Tibetan medicineLiu-Wei Mu-Xiang(LWMX) pill, a traditional compound medicine, has special therapeutic effects in the treatment of gastrointestinal anabrosis, especially chronic gastric ulcer. It has been widely applied in the clinics in Tibetan region. Nevertheless, the current standards for quality control are insufficient and incomplete, which makes it difficult to ensure its quality. This review focused on two closely related perspectives, which were the effective material basis and quality control, to summarize and review the recent advancement in relevant studies. This review also pointed out that the burning questions for Tibetan medicine standards were the origin confusion and“different medicines with the same name”. It offered meaningful suggestions for the consideration to improve its quality standards.

Objective To detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a,interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-2,1L-6,IL-8,1L-10,IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-α in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of the patients with epidemic encephalitis B,and to investigate the roles in pathogenesis of epidemic encephalitis B.Methods Approximately of 2 mL serum and 2 mL cerebrospinal fluid from 24 patients with epidemic encephalitis B during acute phase were collected,and 2 mL serum from 20 healthy controls were collected.The levels of eytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Means of multi-sample were compared by analysis of variance and means of two-sample were compared by t test.Results The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10 and IFN-α in eerebrospinal fluid were (24.5±6.6),(7.8±2.4),(16.0±5.7),(17.6±4.8),(130.2±33.6) and (45.2±10.8) ng/L,respectively,and in serum were (25.3±11.2),(7.1±3.2),(14.5±6.2),(16.0±6.5),(82.0±27.8) and (42.5±16.2) ng/L,respectively.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10 and IFN-α in serum and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with epidemic encephalitis B were all higher than those in serum of healthy controls [(12.7±7.9),(2.6±1.0),(6.2±2.2),(9.6±3.3),(71.4±12.8) and (30.0±14.0) ng/L;F value was 14.10,29.46,23.38,14.78,32.59,7.52;all P＜0.01];while the levels of IL-2 and IL-12 were not increased significantly.The levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12 and IFN-α in cerebrospinal fluid were higher than those in serum,while the levels of TNF-± and IL-2 in cerebrospinal fluid were lower than those in serum.The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with severe type of epidemic encephalitis B were (18.8±5.4) ng/L and (20.7±2.7) ng/L,and were higher than those with common type [(12.1±3.0) and (13.3±3.3) ng/L;t=3.50,t=5.96;P＜0.05],while the levels of IL-2 in serum and in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with severe type were lower than those with common type. Conclusions Oversecretions of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10 and IFN-a are involved in the inflammatory damage of epidemic encephalitis B,while under-secretions of IL 2 and ILl2 may be involved in cellular immune responses.

OBJECTIVETo study aberrant DNA methylation potentially resulting in changes in the expression of cancer-related genes as a possible epigenetic mechanism for cadmium carcinogenesis.

METHODSGenomic DNA isolated from CdCl(2)-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells was digested with Mse1 (methylation non-sensitive) alone or with Mse1 and BstU1 (methylation sensitive). The resulting DNA was analyzed for aberrant methylation using PCR-based technique-Methylation-Sensitive Restriction Fingerprinting (MSRF). Several DNA fragments differentially methylated in the transformed cells identified by MSRF were confirmed by Southern hybridization analysis using the aberrantly methylated DNA fragments as the probes.

RESULTSAberrant DNA methylation was identified in the transformed cells. DNA sequencing and sequence similarity analysis identified one of the aberrantly methylated DNA fragments as the p16 tumor suppressor gene.

CONCLUSIONDNA hypermethylation is known to result in gene silencing, it appears that hypermethylation of p16 gene may represent a possible epigenetic mechanism for Cd-induced cell transformation and carcinogenesis.

Animals ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Blotting, Southern ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, p16 ; Mice ; Restriction Mapping

Objective To evaluate the effect of the intermittent deferomamine(DF) therapy on relieving iron overload caused by transfusion in children with ? thalassemia.Methods Sixteen children who were finally diagnosed as ? thalassemia major were treated with deferomamine for 124 times totally to low the iron overload. The serum iron(SI), serum ferritin(SF) and urine ferritin were detected each time with radio-immunity technique and difference was compared before and after treatment. Meanwhile, weather DF involved children′s liver and renal function was observed in whole procedure.Results Iron overload exists in 16 cases of ? thalassemia major children by a long- term hypertransfusion therapy, with average level SI 33.69?6.72 mmol/L,SF 441.19? 54.70 ?g/L,urine ferritin 8.64?6.79 ?g/L. The difference was significant (paired-samples t test,t =6.173 P 0.05).Conclusion The study suggest that intermittent low-dose DF therapy is effective for iron overload caused by transfusion in ? thalassemia children, without apparent side effects.

Colectomy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/surgery* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Treatment Outcome

The use of periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PCs) combined with bioresorbable materials is an attractive approach for tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to characterize the osteogenic differentiation of PC in 3-dimensional (3D) poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) fleeces cultured in medium containing allogeneic human serum. PCs were isolated and expanded in monolayer culture. Expanded cells of passage 3 were seeded into PLGA constructs and cultured in osteogenic medium for a maximum period of 28 d. Morphological, histological and cell viability analyses of three-dimensionally cultured PCs were performed to elucidate osseous synthesis and deposition of a calcified matrix. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of type I collagen, osteocalcin and osteonectin was semi-quantitively evaluated by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The fibrin gel immobilization technique provided homogeneous PCs distribution in 3D PLGA constructs. Live-dead staining indicated a high viability rate of PCs inside the PLGA scaffolds. Secreted nodules of neo-bone tissue formation and the presence of matrix mineralization were confirmed by positive von Kossa staining. The osteogenic differentiation of PCs was further demonstrated by the detection of type I collagen, osteocalcin and osteonectin gene expression. The results of this study support the concept that this tissue engineering method presents a promising method for creation of new bone in vivo.
Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Development ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Models, Statistical ; Osteogenesis ; Periosteum ; metabolism ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering

OBJECTIVECongenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited disorder of cardiac repolarization characterized by prolongation of QT interval and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia torsade de pointes (TdP) in the electrocardiogram (ECG). Clinical symptoms include recurrent syncope, seizure or even sudden death. It is caused by mutations of at least seven genes, six of them encoding ion channels that determine the duration of ventricular action potentials. One of these genes, KCNQ1, encodes an alpha-subunit of cardiac slowly activated delayed rectifier potassium channel. Patients carrying mutations of KCNQ1 are named as LQT1, which accounts for 42% of patients with LQTS. This study sought to analyze the clinical data of Chinese with LQTS and to screen for the mutations of KCNQ1.

METHODSThe universally accepted phenotypic criteria of LQTS was used for identification of probands. There were six families with LQTS. They were enrolled in this study. Clinical and ECG data of each family member were recorded. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis was used to screen for mutations throughout the whole coding region of KCNQ1 and DNA sequencing was performed to determine the exact mutation site.

RESULTSThere were totally 13 patients in the six LQTS families. Five were male and eight female. One suffered from sudden death, 10 had syncope and 2 were asymptomatic. Eleven of the 13 patients had ECG data. Their QT and QTc (mean +/- SD) were (0.460 +/- 0.058) s and (0.516 +/- 0.058) s, respectively. TdP was observed in 3 patients (27%) during the syncope attack. By PCR-SSCP analysis, two novel KCNQ1 deletion mutations 356-357 Delta QQ and 626-631 Delta GSGGPP were identified in 7 patients of 2 families. None of 50 normal individuals carried these mutations, indicating these two mutations were likely to cause the disease. In addition, P448R was found in one affected and some unaffected members in other two families and in 7 of 50 (14%) normal individuals, indicating that this might be a polymorphism. All the three mutations located in C-terminal domain of KCNQ1 protein.

CONCLUSIONSTwo novel deletion mutations and one novel polymorphism of KCNQ1 gene were identified among 6 Chinese families with LQTS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; KCNQ Potassium Channels ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel ; Long QT Syndrome ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated

Objective To explore the protective effect of neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) on heart function and myocardium in rats with sepsis and its mechanism . Methods Healthy male Sprague-Dawly (SD) rats were divided into three groups according to random number table method, with 6 rats in each group. Sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP group); rats in sham operation group (sham group) underwent the same procedure except ligation. Rats in NRG-1 pre-treatment group (NRG group) were intravenously injected with recombinant human NGR-1 (rhNRG-1) at the dose of 10 μg/kg through tail vein; rats in CLP group and sham group were treated with the same amount of saline. At 24 hours after CLP, hemodynamic method was used to evaluate the cardiac function, and myocardial morphology was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of cardiac troponin T (cTnT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in serum and macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF) in myocardial tissue. Results ① heart function: compared with the sham group, the mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular pressure maximal rate of rise and fall (±dp/dt max) were significantly decreased in CLP group and NRG group, while the MAP, LVSP and ±dp/dt max in NRG group were significantly higher than those in CLP group [MAP (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 125.78±8.15 vs. 113.05±5.85, LVSP (mmHg): 151.27±6.79 vs. 139.39±8.05, +dp/dt max (kPa/s): 4 389.59±332.38 vs. 3 706.85±451.31, -dp/dt max (kPa/s): 4 291.42±323.72 vs. 3 691.17±515.44, all 1 <0.05]. ②Myocardial injury: compared with the sham group, the levels of serum cTnT in CLP group and NRG group were significantly increased, while the levels of serum cTnT in NRG group were significantly lower than those in CLP group (ng/L: 206.37±67.28 vs. 344.13±80.95, 1 < 0.05), and the HE staining showed that myocardial pathological changes in NRG group were improved compared with the CLP group. ③Inflammatory mediators level: compared with the sham group, the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1β and myocardial MIF were significantly increased in CLP group and NRG group, while the indicators in NRG group were lower than those in CLP group [TNF-α(ng/L): 52.77±3.43 vs. 97.19±13.98, IL-1β (ng/L): 40.25±5.48 vs. 56.05±6.88, MIF (μg/L): 1.92±0.16 vs. 2.87±0.10, all 1 <0.05]. Conclusion NRG-1 can reduce circulating levels of inflammatory factors in rats with sepsis, adjust myocardial MIF level, and alleviate myocardial cell injury, thereby improving cardiac function, and play a role in myocardial protection.

Objective To observe the urodynamic change after spinal cord injury at different levels and the relationship with neurogenic dysfunction of bladder and urethra. Methods Eighty female rats were divided into a control group (20 rats) , a suprasacral spinal cord injury group (30 rats) and a sacral spinal cord injury (30 rats). The urodynamic exam was performed with all the rats before and 20 days after the spinal cord injury model was established by surgical operation. Results The maximum bladder volume and compliance in the su- prasacral injury group were significantly less than the sacral spinal cord injury group and the control, the maxi- mum volume and compliance in sacral spinal cord injury group were significantly less than the control. The DLPP in suprasacral injury group was significantly higher than that in the sacral spinal cord injury group and the con- trol, the DLPP in sacral spinal cord injury group was significantly less than that in the control group. Conclu- sion Urodynamic study is very useful for the early diagnosis and individualized treatment of the neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of brain SPECT imaging with a novel Aβ plaque probe,131 I-2-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl) -6-iodoimidazo[ 1,2-α ] pyridine ( 131 I-IMPY) in early AD.Methods Thirteen patients with AD (3 males,10 females,age ranged 52 - 79 y),11 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI,4 males,7 females,age ranged 48 - 67 y) and 14 normal controls (6 males,8 females,age ranged 42 - 67 y) were enrolled in this study.131I-IMPY SPECT imaging was acquired in 2 -3 h after the agent injection.ROIs were drawn on cerebral lobes and cerebellum.The ratios of mean radioactivity of cerebral lobes over cerebellum (Rcl/cb) were calculated.The t-test was used for data analysis.Results In patients with MCI,Rcl/cb ratios were increased in parietal gyrus,temporal gyrus and frontal gyrus (right:1.15±0.18,1.18±0.12,1.14±0.14; left:1.16±0.11,1.19±0.18,1.15±0.09)compared with those in normal control group ( right:1.02 ± 0.12,1.05 ± 0.14,1.01 ± 0.12 ; left:1.03 ±0.13,1.05 ±0.13,1.01 ±0.14; t:2.1642 to 2.8757,all P ＜0.05).Rcl/cb ratios of basel ganglia and occipital gyms in MCI group (right:0.92 ±0.18,1.12 ±0.15; left:0.94 ±0.15,1.13 ±0.17) showed no statistical difference compared with those in normal control group (right:0.82 ±0.15,1.06 ±0.18;left:0.85 ±0.16,1.08 ±0.15; t:0.7805 to 1.4344,all P＞0.05).In patients with AD,Rcl/cb ratios were increased in parietal,temporal,basal ganglia and occipital lobes (right:1.16 ±0.19,1.24 ±0.17,1.16 ±0.13,1.14±0.11,1.23±0.10; left:1.17±0.21,1.25±0.15,1.18±0.08,1.17±0.16,1.25±0.11)compared with those in normal control group( t:2.1001 to 6.2789,all P ＜0.05).Rcl/cb ratios of parietal,temporal and frontal lobes in AD group showed no statistical difference compared with those in MCI group (t:0.1316 to 0.9806,all P ＞ 0.05 ),while Rcl/cb ratios of basal ganglia and occipital lobes in AD group were increased compared with those in MCI group ( t:2.0850 to 3.6772,all P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion 131 I-IMPY as a β- amyloid plaque probe for brain SPECT imaging may be potentially helpful for early diagnosis of AD.