Objective To assess the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis in adult patients with KaschinBeck disease(KBD) in endemic area, and to investigate the association between KBD and atherosclerosis. Methods B-mode ultrasound was used to investigate carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD over 40 years old in Shanhe farm and Shangzhi city and residents in Shuangcheng county in 2009. Ultrasonography images were saved and graded according to intima media morphology. Results The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shanhe farm were 50.0%(26/52),37.3%( 19/51 ),42.5%(30/71 ),58.2% (39/67) and 44.0% (22/50) , respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with KBD from the 5 villages affiliated to Shangzhi city were 63.0% (34/54), 45.3% (24/53), 47.2% (25/53), 60.0% (30/50)and 51.9% (28/54), respectively. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in people without KBD in the 5 control villages affiliated to Shuangcheng county were 63.9% (46/72),43.1% (31/72),57.1% (40/70),46.9% (30/64) and 53.0%(35/66), respectively. Ten villages in KBD endemic area and 5 villages in control area were investigated. The prevalence rates of carotid atherosclerosis in the 15 villages were standardized and compared by Wilcoxon test. The differences were not significant between two KBD endemic areas and one control( T = 25.0,24.5,all P ＞ 0.05). There was no significant difference in prevalence of atherosclerosis in the 3 areas(x2 = 0.36, P＞0.05). Comparing the severity of carotid atherosclerosis in 3 locations, the difference was statistically significant (x2 = 15.28, P ＜ 0.05) and there was significant difference statistically between the subjects in Shangzhi city and that in the control group(x2 = 8.92, P ＜ 0.05). There was no significant difference between the detection rate of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD, and similar results in the grade of atherosclerosis and the severity of KBD were found (x2 = 1.88,5.07, all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions The prevalence rate of carotid atherosclerosis in historical endemic area in Heilongjiang province is not higher than that in the control area.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium. Methods The MICs of six fluoroquinolones(norfloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ofloxacin,levofloxacin,gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin) against 35 clinical isolates of E.faecium from eight hospitals in Tianjin were determined by agar dilution method in the absence or presence of multidrug resistance efflux pump inhibitor reserpine.The quinolone-resistance determining region(QRDR)of parC and gyrA were amplified and sequenced.Results No less than twofold decrease in MIC values of the six fluoroquinolones in the presence of reserpine was observed in 35,29,1,0,6 and 2 of the 35 strains of E.faecium respectively.One fluoro- quinolone-susceptible isolate and five fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates were selected randomly to analyze the QRDR of parC and gyrA.All five fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates had single amino acid alteration in both GyrA and ParC.Ser-80 in ParC was substituted by lie(4 isolates)or Arg(1 isolates).Glu-87 in GyrA was replaced by Lys(2 isolates)or Gly(2 isolates). The other one had an Ser-83-to-Ile substitution.The one fluoroquinolone-suseeptible isolate had no alteration in the QRDR of either ParC or GyrA.Conclusions Both target alteration and active efflux are responsible for the resistance to fluoroquinolone in clinical isolates of E.faecium.

As an important part of Chinese medicinal materials, uncommon-territorial herbs are also the most complex parts in the herbal medicine markets. Through years of investigation on the key markets of Chinese herbal medicine, the meaning of uncommon-territorial herbs, their historical evolution, origin and characteristics were clarified in this paper, and some countermeasures were put forward for its development.
Biological Evolution ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; history ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

To prepare the oral self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) of GBE50, balance solubility method was used to screen emulsifier and assistant emulsifier; a pseudo-tamary phase diagram was used to prepare microemulsion; and orthogonal design was used to optimize formulation. Self-microemulsifying efficiency, dissolution, stability and pharmacokinetics of the preparation were studied. As a result, GBE50-SMEDDS of IPM, Cremophor EL, 1,2-propanediol and GBE50 could be self emulsified to form stable microemulsion with particle diameter between 20 and 50 nm when emulsifying with water. Its self-microemulsifying efficiency and dissolution are quick with good stability and it has a higher bioavailability than market existing agents Xingling particles. GBE50-SMEDDS is stable and effective.
Biological Availability ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Ginkgolides ; administration & dosage ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacokinetics ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of physical and chemical factors on callus growth and phillyrin contents of F. suspensa.

METHODThe cell growth index and phyllirin yield in different culture condition such as different plant hormones mixed, mediums, light and dark were compared. HPLC was used to examine phillyrin contents.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONGrowth cycle of cells is twenty-eight days. During the course of callus growth, the processes of phillyrin biosynthesis were parallel with the cell growth. The optimum medium is MS. The optimum hormones concentrations are 1 mg.L-1 2,4-D, 0.5 mg.L-1 6-BA and 0.5 mg.L-1KT. The cell culture in light is more suitable than that in dark.

Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; Forsythia ; chemistry ; cytology ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; biosynthesis ; Lighting ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; cytology ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the curative effect of YU Yun pulse-feeling-based acupuncture therapy for the treatment of middle-late liver cancer. Methods A total of 60 middle-late liver cancer patients were divided into control group and treatment group by stratified randomization method,30 cases in each group. The control group was given integrated Chinese and western medicine therapy according to the clinical pathway, including anti-cancer treatment such as vascular interrention,molecular targeted therapy,chemotherapy,radio therapy, and focal ablation therapy,as well as chinese medicine treatment based on disease differentiation and syndrome differentiation. And the treatment group was given YU Yun pulse-feeling-based acupuncture therapy on the basis of treatment for the control group. The two groups received 12-week treatment, and then their curative effects were compared. Results The treatment group had better effect on increasing the survival rate, prolonging survival time, improving the scores of clinical symptoms, stabilizing tumor size, and increasing the scores of Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS)than the control group,the difference being significant (P < 0.05 or P <0.01). Conclusion YU Yun pulse-feeling-based acupuncture therapy exerts certain curative effect for the treatment of middle-late liver cancer.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy and related affecting factors of the intra-operative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring in cervical and thoracic surgery.

METHODSCortical somatosensory evoked potential (CSEP) monitoring and sub cortical somatosensory evoked potential (Sub-CSEP) monitoring were performed in cervical and thoracic surgery. Somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) changes were recorded during anaesthesia and operation and postoperative, which could be used to evaluate accuracy of SEP.

RESULTSBilateral CSEP wave abnormalities were related to anaesthesia, decreasing wave amplitudes did not reach the alarming standard. Intra-operative manipulation to affect spinal cord would influence iso-lateral wave abnormality of CSEP and sub-CSEP, decreasing amplitudes reached the alarming standard. Local hypothermia such as cold water irrigating spinal cord would be to prolong the latent period. Low mean arterial pressure (MAP) mostly influenced amplitudes. Changes of SEP in local hypothermia and MAP did not reach the alarming standard.

CONCLUSIONSCSEP and Sub CSEP can reflex physiopathological condition of spinal cord, it is useful in evaluating spinal cord function and providing the safety for cervical and thoracic surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery

BACKGROUNDThis is a prospective clinical study based on a large sample gathered from multiple centers in China, subordinating to 10th Five-Year Plan of National Science & Technology Progression. We analyzed the high-risk factors inducing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) and estimated the potential effect of anti-oxidants administration, including vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and Salvia Miltiorrhiza L (SML), a Chinese herb medicine, in amelioration of the high-risk factors in pregnancy.

METHODSFrom April 2005 to July 2006, 4814 pregnant women from 24 national wide cooperative hospitals were involved in this prospective research. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: 1607 cases were in anti-oxidants group with administration of vitamins and SML; 3207 cases were in control group without any medicine given. Every participant was under monitoring for the morbidity of HDP and the high-risk factors were investigated in HDP cases in each group.

RESULTS(1) The morbidity of HDP was 3.55% in anti-oxidants group vs. 4.18% in control group. No statistical difference existed between the two groups (P > 0.05). (2) In anti-oxidants group, the HDP morbidities among three subgroups: VC + VE + SML, VC + VE and SML only, were 5.51%, 3.05% and 5% respectively. It showed no statistical difference among three remedies (P > 0.05). (3) The related index of factors affecting HDP showed in intensity sequence as follows: family HDP history > profession > education level > age > body weight. The incidence of HDP in normal population was 3.51%, and the incidence of HDP in high-risk pregnant women (family HDP history, heavy physical labor, low education level (middle school and below), age ≥ 40, body mass index ≥ 24) was 5.84%, which was obviously higher than that in normal population (P < 0.01). In anti-oxidants group, the probability of HDP in women with high-risk factors was 3.81%, which was obviously lower than that in control group with high-risk factors at 7.14% (P < 0.01). (4) In control group, the morbidity of HDP in women with family HDP history (especially with sisters'), heavy physical labor, middle school and below, age ≥ 35 was: 50.00%, 15.22%, 6.33%, 26.28% and 5.75%, respectively, and that in anti-oxidants group was 0, 7.69%, 3.74%, 9.27% and 2.67%, respectively, which was obviously lower than that in control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe high-risk factors prone to induce HDP included: family history of HDP, heavy physical labor, low education level, aging and obesity. No impressive effect of anti-oxidants application was found in preventing HDP in general population but the remedy demonstrated positive effect on preventing HDP in pregnant women with high-risk factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Antioxidants ; therapeutic use ; Body Weight ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Logistic Models ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Compound Xuanju Capsule on type III prostatitis.

METHODSA total of 242 patients with type III prostatitis diagnosed by the NIH criteria were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group of equal number, the former treated with Compound Xuanju Capsule + Tamsulosin Hydrochloride, and the latter with Quinolinone antibiotics + Tamsulosin and Hydrochloride, both for 6 months. After treatment, we assessed the therapeutic effects based on the NIH-CPSI scores and the improvement of relevant complications.

RESULTSAll the 242 patients completed the treatment. The total effectiveness rate was 77.69% (94/121) in the experimental group, 71.56% (78/109) in those with complications. In comparison, it was only 47.10% (57/121) in the control group, 31.78% (34/107) in those with complications. Both the NIH-CPSI scores and the improvement of complications were significantly higher in the experimental than in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompound Xuanju Capsule has a good therapeutic effect on type III prostatitis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the drug resistance and drug efflux pumps gene mRNA of Saccharomyces albicans, including CDR1 gene and MDR1 gene, at different stage of biofilm formation in chemostat, furthermore to analysis the relationship between the drug efflux pump gene expression and the biofilm related drug resistance.

METHODSTo form the mature biofilm in vitro in chemostat, then collect the biofilm strains at different development stages (2, 12, 24, 48 h) to semi-quantified mRNA amount of CDR1 gene and MDR1 gene by one step RT-PCR method. Using XTT reduction method to test the dynamic change of Saccharomyces albicans drug resistance in biofilm.

RESULTSAntifungal resistance of biofilm-grown cells increased conjunction with the biofilm maturation. Compared with earth stage of biofiom strains, the amount of CDR1 mRNA gene in mature biofilm strains increased, while MDR1 gene did not.

CONCLUSIONThere is positive correlation between drug resistance and biofilm maturation of Saccharomyces albicans. Biofilm related drug resistance appears to be partially associated with the upregulation of drug efflux pumps, although the variation is not shown coincidence. During the biofilm formation, CDR1 gene expression is actively up-regulated, but MDR1 gene expression is stable.

Antifungal Agents ; Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Fluconazole ; Fungal Proteins ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Saccharomyces