Objective To investigate the correlation of the plasma homocysteine level and serum B/apolipoprolionAl(ApoB/ApoAl) radio with cerebral vascular stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods 184 patients with cerebral infarction experienced cerebral digital substraction angiography (DSA) were selected.Among them,158 patients with cerebrovascular stenesis and 26 patients without stenosis were included.Three groups were categorized by distribution of artery lesion sites:isolated intracranial artery stenesis ( n =48 ),isolated extracranial artery stenosis( n =60) co-existing of intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis( n =50).The correlation analysis was made between the levels of Hcy and ApoB/ApoAl with cerebral vascular stenosis in patients with cerebral infarction.Results ( 1 ) The proportion of subjects with high level of plasma homocysteine was significantly higher in patients with cerebrovascular stenosis than those without[( 16.9 ±8.1 ) μmol/L vs (8.6 ±4.6) μmol/L,P ＜0.001 ;40％ vs 0,P ＜0.01].The proportion of subjects with high level of ApoB and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio was significantly higher in patients with cerebrovascular stenosis than those without ApoB [( 1.02 ± 0.25 ) vs ( 0.86 ± 0.22 ) g/L,P ＜ 0.01],ApoB/ApoAl ratio [( 0.94 ± 0.50) vs ( 0.64 ± 0.21,P ＜ 0.01 )].(2) For the different groups of artery lesion sites,the proportion of subjects with high level of plasma homocysteine was not significantly different[( 16.1 ± 8.5 )mml/L、( 17.0 ± 8.9 ) mmol/L、( 16.7 ± 8.7 ) mmol/L,P ＞ 0.05],the proportion of subjects with ApoB/ApoAl ratio was not significantly different [0.98 ± 0.45,0.93 ± 0.48,0.96 + 0.50,P ＞ 0.05].(3) Based on multivariable stepwise Logistic regression model,the increased level of Hcy( OR =1.146,95％ CI:1.021 ～ 1.287 ;P =0.021 ),the increased level of ApoB/ApoAl ( OR =4.71,95 ％ CI:1.70 ～ 14.20,P =0.005 ),the increased level of ApoB ( OR =4.50,95 ％ CI 为 1.62 ～ 12.80,P =0.007),the increased level of Cho ( OR =2.406 ;95％ CI:1.145 ～ 5.055 ; P =0.023 ),the decresed level of HDL( OR =0.089,95％ CI:0.014 ～ 0.551,P =0.017 ) were all risk factors.Conclusion High level of plasma homocysteine and ApoB/ApoAl were both independent risk factors for cerebral vascular stenosis.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of spiral CT for the intestinal obstruction of unknown causes.Methods The CT findings of 115 intestinal obstructive patients with unknown causes were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of the 115 patients,the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was comfirmed by CT in 110 cases patients,the correct diagnostic rate was 95.7%.Conclusions Abdominal CT is a rapid、simple and effective means for diagnosis of the location、cause and degree of obstruction in cases of intestinal obstruction with unknown cause.It can act as an important basis for the treatment program by doctors.

To compare the chemical change of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRA) after vinegar-baking processing, as well as the effect of vinegar types exerted on the processing, 1H NMR-based metabolomic approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis was used to investigate the different metabolites between the raw and two vinegar-baked PRA. More than thirty metabolites were identified in the 1H NMR spectrum of PRA, and the multivariate statistical analysis showed that raw and two vinegar-baked PRA could be separated obviously. After vinegar-baking, the contents of isoleucine, lactate, alanine, arginine, albiflorin, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) elevated, while those of sucrose, paeoniflorin and its analogues (calculated by benzoate) decreased. The chemical compositions of two vinegar-baked PRA were also different. Shanxi vinegar- baked PRA showed higher levels of leucine, isoleucine, valine, and albiflorin, while rice vinegar-baked PRA contained more sucrose and paeoniflorin's analogues (calculated by benzoate). And the chemical changes in Shanxi vinegar-baked PRA were greater than those of rice vinegar-baked PRA. The results revealed the chemical differences between raw and vinegar-baked PRA, as well as the influence of vinegar type on processing, in a holistic manner, the results obtained suggested that the correlations between the chemical change and the drug action after processing, as well as the vinegar type used in processing, should be further studied.
Acetic Acid ; Benzoates ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; Cooking ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; Glucosides ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Monoterpenes ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo compare the real-time analgesic effects between two different groups of acupoints in treating primary dysmenorrhea, for providing objective evidences for optimizing the treatment protocol for primary dysmenorrhea.MethodSixty eligible patients with primary dysmenorrhea were randomized into 3 groups: group A received acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6), group B received acupuncture at Sanyinjiao and Guanyuan (CV4), and group C as a blank control group, 20 cases in each group. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was observed prior to the acupuncture treatment, after the insertion of the needles, and after removal of the needles in the three groups.ResultThe VAS scores changed significantly in group A and B after intervention (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in comparing the VAS score between group A and B after intervention (P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Sanyinjiao alone and acupuncture at Sanyinjiao and Guanyuan both can produce analgesic effect at the attackof primary dysmenorrhea. However, for optimizing the treatment protocol, selecting Sanyinjiao alone will be enough.

Objective:To examine the plasma soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL-2R)and the expression of IFN-γR in helper T (Th)cells in peripheral blood of patients with recurrent oral ulcer(ROU).Methods:The peripheral blood was obtained from 21 pa-tients in active stage of ROU and 21 healthy controls.Flow cytometry was used to detect the quantity of IFN-γR in CD +4 T cells,ELISA was used to detect the level of sIL-2R.Results:The expression of IFN-γR in CD +4 T cells and sIL-2R content in plasma of the patients with ROU were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls(P <0.05).Conclusion:Over expression of IFN-γR in CD +4 T cells and sIL-2R in peripheral blood may be related to the genesis of ROU.

Animals ; Ants ; Fatigue ; prevention & control ; Liver ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Mice ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Swimming ; Tissue Extracts ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

In this study, the embryological characters of Pterocypsela formosana (Asteraceae) were investigated with the traditional paraffin section methods. The anther has 4 sporangiates, the anther wall development follows the dicotyledonous type and comprises of an epidermis, endothelium, a middle layer and a single-layered tapetum, the tapetum belongs to glandular type. Meiosis of the microspore mother cells is of the simultaneous type, for the formation of mostly tetrahedral tetrad, the mature pollen grains are 2 celled. The ovary is bicarpellate, unilocular, one ovule and basal placenta, the ovule is unitegmic, tenuinucellate, inverted campylotropous and with developed endothelium, archesporial cell of megaspore differentiates immediately below the nucellar epidermis and functions as megasporocyte after development and belongs to tenuinucellate ovule type. The megasporocyte undergoes meitotic to form a liner tetrad, only one chalazal megaspore becomes the functional megaspore which forms female gametophyte including 7-celled and 8-nucleated after three successive mitosis, the female gametophyte is of the Polygonum type. Two polar nuclei melt into a secondary nuclei before fertilization, the chalazal antipodal cells are ephemeral and degenerate shortly after forming. Fertilization is porogamous and belongs to premitotic type of syngamy. The division of the primary endosperm nucleus is earlier than the zygote, the endosperm is of the nuclear type with the presence of haustoria, and the embryogeny belongs to asterad type chicory variant. The developed suspensor on early stage has important significance to the embryo development.
Asteraceae ; embryology ; Meiosis ; Reproduction

Pro-inflammatory macrophages play key regulatory role in the occurrence and development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we constructed a celastrol (Cel)-loaded polyamide-amine dendrimer (PAMAM) drug delivery system, which could target folate receptor and mitochondria. It could target inflammatory macrophages and realize chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. Using PAMAM as the nano-carrier, folate receptor-targeting group folic acid (FA) and mitochondria-targeting group IR808 (also known as the photothermal agent) were conjugated with PAMAM through amide reaction, and then complexed with anti-inflammatory drug Cel to prepare the FA-PAMAM-IR808/Cel nanocomplex. In vitro characterization results showed that the drug loading efficiency of the nanocomplex was 50.90%, particle size was between 130 and 160 nm, average potential was between 1.0 and 3.5 mV, the drug release showed pH sensitivity, temperature reached to 42.5 ℃ after near-infrared (NIR) light irradiation for 10 min. In vitro cellular uptake experiments showed that the nanocomplex had obvious folate receptor-targeting and mitochondria-targeting ability. Following irradiation with NIR light, the cytotoxicity and cellular apoptosis enhanced. The secretion of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO) decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. This study provided insights for the development of novel anti-RA nanomedicines.

Objective To detect the expressions of miR-155,T helper type 17 (Thl7) cells,and Th17 cellspecific transcription factor RORγt and effector cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 in peripheral blood and skin lesions from,and to evaluate their relationship in,patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 37 patients with AD and 33 age-and sex-matched healthy controls,and biopsy specimens from the lesional and perilesional skin of five patients with severe AD as well as from the normal skin of five healthy human controls.Real-time fluorescence-based reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was employed to measure the mRNA expression levels of miR-155,RORγt and IL-17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and skin specimens,flow cytometry to detect the percentage of Th17 cells in PBMCs,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the plasma concentration of IL-17.Statistical analysis was done using independent sample's t test,one-way analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference test,and linear correlation analysis.Results Compared with the healthy controls,the patients with AD showed a significant increase in Th17 cell percentage (1.78％ ± 0.52％ vs.0.47％ ± 0.15％,P＜ 0.01),mRNA expression levels of miR-155 (5.78 ± 1.78 vs.1.82 ± 0.46,P＜ 0.01),RORγt (6.08 ± 1.04 vs.1.64 ± 0.52,P＜ 0.01) and IL-17 (7.09 ± 1.75 vs.1.71 ± 0.46,P＜ 0.01),as well as in the plasma concentration of IL-17 ((2.51 ± 6.15) pg/ml vs.(11.80 ± 2.24) pg/ml,P＜ 0.01).There was a sequential decrease in the expression levels of miR-155,RORγt and IL-17 mRNA from lesional skin,perilesional skin to normal skin (F =41.803,17.040 and 37.064 respectively,all P ＜ 0.01).The miR-155 mRNA expression level in PBMCs was positively correlated with the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index,Th17 cell percentage,RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expression levels as well as IL-17 plasma concentration (r =0.405,0.426,0.402,0.410 and 0.408 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the miR-155 expression level was positively correlated with RORγt and IL-17 mRNA expression levels in lesional and paralesional specimens (r =0.428 and 0.435 respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The up-regulated expression of miR-155,Th17 cells and their effector cytokine IL-17 may be associated with the development of AD.

Objective To investigate the effects of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)transplantation on the neurological function recovery of injured spinal cord and the underlying mechanism.Methods Rats were subjected to contusive spinal cord injury by using NYU spinal cord contusive impactor system ( NYC lmpactor).Seven days after spinal cord injury,the transplantation of BMSCs ( BMSCs group) or injection of PBS ( PBS group) was performed around the epicenter of injured spinal cord in rats.Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score was used to evaluate the function of spinal cord.The cavity volume of the injured spinal cord was measured and the axons in the injury center of spinal cord were examined under transmission electron microscopy.The BMSCs of the green fluorescent protein (GFP)transgenic rats were used to trace the transplanted cells and the survivor of BMSCs in the injured spinal cord and their differentiation into neural cells were observed.A mini-channel implantation model was employed to further investigate the role of BMSCs transplantation on the axonal regeneration.Results The BMSCs group showed a higher BBB score and a smaller lesion volume as compared with the PBS group.Transmission electron microscopy examination displayed that the number of axons in the BMSCs group was far more than that in the PBS group.A great number of BMSCs-GFP were founded around the center of the injured spinal cord at 4 weeks after BMSCs transplantation.lmmunohistochemistry showed that the implanted BMSCs-GFP did not express the surface marker of neurons,astrocytes and oligodendrocytes.In the mini-channel implantation model,NF-positive nerve fibers grew into the BMSCs-seeded channel,while there were no nerve fibers in the channel without seeding of BMSCs.Conclusions The BMSCs transplantation for the injured spinal cord promotes its functional recovery,and the related mechanism is in correlation with BMSCs transplantation inducing axonal regeneration.