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.

BACKGROUNDIn the years around 1990, in Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University many children with infantile hemiplegia and intractable epilepsy were treated with further modified anatomical hemispherectomy. We report the follow up of the first six cases. To make good use of these precious clinical data and make clear their neuropsychological state, we performed neuropsychological and neurophysiological measurements in these patients, who were at a median of 17.8 years after hemispherectomy.

METHODSOddball task was given to the patients and to a normal control group to collect the peak latency (PL) and peak amplitude (PA) of event-related potentials (ERPs)-P300. The P300 data of the two groups were analyzed and the P300 patterns of the six patients are presented. The baseline characteristics and long-term follow-up of the six hemispherectomized patients, especially the long-term seizure control and cognitive function after surgery, are described.

RESULTSFive patients had no seizures and one was almost seizure-free during the years after surgery. Clear P300 was obtained from every electrode in the patients. Differences of P300 between patients and normal control group had no statistical significance. And the maximum PA was at the site of electrode Pz or Cz which was consistent with that of the control group and with previous findings.

CONCLUSIONSFurther modified anatomical hemispherectomy has preferable long-term antiepileptic effects. The P300 results of the patients mean that the basic cognitive function of the patients has no difference from the control group. This reflects the plasticity of the hemisphere to some extent and increases the affirmation of the long-term curative effects of further modified anatomical hemispherectomy from both neuropsychological and neurophysiological aspects.

Adult ; Disease-Free Survival ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemispherectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Seizures ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: Few studies investigated serum uric acid levels in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study was to assess the clinical value of serum uric acid levels in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Totally 502 consecutive patients with STEMI were retrospectively studied from January 2005 to December 2010. The level of serum lipid, echocardiographic data and in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with hyperuricemia (n=119) were compared with those in patients without hyperuricemia (n=383). The relationship between the level of serum uric acid and the degree of diseased coronary artery was analyzed. All data were analyzed with SPSS version 17.0 software for Student's t test, the Chi-square test and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. RESULTS: Serum uric acid level was positively correlated with serum triglyceride level. Hyperlipidemia was more common in hyperuricemia patients than in non-hyperuricemia patients (43.7％ vs. 33.7％, P=0.047), and serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in hyperuricemia patients (2.11±1.24 vs. 1.78±1.38, P=0.014). But no significant association was observed between serum uric acid level and one or more diseased vessels (P>0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd) was larger in hyperuricemia patients than in non-hyperuricemia patients (53.52±6.19 vs. 52.18±4.89, P=0.041). The higher rate of left systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction was discovered in hyperuricemia patients (36.4％ vs. 15.1％, P<0.001; 68.2％ vs. 55.8％, P=0.023). Also, hyperuricemia patients were more likely to have in-hospital MACE (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum uric acid level is positively correlated with serum triglyceride level, but not with the severity of coronary artery disease. Hyperuricemia patients with STEMI tend to have a higher rate of left systolic dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction and more likely to have more in-hospital MACE.

OBJECTIVESTo detect the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and interleukin 8(IL-8) in seminal plasma of infertile patients, and evaluate the possible relationship between those levels.

METHODSSemen was collected from normal donors (15 cases), infertile men without infection (16 cases), and infertile men with infection (leukocytospermia, 11 cases). The routine analysis of semen was accomplished, and then the levels of IL-8, malondialdehyde (MDA), SOD, and white blood cell (WBC) were examined. The correlative analysis between the level of ROS and other parameters in these populations was made.

RESULTSIn leukocytospermic group, the levels of MDA, WBC, and IL-8 were higher than those in the other two groups (P < 0.001). Significantly positive correlation was observed between IL-8 and MDA (r = 0.852, P < 0.001) and between the levels of IL-8 and WBC.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that increased oxidative stress in patients with leukocytospermia may cause the increase of IL-8(r = 0.818, P < 0.01). The increased oxidative stress may be due to defect in ROS scavenging system.

Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; blood ; complications ; Male ; Male Urogenital Diseases ; blood ; complications ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood ; Semen

Objective To evaluate the incidence of postoperative hemorrahage in children undergoing adenoidectomy , and to discuss its possible causes. Methods Included in this study were children who underwent adenoid and/or tonsil surgery at Shenzhen Chilidren's Hospital between January 2004 and November 2009. The change of hemoglobin ( Hb) and hematocrit ( Hct) were retrospectively analysed. The blood loss was estimated by the change of Hct. Results There were 2078 cases that accomplished the inclusion criteria in the period of study. Ten children bled 0. 5 - 4. 0 hours after surgery,without superfluous hemorrahage during the operation and post-tonsillectomy. This represented an incidence of 0.48% of immediate postoperative haemorrhage among the 2078 procedures analyzed. Statistical differences were found between boys (0.21%) and girls (1.10%, x2 =5.597, P<0.05). The change of Hb and Hct was positively correlated (r = 0. 95 , P < 0. 01) , the blood loss was positively correlated with the bleeding time ( r = 0. 66, P < 0. 05 ) . The causes of postoperative hemorrhage were coagulation system deficits, chronic nasopharyngitis, deficient hemostasis and immoderate ravage. To control the postoperative hemorrhage, 2 postnasal packing under topical anaesthesia and 8 electrocautery under general anaesthesia were applied. Conclusions Poor operative technique and deficient hemostasis are the major causes of primary hemorrahage. Prompt operation to control the postoperative bleeding should be done 2 hours after bleeding under general anesthesia in order to avoid severe complications.

BACKGROUNDPostoperative knee soft tissue irritation is a common complication after retrograde nail fixation of femoral fractures. Distal locking screw prominence is one of the causes for soft tissue irritation. This study aimed to determine whether the use of the femoral condyles tangential views improve the diagnostic accuracy compared with anteroposterior (A-P) view in detecting distal locking screw penetrations during retrograde femoral nailing.

METHODSThe angle between the sagittal plane and lateral aspect of the condyle and the angle between the sagittal plane and medial aspect of condyle were measured on computed tomography (CT) images. After the angles were measured and recorded, cadaveric femurs were used in a simulated surgical procedure. The retrograde femoral nail was inserted into the femur and placed distal locking screws, which were left 2, 4, and 6 mm proud of the medial and lateral condyles for each femur. A-P view, lateral condyle tangential view and medial condyle tangential view were obtained. All fluoroscopic images were recorded and sent to three observers blinded to the experimental procedure to determine whether screws penetrated the condyle cortex or not.

RESULTSAccording to the results of CT scan, the lateral condyle view was 20.88 ± 0.98° and the medial condyle view was 40.46 ± 3.14°. In the A-P view, we detected 0% at 2 mm penetration, 16.7% (lateral condyle screw) and 25.0% (medial condyle screw) at 4 mm, and 41.7% (lateral condyle screw) and 58.3% (medial condyle screw) at 6 mm. In the lateral tangential view, we detected 91.7% at 2 mm penetration of the lateral condyle and 100% at 4 mm and 6 mm. In the medial tangential view, we detected 66.7% at 2 mm penetration of the medial condyle and 100% at 4 mm and 6 mm. The femoral condyle tangential views provided significant improvement in detecting screw penetrations at all lengths (2, 4, and 6 mm) compared with the A-P view (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe femoral condyles tangential views increased the accuracy of detecting screw penetrations on the medial and lateral condyles. Routine clinical use of the femoral condyles tangential views has the potential to increase accuracy in detecting distal locking screw penetration during retrograde femoral nailing.

Bone Screws ; Femoral Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Aim To explore the role of SIRT1/Nrf2 / HO-1 in alleviating the cognitive function impairment by sevoflurane treatment in a mouse model of postoperative cerebral reperfusion. Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham operation group, hemorrhagic shock reperfusion group, sevoflurane postconditioning group, sevoflurane postcondition-ing + SIRT1 inhibitor group and sevoflurane postconditioning + Nrf2 inhibitor group. Mice were subjected to Morris water maze test after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. The ATP, superoxide dismutase (SOD), ROS and MDA contents in tissue of mice were detected. SIRT1, Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in tissue were detected by Western blot. Results After hemorrhagic shock, the learning and memory ability of mice was reduced.ATP and SOD concentration in hippocampus was reduced , MDA and ROS concentration increased, and the SIRT, Nrf2 and HO-1 concentration was reduced. Sevoflurane improved the cognitive dysfunction and oxi-dative damage in postoperative mice, and the neuro-protective effect of sevoflurane on hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation mice was weakened followed with SIRT1 and Nrf2 inhibitors. Conclusion Sevoflurane probably alleviates the oxidative reaction damage and cognitive impairment caused by cerebral reperfusion in mice through SIRT1/Nrf2/H0-1 pathway.

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of Xihuangwan by improving the qualitative detection of artificial musk inside this pill.

METHODThe qualitative detection of artificial musk was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometery(GC-MS).

RESULTThe established GC-MS successfully detected artificial musk in Xihuangwan.

CONCLUSIONGC-MS is reliable,accurate,and practical in the identification of artificial must inside Xihuangwan.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Scutellarin (SCU), a flavonoid from a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Our previous study has demonstrated that SCU relaxes mouse aortic arteries mainly in an endothelium-depend-ent manner. In the present study, we investigated the vasoprotective effects of SCU against HR-induced endothelial dysfunction (ED) in isolated rat CA and the possible mechanisms involving cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dependent protein kinase (PKG). The isolated endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rat CA rings were treated with HR injury. Evaluation of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation relaxation of the CA rings were performed using wire myography and the protein expressions were assayed by Western blotting. SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1)) could relax the endothelium-intact CA rings but not endothelium-denuded ones. In the intact CA rings, the PKG inhibitor, Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (PKGI-rp, 4 μmol·L(-1)), significantly blocked SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1))-induced relaxation. The NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NO-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 100 μmol·L(-1)), did not significantly change the effects of SCU (10-1 000 μmol·L(-1)). HR treatment significantly impaired ACh-induced relaxation, which was reversed by pre-incubation with SCU (500 μmol·L(-1)), while HR treatment did not altered NTG-induced vasodilation. PKGI-rp (4 μmol·L(-1)) blocked the protective effects of SCU in HR-treated CA rings. Additionally, HR treatment reduced phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP, phosphorylated product of PKG), which was reversed by SCU pre-incubation, suggesting that SCU activated PKG phosphorylation against HR injury. SCU induces CA vasodilation in an endothelium-dependent manner to and repairs HR-induced impairment via activation of PKG signaling pathway.
Animals ; Apigenin ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; Cyclic GMP ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; Glucuronates ; pharmacology ; Microfilament Proteins ; drug effects ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Phosphoproteins ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Thionucleotides ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective: To observe the effect of modified Chaihu Shugantang on the expression of miRNA-204 in hippocampus of epileptic mice, and to explore its mechanism of neuroprotection. Method: The sixty mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal group, model group (pilocarpine 180 mg·kg^-1), and modified Chaihu Shugantang group (7 g·kg^-1·d^-1), modified Chaihu Shugantang+miRNA-204 mimic group (7 g·kg^-1·d^-1+ 2 μL), modified Chaihu Shugantang+miRNA-204 inhibitor group (7 g·kg^-1·d^-1+2 μL), carbamazepine group (30 mg·kg^-1·d^-1),each was given intragastric administration for 2 weeks,using pilocarpine to cause epilepsy in mice, respectively, add flavor to Bupleurum after intragastric administration, inhibition and overexpression of miRNA-204, the mice were sacrificed and their hippocampus tissues were harvested.The indicators of each group were observed, Real-time quantitative PCR detecting system (Real-time PCR) was used to detect mouse hippocampal miRNA-204 expression, Western blot analysis of autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), autophagy-associated marker protein 7 (ATG7) expression, hematoxylin pathological condition of hippocampus in each group was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The autophagy of hippocampus in each group was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Result: Compared with normal group, the expression of miRNA-204 was significantly decreased in model group (P<0.01), the pathological changes in the hippocampal C1 area were the most obvious, the expression of ATG7, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was increased (P<0.01), and the autophagy was small. Compared with model group, the expression of miRNA-204 in the hippocampus of the modified Chaihu Shugantang group was increased (P<0.05), the pathological changes in the hippocampal C1 area were alleviated, the expression of ATG7, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ was decreased (P<0.05), and the autophagy was small. The number of body decreased,the expression of miRNA-204 in hippocampus of modified Chaihu Shugantang+miRNA-204 mimic group was significantly increased (P<0.01), the pathological changes in hippocampal C1 area were the lightest, and the expression of ATG7, LC3Ⅱ/LC3I was decreased (P<0.01), the number of autophagosomes was the least.Compared with modified Chaihu Shugantang group, the above-mentioned indicators of modified Chaihu Shugantang+miRNA-204 inhibitor group had the same change trend and the change range decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Modified Chaihu Shugantang can improve the pathological changes of hippocampus in mice with epilepsy and play a neuroprotective role. The mechanism may be to increase the expression of miRNA-204 in hippocampus of mice with epilepsy, inhibit excessive autophagy of neurons and reduce apoptosis.