Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Hordeolum ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Rhaponticum uniforum polysaccharide on immune function in normal mice and the underlying mechanism.

METHODSRBC and ovalbumin were employed as antigens to be injected to mice, respectively. Three doses of R. uniforum polysaccharide (50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) were given orally for seven days. After the secondary immunization, the level of corresponding antibody and the concentration of serum IL-2, IFN-gamma were determined.

RESULTThe levels of antibodies (anti-SRBC and anti-ovalbumin) and cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) in median dose group of R. uniforum polysaccharide were all significantly higher than those in control groups (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONR. uniforum polysaccharide could enhance the immune function in normal mice.

Animals ; Antibodies ; immunology ; Antibody Formation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Leuzea ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Ovalbumin ; immunology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Sheep

italic>Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. is a traditional Miao medicinal herb with significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of sore throat, tonsillitis, edema of nephritis and bruising and rheumatism, etc. Ardisia crispa var. amplifolia and Ardisia crispa var. dielsii are varieties of A. crispa. A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii are controversial in terms of species evolutionary relationships and taxonomic identification. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii chloroplasts using Illumina platform, assembled, annotated and characterized them, compared the structural features and degree of variation among chloroplast genomes using bioinformatics methods, and also downloaded constructing phylogenetic trees to analyze the phylogenetic relationships of chloroplasts in Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae using whole genome sequence information. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome sequences of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were 156 749 bp and 156 748 bp in length, with 132 genes annotated, including 87 protein-coding genes; the codon preference of A/U was greater than that of G/C; The differences in the coding regions of rps15 and rpoB genes in the comparative genome analysis can be used as loci for molecular identification of the two species; the differences in the coding regions of ycf1, ycf2, rpoC1, ycf3, petD and rpl16 genes in the chloroplast genome compared with those of the same genus can be used as loci for identification of the genus. In the phylogenetic results, A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii were clustered together with 100% support, indicating that they are closely related. In this research, we analyzed the chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships of A. crispa var. amplifolia and A. crispa var. dielsii, providing an important theoretical basis for their molecular identification, genetic variation, breeding and phylogenetic analysis.

italic>Alangium chinense is a commonly used medicinal plant of Alangiaceae Alangium, one of the characteristic Miao medicines in Guizhou. The genus is strongly differentiated and has complex morphological variation, with significant differences in active ingredients and potency among herbs. In this paper, we sequenced the chloroplast genomes of Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib using Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology. The genomes of Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib chloroplasts were sequenced, their assembly annotation and structural characterization were completed, and the genomes of the congeners Alangium chinense and Alangium alpinum were downloaded from NCBI for comparative analysis. Finally, the phylogenetic tree was constructed by selecting published species with close affinity to Alangium chinense family from NCBI. The results were as follows: Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum, Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum and Alangium kurzii Craib chloroplast genomes were 156 670, 156 672 and 156 871 bp in length, with a typical four-segment structure, all containing one long single copy region (LSC), one short single copy region (SSC) and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb). All of them were annotated to 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Three types of long repeat sequences and SSR loci, forward repeats, palindrome repeats and reverse repeats, were found in all chloroplast genomes. Comparative genomic analysis showed that there was diversity in the boundary transition regions of the five species, no rearrangements or inversions were found in the chloroplast genome, and there were significant differences in the coding regions of ndhA, ycf1, rpl16, ycf2, and petD genes, which provided new loci for molecular identification of Patagonia. In the phylogenetic analysis, Alangium kurzii var. kurzii clustered as a single species, and Alangium chinense subsp. Pauciflorum and Alangium chinense subsp. Strigosum clustered as a single species, with a support rate of 93 and close affinity, indicating that the phylogenetic tree can be used for the species identification. This paper can provide a basis for the taxonomic identification of Alangium, ensure the safety of clinical use of anise herbs and regulate the market of Alangium chinense herbs.

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Ectodermal Dysplasia 1, Anhidrotic* ; Humans

The prognostic value of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase,catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is controversial.We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in patients with ESCC.EMBASE,PubMed,and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception through Oct.3,2016.The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95％ confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random effects model for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).Seven studies enrolling 1505 patients were eligible for inclusion of the current meta-analysis.Results revealed that PIK3CA mutation was not significantly associated with OS (HR:0.90,95％ CI:0.63-1.30,P=0.591),with a significant heterogeneity (I2=65.7％,P=0.012).Additionally,subgroup analyses were further conducted according to various variables,such as types of specimen,the sample size,technique and statistical methodology.All results suggested that no significant relationship was found between PIK3CA mutation and OS in patients with ESCC.For DFS,there was no significant association between PIK3CA mutation and DFS in patients with ESCC (HR:1.00,95％ CI=0.47-2.11,P=0.993,I2=73.7％).Publication bias was not present and the results of sensitivity analysis were very stable in the current meta-analysis.Our findings suggest that PIK3CA mutation has no significant effects on OS and DFS in ESCC patients.More well-designed prospective studies with better methodology for PIK3CA assessment are required to clarify the prognostic significance of PIK3CA mutation in ESCC patients.

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Humans ; Keratin-17* ; Mutation, Missense* ; Steatocystoma Multiplex*

This study was purposed to investigate the molecular genetics basis for para-Bombay phenotype. The para-Bombay phenotype of two probands was identified by routine serological techniques. The full coding region of alpha (1, 2) fucosyltransferase gene (FUT1 and FUT2) in the probands was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and the amplified fragments were directly sequenced, meanwhile the mutations of FUT1 were also identified by TOPO TA cloning sequence method. The results indicated that two heterozygous mutations were detected by directly sequencing in two probands: AG deletion at position 547 - 552 and C to T mutation at position 658. Two different mutations were confirmed to be true compound heterozygotes with each mutation on a separate homologous chromosome by TOPO TA cloning sequence method. AG deletion at position 547 - 552 caused a reading frame shift and a premature stop codon. C658T mutation resulted in Arg-->Cys at amino acid position 220. It is suggested that the FUT1 mutation of two probands are compound heterozygous mutation with different chromosomes, which are named h1h3 and may be the genetics basis of para-Bombay phenotype.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Alleles ; Frameshift Mutation ; Fucosyltransferases ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation, Missense

Meckel diverticulum (MD), a congenital gastrointestinal anomaly, is often involved in pediatrics, but less in the adult population. The patient in this report was a 69-year-old female presented with massive gastrointestinal bleeding causing hemorrhagic shock due to MD containing ectopic pancreatic tissue. A review of the literature revealed that gastrointestinal bleeding from MD containing ectopic pancreatic tissue is rare in adults and difficult to be identified preoperation. MD should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis for lower gastrointestinal bleeding, although scarce in adults, especially when the patient has massive painless bleeding.
Aged ; Choristoma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Meckel Diverticulum ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Pancreas ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo use a mathematical model and computer simulation to study transmission dynamics and control of schistosomiasis in mountainous regions of Sichuan.

METHODSBased on studies of schistosomiasis japonica transmission in 20 villages in mountainous regions of Sichuan, a mathematical model was developed to characterize the impact of local environmental factors on transmission intensity. The model integrated site-specific factors and was calibrated to field epidemiological data from 3 subset villages. The dichotomic method was then used to predict different control measures.

RESULTSThe study showed high variations in prevalence of infection and infection intensity across villages, ranging between 3%-73%, 0.1-100 epg (eggs per gram stool), respectively. Important factors including occupation of local residents, exposure to contaminated water, microclimatic characteristics were integrated in the model. The predictions of dichotomic models showed that continuing chemotherapy (coverage between 50%-60%) could reduce infection intensities to 30%-80%, but could not change local transmission potential; therefore, the termination of chemotherapy would be followed by bouncing back of transmission. Sustaining targeted environmental interventions through snail and parasite oval control at certain coverage (30%-50%, respectively) could reduce the transmission to relatively stable levels. The model predictions showed that an integrated control (e.g., including both chemotherapy and environmental interventions) could suppress the transmission to an undetectable level even interruption of transmission between 5-10 years.

CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrated the feasibility of using a dynamic model, calibrated to local data, to gain insights into complicated processes underlying the transmission and informing site-specific control strategies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environment ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Models, Theoretical ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission ; Snails ; parasitology