OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine(NAC)on the concentration of ethanol in serum and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase in liver and stomach tissue in alcoholic mice.METHODS:All mice were given p.o white spirit30min after p.o saline or5%NAC solution,and the durations from the disappear of righting reflex to recovery in mice were recorded and the number of dead mice in24hours were countered;With the same procedure for six days,the mice were killed by withdrawaling blood from orbit,and taken out the liver and stomach immediately,the concentrations of ethanol in serum and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase in liver and stomach were measured by chromatometry and colorimetric method respectively.RESULTS:In drunk test,5%NAC solution significantly postponed the time from p.o white spirit to the disappear of righting reflex(P

Animals ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Organometallic Compounds ; toxicity ; Rats

Aged ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology* ; Vibration

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.

Chinese medicine (CM) is a discipline with its own distinct methodologies and philosophical principles. The main method of treatment in CM is to use herbal prescriptions. Typically, a number of herbs are combined to form a formula and different formulae are prescribed for different patients. Regularities in the mixture of herbs in the prescriptions are important for both clinical treatment and novel patent medicine development. In this study, we analyze CM formula data using latent tree (LT) models. Interesting regularities are discovered. Those regularities are of interest to students of CM as well as pharmaceutical companies that manufacture medicine using Chinese herbs.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; standards ; Drug Compounding ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Models, Biological ; Prescription Drugs ; therapeutic use

Biliary Atresia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; deficiency ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Citrullinemia ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Jaundice ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Organic Anion Transporters ; deficiency

To determine the chemical composition of Galla chinensis extract (GCE) by several analysis techniques and to compare the efficacy of GCE and its main component(s) in inhibition of enamel demineralization, for the development of future anticaries agents, main organic composition of GCE was qualitatively determined by liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Inorganic ions were tested by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and F was especially measured by ion chromatography. Then, bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into four treatment groups and were subjected to a pH-cycling regime for 12 times. Each cycle included 5-min applications with one of four treatments: 4 g⋅L(-1) GCE solution, 4 g⋅L(-1) gallic acid (GA) solution, 1 g⋅L(-1) NaF solution (positive control), deionized water (DDW, negative control), and then 60-min application in pH 5.0 acidic buffer and 5-min application in neutral buffer. Acidic buffers were retained for calcium analysis. The main organic composition of GCE were GA and its isomer, and, to a lesser extent, small molecule gallotannins. The content of GA in GCE was 71.3%±0.2% (w/w). Inorganic ions were present in various amounts, of which Ca was (136±2.82) µg⋅g(-1), and Zn was (6.8±0.1) µg⋅g(-1). No F was detected in GCE. In pH cycling, GA showed an effect similar to GCE in inhibiting enamel demineralization (P>0.05). GA was found to be the main effective, demineralization inhibiting component of GCE and could be a promising agent for the development of anticaries agents.
Animals ; Calcium ; analysis ; Cariostatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dental Enamel ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Gallic Acid ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Tooth Demineralization ; prevention & control

Objective:To improve the genetic stability of HBV gene in transgenic mice.Methods:HBV transgenic mice were bred by backcross and double cross.The HBV gene expression and replication were studied with real-time PCR,ELISA and chemiluminescence.Results:The HBV transgenic mice have stably bred to 23rd generation.The serum HBsAg level is 4122.31?2044.74IU/ml;The rate of HBV transgenic mice whose serum HBV DNA reach 104~106copies/ml was 93.93%.The HBV replication and expression were improved markedly.There is no difference between male and female mice about serum HBsAg level.Conclusion:After breeding the HBV gene was expressed stably with high-level in transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVETo study on academic point of view of the book, A General Survey of Moribustion.

METHODSStudy academic thought of the book and clarify academic origin and characteristics of the book.

CONCLUSIONProcessing of argyi leaf, manufacture of mugwort floss and size of moxa cone have a certain technique standards in the book. The book indicates that small cones should be used with more times of moxibustion. and the properties of mugwort floss are not dry and heat, but are warm and moist and mild, moxibustion not only can be used to treat cold syndrome but also can be used to treat heat syndrome; the body can response to the external moxibustion. The above points of view have still guiding significance in nowadays.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Artemisia ; Books ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of phosphatase of regeneration liver-3(PRL-3) protein and its relationship with tumor invasion and metastasis in human colorectal carcinoma,and elucidate prognostic value.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry method was applied to detect the PRL-3 expression in the primary tumor specimens and paired paratumor normal tissues from 46 colorectal carcinoma patients, the adenoma tissues from 6 patients with colorectal adenoma, all the metastatic lymph nodes from 29 cases and the metastatic liver lesions from 6 cases. The relationship between PRL-3 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed and a survival curve was achieved according to Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSNo or weak PRL-3 protein expression was detected in normal colorectal mucosa and colorectal adenoma. In colorectal carcinoma tissues, PRL-3 expression was confirmed in 26 of 46 cases (56.5%) of primary colorectal carcinomas (with lymph node metastasis 63.0%, without lymph node metastasis 37.0%, P=0.001), 26 of 29 (89.7%) lymph node metastases, and 5 of 6 liver metastases. The expression of PRL-3 was assembled in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells and more intensively on the cell membrane.Analysis of the relationship between PRL-3 expression and the clinicopathologic features showed that PRL-3 expression was closely associated with tumor stage (P=0.019), lymph node metastasis (P=0.026), but no relationship with age, sex, tumor size, degree of differentiation was founded (P<0.05). The mean follow-up time was 41.4 months and results showed that patients with positive expression of PRL-3 had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with negative PRL-3 expression group(P=0.032).

CONCLUSIONSPRL-3 protein plays a novel role in tumor progression and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. PRL-3 can be expected to be a potential predictive biomarker for identifying the prognosis in colorectal carcinoma patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Liver Regeneration ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism