Chronic intermitted hypoxia including sleep breathing disorder leads to brain injury. This study explores the potential therapeutic effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin as a neuroprotective agent. A rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia was employed, and the animals were given low or high doses of grape seed proanthocyanidin. The ultrastructure changes in the brain, the biochemical components, and the animal behavior were examined. The results showed that with hypoxia exposure, neuronal mitochondria exhibited injuries at ultrastructural level, with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining revealed increased cell apoptosis in hippocampus. In Morris water maze the animals showed decreased learning abilities, when compared to normal control. The administration of grape seed proanthocyanidin treatment reversed all these observed changes, and improved the learning behavior. We concluded that grape seed proanthocyanidin could alleviate the brain injury caused by hypoxia from sleep breathing disorder.

The on-line monitor for the changes in the content of baicalin in Scutellariae Radix formula particles during the extraction process was conducted by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used as a reference method. Kennard-Stone (KS) was used to divide sample sets, so as to compare different pretreatment methods. The synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLS) was used to screen out modeling wave band to establish partial least-squares models. The relative error method was applied to predict forecast set samples of Scutellariae Radix in three extraction phases. The results showed that the model established by Savitzky-Golay smoothing with 11 points (SG11 points) was the best, with the root mean square with cross validation (RMSECV), root mean square error of correction (RMSEC) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of baicalin of 0.092 7, 0.134 4 and 0.114 8, respectively, the determination coefficient R2 of greater than 0.99, and the relative error of baicalin content of less than 5%. This indicates that the on-line near infrared reflectance spectroscopy could be applied in on-line monitor and quality control of the extraction process of Scutellariae Radix formula particles.
Automation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Fourteen compounds were isolated from 95% ethanol extract by silica gel, MCI, and ODS column chromatography. These compounds were respectively identified as quercetin (1), kaempferol (2), (+)-catechin (3), fraxin (4), protocatechuic acid (5), gallic acid (6), methyl gallate (7), ethyl gallate (8), apocynol A (9), baccatin (10), cerevisterol (11), ellagic acid (12), 3, 3',4'-tri-0-methylellagic acid(13) and N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninyl-N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninate(14) by analyzing their spectral data and comparing with the previously reported literatures. Except for gallic acid (6), all other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 showed moderate anti-proliferation activities on tumor cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the placement of a long tube into the small intestine under fluoroscopic guidance and to evaluate its decompression effect on early postoperative small bowel obstruction (EPSBO).

METHODSFifty-four patients with EPSBO requiring decompression between April 2010 and July 2014 were enrolled in the study. Insertion of a long tube was guided by fluoroscopy. We first used the guide wire to pass the pylorus and then used the 10 Fr feeding tube as an exchangeable tube to put the superstiff wire into the duodenum. Finally the long tube could be passed over the guide wire through the pylorus into the intestine. The total procedure time, the radiation exposure time, and the incidence of complications were evaluated.

RESULTSThe long tubes passed into the jejunum on initial insertion for all patients, so the success rate of this technique was 100%. The long tube was inserted into ileum in 18 patients. The mean total procedure time was 34.4 ± 8.6 minutes, and the mean radiation exposure time 18.9 ± 6.8 minutes. A total of 47 patients (87%) experienced full recovery following long-tube decompression and without the need for surgical intervention.

CONCLUSIONSUsing the wire-exchange technique, it is easy to place a long tube into the small bowel under fluoroscopic guidance. This decompression method is safe and effective for management of EPSBO.

Adult ; Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to analyze the impact of multi-class particle size of Chinese material medica (CMM) based on the spectral characteristics in overtone and combination region. Several types of CMM (60, 80, 100,120 mesh) were subjected to NIR spectra analysis. Spectral reproducibility was examined after sample repackage. The result showed that the effects of particle size on the NIR spectra were different according to different bands, in the combination region and first combination-overtone region. Spectroscopy intensity was proportional to the particle size and influence of particle size was greater as the wavelength increased. While in the second combination-overtone region, it was inversely proportional to particle size. To the sampling loading error, the result indicated that when the mesh number was larger than 60 mesh, the error was small. The appropriate particle size was clarified to guarantee the accuracy and reliability of NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in CMM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Materia Medica ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Near-infrared (NIR) was used as rapid analysis method to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix. NIR spectra of the cross-sectional and longitudinal selection of samples were acquired. Principal component analysis was conducted. The samples were randomly selected. The different pretreatment methods were compared. Discriminant models were established for every type of spectra to calculate the recognition rate. The orthogonal test and nonparametric test were used to test data normality. The result showed that absorbance values of different sections were different due to the different structure, and the raw spectra were analyzed by PCA method. The result founded that the cumulative contribution rate was arrived at 99.2% while the PC numbers were arrived at 3. The pretreatment method based on the MSC + 1D + Savitzky-Golay was the best to establish the model. For the 50 models constructed with cross-section and longitudinal spectra and total spectra, the recognition rate were (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (94.4 ± 0.66)%, (95.3 ± 0.65)%, respectively, and no difference was observed. The NIR method could be used to identify the sulfur fumigated Puerariae Lobatae Radix.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Discriminant Analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Sulfur ; chemistry

Objective To study the effects of Apelin on glucose toxicity and islet cells PDX-1 protein expression.Methods The islet β cell line NIT-1 cells were incubated in the medium containing different glucose concentrations(normal glucose concentration group 5.6 mmol/L,high glucose concentration group 16.7 mmol/L,extremely high glucose concentration group 33.3 mmol/L) and +/-Apelin-36 respectively for 3 d.Then the basic insulin secretion amount of islet cells and their secretion amount after glucose stimulation were detected.The intracellular insulin content and the PDX-1 protein and mRNA expression were detected.Results Compared with the normal glucose group,the basic insulin secretion,secretion after stimulation and intracellular insulin in the high glucose group and extremely high glucose group were significantly decreased and PDX-1 protein expression was declined(P＜ 0.05);compared with non-adding Apelin group,the basic insulin secretion,secretion after stimulation and intracellular insulin in the adding Apelin high glucose group and extremely high glucose group were significantly decreased and PDX-1 protein expression was decreased(P＜0.05);the insulin level in islet cells of 6 groups was positively correlated with PDX-1 protein expression and had no correlation with PDX-1 mRNA expression.Conclusion Apelin may participate in the glucose toxic effect by decreasing PDX-1 protein expression,causes the decrease of insulin secretion,thus plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

BACKGROUNDTo detect quantitatively HCMV DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes to monitor the status of HCMV infection, evaluate the effectiveness of antiviral treatment with ganciclovir (GCV) combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and find out the relationship among the HCMV DNA levels, the state of infection and the clinical outcome.The long-term goal of the study was to establish a molecular diagnostic standard for HCMV infection in children.

METHODS45 cases of suspected HCMV-infected children were examined by PCR, ELISA and fluorescent quantitative (FQ)-PCR, respectively. Twenty five HCMV hepatitis cases of the 45 were randomly assigned to a treated group or a control group. Both groups were treated with prednisone, glucurone, Luminal and Xiaoyanlidanpian. But the treated group was given with GCV+IVIG in addition. Each infant of the two groups was checked with FQ-PCR at the five time points.

RESULTSThe positive rates of PCR, ELISA and FQ-PCR were 60.00%, 33.33% and 66.67%,their sensitivities were 84.38%, 46.88% and 93.75%, respectively. There was no significant difference in viral DNA copy numbers between the two groups before being treated (P>0.05), but there was significant difference between HCMV hepatitis and normal infants (P<0.001). Although viral load of both groups decreased in both groups, the viral load of the treated group decreased more significantly. The level of HCMV DNA fell to 103 copies/ml at second time point while that of the control group fell to the same level after third time point. The differences between the two groups at each time point were statistically significant (P<0.001). The results of 135 person times testing indicated that 103 copies/ml of FQ-PCR can be taken as a critical value for prediction of active HCMV infection.

CONCLUSIONSFQ-PCR may be one of the effective methods for diagnosis of HCMV disease; it can offer a key index in the diagnosis of HCMV active infection; dynamic detection of HCMV viral load can play a role not only in monitoring antiviral therapy, but also in evaluating the development and prognosis of HCMV disease.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the C311S polymorphism of paraoxonase 2 (PON2) gene and ischemic stroke in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

METHODSA case-control study of 279 Chinese subjects (including 162 T2DM with or without ischemic stroke and 117 non-diabetic control) was performed. Genotype frequencies of C311S polymorphism were studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) analysis with DdeI digestion.

RESULTSC311S polymorphism of PON2 gene was detected in Chinese with the C/S allele frequencies 0.145 and 0.855. The frequency distribution showed significant difference between Chinese and Asian Indian. Furthermore, the genotype distribution (SS, CS and CC) of the PON2 C311S gene polymorphism exhibited a significant difference between T2DM patients complicated with ischemic stroke and T2DM without ischemic stroke, the former had a significantly higher C allele frequency(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe above data indicate that the polymorphism at codon 311(Cys --> Ser)in the PON2 gene is associated with ischemic morbidity in Chinese T2DM patients and C allele might be a risk factor.

Adult ; Aryldialkylphosphatase ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stroke ; etiology ; genetics

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in biliary papillomatosis. Methods Data of 6 patients, who underwent ERCP and diagnosed as biliary papillomatosis from 2000 to 2008, were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 3 males and 3 females, with the mean age of onset at 72.8 years (range 52-83 years). Recurrent cholangitis and jaundice were common presentations in all patients, with 5 patients having right upper abdominal pain and 3 others exhiting fever and algor. History of partial hepatectomy was observed in 2 patients. Endoscopic findings included dilated papillary orifice with mucin discharge in 5 patients and papillary-occupying lesion in 1 patient. Multiple filling defects in the lumen of the biliary system in dilated common bile duct were detected in all patients, accompanied with extra-hepatic ducts dilatation in 3, right intra-hepatic duct dilatation in 1, and major pancreatic duct dilation in 1. Of 6 patients, 5 underwent multiple ERCP, inclucling stents and endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD), and have survived for 10-30 months. Another 83-year-old patient underwent palliative endoscopic treatment with balloons, baskets and ENBD, but died of cholangitis 10 days after the procedure. Conclusion This case series reports the typical endoscopic findings of biliary papiliomatosis. For inoperable or postoperative recurrent patients, endoscopic palliative treatment is a safe, convenient and effective procedure.