Objective To establish a TLC method of identification for Tangfuping Capsule. Methods Mulberry leaf, Ginseng, Bee glue in Tangfuping Capsule were identified by TLC. Results Mulberry leaf, Ginseng, Bee glue in Tangfuping Capsule could be identified by TLC. Conclusion The method is simple and sensitive with strong specificity and reproducibility, and can be used for the quality control of Tangfuping Capsule.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the characteristics of patients on long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). MethodsPatients who started PD since 1994 and received PD for at least one year were included in this study. According to dialysis duration, patients were divided into two groups. Group A (long-term) was defined as patients survived on PD for more than 5 years. Group B (short-term) was defined as patients who died or switched to bemodialysis within less than 5 years. Demography, biochemical indexes, dialysis prescription and adequacy were compared between two groups. ResultsThere were 68 patients in group A and 98 patients in group B. Mean followed-up period of group A and B was (84.80±19.42) months and (27.25±12.31) months, respectively. Younger, fewer episodes of diabetic comorbidity (group A 3/68 vs group B 18/98, P ＜0.05) and coronary heart disease (group A 6/68 vs group B 22/98, P＜0.05) were found in group A. Compared to group B, the level of serum albumin at the beginning of PD was much higher in group A [(35.56±4.74) g/L vs (33.69±5.45) g/L, P＜0.01). The levels of blood sugar, TC, TG, hemoglobin, calcium, phosphate and iPTH were not significantly different between two groups. Estimated GFR, renal Kt/V and renal Ccr at the beginning of dialysis were much higher in group A, however there was no significant difference in urinary volume between two groups. Both estimated GFR and urinary volume decreased more slowly in group A compared to group B. Peritonitis mobidity was lower in group A (1/81.22 months vs 1/29.03 months, P＜0.01). Conclusions In comparison to short-term survivors, long-term PD patients are characterized by being younger, less diabetic and coronary heart disease, fewer episodes of peritonitis, higher level of serum albumin, higher estimated GFR and less loss of residual renal function.

This paper is aimed to microscopic identification of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) using an in situ imaging method. In this study, two kinds of Zingiberaceae seeds, Amomi Rotundus Fructus and Alpiniae Katsumadai Semen, were investigated by synchrotron radiation in-line X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (IXPCT) imaging method. The results showed that the microstructures of these Zingiberaceae seeds could be clearly obtained from the virtual slices information in different observing angles. It proves that IXPCT is an effective imaging method, which can provide the imaging information for the microscopic identification of the intact TCMs in situ and non-destructively.
Amomum ; cytology ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Seeds ; cytology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the changes of reactive oxygen species(ROS) level and mitochondria fission-fusion-balance in cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis and reveal the correlation between these two factors. Methods One hundred and twenty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(control group, low-dose fluorosis group, high-dose fluorosis group) and 40 rats were in each group according to body weight and the experiments were carried out for 3 months or 6 months. The rats were fed with different concentrations of fluoride (NaF) to establish fluorosis models. Controls were fed with tap water( < 0.5 mg/L), experimental animals in low- or high-dose group were fed with water containing NaF 10.0,50.0 mg/L, respectively. The level of ROS and the morphology in mitochondria fission-fusion balance in neurons of the cortex of rat brains prepared with cortical frozen sections were detected with ROS fluorescent probe and MitoTracker RED probe, respectively. Results Significant differences of the level of ROS and the numbers of abnormal mitochondria in morphology in the cortical neurons were found between 3 groups at the experiment period of 3 month and 6 month(F= 3.07,3.06,3.05,3.07, all P < 0.05). As compared with control group(10.43 ± 5.98,4.12 ± 3.86) at the experiment period of 3 month, the level of ROS and the numbers of abnormal mitochondria in morphology in the cortical neurons were obviously increased in high-dose fluorosis group(25.48 ± 6.09,20.47 ± 6.09, all P < 0.05), whereas no significant changes were found in low-dose fluorosis group(11.67 ± 3.49,6.68 ± 3.48, all P> 0.05). Furthermore, the increases in both ROS level and abnormal numbers of mitochondria were significant observed in the cortical neurons of low-dose fluorosis group (63.02 ± 8.15, 49.33 ± 8.61) and high-dose fluorosis group(65.60 ± 7.40,53.10 ± 6.95) as compared with the control group (25.26 ± 6.41,20.26 ± 6.41) at the experimental period of 6 month (all P < 0.05). The abnormal numbers of mitochondria correlated with ROS level(r = 0.93,0.81, all P < 0.05). Conclusions Taking excessive amount of fluoride results in high level of oxidative stress and impaired the balance of mitochondrial fission-fusion,which is dependent on the feeding times and doses of fluoride. The mechanism of the mitochondrial abnormalities might be associated with the high level of oxidative stress induced by chronic fluorosis.

Thirteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Crepis crocea by column chromatographies on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis as tectorone I (1), 8β- (2-methyl- 2-hydroxy-3-oxobutanoyloxy) -glucozaluzanin C (2), tectoroside (3), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (4), cosmosiin (5), esculetin (6), 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (7), trans-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (8), Caffeic acid (9), methyl p-hydroxyphenyllactate (10), ethylp- hydroxyphenyllactate (11), cis-3,4-dihydroxy-β-ionion (12). All the compounds, except for compounds 4 and 9, were isolated from this plant for the first time, and tectorone I (1) is a new natural product.
Crepis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypoglycemia ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Hypothalamus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuropeptides ; metabolism ; Orexins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the potential association between 163A/G and 950T/C polymorphisms of osteoprotegerin(OPG)gene and severe pre-eclampsia.Methods Eighty-five severe preeclamptic patients and 81 normal term pregnant women(as control group)were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,West China Second University Hospital,Sichuan University during the period from July 2007 to March 2009,and they were all Han population living in Chengdu,China.Genotype and allele frequencies of 163A/G and 950T/C were determined by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP)assay.Clinical and biochemical parameters for different alleles between the patients and controls were compared for statistical significance respectively,such as blood pressure,serum creatinine and 24-hour urine protein.Results The observed and expected genotype counts were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.No significant differences were found in the genotype and allele frequencies of 163A/G and 950T/C polymorphisms between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05).However,in the preeclamptic group,serum creatinine was significantly higher in women with the AG + GG genotypes [(76 ±24)μmol/L]compared with AA genotype[(56 ± 18)μmol/L].Reversely,birth weight was lower in the AG + GG genotypes[(2040 ± 721)g]than those in the AA genotype[(2520 ± 810)g],and the P ＜0.05,respectively.In the severe pre-eclampsia,950T/C TT genotype carriers exhibited significantly higher systolic blood pressure[(153 ± 16)mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)]and 24-hour urine protein [(4.0±2.5)g]compared with TT + TC carriers[(145 ±17)mm Hg,(2.9±1.8)g],respectively,furthermore the P ＜ 0.05.Conclusions In severe pre-eclampsia,carriers with G allele at position 163A/G has more genetic predisposition than A allele carriers,as well as 950T/C T allele carriers compared with C carriers.Taken together,this study suggested that OPG gene polymorphisms might be associated with some clinical parameters of severe pre-eclampsia.

Objective To discuss the clinical characteristics and treatment of upper cervical spine injuries in the elderly. Methods A retrospective study was done on clinical data of 28 elderly patients ( > 60 years old) with upper cervical spine injuries treated from January 2003 to December 2007. There were 20 males and 8 females, at age range of 60-86 years (mean 68.1 years). Injury causes included slip in 16 patients, traffic injury in eight and fall from height in four. Atlas fractures occurred in five patients and axis ones in 15,of which there were eight patients with odontoid fractures, six with C2 vertebral arch fractures and one with C2 body fractures. Upper cervical spine injury was combined with lower cervical spine injuries in five patients. There were combined atlantoaxial injuries including odontoid fractures combined with lateral atlas fracture in one and edontoid fractures combined with anterior atlas arch fracture in one. Atlantoaxial dislocation occurred in one patient and combined spinal injury in four. Of all, eight patients were treated conservatively, eight with open surgical operation and 12 with minimally invasive surgery. Results The average hospital stay was 16.5 days, with no statistical difference be-tween conservative treatment group and open surgical operation group ( P > 0.05 ). While the average hos-pital stay in minimally invasive surgery group was shorter than that in conservative treatment and open sur-gical operation groups ( P < 0.05 ). Of all, two patients in conservative treatment group and one in open surgical operation group died and the other 25 patients were followed up for average 16.8 months (9-56 months). The satisfaction rate was 50% in conservative treatment group, 72% in open surgical operation group and 75% in minimally invasive surgery group. Complications occurred in four patients in conserva-tive treatment group, three in open surgical operation group and two in minimally invasive surgery group. Conclusions With odontoid fracture the most common injury type, upper cervical spine injuries arema-inly caused by low-energy force and characterized by low mobidity of spinal cord injuries and high possi-bility of missed diagnosis in the elderly patients. The surgical treatment especially minimally invasive surgery can bring good results compared with conservative methods.

Objective To explore the normal range of the caudate nucleus' volume in Chinese adults of the Han nationality and provide morphological data for the construction of database for Chinese Standard Brain.Methods This was a clinical multi-center study.One thousand Chinese healthy volunteers (age range=18 to 70)recruited from 16 hospitals were divided into 5 groups,i.e.,Group A(age range=18 to 30),B(age range=31 to 40),C(age range=41 to 50),D(age range=51 to 60),and E(age range=61 to 70).Each group contained 100 males and 100 females.All of the volunteers were scanned by MR using T1 weighted three-dimensional magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo sequence.The volume of eaudate was measured manually using 3D volume analysis software.The difierence of volumes of the eaudate between male and female were analyzed by independent sample t-test,and among age groups by ANOVA.Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to characterize the relationship between volunles and age.The differences of measurements between left and right caudate nucleus were analyzed by paired t test.Results (1)rnle mean volume of bilateral caudate nucleus in healthy Chinese adults wag(10.973±1.647)cm3.The mean volume of the the male's left and right caudate nucleus were(5.656±0.860)and (5.671±0.855)cm3 respectively,no significant differences were found between the volume of left and right eaudate nucleus(t=1.230.P>0.05).The mean volume of the the female's left and right eaudate nucleus were(5.287±0.774)and(5.331±0.766)cm3 respectively,and the right's wag larger than the left's with significant differences(t=3.999,P<0.01);(2)Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the nucleus volume and age(male and female's,left and fight)(r=-0.561,-0.568,-0.548,-0.552,P<0.05).Conclusion With high-resolution MRI and 3D volumetric analytic software(Midob),the volume of the caudate nucleus can be accurately measured,so as to provide the basic data for establishing Chinese adults' standard digital brain.and provide nomad control standards for caudate nucleus volume-related diseases.

Objective To describe the clinical characteristics of a patient with Gitelman syndrome,and to identify the associated SLC12A3 gene mutations.Methods A suspected case of teenager-onset Gitelman syndrome was observed in our hospital.It was further confirmed by clinical manifestations and auxiliary examination.In addition,direct sequencing for the exons of SLC12A3 gene and CLCNKB gene region was conducted to identify the probable disease-associated mutations.Results The case showed characteristics of hypokalemia,hypomagnesemia,and low level of urinary calcium and onset by age of 18.By excluding the possibilities of long-term use of thiazide diuretics,laxatives,chronic vomiting and diarrhea,he was finally diagnosed as a case of Gitelman syndrome.Furthermore,by Sanger direct sequencing,2 coding variations were identified in SLC12A3 gene region,including T304M and L488P.L488P was a new heterozygous mutation.Conclusion Detection of SLC12A3 gene mutation could facilitate the diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome and improve prognosis.