Objective To explore the high risk factors, pathogenesis and methods of early diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) in premature infants.Methods The history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia was investigated in premature infants;TORCH-IgM antibodies in cord blood of premature infants were measured by ELISA; Nitric oxide (NO) levels in their cord blood were determined by nitric acid reducing enzyme means. Results Thirty-nine of 52 premature infants in PVL group had a history of intrauterine hypoxia-ischemia; TORCH-IgM antibody positive rate in cord blood of premature infants in PVL group was significantly higher than that in control group(P

The purpose of the present work was to study the different distribution of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contents in the right and left cortices, which may be related to the differences in immunomodulatory functions between the two cerebral cortices. Samples of tissue homogenate were prepared from the left and right cerebral cortices of the Balb/c mice and IL-1β, and IL-6 contents were measured using ELISA kits. Both IL-1β (P<0.01) and IL-6 (P<0.001) contents of the right cortex were higher than those of the left. After injection of LPS, the IL-6 content of the left cortex increased. No statistically significant difference of IL-1β contents was found between the two cerebral cortices, while the IL-6 content of the right cortex was higher than that of the left (P<0.01), suggesting that some cytokines are probably involved in the differences between the right and left cerebral immunomodulatory functions in mice.

The brain modulates the immune system in an asymmetrical way, as shown by the association between paw preference and immune response in the mice. The purpose of the present work was to study the relationship between plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and brain lateralization. In the study, paw preference test was used to select right-pawed, left-pawed and ambidextrous mice. Mice were classified as the right-pawed if the right paw entry (RPE) score was equal to or greater than 30 (30-50), as the left-pawed if the score was equal to or less than 20 (0-20), and as the ambidextrous if the score was between 21 and 29. One week after the paw preference testing, the animals were injected intraperitoneally with either sterilized 0.9% saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (5 microg/0.5 ml NS) and were killed 2 h later. Plasma was collected from each mouse. The level of plasma TNF-alpha was measured with ELISA kits provided by ENDOGEN. NO and NOS levels of plasma were detected with kits from Juli Biotechnology Company. The results showed that (1) in the normal mice, ambidextrous mice had higher NO levels compared with left-pawed mice (P<0.05). After the injection of LPS, plasma level of TNF-alpha was lower in left-pawed mice compared with those of the right-pawed and ambidextrous mice; plasma level of NO was higher in ambidextrous mice compared with those of the right- (P<0.01) and left-pawed (P<0.05) ones, and there was no significant difference in the plasma levels of NOS among ambidextrous, right- and left-pawed mice. (2) Immune parameters were correlated with the RPE scores. The shape of the curve describing this relation was similar to a parabola. In general, the levels of TNF-alpha, NO, NOS rose along with the increase of RPE if the scores were in the score range of left-pawed mice.After that, they reached a peak if the scores were in the score range of ambidextrous mice. Then they declined along with the increase of RPE if the scores were in the score range of right-pawed mice. In conclusion, plasma levels of TNF-alpha, NO and NOS were associated with brain lateralization, suggesting that the activities of Mo/Mphi were influenced by brain lateralization, and that the immune parameters were correlated with the RPE scores.
Animals ; Brain ; physiology ; Female ; Functional Laterality ; physiology ; Macrophages ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo establish an HPLC fingerprint to evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix, root xylem, and those collected in different growth ages or harvest time.

METHODSeparation was performed at 30 °C on a Kromasil C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm); the mobile phases was acetonitrile and 0.05% H3PO4 water in the gradient elution; the flow rate was set at 1.0 mL · min(-1) and the detection wavelength at 314 nm; the quality discriminant analyses were accomplished by means of similarity analysis, cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

RESULTIn 26 batches of Polygalae Radix, 24 batches fingerprint similarities were above 0.8. In 5 different growth or harvest time batches, 4 batches were above 0.8; in 8 batches root xylem samples, the similarities were all above 0.875. The similarity analysis was in accord with the quality discriminant analysis of cluster analysis, principal component analysis and neural network model.

CONCLUSIONFingerprint combined with chemical pattern recognition technique can effectively evaluate the quality of Polygalae Radix. The active substance species are all similar in cultivated, wild, different growth or harvest time Polygalae Radix and polygala root xylem, but the chromatography peak areas are different. The effective material contents are similar between wild and cultivated Polygalae Radix, but each chromatographic peak area of the root xylem is much smaller than that of Polygalae Radix. The chemical substance accumulation mainly depends on harvest month, but little growth time in Polygalae Radix.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; classification ; Polygala ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control

Objective To observe the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) vaccine on the degree of hepatic fibrosis in rats ,and to explore the effect of TGF-β1 vaccine on the insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)3 and IGFBP7 .Methods The hepatic fibrosis rat model was set up by injecting N-nitrosodimethylamine . Among them , 10 rats were injected with TGF-β1 vaccine , and additional 10 rats were set up as healthy control group .Changes in hepatic pathology were observe and the expressions of IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 were detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry , reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot in rat fibrosis tissues after 6 weeks . Normality test and analysis of variance were conducted .LSD test was conducted if variances were tested homogeneity .Categorical data were analyzed using Fisher exact test . Results Changes in hepatic histology and serum levels of hyaluronic acid and laminin suggested that TGF-β1 vaccine interventions could reduce the extent of hepatic fibrosis in rats .The expressions of IGFBP3 mRNA in control group ,hepatic fibrosis model group and vaccine intervention group were 1 .735 ± 0 .097 ,1 .165 ± 0 .096 and 1 .491 ± 0 .046 ,respectively (t= 4 .575 ,6 .285 and 8 .489 ,respectively ,all P< 0 .05) .The expressions of IGFBP7 in the above three groups were 0 .497 ± 0 .021 ,1 .250 ± 0 .064 and 0 .885 ± 0 .149 ,respectively (t= 5 .161 ,30 .101 and 7 .250 , respectively ,all P < 0 .05 ) . Immunohistochemistry proved that the expressions of IGFBP7 in fibrosis model group and TGF-β1 vaccine group were all significantly higher than control group ;and the expressions of IGFBP3 in fibrosis model group and TGF-β1 vaccine group were all significantly lower than control group .The expressions of IGFBP3 protein in control group , hepatic fibrosis model group and vaccine intervention group were 7 .508 ± 0 .357 ,5 .200 ± 0 .210 and 5 .751 ± 0 .178 ,respectively (t = 7 .622 ,6 .180 and 29 .156 , respectively ,all P < 0 .05) . The expressions of IGFBP7 were 1 .176 ± 0 .051 ,1 .735 ± 0 .115 and 1 .428 ± 0 .056 ,respectively (t = 7 .188 ,4 .827 and 8 .649 ,respectively ,all P< 0 .05) .Conclusion TGF-β1 vaccine can affect the expressions of IGFBP3 and IGFBP7 ,which plays an important role in the formation and development of hepatic fibrosis .

OBJECTIVE To observe the preventive effect on nosocomial infection by the herbal medicine Atractylodes chinensis disinfectant for air sterilization in cardiothoracic surgery.METHODS A.chinensis disinfectant and ultraviolet irradiation were used to disinfect the patients′ rooms of our cardiothoracic surgery department.The total number of germ and fungus in the indoor air before and after using the two methods were collected.The nosocomial infection rates of the same period were also studied.RESULTS A.chinensis disinfectant had strong effect on sterilization of indoor germs and fungi,and the sterilization rate was 92.7%.The comparison between A.chinensis disinfectant and ultraviolet irradiation showed significant difference in their disinfection effects,while no significant difference in their nosocomial infection rates.CONCLUSIONS The herbal medicine A.chinensis disinfectant can achieve good sterilization effect and prevent nosocomial infection.

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between hands pollution and nosocomial infection,and to raise measures to keep hand hygiene.METHODS To evaluate the condition of hand pollution and hand washing,the relationship between hands pollution and nosocomial infection,and measures to improve hand hygiene.RESULTS Most nosocomial infections were transmitted by the hands pollution,bacteria of which were thought to be the main microbial population of nosocomial infection.Handwashing was considered to be the most important intervention to prevent nosocomial infections.However,the present studies indicated that there was not enough handwashing practice among the medical personnel,lacking the consciousness of the importance of hand cleaning,misunderstanding the standard hand cleaning steps,like the length of washing time and the choose of hand disinfectant,and inadequately providing the hospital condition for cleaning work,all these played an important role in declining the efficiency of hand disinfection in hospital.Medical workers could achieve their goal through the improving of the above aspects of work.CONCLUSIONS Hands pollution is closely related to nosocomial infection.Handwashing can reduce nosocomial infections.

Objective To observe the rate-adaptive response of dual sensor pacemakers integrated with activity sensor and minute ventilation sensor.Methods Fifty patients with chronotrepic incompetence were implanted with pacemakers of integrated sensor.The patients with pacemakers implanted were arranged to take upstairs test,downstairs test and tapping test under the monitor of integrated sensor,minute ventilation sensor and activity sensor respectirely.The rate-adaptive responses were tracked down every 15 seconds with remote heart rate monitor.The results were compared with the control group patients with normal sinal chronotropic function(n=15).Results In activity sensor group,pacing rates were significantly higher than the normal control group in downstairs test and tapping test.In minute ventilation sensor group,pacing rates increasement was significantly slower in the beginning of upstairs test.Pacing rates of integrated group were similar to the normal control group in upstairs and downstairs tests.Conclusion The rate-adaptive pacing response of dual sensor integrated with activity sensor and minute ventilation sensor,which is mostly close to the normal chronotropic response,better than that of single sensor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation effects of upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) on osteopontin expression in odontoblasts.

METHODSOdontoblast MDPC-23 was cultured and stably transfected with PCMV-USF1 or A-USF plasmids. Total RNA was extracted and osteopontin expression examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Gray value of osteopontin was measured and statistic analysis performed.

RESULTSClones of stable PCMV-USF1 and A-USF plasmids transfection were obtained. Compared with the control, osteopontin was upregulated in PCMV-USF1 transfection group, and downregulated in A-USF transfection group.

CONCLUSIONSUpstream stimulatory factor 1 could regulate the osteopontin expression in odontoblasts, which could be blocked partly by A-USF.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Odontoblasts ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Upstream Stimulatory Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of dried whole plants of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and comparison of NMR data with those reported in literature.

RESULT15 compounds were isolated and identified to be 5-O-[(E)-Caffeoyl] quinic acid(l), 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(2), 4 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(3), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), methyl-3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(6), methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(7), 3,6'-O-diferuloylsucrose(8), 5'-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid(9), Scopoletin(10), scoparone (11), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxyacetophenone (12), chrysosplenol D (13), casticin (14), chrysosplenetin(15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 6, 8 and 9 are obtained from the Artemisia genus for the first time. Compounds 7 and 15 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Silica Gel