OBJECTIVE: To determine Plumbago content in Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae under different growing conditions and to provide experimental data for its domestication. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine Plumbago contents in the roots, stems and leaves of home-grown Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae. RESULTS: Plumbago content in Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae grown in mellow and clay soil was higher than in those grown in sand and crude soil. Potasium-fertilized and nitrogen-fertilized Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae contained higher Plumbago than those fertilized by phosphorus. Plumbago content was the highest in Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae grown in full light. Plumbago contents in roots, stems, and leaves of Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae grown under different bred conditions did not vary much. CONCLUSION: The research group's preliminary studies indicated that Plumbago was the main effective ingredient having anti-cancer and anti-inflammation bioactivity. Clay soil, cuttings, potassium fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer, and full light were thought as ideal conditions for increasing Plumbago content. High quality Herba Plumbaginis Zeylanicae can be grown under these conditions. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

To study the preventive effect of Grifola frondosa on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The rat model of NASH was established by feeding high-fat diets for 12 weeks and intervened with 0.5 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) and 1.0 g · kg(-1) · d(-1) of C. frondosa powder suspensions. The degrees of hepatocyte fatty degeneration and inflammation were observed under the optical microscope with routine HE staining. The NAFLD activity scores (NAS) were calculated. Serum ALT, AST and hepatic TG and CHOL were tested by the biochemical method. The hepatic MDA was examined by thiobarbituric acid method. The hepatic SOD was tested by the xanthine oxidase test. The hepatic GSH-PX activity was determined by the dithio-nitrobenzoic acid method. Hepatic TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The NASH model group induced by high-fat diets showed higher hepatic NAS, ser- um ALT, AST, CHOL and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05) and lower serum TG and hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) than the normal control group. After being intervened with different doses of G. frondosa, the NASH group revealed significantly lower hepatic NAS, serum ALT and hepatic TG, CHOL, MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05) and higher hepatic SOD, GSH-PX (P < 0.05) than the model group. G. frondosa may prevent the further development of NASH by improving the disorder of lipid metabolism in rats with NASH induced by high-fat diets, relieving the level of oxidative stress and reducing the generation of inflammatory cytokines.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Grifola ; chemistry ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To explore a reasonable,accuracy and effectual proposition model for medical imaging examination.Methods Mean scores and their standard deviation and distribution as well as the difficulty,discrimination,reliability and validity of the test paper were analyzed for the 2005 grade 7-year program students by using SPSS 13.0 statistic software.Results The scores of the 67 copies of test paper displayed a normal distribution,with the mean score of 73.76 and standard deviation of 11.88.The difficulty,reliability and validity indexes of the test paper were 0.74,0.78 and 0.25 respectively.The difficulty,discrimination,reliability and validity indexes of subjective items were higher than those of objective items(0.76 vs.0.73,0.94 vs.0.90,0.71 vs.0.68,0.32 vs.0.22,respectively).Conclusions We should keep quite high proportion of subjective items and make detailed scoring standard in medical imaging examination.Furthermore,as a supplement,objectively items such as multiple choice questions can expand the scope of knowledge examined.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Qishen Xiaodian Decoction combined with laser acupoint irradiation for treatment of recurrent Hen?ch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP) in children. Methods Totally 120 cases of children with recurrent HSP were divided into treatment group and control group according to the digital random table method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was given anti-allergy, hormones, immunosuppressive agents and other conventional treatment for 4 weeks, while the treatment group was treated with Qishen Xiaodian Decoction based on conventional treatment, 1 dose each day, morning and night (age 4–5 take 1/3 dose, age >5–10 take the half dose, and age >10–14 take the whole dose), for 4 weeks. Zusanli, Xuehai, and Sanyinjiao acupoints were under laser vertical irradiation, 12 min for each time, once a day for 2 weeks. The disappearing time of the main symptoms and the total effective rate of the two groups were compared. Peripheral blood contents of Th17 and Treg cells and serum interleukin-17 (IL-17), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) level before and after the treatment were observed. The recurrence rate in 6 months and in 12 months of the two groups were compared. Results The disappearing time of rash, abdominal pain and joint swelling pain and kidney damage of the treatment group were less than those of the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 95％(57/60) in treatment group, significantly higher than control group 80％ (48/60), with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, Th17 cell content, serum IL-17 and TGF-β1 decreased, and Treg cell content increased after treatment of the two groups (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, contents of Th17 cell and serum IL-17 of the treatment group decreased (P<0.01). The recurrence rate was lower than that of the control group in 6 and 12 months after treatment, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Based on the conventional western medicine treatment, Qishen Xiaodian Decoction combined with laser acupoint irradiation on recurrent HSP in children can quickly relieve symptoms and reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To study the mechanism of marcosomia by investigating insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF_2)imprinting status,expression level and the promoter usage in the placenta of macrosomia. Methods We selected heterozygous cases for Apa Ⅰ polymorphism in exon 9 of IGF_2 gene and then analyzed its imprinting status in 168 placentas of macrosomia and normal pregnancies.IGF_2 transcription levels and promoter usages in macrosomic and normal placenta were evaluated by using semi-quantitative RT- PCR assay.Results Thirty specimens of macrosomic placenta and 30 of normal placenta were identified as heterozygous for IGF_2.All of the heterozygous specimens showed maintenance of imprinting.The expression of placental IGF_2 mRNA(2.2?1.2)was significantly higher in macrosomia than that of normal weight group (1.6?0.6,P 0.05).Conclusion It is possible that over expression of IGF_2 in placenta contributes to macrosomia while the promoter usage and imprinting status are not associated with macrosomia.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of external fixator and reconstituted bone xenograft (RBX) in the treatment of tibial bone defect, tibial bone nonunion and congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia with limb shortening.

METHODSTwenty patients (13 males and 7 females) with tibial bone defect, tibial bone nonunion or congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia with limb shortening were treated with external fixation. Two kinds of external fixators were used: a half ring sulcated external fixator used in 13 patients and a combined external fixator in 7 patients. Foot-drop was corrected at the same time with external fixation in 4 patients. The shortened length of the tibia was in the range of 2-9 cm, with an average of 4.8 cm. For bone grafting, RBX was used in 12 patients, autogenous ilium was used in 3 patients and autogenous fibula was implanted as a bone plug into the medullary canal in 1 case, and no bone graft was used in 4 patients.

RESULTSAll the 20 patients were followed-up for 8 months to 7 years, averaging 51 months. Satisfactory function of the affected extremities was obtained. All the shortened extremities were lengthened to the expected length. For all the lengthening area and the fracture sites, bone union was obtained at the last. The average healing time of 12 patients treated with RBX was 4.8 months.

CONCLUSIONSBoth the half ring sulcated external fixator and the combined external fixator have the advantages of small trauma, simple operation, elastic fixation without stress shielding and non-limitation from local soft tissue conditions, and there is satisfactory functional recovery of affected extremities in the treatment of tibial bone defects, tibial bone nonunion and congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia combined with limb shortening. RBX has good biocompatibility and does not cause immunological rejections. It can also be safely used in treatment of bone nonunion and has reliable effect to promote bone healing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; methods ; Fractures, Ununited ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pseudarthrosis ; surgery ; Tibia ; pathology ; surgery ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the relations between different feeding patterns and the body weight retention of the perinatal women living in rural areas of China.

METHODSA cluster sampling method was used to investigate 409 women, who are currently living in rural areas of Tianjin, at pregnant and perinatal status. While, their body weights and heights before pregnancy, antepartum and postpartum were measured, respectively. Body weight retention was the difference of the measured data after postpartum minus pre-pregnant weight. Variance analysis was used for statistic comparison.

RESULTSThe rate of exclusive breastfeeding was 70.9% (290/409) within four months. The net body weight retention of women (5.8 kg) using the exclusive breastfeeding was lower than that of the women (7.0 kg) using artificial feeding within 4 - 6 months, but there was no significantly statistic difference (F = 1.45, P = 0.236). However, there was the opposite result within 7 - 9 months, the data showed that the body weight retention in the women using the exclusive breastfeeding was 4.9 kg, which was significantly higher than that the women (2.9 kg) with artificial feeding (F = 3.17, P = 0.043). The food consumption of the women (901 g) using exclusive breastfeeding was the highest, followed by those (877 g) using mixed feeding and the women (750 g) using artificial feeding.

CONCLUSIONThe body weight retention after postpartum should be related to infant feeding patterns. After postpartum, the weight loss of women using the exclusive breastfeeding is relatively low. While, for the women using the exclusive breastfeeding, the net weight retention during pregnancy and after postpartum were lower than those with artificial feeding. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance health education and guidance on promoting exclusive breast-feeding as well as increasing awareness on pre-pregnant health.

Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Infant ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies

Objective To observe the effects of genistein and 17?-estradiol on microstructure of cancellous bone in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.Methods Ninty 7-month-old SD rats were randomly divided into baseline group,ovariectomized (OVX),sham-operated (SHAM),17?-estradiol treated (10?g?kg~(-1).day~(-1),EST) and genistein treated (5 mg?kg~(-1)?day~(-1),GEN) groups,and were killed at the beginning of the experiment,the 3rd and 15th week after operation.MicroCT scanning was performed on the left tibia in vitro.The regions involving 0.5 mm slice thickness and 1.6 mm distal to the tibial growth plate were selected as the regions of interest.Results At the 3rd week after operation,the tissue bone mineral density (tBMD) and trabecular thickness (sTh.Th) in group GEN were significantly higher than those in OVX and EST groups (all P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Bushen Huoxue Fang (BSHX) on the apoptosis of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and its possible action mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred 3- month-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of equal number (control, castrated, BPH model, and BSHX). BPH models were made by subcutaneous injection of testosterone following castration; the rats in the BSHX group were treated intragastrically with BSHX at 2.34 g/ml after modeling, while those in the other two groups with equal volume of saline, all for 37 days. On the 38th day, all the rats were sacrificed and their prostates harvested for detection of the distribution of TGF-beta1 and alpha-actin and the count of positive cells in the prostatic ductal system by immunohistochemical staining. The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was determined by TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly increased in the rats of the BSHX group as compared with the BPH models in both the proximal prostatic duct ([15.28 +/- 4.30]% vs [36.42 +/- 8.10]%, P < 0.01) and the distal prostatic duct ([4.42 +/- 2.07]% vs [8.71 +/- 2.28 ]%, P < 0.05), while the expression of alpha-actin in the proximal duct was remarkably higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the models ([28.14 +/- 7.43]% vs [18.28 +/- 4.07]%, P < 0.01), but lower than in the control animals ([33.57 +/- 6.85]%, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the BPH models and BSHX-treated rats both exhibited markedly decreased apoptosis of epithelial cells in the proximal prostatic duct ([39.42 +/- 9.20]% vs [3.86 +/- 1.34]%, P < 0.01, and [31.14 +/- 5.64]%, P < 0.01) and distal prostatic duct ([17.60 +/- 4.86]% vs [3.07 +/- 1.14]%, P < 0.01, and [12.37 +/- 2.25]%, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate of epithelial cells in the prostatic ductal system was significantly higher in the BSHX-treated rats than in the BPH models (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBy upregulating the expression of TGF-beta, BSHX can suppress the reduction of smooth muscle cells in the proximal prostatic duct, promote the apoptosis of prostatic epithelial cells, and thus effectively inhibit benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDMyocardial perfusion associates with clinical syndromes and prognosis. Adenosine could improve myocardial perfusion of acute myocardial infarction within 6 hours, but few data are available on late perfusion of myocardial infarction (MI). This study aimed at quantitatively evaluating the value of intracoronary adenosine improving myocardial perfusion in late reperfused MI with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE).

METHODSTwenty-six patients with anterior wall infarcts were divided randomly into 2 groups: adenosine group (n = 12) and normal saline group (n = 14). Their history of myocardial infarction was about 3 - 12 weeks. Adenosine or normal saline was given when the guiding wire crossed the lesion through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), then the balloon was dilated and stent (Cypher/Cypher select) was implanted at the lesion. Contrast pulse sequencing MCE with Sonovue contrast via the coronary route was done before PCI and 30 minutes after PCI. Video densitometry and contrast filled-blank area were calculated with the CUSQ off-line software. Heart function and cardiac events were followed up within 30 days.

RESULTSPerfusion in the segments of the criminal occlusive coronary artery in the adenosine group was better than that in the saline group (5.71 +/- 0.29 vs 4.95 +/- 1.22, P < 0.05). Ischemic myocardial segment was deminished significantly after PCI, but the meliorated area was bigger in the adenosine group than in the saline group ((1.56 +/- 0.60) cm(2) vs (1.02 +/- 0.56) cm(2), P < 0.05). The video densitometry in critical segments was also improved significantly in the adenosine group (5.53 +/- 0.36 vs 5.26 +/- 0.35, P < 0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was improved in all patients after PCI, but EF was not significant between the two groups ((67 +/- 6)% vs (62 +/- 7)%, P > 0.05). There was no in-hospital or 30-day major adverse cardiac event (MACE) in the adenosine group but 3 MACE in the saline group in 30 days after PCI.

CONCLUSIONSAdenosine could improve myocardial microvascular perfusion in the late reopening of an occluded infarct related artery (3 to 12 weeks after AMI) and clinical outcome in the follow-up period, and myocardial microvascular perfusion is a powerful predictor of clinical events.

Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Ventricular Function, Left