OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of the center of cellular immune thymus and the interference of Jinhong Tablet, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, during the course of cholangitis. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Ligation group, simple ligation of bile duct without producing infection and fed with normal saline; untreated group, reproduce acute cholangitis and fed with normal saline; Jinhong Tablet-treated group, reproduce cholangitis and treated with Jinhong Tablet. Five days after modeling, the rats were sacrificed and the thymus were sampled to observe the morphological changes with an electronic microscope, count the index of thymus and apoptosis and assay the expressions of Bcl-2 gene coding protein and Fas gene coding protein. RESULTS: The frequency of apoptosis of thymus in the untreated group was higher than that in the Jinhong Tablet-treated group and the ligation group, and the frequency of apoptosis of thymus in the Jinhong Tablet-treated group was higher than that in the ligation group. Compared with the Jinhong Tablet-treated group and the ligation group, the weight and index of thymus were lower and the index of apoptosis of thymus was higher significantly in the untreated group (P<0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 gene coding protein in the ligation group and the Jinhong Tablet-treated group were much higher than that in the untreated group (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences of the expression of Fas gene coding protein among the three groups. CONCLUSION: There exists a promotion of non-physiological apoptosis of cellular immune center such as decrease of the weight and the index of thymus and increase of the index of apoptosis of thymus during acute cholangitis, which may be inhibited by up-regulation of Bcl-2 gene coding protein with antipyretic and purgative herbs Jinhong Tablet.

This study was ai med to observe the taste-masking effects of Neotame on bitter Chinese herbal ingredients. Five kinds of herbal ingredients, which include Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Cortex Phellodendri chinensis, Coptis chinensis Franch, Gentiana scabra Bunge, Andrographis paniculata, were selected to measure the bitterness degree of decoctions with berberine solution as the benchmark. The decreasing of bitterness degree was used as index. Healthy volunteers were recruited to taste and compare the changes of bitterness of decoctions with the taste-masking effects of Neotame. Different concentrations of Neotame were selected in the determination of the influence on changes of bitterness. The results showed that when the concentration of Neotame was at 0.012 5‰-0.4‰, taste-masking effects of Neotame on selected herbal decoctions were in a concentration-dependent fashion. When the concentration of Neotame was 0.4‰, the reduced bitterness of S. baicalensis Georgi and Cortex P. chinensis decoctions were 1.22 and 1.77, by 70.11% and 71.88%, respectively. Three highly-bitter herbal ingredients C. chinensis Franch, G. scabra Bunge and A . paniculata were also reduced in bitter taste by 49.12%, 50.87% and 38.39%, with the bitter reduced value (△I) of 1.78, 2.02 and 1.43, respectively. It was concluded that Neotame exerted taste masking potential on bitter herbal ingredients with different bitter degrees.

Objective To determine the characteristics of retinal vascularization in premature infants. Methods A prospective study was carried out which included all premature infants with birth weight<2 000 g, who were hospitalized in Guangdong Women and Children's Hospital from September 1, 2009 to August 31, 2010. Close retinal screening and follow-up were carried out in order to record retinal vascularization at different post-conceptional ages. Spearman correlation analysis was performed for statistical analysis. Results A total of 231 infants were enrolled, and follow-up was completed in 212 infants giving a follow-up rate of 91.8%. Twenty-eight infants developed retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) resulting in a ROP morbidity of 13.2%, and 184 cases had full retinal vascularization. The median birth weight was 1 600 g (1 000-1 900 g) and the median gestational age was 32.4 weeks (27.0-35.5 weeks). In the 32-week post-conceptional age group, the proportion with full vascularization in ZoneⅠ,ⅡandⅢwas 87.1%(81/93), 7.5%(7/93) and 0.0%(0/93), respectively. In the 36-week post-conceptional age group, full vascularization was observed in ZoneⅠ, and the proportion with full vascularization in ZoneⅡandⅢrose sharply at 38-week and 40-week post-conceptional age, respectively. The proportion with full vascularization in ZoneⅢwas 100.0%(24/24) at 43-week post-conceptional age. According to Spearman correlation analysis, there was a positive correlation between ZoneⅡand Zone Ⅲ retinal vascularization progression and post-conceptional age (r=0.690 and 0.720;P=0.000). In premature infants, full retinal vascularization in ZoneⅠoccurred at 36-week post-conceptional age. The median gestational age for ZoneⅡand ZoneⅢretinal vascularization was 38 weeks (32.2-40.4 weeks) and 41 weeks (36.0-42.6 weeks), respectively. Therefore, a further 2-3 weeks were required for full retinal vascularization in ZoneⅡand ZoneⅢ. The time differences for under-vascularization in ZoneⅡandⅢwere 8 to 10 weeks, and the time differences for full vascularization in ZoneⅡandⅢwere 8 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. Conclusion Retinal vascularization varies in premature infants. Almost all premature infants complete vascularization by term gestational age and the majority of infants need to be followed up to 41 weeks. It is essential to focus on the different retinal regions during maturation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanisms of Shengqing Capsules in treating cholelithiasis. METHODS: Sixty female guinea pigs were randomized into 3 groups: group I (fed with normal diet), group II (fed with low-protein diet) and group III (fed with low-protein diet and Shengqing Capsules). After six-week feeding, the gallstone formation and the expressions of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (B-UGT) mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA were observed. RESULTS: The proportions of stone-formed in groups I, II and III were 2/14, 9/12 and 4/14, respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05). The expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs were higher in both group I and group III as compared with those in the group II (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Shengqing Capsules can reduce the rate of stone-formation, which may be due to its interference of metabolism of bilirubin and cholesterol and up-regulation of the expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of antipyretic and purgative herbs on intestinal mucosal barrier and inflammatory response in the treatment of acute cholangitis. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into group A (untreated group, acute cholangitis was induced, n=20), group B (treatment group, acute cholangitis was induced and treated with antipyretic and purgative herbs, n=20) and group C (sham operation group, n=20). At the third or fifth day after operation, the rats were sacrificed and sampled. The serum endotoxin, cytokines and inflammatory mediators were tested and the numbers of labeled bacteria in the liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes translocated from the gut were assayed. RESULTS: As compared with group A, the serum content of endotoxin, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, CRP and NO was significantly lower and that of IL-2 was significantly higher, and the translocated numbers of labeled bacteria from gut were reduced in both group B and group C (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Antipyretic and purgative herbs can play therapeutic roles in the treatment of acute biliary tract infections, including the protection of intestinal mucosal barrier from bacterial translocation, reduction of serum endotoxin content and regulation of inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: To further probe the mechanisms of herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver in reversing bile lithogenicity of guinea pig. METHODS: Sixty guinea pigs were divided randomly into control group (fed with normal diet, n=20), model group (fed with lithogenic diet, n=20) and treatment group (fed with lithogenic diet plus herbal medicine, n=20). After four-week feeding, the animals were sacrificed and sampled, the rates of gallstone formation in each group were estimated, and the total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), conjugated bilirubin (CB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), and calcium ion in the bile were determined, and the different bilirubins were analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: (1) The rate of gallstone formation was 5% in normal group, 81.25% in model group and 31.25% in treatment group (P<0.05). (2) The bile TBIL, CB, UCB and Ca(2+) were higher and the bile TBA was lower significantly in model group than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). (3) HPLC analysis revealed that MCB was higher and DCB was lower significantly in model group (P<0.01), and there were no significant differences of UCB and IPA among the three groups. (4) The percentages of MCB and UCB were much higher and the percentage of DCB was remarkably lower in model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver can significantly reduce the rate of gallstone formation and has effect of reversing lithogenicity of bile in guinea pigs fed with lithogenic diet.

In order to screen antigenic genes of Clonorchis sinensis (C.sinensis).Firstly,a cDNA expression library from adult worms of C.sinensis was successfully constructed with lambda ZAP express vector.Total RNA of C.sinensis adult worms were extracted by the Trizol reagent and mRNA were further purified through oligo-dT cellulose.The first strand eDNA was synthesized by using MMLV reverse transcriptase.After the synthesis of the second strand,the cDNA were purified by CHROMA SPIN-400 kit and then ligated with lambda ZAP express vector,then packaged in vitro and amplified.The original library contained 1.5 × 106 pfu cDNA clones,the titer of amplified library reached 1.5 × 1010 pfu/mL,in which about 99% clones were recombinants and most of insert DNA fragments were 0.4-2.0 kb.Secondly,immunoscreened using the naturely infected man serum from C.sinensis.The positive clones were sequenced and analyzed.From 2.0 × 105 recombinant clones of the eDNA library,41 positive clones were obtained.Sequence analysis indicated that the cDNAs encoded proteins including glycine rich antigen 2,proline rich antigen 2 and antigen Cs44 from C.sinensis,anothers were lower similarity to predicted protein from Nematostella vectensis,transcription elongation factor GreA from Bartonella quintana str.Toulouse and NM_132090 CG3446 gene product in Drosophila melanogaster from Schistosoma japonicum.These data may form a foundation for identifying recombinant antigens that can be used in the diagnosis or vaccination against clonorchiasis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the renal relative blood flow value (rBFV) and image quality in normal adults using single-shot fast spin echo, flow sensitive invention recovery (SSFSE-FAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) sequence and echo planar imaging, and flow sensitive invention recovery (EPI-FAIR) MR sequence, and assess its value for clinical application in routine renal examination.

METHODSForty volunteers (25 male and 15 female adults, aged 30 to 62 years) with normal renal function were included in this prospective study. All the subjects underwent 3.0 Tesla MR scanning using 3 MR scan modes, namely breath-holding EPI-FAIR, breath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and free breathing SSFSE-FAIR.

RESULTSSSFSE-FAIR without breath-holding was capable of differentiating the renal cortex and medulla with the corresponding rBFVs of 111.48∓9.23 and 94.98∓3.38, respectively. Breath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and EPI-FAIR failed to distinguish the borders of the renal cortex and medulla. The EPI-FAIR rBFV of mixed cortex and medulla value was 178.50∓17.17 (95%CI: 167.59, 189.41).

CONCLUSIONBreath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and EPI-FAIR can not distinguish the renal cortex and medulla due to a poor spatial resolution but can be used for rough evaluation of renal blood perfusion. Free breathing SSFSE-FAIR with an improved spatial resolution allows evaluation of the status of renal perfusion of the cortex and medulla.

Adult ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; blood supply ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Circulation

Binding Sites ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Histones ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Methylation ; Multiprotein Complexes ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Protein Binding ; Protein Conformation ; Yeasts ; chemistry

Objective To analyze the renal relative blood flow value (rBFV) and image quality in normal adults using single-shot fast spin echo, flow sensitive invention recovery (SSFSE-FAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) sequence and echo planar imaging, and flow sensitive invention recovery (EPI-FAIR) MR sequence, and assess its value for clinical application in routine renal examination. Methods Forty volunteers (25 male and 15 female adults, aged 30 to 62 years) with normal renal function were included in this prospective study. All the subjects underwent 3.0 Tesla MR scanning using 3 MR scan modes, namely breath-holding EPI-FAIR, breath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and free breathing SSFSE-FAIR. Results SSFSE-FAIR without breath-holding was capable of differentiating the renal cortex and medulla with the corresponding rBFVs of 111.48 ± 9.23 and 94.98 ± 3.38, respectively. Breath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and EPI-FAIR failed to distinguish the borders of the renal cortex and medulla. The EPI-FAIR rBFV of mixed cortex and medulla value was 178.50±17.17 (95%CI:167.59, 189.41). Conclusion Breath-holding SSFSE-FAIR and EPI-FAIR can not distinguish the renal cortex and medulla due to a poor spatial resolution but can be used for rough evaluation of renal blood perfusion. Free breathing SSFSE-FAIR with an improved spatial resolution allows evaluation of the status of renal perfusion of the cortex and medulla.