Objective To investigate the effect of aspirin on the incidence of thromboembolism in hypertensive patients associated with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.MethodsFour hundred hypertensive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (mean age 59 years) free of thromboembolic events were randomized assigned to receive aspirin (0.3 g/d) or placebo. Cerebral thromboembolism,including transient ischemic attack and embolism of peripheral arteries were defined as primary outcomes. Event-free survival curves were estimated by Kaplan-Meier curve. Results During 3.6 years follow-up,primary outcomes occurred in 61 patients (4.3% per year). Aspirin significantly reduced the incidence of primary outcome as compared with placebo group( 9.0% vs 21.5%,P

[Abstract ] Objective Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) can be induced to the differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells in many induction conditions.We sought to explore the possibility of the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into vascular smooth muscle cells by continuous cell culture in vitro. Methods Rat BMSCs were isolated from the bilateral tibial and femoral bones by the method of whole bone marrow adherence, followed by ex vivo expansion.BMSCs were identified by flow cytometry and three-lineage differentiation.After continuous five days'cell culture of BMSCs, the specific surface antigens of VSMCs were detec-ted by immunofluorescence, western blot and real-time PCR. Results BMSCs expressed CD29、90, in contrast, they did not express CD45、34、49d.After induction of osteogenesis, adipogenesis and chondrogenesis, alizarin red、oil red and alcian blue staining pro-duced a strong reaction in cells.The expressions ofα-SMA、Calponin1、SM-MHC and SM22 in the cells of experimental group were no-tably increased, which indicated that BMSCs were differentiating towards VSMCs. Conclusion In the absence of exogenous stimula-tion, BMSCs can be successfully induced to differentiate into VSMCs by continuous cell culture.

Objective To analyze the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of epidemic encephalitis B in Yuneheng area of Shanxi Province in 2006.Methods Seventy-nine cases diagnosed with epidemic encephalitis B were enrolled in this study and correlated data,epidemic and clinical characteristics,laboratory examinations and treatment outcome were analyzed.Results Sixty-two of 79 patients(78.5%)were middle-aged or old people,all cases(100%)occurred in July,August and September,69 cases(87.3%)were peasants.All patients(100%)had fever,73(92.4%)had conscious disturbance,27(34.2%)had respiratory failure.Encephalitis B specific IgM antibody was examined and 40 cases(85.1%)were positive.Twenty cases(25.3%)had complications.When they were discharged,37 cases(46.8%)recovered completely,14 cases(17.7%)died,12 were improved and 16 were voluntarily discharged,7 cases(8.9%)left more or less neurological deficits. Conclusion The epidemiology and clinical characteristics are important basis to diagnose epidemic encephalitis B.

BackgroundThe effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on public health have attracted wide attentions.The association of the thermal effect of ELF-EMFs with cancer and ocular tissue damage has been of concern.However,the pathological changes of scleral tissue after exposure to ELF-EMFs as well as the relationship between these changes and myopia are still poorly understood.ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the molecular pathological changes of human fetal scleral fibroblasts (HFSFs) after exposure to ELF-EMFs in vitro and to explore the possible mechanism in the occurrence and development of myopia.MethodsHFSFs were cultured and passaged and then exposed to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields,and HFSFs that did not receive the irradiation of ELF-EMFs were used as the control group.The expression of collagen type Ⅰ (COL1A1 ) mRNA and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mRNA in cultured HFSFs were detected by real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) under different magnetic field intensites (0,0.1,0.2,0.5,1.0 mT) and different exposure time (0,6,12,24,36,48 hours).Cell proliferation assay of HFSFs was detected by the cell counting kit 8 ( CCK8 ) assay.The expression levels of COL1 A1 and MMP-2 proteins in HFSFs were further confirmed by immunofluorescence staining.Results The expression of COL1A1 mRNA was significantly down-regulated under the exposure of 0.2 mT ELF-EMFs for 6 hours,in comparison with the control group;moreover,it decreased in parallel with the increased of flux density (0.099±0.008 vs.0.050±0.004) (P =0.009 ).The expression of MMP-2mRNA was up-regulated conspicuously after exposure to 0.1 mT ELF-EMFs for 24 hours,and it increased with exposure time in comparison with the control group ( 0.009 ±0.001 vs.0.018±0.003 ) ( P =0.038 ).Proliferation of HFSFs (A450) was inhibited following the exposure to 0.2 mT ELF-EMFs for 24 hours in comparison with the control group (P =0.009 ).The expression of COL1 A1 in the experimental group was decreased,compared with the control group,but the expression of MMP-2 was increased.ConclusionsELF-EMFs inhibit the proliferation of HFSFs and expression of COL1 A1 in HFSFs,which might be one of the reasons for the development of myopia.

Objective To establish an assay for the detection of Torque teno sus virus ( TTSuV) strains and to analyze its preliminary application to biologics.Methods Primers and probe were designed according to the conserved sequences.A fluorescent PCR assay for the detection of TTSuV strains was estab-lished.Several parameters including the specificity, linearity, accuracy, sensitivity and anti-interference of the established assay were verified.The fluorescent PCR assay was performed to detect the samples of por-cine blood, cell substrate and rotavirus vaccine.The porcine blood samples positive for TTSuV strains were further genotyped.Results The established fluorescent PCR assay was confirmed to have high specificity as no cross-reactions with parvovirus virus of various species, SV40 and porcine circovirus strains were detec-ted.The linear range of the assay was 1×109-1×103 copies/μl for TTSuV1 genotype and 1×109-1×102 cop-ies/μl for TTSuV2 genotype with a R2 value more than 0.993.The sensitivity of the fluorescent PCR assay was 1×103 copies/μl for TTSuV1 genotype and 1×102 copies/μl for TTSuV2 genotype.The intra-and inter-CVs were both less than 7%in Ct values and less than 25% and 45% respectively in copies.No interfer-ence was found in the detection of TTSuV nucleic acids from cell samples.8 out of 20 porcine blood samples were positive for TTSuV strains, among which one sample was positive for TTSuV1 genotype, four samples were positive for TTSuV2 genotype and the rest were positive for both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 genotypes.Com-pared with the reference strain, strains genotyped as TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 were respectively shared 98%-99%and 98%homologies in sequences.All of the cell substrate and rotavirus vaccine samples detected by the fluorescent PCR assay were negative for TTSuV strains.Conclusion The fluorescent PCR assay for the detection of TTSuV was established successfully, the application of which would further improve the safety of biologics.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative Computed Tomography (CT)-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary ground-glass opacity.Methods We performed CT-guided Microcoil localization in 30 patients with 32 pure ground glass opacities between December 2012 and September 2013.All 30 patients underwent CT-guided micmcoil localization under local anesthesia with a 21G needle percutaneous lung biopsy.All patients accepted video-assisted thoracic surgery after the localization the same day or the next day.Results We located 32 pure ground glass opacitiesin 30 patients.The mean lesion diameter was 0.94 cm,the average depth from the visceral pleura was 0.71 cm,all leisons were successfully located by microcoil,asymptomatic pneumothorax was observed in seven patients,pulmonary hematoma was observed in two patients,pain was observed in one patient,dislodgement was found in one patient during the operation.None of these cases needed surgical treatment.Pathologic diagnoses of the target leisions were as follows:adenocarcinoma in situ (n =17),adenocarcinoma(n =9),atypical hyperplasia(n =4),inflammation (n =2).After the placement of preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary ground-glass opacity,all the 32 pulmonary pure ground-glass opacities resection success rate was 100％.Conclusion Preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary pure ground-glass opacity is a safe and effective way to improve the accuracy of surgical resection.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact and mechanism of electro-acupuncture (EA) on olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplantation of spinal cord injury (SCI) axonal regeneration.

METHODSIn the experiment, 72 adult Sprague Dawley male rats weighted (220±20) g underwent contusion and transection method to cause the T9 model of spinal cord injury, were randomly divided into four groups involving model group, EA group,OECs group,and EA+OECs group. 5% fluorescein gold (FG) solution of 0.5 µl was injected into rats' spinal cord at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after SCI, a series of tests were performed including fluorescein gold(FG) retrograde tagging, BBB scores.

RESULTS(1)The BBB scores level among four groups had no differences from the 1st day to the 1st week after the SCI (P>0.05). From the 3rd week after the SCI, the BBB scores level in EA+ OECs group were obviously higher than that of other groups (P<0.05). (2)The result of the fluorescein gold (FG) retrograde tagging showed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment FG positive nerve fibers were observed in SCI region. In EA+OECs group the number of FG positive nerve fibers was more than other three groups, and the fibers were more regularly arranged than other three groups.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of electro-acupuncture and OECs transplantation can recover the pathway of nerve conduction and promote nerve fibers regeneration and hind limb function recovery for SCI rat, and can guide the trend of the axonal regeneration.

Animals ; Axons ; physiology ; Cell Transplantation ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Regeneration ; Olfactory Nerve ; physiopathology ; transplantation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; physiopathology ; therapy

Traditional processes are mostly adopted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation production and the quality of products is mostly controlled by terminal. Potential problems of the production in the process are unpredictable and is relied on experience in most cases. Therefore, it is hard to find the key points affecting the preparation process and quality control. A pattern of research and development of traditional Chinese medicine preparation process based on the idea of Quality by Design (QbD) was proposed after introducing the latest research achievement. Basic theories of micromeritics and rheology were used to characterize the physical property of TCM raw material. TCM preparation process was designed in a more scientific and rational way by studying the correlation among enhancing physical property of raw material, preparation process and product quality of preparation. So factors affecting the quality of TCM production would be found out and problems that might occur in the pilot process could be predicted. It would be a foundation for the R&D and production of TCM preparation as well as support for the "process control" of TCMIs gradually realized in the future.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; trends ; Quality Control ; Research ; standards ; trends ; Research Design ; standards ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards

Objective To explore the relationship between lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) of lumbar spinal stenosis(LSS)and the dural sac cross-sectional area(DSCA)by MRI measurement. Methods 91 patients with central degenerative LSS were randomly selected and 91 age-and sex-matched people without LSS were select-ed as a control group. LDD was classified into five grades by MRI detection according to the method proposed by Pfirrmann and DSCA were measured. Results LDD was not associated with age in LSS. The proportion of severe degenerated disc in lower lumbar levels were higher than that of L2/3 in the two groups;DSCA in severe degenerat-ed disc group was significantly smaller than that in light degenerated group only in L2/3 and L3/4 in LSS. There were no statistical differences in every lumbar level in the control group. Conclusions LDD in L4/5 and L5/S1 of LSS is more severe than that of the normal people. DSCA and LDD are positively correlated in L2/3 and L3/4,but not in L4/5 and L5/S1 for LSS.

Objective To investigate the change of oxidation system and antioxidation system in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis(MsPGN) induced by anti-Thy1.1 antibody,and further to study the intervention of rosmarinic acid(RAD).Methods Anti-THy1.1 serum was produced,and then intravenously injected into rats for establishing an experimental model of MsPGN.The experiment was designed for control with or without RAD,glomerulonephritis with or without RAD,respectively.The activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde(MDA) in tissue homogenate were detected by spectrophotomerty.Results The activity of SOD significantly decreased,while the content of MDA increased in MsPGN.RAD could inhibit oxidation in the mesangial cells.Conclusion Lipid peroxidation participates in MsPGN and RAD can control the changes of the mesangial cells and show the activity of antioxidation.