OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Ethanol can be produced from lignocellulose by first hydrolysing the material to sugars,including hexose,and pentose,and then fermenting the hydrolysate to ethanol.Hydrolysis using dilute-acid has advantages over other methods.However,compounds which inhibit fermentation are generated during this kind of hydrolysis.Therefore,it is important to focus on microorganisms metabolizing xylose and tolerating/decomposing inhibitors,on detoxification methods of hydroly- sates with low-cost and facilitated to scale-up,and different fermentation modes in ethanol production from hydrolysate.This review summarized the advance in above aspects.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the marginal microleakage of porcelain-fused-to-metal crown using four different cements.

METHODSSixteen porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns were built and randomly divided into 4 group, luted onto standard prepared human forward molars using four different cements (glass ionomer cement, resin-modified glass ionomer cement, PanaviaF, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system). After temperature cycling test, all the crowns were then submerged in 2% fuchsin for 24 h. The marginal microleakage at tooth cement interfaces was observed using light stereomicroscopy and evaluated in classification index. The marginal microleakage grade of 4 groups were analyzed by SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe PanaviaF demonstrated the least marginal microleakage, Super-Bond C&B adhesive luting system, resin-modified glass ionomer cement showed an intermediate level of marginal microleakage, glass ionomer cement was associated with severe marginal microleakage (total, Chi2 = 157.60, P < 0.01; among the different groups, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdhesive resin luting system which is the first selection in clinical is better than glass ionomer cement and is good at porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.

Boron Compounds ; Cementation ; Crowns ; Dental Cements ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Marginal Adaptation ; Dental Porcelain ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Metals ; Methacrylates ; Methylmethacrylates ; Resin Cements

Objective To explore the methods and meaning of cardiopulmonary resuscitation knowledge and skills training among middle school students. Methods 200 middle school students at different grade were trained about CPR with varied training methods and examined about CPR knowledge and skills before and after training. Results The 200 middle school students knew less about CPR, after training, CPR knowledge passing rate increased from 7% to 94.5% ,which showed significant differenee( P <0. 05 ). The qualified rate of CPR skills test reached 100%, there were not significant between the juniors and the seniors of middle school students in the qualified rate of the first test of CPR skills after training( P > 0. 05 ). Conclusions Middle school students are short of CPR knowledge. It is suggested that the knowledge and skills of emergency treatment should be absorbed in the nine-year compulsory education' s course system, which can be improved CPR by appropriate training methods. At the same time, with the support of government, school and hospital training joint are effective way to popularize the CPR skills.

Objective To study the effect of improved gastric lavage with intermittent pumping liquid at stomarch regions.Methods 110 cases poisoned by intoxication orally were randomly divided into two groups in equal number,that is to say,with an experimental group of 55 cases and a control group of 55 cases.The experimental group was treated with the improved gastric lavage with electrostomach irrigator,and the control group with traditional method.The quality of the stomach lavnging between the two groups were compared.Results In comparison of the two groups,the following differences were significant,that is,in time of lavaging and the vohmn of gastric lavage,smooth aspiration of washing-out liquid,mistakes of absorbing washing-out liquid,vomitus 1 h after lavnge,injury of gastric mucosa (for each of all,P < 0.05).Conclusions The improved gastric lavage with intermittent pumping liquid is more effective in reducing liquid,shortening lavage time,reduing gastric injury of mucous membrane,preventing mis-aspiration and avoiding the vomiting after gastric lavnge operation.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS / MS) in childhood asthma and healthy control, aiming to find the potential markers of EBC in children with asthma, and provide a scientific reference for its pathogenesis and early screening. EBC samples were collected from 21 asthmatic children (age (8. 2 ±1. 6) years) and 17 healthy children ( age (8. 1 ±1. 3) years). GC-MS / MS was used to obtain the full scan data of chemical components. Cluster analysis was performed on the two groups of metabolites by principal component analysis (PCA), and potential biomarkers were found using Metaboanalyst 3. 0 attributable metabolic pathways. The results showed that the EBC metabolic maps of asthmatic group and normal group were very different, and eight endogenous potential biomarkers were identified, suggesting that starch and sucrose metabolism, lysine degradation, aminoglycan nucleoside metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism may play important roles in the development of asthma in children.

BACKGROUNDEvaluation of fetal central nervous system (CNS) agenesis by ultrasonography (US) is frequently limited, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has its own advantages and is gaining popularity in displaying suspected fetal anomalies. The purpose of this study was to explore the value of MRI in detecting fetal CNS agenesis.

METHODSThirty-four women (aged from 22 to 35 years, average 27 years) with complicated pregnancies (16 - 39 weeks of gestation, average 30 weeks) were examined with a 1.5 T superconductive MR unit within 24 hours after ultrasonography. Half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) T(2)-weighted imaging (T(2)WI) sequence were performed in all patients, and fast low angle shot (FLASH) T(1)-weighted imaging (T(1)WI) sequence were applied sequentially in seven of them. Comparison of the results was made between the MRI and US findings as well as autopsy or postnatal follow-up MRI findings.

RESULTSThe gyrus, sulcus, corpus callosum, thalamus, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord of fetus were shown more clearly on T(2)-weighted MR images than on T(1)-weighted MR images. MRI corrected the diagnosis of US in 10 cases (10/34, 29.41%) and the diagnosis was missed only in 1 case (1/34, 2.94%).

CONCLUSIONMRI has advantages to US in detecting fetal CNS anomalies and is a supplement to US in complicated pregnancies.

Adult ; Central Nervous System ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Prolonged thrombocytopenia is a puzzling problem following umbilical cord blood (CB) transplantation. It might be the result of inadequate megakaryocyte progenitors and the arrest in the megakaryocyte maturation. It is an important method to solve the problem by transfusing ex-vivo expanded CB megakaryocyte progenitor cells into the patients to shorten the duration of platelet recovery. However, the most optimal condition of expansion has not been established so far. In the study, cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) were cultured in serum-free medium with TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6. The numbers of MNC, CFU-MK and CD41(+) cells were measured at 0, 6, 10 and 14 days, in order to find the best cytokine combination and optimal harvest time point for clinical use. The results showed that the megakaryocyte progenitors most efficiently expanded with the cytokine combination including TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6. The time point of maximal CFU-MK growth is day 10. At 10 days, the numbers of CFU-MK and CD41(+) cells expanded by 6.8- and 8.8-fold respectively. In conclusion, in vitro, the cytokine cocktail including TPO, IL-3, SCF and IL-6 was the most optimal cytokine combination which stimulates the ex vivo expansion of megakaryocyte progenitors in CB MNC and serum-free medium. The maximal CFU-MK colonies were harvested at 10 days, that may be an optimal harvest time for clinical transfusion.
Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Division ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; analysis ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the physicochemical properties and immunomodulatory activities of crude polysaccharides and their fractions from Sophorae Flavescentis Radix. Methods The crude polysaccharide (SFP-100) was obtained successively by boiling Sophorae Flavescentis Radix in water, ethanol precipitating, dialyzing and freeze drying. SFP-100 was separated withDEAE-cellulose column to obtain three fractions, and these fractions were fruther separated with Sephadex G-100 column to obtain their sub-fractions. The sugar content was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method, the molecular distribution was determined with gel filtration chromatography, and the monosaccharide composition was analyzed with capillary electrophoresis after PMP derivatization. The immunobiological activities were estimated by measuring the proliferation of mouse spleen lymphocytes as well as the IFN-secretion in mouse splenocytes and the TNF-α secretion in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Results The yield of SFP-100 from Sophorae Flavescentis Radix was 4.83％ and sugar content was 71.62％. SFP-100 was separated into three fractions SFP-100-A, SFP-100-B and SFP-100-C, whose yields were 3.5％, 25.6％ and 16.7％, and the sugar content was 85.99％, 72.09％ and 24.30％, respectively.The monosaccharide composition and their molar ratio for SFP-100-A, SFP-100-B and SFP-100-C were Ara∶Glc∶Gal=7.16∶91.02∶1.82, Xyl∶Ara∶Glc∶Rha∶Gal∶GalA=0.05∶1.00∶0.85∶0.04∶0.35∶0.43, and Xyl∶Ara∶Glc∶Rha∶Gal∶GlcA∶GalA=0.20∶1.00∶0.33∶0.36∶0.45∶0.55∶14.37, respectively. SFP-100-B was further separated into two sub-fractions SFP-100-B-a and SFP-100-B-b with Sephadex G-100, and the other two sub-fractions SFP-100-C-a and SFP-100-C-b were also obtained with the same Sephadex G-100 from SFP-100-C. SFP-100-B-a showed a main wide peak, which had the relative molecular weight 1.02×105 and monosaccharide composition Ara∶Glc∶Rha∶Gal = 1.00∶0.06∶0.02∶0.29. Meanwhile, the relative molecular weight and monosaccharide composition were 5.43×104 and Xyl∶Glc =1.00∶3.81 for the main peak of SFP-100-C-a, and 2.75×104 and Ara∶Glc∶Rha∶Gal∶GlcA∶GalA=1.00∶2.10∶0.57∶0.74∶1.09∶33.75 for the main peak of SFP-100-C-b, respectively. The crude polysaccharides SFP-100 and its fractions, SFP-100-B and SFP-100-C, as well as the sub-fractions, SFP-100-B-a, SFP-100-B-b and SFP-100-C-a, increased the proliferation of spleen cells, all in a dose-dependent manner. Further, SFP-100 could improve the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α in spleen cells, while SFP-100-B, SFP-100-C, SFP-100-B-a and SFP-100-B-b could stimulate the secretion of IFN-γ. Conclusion The crude polysaccharides of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and their fractions showed a good immunomodulatory activity, which may be related to the clinical use of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix for the anti-HBV and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Objective To investigate the presence and genetic background of 16S rRNA methylase gene and Aminoglycoside modifying enzymes(AMEs) genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the People's Liberation Army 98th HospitaI,Huzhou district,Zhejiang province,China.Methods 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from the inpatienta between September,2005 and April,2006.6 kinds of 16S rRNA methylase gene (including armA,rmtA,rmtB,rmtC,rmtD and npmA ),6 kinds of AMEs genes [ including aac (3)-Ⅰ,sac (3)-Ⅱ,sac (6')-Ⅰ,aac (6')-Ⅱ,ant (3")-Ⅰand ant(2")-Ⅰ],intI1,intI2,intI3,mercuric reductase gene merA (merA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposona of Tn21 and Tn501 ) and tnpA ( tnpA gene were the collective genetic markers of transposons of Tn1,Tn2,Tn3 and Tn1000) were analyzed by PCR and verificated by DNA sequencing.Results In 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae,the positive rate of genes of rmtB,sac (3)-Ⅱ,sac (6')-Ⅰ,ant(3")-Ⅰ and intI1 were 60.0%(15/25),4.0%(1/25),48.0%(12/25),60.0%(15/25) and 96.0%(24/25),respectively.The rest 12 kinds of genes were all tested negative.The total positive rate of 6 kinds of AMEs gene was 84.0%(21/25).Conclusion There were very high positive rate on both genes of rmtB and AMEs genotypes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from inpatients,and this was the first report of the emergence of 16S rRNA methylase gene rmtB in Klebsiella pneumoniae identified in Zhejiang province,China.