Objective: To assess the hydrodynamic performance of C L pugestrut valve prosthesis in vitro . Methods: The leakage, steady flow and pulsatile flow of the valve prosthesis was tested in vitro with the C L standard valve and Medtronic Hall valve prosthesis as control. Results: The rate of leakage of the C L pugestrut valve was (298?66) ml/min, accorded with the demand of clinical use. The steady flow pressure drop across the C L pugestrut valve was significantly lower than the C L standard valve( P

It has been previously shown that Taraphochlamys affinis possessed anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities. To identify the active ingredients, the total saponins (TSTA) were isolated from T. affinis and the inhibitory effect of TSTA on HBV in the duck HBV model was examined. The results showed that serum levels of DHBV-DNA decreased in all ducks treated with TSTA (1.0 and 2.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and lamivudine (3TC) (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) during treatment, but 7 days after the cessation of treatment (p7) with 3TC, the viral replication level returned to the pretreatment baseline. Contrariwise in ducks treated with TSTA, the effect of DHBV DNA inhibition lasted. Compared with model control group,the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and duck hepatitis B surface antigen (DHBsAg) values of 1.0 and 2.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)-dose TSTA groups were significantly lower on 7, 14 days after the treatment (d7, d14) and p7, and at p7, the ALT and DHBsAg levels of 2.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)-dose TSTA group was significantly lower than that of 3TC group. Furthermore, significant histological improvement was noted in ducklings of TSTA treatment group 7 days after the withdrawal. The study results demonstrate that TSTA possesses potent anti-HBV activity.
Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hepadnaviridae Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; Hepatitis B Virus, Duck ; drug effects ; immunology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal ; drug therapy ; virology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

With Jingkang No.5 (PiA), calli of the PiA induced for 10-15 days were transferred into amino acid liquid culture medium, to establish excellent rice suspension cell lines successfully in a relative short time. The growth characteristics and differentiation conditions of suspension cells were measured at different phases. Results revealed that the optimal subculture time was 7-10 days, and the cells cultured for 30-120 days had the best differentiation ability (57.1%) and regeneration ability (20%). This study is promising in further using the suspension cell for genetic transformation and protoplasm isolation.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Line ; Culture Media ; Oryza ; cytology

Objective:To explore the key genes and its biological functions of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) using bioinformatics analysis.Methods:Differentially expressed genes of APA were identified from two training datasets GSE60042 and GSE64957 in GEO database. Function and pathway enrichment analyses for differentially expressed genes were performed and transcriptional regulation network among these genes were determined. Hub genes were extracted by node analysis from the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The expression of key genes was verified by a testing dataset GSE8514. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis was applied to assess the diagnostic efficiency of key genes in APA. The biofunction of each key gene were determined by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).Results:A total of 68 differentially expressed genes, including 33 up-regulated genes and 35 down-regulated genes, were detected from the training datasets. These genes were mainly enriched in aldosterone biosynthetic process, calcium signaling pathway, serotonin receptor signaling pathway, transcriptional activator activity, and regulation of transcription. JUN and VDR were at the center of the transcriptional factor-gene network. Furthermore, we identified nine Hub genes from the PPI network. In testing dataset, CYP11B2 and VDR showed the higher expression, while JUN, NFKBIZ, EGR3, and KLF6 showed lower expression in APA (all P<0.05), and the value of area under ROC curve analysis was 0.936, 0.833, 0.953, 0.854, 0.868, and 0.929, respectively. GSEA indicated the alter of key genes in APA led to up-regulation of the steroid biosynthesis, cell adhesion molecules, immune cells signaling pathway, and complement and coagulation cascades [all normalized enrichment score (NES)>1.5, P<0.05], but down-regulation of the DNA replication, ribosome, and autophagy (all NES<-1.5, P<0.05). Conclusion:Results of bioinformatics indicate that JUN and VDR are key transcriptional factors, and CYP11B2, NFKBIZ, EGR3, and KLF6 are the key genes for APA, which are involved in the steroid biosynthesis, cell adhesion molecules, immune cells signaling pathway in APA.

OBJECTIVESince 1986, the reference of birth weight for gestational age has not been updated. The aim of this study was to set up Chinese neonatal network to investigate the current situation of birth weight in China, especially preterm birth weight, to develop the new reference for birth weight for gestational age and birth weight curve.

METHODA nationwide neonatology network was established in China. This survey was carried out in 63 hospitals of 23 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions. We continuously collected the information of live births in participating hospitals during the study period of 2011-2014. Data describing birth weight and gestational age were collected prospectively. Newborn's birth weight was measured by electronic scale within 2 hours after birth when baby was undressed. The evaluation of gestational age was based on the combination of mother's last menstrual period, ultrasound in first trimester and gestational age estimation by gestational age scoring system.

STATISTICAL ANALYSISthe growth curve was drawn by using LMSP method, which was conducted in GAMLSS 1.9-4 software package in R software 2.11.1.

RESULTA total of 159 334 newborn infants were enrolled in this study. There were 84 447 male and 74 907 female. The mean birth weight was (3 232 ± 555) g, the mean birth weight of male newborn was (3 271 ± 576) g, the mean weight of female newborn was (3 188 ± 528) g. The test of the variables' distribution suggested that the distribution of gestational age and birth weight did not fit the normal distribution, the optimal distribution for them was BCT distribution. The Q-Q plot test and worm plot test suggested that this curve fitted the distribution optimally. The male and female neonatal birth weight curve was developed using the same method.

CONCLUSIONUsing GAMLSS method to establish nationwide neonatal birth weight curve, and the first time to update the birth weight reference in recent 28 years.

Birth Weight ; China ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Male