OBJECTIVEIn order to improve the irrigation for Panax notginseng growing seedlings, different mulching ways were carried out to investigate the effects of double mulching.

METHODField experiment was applied to study soil moisture, soil temperature and bulk density of different mulching ways while the germination rate and seedlings growth also were investigated.

RESULTCompared with the traditional single mulching with pine leaves or straw, double mulching using plastic film combined with pine leaves or straw could reduce 2/3 volumes of irrigation at the early seedling time Double mulching treatments didn't need to irrigate for 40 days from seeding to germination, and kept soil moisture and temperature steady at whole seedling time about 30% and 9.0-16.6 degrees C, respectively. The steady soil moisture and temperature benefited to resist late spring cold and germinate earlier while kept germination regularly, higher rate and seedlings quality. In contrast, single mulching using pine leaves or straw had poor soil moisture and temperature preserving, needed to irrigate every 12-day, meanwhile dropped the germination and booming time 14 days and 24-26 days, respectively, reduced germination rate about 11.3%-8.7%. However, single pine leaves mulching was better than straw mulching. In addition, though better effects of soil moisture and temperature preserving as well as earlier and higher rate of germination with single plastic films mulching had, some disadvantages had also been observed, such as daily soil temperature changed greatly, seedling bed soil hardened easily, more moss and weeds resulted difficulty in later management.

CONCLUSIONTo the purpose of saving water and labor as well as getting higher germination rate and seedlings quality, double mulching using plastic films combined pine leaves at the early time and single mulching removing plastic films at the later time is suggested to apply in the growing seedlings of P. notoginseng.

Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Soil ; chemistry

Objective To investigate expression of Human papillomavirus (HPV) 11 type E7 protein antigen in prokaryotic cells and its potential use for the serodiagnosis of condyloma acuminatum (CA).Methods The full-length gene encoding for HPV11 E7 protein was amplified by PCR,and cloned into vector pET32a(+) to form recombinant pET32a(+)/HPVll E7 plasmid.The fusion His-E7 protein was expressed and analyzed by using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.Using ELISA assay,HPV11 E7 fusion protein were also used to screen human serum IgG antibody from 93 patients with CA,43 patients with cervix cancer and 58 healthy control subjects.Results Highly expressed fusion His-E7 protein was obtained,and purified protein served as a special diagnostic antigen to screen human serum antibody for CA serodiagnosis.It showed that CA group,cervix cancer group and healthy control human serum IgG antibody average value were 1.545?0.131,0.586?0.155 and 0.674?0.150 respectively,positive rate were 76.3% (71/93),11.6% (5/43) and 5.2% (3/58).There was significantly difference between the CA group to compare cervix cancer group and healthy control (P

OBJECTIVEThe study was undertaken to analyze retrospectively the results of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) on septum originated tachycardia in children with arrhythmia. The 98 children were all treated with RFCA on septum originated tachycardia in which the ablation sites were located near the bundle of His.

METHODSFifty female and forty-eight male cases were included in this analysis. They were at the age of 8.1 +/- 2.3 years and their body weight was (28 +/- 9) kg. The arrhythmia they suffered from consisted of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) (n = 62), atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) on septum (n = 25), atria Itachycardia on Koch areas (n = 3) and left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) on the septum (n = 8). Swartz SRO long sheath was used on the right site ablation. Titration of capacity and degreed time of increase were used in the ablation.

RESULTSRadiofrequency ablation was successful in all cases. Eleven cases had relapse after the procedure. They accepted RFCA again and then the treatment succeeded. One case of AVRT at the posterior septum experienced complete atrioventricular block (AVB) during ablation. Two weeks later this case was implanted with permanent pacemaker.

CONCLUSIONSThe septal site is narrow and small in children. Atrioventricular node is tender. If the above facts were neglected, it was very likely to cause AVB, especially in children accepting the procedures of electrophysiologic study an RFCA on the septal site. Attention should be paid to the followings during such procedures: ablation in the sinus rhythm; ablation following the principle, titration of capacity and degreed time of increase; ablation at the right site long sheath; thermo-ablation catheter application and ablation on the two sides of septum in the posterior septum ablation procedure. The end-point of ablation in children should be the elimination of tachycardia and the delta wave, disassociation of VA or passing through bundle of His at pacing in the ventricle, disappearance of jumping conduction or no echo or one echo but without AVNRT after infusion of isoprenaline and stimulation procedure. Avoiding bundle of His injury is important during the procedure of ablation in children.

Adolescent ; Bundle of His ; physiopathology ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To study the sleeping time and its correlative factors in 2k12 year-old children in Changsha. METHODS: A cluster sample with 3 756 children was randomly selected from Changsha, whose parents or care persons were interviewed with questionnaires about children's sleeping status from June 2006 to April 2007 by trained medical staff. One person was responsible for a questionnaire for one child. RESULTS: Two to twelve year-old children slept 10.60 hours a day. The average sleeping time every day was 12.26, 11.57, 11.33, 11.26, 10.95, 10.64, 10.62, 10.45, 10.28, 9.83, and 9.61 hours from 2 to 12 year-old children. The sleeping time in one day in each age group was different obviously but the same for boys and girls. The main factors that affected the sleeping time of children were: child's age, having pets or not, child's fixed pattern of sleeping time, methods of falling asleep, diet regulation, asthma, the mother's age, number of child delivery of mother, and mother's sleeping time. CONCLUSION Sleeping time in a day decreases with the age increase in 2k12 year-old children. Many factors affected sleeping time of children, including the child's age, habits and environmental factors, diets, diseases, and mothers' conditions.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Habits ; Humans ; Male ; Mother-Child Relations ; Sleep ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time

BACKGROUNDEarly diagnosis and timely treatment are important for improving therapeutic efficiency of prostate cancer. DNA array is a new bio-technology for disease diagnosis. This study was conducted to diagnose prostate cancer with cDNA macroarray and analysis gene expression profiles of some selective genes in prostate cancer.

METHODSTotal RNA was isolated from patients with prostate cancer and from normal people, and poly (A) RNA was further purified. Then it was analyzed for differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and normal prostate by cDNA macroarray system.

RESULTSThere were different expressions in the nine prostate-associated specific genes in prostate cancer as compared with normal prostate, in which, 7 were significantly upregulated and 2 were down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONAs a diagnostic approach at molecular level, the cDNA macroarray is an effectively diagnostic method for prostate cancer.

Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To explore whether TNF-α involves in the modulation of Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1) expression in bronchial epithelial cells.Methods The bronchial epithelial cell lines 16HBE cells were stimulated with different concentration (0.00,0.05,0.50,5.00,20.00 μg/L) of TNF-α for 48 hours,and CysLT1 mRNA in 16HBE cells was measured by reverse transcription(RT)-PCR.CysLT1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results 16HBE cells did not express CysLT1,after the cells were treated with TNF-α,obvious expression of CysLT1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.The weak CysLT1 mRNA expression was observed by RT-PCR in 16HBE cells,and after the cells were treated with TNF-α for 48 hours,CysLT1 mRNA expression were upregulated.When the concentrations of TNF-α were 0.00,0.05,0.50,5.00,and 20.00 μg/L respectively,the relative intensities of CysLT1 mRNA/β-actin were 0.048,0.105,0.177,0.182,0.495,respectively.Conclusions TNF-α can upregulate CysLT1 mRNA expression in 16HBE ceils in a dose-dependent manner.When infected by virus,respiratory tract produces abundant TNF-α.The TNF-α can upregulate the expression of CysLT1 in epithelial cells,enhance inflammation reaction in respiratory tract.This may explain partially the mechanism of exacerbation of asthma induced by respiratory tract infection.

BACKGROUNDGeneralized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome is a rare familial or sporadic condition characterized by generalized, partial, target-tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids. This syndrome is partially caused by mutations in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene. The clinical spectrum of generalized glucocorticoid resistance is broad, ranging from fatigue or no symptoms to severe hypertension with hypokalemic alkalosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic disorder of glucocorticoid resistance syndrome.

METHODSWe identified a 56-year-old male patient diagnosed with generalized glucocorticoid resistance syndrome accompanied with an adrenocortical adenoma. This asymptomatic patient referred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for treatment of his adrenal incidentaloma. Endocrinological evaluation consistently revealed his elevated serum cortisol level. Total RNA was extracted from the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMLs) and entire coding region of hGR alpha was amplified by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. To confirm the possible mutation identified by sequencing RT-PCR products, genomic DNA sequence of hGR gene from the patient and 50 healthy controls was analyzed by PCR and directly sequencing.

RESULTSA heterozygotic (C→T) substitution at nucleotide position of 1667 (exon 5) in GR alpha gene was found in this patient by sequencing of RT-PCR products of hGR gene. This substitution was also identified at genomic DNA level and it was absent in 100 chromosomes from 50 unrelated health controls. This substitution resulted in a threonine to isoleucine substitution (ACT→ATT) at amino acid 556 in the ligand-binding domain of GR alpha.

CONCLUSIONGeneralized glucocorticoid resistance in this patient might be caused by a novel heterozygotic mutation in the ligand-binding domain of the GR alpha.

Adrenocortical Adenoma ; genetics ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Endocrine System Diseases ; genetics ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical effect of anterior screw fixation on the type II fractured odontoid process.

METHODSTwenty fresh human C1-C2 vertebrae specimens were harvested and randomly divided into three groups. The angle of type II fracture line was 0 degree in group I (n=6), 17 degrees in group II (n=8) and 25 degrees in group III (n=6). The fractures were treated by anterior screw fixation. Insertion torque,maximal axial pullout force and stiffness of the bone-screw were tested.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of screw insertion torque and the pull-out strength between each group. The displacement of the odontoid fragment had an association to the angle of the fracture line,the displacement of the small angle was significantly higher than that of the large one (P < 0.5). No significant difference of structure stiffness of the bone-screw was found between each group.

CONCLUSIONAnterior screw fixation is feasible for type II odontoid fracture with certain fracture line extends from anteroinferior to posterosuperior.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Spinal Fractures ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was long believed to be an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to describe the clinical features of patients with MS and NMOSD to assist in differential diagnoses in clinical practice.

METHODSData including the patients' serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests, image findings, and clinical information from 175 patients with MS or NMOSD at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2012 to May 2014 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibodies in CSF and serum. Cell-based assays were used to detect aquaporin-4-antibody (AQP4-Ab). The Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables. Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to analyze the continuous variables.

RESULTSTotally 85 MS patients (49%) and 90 NMOSD patients (51%) were enrolled, including 124 (71%) women and 51 (29%) men. Fewer MS patients (6%) had autoimmune diseases compared to NMOSD (19%) (Δ2 = 6.9, P < 0.01). Patients with NMOSD had higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores (3.5 [3]) than MS group (2 [2]) (Z = -3.69, P < 0.01). The CSF levels of white cell count and protein in both two groups were slightly elevated than the normal range, without significant difference between each other. Positivity of serum AQP4-Ab in NMOSD patients was higher than that in MS patients (MS: 0, NMOSD: 67%; Δ2 = 63.9, P < 0.01). Oligoclonal bands in CSF among NMOSD patients were remarkably lower than that among MS (MS: 59%, NMOSD: 20%; Δ2 = 25.7, P < 0.01). No significant difference of MOG autoantibodies was found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe different CSF features combined with clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and serum characteristics between Chinese patients with MS and NMOSD could assist in the differential diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aquaporin 4 ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Demyelinating Diseases ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; pathology ; Myelin-Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

In order to evaluate the performance of a molecular Hain line probe assay (Hain LPA) for rapid detection of rifampicin and isoniazid resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China, 1612 smear positive patients were consecutively enrolled in this study. Smear positive sputum specimens were collected for Hain LPA and conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST). The sensitivity and specificity of Hain LPA were analyzed by using conventional DST as golden reference. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for rifampicin resistance detection were 88.33%, 97.66%, 81.54%, and 98.62%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for isoniazid resistance detection were 80.25%, 98.07%, 87.25%, and 96.78%, respectively. These findings suggested that Hain LPA can be an effective method worthy of broader use in China.
China ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; pharmacology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Rifampin ; pharmacology ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; diagnosis ; microbiology