Plant growth retardant as one of plant growth regulator can inhibit the cell division, elongation and growth rate in shoot apical meristem (SAM), which can be reversed by gibberellin regulate the product of photosynthesis transfer to the root and rhizome part. As commonly used plant growth retardant, paclobutrazol, uniconazole, chlorocholine chloride, mepiquat chloride, choline chloride and daminozide are used to promote the growth of root and rhizome, call as "zhuanggenling", "pengdasu", "pengdaji" etc. Single or recombination of plant growth regulator is registered as pesticide, and called as pesticide "zhuanggenling" in this paper. Growth regulator which registered as a foliar fertilizer or fertilization was called agricultural fertilizer "zhuanggenling" in this paper. The author investigate the usage of "zhuanggenling" in the root and rhizome of medicinal plants cultivation from 2012 to 2014 in Sichuan province, Huangyuan town, Mianyang (Ophiopogonis Radix); Pengzhou Aoping town (Chuanxiong Rhizoma); Pengshan Xiejia town (Alismatis Rhizoma); Jiangyou Taiping town and Zhangming town (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata); Yunnan Wenshan (Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma); Henan province, Wuzhidafeng Town (Rehmanniae Radix, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Dioscoreae Rhizoma); Gansu Min county (Codonopsis Radix, Angelicae Sinensis Radix); Gansu Li county (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma). The result showed that "zhuanggenling" were applied in the most medicinal plant cultivation except Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. It has been applied widespreadly in Ophiopogonis Radix, Alismatis Rhizoma, Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, Codonopsis Radix; Rehmanniae Radix, commonly in Angelicae Sinensis Radix application, and occasionally in Chuanxiong Rhizoma, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Dioscoreae Rhizoma. In 53 collected sample from plantation areas, fifteen (28%) were pesticide "zhuanggenling", thirty-eight (72%) were pesticide "zhuanggenling". UPLC analysis results showed that 38 farmers fertilizer "zhuanggenling" content of 6 kinds of plant growth retardant. It is regarded that fertilizer "zhuanggenling" was dominant in medicinal plant cultivation, and that the plant growth retardant is added widespreadly in farm fertilizer "zhuanggenling". All evidence proves conclusively that "zhuanggenling" have been used in the proper way, whereas some others have been misused or even abused in the use regarding to type, number, use frequency. The root or rhizoma are increased to 20%-200%. But there is lack of evaluation to appraise the quality of medicinal materials from the aspects of research or industry. "zhuanggenling" has become a important Chemical control material besides fertilizer, insecticidal sterilization of pesticide
China ; Fertilizers ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development

Cost of Illness ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Obesity ; economics

Objective To describe the characteristics for distribution of waist circumference (WC) and validate the cut-offs of WC in defining the central obesity among Chinese elderly and tall adults. Methods Data from the 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey was used to analyze the characteristics of WC distribution among subjects aged 45 and above and their height beyond the P85 percentile of Chinese adults. Kappa test was used to estimate the consistency of different cut-offs for WC with body mass index (BMI)≥24 in defining obesity. The odds ratios of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in different cut-offs on WC were calculated by multiple logistic regression. ROC curves analysis was used to determine the cut-offs. Results The means of WC were: 80.8 cm in male elderly, 79.4 cm in female elderly, 84.1 cm in tall male and 77.9 em in tall female, respectively. The WC at 85 cm for male and 80 cm for female elderly had the best consistency with BMI at 24, and the distance of ROC curve was the shortest. The odds ratios for diabetes significantly increased from WC categories of 85- cm (OR=2.1,95% CI: 1.6-2.8), 90- cm (OR=3.0,95 % CI: 2.3-4.0), and 95- cm (OR=4.5,95%CI:3.4-5.8) in male elderly,and 80- cm (OR= 1.9,95%CI: 1.4-2.6) ,85- cm (OR=3.2, 95% CI: 2.4-4.3), and 90- cm (OR=4.8, 95% CI: 3.7-6.1 ) in female elderly (P<0.01). The odds ratios for impaired fasting glucose also significantly increased from WC categories of 85- cm (OR= 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.2), 90- cm (OR=2.6,95% CI: 1.9-3.5), and 95- cm (OR=3.5,95% CI:2.6-4.6) in male elderly, and 80- cm (OR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.8-3.4), 85- cm (OR=3.2, 95% CI:2.4-4.4), and 90- cm (OR=4.2,95% CI: 3.2-5.6) in female elderly (P<0.01). The odds ratios for diabetes (OR=3.6, 95% CI: 2.1-6.4) and impaired fasting glucose (OR=5.5, 95% CI: 3.0-10.1)significantly increased from WC≥95 cm in tall males. The odds ratios for diabetes significantlyincreased from WC categories of 85- cm (OR=5.0,95%CI: 2.7-9.4) and 90- cm (OR=8.0,95%C1:4.6-14.1 ), and odds ratio for impaired fasting glucose of WC≥90 cm was 3.7 (95%CI: 2.0-6.9) intall females. Conclusion The recommended cut-off points of WC were 85 cm for elderly males and80 cm for elderly females. The eut-offs of WC were also effective predictors for impaired fasting glucose among tall adults. The cut-offs of WC in the Guidelines for Overweight and ObesityPrevention and Control for Chinese Adults were verified and should be applied as preventiveindicators.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSTwelve patients with severe AA (SAA) and 4 with chronic AA (CAA) received allo- HSCT. The effectiveness and complication were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSHematopoiesis reconstitution was achieved 14 patients (87.50%). The median time of neutrophils reached to 0.5 x 10(9)/L and platelets reached to 20 x 10(9)/L were 14 (11 - 16) and 14 (10 - 33) days, respectively. Six cases developed grade I - II acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), chronic local GVHD occurred in 2 patients. Graft rejection occurred in 3 cases. Thirteen cases survived with a median of 10 (0.5 - 84) months at the end of follow-up. Three cases died of un-engraftment, graft rejection (GR) and interstitial pneumonia (IP) each.

CONCLUSIONAllo-HSCT is an effective therapy for patients with AA. Enhancing immunosuppressive treatment for conditioning and GVHD prophylaxis may reduce the incidence of GR and GVHD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The study was purposed to investigate the differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into myocardial cells in vitro. Rat bone marrow-derived MSCs were labeled and co-cultured with neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (CM) for 5 - 7 days. The expression of cell surface antigens was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of muscle-specific marker myosin and troponin T in labeled cells was detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that in vitro cultured MSCs expressed CD90, CD44, CD105, CD54, not expressed CD34, CD45, CD31. After co-cultured with neonatal rat CM, labeled MSCs differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells expressing myosin and troponin T. It is concluded that MSCs can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells when co-cultured with neonatal myocardial cells in vitro. In co-culture of two kind of cells in ratio of four to one showed obvious efficacy differentiating MSCs into CMs.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Background and Objective:It has been proven that Ezrin protein may interact with E-cadherin protein and take part in metastasis of tumor cells.This study was to investigate the expressions of Ezrin and E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)and their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors,and to analyze their diagnostic values for ESCC.Method:The expression of Ezrin and E-cadherin in 72 specimen of ESCC and the para-cancer normal squamous epithelium was detected using tissue array with SP immunohistochemistry.Their correlations with the clinicopathologic factors were analyzed statistically.Results:The positive rate of Ezrin was significantly higher in ESCC than in para-cancer normal squamous epithelium (90.7%vs.46.0%,P＜0.001);the positive rate of E-cadherin was significantly lower in ESCC than in para-cancer normal squamous epithelium (27.6%vs.97.4%.P＜0.001).Ezrin expression was related to the invasiveness and lymph node metastasis of ESCC(P＜0.05);E-cadherin expression was related to the differentiation and lymph node metastasis of ESCC(P＜0.05).The high expression of Ezrin was related to the low expression of E-cadherin(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The activation of Ezrin and the absence of E-cadherin contributes to the tumorigenesis and metastasis of ESCC.

This study was purposed to investigate the phenotype, in vitro expansion and cytokine secretion profile of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from cord blood (CB), peripheral blood (PB), and granulocyte colony stimulating factor-mobilized peripheral blood mononuclear cells (G-PBMNCs). Fresh mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated by the method of gradient centrifugation and then cultured with alpha-GalCer (100 ng/ml), IL-2 (50 U/ml), IL-15 (50 ng/ml) for 12 days. Valpha24(+) NKT cells were purified by anti-Vbeta11 TCR McAb and goat anti-mouse IgG magnetic beads. The phenotype and purity of Valpha24(+) NKT cells were determined by flow cytometry. Cytokine production was analyzed by ELISA. The results showed that Valpha24(+) NKT cells in CB, PB and G-PBMNCs were expanded by 221.5 (95 - 501), 456.5 (101 - 2207), and 756.38 (82 - 20373)-fold respectively. After stimulation by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) for 24 hours, IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced by Valpha24(+) NKT cells from CB and PB were 180.33 (144.67 - 2253.48) vs 190.67 (110.07 - 6060.16) ng/ml, 864.33 (401.33 - 3386.67) vs 508.49 (253.82 - 8840.00) ng/ml respectively, with IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio of 0.503 +/- 0.642 vs 0.455 +/- 0.562 respectively. After expansion of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from G-PBMNCs, IL-4 and IFN-gamma produced by Valpha24(+) NKT cells at day 9 and day 12 were 139.08 (7.62 - 606) vs 89.3 (0 - 729.2) ng/ml, 14264.8 (1168 - 18059) vs 14488 (1041 - 18261) ng/ml respectively, with IL-4/IFN-gamma ratio of 0.0531 +/- 0.1081 vs 0.0376 +/- 0.1148 respectively. It is concluded that in presence of IL-2 and IL-15, alpha-GalCer can facilitate the rapid short-term expansion of Valpha24(+) NKT cells from CB, PB, and G-PBMNCs. Valpha24(+) NKT cells from G-PBMNCs show much high potential of expansion in comparison to the counterparts from CB or PB (p < 0.05). The activated Valpha24(+) NKT cells can secrete IFN-gamma and IL-4 in large amounts, with IFN-gamma in particular.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Galactosylceramides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-15 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; secretion ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; metabolism

Objective To study the effects of heat shock treatment of rat bone marrow mesenehymal stem cells(MSCs),the apoptosis ratio of treated-cells under low serum condition and the treated-cells transplantation on left ventricular function in rats with myocardiaIinfarction.Methods MSC8 were heat-treated under 42℃for 30 min,then the heat shock protein-70(HSP-70)was detected bv Western blot.The apoptosis ratio of heat-treated MSCs under low serum condition was tested by Annexin kit.The treated-MSCs labeled with Dil were transplanted into infarcted myocardium and 8 weeks later,the cardiac function of rats in each group was evaluated by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.Results The immunophenotype of heat-treated MSCs did not vary,Western blot confirmed a higher level expression of HSP-70 in the treated-MSCs group as compared with that in the control group.The early apoptosis ratio was lower in treated-MSCs measured by flow cytometry with annexin staining than that of MSCs when cultured with low serum medium.After 8 weeks,LVEF,LVSP,+dp/dtmax,and-dp/dtmax were significantly higher,and the LVEDP was significantly lowar in heat-treated MSCs transplantation group than that in the control group.Conclusions Heat shock pretreatment of MSCs enhances the tolerance of MSCs to low serum medium,whereas does not lcad to the change of the cell immunophenotype.Transplantation of heattreated MSCs might improve the cardiac function in a rat myocardialinfarction model.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the CCCG-97 and BFM-90 protocols in the treatment of pediatric patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) retrospectively, and to explore the optimal therapeutic strategy.

METHODSForty-five consecutive untreated patients (age of 18 years or less) with newly diagnosed B-NHL (including Burkitt Lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma), treated in our hospital between July 1999 and December 2008 were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into 2 groups by different protocols. From July 1999 to December 2004, twenty-one 3- to 13.8-year-old children were enrolled in the CCCG-97 group, with 1 in stage I/II, and 20 in stage III/IV(St Jude staging). From January 2005 to December 2008, twenty-four 2.8- to 14.1-year-old cases were enrolled in the BFM-90 group, with 3 in stage I/II, and 21 in stage III/IV (St Jude staging). The survival rates were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTSForty of the 45 patients (88.9%) reached complete response (CR) after 2 courses of chemotherapy. In the CCCG-97 group, the CR rate was 95.2% (20/21 pts), while that in the BFM-90 group was 83.3% (20/24 pts). At a median follow-up time of 62 (17 to 131) months, the 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 71.8% for all patients, and 69.1% for Stage III/IV, respectively. In the CCCG-97 group, the 3-year EFS was 76.2%. In the BFM-90 group, it was 75.0%. There was no significant difference in survival rates between the CCCG-97 and BFM-90 groups (P=0.975). Unfavorable events recorded were as follows: Death of progression before achieving CR during induction therapy in 4 cases, and relapse after achieving CR in 6 cases. The relapse rates were 19.0% (4/21 pts) in the CCCG-97 group and 8.3% (2/24 pts) in the BFM-90 group, with a non-significant statistical difference (P=0.292). Major toxicities were myelosuppression and mucositis, especially in the BFM-90 group, but were tolerable and manageable. five patients in the BFM-90 group received rituximab, 2 patients (Stage III) achieved CR, while the other 3 patients (Stage IV) had progressive disease or relapse.

CONCLUSIONSShort-pulse and intensive chemotherapy, stratified according to stage of disease, can improve the survival rate of pediatric mature B-NHL. The efficacy of the CCCG-97 protocol and BFM-90 protocol is comparable and the toxicity is tolerable.

Adolescent ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mucositis ; chemically induced ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE1) To estimate annual direct medical costs of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke attributable to hypertension among Chinese adults aged 35-74 years in China, 2) to analyze the correlation between the hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate.

METHODS2003 National Health Services Survey (n = 93 018) was used to derive direct medical costs including costs for outpatient visits, physician services, inpatient stays, rehabilitation services, nurses fees, and medications. The medical costs of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension were estimated by multiplying population attributable risk proportion by corresponding disease costs. Using 2002 National Nutrition and Health Survey (n = 148 804), the prevalence of hypertension awareness and hypertension treatment rate in 132 survey sites were calculated. Correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the two variables.

RESULTSThe direct medical costs of hypertension, CHD and stroke were 20.2, 15.7 and 24.3 billion Yuan, respectively. The medical costs attributable to hypertension were estimated at 19.1 billion Yuan (RMB), accounting for 47.7% of the total medical costs of the two chronic diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness is highly correlated with hypertension treatment rate (r = 0.9777, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONThe economic burden of CHD and stroke attributable to hypertension is very high, reaching about 50% of the total medical costs of the two diseases. The prevalence of hypertension awareness could be used as an important indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of hypertension prevention and control at community level.

China ; Coronary Disease ; economics ; etiology ; Cost of Illness ; Data Collection ; Health Care Costs ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; Stroke ; economics ; etiology