A systematic review was undertaken, including studies that evaluated the incidence of the blood system adverse events of Tripterygium wilfordii (TWP). Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library were searched for relevant studies, including RCT, cohort studies and case series, of patients treated with TWP published in English and Chinese from inception up until May 25th, 2013 with the keywords including "Tripterygium wilfordii", "toxicity", "reproductive", "side effect", "adverse", "safety" and "tolerability". Relevant information was extracted and the incidence of the blood system adverse events was pooled with MetaAnalyst software. Besides, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed based on age, mode of medicine, observation time and disease system. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 49 articles were included in the meta-analysis, they were split into 54 researches incorporated in the analysis. There is a large degree of heterogeneity among the studies, so data was analyzed using random-effects model and the summary estimates of incidence of the blood system adverse events was 6.1%. The weighted combined incidence of three major blood system adverse events were white-blood cells decreasing 5.6% (95% CI, 4.3% - 7.3%), hemoglobin decreasing 1.7% (95% CI, 0.5% - 5.0%) and platelet decreasing 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0% - 3.1%), respectively . Sensitivity analyses based on 45 studies with high quality showed the combined value was close to the summary estimate of total 54 studies. The current evidence indicates that the incidence of the blood system adverse events induced by TWP was high; attentions should be paid on to the prevention and treatment of the blood system adverse events.
Blood Cells ; drug effects ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Tripterygium ; adverse effects

Objective To construct and identify lentiviral vectors carrying the connexin43 (CX43) gene. Methods Plasmids containing the CX43 gene and lentiviral vectors were digested using EcoRI/XbaI restriction enzymes, and the target gene fragments were cloned into the lentival vectors to result in CX43 recombinant lentiviral vectors (pHBLV-CMVIE-IRES-ZsGreen-CX43). CX43 recombinant lentiviral vectors were identified by restriction enzyme digestion and electrophoresis, and sequencing was carried on only for correct vectors after identification. The successfully-constructed CX43 recombinant lentiviral vectors and packaging plasmids were mixed and contransfected into 293FT cell for packaging and producting virus. Then the virus was collecting, concentrated and titrated in 293FT cells. Finally, the expression of CX43 gene was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Results The restriction enzyme digestion and electrophoresis and sequencing results proved that CX43 recombinant lentiviral vectors were constructed correctly. Lentiviral concentrated virus suspension titer was 1× 108/ml. The up-regulation expression of CX43 was detected correctly by real-time PCR in 293FT cells. Conclusions Stable lentiviral vectors expressing CX43 gene is constructed successfully.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the relation between degree of body impairment and that of thoracolumbar spinal injuries resulting from road traffic accidents, and sum up the experiences in body impairment assessment and its regularity. METHODS: For comprehensive body impairment assessment, 477 cases of thoracolumbar spinal injuries in road accidents have been sorted out, reassessed and rediagnosed. In addition, analyses have been undertaken about their treatment, the assessment of the degree of their thoracolumbar dysfunction,nerve dysfunction and the relations between injuries and sequelaes. RESULTS: The analyses show that the degree of thoracolumbar dysfunction and that of the post-injury nerve dysfunction don't necessarily depend on the quantity and degree of spinal injuries. However, the position suffering from the thoracolumbar spinal injuries has an immense impact on the thoracolumbar dysfunction, and the nerve impairment result mainly from the T1-1L spinal injuries. The research also shows that there has been a high misdiagnosis rate in hospital about the spinal injuries. CONCLUSION In body impairment assessment, the cause and effect relations between the injury and degree of injury extent should be analyzed, the injury extent should be employed as principal evidence, and the degree of spinal dysfunction should be taken into greater consideration.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Disability Evaluation ; Female ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System/physiopathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Injuries/physiopathology* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/physiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes of brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) in patients with brain concussion. METHODS: Nineteen patients with brain concussion were studied with BAEP examination. The data was compared to the healthy persons reported in literatures. RESULTS: The abnormal rate of BAEP for patients with brain concussion was 89.5%. There was a statistically significant difference between the abnormal rate of patients and that of healthy persons (P<0.05). The abnormal rate of BAEP in the brainstem pathway for patients with brain concussion was 73.7%, indicating dysfunction of the brainstem in those patients. CONCLUSION BAEP might be helpful in forensic diagnosis of brain concussion.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Concussion/physiopathology* ; Child ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

China ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control ; Sputum ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of reconstruction of rabbit urethra using urethral extracellular matrix.

METHODSExtracellular matrix was obtained from the urethra of 20 donor New Zealand rabbits. In experimental group, 20 rabbits underwent segmental urethral resection (about 1.0 to 1.5 cm in length) and the defects were replaced by a tube of extracellular matrix. The serum TNFalpha was detected by ELISA to assess the immunity response preoperatively and 12, 24, 48 h postoperatively. The regenerated urethral segments were taken for histologic and pathologic study 10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 24 weeks after operation. The urodynamics, urethroscopy and urethrography were also performed.

RESULTSThe serum TNFalpha in experiment group slightly rised, with no significant difference when compared with that in control group. 10 days after operation, epithelial cell migrated into the extracellular matrix from two ends, and small vessels were also found. 3 weeks later, several layers of urothelium covered the whole surface of the matrix tube. 6 weeks later, the irregularly arranged smooth muscle fibers were fist observed by Van Gieson staining. 24 weeks after operation, the smooth muscle cells increased, the appearance of the regenerated urethra segments were very similar to normal urethral wall components. The urethrography and urodynamic evaluation revealed no difference between the normal and the regenerated urethral tube.

CONCLUSIONSThe urethral extracellular matrix might be an ideal replacement material for urethral defect.

Absorbable Implants ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Extracellular Matrix ; transplantation ; Male ; Rabbits ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Regeneration ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Urethra ; surgery

In the present study, isoelectronic focusing with different pH gradients (pH 3-5, 2-6) or migrating distances (8.5, 12 and 17 cm) and SDS-PAGE was used to separate continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA), recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), darbepoetin and endogenous EPO spiked in human urine with 37 degrees C overnight incubation. Double blotting and chemiluminescent visualization were used to detect the IEF and SDS-PAGE profiles. The bands of CERA profile were detected and well separated from the endogenous EPO and the other two EPO preparations with both SDS-PAGE and the IEF method using a gradient pH 3-5 and a migrating distance of 17 cm, and a significant particular band of CERA profile was found in the IEF result. These preliminary results indicated that the methods were reliable and reproducible for detecting CERA, and could be used as a routine procedure for anti-doping analysis.
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Erythropoietin ; urine ; Humans ; Isoelectric Focusing ; methods ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recombinant Proteins

OBJECTIVETo compare the influences of stapedectomy and small fenestra stapedotomy on the hearing of guinea pigs.

METHODSTwenty-four (48 ears) guinea pigs were randomized equally into two groups, and the left ears were subjected to stapedectomy and total stapes replacement with a prosthesis, or sham operation (12 ears) to expose the footplate of the stapes and the round window. Each guinea pig was tested by ABR perioperatively. Four guinea pigs were chosen randomly from each group and decapitated for morphological examination by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy after ABR test.

RESULTSIn the sham operation group, the post-operative latencies of each wave, the intervals and the hearing threshold exhibited no significant changes other than prolonged latency of wave I. In stapedectomy group, the hearing threshold increased to 23.75-/+3.77 dBSPL 1 h after operation with significantly prolonged post-operative latencies of all the waves and intervals but for III-IV interval, which was shortened. The latencies of each wave (especially waves I and III) in the stapedectomy group were increased by a greater magnitude than those in the sham operation group, but the intervals were comparable between the two groups. No significant difference was noted in the parameters of ABR either 1 h or 1 day after the operation between the two groups, in which the architecture of cochleas remained intact with similar number of spiral ganglion cells. The stereocilia of the outer hearing cells (OHC) were normal in the sham operation group while in stapedectomy group, slight stereocilia disorder occurred but became normal 1 day after operation. No obvious changes were found in the stereocilia of the inner hearing cell (IHC) in either groups.

CONCLUSIONStapedectomy can induce mild hearing loss without seriously damaging the function of the cochlea in guinea pigs.

Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; physiology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hair Cells, Auditory ; cytology ; Hearing ; physiology ; Male ; Round Window, Ear ; cytology ; physiology ; surgery ; Stapes Surgery ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

Qumazi is a commonly used Tibetan medicine. With a long history, it can be found in the Four Medical Tantras written by gYu-thog rNying-ma Yon-tan mGon-po since the 8th century AD. Qumazi grows in mudflats and fields, including species growing in highlands, lowlands, mountains and farmlands. According to records in Crystal Beads Materia Medica, it features green sword-shaped leaves, thin stems with red veins, inserted panicles, white chicken-like flowers and copper needle row-like roots. However, there are many inconsistent morphological descriptions for Qumazi plants in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books. In this article, after studying ancient and modern Tibetan medicine books, consulting experts and conducting surveys, the authors confirmed that Qumazi belongs to Rheum of Polygonaceae, including Rheum nobile Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. globulosum Gage, R. alexandrae Hook. f. et. Thoms, R. pumilum Maxim and R. delavayi Franch. In some regions, Qumazi is substituted by R. spiciforme Royle and R. przewalskyi Losinsk. After the Chinese version of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Drug Illustrations was published in 1972, Qumazi has been miswritten as P. sibiricum Laxm in many Chinese versions of Tibetan medicine books, perhaps because P. sibiricum Laxm has many similar features with Qumazi as described in Crystal Beads Materia Medica and then is mistranslated from Tibetan to Chinese versions. According to records, Qumazi can reduce edema and is mainly applied to treat the minamata disease in clinic.
China ; History, Ancient ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; history ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Polygonaceae ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Reference Books, Medical

OBJECTIVETo study the quantity of anti-R7V in individuals infected with HIV and AIDS patients and its relation with the progression of disease.

METHODSELISA and precipitation and other methods were used to investigate the quantity of anti-R7V in asymptomatic long-term survivors and AIDS patients.

RESULTSPositive rate and quantity of anti-R7V were higher in the HIV active ones and AIDS. It showed that the quantity and positive rate of anti-R7V were rather high in dissolving test.

CONCLUSIONSIt is strong suggestion for anti-R7V to obstruct the replication of virus by interfering the connection between HIV with CCR5 or CXCR4 and so it impossible HIV entering to CD4+ T cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; HIV Long-Term Survivors ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, CCR5 ; physiology ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; physiology