Objective To evaluate the effect of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) on the level of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) during endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats.Methods Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table (n =10 each):control group (group C),ALI group,low-dose PHC group (group L-PHC) and high-dose PHC group (group H-PHC).ALI was induced with iv injection of lipopolysaccharide 5.0 mg/kg via the tail vein.In L-PHC and H-PHC groups,PHC 0.6 and 2 mg/kg were injected,respectively,via the tail vein at 1 and 24 h after lipopolysaccharide injection.The rats were sacrificed at 48 h after the initial injection of PHC to measure the lung water content,protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF),and the expression of Ang-1,Tie-2 and phosphorylated Tie-2 in lung tissues.The morphological changes of lung tissues were observed under light microscope and the ultrastructural changes of alveolar epithelial barrier under transmission electron microscope.Results Compared with group C,the lung water content and protein concentrations in BALF were significantly increased,and the expression of Ang-1 and phosphorylated Tie-2 was down-regulated in the other three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group ALI,the lung water content and protein concentrations in BALF were significantly decreased,and the expression of Ang-1 and phosphorylated Tie-2 was up-regulated in H-PHC group (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group L-PHC (P ＞0.05).The damage to lung tissues was significantly reduced in group H-PHC as compared with group ALI.Conclusion PHC can improve the permeability of pulmonary microvascular and reduce injury to alveolar epithelial barrier,thus ameliorating endotoxin-induced ALI in rats,and the effect is dose-related and up-regulation of Ang-1 expression and inhancement of Tie-2 activity are involved in the mechanism.

Objective To study the possible relationships between expression of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)2,9 and the pathogenesis of preeclampsia in which trophoblast invasion is impaired. Methods MMP-2,9 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC)method in 20 normal term placentae and 20 preeclampsia placentae,respectively.In addition, mRNAs for MMP-2,9 were analyzed by real time PCR in both groups.Results The intensities of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunostaining in preeclampsia placentae were significantly declined compared to those of normal term placentae(P

Objective To investigate the condition of exercise, medicine compliance and the rehabilitation of patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) in lower extremity after the surgery, and also to study the influence of self-efficiency and social support to their rehabilitation. Methods The questionnaire survey was performed in 102 patients who had surgical or interventional therapy of arteriosclerosis obliterans in the lower extremity in our hospital, investigated the general information of the patients, their knowledge of postoperative rehabilitation, medicine compliance, exercise condition, general self-efficiency and social support. Results The postoperative time for the patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans was 2 to 22months, the knowledge rate for postoperative rehabilitation was 7.8%-46.1%.The Morisky score for the patients of taking medicine for the treatment of vascular disease was 2.0,and there was only 6 patients(5.9%)with good medicine compliance. There were 22 patients(21.0%) had completed the ambulation training according to the guidelines, and there were 25 patients(24.5%) had completed the Buerger training. The self-efficiency score of the patients was 2.78 ± 0.76, and the gross score of social support was 32.38 ± 7.89. Spearman correlation analysis shows that the Morisky score for the patients of taking medicine for the treatment of vascular disease was in positive correlation with self-efficiency (r=0.289, P=0.003), but in negative correlation with social support (r=–0.286, P=0.006). Conclusions Most of the patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans have poor medicine compliance, and do not do exercise as required by the guidelines. Patients with high self-efficiency demonstrates medicine noncompliance, however the enhancement of social support will help patients improve their medicine compliance.

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Objective To study the effect of a novel injectable scaffold material chitosan- beta-TCP combining bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on repairing bone defect of goat. Methods The model of the studies was 12ram diameter circular hole tibia bone defect of goat. 30 Chinese goats were raudomly divided into 5 groups: blank group: nothing was embeded in bone defect; simple material group: the material embeded in bone defect was chitosan-beta-TCP; PRP group: the material was chitesan-beta-TCP combining PRP; MSCs group: the material was chitosan-beta-TCP combining MSCs; PRP/MSCs group:the material was chitosan-beta-TCP combining MSCs and PRP. At 4,8 weeks after operation, the samples were observed, histological and image analysis were used to evaluate the effect of bone regeneration. Results At 8 weeks, the surface of bone defect zone of PRP/MSCs group were coverd by continuous new bones, like normal bone. Histological slice showed the esteoid at boundary of normal bone of MSCs/PRP group obviously increased compare to other groups at the 4th or 8th week after operation respectively. The new bone tissues of bone defect were punctiform or lamellar new bone tissues, in which the proportion of big lamellar new bone tissue obviously increased. Image analysis showed that the areas of balnk group, simple material group, PRP group, MSCs group, PRP/MSCs group were 8.79±3.63,14.49± 3.72,24.18 ± 5.38,24.42 ± 5.10,31.10 ± 3.49 at 4 weeks and 15.41 ± 4.21,25.36 ± 5.37,30.71 ± 4.39, 33.97 ± 4.45,48.60 ± 5.97 at 8 weeks respectively. The effect of bone regeneration of PRP/MSCs group was better than other groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion The injectable tissue-engineering bone constructed with chitosan-beta-TCP, MSCs and PRP possesses good ability on repairing bone defect.

To explore the effect of different processing methods and conditions of coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix and their change regularity, in order to optimize and establish appropriate drying methods and conditions. After being cleaned, fresh Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs were baked, sun-dried, shade-dried, sun-dried after sulfur-fumigation, dried by quick-lime embedding, freeze-dried, microwave-dried. Finally, 24 groups of samples were obtained after being mashed and passing through the 60-mesh screen. The HPLC-PDA method was adopted to simultaneously determine the content of coumarin compounds. The GC-MS method was used to determine the content of volatile compounds. The principal component analysis (PCA) was made on the standardized analysis results for the 24 groups of samples processed with different drying methods. According to the PCA results, the comprehensive scores of coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs processed with different methods in the order from high to low were that unpeeled and dried by quicklime embedding > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 40 degrees C > peeled and infrared-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 60 degrees C > peeled and dried with hot-air at 40 degrees C > peeled and sun-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 60 degrees C > peeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C > peeled and microwave-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 80 degrees C > unpeeled and sun-dried > unpeeled and dried with sulfur-fumigation > peeled and dried with sulfur-fumigation > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 120 degrees C > unpeeled and freeze-dried > unpeeled and infrared-dried > peeled and dried with hot-air at 120 degrees C > peeled and freeze-dried > peeled and dried by quicklime embedding > unpeeled and dried with hot-air at 80 degrees C > peeled and shade-dried > unpeeled and shade-dried > unpeeled and microwave-dried. According to the findings, different drying processing methods have certain impacts on the content coumarin and volatile compounds in Angelica Dahuricae Radix herbs. The traditional method of drying by quicklime embedding is recommended as the optimum origin processing method of Angelica Dahuricae Radix, which is followed by the method for being peeled and dried with hot-air at 100 degrees C.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Desiccation ; methods ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hot Temperature ; Principal Component Analysis ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo identify the antithrombin (AT) phenotype and gene mutation of a kindred with hereditary antithrombin deficiency.

METHODSPlasma AT activity and AT antigen level of the propositus and his kindred members were determined with chromogenic substrate method and immunoassay, respectively. All the seven exons and intron-exon boundaries of antithrombin gene were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing of amplified PCR products from the propositus.

RESULTSThe propositus AT antigen level was normal but his AT activity was only 65% of normal value suggesting that he had type II AT deficiency. A heterozygous G13830A mutation in exon 6 resulting in Arg393His missense mutation in his AT polypeptide was identified in the propositus. The same phenotype and gene mutation were found in other 3 kindred members.

CONCLUSIONThe type II AT deficiency found in this kindred is caused by heterozygous G13830A mutation in AT gene.

Adult ; Antithrombin III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between the primary mutation at np11778 and the secondary mutations at np9804, np13708, np13730, np15257 in three Chinese pedigrees with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and to detect the effects of the mutations on LHON.

METHODSThirty-seven maternal individuals from three LHON pedigrees and forty-seven normal controls were involved in this study. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing were used to detect the mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

RESULTSAll patients and their maternal relatives had the np11778 mtDNA primary mutation. None had the secondary mutations at np9804, np13708 and np13730 and np15257. DNA sequencing of the PCR fragment revealed six new point mutations at np13759, np13928, np13942, np15301, np15323 and np15326.

CONCLUSIONAll three Chinese pedigrees with LHON had the mtDNA11778 primary mutation. The frequency of mutation at np13759 in Chinese patients with LHON is higher than that in normal Chinese controls. These findings indicate that np13759 is a new secondary mutation of LHON in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; ethnology ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Young Adult

The yeast strain (Y18) was isolated from a soil sample collected from Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica. The strain is a psychrophilic yeast with optimum and maximum growth temperatures of 10 degrees C and 18 degrees C, respectively. Teliospores were formed after 7 d on malt agar, when the germination of teliospores was observed. Both inositol and D-glucuronate were assimilated. Positive results of the DBB (diazonium blue B) color reaction, urease test, and starch formation were observed. The major CoQ is Q(8). All results indicated that Y18 belongs to the genes of Mrakia. The 18S rDNA sequence analyses showed that Y18 is closely related to Mrakia frigida. DNA-DNA relatedness study, and some biochemistry characteristics indicated that Y18 represents a new species for which Mrakia psychrophila sp. nov. is proposed.
Antarctic Regions ; Basidiomycota ; classification ; genetics ; China ; DNA, Fungal ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Soil Microbiology

To study the association between penetration enhancement effect of essential oils and drug properties of traditional Chinese medicines. Through literature research, 34 kinds of essential oils with the penetration enhancement effect were collected. The methods of frequency analysis and variable crosstab were used for intuitive analysis and association analysis. The association between penetration enhancement effect of essential oils and drug properties (four natures, five flavors, channel tropism) were analyzed by a general linear model. According to the findings, the essential oils with penetration enhancement effect were all sourced from acrid traditional Chinese medicines, because their positive drug nature contributed to the enhancement of the penetration effect of essential oil; five flavors had little effect on penetration enhancement (P = 0.6982), but four natures and channel tropism showed significant effects (P = 0.011, 0.077). In conclusion, there were obvious association and regularity between penetration enhancement effect of essential oils and drug properties of traditional Chinese medicine.
Data Mining ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Permeability ; Skin ; metabolism