Background Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sort of serious infectious eye disease with high causing-blindness rate.Acanthamoeba keratitis often is misdiagnosed as fungal keratitis or viral keratitis in the early stage.Because conventional clinical diagnosis methods show a low specificity and take a long time,timely treatment often is delayed.Conventional PCR does not apply well because the lesion sample is not enough to extract DNA.However,direct PCR can amplify 18S rRNA conserved sequence of acanthamoeba keratitis without the extraction of DNA.Objective This study was to discuss the feasibility for rapid diagnosis of acanthamoeba keratitis using direct PCR to amplify the gene 18S rRNA fragment.Methods Ten acanthamoeba strains were isolated from 10 eyes with acanthamoeba keratitis in Qingdao Eye Hospital.The sensitivity of the direct PCR assay was tested using different numbers of amoebas.The specificity of the assay was tested using DNA extracted from acanthamoeba,candida albicans,pseudomonas aeruginosa,herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and normal human corneal epithelial cell.Acanthamoeba keratitis models were established using infected method in clean 6-week-old female BALB/c mice.Corneal lesion samples were obtained 1 day,3,5,7,10,15 days after modeled.The effectivity and feasibility of the direct PCR assay for rapid diagnosis of acanthamoeba keratitis were evaluated and compared with culture method,corneal smear examination and real-time PCR.Results Direct PCR primers could only amplify DNA of acanthamoeba rather than other pathogens,and 10 stains of acanthamoeba were detected at least in each sample.During the development of acanthamoeba keratitis in the mice,the diagnosis positive rate of direct PCR was 80.0％,90.0％,80.0％,70.0％,70.0％ and 50.0％ in 1 day,3,5,7,10,15 days after modeled with the total positive rate 73.3％,which was higher than 31.7％ of culture method,56.7％ of corneal smear examination and 61.7％ of realtime PCR,with a significant difference between the direct PCR and culture method (P =0.005),but no significant difference was seen in the total positive rate between the direct PCR and real-time PC R (P =0.172) or corneal smear examination (P =0.056).Conclusions The direct PCR assay is a simple,rapid,highly specific and sensitive method for the rapid diagnosis of acanthamoeba keratitis,especially for the limited lesion sample.

Objective To evaluate the effect ofcytochrome P450 isoenzyme subfamily 2C19 (CYP2C19)gene polymorphism on the clopidogrel antiplatelet therapy in cirrhosis patients after receiving transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).Methods The clinical data of 171 cirrhosis patients,who were treated with TIPS during the period from January 2013 to December 2014,were retrospectively analyzed.During operation both the portal vein and the elbow vein blood samples were collected and sent for CYP2C19 gene testing.After TIPS,clinical follow-up checkup was made once every 3 months.The gene detection results and clinical follow-up findings were comparatively analyzed.Results A total of 110 patients,who had not received blood transfusion before TIPS and who had regularly taken clopidogrel antiplatelet therapy after TIPS were enrolled in the study.The mean time to take clopidogrel was 192.4 days (31-517 days),and the gene detection results of portal vein and elbow vein were quite consistent.CYP2C19 genotype of *1/*1 was found in 49 patients (44.5％),CYP2C19 genotype of *1/*2 in 27 patients (24.6％),CYP2C19 genotype of *1/*3 in 18patients (16.4％),CYP2C19 genotype of *2/*2 in 11 patients (10.0％),CYP2C19 genotype of *2/*3 in 3patients (2.7％),and CYP2C 19 genotype of *3/*3 in 2 patients (1.8％).Following-up examinations showed that the incidence of shunt dysfunction in patients carrying slow metabolic gene was 87.5％ (14/16),which was significantly higher than that in patients carrying moderate metabolic gene (20.0％,9/45;x2=22.9,P=0.006)as well as in patients carrying fast metabolic gene (8.2％,4/49;x2=37.91,P=O.O00 1).Multivariate analysis of Cox regression model indicated that CYP2C19 slow metabolic gene variation was an important predictive factor for shunt dysfunction (95％CI:1.80-9.03,P=O.O00 7).Conclusion CYP2C19 slow metabolic gene variation,including genotype of *2/*2,*2/*3 and *3/*3,is an important factor that can influence the efficacy of clopidogrel treatment after TIPS.Preoperative CYP2C19 gene detection results can provide useful information,which is very helpful in making an effective and reliable anti-platelet treatment plan for patients after TIPS.

We made our specific teaching program for these students with evidence-based medicine theory,according to their teaching characteristics. They studied the research methods of evidencebased medicine,and learned to search informations,write reviews,discuss clinical cases, design subjects under the guidance of teachers. Their scientific research ability was improved after these practices and training program.

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of 7 active constituents in Tangshen qing-du granule. METHODS:HPLC was performed on the column of SHIMADZU Inert Sustain C18 with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min,detection wavelength was 327 nm for chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid,280 nm for baicalin,228 nm for arctiin and 276 nm for wogonoside,baicalein and wogonin,column temperature was 35℃,and injection volume was 10 μL. RESULTS:The linear range was 4.830-154.6 μg/mL for chlorogenic acid and(r=0.9998),0.750-24.1 μg/mL for caffeic acid(r=0.9997),22.859-731.5 μg/mL for baicalin(r=0.9997),8.491-271.7 μg/mL for arctiin(r=0.9993),2.471-79.0μg/mL for wogonoside(r=0.9996),6.656-213.0 μg/mL for baicalein(r=0.9994) and 2.756-88.2 μg/mL for wogonin (r=0.9998);RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were lower than 2.0%,recoveries were 96.86%-100.82%(RSD=1.46%,n=6),98.79%-101.09%(RSD=0.93%,n=6),97.57%-101.51%(RSD=1.37%,n=6),97.76%-99.63%(RSD=0.77%,n=6),97.99%-100.12%(RSD=0.76%,n=6),96.54%-101.07%(RSD=1.87%,n=6) and 96.60%-99.59%(RSD=1.14%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The method is simple with good precision,stability and reproducibilty,and can be used for the simultaneous determination of 7 active constituents in Tangshen qingdu granule.

Chemical investigation of the whole plants of Valeriana hardwickii has led to the isolation of 11 flavones and 2 monoterpe- noids by using various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, preparative TLC, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis as syzalterin (1), 6-methylapigenin (2), 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (3), genkwanin (4), acacetin (5), apigenin (6), quercetin (7), tricin (8), (-)-farrerol (9), sosakuranetin (10), 5,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (11), (-)-bornyl ferulate ( 12) , and (-)-bornyl caffeate ( 13). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, while compounds 1, 9-13 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Valerian ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo identify the Cynomorii Herba and its analogues species using DNA barcoding technique.

METHODTotal genomic DNA extracted from all materials using the DNA extraction kit. The internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and purified PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. Sequence assembly and consensus sequence generation were performed using the CodonCode Aligner 3.7.1. The Kimura 2-Parameter (K2P) distances and GC content were computed using MEGA 5. 0. Species identification analyses were conducted through the species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and neighbor-joining (NJ) trees.

RESULTThe ITS2 sequence lengths of Cynomorii Herba were 229 bp. The average intra-specific genetic distances of Cynomorii Herba were 0.003. The average inter-specific genetic distances between Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species were 0.760. The results showed that the minimum inter-specific divergence is larger than the maximum intra-specific divergence. The species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine and NJ trees results indicated that Cynomorii Herba and its adulterants species can be easily identification.

CONCLUSIONThe ITS2 region is an efficient barcode for identification of Cynomorii Herba, which provide a new technique to ensure clinical safety in utilization of traditional Chinese medicine.

In order to authenticate the components of antler powder in the market, DNA barcoding technology coupled with cloning method were used. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were obtained according to the DNA barcoding standard operation procedure (SOP). For antler powder with possible mixed components, the cloning method was used to get each COI sequence. 65 COI sequences were successfully obtained from commercial antler powders via sequencing PCR products. The results indicates that only 38% of these samples were derived from Cervus nippon Temminck or Cervus elaphus Linnaeus which is recorded in the 2010 edition of "Chinese Pharmacopoeia", while 62% of them were derived from other species. Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus was the most frequent species among the adulterants. Further analysis showed that some samples collected from different regions, companies and prices, contained adulterants. Analysis of 36 COI sequences obtained by the cloning method showed that C. elaphus and C. nippon were main components. In addition, some samples were marked clearly as antler powder on the label, however, C. elaphus or R. tarandus were their main components. In summary, DNA barcoding can accurately and efficiently distinguish the exact content in the commercial antler powder, which provides a new technique to ensure clinical safety and improve quality control of Chinese traditional medicine

In order to construct an integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine, the authors and their cooperators have completed a lot of researches for identifying Chinese animal medicines using DNA barcoding technology. Sequences from GenBank have been analyzed simultaneously. Three different methods, BLAST, barcoding gap and Tree building, have been used to confirm the reliabilities of barcode records in the database. The integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine has been constructed using three different parts: specimen, sequence and literature information. This database contained about 800 animal medicines and the adulterants and closely related species. Unknown specimens can be identified by pasting their sequence record into the window on the ID page of species identification system for traditional Chinese medicine (www. tcmbarcode. cn). The integrated DNA barcoding database for identifying Chinese animal medicine is significantly important for animal species identification, rare and endangered species conservation and sustainable utilization of animal resources.
Animals ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Eukaryota ; classification ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

In order to authenticate the components of antler powder in the market, DNA barcoding technology coupled with cloning method were used. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences were obtained according to the DNA barcoding standard operation procedure (SOP). For antler powder with possible mixed components, the cloning method was used to get each COI sequence. 65 COI sequences were successfully obtained from commercial antler powders via sequencing PCR products. The results indicates that only 38% of these samples were derived from Cervus nippon Temminck or Cervus elaphus Linnaeus which is recorded in the 2010 edition of "Chinese Pharmacopoeia", while 62% of them were derived from other species. Rangifer tarandus Linnaeus was the most frequent species among the adulterants. Further analysis showed that some samples collected from different regions, companies and prices, contained adulterants. Analysis of 36 COI sequences obtained by the cloning method showed that C. elaphus and C. nippon were main components. In addition, some samples were marked clearly as antler powder on the label, however, C. elaphus or R. tarandus were their main components. In summary, DNA barcoding can accurately and efficiently distinguish the exact content in the commercial antler powder, which provides a new technique to ensure clinical safety and improve quality control of Chinese traditional medicine
Animals ; Antlers ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; Deer ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Powders ; Quality Control

Since the initial observations of oral bacteria within dental plaque by van Leeuwenhoek using his primitive microscopes in 1680, an event that is generally recognized as the advent of oral microbiological investigation, oral microbiology has gone through phases of "reductionism" and "holism". From the small beginnings of the Miller and Black period, in which microbiologists followed Koch's postulates, took the reductionist approach to try to study the complex oral microbial community by analyzing individual species; to the modern era when oral researchers embrace "holism" or "system thinking", adopt new concepts such as interspecies interaction, microbial community, biofilms, poly-microbial diseases, oral microbiological knowledge has burgeoned and our ability to identify the resident organisms in dental plaque and decipher the interactions between key components has rapidly increased, such knowledge has greatly changed our view of the oral microbial flora, provided invaluable insight into the etiology of dental and periodontal diseases, opened the door to new approaches and techniques for developing new therapeutic and preventive tools for combating oral polymicrobial diseases.
Bacteria ; classification ; Bacterial Infections ; prevention & control ; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Biofilms ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; Humans ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Periodontal Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Tooth Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control