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

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

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.

OBJECTIVEHirschsprung's disease (HD), one of the most common causes resulting in lower intestinal obstruction in children, is prone to be misdiagnosed or to be missed from diagnosis because of its atypical clinical symptoms and inconspicuous morphological findings by barium enema X-ray. Recently, this situation has been largely ameliorated by increased comprehension of anorectal kinetics and improvement of instrument for measurement of anorectal pressure. By now, anorectal manometry (ARMM) has been regarded as a routine means for functional assessment and diagnosis for anorectal disease. Nevertheless, the accuracy rate of diagnosis of HD in neonate by ARMM remains to be elucidated. In this study the clinical evaluation of anorectal manometry as an early diagnostic method for neonates with Hirschsprung's disease was appraised.

METHODSForty-two HD patients defined by pathological study of rectal tissue obtained via rectal mucous membrane biopsy or operation were recruited in this study. ARMM was performed in liquid transmission using PC polygraph high rate gastrointestinal dynamical detection system (PC Polygraf HR, CTD-synectics, Sweden), with 4-lumen catheter with which a small 5-cm-long balloon was connected at the terminus. All children were positioned on their left side or back during the procedure and the pressure transducers were placed in the mid-axillary line level. The results of ARMM performed before operation or biopsy were compared with the results of barium enema X-ray testing. The decrease of internal anal sphincter pressure as rectoanal inhibitory reflex (RAIR) was measured based on the fluctuation curve of pressure detected. HD was defined when no decrease of anal catheter pressure was detected after insufflation (RAIR positive), and suspected HD state was assessed with the presentation of incomplete relaxation or positive/negative results coexisted (RAIR abnormal) in canal.

RESULTSThirty patients (71.43%) were diagnosed as HD by ARMM including 18 patients who showed negative response to RAIR and 12 patients whose response was abnormal. While barium enema examinations were carried out in all the 45 patients, the results showed 5 HD patients and 14 suspected HD patients, giving an overall diagnostic accuracy of 45.24%. There were also 16 patients with positive ARMM response and negative barium enema findings together, and 5 patients with negative ARMM results and positive barium enema findings at the same time. There was a significant difference between the two diagnostic methods (chi(m)(2) = 4.76, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnorectal manometry seems to be a more reliable method for diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease in neonate than barium enema X-ray. Because ARMM is a simple, safe and non-invasive method, it can be used as a screening test of choice in neonates with clinically suspected HD. But for final diagnosis, it is reasonable to combine ARMM with other diagnostic methods in HD patients.

Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Barium Sulfate ; Enema ; Hirschsprung Disease ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Manometry ; Rectum ; pathology ; physiopathology

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