?Acute retinal necrosis syndrome ( ARN) is a serious eye disease, which caused by Herpes virus mostly, with unknown pathogenesis. Because of the aggressive progression, treatment of ARN is difficult, and the blindness rate is extremely high. Current treatment strategies are the combination of the drug therapy and the operative treatment. Drugs commonly used are antiviral drugs, glucocorticoids, and antiplatelet drugs, and the operative treatment includes laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy.

ObjectiveTo observe the growth of BT-325 human glioma cells after interfering volume-regulated chloride channel ClC-2 gene.MethodsTwo expression recombinant vectors of ClC-2 gene were designed and constructed. The primary plasmid, pSUPER.puro-shRNA, and the two recombinant plasmids, pSUPER.puro-shRNA-ClC-21 and pSUPER.puro-shRNA-ClC-22, were transfected into BT-325 cells by LipofectamineTM2000 (Groups: control, PP1 and PP2, respectively). The mRNA expression of ClC-2 gene was detected with reverse transcription polymerasse chain reaction (RT-PCR), the cellular survival was determined with MTT assay, and the cell cycle was measured with flow cytometry (FCM). ResultsClC-2 mRNA expression and the growth of the cells in PP1 and PP2 groups were significantly lower than that of control group. The cell cycle progression was blocked in G1 phase (PP1 and PP2 vs control,P<0.01). ConclusionThe growth of BT-325 human glioma cells is prevented by knockdown of ClC-2 gene expression, which may be one of the novel targets to inhibit growth of human malignant glioma cells.

In order to identify Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants, the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions of Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants were amplified and bidirectionally sequenced based on the Principles for Molecular Identification of Traditional Chinese Materia Medica Using DNA Barcoding, which has been promulgated by Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by Codon Code Aligner V3. 7.1. The relevant data were analyzed by MEGA 5. 0. Species identification analyses were performed by using the nearest distance methods and neighbor-joining (NJ) methods. The result showed that the ITS2 sequence lengths of Peucedani Radix were 229-230 bp and the average intra-specific genetic distances were 0.005. The ITS2 sequence lengths of Peucedani Decursivi Radix were 227 bp and the sequences contained no variation site. The average inter-specific K2P genetic distance of Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants species were 0.044 and 0.065 respectively. The minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence of Peucedani Decursivi Radix. The nearest distance methods and NJ trees results indicated that Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants species could be identification clearly. The ITS2 regions can stably and accurately distinguish Peucedani Radix, Peucedani Decursivi Radix and their adulterants.
Apiaceae ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Drug Contamination

Objective: To observe the effects of Yanggan Lidan Granule (YGLDG), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on insulin resistance in guinea pigs with induced cholesterol gallstones. Methods: Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into normal control group, untreated group, YGLDG group and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) group, with 20 guinea pigs in each group. Except the normal control group, gallstones were induced by high-cholesterol diet in the guinea pigs. The guinea pigs in the normal control group and the untreated group were administered with normal saline. UDCA and YGLDG were given to the guinea pigs in the corresponding groups for seven weeks. Eight guinea pigs of each group were used to measure the glucose infusion rate (GIR) by using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. At the end the guinea pigs were killed and their gallstone formation was observed. Results: The gallstones in guinea pigs were identified as cholesterol stones by qualitative analysis through infrared spectrum. The incidence rate of cholelithiasis of the untreated group was 82.35% . The GIR of guinea pigs in the untreated group was obviously lowered down as compared with the normal control group. Compared with the untreated group, the GIRs of the YGLDG group and the UDCA group were obviously increased, especially in the YGLDG group. Conclusion: YGLDG may improve insulin resistance in guinea pigs with cholesterol gallstones by elevating GIR obviously.

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

INTRODUCTIONCeftaroline is a fifth-generation cephalosporin with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that was recently launched in Singapore. It received approval from the United States (US) Food Drug Administration (FDA) and European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI). This study aimed to review current published data and determine its clinical role, particularly in the local setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA literature review on published articles in English on ceftaroline, focusing in particular on clinical trials and other clinical reports. Susceptibility testing was also performed on a limited sample of local MRSA and Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.

RESULTSCeftaroline has an extensive spectrum of activity, including coverage of MRSA and multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae. However, it has limited activity against non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria and is susceptible to hydrolysis by extended spectrum beta-lactamases. It is only available for intravenous delivery, with a reconstituted stability of just 6 hours, rendering it unavailable for use for outpatient antibiotic therapy. Clinical trials demonstrate non-inferiority compared to first-line comparators in the treatment of CAP and cSSTI. Published case reports/series suggest a potential greater role in the treatment of MRSA bacteremia and endocarditis. No resistance was found among local archived MRSA and S. pneumoniae isolates.

CONCLUSIONWe believe ceftaroline will occupy primarily niche roles for culture-directed treatment of various infections--in particular those caused by MRSA--until further clinical trial data become available. A variety of factors render it less useful or appealing for empirical treatment of CAP or healthcare-associated infections.

Cephalosporins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; Singapore ; Staphylococcal Infections ; drug therapy

Objective To approach a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) by comprehensive scoring, including history, clinical manifestation and laboratory data,which can be used for early diagnosis,severity grading and the institution of therapy.Methods We analyzed history, clinical manifestation and some parameters of laboratory data,and established criteria for scoring and grading,and compared this grading with the grading determined by clinical data and follow-up,which brought forward a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria, and applied this criteria to other 41 patients with HIE to test its reliability.Results The grading criteria were established as the following:if total score ≥20.0,the patient was graded as severe one;total score between 10.5-19.5, moderate one; between 5.5-10.0,mild one;≤5.0,non-HIE one. The scoring system was used in other 41 patients with HIE,the specificity and sensitivity were 100% and 96 .9%,97.2% and 100%,100% and 100%, respectively.Conclusions For severe HIE cases who are not permitted to receive compated tomography(CT) examination or no CT can be used, this scoring system can be used to diagnoze HIE and grade the severity. This method is simple and easy to perform.Both specificity and sensitivity are high for diagnosis and severity judgment of HIE.

Objective To investigate the influences of mutation at precore and basic core promoter(BCP) region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the immune response of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The number of specific CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC) of CHB patients were tested by cytokine flow cytome- try(CFC) and HBV core18-27 peptide.HBV precore and BCP fragments were directly sequenced. Results Twenty-one(38.9%) samples were HBV precore G1896A mutation.Twenty-six(48.1%) samples were BCP region 1762/1764 combined mutation.Thirteen(24.1%) stains were three sites mutated simultaneously.Stimulated with HBV core 18-27 in vitro,the specific CTL level was signifi- cantly higher in the patients with G1896A mutation and BCP region mutation [(0.41?0.09)%, (0.36?0.08)%,(0.48?0.08)%,respectively]than those without mutation[(0.11?0.06)%, P

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of computer-aided acetabular evaluating and operation designing before total hip arthroplasty (THA) for Crowe Ⅳ developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).MethodsFrom March 2011 to October 2011,10 patients (13 hips) diagnosed as DDH (Crowe Ⅳ) underwent THA.Before operation,all 10 patients underwent three dimensional (3D) CT scanning and the information was inputted into the Superlmage system to reconstitute the 3D anatomic models of pelvis and acetabulum.Then the position and size of the true acetabulum,the thickness of the anterior and posterior columns,and the degree of bone defect were evaluated or measured exactly with computer assisted design(CAD) software.After inputting the information of the test model of the acetabulum and material for repairing bone defect into the CAD software,the implantation of the acetabular prosthesis was simulated to determine the size and position of the acetabular prosthesis.Then the bone defect was evaluated after implantation of the acetabulum to perform simulation test of restoration of bone defect.Eventually,orthopedic surgery was performed precisely.ResultsThe size of acetabular prosthesis implanted in the operation was coincident with that got by preoperative computer aided technology in 9 patients(12 hips),and one acetabular prosthesis was larger than that designed preoperatively.All the cups were implanted in the anatomic acetabular location.The bone defect in the acetabular roof was reconstructed with tantalum augments in 4 hips,with Harris autograft using autologous femoral head in 7 hips,which were coincident with that designed preoperatively.ConclusionThe preoperative CAD is useful in THA for Crowe Ⅳ DDH,because it can exactly evaluate the developmental condition of the true acetabulum.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of Danxuetong injection (DXT, a combination of Danshen and Xueshuantong injections) against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury following testis torsion/detorsion in rats.

METHODSThirty-two 4-week-old healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number: sham operation, normal saline, single DXT injection, and successive DXT injection. The rat models of testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by 2-hour 720-degree torsion/detorsion of the unilateral testis. At 6 weeks after modeling, the rats were killed and their testes were harvested for measure- ment of testicular coefficients, sperm counts, sperm motility, and the levels of total anti-oxidative capacity (T-AOC) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) , nitric oxide synthase (NOS) , and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in the testis tissue.

RESULTSCompared with the rats of the normal saline group, those of the single DXT injection and successive DXT injection groups showed significant increases in the testicular coefficient (0.11 ± 0.03 vs 0.35 ± 0.04 and 0.40 ± 0.06, P < 0.05), sperm count ([0.46 ± 0.10] vs [1.44 ± 0.50] and [3.00 ± 1.28] x10(9)/ml, P < 0.05), sperm motility ([13.63 ± 14.04] vs [39.63 ± 5.04] and [76.31 ± 3.67]%, P < 0.05), the activity of SOD (72.76 ± 5.58 vs 116.25 ± 8.83 and 133.20 ± 13.84, P < 0.05), and the level of T-AOC (5.58 ± 1.07 vs 13.34 ± 5.81 and 19.21 ± 5.69, P < 0.05), but a remarkable decrease in the content of MDA (42.38 ± 8.94 vs 20.94 ± 5.65 and 15.02 ± 1.03, P < 0. 05) in the injured testes.

CONCLUSIONDXT can effectively rid the testis tissue of oxygen free radicals, improve sperm count and motility by antioxidation, and protect the testis tissue of prepubertal rats against testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury after testis torsion/detorsion. It also has a protective effect on the contralateral testis, and successive injection has a better effect than single injection of DXT.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; complications ; therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testis ; blood supply ; metabolism