Aim: To establish an analytical method to study the chemical components in Zhizi-Gancao-Chi(ZGC) decoction, and investigate its anti-depressant effect. Methods: An LC-PDA-MS/MS method was established and applied. The separation was performed on an ODS C_(18) column (250 mm ×4. 6 mm, 5 μm) with a gradient elu-tion. The mobile phase consisted of water/acetic acid( 1 %, v/v) and methanol. The main components were identi-fied according to the UV and MS. The anti-depressant effect was evaluated with mice tail-suspension test and forced swimming test. Results: The components of the ZGC decoction were separated isolated and ten of them were identified. These compounds are classified to iridoid glycosides, flavonoids and triterpene saponins. In addi-tion, its anti-depressant effect was observed for the first time. Conclusion: The LC-PDA-MS/MS method can ef-fectively separate and identify the components of ZGC decoction, which has significant anti-depressant effect. The relationship between the chemical component and its anti-depressant effect needs further study.

Objective To observe the protective effects of enalapril on the long-term functions of the allograft in renal transplant recipients. Methods Twenty renal transplant recipients with ~survival time over one year, normal renal functions of the allograft and urine TGF-?_1 levels being more than ~250.0 pg/mg.Cr took enalapril every day for at least one year. Twenty-three recipients under the same conditions who did not receive enalapril served as control group. Three years later renal ~dysfunction cases, loss of creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) and TGF-?_1 levels in blood and urine were compared between the two groups. The changes in the expression of TGF-?_1mRNA in renal biopsy specimens were compared before and one year after enalapril therapy. Side-effects of enalapril were ~investigated in all patients in enalapril-treated group. Results Three years later, the number of renal dysfunction cases was less, the loss of Ccr was less and the level of urine TGF-?_1 was lower in ~enalapril -reated group than those in control group with the differences being significant (P~0.05 ). One year after enalapril therapy TGF-?_1mRNA expression was significantly decreased in renal biopsy specimens (P

BACKGROUND: Presently used biological factors for inducing bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) do not obtain mature chondrocytes. Cartilage tissue engineering using BMSCs as seeds does not collect tissue-engineered cartilage, which has value in the clinic. The obtained tissue is cartilage-like tissue. OBJECTIVE: To screen differentially expressed genes between rat BMSCs and chondrocytes by microarray. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The cytology gene study was conducted at the Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University in July 2007. MATERIALS: A total of 8 healthy Sprague Dawley rats aged 2 months were obtained from Animal Experimental Center, Dalian Medical University. 27K Rat Genome Array chip was supplied by Bo’ao, Beijing, China. METHODS: Rat BMSCs and chondrocytes in the aural region were sterilely isolated and cultured in vitro. Total RNA was extracted and purified using Trizol one-step method, and transformed into double chain cDNA probe following reverse transcription. Cy5-dCTP and Cy3-dCTP were used to label BMSCs and chondrocytes, which were hybridized and washed. The fluorescent signals were scanned by a scanner. The values were analyzed and calculated by GenePix Pro 4.0 software. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gene expression spectrum chip hybridization results. RESULTS: Among the differentially expressed genes (2 times difference), BMSCs as controls, upregulated and downregulated genes were 1 226 and 888, respectively. There were many differential expression gene of BMSCs and chondrocytes. Cy5/Cy3 20 genes are defined as significant differential expression gene. Thus, two important cytokines were found: chondromodulin and connective tissue growth factor. CONCLUSION: The gene chip technique provides an ideal method for screening cytokines during study of tissue-engineered cartilage. Cartilage regulin and connective tissue growth factor highly express in chondrocytes, which indicated that the two have closely association with the differentiation of BMSCs into cartilage.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary disease characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptor cells. Disease pathology primarily affects rod photoreceptor cells first but light-insensitive cone photoreceptor bodies can survivor longer. Delivered by adeno-associated viral vector or lentiviral vector, expression of microbial-type rhodopsin, channelrhodopsin-2 or archaebacterial halorhodopsin in the survived retinal cells can substitute for the native phototransduction cascade in mouse models of retinitis pigmentosa. It can also restore light sensitivity and activate all retinal cone pathways and drive sophisticated retinal circuit functions. Thus, expression of channelrhodopsins or halorhodopsin might be a potential strategy for the restoration vision of patients with RP.

AIM:To establish an HPLC method for determining the contents of caffeic acid,quercetin and campherenol in Hedyotis diffusa Willd. METHODS:The samples were separated on an Alltima C 18 (250 mm? 4.6 mm,5 ?m) column with the mobile phase of MeOH(A)-0.5% glacial acetic acid solution;gradient elution(0～15 min,30%～60% A;15～30 min,60%～60% A).Flow rate was 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 350 nm.Column temperature was at 30 ℃. RESULTS:The contents of caffeic acid,quercetin and campherenol were 14.218～23.695 ?g/g,9.919～25.564 ?g/g and 6.229～18.160 ?g/g in Hedyotis diffusa Willd from different sources. The linear range of caffeic acid was 0.005 0～0.200 0 ?g(r=0.999 9),the average recovery was 102.35%,RSD was 2.31%(n=6);The linear range of quercetin was 0.006 2～0.244 0 ?g(r=0.999 9),the average recovery was 101.84%,RSD was 1.79%(n=6);The linear range of campherenol was 0.007 8～ 0.310 6 ?g(r=0.999 9),the average recovery was 99.04%,RSD was 2.90%(n=6). CONCLUSION:The method for quantifying of caffeic acid,quercetin and campherenol in Hedyotis diffusa Willd is accurate and reliable.

Accidents, Occupational ; Adult ; Dichloroethylenes ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans

Objective To determine the effects of valsartan, a specific angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor blockade, on arrhythmia in rabbits after myocardial infarction and to discuss the mechanism. Method Twentyfour rabbits were randomly (random number) divided into sham operated (SO) group ( n = 8), myocardial infarction (MI) group ( n = 8) and valsartan (VAL) group ( n = 8). The rabbits of SO group were operated upon with median stemotomy without left ventricular coronary artery hgature. The rabbits of MI group and VAL group had median stemotomy with left ventricular coronary artery ligature. After MI, the rabbits of VAL group were fed with border zone of infracted left ventricular wall and the L-type calcium current was recorded by whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results Ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF) episodes were markedly decreased in VAL group than that in MI group [(3.2 ± 0. 6) vs. ( 11.7 ± 1.8)] after 12 weeks. The density of Ica-L current was higher in MI group than that in SO group and VAL group [( - 9.12 ± 0.73) pA/pF vs. ( - 6.29 ± 0.65) pA/pF and ( - 6.75 ± 0.64) pA/pF], ( P ＜ 0.05), however, there were no significant differences in Ica-L current between So group and VAL group ( P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Valsartan reduces the VT/VF episodes in rabbits after MI. The effects of valsartan may be attributed to the inhibited electrical remodeling after MI.

Adult ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Thrombophilia ; genetics ; Thrombosis ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the change of serum levels of neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) and C reactive protein (CRP) and their early diagnostic value in hand‐foot‐mouth disease (HFMD) complicating encephalitis .Methods One hundred and twenty cases of HFMD and 50 healthy children(healthy control group) served as the research subjects and the HFMD cases were divided into the common HFMD group (n=70) and HFMD complicating encephalitis group (n=50) according to the clinical manifesta‐tions .The enterovirus 71 (EV71) in throat swab was detected by quantitative PCR .The NSE and CRP levels were detected by en‐zyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ,and white blood cell (WBC) count was measured by hematology analyzer .The NSE and CRP levels were compared and their diagnostic values were analyzed .Results The serum NSE and CRP levels in the HFMD complicating encephalitis group were higher than those in the HFMD common group and control group ,the differences were statis‐tically significant (P< 0 .05) ,and which in the EV71 positive group were significantly higher than those in the EV71 negative group ,the differences were statistically significant (P<0 .05) ,but WBC count had no statistically significant difference (P>0 .05) . The serum NSE level was positively correlated with the CRP level (r=0 .43 ,P<0 .01) .The area under ROC curves (AUC) and 95% CI of NSE and CRP were 0 .893(95% CI:0 .833 -0 .952) and 0 .867(95% CI:0 .799 -0 .934) ,the optimal operating points (OOP) were 11 .6 ng/mL and 14 .15 mg/L respectively ,the sensitivity and specificity of NSE and CRP for diagnosing HFMD com‐plicating encephalitis were 80 .0% ,86 .00% and 81 .4% ,78 .6% respectively ,while which of their combined detection were 88 .0%and 85 .7% ,AUC and 95% CI was 0 .927(95% CI:0 .845-0 .969) .Conclusion The NSE and CRP levels in children patients with early HFMD complicating encephalitis are significantly increased ,especially which in the patients with EV71 positive is more signif‐icant .The combined detection of serum NSE and CRP levels can be used as the early sensitive indicators for diagnosing HFMD complicating encephalitis .

Objective To analyze the relationship between pre － pregnancy body mass index ( BMI) ，gestational weight gain ( GWG) and the birth weight of infants，and explore the effect of weight change before and during pregnancy on low birth weight ( LBW) and macrosomia． Methods Women were enrolled by the Chinese Pregnant Women Cohort Study during first trimester． Each respondent＇s weight before and during pregnancy and the birth weight of infant were collected after fellow up． Prepregnancy BMI was divided into underweight，normal and overweight /obesity groups and GWG was divided into suitable， insufficient and excessive groups． Multivariate Logistic regression was adopted to explore the relationship be- tween pre－pregnancy BMI，GWG and newborn＇s birth weight． Ｒesults Women＇s prepregnancy BMI and GWG were associated with neonatal birth weight ( all P＜0. 05) ． Prepregnancy overweight or obesity ( OＲ=2. 339，95% CI: 1. 674－2. 282，P＜0. 001) and excessive GWG ( OＲ= 1. 398，95% CI: 1. 188－1. 978，P= 0. 048) were shown as risk factors for macrosomia． Insufficient GWG increased LBW risk ( OＲ = 1. 479， 95% CI: 1. 461－1. 679，P= 0. 035) while excessive GWG declined LBW risk ( OＲ= 0. 428，95% CI: 0. 225 －0. 817，P= 0. 010) ． Under weight－insufficient GWG was risk factor of LBW ( OＲ= 1. 335，95% CI: 1. 048 －2. 319，P= 0. 048) while normal BMI－excessive GWG ( OＲ= 1. 088，95% CI: 1. 016－1. 675，P= 0. 038) and overweight /obesity－excessive GWG ( OＲ= 1. 498，95% CI: 1. 244－2. 017，P= 0. 046) were associated with higher risk of delivering macrosomia． Conclusions Prepregnancy BMI and GWG were associated with infant＇s birth weight and women were suggested to maintain their weight in recommended range before and during pregnancy．