The effect of addition nucleotides on heparinase production by Flavobacterium heparinum was reseached. The result indicated that addition of nucleotides cause different effects on heparinase production depend on its addi ng mode, single kind of nucleotide would restrain, but multiplex promote. The s trongest promotion happened when the propotion of nucleotides was consistent wit h the nucleic acids of heparinase mRNA. HPLC result confined the entrance of nu cleoides to the bactera cell. And it also suggested the synthesis metabolic of nucleic acids in F.heparinum was imbalance, there always be higher lever of purin nucleoides. L-Asp was added to medium culture to enhance pyridine nucle oides thynesis in order to improve the enzyme production ,which has been affecte d by the imbalance of nucleoides.

OBJECTIVEInvestigating the antioxidant activities of water and ethanol extracts of natural Cordyceps sinensis and Cordyceps militaris and their fermentation preparations.

METHODThe samples were tested through 6 assays: inhibition ability of linoleic acid oxidation; scavenging activity of DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion; and metal chelating activity.

RESULTSamples showed different antioxidant ability, and there was not an extract that exhibited high activity in all assays; however, water extract of natural C. militaris could be regarded as the most powerful antioxidant among 8 samples. It had high activity in inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation, chelating metal ions, and scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radical. The research also indicated that the contents of phenolic compounds in water and ethanol extracts of natural and cultured Cordyceps sp. had huge difference.

CONCLUSIONNatural Cordyceps sp. and its fermentation preparations could be used as potential natural antioxidants. The fermented process affected the antioxidant ability of cultured Cordyceps sp., and the antioxidant activity of both natural and cultured Cordyceps sp. did not significantly related with the quantity of phenolics.

Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chelating Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; Fermentation ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; metabolism ; Free Radical Scavengers ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Linoleic Acid ; metabolism ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Phenols ; analysis ; metabolism ; Polyphenols

BACKGROUNDIntraoperative Doppler sonography has been used in the neurosurgical operating room for the localization and description of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). This study aimed to investigate the clinical value of contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler sonography, including its ability to assess the location and identify of feeding arteries in patients with AVMs and to compare this method with angiography.

METHODSTwenty-three patients with cerebral AVMs who were diagnosed using angiography, were examined with contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler sonography. As an echo-enhancing agent, Sulphur Hexafluoride Microbubbles for Injection ("SonoVue") was administered intravenously in all patients. Sonogram results were reviewed and correlated with angiographic findings. For statistical analysis, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied.

RESULTSAngiography identified 20 AVM lesions in the anterior or middle fossa and 3 in the posterior fossa. Contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler was somewhat less sensitive for only detecting 21/23 (91.3%) of the AVM lesions. Additionally, contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler slightly underestimated AVM size compared with angiographic findings but showed feeding arteries with sufficient acoustic properties. In 15 patients, angiography revealed a coincidental blood supply from another intracranial vessel, which was missed by contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler sonography.

CONCLUSIONSIn a limited group of patients with AVMs, contrast-enhanced intraoperative Doppler sonography was a less sensitive but useful and simple method for the detection of AVMs in contrast to angiography. No specific untoward effects were attributed to the use of "SonoVue" as a contrast-enhancing substance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebral Angiography ; methods ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phospholipids ; Sulfur Hexafluoride ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial ; methods

The dynamic monitoring to concrete species is the basis of dynamic monitoring to entire traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) resources. In this paper, the method for the dynamic monitoring to resources species of TCM is discussed. By analysis of the factors, which affect resources species dynamically, methods are suggested to monitor factors, forecast trend of dynamic and appraise recruitment capability by analysis of population's age structure and size structure. The methods for collecting and analysis relative data are also recommended.
Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Integrating textual criticism literatures with field survey, the name, classification and botanical originals of breeds of Tibetan medicine "Dida" were discussed in this paper. The results showed that it's very intricate and confusion in the names, breeds and botanical originals of "Dida", and those were the key restricting factors resulting in shortfall and difficult formulation in quality standard of "Dida". The similar situations are existing universally in ethnodrugs, and reflecting the necessity and urgency to collate ethnodrug breeds. On the other hand, Because of the morphologic description on the botanical origins of drug was often simple in the ancient literatures, and in most cases, the botanical origins of the drug were difficult to identify accurately on the basis of the literatures. So, in the collating the breeds, it's necessary to follow the principle of "according to the ancient literatures but no rigidly", and to pay attention to the historical vicissitude of the drug breeds and origins, and the survey of present resources and clinical using, draw actively on outcome of chemical and biological active researches. That inherited the characteristics and advantages of ethnodrugs, and promoted them them modernization.
Breeding ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; history ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Terminology as Topic ; Tibet

BACKGROUNDThe precise mechanisms responsible for the development and growth of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remain unclear. Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphorylated glycoprotein with diverse functions. This study aimed to analyze the expression of OPN in human brain AVMs.

METHODSThe AVM nidus was surgically obtained from patients with AVM, whereas control brain artery specimens were surgically obtained from patients with epilepsy. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to examine the expression of OPN mRNA in biopsy specimens. OPN protein expression was localized by immunohistochemistry. The statistical differences between different groups were assessed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSWe analyzed 36 brain AVM specimens and 8 control brain artery specimens. Eleven patients with brain AVM received embolization treatment, and five underwent gamma knife radiotherapy before resection. Nineteen patients with brain AVM had a history of hemorrhage from AVMs. The expression of OPN mRNA was significantly higher in AVMs than that in the control specimens (25.76 ± 2.71 vs. 21.46 ± 2.01, P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the extent of OPN mRNA expression between the AVM group with and that without history of hemorrhage (26.13 ± 2.45 vs. 25.34 ± 2.99) or gamma knife radiotherapy (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 24.53 ± 1.85). However, the difference between the AVM group with and that without embolization treatment history was statistically significant (24.39 ± 2.10 vs. 28.80 ± 1.13, P < 0.01). In the group with gamma knife radiotherapy history, OPN expression was found in arteries with early-stage radio-effect.

CONCLUSIONSOPN may contribute to the vascular instability of brain AVMs. It may play an important role in the pathophysiological process related to embolization treatment.

Analysis of Variance ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To explore the clinical classification of the brachial plexus root injury in adult.MethodsAll 155 cases of adult brachial plexus root injury in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,were collected and analyzed on their characteristic,operative methods,and clinical outcome so as to find the distribution and incidence of different type of brachial plexus root injury and set up the clinical classification of adult brachial plexus root injury.ResultsBrachial plexus root injuries in adult could be classified into three types and seven subtypes.Type A is upper brachial plexus root injury,including type AⅠ (C5,C6 completely avulsion or rupture injury,with/without phrenic nerve injury),type AⅡ (C5-C7 completely injury),and type AⅢ (C5-C7 completely injury accompanied with C8,T1 incompletely injury).Type B is lower brachial plexus root injury,including type BⅠ[ C8,T1 (with/without C7)completely injury ] and type BⅡ (C8,T1,C7 completely injury,accompanied with C5、6 incompletely injury).Type C is total brachial plexus root injury,including type CⅠ(C5-T1 completely root avulsion) and type CⅡ(C7-T1 root avulsion accompanied with C5、6 root or trunkrupture).For the cases of every type,u pper brachial plexus root injury type A have 86 cases,in which type AⅠ 6 cases,type AⅡ 27 cases and type AⅢ 53 cases; lower brachial plexus root injury type B have 6 cases,in which type BⅠ 2 cases and type BⅡ 4 cases; total brachial plexus root injury type C have 63 cases,in which type CⅠ 51 cases and type CⅡ 12 cases. ConclusionExcept the upper,lower,and total three types,brachial plexus root injuries in adult could be classified further into seven subtypes.The distribution of different type of adult brachial plexus root injury is overbalance:upper type A (55.5％) is more often seen,total type C(40.6％) followed and lower type B(3.9％) is the least seen.In upper brachial plexus root injury,type AⅢ(61.6％) is more often seen,type AⅡ(31.4％) followed and type AⅠ(7％) is less seen.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of MR imaging(MRI)in diagosing of obstetrical brachial plexus.MethodsBetween September 2006 to September 2011,eighteen cases (12 males and 6 females)of obstetrical brachial plexus injury had being used for investigation,aging from 2 month to 3 years, average of 10.6 month. Eight left side and 10 right side. Tassin Ⅰ was 4 cases,Tassin Ⅱ was 6 eases, Tassin Ⅲwas 5 eases, Tassin Ⅳ was 4 cases. All cases were performed to MRI test before operating and the result compare with finding during operating. ResultsFindings of MRI:pseudomeningocele was in 13 of the 18cases while 10 of the 15 patients had multiple pseudomeningoceles. Displacement of spinal cord was in 6 cases; Normal was 2 cases; thickening of nerve root was in 2 cases.ConclusionMR imaging is an effective tool for demonstrating lesions of the brachial plexus worthy of surgical exploration.

Objective To discuss the characteristic of brachial plexus root avulsion injury of high resolution MR imaging and the value in diagnosing of brachial plexus root avulsion injury early.Methods Fourty-five cases of brachial plexus root avulsion injury patients had being used for investigation to find the characteristic and diagnostic value of MR image of brachial plexus root avulsion injury,which all have pre-operative MR imaging and were diagnosed brachial plexus root avulsion injury by intra-operative exploration and electrophysiology form February 2006 to February 2011.Results Post-traumatic spinalmeningolceles were seen in 42 cases,the frequency was 93.3％; Displacement of spinal cord was seen in 25 cases,the frequency was 55.6％; Absence of anterior and posterior root of spinal nerve was seen in 8 eases,the frequency was 17.8％;Black line sign was seen in 18 cases,the frequency was 40.0％.The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of MRI in diagnosing brachial plexus root injury were 95.7％,77.8％ and 94.6％ respectively.Conclusion Posttraumatic spinalmeningolceles are most often seen in MR of brachial plexus root avulsion injury,this sign can play an important role in diagnosing and treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion injury.

Objective To investigate the quality of life on brachial plexus injury patients in crosssectional study method and acquire related data. To analysis the effect factors and try to study on the methods which help to improve the quality of life of these patients. To our knowledge, this is the first study that measures quality of life of the brachial plexus injury patients in China. Methods Research participants completed the Chinese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Bref (WHOQOL-BREF) and the 5-items version of International Index of Erectile Dysfunction Questionnaire (IIEF-5) for male.Data were typed into computer and analyzed with SPSS version 13.0. Correlations between domain scores and hospital stay, age, and family monthly income variables were analyzed with Spearman non-parameter correlation analysis. Results Fifty-one valid questionnaires were retrieved. The average score of these patients in physical, psychological, environment domains were 11.47 ± 2.36, 12.37 ± 2.28 and 11.62 ± 2.22, respectively. They were significantly lower than the norm groups in national studies which were 15.8 ± 2.9, 14.3 ±2.5 and 13.2 ± 2.4 (P ＜ 0.01 ). The average score of IIEF-5 was ( 17.83 ± 4.65), significantly lower than the normal score of 22 (P ＜ 0.01 ). Significant correlation was found among physical domain and age(P ＜ 0.05),family monthly income (P ＜ 0.05) and IIEF-5 score(P ＜ 0.01). Psychological domain also has significant correlation with IIEF-5 score (P ＜ 0.05) and so does environment domain with family monthly income (P ＜0.05). Conclusion Brachial plexus injury patients showed a reduction in quality of life scores. Even though the physical aspect was the most affected, there is evidence that the psychological, environmental domains and erectile function remained far from the ideal conditions expected for the general population. The effect factors are complex and there still remain much work to do.