Objective To investigate the changes of serum homocysteine ( Hcy),C-reactive protein ( hsCRP) levels in acute cerebral infarction patients and its significance.Methods 64 patients with acute cerebral infarction were selected as research group,and 60 healthy volunteers were selected as control group.Detected the acute cerebral infarction patients after 1d,the first 7d,14d Hcy,hs-CRP,total cholesterol,triglycerides,high density lipoprotein,low density lipoprotein levels and the control group the level of these indicators.Results Of total cholesterol,triglycerides,low density lipoprotein of the study group was higher than those of the control group of high-density lipoprotein(t =3.073,2.874,2.015,all P ＜0.05);after admission ld,treatment of the first 7d,14d showed no significant difference between the two groups ( t =2.223,2.268,all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Hcy,hs-CRP and the occurrence of acute cerebralinfarction was closely related to the development,and testing to determine the severity of the disease for the guide had important clinical significance.

Objective To study the incidence,risk factors,clinical outcome,management and prevention of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) following major ABO-incompatible allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods Forty-two patients underwent major ABO-incompa- tible allo-HSCT,including major ABO-mismatch in 33 patients,major plus minor ABO-mismatch in 9 patients,and 27 recipients with blood group O.Thirteen patients underwent bone marrow transplan- tation,25 peripheral blood stem cell transplantation,and 4 cord blood transplantation.Six patients re- ceived donor-type plasma replacement before transplantation.Cyclosporine A (CsA) and methotrexate (MTX) were used for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Results All 42 patients had sustained engraftment.PRCA occurred in 11/42 patients (26.2%).All the 11 cases of PRCA were in blood group O recipients of grafts from blood group A donor (n=9) or blood group B donor (n= 2);6 patients with blood group O who received donor-type plasma exchange before transplantation did not develop PRCA.PRCA resolved spontaneously in 8 cases with transfusion support.Two patients were treated by donor-type plasma exchange,resulting in the decrease of isoagglutinin titer,followed by complete recovery of erythropoiesis.One patient responded to rituximab and achieved complete re- mission of symptoms of PRCA.Univariate analysis revealed that the most significant risk factors asso- ciated with PRCA were blood group O recipient,blood group A donor,blood group O recipient of graft from blood group A donor;only blood group O/A in recipient/donor pair was identified as being significantly associated with the occurrence of PRCA by multivariate analysis (RR 10.999,95% CI 1.975-61.258,P

This article mainly summarise the results of the chemical compositions and their pharmacological activities of Arnebiae Radix since 1966. The chemistry components isolated from Arnebiae Radix are mainly naphthoquinone, monoterpene phenol and quinone, phenolic acids and their salts, alkaloids, aliphatic and esters. Pharmacological results showed that the chemical compositions and the extracts of Arnebiae Radix have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, hepatoprotection, antioxidant, anti-tumor and immune function and other activities. This article hopefully to provide a reference for further research, development and utilization of Arnebiae Radix.
Animals ; Boraginaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

Objective To study the effect of HCV receptors′sequence on virus entry based on the two-dimensional structure and via tandem expression of HCV receptors on mouse hepatocytes.Methods The construced recombinant expression vectors pCDH-hLDLR-hSR-BⅠ-hCD81-GFP, pCDH-hLDLR-hCD81-hSR-BⅠ and pCDH-hCLDN-1-hOCLN-DsRed were cotransfected into 293FT cells with package vectors.The collected recombinant lentivirus expressing hCLDN-1-hOCLN was concentrated and attacked mouse hepatocytes.The transgenic mouse hepatocytes with tandem overexpression of CLDN-1 and OCLN were established after G418-selection.The transduced cells LSCCO/Hepa1-6 and LCSCO/Hepa1-6 were sorted via flow cytometry and puro-G418-selection after recombinant lentivirus expressing hLDLR-hSR-BⅠ-hCD81 and hLDLR-hCD81-hSR-BⅠattacked Hepa1-6 respectively.The infectivity of transduced mouse hepatocytes LSCCO/Hepa1-6 and LCSCO/Hepa1-6 to HCV was analyzed via direct-infection of serum-derived virus.Furthermore, the effect of HCV receptors′sequence on virus entry was studied.Results Both LSCCO/Hepa1-6 and LCSCO/Hepa1-6 enhanced HCV-cell binding.The transduced mouse hepatocytes LSCCO/Hepa1-6 had more HCV endocytosis.Conclusion SR-BⅠhas priority over CD81 in HCV entry in the early stage.

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents of the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge.

METHODSThe compounds were separated by means of solvent extraction, chromatography on absorbent resin SP825 and silica gel C18 repeatedly, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical methods and spectral analyses (FAB-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H-1H COSY).

RESULTSSix steroidal saponins were isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. They were identified as (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin N, 1), timosaponin E1 (2), (25S)-26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-methoxy-5beta-furostane-2beta, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (timosaponin O, 3) , timosaponin E2 (4), (25R) -26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-22-hydroxy-5alpha-furostane-2alpha, 3beta, 26-triol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[beta-D-xylpyranosyl-(1 --> 3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (purpureagitosid, 5) and marcogenin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-galactopyranoside (6).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 and compound 3 are new compounds, and compound 5 was isolated from the rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge for the first time.

Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of an extract of Guipi Pill () against radiation-induced damage.

METHODSA total of 100 Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive drug group (treated with radioprotective agent "523", 5 mg/kg at 24 h before irradiation) and two treatment groups, with 20 mice in each group. The extract of water extraction-alcohol precipitation (WAP) from Guipi Pill were administered orally to the mice in the two treatment groups at the dose of 500 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively, for 6 days prior to whole body radiation (8 Gy). Fifty mice with 10 in each group were used to observe the survival rate 30 days after radiation. The other 50 mice with 10 in each group were sacrificed on day 10 after radiation (6 Gy) in order to take blood, liver and unilateral femur.

RESULTSPretreatment prior to irradiation with WAP resulted in a significantly higher 30-day survival rate of mice after exposure to a potentially lethal dose of 8-Gy radiation. WAP could significantly increase the total white blood cell count and DNA content of bone marrow, and it also increased the activity of various antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissue of mice, which were reduced by radiation treatment. Maleic dialdehyde level and bone marrow micronucleus rate were significantly reduced by WAP, which were increased after 6-Gy radiation.

CONCLUSIONWAP of Guipi Pill could increase the 30-day survival rate and the antioxidant capacity as well as protect bone marrow in mice. WAP of Guipi Pill is an effective radioprotective agent.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Chemical Precipitation ; DNA ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Leukocyte Count ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Male ; Mice ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Survival Analysis ; Water

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic efficacy of standard antiviral therapy applied after interferon (IFN) treatment failure in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODSCHC patients who completed a 48-week course of IFN therapy (pegylated (Peg)-IFNa-2a at 180 mug, qw, ih with or without ribavirin (RBV) at 15 mg/kg/w) in our hospital between January 2009 and June 2012 but who showed no response (at week 48) or who relapsed (at week 72) were enrolled in the study. Prior to initiating the 48-week course of retreatment therapy (Peg-IFNa-2a plus RBV as above), the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype was detected and the viral load measured (baseline) by PCR of HCV RNA. Each patient's response to therapy was classified as follows: baseline vs. week 4 (rapid virological response, RVR), vs. weeks 12 and 24 (early virological response, EVR), vs. week 48 (end of treatment virological response, ETVR) and vs. week 72 (sustained virological response, SVR).

RESULTSOf the total 235 cases administered retreatment therapy, 60.0% (n = 140) achieved RVR, 77.4% (n = 182) achieved EVR, 83.8% (n = 197) achieved ETVR, 68.0% (n = 68%) achieved SVR, and 15.7% (n = 37) relapsed. Stratification analysis of recurrence (n = 158) and non-responsive (n = 77) sub-groups showed that the recurrence group experienced significantly higher rates of RVR, EVR, ETVR and SVR, but a significantly lower rate of relapse. Stratification analysis of genotype 1b carrier (n = 206) and non-1b carrier (n = 29) sub-groups showed that the 1b carriers had significantly lower rates of RVR, EVR, ETVR and SVR, but a significantly higher rate of relapse. Finally, the patients who achieved RVR (vs. non RVR, n = 95) and EVR (vs. non-EVR, n = 53) showed higher rates of SVR and ETVR.

CONCLUSIONCHC patients who fail to respond to the initial course of standard IFN-based therapy may achieve SVR upon retreatment, especially those infected with the HCV genotype 1b.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retreatment ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Failure

Objective To evaluate the outcome of health education program on drowning prevention among primary and secondary school children in rural areas. Methods A township was selected and all the students from grade 3 to 5, grade 7 to 8, and grade 10 to 11 were selected to take part in the program. Twelve intervention measures on natural water safety and drowning prevention were carried out for one year. Information was collected using the same questionnaire before and after the intervention program. Results One year after the intervention was carried out, children's knowledge on drowning prevention improved significantly (13.21, 95% CI: 12.51-13.90) , and a positive effect was also noticed among boys (12.77, 95%CI: 11.77-13.77), girls (13.80, 95%CI: 12.82-14.78),and among primary school children (15.51,95%CI: 14.30-16.72), senior high school children (10.78,95%CI: 9.50-12.05) and junior high school children (12.77,95%CI: 11.84-13.71). Overall rates on risk behaviors dropped from 41.4% to 32.2% (by 22.2%) including 15.6% for boys, 35.2% for girls and 13.8%, 29.3%, 26.3% for primary school children, senior high school children, junior high school children, respectively. The incidence rates for non-fatal drowning decreased by 58.9% (from 5.6% to 2.3%). The person-times for treatment on sight, in emergency settings, in outpatient clinic or in the hospitals had a reduction from 399, 78, 36 to 175, 32, 14, respectively. Conclusion Health education program could improve children's perception on water safety, and reduce their risk behaviors as well as on the incidence of non-fatal drowning in the rural areas.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and safety of the implantation of a new type of testicular prosthesis in the treatment of testis loss.

METHODSWe recruited for this study 18 patients with testis loss treated by testicular prosthesis implantation, including 10 cases of prostate cancer, 3 cases of anorchia, 2 case of orchiatrophy, 2 cases of hermaphroditism and 1 case of cryptorchidism. The prosthesis was a hollow silicone elastomer YH-G1 made in China, selected according to the volume of the scrotum and the size of the contralateral testis.

RESULTSThirteen of the patients received testicular prosthesis implantation with orchiectomy, and the other 5 underwent the procedure 6 months later. The operation time of testicular prosthesis implantation was (22.6 +/- 4.6) min, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes. All the patients were discharged after 12 hours of postoperative observation, with a mean hospital stay of (1.3 +/- 0.4) days. A follow-up after 6 months revealed no complications in 17 cases. Rejection occurred in 1 case at 3 months after the implantation, ending in the removal of the prosthesis. Of the 17 successful cases, 15 were very satisfied with the size of the prosthesis, 14 with its weight, 12 with its comfortableness, and all with the appearance of the scrotum and the position of the prosthesis, while 5 found the implant too rigid.

CONCLUSIONThe implantation of the new home-made silicone elastomer testicular prosthesis YH-G1 was safe and effective for the treatment of testis loss, and could meet the esthetic and psychological requirements of the patient. But further observation is needed for its long-term complications and influence on the patient's quality of life.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orchiectomy ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Implantation ; adverse effects ; Silicone Elastomers ; Testis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of thyroid disease occurring in response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

METHODSEighty-two patients diagnosed with CHC were recruited for study from our hospital between 2009 and 2010. All patients were given a 48-week course of antiviral combination therapy with pegylated-interferon (Peg-IFN; 180 mug qw ih) and ribavirin (RBV; 15 mg/kg bw). Patient sera was collected prior to treatment (baseline), at treatment weeks 24 and 48, and post-treatment week 24, and used to detect changes in levels of thyroid function markers, thyroid-specific and other autoantibodies, complement factors, and immunoglobulins (Igs). Differential expression of biomarkers was assessed between patients who developed thyroid disorder and those who did not.

RESULTSAt treatment week 48, 13.4% (11/82) of cases developed hypothyroidism, 3.7% (3/82) developed hyperthyroidism, 20.7% (17/82) tested positive for thyroglobulin antibody, and 22.0% (18/82) tested positive for thyroid peroxidase antibody. The patients who did not develop thyroid disease had significantly higher post-treatment levels (vs. baseline) of IgG (14.84 +/- 2.61 vs. 12.95 +/- 3.32 g/L, F = 10.458, P = 0.002) and C4 (0.26 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.22 +/- 0.08 g/L, F = 6.835, P = 0.011) and significantly lower IgM (0.86 +/- 0.48 vs. 1.00 +/- 0.42 g/L, F = 9.106, P = 0.003). The patients who developed thyroid disease showed no significant differences in the baseline and post-treatment levels of IgG, C4, or IgM. When the two groups of patients who did or did not develop thyroid disease were compared, there was no difference in the amount of patients who achieved sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONAntiviral-induced thyroid disease in patients with refractory hepatitis C manifests as clinically-detectable abnormalities in serum levels of thyroid autoantibody and markers of hypothyroidism. Levels of other autoantibodies and Igs do not correlate with the development of thyroid disease in these patients, and thyroid disease does not appear to affect the efficacy of Peg-IFN + RBV antiviral therapy.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Diseases ; chemically induced