Objective To explore the effect of terazosin hydrochloride combined with finasteride on serum TNF-αand PSA in old patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.Methods 64 elderly patients of benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomly divided into 2 groups, 32 cases in each group.2 groups were given routine treatment and symptomatic treatment, the control group was given finasteride; the experimental group were treated with terazosin hydrochloride combined with finasteride.A cycle of 2 groups were 28 d, a total of 1 cycle of treatment.Clinical efficacy, maximum urinary flow rate, prostate volume, residual urine volume, international prostate symptom score(IPSS), serum tumor necrosis factor alpha, prostate specific antigen level and adverse reactions were compared after the end of treatment.Results Compared with before treatment, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) level of 2 groups increased, prostate volume, residual urine volume, international prostate symptom score(IPSS)decreased (P<0.05), compared with the control group, maximum urinary flow rate of the experimental group was higher (P<0.05), prostate volume, residual urine volume, IPSS were lower (P<0.05), 2 groups of TNF-αand PSA levels decreased after treatment (P<0.05), compared with the control group, TNF-αand PSA levels were lower(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in adverse reactions in 2 groups.Conclusion Terazosin hydrochloride combined with finasteride had a clinical efficacy of elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, can reduce serum TNF-αand PSA levels.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism of superfine comminution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at low temperature.

METHODGlycyrrhiza uralensis roots were at room superfinely comminuted temperature and at low temperature by cryogenic vibration mill. The superfine powders were observed and analyzed by laser particle size analyzer and SEM.

RESULTThe powder processed at low temperature was of smaller effective diameter and narrower size distribution and was also with smoother surface and smaller angle of repose.

CONCLUSIONThe G. uralensis roots could be superfinely comminuted with high efficiency and simple procedure by vibration mill at low temperature.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; Particle Size ; Plant Roots ; Plants, Medicinal ; Powders ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Vibration

Organophosphate chemicals are widely used as agricultural pesticides and war reagents, their biodegradation is emphasized on the theoretical and practical aspects. Organophosphate hydrolases play important roles in the biodegradation of organophosphate chemicals. Great advancement was achieved recently in the determination of crystal structure and catalytic mechanisms of the hydrolase. This paper reviewed the research progresses in the enzymology, protein structure, catalytic mechanisms and application of the organophosphate hydrolase, and predicted the future research in this field.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to develop RT- PCR assay for Rapidly detect and distinguish between Norovirus genogroup I and genogroup II with a pair of primers.

METHODSA pairs of primers specific to capsid prote in ORF2 gene of G I and G II Norovirus were dsigned according to the published complete genome sequence, with which the RNA of Norovirus was extracted and RT-PCR amplification. The sensitivity, specificity of the RT- PCR assay was estimated and apply it to the detection of Norovirus in clinical specimens.

RESULTSThe results showed that the assay possessed high specificity for Norovirus detection and without any evident cross-reaction with other viruses, including rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and hepatitis A virus. The detection limit of RT-PCR assay for Norovirus G I and G II were up to 100 pg/ml and 10 pg/ml respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe RT- PCR assay provide rapid and sensitive detection of Norovirus G I and G II and should prove to be useful for Norovirus diagnosis in the outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis.

Caliciviridae Infections ; diagnosis ; virology ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Gastroenteritis ; diagnosis ; virology ; Humans ; Norovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective: To study the effects of the melt casting and the sintering methods on the machinability and other characteristics of K_2O-MgO-MgF_2-SiO_2 glass-ceramics. Methods: X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)were used to examine the main crystal and the microstructure of the glass ceramics of the same composition which were made by melt casting and sintering methods, respectively. The transmissivity, flexural strength and brittleness index were observed respectively. Results: The glass ceramics made by two different methods have the same crystal, KMg_(2.5)Si_4O_(10)F_2, while the specimen prepared by the sintering method had lower transmissivity,better machinability and mechanical properties due to the higher mica volume percent. Conclusion; For production of fluoro-mica glass ceramics, sintering method has superiority compared to melt-casting method.

Lycii Cortex, a popular herb medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat different inflammation-related diseases. The aim of our work is to find the key constituents inhibiting NF-kappaB, a key regulator of inflammation. In the investigations of cell-based in vitro assays of extracts, we found that both ethyl acetate extract and methanol extract of Lycii Cortex inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, we identified 4 phenolic amides including trans-N-(p-coumaroyl) tyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (2), trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3), and dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (4). Four phenolic amides showed differently inhibitory activities on TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. Trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3) was identified as the key component with an IC50 of 18.41 micromol x L(-1). It was suggested that the hydroxyl group at C-3 in trans-N-caffeoyltyramine might be a key binding site and its C-7,8-double bond might play an important role on NF-kappaB inhibitory activities as the link of the conjugation of pi electrons leading to a partial planar conformation. It might be inferred that the biological activity of compound 3 is attributed to the structure of Michael reaction acceptor containing alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones and benzene along with hydroxyl group in o-diphenol.
Biological Assay ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; NF-kappa B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology

Abstract A novel luminol electrochemiluminescence strategy based on titanium dioxide/carbon nanotubes ( TiO2/CNTs) nanocomposites for detection of glucose was developed. First, the TiO2/CNTs nanocomposites were prepared by a sol-gel method and modified on the glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemiluminescence ( ECL) signal could be greatly enhanced when the electrode was established by the nanocomposites, which finally resulted in the increased sensitivity. Glucose oxidase calalyzed the oxidation of glucose to form H2 O2 , and the H2 O2 reacted with luminol to produce the ECL signal. Thus the above system was proved to be efficient for glucose detection. The modified electrode exhibited excellent ECL signals and a good linear range of 1. 0í10-7-5. 0í10-6 mol/L with a detection limit of 5. 2í10-8 mol/L towards glucose detection. This strategy was successfully demonstrated as a sensitive, rapid, simple and cost-effective method to detect glucose. Meanwhile, the TiO2/CNTs nanocomposites offered a novel material for the signal enhancement in electrochemiluminescence sensor.

Whether or not an abormal expression of IL-6 mRNA in PBMNCs from IDDM patientswas examined using a hihgly sensitive,specific and semiquantitative protocal,i.e.reverse tran-scription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The relative levels of IL-6mRNA in PBM-NCs from 12 early IDDMpatients (8.20?3.85yr),29 newly diagnosed NIDDM patients(54.85?9.12yr)23 normal childrens (8.20?3.26yr) and 12 normal adults (31.92?11.22yr)weredetermined.Significantly high expresion levels of IL-6 mRNA were found in PBMNCs from pa-tients with IDDM (P

Objective To explore the effects of sodium arsenie on Metallothionein(MT) isoforms genes expression,and to study the relevance between the MT expression and cell survival percentage. Methods Healthy persons blood was extracted aseptically and the lymphocytes were separated. The lymphocytes were treated by 0 (control) ,2,5,10,15,30,60 μmol/L sodium arsenites, respectively. The cell survival percentage was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) reduction assay at 24,48,72 h intervals, while the expression of MT-1 and MT-2 were examined by RT-PCR in 72 h. Results The cell survival percentage in 2,5μmoL/L groups were (115.50± 11.80)% and (130.49±8.28)%,which were all higher than those in the control group [(100.00±0.00)%,all P < 0.05]at any intervals. In 10,15,30,60 μmol/L groups,the cell survival percentage[(78.12±9.33)%,(71.62± 10.82)%,(52.06±3.05)%,(40.98±5.41)%]increased along with the decrease of concentration,which showed a significant difference between these groups and the control group and 2,5μmol/L groups(all P < 0.05). There was no significant difference on MT-1 expression after exposed to different concentration sodium arsenites (0,2,5,10,15,30,60 μmol/L) for72 h(0.925±0.123,1.082±0.504,1.103±0.170,0.927±0.056,0.730±0.307,0.604± 0.173,0.540±0.075,all P > 0.05). The expression of MT-2 in 2,5μmol/L groups(1.503±0.212,1.557±0.377) was up regulated compared with that in control group(0.702±0.112) and MT-2 also expressed more than that in other groups(all P < 0.05). However,the expression of MT-2 declined when the concentraion was 10,15,30,60 μmol/L(0.814±0.139,0.679±0.201,0.607±0.229,0.533±0.102). There was no significant difference among the groups (all P > 0.05). The expression level oE MT-1,MT-2 was positively correlated with the cell survival pereentage(r = 0.955,0.909,all P < 0.05). Conclusions The sodium arsenite at concentration of 10 μmoL/L might inhibit the expression of MT of lymphocytes and low concentration sodium arsenite (2,5 μmol/L) might stimulate the lymphocytes to regulate the expression of MT-2 to higher levels,which can increase the cell survival percentage and exert the function of protecting cells.

OBJECTIVETo compare the regional load deflection rate (LDR) of multiloop edgewise arch wire (MEAW) of three dimensions with coupled use of two dimension brackets in the individual interbracket span, to understand the mechanical properties of MEAW.

METHODSThe MEAW arch wires of stainless steel of three dimensions, 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm, 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm and 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm, were bent into single L-loop. The study was performed with the coupled use of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm wires with 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm bracket (A bracket) and 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm, 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm wires with 0.56 mm x 0.71 mm bracket (B bracket). The LDR of each L-loop at the individual interbracket span when loading and unloading was measured. The data were analysed by SPSS 11.0.

RESULTSCompared the regional LDR for the couple of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm L-loop with A bracket with those for the couple of 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm L-loop with B bracket, the former showed lower value than the latter at regions between the upper central and lateral incisor, the lower central and lateral incisor, and between the lower lateral incisor and canine (P < 0.05). For the rest regions, the two couples exhibited similar value to the regional LDR (P > 0.05). The regional LDR for the couple of 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm L-loop with A bracket were lower at all regions than those for the couple of 0.46 mm x 0.64 mm L-loop with B bracket (P < 0.05) except that at the region between the lower first and second molars which showed similar value between the two couples.

CONCLUSIONThe coupled use of B bracket with 0.43 mm x 0.64 mm MEAW arch wire and A bracket with 0.41 mm x 0.56 mm MEAW arch wire exhibited similar mechanical properties.

Humans ; Molar ; Orthodontic Brackets ; Orthodontic Wires ; Stainless Steel