Adolescent ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coronary Angiography ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications

Purpose:To assess the value and limitation of CT in staging colorectal carcinoma.Methods:CT was performed prior to surgery in 46 patients with 48 colorectal carcinomas for staging the tumor. The results were compared with those of surgical and pathological examinations in all cases in order to study the sensitivity of staging the tumor before operation.Results:(1) CT depicted 31 of 33 pathologically confirmed T4 lesions (beyond the serosa) in all 48 primary carcinomas,appearance of T4 lesion were defined as either strands of soft tissue or nodules into the peri-colorectal fat ,or hyperdensity of pericolorectal fat. (2)Pathologic examination of lymphatic metastases unfirmed 20 of 40 patients who underwent complete resections, and these lymph nodes were not larger than 1cm in 17 patients.The sensitivity is 70%(14/20)and the specificity 85%(17/20)respectively in detection of lymphatic metastases for CT. (3) The accuracy of CT staging was 81.25%,77.50% in T,N respectively in this group of patients,and CT showed all 4 cases of liver metastases and 6 of 7 peritoneal metastases. Conclusions:CT is accurate in detecting T4 stage of colorectal carcinoma. It is effective in depicting local extension and distant metastases. The value of CT for early T staging and N staging in colorectal carcinoma is limited.

Objective To determine 2-4 year intermediate-term clinical effects of deep-freezing bone-ACL-bone allograft plus endobutton plate fixation in reconstruction anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injuries after ACL injury and estimate the feasibility and validity of the technique.Methods We car- ried out a retrospective study on 15 cases with ACL injury of lateral knee joint reconstructed with deep- freezing bone-ACL-bone allograft plus endobutton plate fixation method from September 1999 to October 2002.The average follow up was 36.9 months.The myodynamic recovery,muscular activity,Rom Lach- man test,Pivot shift test,Lysholm score and X-ray of tunnels enlargement at intermediate term were com- pared with normal ones.Results The circumference of thigh was(0.976?0.119)cm shorter than that of the normal side.Extension limitation of less than 3?was found in 12 cases and knee flexion limita- tion for below 5?in 13.Lachman test showed negative results.Lyshohn score was increased from preoper- ative 66.2?4.6 to postoperative 89.4?3.2.X-ray showed no tunnel enlargement.Conclusions Re- construction of ACL with deep-freezing bone-ACL-bone allograft plus endobutton plate fixation under ar- throscopy can attain equal length and anatomic reconstruction of ACL.Deep-freezing bone-ACL-bone is beneficial to functional recovery of ACL.

OBJECTIVETo screen and isolate secondary metabolite biosynthesis-related gene for establishing the foundation of functional gene research, we construct a cDNA library of Glycyrrhiza uralensis.

METHODTotal RNA was isolated from G. uralensis using the method of lithium chloride sedimentation. Double strand cDNA was joined into pBlueScript II vector. The number of clones, recombinant rate and length of insert fragments were determined.

RESULTThe capacity of the original library was 1.15 x 10(7) with a recombinant rate of 98.2% and the inserted cDNA fragments ranged from 0.5 to 4.8 kb. 126 ESTs through random sequencing were obtained. The most homological proteins came from leguminous plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, and so on. Most of the proteins were related to genes linking cell matabolism, resistance, growth retardation and dormancy.

CONCLUSIONThe library has enough capacity, high recombinant rate and long insert fragment for the further study.

Computational Biology ; DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Gene Library ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; genetics ; RNA, Plant ; analysis ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Qianjing Decoction in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS).

METHODSWe randomly divided 100 SPF male rats into five groups of equal number: normal, model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing. OAS models were established in the animals followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline, ornidazole, Huangjingzanyu Capsules (200 mg per kg body weight per day), levocarnitine (100 mg per kg body weight per day), and Qianjing Decoction (10 g per kg body weight per day), respectively, qd, for 4 successive weeks. Then, we detected the concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm, obtained the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-glucosidase, and fructose in the epididymis, and determined the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the epididymal tissue of the rats by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm in the model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qianging groups were (35.34 ± 4.22) x 10(6)/ml and (40.04 ± 7.05)%, (48.12 ± 5.56) x 10(6)/ml and (62.46 ± 7.12)%, (47.14 ± 4.87) x 10(6)/ml and (63.23 ± 6.34)%, and (50.25 ± 5.08) x 10(6)/ml and (66.34 ± 7.58)%, respectively, all significantly lower than in the normal group ([53.05 ± 4.55] x 10(6)/ml and [70.20 ± 8.54]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups than in the model rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the thinned epididymal lumen walls, decreased sperm count, and disorderly and loose arrangement of the lumens in the OAS models, the rats in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups showed evidently thicker epididymal lumen walls, with the lumens full of sperm cells and arranged regularly and compactly, similar to those of the normal rats. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower but that of MDA markedly higher in the model rats ([84.12 ± 23.25], [10.56 ± 3.02], and [14.04 ± 2.06] nmol/mg) than in the normal group ([110.04 ± 19.56], [17.25 ± 3.56], and [8.87 ± 1.35] nmol/mg) (P < 0.05), while the former two indexes remarkably higher and the latter one significantly lower in the animals treated with Qiangjing Decoction ([120.56 ± 23.68], [16.34 ± 3.12], and [8.45 ± 1.56] nmol/mg), Huangjingzanyu Capsules ([115.34 ± 21.35], [15.23 ± 3.67], and [8.33 ± 1.54] nmol/mg), and levocarnitine ([116.67 ± 22.67], [15.35 ± 3.45], and [8.05 ± 1.78] nmol/mg) than in the models (P < 0.05). The levels of fructose, LDH and α-glucosidase were decreased markedly in the OAS models ([100.22 ± 12.12] mg/[ ml x g], [322 ± 46.13] U/[ ml x g], and [10.48 ± 2.33] U/[ml x g]) as compared with the normal rats ([128.12 ± 13.45] mg/[ml x g], [428 ± 35.12] U/[ml x g], and [15.34 ± 3.12] U/[ ml x g]) (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the rats treated with Qiangjing ([130.23 ± 13.67] mg/[ml x g] [455 ± 51.50] U/[ml x g], and [18.56 ± 4.67] U/[ml x g]), Huangjingzanyu ([124.16 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [ 419 ± 43.14] U/[ml x g], and [17.64 ± 4.08] U/[ml x g]), and levocarnitine ([123.34 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [430 ± 31.80] U/ [ml x g], and [16.85 ± 5.55] U/[ml x g]) than in the models (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the models as compared with the normal rats (P < 0.05) but remarkably increased in the Huangingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05). The SDH mRNA expression was significantly lower in the model than in the normal rats (P < 0.05) but markedly elevated in the Huangjingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the Qiangjing than in the Huangjingzanyu group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOrnidazole induces OAS in rats, which is closely associated with excessive oxidation and energy metabolism dysfunction. Qiangjing Decoction can improve and even reverse ornidazole-induced OAS in rats as well as improve the ultrastructure of their testicular and epididymal tissues. Antioxidation and improvement of energy metabolism are probably the action mechanisms of Qiangjing Decoction in the treatment of OAS.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of Jiedu Tongluo injection on cerebral edema induced by focal lesion of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the hydrous content of brain and the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and MMP-9 in rats.

METHODThe model of brain middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion was established by the thread approach. After 24 hours of reperfusion, cerebral edema formation was determined by the hydrous content of brain. The permeability of blood brain barrier was evaluated based on the leakage of Evans blue. Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA)was used to examine the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin. The expression of MMP-9 was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTJDTL, in the dose of 2 mL x kg(-1) and 4 mL x kg(-1), relieved cerebral edema (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), reduced the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-land E-selectin and decreased MMP-9 activity (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01) in model rats.

CONCLUSIONJiedu Tongluo injection has a protective effect on rat brain from cerebral edema induced by the injury of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. The mechanism is related to that Jiedu Tongluo injection can reduce the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin and inhibit of MMP-9 activation in rat brain.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Evans Blue ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Injections ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Permeability ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

A new steroidal ester, beta-rosaterol palmitate (1) along with ten known compounds, uvaol(2), 3-epi-ursolic acid (3), 2alpha, 3beta, 24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4), 2alpha, 3alpha, 24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 2alpha, 3alpha, 24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), 2alpha, 3alpha, 24-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (7), (Z)-9-hexadecenoic acid (8), octacosyl alcohol (9), beta-sitosterol (10) and beta-daucosterol (11), has been isolated from the stems and leaves of Vitex trifolia. Their structures were elucidated using a combination of 1D and 2D NMR techniques (COSY, HMQC, and HMBC)and HR-ESI-MS analyses. Compounds 2-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Vitex ; chemistry

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of hilar biliary malignant obstruc tion with multiple stent drainage.Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients with malignant biliary hilar obstruction were enrolled.The obstructions at the common hepatic duct within less than 1 cm to the junction of the left and the right hepatic duct were found in 66 cases,at the proximal common hepatic duct and the left and the right hepatic ducts in 45 cases,at the right hepatic duct in 5 cases and at the both left and right hepatic duets in 11 cases.Sixty-six patients received stent placement through the right biliary ducts and the common bile duct by puncturing the right mid-axillary line.The other 37 patients received 2 stents placement (disposed"Y"style) through the left and the right hepatic duct punc turing routway.Seven patients received 2 stents placement (disposed"┌"style) through the right hepatic duct and the common bile duct with a stent placed between the left and the right hepatic duct.Three patients had right hepatic duct stent placed first,followed by right hepatic duct and common hepatic duct stent. Twelve patients had stents placed in the right hepatic duct with external drainage from the left hepatic duct. Two patients had multiple strictures at the right hepatic duct,who got multiple external drainages.The total serum bilirubin levels were measured pre-and post-operatively.Results One hundred and twenty-seven patients with bi[iary obstraction had internal stents placed for drainage.The average total bilirubin levels among 121 patients were (283.4?175.4 )?mol/L pre-operation and (63.2?11.8)?mol/L post-operation (P

This study was conducted to investigate the wild and cultivated resource situation of Rheum tanguticum in main production area of China, estimate its reserves, and put forward the feasible approach for the sustainable utilization of R. tanguticum. On the basis of the literature data about R. tanguticum, conbined with interview, investigation and sampling investigation, the total reserve of resources is estimated using the route-quadrat method and the vegetation and soil-type map area method proposed by our research group. The results indicate that there is no obvious change between the present distribution ranges of the wild R. tanguticum and its historical records, but its population density has changed clearly. The reserve of the wild R. tanguticum has seriously declined in lots of place, even faced the exhaustion in some regions. According to the investigation, the resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is no more than 5 000 t, and the cultivated is about 1 607 t. The resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is nearly depleted, and this suggests that the wild R. tanguticum should be enrolled in the protection plant list, and the cultivated will become the main resource of Rhubarb in the future. So it is extremely neccessary to collect and protect the germplasm resource of R. tanguticum, establish the germplasm nursery and repository, and conduct breeding research on those bases.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Rheum ; growth & development

OBJECTIVEElucidate the medicinal licorice species circumscription in order to develop licorice resources in China and select new cultivars.

METHODPCR amplification, DNA sequencing and cladistic analysis.

RESULTAcquire the ITS sequences and phylogenetic tree of 8 licorice species.

CONCLUSIONAccording to results Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa and G. glabra var. glandulosa should be combined into G. and G. glabra respectively and G. egladulosa is an independent species.

Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Glycyrrhiza ; classification ; genetics ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pharmacognosy ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics