Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pterygium ; therapy ; Yin Deficiency ; therapy

Objective To determine the content of paeoniflorin with different medicinal parts in Radix Paeoniae Alba and offer a reference for collection and processing. Methods The content of paeoniflorin was measured by HPLC method. Combining air drying with weight relief condition, the content of paeoniflorin was calculated in fresh Radix Paeoniae Alba. Results There was the highest content of paeoniflorin in Radix Paeoniae Alba in 24～48 hours after collection, and the another increasing of the content was founded 120 hours after collection. Conclusion Radix Paeoniae Alba should be processed in 48 hours after collection.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the inflorescence bracts of Arctii Fructus. Methods: The compounds were isolated and purified by the methods of silica gel column chromatography, HPLC, and recrystallization, and the structures were elucidated by the means of spectral analysis. Results: Twelve compounds were isolated and identified as daucosterol (1), isofouquierol (2), (22E)-5α, 8-epidioxyergosta-6, 22-dien-3β-ol (3), 3β-hydroxy-21, 22-epoxyursa-20(30)-en (4), 3β, 21β-dihydroxy-20(30)-en-taraxastane (5), oleanolic acid (6), arctigenin (7), carthamogenin (8), caffeic acid (9), 4(14)-eudesmene-8α, 11-diol (10), monogynol A (11), and lupeol (12). Conclusion; Compounds 2-3, 5, 6, 10-11 are obtained from the plants of Arctium L. for the first time, and compound 12 is isolated from the inflorescence bracts of Arctii Fructus for the first time.

The chemical constituents from Euphorbia lunulata was investigated in this paper. Fourteen compounds were isolated and purified by column chromatographies on silica gel and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and NMR data analysis as lupeol (1), euphol (2), cassipourol(3) , 24-methylenecycloartan-3beta-ol (4), 24-hydroperoxycycloart-25-en-3beta-ol (5), 25-hydroperoxycycloart-23-en-3beta-ol (6), betulin (7), uvaol (8), (23E) -25-methoxycycloart-23-en-3beta-ol (9), (23E) -cycloart-23,25-dien-3beta-ol (10), 24-methylenecycloartan-3beta, 28-diol (11), salicinolide (12), 2alpha, 3beta, 5alpha, 9alpha, 15beta-pentaacetoxy-11,12-epoxy-7beta, 8alpha-diisobutyryloxyjatropha-6 (17) -en-14-one (13) and 3beta, 5alpha, 15beta-triacetoxy-7beta-isobutyryloxy-9alpha-nicotinoyloxyjatropha-6 (17), 11(E)-dien-14-one (14). Among them, compounds 1-11 were isolated from E. lunulata for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immuno-modulatory effect of short course administration of somatostatin (stilamin) continuously at early stage in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with SAP (22 men, 17 women; the middle age was 49 years)were randomly allocated into control group (20 patients treated with non-surgical integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and treatment group (19 patients treated with somatostatin administered intravenously at a dosage of 250 mug/h for consecutive 72 hours as well as the treatment for the control group). Laboratory parameters, including the expressions of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) in lymphocytes (tested by flow cytometry) and C reactive protein (CRP), and indexes of therapeutic effect, including the occurrence of organic dysfunction, local complication and mortality between the two groups were compared. Another group of 30 healthy volunteers (19 men, 11 women; the middle age was 47 years) were recruited for testing the normal levels of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8). RESULTS: (1) The levels of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) in lymphocytes before treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences between the two groups. At the 4th day, CD(3), CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) increased significantly in the treatment group (P<0.05) while no changes in the control group; the levels of CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) in the treatment group were also higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). (2) The CRP levels of the 2 groups showed no statistical difference before and 4 days after the treatment, but the CRP level in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group at the 7th day (P<0.05). WBC count, serum levels of amylase, lipase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as the score of APACHE II in the treatment group recovered more quickly than those in the control group (P<0.05). (3) The occurrences of organic dysfunctions, local complications and mortality in both groups were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: The short course administration of somatostatin continuously at early stage can reduce the inflammatory response, up-regulate the cell immune function and improve the conditions of the patients with SAP, but its effect on mortality and morbidity needs further study.

Accurate area assessment of a burn injury and its treatment according to its depth of injury are the foundation of burn treatment due to its complexity, and various techniques and methods have been employed to solve these problems for many years. As the demand of modern medicine calls for individualized and precise therapeutic measures, it is clear that the traditional diagnostic and treatment measures are insufficient. The flourishing development of three-dimensional (3D) technology seems to provide new research approaches and technical opporturities for burn surgery. A series of techniques such as 3D model, 3D scanning, and 3D printing may be promising in advancing burn surgery through basic research to achieve rational clinical applications in the future. In this paper, the applications and achievements of 3D technology in burn surgery in recent years are summarized.
Body Surface Area ; Burns ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Pinggan Qianyang Recipe (PQR) on inhibiting angiotensin II (Ang II) induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and changes of DNA methylation.

METHODSVSMCs were cultured using tissue explant method, and PQR containing serum was prepared. Primarily cultured VSMCs were divided into four groups, the normal group, the model group, the folate group (folic acid intervention) , and the PQR group. The proliferation and migration of VSMCs was duplicated by Ang II. After 24-h Ang II induced culture, 40 microg/mL folic acid was added to the folate group for 48 h, while 5% PQR containing serum was added to the PQR group for 48 h. The cell growth curve of VSMCs was drawn by using Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8). The proliferative activity of VSMC was determined by MTT assay. The migration of VSMCs was measured by Millicell chamber. The general level of cytosine methylation in cell nucleus was detected via 5-mC antibodies immunofluorescence, and mRNA expression levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) were measured by Real-time q-polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR).

RESULTSVSMCs were promoted by Ang II at 10(-6) mol/L for 24 h. Compared with the normal group, the proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously increased, and DNA methylation level obviously decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell growth, proliferative activity and migration quantity of VSMCs obviously decreased and the general DNA methylation level increased in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression of DNMT1 decreased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA expression of DNMT1 in Ang II induced VSMCs was obviously enhanced in the folate group and the PQR group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSPQR could inhibit Ang II induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs, and cause high genomic DNA methylation level. Changes of DNA methylation might be associated with DNMT1 expression.

Angiotensin II ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects

Objective To compare treatment response according to the PERCIST1.0,RECIST1.1,EORTC,and WHO criteria in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods A total of 41 CLM patients (27 males,average age 68.48 years;14 females,average age 62.43 years) from January 2010 to September 2013 were included in this retrospective study.PET/CT scan was performed before chemotherapy and after 4-6 cycles′ chemotherapy.The baseline and the sequential follow-up 18F-FDG PET/CT of each patient were evaluated according to the PERCIST1.0,RECIST1.1,EORTC,and WHO criteria.The response was categorized into 4 levels including CR,PR,SD,PD.PET/CT images were used for both metabolic and anatomic evaluation.The concurrent diagnostic CT or MRI images (performed within 1 week of PET/CT) were also utilized when needed.The agreements of criteria were analyzed using Kappa test.The response rate (RR) and disease control rate (DCR) were compared using χ2 test.Results The RR and DCR according to the PERCIST1.0,EORTC and RECIST1.1 criteria were 31.71％(13/41) and 63.41％(26/41),31.71％(13/41) and 60.98％(25/41),17.07％(7/41) and 68.29％(28/41),respectively.The general comparison of PERCIST1.0 and RECIST1.1,EORTC and RECIST1.1 criteria showed good agreements (κ values: 0.711,0.689).Significant difference was not found in the DCR(χ2=2.000,P>0.05) but found in the RR(χ2=6.000,P<0.05) between PERCIST1.0 and RECIST1.1.Difference of DCR between EORTC and RECIST1.1 was not significant(χ2=3.000,P>0.05),while the RR had significant difference(χ2=6.000,P<0.05).The RR and DCR according to WHO criterion were 12.20％(5/41) and 70.73％(29/41),which had a good consistency with those according to PERCIST1.0 criteria (κ=0.629).Significant statistical difference was not found in the DCR(χ2=3.000,P>0.05) but found in the RR(χ2=8.000,P<0.05) between PERCIST1.0 and WHO criteria.Conclusions In evaluating CLM treatment response,anatomical criteria and metabolic criteria have a good consistency.But metabolic criteria are more sensitive for RR evaluating.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological manifestations of early renal amyloidosis (AL) and its diagnostic criteria.

METHODSFifteen cases with early renal amyloidosis admitted from 1994 to 2001 were collected from the hospital, and their clinical and pathological features were reviewed. Of them, the initial diagnoses were not made by depending findings from the light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescense (IF), but confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) afterwards. Immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) were applied for amyloidosis typing.

RESULTSMost patients of early renal AL were in the middle to old age. Nephrotic syndrome was the most prominent symptoms and signs accompanying with rare microscopic hematuria and hypertension. Most of them had a normal renal function. Pathological examinations of renal biopsies using LM and IF showed mild mesangial proliferation and mild thickening of glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Immunoglobulins and complements were negative or only scanty in certain cases, but in all cases there was a light chain protein deposition homogeously. There were 4 cases of minimal change glomerulopathy, 5 cases of mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 5 cases of stage I membranous nephropathy, and 1 case of cast nephropathy diagnosed with LM. The amyloid fibrils (diameter 8 - 10 nm) were randomly distributed in the mesangium, along GBM and at the arteriolar wall under EM. Additionally, Congo red staining was positive. IEM demonstrated that amyloid fibrils labeled with colloid gold was combined with a kind of light chain protein which was confirmed as the light chain type of AL.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of early renal AL was occasionally neglected by depending only findings of LM and LF. However, special amyloid fibrils can be detected using EM. EM observation is an indispensable technique for the diagnosis of early renal AL and the typing of AL may further be determined by using IEM.

Adult ; Aged ; Amyloidosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basement Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathologic features and diagnostic algorithm of light chain nephropathy (LCN).

METHODSSeven cases of LCN were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunolabeling of light chains (kappa, lambda) by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTSThe histopathology of 7 cases by light microscopy was variable, with 3 cases showing nodular glomerulosclerosis, 1 case showing mild to moderate mesangial proliferation, and 3 cases showing cast nephropathy with minimal glomerular change. Immunofluorescence study revealed positive staining of a single type of light chain in mesangium (nodular pattern) or along glomerular basement membrane (linear), along tubular basement membrane and around arteriolar walls in all the 7 cases. Ultrastructurally, electron-dense granular deposits were identified in mesangium, subendothelial aspect of glomerular basement membrane, outer aspect of tubular basement membrane and arteriolar walls. Immunogold labeling of light chains showed distinct labeling of a single type light chain in the granular electron-dense materials (5 cases being kappa-positive and 2 being lambda-positive).

CONCLUSIONSLCN typically shows nodular glomerulosclerosis. The ultrastructural change is characteristic and important for diagnosis. Immunolabeling of light chains by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy carries further diagnostic value, especially in cases with minimal light microscopic change.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains ; immunology ; Kidney Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged