OBJECTIVETo study the physiologic indexes, yield and the contents of alkaloids of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don under different temperature.

METHODThe growth temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30 degrees C) of F. cirrhosa were controlled by using artificial climate, the growth was observed, the contents of chlorophyll a and b, soluble sugar, MAD, proline of the leaves of F. cirrhosa were tested, and the yield and the alkaloids content of the bulbs were analyzed.

RESULTThe growth period of F. cirrhosa under 15, 20 degrees C were appropriately extended. The difference of the content of leaves chlorophyll b under four temperatures and the contents of total chlorophyll and chlorophyll a under 15, 20, 30 degrees C were not significant. The contents of soluble sugar, MAD and proline of leaves and the growth ratio, dry weight and content of alkaloids of bulb increased with the temperature decrease.

CONCLUSIONHigher temperature is not suitable for the growth of F. cirrhosa. Under the relatively lower temperature, the growth period of F. cirrhosa extended, the bulb can grow properly, and the content of alkaloid increased. F. cirrhosa can improve its cold tolerance by increasing the content of proline and soluble sugar, and it also can maintain the normal content of chlorophyll under the lower temperature.

Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Fritillaria ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation between myocardial ischemia and carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from 85 hospitalized hypertensive patients admitted between May 2005 and September 2008 without the complication of coronary artery disease as confirmed by cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CTA). According to the results of treadmill exercise test, the patients were divided myocardial ischemia group and ischemia-free group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to screen the risk factors of myocardial ischemia. The correlations were analyzed between myocardial ischemia, common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), Crouse score of the carotid plaque, thickness of the intraventricular septum and left artrium. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of IMT and Crouse score in predicting the presence of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients.

RESULTSCarotid plaque formation was identified as the major risk factor of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients (OR=4.982, P=0.004). The incidence of myocardial ischemia in the hypertensive patients with carotid plaques was significantly higher than that in the patients without the plaque (Chi2=9.317, P=0.002). Myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients was positively correlated to the thickness of the intraventricular septum (r=0.362, P=0.001) and left artrium (r=0.298, P=0.009), and the IMT of the common carotid artery was positively correlated to the thickness of the intraventricular septum (r=0.231, P=0.045). The area under cure (AUC) of the ROC curve of Crouse score was 0.726-/+0.061 in predicting the presence of myocardial ischemia in the hypertensive patients (P=0.001), and that of IMT was 0.682-/+0.061 (P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONCarotid plaque formation is the major risk factor of myocardial ischemia in hypertensive patients and shows a positive correlation to the onset of myocardial ischemia, but both the common carotid artery IMT and the Crouse score of the carotid plaque are not accurate markers for predicting myocardial ischemia in patients with hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; pathology ; Carotid Artery, Common ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Ischemia ; etiology ; pathology ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo examine the relationship between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke (IS) in Chinese Zhuang populations.

METHODSThe K469E polymorphism in the exon 6 of ICAM-1 gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing in 205 patients with IS of Zhuang nationality and in 210 healthy controls, and the serum level of ICAM-1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe IS group showed significantly higher serum levels of ICAM-1 than did the control group (P < 0.01). There was significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in K469E polymorphism between IS and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). The K allele carriers had 1.424 times the risk of suffering from IS as compared with the E allele carriers (OR = 1.424, 95% CI: 1.071 - 1.894); the serum ICAM-1 level of E allele carriers was significantly higher than that of K allele carriers (501.24 +/- 139.56 ng/ml vs 475.17 +/- 118.35 ng/ml, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere is an association between ICAM-1 gene K469E polymorphism and IS, and E allele may be a genetic risk factor of IS among Guangxi Zhuangs, in which the ICAM-1 E allele carriers may have up-regulated expression of ICAM-1 and hence are at a higher risk of ischemic stroke.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Brain Ischemia ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Umbilical cord blood stem cell transplantation (CBSCT) has made significant progress in treatment of lethal congenital or malignant disorders. Both the incidence and severity of GVHD from CBSCT were lower than that from bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, particularly for adult patients, but these advantages were also associated with higher rates of relapse. The immune-mediated effect of natural killer and cytotoxic T cells against residual tumor cells were shown to prevent relapse and to induce remission after bone marrow transplantation. To explore possibility of ex vivo expansion of T, NK and CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood, cord blood was expanded ex vivo with different combinations of cytokines, T and NK cells proliferation and differentiation were observed. CB MNCs were separated in Ficoll-Isopaque column and cultured in IMDM for 14 days with different recombinant cytokines. Cultured cells were collected and analyzed for progenitor/stem cell immunophenotyping at day 0, 3, 7, and 14 by using flow cytometry. The results indicated that all test groups cultured with different combinations of SCF, IL-3, IL-6, IL-7, IL-2 showed significant expansion of UCB MNC, compared with the group without cytokines. All test groups showed expansion effects on CD34(+) cells, CD34(+) percentage went up from 1.6% in fresh CB to the highest 11.9% in group D (SCF + IL-3, IL-6, IL-2). The CD34(+) cells peak displayed at day 7 of culture in group A and D, while in other two groups B and C appeared at day 14 of culture. The expansion multiple of CD34(+) cells in all test groups at day 7 of culture were from 10 to 50. The average value of CD3(+) T cell in fresh UCB was 18.7 +/- 4.3%, the CD3(+) T cells decreased sharply in the medium without any interleukin, while obvious increase were observed in the other test groups containing different combinations of cytokines. The maximal expansion multiple of CD3(+) T cells reached 2 times of the fresh UCB level. CD56(+) cells amounted to 3.6 +/- 1.9% of fresh UCB, CD56(+) cell number increased significantly only in medium containing IL-2. It is concluded that T cells, NK cells as well as stem/progenitor cells can be expanded in the same time from CB-MNC with the combinations of cytokines.
Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; CD3 Complex ; immunology ; CD56 Antigen ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; immunology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; Stem Cell Factor ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

The objective was to observe the influence of previously activated psoralens on the proliferation of K562 cells, and to provide laboratory data for its clinical usage. K562 cells were treated separately with previously and late activated psoralens, then their trypan blue exclusion inhibited rates (TBIR), cell proliferation inhibited rates (CPIR) and colony forming inhibited rates (CFIR) after culture were compared. The results showed that previously activated psoralens displayed an inhibiting effect on the proliferation of K562 cells with a dose-effect relationship. There was no obvious difference between previously and late activated psoralens on TBIR, CPIR and CFIR. In order to exert the inhibitive effect of previously activated psoralens, the time of ultraviolet ray exposure should be 10 minutes at least, and longer than 12 hours for inhibiting K562. The inhibitive effect of previously activated psoratens decreased as the time interval from activation to its use was prolonged. The inhibiting effect of previously activated psoralens was strongest within 6 hours after activation. In conclusion, both previously and late activated psoralens show inhibiting effects on the proliferation of K562, which may be able to use an antineoplastic drug in clinic.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Furocoumarins ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Time Factors

Aim of this study was to develop the detection method of soluble human leukocyte antigens I (sHLA-I) and to explore sHLA-I level alteration in storage blood and its significance. sHLA-I level in sera of 60 Guangdong normal individuals and sHLA-I concentration in blood components from 20 donors quantitatively were detected by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that sensitivity of this assay was 2.84 ng/ml. Coefficients of variation were 5.80% within assays and 9.00% between assays respectively. The recovery rate was >/= 98.57%. The sHLA-I level of normal individuals in Guangdong was (699.54 +/- 360.10) ng/ml. sHLA-I in red blood cells stored for 28 days and in random-donor platelets were significantly higher than that in other blood components and their amount was proportionate to the number of residual donor leukocytes and to the length of storage. In conclusion, sandwich ELISA assay for detection of sHLA-I is a sensitive, specific and stable technique. Blood components with different concentration of sHLA-I may be chosen for clinical transfusion.
Apoptosis ; Blood Preservation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies with animal experiments, autopsy, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and task-related functional MRI (fMRI) have confirmed that brain functional connectivity in addicts has become impaired. The goal of this study was to investigate the alteration of resting-state functional connectivity of the ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) in the heroin abusers' brain.

METHODSFifteen heroin abusers and fifteen matched healthy volunteers were studied using vACC as the region-of interest (ROI) seed. A 3.0 T scanner with a standard head coil was the imagining apparatus. T2*-weighted gradient-echo planar imaging (GRE-EPI) was the scanning protocol. A ROI seed based correlation analysis used a SPM5 software package as the tool for all images processing.

RESULTSThis study showed a functional connection to the insula vACC in heroin abusers. Compared with controls, heroin users showed decreased functional connectivity between the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and vACC, between the parahippocampala gyrus/amgdala (PHC/amygdala) and vACC, between the thalamus and vACC, and between the posterior cingulated cortex/precuneus (PCC/pC) and vACC.

CONCLUSIONThe altered resting-state functional connectivity to the vACC suggests the neural circuitry on which the addictive drug has an affect and reflects the dysfunction of the addictive brain.

Adult ; Female ; Gyrus Cinguli ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Heroin Dependence ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

To observe the gene polymorphism of Rh blood group in unrelated random individuals and families for Chinese Han nationality, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) was used to amplify the Rh C/E gene, RhD gene, exons, intron 2 and 10, insert and Rh Box in 160 blood samples of RhD positive unrelated individuals and 71 samples of RhD negative unrelated individuals and 7 samples of families whose probands were RhD-negative. The results showed that RhD genes of RhD-negative individuals with C antigens were polymorphism, three forms were found for D exon including intact, partial deletion and complete deletion exons. Insert fragments and Rh Box were found in most cases of families whose probands were RhD-negative and its inheritance accorded with the Mendel's Law, and it did not affect the expression of RhD gene. "Normal" RhD exon 4 amplifying product was not found in all of the samples. It was concluded that gene structure of the RhD-negative in Chinese was polymorphism, intact, partial deletion and complete deletion exons were found in the individuals with C antigen and probably existed specific D (nf) Ce haplotype. The function of insert was uncertain. The Rh gene sequences of Chinese Han nationality are different from those of Caucasian and the Rh gene library based on Han nationality should be established.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Humans ; Introns ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the viral etiology in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTI) plus platelet disorders.

METHODSA total of 255 children with ALRTI plus platelet disorders and 442 children with ALRTI and normal platelets, all of whom were hospitalized between March 2010 and February 2011, were included in the study. Their nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were collected, and RT-PCR or PCR was performed to detect 14 viruses.

RESULTSOf 255 ALRTI patients with platelet disorders, thrombocytosis was found in 253 cases (99.2%) and thrombocytopenia in 2 cases (0.8%). Among ALRTI patients with platelet disorders, 173 (67.8%) were infected with at least one virus, with human rhinovirus as the most common one, followed by parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The detection rate of PIV3 in the abnormal platelet group was significantly higher than in the normal platelet group (P<0.05). In contrast, the detection rate of influenza virus B (IFVB) in the abonormal platelet group was significantly lower than in the normal platelet group (P<0.05). The age distribution showed significant difference between the abnormal and normal platelet groups (P<0.01). Platelet disorders were mainly found in children under one year of age (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThrombocytosis is often found in children with ALRTI caused by viruses, especially PIV3, but infection with IFVB seldom causes platelet disorders. Hospitalized children with ALRTI under one year tend to develop platelet disorders.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Thrombocytopenia ; etiology ; Thrombocytosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the difference in expression of TOPK/PBK in lymph nodes between children with malignant lymphoma and those with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.

METHODSEighty children with malignant lymphoma and twenty children with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia were enrolled as subjects. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of TOPK/PBK in all the subjects. The expression of TOPK/PBK was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe TOPK/PBK-positivity rate was significantly higher in children with malignant lymphoma than in those with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the TOPK/PBK-positivity rate between the children with Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). There were significant differences in the TOPK/PBK-positivity rate among children with different pathological types of NHL (P<0.05): the children with lymphoblastic lymphoma showed the highest TOPK/PBK-positivity rate and those with mature B-cell lymphoma and mature T/NK-cell lymphoma had a similar TOPK/PBK-positivity rate.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of TOPK/PBK is up-regulated in the lymph nodes of children with malignant lymphoma. The expression level of TOPK/PBK may be related to the pathological type of NHL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lymph Nodes ; enzymology ; Lymphoma ; enzymology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; analysis ; Pseudolymphoma ; enzymology