Objective:To analyze the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV)gene mutation at 1896 in precore region with genotype and replication of HBV and the liver function of patients.Methods:HBV precore 1896 site mutation,the genotype of HBV and serum content of HBV DNA were determined by PCR in 60 patients positive of HBV DNA.Chemiluminescence miacropaticle immunoassay(CMIA)was used for detection of serum HBeAg and HBeAb.Liver function parameters were ob- tained by routine biochemistry method.Results:The alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level in HBV with 1896 site mutation was significantly higher than that in the wildtype virus.Site mutation at 1896 had no correlation with HBeAg,HBV genotype and HBV DNA content.HBV DNA content in patient with genotype C was significantly higher than that with genotype B(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the transformation of microhardness and microstructures of human dental fluorosis after demineralization and remineralization in vitro.

METHODSForty human dental fluorosis enamel blocks were demineralized by acid-etching gel, then subjected to 1.0% casein phosphopeptides stabilized calcium phosphate (CPP-CP) for remineralization. Surface enamel microhardness was measured on the enamel blocks before and after demineralization and after remineralization. The enamel specimens was observed by stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope, then sectioned (100 microm) and examined by transmission light microscope and polarized light microscope.

RESULTSBefore demineralization, the average knoop hardness value of the fluorosed teeth was (241.53 +/- 21.31) kHV. After demineralization, obvious decrease of the surface hardness of the enamel was observed, the mean value was (175.76 +/- 24.99) kHV (P < 0.05), the percent of the surface microhardness demineralization (% SMHD) was (27.23 +/- 1 4.79)%, and major demineralization was under the surface of the enamel, which was similar to the early natural enamel caries. After remineralization, obvious increase of the surface hardness of the enamel was observed, the mean value was (210.17 +/- 21.48) kHV (P < 0.05), the percent of the surface microhardness remineralization (% SMHR) was (52.32 +/- 4.23)%, major remineralization was under the surface of the enamel.

CONCLUSIONRemineralization could be used to prevent and cure the early natural enamel caries of fluorosed dental teeth.

Calcium Phosphates ; Cariostatic Agents ; Caseins ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Hardness ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Tooth Demineralization ; Tooth Remineralization

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the first human case of H5N1 avian influenza pneumonia in mainland of China.

METHODSThe clinical data of the first case of H5N1 avian influenza virus infection in China were analyzed and summarized.

RESULTSThe case is a 9-year old boy, who developed acute symptoms of a light common respiratory infection, including fever and dry cough without obvious catarrh. On the 7th day after onset, his temperature reached 40 degrees C, tachypnea occurred, distinct rales could be heard and large areas of consolidation were seen in the lungs on chest X-ray. The patient's peripheral blood leukocyte count was 2.81 x 10(9)/L and neutrophils dominated. After comprehensive therapeutic approaches, including antiviral therapy (amantadine) and use of low-dosage glucocorticoid, the patient's temperature returned to normal on the 3rd hospitalization day, chest X-ray showed absorbed inflammatory change on the 5th day after admission, and leukocyte count became normal on the 6th day. No complication occurred during the whole course. The case was diagnosed by the 4 fold raised antibody to the H5N1 influenza virus in recovery stage serum because the H5N1 nucleic acid test in early stage was negative. The case was cured and discharged after 3 weeks comprehensive treatment.

CONCLUSIONSIt is very important for clinicians to pay enough attention to epidemiological history, especially history of exposure to avian influenza virus contaminated material, which will be very helpful for early detection, early diagnosis of the disease, and also very important for effective treatment and better prognosis.

Amantadine ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Birds ; Child ; China ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; transmission ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; virology ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Leg Bones ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

OBJECTIVETo explore the roles of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on tube formation induced by xuefu zhuyu decoction (XZD) under non-anoxia condition.

METHODSUsing serum pharmacology technique, endothelial cell line ECV304 cells were incubated in routine 95% O2. ECV304 cells were intervened by 1.25%, 2.50%, and 5.00% XZD containing serums and the vehicle serum for 48 h. The effects of XZD on tube formation, bFGF contents and its transcription levels were assessed by in vitro tube formation assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively.

RESULTSThree concentrations of XZD containing serums could not only obviously promote the tube formation bFGF level, but also up-regulate bFGF contents in the supernate and its transcription levels. The shapes of lumens were more regular in those induced by 1.25% and 2.50% XZD containing serums.

CONCLUSIONXZD induced angiogenesis via up-regulating the bFGF expression under non-anoxia condition.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of heat-sensitive moxibustion on lung function in chronic persistent bronchial asthma and analyze its effect on the improvement of life quality as well as compare its efficacy with Seretide inhaler.

METHODSFifty-seven cases were divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group (28 cases) and a Seretide group (29 cases) according to the random number table. In heat-sensitive moxibustion group, the therapy of heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to the regions at the level of Feishu (BL 13) and Geshu (BL 17), or to the heat-sensitized points in the region 6 cun lateral from the 1st and 2nd intercostal spaces in the chest. The treatment was given continuously for 8 days, once per day, 12 treatments should be ensured in the later 22 days of the 1st month. In the later two months since then, 15 treatments should be ensured each month (< or = 1 treatment each day). In Seretide group, Seritide manufactured in GlaxoSmithKLine was used, one inhalation each time, twice per day. The cases in both groups were received treatment for 3 months. The changes in lung function such as forced expiratory volume one second (FEV1), TCM symptoms score, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were assessed and compared between two groups and within group separately.

RESULTSLung function as FEV1 was improved in either group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The terminal improvement effects on symptoms of Chinese medicine, life quality and others were same between two groups (all P > 0.05). But the improvements in general situation, chills, fever and sweating in heat-sensitive moxibustion group were superior to those in Seretide group (both P < 0.05). Concerning to the improvement in respiratory symptoms, the effect of Seretide was better than that of heat-sensitive moxibustion (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion improves lung function, relieves clinical symptoms and benefits life quality for patients with chronic persistent bronchial asthma. It's efficacy on the disease is equal to the internationally-recognized effect of Seretide.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the stable phase treated with warm needling therapy and Seretide. To make the comparison of improvements between two therapies in terms of the clinical symptoms and life quality.

METHODSSixty cases were randomly divided into a warm needling group and a Seretide group, 30 cases in each one. In warm needling group, acupuncture with filiform needle was applied mainly to Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Feishu (BL 13) and Zusanli (ST 36). Warm needling therapy was supplemented on back-shu point and Zusanli (ST 36), once every other day, thrice each week. In Seretide group, Seretide inhalant was applied, one inhalation, 2 times each day. After 8-week treatment, the changes in pulmonary function such as forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), clinical symptoms, and the score of St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were observed in two groups and the comparison of them was conducted between groups and within each group.

RESULTSThe pulmonary function indices such as FEV1 were all improved effectively in two groups (all P < 0.05). After 4-week treatment, the improvement in respiratory symptoms was superior in Seretide group as compared with warm needling group (P < 0.05). In terms of the improvement in general symptoms such as chills and fever, the result in warm needling group was better than that in Seretide group (P < 0.05). The efficacies were similar between two groups in 8-week treatment. Concerning to the improvement of life quality, the result in warm needling group was slightly better than that in Seretide group (the improvement value 12.8413.43 vs 10.21 +/- 3.89, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWarm needling therapy improves the pulmonary function of the patients with COPD in the stable phase, releases clinical symptoms and improves life quality. Its effects are similar to those of Seretide.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Function Tests

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene regulation and the inhibitory effect of antisense RNA on HCV gene expression in vitro.

METHODSThe hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) was co-transfected by recombinant plasmid of antisense RNA complementary to HCV 5' untranslated region (5'UTR)and HCV 5' UTR Directed luciferase (luc) gene expression recombinant plasmid. Meanwhile a reversed HCV 5'UTR recombinant plasmid which can not transcribe as antisense RNA in the cell and a recombinant plasmid in which the luc was regulated by simian virus 40 (sv40) 5'UTR were used as controls respectively. The level of luc gene expression was determined by an enzymatic assay.

RESULTSThe antisense RNA which directed to HCV 5'UTRcould obviously knock down the level of luc gene expression and the close-dependent inhibition of antisense RNA was observed at the same time. However the above inhibition was not shown in the cells co-transfected by reversed HCV 5'UTR recombinant plasmid and HCV 5'UTR directed luc gene expression recombinant plasmid. No reduction was observed in luc gene expression level in the cell co-transfected by both antisense RNA recombinant plasmid and SV40 5'UTR directed luc gene expression recombinant plasmid.

CONCLUSIONHCV 5'UTR plays an important role in regulation of viral gene expression. The antisense RNA complementary to HCV 5'UTR could effectively inhibit the gene expression regulated by HCV 5'UTR in vitro.

5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genes, Viral ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatoblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection

This study was aimed to prepare a reconstructed B. Fragilis-derived recombinant α-galactosidase developed for human B to O blood group conversion. Based on the construction of recombinant E. Coli (DE3) which can express α-galactosidase, the inducing time and inducer concentration were optimized for high expression of α-galactosidase. Then, the expression products in supernatant were purified by cation and anion exchange column chromatography. The purified α-galactosidase was used to treat B group red blood cells in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) for 2 hours to prepare O group red blood cells. The results showed that the optimal inducing conditions for α-galactosidase expression were IPTG 0.1 mmol/L, 37°C and 2 hours. The specific enzyme activity of purified protein increased from 0.42 U/mg to 2.1 U/mg as compared with pre-purification. And, the conditions of B to O blood group conversion were 26°C, pH 6.8 (neutral pH condition) and 2 hours. Moreover, 225 µg of the enzyme could converse 1 ml B red blood cells to O completely. It is concluded that the technology of expression and purification of recombinant α-galactosidase has been established, and the purified protein can converse B red blood cells to O completely, which means that an effective enzyme conversing B red blood cells to O has been obtained.
ABO Blood-Group System ; immunology ; Bacteroides fragilis ; enzymology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; alpha-Galactosidase ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of Pizhen for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to April 2006, among the 200 patients of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome, 100 patients (75 patients were male and 25 patients were female, ranging in age from 25 to 65 years, with an average of 45 years)were treated with Pizhen, 100 patients (60 patients were male and 40 patients were female, ranging in age from 16 to 63 years, with an average of 35 years) were treated with Acupuncture. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 6 to 12 months, 9.6 months in average. Among the patients in Pizhen group, 79 patients got an excellent result, 12 good, 8 fair, and 1 poor, and the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.56 +/- 0.35 to postoperative 2.11 +/- 0.41. In the control group, 43 patients got an excellent result, 21 good, 17 fair, and 19 poor, the tension exponent of soft tissues decreased from preoperative 3.61 +/- 0.21 to postoperative 3.13 +/- 0.56. The therapeutic effects and tension exponent of soft tissue in the two groups had statistical differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Pizhen is better than the the acupuncture for the treatment of supraclavicular nerve-entrapment syndrome. The therapy of Pizhen is safe, good and easily to practice.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brachial Plexus ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; therapy