Three butylphthalide derivatives were isolated from the Rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong using a series of isolation and purification approaches including macroporous resin, ODS-A column, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. These structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS and NMR) and identified as (3Z,3aE)-(6R,7R,2'S)-6-hydroxy-7-(2-carboxyl-2-hydroxyethylthio)-3-(2-hydroxybutylidene)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-phthalide (1), (3Z,3aZ)-3-butylidene-6,7-dihydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-phthalide 7-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fructo-furanoside (2) and 3-(3-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-butylidene)-7-hydroxy-phthalide (3).

Objective To investigate the prevalence and incidence of Keshan disease (KD) and the selenium concentration of food and hair in residents of Yongjin Village, Fuyu County, Heilongjiang Province, national monitoring site, in 2007. Methods According to the Standard of Keshan Disease Surveillance and the Standard of Diagnosis of Keshan Disease(GB 17021-1997), the residents living in the monitoring site were surveyed by clinical examination and electrocardiography. For individuals whose hearts showed abnormalities, a chest X-ray photograph was taken. The selenium concentrations of the residents' food (flour) and hair were assayed by flowing injection hydride generation atomic fluoremetric method(FI-HG-AFM). Results Nineteen KD patients were found from 282 residents in 2007 KD surveillance. The prevalence of KD, latent KD and chronic KD were 6.7%(19/282), 2.8%(8/282) and 3.9%(11/282), respectively. Five of the 8 latent KD cases were newly found. In addition, there were 5 the suspected KD cases, including 2 suspected chronic KD cases. No acute KD or sub-acute KD patients were found in Yongjin Village at this monitoring site this year. The average selenium concentration of children hair and residents food were (0.3197±0.0586)mg/kg and (0.0210±0.0062)mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions New cases of KD continued to emerge, indicating that etiological factors still exist. Therefore, the emphasis of monitoring KD in furore is founding the consummate report of infectious disease system and training the personnel to increase the reliability of monitoring.

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) V3 loop amino acid mutations among HIV-1 infected people in Liaoning province.

METHODSThe whole blood samples of the HIV carriers and AIDS patients were collected in Liaoning province, China and were extracted PBMC genome DNA. HIV-1 V3 and flanking region sequences were amplified by nest-polymerase chain reaction (nest-PCR) with env specific primers: ED5/ED12 and ED31/ED33. Products were sequenced directly and sequences were aligned, translated and analyzed.

RESULTSIn AIDS group, some amino acid mutations at specific position of V3 loop: S to R at position 11, H to S, T and N at position 13, A to V at position 19, F to Y at position 20, Q or D to N at position 25 and 29, were found and all common mutations were associated with T tropic/SI phenotype. The frequency of such amino acid mutations in specific positions was higher in AIDS group than that of the asymptomatic infection group (P < 0.05). In addition, we found some unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop: GQGR, APGR and RPGA, GLGR, RPGA in addition to some rare mutations, such as: N to H at position 5 and H to S, F at position 34.

CONCLUSIONThe amino acid mutations on the V3 loop of HIV-1 epidemic in Liaoning province were in agreement with the results of subtype B, but we observed some rare mutations and unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genes, env ; genetics ; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 ; genetics ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Compound Qingqin Liquid (CQL) on the expression level of angiotensin II (Ang II) and COX-2 mRNA transcription and protein expression in the renal tissue of rats with uric acid nephropathy.

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the positive drug group, the high, moderate, and low dose CQL group according to number randomization principle. The model was established by gastrogavage of adenine, accompanied with yeast feeding. Distilled water was given by gastrogavage to rats in the blank control group and the model group. Allopurinol at the daily dose of 9.33 mg/kg was given by gastrogavage to rats of the positive control group. CQL at the daily dose of 3.77 g/kg, 1.89 g/kg, and 0.09 g/kg was respectively given by gastrogavage to rats in the high, moderate, and low dose CQL groups. All treatment lasted for 6 weeks. Rats were randomly divided at week 4 (3 in the blank control group, and 6 in the rest groups), and the rest rats were killed at week 6. The renal tissue was extracted. The expression level of Ang II and COX-2 mRNA transcription were detected by RT-PCR. The expression level of Ang II was detected by ELISA. The expression level of COX-2 protein was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, except the mRNA expression of Ang II at week 4, the mRNA and protein expression of Ang II and COX-2 obviously increased at week 4 and 6 in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The COX-2 protein expression at week 4 was obviously lower in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the model group and the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05); the average integral of optical density value was obviously lower in the positive control group than in the model group. Except the mRNA expression of Ang II in the high dose CQL group at week 6, the mRNA and protein expression of Ang II obviously decreased in the positive control group and each dose CQL group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Of them, the effects were better in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the positive control group and the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Besides, the mRNA expression of COX-2, the average integral of optical density value were obviously lower in the positive control group and each dose CQL group than in the model group (P < 0.05). The protein expression of COX-2 was obviously lower in the high and moderate dose CQL groups than in the model group (P < 0.05). Of them, the mRNA expression of COX-2 was better in the moderate dose CQL group than in the positive control group (P < 0.05); the protein expression of COX-2 was better in the high dose CQL group than in the low dose CQL group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCQL was capable of lowering the expression level of Ang II, COX-2 mRNA transcription and protein expression, thus suppressing the inflammatory pathological injury of the renal tissue.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Uric Acid

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of compound qingqin liquid (CQL) on Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in rats with urate nephropathy, and to explore its renal protection mechanism.

METHODSTotally 55 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, i.e., the normal control group (n =5), the model group (n =10), the positive drug group (n=10), and the high-, medium-, low-dose CQL groups (n=10) respectively. The urate nephropathy model was induced by intragastrically administering adenine and feeding yeast. Distilled water was intragastrically administered at the daily dose of 10 mL/kg to rats in the normal control group and the model group. Allopurinol was intragastrically administered at the daily dose of 9.33 mg/kg to rats in the positive control group. CQL was intragastrically administered at the daily dose of 3.77, 1.89, 0.94 g/kg to rats in the high-, medium-, and low-dose CQL groups. Rats of each group were executed in batches at the 4th and 6th week respectively. Their kidney tissues were taken out to determine the mRNA transcription level of TLR2 and TLR4 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression level of TLR2 and TLR4 were determined by Western blot. The protein expression level of TLR4 was also detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSAt week 4 and 6, the protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4 as well as the mRNA transcription of TLR4 increased in the model group, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, there was no statistical difference in the transcription level of TLR2 mRNA or TLR4 mRNA among the 3 CQL groups (P > 0.05) at week 4 and 6. Additionally, at week 6, the protein expression of TLR4 and TLR2 could be reduced by CQL (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCQL might protect kidney tissue against inflammatory injury by inhibiting the protein expression levels of TLR2 and TLR4.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Toll-Like Receptor 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Uric Acid

The paper is aimed to establish a methods for identication of pearl powder and conch powder from different origins. Hermetic aluminum pan was used to encapsulate samples. The optimal testing conditions were: heating rate 10 degrees C x min(-1), sample weight 3 mg and nitrogen gas flow rate 40 mL x min(-1). The enthalpy values of pearl powder and conch powder was obvious different. Identication of pearl powder and conch powder by DSC is a practical method for its accuracy, convenience and practificality.
Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; methods ; China ; Discriminant Analysis ; Pinctada ; chemistry ; classification ; Powders ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDElevated levels of interleukin-7 (IL-7) have been correlated with CD4(+) T cell depletion and the emergence of syncytium-inducing (SI) variants in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, and suggested as an indicator of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease progression. Therefore, we investigated the effects of IL-7 on disease progression and virus phenotype in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSIn a cross-sectional study of 71 untreated HIV-1 seropositive individuals and 12 healthy donors, plasma IL-7 levels were determined by an ultra sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and its relations to CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells, plasma viral loads and HIV phenotypes were analyzed.

RESULTSSignificant higher IL-7 levels were found in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients [(3.33 +/- 3.60) pg/ml] than those of health controls [(1.2 +/- 0.81) pg/ml] (P < 0.05), and IL-7 levels were inversely associated with CD4(+) T cell counts (r = -0.497, P < 0.01). Furthermore, IL-7 levels were significant higher in patients with SI variants [(9.12 +/- 4.55) pg/ml] than those with non-syncytium-inducing variants [(1.50 +/- 2.69) pg/ml] (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIncreased IL-7 levels were found in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients and significantly associated with disease progression, thus increased IL-7 plasma levels may indicate disease progression.

Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Disease Progression ; HIV Seropositivity ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Interleukin-7 ; blood ; physiology ; Phenotype ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo explore the regional anatomy of the rectum including the perirectal fasciae and spaces.

METHODSTwenty-one cadavers (15 males and 6 females) were embalmed and their vessels were visualized by injection with color dye. From the cadavers, 30 hemipelvis and 6 three-quarter pelvis were harvested. The perirectal fasciae and spaces and the pelvic autonomic nerves were dissected and examined.

RESULTSThree tissue layers were dissected from the inside to the periphery including the proper rectal fascia enveloping the mesorectum, the presacral fascia, and the piriformis fascia fused with the sacral periosteum. The mesorectum comprised 2 parts with the classical posterolateral fat covered by the proper rectal fascia posteriorly and the anterior fat covered by the posterior layer of Denonvilliers fascia anteriorly. Extending anteriorly to the anterior layer of Denonvilliers fascia, the presacral fascia bisected the space between the mesorectum and the piriformis fascia into the retrorectal space and the presacral space. The retrorectal space extended cranially to the left retrocolic space, anterior to the space between the 2 layers of Denonvilliers fascia(prerectal space).

CONCLUSIONSFrom the inside to the periphery, the proper rectal fascia, the presacral fascia, and the muscular fascia are distributed in an annular pattern around the mesorectum. The presacral fascia divides the perirectal space into 2 annular parts, the central retrorectal space and the peripheral presacral space. The retrorectal space is the ideal surgical plane for total mesorectal excision.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadaver ; Fascia ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesocolon ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; anatomy & histology ; Rectum ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential of yolk sac mesenchymal stem cells in osteogenic differentiation.

METHODSMurine yolk sacs were harvested on day 8.5 postcoitus, yolk sac cells were obtained after the yolk sacs were digested by 0.1% type I collagenase for 1 hour, the non-adherent cells were removed after being cultured for 1 hour. The adherent cells were cultured in DMEM containing of 5 ng/ml bFGF and 15% FBS, and passaged when they became subconfluent. The morphologic characteristics, and AKP, BMP-2, as well as type I, III collagen of the yolk sac adherent cells were observed and tested. The attached cells were treated with 10(-8) mol/L dexamethasone, 10 mmol/L beta-glycerophosphate, and 50 micrograms/ml vitamin C at passage 4. Alternations of morphological characteristic, AKP activity, collagen of type I, III and mineralization were detected.

RESULTSPure mesenchymal stem cells which were of spindle shape, uniform in size, positive in type I, III collagen staining and weak positive in AKP activity could be induced to pleomorphism osteoblast-like cells in vitro. The cells were transformed from spindle shape to polygonal cells which were positive in type I collagen, negative in type III collagen, strong positive in BMP-2, and positive in Von Kossa's stain at week 8. The polygonal cells could form nodular structure and their AKP activity was increased. All these were coincidence with the characters of osteoblast.

CONCLUSIONYolk sac mesenchymal stem cell can be purified and induced to osteoblast in vitro.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Mesoderm ; cytology ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Osteogenesis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Yolk Sac ; cytology

Objective To investigate the clinical features of these children with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) who had no response to diazoxide and provide a theoretical foundation for the formulation of CHI treatment strategy.Methods Eighteen patients with CHI who had no response to diazoxide hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital from 2008 to 2012 were chosen as research subjects.Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 18 patients with persistent hypoglycemia after using diazoxide,which indicated that they had no response to diazoxide.Twelve patients of them were born as macrosomia and their onset age was less than 6 months.Half of the children(9/18 cases) even had hypoglycemia in neonatal period.All the manifestations were conformed to the clinical characteristics of ATP-sensitive potassium channel CHI.Four children who were unresponsive to diazoxide received octreotide treatment,and it was effective on them.Four patients had a near-total pancreatectomy.After a long-term followup study,their blood sugar maintained a normal level,and they did not appear serious postoperative complications.Conclusions Children with CHI who have no response to diazoxide are characterized by coming earlier and higher birth weight.Octreotide is proposed in case of non-response to diazoxide.When medical treatment is not efficient in prevention of hypoglycemia,a subtotal pancreatectomy has to be considered as a last resort.