To optimize the water extraction process for glycyrrhiza. Methods: HPLC was used to determine the con-tents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin. The comprehensive index included the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and liquiritin and the yield of dry extract. The water amount and the extraction time were selected as the independent variables, and the comprehensive index was set as the dependent variable. Design-expert 8. 06 software was used to fit multivariate linear or quadratic multinomial models for the experimental values. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the water extraction process. The prediction was carried out through comparing the observed and predicted values. Results:The regression coefficient of binomial fitting complex model was as high as 0. 979 7. The optimum conditions of extraction process were as follows:12-fold amount of water, extracting 3 times with 90 min for each time. The deviation between the observed and predicted values was -1. 72%. Conclusion: Central composite design-response surface methodology is convenient and highly predictive in optimizing the water extraction process for glycyrrhiza, which can be applied in the further membrane separation and purification.

Objective To investigate the effects of selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor on the hyperplasia of parathyroid glands from uremic rats. Methods Sixty-five 5/6-nephrectomized (Nx) and fifteen sham operated rats were assigned to 4 groups: (1)Sham group (n=14):shamoperated +normal phosphate diet (P 0.8％,Ca 1.2％)； (2) Nx-HP group (n=17):Nx+high phosphate(HP) diet (P 1.2％,Ca 1.2％)； (3)Prophylactic COX2 inhibition group (Prey group,n=18):Nx+HP+celecoxib 100 mg· kg-1·d-1 for 3 months； (4)Therapeutic group (Ther group,n=18):Nx+HP+celecoxib 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 starting at the second month of the 5/6 nephrectomy.At the end of 3 month,blood,urine and parathyroid samples were collected.The expressions of COX2 and PCNA were determined by immunohistochemistry,Western blotting and real-time PCR. Results All of the Nx rats fed with high phosphate diet for 3 months manifested progressively increasing serum creatinine,serum iPTH as well as augmentation of parathyroid gland volume,suggesting that secondary parathyroid hyperplasia animal model was established successfully.Celecoxib significantly decreased serum iPTH levels [Sham (34.77±0.83),Nx-HP(100.73±4.35),Prey (87.36±2.18),Ther (87.47±1.76) ng/L,P＜0.05],the size of the parathyroid glands in Nx rats [Sham (0.461±0.089),Nx-HP (2.436±0.372),Prey (0.987±0.254),Ther (1.27±0.305) mm2/kg,P＜0.05] and PCNA expression in PG determined by Western blotting (decreased to 52.91％ in Prev group and 34.68％ in Ther group respectively,P＜0.05).No significant difference was observed between the two COX2 inhibition groups.The levels of COX2 expression in parathyroid gland were greatly increased in three Nx groups compared with that in sham group (2.47-fold in Nx-HP,2.34-fold in Prey group,3.04-fold in Ther group,P＜0.05).COX2 inhibitor had no effects on COX2 expression in PGs.Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated the same trends of mRNA expression of COX2 and PCNA in PGs of rats. Conclusion Selective inhibition of COX2 may help to suppress the hyperplasia of parathyroid glands in uremic rats.

The distal tibial epiphyseal fractures is a common type of fracture in adolescents.The distal tibia is adjacent to the ankle joint,where the epiphysis is fragile and easily damaged when the fracture occurs,resulting in ischemic necrosis of the epiphysis and impaired bone growth,and the degree of damage and treatment effect directly influence the shape and function of the ankle joint,seriously affect the prognosis and quality of life of adolescents.Therefore,anatomical reduction should be achieved after injury as much as possible to achieve stable fixation.For stable fractures of the distal tibial epiphysis(such as Salter-Harris type Ⅰ or Ⅱ fractures),the conservative treatment can be used;whereas for unstable fractures,especially Salter-Harris type Ⅲ and Ⅳ fractures with a high risk of displacement,surgical treatment is preferred.However,due to the physiological characteristics of the epiphysis of adolescents,the distal tibia grow and develop differently,the individualized treatment plans should be developed according to the situation of adolescents.3D printing technology combined with imaging technologies including CT and MRI can print complex shapes of geometric structures to meet individual needs,and play an important role in the surgical treatment of distal tibial epiphyseal fractures,especially Salter-Harris type Ⅲ and Ⅳ fractures,which can contribute to formulating individualized surgical plans,improving the success rate of surgery,reducing the incidence of long-term complications,and greatly improving the prognosis of adolescents.Based on the literature reports in the past decade,this paper reviews the research progress of the application of 3D printing technology in the diagnosis and treatment of distal tibial epiphyseal fractures in adolescents.

Serum levels of soluble MHC class I-related chain A (sMICA) are related with the prognosis of various types of cancer; however, few studies on the prognostic value of sMICA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the relationship between sMICA levels and clinical features of advanced HCC, and we assessed the prognostic value of sMICA in advanced HCC. Furthermore, the relationship of serum sMICA levels and natural killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) expression on natural killer (NK) cells was also evaluated. We detected sMICA levels in the serum of 60 advanced HCC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and measured expression levels of NKG2D on NK cells using flow cytometry. We found that serum sMICA levels in HCC patients were in the range of 0.10-6.21 ng/mL. Chi-square analyses showed that sMICA level was significantly related with only tumor size. Survival analysis showed that a high sMICA level was significantly related with poor prognosis among HCC patients. Multivariate analyses indicated that sMICA was an independent prognostic factor. In addition, the levels of CD56+NKG2D+ NK cells were within the range of 11.2%-55.4%, and correlation analyses indicated that sMICA level was negatively correlated with the level of NKG2D+ NK cells. Our results suggest that serum sMICA levels may be an independent prognostic factor for advanced HCC.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo carry out epidemiological study on an outbreak caused by E. coli O157:H7 infection in Jiangsu province in 1999.

METHODSEpidemiological, microbiological and moleculebiological methods were used to find out the source, route of transmission and risk factors.

RESULTS95 severe O157:H7 infected patients with acute renal failure in 9 counties and districts of 2 municipalities were reported in Jiangsu province, 1999 while 83 of the patients died with a death rate of 87.37%. Most patients were seen in mid or late June. The ratio of male to female was 1 to 1.44 and 88.42% of the patients were over 50 years old. 38 patients occurred in 2000 with 34 deaths. Major factors contributing to the outbreak would include without drinking tap water, eating leftover food, poor sanitary status in kitchen, not washing hands before meal and after bowl movement. 2 strain of O157:H7 was isolated from severe patients and 3 from diarrhea cases. Carrier rate among animals was up to 9.62% and 99.41% of the strains carried toxic gene. Strains isolated from feces of patients and animals belonged to the same colonies.

CONCLUSIONThis outbreak was severe which caused by O157:H7 and was first seen in China, which was closely related to the high carrier rate of O157:H7 in animals and to the positive rate of high toxic gene of the strains. There were various routes of transmission and the main factors of infection would include poor personal health habits and poor sanitation of the household.

Acute Kidney Injury ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Escherichia coli Infections ; complications ; epidemiology ; Escherichia coli O157 ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; immunology ; Female ; Hemolysin Proteins ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological and molecular typing features of the pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains isolated in China,using pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE) and standardized PFGE method as well as typing database of Yersinia enterocolitica.

METHODSPFGE analysis was performed as Laboratory Directions for molecular subtyping of Salmonella by PFGE (PulseNet,USA) with some modifications and the results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics soft (Version 4.0, Applied Maths BVBA, Belium).

RESULTS114 O:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 25 patterns to have found that K6GN11C30012 (50 strains), K6GN11C30015(19 strains) and K6GN11C30016(10 strains) were the major patterns. K6GNllC30012 had 92.2% cluster similarity with K6GN11C30009-K6GN11C30023. This clone included 91.23% strains of 114 0:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains. 51 0:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains were typed by 14 patterns; K6GN11C90004 (22 strains) and K6GN11C90010 (13 strains)were the major patterns. K6GN11C90004 had 81.8% cluster similarity with K6GN11C90010 patterns. The major patterns of 0:3 and 0:9 serotypes were quite different.

CONCLUSIONO:3 Yersinia enterocolitica strains might originate from the same clone and had very few variation in different years and provinces but O:9 Yersinia enterocolitica strains from two different clones with some changes.

China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo secreted express envelope glycoprotein (E) of dengue virus type 2 extracellularly.

METHODSThe entire prM/E gene was amplified by RT-PCR. An optimized signal sequence gene from Japanese encephalits virus (JEV, SA14-14-2 strain) was introduced using fusion PCR. The impact of E protein transmembrane and cytoplasmatic domains was compared by amplifying prM and E with full length of E gene, with 20% truncation of the E gene at 3' terminus and one chimeric gene, which was generated by replacing the 3' terminal 20% region of E gene with the corresponding sequence of JEV (SA14-14-2 strain). The PCR segments were inserted into the NheI and NotI sites of pcDNA5/FRT vector or into the NheI and XhoI sites of pAcUW51-M. Then they were transfected into 293T cells or Sf9 cells respectively. The expression and secretion of E protein were detected by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western Blot.

RESULTSAfter transected into 293T cells or Sf9 cells, all constructs expressed E protein intracellularly indentified by IFA while only two plasmids could secret detectable E protein into tissue culture using Western Blot analysis.

CONCLUSIONSignal peptide as well as the transmembrane and cytoplasmatic domains is crucial for the secretion of dengue E protein.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Dengue ; metabolism ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein Transport ; Spodoptera ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemiological characteristics of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 and to determine the degree of its genetic relations.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques and chromosomal DNA digested by restriction enzyme Xba I according to PulseNet directions by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method were applied to 300 E. coli O157 strains isolated from patients and animal sources from 1988 to 2005 from Henan, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.

RESULTSVery high prevalence of stx2 gene in EHEC O157:H7 strains isolated from some provinces of China was found and variation existed in some strains. We got 161 PFGE patterns from 300 strains. The stx2-producing strains could be clearly separated from stx2 variation-producing strains.

CONCLUSIONThe variability of restriction enzyme-digestion patterns of O157 genomes suggested that the presence of some genomic diversity among the strains did exist.

China ; epidemiology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Escherichia coli O157 ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Shiga Toxin 2 ; genetics

Objective: To introduce the construction idea and function for establishing China Cardiovascular Surgery Registry (CCSR)database and to provide a reference for domestic congener databases. Methods: Using peer database as reference, taking current status of cardiovascular surgery registry and hardware in our country with the necessity of international communication, we worked on a variables selection, metadata instruction, logic rules, case report form develpment and finally established a web-based, multi-functional database that enabled cross-database and international merging of data, forming a national intelligent data-exchanging platform for cardiovascular surgery. Results:CCSR database has over 300 variables of multiple topics including basic information, risk factors, medical procedures and endpoint events. Taking clinical and association data exchange standards as reference, it may conduct cross-discipline data connection, record important peri-operative information in relevant patients and meanwhile, it has the functions of automatic logic check, data report, statistical study, data export and importing the electronic medical records. Conclusion:CCSR database is a national platform accord with current status of Chinese cardiovascular surgery and characteristics, meanwhile it gives consideration to international communication and data exchange; which may play a important role in improving medical care and clinical investigation.

BACKGROUNDMeningioma is one of the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system, but there are not many detailed studies on the sex, age, subtypes and locations of large series. This study was a retrospective analysis of the characteristics of meningioma cases consecutively operated on at a single institution in China from 2001 to 2010.

METHODSThis study investigated the demographic background of 7084 meningioma cases, and the subtypes and locations of the tumors. Sex and age distributions were analyzed, and the pathological subtypes were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The location of the meningiomas was also categorized.

RESULTSThe female:male ratio of the 7084 cases was 2.34:1. The mean age was 51.4 years (range, 11 months-86 years). The mean age of cases of WHO grade I meningioma was significantly older than that of grade II or III meningiomas (P < 0.001, Fisher's Least Significant Digit test). There was a significantly higher female:male ratio in WHO grade I meningiomas than in grade II or grade III meningiomas (2.57, 1.03 and 0.76, respectively; P < 0.001, χ(2) test). Meningothelial (n = 2061) and fibrous meningiomas (n = 3556) were the most common subtypes, comprising 79.3% of all meningiomas. All meningioma cases were classified into 23 locations in this study, with the cerebral convexity the most common site (38.33%, n = 2722). Cases with uncommon locations such as extra-cranial and sylvian fissure meningiomas were also present in this series.

CONCLUSIONSFemale predominance was found for benign meningiomas, while malignant subtypes showed male predominance. The mean age of patients with WHO grade I meningiomas was older than that of patients with higher-grade tumors. Meningothelial and fibrous meningiomas were the most common subtypes. The cerebral convexity was the most common meningioma location.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningioma ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Sex Distribution ; Young Adult