Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of Shuizhitong capsule (SZT) in treating senile vascular dementia (VD) and on changes of related physio-chemical criteria.

METHODSEighty-five patients with VD were randomly divided into the treated group (n = 51) and the control group (n = 34) in the ratio of 3:2, treated with SZT and Piracetam respectively. Before and after treatment, the Zhang's Dementia Scoring (HDS) and Function of Social Activity Questionnaire (FAQ) scoring, cerebral blood flow and hemorrheologic properties were determined.

RESULTSSZT could significantly improve the patients' clinical symptoms, intracranial hemodynamic condition and the hyperviscosity, hypercoagulation and hyperaggregation status, lower the whole blood and plasma specific viscosity, raise the living standard of partial patients, with significant difference between before and after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of SZT in treating senile VD is definite.

Aged ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Dementia, Vascular ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hemorheology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nootropic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy

Ginsenosides are the abundant secondary metabolites in American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium), it could be released into soil through root exudation and decomposition during plant growth. This study determined ginsenoside contents in American ginseng cultivated soil by HPLC. Three ginsenosides, Rb1, Rb2 and Rd, were detected in the rhizosphere soil of 3-4 years old American ginseng cultivated in Huairou District, Beijing, and their contents were 0.80-3.19 mg x kg(-1). Correspondingly, the contents of the three ginsenosides in soil solution were 4-16 mg x L(-1) at field water-holding capacity of 20%. According to the field soil test data, we designed the concentration of ginsenosides for bioassays (0.2-125 mg x L(-1) in solution or 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) in soil). The results showed that radicle lengths of American ginseng were reduced by 6%-23% in solution containing 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenoside extract, and a significant difference was observed at concentration of 125 mg x L(-1) (P < 0.05). The shoot lengths of American ginseng were not significantly inhibited by 0.2-125 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extractions. After 20 days of growth in nutrient solution amended with 25 mg x L(-1) ginsenosides extraction, plant height of 3-year-old American ginseng seedling was decreased by 28% compared to the control, and the biomass of aerial parts was also reduced by 50% (P < 0.05). However, the growth of newly-grown fibrous root was not significantly inhibited. Comparatively, when American ginseng embryos were cultivated into sterile or non-sterile soil, neither radicle lengths nor shoot lengths were significantly affected by 0.2-125 mg x kg(-1) ginsenoside extracts. In conclusion, ginsenosides showed autotoxic effect on growth of American ginseng radicle and adult seedling, however, this effect was weakened in field soil.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Panax ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Soil ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDStreptococcus (S.) oligofermentans is a newly identified bacteria with a yet to be defined mechanism of sucrose metabolism that results in acid production. This study aimed to investigate the biochemical mechanisms of S. oligoferm-entans glucose metaolism.

METHODSThe S. oligofermentans LMG21532, Lactobacillus (L.) fermentum 38 and the S. mutans UA140 were used to characterize sucrose metabolism by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lactic acid production. Continuous dynamics and high performance capillary electrophoresis were used to determine LDH activity and lactic acid production, respectively, from bacteria collected at 0, 10 and 30 minutes after cultured in 10% sucrose.

RESULTSThese analyses demonstrated that LDH activity of the three bacterial strains examined remained stable but significantly different throughout the sucrose fermentation process. The S. oligofermentans LDH activity ((0.61 ± 0.05) U/mg) was significantly lower than that of L. fermentum ((52.91 ± 8.97) U/mg). In addition, the S. oligofermentans total lactate production ((0.048 ± 0.021) mmol/L) was also significantly lower than that of L. fermentum ((0.958 ± 0.201) mmol/L). Although the S. oligofermentans LDH production was almost double of that produced by S. mutans ((0.32 ± 0.07) U/mg), lactic acid production was approximately one sixth that of S. mutans ((0.296 ± 0.058) mmol/L). Additional tests examining pyruvic acid production (the LDH substrate) demonstrated that lactic acid concentrations correlated with pyruvic acid production. That is, pyruvic acid production by S. oligofermentans was undetectable following sucrose incubation, however, (0.074 ± 0.024) and (0.175 ± 0.098) mmol/L pyruvic acid were produced by S. mutans and L. fermentum, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS. oligofermentans is incapable of fermenting carbohydrates to produce enough pyruvic acid, which results in reduced lactic acid production.

L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Pyruvic Acid ; metabolism ; Streptococcus ; metabolism ; Sucrose ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects and safety of percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under ultrasound type B and X-ray guiding to treat esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients.

METHODSEighteen cirrhotic patients suffering from esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage were treated with percutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under ultrasound type B and X-ray guiding. Among them, 8 patients were treated during emergency bleeding and another 10 patients after hemorrhage.

RESULTSSeventeen patients were successfully treated with coronary vein occlusion. One patient rebled after 6 hours of the treatment and was treated successfully with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The emergency hemostatic treatment efficacy was 87.5%, and successful occlusion occurred in 94.4%. All patients were followed up for 1 to 24 months. There were 4 patients who suffered from rebleeding, 2 patients from hepatic failure and 2 patients from hepatocellular carcinoma. There were 12 patients survived during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous transhepatic coronary vein occlusion under the type B ultrasonography and X-ray guiding is safe and efficient to treat esophagogastric variceal hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients

Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; etiology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; therapy ; Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein

OBJECTIVETo compare the complication rates induced by three liver biopsy methods.

METHODSOne thousand five hundred fifty-seven liver biopsies were performed from 1995 to 2006 by the senior author of the present article. The patients were grouped into a non-ultrasound-guided biopsy group (783 cases), a partially ultrasound-guided group (485 cases) and an ultrasound-guided group (289 cases). The observed complications such as death, hemorrhage, pneumothorax, pain, choleperitoneum and vasovagal syncope were compared between these three groups.

RESULTSOnly 1 patient in the non-ultrasound-guided group died. Seven patients (45%), 4 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 2 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 1 in ultrasound-guided group, had hemorrhage complications. The hemorrhage complication rates between partially ultrasound-guided group and ultrasound-guided group had no significant differences and both were lower than those of the non-ultrasound-guided group. Thirty-five patients, 23 in non-ultrasound-guided group and 12 in partially ultrasound-guided group, suffered from pneumothorax; but the rates between the two groups were not significantly different. Forty-eight patients (45%), 28 in non-ultrasound-guided group, 17 in partially ultrasound-guided group and 3 in ultrasound-guided group, had severe pain and the rate in the ultrasound-guided group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONLiver biopsy performed under ultrasound guidance is the safest and most reliable way to do the procedure. It should be recommended in clinical practices.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Child ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the chemotherapeutic effect of gemcitabine for non-small cell lung cancer patients and analyzed the correlation of chemotherapeutic effect with ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1),excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) expression in pathological tissue.Methods The clinical data of 96 non-small cell lung cancer patients were selected.All patients were treated with gemcitabine + cisplatin chemotherapy,and the RRM1,ERCC1 expression in pathological tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method at 3 weeks after chemotherapy,the correlation of clinical features with chemotherapeutic effect were analyzed.Results The positive expression rates of RRM1 and ERCC1 were 60.42％,43.75％.The positive expression of non-small cell lung cancer patients pathological tissue RRM1,ERCC1 had significant correlation with the gender and smoking status (P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01),while had no correlation with the age and clinical stages (all P ＞0.05).The effective rates of patients with pathological tissue RRM1/ERCC1 +/+,-/-,+/-or-/+ were 17.95％,74.29％ and 59.09％,and the effective rates of patients with pathological tissue RRM1/ERCC1-/-were higher than +/ +,+/-or-/+ (P ＜0.05 or P ＜ 0.01),and the effective rates of patients with pathological tissue RRM1/ERCC1 + /-or-/ + were higher than RRM1/ERCC1 + / + (all P ＜ 0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that,the negative expression of non-small cell lung cancer patients anthological tissue RRM1,ERCC1 had significant positive correlation with chemotherapeutic effect (r =0.248,0.306,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Gemcitabine has a certain clinical effect in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients,and the clinical effect had significant positive correlation with the negative expression of non-small cell lung cancer patients anthological tissue RRMl,ERCC1 protein,which can act as the evaluation index for the chemotherapeutic effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the buffer capacity of insoluble plaque mass including bacteria and glucans matrix.

METHODSPlaque samples (starved or incubated 1 h with 10% sucrose), Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) mass, and insoluble/soluble glucans were titrated with 1 mmol/L HCl. Meanwhile, the density of bacteria was counted and related to buffer capacity.

RESULTSThe bacteria density had significant effects on acid buffer capacity in dental plaque, but the effect reduced with consuming sugar. S. mutans mass with no sucrose incubating contributed to the buffer capacity of (0.609 +/- 0.202) mmol/L, and S. mutans mass with 2% sucrose had only the buffer capacity of (0.099 +/- 0.047) mmol/L. In the mean time, glucans had no effect on acid buffering (0.028 - 0.032 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONSThe bacteria including S. mutans may be the main contributor to acid buffering in plaque solid.

Acids ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Dental Caries Susceptibility ; Dental Plaque ; microbiology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glucans ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Streptococcus mutans ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the construction of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) labeled recombinant adenovirus containing human stem cell leukemia (hSCL) and its distribution and efficiency in mice with interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) loss.

METHODSThe recombinant adenovirus Ad-GFP/SCL was constructed by Ad-Easy system based on the homologous recombination in bacteria, then 1.6 x 10(9) PFU of recombinant adenoviruses were injected into Balb/c mice with ICC loss via the tail vein. In vivo distribution and efficiency of recombinant adenoviruses mediated hSCL were observed by GFP under the fluorescent microscope at different phases. The expression of SCL gene was measured by RT-PCR method. The damages were observed in different organs by HE staining.

RESULTSThe recombinant adenovirus containing hSCL was quickly constructed by homologous recombination in bacteria using Ad-Easy system. Under the fluorescent microscope, GFP was revealed in heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, small intestine and large intestine of mice with ICC loss at different phases. No obvious damages were observed in various visceral organs by HE staining. RT-PCR showed SCL mRNA expression in various visceral organs at different levels.

CONCLUSIONSConstruction of adenovirus vector by the homologous recombination in bacteria is an efficient and time saving method, and a high titer of adenovirus is able to mediate the safe and stable expression of SCL gene in mice with ICC loss. This finding will make further gene therapy in mice with STC possible.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transduction, Genetic

BACKGROUND: There are still no applicable vascular grafts for clinical replacement of the small-diameter blood vessels (< 6 mm). OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of bacterial nano-cellulose (BNC)/chitosan (CH) composite tubes as small-diameter artificial blood vessels. METHODS: BNC/CH tubes were fabricated by introducing chitosan (0.5%, 1%, 2%) into BNC tubes. Physicochemical properties of BNC/CH tubes were analyzed including macro-morphology, microstructure, density, water-holding capacity, burst pressure, mechanical properties, blood compatibility and cytocompatibility. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results indicated that, as compared with the BNC tubes, the water permeability of BNC/CH tubes reduced, the density and water-holding capacity increased, as well as the axial and radial mechanical performance was enhanced, but ductility and elasticity of BNC/CH tubes were weakened. Regarding blood compatibility, hemolysis ratios of BNC and BNC/CH met the requirements of medical grade composites, while the plasma recalcification time showed that anticoagulation of BNC/CH tubes was slightly weaker than that of the BNC tubes. Cell compatibility experiments showed that porcine hip artery endothelial cells stably proliferated on the inner surface of both BNC and BNC/CH tubes, but the proliferation was more obvious on the BNC surface than on the BNC/CH surface.