Objective To study the characteristics of the transcranial electric stimulation(TES)-elicited motor evoked potentials(MEP)recorded from different points of the diaphragm,and to determine the optimal record- ing site in the diaphragm.Methods One EEG electrode was placed subcutaneously in the midline of the skull as stimulation electrode and another EEG electrode was inserted into hard palate submucously as cathode in 30 male rats.And single square wave electrical pulse was used for stimulation.The stimulation intensity was 15 mA,the du- ration of the pulse was 0.2 ms,and the stimulating interval was 200 ms.The concentric needle electrode were insert- ed into the following eight sites:the medial,intermediate,lateral crura of the diaphragm,the junction of the posterior axilla line and the inferior border of the eleventh rib,the junction of the anterior axilla line and the inferior border of the ninth rib,the junction of the intermediate line of the clavicle and the inferior border of the eighth rib,the junction of the para-sternal line and the inferior border of the seventh rib,the pars sternalis.The MEP was recorded from each point,respectively.The optimal sites of the diaphragm MEP were found and recorded.Results The MEPs were re- corded from each of the 8 sites of the diaphragm in all the rats after TES.There was no statistically significant differ- ence among the latencies of every site.But the amplitude varied from 6.08?0.46 mV in maximum along the inferior border of the ninth rib at the anterior line of the axilla to the minimum of O.91?0.03 mV at the pars sternalis. Conclusion It is safer to insert the needle along the inferior border of the ninth rib at the anterior line of the axilla, because there was certain distant from the folding part of the pleura and the amplitude of the recorded wave at this point is maximal.

In order to study the constituents and pharmacology of Tripterygium plants (Tripterygium willfordii Hook.f), a variety of chromatography methods were used. Four compounds were isolated from Tripterygium plant and their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, MS, HR-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D-NMR techniques. The isolated compounds were named as triptonide (1), neo-triptetraolide (2), 2alpha-hydroxytriptonide (3), and 15-hydroxytriptonide (4), separately. Compounds 3, 4 belong to new diterpenoids, which can inhibit the growth of K562 cells (leukemia cells) and HL60 cells (acute myeloid leukemia cells).
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical characteristics of severe adolescent idiopathic cervical kyphosis and the operation method.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 12 adolescent patients with severe cervical kyphosis treated from July 2003 to January 2007. Preoperative the Cobb angle of kyphosis range from 55 degrees to 73 degrees (average 61 degrees ). According to the angles between the posterior vertebral body tangents at every involved level on lateral cervical radiograph in extension, the osteotomy angles and range of lamina and facet were decided. The anterior release and posterior osteotomy were performed firstly. Then skull traction was maintained in order to correct the deformity as long as possible, fusion and internal fixation was completed after 7-10 days. The cervical coronal and sagittal planes X-rays and the MR were hold after operation 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. At the same time the treatment result, bone fusion and the instrumentation were followed up, and the symptoms were compared between pre-operation and post-operation.

RESULTSThe defect appearance of the patients was improved significantly, with the total disappearance of neck pain and improvement of nerve function. Post-operational cervical spine MR showed that the physiological curve of cervical spine was restored, cerebral spinal fluid line was clear in the kyphosis area and no spinal cord compression was found. X-ray imaging of post-operation 3 d showed that Cobb angle ranged from -12.3 degrees to 11.2 degrees with an average of -2.0 degrees . Beside one patient's AISA score was D, other patient's AISA score was E.

CONCLUSIONSThe severe adolescent idiopathic cervical kyphosis has its own clinical manifestation. It is an ideal treatment to completely assess the deformity, have staging operation and skull traction between two operations.

Adolescent ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; surgery ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the appropriate culture medium, process of seeds germination and seedlings growth, and optical measures for seedling management of Notopterygium incisum.

METHODGermination time and duration, germination potential and germination ratio were determined through controlled temperature, photoperiod, culture medium and seedling depth in illumination incubators.

RESULTThe appropriate temperature was 15 degrees C, and the most suitable culture medium was A6 (mixture of sawdust, vermiculite, charcoal, and perliet), and the most suitable semination depth is 1-1.5 cm.

CONCLUSIONHigh-qualified seedlings can be germinated through the dormancy-broken seeds, and soil and other culture mediums with high organic matter content and loosing texture are suitable for germination and seedlings raising of N. incisum.

Apiaceae ; growth & development ; Germination ; Light ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Soil ; Temperature

Objective To explore the biological functions of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I(RIG-I) in vivo through phenotype analysis of RIG-I knockout mice. Methods The gene expression of RIG-Ⅰ in various tissues of mice was examined with Northern blotting and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.The phenotypes observed included body weight measurement,differential count of peripheral blood cells,metabolic parameters measurement and histopathologic examination. ResultsRIG-Ⅰ expressed in various tissues of mice with different levels.No gross developmental abnormalities and expected maturation arrest in granulocytic differentiation were observed in RIG-Ⅰ knockout mice.However,RIG-Ⅰ knockout mice exhibited an unexpected increase in the ratios of neutrophiles to lymphocytes in peripheral blood and increased susceptibility to bacteria infection. Conclusion RIG-Ⅰ may play an important role in immune regulation in mice.

OBJECTIVEFive heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr) and arsenic (As) contents in 57 samples of from 19 localities in Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii sourcing from two plants Notoperygium incusum and N. forbesii has been analyzed to evaluate the content standard of heavy metal and arsenic for drafting the herbal medicine quality.

METHODICP-AES method was applied to determine As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and CAAS method was applied to determine Hg.

RESULTHg can not be determined through CAAS, and little Pb was determined except in limited N. forbesii samples from certain sites, while the contents of Cu in most samples are higher than 20 mg x kg(-1). As in N. forbesii samples, and Cd in N. incisum samples are higher or approximate the limitation of related standard of medicinal plants and production. Cr varies from different localities, ranging from 0.48 to 8.36 mg x kg(-1) for N. incisum and 1.44-8.03 mg x kg(-1) for N. forbesii.

CONCLUSIONReferring to the related standards of medicine and vegetable, the heavy metals and arsenic contents of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii samples from traditional producing areas are confirmed the propositional standard, i. e., Pb < or = 5.0 mg x kg(-1), Cd < or = 0.3 mg x kg(-1), Hg < or = 0.2 mg x kg(-1), Cu < or = 28.0 mg x kg(-1), As < or = 2.0 mg x kg(-1), and Cr < or = 1.0 mg x kg(-1). Of these five heavy metals, Cu is much over the limitation standard, which suggested that GAP base of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii must be selected in lower Cu environmental condition in main producing area.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Arsenic ; analysis ; Cadmium ; analysis ; China ; Chromium ; analysis ; Copper ; analysis ; Ecosystem ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo look for the active fraction of ethanol extract of Genkwa Flos (EGF) induced hepatotoxicity and develop an UPLC fingerprint of the active fraction.

METHODTarget fraction of EGF induced hepatotoxicity was guided by the serum biochemical and histopathology methods. The UPLC method was applied to establish the chromatographic fingerprint. The separation was achieved on a BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 1.7 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water containing 0.05% phosphate acid running gradient elution. The detection was carried out at 210 nm and the analysis was finished within 10 min.

RESULTThe chloroform phase of EGF could be responsible for the hepatotoxicity of this herb. The common mode of the UPLC fingerprint was set up under the established condition. There were 17 common peaks in fourteen batches of herbs, eight of which were identified, and the similar degrees of the fourteen batches to the common mode were between 0.890-0.999.

CONCLUSIONIt is easy to locate the chloroform extraction of EGF with hepatotoxicity. And the UPLC fingerprint was developed for the above fraction, which could provide valuable references for safe and effective clinical use of EGF.

Animals ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; toxicity ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVESTo study the diagnosis and treatment for the injury of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament.

METHODSFrom 2001 to 2005, the clinical data of sixty-three patients with cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury were studied. Early treatment was done based on spinal cord injuries and spinal stabilities by X rays and MRI. Early operation was done in fifty-four cases and early non-operation in nine cases.

RESULTSThe follow-up time was six to forty-one months in all patients. The neurological recovery was found in two of eight complete SCI post-operation, thirty-one in thirty-nine incomplete SCI. Cervical collar or plaster orthotic were used in nine cases with four to six weeks. Evidence of instability was noted in four patients, who were operated with anterior decompression fusion. Neck chronic pain was found in two patients, anterior decompression and fusion was done in one with cervical spinal cord compression.

CONCLUSIONSMRI examination is the most value measure for the diagnosis of cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury. Early anterior decompression and fusion was an important approach for cervical disc and longitudinal ligament injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; injuries ; surgery ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; injuries ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Injuries ; diagnosis ; therapy

Growth suitability as assessment indicators for medicinal plants cultivation was proposed based on chemical quality determination and ecological factors analysis by Maxent and ArcGIS model. Notopterygium incisum, an endangered Chinese medicinal plant, was analyzed as a case, its potential distribution areas at different suitability grade and regionalization map were formulated based on growth suitability theory. The results showed that the most suitable habitats is Sichuan province, and more than 60% of the most suitable areawas located in the western Sichuan such as Aba and Ganzi prefectures for N. incisum. The results indicated that habitat altitude, average air temperature in September, and vegetation types were the dominant factors contributing to the grade of plant growth, precipitation and slope were the major factors contributing to notopterol accumulation in its underground parts, while isoimperatorin in its underground parts was negatively corelated with precipitation and slope of its habitat. However, slope as a factor influencing chemical components seemed to be a pseudo corelationship. Therefore, there were distinguishing differences between growth suitability and quality suitability for medicinal plants, which was helpful to further research and practice of cultivation regionalization, wild resource monitoring and large-scale cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine plants.
Apiaceae ; growth & development ; China ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fluid Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis ; mortality ; therapy ; Plasma ; Young Adult