Objective: To modify EBP(endotoxin binding peptide), clone and express the mutate of EBP gene and gain purified mEBP.Method: mEBPgene was cloned by PCR site-directed mutagenesis. PinpointXa-3/mEBP expression vector was designed to express human mEBP as a fusion protein in BL21 (DE3) pLysS. Digested engineering bacteria by lysozyme and collected inclusion bodies.Fusion protein was purified by Pinpoint TM Xa purification system and cleaved by factorXa,mEBP was purified by RP-HPLC. Results: Mutations at residues 5 and 18(Gln→Lys) was obtained by PCR site-directed mutagenesis, expressed and purified mEBP successfully.Conclusions: Obtaining of purified mEBP lay a foundation for its biological activity research.

Objective To explore the relationship between infant feeding practices and infants growth,especially the weight gain for length in the first 6 months of life. Methods Two-hundred healthy full-term singlet normal birth weight 5 - 6 months old infants and their main care givers were recruited in Kongjiang community health service center in Shanghai. The questionnaires included infants feeding pattern, feeding environment and care givers feeding behaviors, and were completed on-site by investigators. The birth weight was obtained. The weight and length of infants at 6 months were measured. Results There were 70/200 (35.0%) infants overweight (BMI for age Z score>+1) at 6 months. There were more overweight boys than girls (40.0% vs. 30.9%, x2 = 1.798, P = 0.180). Compared with normal weight infants, the overweight infants had same birth weight (3.30 ± 0.35 kg vs. 3.35 ± 0.32 kg, t =1.010, P = 0.314) and same length at 6 months (67.64 ± 2.10 cm vs. 67.91 ± 1.97 cm, t=- 0.896, P = 0.371). However, the overweight infants gained much more weight for length in the first six months of life. At 6 months, the weight and BMI of overweight infants was significantly higher than that of normal weight infants (9.16 ± 0.67 vs. 7.94 ±0.64, t = 12.324, P < 0.01;19.86 ± 1.24 vs. 17.41 ± 0.80, t = 14.953, P < 0.01). The rates of exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months, continued breastfeeding at six months, complementary food consistency, and complementary feeding frequency, were not significantly differenct between overweight and normal weight infants (x2 =0.723 - 2.701, P > 0.05). The grandparents played an important role in infants feeding in Shanghai. There were 39.0% infants fed only by grandparents, and 23.0% infants fed jointly by grandparents and parents (x2 = 0.175, P > 0.05).The care givers' educational level and knowledge of feeding skill were similar in overweight and normal weight infants (x2 = 0.446, t = 0.949, P > 0.05). However, the overweight infants were fed more quickly than normal weight infants (Z = 2.753, P < 0.01), and there was less language communication between care givers and overweight infants during feeding (Z = 2.932, P < 0.01). In overweight infants, the overfeeding behaviors of care givers were positively correlated with BAZ (r = 0.281, P < 0.05). Conclusions Overweight in early life is associated with some particular infants feeding behaviors of care givers in Shanghai. The long term effect of more rapid weight gain for length in the first 6 months of life on the risk of childhood obesity warranted to be further followed and researched.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of two-micron laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique (TmLRP-TT) for the treatment of large-volume ( > 70 ml) prostate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis included 80 BPH patients with the prostatic volume larger than 70 ml, all treated by TmLRP-TT. We comparatively analyzed the levels of hemoglobin and serum sodium before and after surgery, recorded intra- and post-operative com- plications, and followed up the patients at 6 and 12 months after operation for International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR).

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully completed. The mean hemoglobin decreased (0.68 +/- 0.43) g/dl intraoperatively, but no apparent reduction was observed in serum sodium. Lower urinary tract symptoms were relieved significantly in all the cases. At 12 months after surgery, IPSS was decreased by 73.89% as compared with the baseline (20.03 +/- 6.9 vs 5.23 +/- 3.59), QOL by 64.55% (4.09 +/- 1.19 vs 1.45 +/- 1.36), and PVR by 79.30% (97.31 +/- 57.90 vs 20.14 +/- 24.20 ml), while Qmax increased by 140.42% ([8.04 +/- 3.62] vs [19.33 +/- 3.28] ml/s). The incidence of complications was low either intraoperatively or during the 12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONTmLRP-TT is a safe and effective surgical endoscopic approach to the treatment of large-volume prostate in BPH patients.

Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

This study is to report the establishment of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of plasma concentration of UA carried in self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) and its pharmacokinetics in rats. It was used for determination and analysis when serum with internal standard was extracted from C18 solid-phase column. Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.7 microm) was used for separation. The mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.1% ammonia with gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wave length was 210 nm. It was detected by negative ion using electrospray ionization source (ESI) and scanned by multiple reaction ion monitoring (MRM) mode. The liner relationship of UA was very good in the range of 1.19-3 815.00 ng x mL(-1) (r = 0.999 0). Recovery rate of different concentrations were 87.42%-89.95%. The precision of inter-day and intra-day were less than 11%. The method developed in our study was proved to be sensitive, rapid and simple. It is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of UA-SMEDDS in rats.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Triterpenes ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of overdose fluoride on the proliferation of rat's incisor ameloblast.

METHODS20 Wistar rats were divided randomly into 2 groups: Group I (Control); Group II 50 mg/L F(-) were given. After 8 weeks treatment, the AgNORs stain and TUNEL technique were applied to analyze the effect of fluoride on the proliferation and apoptosis of ameloblasts.

RESULTSThe imagination analysis results showed that proliferation of pre-secretion ameloblasts were inhibited in group II as compared with the control group (P < 0.001). There was significant increase of apoptosis with the trend of migration toward secretion stage.

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of fluorosis mottled enamel may be the effect of overdose fluoride with inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of ameloblasts resulting in dysfunction of secretion or absorption of enamel matrix proteins.

Ameloblasts ; drug effects ; pathology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dental Enamel ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorides ; adverse effects ; Fluorosis, Dental ; pathology ; Incisor ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo provide reliable data on articular cartilage lesions in different age group of patients with symptomatic knees requiring arthroscopy, and to analyze the characteristics of articular cartilage lesions.

METHODSFrom November 2004 to September 2005, 568 patients were under arthroscopy in orthopaedics of Chinese PLA General Hospital. There were 242 males and 326 females, with a mean age of (43.0 +/- 11.2) years (ranged, 12 to 80 years). Surgery information including causes of injury, onset of symptoms, meniscus lesions, cruciate ligament pathology, articular cartilage lesions were collected by a special Data Management software. All the patients were divided into two groups : youth group and middle-aged group. The data of articular cartilage lesions of patients in the two groups were collected.

RESULTSThere were 923 articular cartilage lesions in 389 patients, and 13 lesions were iatrogenic. In youth group, 212 lesions were found in 121 patients, and the main cause of lesions was menisci menisci injury (57/121 cases). In middle-aged group, 711 lesions were found in 268 patients,and the main cause of lesions was osteoarthritis (218/268 cases). The articular cartilage lesions located majorly in the lateral femoral condyle, medial femoral condyle and patellae in patients of the two groups. The major depth of the lesion was grade IV (330 lesions) in middle-aged group and grade III (71 lesions) in youth group,respectively.

CONCLUSIONArticular cartilage lesions are common in patients under arthroscopy, and articular cartilage lesions of different age group of patients are different, so the best treatment method should be chosen regarding to age factors of patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroscopy ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Animals ; Disease Progression ; Kidney Diseases ; physiopathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Renal Agents ; pharmacology ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Sclerosis

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of the Foley catheter draining method versus the urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty for hypospadias.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 361 cases of hypospadias treated by urethroplasty. After operation, 91 of the cases received urine drainage with the Foley catheter (group A) and 270 with a urethral stent plus a gastric tube (group B). We compared the incidence rates of bladder irritation, fistula, urethral stricture, and urethral diverticulum between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found between groups A and B in the incidences of bladder irritation (9.89% vs 10.70%, P > 0.05) and urethral diverticulum (1.09% vs 2.22%, P > 0.05). The incidence rate of fistula was markedly higher in group A than in B (20.80% vs 13.30%, P < 0.05), and so was that of urethral stricture (10.90% vs 5.55%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe urethral stent plus gastric tube draining method is more effective than the Foley catheter draining method for urine drainage following urethroplasty.

Aged ; Child ; Diverticulum ; etiology ; Drainage ; methods ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Incidence ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; Urinary Catheterization ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the feature of D(L)CO (Diffusion Lung Capacity for Carbon Monoxide) in CHF (left ventricular heart failure) patients, underlying pathophysiological mechanism and clinical significance.

METHODSWe retrospectively studied the D(L)CO, pulmonary ventilation function, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and related clinical information in severer HF patients.

RESULTSPeak VO2 severely decreased to 34 ± 7 percentage of predicted(%pred) and anaerobic threshold to 48 ± 11%pred in all patients. D(L)CO moderately decreased to 63 ± 12%pred and there were 25 patients lower than 80%pred. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and TLC were 75 ± 14%pred, 71 ± 17%pred, 97 ± 11%pred, and 79 ± 13%pred, which indicated borderline or mild restrictive ventilatory dysfunction. The decrease of D(L)CO was more severe than those of TLC, FEV1 and FVC.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with severe CHF, cardiopulmonary exercise function is extremely limited, D(L)CO generally moderately declines and ventilation function is merely mildly limited. D(L)CO is the parameter for cardiopulmonary coupling, reflecting limitation of the cardiovascular dysfunction while without ventilatory limit.

Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; physiopathology

Biological characteristic of Salvia miltiorrhiza f. alba in field was studied. HPLC method was used to determine the lipophilic constituents (dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone, tanshinone II (A) and miltione) and hydrophilic constituents (salvianolic acid, rosemarinic acid). The results showed that the fresh weight of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba which cropped for 2 years was decreased by 80.47%, while dry weight decreased by 79.42%. The normal diameter of the root was 0.3-0.5 cm, however, the diameter was 0.2-0.4 cm after 2 years, it was said that the decrease of the root diameter was the main reason for the decrease of the yield. The average contents of dihydrotanshinone, cryptotanshinone, tanshinone, tanshinone II (A), miltione, salvianolic acid and rosemarinic acid were decreased by 35.26%, 32.26%, 19.35%, 3.39%, 64.40%, 66.93% in plant which continuously cropped for 2 years, respectively. The yield and active constituents were mostly effected in the plant of S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which continuously cropped for 2 years.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Linear Models ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Time Factors