OBJECTIVETo explore clinical efficacy of Yiguanjian Decoction (YD) combined Adefovir Dipivoxil Tablet (ADT) in treating HBeAg negative chronic viral hepatitis B (CVHB) active compensated liver cirrhosis (LC) patients.

METHODSTotally 68 HBeAg negative CVHB active compensated LC patients initially treated were assigned to the treatment group and the control group using random digit table, 34 in each group. Patients in the control group took ADT alone, 10 mg each time, once per day. Those in the treatment group additionally took YD, one dose per day. The therapeutic course for all was 48 weeks. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) were detected once in every two weeks. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and four items of serum liver fibrosis [procollagen type I (PCN), hyaluronidase (HA), procollagen III peptide (PCIII), laminin (LN)] were detected once per every 4 weeks. Abdominal ultrasound B was performed before and after treatment. The inner diameter of the portal vein and the size of spleen were recorded. The fibrosis degree of liver was evaluated using Fibroscan. Efficacy of Chinese medicine (CM) was evaluated between the two groups before and after treatment using CM syndrome integrals. Efficacy of Western medicine (WM) was also evaluated between the two groups using Child-Pugh grading. Results Compared with before treatment in the same group, ALT and AST levels restored to normal levels, HBV-DNA turned negative (HBV-DNA < or = 1 x 10(2)) in the two groups after 48-week treatment. Besides, levels of TBil, ALB, PCIV, HA, PCIII, and LN obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Results of ultrasound B showed the inner diameter of the portal vein and the size of spleen decreased. Fibroscan results showed that the elasticity value of the liver obviously decreased (P < 0.05). Besides, post-treatment levels of PCIV, HA, PCEJ, and LN, and the elasticity value of the liver decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in post-treatment levels of ALT, AST, TBil, ALB, inner diameter of the portal vein, or the size of spleen between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores of Chinese medical syndrome and Child-Pugh scores decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, scores of Chinese medical syndrome decreased more obviously in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The effective rate was 8824% (30/34) in the treatment group, higher than that of the control group [67.65% (23/34)] with statistical difference (P <0.05). Conclusion Combined treatment of YD and ADT could significantly improve symptoms of CM and fibrosis degree of liver of HBeAg negative CVHB active compensated LC patients.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bilirubin ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Tablets

The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

BACKGROUND:The etiology of anterior cruciate ligament injury remains unclear yet, and some researchers have pointed that interior and exterior factors both contribute to anterior cruciate ligament injury;additionally, the genetic factor interior factors stand out. Collagen genes COL1A1, COL5A1, and COL12A1 are reported to be associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury in Caucasian populations. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association of polymorphisms of COL1A1, COL5A1 and COL12A1 genes with anterior cruciate ligament injury in Chinese Han population . METHODS:105 patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury were enrolled and 110 patients without history of anterior cruciate ligament injury were as controlls. The first intron rs1800012 in COL1A1, rs127722 and rs13946 in the 3'-UTR region of COL5A1 gene, rs970547 and rs240736 in the 65 and 29 regions of COL12A1 extron were detected and classified by restriction fragment length polymorphism and genetic sequencing technology. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:rs1800012, rs12722 and rs13946 genotypes, phenotypes and haplotypes in COL1A1 and COL5A1 genes showed no significant differences between groups. rs970547 and rs240736 genotypes as well as phenotypes and haplotypes in COL12A1 also showed no significant differences between groups. However, there was a significant difference in rs970547 gene frequence in male patients between groups. In conclusion, the Sp1 binding site of COL1A1 rs1800012 is not the susceptibility locus of anterior cruciate ligament injury in Chinese Han population. COL5A1 genes rs12722 and rs13946 in COL5A1 are not closely related to anterior cruciate ligament injury. COL12A1 rs970547 and rs240736 have a certain association with anterior cruciate ligament injury in Chinese men. Male individuals with COL12A1 rs970547 A allelicgene and AA genotype are likely to be susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament injury in Chinese Han population.

Objective To investigate the expression of the interleukin-1 receptor(IL-1R)Ⅰ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1R accessory protein(IL-1RAcP)in osteoarthritis and analyse their biological significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction(RT-PCR)were adopted to detect the expression of IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP on the synovium of 107 OA patients.Results Immunohis- tochemistry showed strong positive expression of IL-1RⅠand IL-1RAcP,and positive expression of IL-1RⅡ. The expression was distributed in lining cells,monocyts and vascular endothelial cells of the sublining area, but all of them were negative or weak positive in normal synoviums.RT-PCR showed the expression of IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP in OA synoviums was significantly enhanced than normal synoviums (P＜0.05),and the expression of IL-1RⅠwas significantly enhanced than IL-1RⅡ(P＜0.05),but no sig- nificant difference with IL-1RAcP(P＞0.05).In stageⅡandⅢOA synoviums,the expression of IL-1RⅠand IL-1 RAcP had no significant difference with normal synoviums(P＞0.05).The expression of IL-1RⅡin stageⅢOA synoviums was significantly enhanced than normal(P＜0.05).Conclusion IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP play significant roles in the pathogenesis of OA,especially IL-1RⅠand IL-1RAcP.But their increase is only observed in the early stage of OA.These suggest that they may have no association with the development of OA and have no direct association with the severity of OA.OA can be cured by interrupting the signal transduction path in which IL-1 has played biological roles.

OBJECTIVETo establish the chromatographic fingerprint of supercritical carbon dioxide extract of Tripterygium wilfordii.

METHODHPLC method was applied for quality assessment of T. Wilfordii, HPLC analysis was performed on Kromasil C18 (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile-1% per thousand H3PO4, as mobile phase in gradient mode. The samples were detected at UV of 267 nm with column temperature of 35 degrees C, analytic time was 80 min; Flow-rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1). The chromatographic fingerprint of ten batches of samples was determined, for establishing the chromatographic fingerprint of T. Wilfordii.

RESULTIndicating 27 peaks in common, identified 21 peaks with chemical reference and HPLC-MS, and the HPLC fingerprint was established.

CONCLUSIONThe method is steady and accurate with a good repeatability and can be used as a quality control method for T. Wilfordii.

Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEThe liposomes containing extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii were prepared and the possibility of entrapment of complex chemicals by liposomes were studied.

METHODThe liposomes containing extracts of T. wilfordii were prepared by thin-film dispersion method, the effect of process parameters and composition of materials on the entrapment efficiency of the main components were studied. The stability of the liposomes dispersion was also evaluated.

RESULTThe liposomes made by thin-film dispersion method were mostly small unilamellar vesicles and their particle size was 30 nm to approximately 50 nm. The optimum entrapment efficiency of tripterine and the total alkaloids were respectively 98.10% and 88.63% but the liposomes dispersion was unstable when kept at 4 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThe complex chemicals can be entrapped by the liposomes, but its stability need to be improved furtherly.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between lifestyle factors, parental obesity and adiposity in children, in order to provide theoretical evidence for public health policy establishment.

METHODSA cross-sectional observation study was conducted among approximately 20 thousand children aged 2 - 18 years old in urban and rural regions of Beijing, by using stratified randomization clustering sampling methods. Familial environmental risk factors of children adiposity and parental obesity were assessed with standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were conducted. SPSS 13.0 software was applied to analyze the data, including general description, chi(2) trend test and non-condition logistic analyse.

RESULTSWith IOTF obesity references, the prevalence of obesity in 21,198 children aged 2 - 18 years old was 5.6%. The behavioral characters (for example, smoking and drinking) and children obesity showed significant familial aggregation. In groups including "both parents not smoke", "only one parent smoke" and "both parents smoke", the smoking rates of offsprings were 1.50%, 2.93% and 6.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). A similar pattern was found for offsprings' alcohol consumption rates (5.85%, 9.12% and 13.96%; chi(trend)(2) = 107.009, P < 0.01). Based on parents' BMI status, in groups including "both parents had normal weight", "father was obese", "mother was obese" and "both parents were obese", the prevalence of obesity in children were 3.29%, 11.48%, 9.12% and 27.01%, respectively (chi(trend)(2) = 293.404, P < 0.01). After controlling for sex and ages, factors such as physical exercises, sleeping times per day, fat intakes, watching TV, drinking alcohol were impact factors of children obesity. After controlling of confounding factors, such as children gender, age, birth weight, puberty, smoking history, drinking history, fat intakes, soft drink, physical exercises, education experiences of parents, smoking history, drinking history, family income and so on, maternal obesity had a greater influence on daughters than on sons (OR = 5.93, 95% CI: 3.57 - 9.84), and paternal obesity showed similar influence on sons (OR = 4.29, 95% CI: 3.21 - 5.72). Comparing to parents with normal weight, obese parents had more powerful impact on daughters (OR = 28.51, 95% CI: 15.13 - 53.72) than on sons (OR = 7.21, 95% CI: 4.07 - 12.75), regarding to 2 - 5 years group and 10 - 12 years group versus other age group (OR = 18.67, 95% CI: 1.49 - 234.46; OR = 22.25, 95% CI: 10.62 - 46.59).

CONCLUSIONParental obesity is an independent risk factor of adiposity in children; gender and age affect this association. The lifestyle patterns of parents should have great impact on children. When prevention or intervention with children obesity, familial environmental factors should be emphasized.

Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo analyze the influence of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S vertebral bodies on pelvic inlet imaging in the pelvic midline sagittal plane.

METHODSTotally 58 axial pelvic CT scans were chosen as study objects including 43 males and 15 females,with an average age of 40.7 years old (ranged,18 to 68 years old). The angles between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1, vertebral bodies and the horizontal plane on midline sagittal CT reconstruction were measured to simulate the optimal S2 and S1 inlet angles. The included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies was calculated by subtrocting the S1,inlet angle from the S2 inlet angle defined as a base number. Then, the impact of the calculated included angles on the pelvic inlet imaging was analyzed. Results:The S2 inlet angles averaged (30.5±6.5) degrees; the S inlet angles averaged (25.7±5.9) degrees. The difference between them was significant (t=3.35, P=0.001). Ten patients had zero angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies; 14 patients had negative angle, averaged-(8.9±8.1) degrees; 34 patients had positive angle,averaged (11.8+6.4) degrees.

CONCLUSIONThe difference of included angle between the anterior aspects of S2 and S1 vertebral bodies leads to the difference between S1 inlet view and S2 inlet view in most cases, complicating the pelvic inlet imaging,and affecting the reliability of the application of pelvic inlet view. Utilizing the angles measured on the preoperative midlihe sagittal CT reconstruction to obatin the patient-customized S1 and S2 inlet views could accurately guide the S1 and S2 iliosacral screw insertion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; injuries ; Spine ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of intestinal microflora alteration on specific and nonspecific immune function and hematopoietic function of mice.

METHODSSixty BALB/C mice were divided at random into two groups, experimental group and control group, with 30 mice in each. The mice in the experimental group were given kanamycin 50 mg while those in the control group were given distilled water intragastrically everyday for consecutive 10 days. After the 10 day treatment all the mice were sacrificed, and the cecal contents were collected for quantitative analysis of the intestinal bacterial flora. Certain indexes of immune function, including phagocytosis rate of macrophages, number of T lymphocytes positively stained by esterase and serum interleukin 2 (IL-2) content, and the weight of the spleen, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor etc. as indexes of hematopoietic function were determined.

RESULTSIn the group, the quantity of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The number of PFC (plaque forming cells), the phagocytosis rate of macrophage, the number of T lymphocytes with positive NANE staining, the level of IL-2 significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). The weight of the spleen in the experimental group decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of IL-3, GM-CSF, the total number of WBC and the proportion of neutrophil remarkably decreased as compared to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Analysis of the correlations between normal microflora, immunologic and hematopoietic indexes showed that marked positive correlations between the quantity of Bifidobacteria and each immune index including the levels of IL-3 and GM-CSF. There was a positive correlation between IL-2 and IL-3, IL-2 and GM-CSF as well.

CONCLUSIONThe application of antibiotics may cause changes in the structure and quantity of intestinal microflora. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the immune function of organism. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the hemopoietic function. The dysbacteriosis, the decrease in immune and hematopoietic function may affect one another. The balance in microecosystem should be emphasized and antibiotics should be applied rationally to reduce the side effects such as dysbacteriosis.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Esterases ; biosynthesis ; Feces ; microbiology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; analysis ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Intestines ; drug effects ; microbiology ; Kanamycin ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Models, Animal ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMast cells are implicated in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which is associated with the activation of the "neural-immune" system. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mast cells in the remodeling of cholinergic and peptidergic neurotransmitters induced by acute cold restriction stress (ACRS) post infection (PI) using mast cell deficient rats (Ws/Ws) and their wild-type controls (+/+).

METHODSTransient intestinal infection was initiated by giving 1500 Trichinella spiralis (T.S.) larvae by gavage. ACRS was induced for 2 hours at day 100 PI. Samples of terminal ilea were prepared for H&E staining, mast cell counting and activation and assessment of IL-1beta and IL-10.

RESULTSWhen infected, both strains of rats experienced an acute infectious stage followed by a recovery. Histological scores were significantly higher in infected rats compared with those of the non-infected controls at day 10 PI (10 day-PI vs. control: +/+: 2.75+/-0.17 vs. 0.42+/-0.09; Ws/Ws: 2.67+/-0.67 vs. 0.50+/-0.34; P<0.01). In +/+ rats, post-infection ACRS induced the formation of low-grade inflammation, represented by the imbalance of IL-1beta and IL-10 (IL-1beta: PI+ACRS vs. control: (1812.24+/-561.61) vs. (1275.97+/-410.21) pg/g, P<0.05; IL-10: PI+ACRS vs. control: (251.9+/-39.8) vs. (255.3+/-24.7) pg/g, P>0.05), accompanied by hyperplasia and activation of mast cells (PI+ACRS vs. control: 58.8+/-19.2 vs. 28.0+/-7.6; P<0.01). The balance between acetylcholine (ACh) and substance P (SP) was also disturbed (ACh: PI+ACRS vs. control: (743.94+/-238.72) vs. (1065.68+/-256.46) pg/g, P<0.05; SP: PI+ACRS vs. control: (892.60+/-231.12) vs. (696.61+/-148.61) pg/g, P<0.05). Nevertheless, similar changes of IL-1beta/IL-10 and ACh/SP were not detected in Ws/Ws rats.

CONCLUSIONThe imbalance of ACh/SP, together with the activation of mucosal immunity induced by post-infection ACRS were lacking in mast cell deficient rats, which supports the premise that mast cells play an important role in cholinergic and peptidergic remodeling in the ileum of rats.

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Intestines ; immunology ; metabolism ; parasitology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trichinella spiralis ; physiology ; Trichinellosis ; immunology