Animal medicines mainly contain protein which was organic molecule with quaternary structure and had the property of thermal denaturation. When suffering from heat for a consistent time, the native conformation of protein would be destroyed. After denaturation the biological activity of protein will lose and some physicochemical and biochemical properties will be changed. Leech was a classical animal medicine in the views of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which had the functions of breaking stagnant and eliminating blood stasis. In the usage history, it was processed for a long time. No matter stir-frying leech with talc powder embodied in Chinese Pharmacopoeia or stir-baking with wine as a distinctive method in Beijing district, the process procedure was basically performed under high temperature. The purposes and intentions of process are mostly limited to technology conditions at specific historical period. In this article, based on existing processing procedure and its character of Leech, the changes of active components and pharmacological activities before and after processing under high temperature were summarized. The results demonstrate that the protein of leech would be denaturated; some active peptide such as hirudin were partly or totally destroyed; some toxic mineral elements, such as Pb, Hg, Cd, were decreased; at the same time, heating can promote some chemical components transforming into hypoxanthine which had the function of antihypertensive, antiasthmatic and antalgic. Consequently, after processed under high temperature, the purpose of decreasing toxicity and alleviating the strong property was achieved. Pharmacological changes of leech processed under high temperature were mainly manifested in the anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity, etc. Based on current processing research status about animal medicine leech, future research methods and directions on scientific connotation of leech processed under high temperature were put forward in this article.
Animals ; Biological Factors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Leeches ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between copper and organic components, total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA), total saponins of Astragalus (TSA) and total polysaccharide of Astragalus (TPA).

METHODTFA, TSA and TPA were extracted from Astragalus roots using different organic solvents, and determined by colorimetry. The concentration of copper in extracts was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).

RESULTCopper was found in TFA, TPA and TSA, and its concentration in TFA and TPA was higher; the content of copper was correlated significantly to that of TFA and TPA (r1(2) = 0.754 8, F1 = 57.202, P < 0.01 and r2(2) = 0.499, F2 = 21.906, P < 0.01), while not to that of TSA ( r3(2) = 0.0026, F3 = 0.041, P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONCorrelation analysis could reveal the relationship of copper with organic components in Astragalus roots; contents and structure characteristics of organic components might be important factors influencing the distribution of copper in Astragalus roots.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Copper ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

In the present study, the performance of a new blood cell separator (COBE Spectra LRS Turbo Version 7.0) and that of the previous version LRS version 5.1 in the collection efficiency (CE), collection rate and residual white blood cells during platelet collection from donors were compared. 232 units of platelet concentrates (n = 232) were evaluated and 163 units were collected with the Spectra LRS version 5.1 (Group A) and 69 units with the LRS turbo version 7.0 (Group B). Donor's blood cell counts and parameters, platelet yield, collection efficiency and residual leukocytes in platelet concentrates were analysed. Results showed that the platelet yield was higher in group B than that in group A: (2.90 +/- 1.1) x 10(11) versus (2.58 +/- 1.2) x 10(11), P < 0.001; residual WBCs were less than 5 x 10(6) in 99.4% of group A platelet concentrates and in 97.1% of group B platelet concentrates. Collection efficiency was higher in group B than in group A: 51.4 +/- 8.7 versus 43.6 +/- 6.3. A correlation between platelet count before collecting blood and platelet yield was observed in both groups. In conclusion, the Spectra LRS Turbo version 7.0 showed a higher platelet yield than that with LRS version 5.1. Higher platelet counts before collection allow a higher platelet yield.
Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Cell Separation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes ; cytology ; Platelet Count

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism and efficacy of tetramethylpyrazine-eluting stents (TES) on inhibiting neointima formation in porcine coronary artefies.Methods TES was prepared by tetramethylpyrazine spray-coated in bare metal stents(BMS).Pigs were implanted with TES or BMS(n=7 each),respectively.Quantitative coronary angiography(QCA)and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) were performed before,immediately after stenting and at 28 days after stenting.Coronary arteries segments (5 cm) before and post stenting area (5 cm) as well as at stenting location were harvested at 28 days post stenting for histopathological examinations(inflammation,vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and apoptosis).Results Follow up QCA at 28 days showed that percentage diameter stenosis were significandy lower in the,TES group than that in the BMS group[(10.0±2.1)%VS (60.2±23.5)%.P=0.01].Tlle lumen area determined by IVUS was similar between the two groups and there was no in-stent thrombosis in TES or BMS treated animals.Internal elastic lamina area was significantly largerwhile the neointimal ares [(1.51±0.45)mm2 vs(4.60±1.39)mm2,P=0.04] Was significantly smaller in the TES group than that in the BMS group.Histopathologieal assessments showed fewer inflammatory cells in the stented-coronary artery walls than those at the border zones of stenting in both groups.The number of proliferating cells were significantly decreased while apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the TES group compared with the BMS group (all P<0.05).Conclusion TES could effectively reduce in.stent restenosis in this porcine model by attenuating Vascular smooth muscle proliferation and enhancing vascular smooth muscle apoptosis post stenting.

OBJECTIVEDue to their lower risk for induction of resistance, antimicrobial peptides with selective anticancer effect could be developed into a new generation of anticancer drugs. We conjugated an antimicrobial peptide with tumor-targeting peptides (TMTP1) to explore whether it has inhibiting effect on the progression and metastasis of transplanted prostate cancer and gastric cancer in nude mice.

METHODSSubcutaneously transplanted human prostate cancer and orthotopically transplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice were prepared. 50 µmol/L PBS (control group), 50 µmol/L TMTP1 (TMTP1 group) or 50 µmol/L TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) (treatment group) were injected i.p. to the three groups of nude mice, respectively. The binding ability of the novel fusion polypeptide TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) to the tumors and its antitumor effect were assessed by measurement of tumor volume, histopathological examination of the tumor tissues, testing apoptosis index of tumor cells with TUNEL staining, and survival curve plotting of the mice.

RESULTSThe median survival time of subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was 50 days in the control group, 55 days in the TMTP1 group, and 70 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.05). The median survival time of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was 25 days in the control group, 30 days in the TMTP1 group, and 45 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume in the subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was (2.5 ± 0.3)cm(3) in the control group, (1.8 ± 0.2) cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.3 ± 0.1)cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was (3.8 ± 0.4) cm(3) in the control group, (3.2 ± 0.2)cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.4 ± 0.1) cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). Large tumors were observed in the stomach of the orthotopic gastric cancer-bearing mice of the control and TMTP1 groups. The tumor volume of the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group was obviously reduced. White metastases in the liver, spleen and abdominal wall were observed in the control and TMTP1 groups (P < 0.01). TUNEL staining revealed that the apoptosis index of the control group was (31.9 ± 1.5)%, TMTP1 group (37.2 ± 2.3)% and TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (69.7 ± 2.1)% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of our study demonstrate that the novel fusion peptide of antimicriobial peptide conjugated with TMTP1 can effectively inhibit tumor progression and metastasis, therefore, is promising to be a novel effective anticancer drug.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Splenic Neoplasms ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical therapeutic effects of elastic intramedullary nail on extremity fractures in children.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to March 2008, 40 children with extremity fractures were treated by elastic intramedullary nail, in whom femoral shaft fractures occurred in 26 cases, tibiofibular fractures in 8 cases, radial capitular fractures in 4 cases, ulnoradial fractures in 2 cases. All patients were treated by closed reduction and elastic intramedullary nail fixation.

RESULTSAll the fractures gained satisfactory reduction and healing. The average duration needed for fracture healing was 1-2 months. Postoperative follow-up confirmed a sound functional recovery.

CONCLUSIONSThe elastic intramedullary nail is a minimally invasive and effective surgical approach for treatment of extremity fractures in children. It allows early functional exercises after operation and secures a satisfactory bone union and functional recovery.

Adolescent ; Bone Nails ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Extremities ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiography ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of study was to explore the frequency of ABO type IgM antibody in infants younger than six months. 309 hospitalized infants younger than six months were selected at first and their EDTA K(3) anticoagulant blood samples were taken. All the infants were divided into five groups: neonates within 1 week as group I; neonates aged 8 to 14 days as group II; neonates aged 15 days to 1 month as group III; infants aged two to 3 months as group IV and infants aged 4 to 6 months as group V. The monocolonal anti-A, anti-B serums, A cells, B cells and O cells were utilized to carried out the blood typing with tube test. The results indicated that from 309 samples tested 33 AB type sample were excluded. Out of the remains of 276 samples, 29 of 46 samples in group I were positive and with the ABO type consistent rate 63% (29/46); 41 of 64 samples in group II were positive and with the ABO type consistent rate 64% (41/64); 47 of 74 samples in group III were positive and with the ABO type consistent rate 63% (47/74); 28 of 45 samples in group IV were positive and with the ABO type consistent rate 62% (28/45); 40 of 47 samples in group V were positive and with the ABO type consistent rate 85%. It is concluded that the ABO type IgM antibody appear in most infants younger than six months and these IgM antibodies may be regarded as the important evidence for ABO typing in infants.
ABO Blood-Group System ; immunology ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

Objective To explore the features of resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in the patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) after during the process of converting to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. To study the correlation of the brain function imaging and neuropsychological scores in converted MCI subjects with the purpose of finding the potential functional biomarkers which may predict the conversion of MCI to AD dementia in short term using resting state functional MRI. Methods Twenty-seven patients with MCI and 31 age, gender and years of education matched normal controls (NC) were enrolled in this study and neuropsychological assessment and rs-fMRI data were acquired respectively at the baseline and follow-up. Functional connectivity strength (FCS) analyses were used to assess the functional differences among the groups of MCI-converters (MCI-c) , MCI-non converters (MCI-nc) and NC. Variance analyses were used to compare the group differences in age, years of education and each neuropsychological assessment. In addition, Chi-squared test was used to compare group differences in gender. Then, Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare group differences in the interval time of twice data collection. Group differences in FCS values were analyzed by general linear model. Finally, correlation analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between the FCS values of the brain regions with group differences and neuropsychological assessment scores in MCI patients. Results (1) Significant group differences of FCS among the MCI-c, MCI-nc and NC groups were observed in bilateral angular gyri, bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, right precentral gyrus, left paracentral lobule, left precuneus, right fusiform, right middle occipital gyrus, right superior occipital gyrus, left cerebellum. (2) The MCI-c showed decreased FCS in bilateral angular gyri, right middle occipital gyrus, right superior occipital gyrus, right inferior occipital gyrus, right fusiform, left precuneus, and left paracentral lobule, as compared to MCI-nc, the cluster was 149, 114, 186, 56, 48, 33, 38 and 102 voxels, respectively;P<0.05, respectively. The correlation analysis showed that the FCS values of the right angular gyrus were negative correlated with the MMSE scores (r=-0.561, P=0.017) . Conclusions This study revealed that the comparison of rs-fMRI imaging data between MCI-c and MCI-nc at baseline is of great benefits in analysing the imaging characteristics of patients during converting from MCI to AD. The feature of FCS in rs-fMRI in right angular gyrus might serve as early indicators for the dysfunction and progression from MCI to AD.

To evaluate the yield of the blood cell separator for collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from ABO major and (or) minor incompatible allogeneic donors and the feasibility of PBSC component infusion to the recipients without removal of erythrocytes or plasma, the Cobe Spectra (Version 6.1) blood cell separator was utilized to collect PBSC component from 9 allogeneic donors. Of all the donors, 4 were ABO major incompatible, 2 were minor incompatible and the other 3 were both major and minor incompatible to corresponding recipients. In each cycle, different amount of PBSC component was harvested, and the variable volume plasma chased the cells into the bag was adjusted according to the ABO incompatibility. The nucleated cell count, percentage of mononuclear cell, number of CD34(+) cell and percentage of viable cell (trypan blue excluding rate) in the component were detected. At the time of infusion, a series of protective measures to the renal function of recipients were taken. The results showed that apheresis was twice performed on these eight donors to collected enough PBSC for transplantation or cryopreservation, except one apheresis was enough for cell amount needed by transplantation, as the donor's body weight was much heavier than that of the recipient. Altogether 17 apheresises were performed, the mean yield of nucleated cells was 3.77 x 10(10), in which 97% to 99% were mononuclear cells (MNC). The harvested number of CD34(+) cell was 8.62 x 10(6)/kg. All the trypan blue exclusion rate was 100%. In ABO major incompatible or both major and minor incompatible component, there were 8 - 10 ml packed erythrocytes; in ABO minor incompatible component, there were 80 - 120 ml of plasma. These components were infused into the recipients without removal of erythrocytes or plasma and no haemolytic reaction was observed in any recipient, and their hematopoietic functions soon recovered. Results suggest that enough PBSC can be acquired by using blood cell separator Cobe Spectra (Version 6.1), with the modified separation factors, and the collected PBSC component can be safely infused into the ABO incompatible recipients without removal of erythrocytes or plasma.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; Blood Component Removal ; methods ; Blood Donors ; Blood Group Incompatibility ; blood ; Cell Separation ; instrumentation ; Cell Survival ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous

To evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of batch preparing cryopreserved fresh platelet-rich plasma (cryo-FPRP) derived from the volunteer donors, platelet count (Plt), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), plasma pH, plasma lactic acid concentration, and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration, germiculture, CD62p positive rate, PAC-1 positive rate, and the fluorescence intensity of platelet GPIb-IX-V were detected in ACD whole blood, fresh platelet-rich plasma (FPRP), FPRP with 5% dimethyl sulphoxide DMSO (DMSO-FPRP), and thawed cryopreserved FPRP (cryo-FPRP); the procoagulant activity of FPRP and cryo-FPR was determinated. The results showed that (1) 70 percentage of platelet were separated from the whole blood into FPRP, and the counts of residual erythrocyte and leucocyte were below 1 x 10(9), and below 1 x 10(7) per unit respectively. (2) The plasma pH, lactic acid concentration and PAC-1 positive rate retained a stable level during the preparing, storing and thawing process. (3) Plasma LDH concentration, platelet CD62p positive rate and GPIb-IX-V concentration in platelet surface were enhanced significantly after being frozen and thawing. (4) The plasma clotting time induced by cryo-FPRP were significantly shorter than that induced by FPRP. It is concluded that: (1) The batch platelet preparing process can efficiently obtain platelet from whole blood donated by volunteer, and the process didn't activate the platelet. (2) Cryopreservation can prevent lactic acid accumulation, pH reduce and activation of GPIIb/IIIa. (3) The membrane of partial platelets are affected by freezing and thawing. (4) The density of GPIb-IX-V complexes in platelet surface and its procoagulant activity are enhanced significantly after the FPRP freezing and thawing process.
Blood Platelets ; cytology ; metabolism ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; E-Selectin ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results