Objective To search for evidence of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism for guiding clinical practice.Methods We searched PubMed(1970~2005-10)and CBM(1992~2005-10)in Oct.2005 to identify system reviews(SR)and cross-sectional study(CSS)about the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Results Sixteen SR and 9 CSS were identified in PubMed,none in CBM.Pulmonary arteriography was the gold standard in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Our result showed that computed tomography,ventilation-perfusion scanning and doppler ultrasound were useful in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism combind with clinical judgment.Multidetector CT might be another gold standard in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.A negative result on quantitative rapid ELISA of D-dimer could exclude the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.Conclusion Diagnostic tests combind with clinical judgment are useful for diagnosing or excluding pulmonary embolism.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Myocardial Ischemia ; therapy

Objective To explore the relationship between genetic variation in PAF-AH V279F and coronary heart disease among Han population in Beijing.Methods A case-control study was held which enrolled 124 patients with coronary heart disease and 103 normal subjects.The genotype of PAF-AH V279F was determined with allele-specific polymerase chain reaction(AS-PCR)method. Results The highest frequency of PAF-AH V279F genetic variation was VV genotype(92.2%),the next was VF genotype(5.8%)and the lowest was FF genotype(2.0%)among the studied Han population in Beijing.In the coronary heart disease group the frequency of 279 V→F carriers was significantly higher than in the control group(19.3% vs.7.8%,P＜0.05)and F allele frequency was also higher(12.1% vs.4.9%,P＜0.01).Among the coronary heart disease group,the V279F variation frequency and the F allele frequency were significantly higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in those without myocardial infarction(27.3% vs.13.0%,17.3% vs.8.0%,both P＜0.05).In multiple logistic regression analysis,the odds ratio(OR)of V279F genetic variation for coronary heart disease was 1.919(95% CI:1.448-2.544,P=0.033).Conclusions The PAF-AH V279F genetic variation may be a novel genetic marker for high risk of coronary heart disease.

Objective To measure the renal tissue texture or flexibility with virtual touch quantization (VTQ) and to tentatively examine its clinical application in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods A total of 750 patients (1500 kidneys) were performed with VTQ,including 400 cases in the control group,and 350 cases in the CKD group.A conventional ultrasound examination (two-dimensional,color Doppler) were first taken,and then the shear wave velocity (Vs) was measured which reflected the textural elastic.Results In both groups the Vs was the highest in renal cortex with significant difference (P<0.05); renal cortical region Vs in CKD group was lower than those in control group (P<0.05),while Vs of renal medulla and renal sinus had no significant difference in the two groups.The severity of renal dysfunction was increased along with a Vs decrease of renal cortex.Conclusion VTQ is helpful to assess renal function of patients with CKD.

OBJECTIVETo observe features of Icariin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of SD rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro.

METHODS(1) SD rats' BMSCs were isolated and purified by mechanically isolated and cultured by whole bone marrow adherent method. Effects of various concentrations Icariin on serum activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected using amino antipyrine phenol determination method at day 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21. Calcium nodes of each groups were detected using alizarin red staining. Roles of various concentrations Icariin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were observed. (2) BMSCs were divided into the blank control group, the osteogenic induced group, and the Icariin group (0.5 microg/mL). ALP activities were detected at day 7, 14, and 21 of culture. Meanwhile, ALP positive staining rate and calcium nodes were detected at day 14 and 21 respectively. Additionally, mRNA expressions of Runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2) and Osteocalcin were detected at day 7, 14, and 21 by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTS(1) 0.05-5.0 microg/mL Icariin could significantly elevate serum ALP activities. Of them, 0.2-2.0 microg/mL Icariin significantly increased calcium nodes numbers (P < 0.01). (2) When Icariin promoted osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, Runx2 mRNA expression levels and ALP activities increased earlier and then decreased, while osteocalcin mRNA expression levels continued to increase (P < 0.01). Compared with the osteogenic induced group, ALP activities and ALP positive staining rate were both elevated after 14 days of Icariin treatment in the Icariin group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIcariin could promote the differentiation of BMSCs to osteoblasts by up-regulating Runx2 mRNA expression levels. It also could promote the mineralization by increasing ALP secretion and Osteocalcin mRNA expression levels, thereby promoting mature of newly generated osteoblasts.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Osteoblasts ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To study whether the organs besides digestive system of musca domestica Ⅲ instar larvae have the capability of produceing musca β-glucosidase.Methods Tissues of malpighian tubules,trachea,epiploon and body wall of musca domestica Ⅲ instar lar-vae were dissected under anatomic microscope,and the expression of β-glucosidase gene in these dissected tissues were detected by reverse transcription PCR.And the tissue localization of β-glucosidase mRNA was further identified by in situ hybridization.Moreover,anti-cellulase was used to determinate the tissue distribution with immunohistochemical staining.The relative mRNA expression levels of musca domesticaβ-glucosidase gene in these organs were tested by real-time quantitative PCR.Results The reverse transcription PCR showed that the ampli-fication products of β-glucosidase gene were observed in tissues of malpighian tubules,trachea and body wall.β-glucosidase mRNA was shown in the epithelium cells of malpighian tubules,trachea and body wall by in situ hybridization,and it was almost the same in the results of im-munohistochemical staining.The real-time quantitative PCR showed that the relative expression quantity of β-glucosidase gene in malpighian tubules and body wall were higher than that in foregut,while it was lower in itrachea than that in foregut.And it was of statistical difference in gene expression level of β-glucosidase among these organs (P <0.05).Conclusion Malpighian tubules,trachea and body wall of musca domestica Ⅲ instar larvae have the function of secreting β-glucosidase.Combining with the characteristics of secreting β-glucosidase in most organs of digestive system,it may provide a new biological method for the prevention and treatment of human diseases transmitted by musca domestica with the use of taget gene β-glucosidase.

Natural killer (NK) cells, as an essential part of innate immunity, can directly identify and kill tumor cells after being activated by the synergistic action of surface inhibitory receptors and activated receptors. It can secrete cytokines to recruit dendritic cells (DCs), induce DCs maturation and enhance adaptive immune response. It can target cancer stem cells (CSCs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to inhibit cancer metastasis. NK cells have a unique inflammatory tendency, which can respond to cytokines and chemokines released from tumor sites and migrate to tumor sites, making them occupy an important advantage in cancer targeted therapy. The research on cancer targeted therapy of NK cells as drug delivery carriers, NK cell membrane-coated biomimetic nanoparticles, and NK cell extracellular vesicles (NKEVs) has attracted more and more attention. The article will focus on the mechanism of NK cells inhibiting cancer, and summarize the research progress of cancer targeted therapy of NK cells.

This study aims to develop a method for determination of beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione in the volatile oil of Curcuma phaeocaulis, and to provide the basis of the quality control method for the volatile oil of C. phaeocaulis and the related preparations. Based on GC-MS, the 4 main compounds were simultaneously determined, with the internal standard n-tridecane. The Agilent 19091S-433 column (0.25 microm x 250 microm x 30 m) was adopted at the temperature of 250 degrees C, the programmed temperature method (60 degrees C for 1 min, 5 degrees C x min x to 110 degrees C for 5 min, 1 degrees C x min(-1) to 140 degrees C, 5 degrees C x min(-1) to 160 degrees C, 10 degrees C x min(-1) to 240 degrees C) was used. Helium gas was used as the carrier gas at a constant flow rat of 1 mL x min(-1), with an injection volume of 1 RL. Mass spectra were taken at 70 eV; the ion-source temperature was 200 degrees C. The relation time and character acteristic ions for each target compound were determined by full scan mode and SIM, and m/z 85.1, 93.1, 121.1, 107.1 and 180.1 were the detection ions of n-tridecane, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione. As a result, beta-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and neocurdione were all detected with good separation. They were all in a good linear relationship within each concentration scope. The average recovery rates were in the range of 98.2%-101%. So, the method can be used to control the quality of the volatile of C. phaeocaulis Val. and the preparations related.
Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Oils ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane ; analysis ; isolation & purification

Superficial needle is a new type of needling tools. Superficial needling therapy is adopted mainly monouse superficial needle as treatment tools, with local disease as basic marker and needling the surroundings of the disease, with the needle tip towards the focus, and the needle body inserted along the superficial fascial layer, making a sweeping motion and then it was retained. The superficial needling therapy has wide indications, particularly, rapid and lasting analgesic effect for injury and pain of soft tissue.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Needles ; Pain

The study aims to investigate the associations of SUMO4 polymorphisms with tacrolimus concentrations in Chinese renal transplant recipients. Blood samples and clinical data were collected from 132 renal transplant recipients with tacrolimus treatment. CYP3A5*3 genotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP, and SUMO4 (rs237024, rs237025) genotypes were detected by Sequenom® MassARRAY system. SUMO4 rs237024 and rs237025 genotypes were in complete linkage disequilibrium (D' = 1). The dose-adjusted concentration of tacrolimus in SUMO4 rs237024A-rs237025A (GA-GA +AA-AA) carriers was considerably higher than that in GG-GG carriers (P < 0.05). After stratification by CYP3A5*3 genotypes, SUMO4 rs237024A-rs237025A carriers (GA-GA+AA-AA) had a higher dose-adjusted tacrolimus concentration than that in GG carriers in CYP3A5 expresser (P < 0.05). The results illustrated that SUMO4 rs237024 and rs237025 polymorphisms were associated with tacrolimus concentrations, and the test of these genotypes may be useful for individualized medicine of tacrolimus.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; blood ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; genetics ; Tacrolimus ; blood ; therapeutic use