AIM: To study the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on rat atherosclerosis (AS), and elucidate the possible mechanism. METHODS: Wistar rats were fed with fat-rich diet and high dose of vitamin D_3 to induce AS, then treated with Salvia miltiorrhiza injection. Concentrations of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were measured by automatic serum biochemical assay. The level of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA were determined by Western blot and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the AS model group, the levels of TG and TC in serum were significantly lower in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection group (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of ovotesticular disorder of sex development (OT-DSD).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 2 cases of OT-DSD treated in our hospital. The patients were 19 and 15 years old, respectively, and both received systematic physical examination and examinations of the karyotype, sex hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), color Doppler ultrasonography, urethrocystoscopy, and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test. Under the laparoscope, we performed surgical gonad exploration, gonadectomy, and vulvar orthopedics. Intraoperative exploration and pathology confirmed true hermaphroditism in both cases, with sex selection as female. One underwent laparoscopic resection of the ovotestis, and the other removal of the testis with the ovarian tissue reserved.

RESULTSThe patients were followed up for 12 months postoperatively, which found no abnormality in either the vulvas or the genital glands.

CONCLUSIONSurgical exploration of the gonad is the only method for the diagnosis of OT-DSD and sex selection is the key to treatment. Laparoscopic surgical exploration of the gonad and vulvar orthopedics are the first treatment options.

Adolescent ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Ovary ; Ovotesticular Disorders of Sex Development ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis ; surgery ; Young Adult

The chemical consitituents from cytotoxic fraction of the Callicarpa nudiflora extract were isolated and purified by a combination of HP-20 macroporous resin, silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. The structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data and comparison of their spectroscopic data with reported data. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay. The 50% and 70% EtOH elutions of EtOH-extract showed significant cytotoxic activities, leading to the isolation of twelve compounds, which were identified as luteoloside(1), lutedin-4'-O-β-D-glucoside(2), 6-hydroxyluteolin-7-O-β-glucoside(3), lutedin-7-O-neohesperidoside(4), rhoifolin (5), luteolin-7, 4'-di-O-glucoside (6), forsythoside B (7), acteoside (8), alyssonoside (9), catalpol(10), nudifloside(11), and leonuride(12). Compounds 3-6, 10 and 12 were isolated from this genus for the first time, and compound 9 was isolated from this plant for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that flavonoids 1-6, in various concentrations, showed monolithic proliferation inhibitory activities against Hela, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. Compounds 3, 5 and iridoid glycoside 11 possessed higher cytotoxicacivities. In short, flavonoids are the main components of cytotoxic extract from C. nudiflora, while phenylethanoid glycosides are the predominant ingredient but inactive to cancer cell lines. In addition, the minor iridoid glycoside expressed weak cytotoxic activity.
Callicarpa ; chemistry ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytotoxins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the value of Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS) combined with home-based portable monitoring(PM) in the diagnosis of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS). METHODS Adult OSAS patients who visited Beijing Tongren Hospital and complained of snoring were included in this study. The overnight polysomnography(PSG) and the ESS were completed at the sleep center and the portable multi-channel monitoring was completed within one week. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their apnea hypopnea index(AHI) of PSG: simple snoring or mild OSAS group(AHI<15/h) and moderate-severe group(AHI≥15/h). The ESS score, respiratory disturbance index(RDI) of PM and other parameters were compared and the correlation of AHI with ESS scores, RDI were analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of ESS score≥9 points, RDI≥15/h in the diagnosis of moderate-severe OSAS were calculated. RESULTS A total of 51 subjects were included in this study with 42 males(82.4％) and 9 females(17.6％). Mean age was(43.8±10.8) years, and the mean body mass index was(27.9±4.5)kg/m2; ESS scored 1-24 points and mean(8.6±5.0) points, 18 cases with ESS score ≥9 points; AHI ranged between 2.5 and 99.8/h with a mean of(37.4±29.8)/h. There were 19(37.3％) and 32(62.7％) patients in snoring-mild group and moderate-severe group, respectively. There was significant difference for ESS scores between the two groups(9.9±5.1 vs 6.6±4.2 points, P<0.05),RDI in moderate-severe OSAS group was significantly higher than that in snoring-mild group[(49.4±23.1)/h vs (6.8±4.5)/h, P<0.001)]. There was a positive correlation between the ESS score and PSG derived AHI(r =0.435, P =0.002); the PM derived RDI were significantly correlated with PSG derived AHI in snoring-mild group(r =0.706, P=0.001), moderate-severe group(r =0.873, P=0.000) and patients with ESS score ≥9 points(r =0.967, P=0.000). At a PSG threshold AHI=15/h, the sensitivity and specificity for ESS score ≥9 points were 45.2％ and 78.9％; the PM derived RDI≥15/h had a sensitivity and specificity of 84.4％ and 84.2％, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity for each individual screening tool along with the combination of ESS and PM were 100.0％ and 100.0％. CONCLUSION ESS combined with PM diagnostic method is a valuable measure for the diagnosis of moderate and severe OSAS patients.

Objective To study the peripheral neutrophils activation mesenteric lymph in a murine hemorrhagic shock model.Methods In this study,18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were evenly divided into 3 groups.Group A:rats subjected to hemorrhagic-shock and Ringer's lactate(RL)resuscitation,group B:rats suffered from no blood loss but received same amount of RL as in group A,and group C:rats experience no blood loss nor RL transfusion.The main mesenteric lymphatic duct was cannulated with 24G catheter in all rats.In group A,blood was withdrawn through femoral artery until mean arterial pressure reached 40?5 mm Hg,the pressure was maintained for 90 min.In group B,no blood was withdrawn,these two groups received RL 3 times as the blood withdrawn,in group C,no blood was withdrawn,nor fluid was given.Lymph samples during pre-shock,the first hour and second hour post-shock or sham shock were collected and was used to induce PMN activation.Mesenteric lymph-induced rat PMN(polymorphonuclear neutrophil)adhesion molecule expression(CD18 and CD11b)and neutrophil respiratory burst activity was examined using a FACS flow cytometer.Results In group A,1st hour and 2 nd hour post-shock mesenteric lymph induced rat PMN activation,the expression of CD11b was 63.28?1.13%,61.23? 1.16%,respectively,compared with control(P

Objective To perform a molecular epideminlogical investigation on the types of Leptospira interrogans isolates from leptospirosis patients and animal hosts in Jiangxi province,using a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Methods The extracted chromosomal DNA from leptospiral isolates were digested with restriction endonuclease Not Ⅰ and the DNA segments were separated by using PFGE.By BiOnurerics V4.0 software and 75% similarity as the standard,the obtained PFGE images from leptospiral isolates were managed to establish a digitization database and then the PFGE maps of leptospiral isolates were compared with those of reference standard strains belonging to 15 serovars in 15 serogroups of L.interrogans,for cluster analysis.Results 139 strains of L.interrogans isolated from different areas of Jiangxi province were classified into 46 PFGE types.Among the PFGE types,LepNot Ⅰ.0071,LepNotⅠ.0072 and LepNot Ⅰ .0043 were the predominant types that accounting for 28.06%,15.11% and 7.19% of all the leptospiral isolates,respectively.The PFGE maps from 84.89% (118/139) of the 139 leptospiral isolates were found to basically match those of 6 reference standard strains belonging to 6 serovar in 6 serogroups of L.interrogans.In the 118 matched ieptospiral isolates,32.37% (45 strains),15.83% (22 strains) and 15.11% (21 strains)belonged to sero-groups Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai,sero-groups Australis serovar Australis and sero-group Javanica serovar Javanica,respectively.Conclusion PFGE seemed a fast,accurate and effective method for typing of L.interrogans isolates.Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai and followed by serogroup Australis serovar Australis as well as serogroup Javanica serovar Javanica were the predominant L.interrogans species in humans and animal hosts in Jiangxi province.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of dual-time-point (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose integrated positron emission and computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) in differentiation of malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases.

METHODSSixty five patients with suspected gastrointestinal lesions underwent dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging. Standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated for semi-quantitative assessment. The SUV of the two acquisitions were signed SUV(early) and SUV(delayed), respectively. Then the change of SUVmax (ΔSUVmax) was calculated. The ROC curves of the SUV(early), SUV(delayed) and ΔSUV were drawn to find the best cut-off point value for differential diagnosis, and then the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were calculated, respectively.

RESULTSOf the malignant lesions, the SUVmax in delayed imaging were significantly higher than those in early imaging, while there were no significant differences of SUVmax between the two images of the benign lesions. The ΔSUVmax of the malignant lesions were significantly higher than that of the benign ones. Taking the SUVmax higher than 9.2 in early imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 72.7%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 91.4%, the negative predictive value was 60.0%, and the accuracy was 76.9%. Taking the SUVmax higher than 10.9 in delayed imaging as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 75.0%, the specificity was 90.5%, the positive predictive value was 94.3%, the negative predictive value was 63.3%, and the accuracy was 80.0%. Taking the ΔSUVmax higher than 5.1% as positive diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity was 95.5%, the specificity was 85.7%, the positive predictive value was 93.3%, the negative predictive value was 90.0%, and the accuracy was 92.3%. The accuracy of dual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging was significantly higher than that of single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

CONCLUSIONDual-time-point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging is a useful method for differentiating malignant from benign gastrointestinal diseases, and it is superior to the single-time point (18)F-FDG PET-CT imaging.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Proctitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Proctocolitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; ROC Curve ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the protection of high intensity microwave radiation on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and hippocampal CA1 structure in rats and the protectiveeffect of Qindan Granule (QG) on radiation injured rats.

METHODSTotally 48 Wistar rats were randomlydivided into 8 groups, i.e., the normal control group, post-radiation day 1, 7, and 10 groups, 7 and 10days prevention groups, day 7 and 10 treatment groups, 6 in each group. Rats in prevention groups wererespectively administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4. 75 g crude drugs) for 7 days and 10 days bygastrogavage and then microwave radiation. Then preventive effect for radiation injury was statisticallycalculated with the normal control group and the post-radiation day 1 group. Rats in treatment groupswere firstly irradiated, and then administered with QG liquid (1 mL/100 g, 4.75 g crude drugs). Finally preventive effect for radiation injury was statistically calculated with the normal control group, post-radiation day 7 and 10 groups. Contents of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), beta endorphin (beta-EP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were detected. Morphological changes and structure of hippocampal CA1 region were observed under light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly decreased in each radiation group. Serum contents of ACTH and beta-EP significantly increased in post-radiation day 1 and 7 groups (P < 0.05). Compared with radiation groups, beta-EP content in serum and pituitary significantly increased, and serum ACTH content significantly decreased in prevention groups (P < 0.05). Pituitary contents of CRH and beta-EP significantly increased in prevention groups. Serum contents of ACTH, beta-EP, and HSP70 were significantly lower in day 7 treatment group than post-radiation day 7 group (P < 0.05). Morphological results showed that pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region arranged in disorder, with swollen cells, shrunken and condensed nucleus, dark dyeing cytoplasm, unclear structure. Vessels in partial regions were dilated with static blood; tissues were swollen and sparse. In prevention and treatment groups pathological damage of hippocampal CA1 region was obviously attenuated; neurons were arranged more regularly; swollen, pycnotic, or deleted neuron number were decreased; vascular dilatation and congestion was lessened.

CONCLUSIONQG could affect HPAA function and activity of high intensity microwave radiated rats, showing certain preventive and therapeutic effects of microwave radiated rats by adjusting synthesis and release of partial bioactive peptides and hormones in HPAA, improving pathological injury in hippocampal CA1 region.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; blood ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Microwaves ; adverse effects ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; beta-Endorphin ; blood ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ampicillin-sulbactam,clindamycin and cefoperazone a- gainst common clinical isolates.Methods MICs of these three antibiotics were determined by E test.Results Ampicillin-sulbae- tam showed inhibition rate of 100% for methicillin susceptible S.aureus (MSSA),E.faecalis,Group A Streptococcus,H. influenzae,penicillin-susceptible S.pneumoniae (PSSP),M.catarrhalis and anaerobes (including 10 strains of Bacteroid spp.,2 strains of P.aches,1 strain of E.lentum,1 strain of Fusobacterium innocuum,and 2 strains of Peptostreptococcus spp.).Ampicillin-sulbactam was active against 86.7% of extended-spectrum?-lactamase non-producing K.pneumoniae (NES- BL-KPN) and 53.3% of non ESBL-producing E.coli (NESBL-ECO).Ampicillin-sulbactam only inhibited 23.3% of A.bau- mannii isolates and 25.0% of E.faecium isolates.For MSSA,anaerobes,PSSP and group A Streptococcus,about 60.0%, 31.2%,30.0% and 10.0% of the isolates were susceptible to clindamycin,respectively.For MSSA,NESBL-ECO and NES- BL-KPN,96.7% to 100% of the isolates were susceptible to cefoperazone.About 40.0% of P.aeruginosa isolates were sus- ceptible to cefoperazone.No A.baumannii isolate was susceptible to cefoperazone.Conclusions The ampicillin-sulbactam has good antimicrobial activity against MSSA,E.faecalis,Group A Streptococcus,NESBL-KPN,H.influenzae,PSSP,M.ca- tarrhalis and anaerobes.In this study,clindamycin is active against 60% of MSSA isolates.Most of other species are relatively resistant to clindamycin.Cefoperazone shows good activity against MSSA,NESBL-ECO,and NESBL-KPN.These three anti- microbial agents can be used as empirical treatment for community-acquired infections.

Twenty Newcastle disease virus(NDV)strains were isolated from diseased chicken and geese in field outbreaks during 2005 and 2006 in some regions of Jiangsu and Guangxi,and the antigenic analysis of the all NDV isolates had been done based on the reaction spectrum with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to the HN glycoprotein.The entire ORFs encoding HN protein of these NDV isolates were amplified by RT-PCR successfully,cloned and sequenced.The resultant sequences of HN genes of 13 isolates of chicken origin and 7 isolates of goose origin were gained and analyzed.The results of reaction spectrum showed that there were some distinct differences in the antigenic epitopes among the 20 NDV isolates.And the sequences revealed that the coding regions of the HN genes of these isolates all consisted of 1716 nt characteristic of virulent strains of NDV,coding for 571 amino acids.Neucleotides sequence homology were found to be from 94.8%to 100%among 18 NDV isolates of genotypeⅦ,and the neucleotides sequence homology between all the isolates and the other genotypeⅦstrains of recent years in China ranged from 92.1%to 99.6%.The deduced amino acid sequences and the receptor-binding regions of HN proteins between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin were compared and analyzed.The results showed that some unique amino acid substitutions were found in the genome of the NDV isolates,and the close genetic similarity provided evidence for epidemiological linkage between the NDV isolates of chicken origin and of goose origin in the same period.