Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Objective To investigate the chemical constituents of Peperomia blanda. Methods Guided by HPLC detection, integrated methods including vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC), ODS and semi-preparative RP-HPLC were used for separation. The structure was determined by spectral analyses including ESI-MS, 1D NMR, 2D NMR and ECD spectra. Results Four compounds were isolated and identified as (7S,7’S,8R,8 ’R)-7-(5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-8, 8-dihydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran (1), 7, 8-trans-8,8-trans-7,8-cis-7, 7-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy phenyl)-8,8-di-acetoxymethyltetrahydrofuran (2), (+)-(7S, 7S, 8R, 8R)-4, 4-dihydroxy-3, 3, 5, 5-tetramethoxy-7, 9, 7, 9-diepoxylignane (3), and (6R, 7E, 9R)-9-hydroxy-4, 7-megastigmadien-3-one (4). Conclusion Compound 1 is a new tetrahydrofuran lignan, compounds 2-4 were isolated from P. blanda for the first time.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; blood ; Animals ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; administration & dosage ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Kainic Acid ; Ketone Bodies ; metabolism ; Male ; Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Kainic Acid ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVEKetogenic diet (KD) is a high fat, low protein, low carbohydrate diet. Its antiepileptic effect is certain but the underlying mechanism is unknown. The aim of the study was to reveal the possible mechanism from the view points of synaptic reorganization and GluR(5) expression in hippocampus.

METHODSEpilepsy was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by kainic acid at postnatal day 28, all control animals were fed with normal rodent chow, whereas experimental rats were fed with ketogenic feed for 8 weeks. Spontaneous recurrent seizures were recorded. Mossy fiber sprouting and neuron damage in hippocampus were investigated by Timm staining and Nissl staining. Western blot and RT-PCR methods were applied to detect the expression of GluR(5) and GluR(5) mRNA in hippocampus.

RESULTSKD-fed rats (1.40 +/- 1.03) had significantly fewer spontaneous recurrent seizures than control diet-fed rats (7.36 +/- 3.75). The mean A of mossy fiber sprouting in the inner molecular layer of dentate gyrus was markedly higher in KA induced animals than that in saline control animals but it was similar in different diet fed groups. No significant differences were found in the mean A of Timm staining in CA(3) area and Nissl staining of neuron in hilus, CA(3) and CA(1) area. After KA kindling, KD-fed animals [(189.38 +/- 40.03)/mg pro] had significantly higher GluR(5) expression in hippocampus than control diet-fed animals [(128.79 +/- 46.51)/mg pro] although their GluR(5) mRNA was the same.

CONCLUSIONMossy fiber sprouting may be responsible for epileptogenesis in KA induced model and KD can suppress seizures in these animals. KD may upregulate young rat GluR(5) in inhibitory interneurons of CA(1) thus lead to an increased inhibition to prevent the propagation of seizure.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; pathology ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromosome Pairing ; drug effects ; Dentate Gyrus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diet, Ketogenic ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; diet therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kainic Acid ; Male ; Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyramidal Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, Kainic Acid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVERefractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TCE) shows a unique type of hippocampal damage, referred to as hippocampal sclerosis. The mechanisms underlying drug-refractoriness in TCE are poorly understood, which may be connected with pharmacoresistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Some studies show that expression of the multidrug resistance gene (mdr1a and mdr1b) and p-glycoprotein encoded by mdr1a and mdr1b are high in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, and the expression may lead to reduction of AEDs concentration in the brain. But most of these studies focused on acute epileptic activity shortly after status epilepticus (SE), spontaneous seizures are seldom studied. The authors used a rat model of kainic acid induced spontaneous seizures to investigate expression of mdr1a and mdr1b mRNA, and explore whether topiramate (TPM) affects expression of mdr1a and mdr1b in the hippocampus.

METHODSSeizures were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg kainic acid at postnatal day 28. Control rats were injected with sodium chloride. All rats were divided into 4 groups 1 week after spontaneous seizures developed: status epilepticus complicated with spontaneous seizures (SE, n = 8) group, status epilepticus complicated with spontaneous seizures treated with TPM (SE + TPM, n = 9) group, spontaneous seizures without status epilepticus (N-SE, n = 7) group, spontaneous seizures without status epilepticus treated with TPM (N-SE + TPM, n = 8) group, control (n = 7) group and control treated with TPM (control + TPM, n = 7) group. The treated rats were given therapeutic dose of TPM (25 mg/kg). All the rats were killed on the 42nd day of administration. The mdr1a and mdr1b mRNAs in the hippocampus were measured by RT-PCR.

RESULTSExpression of mdr1a and mdr1b mRNA in the hippocampus increased significantly in the SE + TPM group, SE group and N-SE + TPM group compared with control group (P < 0.001 or < 0.05). The mRNA in SE + TPM group increased significantly compared with the SE group, too (P < 0.01). The mdr1a and mdr1b mRNA expression in the hippocampus in control + TPM and N-SE groups did not change.

CONCLUSIONFrequent seizures, especially status epilepticus resulted in overexpression of mdr1a and mdr1b mRNAs in the hippocampus. The drug-refractoriness mechanism in TCE may be related to overexpression of mdr1a and mdr1b mRNAs. TPM could enhance the expression of mdr1a and mdr1b mRNAs in the hippocampus. Seizure activity and TPM are likely to be the main determinant in enhancing mdr1a and mdr1b mRNA expression in epilepsy.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Fructose ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Kainic Acid ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Seizures ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Status Epilepticus ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVECleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is a dominantly inherited skeletal dysplasia caused by mutations in the osteoblast-specific transcription factor-encoding gene, core binding factor α1 (CBFA1). Over 90 mutations in CBFA1 gene have been published to date in 500 independent cases of CCD, including missense mutations, deletions, insertions, frameshift, and splice mutations. However, mutational screening of the CBFA1 gene is still far from saturation, and more novel mutations will be identified to enrich the insights into the molecular basis for the pathogenesis of CCD. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical and image features and detect the mutations of CBFA1 gene in two CCD families.

METHODIn this study, the clinical features were investigated in two CCD families, radiological and CT examinations regarding osseous malformation were carried out over the entire body of these patients with CCD. Blood (2 ml) was drawn from all affected individuals, unaffected family members and one hundred unrelated normal controls, Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood with PureGene DNA extraction kit and PCR was performed with eight pairs of PCR primers for exons 0 to 7 of the CBFA1 gene. The mutations of CBFA1 gene were screened in these two CCD families.

RESULT(1) The clinical features of patients with CCD include delayed closure of fontanelles, frontal bossing, dysplasia of clavicles, late tooth eruption, and other skeletal anomalies. X-ray and CT examination showed the bulging calvarium, patent fontanelles, wide cranial sutures, multiple Wormian bones, dental dysplasia or aplasia of clavicles. (2) Two mutations were identified, one is novel missense mutation (c.1259C > T[p.T420I]) in CBFA1 gene exon 7, other (c.577C > T[p.R193X]) was reported in Chinese cases with CCD for the first time.

CONCLUSION(1) The clinical and image features of patients in two CCD families include delayed closure of fontanelles, frontal bossing, dysplasia of clavicles, late tooth eruption, and other skeletal anomalies. (2) The T420I and R193X mutations of CBFA1 were reported, expanding the spectrum of CBFA1 mutations causing CCD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleidocranial Dysplasia ; genetics ; pathology ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of collagen-coating, epidermal growth factor (EGF), Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on growth and function of neonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes in transcatheter closure device patches in vitro.

METHODSNeonatal ventricular cardiomyocytes were cultured with transcatheter closure device patches (1 cm x 2 cm) coated with or without collagen and treated with 10% FBS (control), EGF (20 ng/ml), BrdU (0.1 mmol/L), respectively. In vitro ventricular cardiomyocytes growth and function as well as IGF-I content were determined.

RESULTS(1) The beginning time of ventricular cardiomyocytes beating on patches was similar in collagen-coated and uncoated patches treated with PBS, EGF or BrdU, respectively (P > 0.05). The cell beating time was significantly earlier in Brdu group than in PBS and EGF groups (all P < 0.05). (2) Time of cultured cell covering on patches was significantly earlier in coated patches than those uncoated patches in PBS, EGF and BrdU treated groups (all P < 0.05). The ventricular cardiomyocytes covering time on patches was significantly earlier in EGF group than that in PBS and BrdU groups (all P < 0.05). (3) Ventricular cardiomyocytes types survived on patches included endothelial cells, fibroblasts and myocytes. The highest content of endothelial cells was evidenced in EGF group and the highest content of fibroblasts was found in Brdu group. Myocytes content was similar between PBS and BrdU groups (P > 0.05) and significantly higher than that in EGF group (all P < 0.05). (4) IGF-I peaked at the seventh culture day in all groups (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSVentricular cardiomyocytes covering on patches could be enhanced by collagen coating. EGF could promote endothelial cells growth while Brdu could stimulate fibroblasts growth on patches.

Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; pharmacology ; Cardiac Catheterization ; instrumentation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Heart Ventricles ; cytology ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Materials Testing ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology

OBJECTIVE To study the changes of symptoms and signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux diseases(LPRD) after treatment with esomeprazole.METHODS The suspected LPRD patients were treated with esomeprazole for 8 weeks.Reflux finding score(RFS) and reflux symptoms index(RSI) score were evaluated before and after treatment.RESULTS In RSI,84％ of the patients had the symptom of hoarseness or a problem with voice,87％ had clearing of throat,71％had excess throat mucus,58％ had difficulty swallowing food,52％ had coughing after eat or after lying down,68％ had breathing difficulties or chocking episodes,79％ had troublesome or annoying cough,92％ had lump in your throat or sensation of something sticking in throat,and 32％ had heartburn,chest pain,indigestion or stomach acid coming up.In the RFS,45％ of the patients had pseudosulcus,57％ had ventricular obliteration,94％ had erythema/hyperemia,85％ had vocal cord edema,82％ had diffuse laryngeal edema,83％ had posterior commissure hypertrophy,10％ had granuloma/granulation,and 58％ had thick endolaryngeal mucus.The RSI and RFS score had statistical difference before and after treatment(P＜0.001).CONCLUSION The main symptoms of LPRD were lump in throat or sensation of something sticking in throat,clearing of throat and hoarseness or a problem with voice.The main signs of LPRD were erythema/hyperemia,vocal cord edema and posterior commissure hypertrophy.The PPI has marked improved in symptoms and signs of LPRD.

To compare the differences on current ethical issues in the areas of epidemiological practice between China and America,to identify the major ethical problems existing in the epidemiological studies in China.Through searching and reviewing papers published on Chinese Journal of Epidemiology and American Journal of Epidemiology from Jan.2006 to Dec.2010,we made a comparison on ethical issues involved in the original studies that focusing on human beings.In total,749 Chinese articles and 1221 American articles were recruited,with the following findings: (1)The proportion with announcements of “Informed consent by the subjects” was 29.24％ in Chinese literature and 38.08％ in the Americans (x2=16.02,P＜0.001 ).The proportion with “having had approvals from the ethic committees” was 29.24％ in Chinese,while 38.08％ in American ( x2=604.40,P＜ 0.0001 ).(2) Both in China and America,there had been an increase of ethical issues in the last 5 years.(3)Articles derived from trial studies had better involvement on ethics than those from observational studies.(4) The level on ethical issues in the American Research Institutes exceeded those in China (5)American studies also had showed better ideas on Ethic issues on biological specimens collection and privacy protection,than those in Chinese studies.Among the studies on Chinese Journal of Epidemiology,the proportion of ‘informed consent' was higher than in ethical review,but both ethical review and awareness on ‘informed consent' had left far behind than the American Journal of Epidemiology.This could be seen at the institution level of the writers,during specimen collection and privacy protection,as well as at the overall level.The results reminded us that the Departments of Technology Management should spend more efforts on the improvement of public education regarding ethics for researchers and to update the process of edition for Journals as well as to reinforce the rules of ethics in epidemiological research.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from the whole plant of Dracocephalum moldavica.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by using column chromatography with RA polystyrene resin, polyamide and silica gel as packing materials, and the structures of the compounds were identified by means of spectral data.

RESULTeight compounds were identified as apigenin(I), luteolin(II), kaempferol(III), isorhamnetin(IV), tilianin(V), agastachoside(VI), acacetin-7-O-(6-O-Malonyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside) (VII) and syringaresinol(VIII).

CONCLUSIONCompounds I, II and III were isolated from genus Dracocephalum for the first time and compounds IV, VII and VIII were isolated from Dracocephalum moldavuca for the first time.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry