Objective:To establish an HPLC method for the determination of the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex mag-noliae Officinalis formula granules and compare the content of the formula granules from different manufacturers. Methods:An HPLC was used to determine the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules. The analysis was carried out on a Hypersil C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) chromatographic column. Acetonitrile-water was used as the mobile phase with gra-dient elution and the flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 . The detection wavelength was set at 294 nm, the sample size was 20 μl and the column temperature was 25℃. Results:The linear range was 0. 873-26. 190μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 5) for magnolol, the average recov-ery was 99. 24% with RSD of 2. 00%(n=6) and that was 0. 732-21. 980μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 0) for honokiol,and the average recov-ery was 99. 89% with RSD of 1. 33%(n=6). The difference in the content of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules from different manufacturers was notable. Conclusion: The method is simple, repeatable and feasible, and can be used for the quality control of magnolol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules. The content difference in magno-lol and honokiol in Cortex magnoliae Officinalis formula granules from different manufacturers suggests that it is necessary to standardize the planting and selecting of Chinese medicine, and develop scientific and unified production technology and quality standard for the formula granules.

Objective: To summarize the methods of preventing and managing the complications in thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods:The participants of this study included 317 patients undergoing lobectomy with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery between January 2007 and December 2012. Intra-operative complications were observed, and countermeasures were summarized. Results: Complications occurred 28 times (8.8%), including bleeding in 16 cases because of accidental vascular injury (5.0%), accidental injury/break of bronchus in two cases (0.6%), vascular stump errhysis from cutting stapler in four cases (1.3%), lung stump air leakage in three cases (0.9%), lung injury in two cases (0.6%), and diaphragmatic injury in one case (0.3%). Conversion to thoracotomy was conducted in 17 cases, with a conversion rate of 5.4%. Thoracoscopic repair operation was performed in 14 cases that exhibited bleeding, with a success rate of 70% (14/20). No mortality was reported during the operation. Conclusion:Thoracoscopic lobectomy is a highly difficult method in thoracic surgeries. The procedure requires substantial attention on the timely prevention and correct management of intra-operative complications, particularly the injury and bleeding of major vessels, to reduce the rate of conversion to thoracotomy and the incidence of post-operative complications, as well as to promote the surgery in clinics.

Objective To investigate the antagonistic effect of ω-3PUFAs on cognitive impairment in MK-801-induced schizophrenia (SZ) rats and its mechanism.Methods Rat model of schizophrenia was induced by MK-801.Morris water maze was used to detect the change of cognitive function in rats.The number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus was detected by Brdu staining.CREB,p-CREB,BDNF,TrkB and p-TrkB levels were detected by Weston Blot.Results MK-801 induced schizophrenia-like cognitive impairment (the escape latency in the water maze test was (6.51±3.10)s for Ctr group,(15.27±6.20)s for Mod group;acrossing times was (4.63±1.06) times for Ctr group,(2.00±1.15) times for Mod group),reduced the number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus (the relative level of neonatal neuron number per unit area,Mod/Ctr was 0.656±0.066) and impaired the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway (the relative level of gray value,Mod/Ctr:CREB was 0.393±0.065,p-CREB was 0.591±0.015,BDNF was 0.716±0.115,TrkB was 0.787±0.029,p-TrkB was 0.586±0.013).ω-3PUFAs improved the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway activity by increasing CREB and TrKB level and their phosphorylation (the relative level of gray value,Pre/Ctr:CREB was 1.139±0.111,p-CREB was 0.845±0.243,BDNF was 0.864±0.133,TrkB was 0.916±0.022,p-TrkB was 0.952±0.047),and then recovered the number of neonatal neurons in hippocampus (the relative level of neonatal neuron number per unit area,Pre/ Ctr was 1.183±0.101),thereby reduced the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia rats(the escape latency in the water maze was (7.44±4.55)s for Pre;acrossing times was (3.86±1.68) times for Pre).Conclusion ω-3PUFAs can relieve the MK-801-induced schizophrenia-like cognitive impairment.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation(APBSCT) in the treatment of pemphigus.MethodsTotally,3 patients with pemphigus vulgaris who responsed poorly to 6-month treatment with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants or experienced aggrevation of disease and developed treatment-related complications,received APBSCT and were followed up for more than 5 years.There were 1 male and 2 females with an average age of 27.3(21-39) years.The mobilization program included cyclophosphamide (CTX) 4 g/m2,recombinant human granulocyte colonystimulating factors(G-CSF) and Rituximab 375 mg/m2,and the preconditioning regimen included intravenous CTX (50 mg/kg per day on days -6,-5,-4,-3),antithymocyte globulin at 2.5 mg/kg per day(on days -3,-2,-1 and 0) and Rituximab (600 mg/d on days 0 and 7).ResultsAll the 3.patients were successfully engrafted.The mean time for peripheral reconstruction:white blood cells 13.3 days (from day 11 to 16),platelet 16.3 days (from day 16 to 17).Monitoring of immunity indices and related antibodies showed no abnormality and the immune system was well reconstructed.No serious complications occurred during the follow up,and the patients' quality of life was obviously improved.ConclusionAPBSCT may be an effective and safe option for the treatment of pemphigus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of BATF, a member of the activator protein-1 family, in the renal tissues of mice with lupus nephritis.

METHODSThe renal tissues from 24-week-old female MRL/lpr mice and age- and sex-matched C57BL/6 mice were examined for BATF protein expressions using Western blotting and for expressions of BATF, RORγt and IL-17A mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. The results of laboratory examinations were analyzed in relation with the histopathology of the mice.

RESULTSThe urinary protein and ds-DNA levels were significantly higher in MRL/lpr mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). Compared to normal control mice, MRL/lpr mice showed obvious glomerular fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrating with significantly increased BATF protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05) and RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expressions in the renal tissues (P<0.05). In MRL/lpr mice, the expression of BATF mRNA was positively correlated with the RORγt and IL-17A mRNA expressions in the renal tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe renal expressions of BATF protein and mRNA is increased in MRL/lpr mice. BATF may participate in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis by enhancing Thl7 cell response.

Animals ; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective: To investigate the influence of hepatitis B virus X gene (HBx) on apoptosis of hepatic cells mediated by Fas in HePG2 cells. Methods: HBx eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.1(+)-X was transfected into HEPG2 cells with lipofectamine, and the null vector pcDNA3.1(+) and untransfected HEPG2 were used as normal controls. The cells were collected 72 h after transfection, and the expression of HBx mRNA and protein was determined using RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The mRNA expression of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA was also determined using RT-PCR. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis were evaluated using CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively, after HepG2-HBx and HepG2-3.1 cells were treated with stimulatory monoclonal antibody anti-Fas CH11. The t test was used for pairwise comparison. Results: The cell line HepG2-HBx was successfully established, as confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blot, and RT-PCR results showed that HepG2-HBx cells had significantly higher expression of Bcl-2 mRNA than HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells (P < 0.05), but had significantly lower expression of Bax mRNA than HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells (P < 0.05); CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that anti-Fas CH11 had a lower cytotoxicity to HepG2-HBx cells and allowed for a lower apoptosis rate of HepG2-HBx cells compared with HepG2-3.1 and HepG2 cells. Conclusions HBx can inhibit apoptosis of hepatic cells mediated by the Fas pathway.

This study was to determine the protective effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3PUFAs) on MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (SZ) rats and the underlying mechanism.A rat model of schizophrenia was induced by MK-801.The cognitive function of rats was assessed using a Morris water maze.The number of hippocampal neurons was measured by Nissl staining.The expression of CREB,p-CREB,BDNF,TrkB,p-TrkB,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats was detected by Western blotting.The results showed that ω-3PUFAs attenuated MK-801-induced cognitive,impairment and hippocampal neurons loss,reversed the injury of the CREB/BDNF/TrtB pathway induced by MK-801,and antagonized MK-801-induced down-regulation of p-AKT and p-ERK in the hippocampus of rats.In conclusion,ω-3PUFAs enhances the CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway by activating ERK and AKT,thereby increasing the synaptic plasticity and decreashng neuron loss,and antagonizing MK-801-induced cognitive impairment in schizophrenic rats.

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to explore the optimal management option for cervical metastases in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with clinically N0 neck in order to avoid excessive or inadequate treatment in clinical practice.

METHODSClinical data of 327 cases of tongue SCC with cN0 neck were retrospectively analyzed. Neck control rates affected by different pathoclinical parameters were compared. Prognosis analysis and death analysis were also performed.

RESULTSOverall 3-year survival was 69.7% (228/327), 3-year survival of neck recurrent group and non-recurrent group was 39.1% (25/64) and 77.2% (203/263), and 51.5% (51/99) of the death related to neck failure. Overall neck control rate was 80.4% (263/327); neck control rate of wait and watch group, level I neck dissection, level I + II neck dissection, supraomohyoid neck dissection, radical neck dissection, functional neck dissection, was 67.5% (27/40), 72.7% (24/33), 60.0% (15/25), 84.9% (45/55), 86.8% (131/151), 84.0% (21/25), respectively. Treatment modality and cervical lymph node involvement were independent factors for neck control.

CONCLUSIONSNeck control is a key for prognosis of tongue SCC with cN0 neck. Supraomohyoid neck dissection is the first choice in management of cervical metastases in tongue SCC with cN0 neck, during which the suspected involved lymph nodes should be sent for frozen section to determine whether comprehensive neck dissection required. Multimodal metastasis and/or capsular spread are the indications for postoperative irradiation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tongue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDRecent advances in real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) offer the potential to assess the left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony simultaneously by analyzing the 17 segments time-volume curves. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and accuracy of RT3DE for quantitative evaluation of left ventricular systolic synchronicity.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and twenty-five healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Full volume RT3DE was performed by using Philips IE33 with X3-1 probe. The global and 17-segmental time-volume curves were obtained by the on-line Qlab software (version 4.2). The time to minimal systolic volume in each segment (T(msv)) was taken to derive the following indexes of systolic asynchrony: T(msv) 16-SD, T(msv) 16-Dif, T(msv) 12-SD, T(msv) 12-Dif, T(msv) 6-SD and T(msv) 6-Dif, which meant the standard deviation or the maximal difference of T(msv) among the 16, 12 and 6 segments of the left ventricle respectively. The software also provided with each of the above parameters as a percentage of the cardiac cycle.

RESULTST(msv) 16-SD, T(msv) 12-SD and T(msv) 6-SD were all significantly larger in the DCM group than those of the control group [T(msv) 16-SD: (52.9 +/- 40.6) ms vs (8.8 +/- 6.2) ms; T(msv) 12-SD: (29.5 +/- 30.8) ms vs (6.9 +/- 4.0) ms; T(msv) 6-SD: (28.9 +/- 34.6) ms vs (7.0 +/- 4.7) ms, all P < or = 0.001]. T(msv) 16-Dif, T(msv) 12-Dif and T(msv) 6-Dif were also significantly larger in the DCM group. There were close negative relations between the LVEF determined by RT3DE and each of the indexes of systolic asynchrony, among which the indexes of T(msv)-16-SD% and T(msv)-16-Dif% correlated most closely (r = -0.703 and r = -0.701, respectively). The DCM patients had significantly larger EDV and ESV, with significantly reduced LVEF compared with the healthy subjects.

CONCLUSIONRT3DE provides a simple, useful and unique approach to assess the systolic synchronicity of all the left ventricular segments simultaneously.

Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke Volume ; Systole ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of a second primary malignant tumor induced by previous radiotherapy.

METHODSFrom March 1970 to March 1997, 108 nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients who developed a second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy were treated. There were squamous carcinoma 43 (39.8%), sarcoma 26 (24.1%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma 14 (13.0%), adenoid cystic carcinoma 12 (11.1%), thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma 8 (7.4%) and malignant melanoma 5 (4.6%). Fifty patients underwent operation, 32 received radiotherapy, 18 received chemotherapy and 8 received operation combined with chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe 3- and 5-year tumor-free survival rates were 64.0% and 36.0% in the operation group. They were 34.4% and 18.8% in the radiotherapy group.

CONCLUSIONSurgery, if not contra-indicated, is the first choice for the second primary malignant tumor induced by radiotherapy. Aggressive treatment for these patients is, hence, indicated clinically.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Survival Rate