Enzyme histochemistry of neurons in the enteric nerve plexus of guinea pigs were studied with light microscope semi-quantitatively and microphotometer quantitatively. The results showed that the neurons differ greatly in A1P (alkaline phosphatase), AcP (acid phosphatase), 5'-Nase (5'-Nucleotidase), TPPase (thiamine pyrophosphatase), NsE (non specific esterase) and ChAT (choline acetyltransferase). There were disparities to a certain extent in reactions of MAO (monoamine oxidase), AP (aminopeptidase) and AChE (acetylcholinesterase) among different segments of gastrointestinal between submucous and myenteric plexus, but all neurons were positive for the enzymes stated above. The neurons in each ganglion were relatively similar in the enzyme activities. There were about 50-66% neurons in the enteric nerve plexus showing strong reaction of ChAT, which may be cholinergic neurons. There were significant differences in enzymatic activities, except NsE, between submucous plexus and myenteric plexus statistically. Submucous plexus showed stronger reactions of AcP and AP than those of myenteric plexus, while myenteric plexus showed stronger reactions of A1P, 5'-Nase, TPPase, MAO, ChAT than those of submucous plexus. The ganglia of intramural plexus in stomach were not well developed as those of intestine, especially the submucous plexus of stomach, in which there were only few scattered neurons, and they showed weaker enzyme activities than those of intestine. The enteric neurons in duodenum and proximal colon showed strongest activities for most enzymes among different segments of intestine. The above results indicate that the enteric neurons exist remarkable differences in metabolism and functional states.

Microarray technology, used in microorganisms detection with its advantages of rapid detection, high sensitivity, high-throughput and low cost, has been applied in environmental microbial community research widely in past few years. It focuses on investigation of structure, diversity, function, dynamics of microbial populations within complex environmental samples. Furthermore, it also reveals their responses and adaptation to environmental perturbations such as climate change, toxic contaminants. According probe design patterns, several types of microarrays, such as phylogenetic oligonucleotide arrays (POAs), functional gene arrays (FGAs), metagenomic array(MGA) and community genome arrays (CGAs) have been constructed for environmental studies. This review discusses applications of microarrays to environmental microbial populations research along with its potential for screening of specific microorganisms, gene or expression functional gene representing different environmental microbial populations.

Objective An investigation was conducted to assess the chemopreventive effects of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 inhibitor, on a rat colon carcinogenesis model induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH). The results were compared with those of sulindac. Methods Thirty-two 8-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 each):Group A rats were treated with DMH(120 mg/kg wt, single subcutaneous injection) alone and group B rats were treated with saline alone. Group C rats were pre-treated with sulindac (320 mg/kg feedstuff) and group D rats pre-treated with celecoxib (1500 mg/kg feedstuff) for 7 days before DMH initiation. The animals were killed at the end of the experiment (week 5) and the aberrant crypt foci(ACF) and aberrant crypt(AC) of the colonic mucosa were assessed after being stained with methylene blue. Results In group A(DMH only), the average numbers of ACF and AC were 182.4?93.43 and 262.8?197.8 respectively. In group B (saline group) rats, no ACF was found. In group C (sulindac group) rats, the average numbers of ACF and AC were 91.25?48.98 and 139.60?68.52 respectively, both of them were decreased significantly as compared with those in Group A (P

We have reported previously a peculiar type of neurons in the submucous nerve plexus in the intestine of guinea pigs, and named them tentatively the ′paralymphatic neurons′. In order to further study this type of neurons, the immunohistochemical observation for neuron specific enolase (NSE) reactivity of the enteric nerve plexus in guinea pigs was carried out in this investigation. We found that all the neurons in the enteric nerve plexus showed NSE positive reaction. The paralymphatic neurons located closely against to lymphatic vessels in submucous nerve plexus in small intestine and colon also exhibited same NSE positive reaction as other neurons. All the smooth muscle and connective tissue cells were NSE negative. Most of the paralymphatic neurons exhibited typical morphological features of neurons. Although some cells did not show obvious neuronal characters, but they all presented the same positive reactivity. Hence, this study provide another reliable evidence to confirm the exact neuronal nature of the paralymphatic neurons.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the value of K-ras mutation in DNA extracted from the plasma as clinical indicator of colorectal cancer. Methods Point mutation at codon 12 of K-ras gene was assayed by polymerase chain reaction of sequence-specific primers in DNA extracted from the plasma and tumors from 32 patients with colorectal cancer. The mutation was further confirmed by dideoxy-mediated chain-termination method of DNA sequencing. Results Fourteen patients (44%) had a codon 12 K-ras mutation within their primary tumors and identical mutations were found in the plasma DNA of 13 patients (93%). Mutant DNA was not detected in the plasma specimens of 18 patients whose tumors tested negative for K-ras alterations or in 5 healthy control subjects. Conclusion Preliminary results suggest the detection of K-ras mutations in circulating DNA extracted from the plasma specimens may have some clinical uti- lity in the detection of colorectal cancer.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE) is a fatal complication after severe injury of central nervous system. Various cerebrovascular diseases are the common causes of NPE. The mortality of NPE is high. Its pathogenesis involves a variety of factors; however, its exact mechanism remains obscure. This article reviews the advances in pathogenesis and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases complicated with NPE in recent years.

Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Bone Marrow ; drug effects ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Male

Objective To discuss the feasibility on reducing the postoperative pulmonary complications ( PPC) incidence after thoracot-omy on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) though application of incentive spirometry ( IS) . Methods 62 patients with COPD concurrent thoracotomy were divided into control group and observation group,the control group was given routine nebulization,expectoration and other physical treatment;the observation group were given IS besides the conventional treatment. The incidence of PPC,prognosis,and the changes on pulmonary function were compared between these two groups. Results The incidence of PPC and mortality of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group,and the inspiratory capacity( IC) from 3~5 days was significantly higher than that of con-trol group. Conclusion Application of IS can reduce the PPC incidence after thoracotomy on COPD patients,and promote the recovery of pulmonary function.

Objective:To develop an HPLC method for the determination of capsaicine, dihydrocapsaicin, imperatorin and isoim-peratorin in Guanjie Jietong plasters. Methods:A CAPCELL PAK C18 column was used as the chromatographic column, and the flow rate was 0. 8 ml·min-1. The mobile phase A consisted of methanol-acetonitrile(1∶1), the mobile phase B was of 1% phosphoric acid. The detection wavelength was 280 nm and 254 nm, respectively. Results:There was a good linear relationship between the con-centrations and the peak areas within the range of 0. 298-5. 956μg(r=0. 9998) for capsaicine, 0. 152-3. 044μg(r=0. 999 6) for di-hydrocapsaicin, 0. 018-0. 352 μg(r=0. 999 5) for imperatorin and 0. 010-0. 204 μg(r=0. 999 3) for isoimperatorin. The average re-covery was 97. 8%(RSD=1. 02%), 97. 0%(RSD=0. 76%), 96. 6%(RSD=0. 65%) and 98. 1%(RSD=1. 35%), respectively. Conclusion:The method is convenient, accurate, sensitive and repeatable, which can be used in the determination of capsaicine, di-hydrocapsaicin, imperatorin and isoimperatorin in Guanjie Jietong plasters.

This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.MEDLINE, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang database were searched. The study endpoints included clinical total efficacy, peripheral nerve conduction velocity and adverse reactions. The Review Manager software 5.2 was used in the bias and risk assessment as well as efficacy. GRADE profiler software was used to evaluate quality of evidences. The results showed that there were 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1158 patients included. The clinical total efficacy rate of acupuncture treatment was obviously better than the drug control group [RR: 1.38, 95%CI (1.25, 1.53),P < 0.000 01]. The sensory nerve conduction velocity was that for nervus medianus, the acupuncture treatment group was superior to the drug control group [MD = 2.55, 95%CI (1.23, 3.87),P = 0.000 1]; for nervus peroneus communis, the acupuncture treatment group was superior to the drug control group [MD = 3.42, 95%CI (2.56, 4.28),P < 0.000 01]. The motor nerve conduction velocity was that for nervus medianus, the acupuncture treatment group was superior to the drug control group [MD= 4.10, 95%CI (1.01, 7.19),P = 0.009); for the nervus peroneus, the acupuncture treatment group was superior tothe drug control group [MD = 3.09, 95%CI (1.99, 4.19),P < 0.000 01]. The adverse reactions and safety indicators were that no adverse reaction was reported in both studies with no abnormal safety indicator. The quality of evidence showed that the sensory nerve conduction velocity for nervus peroneus communis was moderate; the motor nerve conduction velocities for nervus medianus and nervus peroneus communis were low. While, the clinical efficacy rate and the quality of evidence for sensory nerve conduction velocity of nervus medianus were relatively low. It was concluded that the current clinical evidences were uncertain for the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in diabetic peripheral neuropathy treatment.