Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Zishen Pingchan Granules in treating non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson disease (PD). Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was used. 124 patients with PD were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=62) and the control group (n=62). Patients not yet taking Western medicine were suspended the application of Western medicine, receiving direct TCM treatment. Patients who had already taken Western medicine were added TCM on the basis of original medicine dosage and method. The treatment group was given Zishen Pingchan Granules, while the control group was treated with placebo granule, once a bag, twice a day. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. The clinical efficacy was assessed by using unified PD rating scale (UPDRSⅡ–Ⅲ), the scale for outcomes in PD for autonomic symptoms (SCOPA-AUT), Parkinson disease sleep scale (PDSS) and dosage of levodopa. Results The UPDRSⅡ and UPDRS Ⅲscores of the treatment group and the control group after 4, 8, and 12 week of treatment had no difference at each time point compared with before treatment (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance in scores of UPDRSⅡ and UPDRSⅢ after treatment (P>0.05). Efficacy of SCOPA-AUT in treatment group after treatment was significantly better than the control group; There was statistical significance in constipation, salivation, nocturia and sweating in SCOPA-AUT between the two groups after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with before treatment, PDSS scores in treatment group after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment increased significantly (P<0.05). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, PDSS scores in treatment group were much higher than control group (P<0.01). By comparing PDSS score in the two groups before and after treatment, it showed that treatment group had better efficacy in extending the time to sleep, reducing nocturia, nightmares, and hallucinations (P<0.05). After 12 weeks of treatment, dosage of levodopa in control group increased significantly, which treatment group was much lower than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Zishen Pingchan Granules can improve the autonomic dysfunctionin and sleep quality of PD patients, and can significantly reduce the dosage of levodopa.

Objective To explore the safety and clinical effects of laparosepie splenectomy.Methods Clinical data of 24 cages of laparoscopic splenectomy in our hospital from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively analvzed.Among these 24 cases,there were 6 cases with liver cirrhosis,10 cases with ITP,2 cases with hemolytic anemia(Evens syndmm),2 cases with spelenic rupture,and 4 cases optimum spleen ambuty.Results All the 24 cases were successfully underwent laparoscopic splenectomy.The mean operation time wag 146 minute.the mean volume of blood loss was 220 ml.the postoperative gastrointestinal peristalsis time Was from 24 to 48 hours.The mean hospitalization time was 9 days after operation.Conclusions Provided mastering operation indication and technique,Laparoscopie spleneetomy is a safe and minimally invasive surgery.

Objective To assess the noninvasive index for diagnosing the degree of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis. Methods The clinical data of 112 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis were studied retrospectively. The patients were divided into non-EV (NEV) group (30 cases) and EV group (82 cases) according to the results of gastroscopy. In EV group, there were mild varices in 21 cases (mild EV group), moderate varices in 47 cases (moderate EV group) and severe varices in 14 cases (severe EV group). The age, gender, platelets, glutamyl transpeptidase, prothrombin time, albumin, bilirubin, portal vein diameter, spleen vein diameter and thickness of spleen were compared, and the relationship was analyzed between each index and EV. Results There were no statistical differences in gender, age, albumin, bilirubin, prothrombin time and glutamyl transpeptidase between NEV group and EV group (P>0.05). The portal vein diameter, spleen vein diameter and thickness of spleen in EV group were significantly higher than those in NEV group:(14.1 ± 3.1) mm vs. (10.6 ± 2.3) mm, (8.9 ± 2.1) mm vs. (7.6 ± 1.6) mm and (4.8 ± 0.9) mm vs. (3.8 ± 1.0) mm, the platelets in EV group was significantly lower than that in NEV group:(86.8 ± 20.2) × 109/L vs. (163.5 ± 18.1) × 109/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.01 or<0.05). The portal vein diameter, spleen vein diameter and thickness of spleen in moderate EV group and severe EV group were significantly higher than those that in NEV group and mild EV group: (13.5 ± 2.1) and (14.8 ± 3.6) mm vs. (10.6 ± 2.3) and (11.2 ± 3.1) mm, (8.3 ± 2.1) and (9.1 ± 1.1) mm vs. (7.6 ± 1.6) and (8.1 ± 1.9) mm, (4.7 ± 1.1) and (4.9 ± 0.9) mm vs. (3.8 ± 1.0) and (4.1 ± 1.2) mm, the platelet levels were significantly lower than those in NEV group and mild EV group: (72.8 ± 11.6) × 109/L and (63.8 ± 15.6) × 109/L vs. (163.5 ± 18.1) × 109/L and (100.2 ± 10.3) × 109/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). The area under curve of response operating characteristic for predicting the presence of moderate and severe EV with portal vein diameter and platelets were 0.719 and 0.735, and the cut off value were 14 mm and 69 × 109/L. Conclusions The portal vein diameter and platelets can predict the presence of moderate and severe EV in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis.

AIM: To study the effects of dietary factor on liver gene expression profile in apoE~(-/-)/LDLR~(-/-)/Lepr~(db/db) mice and atherogenesis. METHODS: The gene expression profile was determined by using cDNA microarray. Total plasma TC and TG level were measured with COD-PAP and GPO-PAP methods respectively. The morphological characters of the aorta were also observed. RESULTS: Among the 4000 target genes, 78 and 114 genes were up-and down-regulated, respectively, in treble genes mutants fed with high fat high cholesterol diet compared with that of regular chow littermates, including lipid metabolism, carbohydrate, cell skeleton and immune related genes. Atherogenic diet induced severe plasma hyperlipidemia even in the early stage and also accelerated atherogenesis in the treble genes mutant mice. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that atherogenic diet aggravates abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and induces severe hyperlipidemia, and atherogenesis in the treble genes mutant mice as well.

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological features of gastric cancer with ovarian metastasis and to analyze the reasons for its misdiagnosis. Methods There were 52 cases of gastric cancer with ovarian metastasis who had pathologic diagnoses from Jan. 1990 to Jun. 2004, whose clinical datum, pathological classification and the reasons for misdiagnosis were reviewed retrospectively and analyzed. Results The average age of the patients was 40.15?1.28 ( the ages ranging from 22 to 64 ). These patients's first symptoms and signs often were a metastatic ovary cancer. The main ultrasonographic findings were either a complex type of mass with both solid and cystic characteristics or only solid one, most of which accompany hydroperitonia, and among them metastatic ovary tumors on both sides reached 76.9 %. The serum CA125 levels increased, amounting to ( 99.85?14.23)U/mL on the average. It was greatly lower than a primary ovarian cancer(P

Aim To investigate the effect of progester-one ( PROG) in protecting the neurons against impair-ment induced by the Aβ1-42 activated astrocytes, and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods The astrocytes were divided into 5 groups: control, Aβ, and Aβplus PROG groups treated with 3 different con-centrations of progesterone for 24h. Then, Aβand pro-gesterone were removed, and neurons were co-cultured with the treated astrocytes. MTT assay was used to e-valuate the viability of cultured neurons; ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-1βand TNF-αin culture media of astrocytes; immunofluorescence and Western blot were performed to detect the activation of NF-κB in astrocytes. Results PROG dose dependently pro-tected against Aβ1-42 activated astrocytes induced via-bility decrease in co-cultured neurons. Aβ induced release of IL-1β and TNF-α from astrocytes, and in-crease of NF-κB activity was abolished by progesterone treatment. Conclusion PROG protects the neurons through inhibiting the reactivity of astrocytes, and the underlying mechanism involves the NF-κB signal trans-duction.

Objective To investigate the effects of trichostatin A(TSA)on the mice model of collagen induced arthritis(CIA).Methods Mice model of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)was induced in DBA/1 mice with type Ⅱ collagen.Paws were scored for histological severity of arthritis.The severity of inflammation of mouse joint was evaluated by histological examination.Real-time PGR was used to determine the cytokine mRNA expression.Cytokine production was measured by ELISA from serum,spleen cell culture or dendritic cell and T cell co-culture supematant.T cell proliferation was examined by MTT method.Results TSA can significantly suppress the severity of the arthritis in CIA.IFN-γ was elevated in CIA mice,but was inhibited significantly by TSA introduced either at the same time with immunization or at the onset of manifestation of arthritis.Collagen specific T cell proliferation was significantly suppressed by introduction of TSA.Increased level of IL-4 by T cells was observed in TSA treated group compared to that of control group.Conclusion IL-4 level was increased and played a critical role in the protective effects of TSA in CIA.TSA suppresses the progress of CIA by regulates the balance of Th1/Th2 differentiation.

Objective:To identify BSG single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Chinese Han population. Methods:Peripheral blood samples were collected from 48 unrelated healthy Chinese Han subjects. Sequences at the BSG locus, including the promoter region, all exons and exon-intron boundaries were ampliifed, sequenced and followed by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis.
Results:A total of 19 SNPs were identiifed, 2 of which two were novel. Genotype distributions of all SNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Four haplotype blocks were constructed throughout the gene locus, and 9 haplotype tag SNPs (htSNPs) were inferred. Distribution of SNPs was in accordance with the neutrality theory in Chinese Han population. Conclusion:For the ifrst time, systematic identiifcation of BSG SNPs in the Chinese Han population has been done, and 9 htSNPs are identified. Our study has provided basis for further genetic association studies for related diseases as wel as pharmacogenetics study for drug response in Chinese Han population.

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis strain C500 is a live attenuated vaccine that has been widely used in Chi‐na for over 50 years to prevent piglet paratyphoid .However ,as C500 is obtained by chemical methods ,the genetic background of this strain remained unclear .In this study ,we compared the genomic differences between the virulent reference strain C 78‐2 and C500 by suppression subtractive hybridization combined with the mirror orientation selection method (MOS‐SSH ) .Six genes (asr ,ydgF ,ydgD ,ydgE ,rpoS ,and ptsG) were lost in C500 strain .Using real‐time PCR analysis ,we demonstrated that the genes regulated by rpoS ,a vital transcriptional regulator playing an important role in Salmonella infection ,were downregulated in C500 .Additionally ,the virulence of the rpoS mutant strain C78‐2ΔrpoS was 100 000 times lower than the parental strain in BALB/c mice .So loss of rpoS gene is the major factor leading to the attenuation of C500 strain .

Objective To investigate the underlying mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) modulating the inflammatory response during the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), especially the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which will provide new theoretical and experimental basis of MODS in clinic. Methods BMSC of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat (female, 4 weeks) was extracted and cultivated, and the 4th passage were used in experimental study. According to the random number table, 60 female SD rats were divided into three groups (n = 20 per group): sham group, MODS group, BMSC group. MODS model in rats was induced by lipopolysaccaride (LPS, 1 mg/kg) via femoral vein injection. Sham group was injected with the sterile phosphate buffer saline (PBS) in the same volume. BMSC group, in which BMSC infusion was started at 2 hours after 0.5 mL LPS stimulation (1×106/cells) through the tail vein. The survival rate was observed after 72 hours in each group. Abdominal aortic blood was collected for routine blood and biochemical examination at 72 hours after operation. Protein microarray was used to detect the related 34 inflammatory cytokines. Signal ratio was defined as the differentially expressed factors when it was more than 2.0 or less than 0.5. And enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was be applied to validate the significant inflammation factor. Meanwhile, the heart, kidney, intestine tissue was harvested, then their pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining.Results 20, 12, 16 rats lived in sham group, MODS group and BMSC group respectively at 72 hours after operation. Compared with the sham group, the indicators (routine blood, liver and kidney function, myocardial enzyme) were apparently unusual, and the heart, kidney, intestine tissue were injured obviously in the MODS group. After BMSC administration, the organ function was improved and tissue damaged was alleviated significantly. Protein microarray showed that interleukin-4 (IL-4) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were significantly different in 34 goal cytokines. The signal ratio change of IL-4 was 0.397, 1.124, 2.826 respectively, and the signal ratio of RAGE was 6.197, 1.552, 0.250, respectively in MODS/sham group, BMSC/sham group, BMSC/MODS group. ELISA validated the result that the expression level of IL-4 decreased significantly (ng/L:3.59±1.21 vs. 29.10±5.78) and the expression level of RAGE increased significantly (ng/L: 1.09±0.04 vs. 0.11±0.03) in MODS group as compared with sham group (bothP < 0.05). Compared with the MODS group, the level of IL-4 was obviously higher than that in BMSC group (ng/L: 9.59±2.21 vs. 3.59±1.21,P < 0.01), and RAGE decreased significantly (ng/L: 0.29±0.07 vs. 1.09±0.04,P < 0.05).Conclusions BMSC administration can regulate the expression of IL-4 and RAGE in the rats subjected to MODS. Moreover, BMSC can promote the restoration of tissue and organ function, thus improve the survival rate. BMSC may be the target in cell therapy for the inflammatory disease.