OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of CT-guided percutaneous puncture and local chemotherapy for lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSFrom January 2002 to March 2013, 145 patients (84 males and 61 females) with lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis underwent failed conservative treatment were treated with CT-guided minimally invasive surgery. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 143 patients were followed up, aged from 2.5 to 81 years with an average of (42.60 +/- 17.14) years. Fourteen cases (6 cases with internal fixation and 8 cases without internal fixation) recurred and 32 cases complicated with paraspinal abscess after operation. Preoperatively 1 case complicated with lower limb weakness and superficial sensation worse, 1 case with muscle strength decrease, this 2 cases were grade D of Frankle, other cases were grade E. And 1 patient underwent fenestration operation and local chemotherapy, 144 cases with CT-guided percutaneous puncture and local chemotherapy. ESR and lumbar lordosis angle of all patients were observed preoperatively and final follow-up.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time was 67 months (ranged, 21 to 149 months) in 143 cases, and 73 cases more than 5 years. All patients obtained clinical healing. ESR was (44.96 +/- 12.41) mm/h before operation and (7.25 +/- 3.43) mm/h at final follow-up, there was significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (t=35.06, P=0.000). Lumbar lordosis angle was (36.32 +/- 8.55) degrees before operation and (33.35 +/- 8.16) at final follow-up, there was significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (t=13.90, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONWhen conservative treatment fails for 3 months or more, the patients have good spinal stabilization, nerve function is more than grade D of Frankel, CT-guided percutaneous puncture and local chemotherapy can get satisfactory outcomes for lumbosacral spinal tuberculosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Region ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study DNA quantification and STR typing of samples pre-treated with pyramidon. METHODS: The blood samples of ten unrelated individuals were anticoagulated in EDTA. The blood stains were made on the filter paper. The experimental groups were divided into six groups in accordance with the storage time, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24h after pre-treated with pyramidon. DNA was extracted by three methods: magnetic bead-based extraction, QIAcube DNA purification method and Chelex-100 method. The quantification of DNA was made by fluorescent quantitative PCR. STR typing was detected by PCR-STR fluorescent technology. RESULTS: In the same DNA extraction method, the sample DNA decreased gradually with times after pre-treatment with pyramidon. In the same storage time, the DNA quantification in different extraction methods had significant differences. Sixteen loci DNA typing were detected in 90.56% of samples. CONCLUSION Pyramidon pre-treatment could cause DNA degradation, but effective STR typing can be achieved within 24 h. The magnetic bead-based extraction is the best method for STR profiling and DNA extraction.
Aminopyrine/pharmacology* ; Blood Stains ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Specimen Handling

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of Longchang Granule in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

METHODSRat models of prostate hyperplasia were made by castration and testosterone propionate injection. After treated respectively with Longchang Granule and Longbishu by gastrogavage for 30 days, all the model rats were killed and their prostate glands harvested for the measurement of the wet weight and detection of the expression of bax in the prostatic hyperplastic tissues by RV 2-step method.

RESULTSThe wet weight of the prostate was (0.61 +/- 0.03) g in the blank control group, (0.95 +/- 0.04) g in the model group, (0.73 +/- 0.02) g in the Longbishu group, (0.80 +/- 0.05) g in the low-dose Longchang group, (0.78 +/- 0.07) g in the medium-dose Longchang group and (0.68 +/- 0.03) g in the high-dose Longchang group, with significant differences between the model and the intervention groups (P < 0.05). The prostate indexes in the above groups were 0.143 +/- 0.006, 0.226 +/- 0.008, 0.172 +/- 0.004, 0.199 +/- 0.012, 0.181 +/- 0.010 and 0.168 +/- 0.003, respectively, and the expressions of bax by mean optical density were 0.226 +/- 0.010, 0.184 +/- 0.005, 0.206 +/- 0.015, 0.199 +/- 0.001, 0.202 +/- 0.003 and 0.211 +/- 0.003, respectively, both with significant differences between the model and the intervention groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLongchang Granule can effectively reduce the wet weight of the prostate and alleviate its pathological changes in BPH rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with its effect of upregulating the expression of bax and accelerating cell apoptosis in the prostate tissues.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testosterone ; adverse effects ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of fosinopril (Fos) on regulating klotho gene expression and elucidate the mechanism of Fos regulating the Angiotensin II (AngII) -induced down-expression of klotho gene.

METHODSCulture cells, NRK-52E, were incubated with media either AngII or Fos or both of all. Experimental groups incubated with Fos (10(-5) mol/L) were divided according to variant points of time for 0 (control), 3, 6, 12, 24 h. Different concentration of Fos was selected to incubated with culture cells for 0 (control), 10(-9) 10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5) mol/L at the optimal time point (24 h). Five groups, which were A: control; B: AngII (10(-7) mol/L); C: Fos(10(-5) mol/L); D: AngII (10(-7) mol/L) + Fos(10(-5) mol/L) and E: Cells pretreated with Fos(10(-5) mol/L)12 h incubated with AngII (10(-7) mol/L) were divided to observe the effect of Fos on expression of klotho induced by AngII. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were applied to evaluate the klotho mRNA and protein expression, respectively.

RESULTSFos up-regulated klotho mRNA in time-dependent manner, and independent of dose-dependent manner; AngII obviously decreased the levels of kloltho mRNA and protein expression in NRK-52E as compared to the control (P < 0.05), the down-regulating effect was reversed by incubating both with AngII and Fos (P < 0.05), and Fos could inhibit the down-regulated expression of klotho gene induced by Ang II in NRK-52E.

CONCLUSIONFosinopril up-regulates klotho mRNA in time-dependent manner, and inhibits the down-regulated expression of klotho gene induced by Ang II.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fosinopril ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Glucuronidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

The B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) gene is an important member of the Bcl-2 family, a type of protein that plays an important role in the process of cell apoptosis. Bcl-2 does not change the rate of cell proliferation, but prolongs the life and increases the number of cells by counteracting a series of apoptosis. In the recent years, more and more evidence has shown a close correlation of the Bcl-2 gene with the development and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a disease whose mechanism is not yet fully understood but is drawing more and more attention towards the role of cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; Rats

Objective - To investigate the effect of lung flora dysbiosis on the process of pulmonary fibrosis and lung epithelial （ ） Methods - mesenchymal transition EMT in mice with silicosis. Male C57BL/6 mice of specific pathogen free grade were ， ， ， （ ） randomly divided into the blank control group silicosis model group solvent control group vancomycin VM + ampicillin （ ） ， （ ） （ ） ， AMP group metronidazole MNZ + neomycin NEO group and mixed treatment group 12 mice in each group. Except for ， ， the blank control group which was given 20.0 µL of 0.9% NaCl solution the other five groups of mice were dosed with 20.0 µL of silica dust suspension at a mass concentration of 250.0 g/L using a single tracheal drip to establish the silicosis mouse model. ： The intranasal drip method was used to treat silicosis mice in each group as following mice in the solvent control group were - ； ； given double distilled water mice in the VM+AMP group were given VM at a mass concentration of 0.5 g/L and AMP at 1.0 g/L ； mice in the MNZ+NEO group were given MNZ at a mass concentration of 1.0 g/L and NEO at 1.0 g/L mice in the mixed ， treatment group were given the same doses of the four antibiotics mentioned above all in a drip volume of 50.0 µL. Silicosis ， ， mice were treated seven days and half an hour before silica dusting and 7 14 and 21 days after silica dusting. Mouse lungtissue was collected aseptically 28 days after silica dusting. Hematoxylin eosin and Masson trichrome staining methods were - used to observe the pathological changes. Western blotting was used to detect the relative protein expression of α smooth muscle （ - ）， - （ - ） （ ） actin α SMA E cadherin E CAD and vimentin VIM . Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the relative expression of - - E CAD and VIM. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression levels of （Col1a2） Results collagen type Ⅰ alpha 2 mRNA in lung tissues. The histopathological results showed that the alveoli of the ， blank control group were thin and structurally intact with few surrounding infiltrating inflammatory cells and no abnormal ， distribution of collagen fibers. The alveoli of the silicosis model group were structurally disorganized with a large number of ， ， infiltrating inflammatory cells thickened alveolar walls and cellular fibrous nodules with abundant blue collagen deposit. In the ， ， VM+AMP group MNZ+NEO group and the mixed treatment group the inflammation and fibrosis were reduced with diferent degrees in the lung tissues compared to the silicosis model group and the solvent control group. The relative expression levels of - ， Col1a2 α SMA VIM protein and mRNA in lung tissues of mice in the silicosis model group were higher than those in the blank （ P ）， -CAD control group all <0.05 and the relative expression levels of E protein were lower than those in the blank control （P ） - ， Col1a2 group <0.05 . The relative expression levels of α SMA VIM protein and mRNA in lung tissues of mice in the MNZ+ （ P ）， -CAD NEO group and the mixed treatment group were lower all <0.05 and the relative expression levels of E protein were （P ）， Conclusion higher <0.05 when compared with the silicosis model group and the solvent control group. Pulmonary fibrosis ， - was reduced in silicosis mice with interventions in lung flora where anaerobic and gram negative bacteria affected pulmonary fibrosis and dysbiosis of the lung flora affected pulmonary EMT.

OBJECTIVETo review the characteristics of Madelung's disease which is rare and unfamiliar to clinicians and to find the method of diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSDetailed clinical data of 7 patients with Madelung's disease were reviewed and analyzed. And related literatures were discussed together.

RESULTSAll of 7 patients have excessive subcutaneous fat deposit predominantly around neck. One patients had the complication of central and peripheral neuropathy, One patients had the complication of glucose intolerance, One patients had the complication of chronic hepatopathy and hyperuricaemia. These 3 patients were associated with sleep apnea syndrome simultaneously. Another one patient was accompanied by autonomic nervous system disease only. Total neck lipectomy and abstinence from alcohol were performed on 5 patients. No recurrence was seen during a follow-up of 6 months to 5 years. One patient received partial lipectomy twice and relapsed again. All pathological results were nonencapsulated fat. One patient refused treatment. Six men patients were alcohol abusers.

CONCLUSIONSMadelung's disease is characterized by massive accumulation of nonencapsulated subcutaneous fat mainly located symmetrically in the neck. Chronic alcoholism may be a major risk factor. It may be associated with some internal diseases. Total neck lipectomy to improve figuration and relieve pressure and abstinence from alcohol may be the main effective therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; Female ; Humans ; Lipomatosis, Multiple Symmetrical ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Subcutaneous Fat ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the relationship between serum and monocyte-derived-macrophages secreted adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP), adiponectin (or A-FABP/adiponectin ratio) and coronary artery disease.

METHODSThree hundred and forty subjects underwent coronary angiography (CAG) were classified into CAD group (n = 211) and non-CAD group (n = 129) according to the CAG results. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was assessed by the numbers of involved coronary artery branches and the sum of the Gensini scores. Fasting venous blood was collected from all subjects and peripheral monocytes were isolated from 20 subjects (10 selected from each group with age-, gender-, and BMI-matched). Peripheral blood monocytes were obtained and stimulated into macrophages with PMA, cell culture supernatant was collected. The concentration of serum/supernatant A-FABP and adiponectin levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS(1) A-FABP levels tended to be higher in CAD patients compared to non-CAD subjects [18.3(13.2, 22.8) µg/L vs. 16.4(13.5, 20.4) µg/L, P = 0.088]. The concentration of adiponectin in CAD group was significantly lower than those in non-CAD group [13.9 (9.8, 17.1) mg/L vs. 19.7 (14.5, 27.6) mg/L, P < 0.05]. (2) The A-FABP levels increased and the adiponectin levels decreased as the number of stenotic vessels increased. Gensini scores were positively correlated with serum A-FABP (r = 0.120, P = 0.043) and inversely correlated with adiponectin (r = -0.405, P = 0.007). (3) The difference in A-FABP/adiponectin ratio was more prominent between subjects with CAD and subjects without CAD [(1.51 ± 0.79) µg/mg vs. (0.89 ± 0.30) µg/mg, P < 0.01] and there was a stronger positive correlation of Gensini score to A-FABP/adiponectin ratio(r = 0.531, P = 0.000). (4) Monocyte-derived-macrophages from patients with CAD had higher A-FABP/adiponectin ratio than that in patients without CAD [(0.51 ± 0.19) µg/mg vs. (0.36 ± 0.11) µg/mg, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSIncreased levels of serum A-FABP and reduced levels of adiponectin in CAD patients serves as a novel biomarker for the severity of the coronary stenosis. A-FABP/adiponectin ratio is superior to A-FABP or adiponectin alone on predicting CAD risks.

Adipocytes ; metabolism ; Adiponectin ; blood ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Focusing on the problems of Chinese materia medica resources,and combining with the national Chinese materia medica resources survey, the paper probes into monitoring mechanism of Chinese materia medica resources. The establishment of the monitoring mechanism needs one organization and management agencies to supervise and guide monitoring work, one network system to gather data information, a group of people to perform monitoring work, a system of technical methods to assure monitoring work scientific and practical, a series of achievements and products to figure out the methods for solving problems, a group of monitoring index system to accumulate basic data, and a plenty of funds to keep normal operation of monitoring work.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Materia Medica

A total of 24 biologically pure entophytic fungal strains were isolated from stems, leaves, and seed coats of Xylocarpus plants by repeated purification, and identified with Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA molecular method, which belonging to 14 genera, 11 families, 9 orders and 3 classes. There were differences in genus and species levels among three plant materials from different habitats and species, and it was found that the strains of Phomopsis and Colletotrichum existed in all three plant materials. In vitro assay of antitumor activity by MTT method revealed that the EtOAc extracts of 15 strains exhibited potent antitumor activity. These results suggest that it is of value for further investigation on the above fungal strains.
Antineoplastic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Biodiversity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Fungi ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; HCT116 Cells ; Humans ; Meliaceae ; microbiology ; Phylogeny