It has gradually become a consensus in the industry that the traditional Chinese medicine gypsum should be decocted first, but the understanding of decocting method is not completely unified in the works of doctors since ancient times, and there are occasional disputes about whether it is necessary to decocting first. In this study, the phase determination, physical and chemical characterization, qualitative and quantitative analysis of inorganic and organic components of the decoctions of herbal pairs and the whole prescription Maxingshigan decoction with gypsum as the center, and the pre-decoctions and co-decoctions of them were carried out to explore the scientific connotation of the pre-decoctions of gypsum. Results show that decoction phases were different between the co-decoctions and pre-decoctions of licorice-gypsum (Gancao-Shigao, GC-SG), ephedra-gypsum (Mahuang-Shigao, MH-SG) and almond-gypsum (Xingren-Shigao, XR-SG). The results of the micromorphology, particle size and zeta potential of herbal pairs and prescription (Quanfang, QF) showed that the supramolecular particles in pre-decoctions were smaller, more uniform and more stable than the co-decoctions. The results of organic components analysis showed that different cooking methods did not change the organic composition and content. ICP-OES results showed that the content of inorganic components in pre-decoctions was higher than in co-decoctions for the same boiling time of gypsum. The IR results showed that the pre-decoctions had stronger chemical functional group effect than the co-decoctions. To sum up, compared with the co-decoction, the pre-decoction of gypsum has different phase state and chemical composition interaction, and the difference of inorganic composition is an important material basis affecting the change of phase state compared with the co-decoction. It indicates that the material basis of traditional Chinese medicine decoction is indeed different whether gypsum is decocted first or not, which can provide a basis for the clinical application of decocted gypsum.

The glutamate transporter EAAT 2 ( rodent nomencla-ture GLT-1:glutamate transporter 1), which is a predominantly astroglial glutamate transporter in the hippocampus and the pre-frontal cortex , is responsible for the majority of extracellular glu-tamate uptake .The glutamate transporter EAAT 2 can decrease the high levels of glutamate in the synaptic cleft , avoiding gluta-matergic excitotoxicity to damage the glial cells and neurons . Currently, the transporter EAAT2 has become a research hotspot of depression .This article aims to summarize roles of glutamate transporter EAAT2 in the occurrence and treatment of depres-sion.

Objective To explore the influence of montelukast on plasma nitric oxide in preschool children with asthma.Methods Forty-four preschool children with asthma aged 2-5 years who firstly met a criterion of asthma and treated 4 weeks with montelukast were investigated;and nitric oxide levels of plasma were inspected respectively before treatment and after treatment 1 week,4 weeks.Results The level of nitric oxide in the plasma of asthmatic children was obviously higher than that in normal control group(P

Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT.Methods From 2007 Aug.to 2009 Nov.,22 patients( 10 males,12 females) with sarcoidosis,confirmed by pathological study and clinical follow-up,underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT imaging.The imaging patterns of intrathoracic and extrathoracic lesions were analyzed.The patterns were classified as the typical or atypical ( symmetrical or asymmetrical FDG accumulation and enlargement of hilar lymph nodes) based on PET and CT separately.Nonparametric McNemar test,independent t-test and Fisher exact test were applied for statistical analysis.Results For typical pattern vs atypical pattem identification,PET was significantly different from CT ( 18 and 4 vs 12 and 10,P =0.031 ).In those with atypical pattern demonstrated by CT alone at hilar region,PET showed either symmetrical or asymmetrical accumulation of FDG.Except for mediastinal lymph nodes involvement,lung parenchyma was the second common site ( 19/22,86.4％ ),followed by lymph nodes at abdomen and (or) pelvis ( 12/22,54.5％ ).Conclusion The imaging characteristics of both intra- and extrathoracic sarcoidosis on 18F-FDG PET/CT may be helpful for the diagnosis of atypical sarcoidosis on CT image alone.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effects of glycogen synthase 3β (GSK-3β) in the regula-tion of NLRP3 inflammasome activation after acute myocardial infarction (MI) in Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. METHODS Ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) in SD rats was used to establish an acute myocardial infarction model. SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10, each group):sham group,MI group,and MI+SB group:the GSK-3β inhibitor(SB216763)was given 1 h by intrave-nous injection(0.6 mg·kg-1·d-1)before surgery.The serum and heart tissue were collected to measure lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and IL-1β content and mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, Cas-pase-1,IL-1β and GSK-3β after 2 days and 7 days operation,respectively.RESULTS The serum levels of LDH and IL-1β in the MI group were significantly higher than those in the sham group(P<0.01),and the MI+SB group was obviously lower than the MI group(P<0.01).In addition,mRNA and protein levels of NNLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β and GSK-3β expressions in MI group were clearly increased (P<0.01) compared with those in sham group.These indicators were significantly decreased in SB+MI group (P<0.01). Interestingly, the indicators were all higher at 7 days than 2 days. CONCLUSION GSK-3β inhibition induces cardioprotection via attenuating the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome after the acute myocardial infarction in rats.

Objective To study the influence of different microembolism on left ventricular systolic synchronism in pigs by detecting the real-time dypyridamole stress contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE).Methods Eighteen miniature pigs were randomly divided into three groups and underwent microembolization injection procedure through the middle of anterior descending coronary artery with different numbers of microsphere injection,as:group A(dosage 50 thousands,3 pigs),group B (dosage 120 thousands,8 pigs) and group C (dosage 150 thousands,7 pigs).The peak values and the time-to-peak circumferential strain(Circ.Strain),radial velocity (Radial Vel.) and radial strain (Radial Strain) were obtained both at mitral valve level and papillary muscle level at left ventricle short axis views using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging(STI)analyzed by Philips Q-Lab 8.1 workshop,respectively.Results No significant difference in the presence of contraction synchrony was observed using RT-MCE.The time-to-peak Circ.Strain of microembolism related segments were prolonged at 1 week after microembolism detecting with dypyridamole stress RT-MCE (P＜0.05,both intro-group and inter-group).While time-to-peak radial strain were extended since 6 hours after the intervention to 1 week after the procedure.Conclusions Dypyridamole stress RT-MCE can be used to measure the myocardial perfusion accurately.The elongation of time-to-peak circ.strain and radial strain were developed with time in microembolism related segments.

Licorice-gypsum (gancao-shigao, GC-SG) drug pair was used as the research object, using supramolecular chemistry to explore the scientific connotation of combining herbal medicine GC with insoluble mineral medicine SG in clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. ① The Tyndall effect, microscopic morphology and particle size of the single and co-decocted of GC and SG were observed, the paste content and conductivity were determined, and the interaction between GC and SG was detected by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and infrared absorption spectroscopy (IR). ② Calcium chloride (CaCl₂), a soluble calcium salt of equal gypsum quality, was used instead of SG with GC for co-decocting to explore the effect of calcium salt content on the water decocting, and the characteristics were combined with the Tyndall effect, microscopic morphology, paste content and conductivity. ITC and IR techniques were used to detect the interaction between the two, and the interaction between them was detected by ITC and IR. The zeta potential and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) of GC-SG and GC-CaCl₂ co-decoction were compared, and the inorganic and organic components in the co-decoction were detected by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed: ① Compared with the liquid phase of single decoction, GC-SG co-decoction had more obvious Tyndall effect, and showed uniform spherical nanoparticles under electron microscope. Physical characterization results such as paste content and conductivity showed that co-decoction promoted the dissolution of each other's components; ITC and IR results showed that there was strong interaction between GC and SG, which preliminatively indicated that GC and SG co-decoction promoted the formation of uniform and stable supramolecular system of traditional Chinese medicine. ② When soluble calcium salt was used to substitute insoluble SG with GC for co-decocting, a stronger but astigmatic light path appeared than single decocting solution, the zeta potential was reduced, and a large number of accumulated polymers were formed. The results of paste content and conductivity showed that the dissolution of the co-decocting component was reduced than the single decocting component. ITC, UV-vis and IR results showed that there was interaction between GC with Ca²⁺ and SG. The formation of polysink indicated that a large amount of soluble calcium salt would destroy the stability of supramolecular Chinese medicine. The results of ICP-OES and HPLC showed that the glycyrrhizic acid (GA) content of the former lower than the latter, which was related to the formation of a large number of polycondensates with the increase of Ca²⁺ concentration and the decrease of the dissolution of GA and other active ingredients. This study indicates that the compatibility of GC and SG can form a uniform and stable supramolecular system of traditional Chinese medicine. Calcium salt, the main component of SG, is taken as the starting point. Excessive soluble Ca²⁺ can promote the aggregation of active ingredients such as GA, so as to reveal the scientific connotation of the compatibility of GC and SG, an insoluble mineral medicine.

The inclusion complex of cordycepin ( COR ) with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin ( HPβCD ) was prepared by the method of saturated solution. The inclusion of HPβCD with COR in aqueous solution was studied by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the inclusion ratio of COR/HPβCD complex was determined with the Job plots. The COR/HPβCD complex was characterized and determined by means of 1 H NMR and 2D NMR, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC ) , thermogravimetric analysis ( TG ) , X-ray diffraction ( XRD ) , Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR) and scanning electron microscope ( SEM) . The results showed that the COR/HPβCD complex ratio was 1:1 and the water solubility and stability of COR were obviously increased in the inclusion complex with HPβCD. The COR/HPβCD complex will be potentially useful for its medical application.

BACKGROUND: Compared with conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA), for patients with genu varum or genu valgus, indications, prosthesis choice, surgical accuracy and perioperative management during TKA should be paid more attention. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of iASSIST-assisted TKA and traditional TKA in the treatment of genu varum or genu valgus. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with genu varum or genu valgus undergoing TKA were selected, and were then randomized into two groups: iASSIST-assisted TKA (group A) or traditional TKA (group B). The surgical accuracy was compared between two groups by measuring the knee valgus angle of patients, and the angle between prosthesis components on the coronal and sagittal planes. Besides, the intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative drainage, restored alignment, postoperative complications, hospitalization time, as well as Visual Analogue Scale and American Knee Society scores were recorded to assess the clinical effectiveness. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The deviation of hip-knee-ankle angle, frontal femoral component angle, frontal tibial component angle, lateral femoral component angle and lateral femoral component angle in the two groups was less than 3°, and the group A exhibited better corrective efficacy. (2) The operation time in the group A was significantly longer than that in the group B; the hospitalization time in the group was significantly shorter than that in the group B; the restored alignment in the group A was significantly superior to that in the group B;the postoperative drainage, as well as Visual Analogue Scale and American Knee Society scores at 1 day and 1 week postoperatively in the group B were significantly superior to those in the group A (all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the intraoperative blood loss, incidence of complications, as well as Visual Analogue Scale and American Knee Society scores at postoperative 2 weeks and 1 and 3 months between two groups (P > 0.05). (3) These results manifest that for the patients with genu varum or genu valgus, both iASSIST-assisted TKA and traditional TKA can obtain satisfactory surgical accuracy, and the former has advantage in restricting the alignment of lower limbs. However, the long-term efficacy needs to be explored in depth.

OBJECTIVETo assess the usefulness of 2-(fluorine-18) fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with cervical lymphadenopathy.

METHODSFrom March 1999 to October 2001, 27 patients with cervical lymphadenopathy were imaged with FDG-PET. Maximum and mean standard uptake value (SUVmax and SUVmean) of lymphadenopathy and SUV of normal cervical tissue (SUVneck) were measured. All 21 patients with malignant lymphadenopathy got pathologically confirmed.

RESULTSAll 26 malignant lymph nodes in 21 patients could be detected by FDG-PET. FDG uptake of these nodes was higher than that of cervical tissue (SUVmax, SUVmean and SUVneck were 4.62 +/- 2.31, 3.45 +/- 2.74 and 0.55 +/- 0.08, respectively P < 0.001). Other 9 benign lymph nodes in 6 patients couldn't be detected by FDG-PET. The accuracy of PET in 21 patients with malignant lymphadenopathy, was higher than those of routine examinations such as ultrasonography plus CT or MR (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSFDG-PET allows effective diagnosis of patients with cervical lymphadenopathy and can contribute substantially to patient care.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphatic Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Young Adult