Aim To investigate the analgesic effect of tetrahydropalmatine on Cav1 . 2 expression in the dorsal root ganglion ( DRG) of mice with sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury ( CCI ) -induced neuropathic pain. Methods Forty male C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n =5 ): sham group ( group S) , CCI group ( group C ) and L-THP group ( group L) . Steady mice models of neuropathic pain were es-tablished by inducing CCI of sciatic nerve. According to development of neuropathic pain in mice, L group was divided into induction period, induction with ma-intenance period and long-term low-dose group. The mice were intraperitoneally administered with 45 mg · kg-1 tetrahydropalmatine in induction ( day 0~5 ) , in-duction with maintenance ( day 0~5 , 14~19 ) period of neuropathic pain state. From the instant after opera-tion, 15 mg · kg-1 tetrahydropalmatine was injected into the long-term low-dose group once per day for 19 days. Then, the behavior changes of mice were moni-tored. Moreover, the threshold of mechanical and ther-mal stimuli was tested. In addition, the expression of Cav1 . 2 protein was detected by Western blot and im-munohistochemical staining. Results The lowest ex-pression of Cav1 . 2 was observed in group C and the highest expression level of Cav1 . 2 was found in group S. Cav1. 2 expression was significantly up-regulated in induction period group, induction with maintenance period group and long-term low-dose group ( P<0. 05 , P<0. 01). Compared with group C, high dose of tet-rahydropalmatine in induction period group, induction with maintenance period group and long-term low-dose group showed reduced mechanical allodynia and ther-mal hyperalgesia induced by nerve injury ( P <0. 05 , P<0. 01). Meanwhile, high dose of tetrahydropalma-tine significantly relieved the mechanical allodynia in induction period group, induction with maintenance period group and thermal hyperalgesia in maintenance period group (P<0. 05). However, there was no ob-vious effect on mechanical allodynia and thermal hyper-algesia induced by nerve injury ( P >0. 05 ) in long-term low-dose group. Conclusions High dose of tet-rahydropalmatine in induction period group, induction with maintenance period group and low-dose among the whole experiment process obviously relieves the neuro-pathic pain induced by nerve injury. The analgesic effect of tetrahydropalmatine on neuropathic pain may be due to the increased expression of Cav1 . 2 protein in DRG neurons.

We have studied the proteomic changes of the serum of the Smad3 targeted deficient mice using 2-DE and PMF approaches. 7 proteins expressed at different level in wild type mice and the Smad3 deficient mice were identified. These results would benefit the research on diagnosis and therapy of osteoarthritis and provided clues to studying the important function of Smad3 mediated TGF-beta signals during the skeletal development.
Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; blood ; deficiency ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Genotype ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteome ; analysis ; Smad3 Protein ; Trans-Activators ; blood ; deficiency ; genetics

We determine the contamination and genotypes of Clostridium perfringens isolated from chickens in Macau.C. perfringens were isolated from these samples by double tube method and then identified by biochemical test.Genotyping of i-solated strains was determined by multiplex PCR.A total of 120 samples,the positive rates were 37.5%,respectively.All of the isolated strains were type A.This study indicated that contamination of C.perfringens type A exists in chicken intestines, fresh chickens and chilled chickens in Macau,and provided reference data for the public health problems caused by C.perfrin-gens.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic advantage of the ratio of ligamentum flavum(LF) thickness to oblique canal diameter(TODR)measured on CT images in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. Methods Seventy-one patients underwent CT and MRI examinations respectively,and they were divided into two groups,the positive group and negative group,according to the presence or absence of dural sac notch caused by the LF on bilateral parasagittal MR images.Meanwhile,50 volunteers without any symptom in the lumbar region or legs were examined by CT.TODRs were measured at the L3—S1 levels of the inferior margin of the intervertebral disc on transverse CT images,respectively.The results were further analyzed with the positive findings on MR images,clinical symptoms and physical examination,so as to find out the statistical correlation between them.Results LF thickness was(3.01?0.72)mm and TODR was 0.19?0.04 in the negative group,(3.94?0.84)mm and 0.28+0.06 in the positive group,and(3.16? 0.85)mm and 0.19?0.04 in the control group.There was significant difference between positive group and negative group or control group for LF thickness(P0.24, the sensitivity,specificity and positive predictive value were 74.8%,89.6% and 73.6% respectively. Positive correlation existed between LF thickness or TODR and clinical symptom(r=0.72,0.86,P

AIMTo evaluate the effect of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the management of cases with a history of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure.

METHODSTwo groups of patients, 19 with normal semen parameters and a history of IVF failure (metaphase II oocytes: 0-30 %) and 28 with severe male factor infertility received ICSI technology during the same period. Ovarian stimulation was achieved by conventional procedure. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte collection was done 35-37 h after human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) injection. Only metaphase II oocytes were selected for microinjection.

RESULTSFertilization was achieved with ICSI in all the patients. The fertilization rate (75.6 % +/-21.1 % vs. 73.9 % +/-19.2 %), cleavage rate (85.1 % +/-19.3 % vs. 82.7 % +/-22.1 %), clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer cycle (31.6 % vs. 28.6 %) and implantation rate per embryo (15.3 % vs. 14.4 %) did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONICSI is a valuable method for couples with a history of IVF failure. These patients may have a similar ICSI result as in severe male infertility.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; Adult ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Oocytes ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Spermatozoa ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Yangyin Yiqi Huoxue Recipe (YYHR, the basic recipe of Yangyin Tongnao Granule) in treatment of ischemic stroke patients of deficiency of qi and yin syndrome (DQYS) and static blood obstructing collaterals syndrome (SBOCS).

METHODSTotally 312 patients were assigned to the control group (86 cases) and the treatment group (226 cases) using strati- fied randomized allocation method. Patients in the treatment group were treated with modified YYHR, while those in the control group took Xueshuan Xinmaining. The treatment course was 4 weeks for all. Constituent ratios of the acute stage and the recovery stage of DQYS and SBOCS and their complicated syndromes were observed in the two groups. Changes of the clinical curative effect, clinical symptoms integral, whole blood viscosity ratio, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total cho- lesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was statistical difference in constituent ratios of the acute stage and the recovery stage of DQYS SBOCS and its complicated syndromes between the two groups (P < 0.01). DQYS and SBOCS was basic syndrome types of the two groups. The cured and markedly effective rate was 71.24%(161/226) in the treatment group and 43.02% (37/86) in the control group. The total effective rate was 91.15% (206/226) in the treatment group, higher than that of the control group (76.74%, 66/86) with statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the clinical symptoms integral, whole blood viscosity ratio, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, ESR, TC, TG,HDL-C, and LDL-C (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSymptoms of ischemic stroke patients could be improved by modified YYHR. Indices such as the whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity ratio, hematocrit, ESR, abnormal metabolism of blood lipids were also significantly improved. Pathological changes of blood stasis induced by qi-yin deficiency exist in ischemic stroke patients, and DQYS and SBOCS were basic syndrome types.

Aged ; Biomedical Research ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Qi ; Stroke ; drug therapy ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo screen the severe acute respiratory syndromes (SARS) mimotopes with random phage peptide library and to investigate their immunogenicity.

METHODSUsing SARS sera as selective molecule, a 12 mer phage peptide library was biopanned and positive clones containing the mimic epitopes were selected. The immuno-characteriation of the epitopes were then investigated.

RESULTS2 positive clones that having specific affinity to SARS sera were obtained. The DNA sequencing data showed no homology between the sequences of the deduced amino acid of the two mimic antigen peptides and the sequence of SARS.

CONCLUSIONSARS mimotopes were obtained by phage peptide library screening. This method might provide a new approach for SARS therapy and vaccine development.

Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; Base Sequence ; Biomimetic Materials ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between a -799C/T polymorphism in the promotor region of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) gene and instability of carotid plaque in Chinese Han population.

METHODSA total of 451 acute infarction patients from the Department of Neurology of Taizhou Hospital were divided into carotid vulnerable plaque group and carotid stable plaque group according to the results of carotid B-mode ultrasonography. Serum MMP -8 level was measured by the means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). At the same time, the MMP-8 -799C/T polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

RESULTSSerum level of MMP-8 in the carotid vulnerable plaque group was higher than that in the carotid stable plaque group (t= 2.894, P= 0.004). The genotype distribution of -799C/T polymorphism between the two groups was significantly different (Chi-square = 13.65, P= 0.000). Serum level of MMP-8 in patients with TT genotype was higher than that in patients with CC genotype (t= 3.141, P= 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe present study suggested that serum level of MMP-8 and the -799C/T polymorphism of MMP-8 gene are associated with carotid vulnerable plaque in Chinese Han population, and the T allele may be a predictor for the susceptibility of carotid vulnerable plaque.

Aged ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo analyze the molecular characters of the W135 Neisseria meningitidis strain firstly isolated from patients in Guangdong province.

METHODSBiochemical profile by using the API NH system (bio-Merieux, France) was used for confirmation,and sero-grouping of the meningococcal isolates including one serogroup W135, one serogroup C and three serogroups of a Neisseria meningitidis isolated from patients in Guangdong province in recent two years were performed. The subtype was determined after amplifying porA and porB respectively from the genome DNA of Neisseria meningitidis. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for determining the allele profiles and the sequence types (STs). The polygenetic tree was obtained by analyzing the allele profiles with program Splits tree online. The molecular characters of the serogroup W135 Neisseria meningitidis was analyzed by its evolution relationship and the variable regions in porA and porB which encoding the outer membranes proteins (OMPs).

RESULTSThe subtype determined by porA variable regions of the serogroup W135 Neisseria meningitidis was P1.5,2, which was one of the most invasive types. The types of variable regions (VRs) I, IV, V, VII with porB were 1, 1, 1, 17, and there was no VI and VIII in porB. The allele profile of the W135 strain in this study was 2, 123, 4, 3, 8, 4, 6, and its sequence type was ST-2960, which belonged to ST-11/ET-37 clone complex. The subtypes of the serogroup C and serogroup A strains were P1.20, while their types of VR IV were all 7, and they all hadn't VR VII in porB. The strain serogroup C belonged to ST-4821 clone complex, and the 3 serogroup A strains belonged to ST-5 clone complex.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular character of the serogroup W135 Neisseria meningitidis should be the same with the strains isolated in foreign country, and be different from the epidemic types in the area. This serogroup W135 Neisseria meningitis isolated from patients in Guangdong for the first time was thought to be a new type appearing in the local area.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; Disease Outbreaks ; Encephalomyelitis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective To investigate whether the protective effects of leonurine (SCM-198) against endotoxin induced uveitis (EIU) of SD rats caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was existing,and discuss the underlying mechanisms.Methods Thirty-six normal healthy male SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly with the same baseline bodyweight and feeding conditions.All rats received intragastric administration every day.The experimental group was devided into 4 subgroups,rats in these subgroups received SCM-198 intragastric administration by as the dose of 10,20,40 and 80 mg/kg bodyweight per day,rats in the negative control group received intragastric administration of normal saline 10 mL/kg per day,rats in the positive control group received intragastric administration ofdexamethasone (DEX) 0.5 mg/kg bodyweight per day.All rats received a 21-day-intragastric administration.The body weight of all rats was monitored every 7 days.The electroretinogram (ERG) examination was taken in the 18th day.All rats received a 100 mg S.typhi LPS intraperitoneal injection after the 21st intragastric administration.Twenty-four hours later,following anaesthesia,all rats received another ERG examination,and inflammation was scoring under microscope by 2 experienced ophthalmologists,after that the aqueous humor of all rats was collected from the left eye.The aqueous humor was kept in-80 ℃ immediately.Then the rats were sacrificed and the right eyes were immediately enucleated to finish the HE staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining examination of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).The total amount of protein in aqueous humor was detected by BCA test.Western blot was used to examine the expression of TNF-α,interleukin-1β (IL-1β),IL-6 and ICAM-1.All data was analyzed by SPSS 19.0,and differences were considered significant at P＜0.05.Results The body weight of the rats in positive control group was significantly lower (P＜0.05) than the experimental group and the negative control group after the 21-day-intragastric administration.The inflammatory score of experimental group was lower than that of the negative control group,but higher than the score of positive control group.The HE staining sections showed the similar results.The a wave of ERG in 0.01 cd of rats received 20 mg/kg SCM-198 daily intragastric administration after LPS injection was significantly lower than that before the LPS injection (P＜0.05),also lower than other groups after LPS injection.The expression of TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β in the aqueous humor of the rats in the subgroup of SCM-198 10 mg/kg daily intragastric administration was lower than other groups.Conclusions Intragastric administration of SCM-198 has protective effect against endotoxin induced uveitis in SD rats without obvious adverse reaction,which could alleviate the imflammatory reaction and the damage to the uvea construction.NF-κB plays an important role in the reaction.Thus,SCM-198 is a candidate potent compound with potential therapeutic applications in inflammation associated eye diseases.While the best mode and dose of administration should be further investigated.