AIM:To establish a method for evaluating the principle components of Herba Artemisiae Annuae from different habitats.METHODS:Using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry(FTIR),the characteristic peaks of fingerprints of samples from 12 habitats were recognized and compared.RESULTS:The samples from 12 habitats were obviourly different in number,frequency and intensity of peaks.CONCLUSION:FTIR is applied to analysis of principle components of Herba Artemisiae Annuae from different habitats and an operable method of quality control and discrimination for them is provided.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for simultaneous determination of 5 saponins in Lonicerae Flos. METHODS:Using macranthoidin B as a reference,HPLC method was adopted to calculate the relative correction factor(RCF)of it to macran-thoidin A,dipsacoside B,macranthoside A and macranthoside B. The contents of above 4 saponins were calculated through RCF. Using the contents of saponins determined by external standard method as measured value,the calculated value was compared with measured value. RESULTS:The linear ranges of macranthoidin A,macranthoidin B,dipsacoside B,macranthoside A and macran-thoside B were 0.316-6.32 μg(r=0.9973),0.453-9.06 μg(r=0.9982),0.231-4.62 μg(r=0.9996),0.342-6.84 μg(r=0.9984) and 0.147-2.94 μg(r=0.9961),respectively. RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were all lower than 2.0%. The recoveries were 97.74%-104.51%(RSD=2.37%,n=6)、96.70%-103.20%(RSD=2.37%,n=6)、96.12%-103.61%(RSD=2.45%, n=6)、98.80%-104.70%(RSD=2.32%,n=6)、99.21%-102.92%(RSD=1.39%,n=6),respectively. There was no statistical sig-nificance between calculated value and measured value(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple,precise,stable and re-producible. It can be used for the determination of saponins in Lonicerae Flos.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a stroke unit combined with community health services for treating stroke survivors. Methods A total of 120 stroke patients were randomly divided into a " stroke unit combined with community medicine" group ( combined group) , a stroke unit group and a general treatment group. Patients in the former 2 groups were treated in a hospital stroke unit during their hospitali-zation. The general treatment group was given conventional medical treatment. After discharge, the combined group continued to receive regular rehabilitation therapy and guidance in the form of community medical services, while the stroke unit group received follow-up only. Assessment was by means of Fugl-Meyer scores, the Barthel index and self-rating on a depression scale ( SDS). The patients were assessed at admission, on discharge and 3 months after discharge. Results There were no significant differences in average limb motor function, ability in the activities of daily living ( ADL) or depressive mood among the 3 groups on admission, but at discharge, limb motor function and ADL ability in the combined group and stroke unit groups were significantly superior to those in the general therapy group. Limb motor function and ADL ability in the combined and stroke unit groups had improved further 3 months after discharge, with more significant improvements in the combined group. No significant change in depression was observed in any group at discharge, but average depression scores in the combined and stroke unit groups improved significantly in the 3 months after discharge, and there was a statistically significant difference between the combined group and the general group. Conclusion Supplementing the work of a stroke unit with community health services significantly improves stroke patients' recovery of limb motor function and ADL ability.

Background and purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important proangiogenic factor, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection-induced gastric over-expression of VEGF is an important factor of gastric cancer growth and metastasis, but its expression mechanism is not clear. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a rapid response protein, which is closely related to the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Our study was to investigate the effect of COX-2 on H. pylori-induced VEGF expression in human gastric cancer cells, and to reveal part of the mechanism of gastric cancer growth and metastasis promoted by H. pylori infection. Methods:The expression ofVEGF mRNA in human gastric epithelial cells (MKN45) infected by standard H. pylori NCTC 11637 and the expression of COX-2 protein were evaluated by real-time fluorogenic quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RFQ-PCR) and assayed by Western blot. After inhibiting COX-2 expression with COX-2 specific inhibitor NS398 (50 μmol/L), VEGF mRNA expression induced by H. pylori in human gastric cancer MKN45 cells was evaluated by RFQ-PCR. Results: H. pylori significantly stimulated the expression ofVEGF mRNA in MKN45 cell line. Compared with control MKN45 cells; VEGF mRNA had 2.33 fold up-regulation after 6 h (P<0.05); and had 5.69 and 5.04 fold upregulation respectively after 12 and 24 h (P<0.01).When MKN45 cells were infected with H. pylori for 24 h, COX-2 protein expression also increased significantly (P<0.01), and after inhibiting the COX-2 expression with COX-2 specific inhibitor NS398, H. pylori-induced VEGF mRNA expression was significantly reduced. Conclusion: H. pylori could induce the expression of COX-2 and VEGF in human gastric cancer cells, and could enhance VEGF expression by COX-2 pathway, which might be one of the important mechanisms of gastric cancer growth and metastasis promoted by H. pylori infection.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Codon ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Exons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Point Mutation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the morphology and relationships with the adjacent structures in the pineal region on the thin sections and to provide anatomic data for imaging diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases in this region. Methods By CT and MRI examination, one normal head specimen was selected for this study. Using the computerized freezing milling technique, the specimen was sliced from anterior to posterior. The in vivo MR images were obtained from ten normal Chinese male adult volunteers using a 3.0 T GE scanner. The base lines of the sectioning and the MR scan were perpendicular to the AC-PC line. Then primary sections were contrasted with the corresponding MR images. Results By the appearance of the pineal peduncle and the disappearance of the pineal gland, the pineal region could be divided into three parts from anterior to posterior, and the shape changed from an inverted triangle to a trapezoid and a triangle gradually. The first interspace was getting wider in the anterior and middle parts of the pineal region, while in the posterior part of the pineal region, it was getting narrower and disappeared finally. From anterior to posterior, the bilateral internal cerebral veins were always in the midline of the pineal region and descended gradually.Conclusion By the computerized freezing milling technique, the anatomic details and adjacent relationships of the pineal region could be exhibited clearly in the thin serial sections, which could help the imaging diagnosis and surgical treatments for minute diseases in this region.

Objective To evaluate the influence of renal insufficiency (RI) on long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) plus metabolic syndrome (MetS) and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This was a retrospective study. From February, 2011 to Octorber, 2013 , we consecutivly enrolled 223 AMI patients with MetS in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. There were 88 patients with RI in group A, and 135 patients as the control group (group B). Patients were followed up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) for 1 year. Results Compared with group B, the incidence of 1-year MACE of patients in group A was increased (36.4% vs. 18.5%, P= 0.003). Result of Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that RI was a predictive factor for 1-year MACE (HR = 3.56,95%CI 1.004 ~ 4.170, P = 0.002). Conclusion The incidence of 1-year MACE for AMI patients with RI and MetS post-PCI was high. RI was a risk factor for poor prognosis of AMI patients with MetS.

ObjectiveTo compare orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT)and combined liverkidney transplantation (CLKT) in the treatment of severe hepatitis B.MethodsIn this study 52 patients of severe hepatitis B were allocated to OLT (40 cases) or CLKT( 12 cases) at our department from Jan.2001 to Sep.2005.The perioperative complications and the result of follow-up were analyzed.ResultsThe preoperative renal functions in CLKT cases were severer than that in OLT cases.Postoperative severe infection was more common in CLKT cases than that in OLT cases.In OLT group 28 patients (70％)suffered from early posttransplant renal dysfunction,among them 11 patients needed dialysis,whilst there were 2 (16.7％ ) patients who needed dialysis in CLKT group (P ＜0.01 ).The posttransplant mortality in OLT group was 40％ ( n =16),significantly higher than that in CLKT ( 16.7％,n =2) ( P ＜ 0.01 ).In OLT group,9 cases developed severe renal failure and died.No one died of renal failure in CLKT group.ConclusionsThe prognosis is more favorable to perform CLKT in patients who suffered from severe hepatitis B with chronic renal dysfunction before transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of interventional therapy with norcantharidin-alginic acid/poly acid anhydride microspheres (N-MS) infusion via hepatic artery on hepatoma in rats. METHODS: N-MS was prepared by emulsion-chemical crosslink technique. Eighty-nine hepatoma-bearing rats were randomly divided into five groups, which were normal saline group, norcantharidin (NCTD) group, blank microsphere (B-MS) group, NCTD-lipiodol group and N-MS group. Normal saline, NCTD, B-MS, NCTD-lipiodol and N-MS were injected via hepatic artery accordingly. After the interventional therapy, eight rats from each group were observed for survival time, and the rest rats were killed on the 8th day after intervention to measure the tumor volume and necrostic degree. The apoptotic index of liver tumor cells was detected by TUNEL staining, and the expression of ki-67 was assayed by immuno-histochemical streptavidin-biotin peroxidase method. RESULTS: The survival time of the rats in the N-MS group was prolonged as compared with those in the other four groups, and the tumor volume of the rats in the N-MS group was smaller than those in the other four groups. The tumor growth rate and the expression level of ki-67 in the N-MS group were both significantly lower than those in the other four groups. The tumor necrotic degree and the apoptotic index in the N-MS group were significantly higher than those in the other four groups. CONCLUSION: Interventional therapy with N-MS could yield preferable therapeutic effects on hepatomas in rats. This anti-tumor efficacy may be associated with microvessel embolization in liver tumor and the sustained releasing of NCTD. Its inhibiting effect on tumor cell proliferation maybe result from decreasing the expression of Ki-67 and inducing the tumor cell apoptosis.

Objective:To analyze the early and middle term clinical effects of mitral valve repair in children with mitral insufficiency.Methods:From January 2012 to January 2019, a total of 202 cases of children with mitral insufficiency treated by mitral valve repair were selected from the department of cardiothoracic surgery of Nanjing Children's Hospital, patients with atrioventricular septal defect, single ventricle and ischemic mitral regurgitation were excluded. Echocardiography was used to compare the preoperative and postoperative left ventricular function and degree of regurgitation in children to evaluate the early and middle term efficacy of mitral valvuloplasty.Results:There were 5 cases of early death(5/202, 2.5%) and 3 cases of late death(3/202, 1.5%). The mean follow-up time was(19.49±17.48) months(1-68 months). Postoperative echocardiography showed that the left heart function and mitral regurgitation were significantly improved.Conclusion:Mitral valvuloplasty can significantly correct mitral insufficiency in children, and it has satisfactory mid-term efficacy and good clinical value.