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.

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

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

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 observe the changes in systemic hemodynamics and their relations to the concentrations of nitric oxide, endothelin, prostacyclin, and thromboxane A2 after portal cavity clamping and opening in portal hypertensive canines.

METHODSTwelve canines were randomly divided into control group and model group, and partial ligation of the portal vein was performed in the model group. Portal cavity clamping and opening was performed 12 weeks later in the two groups. The hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output index (CI), heart rate (HR), mean artery blood pressure (MABP), central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary arteriole wedge pressure (PAWP), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were measured during the operation. Samples were obtained from the central vein at 3 time points during the operation for measuring NO, ET, PGI2, and TXA2.

RESULTSPortal vein ligation and portal cavity clamping produced obvious changes in the systemic circulation of the dogs, and the alteration was milder in the control group. After obstruction of the portal vein, the NO levels in systemic circulation in portal hypertensive dogs declined obviously, but gradually recovered the normal level after reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONSystemic circulation undergoes significant alterations after portal vein obstruction, but its changes in portal hypertensive dogs are milder than those in the control group, the mechanism of which needs further investigation.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Endothelins ; blood ; Epoprostenol ; blood ; Hemodynamics ; Hypertension, Portal ; blood ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Plasma ; metabolism ; Portal Vein ; physiopathology ; Thromboxane A2 ; blood ; Vena Cava, Inferior ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVEDisturbances of the synthesis and breakdown of the extracellular matrix of arterial walls have emerged as key features of the atherosclerotic process. We observed the changes of circulating procollagen marker for type III collagen turnover rate, the N-terminal propeptide P III NP and vascular resistance in hypertensive patients treated with various antihypertensive regimens.

METHODA total of 130 light to moderate hypertensive patients were randomly assigned to receive enalapril (group B, n = 43), enalapril + spirolactone (20 mg/d, group A, n = 44) and anti-hypertensive drugs not directly affecting RAAS (calcium antagonist, beta-blocker, group C, n = 43) for 1 year. Target blood pressure is < 130/80 mm Hg.

RESULTSTarget blood pressure was reached in all treated patients and was similar among various groups. Under the same blood pressure controlling precondition, serum P III NP were similar at baseline among various groups and remained unchanged in group B [(3.4 +/- 0.3) microg/L vs. (3.7 +/- 0.3) microg/L, P > 0.05] and significantly decreased in group A [(2.3 +/- 0.2) microg/L vs. (3.8 +/- 0.2) microg/L, P < 0.05] while significantly increased in group C [(3.9 +/- 2.0) microg/L vs. (3.2 +/- 1.5) microg/L, P < 0.05]. Vascular resistance was similar among groups before therapy and all significantly decreased after 1 year antihypertensive therapy and the decrease was more significant in group A [(1064.3 +/- 158.6) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)] than that in group B [(1200.8 +/- 298.7) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)] and group C [(1205.1 +/- 206.4) dyn.s(-1).cm(-5)].

CONCLUSIONSpironolactone in conjunction with enalapril is a more favorable antihypertensive regimen in decreasing P III NP and improving vascular resistance than enalapril alone or antihypertensive drug regimens not directly affecting RAAS.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Antihypertensive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; Enalapril ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Procollagen ; blood ; Spironolactone ; therapeutic use ; Vascular Resistance

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 approach the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and tumor necrosis factor receptor II (TNFR II) gene polymorphisms in genetic susceptibility to silicosis and their interaction with silica-dust exposure.

METHODSTwo hundred and fifty-nine cases of silicosis and three hundred and forty-one silica-dust exposure workers (control) were selected, and the cases of silicosis were divided into three subgroups based on the various stages of I, II and III. Exposure history, pneumoconiosis history and past history of each subject were obtained by questionnaire. 3 ml peripheral venous blood was drawn from each subject. Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques, TNF-alpha and TNFRII gene polymorphisms were analyzed.

RESULTSIn both group matching and 1:1 paired matching, there was no significant difference between cases of silicosis and workers in control in distribution frequencies of G/A + A/A (TNF-alpha-308) and T/G + G/G (TNFRII 196) genotypes. The risk of silicosis in those with G/A + A/A genotype was 6.74-fold higher than G/G genotype (OR = 6.74, 95% CI: 1.01 approximately 44.99) in subjects whose exposure time was less than 15 years.

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha and TNFR II gene polymorphisms did not play an important role in susceptibility to silicosis of Han race. There was interaction between polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene promoter and exposure time in the occurrence of silicosis. The risk of silicosis in those with G/A + A/A genotype was significantly higher than G/G genotype in low accumulative exposure.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II ; genetics ; Silicosis ; etiology ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics