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 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 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 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 explore the value of CT in the preoperative assessment of resectability of advanced gastric carcinoma.Methods The relation of CT findings and operative data in 93 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed.Results There were 23 cases of fundus and cardia carcinoma,59 cases of carcinoma of gastric corpus,and 11 cases of carcinoma of antrum.All cases showed increased thickness of gastric wall in various degrees,some of the cases showed tumor growth in the gastric wall,ulcer of the mucosa,stricture of gastric cavity and cardia,increased thickness of cardiac wall,and invasion of lower esophagus and perigastric organs.The accuracy of location and definitive diagnosis by CT,compared to gastroscopic biopsy and postoperative pathology,was considerable,and the detecting rate of tumor by CT was 100 %.CT had important reference value in preoperative evaluation of tumor resectability.The excision rate in the predicted operable group was 93.3 %;in the predicted unresectable group,the non-excision rate was 75.0%.Conclusions Preoperative CT diagnosis of gastric carcinoma has important clinical significance.CT provides a high reference value for assessing the resectability of gastric carcinoma,and it is worthy of widespread use.

OBJECTIVE:To study the feasibility of purifying the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi and to optimize the technical conditions and parameters.METHODS:Absorption capacities of four different macroporous resins on pueraria total isoflavones,crataegi total flavonoids and crataegi total triterpenic acid were compared.With adsorption quantity as index,optimization of the technics of purifying the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi with macroporous resins were performed.RESULTS:AB-8resin showed a best adsorbability on the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi,its optimum purification condition was the following,the concentration of the stock solution was0.13g crude drug/ml with a flow rate at0.5ml/min,and its pH value at about3.5(the same as the stock solution);80%ethanol solution was taken as the eluting solvent at an eluting flow rate of2ml/min.The purity coefficient of the purified effective portions was above85%.CONCLUSIONS:AB-8macroporous resin could be used for the purification of the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi,the process is feasible and the reproduction of resin is easy.

Objective To explore the consistency among different indices of abdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica-related morbidity and the best combination of the indices. Methods Six indices of abdominal ultrasonography were selected to investigate schistosomiasis-related morbidity in residents in a village of Hunan Province, and the Kappa coefficients of diagnostic consistency among different indices and Cronbach's alpha coefficients of different combinations of indices were computed. Results The Kappa coefficients of 'liver parenchyma≥gradeⅡ' with 'right midclavicular subcostal' and with 'portal vein diameter' were 0^4131 and 0^4655 respectively, higher than normal level. The degree of their consistency was fair, and others showed poor or almost no consistency. Among the combinations made up of different indices, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the combination made up of 'liver parenchyma≥gradeⅡ', 'right midclavicular subcostal' and 'portal vein diameter' was 0^6566 which was the highest, showing the strongest internal consistency. Conclusion The six indices can not be replaced with each other in assessing schistosomiasis-related morbidity. Before abdominal ultrasonography is used extensively to assess the morbidity, it is necessary to study the diagnostic consistency of these indices and the best combination of the indices.

Objective:To investigate the distribution and evolution of immunocytes in infantile hemangioma(IH).Methods:Fifty-two infantile hemangioma samples were investigate.The distribution of CD3+T cells,CD8+T cells and S-100+dendritic cell(DC) in IH was observed with.Results:CD3+T cell was not found among the earliest IH.In the middle proliferating stage,the number of CD3+T cells increased;But the CD8+T cells were still scare.In the late proliferating stage,there were many CD3+T cells and the number of CD8+T cells also increased.In the early involuting stage,there were still a number of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells around the microvessels.In the middle involuting and involuted stage,only a few of CD3+T cells and CD8+ T cells existed.In the early proliferating stage,there were some DC in IH.During the middle and late proliferating stage,the number of DC increased significantly.Since the early involuting stage,the DCs decreased rapidly and disappeared.Conclusion:The distribution of T cells and its subsets and DC have close relationship with the pathologic evolution of infantile hemangioma.

The attachments of eustachian tube, levator and tensor veli palati muscles on the base of the skull were measured from the skulls of human adults, infants, newborns ad well as monkeys, dogs and rabbits, respectively. Anatomical characteristics of the levator and tensor veli palati muscles that related to eustachian tubal ventilation and skull morphology were analysed. In addition, some head specimens were dissected for contrast. Levator veli palati muscle (LVPM) lies in the posterioinferior of the eustachian tube. The angles between LVPM and median saggital plane and the angles between LVPM and horizontal plane of palate are larger and their ability of raising the eustachian tube is more effective in the adult than in the newborn and animal. From the eustachian tube to the hamulus, tensor veli palati muscle (TVPM) descends almost vertically in the adult, but ventroward in the newborn and animals, which suggested their different actions upon eustachian tube. The skull morphology of the human adult differs from child and animal, which changes the position and function of LVPM and TVPM. In conclusion, eustachian tube was opened by LVPM chiefly in the adult while by TVPM in the newborn and animal. The incidence of otitis media with effusion is higher in the infant as it is the trasitional stage that the action of TVPM had been decreased while that of LVPM would not have been established.