A quantitative study on human water contact was carried out in an endemic area of schistosomiasis japonica. The information relating to frequency, duration and intensity of each activities was obtained from 390 persons (93% of all) aged 5-59 and 10 days of each season in 1987 was surveyed by using systematic sampling. Socioeconomic investigation and stool examination were also performed on the same population. It is found that cutting grass and fishing are the most important activities, as well as swimming and bathing. The accumulated index ofexposure is high in spring and summer, low in autumn and rare in winter. The peak contact is 8-12 o'clock in the morning. The reasons of contact are different between males and females. And the peak contact is at teen aged youth. Studies on water contact and socioeconomic factors show that there are more contacts in peasants than in those with other occupations. Rich farmers who has more savings contact less. The contacts seem more frequent in those whose family water supply is from infected water. The stepwise regression analysis shows that the most important factor relating to the infection of schistosomiasis japonica are index B of exposure (accumulation of duration ? intensity). The infected water supply of family and education were two other factors relating to the infection.

Authentications of Chinese herbal medicine have a critical effect in Chinese clinical medicine. DNA molecular marker, as an important component for true or false authentication, is more and more widely used in iden-tification of Chinese medicinal materials. At the same time, many new methods for authentication of Chinese medici-nal materials are continuously emerging. But the systematically comparative analysis of these new methods is lack. The present study taking Lonicera japonica as an example, systematically compared principles, characteristics, ex-periment methods, detection time and the application scope of express sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR), polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR), DNA barcoding and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and put forward corresponding improve-ment opinions. This study can help to screen appropriate approach for rapid authentication of L. japonica and offer demonstrating to other Chinese herbal medicines.

High resolution melting (HRM), based on melting curve analysis, requires not only saturating dyes that fluoresce in the presence of double-stranded DNA, but also higher resolution detection equipment. The melting curve is a novel method for sequence matching, genotyping and mutation scanning. The technology is simple, accurate, rapid, closed-tube, low-cost, and high-throughput, which make it gain more and more applications. This review article presents the basic principles, key factors and both the advantage and limitations of HRM. The potential application is discussed in the study of molecular identity of traditional Chinese medicine.
DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; classification ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nucleic Acid Denaturation

High resolution melting (HRM), based on melting curve analysis, requires not only saturating dyes that fluoresce in the presence of double-stranded DNA, but also higher resolution detection equipment. The melting curve is a novel method for sequence matching, genotyping and mutation scanning. The technology is simple, accurate, rapid, closed-tube, low-cost, and high-throughput, which make it gain more and more applications. This review article presents the basic principles, key factors and both the advantage and limitations of HRM. The potential application is discussed in the study of molecular identity of traditional Chinese medicine.

Background Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is determined to have a neurotrophy effect and promoting effect to the growth of axon.GDNF has been applied in ophthalmology.Research showed that artemin,a new member of GDNF family,has a better function in protection of neuron,but seldom relevant document of distruibution of artemin in retina is found so far.Objective The aim of the present study is to investigate the distribution and expression of artemin in normal rat retinal neuron cells and retinal ganglion cells,and imitate diabetic environment to observe the expression of artemin at the condition of high glucose.Methods Retinal tissue was isolated from clean neonatal SD rats and cultured by expand culture method in DMEM/F12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum.40 mmol/L of glucose was added in medium in the seventh day after culture for 12 hours as experimental group.The expression and location of artemin in retina were tested by real-time PCR and cell immunofluorescence assay.Use of experimental animals followed the Management Regulation of experimental animals of Jiangsu Province.Results Cultured cells showed the typical cell body and processes in the seventh day.Cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) presented the red fluorescence for Thy1.1 antibody,and multiple fluorescence label revealed that RGCs exhibited the green fluorescence for artemin antibody and red fluorescence for Thy1.1 antibody,indicating artemin protein was positively expressed in cultured RGCs.The numbers of positive cells for Thy1.1 antibody was (442±9)/high field in normal culture group and (263±7) /high field in 40mmol/L glucose culture group,showing a significant difference between them (P＜0.05).The expression of artemin mRNA in normal culture group and in 40 mmol/L glucose culture group,was showing a considerably difference between them(P＜0.05).Conclusion Artemin can be expressed in cultured retinal neuron cells and RGCs in rats.High glucose environment down-regulate the expression of artemin.This study proved a new idea for protecting RGCs against damage.

Total elbow arthroplasty was initially used to manage the rheumatoid arthritis of elbow. With the developement of technology in recent decades, the indication of total elbow arthroplasty include the trauma associated unstable joint, traumatic arthritis and distal humerus fractures in elderly. But the high risk of complications, which includes infection, ulnar nerve deficit and tricep insufficiency, is still an unsolved issue. The most widely used approach nowadays is the Bryan-Morrey approach, while some authors also report triceps on approach recently. This article is an overview in approaches and biomechanical researches of total elbow arthroplasy by reviewing the domestic and overseas involved literatures.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Elbow ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Muscles ; physiopathology ; Recovery of Function ; Ulnar Nerve ; injuries

A FatB unigene was obtained from the transcriptome dataset of Lonicera japonica Thunb. Full-length FatB cDNA was cloned from buds of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb. var. chinensis (Wats.) Bak., Lonicera hypoglauca Miq. and Lonicera dasystyla Rehd. using RT-PCR technology, and named as LJFatB, LHFatB, LJCFatB and LDFatB. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed that LJFatB, LJCFatB, LHFatB and LDFatB and Arabidopsis thaliana AtFatB had a closely relationship. Nucleotide sequences and protein secondary structure of LJFatB, LJCFatB, LHFatB and LDFatB are different and their proteins had conserved FatB substrate binding sites and catalytic activity sites. Transcriptive level of LJFatB, LJCFatB, LHFatB and LDFatB in bud was not significantly different. Therefore, LJFatB, LJCFatB, LHFatB and LDFatB could have the same biological function as AtFatB.

Aim: To compare the stability of Endostar~(TM) and endostatin under different temperatures and pH using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis( PAGE) and Western blot and to compare the activity of Endostar kept at 4 ℃ and 37 ℃ by inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation. Methods: Endostar and endostatin expressed by Phicha pastoris were kept at 4 ℃, and 37 ℃ for 96 hours, respectively. The electrophoresis of the samples was detected by reduced and non-reduced PAGE. The results were further confirmed by Western blot with rabbit anti-Endostar polyclonal antibody. The inhibitory effect of Endostar stored at different temperatures on HUVEC was also exam-ined by cell-based assay. Results: Single band at 20 kD was detected in all lanes of SDS-PAGE gel loaded with endostatin and Endostar samples under reducing condition. In acidic native PAGE with three different pH values, endostatin showed a smear characteristic, whereas Endostar showed a unique band in acidic non-continuous native PAGE. Although the smear phenomenon was also observed under two conditions of constant native elec-trophoresis, the major band of Endostar could be detected. Similar electrophoretic behavior was found for endosta-tin and Endostar stored at both 37 ℃ and 4 ℃ . Western blot showed similar results to those by PAGE. Furthermore, Endostar stored at these two temperatures also had identical inhibitory effect on proliferation of HUVEC. Conclusion: Endostar and endostatin exhibit similar thermostability at regular conditions, but Endostar was more stable than endostatin expressed in P. pastoris under acidic condition.

Objective To study the effect of pioglitazone(PIO) on AdipoR1 and cholesterol ester(CE) in foam cells derived from THP-1-derived macrophages.Methods THP-1-derived macrophages were incubated with increasing concentrations of PIO for 24 hours.After co-cultured with low density lipoprotein(LDL),the accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages was measured by fluorescence spectrophotometric method.The lipid peroxide within cells was detected by TBARS method,the foam cells were observed by oil red staining.AdipoR1 levels were determined by Western blot.Results Compared with the ox-LDL group (0 μmol/L),oil red O-positive cells of the PIO protective groups were greatly reduced.TC,CE,MDA of the PIO protective groups were also obviously decreased.TC (53.6 ± 1.2) μg/mg,CE (30.2 ± 3.6) μg/mg,MDA (3.42 ± 0.06) μg/mg of 5 μμ mol/L PIO group were lower than those of 0μmol/L PIO group[(98.2 ± 3.5),(65.5 ± 6.5),(8.50 ± 1.21)] μg/mg (P ＜ 0.05).TC (25.6 ± 1.8) μg/mg,CE (22.5 ± 4.5) μg/mg,MDA (1.90 ± 0.42) μg/mg of 50 μmol/L PIO group.TC (16.8 ± 2.2) μg/mg,CE(5.9 ± 1.4) μg/mg,MDA (0.65 ± 0.05) μg/mg of 100μmol/L PIO group.Concomitantly,PIO significantly increased AdipoR1 protein expresion,AdipoR1 of 5μmol/L PIO group(0.06±0.05) was higher than that of 0μmol/L PIO group(0.03 ±0.07).AdipoR1 of 50μmol/L PIO group(0.11 ±0.07) was higher than that of 5μmol/L PIO group (0.06 ± 0.05).AdipoR1 of 100 μmol/L PIO group (0.40 ± 0.05) was obviously higher than that of 50 μ mol/L PIO group (0.11 ± 0.07).Conclusion PIO inhibited THP-1-derived formation by up-regulation the expression of AdipoR1,which may play an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Objective To determine normal reference ranges for venous blood count among children aging from 1 year old to 12 years old.Methods These normal reference ranges were defined in a population of 526 healthy children who had no blood system diseases,allergic diseases,respiratory system diseases,urinary system diseases,digestive system disease,rheumatoid disease,thyroid disease,parasitic infections,malignancies and genetic disease,etc.Values of white blood cell count (WBC),red blood cell count (RBC),hemoglobin (Hb)concentration,red blood cell specific volume (Hct),mean corpusular volume(MCV),mean cell hemoglo-bin (MCH),mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCHC),platelet (PLT),percentage of neutrophil (NE%),percentage of lymphocyte (LY%),percentage of mononuclear cells (MO%),percentage of acidophilic granulocyte (EOS%).Statistical analysis was done on various parameters that we recorded,and then for every parameter,we could get the various reference ranges for different age groups.Results The subjects were divided into 4 groups based on age.Besides the parameters of WBC count and classification of WBC,the rest of parameters were proved to be of no statistical difference between 4 groups..After an integration of the values,we could get the results as follows:RBC(4.02-5.2)×10 1 2/L,HGB 108-144 g/L,Hct 35.2%-40.4%,MCV 74.6-89.9 fL,MCH 20.9-34.7 pg,MCHC 332- 340 g/L,PLT(157 - 409 )× 10 9/L.WBC count did not have statistical difference between the age group 6-<9 and 9-12,but did have between the rest groups.After an integration of the values of WBC count,it could be conclu-ded that WBC count of age group1-<3 was(4.88-13.38)×10 9/L,that of age group 3-<6 was(4.26-1 1.6)×10 9/L and that of age group 6-12 was (4.24-10.24)×10 9/L.WBC classification results were various in different age groups.The values showed as follows:age group 1-<3 NE:29%-32%,LY:58%-61%;age group 3 -<6 NE:43%-46%,LY:43%-46%;age group 6-<9NE:49%-52%,LY:38%-40%;age group 9 to 12NE:5 1% - 58%,LY:33% - 39%.Conclusion WBC classification re-sults and WBC count do have statistical difference in different age groups.Besides the parameters of WBC count and classification of WBC,the rest of parameters are proved to be of no statistically difference in different age groups.The values of WBC count decrea-ses as the age increases.From WBC classification results,the most apparent fact is that the percentage of neutrophil increases as the age increases but the percentage of lymphocyte is just the contrary.As mentioned above,we suggest that we should establish a spe-cific whole blood count normal reference range for each age group during our laboratory testing work.