Atropa belladonna is a medicinal plant and main commercial source of tropane alkaloids (TAs) including scopolamine and hyoscyamine, which are anticholine drugs widely used clinically. Based on the high throughput transcriptome sequencing results, the digital expression patterns of UniGenes representing 9 structural genes (ODC, ADC, AIH, CPA, SPDS, PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) involved in TAs biosynthesis were constructed, and simultaneously expression analysis of 4 released genes in NCBI (PMT, CYP80F1, H6H, TRII) for verification was performed using qPCR, as well as the TAs contents detection in 8 different tissues. Digital expression patterns results suggested that the 4 genes including ODC, ADC, AIH and CPA involved in the upstream pathway of TAs, and the 2 branch pathway genes including SPDS and TRII were found to be expressed in all the detected tissues with high expression level in secondary root. While the 3 TAs-pathway-specific genes including PMT, CYP80F1, H6H were only expressed in secondary roots and primary roots, mainly in secondary roots. The qPCR detection results of PMT, CYP80F1 and H6H were consistent with the digital expression patterns, but their expression levels in primary root were too low to be detected. The highest content of hyoscyamine was found in tender stems (3.364 mg x g(-1)), followed by tender leaves (1.526 mg x g(-1)), roots (1.598 mg x g(-1)), young fruits (1.271 mg x g(-1)) and fruit sepals (1.413 mg x g(-1)). The highest content of scopolamine was detected in fruit sepals (1.003 mg x g(-1)), then followed by tender stems (0.600 mg x g(-1)) and tender leaves (0.601 mg x g(-1)). Both old stems and old leaves had the lowest content of hyoscyamine and scopolamine. The gene expression profile and TAs accumulation indicated that TAs in Atropa belladonna were mainly biosynthesized in secondary root, and then transported and deposited in tender aerial parts. Screening Atropa belladonna secondary root transcriptome database will facilitate unveiling the unknown enzymatic reactions and the mechanisms of transcriptional control.
Alkaloids ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Atropa belladonna ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; genetics ; Hyoscyamine ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; metabolism ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; metabolism ; Tropanes ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe experiments were conducted to study specialty of seed germinating, plant growing and developing and cultural practices of A. edgeworthii.

METHODThe germinating and sowing test, growth habitants, photosensitive reaction of seedling from subterraneous seeds and above ground seeds on A. edgeworthii were studied in this experiment.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that (1) The water could not be absorbed by seed from plant above ground; (2) The underground and above ground seeds could normally germinate, grow, blossom and bear fruits, A. edgeworthii sowed in early May, blossomed in early September and matured in the last ten days of October; (3) The seed leaf of seedling grew underground; (4) The underground seed was produced from subterraneous branch stem which developed from node of seed leaf; (5) A. edgeworthii was shade demanding, high-temperature sensible short-day light plant. The flowering could be greatly advantaged by short-day light treatment (12, 10, 8, 6 h). Cultural practices were studied also in this experiment.

Fabaceae ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Sunlight

Schizophrenia is the most common in forensic psychiatry. The motive, the style and the consequence of any schizophrene's misdeed have its own particularity. So schizophrenia is significant in the forensic practice. The characteristics of schizophrene's misdeed and the peace breaker's responsibility, competence to stand trial and to serve a sentence werereviewed.
Crime/psychology* ; Expert Testimony/standards* ; Forensic Psychiatry/standards* ; Humans ; Liability, Legal ; Mental Competency/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus lumbar interbody fusion and unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation plus lumbar interbody fusion in treating single segmental lower lumbar vertebra diseases.

METHODSSixty-two patients with single segmental lower lumbar vertebra disease who received treatment between January 2008 and June 2009. These patients were consisted of 16 males and 46 females, ranging in age from 27 to 72 years old, with a mean age of 51.6 years old. Among these patients, lumbar degenerative disease had in 22 patients, recurrence of lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in 13 patients, lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion accompany with spinal canal stenosis in 12 patients, massive lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in 5 patients and lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with degree I in 10 patients. The lesions occurred at L3,4 segment in 5 patients, at L4,5 segment in 42 patients, and at L5S1 segment in 15 patients. Thirty patients underwent unilateral pedicle screw fixation (unilateral screw fixation group, group A) and thirty-two patients received unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation (bilateral screw fixation group, group B). Lumbar interbody fusion with intervertebral cages was also performed in all patients. Incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative wound drainage were compared between two groups. Loosening or breakage of internal fixations, displacement of intervertebral cages and interbody fusion conditions were observed in each group. Preoperative and postoperative intervertebral height, coronal and sagittal Cobb angle and wound pain at 72 h after operation were compared between two groups. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system was used to evaluate the cinical effects.

RESULTSNeither wound infection, skin necrosis, nerve root or cauda equia injury, nor worsened neurological dysfunction in the lower limb occurred in each group. There were no significant differences in incision length, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative wound drainage between two groups. The operation time in group A was significantly shorter than that of group B (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in visual analogue scale value of the wound pain at postoperative 72 h between two groups (P > 0.05). All patients were followed up for 12-48 months,with a mean of 27.5 months. The intervertebral height of all patients had obviously recovered at 5 days after operation, furthermore, at the final follow-up, it still had well maintained. During follow-up, no pedicle screw and/or translaminar facet screw loosening, displacement or breakage and displacement of intervertebral cages were found. The lumbar interbody fusion rate was 96.7% and 96.9% in group A and group B, respectively, and there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). JOA score of all patients got obviously improved after operation (P < 0.05) and there was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus lumbar interbody fusion and unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation plus lumbar interbody fusion have advantages of small incision, minimal invasion, simple operation, reliable stability, high interbody fusion rate,rapid recovery, encouraging clinical effects and less complications. Compared with unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation, the operation of unilateral pedicle screw fixation is simpler and can avoid using special equipments. Therefore, unilateral pedicle screw fixation plus lumbar interbody fusion can be used in treating single-segmental lower lumbar vertebra diseases under the precondition of strictly grasping indications for surgery and improving surgical skills.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the advantages and disadvantages of unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation and interbody fusion with cages in the treatment of two-level lumbar vertebra diseases, by comparing bilateral pedicle screw fixation and interbody fusion with cages.

METHODSForty-nine patients with two-level lumbar diseases who received treatments from June 2009 to December 2011 were included in this study. Among these patients, 23 patients received unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation and interbody fusion with cages (combined fixation group) and the remaining 26 patients underwent bilateral pedicle screw fixation and interbody fusion with cages (bilateral fixation group). These patients consisted of 17 males and 32 females, ranging in age from 29 to 68 years old. Among these patients, lumbar intervertebral disc herniation accompanied by the spinal canal stenosis was found in 29 patients, degenerative lumbar disc diseases in 17 patients and lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (degree I) in 3 patients. The lesions occurred at L2,3 and L3,4 segments in 1 patient, at L3,4 and L4,5 segments in 30 patients, and at L4,5 segment and L5S1 segment in 18 patients. Wound length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative wound drainage were compared between two groups. Intervertebral space height in the lesioned segment before and during surgery and at the latest follow up was also compared between two groups. Before surgery and at the latest follow-up, the Cobb angle of the coronal plane and sagittal plane of the lumbar spine, loosening or breakage of internal fixations, the dislocation of intervertebral cages, and interbody fusion were all evaluated in each group. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure lumbar incision pain. The Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system was used to evaluate the function before surgery and at the latest follow-up.

RESULTSNo wound infection or skin necrosis was observed after surgery in all patients. No cerebrospinal fluid leakage, nerve root injury, cauda equia injury or worsened neural function in the lower limb occurred in all patients during and after surgery. Wound length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative wound drainage in the combined fixation group were superior to those in the bilateral fixation group. At postoperative 72 hours, the VAS score in the combined fixation group (1 to 4 points, mean 2.35±1.20) was significantly lower than that in the bilateral fixation group (2 to 5 points, mean 3.11±1.00; P<0.05). All the patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months, with a mean of 29 months. After surgery, intervertebral space height was well recovered in each patient and it was well maintained at the latest follow-up, and there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). During follow-up, pedicle screw and translaminar facet screw loosening, dislocation or breakage and dislocation of intervertebral cages were all not found. At the latest follow-up, the Cobb angle of the coronal plane and sagittal plane of the lumbar spine was obviously improved and was not significantly different between two groups (P>0.05). The lumbar interbody fusion rate was 93.5% and 96.2% in the combined fixation group and bilateral fixation group, respectively, and there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in JOA score between before surgery and at the latest follow-up in each patient (P<0.05), and at the latest follow-up, significant difference in JOA score was found between two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared to bilateral pedicle screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion with cages, unilateral pedicle screw fixation combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion with cages shows advantages including small skin incision, minimal invasion, ease of operation, highly reliable stability, high interbody fusion rate, rapid recovery in the treatment of two-level lumbar vertebra diseases and therefore can be preferred as a treatment method of this disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery

The traditional methods of skeletal age estimation mainly include Numeration, Atlas, and Counting scores. In recent years, other new methods were proposed by several scholars. Utilizing image logical characteristics of X-ray film to extrapolate skeletal age is a key means by present forensic medicine workers in evaluating skeletal age. However, there exist some variations when we present the conclusion of skeletal age as an "evidence" directly to the Justice Trial Authority. In order to enhance the accuracy of skeletal age determination, further investigation for appropriate methodology should be undertaken. After a collective study of pertinent domestic and international literatures, we present this review of the research and advancement on skeletal age evaluation methods of X-ray film.
Age Determination by Skeleton/trends* ; Carpal Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Elbow/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Hand Bones/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Male ; Radius/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods* ; X-Ray Film

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of Aike Mixture (AKM).

METHODSA total of 100 male mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups: a normal control group, a drug control group (a hydrocortisone subgroup and an atropine subgroup), a high-dose AKM group, a mid-dose AKM group and a low-dose AKM group. Xylene was spread on the left ear of the experimental mice to induce inflammation, and 1% acetic acid solution injected into the abdominal cavity to produce pain so as to cause the body bend. Different doses of AKM were given and their actions observed.

RESULTSAKM had obvious anti-inflammatory effect on the xylene-induced ear tumefaction and inhibited the pain-caused body bend in the AKM groups, with significant difference from the normal control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAKM has good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is of clinical significance in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDStent placement has been widely used to assist coiling in cerebral aneurysm treatments. The present study aimed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of stenting on wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.

METHODSThree idealized plexiglass aneurismal models with different geometries before and after stenting were created, and their three-dimensional computational models were constructed. Flow dynamics in stented and unstented aneurismal models were studied using in vitro flow visualization and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. In addition, effects of stenting on flow dynamics in a patient-specific aneurysm model were also analyzed by CFD.

RESULTSThe results of flow visualization were consistent with those obtained with CFD simulations. Stent deployment reduced vortex inside the aneurysm and its impact on the aneurysm sac, and decreased wall shear stress on the sac. Different aneurysm geometries dictated fundamentally different hemodynamic patterns and outcomes of stenting.

CONCLUSIONSStenting across the neck of aneurysms improves local blood flow profiles. This may facilitate thrombus formation in aneurysms and decrease the chance of recanalization.

Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Humans ; Hydrodynamics ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; therapy ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two different surgical approaches combined fixation with lumbar interbody fusion in treating single segmental lumbar vertebra diseases.

METHODSThe clinical data of 86 patients with single segmental lumbar vertebra diseases treated from June 2011 to June 2013 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 33 males and 53 females, aged from 28 to 76 years old with an average of 53.0 years. Among them, there were 39 cases of lumbar disc degeneration, 22 cases of lumbar disc herniation complicated with spinal canal stenosis, 9 cases of huge lumbar disc herniation and 16 cases of lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (Meyerding degree I ). Lesion sites contained L3, 4 in 5 cases, L4, 5 in 70 cases and L5S1 in 11 cases. All the patients were treated with internal fixation and lumbar interbody fusion with 45 cases by midline incision approach (median incision group) and the other 41 cases by channel-assisted by muscle-splitting approach(channel group). Incision length, operation time, intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage were recorded in two groups. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to assess lumbar incision pain 72 h after operation. Depended on imaging results to compare the changes of the disc space height in lesion in preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up, the coronal and sagittal Cobb angle in preoperative and final follow-up, the area of multifidus and the degree of multifidus fat deposition before and after operation between two groups. Loosening or fragmentation of internal fixation, displacement of intervertebral cage and interbody fusion were observed in each group. Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system was used to evaluate the function before operation and at the final follow-up.

RESULTSThe channel group was superior to the median incision group in incision length and postoperative drainage while the median incision group was less than the channel group in the operation time and intraoperative bleeding. The average VAS score of lumbar incision 72 h after operation was 1.50 points in median incision group and 0.97 points in channel group, and there was significant difference between two groups(<0.05). No incision infection was found, but there were 4 cases of incisional epidermal necrosis, 1 case of incision healed badness, and 3 cases of nerve injury in channel group. The incidence of cacothesis of pedicle screw were 5.0% and 3.6% in median incision group and channel group respectively, and there was no significant difference between two groups(>0.05). The incidence of cacothesis of translaminar facet screw were 6.6% and 12.2% in median incision group and channel group respectively, and there was significant difference between two groups(<0.05). All the patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months with a mean of 22.8 months. The changes of disc space height had statistical difference between preoperative and postoperative(<0.05) in all patients, but there was no significant difference between postoperative and final follow-up(>0.05), however, there was no significant difference 3 days after operation and final follow-up between two groups(>0.05). At final follow-up, coronal and sagittal Cobb angle were obviously improved in all patients(<0.05), but there was no significant difference between two groups(>0.05). One year after operation, the area of multifidus in median incision group was (789.00±143.15) mm² less than preoperative(1 066.00±173.55) mm² (<0.05), and in channel group, was(992.00±156.75) mm² at 1 year after operation and(1 063.00±172.13) mm² preoperatively, there was no significant difference between them(>0.05), however, there was significant difference one year after operation between two groups (<0.05) . About the degree of multifidus fat deposition, there was significant difference between one year after operation and preoperation in median incision group (<0.05), but there was no significant difference between one year after operation and preoperation in channel group (>0.05), and there was significant difference at one year after operation between two groups(<0.05). During the follow-up period, neither pedicle screw and/or translaminar facet screw loosening, displacement or fragmentation nor displacement of intervertebral cage were found. The lumbar interbody fusion rate was 95.6% in median incision group and was 95.1% in channel group, and there was no significant difference between two groups(>0.05). No obvious adjacent segmental degeneration was observed in fixed position. JOA score in median incision group was significantly increased from 8-16 points (average: 12.77±2.56) preoperative to 21-29 points (average: 25.20±2.43) at final follow-up(<0.05); and in channel group was significantly increased from 8-16 points (average: 12.64±2.37) preoperative to 23-29 points(average: 26.7±1.82) at final follow-up(<0.05); there was also significant difference between two groups at final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSCompared to the median incision approach, unilateral pedicle screw combined with contralateral translaminar facet screw fixation using channel-assisted by muscle-splitting approach has advantages of small incision, less trauma, fast recovery and so on. However, it also has shortages such as high surgical complications incidence, especially in cases that.

Objective:To observe the effect of forsythiaside A on gastrointestinal motility disorder induced by chemotherapy in mice， and explore the mechanism of forsythiaside A regulating gastrointestinal motility. Method:The 60 KM mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， metoclopramide group （5 mg·kg^-1） and forsythiaside A low， medium and high-dose groups （30， 60， 120 mg·kg^-1）， 10 for each group， which include half male and half female. The above dose was given once a day for 4 consecutive days， which the intragastric volume was 10 mL·kg^-1. One hour after 1^rd day administration， equal volume of saline was intraperitoneally injected to the normal group， 2 mg·kg^-1 cisplatin was intraperitoneally injected to the other groups with daily for 4 consecutive days. Observing the effects of forsythiaside A on gastric emptying and small intestinal propulsion on mice models， serum gastrin （GAS） and somatostatin （SS）， motilin （MTL）， vasoactive intestinal peptide （VIP） levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Activities of acetylcholinesterase （AChE） and total nitric oxide synthase （tNOS） in gastric antrum and ileum were detected by ELISA. The expression of AChE and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） in gastric antrum and ileum were detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with normal group， the gastric retention rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of the model group were significantly increased （P<0.01）， serum levels of MTL， GAS， SS and VIP， the AChE activity in the homogenate of ileum in the model group were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while the tNOS activities in gastric antrum and ileum were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Protein expression of AChE in gastric antrum and ileum were significantly decreased （P<0.05）， and the expression level of iNOS protein was significantly increased in the model group （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， different doses of forsythiaside A can reduce the gastric residual rate and small intestinal propulsion rate of mice to varying degrees. Meanwhile forsythiaside A can increase the serum levels of MTL， GAS， SS， and VIP， and the AChE activity and protein expression levels in gastric antrum and ileum tissues were also increased， while tNOS activity and iNOS protein expression were decreased in gastric antrum and ileum （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Conclusion:Forsythiaside A can significantly ameliorate the delayed gastric emptying and small intestine hyperfunction induced by cisplatin in mice. Its mechanism to ameliorate gastrointestinal dysfunction caused by chemotherapy is related to the regulation of gastrointestinal AChE and NOS activity in gastric antrum and ileum and the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone levels.