In this paper, the effect of 5% (V/V) n-alkanes (e.g, n-Heptane, n-Octane, n-Decane, n-Dodecanen-Tetradecane and n-Hexadecane) on the growth and protease production of organic-solvent-tolerant- bacte-rium Bacillus licheniformis YP1 was studied. 5%(V/V) n-alkanes had no effect on the stability of YP1 prote-ase. 5% (V/V) n-alkanes had no notable influence on the yield of strain YP1 but dramatically affected theprotease production. The presence of n-Heptane, n-Octane and n-Decane deeply repressed the protease pro-duction; however n-Dodecane, n-Tetradecane and n-Hexadecane enhanced the protease production promi-nencely. The concentration of n-Tetradecane (1%-8%, V/V) had a direct ration with the protease production.The detailed experiments showed that the notable increase of protease activity appeared at the late logarithmof cultivation compared with the blank. The cell shape of YP1 strain remarkably decreased when grown inthe presence of n-Tetradecane. This is the first report about the effect of n-alkanes on the protease productionby the solvent tolerant bacterium.

Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain caused by primary nervous system damage and nerve dysfunction. Its pathogenesis is complex and diverse. It is difficult to treat clinically. In recent years, researchers used electroacupuncture to treat neuropathic pain and obtained a desirable effect. This article summarizes recent years’ studies on the main mechanisms of neuropathic pain and the intervention effect of electroacupuncture to provide reference for following studies on electroacupuncture treatment of neuropathic pain.

The study aims to develop a rapid, sensitive and specified method of liquid chromatography with heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HESI/MS/MS) for simultaneous determination of amlodipine, benazepril and benazeprilat in human plasma using amlodipine-d4 and ubenimex as internal standards (ISs). Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) with heated electrospray ionization (HESI) was used in the positive mode for mass spectrometric detection. Analytes and ISs were extracted from plasma by simple protein precipitation. The reconstituted samples were chromatographed on a C18 (100 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column with mixture of methanol-acetonitrile-5 mmol.L- ammonium acetate-formic acid (30 : 30 : 40 : 0.1) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL.min-1. The standard curves were demonstrated to be linear in the range of 0.02 to 6.00 ng.mL-1 for amlodipine, 0.2 to 1,500 ng.mL-1 for benazepril and benazeprilat with r2>0.99 for each analyte. The lower limit of quantitation was identifiable and reproducible at 0.02, 0.2 and 0.2 ng mL-1 for amlodipine, benazepril and benazeprilat, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy results were within the acceptable limit across all concentrations. The plasma samples were stable after four freeze-thaw cycles and being stored for 93 days at -20 degrees C. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study of a fixed-dose combination of amlodipine and benazepril on Chinese healthy volunteers.
Administration, Oral ; Amlodipine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Benzazepines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo observe the differential effect of joint ultrasound on the syndrome differentiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by observing the high frequency ultrasound performances among inactive stage and different syndromes in active stage.

METHODSTotally 83 RA patients in the active stage were assigned to the dampness heat syndrome group (DHS, 59 cases)and the cold dampness syndrome group (CDS, 24 cases) according to Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome typing. Besides, 20 RA patients in the remission stage were recruited as the control group (abbreviated as the remission group). By using high frequency ultrasound and power Doppler ultrasound technology, a comparative observation of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, wrist joints, knee joints, the second and the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints (a total of 24 joints) was performed in all patients. Correlation analyses were performed between the ultrasound performance, laboratory indices, and the disease activity. Ultrasound data of each RA patient were analyzed by their total scores. Χ2 test was used for enumeration data. The measurement data was expressed as x ± s. One-way ANOVA was used for data of normal distribution, while non- parametric test was used for data of non-normal distribution. Correlation analysis of two variables was performed for clinical indicators and ultrasound indicators. Its significance was detected using Pearson correlation.

RESULTSCompared with the remission group, the severity degree of synovitis, tenosynovitis, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion significantly increased in the DHS group (P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference in the severity degree of synovitis and synovial blood flow, and DAS28 score in the CDS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CDS group, there was statistical difference in the four ultrasound indices (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), ESR, CRP, anti-CCP, DAS28 score, and the positive rate of RF in the DHS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in G, IgG, IgA, or IgM among the three groups (P > 0.05). There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, synovial blood flow, and bone erosion in the DHS group (r = 0.444, 0.397, 0.486, P < 0.05).There existed positive correlation between ESR and the synovitis degree, bone erosion, and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.378, 0.270, P < 0.05). There existed positive correlation between the DAS28 score and the synovitis degree and synovial blood flow in the DHS group (r = 0.304, 0.351, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe inflammation degree was the most severe in RA patients of DHS. High frequency ultrasound could provide better evidence for Chinese medical syndrome differentiation of RA patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; ultrastructure ; Syndrome ; Synovitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

It is the objective of this study to develop dynamic predictive model for the extraction process of red Ginseng using NIR spectroscopy. NIR spectroscopy was collected online and PLSR models were developed for total quantity of ginsenosides. The performance of NIR prediction model achieved R, RMSEC, RMSEP of 0.996 09, 0.018 9, 0.016 8, respectively. A first order dynamic mass transfer model was combined with NIR prediction of the quality indicator to predict the trajectory of the extraction process based upon the initial 3 or 4 data points. The results showed good agreement with actual measurements indicating reasonable accuracy of the predictive model. It could potentially be used for advanced predictive control of the extraction process.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Ginsenosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Models, Theoretical ; Panax ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared

AIM: To investigate the effects of fibroblast growth factor 10 ( FGF10 ) on lipopolysaccharide ( LPS)-induced microglial activation .METHODS:Mouse BV2 microglial cells were maintained in DMEM in a humidified incubator with 95%/5%( V/V) mixture of air and CO 2 at 37℃.The medium was changed every 1 or 2 d.The cells were digested and passaged every 4 or 5 d.The BV2 microglial cells were first pretreated with FGF 10 (1 mg/L) for 30 min and then stimulated with LPS (500 μg/L).The medium and the cells were collected at different time points .The morphologi-cal changes of microglia were visualized under microscope .To evaluate the microglial activation , the transcription and pro-duction of proinflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) were examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.RESULTS:The morphology of control BV2 microglia showed circular or oval shape .After exposure to LPS for 24 h, the microglia revealed spindle shaped or multipolar morphology , and the percentage of activated cells was significantly increased compared with control group.Pretreatment with FGF10 successfully inhibited the morphological change from normal to activated shape .LPS sti-mulation for 6 h significantly increased the transcription of TNF-α, while FGF10 pretreatment remarkably reversed the effect.In addition, the production of TNF-αincreased in the presence of LPS stimulation for 24 h compared with control group.Pretreatment with FGF10 suppressed LPS-induced TNF-αexpression.CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with FGF10 inhibits the morphological change from normal to activated shape , and remarkably suppressed the transcription and produc-tion of TNF-α.FGF10 successfully suppresses LPS-induced BV2 microglial activation , indicating that FGF10 is a therapeu-tic agent for the treatment of glia-mediated neuroinflammatory diseases .

OBJECTIVETo explore the technique and therapeutic effect of bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in young children. Methods:From June 2006 to June 2012,45 young children with femoral shaft fractures were treated by bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion,which was designed according to arch bridge mechanical principle and structure. There were 31 males and 14 females with an average age of 3.2 years old ranging from 8 months to 5.5 years old; 14 cases were upper 1/3 femoral fractures,26 cases were middle 1/3 femoral fractures,5 cases were lower 1/3 femoral fractures; 20 cases were transverse fractures, 14 cases were oblique fractures,6 cases were spiral frac- tures, and 5 cases were comminuted fractures. X-ray, follow-up imaging changes,clinical curative effect and complications were assessed.

RESULTSForty-five patients were followed up for 6 to 21 months (averaged 12 months). All fractures were reached clinical bone healing after 5 to 7 weeks (averaged 6 weeks) fixation. Seven cases appearred limb soft tissue complications, including buttocks bedsore,dorsal foot and Achilles tendon epidermal necrosis, and healed after dressing and removal of external fixation. During follow-up,the original overlap angle and lateral displacement were remodeled, and limbs were restored to the normal line of force and bone structure. According to Flynn standard, 35 cases got excellent results, 8 cases good, 2 cases fair.

CONCLUSIONThe bridge wire splint fixation with ankle dorsiflexion for the treatment of femoral. shaft fractures in young children (less than 6 years old) is safe,feasible, simple,and has raliable effect, which can be applied in primary hospitals.

Ankle ; surgery ; Bone Wires ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Femur ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

The present study aimed to clarify the smoking cessation motivations,challenges and coping strategies among pregnant couples.A qualitative design using a grounded theory approach was applied.Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews with 39 married individuals (21 non-smoking pregnant women and 18 smoking or ever-smoking men with a pregnant wife) and 3 imams in an ethnically diverse region of far westem China.The most common theme for smoking cessation motivation was "embryo quality" (i.e.,a healthier baby),followed by family's health.Most interviewees reported that husband's withdrawal symptoms were the greatest challenge to smoking cessation,followed by the Chinese tobacco culture.Coping strategies given by the pregnant women typically involved combining emotional,behavioral and social interventions.Social interventions showed advantages in helping to quit smoking.Pregnancy appears to be a positive stimulus for pregnant couples' smoking cessation.Our results suggest that pregnancy,a highly important life event,may help to reduce barriers to smoking cessation at the social level (e.g.,limiting access to cigarettes,avoiding temptation to smoke),but does little to help with the withdrawal symptoms.Professional guidance for smoking cessation is still necessary.

OBJECTIVETo probe into the best acupoint-prescription for the simple acupoint catgut embedding therapy in treatment of bronchial asthma.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Feishu (BL 13), Danzhong (CV 17) and Shenshu (BL 23) group (group A), the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Shenshu (BL 23) group (group B), the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Feishu (BL 13) and Danzhong (CV 17) group (group C), Dexamethasone group (group D), model group (group E), and control group (group F), 8 rats in each group. The asthmatic models were established by Ovalbumin (OVA) except group F. Rats in group A, B and C were treated with catgut embedding at the corresponding acupoints from the first experimental day. In group E and D, Dexamethasone and sterile were intraperitoneal injected respectively from the 15th experimental day, once a day for 2 weeks consistantly. No interventions were added on group F. For the six groups, the symptoms of asthmatic attack were observed and the pathologic changes of lung tissue were examined.

RESULTS(1) The times of sneeze and rhinocnesmus scratching nose in group E were increased significantly compared with those in group F (both P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between group D and F (both P > 0.05). As compared with that in group E, except the times of sneeze in group C, the times mentioned above were decreased significantly in all the treatment groups (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between group A and D (both P > 0.05), but the times mentioned above were increased significantly in group B and C as compared with that in group A (all P < 0.01). (2) The symptoms of asthmatic attack and the pathologic changes of airway tissue were all alleviated in group A, B and C, but a better amelioration was observed in group A, with no mucus epistom in the bronchial lumen and few infiltrations of inflammatory cells around the bronchi.

CONCLUSIONThe improvement of the simple acupoint catgut embedding at "Feishu" (BL 13), "Danzhong" (CV 17)and "Shenshu" (BL 23) on the airway inflammation in asthmatic rats is better than that of catgut embedding at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Danzhong" (CV 17) or at "Shenshu" (BL 23) only.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Animals ; Asthma ; pathology ; therapy ; Catgut ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Animals ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Dichlorvos ; blood ; Dimethoate ; blood ; Insecticides ; blood ; Methyl Parathion ; blood ; Mice ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; blood