The morphological index of the seedlings including the plants height, the ground diameter, the leaf amounts, the fresh weight of the whole plant and the ratio of height to diameter was measured and the principal components were analyzed so as to determine the grading index, and stepwise cluster analysis was applied for clustering analysis. Pot experiments were used to measure the indicators of plant growth and development, the yield and the quality. The results showed that the height and ground diameter were determined as the quality indicators of the seedlings grading and the standard quality grading of seedlings of Anoectochilus roxburghii was initially set up, different seeding plants influenced the plants growth and the yield. The ground diameter of the class I was larger than that of the class II and III, so as the yield. The seedling grading had no obvious effect on the internal quality of medicinal materials. The results of the study provide the basis for standard cultivation of A. roxburghii.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change rules of peak area ratio of STR loci to Amelogenin (AMEL) locus (STR/AMEL), a sex-determining gene in DNA degradation, and to evaluate the application of STR/AMEL value in the estimation of DNA degradation degree. METHODS: DNA was extracted from iliopsoas, and the variations of STR/AMEL value (Penta E/AMEL, Penta D/AMEL, FGA/AMEL) were analyzed after the artificial degradation was made by DNase I, and the changes of these three ratios of the iliopsoas naturally degraded in an outdoor environment were also analyzed. The regression curves were analyzed using the periods of DNA degradation and outside the body as the independent variable (x) and the STR/AMEL value as the dependent variable (y) and three curve equations under two conditions were established. RESULTS: Both under the conditions of artificial and natural degradation, STR/AMEL value had a negative relationship with the degradation time. The relationship between STR/AMEL and degradation time can be well simulated by the cubic function. R2 was over 0.99 under controlled degradation condition and over 0.86 under natural degradation condition. CONCLUSION The STR/AMEL value (Penta E/AMEL, Penta D/AMEL, FGA/AMEL) is negatively related with the DNA degradation degree, which follows mathematical regression models strictly, and it might be applied to evaluate the DNA degradation degree.
Amelogenin/genetics* ; DNA Damage/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Regression Analysis ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the effect of rutin on pyroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration and its mechanism at cellular level.Methods Rat interdisc nucleus pulposus cells were randomly divided into control group,model group[interleukin-1β(IL-1β)induction],experiment-L group(25 μmol·L-1 rutin+10 ng·mL-1 IL-1β),experiment-M group(50 μmol·L-1 rutin+10ng·mL-1IL-1β),experiment-H group(100 μmol·L-1 rutin+10 ng·mL-1 IL-1 β),experiment-H+SRT1720 agonist group[100 μmol·L-1 rutin+10 ng·mL-1 IL-1 β+1 μmol·L-1 silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)agonist SRT1720].Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)assay and Western blot assay were used to detect the expression of related genes and proteins;cell count kit-8(CCK-8)assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to detect the expression of cell viability and inflammatory factors,respectively.Results The cell activities of control group,model group,experimental-H group and experimental-H+SIRT1 agonist group were(100.00±3.56)％,(47.30±2.58)％,(57.33±3.41)％,(66.15±4.85)％,(76.78±2.83)％and(85.84±4.84)％;SIRT1 mRNA expression levels were 1.00±0.12,0.25±0.02,0.39±0.04,0.52±0.03,0.67±0.08 and 0.83±0.09;tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)expression level were(15.03±1.21),(126.50±8.84),(112.60±12.29),(83.71±6.85),(53.88±3.43)and(28.19±4.02)pg·mL-1;the relative expression levels of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)protein were 0.30±0.03,0.26±0.04,0.39±0.04,0.65±0.06,0.89±0.12 and 1.28±0.08;the relative expression levels of gasdermin D-N(GSDMD-N)were 0.38±0.02,1.20±0.08,0.89±0.06,0.69±0.07,0.53±0.05 and 0.40±0.03,respectively.Compared with the model group,the above indexes in the experimental-H group were statistically different(all P＜0.05).There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the experimental-H+SIRT1 agonist group and the experimental-H group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Rutin can induce mitochondrial autophagy by activating SIRT1,inhibit pyroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells and alleviate intervertebral disc degeneration in rats.

OBJECTIVESTo review the preliminary clinical experience with high-field-strength intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) suite with neuronavigation system in the pituitary adenoma operation with transsphenoidal approach.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to December 2010, 31 patients [range, 29 - 76 years, mean age (47 ± 11) years]of pituitary adenoma were operated with transsphenoidal approach and intraoperatively with a movable 1.5 T high-field-strength iMRI suite in combination with neuronavigation system. Tumor size was 1.8 - 7.3 cm, mean (3.5 ± 1.2) cm. Twenty-five cases were non-functional pituitary adenoma, 4 cases were prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma, 2 cases were growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma. Thirty patients' resection with transnasal transsphenoidal approach were performed, one patient with transoral transsphenoidal approach was performed.

RESULTSIn 12 cases of 30 patients who planed to totally remove tumor, iMRI had revealed residual lesions and resulted in the change of the surgical strategy, 2 invasive cavernous sinus cases no further resection of the tumor because of internal carotid artery encasement, the other 10 cases resected further, eventually. Finally, 8 cases were totally removed. The ratio of total removal tumor was enhanced to 86.7% (26/30) from 60.0% (18/30). There was no perioperative mortality.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-field-strength iMRI suite with neuronavigation system provides valuable information of tumor resection that allows intraoperative modification of the surgical strategy. It could be very helpful to maximize the resection of the pituitary adenoma and minimize the injury to neurological function.

Adenoma ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Cavernous Sinus ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Neuronavigation ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVEX linked spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDL) is heritable osteochondrondysplasia characterized in affected males by disproportional short stature with short neck and trunk resulting from a growth defect of the vertebral bodies, accompanied by barrel chest and degenerative osteoarthropathy of hip joints. This progressive skeletal dysplasia is caused by the SEDL gene located approximately 100 kb centromeric of DXS16 at Xp22. The disorder usually manifests in late childhood without systemic complications, and generally female carriers of SEDL are asymptomatic. So the diagnosis of potential carriers and presymptomatic patients is almost impossible. This study aimed to establish methods of gene diagnosis for finding out potential carriers and presymptomatic patients.

METHODSThe blood samples were collected from 21 individuals in a large Chinese pedigree with SEDL. Microsatellite marker DXS16 was selected for linkage analysis. In order to confirm the allele of DXS16 linked to the pathogenic SEDL gene, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were used to examine the variability of the lengths of DXS16, and linkage analysis was performed for the diagnosis of potential carriers and presymptomatic patients. Then the pathogenic mutation of the SEDL gene in the family was identified by bi-directionally direct sequencing of PCR products amplified for each of the four coding exons as well as their exon/intron boundaries. The potential carriers and presymptomatic patients were also diagnosed in this way.

RESULTSSix young individuals (IV(14), IV(19), IV(21), IV(23), V(4), V(7))who wanted to know whether they were carriers or presymptomatic patients were diagnosed by linkage analysis. Four females of them (IV(14), IV(19), IV(21), V(7)) were determined being carriers because they carry the allele of DXS16 which links the pathogenic SEDL gene, and the other two (IV(23), V(4)) being normal individuals for their alleles of DXS16 linked with wild SEDL gene. DNA sequencing identified that the pathogenic mutation of SEDL gene in the family, which was a nucleotide substitution of the splice-acceptor site in intron 2, IVS2 -2 A-->C. This is a novel mutation in the SEDL gene. Four female individuals (IV(14), IV(19), IV(21), V(7)) carried the mutation; individuals IV(23) and V(4) carried the wild SEDL gene. The results of diagnosis of linkage analysis coincide completely with that of DNA sequencing.

CONCLUSIONLinkage analysis is a simple, rapid and inexpensive gene diagnosis method for SEDL and its accuracy was the same as DNA sequencing. Each of linkage analysis and DNA sequencing can be used to diagnose SEDL, which is very helpful for finding potential carriers and presymptomatic patients.

Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Osteochondrodysplasias ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVEProstate cancer (PCa) has the highest incidence among male malignancies in Western industrialized countries and, as a most common malignant disease in urology, its incidence has been increasing in recent years in Chinese men. This study was to investigate the risk loci associated with PCa susceptibility in Han Chinese by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP).

METHODSWe collected peripheral blood samples from 1 667 PCa patients and 1 525 healthy men, and detected 40 loci associated with PCa susceptibility by analyzing SNPs using Sequenom technology.

RESULTSOf the 40 known loci, 16 were confirmed to be significantly associated with PCa susceptibility (P < 0.05). The loci 1, 2 and 5 at 8q24, 10q11 and 22q13.2 also contributed to PCa susceptibility in different ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONPCa susceptibility is obviously associated with the risk loci rs1465618, rs721048, rs12621278, rs7679673, rs12653946, rs339331, rs1512268, rs10086908, rs16901979, rs1447295, rs10993994, rs10896449, rs902774, rs9600079, rs11649743 and rs5759167 in Chinese Han population.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of Qilin Pills in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia.

METHODSWe conducted a multi-centered open controlled clinical trial by including 220 oligoasthenospermia patients in a trial group and another 110 as controls. The patients in the trial group were treated with Qilin Pills at the dose of 6 g tid, and the controls given Wuziyanzong Pills at 6 g bid, both for a course of 12 weeks. Then we evaluated the clinical effects of Qilin Pills with sperm concentration, the numbers of grade a and grade a + b sperm, and sperm motility as the primary, and the pregnancy rate of the patients'spouses as the secondary therapeutic indexes.

RESULTSA total of 310 patients accomplished the clinical trial, 208 in the trial and 102 in the control group. Compared with the baseline, significant improvement was observed in the semen parameters after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment in both the trial and control groups except sperm density and the number of grade a sperm in the control after 4 weeks (P < 0.01), and the improvement was even more significant in all the semen parameters at the same time points in the trial than in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQilin Pills can evidently improve the seminal quality of oligoasthenospermia patients with no obvious adverse events.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDBivalirudin was widely used as an anticoagulant during coronary interventional procedure in western countries. However, it was not available in China before this clinical trial was designed. This randomized, single-blind and multicenter clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of domestic bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSA randomized, single-blind, multicenter trial was designed. Elective PCI candidates in five centers were randomized into a bivalirudin group and a heparin group, which were treated with domestic bivalirudin and non-fractional heparin during the PCI procedure. The efficacy was evaluated by comparing the activated coagulation time (ACT), the procedural success rate (residual stenosis < 20% in target lesions without any coronary artery related adverse events within 24 hours after PCI), and the survival rate without major adverse cardiac events at 30 days after PCI between the two groups. Safety was evaluated by the major/minor bleeding rate.

RESULTSA total of 218 elective PCI patients were randomized into a bivalirudin group (n = 110) and heparin group (n = 108). Except for two patients needing additional dosing in the heparin group, the ACT values of all other patients in both groups were longer than 225 seconds at 5 minutes after the first intravenous bolus. Procedural success rates were respectively 100.0% and 98.2% in the bivalirudin group and heparin group (P > 0.05). Survival rates without major adverse cardiac events at 30 days after PCI were 100.0% in the bivalirudin group and 98.2% in the heparin group (P > 0.05). Mild bleeding rates were 0.9% and 6.9% (P < 0.05) at 24 hours, and 1.9% and 8.8% (P < 0.05) at 30 days after PCI in the bivalirudin group and heparin group respectively. There was one severe gastrointestinal bleeding case in the heparin group.

CONCLUSIONSDomestic bivalirudin is an effective and safe anticoagulant during elective PCI procedures. The efficacy is not inferior to heparin, but the safety is superior to heparin.

Aged ; Antithrombins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Hirudins ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Single-Blind Method ; Survival Rate ; Whole Blood Coagulation Time

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of the 10 microg recombination yeast hepatitis B vaccine in the expanded applicable population group aged 5 - 18.

METHODSPeople with both HBsAg and anti-HBs negative were selected to take two-stage clinical experiment and the safety and immunogenicity were observed. Safety observation was conducted in 925 subjects, while 568 for immunogenicity. The observation group (aged 5 - 18) included 493 subjects, and (age > 18) 75 enrolled in control group. For the observation group, there were three sub-groups including a child group (141, aged 5 - 6), early youth group (177, aged 12 - 13), and youth group (175, aged 16 - 18). Both groups were administered with 10 microg recombination yeast hepatitis B vaccines with 3 doses at 0 month, 1st month, 6th month. To assess the immunogenicity, the vaccination reactions were observed during the following 4 weeks in order to assess the vaccine safety. The blood samples were taken during 4 - 6 weeks after fully vaccinated, and then anti-HBs were tested with RIA and analyzed by comparing the positive rate of anti-HBs, the geometric mean titer (GMT) and the protective rate between the two groups.

RESULTSBoth observation and control group didn't show any general reactions, adverse events following immunization (AEFI) or coincidental cases when observed at 0.5 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks after being vaccinated. The result of serum test showed, the positive rates of child group, early youth group, youth group and control group were respectively 100.00% (141/141), 97.18% (172/177), 98.29% (172/175) and 89.33% (67/75); the GMTs of anti-HBs were respectively 440.28, 875.38, 467.80, 131.06 U/L; the protective rates were respectively 100.00% (141/141), 97.18% (172/177), 97.14% (170/175) and 86.67% (65/75). The positive rate, GMT and protective rate of the experimental group were all higher than that of control group (chi(2)(positive rate) = 12.77, 5.12, 7.99; t(GMT) = 3.89, 4.13, 5.91; chi(2)(protective rate) = 16.81, 8.60, 8.44; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis vaccine could be expanded to 5 - 18 year-old population with safety and effectiveness, the positive rate and protective rate of anti-HBs were both higher than that of control group.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of three different RASSF1 transcripts and its clinical significance in lung carcinomas.

METHODSThe mRNA expression of RASSF1A, RASSF1B and RASSF1C was detected by RT-PCR in 51 human lung cancer tissues and 51 matched normal tissues.

RESULTS1. The mRNA expression of three RASSF1 transcripts was detectable in all non-cancer tissues. However, high rate of expression loss of RASSF1A and RASSF1B existed in lung cancer tissues, which was 53.2% (2851) and 37.3% (19/51), respectively. RASSF1C was expressed in all of the tumor tissues. 2. Loss or abnormal down-regulation of RASSF1A was positively related with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P < 0.05) and 3. RASSF1B and RASSF1C mRNA expression was not correlated with TNM stage, histological type, differentiation grade or smoking index.

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant expression difference among the three RASSF1 transcripts in lung carcinoma. RASSF1A, closely associated with lymph metastasis and TNM stage of lung carcinoma, should be a new tumor suppressor gene.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics