OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between Chinese medical constitutions and chemotherapy-induced leucopenia (CIL) of primary breast cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 306 breast cancer patients undergoing adjunctive chemotherapy for the 1st time, and effective 291 breast cancer patients were recruited in this study.Nine Basic Constitutional Scale was used before first chemotherapy. Chinese medical constitutions were classified and quantitatively scored. The highest grading for any item of adverse reactions in each case during the whole chemotherapy course was recorded after chemotherapy. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS16.0.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CIL between different chemotherapy regimens and various Chinese medical constitutions of breast cancer patients (P > 0.05). Yang deficiency constitution is one risk factor for CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the more severe the CIL.

CONCLUSIONSYang deficiency constitution was correlated with the degree of CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the greater the risk of III-IV grade CIL in breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to examine the prevalence and diameter of the bony canal structure of the posterior superior alveolar artery (PSAA), residual alveolar bone height, and distance of its inferior border from the alveolar crest using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

METHODSCBCT images of maxilla in 116 patients were randomly selected from patients who underwent maxillary sinus augmentation procedure and/or posterior teeth implant therapy from April 2011 to September 2012. The lower border of the bony canal to the alveolar crest, diameter of the bony canal, and residual alveolar bone height below the sinus floor to the ridge crest were measured from CBCT scans. Data were presented using descriptive statistics.

RESULTSThe prevalence of the bony canal was 75.14% (133/177). The mean diameter of the bony canal was (0.96 ± 0.29) mm. The residual alveolar bone height was (7.14 ± 3.64) mm. The distance of the bony canal's inferior border from the alveolar crest was (17.92 ± 5.68) mm. No statistically significant differences between the right and left sides were observed (F = 0.295, P > 0.05). The mean diameter of the bony canal was significantly smaller in females than that in males (F = 0.187, P < 0.05). The maxillary alveolar dimension was significantly correlated with the residual alveolar bone height.

CONCLUSIONThe results from this study suggest that CBCT is a valuable tool in evaluating the presence of the bony canal of the PSAAs efore maxillary sinus surgery.

Alveolar Process ; Arteries ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Sinus Floor Augmentation

OBJECTIVETo optimize formulas of Quban gel.

METHODThe U6 (6(2) x 3) uniform design was adopted to optimize gel formulas, with rheological parameters, such as viscosity and yield value in room temperature, viscosity and yield value in average temperature of skin, thixlotropy.

RESULTThe optimum proportion of matrix was made of 1.0 g carbomer 940, 5 mL glycerin and pH value 5-6.

CONCLUSIONThe regression model for gel matrix quality and gel rheological parameters was established to directly reflect the impacting effect of various factors, and provide certain preference basis for the screening of gel matrix formulas. Quban gel prepared by the method was evenly distributed, moderately viscous and highly thixotropic

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gels ; Quality Control ; Regression Analysis ; Viscosity

Objective To study the expression of serum interleukin (IL )-6 and IL-10 in sepsis patients ,and their correlations with immune function .Methods A total of 56 patients with sepsis were divided into three groups ,including 18 patients in sepsis group ,21 patients in severe sepsis group ,17 patients in septic shock group .All the patients were also divided into survivor and death group according to whether they survived within 2 weeks .Other 30 healthy persons were selected in the control group .Serum IL-6 and IL-10 ,CD4+ /CD8+ were detected and compared .Results Serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the three sepsis groups were significantly higher than those in control group ,and with the severity aggravating ,these indicators increased .The level of serum IL-6 in sepsis patients was significantly reduced at the 3rd day ,while there was no difference on the serum IL-10 in severe sepsis group and septic shock group compared with that at admission(P>0 .05) .Compared with survivor group ,serum IL-6 and IL-10 levels on both admission and the 3rd in death groups increased significantly (P<0 .05) .CD4+ ,CD8+ ,CD4+ /CD8+ were negative related with serum IL-6 and IL-10 in both severe sepsis and septic shock group (P<0 .05) .Conclusion The expression of IL-6 and IL-10 in patients with sepsis are over-expressive ,and closely related with disease activity and immune function .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qufeng Tongluo Recipe (QTR) on the expression of desmin and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.

METHODSThe adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model was induced by a disposable intravenous injection of adriamycin. The model was successfully established after 3 weeks. Rats were then randomly divided into the blank control group (Group A, n =12), the model control group (Group B, n = 8), the small, medium, large dose QTR group (Group C, n = 8; Group D, n = 8; Group E, n = 8), and the positive control group (Group F, n = 8). From the fourth week normal saline was given to rats in Group A and Group B, QTR 1.0 g/mL, 2.1 g/mL, and 4.2 g/mL was respectively administered to those in Group C, D, and E. Prednisone 25 mg/kg was given to rats in Group F. All medication was performed by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily, for 28 successive days. 24-h urinary protein excretion and sera biochemical indices were determined during medication. At the end of the experiment, ultrastructure was observed, mRNA expression of desmin, mRNA and protein of CD2AP were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with Group B, 24-h urinary protein excretion significantly decreased in Group C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with Group B, Alb in Group C, D, and E increased (P < 0.05) and TC significantly decreased (P < 0.05). TG significantly increased in Group F (P < 0.05). (3) Results of electron microscope showed, compared with Group B, the morphology of foot cells was improved to various degrees in Groups D, E, and F, especially the foot process structure and the number of foot processes were significantly improved, which was more obviously shown in Group D and Group E. (4) mRNA expression of desmin, mRNA and protein of CD2AP increased in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats (P < 0.05). After intervention, when compared with Group B, mRNA expression of desmin and CD2AP were significantly lower in Group C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). (5) Compared with Group A, expression of desmin and CD2AP significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with Group B, the expression of desmin protein were obviously lower in Group C, D, E, and F, and the protein expression of desmin obviously decreased in Group D, E, and F (P < 0.05). The protein expression of desmin and CD2AP gradually decreased in Group C, D, and E (P < 0.05). Compared with Group F, the expression of CD2AP protein obviously increased in Group C and D (P < 0.05); the expression of CD2AP protein obviously decreased in Group E (P < 0.05); the expression of desmin protein was higher in Group C, D, and E (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQTR's therapeutic effect on adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats might be achieved through altered expression of desmin and CD2AP.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective · To identify broad-spectrum bacteriophages against extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia and analyze their characteristics by biological and genomic methods. Methods · Multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumonia strains collected from a hospital were used as host bacteria to isolate and purify broad-spectrum phages in the wastewater at the same hospital area. The size and shape of phages were observed by transmission electron microscope. Titer, host range, pH stability and thermal stability were measured. Moreover, the DNA extracted from the phage SH-Kp152234 was sequenced and analyzed. Results · One strain of bacteriophage against Klebsiella pneumonia was isolated and named as SH-Kp152234. The electron microscope revealed it belongs to Podoviridae family. Moreover, genome of SH-Kp152234 showed to be a linear double-stranded DNA of 40578 bp with the GC content of 52.85%. It was predicted to have 49 open reading frames with related known functions.Conclusion · SH-Kp152234, with a broad host range and a short latent period, which could exert its activity in a wide range of temperature and pH, is a promising candidate to be exploited in the treatment of multiple drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia.

Objective To determine whether the susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged heart is higher than that in adult heart and,if so,to clarify the mechanisms underlying this change.Methods Wister rats(5-or 20-month-old)were randomly divided into 4 groups(6 animals in each group).The rats were subjected to 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia via ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery,followed by 3 hours of reperfusion(Young-MI/R group and Old-MI/R group);A silk suture around the left anterior descending coronary artery was not ligated in young and old rats(Young-sham group and Old-sham group).Myocardial apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynueleotidyl transferase biotin-d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)staining and caspase-3 activity was detected by using a caspase-3 colorimetrie assay.Nitrotyrosine content,a footprint of in vivo ONOO~-formation,and total NO content were determined by ELISA and chemiluminescence method respectively.Results A significantly exacerbated cardiac reperfusion injury was found in Old-MI/R group as evidenced by increased TUNEL positive myocytes[(19.0?2.1)% vs.(14.6?1.7)%],and increased myocardial caspase-3 activity[(436?35)?mool/mg vs.(340?32)?mol/mg] compared with Young-MI/R group(P＜0.05).Aged hearts had a markedly increased basal NOx level compared with young adult hearts.Marked higher myocardial nitrotyrosine content was found in OId-MI/R group[(7.25?0.18)nmol/g]than that in Young-MI/R group[(4.68?0.15)nmol/g] (P＜0.05).Conclusions In aged hearts,high levels of NO might form highly toxie derivant, ONOO~-,and its subsequent nitrified protein.This may attribute to the increased susceptibility of the aged heart to isehemic-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUNDGrowth and development of infants has been an important topic in pediatrics for a long time. Infants must be provided with food containing all necessary nutrients. Breast milk is believed to be the most desirable natural and cheapest food for well-balanced nutrition. But with the progress in the development of substitute food in developed countries, it is thought that formula milk can meet the requirement for infant growth. During early infancy, growth, as the most sensitive index of health, is therefore a critical component in evaluating the adequacy of breast-feeding, mixed-feeding and formula feeding. Iron status is another important index of infant health. Iron deficiency anemia remains the most prevalent nutritional deficiency index in infants worldwide. This study is to compare infants in Beijing at 4 months who are on three different feeding modes (breast feeding, mixed feeding and formula feeding) in physical changes and iron status. The results may provide new mothers with support in feeding mode selection, which will also be helpful to the China Nutrition Association in feeding mode education.

METHODSThis is a cohort study. One thousand and one normal Beijing infants were followed regularly for 12 months. Body weight and horizontal length were measured. Hemoglobin, red blood cell counts, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and serum iron were analyzed at 4 months.

RESULTSThe breast feeding percentage in the first 4 months was 47.9%. The feeding mode was not significantly related to maternal delivery age, education, labor pathway nor infant sex (P>0.05). Infant boys and girls exclusively breast-fed from 0 to 4 months had the highest weight at 0-6 months. The anemia rate of breast-fed infant boys at 4 months was the highest.

CONCLUSIONSBreast feeding should be given more emphasis. It is compulsory for new mothers to breast-feed their infants if possible. Social environment should also guarantee the requirement for breast feeding. Furthermore the normal values of hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and serum iron, which were originally used to judge children's iron deficiency anemia, might not be optimal for evaluating infants. There might be a need to develop sex-specific cutoff levels of hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and serum iron for infants.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; epidemiology ; Breast Feeding ; Child Development ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Newborn ; Iron ; blood ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo explore mechanism of dermal toxicity of trichloroethylene(TCE).

METHODSNormal human keratinocytes (KC) were isolated from foreskins of healthy donors undergoing circumcision by two-step trypsin digestion and cultured in serum-free medium. Cells were treated with medium, 1% acetone (volume fraction) 0.125, 0.500 or 2.000 mmol/L TCE for different time (4, 8, 12 or 24) hours. After treatment, MTT assay and ATPase activity detected, inhibition ratio of mitochondrial enzyme was calculated according to optical density (A) value of MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by flow cytometry FCM after being stained with Rhodamine123 (Rh123). Morphological changes were also observed through transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSCellular viability and ATPase activity declined with dose of TCE, while inhibition ratio of mitochondrial enzyme increased with dose of TCE. FCM results showed that after treatment with 2.000 mmol/L TCE, fluorescence density of Rh123 decreased quickly from 18.73 +/- 0.45(0 h) to 8.20 +/- 0.66(8 h) (P < 0.01). After 8 h, fluorescence density maintained at the level equal to that of 8 h (fluorescence density of Rh123 were 8.20 +/- 0.36 and 8.20 +/- 0.40 for 12 and 24 h respectively, compared with that for 8 h group, P > 0.05). The results also showed that MMP diminished with dose of TCE. Under TEM, mitochondria in TCE-treated group appeared extensive swelling and vacuolar degeneration with less matrix and obscure or vanished mitochondria cristae but in control group, mitochondrial structure was integrated, with uniform matrix and visible mitochondria cristae.

CONCLUSIONSTCE could inhibit mitochondrial metabolic enzyme, reduce ATP production, diminish MMP, and destroy ultrastructure of mitochondria in KC, all these contributing to the cytotoxicity of TCE.

Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

Danggui, Agelicae Sinensis Radix, is a widely used Chinese herb to enrich blood, but its quality cannot be effectively assessed by the known chemical markers such as ferulic acid, ligustilide, polysaccharides, etc. A new bioassay was therefore developed to quantify the Enrich-Blood Bioactivity (EBB) for the quality assessment of Danggui raw materials. Danggui sample was first extracted with ethanol and water, respectively. Then the ethanolic extract and water extract were mixed as a test sample to quantify the amount of EBB by mice experiment. The blood deficiency mode in mice was developed by intraperitoneal injecting cyclophospharmide and phenylhdrazine hydrochloride. The quantity of red blood cell was chosen as EBB marker. Cyclosporine A was chosen as a control substance. EBB in analytes was quantified by the amount reaction of parallel line analysis (3, 3') method. The results indicated that the reliability test for quantifying EBB was passed through and the measured value was valid. The analytes showed the significant EBB (P < 0.05). The correlation coefficient was 0.9984 (n=5) between the amount of cyclosporine A (0.035-0.56 g x kg(-1)) and the increased number of red blood cell. The relative standard deviation (RSY) on the amount of EBB was estimated to be 6.15% (n = 6) by six replicated tests, and the confidence limit rate was 26.68% (n = 6). Five Danggui samples, which were collected from different cultivation areas with various morphological characters, showed the variety of EBB in the range of 21.95-44.16 U x g(-1). It is concluded that the developed method is accurate to quantify the EBB of Danggui raw materials, and is therefore suitable to assess its quality.
Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biological Assay ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plant Roots ; chemistry