Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic association between the polymorphism of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) family genes and schizophrenia in the North Han Chinese.

METHODSMethod of polymerase chain reaction-based ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) was applied to genotype 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cPLA2 family genes among 201 pedigrees consisting of fathers, mothers and affected offsprings with schizophrenia. Haplotype relative risk (HRR) test, transmission disequilibrium test (TDT), haplotype transmission analysis and multiple locus analysis were conducted to analyze the genotyping data.

RESULTSThe genotypic frequency of cPLA2 gene did not deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both case and control groups. HRR and TDT showed that the 10 SNPs were not associated with schizophrenia (P > 0.05). Analysis for haplotype transmission showed that no haplotype systems was associated with schizophrenia (P > 0.05). Results from COA and COG tests showed a disease association for the rs2162886-rs1668589, rs891014-rs1668589 and rs2307279-rs7542180 combinations (chi2 = 6.913, P = 0.032; chi2 = 8.393, P = 0.015; chi2 = 8.447, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONMany loci in the cPLA2 family genes were associated with schizophrenic.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Phospholipases A2, Cytosolic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Schizophrenia ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Young Adult

To investigate the relationship and significance of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway with caspase-3, XIAP, HSP27and Grp-78. The HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against b-catenin. After 72 and 96 h, protein was extracted and the protein expressions of b-catenin, caspase-3, XIAP, Grp-78 and HSP27 were detected by Western blot. b-catenin protein expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (F = 160.72, P is less than to 0.01). Interestingly, Caspase-3 protein expression was decreased at 72 h and increased to normal at 96 h (F = 136.10, P is less than to 0.01), while p-caspase-3 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h (F = 98.65, P is less than to 0.01). XIAP protein expression decreased at 72 h (F = 37.29, P is less than to 0.01) and increased at 96 h. Grp-78 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h ( F = 58.72, P is less than to 0.01). HSP27 protein expression showed no change following transfection ( F = 1.91, P is more than to 0.05). Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway is related to the protein expressions of caspase-3, XIAP and Grp-78, but not related to HSP27 protein expression in HCC. Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway may participate in the regulation of HCC apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation through affecting these factors.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Catenins ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the middle term effectiveness of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction for the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation.

METHODSFrom February 2007 to January 2010, 65 patients including 6 males and 59 females with recurrent patellar dislocation received the MPFL reconstruction. The reconstruction was performed using ipsilateral semitendinosis tendon to restore the damaged MPFL. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively and post-operatively by physical and subjectively with the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee), Tegner, and Lysholm questionnaires and radiographic examination.

RESULTSThe average follow-up duration was 20 months (ranged, 15 to 23 months). No recurrent episodes of dislocation or subluxation occurred. A firm endpoint to lateral patellar translation was noted in all patients at most recent follow-up. The Lysholm subjective knee evaluation score improved from (60.6 +/- 3.7) preoperatively to (89.8 +/- 4.6) postoperatively; and Tegner scores improved from (3.6 +/- 0.4) to (5.6 +/- 0.3), IKDC from (40.0 +/- 3.5) to (82.0 +/- 3.6). Radiographic evaluation demonstrated improvements in the congruence and sulcus femoral angles.

CONCLUSIONMPFL reconstruction is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of recurrent patellar dislocation.

Adolescent ; Female ; Femur ; surgery ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Ligaments ; surgery ; Male ; Patella ; surgery ; Patellar Dislocation ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Young Adult

Having manufactured the bone fatigue damage testing device SL-2000, we applied it to research on bone fatigue damage and on the bone microdamage which can indicate bone biomechanical property. According to the general principle of industry fatigue machine and bone fatigue test, the strength, frequency and times of loading, temperature and degree of wetness were controlled in the SL-2000 Device for making the experiment condition stable. After the fatigue damage to SD rats' vertebrae, the models of bone microdamage in SD rat were established. 0-200 N of strength, 0-10 Hz frequency, and 0-999999 times of loading, ambient temperature 50 degrees C experiment, and approximately 99% of the ambient degree of wetness could be adjusted continuously. Three kinds of microdamage such as microcrack, cross-hatch staining, and diffuse staining were observed in the SD rats' vertebrae fatigue damaged by the device. The microcrack density was 19.76+/-15.05 #/mm2, the microcrack length was 36. 74+/-11. 51 microm, and the area ratio of diffuse staining was 0.4117%. Therefore the device is suitable for bone fatigue damage test and for establishment of the model of bone microdamage.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Compressive Strength ; Equipment Design ; Fractures, Stress ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Spine ; pathology ; Weight-Bearing

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of murine bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (mBMEC-CM) on the growth of yolk sac hematopoietic progenitors.

METHODSThe serum-free mBMEC-CM was obtained from subcultures of murine endothelial cell line derived from bone marrow which was established in our laboratory. The murine yolk sacs were harvested on day 8.5 postcoitus (pc) and incubated with 0.1% collagenase in 10% fetal calf serum at 37 degrees C for 40 minutes. Yolk sac cells were incubated in tissue culture dishes at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Nonadherent cells were collected for semisolid culture assay of granulocyte-macrophage colony forming unit (CFU-GM) and high proliferative potential-colony forming cell (HPP-CFC) after being cultured in DMEM with 10% mBMEC-CM and 10% FBS for 24 hours. The number of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC was counted at day 7 and day 14 respectively.

RESULTSThe growth of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC was supported by mBMEC-CM with GM-CSF. mBMEC-CM could induce the proliferation and differentiation of yolk sac hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors in liquid culture system. The percentages of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC compared with the 0 hour control were (119.5 +/- 5.7)% and (130.8 +/- 9.8)% respectively after 24 hours liquid culture (P < 0.05). The expansion effects of mBMEC-CM on CFU-GM and HPP-CFC were enhanced by compounded with flt3 ligand (FL) and thrombopoietin (TPO). The percentages of CFU-GM and HPP-CFC compared with the 0 hour control were (132.0 +/- 6.2)% and (176.9 +/- 12.8)% respectively after 24 hours liquid culture (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMurine bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium could support the growth and proliferation of yolk sac hematopoitic stem cells and progenitors, and this promoting effect was further enhanced by addition of FL and TPO.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Endothelium ; cytology ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Yolk Sac ; cytology

OBJECTIVEUsing molecular epidemiology method to characterize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype CRF01 _ AE strains being prevailed in Zhejiang province.

METHODSGag fragments of the HIV-1 strains were amplified by nested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) from the DNA extracted from whole blood of HIV-1 infected individuals in Zhejiang province. PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by phylogenetic method.

RESULTS81 HIV-1 subtype CRF01 _ AE sequences were identified from the 192 samples that sequenced successfully. As one of the dominant subtypes in Zhejiang, CRF01 _ AE was transmitted mainly by heterosexual or homosexual contact in local residents. In migrants living in Zhejiang, CRF01 _ AE were transmitted mainly by heterosexual contact or injecting drug use. There were three main clusters in the phylogenetic tree which bootstrap value was larger than 60. We named the clusters with group MIX (47 sequences), group SEX (7 sequences) and group MSM (12 sequences) based on the transmission. Pairwise DNA distances in the gag region within the three groups and between CM240 were different (P = 0.000). Data through the analyses of deduced amino acid sequences from the three groups showed that several signature amino acid sites were distinct from the same positions of the subtype reference strains.

CONCLUSIONThe CRF01 _ AE strain prevailing in Zhejiang province was from several sources, transmitted by more than three different transmission routes, and becoming the main subtypes circulating in homosexual population in this study. More attention needs to be paid to the epidemic characteristic of CRF01 _ AE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Epidemiology ; methods ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus with sophisticated path-ogenesis which has not yet been fully elucidated. In this review paper, the mechanisms of metabolic abnormalities, insulin re-sistance,endoplasmic reticulum stress,neuronal calcium dysho-meostasis, in ammation, blood brain barrier impairment, and mitochondrial injury associated with DCD are reviewed. In addi-tion,the prevention and treatment of DCD by traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) and the effective compounds are comprehen-sively summarized, in order to provide an updated overview on the DCD pathogenesis,as well as the scientific evidence under-pinning the use of TCM interventions for the treatment and pre-vention of DCD.

Purpose To investigate the expression of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and plateled derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in serum,carcinoma and bone metastases of lung cancer patients. Methods Protein chip were used to screen the differential expression of cytokines in serum of 19 lung cancer patients (9 patients with bone metastasis and 10 patients freedistant metastasis) . Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the differential expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB cytokines in 12 cases of primary lung cancer without distant metastasis and 12 cases of primary lung cancer with only bone metastasis. Results Serum level of lipid transport factor (LCN2) and PDGFBB in non-small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis were significantly higher than that without distant metastasis(P< 0. 05) . There was no difference cytokines between small cell lung cancer patients with bone metastasis and without metastasis group (P > 0. 05) . The results of immunohistochemistry showed that high expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB in bone metastasis tissues was significantly higher than that in primary lung cancer tissues. Conclusions High expression of LCN2 and PDGF-BB in serum and bone metastasis tissue of patients with non-small cell lung cancer might be involved in the occurrence,development of bone metastasis of lung cancer in the bone marrow,may be an important biomarker and potential therapeutic target for bone metastasis of lung cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate foot biomechanics characteristic of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODSThis study was conducted among 303 patients with type 2 diabetes. The whole foot was divided into 10 regions, namely the first toe (T1); the second to fifth toes (T2-5); the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsals (M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5, respectively); midfoot (MF), and the heel medial (HM). Foot arch index, foot angle and maximum peak pressure (MPP) of the 10 regions were measured using a Footscan gait system.

RESULTSThe maximum peak pressure of 10 regions decreased in the order of M3>M2>HM>M4>HL>M1>M5>T1>ML>T2-5 for the left foot, and in the order of M3>M2>HM>M4>HL>M1>M5>T1>ML>T2-5 for the right foot. The MPP in M1 region was higher in the right than in the left foot (P<0.05). The MPP in M3, M4, M5, and MF was higher in the left than in the right foot (P<0.05). The percentage of high-risk foot (defined by a total plantar pressure ≥70 N/cm) was 34% on the left and 17.7% on the right. An increased BMI was associated with a significant increase in high-risk foot, but not for the right foot in underweight patients. Foot flat phase was extended and forefoot push-off phase shortened in stance phase in the patients. Compared with the right foot, the left foot showed a significantly increased foot arch index and increased low and high arch rates with a decreased normal arch rate. Total plantar pressure was higher in of the left high arch foot than in normal arch foot. The foot angle was significantly larger on the right than on the left. The bilateral total plantar pressures were significantly greater in male patients (P<0.05) and increased with age but were not associated with the duration of DM, foot angle, or glycosylated hemoglobin level.

CONCLUSIONDiabetic patients have obvious alterations in foot biomechanics with abnormalities of the plantar pressure, and the percentage of high-risk foot increases in overweight and obese patients, suggesting the need of body weight control in these patients when administering offloading treatment for prevention of diabetic foot ulcer.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; physiopathology ; Diabetic Foot ; prevention & control ; Female ; Foot ; physiopathology ; Gait ; Heel ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; physiopathology ; Pressure