OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Shengji Ointment (SO) (by external use) in treating infective ulcer patients with yang syndrome (YS).

METHODSA multicenter, stratified, randomized controlled clinical study was used in this study. A random digit table was formed in the ratio of 3:1,440 infective ulcer patients of YS from 5 centers were recruited, 330 in the treatment group (external use of SO, exchange once every 24 h) and 110 in the control group (external use of Votalin, exchange once every 24 h). The therapeutic course consisted of 21 days. The ulcer area, wound depth, pain degree were observed before treatment at day 3, 7, 14, and 21, and safety indices monitored at the same time.

RESULTSThe ulcer area was significantly reduced in the treatment group after 21-day medication, obviously superior to that of the control group (P = 0.002). Ulcer areas at different time points were analyzed. From the 7th day of medication the reduced area was obviously less in the treatment than in the control group (P = 0.002). Besides, the longer the more obvious difference. Compared with the control group, the healing rate of ulcer area, the pain disappearance rate, and the healing rate of ulcer depth were all obviously improved in the treatment group (all P < 0.01). No adverse event occurred in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSExternal use of SO was safe and effective in treating infective ulcer patients with YS. It could accelerate wound healing with better analgesic effect.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Ulcer ; drug therapy ; Wound Healing

This paper concluded the health status of the population migrated from agriculture areas as well as the existing problems of health rights and interests in the process of new urbanization, and proposed the following suggestions:it must strengthen the government responsibility, adhere topeople-oriented, and firm social ethics construction. It also should plan health resource allocation, adjust the medical security policy, improve service quality according to the characteristics of population migrated from agriculture areas, and build up a multi-level and joint health service system.

Objective To evaluate the role of O-GlcNAc protein modification in attenuation of brain damage by glutamine in septic rats.Methods Sixty male SD rata weighing 180-240 g were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham operation group(group S,n =12),sepsis group(group CLP,n =16),glutamine group(group G,n =16),an inhibitor of O-linked-N-acetyl glucosamine transferase Alloxan + glutamine group(group G + A,n =16).Rats were submitted to sepsis by cecal ligation and perforation(CLP).Glutamine(Gln)0.75 g/kg was injected iv after CLP in group G.Gln 0.75 g/kg was injected iv and Alloxan 90 mg/kg was injected ip after CLP in group G + A.Equal volume of normal saline was given in group S and group CLP.A1 24 h afler CLP,the neural reflex score was evaluated,then rat was sacrificed.The brain was removed for measurement of brain water content,observation of histopathology and determination of O-GlcNAc-modified protein expression.Results Compared with group S,neural reflex score and brain water content were significantly increased in groups CLP,G and G + A(P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group CLP,neural reflex score and brain water content were significantly decreased in groups G and G + A(P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of O-GlcNAc-modified protein was upregulated in group G(P ＜ 0.05),Compared with groups G,neural reflex score and brain water content were significantly increased,and the expression of O-GlcNAc-modified protein downregulated in group G + A(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in O-GlcNAc-modified protein expression among groups S,CLP and G + A.Conclusion Glutamine attenuates brain damage through O-GlcNAc protein modification in septic rats.

BACKGROUND: Environment pollution due to lead is severe day by day,and the lead-induced developmental toxicity of central nervous system is prominent.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of lead at low exposure level on neurobehavioral function of preschool children and provide basis for preventing childhood behavior disorders.DESIGN: Sampling survey.SETTING: Department of Children and Adolescent Health, Public Health College, Sun Yat-sen University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 211 children of 4-6 years (109 boys and 102girls) were enrolled from a kindergarten of a populated area of Zhuhai City by randomized cluster sampling from September to October 2004.METHODS: 20 mL peripheral blood of finger tip was collected. Blood lead was determined with graphite stove atomic absorption spectrometry.According to the amount of blood lead, the children were divided into high blood lead exposure group (＞100μg/L) and low blood lead exposure group (＜100μg/L). Furthermore, they were also assigned into ＜50 μg/L group, 50μg/L- group, 100μg/L- group, 150 μg/L- group, 250- μg/L group. Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and self-designed questionnaire (composed of possibly effective factor on children's neurobehavioral function, such as age, sex, cultivation, family background and so on) were applied, filled by their parents under the instruction of professional staffs. Results and blood lead value were analyzed with first order correlation and multiple factors stepwise regressive analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Blood lead level and each factor scores of CBCL, ②correlation analysis between blood lead value and behavioral factor score.RESULTS: A total of 211 questionnaires were sent out, and 211 were retrieved with 211 effective questionnaires. The effective rate was 100%. ①Score on externalizing and behavioral disorder rate in the high blood lead exposure group (13.28±6.26,18.26%) was significantly higher than those in the low blood lead exposure group (9.98±5.46,7.29%)( t=4.067 7,χ2=5.470, P＜0.05). There was insignificant difference in score on internalizing and total score of CBCL between the low and high blood lead exposure groups. ②The behavioral disorder rate of different blood lead level had significance (χ2=13.695,P＜0.01). The behavioral disorder rate in blood lead ≥ 150 μg/L was obviously higher than that of the former 3groups after further pairwise comparison (χ2 were 4.727, 6.261, 5.168;4.503, 5.911, 4.928, P＜0.05), which revealed that the child behavioral disorder rate markedly increased when the blood lead was ≥ 150 μg/L.③Blood lead logarithm value had positive correlation with the scores on hyperactivity, aggression and defiance (r=0.316 4,0.282 8,0.188 6,P ＜0.05), and had no correlation with obesity, desintegration, truculence and sexual questionnaire (r=0.102 4,0.094 2,0.118 3,0.092 6,P ＞ 0.05). ④After the stepwise regression analysis, the scores on hyperactivity, aggression and defiance factors were included in the regression equation. The results suggested that the effect of lead on child externalizing behavior still remained, and kept statistical meaning after confounding factors, such as controlling family and society, etc.CONCLUSION: Low-level lead exposure has adverse effects on externalizing behavior in preschool children.

Objective To investigate the effect of atorvastatin on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and BP in hypertensive patients with normal lipid profiles.Methods Thirty-eight hypertensive patients were randomly to receive conventional anti-hypertensive drugs (n=18) or conventional anti-hypertensive drugs plus atorvastatin(20 mg QN)combination treatment (n=20).Eight healthy subjects were given atorvastatin (20 mg QN) for 8 weeks as control group.Before and after treatment,peripheral blood were drawn to isolate and culture EPCs.The circulating EPCs were identified by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal micro- scope.EPCs populations were assessed using the colony forming unit assay (EPC-CFU) through a inverted phase contrast microscope 10 days after culture.Results After treatment,SBP was decreased (conventional treatment from 165.8?10.3 to 132.7?10.3 mmHg;combined group from 163.7?10.2 to 127.9?10.1 mmHg P

Objective To construct a genetically-stable double auxotrophic,in which the uracil and leucine were mutated,using the Candida parapolymorpha ATCC26012 as materials.Methods Based on the physical and genetic engineering methods,the chromosome of the C.parapolymorpha strain was modified,where the ura3 and leu2 genes were directly mutated,to obtain the uracil and leucine double auxotrophic strain.Then the constructed strain was identified by the analysis of its biological properties,such as genetic stability,the change of the genes,and the physiologic and biochemical characteristics.Results The uracil and leucine double auxotrophic strain is obtained by screening.The biological identification results show that the obtained strain is genetically stable and the targeted genes are directly altered.In addition,the physiologic and biochemical analyses indicate that the auxotrophic can utilize various kinds of carbon and nitrogen nutrient sources,and its growth is good.Conclusion The successful construction of double auxotrophic mutant strains facilitated the genetic studies on C.parapolymorpha to meet various investigational purposes.Moreover,the constructed auxotrophic strains can be applied as advantageous host cells to express multiple proteins/antigens simultaneously,which is of great significance in the development of vaccines.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of microsurgical vasoepididymostomy and/or vasovasostomy in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia.

METHODSThis study included 76 patients with obstructive azoospermia, 53 treated by bilateral vasoepididymostomy (8 involving the epididymal head, 18 involving the epididymal body, 5 involving the epididymal tail, and 22 involving the epididymal head, body and tail), 14 by unilateral vasoepididymostomy, and the other 9 by unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy (including cross anastomosis). We followed up the patients for 2 to 16 months for the patency rate, routine semen parameters, and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTSThe success rate of bilateral vasoepididymostomy, unilateral vasoepididymostomy, and unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy (including cross anastomosis) were 62.26% (33/53), 35.71% (5/14), and 77.78% (7/9), respectively. The average sperm concentrations in the three groups of patients were (27.9 +/- 5.74), (11.8 +/- 8.33), and (19.9 +/- 7.53) x 10(6)/ml, the average total sperm counts were (65.6 +/- 13.71), (28.0 +/- 15.86), and (69.2 +/- 28.59) x 10(6), and the mean rates of progressively motile sperm were (22.3 +/- 3.18), (11.0 +/- 9.77), and (15.8 +/- 5.05)%, respectively. The success rates of bilateral vasoepididymostomy that involved the epididymal head, body, tail, and all the three parts were 62.5, 72.22, 60, and 54.55%, respectively. Natural pregnancy was achieved in 8 (10.53%) of the total number of cases.

CONCLUSIONMicrosurgery is effective for the treatment obstructive azoospermia. Unilateral vasoepididymostomy + unilateral vasovasostomy is superior to the other procedures, followed by bilateral vasoepididymostomy. Bilateral vasoepididymostomy involving the epididymal body may achieve a slightly better effect than that involving the other epididymal parts.

Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Azoospermia ; etiology ; surgery ; Epididymis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; surgery ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Count ; Treatment Outcome ; Vas Deferens ; surgery ; Vasovasostomy ; methods

BmK AngM1 is a long-chain scorpion toxin purified from the venom of Buthus martensii Karsch. It has been reported to exhibit evident analgesic effect and low toxicity, and has the potential to be a novel analgesic drug. The BmKAngM1 gene was transformed into Pichiapastoris GS115. Mut+ and Mut(s) recombinant strains were screened by phenotype and Mut+ recombinant strains were used to detect BmK AngMl gene copy number in the real-time PCR. Expression of BmK AngM1 in the Mut+ recombinant strain was compared with that of the Mut(s) recombinant strain with the same single copy of BmK AngM1 gene under the same condition. The results indicated that the transcription level of BmK AngM1 gene in the Mut(s) recombinant strain was 2.7 fold of that in the Mut recombinant strain in the real-time PCR, and the expression of BmK AngM 1 in the Mut(s) recombinant strain was 1.5 fold of that in the Mut+ recombinant strain. Therefore, Mut(s) recombinant strain showed better ability to express BmK AngM1 than Mut+ recombinant strain.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Gene Dosage ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Scorpion Venoms ; chemistry

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prognosis

Objective To explore the significance of the plasma procalcitonin (PCT) level for directing antibiotic therapy in elderly patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Methods The 50 elderly patients with VAP were randomly separated into the regular therapy group and the PCT-directed therapy group. The regular therapy group was given regular antibiotic therapy, while the antibiotic therapy was decided according to the plasma level of PCT in the PCT-directed therapy group. The used time and utilization rate of antibiotics, as well as inflammatory indicators including white blood cells, neutrophils, C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, there were no significant differences in white blood cells, neutrophils and CRP between the PCT-directed therapy group and regular therapy group [(8.9 ± 3.5 ) × 109/L vs. (9.4 ± 3.7) × 109/L, 0.62 ± 0.04 vs.0.60±0.04, (18.7±8.5) mg/Lvs. (21.6±6.0) mg/L, t=0.47, 1.84 and 1.37, allP＞0.05],but the CPIS was markedly lower in PCT-directed therapy group than in regular therapy group [(4.0± 1.4) scores vs. (4.7± 1.0) scores, t= 2. 18, P＜0.05]. The neutrophils, CRP and CPIS were significantly lower after treatment than before in the both groups. The concentration of PCT was decreased after treatment than before [(0.5 ± 0.9) mg/L vs. (1.7 ± 0.7) mg/L]. Meanwhile, the time using antibiotics was longer in regular treatment group than in PCT-directed therapy group [(8.72±1.32) d vs. (5.17±0.72) d, t=11.96, P＜0.01], the utilization rate of antibiotics was higher (95.2 % vs. 55.2 %, χ2 = 12.41, P＜0.01) in regular treatment group. Conclusions Using PCT levels for directing treatment in elderly patients with VAP can achieve better curative effect and reduce the use of antibiotics.