Clinical data of 595 patients of stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning were analyzed retrospectively, 310 (52. 1% ) of them with strokeassociated pneumonia (SAP). Early-onset pneumonia occurred in 225 patients (72.6%), and late-onset pneumonia in 85 (27.4%). Patients with length of hospital-stay equal to or more than two weeks accounted for (113 cases) 50. 3% of those with early-onset pneumonia, whereas patients with length of hospital-stay less than one week (60 cases) accounted for 70. 6% of those with late-onset pneumonia. Age above 65 years ( OR = 1. 037 ), diabetes ( OR = 1. 724), Glasgow coma scores equal to or less than eight ( OR = 0. 098 ),nasal feeding ( OR = 6. 640 ), administration of gastric mucosal protective drugs ( OR = 3. 581 ) and antibiotic prophylaxis ( OR = 2. 433) all were risk factors for SAP.

Objective To investigate the effects of silymarin on expressions of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-?B) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) in the kidneys of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)-induced renal fibrosis.Methods Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group(n=24),operated group(n=24) and silymarin treated group(n=24).Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis model was established via UUO.Silymarin was given by gavage with 30 mg/(kg?d) in silymarin treated group,and the same volume normal saline was given by gavage in operated group and sham-operated group.In each group,8 rats were killed at 7,14 and 21 d after operation.Histological changes were observed in tubulointerstitial injury under microscope.The expressions of NF-?B and ICAM-1 in renal tissue were determined with immunohistochemical method.Results Tubuloin-terstitial injury scores in operated group at 7,14 and 21 d were 1.168?0.108,1.776?0.064 and 2.301?0.157,respectively,and Tubulointerstitial injury scores in the treated group at 7,14 and 21 d were 1.043?0.114,1.677?0.083 and 2.084?0.201,respectively.Tubulointerstitial injury scores in silymarin treated group were significantly lower than those in operated group(Pa

Objective To study the function of the toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) signaling pathway in the synthesis and secretion of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells of rats with COPD. Methods The primary pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of rats with COPD were digested, separated and purified. Then they were randomly divided into control group, LPS group, TLR4 inhibitor group (TAK242) and LPS + TLR4 inhibitor group. RT-PCR, Western blot were used to detect the expression level of TLR-4 and NF-κB among groups. The levels of IFN-γ and PDGF-AB in supernatant with PASMCs in each group were detected by ELISA. Results LPS increased the expression of TLR-4、 NF-κB and the levels of IFN-γ and PDGF-AB. The expression of TLR4, NF-κB and the levels of IFN-γ and PDGF-AB were significantly reduced after inhibiting the expression of TLR4(P < 0.05). Conclusion TLR-4 signaling pathway involved in the inflammatory response and pulmonary vascular remodeling which increased the synthesis and secretion of IFN-γ and PDGF-AB in PASMCs. It provides a theoretical approach for the early intervention of clinical with COPD.

BACKGROUND:Hydrolysis in vivo is the key mechanism of degradation in DL-polylactic acid (PDLLA). When it is combined with hydroxyapatite (HA), could the biodegradation and weight loss rate be improved? OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in the interface and structure of HA/PDLLA composite after in vivo implantation into rabbit femoral defects.DESIGN: Randomized grouping and controlled observation.SETTING: Biomedical Materials and Engineering Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology.MATERIALS: Forty healthy adult Japan White Rabbits of 2.0-2.5 kg, either male or female were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Hubei Province (No. SCXK. 2003-0005).METHODS: The experiment was conducted in Biomedical Materials and Engineering Research Center, Wuhan University of Technology from June 2005 to March 2006. ①The rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: HA/PDLLA group and PDLLA control group with 20 animals in each group. After anesthetized with ketamine and proazamine, the sample rods of HA/PDLLA and PDLLA were respectively implanted into the drilled bone cavities (φ5 mm × 8 mm) among condyles of femur sites of the rabbits, and the rod could be slightly higher than the surface of bone substance. The samples were covered by periosteum and skin, and then the skin and periosteum were repositioned. ②The complete implants and peripheral bone tissues were taken out respectively after 3, 6, 12 and 24 weeks implantation. The changes in the interface and structure of HA/PDLLA composite after in vivo implantation were observed by using scanning electron microscope (SEM, JSM-5610LV, Japan).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in the interface and structure of HA/PDLLA composite after in vivo implantation.RESULTS: Totally 40 rabbits were involved in the result analysis. After the materials were implanted, HA granules shed from the material surface, some fibroblasts grew into the tissue and a little new osteotylus was formed, indicating HA/PDLLA composite had capabilities of bone-formation and bone-connection. After 24 weeks implantation, the material was divided and wrapped by tissues, neogenetic bone tissue grew into the material, and the fracture healed well,indicating HA/PDLLA composite had good biocompatibility. As for biodegradable PDLLA polymer, hydrolysis in vivo is the most main mechanism of degradation; the degradation speed was decreased owing to being compounded with HA.CONCLUSION: HA/PDLLA composite has capabilities of bone-formation and bone-connection; the biocompatibility of the composite is improved accordingly on account of the decrease of the degradation speed. HA/PDLLA composite is suitable for clinical application as absorbable materials for internal fixation.

Objective To establish a quality standard for Tibetan medicineRuyi-Zhenbao pill. Methods Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was applied to identify 12 Tibetan medicinal materials, and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the contents of gallic acid, dehydrodiisoeugenol, piperine, and cinnamaldehyde.Results The identified characteristics of TLC were distinct and the spots were clear. Linearity of gallic acid, dehydrodiisoeugenol, piperine, and cinnamaldehyde were in the range of 0.106-0.901μg, 0.033-0.281μg, 0.007-0.060μg, and 0.021-0.178μg, respectively. Average recovery was in the range of 98.47%-101.65% (RSD<3.0%).Conclusions The method of identification and content determination was good in terms of specificity, accuracy and repeatability, and can be used for quality control ofRuyi-Zhenbaopill.

AIM: To study the dissolution of ginsenoside Rb1,cinnamic acid and borneol in traditional Chinese medicine Shexiang Baoxin Pill(Moschus,extract of Radix et Rhizoma ginseng,Calculus Bovis artifactus,Cortex Cinnamomi,Styrax,Venenum Bufonis and Borneolum syntheticum). METHODS: The in vitro dissolution of active components in Shexiang Baoxin Pill was performed with paddle method. HPLC was used for determination of ginsenoside Rb1 and cinnamic acid,and GC for borneol. RESULTS: The analytic method above was easy to carry out,the requirement of the specificity,accuracy,precision and stability could meet the needs of experiment well; the dissolution time T50 and Td of ginsenoside Rb1,cinnamic acid and borneol were 30. 90,33. 79 min,29. 73, 37. 11 min and 42. 38,48. 51 min respectively. CONCLUSION: The dissolution rate of three active components from Shexiang Baoxin Pills was fast and the analytic methods established in this study could be used to evaluate the quality of the preparation.

OBJECTIVE To discuss a highly effective method to immobilize probe on the surfaces of piezoelectric DNA sensors.METHODS Pseudomonas aeruginosa probe was immobilized on the gold surface of gene sensor(array) with routine self-assembly method(SAM)(non-reduction method) and SAM with deoxidized probe((reduction) method),respectively.The changes in frequency and time-cost were compared in reactions with(different) concentrations of probe.RESULTS Reduction method had the advantage of more probe immobilization;less time consumed in testing and higher changes in frequency during the reaction than non-reduction method.CONCLUSIONS Reduction method has a better ability to immobilize probe on the surfaces of piezoelectric DNA sensors.

OBJECTIVE To establish a SNP detection method by DNA piezoelectric biosensor and detect a SNP relative to HBV infection. METHODS To establish a model experiment with synthesis DNA sequences as target and find the lowest sensitivity. After extraction of genome DNA from inpatient blood sample, the SNP sites located in ESR1 gene region in samples were detected by SNP detecting method established. RESULTS The frequency shift of target-A was 416.0?21.5Hz, the frequency shift of target-G was 9.4?5.0Hz. And it could be detected that the lowest sensitivity of target-A was 2?10-11 mol/L. The three genotypes of blood samples, TT, TC and CC, had different frequency shifts, 109.4?13.4Hz, 52.0?11.4Hz and 7.2?4.5Hz, respectively. CONCLUSIONS SNP in blood sample could be detected specifically and sensitively by DNA piezoelectric biosensor.

Objective To study the process of foam fractionation of polyphyllin in semi-batch mode. Methods Taking enrichment ratio, recovery rate of polyphyllin, and purity ratio as the performance criteria and using single examining method to examine the operational parameters, i.e. operation mode, air flow rate, initial feed concentration, solution pH value, initial feed height and temperature on separation performance. The optimal conditions of the process were obtained finally. Results The separation performance is good when gas flow rate is 400 mL/min, initial feed concentration (polyphyllins content) is 0.3 mg/mL, pH value is 7, feed height is 30 cm, and feed temperature is 40 ℃. The enrichment ratio is 25.7, recovery ratio is 42.1%, and the foam liquids purity of total polyphyllin is 41.4%, which is 4.5 times higher than that in feed purity. Conclusion Foam fractionation technique could be applied to separate polyphyllin.

Objective To compare the assessment results of Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA) and mini-mental state examination(MMSE) in stroke patients,and to analyze the correlation between the two assessments and to explore the applicable values of LOTCA in assessing vascular cognitive function impairment (VCI).Methods According to the diagnostic standard of cognitive impairment with MMSE,thirty stroke patients with cognitive impairment were selected as cognitive impairment group,thirty stroke patients without markedly cognitive impairment as stroke control group,and thirty normal subjects served as normal control group.All the subjects' age,gender and level of education were matched in the three groups. All the subjects were assessed with LOTCA and MMSE.ResultsThe total scores of LOTCA had high positive correlation with the total scores of MMSE in cognitive impairment group ( r =0.934,P ＜ 0.01 ),the correlations were also found between every sub-items of LOTCA and those of MMSE (P ＜ 0.01 ).The total scores and the scores of sub-items of LOTCA in cognitive impairment group were significantly lower than those in stroke control group and were those in normal control group(P ＜ 0.01 ),particularly lower scores in LOTCA sub-items of thinking operations,orientation,visuomotor organization.The scores of sub-items of LOTCA,including thinking operations,visuo-motor organization,attention,orientation,spatial perception were all significantly lower in stroke control group than those in normal control group(P ＜0.01 ),especially in thinking operations and visuo-motor organization sub-items.Conclusions Correlations were found between LOTCA and MMSE.Compared to MMSE,LOTCA could detect vascular cognitive function impairment earlier and is much more comprehensive,so it is suitable to assess vascular cognitive impairment patients with no dementia.