OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Huangqi decoction (HQD) on phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage of mice.

METHODOne hundred Kunming mice, whose weight varied from 18 g to 22 g, were selected and divided into 10 groups randomly in eluding contrast group, groups conducted at different doses of HQD by ig, groups conducted in various ways of taking medicine, and groups conducted with comparative treat combining Huangqi and Dexamethasone. Mice in every group were taken medicine one time daily for 6 days.

RESULTAmong the groups treated at different doses of HQD, phagocytic rate and phagocytic index of mice, which were taken HQD by ig at high, middle, and low doses, were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of mice in contrast group, at the same time the effect in group with high dose was the best. Among the groups treated in various ways of taking medicine, phagocytic rate of the ip group was significantly better (P < 0.01) than that of the sc group and that of the ig group respectively, but there was not significant difference (P > 0.05) of phagocytic index among them. Among the groups combining Huangqi and Dexamethasone, Huangqi could antagonize the immunosuppressive effect of Dexamethasone obviously (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHQD at different doses and with various ways of taking medicine could improve phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophage of mice at different degree, and could antagonize the immunosuppressive effect of Dexamethasone.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Dexamethasone ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation

To explore the genetic characteristics of viral quasispecies in HIV-1 CRF07_BC infections among intravenous drug users (IDU), the gp120 fragments of HIV-1 env gene were amplified from plasma samples collected from 6 CRF07_BC infected persons using single genome amplification and sequencing (SGA/ SGS) method, and 11 to 28 sequences were obtained from these samples, respectively, A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to describe the genetic characteristics of viral quasispecies. The Simplot, segments' phylogenetic trees and diversity plots based on average pairwise distance (APD) were used to identify the recombination events between quasispecies. The SGA sequences derived from single specimen formed a large monophyletic cluster in the neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree and showed the complex topologic structures of viral quasispecies. Of the 6 CRF07_BC infected patients, only one possessed the high genetic homogeneity, whereas the other five individuals showed high heterogeneity, with two to four subclusters inside the monophyletic cluster for each specimen. In addition, the recombinant events were identified among viral quasispecies from 3 cases. The results show SGA technique and phylogenetic analyses are useful tool to investigate the intrahost CRF07_BC gp120 complex quasispecies variation and high genetic diversity.
Adult ; Drug Users ; Female ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology ; Young Adult

Objective To develop the finite element model of six-year-old child occupant lower extremity with higher biofidelity and validate the model of knee joints,as well as analyze the biomechanical responses of growth plate under frontal impact load and injury mechanisms of the knee joint by using this model.Methods The sixyear-old child occupant lower extremity with growth plate was modeled based on children's anatomy and CT images,and corresponding material properties of the lower extremity model were assigned.The model was validated according to biomechanical experiments by Kerrigan et aL and Haut et aL and then was used to analyze the injury results of growth plate with different material properties.Results The model validation was qualified by comparing the curves from the experimental and simulation results.The growth plates at knee regions could change injury patterns of the child occupant lower extremity fracture.The material properties of growth plate could affect threshold of axial damage of the femur as well as relative position of the fracture.Conclusions The validated model can be used for related study and application on biomechanical responses and injury mechanisms of sixyear-old child occupant lower extremities.

Objective To explore the brain injury mechanism and enrich the database of human finite element (FE) biomechanical model by developing the FE model of one-year-old toddler head. Methods Based on CT data from Chinese one-year-old toddler head with substantial and detailed information, the head model with detailed anatomical structure was constructed by using the medical software Mimics to get the head geometry data, as well as the reverse engineering software to divide NURBS surface and build the geometric model. Finally, the FE pre-processing software was used mesh the model. The FE model of one-year-old toddle head was validated by data from anatomic and cadaver experiments, and was used for preliminary analysis on damage mechanism of one-year-old toddler head. Results The FE model of Chinese one-year-old male toddler head was developed, which included and distinguished the gray matter and white matter of brain and cerebellum, hippocampus, fontanel, sagittal suture, coronal suture, brainstem and ventricles. The cadaver head static compression experiments and drop experiments were reconstructed by using this head model, and the results showed that the FE model of head had similar mechanical properties with the cadaver, which proved the validity of the FE model. Simulation results showed that skull stiffness and skull injury severity varied with different compression rates. Conclusions The FE model of one-year-old toddler head with detailed anatomical structures is of great biofidelity. The FE head model can be used to further investigate the detailed injury mechanism of deep brain tissues, especially for the closed craniocerebral injury, which provides an effective way and tool for the related research and clinical application.

Objective To explore the effeet of Zizyphus jujubekernelfreeze - dried powder on sleep and wakefulness and energy metabolism rate in rats under 24 h eontinuous darkness and its mechanism. Method U- sing the eortieal eleetroeneephalography method and the experimental animal monitoring system (CLAMS) and taking the time of wakefulness and sleep as well as the number of activities, food intake, and caloric pro- duetion as indicators to explore the funetion of it on improving energy metabolism rate. Theenzyme - linked immunoassay was used to determine the changes in the eontent of LEP, POMC, and NPY involved in energy regulation in the hypothalamus, so as to study the energy change mechanism of it. Result Compared with the DD group, the MAT group had redueed daytime awakening time, increased sleep time, deereased aetivities, no signifieant differenee in food intake, and inereased caloric production. There was no significant difference in night awakening and sleep time, no significant difference in the number of activities, reduced food intake , and increased caloric production. The weight gain of rats decreased; Compared with the DD group, the LEP content in the hypothalamus of the MAT group increased, the POMC content increased and the NPY content decreased. Conclusion By increasing LEP, POMC content and decreasing NPY content in hypothalamus , Zizyphus jujubekemelfreeze - dried powder collected the disturbance of sleep and wakefulness state and abnormal energy metabolism rate of rats caused by 24 h continuous dark condition.

Objective To develop the finite element model of six-year-old child occupant lower extremity with higher biofidelity and validate the model of knee joints, as well as analyze the biomechanical responses of growth plate under frontal impact load and injury mechanisms of the knee joint by using this model. Methods The six-year-old child occupant lower extremity with growth plate was modeled based on children’s anatomy and CT images, and corresponding material properties of the lower extremity model were assigned．The model was validated according to biomechanical experiments by Kerrigan et al. and Haut et al. and then was used to analyze the injury results of growth plate with different material properties. Results The model validation was qualified by comparing the curves from the experimental and simulation results．The growth plates at knee regions could change injury patterns of the child occupant lower extremity fracture. The material properties of growth plate could affect threshold of axial damage of the femur as well as relative position of the fracture． Conclusions The validated model can be used for related study and application on biomechanical responses and injury mechanisms of six-year-old child occupant lower extremities．

Objective To predict biomechanical responses of neck injuries under different loading conditions based on the finite element model of the 6-year-old pediatric neck. Methods The finite element model of the 6-year-old pediatric neck with real anatomical structural muscles was developed, according to the CT images. The model was verified by reconstructing the dynamic tensile test of different cervical spine segments, the tensile test of full cervical spine and the low speed impact experiment of the pediatric volunteers. Results The force-displacement curves, obtained from the simulations on tensile test of different cervical spine segments and tensile test of full cervical spine, were in good agreement with the experimental curves. The head angular velocity-time curve obtained from simulations on pediatric volunteer was consistent with the corridor obtained from experimental data. Conclusions The model is validated and can be used for studying the biomechanical responses and injury mechanism of pediatric neck under different loading conditions.