Traditional Chinese medicine animal models are widely used in the field of traditional Chinese medicine research. The combination of disease and syndrome models has become the trend of the development of traditional Chinese medicine animal models. In this paper, we find that model manufacturing still exists problems as following through literature review: the selected animals are not in conformity with the constitution of disease population; some diseases lack syndrome manifestation; the correlation between diseases and syndromes are not strong; the disease syndrome combined with animal model evaluation system is deficient and etc. The application of the model exists: ignore the periodicity of the model; ignore the impact of the environment on the animal model; toxicological research has the problem that normal animals are not suitable for TCM toxicology research. This paper proposes from six aspects: construct the animal model that conforms to the constitution of diseased population; expand the scope of use of the disease and syndrome combined animal model; use the theory of traditional Chinese medicine of “five transports and six qi”, “streamer midnight-midday ebb flow”, “seven emotions”, and “six kinky” climate box, and combined with “four diagnosis information” to solve the problem of weak correlation between diseases and syndromes; using “syndrome” index + “disease” indicators to improve the model evaluation criterion from four diagnostic information, biochemical indicators, molecular biology, and etc. Pay attention to the periodicity of the model, and pay particular attention to the influence of the environment on the formation of the animal model syndrome; In the toxicology research, the model animal should be used instead of the normal animal application, and the dosage of the traditional Chinese medicine should be adjusted to improve the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. Through the improvement of the above problems, it is expected to provide relevant reference for the improvement of the animal model of Chinese medicine and its correct application.

Objective To investigate the chromosome damage in peripheral lymphocytes of underground gold miners.Methods Conventional method and cytokinesis-block micronuclens assay were used to analyze frequency of chromosome aberrations and micronucleus in peripheral lymphocytes in 58 gold miners,respectively.Results Frequencies of chromosome-type aberrations,ehromatid-type aberrations and total aberrations were higher in the miners than those in the control group(0.72%,0.41%,1.16% vs 0.14%,0.18%,0.33,X2=44.322,9.501,50.476,P＜0.01).Both micronucleated cell rate and micronucleus rate were higher in the miners group than those in the control group(10.8‰ and 11.6‰ vs 8.7‰ and 9.0‰,X2=8.672,12.546,P＜0.01).Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus proportionally increased with underground working years.Compared with those miners who had worked underground 6 years or shorter,both frequencies were statistically higher among the miners who had worked underground for more than 21 years(P＜0.05).No difference was found among other groups of working years(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,both frequencies increased in the miner group,and the differences were statistically significant(X2=2.395,P＜0.05 for chromosomal aberrations and X2=2.319,P＜0.05,respecfvely).The common types of chromosome aberrations were acentrie fragments,while chromatid break and dicenrics were subordinate.Conclusions Chromosomal damages were observed in the gold workers who exposed high radon in the underground mining.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Salvianolic-acid B on p38MAPK signaling pathway and its transcriptional factor activated by Transforming growth factor b1 in rat hepatic stellate cells.

METHODSHepatic stellate cells were isolated from normal rat by in situ perfusion and Nycodenz density-gradient centrifugation method.TGFb1 (10 ng/ml), PD98059(50 mumol/L), SB203580(10 mumol/L) and SA-B (10-6 mol/L) were directly added to the medium of the isolated HSCs. Groups: (1)The detection of total p38, MKK3/6, MEF2A and MEF2C induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include control group, SA-B group, SA-B+TGFb1 group and TGFb1 group. (2)The detection of the phosphorylation of p38, MKK3/6 and a-SMA induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include control group, SA-B group, SA-B+TGFb1 group, TGFb1 group, PD98059 group, PD98059+SA-B group, PD98059+TGFb1 group and SA-B+PD98059+TGFb1 group. (3)The effects of SA-B on activity of MEF2 reporter and collagen a 1(I) reporter induced by TGFb1 in HSC: include mt group, wt group, TGFb1 group, SA-B+TGFb1 group, SA-B group, SB203580+TGFb1 group and SB203580 group. Total and phosphorylated p38 and MKK3/6, MEF2A, MEF2C and a-SMA were assayed by Western blot. HSCs were transfected with either MEF2 or collagen a1(I) luciferase reporter gene by Lipofectamine 2000 transfection method, Cellular extracts were assayed for both MEF2 and collagen a1(I) luciferase activities. Comparisons between groups were performed with Student-Newman-Keuls test.

RESULTSThe relative expression level of the phosphorylation of p38 of SA-B group is 0.33+/-0.05,obviously lower than control group(q=7.08, P less than 0.01); SA-B+TGFb1 group is 0.46+/-0.04, obviously lower than TGF b1 group(q=10.45, P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of the phosphorylation of MKK3/6 of SA-B group is 0.11+/-0.07, obviously lower than control group(q=3.944, P less than 0.05); SA-B+TGF b1 group is 0.28+/-0.07, obviously lower than TGFb1 group (q=7.91, P less than 0.01); The relative luciferase activity of MEF2 reporter of SA-B+TGFb1 group and SB203580+TGF b1 group is 2.93+/-0.09 and 2.50+/-0.05 respectively, both obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=35.35 and 37.2, P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of MEF2C and MEF2A of SA-B group is 15.82+/-0.97 and 13.00+/-0.40 respectively, obviously lower than control group(q is 5.18 and 13.32, both P less than 0.01); SA-B+TGF b1 group is 13.40+/-0.72 and 20.47+/-0.83 respectively, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q is 43.93 and 12.52,both P less than 0.01); The relative expression level of a-SMA of SA-B+TGFb1 group is 8.76+/-0.44, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=20.35, P less than 0.01); SA-B+SB203580+TGFb1 group is only 3.57+/-0.49, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=39.78, P less than 0.01); The relative luciferase activity of collagen a1(I) reporter of SA-B+TGF b1 group and SB203580+TGFb1 group is 1.61+/-0.05 and 1.42+/-0.07 respectively, obviously lower than TGFb1 group(q=26.4 and 27.62, both P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSA-B could inhibit activation of HSC induced by TGFb1 through inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway in hepatic stellate cells.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Objective To characterize the antibiotic resistance,homology and carbapenemase genotypes of imipenem resistant Acinetobac1ter baumannii isolated from our hospital,and analyze the clonal relatedness of the test strains.Methods Ninety five strains of imipenem resistant A.baumannii were isolated from August 2003 to December 2004 in the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine,Zhejiang University.The MICs of 16 antimicrobial agents against these strains were determined by agar dilution and E-test method.The homology of these isolates was analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).The coding gene of carbapenemases was amplified.PCR products were purified,cloned and sequenced.Plasmid DNA was extracted and purified.Conjugation and Southern blot were performed to locate the position of oxa 23 gene.Results The resistance rates to ampicillin-sulbactam and cefoperazone sulhactam were 67.9% and 30.2%.Polymyxin E had the lowest resistance rate of 17%. The resistance rate to other antimicrobial agents was higher than 90%.The 95 strains,isolated from 10 clinical units,were classified into 6 clones.Clones A and B were predominant clones.All strains produced carbapenemases which were confirmed as OXA 23 by PCR and sequencing analysis.No plasmid was extracted and conjugation was not successful.Southern bolt showed that oxa-23 gene was located on Apal-digested chromosomal segments about 220 kb and 200 kb in Clones A and B,re spectively.Conclusions OXA 23-producing A.baumannii has become one of the most important multi-resistant pathogens in our hospital.Clones A and B have widely spread in our hospital.Oxa-23 gene is located on chromosomal DNA.

Objective To investigate the resistant mechanism of imipenem-resistant K. pneumoniae.Methods The minimal inhibitive concentrations (MICs) of the antimicrobial agents were determined by Etest.Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis (IEF),plasmid extraction,conjugation, transformation,PCR amplification,cloning and sequencing were carried out for analyzing the encoding gene of ?-1actamases.Results Three kinds of ?-1actamases were detected with pIs of 7.2,6.7,and 5.4.in a clinical strain of K.pneumoniae.These ?-1actamases were TEM-I (pI,5.4),SHV-12 (pI,8.2) and KPC-2 ( pI,6.7 ) confirmed by sequencing of the PCR products.Only one band of ?-1actamase with pI 6.7 was displayed in the transformant.A 1500 bp segment,which contained the KPC-2 gene confirmed by nucleotide sequence analysis,was cloned from a 60 000 bp plasmid of the transformant.Conclusion The strain of K.pneumoniae resistant to imipenem produces a plasmid-mediated carbapenemase KPC-2 which belongs to Bush group 2f,class A ?-1actamase.

OBJECTIVETo investigate if the Ribbond polyethylene fiber has the effect of reinforcing polymethyl methacylate.

METHODS28 specimens were fabricated and divided into 3 groups: group of chemical-cured PMMA, group of chemical-cured PMMA reinforced by stainless steel wire and group of chemical-cured PMMA reinforced by Ribbond polyethylene fiber. A three-point bending test was used to measure the flexural strength and flexural modulus of specimens. Then the data were analyzed with a one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe flexural strength of chemical-cured PMMA group was (51.383 +/- 2.761) MPa, the flexural modulus was (1791.2 +/- 113.760) MPa; The flexural strength of stainless steel wire reinforced group was (58.725 +/- 1.218) MPa, the flexural modulus was (2092.76 +/- 120.28) MPa; The flexural strength of Ribbond polyethylene fiber reinforced group was (80.975 +/- 2.58) MPa, the flexural modulus was (2866.53 +/- 107.51) MPa. The one-way analysis of variance showed that the results were significant (P < 0.001). Newman-Keuls method showed that the differences among all groups were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe Ribbond polyethylene fiber can raise the flexural strength and flexural modulu of polymethyl methacylate.

Dental Bonding ; Dental Materials ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Materials Testing ; Polyethylene ; chemistry ; Polyethylenes ; chemistry ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; chemistry ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo investigate the induction of antitumor immune responses and therapeutic effects of 10-hydroxycamptothecinc-treated (HCPT) DC-Hepa fusion vaccines by DC fused with hepal-6 cell from hepatoma.

METHODSThe fused cells were isolated by magnetic cell sorting and adherent culture. Cell apoptosis was detected by Rhodamine123/PI double-labeled assay, CTL activity by 4 h (51)Cr releasing assay. Protective and therapeutic effects of the fusion vaccine to the tumor-bearing mice was also observed.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate was 29.7%+/-4.1% when DC-Hepa fusion vaccine was treated with 50 microg/ml HCPT for 24 h. After treatment with the HCPT-DC-Hepa fusion vaccine, the tumor grew obviously slowly, survival period of the mice was prolonged, induced more potent CTL cytotoxicity, and resisted against the rechallenge of Hepal-6 cells.

CONCLUSIONVaccination with HCPT-DC-Hepa fusion vaccine could elicit potent antitumor responses, which will provide a new approach to the DC-mediated therapeutic antitumor immunity.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cancer Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Cell Fusion ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; transplantation ; Female ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Ten compounds, including seven sesquiterpenes, two phenols and one phenylpropanoid, were isolated from the roots of Illicium majus by means of silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC. On analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data , their structures were established as cycloparviflorolide (1), cycloparvifloralone (2), tashironin (3), tashironin A (4), anislactone A(5), anislactone B (6), pseudomajucin (7), syringaldehyde (8), methyl-4-hydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxybenzoate (9), and (E)-3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxycinnamic alchol (10), respectively. Compounds 1-4 and 8-10 were first isolated from this plant. In the in vitro assays, at a concentration of 1.0 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1), compounds 5 and 6 were active against LPS induced NO production in microglia with a inhibition rate of 75.31% and 53.7%, respectively.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; Illicium ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEto evaluate the clinical outcomes of transpedicular lumbar wedge resection osteotomy in treating adult idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODStwenty-five adult idiopathic scoliosis patients treated with transpedicular lumbar wedge resection osteotomy from July 2001 to November 2007 were included, among whom 18 were female and 7 were male. Nine of 25 were with double major curve in thoracic and thoracolumbar/lumbar spine, and 16 were with single curve in thoracolumbar/lumbar spine. The average age was 35 years (29 - 48 years) at operation. Osteotomy were performed at T(11), T(12), L(1) or L(2). The motion evoked potential monitoring system and awaking test were used during surgery. The preoperative, postoperative immediately and latest standing posteroanterior and lateral radiographs were reviewed.

RESULTSall patients were operated successfully. The average operation time was 274 min (range, 220 - 380 min) and the average blood loss were 2328 ml (range, 1500 - 5000 ml). The average coronal Cobb angle of all patients in thoracolumbar/lumbar curves was 88° (range, 70° - 121°) before operation, which was corrected to 43° (range, 35° - 70°). The coronal correction rate was 44%. The average kyphosis angle of all in thoracolumbar/lumbar curves was 63° (range, 50° - 90°) before operation, which was corrected to 10° (range, -40° - 21°). The sagittal correction rate was 86%. Nerve root injury occurred in 3 of all patients who complained about postoperative radicular pain. No spine cord injury, delayed paralysis, infection and instrumentation failure were found. With a follow-up of 2 - 4 years, no correction loss or decompensation happened. The back pain existing before operation was relieved in large measure. The cosmetic appearance were all promoted significantly.

CONCLUSIONSthe transpedicular thoracolumbar/lumbar wedge osteotomy is efficient and safe in the correction of adult idiopathic scoliosis. The correction is much better on the sagittal plane than that on the coronal plane.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteotomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome