Objective To observe the relationship between extended spectrum ?-lactumases(ESBLs) bacteria infection and immune factor in children.Methods Immune function were tested in 49 children with ESBLs infection,that the test of ESBLs changed from negative to positive in hospital and compared with that of ESBLs bacteria negative infected case,children with hypoimmunity and normal immune function.Results Forty-nine cases of ESBLs bacteria positive-changed children had lower immune function and their immune function improved when restored.The rate of ESBLs positive-changed was significant higher in hypoimmunity than that of normals(P

AIMIn order to look for new active compounds, the structure of (+)-praeruptorin A is modified.

METHODS(+)-Praeruptorin A was isolated from the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum, basic hydrolysis of (+)-praeruptorin A and acyled reactions of hydrolysis product of (+)-praeruptorin A were carried out.

RESULTSEighteen compounds were semi-synthesized from (+)-praeruptorin A.

CONCLUSIONFourteen compounds (5-18) among them are new compounds. Preliminary bioactivity assay indicated that the new compounds show calcium antagonist activity, but they are not as strong as (+)-praeruptorin A.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemical synthesis ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo determine whether testosterone-induced intra-testicular testosterone withdrawal and therefore spermatogenic impairment is associated with looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells in rats.

METHODSAdult male SD rats received intramuscular injection of testosterone undecanoate at 19 mg/(kg x 15 d) for 130 days, and then testicular tissue blocks were obtained for the preparation of methacrylate resin-embedded sections and observation of the changes in testicular histology.

RESULTSApart from such changes as impaired spermiogenesis and spermiation, apparently looser arrangement of spermatogenic cells was seen in 11.5% of the seminiferous tubule profiles, with radial cracks (empty spaces) running towards the tubule lumen being formed between lines, bundles or groups of spermatogenic cells (mainly spermatids and spermatocytes).

CONCLUSIONLooser arrangement of spermatogenic cells is one of the key histological changes resulting from intra-testicular testosterone withdrawal in rats.

Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Tubules ; cytology ; drug effects ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Testis ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

The effects of mangiferin on uric acid excretion, kidney function and related renal transporters were investigated in hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate. Mice were divided into normal control group, and 5 hyperuricemic groups with model control, 50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1) mangiferin, and 5 mg x kg(-1) allopurinol. Mice were administered by gavage once daily with 250 mg x kg(-1) potassium oxonate for seven consecutive days to create the model. And 3 doses of mangiferin were orally initiated on the day 1 h after potassium oxonate was given, separately. Serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, as well as urinary uric acid creatinine levels were measured. Mouse uromodulin (mUMOD) levels in serum, urine and kidney were determined by ELISA method. The mRNA and protein levels of related renal transporters were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting methods, respectively. Compared to model group, mangiferin significantly reduced serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogon levels, increased 24 h uric acid and creatinine excretion, and fractional excretion of uric acid in hyperuricemic mice, exhibiting uric acid excretion enhancement and kidney function improvement. Mangiferin was found to down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of urate transporter 1 (mURAT1) and glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9), as well as up-regulate organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) in the kidney of hyperuricemic mice. These findings suggested that mangiferin might enhance uric acid excretion and in turn reduce serum uric acid level through the decrease of uric acid reabsorption and the increase of uric acid secretion in hyperuricemic mice. Moreover, mangiferin remarkably up-regulated expression levels of renal organic cation and carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2), increased urine mUMOD levels, as well as decreased serum and kidney mUMOD levels in hyperuricemic mice, which might be involved in mangiferin-mediated renal protective action.
Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Creatinine ; blood ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hyperuricemia ; blood ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; urine ; Kidney ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Anion Transport Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Cation Transporter 2 ; Oxonic Acid ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Solute Carrier Family 22 Member 5 ; Uric Acid ; blood ; urine ; Uromodulin ; blood ; urine ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

The megakaryocyte and platelet lineage may be one of the major sites of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. However, whether HCMV aggravates apoptosis in normal megakaryocytes was not well investigated. Megakaryocytic cell line CHRF-288-11 and HCMV AD 169 strain were co-cultured in this study. PCR was used to detect the direct infection of the cells by HCMV IEA expression. The apoptotic cells were analyzed by morphologic observation, DNA ladder formation, annexin V/PI and PI assay with flow cytometry. The results showed that HCMV significantly inhibited the growth of CHRF cells in three different concentrations of viral infection groups (10(-3), 10(-2), 10(-1)). The viability levels in each infection groups were 77%, 73% and 68% respectively after incubation for 7 days, compared with 98% in the control group. Using annexin V/PI with flow cytometry, it was shown that the percentages of apoptotic cells viral infection in groups (10(-3), 10(-2), 10(-1)) were (21.3 +/- 2.49)%, (25.8 +/- 3.65)% and (31.4 +/- 3.91)% at 7 days after infection, while the control was (3.68 +/- 1.47)%. The apoptotic cells were further confirmed by morphologic observation and DNA ladder formation. Furthermore, PCR detection also showed the direct infection by identification of HCMV IEA expression in CHRF cells. This study suggested that HCMV could directly infect megakaryocytes and aggravated apoptosis in HCMV-infected megakaryocytes.
Apoptosis ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; pathogenicity ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Animals ; Arsenites ; therapeutic use ; Catheter Ablation ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Rabbits

AIMIn order to compare the calcium antagonist activity between the derivatives of (+)-praeruptorin A with C-3' and C-4' cis-configuration and trans-configuration, and to look for new active compounds, some derivatives with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration of (+)-praeruptorin A were semi-synthsized.

METHODS(+)-Praeruptorin A was isolated from the root of Peucedanum praeruptorum. Basic hydrolysis of (+)-praeruptorin A was carried out. From the alkaline hydrolysis product (2), eight new products (5-12) with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration were semi-synthsized whose C-3' was linked to angeloyloxy and C-4' was linked to various acyloxy, using respective acids as acylating agents, DCC as a dehydrant, DMAP as catalyst. From the alkaline hydrolysis product (4), five new products (13-17) with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration were obtained whose C-3', C-4' is linked to various same acyloxys, using respective acids as acylating agents, DCC as dehydrant, DMAP as catalyst. Also from the alkaline hydrolysis product (4), using respective acyl chlorides as acylating agents, anhydrous dichloromethane containing minor pyridine as a solvent, the improved Schotten-Baumann reactions were carried out, two new products (18, 20) with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration were obtained whose only C-3' linked to acyloxy and two other new products (19, 21) with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration were obtained whose C-3' and C-4' linked two acyloxys. The structures of all the products were elucidated by spectral analyses including IR, 1HNMR and EIMS. The calcium antagonist activity of all of the products were tested by inhibition of the systole of rat artery ring.

RESULTSSeventeen compounds with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration were semi-synthesized from (+)-praeruptorin A for the first time and their calcium antagonist activity were evaluated.

CONCLUSIONAll of the derivatives were new compounds. Bioactivity assay indicated that some new compounds with C-3', C-4' trans-configuration showed obvious calcium antagonist activity, but they are not as strong as (+)-praeruptorin A. The activity of some products was shown to be similar to that of the derivatives with C-3', C-4' cis-configuration for the first time.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; Rats ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in natural killer (NK) cell count in the peripheral blood of asthmatic patients.

METHODSThe number of NK cells in the peripheral blood was determined with flow cytometry in 63 asthmatic patients with acute episodes, 65 patients with stable asthma and 62 healthy nonatopic subjects.

RESULTSA significant decrease in NK cell number was noted in asthmatic patients during acute exacerbation [(13.9-/+9.4) %] in comparison with patients with stable asthma [(22.5-/+12.3) %] and healthy subjects [(19.6-/+10.1)%] (P<0.05), and the NK cell number showed no significant difference between the latter two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONNK cell number is reduced in acute exacerbation of asthma, suggesting its important role in the asthmatic process.

Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; immunology ; Cell Count ; methods ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

AIM:To investigate the clinical significance of stathmin 1 (STMN1) expression in cervical cancer and the influence of its expression on the viability and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. METHODS:Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of STMN1 in cervical cancer tissues, and the relationship between the expression and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer was analyzed. STMN1-siRNA was transfected into cervical squamous-cell carcino-ma SiHa cells. The protein levels of STMN1, STAT3, p-STAT3 and survivin were determined by Western blot after trans-fection for 48 h. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. DCFH-DA probe was used to detect the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). RESULTS:The protein expression of STMN1 in cer-vical cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (P<0.01). The STMN1 protein expression level was not correlated with age and histological types of cervical cancer patients, but was related to clinical stage, histo-logical differentiation and lymph node metastasis ( P<0.01). Transfection with STMN1-siRNA significantly reduced the expression of STMN1 in SiHa cells. Compared with control group, the cell viability in STMN1-siRNA group was significant-ly decreased, the apoptotic rate and ROS content were increased, and the protein levels of p-STAT3 and survivin were down-regulated (P<0.01). However, no significant difference of the STAT3 protein level was observed between STMN1- siRNA group and control group. CONCLUSION:STMN1 is highly expressed in cervical cancer, and its expression is re-lated to clinical stage, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Inhibition of STMN1 expression reduces the viability and promotes apoptosis of cancer cells by down-regulating STAT3 signaling pathway.

The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for Western medicine (WM) diseases relies heavily on the proper classification of patients into TCM syndrome types. The authors developed a data-driven method for solving the classification problem, where syndrome types were identified and quantified based on statistical patterns detected in unlabeled symptom survey data. The new method is a generalization of latent class analysis (LCA), which has been widely applied in WM research to solve a similar problem, i.e., to identify subtypes of a patient population in the absence of a gold standard. A well-known weakness of LCA is that it makes an unrealistically strong independence assumption. The authors relaxed the assumption by first detecting symptom co-occurrence patterns from survey data and used those statistical patterns instead of the symptoms as features for LCA. This new method consists of six steps: data collection, symptom co-occurrence pattern discovery, statistical pattern interpretation, syndrome identification, syndrome type identification and syndrome type classification. A software package called Lantern has been developed to support the application of the method. The method was illustrated using a data set on vascular mild cognitive impairment.
Data Collection ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional