Bronchiolitis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Viral ; Female ; Human bocavirus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Danning Tablet (DNT) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of damp-heat syndrome type. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, double-blinded and positive drug parallel controlled trial was performed. One hundred and thirty-five patients were enrolled into the study and divided into two groups: DNT-treated group (n=102) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated group (n=33). Body mass index (BMI), principal symptoms, liver function, blood lipids, iconographic, and compositional parameters were measured before and after treatment, respectively. RESULTS: In the two groups, BMI, distress in hepatic region, fatigue, anorexia, liver function, blood lipids and iconographic parameters were significantly improved, and the improvements of BMI, distress in hepatic region were better in DNT-treated group than in UDCA-treated group. The histological study also showed that DNT had positive effect in treatment of NAFLD. CONCLUSION: DNT is an effective drug to treat patients with NAFLD of damp-heat syndrome type and is more effective than UDCA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular basis of an individual featuring an ABx variant of ABO blood group system.

METHODSSerological assays were used to characterize the erythrocyte phenotypes and salivary ABH secretors. All of the seven exons and flanking introns of ABO glycosyltransferase gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). And the products were sequenced bidirectionally following enzyme digestion. Exons 6 and 7 were also subcloned and analyzed for haplotypes of the ABO gene.

RESULTSErythrocytes of the proband have expressed a strong A antigen and a weak B antigen, which was identified as a rare ABx variant in addition with other serological features. Nine heterozygous sites in exon 6 (297A/G) and exon 7 (467C/T, 526C/G, 657C/T, 703G/A, 796C/A, 803G/C, 808T/A, 930G/A) of the coding region of the ABO gene were identified. Based on haplotype analysis, one allele was determined as common A102, whilst another was consistent with B101 except for an 808T>A mutation which has resulted in replacement of phenylalanine with isoleucine at position 270 of glycosyltransferase B.

CONCLUSIONThe 808T>A mutation of the glycosyltransferase B gene may decrease the enzymatic activity and result in the Bx variant.

ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Adult ; Exons ; Female ; Glycosyltransferases ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Mutation

PURPOSE: To report the 5-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled trial comparing bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with standard monopolar TURP for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 220 patients were randomized to bipolar plasmakinetic TURP (PK-TURP) or monopolar TURP (M-TURP). Catheterization time was the primary endpoint of this study. Secondary outcomes included operation time, hospital stay, as well as decline in postoperative serum sodium and hemoglobin levels. All patients were assessed preoperatively and followed-up at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months postoperatively. Parameters assessed included quality of life, transrectal ultrasound, serum prostate-specific antigen level, postvoid residual urine volume, maximum urinary flow rates (Qmax), and International Prostate Symptom Score. Patient baseline characteristics, perioperative data including complications, and postoperative outcomes were compared. Complication occurrence was graded according to the modified Clavien classification system. RESULTS: PK-TURP was significantly superior to M-TURP in terms of operation time, intraoperative irrigation volume, resected tissue weight, decreases in hemoglobin and sodium, postoperative irrigation volume and time, catheterization time, and hospital stay. At 5 years postoperatively, efficacy was comparable between arms. No differences were detected in safety outcomes except that the clot retention rate was significantly greater after M-TURP. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that PK-TURP is equally as effective in the treatment of BPO, but has a more favorable safety profile in comparison to M-TURP. The clinical efficacy of PK-TURP is long-lasting and comparable with M-TURP.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate/*surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate/adverse effects/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the contents of baicalin in the raw medical material and the different prepared medical materials of Scutellaria baicalensis.

METHODThe contents of baicalin were determined by HPLC. Chromatographic conditions included Hypersil C18 column and the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol-0.04% phosphoric acid (46:54). Baicalin was detected at 280 nm. The standard curve was linear in the range of 0.0280-4.6700 micrograms with correlation coefficient 1.0000. The average recovery of baicalin was 101.22% with RSD = 2.54% (n = 5).

RESULTThe contents of baicalin were 6.80% in raw material, 6.00% and 6.73% in the different prepared medical materials of S. baicalensis respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe two different kinds of preparing methods can be used to the raw material of S. baicalensis.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

BACKGROUNDUnder an insulin resistance (IR) state, overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be playing a major role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Recently, increasing attention has been drawn to the beneficial effects of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the cardiovascular system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of HO-1 on vascular function of thoracic aorta in IR rats and demonstrate the probable mechanisms of HO-1 against endothelial dysfunction in IR states.

METHODSSprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed with high-fat diet for 6 weeks and the IR models were validated with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp test. Then the IR rat models (n = 44) were further randomized into 3 subgroups, namely, the IR control group (n = 26, in which 12 were sacrificed immediately and evaluated for all study measures), a hemin treated IR group (n = 10) and a zinc protoporphyrin-IX (ZnPP-IX) treated IR group (n = 8) that were fed with a high-fat diet. Rats with standardized chow diet were used as the normal control group (n = 12). The rats in IR control group, hemin treated IR group and ZnPP-IX treated IR group were subsequently treated every other day with an intraperitoneal injection of normal saline, hemin (inducer of HO-1, 30 micromol/kg) or ZnPP-IX (inhibitor of HO-1, 10 micromol/kg) for 4 weeks. Rats in the normal control group remained on a standardized chow diet and were treated with intraperitoneal injections of normal saline every other day for 4 weeks. Systolic arterial blood pressure (SABP) was measured by tail-cuffed microphotoelectric plethysmography. The blood carbon monoxide (CO) was measured by blood gas analysis. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), blood glucose (BG), insulin, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in serum, and the levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the aorta were measured. The expression of HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein in aortal tissue were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. The vasoreactive tensometry was performed with thoracic aortic rings (TARs).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the levels of SABP, BG, insulin, TC, TG, NO, iNOS and MDA were higher, while the levels of CO, TAOC, SOD and eNOS were lower in IR control rats. After treatment of IR rats for 4 weeks a more intensive expression of HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein were observed in hemin treated IR group compared with the normal control group. And compared with 4-week IR control rats, the levels of CO, TAOC, SOD and eNOS were increased, while the levels of SABP and iNOS activity were lower in the hemin treated IR group. Administration of hemin in IR rats appeared to improve the disordered vasorelaxation of TARs to acetylcholine (ACh). Alternatively, the reverse results of SABP, CO, TAOC, SOD, iNOS and vasorelaxation responses to ACh were observed in IR rats with administration of ZnPP-IX.

CONCLUSIONSThe endothelial dysfunction in the aorta is present in the IR state. The protective effects of HO-1 against aortic endothelial dysfunction may be due to its antioxidation and regulative effect of vasoactive substances. It is proposed that hemin, inducer of HO-1, could be a potential therapeutic option for vascular dysfunction in IR states.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; physiology ; Carbon Monoxide ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Enzyme Induction ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hemin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Systole ; drug effects

This study was purposed to investigate the molecular basis for RhD negative phenotype in Yiwu population in Zhejiang Province of China. The RhD negative samples were screened by saline agglutination test in blood donors. Some real RhD negative and RhDel phenotypes were identified using anti-human globulin test and absorbtion elution test. Ten exons of RHD gene in these samples were amplified by PCR-SSP, and positive exons were DNA sequenced. The results indicated that 30 real RhD negative and 8 RhDel phenotypes were identified in 38 initial RhD negative samples. Ten exons were complete negative in 28 real RhD negative samples and only exon 1, 2 and 10 were positive in 2 real RhD negative samples amplified by PCR. All 10 exons in 8 RbDel samples were positive and a DNA variant (1227G > A) was found in 8 RhDel samples. It is concluded that all exons are absence in most real RhD negative phenotypes, and the partial exons absence is also found in some real negative phenotypes among Yiwu population in Zhejiang province of China. The G to A mutation at position 1227 is found in all RhDel phenotypes.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and explore the mechanism of needling Quchi and Taichong points in treating hypertension patients and the influence on blood levels of angiotension converting enzyme (ACE) and endothelin (ET) levels.

METHODSSixty hypertension patients were randomly divided into the Taichong needling group (A), Quchi needling group (B) and control group (C, treated by Captopril). Changes of plasma ET was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and serum ACE content was measured by chemical colorimeter.

RESULTSThe effect of lowering systolic pressure at 15 min after needling in Group B was better than that in Group A (P < 0.01), but it was inferior to the latter at 120 min after withdrawal of needle (P < 0.05), while after one course treatment, the effect in Group B and C was obviously better than that in Group A (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Content of serum ACE significantly increased in Group B and that of plasma ET significantly decreased in Group A, showing significant difference between the two groups, all P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONNeedling Quchi and Taichong all show hypertensive effect, the former is obviously higher than that of the latter. They could regulate the blood level of ACE and ET, protect and repair vascular endothelial cells, but the key links of their mechanism might be different.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; blood ; Radioimmunoassay

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation on the major inflammatory cytokines content in peripheral blood, lung water mass fraction, and lung tissue injury in rabbits with smoke inhalation injury.

METHODSSixteen adult New Zealand big ear rabbits were subjected to smoke inhalation injury and then were divided into pure injury group (PI, n = 8) and MSC transplantation group (MT, n = 8) according to the random number table. Via ear marginal vein, rabbits in PI group were injected with 10 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS); rabbits in MT group were injected with 10 mL PBS containing the third passage MSC (1 x 10⁷ cell) isolated from marrow of healthy young New Zealand big ear rabbit. Another 8 rabbits were enrolled as normal control group (NC). Rabbits in NC group were injected with 10 mL PBS via ear marginal vein without smoke inhalation injury. Blood was harvested from rabbits in PI and MT groups at post injury hour (PIH) 2, 4, 6. Contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in serum were determined with ELISA. At PIH 24, left lung was harvested for morphology and histopathology observation; the right lung tissue was obtained to measure and calculate lung water mass fraction. Blood and lung tissue of rabbits in NC group were harvested and determined in the same way. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTS(1) Serum contents of TNF-α in PI and MT groups at each time point were obviously higher than that in NC group (t = 2.43 - 9.57, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Serum contents of IL-1β and IL-6 in PI group at each time point were obviously higher than those in NC group (t = 8.49 - 19.80, P values all below 0.01). Serum content of IL-1β in MT group at each time point was close to that in NC group (t = 0.11 - 0.92, P values all above 0.05). Serum content of IL-6 in MT group at PIH 2 was close to that in NC group (t = 2.12, P > 0.05), but that of MT group increased significantly at PIH 4 and 6 (t = 2.83, P values all below 0.05). Serum contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in MT group at each time point were obviously lower than those in PI group (t = 2.35 - 12.45, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Serum content of IL-10 in MT group at PIH 2, 4, and 6 was respectively (13.0 ± 3.6), (11.6 ± 8.5), (15.2 ± 4.4) pg/mL, and they were higher than those in PI group [(5.5 ± 3.4), (5.0 ± 1.7), (7.9 ± 3.5) pg/mL, with t value respectively 4.28, 2.15, 3.67, P values all below 0.01]. Serum contents of IL-10 in PI and MT groups were obviously higher than that in NC group (t = 2.46-8.14, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (3) Lung tissue injury in MT group was alleviated markedly as compared with that in PI group. (4) At PIH 24, lung water mass fraction in MT group was (69 ± 7)%, which was obviously lower than that in PI group [(87 ± 6)%, t = 5.49, P < 0.01]. Compared with that in NC group [(48 ± 3)%], lung water mass fraction in PI and MT groups were increased obviously (with t value respectively 16.93 and 7.22, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMSC transplantation can decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, increase anti-inflammatory cytokines, decrease lung water mass fraction, ameliorate systemic inflammatory response, and protect lung tissue in rabbits with smoke inhalation injury.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lung Injury ; blood ; surgery ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; blood ; surgery ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood