OBJECTIVETo identify the Cynomorii Herba and its analogues species using DNA barcoding technique.

METHODTotal genomic DNA extracted from all materials using the DNA extraction kit. The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and purified PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed using the CodonCode Aligner 3.7.1. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances and GC content were computed using MEGA 5. 0. Species identification analyses were conducted through the species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and neighbor-joining (NJ) trees.

RESULTThe ITS2 sequence lengths of Cynomorii Herba were 229 bp. The average intra-specific genetic distances of Cynomorii Herba were 0.003. The average inter-specific genetic distances between Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species were 0.760. The results showed that the minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence. The species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and NJ trees results indicated that Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species can be easily identification.

CONCLUSIONThe ITS2 region is an efficient barcode for identification of Cynomorii Herba, which provide a new technique to ensure clinical safety in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Cynomorium ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of multiple-injuries of bone and joint in the belief that a better knowledge of such injuries may help their prevention and treatment. Methods A retrospective study was done on the data of 346 patients with multiple-injuries of bone and joint who had been ad- mitted to our department from January 2001 to December 2004. On the basis of CAI's classification, the following data were statistically analyzed: gender, age, cause of injury, injured part, number of injured parts, associated injuries and mortality. Results Of the 346 injured patients, there were 278 males and 68 females, with an av- erage age of 32.8 years (9months to 89 years). Two hundred and twenty-six cases resulted from traffic accidents, 65 from crush by a heavy object, and 52 from falling. There were 159 fractures of shaft of tibia and fibula, 96 fractures of femoral shaft, 87 fractures of shaft of ulna and radius, 58 fractures of ankle and foot, 57 chest injuries, 50 knee injuries, 50 hip injuries, 49 injuries at the pelvis region, 46 wrist and hand injuries, 36 injuries of shoulder, 36 skull fractures, 33 fractures of humeral shaft, 23 spinal fractures, and 17 elbow injuries. Two hundred and forty-two patients had two parts injured, 83 had three parts, 20 had four parts, and one had six parts. The average number of injured parts was 2.3. Two hundred and five patients suffered from close injuries, and 141 from open ones. The associated injuries included skull and brain injury in 51 cases, chest injury in 23, abdomen injury in five, urine system injury in three, nerve and vessel injury in 21, shock in 78, and fat embolism in six. Five patients died. Conclusions Male young people tend to be the majority of victims of multiple-injuries of bone and joint. Traffic accidents result in most of such injuries. Since multiple-injuries mostly involve lower limbs, they are easy to diagnose while the associated close injuries involving brain, chest, abdomen and pelvic are likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed. Strengthening safety education and technical training of first aid is important to im- provement of treatment and to decrease of disability rate and mortality.

A new method was established for the direct, rapid and quantitative analysis of pesticide residues, dimethoate chlorothalonil and malathion by low temperature plasma ( LTP) ionization miniature ion trap mass spectrometer. The LTP ionization probe and sample inlet of ion trap mass spectrometry were enclosed in a metal cavity. With non-contact heating, the samples placed on the sample platform were desorbed into gaseous phase and ionized by LTP ionization probe. The results showed that closed ionization had an edge over the opened ionization. The quantitative analysis of 3 pesticides within the range of 0. 5-10 mg/L was realized by optimizing heating time and flow rate of air, and the relative standard deviations of signal intensity is less than 11%. LODs of pesticide, which were obtained within 5 s, were as low as several hundred pictograms. The results showed that the method could be used for the analysis of pesticide residue on green and organic fruits or vegetables.

Objective To investigate the effects of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) on the myocardial cells of mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with hyperuricemia (HUA), and clarify the mechanism thereof. Methods The mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cultured with 25mmol/L high glucose (HG) medium were divided into two groups: HG plus 300μmol/L sodium palmitate for 18 hours as high glucose and high fat (HG+HF) group, and HG+HF plus 1500μmol/L uric acid (UA) for 18 hours as HG+HF+HUA group. Then the myocardial cells in HG+HF+HUA group, by use or not use UCP2 inhibitor genipin, were further divided into two groups: vehicle group and genipin group. In order to verify the mechanism of UCP2 in myocardial cells injury caused by high glucose, high lipid and high uric acid, the myocardial cells were divided again into genipin group and genipin+N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group. Accordingly, the apoptosis of myocardial cells were measured by flow cytometry at specific time, the mRNA and protein expressions of UCP2 were determined by q-PCR and Western blotting, and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DHE staining and ELISA. Results The apoptosis rate of myocardial cells increased obviously, and the expression levels of UCP2 decreased and of ROS elevated significantly in HG+HF+HUA group than in HG+HF group (P<0.05). As the expression levels of UCP2 decreased by genipin intervention, the apoptosis rate of myocardial cells and ROS level in HG+HF+HUA group increased more obviously (P<0.05). In contrast, such an effect was reversed by the application of antioxidants NAC (P<0.05). Conclusion UCP2 can inhibit oxidative stress and alleviate the apoptosis of myocardial cells induced by high glucose, high fat and high uric acid.

OBJECTIVETo compare inhibitory effects of recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein with bisphosphonate treatment (ALN) on osteoclasts activity and bone loss in ovariectomized mice.

METHODSTwenty-four female KM mice were ovariectomized bilaterally and treated with recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein, alendronate, or PBS. Twelve weeks later, body weight, biochemical markers of bone metabolism, Micro CT scan and bone morphology were examined.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks administration, the Micro CT scan and bone morphology values of each group were as follow. The control group: BMD (92.600 +/- 14.319) mg/cc, Tb.Th (0.094 +/- 0.011) mm, Tb.Sp (0.455 +/- 0.124) mm, BVF 0.192 +/- 0.023, SMI 1.388 +/- 0.328; the recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein group: BMD (133.050 +/- 13.022) mg/cc, Tb.Th (0.098 +/- 0.009) mm, Tb.Sp (0.365 +/- 0.105) mm,BVF (0.291 +/- 0.025)%, SMI 0.661 +/- 0.384; the ALN group: BMD(128.013 +/- 16.040) mg/cc, Tb.Th (0.097 +/- 0.011) mm, Tb.Sp (0.376 +/- 0.104) mm, BVF 0.281 +/- 0.024, SMI 0.753 +/- 0.307. In the ovariectomized mice experiments, both recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein and ALN significantly inhibited ovariectomy-induced bone loss. Compared to the control group (PBS), the recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein group showed increased distal femur BMD and decreased trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp), whereas the control group had significantly decreased distal femur BMD, significantly decreased Tb.Th, and increased Tb.Sp. There was a significant difference in bone volume fraction among the groups. The TRAP-positive osteoclasts in distal femur bone slices were nearly complete inhibited for Recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein group and alendronate group.

CONCLUSIONIn vivo, recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB protein effectively inhibits the activity of osteoclasts and the resulting bone loss, which has a similar effect as alendronate.

Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Diphosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Ovariectomy ; Radiography ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; therapeutic use

The silent information regulator protein 2 (Sir2) and its homologues play an important role in the regulation of cellular physiological processes such as survival, apoptosis, and aging. SIRT1, the mammalian Sir 2 homologue, has been shown to deacetylate a wide range of non-histone substrates and histone substrates. It has been constantly reported that SIRT1 may be associated with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome, genomic homeostasis, tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases. Calorie restriction may mitigate many major diseases in rodent models by SIRT1-mediated deacetylase activity and prolong the life expectancies in these animals. Therefore, SIRT1 may be emphasized as a new therapy target for many different diseases.
Animals ; Caloric Restriction ; Humans ; Longevity ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; physiology ; Substrate Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the cGMP in the smooth muscle cells of human corpus cavernosum, and to provide an experimental groundwork for the gene therapy of erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSSmall interfering RNAs targeting PDE5 gene were synthesized by using web design software provided by Ambion, three siRNAs and a control siRNA were synthesized by Ambion. siRNAs were transfected into the smooth muscle cells of human corpus cavernosum by using siPORT Lipid reagent. cGMP was detected by ELISA at different times (24, 48, 72 and 96 h) after transfection.

RESULTSThe cGMP levels of the siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3 groups were significantly higher than those of the siRNA control and blank control groups (P < 0.05), and so was it in the siRNA1 group than the siRNA2 and siRNA3 groups (P < 0.05), with significant difference between the siRNA control and the blank control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe synthesized siRNAs in vitro are capable of increasing the level of cGMP in the smooth muscle cells of human corpus cavernosum, different siRNAs with different capabilities. The siRNA technique could provide not only an extremely powerful tool for the functional analysis of genome but also a new approach to ED gene therapy.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Penis ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Nowadays, the simple combination of Western medicine (WM) and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cannot resolve all the health problems and various requirements. This article proposed the general integral medicine (GIM) theoretical model, which declares the disease causes analysis, clinical intervention and outcomes assessment should be recognized, managed and evaluated both from physiological, psychological, and spiritual status, and all the four dimensions: orthodox medicine (WM, Chinese medicine, etc.), individual inherent characteristics (emotion, attitude, psychology, etc.), cultural influences (doctors, caregivers, groups care, etc.), and natural environment and social systems (economic status, social security system, environmental pollution, etc). As for health outcomes assessment, a more comprehensive system including biological, doctors, patients, health intimate, social and environmental evaluations were required. The GIM model has individualized, dynamic, standardized, objective, systematic inherent characteristics, and opening and compatible external characteristics. It aims to provide the new theoretical guidance and strategic development direction for complex health interventions, and solve various medical related psychological and social problems.
Complementary Therapies ; Health ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Models, Theoretical

Objective ToanalyzetheCTfeaturesandthediagnosticvalueofpulmonarychondroma.Methods Tencasesofpulmonary chondromaprovenbypathologywereretrospectivelyanalysed.Thenumber,location,size,shape,margin,calcificationpatternandCT valueofthelesions wereanalysedonnonGenhancedandenhanced CTscans.Results Allthe10casesofpulmonarychondroma showedsolitary,mildlylobulated,wellGcircumscribed masses.6lesionswerelocatedintherightlung,and4lesionswereintheleft lung.Thesizeofthelesionsrangedform1.3cm×0.8cmto10.7cm×9.8cm.OnplainCTimages,9lesions(90%)showedvaried calcification,withpunctatecalcificationin8lesionsandringcalcificationin1lesion.OncontrastGenhanced CTimages,6lesions showedslighthomogeneousenhancement(enhancedvalue≤14HU).Conclusion Pulmonarychondromaisusuallylocatedintheperiphery ofthelung.Thenodulehasasmoothboundary,withsignificantcalcificationandslightlyenhancement,whichcouldbehelpfulindiagnosis ofthedisease.

Objective To explore the inhabitants' knowledge about Keshan disease(KD) in endemic area in Heilongjiang Province and analyze its influencing factors. Methods Yongjin Village, a national KD monitoring site in Fanrong Township of Fuyu County in Heilongjiang Province,was selected as an investigating spot. Specially designed questionnaire was applied in the investigation, which included three aspects, demographical information (gender, age, educational level, etc.), KD-related knowledge survey (KD prevention measures including a healthy diet supplementing selenium, preventing microbial infection, inducers such as climate change, fatigue, cold, mental shock, overeating) and KD controlling measures (take prescribed medicine, dietetic regulation and regular exercise, etc.) Results Seventy-senven point six percent(272/352) knew the disease by the name in the endemic area, while only 29.7% (81/272)and 30.8% (84/272)were aware the preventive measures and inducers , respectively. The awareness rates of KD preventive measures and inducers among the KD patients were 6/17 and 9/17 respectively. The influencing factors of the awareness rate of KD name were gender, vocation and the state of education (χ2 value were 9.838,9.878,12.462, all P < 0.05). However, factors influencing the awareness rates of preventive measures were gender and the state of education(χ2 value were 7.400,20.251, both P < 0.05). Conclusions The awareness rates of KD preventive measures and inducers axe low in the endemic area. The major factors influencing the awareness rate of KD are gender and the educational degree.