OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between pharmacological effects and properties of traditional Chinese medicine by the decision tree algorithm.

METHODBased on of pharmacological effects of traditional Chinese medicine, the decision tree algorithm was applied in the study on the relationship between pharmacological effects and properties of traditional Chinese medicines. A model was established with the decision tree algorithm for the purpose of predicting the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components.

RESULTThe established model was reliable and stable, and could be used to predict the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components.

CONCLUSIONThe prediction for the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components with a decision tree model could reflect the theoretical connotation of the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components to some extent and provide a new method for studying the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components.

Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To investigate the distribution of surfactant protein-C( SP-C) gene single nu-cleotide polymorphisms and to study the association between the SP-C gene polymorphisms and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome( NRDS) in infants. Methods Fifty-one infants with NRDS( NRDS group) and 51 infants without RDS( control group) were selected. PCR gene analysis and polymerase chain reaction were used to establish the genotype and allele frequencies of SP-C exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N),SP-C exon 4 and 5 for the mutation,and then the association between the polymorphisms and NRDS was analyzed. Results SP-C gene mutations were not found in exon 4 and 5. In the Mongol nationality of the Inner Mon-golia region,SP-C exon 4(T138N) genotypes could check out three genotypes:namely AA,AC and CC. The frequencies of allele A and allele C of SP-C exon 4(T138N) were not statistically different between NRDS group and control group(χ2 =0. 454,P=0. 797). In the Mongol nationality,SP-C exon 5(S186N) genotypes could check out three genotypes:namely AA,AG and GG. The frequencies of allele A and allele G of SP-C exon 5(S186N) were not statistically different between NRDS group and control group(χ2 =0. 493,P =0. 782). Conclusion SP-C exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N) gene polymorphism in Inner Mongolia newborns displays no significant correlation with sex,birth weight or gestational age. SP-C gene mutations are not found in exon 4 and 5. SP-C gene exon 4(T138N) and exon 5(S186N) polymorphisms are not found to be associated with NRDS in Mongol nationality of the Inner Mongolia.

In order to investigate the antioxidant properties of the polysaccharides from the brown alga Sargassum fusiforme, the crude polysaccharides from S. fusiforme (SFPS) were extracted in hot water, and the lipid peroxidation inhibition assay exhibited that SFPS possessed a potential antioxidant activity. Hence, two purely polymeric fractions, SFPS-1 and SFPS-2 were isolated by the column of DEAE (2-diethylaminoethanol)-Sepharose Fast Flow, with their molecular weights of 51.4 and 30.3 kDa determined by high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). They were preliminarily characterized using chemical analysis in combination of infrared (IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies and found to contain large amounts of uronic acids and beta-glycosidical linkages. The antioxidant activities of these two SFPS fractions were evaluated using superoxide and hydroxyl radical-scavenging assays. The results show that the antioxidant ability of SFPS-2 was higher than that of SFPS-1, probably correlating with the molecular weight and uronic acid content.
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Molecular Weight ; Pilot Projects ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Sargassum ; metabolism

To study the protective effect of astragalus saponin extracts (AS) on kidneys of diabetic rats. Totally 32 diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ) were divided into AS high and low dose groups, the positive control group and the model group (DM group) and orally administered with 50 mg x- kg(-1) x d(-1) AS 200, 25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) valsartan, 10 mL x kg(-1) x d(1) physiological saline, respectively. Another 8 healthy rats were collected in the normal control group (NC group, physiological saline 10 mL x kg(-1). d(-1)). All rats were treated for consecutively 6 weeks. After the administration, the body weight was measured every week, the concentration of blood glucose was monitored on week 2, 4 and 6. The total urine and total urinary protein (U-TP) in 24 h were measured by the metabolic cage method on week 6; At the end of week 6, blood samples were collected from hearts to detect blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), uric acid (UA) , total cholesterol (CH) triglyceride (TG) by biochemical methods. Kidneys were collect to calculate the kidney hypertrophy index and observe the pathological sections. The laboratory results show that in the DM group, the blood glucose, metabolic cost in 24 h, kidney hypertrophy index, U-TP, BUN, Scr, UA, TG were significantly higher than that in the NC group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) , with significant pathological changes; After the intervention with AS, the metabolic value in 24 h, kidney hypertrophy index, U-TP, BUN, Scr, UA, TG were significantly lower in the high dose group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the kidney hypertrophy index, BUN, Scr, UA, TG in the low dose group were also significantly lower (P < 0.05), with slight reduction in renal pathological changes in both groups. In conclusion, Astragalus saponin extracts have a certain protective effect on kidneys of diabetic rats.
Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; Uric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo predict part of medicinal properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces by using the traditional Chinese medicinal property data prediction platform, in order to establish the relationship between properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces.

METHODThe properties of traditional Chinese medicine components were predicted by using the medicinal property data prediction platform based on the pharmacological effects of the components.

RESULTThe total sum of identical or similar results of the prediction for the properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces accounted for over 75%.

CONCLUSIONThe self-similarity exists between properties of traditional Chinese medicine components and traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, which reflects the inheritance, additivity and emergence among different properties of traditional Chinese medicines.

Drug Combinations ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVESTo investigate mechanism for the increasing level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in tumour patients during radiotherapy and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) to the expression of VEGF protein by radiotherapy in the prostate cancer cell line (PC3M).

METHODSTo observe the changes of serum VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy dynamically and the inhibitory action of the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the expression of VEGF by radiotherapy in PC3M.

RESULTSThe changes of serum VEGF in three patients receiving radiotherapy had been observed continuously. The levels of serum VEGF began to increase when the patients received radiotherapy and rised up to peak value after fifteen days, then declined to the range of pre-radiotherapy. Irradiating the PC3M cells with X-rays significantly increased the VEGF expression and secretion. The expression of VEGF protein in the group treated by VEGF AS-ODNs and X-ray irradiation decreased significantly than the group treated only by X-ray irradiation.

CONCLUSIONSThe induction of VEGF protein expression by X-ray irradiation in tumor cells may result in the increasing of the VEGF in the prostate cancer patients during radiotherapy and the induction can be blocked by VEGF AS-ODNs.

DNA, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Lymphokines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

OBJECTIVETo develop a clinical database system of gastric cancer surgery integrated with data mining function for better management of clinical data and better performance of both retrospective and prospective studies.

METHODSCore fields for clinical data were determined based on the JGCA(13th and 14th edition) and UICC gastric cancer staging system. Microsoft Visual Basic and VistaDB were used for programming. The database structure was designed according to data mining theory and clinical workflow.

RESULTSAfter one year of development and refinement, data of over 600 patients from our hospital were retrospectively entered, and function tests were satisfactory. This system was accepted as the database platform for the Chinese Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Study Group (CLASS) and was successfully used in the first stage of the Multicenter Retrospective Study of the Feasibility of Laparoscopy for Gastric Cancer among 30 hospitals from both Mainland China and Hong Kong. The data mining function met the requirements, which could carry out complex search with visualized presentation. Descriptive analyses could be performed with the analysis function. Efficient communication among institutions could be executed by data import and export with excellent compatibility and without errors.

CONCLUSIONThe system has established a clinical database of approximately 4000 fields with data mining function. This system can be widely applied for the clinical research for gastric cancer.

Data Mining ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Software Design ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo assess the differences in peritoneal microstructure injury between laparoscopic and open radical resection for colorectal cancer.

METHODSA total of 50 patients with colorectal cancer were consecutively assigned into laparoscopic group (LO, n=27) and conventional laparotomy group (CO, n=23). Prospectively comparative analyses of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph node harvest, positive rate of lymph nodes, length of specimen and resection margin involvement were performed. Optical microscope and scanning electron microscope were used to detect postoperative peritoneal injury between patients who received laparoscopic surgery or open surgery.

RESULTSCompared with the CO group, operative time [(150.6+/-39.5) min vs (183.0+/-39.2) min, P<0.05] and intraoperative blood loss [(80.0+/-75.2) ml vs (234.5+/-235.3) ml, P<0.01] were significantly less in the LO group. No significant differences were found between two groups in length specimen, number of lymph nodes harvest, positive rate of lymph nodes, and all resection margins were negative (P>0.05). Optical microscope indicated less serosal injury in the LO group as compared to the CO group with regard to serosal integrity, continuity of covering adipocyte and mesothelial cell, and the aggregation level of erythrocytes and inflammatory cells (P<0.01). Scanning electronic microscopy showed more severe injury to colorectal serosa, mesothelium and basement membrane in the CO group as compared to the LO group.

CONCLUSIONWith equal degree of radical resection, laparoscopic technique for colorectal cancer causes less peritoneal structural injury as compared with open surgery.

Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; Laparotomy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneum ; injuries ; pathology ; Prospective Studies ; Single-Blind Method

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, safety, radicality and short-term outcome of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision(TME) in comparison with open procedure for the middle-lower rectal cancer.

METHODSFrom November 2005 to October 2008, 93 patients with middle-lower rectal cancer received laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME group), while 105 patients underwent conventional open TME (OTME group). The operative procedures, clinicopathological data and short-term outcome were collected and compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS(1) Comparison of surgical procedures. The demographic data of LTME and OTME groups were comparable (P >0.05). Four (4.3%) patients were converted to open procedure in LTME group. The anal sphincter preserved procedure accounted for 82.8% in LTME group and 81.9% in OTME group. The difference was not significant (P >0.05). (2) Comparison of perioperative surgical data. The mean operating time was (164.6+/-35.6) min in LTME group, significantly longer than that in OTME group (141.9+/-29.4) min (P <0.001). The operative blood losses were (51.4+/-20.2) ml and (180.0+/-64.7) ml in LTME and OTME group respectively, the difference was significant (P <0.001). The analgesia requirement, time for bowel movement retrieval, time to liquid food intake, time to resuming early activity and hospital stay in LTME group were significant lower or shorter than those in OTME group (P <0.001). There was no operative death in both groups. (3) Comparison of operative complications. The overall morbidity rate was 11.8% in LTME group, and 12.4% in OTME group, the difference was not significant (P >0.05). The major complications were equivalent between two groups. (4) Comparison of specimen. No significant differences were observed between two groups in terms of specimen length, lymph node harvest and negative distal margin. (5) Follow-up results. The mean follow-up time was 19 months. The recurrent rate and overall survival rate were 4.4% and 97.8% in LTME group, with no significant difference compared to those in OTME group (7.3% and 97.9%, P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic TME for middle-low rectal cancer is safe and feasible, and can potentially offer all the benefits of a minimally invasive approach and achieve satisfactory oncological outcome,which may lead to a better future of the TME technique.

Adult ; Aged ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Mesentery ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Rectum ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on cardiac function and mortality rate in septic rats.

METHODSFifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a sham-operation group (sham group, n=10), normal saline group (NS group, n=20), and TMP group (n=20). The rats in the NS and TMP groups underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis. Rats in the NS group were injected with NS (10 mL/kg) immediately after CLP and 6 h after CLP. Rats in the TMP group were injected with TMP (10 mg/kg) at the same time points. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the mortality rates were observed in each group. Cardiac function and serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were also tested. The correlation between TNF-α and the ejection fraction (EF) was observed. Left ventricle specimens were reserved for histomorphologic study.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, the NS and TMP groups had decreased EF values and increased mortality rates and serum TNF-α levels (P <0.05). The TMP group had a comparatively lower mortality rate and TNF-α level and a higher EF value compared with the NS group (P <0.05). Histomorphology indicated that myocardial inflammation in the TMP group was mild compared with that in the NS group. There was a negative correlation between TNF-α level and EF value (r=-0.583,P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONTMP could reduce the mortality rate of septic rats and had certain protective effects on cardiac function.

Animals ; Heart Function Tests ; drug effects ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Stroke Volume ; drug effects ; Survival Analysis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Ultrasonography