Adult ; Calcinosis ; Heart Aneurysm ; pathology ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Thrombosis ; pathology

Licorice root has been frequently used as antitode in traditional Chinese medicine. As the main active component of Licorice root, glycyrrhetic acid (GA) is mainly metabolized in liver. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro metabolism of GA by human liver microsomes (HLM) and human recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms. The results indicated that GA was metabolized mainly by CYP3A4. The K(m), V(max) and CL(int) of GA in HLM were 18.6 micromol x L(-1), 4.4 nmol x mg(-1) (protein) x min(-1) and 0.237 mL x mg(-1) (protein) x min(-1), respectively. At concentration up to 50 micromol x L(-1), GA inhibited CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 enzyme activities with the inhibitory potencies up to 50%.

Epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have mainly been caused by Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) and Enterovirus A 71 (EV-A71), which circulated alternatively or together in the affected area. CVA16 has caused numerous outbreaks and epidemics in multiple countries and geographical regions, and has become an important public health problem. Based on an analysis of the complete VP1 coding region, all CVA16 strains can be divided into genotypes A, B1, and B2. Furthermore, genotype B1 can be divided into subgenotypes B1a, B1b, and B1c. After 2000, no reports of genotype B2 virus strains have been reported. All of the CVA16 strains reported in mainland China have belonged to subgenotypes B1a and B1b. Most CVA16-associated infections cause only mild symptoms; however, some CVA16 infections can lead to severe complications and even death. Vaccination is considered to be the most effective method to control the transmission and infection rate of this virus. A number of research groups are studying various vaccine types, including inactivated vaccines, genetic engineering vaccines, and DNA vaccines, amongst others. In this review, an overview is provided of the research advances in molecular epidemiology and vaccines of CVA16.
Animals ; China ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the changes of neuro-electrophysiology and prognosis in children with Guillain-Barr? syndrome(GBS).MethodsThirty-eight children with GBS were divided into group A(rapid recovery,n=16) and group B(slow recovery,n=22) according to the time required for podosoma motor function recovery,at the same time,they were divided into the better prognosis group(n=22) and the worse prognosis group(n=16),for analyzing the difference between group A and B in terms of age,preceding infections,maximal Hughes grades and neuro-electrophysiology including motor conduction velocity(MCV),distal complex muscle action potential(dCMAP) and F wave,and investigating the related factors with the prognosis of GBS.Results1.MCV of tibial nerve was(40.2?2.53) m/s and(33.4?2.46) m/s in group A and group B,respectively;MCV of peroneal nerve was(45.2?3.23) m/s and(38.3?2.16) m/s in group A and group B,respectively,and the difference between group A and group B was significant(Pa0.05);abnormal rate of F wave(68.42%) was higher than abnormal rate of MCV(42.11%) and dCMAP(42.11%)(Pa

Objective To investigate the metabolism of strychnine (STN) and the metabolic interaction between STN and glycyrthetic acid (GA) in vitro.MethodsHuman liver microsomes (HLM) and human recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms were employed to study the metabolism of STN and the metabolic interaction of STN with GA in vitro.ResultsIn HLM,the Km,Vmax,and clearance of STN were 88.50 μmol/L,0.88 nmol/(mg·min),and 9.93 mL/(mg·min),respectively.STN was metabolized mainly by CYP3A4.However,STN noncompetitively inhibited CYP3A4-catalyzed testosterone 6β-hydroxylation with IC50 value of 5.9 μtmol/L and Ki value of 5.5μmol/L.Moreover,GA competitively inhibited STN metabolism with IC5o value of 10.6 μmol/L and Ki value of 17.7 μmol/L.ConclusionAlthough STN is mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 in vitro,STN has noncompetitive inhibition on CYP3A4-catalyzed testosterone 6β-hydroxylation.Moreover,GA could competitively inhibit STN metabolism.The present work is helpful to elucidate the metabolic interaction between STN and GA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hazards of aluminum dusts to the exposed workers and the clinical features of aluminosis.

METHODRetrospective investigation on 75 aluminosis patients from a certain factory diagnosed in Shanghai Occupational Diseases Hospital from 1972 to 2004 was carried out.

RESULTSThere were 27 cases of aluminosis I (36.0%), 28 cases of aluminosis II (37.3%) and 20 cases of aluminosis III (26.7%) among 75 cases. The shortest exposure duration was 3 years, and the longest 17 years, and 37 cases of aluminosis occurred after exposure less than 10 years. hest radiographic examination mainly showed irregular micro-shadows: t (22/75), s (4/75), t/u (1/75), t/s (2/75), or predominantly irregular mixed microshadows s/p (5/75), s/r (1/75), t/p (9/75), t/q (5/75); some showed round shape micro-shadows: p (6/75), q (1/75), p/q (3/75), q/p (1/75). 27 cases showed large shadows, 20 cases of them were diagnosed as pneumoconiosis III. A lot of irregular micro-shadows gathered and developed to form uneven, loose and border-irregular masses. Most massive fibrosis looked like stripe or plait, located mostly in middle and upper lung field. 8 patients suffered from aluminosis with single side of massive fibrosis and 12 with both sides of massive fibrosis, accounting for 40% and 60% respectively. Mediastinal and bronchopulmonary lymph nodes were enlarged and calcified, accompanied with pleural thickening.

CONCLUSIONSShort exposure to high concentration of black fused alumina may cause serious aluminosis to the exposes. The hazards of aluminum dusts should not be ignored.

Aluminum Oxide ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Workplace

Coix ; Epimedium ; Fatigue ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Plant Leaves

Objective To explore the value of the variation of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) and serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis and treatment evaluation in patients suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis with complication of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out in 58 VAP patients from June 1,2009 to December 30,2014 in the respiratory intensive care unit.According to the patient suffering from tuberculosis or not,patients were divided into two groups.The PCT and CPIS score changes were observed in the two groups of patients with intra-tracheal intubation 1,3 and 7 days after VAP onset.Comparisons of CPIS and PCT scores were carried out between two groups at different intervals after VAP onset.Data were statistically processed by SPSS 19.0.Count data were tested by x2,and measurement data were expressed by mean ± standard deviation (x-±s).The comparison within the groups was made by t test,whereas the comparison between the groups was by means of repeated measure analysis of variance and Bonferroni test;Pearson linear correlation analysis was used,and P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results At the same observation interval in two groups of patients with VAP,there was no significant difference in the serum levels of PCT and CPIS score (P ＞ 0.05);there were significant differences in PCT and CPIS scores between VAP occurred at the first day,the third day and at time of intra-tracheal intubation in two groups (P ＜ 0.05).However,comparison of PCT and CPIS scores at the seventh day,the differences were not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).In addition,at the 7 days the correlation coefficient between PCT and survival patients' mechanical ventilation,days in ICU and total length of hospital stay were 0.92,0.83,and 0.71,respectively,yet the 7-day CPIS score correlation coefficients were 0.83,0.74 and 0.70,(both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Early monitoring of serum PCT and CIPS score of pulmonary tuberculosis patients can judge the incidence of VAP,and the variations of PCT and CIPS score can predict the severity and prognosis of the disease as well.

This study aims to construct inactivated coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) vaccine and to investigate its protective effect in ICR mice. A clinical isolate of CVA16, 521-01T, was cultured in VERO cells, inactivated by formaldehyde, and purified by ultracentrifugation for vaccine preparation. Purity and other characteristics of the vaccine were determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. Female ICR mice were subcutaneously inoculated with inactivated CVA16 or Al(OH)3-absorbed CVA16, followed by booster immunization at the end of 2 and 4 weeks. CVA16-specific IgG titers in serum were determined by ELISA, and titers of neutralizing antibodies were determined by viral neutralization assay. The immunity of T lymphocytes was evaluated by IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay. The protective effect was evaluated by challenging the neonatal offspring (< 48 hours) of vaccinated female mice with 1 000 LD50 of CVA16 521-01T. The mortality rates of different groups were compared. The results showed that Al(OH)3 +CVA16 could induce high titers of specific IgG antibodies in ICR mice. After being boosted two times, the serum IgG antibody titer could reach up to 1 : 1 x 10(5) (P = 0.000), and neutralizing antibody titer was higher than 1 : 256. Additionally, more spot forming cells were induced in the immunized groups than in the negative controls. The maternal antibodies showed protective effect in 100% of the neonatal mice challenged with 1 000 LD50 of CVA16 521-01T. The inactivated CVA16 vaccine has ideal immunogenicity and immunoprotective effect. This research lays a foundation for the development and evaluation of CVA16 vaccines.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; immunology ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Enterovirus ; immunology ; Enterovirus Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; virology ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology

Objective To determine the therapeutic effect of recombined rat insulin-like growth factory 1 gene and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-?_1)gene on anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)- induced osteoarthritis-like changes in NZW rabbit knee joints.Methods Eighteen NZW rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly after osteoanhritis was established by ACLT and another six rabbits were used as normal control group(group 1).Chondrocytes which had been transfected with IGF-1 gene,co-transfected with TGF-?_1 and IGF-1 gene(group 3,4)were injected into the rabbits knee joints.Experimental control group(group 2)only had ACLT bul was not transfected.After 4,8 weeks,rabbits were sacrificed and their joints were evaluated by morphological grades,histological examination,in situ hybridization examination,immunohistochemistry exami- nation,and transmission electron microscopy examination(TEM).Results The morphological grades showed that the normal control group had a very significant difference with the experimental control group(P