Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Guanidines ; analysis ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Threshold Limit Values ; Workplace

OBJECTIVE: To analyze 113 patients with drug-induced liver disease(DILD) so as to clinically validate the international generally-accepted diagnostic criteria.METHODS: 113 DILD cases were reviewed and categorized according to international generally-accepted diagnostic criteria and then graded separately by Maria clinical scale and DDW-J scale to analyze the correlations.RESULTS: 113 out of 822 patients with liver diseases were DILD(13.7%),among whom 17 were of hepatocellular type(15.0%),92 cholestasis type(81.5%) and 4 mixed type(3.5%).Application of Maria clinical scale and DDW-J scale led to different number of DILD cases diagnosed.DILD were mostly induced by antihyperlipidemic drugs and immunosuppressants followed by anticoagulant drugs.CONCLUSION: DDW-J scale,which is more close to clinical diagnostic criteria,contributed to the standardization of the diagnostic criteria of DILD,yet it has its limitations as well.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution features of Chinese medical constitutions in different ages population, thus providing scientific evidence of constitution process theory.

METHODSRecruited were 21 948 cases from a survey of Chinese medical constitutions and health conditions in 9 provinces or municipalities across China (including Jiangsu, Anhui, Gansu, Qinghai, Fujian, Beijing, Jilin, Jiangxi, and Henan) from Dec 2005 to Jan 2007. The body constitution type of individual was diagnosed using discriminant analysis on the basis of Chinese medical constitution questionnaire. By using correspondence analysis, the correlation between the general population, genders, ages, and Chinese medical constitution types was studied.

RESULTSConstitutions of yin-deficiency type, wetness-heat type, qi-depression type, and special diathesis type often occurred in the population ranging 15 -24 years old. Gentleness type mostly occurred in the population ranging 25 -44 years old. During this time period, phlegm-wetness type and wetness-heat type were liable to occur in males, while blood-stasis type was liable to occur in females. Qi-deficiency type and yang-deficiency type were most often seen in those older than 45 years. Phlegm-wetness type and blood-stasis type body constitution were also liable to occur in those older than 45 years.

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution features were different in different Chinese medical constitutions. Different constitution types exist in different genders. Different constitution types exist different ages population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Constitution ; China ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Qingzhen Decoction (QZD) on measles.

METHODSAdopting the randomizing digital table, 62 patients with measles were assigned to two groups, 32 in the treated group and 30 in the control group. All patients were treated with routine therapy, but QZD was given to the treated group additionally for 5 days. Changes of clinical symptoms, blood routine and liver function before and after treatment were observed, and the medical cost was calculated.

RESULTSAfter the 5-day treatment, the normalization rate of irritative cough in the treated and the control group was 88.9% (24/27) and 56.0% (14/25) respectively, that of conjunctival congestion was 90.0% (27/30) and 65.5% (19/29) respectively, showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). The liver function normalization rate in the two groups was 28.6% (2/7) and 25.0% (2/8), and the average medical cost yen 740.7 and yen 749.3, respectively. The total effective rate in the two groups was 96.9% and 93.3% respectively, showing insignificant difference between groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONQZD could actively improve the respiratory symptoms like irritative cough and the inflammatory symptoms of eye like conjunctival congestion in patients with measles.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Measles ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

The study is aimed to explore a rapid method to extract DNA from fried Chinese medicinal products. The alkaline lysis buffer was made of sodium hydroxide, 1% PVP and 1% TritonX-100 and Tris-HCl solution was neutralized, through heat cracking and neutralization two step to extract DNA from processed and prepared products of traditional Chinese medicine. Then universal primes were used to amplify PCR products for fired Chinese medicinal materials. The results indicated the optimized alkaline lysis method for extracting DNA is quick and easy. Extracting of the different processed Sophora japonica of DNA concentration was (420.61 ± 123.91) g x L(-1). Using 5% Chelex-100 resin purification can improve the DNA concentration. Our results showed that the optimized alkaline lysis method is suitable for Chinese medicinal materials for quickly DNA extraction.
Alkalies ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hydrolysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sophora ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on the alloxan-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, ursolic acid group (UA, 35 mg/kg, p.o.) and benazepril group (5 mg/kg, p. o.), and continuous administrated for 8 weeks. The blood glucose was measured 24 hours after the last administration. Detected the specific biochemical of myocardial tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline(HYP). Using masson staining to observe the morphology of the myocardial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-beta1.

RESULTSCompared to normal group, the blood glucose, heart index, myocardial tissue MDA, HYP level were increased, and SOD activities were decreased in the diabetic mice, Masson stain showed that myocardial cells disarranged, myocardial collagen fibrosis hyperplasia. Meanwhile, the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was increased in model group. The UA group improved all the above significantly.

CONCLUSIONUA improves the myocardial collagen fibrosis in diabetic mice induced by alloxan, its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and antioxidation.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective To detect and analyze the mutation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3(FGFR3) gene among a family with congenital achondroplasia(ACH).Methods Six blood samples of family member in this pedigree were cellected according to the informed consent process for genetic research,and 2 unralted healthy human blood sample were taken as controls.The mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 on FGFR3 gene was detected by using Polymerase chain reaction and single-strand conformation polymorphism(PCR-SSCP)and polyme-rase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease technology(PCR-RFLP) methods.Results Using PCR-SSCP method firstly,only the proband with ACH and his father in this family had the same abnormal band.The amplified products including 1 138 loci on FGFR3 gene further was analyzed by Sfe Ⅰ digestion,3 fragments including 164 bp,109 bp and 55 bp were detected in the proband and his father again,and the other members in the family and 2 controls just showed 164 bp band.It indicated that just 2 patients (proband and his father) showed heterozygous G→A transition mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 on the FGFR3 gene.The amplified products at 1 138 loci was also detected by MspⅠ digestion,just 1 band was observed in all members in this family and 2 controls.It showed that there was no G→C substitution at nucleotide position 1 138.Conclusions The G→A transition mutation at nucleotide position 1 138 in transmembrane domain of FGFR3 gene may be the main cause of achondroplasia in this family.In this pedigree,the proband showed's father a de novo mutation which was transferred to his child again.

Objective To study the effects of iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism on protein expression of extracellular signal-regulate kinase(ERK1/2) in the cerebellum of rots. Methods Twenty-eight healthy Wistar rots, female, 60 days old, were randomly divided according to their body weight into control group, iodine deficient group and hypothyroidism groups. Hypothyroidism groups in accordance with drinking water containing propylthiouracil(PTU) were divided into doses of 5 mg/L and 15 mg/L groups, 7 rats in each group. Rats after pregnancy, iodine deficient rats were administered with iodine-deficient diet and hypothyroid rats were administered with PTU in drinking water. Pup's cerebellum in each group were weighed on day 14,21,28 and 42. Cerebellum tissue was observed for cerebellar morphology using silver staining and detected for ERK1/2 protein using immunohistochemistry on day 7,14,21,28 and 42. Results On day 14,21,28 and 42, cerebellum weight of pups from iodine-deficient[(0.0945±0.0233), (0.1347±0.0046), (0.1542±0.0094), (0.1949±0.0048)g]were significantly lighter than control[(0.1856±0.0123), (0.2049±0.0098), (0.2268±0.0065), (0.2606±0.0086)g, all P < 0.05]and hypothyroidism groups [for 5 mg/L group: (0.1741±0.0172), (0.1927±0.0103), (0.2181±0.0064), (0.2583±0.0054)g, all P<0.05; for 15 mg/L group: (0.1604±0.0083), (0.1682±0.0103), (0.1996±0.0073) and (0.2579±0.0067)g, all P< 0.05]the difference had statistical significance(F=6.325,8.870, 16.191 and 21.574, all P<0.05). Compared to the controls on day 7, iodine-deficient group didn't have clear layers; on day 21, disappearance of external granule cells from iodine-deficient and 15 mg/L groups was delayed, still two or three layer external granule cells remained; on day 28 and 42, molecular layer from 5, 15 mg/L and iodine-deficient groups and became thinner. Immunohistochemistry showed that on day 7, there was no statistical difference of integrated optical density average of ERK1/2, in all the groups(F=1.102, P>0.05); on day 14,21,28 and 42, integrated optical density average of ERK1/2 in iodine-deficient group[(7.3245±0.5070), (8.3606±1.0683), (9.1217±1.0402), (12.1587±0.7581), all P<0.01]and hypothyroidism groups [for 5 mg/L group: (11.4307±1.5200), (14.919±0.8497), (16.0082±1.1130), (15.7721±0.8293), all P< 0.01; for 15 mg/L group: (7.8538±0.9775), (11.2461±0.8138),(12.78±1.3783), (13.0871±1.1450), all P < 0.01]was significantly lower than those of controls [(16.2831±0.5143), (20.2653±0.9551), (22.7485±1.0267), (22.1725±0.9939), all P < 0.01], the difference having a statistical signifieance(F=16.131,13.543,26.953,41.583, all P<0.01). Conclusions Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism during critical periods of brain development may change eerebellar morphology and down regulate the protein expression of ERK1/2, which may result in damage of cerebellum development.

Objective To observe the long term effects of arthroscopic knee debridement and reconstructing operation for treating osteoarthritis in patients with Kaschin-Beck disease. Methods Thirty-one cases of patients with Kaschin-Beck disease were followed for 6 years after operation of articular clearing by arthroscope. Index of pain, symptoms of self-evaluation, range of motion, walking distance, standing test by affected leg when bending at 30° or 60° were recorded and compared with the preoperative results. Results Twenty-four cases were followed up for 6 years. Six years after operation the pain index(3.38 ± 2.87) was dramatically decreased compared to that before operation (6.88 ± 1.45, t = 5.30, P ＜ 0.05). Patients symptoms markedly improved by subjective self-evaluation was 70.83% (17/24), the effective rate was 100% (24/24). The number of cases that could stand up when leg bending at 30° or 60° were 21,18 cases, respectively, compared with that of preoperative of 14, 11 cases, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(x2 = 5.17,4.27, all P ＜ 0.05). Six years after operation the walking distance(3 cases ＜ 1 km, 11 cases 1 - 5 km and 10 cases ＞ 5 km) were greatly improved compared to the results before operation (12 cases ＜ 1 km, 9 cases 1 - 5 km and 3 cases ＞ 5 km, U = 2.88, P ＜0.05). Six years after operation the knee activity[(132.25 ± 14.52)°] remained at the same level, compared with that of preoperative [(131 .58 ± 14.68) °], the difference was not statistically significant (t = 0.16, P ＞ 0.05) .Conclusions The method of arthroscopic joint debridement to cure Kaschin-Beck disease knee osteoarthritis can significantly reduce pain, improve function and walking distance, with more stable long-term satisfactory outcome.