Objective Define the association of the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) gene single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) Ala22/72Ser with schizophrenia(SCZ) in Northern Han population.Methods In 506 SCZ patients,the genotype of Ala22/72Ser of COMT gene was sequenced and typing by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-sequencing;the severity of psychiatric symptoms of SCZ patients was scaled by positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS);the expression of COMT gene was determined by Real-Time PCR.Results In SCZ patients,the overall score of positive scale and general psychopathology scale were significantly increased in Ser and Ser/Ala carriers(P

This study aimed to investigate viral infections and the prevalence of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Shijiazhuang, China, in 2011 and to provide a scientific basis for the diagnosis and control of respiratory tract infections. Throat swab specimens were collected from 483 cases of ILI who were outpatients in the influenza surveillance sentinel hospitals in Shijiazhuang between January and December 2011. All specimens were examined by multiplex RT-PCR for the following 15 respiratory tract viruses: adenovirus (ADV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (PIV types 1-4), influenza virus A (FluA), influenza virus B (FluB), human enterovirus (HEV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV-A and -B), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV-229E/NL63 and -OC43/HKU1), and human bocavirus (HBoV). Among the 483 cases of ILI, 214 (44.31%) were positive for viruses, including ADV (8.7%), HEV (8.7%), RSV-A (8.07%), HRV (7.45%), FluA (5.38%), HCoV-OC43/ HKU1 (2.9%), PIV-3 (2.9%), HMPV (1.86%), PIV-1 (1.24%), HCoV-229E/NL63 (1.04%), PIV-2 (1.04%), HBoV (0.83%), and FluB (0.41%). Twenty-six (5.38%) of all cases were co-infected with two or more viruses, most commonly HEV/HRV with other viruses. Cases of viral infection were detected throughout the year, with peaks in January and February. ADV and HRV were detected throughout almost the whole year without obvious seasonality. HEV was detected between April and November, with a peak of prevalence in summer and autumn. FluA and FluB reached epidemic levels mainly in winter and spring. All cases of RSV were identified to be subtype A. PIV infection was mainly caused by PIV-3. The positive rate of HCoV-OC43/HKU1 infection was significantly higher than that of HCoV-229E/NL63. The leading five viruses that resulted in ILI Shijiazhuang in 2011 were HEV, ADV, RSV-A, HRV, and FluA, and these viruses have different epidemiological features.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Virus Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Viruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in primary hepatocellular carcinoma, in cancer surrounding tissues and normal liver tissue and its relationship with clinical pathological features.Methods:The expression of COX-2 was detected in 30 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, 20 cases of cancer surrounding tissue and 10 normal liver tissue by flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (SP). The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.Results:(1)The expression of COX-2 in the HCC tissue was significantly higher than in cancer surrounding tissues and normal liver tissue (P0.05).Conclusion:The hyperexpression of COX-2 in tissue can reflex the biological behavior of HCC,and have very important role in the development of HCC.The specificness of COX-2 protein expression make it to be new target of tumor diagnosis and treatment.These results provide a theoretical basis for the chemoprevention of hepatoma.

Objective:To study the expression of COX-2 and Survivin in HCC tissues and their relationship for supplying experimental evidence for gene diagnosis and treatment of HCC.Methods:The expression of COX-2 and Survivin was detected in 30 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 10 normal liver tissue by Flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemistry (SP).Results:Two experimental methods showed that the positive expression of COX-2 and Survivin in HCC was significanly higher than that in normal liver tissue and there was significanly positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and Survivin.Conclusion:The hyper-expression of COX-2 and Survivin in tissue can reflex the biological behavior of HCC and there are synergistic effect between them during the development of HCC.A possible mechanism is inhibition of tumor cell apoptosis through upregulating Survivin by COX-2,and promoting abnormal cell proliferation in development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To summarize and analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Omicron variant cases in makeshift hospital, and the influence of age, sex and vaccination status on the disease duration, so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases admitted to makeshift hospital of National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) from April 9 to May 31, 2022 were retrospectively described and analyzed, and further cohort analysis was conducted to determine the influence of age, sex and vaccination status on the disease duration of COVID-19 cases in the author's branch hospital. Results Among the 174 466 COVID-19 cases in makeshift hospital, most of them were male, accounting for 59.38%. The infected cases were mainly young and middle-aged people aged 18-59 years old, accounting for 83.50%, followed by 12.30% of the elderly group over 60 years old; the average hospital stay was 7.40 days; the proportion of patients with fever was less than 27.79%; 15.37% (26 817/174 466) of the patients complicated with underlying diseases, and the top three were hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease. The proportion of people who received COVID-19 vaccine accounted for 79.56% (13 799/17 956), of which the highest proportion of three doses was 44.09%. The disease duration of 17 956 COVID-19 cases in the author's branch of makeshift hospital was 10.18 (7.34, 13.05) days. The disease duration in the elderly group was the longest with 11.34 (8.35, 14.37) days, followed by 11.17 (9.07, 14.33) days in the preschool group, 10.37 (8.14, 13.34)· days in the middle-aged group, 10.07 (7.37, 12.37) days in the school-age group, and 9.34 (7.05, 12.16) days in the young group. There was significant difference in the overall distribution of disease duration among the five groups (H=550.479 P<0.01). The disease duration in each age group basically showed a V-shaped distribution. The disease duration was 10.27 (7.34, 12.57) days in males and 10.10 (7.25, 13.09) days in females, and there was no significant difference (Z=-1.505 P>0.05). The disease duration of vaccinated patients was 10.24 (7.35, 13.05) days, and that of unvaccinated patients was 9.47 (7.09, 12.47) days. There was significant difference between the two groups (Z=-4.338 P<0.01). Conclusions COVID-19 Omicron variant cases have a high proportion of males, mainly young and middle-aged, and the proportion of fever patients is less than 30%. The disease duration is significantly lower than that of the original strain in Wuhan, and shows "V" distribution with each age group. Sex had no effect on the disease duration. COVID-19 vaccination did not have a clinical effect on the disease duration.

Objective To investigate the clinical,electroencephalogram (EEG) and genetic features of nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) in the Chinese population.Methods Clinical examination,EEG recording,mutation screenings in transmembrane domains 1-3 of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α4 (CHRNA4),β2 (CHRNB2) and α2 (CHRNA2) using PCR amplification and sequencing were carried out on 6 patients and some members in 3 families with NFLE.Results Among 6 patients (5 male) with NFLE,the mean age was (20.5±11.5) years and the mean age at onset was (7.3±5.5) years.Clinical features included seizures of dystonic posturing in 2 patients and seizures of hyperkinetic movements in 4 patients with the maximum frequency of 6 seizures within one night.The ictal and interictal video-EEG (VEEG) of frontal lobes showed epileptic discharges,slow wave activity,normal activity or electrode artifacts.There weren' t abnormity in other clinical examination and neuroimagings.No mutations were identified in the genes screened.Conclusion NFLE is a heterogenetic epilepsy syndrome.

Objective To provide scientific evidence for the effectiveness of upper limb training after stroke.Methods Surface electromyograms (sEMGs) of the triceps braehii and biceps brachii were recorded in stroke patients during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC).A total of 18 patients with hemiparesis were studied.During the elbow's MIVC,flexor and extensor peak torque were measured,and sEMGs of the biceps and tri- ceps brachii were recorded.Results During MIVC,the biceps braehius of the intact side registered a stronger EMG than that of the affected side when the elbow flexed,but the differenees in the triceps braehii readings were not significant.The triceps bracbius of the intact side gave a stronger iEMG than the affected side when the elbow extend- ed,but the iEMG form the biceps brachius of the affeeted side was higher than that of the intact side.The co-contrac- tion ratio (CCR) of the triceps brachius on the affected side was higher than that of the intact side.Though there was a tendency for the CCR of the biceps brachius on the affected side to be higher than the intact side,any difference was not statistically significant.For both flexor and extensor MIVC,the peak torque on the affected side was lower than that of the intact side.Conclusions Elbow spastieity in hemiplegic patients is mainly attributable to the flexor muscles.In the rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke,it is important when training extensor strength to inhibit co-contraction of the antagonistic muscle.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of momordica charantia polysaccharides(MCP)on depressive animal model induced by chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)and explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS We established CSDS depressant mouse model and treated CSDS mice with MCP.Sucrose preference,forced swim test(FST)and social interaction test(SIT)were used to measure behaviors changes.We used ELISA,Q-PCR and western blot to test the levels of cytokines in the hippocampus. RESULTS The results showed that chronic administration of MCP(100,200 and 400 mg·kg-1)significantly prevented depressive-like behaviors in mice as assessed by social interaction (SIT), tail suspension (TST) and sucrose preference tests (SPT).It was showed that the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-β)concentra-tions,up-regulation of JNK3,c-Jun,and P-110β protein expressions in the hippocampus of CSDS model. Moreover,reduction activity of PI3K and phosphorylation level of protein kinase B(AKT)was also observed in the hippocampus of CSDS model.All above phenomenon were reversed after MCP intervened.Further-more,the protective effects of MCP on the CSDS mice were partly inhibited by the specific phosphati-dylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)inhibitor, LY294002. CONCLUSION The protective effects of MCP against depressive-like effects in CSDS mice might reduce neuroinflammatory and involve in attenuation of JNK3/PI3K/AKT pathway in the hippocampus.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of arecoline on hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats and to elucidate its possible mechanism.

METHODSForty five Wistar rats were fed with high fructose diet for 12 weeks to induce type 2 diabetic rat model. rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control group, model group and model group were treated with different dose (0, 0.5, 1, 5 mg/kg) of arecoline. After 4 weeks, the fasting blood glucose, blood lipid and insulin level measured , mRNA expression of liver constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR), glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the protein expression of p-AKT and glucose transporter4 (GLUT4) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS1.5 mg/kg arecoline could significantly decrease the level of fasting blood glucose, blood lipid, blood insulin level and liver G6Pase, PEPCK, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA level in type 2 diabetes rats. 1.5 mg/kg arecoline also could significantly increase CAR, PXR mRNA level and p-AKT and GLUT4 protein expression.

CONCLUSIONArecoline improved hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes rats by increasing the mRNA levels of CAR and PXR leading to the creased glucose metabolism and inflammation related genes expression.

Animals ; Arecoline ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism ; Receptors, Steroid ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The existing processing methods, commercial specification and grades, and the marketing of Coptidis Rhizoma were systematical researched, referring to ancient, modern and contemporary medical literatures with the combination of our fieldwork on main origins of Coptidis Rhizoma and some herbs markets. Results showed that Coptidis Rhizoma processing methods mainly included sun-dried method and baked method anciently. For now, the processing methods become various, including thin paper-covering under the sun drying, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying. In the literatures, the main chemical constituent berberine was determined of its content to analyze the processing methods, finding that the sun drying and baked drying affect the berberine content, so the temperature must be controlled when drying. The thin paper-covering drying method is so cumbersome for large quantities of medicinal herbs and in wind conditions that it has been eliminated. Eventually, direct drying, oven drying and microflame-fry drying are chosen to the large-scale socialized production for their convenient and simple operation, making up the current main processing methods. Coptidis Rhizoma products have 3 specifications of Weilian, Yalian, Yunlian, of each specification there are 2 levels, but in fact the market of Weilian commodities overtakes the Yunlian, which only sold in parts of Yunnan, and the no-sale Yalian. The mainstream commercial Weilian are often sold in general way, gradeless and uniformly-priced. There are regional differences of the processing methods on Coptidis Rhizoma, which needs unified research and development of relevant standard operating procedures to ensure the quality of medicine, urgently. Coptidis Rhizoma product specifications and the intrinsic quality-grade correlation need to be further improved, which could provide a more reliable standard for quality at competitive prices, and it is recommended that "medicinal commercial specification and grade standard" content be increased into the Herbs part of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhizome ; chemistry