Ictal semiology is essential for the pre-operative evaluation of candidates for epilepsy surgery. We propose an ictal sign of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) termed tonic-automotor (TA), defi ned as contralateral tonic spasm of upper limb associated with ipsilateral hand automotor seizure and often accompanied ipsilateral head turning. We assessed the occurrence and lateralizing/localizing value of TA in TLE, we analyzed 129 seizures in 41 patients with TLE: 90 seizures in 30 patients with TLE of hippocampal sclerosis (TLE/HS) and 39 seizures in 11 patients with TLE of other lesions (TLE/ non-HS). When compared with unilateral automotor seizure and unilateral tonic spasm, TA occurred more frequently in TLE/HS patients (40% vs 10% and 16.7%). In addition, 24 seizures in 12 patients with TA were observed only in TLE/HS patients and contralateral to the seizure focus based on the side of tonic spasm. However, there was no signifi cant difference in the TLE/HS between dominant side and nondominant side. In addition, TA sign occurred relatively early in the ictal phase. Thus, TA may be a more reliable lateralizing sign of epileptogenic zone and a semiologic marker of TLE/ HS patients.

Based on the Bacillus sp., isolated from Lop Nur Desert, the technology of separation and purification and the antioxidant effect were studied. After centrifugation and vacuum filtration, the deproteinization of supernatant was operated with Sevag reagent. The crude exopolysaccharide (EPS) was obtained by precipitation with ethanol. The optimum conditions for the isolation were as follow: pH 7.0, temperature 4?C, time 1.5 h, and material to ethanol ratio 1: 4. Dissolved in water, the crude EPS was fractional separated on activated carbon column (1.5 cm ? 24 cm), eluted with distilled water, 60% ethanol, 95% ethanol, and the main fraction was collected. Then the EPS was purified on Sephadex G-100 gel column, eluted with NaCl (0.2 mol/L). Fractions (4 mL, each) were also combined according to total sugar by phenol-sulfuric acid method and protein content was determined by Coomassie brilliant blue. The results showed that EPS was relatively homogeneous glycoprotein. The data of antioxidation in vitro showed that the EPS had a high antioxidant activity, which could quench hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and had antilipid peroxidation activity. All of these indicated that EPS was a good natural antioxidant.

There are abundant of lignocelluloses in agricultural wastes. And it can provide a variety of sugars involve pentose and hexose through pretreatments or hydrolyzation of these lignocelluloses. This review summarized the current status of bioethanol production by bacteria, and compared the productivity of some kinds of ethanologenic bacteria such as recombinant Zymomonas mobilis and Escherichia coli.

To establish quality standards of Euonymus fortunei, and supply scientific evidence for the quality control of Euonymus fortunei. Empirical and microscopic identification methods were adopted to observe morphological and histological characters. The contents of water, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and alcohol-soluble extractive were analysed according to the methods of Chinese Pharmaco- poeia (2010). Dulcitol and reference herbs were used to identify materia medica of Euonymus fortunei by TLC method. The total flavonol glycosides contents were analysed by HPLC method, using quercetin and kaempferol as reference substances. Quercetin and kaempferol were separated on a C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with methanol-0.1% formic acid(51:49) as the mobile phase and detected at 366 nm. The flavonoid aglycones content was then multiplied by a conversion coefficient, and the result was the total flavonol glycosides content. The macroscopical identification, microscopic features and TLC methods were proper. The average contents of water, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, alcohol-soluble extractive and total flavonol glycosides were 8.76%, 6.48%, 0.31%, 17.48% and 0.211% , respectively. The quality standards established on the basis of the research results were suitable for the quality evaluation of Euonymus fortunei.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Euonymus ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control

Studies have found that metformin is not only the preferred drug for lowering blood sugar, but also shows lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects. The purpose of this study was to use a hyperlipidemia hamster model to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of metformin and its effect on important metabolic pathways in lipid metabolism disorders. Fifty golden hamsters were divided into a control group, a model group, metformin high- and low-dose groups, and a simvastatin group. A high-fat diet was fed for 1 week to create the model, and then drug was administered for 11 weeks with the high-fat diet. Serum was taken for measurement of blood lipid and blood glucose at 2, 6, and 9 weeks after administration, and at weeks 3, 5, and 9 feces and urine were collected for ¹H NMR metabolomics tests. After 11 weeks of intravenous injection of [U-¹³C₆] glucose, serum was collected for a ¹³C NMR metabolic flux test. The results showed that the administration of metformin can significantly reduce blood lipids and glucose levels and can significantly affect metabolic pathways such as sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and intestinal flora metabolism. The results of the metabolic flux analysis showed that the high-fat diet reduced the metabolism of tricarboxylic acids by 37.48%. After administration of low and high doses of metformin the metabolism of tricarboxylic acid increased by 98.14% and 143.10%, respectively. After administration of simvastatin tricarboxylic acid metabolism increased by 33.18%. The results indicate that metformin has a significant effect on promoting energy metabolism. This study used a combination of metabolomics and metabolic flow to explore the effect of metformin on lipid metabolism disorders and quantifies changes in the key pathway of energy metabolism-the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This study provides useful information for the study of the efficacy and mechanism of metformin, as well as a practical technical method for the screening of lipid-lowering drugs based on a hamster model.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinic effect of combined use of berberin hydrochloride (Ber) with cyclosporine A (CsA) on the blood concentration of CsA in heart transplanted recipients.

METHODSThe blood concentration of CsA, liver-renal function and blood lipids in 22 heart transplanted recipients, who received Ber-CsA combined therapy, were measured.

RESULTSThe whole blood steady state concentration of CsA, C0 and C2, in recipients after being treated with Ber-CsA significantly increased than those before applying Ber-CsA (P < 0.01), with the mean increment of 26% and 18% respectively; the dosage of CsA used decreased in 21 patients by 25-100 mg/d; and the Ber-CsA showed no significant effect on liver-renal function or blood lipids (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined use of CsA with Ber could markedly increase the blood concentration of CsA in heart transplanted recipients and reduce the dosage of CsA required, save the fee for medical service, and shows no obvious adverse reaction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; blood ; drug therapy ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; complications

By using whole blood selenium, 24 hr urinary selenium and hair selenium contents as the indices of assessing human selenium status, it was found that the populations in the endemic areas of Keshan disease were practically in a selenium poor status. The selenium contents in locally grown staple grains and daily diets in the endemic areas were also lower than those in the non-endemic areas. In an area covering a cross section of Keshan disease geographic belt in our country, the hair selenium contents of agricultural populations were measured. The results indicated that all the hair selenium contents in the endemic sites were always at a lower level, whereas those in the non-endemic sites distant from the endemic areas were generally at a higher level; they decreased gradually until the endemic areas were reached; and finally, along the contiguous region of the endemic and non-endemic areas they were insignificantly different.The hair selenium contents among the agricultural populations were significantly lower than those among the non-agricultural ones in the same endemic areas. However, no regular correlation had been observed between the seasonal prevalence of Keshan disease and the variation of hair selenium contents in the same populations living in the same endemic sites.It is considered that the endemic areas of the disease seem to be a Se-deficiency belt, and Se-deficiency probably might be a pathogenic geo-gen in the prevalence of Keshan disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between HER-2 expression and the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in local advanced breast cancer.

METHODSDifferent neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens, namely CMF, CEF, and NEF, were administered in 132 patients with local advanced breast cancer for 2 cycles, each lasting for 28 days. According to the criteria recommended by WHO, the efficacy and safety of the regimens were evaluated after two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. HER-2 expression was examined by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies before chemotherapy and after surgery.

RESULTSThe overall response rate (RR) of CMF, CEF, and NEF regimens were 39.5% (17/43), 54.3% (25/46) and 72.1% (31/43), with incidence of leukopenia of 34.9% (15/43), 58.7% (27/46) and 60.5% (26/43), respectively. Other adverse effects including decreased hemoglobin (Hb) level, thrombocytopenia, gastrointestinal irritation and alopecia were similar between the 3 groups (P>0.05). No significant variation in HER-2 expression occurred after administration of the 3 regimens. The overall RR to CMF regimen in HER-2-negative breast cancer patients was significantly higher than that in HER-2-positive patients, but showed no significant difference with CEF and NEF regimens.

CONCLUSIONHER-2 expression is not decreased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients, and HER-2-positive breast cancer can be resistant to CMF regimen, but not to CEF and NEF regimens.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; therapy ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of optimized sequential screening program of colorectal cancer, and provide evidence for the further optimization of colorectal cancer screening program.

METHODSUsing cluster sampling method, 4 administrative villages were selected from Jiashan county as a census district in 2011 to 2013. Volunteers of 40 to 74 years old in the census were recruited, and tested by both optimized sequential screening (including questionnaire survey and fecal occult blood test) and colonoscopy for colorectal cancer. Sensitivity and specificity of different screening methods were calculated, respectively.

RESULTSA total of 2 607 volunteers took both simultaneously screening and colonoscopy at the same time. 20 colorectal cancer cases, 85 advanced adenoma cases, 271 non-advanced adenomas cases, and 141 non-adenomatous polyps cases were detected. Sensitivity of optimized sequential screening for colorectal cancer, advanced adenomas, and non-advanced adenomas were 70.0% (14/20) , 57.6% (49/85) and 36.5% (99/271) , specificity was 68.7% (1 776/2 587) , 69.2% (1 746/2 522) and 68.9% (1 610/2 336) , respectively. Sensitivity of the fecal occult blood test of colorectal cancer, advanced adenomas and non-advanced adenomas were 70.0% (14/20) , 47.1% (40/85) and 26.6% (72/271), specificity was 79.4% (2 053/2 587), 79.9% (2 014/2 522) and 79.6% (1 860/2 336). The sensitivity of fecal occult blood test and those of optimized sequential screening for colorectal cancer, advanced adenomas was not significant (χ(2) = 0.00, 1.91, all P values > 0.05). Sensitivity of questionnaire survey of colorectal cancer, advanced adenomas and non-advanced adenomas were 10.0% (2/20), 14.1% (12/85), 12.9% (35/271), specificity was 87.6% (2 266/2 587), 87.7% (2 211/2 522), 87.6% (2 046/2 336). There were no significant difference between non-advanced adenomas. The sensitivity of advanced adenomas and non-advanced adenomas showed no significant decline when the following six term were removed from screening programs: chronic diarrhea, chronic constipation, mucus or bloody history, history of chronic appendicitis or appendectomy surgery, chronic cholecystitis or gallbladder surgery, adverse events in the history of life, while the sensitivity of colorectal cancer remained nearly the same 70.0% (14/20), 52.9% (45/85), 31.4% (85/271) (χ(2) = 0.38, 1.61, all P values > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCurrent optimized sequential screening programs for colorectal cancer in China have a high sensitivity and specificity. However, further optimization is viable and necessary.

Adenoma ; China ; Colonic Polyps ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires