0.97).The method of Real-time PCR and molecular beacon detection for bifodobacteria has many advantages,such as being sensitive,specific,simple and fast,and this method can be used in situ detection of bifidobacteria quantitatively.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of butyl alcohol extract of Baitouweng decoction ( BAEB) on yeast-to-hyphae transition of Candida albicans isolates from vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in alkaline pH.

METHODSerial 2-fold dilution assay was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Baitouweng decoction extracts against C. albicans isolates from VVC, XTT assay was applied to determine the metabolic activity of C. albicans hypha treated by BAEB for 6 h. The morphological change of C. albicans treated by BAEB was inspected at different pH by inverted microscope, fluorescence microscope, scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Solid agar plate and semi-solid agar were utilized to evaluate colony morphology and invasive growth of C. albicans, respectively. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was adopted to observe the expressions of hyphae-specific genes including HWP1, ALS3, CSH1, SUN41 and CaPDE2.

RESULTThe MIC of BAEB against C. albicans is less than that of other extracts; hyphae grow best at pH 8. 0; 512 mg · L(-1) and 1,024 mg · L(-1) BAEB could inhibit formation of hyphae and influence colony morphology. When treated by 512 mg · L(-1) and 1,024 mg · L(-1) BAEB, the colonies became smooth; while by 0 and 256 mg · L(-1) BAEB, the colonies became wrinkled. In semi-solid agar, the length of hyphae decreased steadily as the concentration of BAEB lowered. The expression of HWP1, ALS3, CSHl, SUN41 were downregulated by 5.12, 4.26, 3.2 and 2.74 folds, and CaPDE2 was upregulated by 2.38 fold.

CONCLUSIONBAEB could inhibit yeast-to-hyphae transition of C. albicans isolates from VVC in alkaline pH.

Antifungal Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyphae ; drug effects ; growth & development

To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution on the heart of infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD).

METHODSNinety-six infants with CCHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were randomly and equally divided into three groups: histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, cold non-autologous blood cardioplegic solution, and cold autologous blood cardioplegic solution. The right auricular tissues were taken before aortic cross-clamping and at 30 minutes after aortic declamping, and ATP level and energy charge (EC) in the myocardium were measured. Venous blood was collected before and immediately after CPB, and the serum levels of creatine kinase (CK)-MB and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were measured. The clinical parameters, such as the re-beat time and re-beat rate during CPB, cardiac index, dependence on positive inotropic agents, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 2 hours after CPB, the incidence rate of arrhythmia within 24 hours after CPB, and postoperative complications and mortality, were recorded.

RESULTSAt 30 minutes after aortic declamping, the three groups showed significantly decreased ATP and EC levels (P<0.05), and the cold autologous blood group had significantly higher ATP and EC levels than the other two groups (P<0.05). Immediately after CPB, the three groups showed significantly increased serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI (P<0.05), and the cold autologous blood group had significantly lower serum levels of CK-MB and cTnI than the other two groups (P<0.05). The cold autologous blood group had significantly better outcomes than the other two groups in terms of the re-beat time during CPB and the dependence on positive inotropic agents and LVEF at 2 hours after CPB (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCold autologous blood cardioplegic solution is superior to HTK and cold non-autologous blood cardioplegic solutions in preserving myocardial energy and reducing myocardial injury in infants with CCHD who undergo CPB, thus providing a better protective effect on the heart.

Cardioplegic Solutions ; pharmacology ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; metabolism ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mannitol ; pharmacology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Potassium Chloride ; pharmacology ; Procaine ; pharmacology ; Ventricular Function, Left

OBJECTIVETo review tension-free repairing for the patients with inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites.

METHODSTension-free herniorrhaphy was performed in 16 cases with inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites from November 1999 to November 2003. The laboratory data before and after the operation were compared and analyzed in this group.

RESULTSOf the patients, 13 cases were male and 3 were female, the mean age was (64 ± 12) years (range, 37 - 85 years). The liver function was classified as A degree in 4 case, B degree in 10 cases and C degree in 2 patients by using Child score. The operation was successfully carried out in all patients without complications and post-operative hepatoencephalopathy. There was no significant change in the plasma total protein, bilirubin, prothrombin activity and international normalized ratio (INR) after the operation. And the levels of albumin, globulin and white blood cell count changed remarkably after the operation (all P < 0.05). Plasma albumin level was obviously effected by the operation and treatment (P = 0.006). The mean follow-up time was 72.5 months (57 - 102 months). No recurrence occurred during the follow-up. There was no patient died in 30 days after the operation. Seven cases (43.8%) died in the later period of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe tension-free repairing is feasible for the inguinal hernia complicated with cirrhosis and ascites. More attention should be paid to the level of plasma albumin and it should be corrected in time. The liver cirrhosis and its complications will progress after the operation with a poor prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ascites ; complications ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hernia, Inguinal ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness of percutaneous bone marrow grafting for treatment of fractures nonunion.

METHODSFrom June 2001 to December 2007, 29 consecutive cases of fractures nonunion were treated with percutaneous autologous bone marrow grafting included 20 males and 9 females, ranging in age from 20 to 71 years, with an average of 40 years. All the cases were traumatic fractures involving 13 of tibia, 10 of femur, 3 of humerus, 2 of ulna, 1 of radius, 11 cases of them were open fractures. All the cases were performed internal or external fixation before marrow grafting, intramedullary pin in 15 cases, plate in 12 cases, external fixator in 2 cases. The time from injury to therapy were from 6 to 12 months, with an average of 8.5 months. The type of nonunion included atrophic in 26 cases,hypertrophic in 3 cases. All the cases were performed 3 times injection, the interval was 1 month. According to the different fracture, the amount of bone marrow was from 6 to 15 ml.

RESULTSAll the 29 cases were followed-up for from 5 to 22 months with an average of 14 months. Four of them were not observed obvious callus after 3 months from the 3rd injection, judged unsuccessful therapy, changed to perform autologous bone grafting (3 of them re-internal fixation), the follow-up ended. The other 25 cases obtained bone union during 3 to 8 months with an average of 4.5 months, the follow-up ended at the time of internal fixation removal.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous autologous bone marrow grafting is an effective, easy and economic therapy for fracture nonunion. But stable internal or external fixation is the premise. Excessive bone defect, the gap more than 5 mm and mal-align requiring rectification is not appropriate for this therapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo sum up one-stage complete correction of infantile aortic coarctation (CoA) or interrupted aortic arch (IAA) associated with intracardiac anomalies through median sternotomy.

METHODSThe clinical data of 52 infants with CoA or IAA associated with intracardiac anomalies from May 2004 to March 2010 was analyzed. There were 32 male and 20 female, aged from 25 d to 7 months with a mean of (2.03 ± 0.15) months, weighted from 2.5 to 8.0 kg with a mean of (3.9 ± 0.5) kg. All of intracardiac defect were corrected by self-arcula cordisand. Forty cases with CoA were underwent by operative techniques, including resection with end to side anastomosis, extended end to side anastomosis (n = 34), and vertical incision and cross joint (n = 3). Three cases of pseudo-CoA were cut and ductus arteriosus or ligamentum arteriosus and dissected arch. Twelve cases of IAA were underwent by extended end to side anastomosis.

RESULTSThe time of cardiopulmonary bypass was (98 ± 41) min, and all patients hemorrhaged (78 ± 13) ml during operation. One case of IAA associated with double outlet right ventricle died after 43 d post-operation because of left bronchial stenosis. The other patients were in good condition. The rate of aneurysm formation was 11% in 1 to 6 years' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSOne-stage complete correction of infantile CoA or IAA associated with intracardiac anomalies through median sternotomy yields excellent intermediate surgical results. This operative approach is beneficial, not only with shorten period of therapy and loss operative cost.

Aortic Coarctation ; surgery ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sternotomy ; methods

AIMTo synthesize new fluoroquinolone analogues as antibacterial compounds.

METHODS AND RESULTSBy reaction of acryl chloride(chloro-carbonic ester) with sodium sulfocyanate, acyl isosulfocyanic ester were easily obtained. Twelve 7-(4-acylamino-thiocarbamoyl-1-piperazinyl) fluoroquinolone analogues (1-12) were synthesized through modifying the 7-piperazine of norflorxacin and ciprofloxacin with isosulfocyanic ester synthesized above. The structures of synthesized compounds were characterized by 1HNMR, IR and elemental analysis.

CONCLUSIONAntibacterial activities of the new compounds were evaluated in vitro compared with norflorxacin. Compounds 5, 7, 10 and 12 showed antibacterial activities.

Anti-Infective Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Bacillus subtilis ; drug effects ; Ciprofloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Fluoroquinolones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Structure ; Norfloxacin ; chemistry ; pharmacology

The aim of the study was to look for the chemical constituents of the herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum. The herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum was extracted with 70% EtOH. The isolation and purification was performed with a combination of multi-column chromatography and the structure was determined by spectral analysis. The flavonoid compound was obtained and elucidated as kaempferol-7-O(4"-(E)-p-coumaroyl-)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It is a new flavonoid compound.
Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Primulaceae ; chemistry

Objective To study the mlationship between dietary soy isoflavones and blood lipids among residents of 40-65 years old,in Guangzhou.Methods Dietary soy isoflavones and other nutrients intakes were assessed with quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ).Total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),HDL cholesterol(HDL-C)and LDL cholesterol(LDL-C)in plasma were measured with colorimetry.Results Ranges of dietary soy isoflavones intake among 134 males and 261 females were fxom 0 mg/day to 61.96 mg/day and 0 mg/day to 82.52 mg/day,with means of 11.95 mg/day,14.90 mg/day,respectively.After adjusted for total energy intake and fat percent energy,difiefences of TC,LDL-C in total population and TC in women were statistically significant between groups(P value was 0.002,0.008,0.004,respectively) and dose-effect relationships(P value was <0.001.0.012.0.001,respectively)were observed between dietary soy isoflavones intake and the upper mentioned three indices.Compared with the low-intake group,tbese three indices lowered 7.06%,10.13%and 7.48%,respectively in high-intake group.Critical significance of LDL-C was observed both in women and men between groups.Further controlled for age,BMI and WHR,no obvious change of the results was observed.Conclusion Moderate intakes of soy isoflavone as part of a regular diet seemed to be associated with favorable blood lipid levels.