Adolescent ; Adult ; Barium ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

To ascertain current situation of wild Marsdenia tenacissima resources in Honghe, Yunnan province, the distribution, habitat characteristic and resources reserves of M. tenacissima were surveyed based on interviews and investigation. The results showed that M. tenacissima was found in 7 counties such as Jinping, Mengzi etc, and distributed mainly on the mountainsides from 800 m to 1 200 m. And distribution was affected by many factors, such as light, heat, topography, soil, and vegetation. M. tenacissima grew well in distribution areas. M. tenacissima had averagely a weight of 2.8 kg per plant. Resources reserve of M. tenacissima in Honghe was estimated to 1 300 tons by now but it reduced rapidly in resent years, the wild resources reserve may not meet demand of market. Resources protection and wildlife tending would be conducted to deal with increasing medication requirements.
China ; Ecosystem ; Marsdenia ; classification ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

This study was aimed to investigate the abnormal expression of microRNA-124 (miR-124) in bone marrow cells of patients with leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its significance. The relative expression levels of miR-124 in bone marrow mononuclear cells from 33 patients with newly diagnosed leukemia or MDS, and 10 normal donors (as controls) were detected by stem-loop fluorescence real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The methylation levels of miR-124 promoter were detected by quantitative methylation specific PCR in partial MDS samples. The results indicated that as compared with normal control, lower levels of miR-124 (≤ 1/3) were found in 2/18 of leukemia patients and in 5/15 of MDS patients (among them ≤ 1/4 in 3/15 MDS patients). No statistically significance difference was observed between leukemia patients and normal controls (P = 0.725). However the difference was statistically significant between MDS group and control group (P = 0.031). Furthermore, an elevated methylation level of miR-124 promoter region in some of MDS patients (7/11) was detected by using quantitative methylation-specific PCR. The expression level of miR-124 was related with methylation level of promoter region (R(2) = 0.339, P = 0.018). It is concluded that the expression of miR-124 in partial MDS patients is inhibited, which may be associated with the abnormal methylation of its promoter.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; metabolism ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the differences in health care quality,scale,output,efficiency,cost and financial condition between freestanding secondary hospitals and system-affiliated secondary hospitals in Shanghai,and analyse the determinants of hospital integration. Methods Eleven upper secondary hospitals in Shanghai integrated between 2000 and 2004 were selected,and another 40 secondary hospitals (including 30 upper secondary hospitals and 10 middle secondary hospitals) without integration were served as controls. Using related data of 1999,Mann-Whitney U test was performed to analyse the differences between these two groups,and Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the determinants of hospital integration. Results There were significant differences in health care quality,scale,and output between these two groups (P0.05). It was revealed by Logistic regression analysis that health care quality,scale,output,and financial condition were determinants of integration. Conclusion System-affiliated secondary hospitals have advantages over freestanding hospitals in health care quality,scale,output and financial condition,and those with better health care quality,larger scale,larger output and better financial condition are more likely to be integrated by tertiary hospitals.

Along with the development of economy and society, type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) has become one of the most common diseases at the global level. As one of the complications of T2DM, diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) stubbornly and chronically affects the health and life of human beings. In the pain field, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is generally considered as the first stage of the sensory pathway where the hyperexcitability of injured neurons is associated with different kinds of peripheral neuropathic pains. The abnormal electrophysiology is mainly due to the changed properties of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and the increased sodium currents (I(Na)). Curcumin is an active ingredient extracted from turmeric and has been demonstrated to ameliorate T2DM and its various complications including DNP effectively. The present study demonstrates that the I(Na) of small-sized DRG neurons are significantly increased with the abnormal electrophysiological characteristics of VGSCs in type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain rats. And these abnormalities can be ameliorated efficaciously by a period of treatment with curcumin.
Animals ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; drug therapy ; Ganglia, Spinal ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuralgia ; drug therapy ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sodium ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the intervention and mechanism of Qushi Huayu Recipe (QHR) on gene expression profiles in high lipid diet induced fatty liver rats.

METHODSFatty liver model was prepared in 20 male SD rats using single high fat diet (88% common forage +2% cholesterol +10% lard). Four weeks after modeling they were divided into the model group and the QHR group according to random digit table, 10 in each group. QHR (at 0. 93 g crude drug/100 g body weight) and distilled water was respectively to rats in the QHR group and the model group by gastrogavage while modeling, once per day. Meanwhile, 10 SD male rats were recruited in a normal group, administered with equal volume of distilled water by gastrogavage. At the end of week 8 all rats were sacrificed, and blood and livers were collected for subsequent analysis. Contents of liver triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) , activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected using biochemical assay. Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed using H&E and oil red O stain. Liver gene expressions were detected by Affymetrix gene expression profiles. Differentially expressed genes were compared between the QHR group and the model group, functions of differentially expressed genes and signal pathways involved analyzed. Ten differentially expressed genes involved in glycolipid metabolism with fold change more than 2 were selected for verification by real-time PCR.

RESULTS(1) Compared with the normal group, contents of liver TG and FFA, and serum activities of ALT and AST obviously increased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, contents of liver TG and FFA, and activities of ALT and AST obviously decreased in the QHR group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). QHR could reduce high fat induced fatty degeneration of liver cells , alleviate inflammation, and improve pathological changes of liver tissue. (2) Compared with the model group, there were 80 differentially expressed genes (with fold change > 2, P < 0.05) with clear functions and appointed gene names, including 44 up-regulated and 36 down-regulated genes. Eighty genes were involved in 27 signal pathways with statistical difference, including glycerolipid metabolism, adipocytokine signaling pathway, insulin signal pathway, drug metabolism signal pathway, etc (P < 0.05). (3) RT-PCR results of 10 glycolipids metabolism regulating genes such as Gk, Scd1, Gpat2, G6pc, Irs1, and so on showed that all RT-PCR genes were completely coincide with up-regulated or down-regulated tendency in results of gene chips. 80% genes had approximate fold change.

CONCLUSIONQHR could regulate gene expressions related to fat metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, anti-lipid peroxidation, and drug metabolism in high fat diet induced fatty liver rats, and its comprehensive pharmacological actions could be manifested.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transcriptome ; drug effects ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Thermogravimetry (TG), TG-MS, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM)-energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS) were adopted to investigate the pyrolysis characteristics of calamina. According to the findings of the qualitative and quantitative studies on the changes in the content of relevant elements, the whole shape, the functional groups, and the volatile components of calamina before and after being pyrolyzed, the 200-360, 580-750 degrees C were two sensitive temperature ranges related to the changes in effective component during calamina processing. Thermal weight loss was observed for ZnCO3, Zn(OH)2 and ZnCO3-2Zn(OH)2-H2O under 200-360 degrees C and for CaCO3 under 580-750 degrees C. The results of studies on chemical reaction kinetics showed good linear relations. This experiment integrated relevant methods and theories of physical chemistry and science of traditional Chinese medicine processing, and interpretes calamina processing techniques and mechanism, in order to provide a good example for modem studies on other traditional Chinese medicine processing.
Drug Combinations ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Temperature ; Zinc Oxide ; chemistry

Bacteria ; chemistry ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbiological Techniques ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of matrine on multiple myeloma RPMI8226 cell line and its mechanism. The RPMI8226 cells were treated with various concentrations of matrine for 24 and 48 hours; the promoting-apoptosis effect of matrine on RPMI8226 cells was observed by morphology, Annexin-V analysis, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, mitochondrial transmembrane potential detection, etc. The results indicated that after treatment of RPMI8226 cells with matrine, the typical morphology of cell apoptosis appeared, Annexin-V analysis showed positive, the typical ladder was observed in DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential decreased. It is concluded that the matrine can effectively inhibite the RPM8226 cell growth and reduce cell viability in dose-and time-dependent manner. It is presumed that the matrine induces RPMI8226 cell apoptosis through mitochondrial signaling pathway.
Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate various activities of dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid of Radix Glycyrrhizae and the powder by supermicro-pulverization.

METHODThe contents of glycyrrhizic acid in different samples were tested.

RESULTThe dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid was greatly increased by supermicro-pulverization. The more time used for grinding, the smaller the size of the powder, and the easier the glycyrrhizic acid would be dissolved.

CONCLUSIONSupermicro-pulverization is helpful to the dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid of Radix Glycyrrhizae, and the size of powder exerts great influence on dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid.

Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; Solubility