Objective To understand the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and its risk factors among healthy blood donation population in Shijiazhuang City,Hebei Province,so as to provide the evidence for developing effective prevention and control measures. Methods A total of 1630 cases of blood donors in Shijiazhuang City were chosen as respondents,and all the respondents were qualified to the standard of blood donation. The antibodies to T. gondii were detected by using ELISA. The in-fection rates of T. gondii in blood donation population were compared between/among different genders,ages,occupations,edu-cation levels,and places of residence. The risk factors for Toxoplasma infection were surveyed with questionnaires. Results A total of 1630 cases of healthy blood donors were investigated,and among which 126 cases were positive in the detection of anti-bodies to T. gondii and the positive rate was 7.73%. The positive rates between/among the different genders,ages,occupations, and education levels were significantly different( χ2 =4.36,13.98,9.71,7.65,respectively,all P < 0.05),and the positive rates among different places of residence were not significantly different( χ2 =1.63,P>0.05). The questionnaire survey showed that the T. gondii infection was closely related to keeping pets,outside eating frequently,having chafing dish or barbe-cue,sharing cutting board for cooked and uncooked food,and no the habit of washing hands before meals. Conclusions The infection rate of T. gondii is relatively high among the healthy blood donation population in Shijiazhuang region. The cognitive ed-ucation for T. gondii infection and infection monitoring are the keys to avoid the transfusion infection.

Objective To continuously draw blood from caudal vein of SD rats which controlled by the homemade holder with an im-proved method, and the effects of this method was evaluated according to the relevant indicators. Methods The 24 SD rats should be drew the blood from the caudal vein by the improved disposable infusion needle and supplied physiological saline at the condition of ether inhala-tion anesthesia and once a day until to the thirteenth day,and then the times of draw blood and the number of survival rats only to calculate the success rate and survival rate of rats were record. Results In the 12 days,the tail vein blood of 24 SD rats were successfully collected. But a rat died of excessive ether inhalation anesthesia on the thirteenth day. The success rate was 99. 68% and the rat survival rate was 95. 83%. Conclusion The method that applying an improved disposable infusion needle and supplying physiological saline is safe and ef-fective,flexible and convenient,which is suitable for experimental study that needs to draw blood from caudal vein of the SD rat at the contin-uous time.

AIM:To investigate the application of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness detected by OCT in the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and its relationship with the mean defect of visual field.METHODS:A retrospective study was carried out.Totally 158 cases (158 eyes) of patients with POAG were selected as POAG group, including 81 cases in early stage, 47 cases in middle stage and 30 cases in late stage.At the same time, 50 cases of persons without eye related diseases were selected as the control group.The upper, lower, nasal and bitamporal RNFL thickness and mean defect of visual field were detected, and the patients with POAG were followed up for 3mo.RESULTS:The upper, lower, nasal and bitamporal RNFL in POAG group were thinner than those in the control, and the mean defect of visual field was higher than that in the control group at different time (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in RNFL thickness and mean defect of visual field between patients with early POAG and the control group (P>0.05).The RNFL thickness of various parts was higher than that in patients with middle and late POAG, and the mean defect of visual field was lower than that in patients with middle and late POAG (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in RNFL thickness of various parts and mean defect of visual field in POAG group at different time (P>0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the upper, lower, nasal and bitamporal RNFL thickness was negatively correlated with the mean defect of visual field (r=-0.719,-0.615,-0.681,-0.518, P<0.05).CONCLUSION:OCT can monitor the change of RNFL thickness in patients with POAG, and has a negative correlation with mean defect of visual field, which can be used for early diagnosis of POAG.

Objective To observe the effects of electro-acupuncture on the E-selectin and resistin protein expression in the hippocampus of rats of chronic stress depression;To explore the role and mechanism of electro-acupuncture in the micro-environment of brain with depression. Methods 40 Fourty rats were randomly divided into four groups:blank group, model group, model+EA group, and model+fluoxetine group by using chronic stress combined with solitary raising methods, 10 rats in each group. Electro-acupuncture intervention was used 1 hour before the modeling. Electro-acupuncture was given at points Baihui (Du 20) and Yintang (Extra) for twenty minutes (2 Hz, 0.6 mA) every day. Fluoxetine was given at the volume of 5 mL/kg, dosage of 10 mg/kg. E-selectin and resistin protein expression in hippocampus were determined by biotin label-based antibody array. Results Compared with the blank group, the protein expression of E-selectin and resistin in the model group increased (fold change=1.23, 1.22). Compared with the model group, E-selectin and resistin expression decreased (fold change=0.65, 0.62;fold change=0.76, 0.65). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture intervention could down-regulate E-selectin and resistin expression in the hippocampus of chronic stress depression model.

Objective: To analyze the effects of miR-138 on the expression of small glutamine-rich TPR-containing protein A (SGTA) and cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) phenotype in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Methods: The adhesion model was constructed using fibronectin (FN) or bone marrow stromal cells HS-5. The effect of miR-138 on the expression of SGTA was analyzed by Western blotting and RQ-PCR. Dual-luciferase assays were performed to probe the effects of miR-138 on SGTA 3' UTR activities. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of miR-138 on cell cycle, adhesion ability and CAM-DR. Moreover, the correlation between miR-138 expression and therapeutic response was analyzed in 35 paraffin-embedded diffuse large B cell lymphoma samples. Results: Our data showed that adhesion of NHL cells to FN or HS-5 cells significantly increased miR-138 expression (P<0.05). Knockdown of miR-138 markedly increased the protein (all P<0.05) but not for mRNA (all P>0.05) levels of SGTA in NHL cell. The luciferase activity of SGTA 3' UTR was significantly suppressed by miR-138 transfected cells (0.73±0.03 vs 1.00±0.02, t=0.914, P=0.002). No change in terms of reporter activity was observed in SGTA 3'UTR mutant transfected cells (0.93±0.04 vs 1.00±0.02, t=1.375, P=0.241). Also we found that ectopic expression of miR-138 significantly induced cell cycle arrest at G(1) phase in both suspension and adherent cells (all P<0.05). Knockdown of miR-138 had no effect on cell adhesion ability (all P>0.05). More importantly, in suspension cells, knockdown of miR-138 significantly decreased the percentage of doxorubicin-induced cell death. However, knockdown of miR-138 dramatically increased the percentage of doxorubicin-induced cell death in FN/HS-5-adherent cells. Furthermore, the miR-138 expression was significantly higher in patients with progression of disease/stable disease than those experiencing complete response/partial response (9.72±1.11 vs 3.06±0.22, t=9.144, P<0.001). Conclusion: MiR-138 promoted CAM-DR phenotype through cell adhesion-mediated SGTA down-regulation and cell cycle arrest.
Carrier Proteins ; Cell Adhesion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; MicroRNAs ; Molecular Chaperones ; Phenotype

Wuzhuyu Tang is a classical formula for treating migraine, but its' pharmacological ingredients is unclear yet. Present study employed the everted intestinal sac model to collect the absorption samples of 10 kinds of Wuzhuyu decoction, and then analyzed the contents of 9 ingredients in Wuzhuyu Tang and absorption samples quantitatively or semi-quantitatively by HPLC-DAD method. Reserpine was used to establish the mice model of migraine, and then the contents and activities of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, dopamine, nitric oxide and nitricoxide synthase in brain tissues and serums were determined respectively after oral administration of Wuzhuyu Tang. Using the partial least squares regression method to correlate the total absorption quantity of 9 ingredients and pharmacodynamics. The result shows that limocitrin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, rutaevine, limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine are the main ingredients influenced the effects in absorption samples in everted intestinal sacs, especially ginsenoside Rg1, rutaevine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine among them have obvious improving effects to most pharmacodynamics index, might be the pharmacological ingredients influenced the therapeutical effects of Wuzhuyu Tang treating migraine.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice.

RESULTSThe patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis.

CONCLUSIONWith little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Balanitis ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urination

ObjectiveTo introduction of perforator flaps,muscle flaps pedicled by descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery,method and their clinical application that multiple soft tissue defects of hand are repaire by muliplefoliated tissue flap only branch lateral circumflex femoral artery.MethodsFifteen patients with multiple soft tissue defects of hand were repaired muliplefoliated tissue flap only pedicled bydescending branch lateral circumflex femoral artery.At first,the anterolateral thigh perforator flap was designed and harvested according to the soft tissue defects of hand, then the descending branch lateral circumflex femoral artery was dissected at the same time the segmented perforator flap,fascia lata flap,rectus femoris muscle flap, vastus lateralis muscle flap, vastus intermedius muscle flap and distal spatium intermusculare flap were harvested in need according to distance among soft tissue defects.The muliplefoliated tissue flap was harvested only pedicled by descending branch lateral circumflex femoral artery, at last muscle flaps and fascia lata flaps were covered by skin graft, so the multiple soft tissue defects of hand were repaired in one time.ResultsNo vascular crisis happened. All skin grafts survived well, the contour of all repaired soft tissue defects was good and protective feeling was recovered by skin grafts of all flaps. All cases were got follow-up and the range was from 6 to 20 months(the average was 8.7 months).Wound of donor site healed well, muscle strength of quadriceps and motion of knee were normal. Three cases were excellent,nine cases were well and 3 cases were good, according to upper extremity function evaluation criteria of Chinese Medical Society for the Surgery of the Hand, the rate of good was 80 percent.ConclusionMultiple soft tissue defects of hand can be repaired by muliplefoliated flap only pedicled by descending branch of lateral circumflex femoral artery. Its advantages included reduction of operation time and treatment, good recovery of hand contour and function. It is a good method to repair multiple soft tissue defects of hand.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of dried whole plants of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and comparison of NMR data with those reported in literature.

RESULT15 compounds were isolated and identified to be 5-O-[(E)-Caffeoyl] quinic acid(l), 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(2), 4 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(3), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), methyl-3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(6), methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(7), 3,6'-O-diferuloylsucrose(8), 5'-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid(9), Scopoletin(10), scoparone (11), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxyacetophenone (12), chrysosplenol D (13), casticin (14), chrysosplenetin(15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 6, 8 and 9 are obtained from the Artemisia genus for the first time. Compounds 7 and 15 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Silica Gel

OBJECTIVETo explore whether coal tar pitch smoke extract (CTP) induced pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B).

METHODSBEAS-2B cells were treated with different concentrations of CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) for 8h and 24 h, respectively. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels in the supernatants of cell culture media were measured with LDH activity or human IL-1β ELISA kit, respectively. The activity of Caspase-1 was measured with Caspase-1 colorimetric assay kit.

RESULTSThe activity of caspase-1 in 1 and 3 µg/ml CTP groups were (9.29 ± 0.30) and (8.67 ± 0.59) µmol/ml respectively which were both significantly increased compared to that (7.42 ± 0.59) µmol/ml in the control group (P < 0.05) after 8 h exposure, but there was no significant difference in the activity of LDH and levels of IL-1β in the cell culture media among the CTP and control groups. 24 h after exposure, the activity of LDH in the CTP (1, 3 µg/ml) groups were (1323.03 ± 28.53) and (1148.45 ± 16.42) U/dl respectively which were significantly higher than that (1091.93 ± 26.64) U/dl in the control group (P < 0.05), and the levels of IL-1β in the CTP (1 and 3 µg/ml) groups were (125.37 ± 25.00) pg/ml and (92.04 ± 19.09) pg/ml respectively which were significantly higher than that (46.20 ± 14.43) pg/ml in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the activity of Caspase-1 among CTP and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTP treatment induced early increase in caspase-1 activity followed by the increase in LDH activity and IL-1 levels, indicative of pyroptosis in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Apoptosis ; Bronchi ; cytology ; Caspase 1 ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Coal Tar ; adverse effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Smoke ; adverse effects