BackgroundHigh myopia is one of leading causes of blindness,so far the pathogenesis remains unclear.Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs6885224 and rs12716080 in CTNND2 gene were recently found to be associated with high myopia in Singaporean Chinese.But whether these SNPs are related with the pathogenesis of high myopia in Han Chinese is worth studying,Objective This study was to investigate the relationship between the genetic variations of the CTNND2 gene and high myopia in Han Chinese.MethodsA case-controlled association study was designed.Nine hundred and thirty-three individuals with high myopia and 1227age- and gender-matched normal subjects were included in this study.The 5 ml of periphery blood was obtained from all subjects for the extraction of genomic DNA.The target DNA was amplified using PCR and purified by the SNaPshot method.Four SNPs rs12716080,rs917012,rs6885224 and rs16901340 in the CTNND2 gene were genotyped.This study was approved by the Ethic Committee of Sichuan Provincial People Hospital.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before his/her enrollment.Results The frequencies of the genotypes rs6885224,rs12716080,rs917012,rs16901340 SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) ( P=0.181,0.085,0.732,0.313,0.264,0.663,0.084,0.196).There were no significant differences in genotypes frequency distribution ( in turn P =0.654,0.406,0.828,0.403 ) and allele frequency distribution of the CTNND2 gene ( in turn P =0.377,0.209,0.743,0.198) between the high myopia group and normal control group.The haplotypes (TA and GA)frequencies of rs12716080 and rs917012 in the high myopia group were significantly different from those of the normal control group(TA:0.784 vs.0.719;GA:0.087 vs.0.136) (x2 =6.115,P=0.013 ;x2 =6.634,P=0.010),but those of GG were similar between the high myopia group and normal control group ( 0.123 vs.0.143,x2 =0.889,P =0.346). ConclusionsThe SNPs rs12716080,rs917012,rs6885224 and rs16901340 in CTNND2 gene were not responsible for high myopia,however,the haplotypes of rs12716080 and rs917012 are susceptible for high myopia in Han Chinese.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Zige lyophilized powder for injection in improving the acute cerebral microcirculation disturbance in rats.

METHODWindow craniotomy was performed for rats after the drug administration for 14 days. The experimental microcirculation disturbance model was duplicated with high molecule dextran. After the drug administration, the micro-vein diameters of cerebral pla mater of various groups were observed and recorded under the biological microscope. The blood flow volume was monitored by laser Doppler flow-meter. HCT was measured by the electric resistance method. The hemorheological indexes were detected by the auto-hemorheological instrument.

RESULTZige lyophilized powder for injection (16.40, 32.70, 65.40 mg x kg(-1)) could significantly expand the micro-vein diameter of cerebral pla mater, improve the downward trend of the blood flow volume, and reduce the various hemorheological indexes.

CONCLUSIONZige lyophilized powder for injection shows the effect in improving the cerebral microcirculation.

Animals ; Brain ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Powders ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To build the cohort of drug resistance and analyze treatment efficiency of AIDS patients and situation of drug resistant mutations among HIV-1 infected individuals.Methods A cohort of 116 HIV-1 infected patients was built and their treatment progress were acquired once every 6 months.At the sanle time CD4+ T cell counts and HIV-1 viral load were measured and genotyping for drug resistance was determined by a home brew nested PCR.Results The CD4+ T cell count(470±251/ml)was higher than that before treatment in patients who were treated by AZT/DDI/NVP or D4T/DDL/NVP.The viral load was lower than that before treatmenL The drug resistant mutation frequency increased gradually along with treatment.The CD4+ T cell count was decreased and viral load was increased and the prevalence of drug resistant mutation was increased in the patients who changed regimens to AZT/3TC/NVP or D41/3TC/NVP.Only one primary mutation that was resistant to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)was detected in the naive patients.The cross-resistant mutation was detected in two patients after 6 months treatment. The intermediate resistance to lopinavir(LPV) was detected after 12 months treatment.The prevalence of high-grade resistances to NNRTIs was increased obviously,and the prevalence of multi-resistance and cross-resistance was detected in 5 patients after 36 months treatment.Conclusions The prevalence of primary mutation was rare in naive HIV-1 infected patients.The prevalence of drug resistant mutation was inereased gradually along with treatment.Ahhough few regimens were available,the treatment effect could last relatively long period of time if patients keep taking medicine stably.The regimens could be changed according to the results of drug resistant test.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine have the common purpose and can complement each other, though they belong to different medical systems. Laboratory medicine can provide the scientific bases for modernization and standardization of TCM by offering elaborate and objective laboratory data. Fully playing the role of laboratory medicine in TCM diagnosis and treatment will not only be beneficial to the rush of TCM out of China toward the world, and also be favorable to the innovating and developing of laboratory medicine in integrative medicine.
Biomarkers ; blood ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards

To learn about the economic studies on traditional Chinese medicines in domestic literatures, in order to analyze the current economic assessment of traditional Chinese medicines and explore the existing problems. Efforts were made to search CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database and CBM by computer and include all literatures about economic assessment of traditional Chinese medicines published on professional domestic journals in the systematic assessment and quality evaluation. Finally, 50 articles were included in the study, and the systematic assessment and quality evaluation were made for them in terms of titles, year, authors' identity, expense source, disease type, study perspective, study design type, study target, study target source, time limit, cost calculation, effect indicator, analytical technique and sensitivity analysis. The finally quality score was 0.74, which is very low. The results of the study showed insufficient studies on economics of traditional Chinese medicines, short study duration and simple evaluation methods, which will be solved through unremitting efforts in the future.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Databases, Factual ; economics ; Drug Therapy ; economics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; economics ; therapeutic use ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; Publications ; economics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference of serum high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase (HMAP) levels between biliary atresia (BA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH), and to develop a new differential method and early diagnostic indicators for cholestatic jaundice in neonates.

METHODSTotally 31 patients with cholestatic jaundice seen between Aug. 2000 and Feb. 2002, including 15 cases with BA, 16 cases with NH, 30 healthy infants and 30 infants with non-cholestatic jaundice were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were obtained from each subject by using venipuncture. The samples were stored at -80 degrees C and analyzed within 6 months. A murine hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody to human high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase (MoAb HMAP-1) was prepared by using partially purified HMAP from human serum as the immunogen. The antibody did not cross-react with other alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isozymes. A monoclonal antibody immunocatalytic assay for HMAP in serum was developed by using MoAb HMAP-1 bound to nitrocellulose membrane discs. The serum total ALP (TALP) and gamma-GT were determined in the meantime, the hepatobiliary ultrasonography and scintigraphy were performed too. The data were analyzed with t test, chi-square test and percentage. Comparisons were made between BA and NH with their sensitivity and specificity in different methods.

RESULTSSerum HMAP was detected in 14 of 15 patients of BA, in 2 of 16 NH patients, while in none of the healthy control group. The positive ratios of serum HMAP in BA and NH were 93.3% and 12.5%, respectively (P < 0.005). The sensitivity and specificity of serum HMAP in BA and NH were 93.3% and 87.5%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of TALP, gamma-GT and hepatobiliary scintigraphy were 80.0%, 73.3%, 86.7% and 62.5%, 68.8%, 62.5%, respectively, which were clearly lower than those of serum HMAP.

CONCLUSIONSThe determination of serum HMAP was more sensitive and specific than the other methods tested. Therefore the method can be used as a useful indicator for cholestatic jaundice in neonates, although it needs further study.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; methods ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Panniculitis ; physiopathology ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; pathology ; physiopathology

To confirm the inactivating effect of chito-oligosaccharides on Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) par ticles in vitro, the difference of TMV pathogenicity was evaluated according to the decrease of local lesion numbers after inoculating with TMV mixed with chito-oligosaccharides (DP3-10) in Nicotiana glutinosa, and the virion structural change was studied by transmission electron microscopy after mixed with chito-oligosaccharides. In the range of tested concentrations of chito-oligosaccharides (100-1000 microg /mL), the numbers of local lesions were strongly reduced with over 30% decrement, and the 88.4% reduction gained at the concentration of 600g /mL. It revealed that treatment with chito-oligosaccharide solution of 300-500 microg /mL directly broke TMV particles into tiny pieces of 50-150nm long, and that treatment with solutions of 600-1000 microg/mL caused virus particle agglomerated. The data presented here suggested that chito-oligosaccharides exerted strong inactivating effect on plant virus in vitro.
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Virion ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

To investigate the effect of Jiawei Foshou San and its various combined administration on hepatic P450 enzyme activity and hepatocyte morphology in rats. Rats were orally administered with drugs for four weeks and then sacrificed to prepare liver microsomes. The liver microsomes were incubated with the cocktail method; The metabolites were determined with the rapid liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the hepatocyte P450 enzyme activity. In addition, the hepatic pathological changes were observed by using the hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Compared with the control group, the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in the Jiawei Foshou san group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid + ligustrazine group and the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05) ; the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 in the ligustrazine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid group showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05). After the administration with various drugs, the hepatocyte morphologies in the ferulic acid group and the ligustrazine group were normal. The pathological changes were observed in the tetrahydropalmatine group, such as unclear boundary of hepatic lobules, disordered hepatic cell arrangement, blurred edge, anisokaryosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The ferulic acid + tetrahydropalmatine group, the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group and the Jiawei Foshou San group also showed inflammatory infiltration, but with less pathological changes, particularly the Jiawei Foshou San group. The study result shows that Jiawei Foshou San can induce the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, and ligustrazine may be the effective substance for inducing CYP1A2. Its combination with ferulic acid and ligustrazine can significantly reduce the liver toxicity of tetrahydropalmatine.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In order to increase the SNR of the prostate image, we have designed a RF endorectal coil. Its properties have been evaluated using a network analyzer. Moreover the images got with a special phantom show that the coil has much higher SNR at the region of interest (ROI).
Algorithms ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; instrumentation ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; instrumentation ; methods ; Male ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Prostate ; anatomy & histology ; Sensitivity and Specificity