Cordyceps militaris is of significant economic value in medical care and food exploitation because of its many physiological activities. This paper reviews(1) the taxonomic position of its anamorph,(2) interesting culture ways,(3) strain degeneration and genetic variability,and(4) research progress in bioactive compounds and pharmacological functions.

Objective To investigate the effect of propofol on nNOS expression after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats and the possible mechanism of protective effect of propofol on brain. Method Seventy-eight male Wistar rats, weighting 250 ~ 300 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups:(1)Sham operation group (S group, n=6) was performed with scham operation; (2) Ischemia-reperfusion group (group I-R, n=36) was subjected to 2-hour right middle cerebral artery occlusion and then reperfusion was followed, saline (1 mg/kg) was injected into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe before reperfusion;(3) Propefol group (group P, n=36) was injected with propofol (1mg/kg) into the right lateral cerebral ventricle using microsyringe right after ischemia. Group I-R and group P were divided into 3 subgroups according to the reperfusion time: 1 h, 3 h and 6 h. The neurological function of all rats were tested before reperfusion. The cerebral infarction area of the whole brain was calculated with TIC staining (n=6). The pathological change of brain was observed from HE staining (n=6) and the nNOS protein expression was obtained by immuno- histochemical method (n=6). Results Compared with I-R group, the neurological function was better in group P(P

Animals ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Gene Deletion ; Hearing Loss ; etiology ; pathology ; KCNQ1 Potassium Channel ; genetics ; Mice

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system due to the loss or death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Clinically, levodopa is the most effective and commonly used drug for PD treatment. However, long-term levodopa therapy is prone to motor complications and other side effects caused by excessive peripheral dopamine production, which has become an urgent problem to be solved in PD treatment. Dopamine receptor (DR) agonists are similar to dopamine. They can directly stimulate postsynaptic dopamine receptors, produce the same effect as dopamine, delay the application of levodopa as much as possible, and reduce complications caused by long-term use of levodopa. Therefore, screening effective dopamine receptor agonists has become a key issue in the study and treatment of PD. In order to establish a rapid, stable and reliable method for dopamine receptor agonist screening, this study used the human dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2) gene fused with a circular permuted EGFP (cpEGFP) to construct a recombinant gene, packaged with lentiviral vector, and the vector replaced the parted inner transmembrane domain of the third intracellular loop (ICL3) of genetically-encoded GPCR-activation based (GRAB) sensors. The fluorescence of GPCR-fused cpEGFP is regulated by conformational changes mediated by the interaction of dopamine receptor agonists with GPCRs without altering GPCR activity. The HEK293T cells were infected with viral vector, screened by puromycin to select highly expressed cells. Dopamine receptor agonists (including dopamine, bromocriptine mesylate, cabergoline, pramipexole) were used as positive drugs to explore the best screening and detection conditions, establishing a stable model to evaluate the dopamine receptor agonist. The results showed that the optimal filter for the dopamine receptor agonist in this study was the cell seeding count of 7×10⁴, and the effective concentration of the positive drug was 1-100 µmol·L^-1. In addition, pretreated with 10 µmol·L^-1 dopamine receptor antagonists (including chlorprothixol hydrochloride, domperidone, and sulpiride), the positive fluorescence signal of overexpressed DRD2-cpEGFP HEK293T cells could not be detected when exposed to 10 µmol·L^-1 dopamine receptor agonists, which proved that dopamine receptor antagonists could block the activity of dopamine receptor agonists, so they cannot activate dopamine receptor allosteric, indicating that the model has good specificity and can also be used for the screening and detection of new dopamine receptor antagonists. In summary, the study constructs a stable dopamine sensor detection system, which can effectively screen potential dopamine receptor agonists. The operation procedures are simple and rapid. And it can be used for a large-scale screening providing a fundamental methodology for drug development and PD treatment targeted on DRD2.

Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; methods ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; methods ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo find a way to having higher bond strength on mottled enamel.

METHODSSixty mottled enamel first bicuspid teeth extracted from fifteen patients needing orthodontic force were prepared and divided into four groups. Group A was routine acid etched, group B was air abraded, group C was etched by clearfil liner self-etching primer, group D was air abraded and then etched by clearfil liner self-etching primer. Next the bond and resin were used. The shear bond strength was observed and compared. The data were analysed by SPSS 11.5 statistical package.

RESULTSThe shear bonding strength of group A was (2.247 +/- 0.261) MPa, group B was (5.374 +/- 0.469) MPa, group C was (4.345 +/- 0.401) MPa, group D was (5.791 +/- 0.636) MPa. The strengths of four groups were significantly different (P < 0.01). The adhesive remnant index (ARI) scores of the four groups had no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONIn clinic, using air abrasion surface preparation technique is an acceptable way to enhancing the shear bond strength before sticking the orthodontic bonding on dental fluorosis.

Acid Etching, Dental ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Fluorosis, Dental ; Humans ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Resin Cements ; Shear Strength

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

OBJECTIVETo analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

METHODSDescriptive epidemic method was used to analyse the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of laboratory-confirmed cases with hand,foot and mouth disease.

RESULTSThe epidemiological characteristics 113 cases were the same as epidemic situation at the same time in Anji county. Clinical characteristics were difference in different pathogenesis type cases, severe and common cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.

CONCLUSIONPrevention and control work taken should according to the characteristics of the disease, such as early identification of severe cases, handling and controlling over the outbreaks in order to reduce the severe cases and the death.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; mortality ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

PURPOSE: To investigate and compare the effects of propofol and midazolam on inflammation and oxidase stress in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two ASA class I-II children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery were randomly divided into two groups: propofol combined with low dose fentanyl (PF group, n = 16) and midazolam combined with low dose fentanyl (MF group, n = 16). Tracheal extubation time and length of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay were recorded. Blood samples were taken before operation (T0), at 2 h after release of the aorta cross-clamp (T3) and at 24 h after operation (T4) to measure interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Myocardium samples were collected at 10-20 min after aorta cross-clamp (T1) and at 10-20 min after the release of the aorta cross-clamp (T2) to detect heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. RESULTS: Tracheal extubation time and length of ICU stay in PF group were significantly shorter than those of the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). After cardiopulmonary bypass, IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels were significantly increased, and the SOD level was significantly reduced in both two groups, but PF group exhibited lower IL-6, IL-8 and MDA levels and higher SOD levels than the MF group (p < 0.05, respectively). The HO-1 expression in the PF group was significantly higher than that in MF group at the corresponding time points (p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Propofol is superior to midazolam in reducing inflammation and oxidase stress and in improving post-operation recovery in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery.
Anesthesia, Intravenous/*adverse effects ; Anesthetics, Intravenous/*adverse effects ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Child ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital/*surgery ; Heme Oxygenase-1/blood ; Humans ; Inflammation/*chemically induced ; Interleukin-6/blood ; Interleukin-8/blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde/blood ; Midazolam/*adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress/*drug effects ; Propofol/*adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase/blood

OBJECTIVETo study the change of the blood coagulation function of guinea pigs exposed to 16 Hz/120 dB, 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound and to explore the mechanism of circulation system damage.

METHODSSeventy-two guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups: the control group, the group exposed to 16 Hz/120 dB infrasound for 1.5 h a day and the group exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound for 1.5 h a day. Each exposure group was divided into 4 sub-groups (8 guinea pigs a sub-group) which were exposed to infrasound for 1, 7, 14 and 21 d, respectively. The coagulation function and serum nitric oxide (NO) were measured for control group and all sub-groups after exposure to infrasound.

RESULTSThe prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR) and serum NO of group exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound were (31.16 ± 3.05) s, 2.53 ± 1.21 and (88.304 ± 52.601) µmol/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those [(21.36 ± 0.10) s, 1.65 ± 0.07 and (30.943 ± 26.864) µmol/L] of control group (P < 0.05). PT and INR of sub-groups exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound for 14 and 21 d were significantly higher than those of control group. NO of sub-groups exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound for 1 week and 2 weeks were significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05), but NO of sub-group exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound for 3 weeks decreased slightly.

CONCLUSIONThe blood coagulation function of guinea pigs exposed to 16 Hz/125 dB infrasound decreased, PT and INR may be used as the indexes to assess of blood coagulation function change induced by the infrasound exposure.

Animals ; Blood Coagulation ; Blood Physiological Phenomena ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Prothrombin Time