Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; prevention & control ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; complications ; therapy

Terpenoids constitute a chemically diverse family of naturally occuring compounds with pharmaceutical significance, such as artemisinin and taxin. They are synthesized in many kinds of microorganisms and plants with very low yield. Metabolic engineering, modifying metabolic pathways of terpenoids-synthesized cells by recombinant DNA techniques, has been developed and applied to improve the production of terpenoids, as well as create a novel biosynthesis pathway of terpenoids in terpenoid-free organisms. The biosynthetic pathway of terpenoids was sumed up, and recent progress of metabolic engineering aiming at raising content of terpenoids in microorganisms and plants was described.

The plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) level was measured by RIA in 19 patients with polyuria and polydipsia, and the AVP measurement was compared with indirect tests. The AVP levels were very low in 13 patients with central diabetes insipidus and normal in 6 patients with primary polydipsia. The direct assay was correspondent to the indirect criteria in 89% of the patients. We concluded that the use of AVP assay improves accuracy in the differential diagnosis of polyuria, and is important in the diagnosis of these diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Birds ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; Herpesvirus 2, Gallid ; genetics ; physiology ; Marek Disease ; virology ; Models, Biological ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; physiology

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To explore the correlation of the size of intracranial aneurysms with the blood flow velocity in the aneurysmal cavity and the parent artery. Methods: The video data of serial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images of 15 intracranial aneurysms in 15 patients were copied to a personal computer, then the pixel density values in the selected areas of images were measured with the changes of time by an image processing software, and the time-density curves were generated. The inflow coefficient Ka values of the curve were calculated by curve equation and the statistical analysis was performed so as to find out the blood flow velocity in various aneurismal cavities. Results: The Ka value that marked the blood flow velocity in aneurismal cavity (ACKa) in the central area of an aneurism had a negative correlation with the size of the aneurysm, r = -0.521, P = 0.046 (both sides). The size of the aneurysm had no correlation with the Ka value of the marked blood flow velocity in a parent artery (PKa), r = 0.107, P = 0.704 (both sides). Conclusion: The larger the aneurismal cavity, the slower the blood flow velocity in the central area of the aneurysm. The smaller the aneurysmal cavity, the fewer attenuation of blood flow velocity in the aneurysms, and the faster the blood flow velocity in the central area of the aneurysm. However, the flow velocity in parent artery is not associated with the size of aneurysm. The results of the study can be used to evaluate the natural outcome of aneurysm, the efficacy of embolization, and may partly explain the causes of aneurismal recurrence.

AIM: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, to inspect v sual cortex physical reactions stimulated by rotating grating, and to its components. METHODS: On 1.5T MR scanner, GRE-EPI imaging sequence was carried on 9 h discover ealthy volunteers, the visual cortex response data were processed after delinearation by SPM99.RESULTS: Different components of rotating grating excited different areas of the visual cortex. Dramatic response in the central part of the occipital lobe, which was related to white light stimuli, located at primary visual cortex. Response area in bilateral Broadaman 19 areas was related to vision-motion function. And weak response area in the central part of the occipital lobe was related to shape perception.CONCLUSION: Rotating grating conclude plenty of visual information, and it excites different areas of the optic center as a stimuli. fMRI is a valuable equipment to study the physiology of visual cortex.

China ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; surgery ; Humans

Objective:To investigate the value of preoperative slight decline of the pulmonary function in predicting postoperative cardiopulmonary complications (PCC) after left total pneumonectomy of lung cancer patients to guide the clinical surgery of lung can-cer. Methods:Clinical data of 200 lung cancer patients after left total pneumonectomy were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups (PCC and non-PCC) based on the incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications within 1 month after the cancer resection. The relationship between the preoperative slight or moderate to severe reduction of pulmonary func-tion and postoperative complications was explored. The correlation between the preoperative slight decline of the pulmonary function index and PCC was also analyzed. Results:Among the 200 patients, 35, 45, and 120 demonstrated normal, slightly, and moderately to severely reduced pulmonary functions, and 28.6%, 53.3%, and 62.5% showed PCC within 1 month after the surgical resection (χ2=12.611, P=0.002). Significant differences in the slightly reduced pulmonary function parameters MVV% (70% ≤ MVV<80%) and FEV1%(70%≤FEV 1%<80%) were observed between those without and with complications (P=0.028 and 0.014). Further analysis indicated no significant difference between the patients with preoperative slight reduction of FEV1%only or of MVV%only (P>0.05). However, statistically significant differences were observed when both FEV1%and MVV%were slightly reduced (χ2=6.598, P=0.010). Conclusion:The preoperative slight reduction values of FEV1%and MVV%were the risk factors in predicting PCC after left pneumo-nectomy in lung cancer patients. The slightly reduced FEV1%or MVV%alone cannot influence PCC. Both slightly reduced FEV1%and MVV%were the risk factors of PCC. Perioperative management should be strengthened for these patients to lower the incidence of PCC.

Objective To determine the effect of tea polyphenols on oxidative damage and (apoptosis) in human bronchial epithelial cells induced by low-dose cigarette smoke condensate (CSC).Methods We prepared CSC. 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazoly) 2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliun bromide (MTT) assay was used to determine the growth of cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE135-E6E7). Fluorescent-chemiluminescent analyzer was used to measure cell reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. DNA ladder method was used to detect HBE135-E6E7 apoptosis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expression.Results Concentration of intracellular ROS in the CSC group and CSC + TP group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.01); concentration of intracellular ROS in the CSC + TP group was significantly lower than that in the CSC group (P＜0.01). Apparent DNA breakage of the tail belt appeared in the CSC Group,while only a small amount of DNA breakage of the tail belt appeared in the CSC + TP group. Compared with the control group, Bcl-2 mRNA expression was reduced and Bax mRNA expression was increased in the CSC group (all P＜0.01). Compared with the CSC group, Bcl-2 mRNA expression was increased and Bax mRNA expression was reduced in the CSC+TP group (all P＜0.01). Ratio of Bcl-2 mRNA/ Bax mRNA in the CSC group and CSC+TP group was significantly lower than that in the control group (all P＜0.01).Conclusion TP can antagonize CSC-induced airway epithelial cell apoptosis through the effective removal of ROS, promoting Bcl-2 mRNA expression and inhibiting the expression of Bax mRNA.