Cadmium ; urine ; Humans ; Quartz ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; instrumentation ; methods

The prescriptions including Polygoni Multiflori Caulis that built by Pro. Yan were collected to build a database based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) inheritance assist system. The method of association rules with apriori algorithm was used to achieve frequency of single medicine, frequency of drug combinations, association rules between drugs and core drug combinations. The datamining results indicated that in the prescriptions that including Polygoni Multiflori Caulis, the highest frequency used drugs were parched Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Ostreae Concha, Ossis Mastodi Fossilia, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma, Paeoniae Rubra Radix, and so on. The most frequent drug combinations were "Polygoni Multiflori Caulis-parched Ziziphi Spinosae Semen", "Ostreae Concha-Polygoni Multiflori Caulis", and "Polygoni Multiflori Caulis-Ossis Mastodi Fossilia". The drug association rules of confidence coefficient 1 were "Ostreae Concha-->Polygoni Multiflori Caulis", "Poria-->Polygoni Multiflori Caulis", "parched Ziziphi Spinosae Semen-->Polygoni Multiflori Caulis", and "Paeoniae Alba Radix-->Polygoni Multiflori Caulis". The core drug combinations in the treatment of insomnia were Ossis Mastodi Fossilia, Polygoni Multiflori Caulis, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ostreae Concha, Polygalae Radix, Margaritifera Concha, Poria, and parched Ziziphi Spinosae Semen. And the core drug combinations in the treatment of obstruction of Qi in chest were Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma, Polygoni Multiflori Caulis, parched Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, Trichosanthis Fructus, Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus, and Paeoniae Rubra Radix.
Data Mining ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Polygonaceae ; chemistry ; Prescriptions

BACKGROUND: The gut is capable of inducing multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). In the diagnosis and treatment of critical ill patients, doctors should pay particular attention to the protection or recovery of intestinal barrier function. However, no reliable diagnostic criteria are available clinically. This study aimed to assess the changes of intestinal mucosal barrier function in surgically critical ill patients as well as their significance. METHODS: Thirty-eight surgically critical ill patients were enrolled as a study group (APACHE II>8 scores), and 15 non-critical ill patients without intestinal dysfunction were selected as a control group (APACHE II<6). General information, symptoms, physical signs, and APACHE II scores of the patients were recorded. The patients in the study group were subdivided into an intestinal dysfunction group (n=26) and a non-intestinal dysfunction group (n=12). Three ml venous blood was collected from the control group on admission and the same volume of plasma was collected from the study group both on admission and in the period of recovery. The plasma concentrations of endotoxin, diamine oxidase (DAO), D-lactate, and intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (iFABP) were detected respectively. The data collected were analyzed by the SPSS 17.0 software for Windows. RESULTS: The levels of variables were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.01). They were higher in the intestinal dysfunction group than in the non-intestinal dysfunction group (DAO P<0.05, endotoxin, D-lactate, iFABP P<0.01). In the non-intestinal dysfunction group compared with the control group, the level of endotoxin was not significant (P>0.05), but the levels of DAO, D-lactate and iFABP were statistically significant (P<0.05). The levels of variables in acute stage were higher than those in recovery stage (P<0.01).The death group showed higher levels of variables than the survival group (endotoxin and D-lactate P<0.01, DAO and iFABP P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The plasma concentrations of endotoxin, DAO, D-lactate, and intestinal fatty-acid binding protein (iFABP) could reflect a better function of the intestinal mucosa barrier in surgically critical ill patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ginsenoside-rg1 (G-Rg1) on rat’s cardiomyocytes H9c2 with its mechanism of signal pathwayin vitro.
Methods: H9c2 cells were cultured and treated in different conditions by following groups:①Blank control group,②Hypoxia alone group, the cells were treated for (2, 6, 12, 24, 48) hr respectively,③G-Rg1 group, the cells were treated by G-Rg1 at (5, 10, 50) μmol/L respectively,④YC-1 group, which is the speciifc inhibitor of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α),⑤YC-1 + G-Rg1 group,⑥Wortmannin group, which is the speciifc inhibitor for protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation and⑦Wortmannin + G-Rg1 group. Each experiment was conducted with 5 replicates. The effects of G-Rg1, hypoxia and YC-1 on cell activity and injury were studied; intracellular mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were examined by RT-PCR; protein expressions of HIF-1α, GLUT-1, HO-1, activating transcription factor-6 (ATF-6), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and Akt with its signal pathway factors were measured by Western blot analysis.
Results: The time of hypoxia was negatively related to cell activity (r=-0.8580,P<0.05) and positively related to LDH overlfow rate (r=0.9201,P<0.05). G-Rg1 (10μmol/L) group showed increased cell activity than Hypoxia alone (24 hr) group (87.8% vs 62.6 %,P<0.05), while decreased LDH overlfow (25.0% vs 74.8%,P<0.05), and up-regulated mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, GLUT-1 and HO-1, P<0.05. YC-1+ G-Rg1 group had decreased cell activity than G-Rg1 group (68.0% vs 87.8%,P<0.05), while increased LDH overlfow (56.4% vs 25.0%,P<0.05). Meanwhile, YC-1 clashed the effect of G-Rg1 on protein expressions of HIF-1α, GLUT-1, HO-1, ATF-6 and CHOP,P<0.05; wortmannin clashed the effect of G-Rg1 on protein expressions of HIF-1α, CHOP,P<0.05 and suppressed the two phosphorylation sites for Akt activation,P<0.05.
Conclusion: G-Rg1 may protect rat’s H9c2 cellsin vitro by activating expressions of HIF-1α with its downstream factors and inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, which might be related to the effect of G-Rg1 on Akt activation.

To develop an inquiry scale for diagnosis of heart system syndromes, and to discuss the provisional standardization of the inquiry method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Glycosides are important active components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Their pharmacological activity, pharmacokinetic characteristics and in vivo existence become hotspots of current studies. The metabolic pathways of these glycosides are de-glycosylation mainly mediated by gut microbiota. After glycosides were metabolized into aglycones, they could be absorbed more easily and show better pharmacological effects. In this article, we reviewed the main glycosidase in gut microbiota which helps metabolize TCM glycosides, relevant bacterial strains which generate glycosidase, as well as the de-glycosylated metabolic pathways of the representative glycosides, on the basis of gut microbiota's important roles in in vivo metabolism and efficacy of TCM glycosides. We also preliminarily solved problems in studies on de-glycosylation of TCM glycosides.
Animals ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Glycosylation ; Humans ; Metagenome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate levels of common specific fusion transcripts M-bcr-abl, m-bcr-abl, TEL-AML1, AML1-ETO, PML-RAR alpha, CBF beta-MYH11 in untreated leukemia patients.

METHODSSpecific fusion transcript levels were detected by TaqMan-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique in a total of 208 samples, including 195 bone marrow samples from 50 M-bcr-abl(+) chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP), 10 M-bcr-abl(+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 19 m-bcr-abl(+) ALL, 11 TEL-AML1(+) ALL, 30 AML1-ETO(+) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 58 PML-RAR alpha(+) acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and 17 CBF beta-MYH11(+) AML patients and 13 peripheral blood samples from 13 M-bcr-abl(+) CML-CP patients. abl was chosen as internal control gene. Fusion transcript level was calculated as fusion transcript copies/abl transcript copies in percentage.

RESULTSBone marrow and peripheral blood samples of CML-CP patients had similar M-bcr-abl fusion transcript levels (median 30% vs 35%, P > 0.05). M- and m-bcr-abl (median 64% vs 54%) levels were similar in ALL patients (P > 0.05), M-bcr-abl level was significantly higher in ALL than CML-CP patients(P < 0.001). Median TEL-AML1 level was 228% in ALL patients. Among AML patients, AML1-ETO level was significantly higher than CBF beta-MYH11 and PML-RAR alpha levels (median 388% vs 145%, 388% vs 47%, all P < 0.001), CBF beta-MYH11 level was significantly higher than PML-RAR alpha level (P < 0.001). Fusion transcript levels of L-, V- and S-type PML-RAR alpha were 45%, 44% and 55%, respectively. L-type was significantly lower than S-type (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSFusion transcript levels in untreated leukemia patients were different and patient-to-patient variations did exist. Detection of fusion transcript levels in untreated leukemia patients not only provides baseline for minimal residual disease monitoring and treatment evaluation but also enable the comparison in inter-laboratory data.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Transcription, Genetic

To explore CD34(+) antigen expression in new diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and analyze the prognosis for CD34(+) AML patients, the expression of antigen CD34 in 238 AML patients was detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The results showed that CD34 in 92 out of the 238 patients (38.7%) were positive, there was relationship between the CD34(+) expression and FAB subtypes (M(0), M(1)), and no CD34(+) expression was observed in M(3) subtypes. The complete remission rate of CD34(+) AML patients was 32%, which was lower than that of CD34(-) AML (61%). The lymphoid-associated antigen (CD7) was significantly increased in CD34(+) AML patients, compared with CD34(-) patients (P < 0.05). It is concluded that CD34(+) AML patients show poor prognosis and lower CR rate. The detection of CD34 expression is of some value in predicting prognosis in AML.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; biosynthesis ; Antigens, CD7 ; biosynthesis ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo compare the immunophenotypic and clinical characteristics between NPM1 mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (NPM1m(+)AML) and unmutated AML(NPM1m(-)AML) not otherwise characterized (NOS) under similar FAB subtypes constituent ratio.

METHODSImmunophenotyping and NPM1 gene mutation type-A, B and D and other leukemic related fusion genes were detected by multiparameter flow cytometry and real time RT-PCR or PCR, respectively. 104 AML patients with NPM1m(+)AML and performed immunophenotyping assay were included, 97 with NPM1m(-)AML.

RESULTSThere were significant difference between the two groups at presentation in terms of sex, white blood count(WBC), platelet counts (PLT), blast ratio, normal karyotype ratio, WT1 expression level, FLT3-ITD mutation positive rate and remission rate of first course of induction therapy (P < 0.05). On the immunophenotype, the expression of early differentiation antigens (CD34, HLA-DR, CD117, CD38), lymphocytic antigens (CD7, CD4, CD19, CD2), myeloid and monocytic differentiation-associated antigens (CD13, CD14, CD15) were lower, and that of CD33 as well as CD123 were higher in NPM1m(+)AML patients. Among them, only CD34, HLA-DR, CD7, and CD4 positive cases were significantly lower in NPM1m(+)AML group than in NPM1m(-)AML group (P < 0.05), the rest of them had significant difference in the number of positive cells (P < 0.05). Above features were further analyzed between the M1/M2 and M4/M5 subgroups. M1/M2 cases retained the women prominent and had a higher WT1 expression level (P < 0.05). The expression of monocytic differentiation-associated antigens including HLA-DR and lymphocytic antigens were higher and that of CD117 were lower in M4/M5 subtype (P < 0.05). Among them, the positive rates of HLA-DR, CD64, CD11b, CD10, CD15, and CD4 were significantly higher in M4/M5 than in M1/M2 in NPM1m(+)AML group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe most clinical characteristics in NPM1m(+)AML patients are consistent with reports, but some immunophenotype are different to the previous reports under similar FAB subtypes constituent ratio. The major immunophenotypic features of NPM1m(+)AML patients are lower expression of progenitor, myeloid and lymphoid lineage antigens. Monocytic differentiation-associated antigens are only higher expression in M4/M5 cases when comparison with M1/M2 cases within NPM1m(+)AML group.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDRight ventricular function plays an important role in the hemodynamic derangement during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. Pressure-volume loops have been shown to provide load-independent information of cardiac function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of construction of right ventricular pressure-volume loops with pressure and volume data measured by a volumetric pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and to evaluate right ventricular systolic and diastolic function by end-systolic elastance (E(ES)) and end-diastolic stiffness (E(ED)) in OPCAB surgery.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients who underwent OPCAB surgery were included. After anesthesia induction, a volumetric PAC was placed via the right internal jugular vein. Data were recorded at: anesthesia steady-state before skin incision (T1); 5 minutes after the stabilizer device was placed for anastomosis on the heart's anterior wall (T2), lateral wall (T3), posterior wall (T4), respectively; after sternal closure (T5). Three sets of data were collected at each time point: first, hemodynamic variables were measured; second, right ventricular E(ES) and E(ED) were calculated; third, right ventricular pressure-volume loops were constructed with pressure and volume data measured from end-diastole point, end-isovolumic systole point, peak-ejection point, end-systole point and end-isovolumic diastole point.

RESULTSRight ventricular pressure-volume loops generally shifted to the left during OPCAB surgery. Especially, the end-diastolic point shifted upward and to the left at T2-T5 compared with that at T1. Decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume index and end-diastolic volume index occurred (P < 0.05) at T4 compared with values at T1. Pulmonary vascular resistance index at T4 increased relatively compared with that at T2 and T3. The change of E(ES) was not statistically significant during operation. Right atrial pressure increased only during coronary anastomoses (T2-T4, P < 0.05), whereas E(ED) increased throughout OPCAB surgery (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSRight ventricular pressure-volume loops can be constructed using a volumetric PAC. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction occurred during anastomoses on the heart's posterior wall not due to impaired myocardial contractility but as a result of reduced preload and a relative increase in afterload. Right ventricular diastolic function was impaired throughout OPCAB surgery.

Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; methods ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Function, Right ; physiology