Functional targets are the objects that Chinese herbal medicines act directly upon. If the relationships between the properties of Chinese herbs and their functional targets were analyzed clearly, it would benefit the overall understanding of the holistic mechanisms of Chinese herbal treatments. In this paper, data regarding the properties of Chinese herbs and their functional targets were collected from the 2005 edition of The People's Republic of China Pharmacopoeia. After analyzing and assessing the data, the relationships were defined between the four qi, meridian entry and medicinal functional targets and between the four qi, five flavors and mode of function. Then the relationships between a single herbal medicine and a prescription were analyzed, and the results conformed with the traditional knowledge of Chinese herbal nature and efficacy. This demonstrated that the holistic mechanisms of the properties of Chinese herbs adhere to the findings, which may be beneficial for the development and compatibility of Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective To explore the role of transforming growth factor (TFG)-? and matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)in the development of frozen shoulder. Methods Twenty-four patients who underwent shoulder arthroscopy were included,and were divided into frozen shoulder group ( n =12) and control group ( n =12; n =2 for shoulder instability,n =5 for rotator cuff tear and n =5 for subacromial impingement). Joint capsule tissues at the rotator cuff interval were obtained,and the expression of TGF-?,MMP-1,MMP-2,MMP-3,MMP-9 and MMP-12 mRNA and protein was detected by Real-time PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Results The expression of TGF-? mRNA in frozen shoulder group and control group was 3.36?10 4?2.18?10 3 and 1.85?10 4?3.31?10 3,respectively,the expression of TGF-? protein was 1.55?0.33 and 1.13?0.21,respectively,and there were significant differences between these two groups ( P

Objective To evaluate and summarize a new way of forward intensity modulated radia- tion therapy (IMRT) plan for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with 3Dmulti-leaf collimator (MLC) planning sys- tems is practised routinely in our department.Methods From September 2000 to July 2003 and November 2005 to March 2006,78 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with eonformal radiothera- py used CT simulation for localizing,then doctors supervised the delineation of the planned tumor volume (PTV),gross tumor volume (GTV) and other sensitive organs on ACQsim workstation,and then sent the CT imagines to ELEKTA Precise Plan by DICOM RT Ethernet.Then,the physicists take over the responsibility of all directions of beam projection according to these organs and PTV shape,and completed the IMRT plan by manual correction making and the optimization of fields or segments shaped with forward 3D planning sys- tem.Results To analyse all the patient's dose distributions taking conformal radiotherapy in our hospital, we found the dose distribution and DVH data excellent,even better than the inverse planning of nasopharyn- geal carcinoma.Conclusions Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an advanced radiotherapy technique.A very good IMRT plan of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by forward planning can be obtained with 3D multiple leaf collimator (MLC) planning system.This planning method is more flexible,but the radia- tion physicists should be very much experienced in professional skill.

The 1.7 kb full-length hemagglutinin (HA) gene fragment of H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus was amplified by RT-PCR and then cloned into the pFastBacHT donor plasmids. The recombinant plasmid pFastBac-H5 was identified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. Following the transposition pFastBac-H5 into the bacmid in DH10Bac E.coli competent cells, the colonies were identified by blue and white selection. The recombinant bacmid (rBacmid-H5) was verified by PCR analysis. Transfection of rBacmid-H5 DNA into sf9 cells using Cellfectin reagent results in the production of recombinant viral stock. Cells were harvested 72h post infection and analyzed by SDS-PAGE, Western-blot, hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition test;the expressed HA protein (rH5)shows hemaggluting activity and can be inhibited by H5N1 virus immunized chicken sera. On the other hand, immunization of chickens with rH5 protein results in high titers of H5N1 virus specific hemagglutation inhibition antibodies, which proved its biological activity.

Child ; Female ; Gaucher Disease ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Motor Activity ; Seizures ; etiology

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is one of the most common autoimmune encephalitis in children with characterized clinical features. Here we review clinical presentations of typical and atypical anti-NMDAR encephalitis and characteristics of clinical presentations of pediatric anti-NMDAR encephalitis.
Anti-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis ; diagnosis ; Child ; Humans

Aim at the two problems in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mechanism elucidation, one is the lack of detailed biological processes information, next is the low efficient in constructing network models, we constructed an auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism and realize the automatic establishment of biological network model. This study used the Entity Grammar Systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework, integrated the data of formulae, herbs, chemical components, targets of component, biological reactions, signaling pathways and disease related proteins, established the formal models, wrote the reasoning engine, constructed the auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism elucidation. The platform provides an automatic modeling method for biological network model of TCM mechanism. It would be benefit to perform the in-depth research on TCM theory of natures and combination and provides the scientific references for R&D of TCM.
Animals ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of Kaschin-Beck disease in Shandong province, and to provide a scientific basis for decision-making in controlling the disease. Methods According to the National Monitoring Program of Kaschin-Beck disease requirements, historical serious villages of Kaschin-Beck disease in Qingzhou of Shandong province were selected annually; children aged 7 to 16 were chosen to receive clinical examination and children aged 7 to 12 were taken X-ray examination. Clinical and X-ray diagnosis was carried out according to the Diagnostic Criteria of Kashin Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995). Results From 1996 to 2010, in 53 diseased villages, three thousand three hundred and eighteen school children aged 7 to 16 were clinically diagnosed, and child Kaschin-Beck disease of degree Ⅰ and above were not detected; three thousand and ninety-one school children aged 7 to 12 were examined by X-ray, forty cases were found positive, and the total positive rate was 1.29％(40/3091 ). The year with the highest positive rate was 2002, and the rate was 3.49％(13/372) ; the positive rate was 0 in 1996 and 2008. The difference of the X-ray positive rate between each year was statistically significant(x2 =31.54, P ＜ 0.01 ). ConclusionsChild Kashin-Beck disease in Qingzhou is basically under control.Since etiology of Kashin-Beck disease is still unclear, surveillance of the disease still needs to be strengthened.

OBJECTIVEThis research was to explore the difference between children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in the composition and antibiotic-resistance of pathogenic bacteria.

METHODS241 CAP and 116 HAP with positive sputum culture who were hospitalized from January to December in 2008 in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University were selected in this study. The bacteria were identified by traditionally manual method and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed by K-B method. The chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used for statistical test.

RESULTSIn 241 CAP, Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza accounted for (42.2%, 106/251) and (12.4%, 31/251) infection, respectively; however in 116 HAP, Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters accounted for (88.2%, 127/144). In addition, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus weren't isolated, however, its detection rate was 66.7% in HAP. The drug resistance was 1.5 times higher in HAP than that in CAP for several types of antibiotics, such as ceftazidime (37.5% (6/16) vs 75.6% (31/41)), cefepime (37.5% (6/16) vs 78.0% (32/41)), aztreonam (50.0% (8/16) vs 90.2% (37/41)), cefoperazone/sulbactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 51.2% (21/41)) and piperacillin/tazobactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 56.0% (23/41)). Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from HAP had higher drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against some antibiotics, for example, gentamicin (0 vs 63.6% (7/11)), SMZ + TMP (20.0% (1/5) vs 63.6% (7/11)) and cefoperazone/sulbactam (0 vs 54.5% (6/11)). We also found Enterobacter cloacae isolated from HAP showed high drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against imipenem (0 vs 46.7% (7/15)), aztreonam (9.1% (1/11) vs 60.0% (9/15)) and cefoperazone (18.2% (2/11) vs 80.0% (12/15)) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from HAP had higher resistance than that from CAP against gentamicin (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)), amikacin (0 vs 38.9% (7/18)), ceftazidime (0 vs 55.6% (10/18)), cefepime (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)) and cefoperazone (33.3% (2/6) vs 94.4% (17/18)). The detection rates of ESBLs for Escherichia coli were 84.6% (11/13) and 93.3% (14/15) in CAP and HAP, respectively (χ(2) = 0.553, P > 0.05); while for Klebsiella pneumoniae, they were 81.3% (13/16) and 95.1% (39/41), respectively (χ(2) = 2.767, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCAP was mainly comprised of Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza; while HAP was mainly comprised of Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters. The drug resistance of gram-negative bacilli was higher in HAP than that in CAP.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; microbiology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Haemophilus influenzae ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

Using the isolated total RNA from osteosacoma cell line MG63, the cDNA encoding human OPG was amplified by RT-PCR. A recombinant adenoviral vector carrying cDNA of OPG was constructed and OPG expression in mouse myoblast C2C12 cells was confirmed by Western blot and ELISA. The secreted expression of OPG protein persisted more than 6 weeks in vitro, and the growth of C2C12 cells infected by recombinant adenoviral were in good state. Osteoclasts derived from mouse bone marrow cells infected with recombinant adenoviral made less number of TRAP positive cells and resorption pits formed on dentine slices.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteoclasts ; metabolism ; Osteoprotegerin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction