The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pseudomonas sp. M18 is one of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria capable of producing two kinds of anti-fungal agents: phenazine-1-carboxilic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (Plt). The pqsR gene, which encodes a LysR family member PqsR, was amplified from chromosomal genome of strain M18. Using the homologous recombination technique, a chromosomal pqsR inactivated mutant strain M18PRG was constructed in Pseudomonas sp. M18. To study the effect of pqsR gene on Plt biosynthesis, the dynamic curves of Plt production by strains M18 and M18PRG was measured in KMB media. As a result, Plt production of the pqsR mutant was three to four folds higher than that of its parent strain M18. The Plt production was restored to the wild-type level when strain M18PRG was complemented with pqsR gene in trans. The regulation of pqsR gene on Plt production was further confirmed by the pltA′-′lacZ translational fusion analysis. These results indicate that pqsR gene negatively controls the Plt biosynthesis. Additionally, by analyzing the growth curves of wild type strain M18 and pqsR mutant, wecan readily find that PqsR has a negative influence on cell growth. It was also shown that the production of red pigments in strain M18 required the expression of pqsR gene. In conclusion, the data presented in this study clearly demonstrate that PqsR acts as a global regulator involved in many physiological activities in Pseudomonas sp. M18.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy difference between segmentation scraping and conventional acupuncture for cervical spondylosis (CS) so as to provide effective treatment method.

METHODSEighty-five cases of cervical type of CS were randomly divided into a scraping group (44 cases) and an acupuncture group (41 cases). The segmentation scraping therapy was used in the scraping group. The scraping group was treated with focusing on scraping the head and joint part of neck and occiput in the upper cervical spine injury, and focusing on scraping the lower section of cervical and shoulder in the lower cervical spine injury, once every seven days, totally for 3 times. In the acupuncture group, Fengchi (GB 20),Wangu (TE 5), Tianzhu (BL 10),Neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2), etc. were selected,once daily,for 15 days. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the immediate analgesic effect after the first treatment and the clinical efficacy was observed after the end of treatment.

RESULTSAfter the first treatment, the score of VAS was decreased significantly in the scaping group (P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference in the acupuncture group compared with those before treatment (P > 0.05); the score of VAS in the scaping group after the first treatment was lower than that in the acupuncture group (3.66 +/- 0.74 vs 5.43 +/- 0.35, P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment, the scores of VAS were decreased significantly after treatment in two groups (both P < 0.01), but without significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05); the effective rate was 95.5% (42/44) in the scaping group and 87.8% (36/41) in the acupuncture group, the curative effects were similar (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth of scraping and acupuncture therapies have good analgesic effect for cervical spondylosis, and overall effects are similar, but the immediate analgesic effect of scraping thrapy is better than that of conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neck Pain ; therapy ; Spondylosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to clone human RHD gene and to investigate its expression in transduced K562 cells. Total RNA was extracted from reticulocyte of cord blood. RHD and RHCE genes were amplified using RT-PCR method. The amplified products were cloned into pGEM-T plasmid by TA ligation and several clones were screened by direct sequencing method in order to obtain the RHD gene. RHD gene was subcloned into pcDNA3.1(-) expression vector, then the recombined plasmids were transduced into K562 cells with superfect transfection reagent kit. Finally transcription and expression of RHD gene in K562 cells were detected. The result showed that RHD gene has been cloned sucessfully, the inserted sequence and direction of RHD cDNA in its recombined pcDNA3.1(-) vector were identified using enzyme cutting and sequencing method. After transduced with recombined pcDNA3.1(-) vector, K562 cells could transcribe RHD mRNA in its cytoplasm and express RhD antigen on its membrane surface. In conclusion, RhD antigen can expressed in K562 cells with RHD cDNA transduction, and the expression system in vitro may be helpful to further investigate the molecular basis of RhD variants.
Base Sequence ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Transfection

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been broadly investigated and shown to exert many preventive and therapeutic actions besides their important role in maintenances human health and normal development. In mammals, the level of omega-3 PUFAs is relatively too low compared with omega-6 PUFAs, which metabolically and functionally distinct from omega-3 PUFAs and often have important opposing physiological functions. Either the inefficiency of omega-3 PUFAs or the excess of omega-6 PUFAs will cause many healthy problems. So methods have been sought to increase the amount of omega-3 PUFAs and to improve the omega-6/omega-3 ratio in body. In this study, the sFat-1 gene, which putatively encodes a omega-3 fatty acid desaturase, was chemically synthesized according to the sequence from Caenorhabditis briggssae (with codon usage modified), and constructed into a mammal expression vector pcDNA3. 1-sFat1-EGFP. This vector was introduced into CHO cells by lipid-mediated transfection, and it's expression quickly and effectively elevated the cellular omega-3 PUFAs (from 18-carbon to 22-carbon) contents and dramatically improved the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 PUFAs. Cellular lipids extracts from stably selected cells were analyzed with GC-MS and the results showed that amount of total omega-6 PUFAs dropped from 48.97% (in GFP cells)to 35.29% (in sFat-1 cells), whereas the amount of total omega-3 PUFAs increased from 7.86% to 24.02%, respectively. The omega-6/omega-3 ratio also dropped from 6.23 to 1.47. These data demonstrates the Caenorhabditis briggssae omega-3 Fatty Acid Desaturase gene, sFat-1, was synthesized successfully and can produce omega-3 PUFAs by using the corresponding omega-6 PUFAs as substrates, which shows its potential for use in the production of omega-3 PUFAs in transgenic animals.
Animals ; CHO Cells ; Caenorhabditis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fatty Acid Desaturases ; genetics ; physiology ; Fatty Acids ; analysis ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of exocrine immune inflammatory injury of Sjögren's Syndrome and the intervention of Banxia Qinlian Decoction (BQD).

METHODSTotally 18 female NOD mice were randomly divided into the model group, the positive drug group, and the BQD group, 6 in each group. Six female BALB/c mice were recruited as a blank control group. Mice in the blank control group and the model group were gavaged with deionized water at the daily dose of 0.1 mL/10 g body weight. Tripterygium Tablet was administered by gastrogavage to mice in the positive group at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg. BQD was administered by gastrogavage to mice in the BQD group at the daily dose of 60 g crude drugs/kg. After 12 weeks of medication, mice were sacrificed. Their eyeballs were excised and blood collected. Tissues of bilateral parotids and submandibular glands were kept. mRNA transcriptional levels of IL-17, IL-6, type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M3R), aquaporin protein-5 (AQP5) were detected by RT-PCR. Expression levels of M3R and AQP5 protein were detected by Western blot. Protein expression levels of IL-17 and IL-6 were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, mRNA transcriptional levels and protein expression levels of IL-17, IL-6, M3R, and AQP5 were significantly up-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, mRNA transcriptional levels and protein expression levels of IL-17, IL-6, M3R, and AQP5 were significantly down-regulated in the positive drug group and the BQD group with statistical difference (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the BQD group, mRNA-transcriptional levels of IL-17, IL-6, and M3R, as well as M3R and AQP5 protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in the positive drug group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe molecular mechanism of BQD in inhibiting SS exocrine neurotoxic injury might be possibly related to regulating Th17/IL-17 immune inflammatory way.

Animals ; Aquaporin 5 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Submandibular Gland ; Th17 Cells ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVESTo investigate prognostic effect of postoperative resection-margin status for intraoperatively positive resection margin in advanced gastric cancer and discuss the treatment choice for intraoperatively positive resection margins.

METHODSA retrospective study was investigated in 64 advanced gastric cancer patients with positive resection margin after potentially curative resection. The survival between 50 patients who was re-excised to a negative resection margin (NR group) and 14 patients who were left with positive resection margin (PR group) was compared. Prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression model analysis.

RESULTSThe median survival in the PR group was 17.0 months (95%CI: 11.6 - 22.4) as compared with 23.0 months (95%CI: 20.5 - 25.5) in the NR group (P = 0.045). However, resection-margin status lost significance on multivariate analysis. In the subgroup of D2 lymphadenectomy, the median survival in the PR group and NR group were 17.0 months (95%CI: 12.0 - 22.0) and 24.0 months (95%CI: 19.8 - 28.1) respectively; multivariate analysis further identified resection margin status as an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONSRe-excision for intraoperatively positive margin to negative margin improves the prognosis of the patients with advanced gastric cancer, and re-excision is the first choice when intraoperative frozen section detects a positive margin. Routine frozen section of resection margin should be mandatory in all advanced gastric cancer undergoing potentially curative surgery.

Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frozen Sections ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying antisense heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) cDNA and observe its effect on inhibiting the growth of laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells.

METHODSThe HSP70 gene fragment encoding the 5' region was cloned reversely into the shuttle plasmid PAdTrack-CMV, and the resultant plasmid was recombined with the backbone plasmid PadEasy-1 in the E.coli Bj5183 cells to generate the recombinant adenovirus vector. The adenovirus were then packaged and amplified in 293 cells, and the viral titer was determined using GFP.

RESULTSThe recombinant adenovirus vector carrying antisense HSP70 cDNA was constructed successfully with a viral titer of 8 x 10(9). HSP70 expression of Hep-2 cells was obviously blocked by antisense HSP70 RNA, and Western blotting and immuohistochemistry demonstrated that cells transfected with antisense HSP70 did not express or express HSP70 at low levels. Flow cytometry presented apoptotic peak in the antisense HSP70-transfected cells, but not in the control cells.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus vector containing antisense HSP70 cDNA can effectively deliver antisense HSP70 gene into Hep-2 cells, suggesting the great potential of this gene therapy strategy in management of human laryngeal carcinoma.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; therapy ; RNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Objective To observe the efficacy difference between heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae and ordinary suspended moxibustion in treating neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation.Method A total of 113 patients with neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation were randomized into a treatment group of 58 cases and a control group of 55 cases.The treatment group was intervened by heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae after scraping therapy;the control group was treated with conventional moxibustion therapy.The cervical symptoms and signs were evaluated by using LU's scale scores.The improvement in symptoms and clinical efficacy were observed after the intervention and half a year later.Result The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and LU's scale scores were significantly changed after the intervention and half a year later compared with those before the intervention in both groups (P＜0.01).After the intervention and half a year later,there were significant differences in comparing the VAS and LU's scale scores between the two groups (P＜0.01).The total effective rate and markedly effective rate were respectively 94.8％ and 77.6％ in the treatment group versus 76.4％ and 52.7％ in the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01).Conclusion Heavy-dose moxibustion at Sha-petechiae is an effective approach in treating neck-type cervical spondylosis due to cold coagulation and blood stagnation,and its short-term and long-term efficacies are both superior to those of ordinary moxibustion.

The complex field cure instrument is a new medical instrument with which an experiment was carried out. Rats were continuously irradiated by the complex field for 90 days, with a day's total dose of 285.9 M.T.G. while other rats weren't irradiated for control group. The animals were respectively killed at 7d, 14d, 30d, 60d and 90d, and their blood samples were taken for cell and humoral immune analysis. The results show that values of lymphocyte transform rate, soluble receptor (SIL-2R), total hemolytic complement levels (CH50) and immunoglobulin (A.G.) after irradiation are more than those of the control group having proved that the instrument may improve immune function of rats.
Animals ; Female ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Physical Therapy Modalities ; instrumentation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Time Factors