Objective To evaluating the effectiveness of comprehensive measures to control the plague in epidemic areas in Longlin county Guangxi from 2001 to 2010.Methods Original epidemic places was deratised,indicative animals were investigated,and epidemic clues were searched.Cage trapping method was used to capture rat and rat body fleas were collected in the plague epidemic areas.The flea-carrying rates and flea index of rodents were calculated based on the number of fleas collected from caged rodents.The animals were then subjected to etiological and serological tests to determine the plague infection rate.Results A total of 1008 rats were captured and 571 fleas were collected from 2001 to 2010,of which Rattus Flavipestus accounted tor 81.65％(823/1008) and Xenopsylla Cheopis for 64.10％(366/571).The annual average rodents infected with flea and the index of flea were 23.02％ (177/769) and 0.74,respectively.The annual average density of rodents decreased from 3.99％ (859/21 508,before deratised) to 0.96％ (149/15 600,after deratised).The deratization rate was 75.94％.Conclusion The risk of a plague epidemic in Longlin county is reduced after continued comprehensive measures be taken to deal with the disease.

AIMTo investigate the chemical constituents from the whole plant of the endemic plant Notoseris rhombiformis Shih.

METHODSColumn chromatography was used for separation and purification, while spectral analysis was used for structure elucidation.

RESULTSEight compounds were isolated from the whole plant of this Chinese endemic plant and their structures were elucidated as notoserolide A (1), notoserolide D (2), austricin (3), jacquilenin (4), 3 beta, 14-dihydroxy-11 beta, 13-dihydrocostunolide (5), p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (6), luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7) and daucosterol (8), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Among them, 2 is a new compound.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Lactones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sitosterols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of Jianwei Yuyang Granule (JYG) in treating patients with gastric ulcer and its influence on interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA expression in gastric mucosa for exploring the therapeutic mechanism.

METHODSFifty-six patients with confirmed gastric ulcer unader gastroscope and differentiated as Gan-stagnant Pi-deficient syndrome were randomly assigned to two groups, the treated group (26 cases) treated with JYG and the control group (30 cases) treated with famotidine and sucralfate, 4 weeks as one therapeutic course. The changes before and after treatment in clinical compliance, symptom integral, ulcer-healing rate, clinical effective rate, and HP-clearance rate were observed. And the gastric mucosa biopsy was fetched for morphological examination and IL-1beta and bFGF mRNA expression detection by RT-PCR as well.

RESULTSThe clinical compliance rate in the treated group was 100 %, which was obviously better than that in the control group (86.7 %, P< 0.01); the improvement on symptom integral in the former was also better (P < 0.01); no statistical significance was shown in ulcer-healing rate, clinical effective rate and HP-clearance rate between the two groups. Morphological observation showed markedly decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, epithelial cell regeneration and rather regular glandular arrangement in both groups. The IL-1beta mRNA expression level decreased and that of bFGF increased in both groups after treatment significantly ( P < 0.01), but showed insignificant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONJYG, with its good clinical compliance, has favorable effects in relieving clinical symptoms, promoting endoscopic ulcer healing and HP clearance, decreasing the expression of IL-1beta mRNA and increasing the expression of bFGF, therefore, it could promote the recovering of gastric ulcer.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; Gastric Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of dexamethasone on the proliferation and apoptosis of embryonic palatal mesenchymal (EPM) cells, and chose a proper concentration of dexamethasone which can effect the ordinary growth of embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells.

METHODSThe primary EPM cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, then we did biological assay. EPM cells were treated with different concentration dexamethasone (1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7) and 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1)) respectively. The proliferation of EPM cells was evaluated using MTT method. Apoptosis was examined quantitatively with fluorescein stain.

RESULTSIn the condition of blood serum's concentration at 10%, optical density step down following the raise of dexamethasone's concentration. The effect of dexamethasone got to a summit at 3 days. Inhibition rate of dexamethasone at 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) was the highest.

CONCLUSIONDexamethasone at 1 x 10(-6) mol x L(-1) can not only inhibit the growth of the EPM cells, but also will not lead to a large number of cells death. Therefore, this concentration can be used as a reference standard in future research. The most significant drug action time of dexamethason appears at the third day after administration, then the effect became weaken following the drug metabolism.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Mice

Objective To analyze the outcome of surveillance results on plague and to provide the evidences for the policy making in Longlin county Guangxi. Methods The epidemic data and the surveillance results of plague were analyzed and assessed with epidemiology methods in Longlin county Guangxi from 2000 to 2009, and the density of rodents, the rodents infected with flea, flea index and other indicators were calculated. Regional composition of the rats and fleas were analyzed. Results A totally of 4829 rats were captured and 4737 fleas were collected in the past 10 years, Rattus Flavipestus(81.92%,3956/4829) and Xenopsylla Cheopis (79.04%,3744/4737) were dominant species. The annual average density of rodents, the rodents infected with flea, index of flea were 3.30%(4829/146 206), 27.99%(1351/4827) and 0.98(4737/4827), respectively. A totally of 4792 rats were examined and 10 strains Yersinia Pestis were isolated. Indirect hemorrhagic assessed(IHA) was used to test the F1 antibody against plague in the blood serum of the rats and indicator animals, and 3 positive rats and 24 positive animals were found, respectively. Twenty seven natural villages in 3 towns had been involved in the plague. Conclusions The plague foci exists in Longlin county of Guangxi province. The plague foci in the areas have the same feature with the plague foci of Rattus Flavipectus. There is a potential risk for plague in this region, we should improve the quality of surveillance, increase indicator animals of the plague, and try to apply new surveillance method.

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of hypertrophic scar on the rabbit ears and to observe the dynamic process of scar formation on the ventral side of the rabbit ears.

METHODSFull skin defect (2 cm x 5 cm in diameter) was created on the ventral side of 60 ears in 32 New Zealand white rabbits. 1% silver sulfadiazine cream was applied to the wounds, and the dressing was changed once a week till wound healing. Four ears without operation were taken as control. Wound healing under natural condition was observed continuously for 12 months after the operation. The scar proliferation on the rabbit ears was observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope, and the scar index was determined by computer image analyzing system.

RESULTSThe color, thickness and texture of the wounds on the rabbit ears after epithelization underwent a process of scar overgrowth, maturation and degeneration. The change in scar index was in accordance with the wax and wane of scar proliferation.

CONCLUSIONThe hypertrophic scar formed on the ventral side of rabbit ears after natural healing of full thickness skin wounds was similar to that in humans. The results indicated that this animal model was ideal for the study of the developmental mechanism of hypertrophic scars and for the evaluation of the efficacy of the prevention and treatment of hypertrophic scars.

Animals ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Disease Models, Animal ; Rabbits ; Wound Healing

ObjectiveTo observe the morphological changes of bone in the progress of chronic fluorosis.MethodsWistar rats were randomly divided into three groups,30 rats in each group:normal control group,experimental group Ⅰ and experimental group Ⅱ according to body weight.Rats in normal control group drank distilled water freely.Experimental group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ drunk distilled water with sodium fluoride preparation of fluorine containing ion 100,150 mg/L solution for six months,respectively.Bone mineral density was detected by X-ray,bone morphological changes were observed under light microscope and bone histomorphometric parameters were calculated using image analysis software.ResultsThe bone mineral density values were different statistically between the three groups after feeding for 2 and 4 months(F =19.79,3.28,all P ＜ 0.05).However no significant difference was found after feeding for 6 months(F =1.80,P ＞ 0.05).The bone mineral density of experimental group Ⅰ (0.20 ± 0.03,0.21 ± 0.03) was significantly higher than that of the normal control group(0.17 ± 0.03,0.20 ± 0.04) after feeding for 2 and 4 months.The bone mineral density of experimental group Ⅱ (0.21 ± 0.02) was lower than that of normal control group(0.22 ± 0.03) after feeding for 6 months.The bone lamella in experimental group Ⅰ was arranged disorderly,the number of osteocytes increased with their nucleus atrophy and the osteoblasts were more than that of control grouo which arranged in layers observed under light microscooy.In exoerimental group Ⅱ,the bone lamella was bent deformation,the number of osteocytes had decreased with their nucleus shrinking or even disappeared and the number of osteoclasts had increased significantly observed under light microscopy.In experimental group Ⅰ,the mean trabecular density [(0.33 ± 0.03)％] increased and the mean trabecular separation,thickness [( 163.57 ± 1.99),(59.26 ± 7.18 ) μm] decreased compared with that of normal control group [(0.31 ± 0.02)％,(186.60 ± 2.90)μm,(86.42 ± 1.48)μm,all P ＜ 0.05].In experimental group Ⅱ,the mean trabecular density[(0.26 ± 0.02)％] decreased,the mean trabecular thickness[(71.42 ± 10.77)μm] reduced compared with that of normal control group[(0.31 ± 0.02)％,(86.42 ± 1.48)μm].ConclusionsExcess fluoride can damage bone tissue.Low doses of fluoride can stimulate osteoblast activity and enhance osteogenesis.The activity of osteoblasts is great than that of osteoclasts.High doses of fluoride can stimulate both osteoblasts and osteoclasts activity,but mainly the activity of osteoclasts,and bone resorption increases.

ObjectiveTo detect the concentration and distribution of fluoride ions in osteoblasts exposed to fluoride in vitro culture,and to provide basic information for studying the effect of fluoride on osteoblast injury.MethodsIn vitro cultured osteoblasts were exposed to 0,5,10,20,40 mg/L fluoride for 3,10,30 d (n =6),respectively.Concentration and distribution of fluoride ions in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of these osteoblasts were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Results(①) After cultured for 3 d,fluoride ion content of the bone cytoplasm exposed to different concentrations of fluoride 0,5,10,20,40 mg/L were (0.83 ±0.65),(0.54 ± 0.23),(0.65 ± 0.77),(0.59 ± 0.87),(3.64 ± 1.21 )mg/L,respectively,and the values of exposed to 40 mg/L fluoride group was significantly higher than that of exposed to 0,5 mg/L groups (all P ＜ 0.05).(②)after cultured for 10 d,the composition of the fluoride ion in cytoplasm of exposed to fluoride 10,20,40 mg/L groups were (4.03 ± 1.23),(3.66 ± 0.98),(6.26 ± 2.10)mg/L,respectively,which were higher than that of exposed to 0,5 mg/L groups [(0.78 ± 0.75),(2.69 ± 0.89)mg/L,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05].Of fluoride 20,40 mg/L groups,the composition of the fluoride ion in nucleus were (1.63 ± 1.19),(2.17 ± 1.21 )mg/L,respectively,which were higher than that of 0,5 mg/L groups[(0.65 ± 0.46),(1.57 ± 0.33) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].(③)After cultured for 30 d,of the exposed to fluoride 10,20,40 mg/L groups,the composition of the fluoride ion in cytoplasm were (3.99 ± 0.84),(4.33 ± 1.67),(5.80 ± 1.38)mg/L,respectively,which were higher than that of 0,5 mg/L groups[(0.88 ± 0.44),(2.84 ± 0.43)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The composition of the fluoride ion in nucleus of the fluoride 20,40 mg/Lgroups were (3.33 ± 1.46),(3.53 ± 1.22)mg/L,respectively,which were significantly higher than that of 0,5mg/L groups [(0.70 ± 0.66),(1.99 ± 0.76)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].ConclusionsWhen osteoblasts are exposed to fluoride environment,fluoride ions enter into the osteoblasts quickly,and quickly accumulate in the nucleus,showing a special affinity between fluoride and bone tissue.Intracellular fluoride ions increase with the increase of contact time and exposure dose.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological characteristics of dermal fibroblasts of the diabetic rats with deep partial thickness scald, and to explore its relationship with delayed wound healing due to diabetes.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g were randomly divided into control (NM, n=40) and STZ-induced diabetic (DM, n=50) groups, and then deep partial thickness scald involving 10% TBSA were reproduced in the two groups. Skin samples were harvested from the wounds on 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post scald day (PSD) for the determination of certain histological characteristics.

RESULTSThe thickness of dermis layer in DM group before injury was obviously thinner than that in NM group (P < 0.01). There was an infiltration of a large amount of chronic inflammatory cells and increased content of cutaneous glucose in the dermal tissue in DM group (2.77 mg/g) compared with 0.85 mg/g in NM group, (P < 0.01). An accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was found in the dermal tissue in DM group. After the scalding, the percentage of fibroblasts in S phase and hydroxyproline synthesis in DM group was evidently lower than those in NM group. But the apoptosis rate of fibroblasts was much higher in DM group than that in NM group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is found that the high contents of glucose and AGEs in diabetic skin exert untoward effects on biological characteristics of dermal fibroblast, probably constituting one of the underlying mechanisms of delay wound healing of scald in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUNDTo study preparation of polyvalent DNA vaccine and the control of multiple gene expression.

METHODSA bicistronic vector pcDNA3.0BA was constructed from pcDNA3.0. HCV PC154 gene and HBV preS2S gene were inserted into this vector to form bicistronic expression construct pcDNA3.0BAPC154S2S and monocistronic expression construct pcDNA3.0BAPC154 or pcDNA3.0BAS2S. These plasmids were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells and injected into muscles of BALB/c mice.

RESULTSpcDNA3.0BA contains two cistronic units, which can co-express two kinds of genes, with the first immunogen gene and the second gene serving as additional immunogen or as modulator for the immune responses. HBV surface Ag and HCV core Ag were coexpressed in vitro. The antibody responses and lymphoproliferation to antigens were similar between bicistronic and monocistronic expression construct in mice.

CONCLUSIONpcDNA3.0BA is a novel vector, which can coexpress two proteins and elicit polyvalent immune responses.

Animals ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; DNA, Recombinant ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunization ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology