OBJECTIVE: To analyze 113 patients with drug-induced liver disease(DILD) so as to clinically validate the international generally-accepted diagnostic criteria.METHODS: 113 DILD cases were reviewed and categorized according to international generally-accepted diagnostic criteria and then graded separately by Maria clinical scale and DDW-J scale to analyze the correlations.RESULTS: 113 out of 822 patients with liver diseases were DILD(13.7%),among whom 17 were of hepatocellular type(15.0%),92 cholestasis type(81.5%) and 4 mixed type(3.5%).Application of Maria clinical scale and DDW-J scale led to different number of DILD cases diagnosed.DILD were mostly induced by antihyperlipidemic drugs and immunosuppressants followed by anticoagulant drugs.CONCLUSION: DDW-J scale,which is more close to clinical diagnostic criteria,contributed to the standardization of the diagnostic criteria of DILD,yet it has its limitations as well.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Swimming

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Guanidines ; analysis ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Threshold Limit Values ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution features of Chinese medical constitutions in different ages population, thus providing scientific evidence of constitution process theory.

METHODSRecruited were 21 948 cases from a survey of Chinese medical constitutions and health conditions in 9 provinces or municipalities across China (including Jiangsu, Anhui, Gansu, Qinghai, Fujian, Beijing, Jilin, Jiangxi, and Henan) from Dec 2005 to Jan 2007. The body constitution type of individual was diagnosed using discriminant analysis on the basis of Chinese medical constitution questionnaire. By using correspondence analysis, the correlation between the general population, genders, ages, and Chinese medical constitution types was studied.

RESULTSConstitutions of yin-deficiency type, wetness-heat type, qi-depression type, and special diathesis type often occurred in the population ranging 15 -24 years old. Gentleness type mostly occurred in the population ranging 25 -44 years old. During this time period, phlegm-wetness type and wetness-heat type were liable to occur in males, while blood-stasis type was liable to occur in females. Qi-deficiency type and yang-deficiency type were most often seen in those older than 45 years. Phlegm-wetness type and blood-stasis type body constitution were also liable to occur in those older than 45 years.

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution features were different in different Chinese medical constitutions. Different constitution types exist in different genders. Different constitution types exist different ages population.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Constitution ; China ; Discriminant Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Qingzhen Decoction (QZD) on measles.

METHODSAdopting the randomizing digital table, 62 patients with measles were assigned to two groups, 32 in the treated group and 30 in the control group. All patients were treated with routine therapy, but QZD was given to the treated group additionally for 5 days. Changes of clinical symptoms, blood routine and liver function before and after treatment were observed, and the medical cost was calculated.

RESULTSAfter the 5-day treatment, the normalization rate of irritative cough in the treated and the control group was 88.9% (24/27) and 56.0% (14/25) respectively, that of conjunctival congestion was 90.0% (27/30) and 65.5% (19/29) respectively, showing significant differences between groups (P<0.05). The liver function normalization rate in the two groups was 28.6% (2/7) and 25.0% (2/8), and the average medical cost yen 740.7 and yen 749.3, respectively. The total effective rate in the two groups was 96.9% and 93.3% respectively, showing insignificant difference between groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONQZD could actively improve the respiratory symptoms like irritative cough and the inflammatory symptoms of eye like conjunctival congestion in patients with measles.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Measles ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

The study is aimed to explore a rapid method to extract DNA from fried Chinese medicinal products. The alkaline lysis buffer was made of sodium hydroxide, 1% PVP and 1% TritonX-100 and Tris-HCl solution was neutralized, through heat cracking and neutralization two step to extract DNA from processed and prepared products of traditional Chinese medicine. Then universal primes were used to amplify PCR products for fired Chinese medicinal materials. The results indicated the optimized alkaline lysis method for extracting DNA is quick and easy. Extracting of the different processed Sophora japonica of DNA concentration was (420.61 ± 123.91) g x L(-1). Using 5% Chelex-100 resin purification can improve the DNA concentration. Our results showed that the optimized alkaline lysis method is suitable for Chinese medicinal materials for quickly DNA extraction.
Alkalies ; chemistry ; Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hydrolysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sophora ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ursolic acid (UA) on the alloxan-induced myocardial fibrosis in mice and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of alloxan (70 mg/kg, i.v.) in mice. The mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, ursolic acid group (UA, 35 mg/kg, p.o.) and benazepril group (5 mg/kg, p. o.), and continuous administrated for 8 weeks. The blood glucose was measured 24 hours after the last administration. Detected the specific biochemical of myocardial tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyproline(HYP). Using masson staining to observe the morphology of the myocardial tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of TGF-beta1.

RESULTSCompared to normal group, the blood glucose, heart index, myocardial tissue MDA, HYP level were increased, and SOD activities were decreased in the diabetic mice, Masson stain showed that myocardial cells disarranged, myocardial collagen fibrosis hyperplasia. Meanwhile, the protein expression of TGF-beta1 was increased in model group. The UA group improved all the above significantly.

CONCLUSIONUA improves the myocardial collagen fibrosis in diabetic mice induced by alloxan, its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and antioxidation.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibrosis ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective To establish the xenotransplanted tumor model of Craniopharyngioma in chick chorioallan?toic membrane (CAM) and detect the angiogenesis ability, microvessel density (MVD) and cell proliferation of the xeno?graft. Method Craniopharyngioma tissues from surgical craniopharyngioma patients were transplanted on the CAM. An?giogenesis assay was performed and the MVD and PCNA were evaluated using immunohistochemistry following the trans?plantation. Results The tumor formation rate of adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) and squamous papillary cra?niopharyngioma (SPCP) was 47.14% and 43.33%, respectively. There was no significant difference in tumor formation rate between ACP and SPCP(χ2=0.123,P=0.726). The CAM angiogenesis, MVD and expression of PCNA were higher in ACP than in SPCP. The expression of PCNA was positively correlated with MVD (Pearson r=0.639,P<0.001) and CAM assay score (Spearman r=0.490,P=0.001 ) in CP. Conclusion The model of human craniopharyngioma can be es?tablished in the CAM. The angiogenesis of the xenograft in the CAM can be evaluated and the craniopharyngioma xeno?graft of CAM possesses a new blood circulation and cell proliferation ability.

Objective To investigate the contribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)variation in folate metabolism pathway genes and its interaction with environmental risk factors to the etiology of NTD. Methods In 275 families from central China, a total of 278 aborted fetal tissues or blood samples were collected from NTD individuals, 478 maternal and/or paternal blood samples were also obtained as controls. Folate supplementation, maternal diabetes mellitus and medication before pregnancy and during the first trimester of pregnancy were investigated. SNP analyses of all samples were performed by CEQ 8800. Case-parent control study and transmission/disequilibrium tests (TDT) were performed according to environmental cofactors stratification to evaluated 28 SNP in 12 folate pathway genes associated with human NTD. Results Only gene MTHFR rs1801133 was significantly associated with NTD, and synergistic effects of environmental risk factors (no folate supplementation and maternal diabetes) were shown on the occurrence of NTD. Linkage disequilibrium between BHMT rs3733890 and NTD existed in case of no folate supplementation,whereas the genotype alone did not contribute to the etiology of NTD. Other SNP were not significantly associated with NTD. Conclusions MTHFR rs1801133 is a risk factor of NTD, but BHMT rs3733890 is not an independent risk factor. Further investigations in folate and methionine cycle genes are requird in larger scale to enclose the interactions between gene and gene, or gene and environmental factors.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,it has been shown in studies that regulation of the expression of Has1 is very important to maintain neural stem cells and regulate its differentiation during the development of embryonic nervous system.Moreover,upregulation of Hes1 expression is required for quiescent adult flbroblasts resuming proliferation.This indicates that there is a close relationship between Hes1 and some potential stem cells in adult.Therefore,the study of Hes1 expression in neural stem cells and its relationship with adult neurogenasis is put on the agenda.However,the expression of Hes1 in adult brain is still not clear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of Hea1 in adult mouse brain and the cell types of Has1 positive cells.METHODS:Totally 12 adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly evenly divided into two groups by using the random number table.For the first group,the mouse brain was removed directly and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of Has1 in the adult mouse brain.For the second group,Brdu was injected intraperitoneally to every mouse with a dosage of 200 mg/kg,once a day,for 3 days.The mouse brain was removed at 4 days and then double staining was carded out to observe and analysis the cell types of Hes1 positive cells in hippocampus.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hes1 was expressed in all the observed anatomical site where neural cells exist,Brdu positive cells nearly all expressed Hea1,NeuN positive cells all expressed Has1,whereas GFAP positive cells did not express Hes1 completely.Hes1 was expressed in all neurons and neural stem cells,and glial cells did not express Hes1.