnant women.Conclusion TPOAb can be used as a prenatal screening marker for early diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy. From the diagnostic point, TSH can not completely substitute for TPOAb and the abnormal TPOAb can indicate the possibility and risk for autoimmune thyroid disease in pregnant women.

Objective To observe the effect of Shenfu injection on intestinal function in rats with sepsis. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation, sepsis model, low and high concentration Shenfu injection groups, each groupn = 10. The sepsis model was replicated by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), while the rate in sham operation group just underwent abdominal incision without CLP. Ten minutes after CLP, the low and high dose Shenfu injection groups were given 5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg Shenfu intravenous injection via a tail vein respectively. The rats in the model group were treated by intravenous injection of 10 mL/kg normal saline through a tail vein in 10 minutes after CLP. Twelve hours later, the rats were sacrificed. The levels of Ghrelin, Gastrin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high mobility group B1 protein (HMGB1), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of protein of Ghrelin and gastrin receptor (GHSR) were detected by Western Blot. Under light microscope, the histopathological changes in intestinal mucosa were investigated, and Chiu score was determined, and the apoptosis index (AI) of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL).Results Compared with sham operation group, in model group, the levels of Ghrelin and Gastrin in serum were significantly decreased [Ghrelin (ng/L): 121.23±3.53 vs. 146.28±5.43, Gastrin (ng/L): 81.78±3.27 vs 102.78±4.07], the serum levels of TNF-α and HMGB1 were markedly increased [TNF-α (mg/L): 93.71±3.66 vs. 11.69±1.44, HMGB1 (mg/L): 76.25±4.12 vs. 22.41±3.08], the DAO activity and protein expressions of Ghrelin and GHSR of intestinal tissue were obviously decreased [DAO (U/mL): 14.64 ±0.68 vs. 25.13±1.98, Ghrelin (grey value): 0.12±0.02 vs. 0.23±0.04, GHSR (grey value): 0.18±0.02 vs. 0.32±0.03], the MPO activity in intestinal tissue, Chiu score of intestinal mucosa and AI of ileum mucosal epithelial cells were remarkably increased [MPO (mg/L): 175.98±6.95 vs. 45.64±4.48, Chiu score: 3.90±0.52 vs. 0.30±0.30, AI: 29.31±1.65 vs. 5.45±1.35, allP < 0.01]. Compared with model group, in low and high Shenfu injection groups, the levels of Ghrelin in serum and protein expressions of Ghrelin and GHSR in intestinal tissues were significantly increased (P < 0.05 orP < 0.01), the activity of DAO of intestinal tissues, the Chiu score and AI were significantly decreased, the degrees of changes being more significant in high Shenfu injection group than those in low Shenfu injection group [Ghrelin (ng/L): 143.54±3.89 vs. 136.58±4.91, TNF-α (mg/L): 75.13±4.69 vs. 83.70±4.40, HMGB1 (mg/L): 57.47±4.53 vs. 65.41±4.63, protein expression of Ghrelin (grey value): 0.18±0.03 vs. 0.15±0.03, protein expression of GHSR (grey value): 0.28±0.03 vs. 0.23±0.03, MPO (mg/L): 154.05±5.75 vs. 162.64 ±5.73, DAO (kU/L): 19.70±1.51 vs. 16.67±0.92, Chiu score: 2.30±0.52 vs. 3.20±0.48, AI: 20.38±1.34 vs. 26.40±1.32, allP < 0.05]. The levels of serum Gastrin in low and high Shenfu injection group were higher than those in model group, but no statistically significant differences were found (83.59±3.24, 86.54±5.93 vs. 81.78±3.27, bothP > 0.05). Under light microscope, the pathological changes were seen as follows: destruction and obvious edema of intestinal mucosal villi, ulcer formation, significant perivascular hemorrhage, presence of neutrophil infiltration and fracture of basement membrane in model group, while in low and high Shenfu groups, the intestinal villi had little defect, focal necrosis, small amounts of hemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration. Conclusions Shenfu injection can significantly improve the abnormal expressions of serum Ghrelin, reduce the levels of serum TNF-α and HMGB1, lowered MPO activity and enhance DAO activity in intestinal tissue, alleviate pathological changes in ileum mucosa, and decrease AI of ileum mucosal epithelial cells in rats with sepsis. And the degree of therapeutic effect is proportional to the Shenfu injection dose.

Objective To detect the plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) of children with congenital heart disease(CHD) prior to heart surgery,to analysize its sensitivity,specificity and Youden index by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve,to explore the cut-off values of plasma NTProBNP for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure(CHF) in children under 5 years old before and after age stratification.Method The plasma NT-proBNP was detected for 100 children with CHD prior to heart surgery (experimental group) and 100 normal children(control group) between January 2011 to January 2013.Age stratification(0 ～ 1 year group,～3 years group and ～ 5 year group) was conducted in children with CHF younger than 5 years old to explore the cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP for the diagnosis of CHF.Results The NT-proBNP of 34 patients with CHF(n =100) was in accordance to Ross criteria The cut-off values were 502 ng/ L before age stratification,and they were 552 ng/L,449 ng/L,349 ng/L after age stratification for 0 ～ 1 year group,～ 3 years group and ～ 5 group.Conclusion The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP for CHF were 552 ng/L、449 ng/L、349 ng/L for 0 ～ 1 year group,～ 3 years group and ～ 5 year group.

Objective To investigate the diagnositic value of uhrasonography in fetuses with persistent right umbilical vein.Methods Three cases of persistent right umbilical vein diagnosed in our hospital were analyzed,including the sonographic findings and clinical outcome.Results In all cases the fetal gallbladder was located between the intraabdominal umbilical vein and the stomach,the umbilical vein was connected to the right portal vein,and the portal vein curved toward the stomach.Other intracranial malformations were detected in one case,and the baby died after birth.No addional malformations were found in the other two babies,and both of them were healthy at the age of 6 months.Conclusions Persistent right umbilical vein has typical prenatal sonographic appearances.The neonatal prognosis is favorable when other anomalies are ruled out.It's clinically important for early diagnosis and genetics consultation.

Objective To investigate the afflication of non-humidified low flow nasal oxygen inhalation in the ICU patients. Methods Four hundred patients hospitalized in ICU and needing continuous low-flow oxygen inhalation for more than 24 h were randomly divided into experiment group and control group equally.The experiment group were managed with dried humidification bottle oxygen inhalation and the control group conventional humidified bottle oxygen inhalation.The two groups were compared in terms of 24 h respiratory reactions,bacterial contamination of the humidified bottle,complaints of patients about oxygen inhalation noises and time for nurses to change the humidified bottles.Results The two groups had no significant difference in adverse symptoms(all P>0.05).The rate of bacterial contamination in the experimental group was significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05),the noises were lower and the time for changing the bottle shorter(P<0.05).Conclusion Non-humidified low flow nasal oxygen inhalation in ICU patients is good for reducing the rate of bacterial contamination of humidified bottle and lowering workload and oxygen-inhaling noises.

Objective To analyze the gene abnormality and liver pathology in Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) in a child. Method The clinical data of one child with SDS were analyzed retrospectively. Result A male patient was 1 month old at onset with neutrophil decrease as the first manifestation, accompanied by anemia, elevated transaminase and repeated infection. Exocrine pancreatic dysfunction was atypical. Pathological examination of liver biopsy showed slight damage of liver cells under light microscope. The blood samples of child and parents were collected, and homozygous mutations of SBDS (NM_016038.2) Intron2 c.258+2T>C p.? were detected by two generation gene sequencing. And these mutations were from both his parents. Conclusion Gene testing is helpful in diagnosing SDS and we suggest that liver biopsy should be performed if condition allows.