The tissue-specific and MeJA-induced transcriptional levels of BcUGT3 and BcUGT6 in Bupleurum chinense were analyzed in the present study. The transcriptional levels of BcUGT3 in root, leaf, flower and fruit were similar and they all were higher than those in stem. The transcriptional level of BcUGT6 was the highest in leaf and the lowest in flower among in all tested tissues. With non-treated adventitious roots as control, BcUGT6's transcriptional levels were elevated to nearly 2 folds for 2 h, 8 h, 24 h, 2 d and 4 d in MeJA-treated adventitious roots of B. chinense. It showed that the transcriptional level of BcUGT6 was slightly affected by MeJA. While, BcUGT3's transcriptional levels were gradually elevated, and till 4 d after MeJA treatment, the expression level was about 7 folds than that of non-treated control. Using pET-28a (+), the expressions of two genes was investigated. Induced by IPTG, the target proteins were expressed in E. coli and then purified. All the results obtained in the present study will be helpful for follow-up bio-function analysis of BcUGT3 and BcUGT6.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Bupleurum ; cytology ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; drug effects ; Hexosyltransferases ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Intracellular Space ; metabolism ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Protein Transport ; Sequence Analysis ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of olecranon plate and tension band in the treatment of olecranon fracture.

METHODSSixty-three patients with olecranon fracture were treated with olecranon plate and tension band. Thirty-five patients (21 male and 14 female, aged from 15 to 62 years, with an average of 48.9 years) were involved in tension band group and 28 patients (20 male and 8 female, aged from 25 to 67 years, with an average of 50.6 years)were involved in plate group. According to the Delee, JC classification in 1984, there were type 1A in 5 cases, type 1B in 8 cases, type 2 in 17 cases, type 3 in 7 cases and type 4 in 1 case in tension band group; there were type 1A in 3 cases, type 1B in 5 cases, type 2 in 6 cases, type 3 in 11 cases and type 4 in 3 cases in plate group.

RESULTSSixty-three cases were all followed up from 6 to 15 months. According to the criterion of PANG Gui-gen, the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 1 case and no bad in plate group; the results were excellent in 23 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 21 case and no bad in tension band group. The therapeutic effect of two groups has no significantly statistic difference.

CONCLUSIONBoth olecranon plate and tension band are the effective treatments for olecranon fracture. The selection of two methods should depend on to the state of fracture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the psychology of infertility patients from the perspective of economic sociology so as to prevent the patients from medical frauds in seeking medical treatment.

METHODWe investigated 902 infertility patients of the Third Hospital of Peking University from September 2005 to January 2006 using a randomized questionnaire.

RESULTSOf the total number, 84.4% had education below college level; the majority had a low monthly family income, 36.6% below Y1,000, 19.7% from Y1,000 to Y2,000, 16.5% from Y2,000 to Y3,000, 7.8% from Y3,000 to Y4,000 and 19.4% above Y4,000; 88.7% had a strong desire for a child; 60.3% were psychologically stressed. As for the advertisements for the treatment of infertility, 50.2% of the patients disbelieved them, 6.2% wanted to have a try and about 43.6% accepted them to be true. Regarding the treatment in individual hospitals, 55.2% disbelieved in it, 5.8% wanted to try it and about 39.0% believed in it.

CONCLUSIONInfertility patients of low economic status usually have a lower educational level but a higher desire for children, and therefore are more likely to be the victims of medical frauds and more psychologically stressed. It calls for our attention how to provide them with medical help.

Educational Status ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; economics ; psychology ; therapy ; Male ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness and safety of Tongyan spray composed of Chinese medicine for post-stroke dysphagia patients.

METHODOne hundred and twenty-two post-stroke dysphagia patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (61 cases) and the control group (61 cases). Basic treatment was given to both groups, with Tongyan spray additionally used in oropharynx for the treatment group, and the placebo used for the control group. After 28-day treatment, the clinical effect and safety were evaluated according to the standard swallowing assessment (SSA) scale.

RESULTSOne patient dropped out in each group, and 120 patients reached the final analysis of the study. The total effective rate for the treatment group was 71.7% (43/60), higher than 46.7% (28/60) in the control group (P<0.05), and the improvement on SSA scores of the two groups were significantly different after treatment (P<0.05). For grade 1 dysphagia patients (completely depending on nasogastric tube), the effective rate of the treatment group was 40.9% (9/22), and 12.5% (2/16) of the control group, without significant difference (P>0.05), while the improvement of SSA score was significantly different between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05). For grade 2-3 dysphagia patients (oral and nasogastric tube feeding), the total effective rate of the treatment group was 89.5% (34/38), higher than 59.1% (26/44) in the control group (P<0.05), and also the improvement on SSA scores was significantly different between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTongyan spray was an effective and safe method for post-stroke dysphagia patients.

Administration, Inhalation ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Clematis ; chemistry ; Deglutition Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the expression of connexin (Cx) and the function of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the carcinogenesis, progression and metastasis of gastric cancers.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Cx32 and Cx43 proteins in tissue samples. Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to investigate the expression of Cx32 and Cx43 proteins in several gastric cancer lines of various differentiation grades. The expression of Cx43 in samples of gastric cancer tissue, adjacent normal tissue and in the gastric cancer cell lines of various differentiation grades was detected by Western blot. Scrape-loading dye transfer (SLDT) technique was used to detect the function of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in the various cell lines.

RESULTSIn the normal gastric mucosa the expression rates of both Cx32 and Cx43 were 100%. In gastric cancers, the expression rates of Cx32 andCx43 were 49.5% (55/111) and 39.6% (44/111), respectively. There was a significant difference between their expression in normal and cancer tissues (P < 0.05). Age of the patients was not significantly correlated with the expression level of Cx32 and Cx43 (P > 0.05). Cx43 expression was significantly associated with the TMN stage, histological type, depth of infiltration and distant metastasis (P < 0.05), but Cx32 expression was not significantly correlated with depth of infiltration ( P > 0.05). In the cancer cell lines, a positive expression of Cx32 and Cx43 was detected in transfected human stomach mucosal cell line (CES-1) and human well differentiated stomach cancer cell line (N87), but negative in the poorly differentiated stomach cancer cell line (BGC-823) at all. Both Cx32 and Cx43 expression rates were 100% in the cell line GES-1. Cx32 expression rate was 49.0% and Cx43 expression rate was 55.0% in the cell line N87. But in the poorly differentiated cancer cell line BGC-823 both Cx32 and Cx43 expression was negative. GJIC function detection showed: GES-1 showed well GIJC function but no GIJC function in the cell lines N87 and BGC-823. The intensity of fluorescence was gradually decreasing from GES-1 cells to N87 cells and almost no fluorescence in BGC-823 cells. Western blotting showed that Cx43 expression in normal tissue was higher than that in gastric cancer tissue, and in the cell lines GES-1, N87 and BGC-823, the bands seemed decreasing progressively. There was very low expression in BGC-823 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe decreasing expression of connexin Cx32 and Cx43 is obviously correlated with the occurrence, development and metastatic potential of stomach cancers.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Cell Communication ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Connexins ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gap Junctions ; physiology ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of the polymorphic marker closely linked with beta-globin gene for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in couples at risk of having child with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSSingle cell multiplex nested PCR which coamplifies the beta-globin gene and the closely linked polymorphic marker, HumTHO1 gene, was applied in six clinical PGD cycles for four couples with beta-thalassemia.

RESULTSIn six clinical PGD cycles, a total of 44 embryos were biopsied and 44 blastomeres were obtained. Forty-one blastomeres were amplified and thirty-five embryos were given definite diagnoses. Fourteen embryos were transferred back to the uterus of the patients and one pregnancy went on well and ended with one live healthy birth, which confirmed the results of PGD. The average amplification efficiency of single blastomere was 89.7% and the average allele drop-out(ADO) rate was 14.4%. The coamplification of HumTHO1 could help to detect the existence of ADO and contamination.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report on unaffected pregnancy resulting from PGD using multiplex nested PCR in China. The simultaneous amplification of polymorphic marker closely linked to beta-globin gene(HumTHO1) could help to resist the risk of misdiagnosis in PGD caused by ADO and contamination.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics

Objective To investigate the characteristics of MRSA colonization and their influence to the prognosis of patients in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU),so as to provide the basis for the caring of the RICU patients.Methods A prospective study included 246 cases of patients admitted to RICU in our hospital during Jan 2010 to Neb 2011.Swab specimens from nares,pharynx,axillae,groin,chest and hands of the patients were collected and cultured at the first day in RICU,and then repeated every 3 days.The patients were divided into MRSA colonization group (n =30) and MRSA non-colonization group (n =216) according to MRSA culture results.Results The MRSA colonization rate was 12.19％ in RICU patients,including 16 cases of hospital-acquired colonization.No significant difference was found in the gender,the APACHE Ⅱ score and APACHE Ⅲ between MRSA colonization group and the MRSA non-colonization group (P ＞ 0.05).The mean age in MRSA colonization group was significantly greater than that of the MRSA non-colonization group [(81.13 ± 6.86) vs (74.78 ± 11.89) ; t =2.955,P =0.003)] ; The number of hospitalization and the mortality in one year of the MRSA colonization group was significantly more than those of MRSA non-colonization group [(1.83 ±1.216) vs (1.06 ±0.257),40.0％ vs 16.7％ ;t =2.998,x2 =9.132;P＜0.01)].MRSA was mainly colonized in nares.Conclusions MRSA colonization has an important impact on the prognosis of RICU patients.More than 50％ of MRSA colonization cases are hospital-associated,suggesting that we should strengthen the bedside care,prevention of cross infection.

OBJECTIVEThe anatomic features of transsphenoidal approach are reviewed, focusing on the microsurgical anatomy of suprasellar and parasellar structures. Pertinent microsurgical anatomy is described for neurosurgeons to successfully extend a standard transsphenoidal approach for treatment of lesions including the region of the tuberculum sellae, planum sphenoidale, supradiaphragmatic intradural space, and medial cavernous sinus.

METHODS15 specimens (30 sides) from formalin fixed cadaveric heads and 20 adult dry skulls (40 sides) were observed. According to the need for the extend transsphenoidal approach, the sellar and parasellar region: the planum sphenoidale and the supradiaphragmatic area, medial part of cavernous sinus were studied. Special emphases were put on the relation of the cranial nerve and blood vessel structures surrounding the sellar. Meanwhile, we made the cast specimen of the blood vessel and studied the structure character of the internal carotid artery in the cavernous sinus.

RESULTSPosterior ethmoidal could be exit as para or suprasphenoidal ethmoidal air cell. It will be important for extending the transsphenoidal approach. The mean distance between two optic canal is 15.7 +/- 3.2 mm (11.0 - 18.0 mm), the distance of internal carotid artery at tuberculum cellae level is 13.9 +/- 3.8 mm (10.0 - 17.0 mm), the mean distance between tuberculum cellae and the posterior rim of cribriform plate is 23.3 +/- 3.2 mm, the included angle between sagittal plane and optic canal is 36.3 degrees +/- 1.6 degrees , with the anatomy research data give the clue that the bone window should be made as the shape of "[see text]".

CONCLUSIONSExpending transsphenoidal approach is suitable for medium and small lesions growing along the centre line which expand to para sellar, anterior sellar and sphenoid platform. That hypophysis has close relation with internal carotid artery during expending transsphenoidal approach to cavernous sinus increase the risk of operation. The carotid artery and abducent nerve are the easiest structures to be damaged during the operation.

Adult ; Cadaver ; Cavernous Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Humans ; Sphenoid Bone ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Sphenoid Sinus ; anatomy & histology ; surgery

The ORF sequence of glycosyltransferase gene BcUGT1 cloned from Bupleurum chinense DC. was analyzed and its three dimentional structure was predicted. Using qRT-PCR method, the expression characteristics of BcUGT1 after methyl jasmonate (MeJA) induction and in different plant tissues were investigated. The results showed that BcUGT1 may be involved in saikosaponin biosynthesis in B. chinense. Thereafter, the recombinant vectors of BcUGT1 were constructed for its expression in E. coli. The target protein was successfully expressed and purified. In the present study, three vectors, pRSET-A, pET-28a (+) and pET-30a (+), and three isolates of E. coli, BL21 (DE3) plysS, BL21A1 and BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPL were used under different induction conditions, such as different concentrations and during times of inducers (L-arabinose and IPTG) and different inducing temperatures. The results showed that in the condition of 0.5 or 1 mmol x L(-1) IPTG, 16 degrees C, 20 h, target protein expressed in BL21-CodonPlus (DE3)-RIPL with pET-28a (+) or pET-30a (+) as vector. Using PrepEase His-tagged protein purification kit, the target protein was purified. The present work will be helpful for follow-up bio-function analysis of BcUGT1.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Bupleurum ; chemistry ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Glycosyltransferases ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; biosynthesis ; Open Reading Frames ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; biosynthesis

Objective To analyze the CD4 +T cells and virus load in HIV/AIDS affected population and to evaluate the HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy programs in Henan province.Methods "Henan HIV/AIDS Testing Laboratory Network Database" was used to collect the data on CD4+ T cells and virus load (VL) value and corresponding information in HIV/AIDS population of Henan in 2009. Cross-sectional studies was used to study the constituent ratio of CD4 + T cells and virus load value in individuals who had not received antiretroviral-treated (ART) and had joined first-line ART between the year of 2005 to 2008 among HIV/AIDS population of Henan. Results As to these people living with HIV/AIDS that had not received ART in the first half and the second half year of 2009, the constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4+T cells were less than 200 cells/μl both accounted for more than 20% (χ2=2.059, P=0.151). The constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4+T cells were in 200-350 cells/μl and more than 350 cells/μl increased from 27.61% to 29.41%(χ2=4.636, P=0.031 ) and decreased from 51.49% to 48.60% (χ2=9.767, P=0.002), respectively.Meanwhile, we saw 34.53% and 19.65% of the patients whose virus load was ＞10 000 copy/mland ＞30 000 copy/ml in this population. Patients that joined first-line ART during 2005-2008 showed the following results: the longer of the therapy time, the higher constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4+ T cells were more than 350 cells/μl (χ2= 148.689, P＜0.001) and the lower constituent ratio of individuals of whose CD4+T cells were less than 200 cells/μl (χ2=46.686,P＜0.001).Simultaneously, the lower constituent ratio of individuals whose viral load was less than 500 copy/ml (χ2=9.066, P=0.003) and the higher constituent ratio of individuals whose virus load was more than 10 000 copy/ml (χ2=6.597, P=0.010). Conclusion Significant curative effect had been achieved in AIDS first-line ART of Henan, but along with the increasing treatment time, the risk of treatment failure also increased. Drug resistance test and changing of treatment protocols were needed. To reach better and more efficient effects on therapy, factors as more detections and investments on ART, expanding the scope of treatment etc. were needed on those people living with HIV/AIDS that had not received ART.