Objective To evaluate left atrial (LA) function by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3D) and speckle tracking imaging (STI) after circumferential ablation of pulmonay vein ostia for atrial fibrillation guided by carto mapping system. Methods Thirty patients who had ablation procedure for paroxysmal atrial fibillation were accepted echocardiography to estimate the LA function at pre-operation,3 days and 3 months of post-operation. The LA maximal, minimal and pre-systolic volume (LAVmax, LAVmin and LAVp), LA passive ejection fraction (LAPEF), LA active ejection fraction (LAAEF) were measured by RT-3DE respectively. The strain rate curve was acquired in each LA segment (anterior, posterior, lateral, inferior and septal) by STI. Systolic strain rate (SRs), early diastolic strain (SRe) and late diastolic strain rate(SRa) of each left atrial segments were measured. Results Comparing with preoperative,3 days post-ablation SRs,SRe and SRa decreased significantly in each wall of LA. After 3 months,SRa and SRe in anterior, inferior and septal were significantly improved, however, SRs showed no significant difference. LAVmax and LAVpre were significantly decreased. LAPEF and LAAEF were significantly improved. Conclusions The patients with circumferential pulmonary vein ablation were in a deterioration after three days. The pump function and conduit functions of left atrial were increased after 3 months.

BACKGROUND:Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ and Ⅱ made by ourselves are effective in treating bone fracture complicated by soft tissue injury.However,its mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition on the levels of intedeukin 1β(IL-1β) and interleukin 6(IL-6) in serum of patients with closed bone injury-induced soft tissue injury.DESIGN:Randomized controlled observation.SETTING:Wards of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine,the 401 Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-eight inpatients with bone fracture at early and moderate stages accompanied by soft tissue injury were chosen as volunteers to be studied in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine,the 401 Hospital of Chinese PLA between February 2000 and February 2002.The involved inpatients were assigned into 2 groups according to the table of random digit:Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ + Ⅱ group (n=45) and Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ group (n=43).Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ was for internal administration,and Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ was for external fumigation.METHODS:①Treatment of bone injury:Both caltrate D pellets and pills for strengthening bone joints were used in two groups.②Treatment of soft tissue injury: In the Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ+ Ⅱ group,Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ was decocted.Each decoction was 450 mL,and was packed into 3 pouches, 150 mL/pouch,three times a day;Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ was decocted.Each decoction was 600 mL,and was packedinto 4 Douches,150 mL/pouch.Four pouches of Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ was diluted by 2 000 mL water,then heated and used for fume-washing, twice a day, 20 to 30 minutes once. Four pouches could be used for fume-washing for 2 days successively. In the Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong compositionⅡgroup, only Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ was used to fume-wash the lesioned region.The concrete method was the same as that in the Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ+Ⅱ group.In each group, ten days were set as one course of treatment,and totally, there are 2 courses of treatment.IL-1β and IL-6 levels in serum of patients were detected by with ELISA kit before.one and two courses after treatment, and compared separately.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in serum of patients in two groups before, one and two courses after treatment.RESULTS: In the eingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ+Ⅱ group,the level of IL-1β and IL-6 was respectively significantly lower after 2 courses of treatment as compared with the previous one and one course after treatment (P＜0.05-0.01), also at the same time point in compared with the Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ group (P＜0.05).In addition, in the Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ+Ⅱ group,the level of IL-1β and IL-6 was respectively significantly decreased after one course of treatment as compared with before treatment (P＜0.05). In the Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅱ group,after 2 courses of treatment,the level of IL-1β was significantly decreased as compared with before treatment, and the level of IL-β was also significantly decreased as compared with before treatment and after one course of treatment (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Qingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ+Ⅱ can be used to treat bone fracture accompanied by soft tissue injury by inhibiting the levels of IL-1β and IL-6. The effect of the combination of Oingre Huoxue Xiaozhong composition Ⅰ and Ⅱ is superior to that of each alone.

Objective: To compare the shear strength of the self-etching techniques and the all-etching techniques for enamel adhesion and to provide evidence for the selection of different bonding methods in clinical practice. Methods: Ten middle incisors recently extracted were collected,each was cut into two parts following its sagittal axis,thus divide each tooth into two groups.For group 1 Single BondTM 2 was used to bond FiltekTM Z250 resin to the teeth.For group 2,SE Bond was used to bond Filtek Z250 resin to the teeth.After that,according to the principle of pressing from the incisal margin to the cervix,the shear strength of each bonding unit was tested and statistically analyzed. Results: The shear strength of Single BondTM 2 was significantly higher than that of SE Bond(P

Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

A reliable method for simultaneous determinition of eleven representative components (neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, shanzhiside, geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide and secoxyloganin) in combination of chromatographic fingerpint analysis for Reduning injection was developed by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The method was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 anlytical column (3. 0 mm x 100 mm, 1. 8 µm) with a guard column of Agilent UPLC Guard ZORBAX SB-C18 (3.0 mm x 5 mm) at the column temperature of 30 °C. The gradient mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile (A)-0. 1% phosphoric acid (B) with a flow rate of 0. 4 mL . min-1. The injection volumn was 2 µL. The detection wavelengths were set at 324 nm and 238 nm for quantit tive analysis and 225 nm for fingerpint chromatography. Neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid C, shanzhiside, geniposidic acid, genipin-1-β-D-gentiobioside, geniposide and secoxyloganin were baseline seperated with good linearity relationships (r >0. 999) between concentration and peak areas over the linear ranges. The average recoverys of the investigated compounds were 103.5%, 100. 2%, 103. 3%, 102. 8%, 101. 3%, 102. 8%, 97. 36%, 99. 62%, 98. 16%, 102. 8%, 99. 27%, respectively. Reduning injection of forty-five batches was analyzed by UPLC finge print chromatography. Thirty batches were selected to generate the reference fringerprint chromatography with fourteen common peaks. The similarity values between the reference fringerprint chromatography and the remaining fifteen batches were higher than 0. 99. The developed method was fast, accurate and sensitive. It could be used as a reference for the quality control of multiple components determination and fingerprint chromatography for Reduning injection in future.
Chlorogenic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of α3 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) on apoptosis and p38 signal transduction pathway in SH-SY5Y cells and to assess the roles of α3 nAChR in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe levels of α3 nAChR mRNA and protein were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA. The mRNA level of bcl-2 and bax was measured by the real-time PCR. The siRNA transfected SH-SY5Y cells and control were then treated with 10 µmol/L Aβ25-35 for another 48 h, and the change in apoptotic rate and the levels of p-p38 and p38 were measured by flow cytometry and Western blot. Subsequently these SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to a blocker of p38 protein, and the apoptotic rate was measured again.

RESULTSCompared to the controls, the expression of α3 nAChR at mRNA and protein levels in the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with α3 nAChR siRNA decreased by 95% and 86%, respectively; the mRNA levels of bax increased 2.11 times and that for bcl-2 decreased 0.53 times. The apoptotic rate was unaffected (3.40% ± 0.20%); but it increased after Aβ25-35 treatment (24.52% ± 1.59%); the level of p-p38 protein also increased by 178% in the α3 nAChR inhibited cells treated with Aβ25-35. Compared to controls, the Aβ25-35-treated SH-SY5Y cells and the Aβ25-35-treated and siRNA-transfected cells both showed a reduction in apoptosis after treatment with p38 blocker, especially in the former.

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA silencing of α3 nAChR mRNA may enhance the effect of Aβ25-35 on the cell apoptosis by increasing the levels of p38 protein and bax mRNA and decreasing the level of bcl-2 mRNA, which may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Alzheimer Disease ; etiology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders (Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis) was compared with lowlanders (Chinese Han, Indian Tamils) lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases ; genetics ; Tibet

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Changqiang (GV 1) and Chengshan (BL 57) 30 min before surgery on postoperative pain and discomforts in patients with mixed hemorrhoids.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of mixed hemorrhoids who received Milligan-Morgan operation were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group, a sham electroacupuncture group and a blank group, 40 cases in each one. At the same time of basic treatment, the electroacupuncture was applied at Changqiang (GV 1) and Chengshan (BL 57) 30 min before surgery in the electroacupuncture group, while shallow needling without electrical stimulation at sham acupoint (1 cm next to acupoint) was applied 30 min before surgery in the sham electroacupuncture group, while no treatment was given before the surgery in the blank group. The total dose of painkillers in the first 24 h after operation, the number of cases who received additional anesthetic in the operation, the self-score of most severity pain in the first 24 h after operation and sleeping time in the night of surgery were observed.

RESULTSThe differences of the numbers of cases who received additional anesthetic in the operation had no statistical significance among the three groups (all P > 0.05), but compared with the sham electroacupuncture group and blank group, the total dose of painkillers in the first 24 h after operation was reduced in the electroacupuncture group [(2.43 +/- 1.08) tablets vs (3.23 +/- 1.33) tablets, (3.10 +/- 1.22) tablets], and the score of most severity pain was also decreased (6.65 +/- 1.00 vs 7.48 +/- 0.96, 7.25 +/- 1.19), besides, the sleeping time in the night of surgery was increased [(220.63 +/- 85.50) min vs (162.00 +/- 92.69) min, (151.50 +/- 80.01) min, all P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture at Changqiang (GV 1) and Chengshan (BL 57) 30 min before surgery has effects of preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain for patients with mixed hemorrhoids.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Hemorrhoids ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of sevoflurane wash-in during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on myocardial injury in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG).Methods Forty ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients aged 50-64 yr,weighing 53-90 kg undergoing scheduled for CABG under CPB were randomly divided into 2 groups (n =20): control group (group C) and sevoflurane group(group S).Anesthesia was maintained with propofol 3-5 mg·kg-1 ·h-1 and sufentanil 0.5-1.0 μg·kg-1 ·h-1 in both groups.Sevoflurane 1％-2％ was washed into extracorporeal circuit during CPB in group S.Blood samples were taken from central vein after the induction of anesthesia (T0,baseline) and at 6,12 and 24 h (T1-3) after operation for determination of plasma cardiac troponin I(cTnI) concentration and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activity.Myocardial specimens were obtained from right auricle before aortic cross-clamping and at the end of CPB for ultrastructure examination.The severity of mitochondria injury was assessment and scored (0 =normal,4 =impaired inner mitochondrial membrane integrity).Results CPB significantly increased plasma cTnI concentration at T1-3 as compared with the baseline values at T0 before CPB.Plasma cTnI concentration was significantly lower at T2 and T3 in group S than in group C.Mitochondrial injury index was significantly lower at the end of CPB in group S than in group C.There was no significant difference in plasma CK-MB activity between the 2 groups.Conclusion Wash-in of sevoflurane during CPB can attenuate myocardial injury in patients undergoing CABG.

Objective To investigate the echocardiographic features and clinical significance of prenatal diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). Methods Fetal echocardiographic images of 13 fetuses with TAPVC conifrmed by pathology or postnatal echocardiography were reviewed. Echocardiographic features and clinical signiifcance of prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC were summarized. Results Twelve fetuses with TAPVC were diagnosed prenatally by fetal echocardiography, including seven cases of supracardiac type, three cases of infracardiac type and two cases of intracardiac type. The common echocardiographic characteristics of 12 fetuses with TAPVC included slightly size discrepancy of left heart and right heart, large foramen ovale with increased shunting at the atrial level, increased distance between left atrium (LA) and descending aorta, absent insertions of pulmonary veins in the LA, presence of pulmonary venous conlfuence on the top of LA and dilatation of vessels where pulmonary venous conlfuence drained. One case was missed prenatally and intracardiac type TAPVC was diagnosed by postnatal echocardiography. Among the 13 cases, three were isolated and the other ten were all in association with other abnormalities. Conclusions There are fetal echocardiographic characteristics of TAPVC. Fetal echocardiography plays an important role in prenatal diagnosis of TAPVC.