Aim To study the protective effect of total extract of astragalus(TEA) on primary rat hepatocytes injured by CCl4 or H2O2 and its mechanism.Methods The primary hepatocytes were isolated by Ⅳ collaganase and injured by CCl4 or H2O2.The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathion(GSH),glutathion peroxidase(GSHpx) activity of hepatocytes and the AST and /or ALT level in cultural supernatant were determined by general methods. Results (1) The elevation of MDA content of hepatocytes and AST level in supernatant of cultural hepatocytes,and the loss of GSH content and GSHpx activity induced by CCl4 were restored remarkably by TEA(5～80 mg?L-1);(2)The elevation of ALT level in the supernatant of hepatocytes and MDA content of hepatocytes, and the loss of GSH content and GSHpx activity induced by H2O2 were improved significantly by TEA(5～80 mg?L-1) treatment.Conclusion The results suggest that TEA possess direct protective action on primary hepatocyte in vitro injured by CCl4 or H2O2. These might be associated with its anti-oxidative activity.

Objective To investigate the role of rheumatoid factor(RF) ,C‐reactive protein(CRP) ,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) .Methods 74 RA patients and 90 patients with symptoms similar to RA were recruited in the study randomly .Blood samples were detected for the levels of RF ,CRP ,ESR .The results were compared between two groups .Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was used to access the diagnostic efficiency .Results The levels of RF , CRP ,ESR of RA group were (271 .4 ± 560 .9)IU/mL ,(28 .7 ± 35 .6)mg/L ,(60 .9 ± 40 .1)mm/h ,respectively ,and were higher than those of control group which were (56 .8 ± 189 .3)IU/mL ,(15 .4 ± 24 .7)mg/L ,(45 .1 ± 33 .1)mm/h respectively .ROC analysis re‐vealed that the AUC of RF ,CRP ,ESR and combined detection of the 3 factors were 0 .784 ,0 .666 ,0 .615 ,0 .757 ,respectively with statistical significance(P<0 .05) .Conclusion RF ,CRP ,ESR are useful in the diagnosis of RA ,and RF has the highest diagnostic ef f iciency .

IgG functionalized Mn doped ZnS quantum dots ( IgG-QDs ) were fabricated via the amide condensation between the carboxy groups on the surface of Mn doped ZnS quantum dots and the amino groups on the surface of IgG. The IgG antibody functionalized Au nanoparticals were synthesized via the electrostatic interaction between the Au nanoparticals and IgG antibody. Based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer effect between the IgG-QDs and the IgG antibody functionalized Au nanoparticals, the IgG-QDs could be applied for low background phosphorescent sensing of IgG with the linear range of 1-10 μg/mL and the limit of detection of 0. 45 μg/mL. The proposed method was successfully applied to detect IgG in human serum without the disturbance of the background fluorescence and scattered light.

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease, periph-eral vascular disease and atherosclerosis, are the first cause of death worldwide. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is a complex process that involves a number of cellular processes and molecular mecha-nisms, such as disorder of lipid metabolism, inflammatory cell infiltration, oxidative stress, vascular en-dothelial cells injury and activation of smooth muscle cells. Their interaction eventually leads to plaque rupture and thrombus formation, causing serious cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Chinese medicine has displayed rich anti-AS activities and clinical applications. This review summarizes the anti-atherosclerosis effects and possible mechanisms of Chinese medicine in regulating lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation and antioxidation, protecting endothelial cells, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells, improving coagulation and fibrinolysis systems and stabilizing the plaque.

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 assess the feasibility and safety of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RLRP) in the treatment of prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing the da Vinci robot surgical system, we performed RLRP for 34 patients with localized prostate cancer and analyzed the intraoperative and follow-up data.

RESULTSThe procedures were performed successfully in all the patients, with the mean operation time of 198 min (range 135-340 min), average blood loss of 257 ml (range 50-700 ml), and 1 case of blood transfusion, but no postoperative complications. Three cases had positive surgical margins. Postoperative examination at 4 weeks showed PSA > 0.2 microg/L in 2 cases, suggestive of residual tumor, for which maximal androgen block therapy was administered. The other 32 patients were followed up for 3-10 (mean 7.5) months, during which the average level of serum tPSA remained < 0.2 microg/L. Urinary continence was found in 94% (32/34) and 97% (33/34) of the patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively, of whom 77% (26/34) and 88% (30/34) had no urinary leakage (0 pad per day).

CONCLUSIONRLRP, with its advantages of less perioperative blood loss, low rate of positive margin, and good urinary continence, is a safe and effective surgical option for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotics

Communities of bacteria wrapped in self-generated extracellular polymeric matrix and attached to a solid surface are known as biofilm. Biofilm formation and development can be divided into three stages: adhesion of cells to a surface, reproduction of the cells, and dispersion of cells. The procedure, which surface-attached biofilm disperses bacterial cells into the environment to colonize new sites, is defined as biofilm dispersal. Biofilm dispersal is an essential stage of biofilm life cycle. It plays an important role in the transmission of bacteria. For many pathogenic bacteria, biofilm dispersal can transform bacteria in biofilm into planktonic state and promote the spread of infection. The formation of biofilm may increase the resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial agent and host defence response compared with planktonic cells. In the oral cavity, oral microorganism can attach to the surface of oral tissue and prosthesis to form biofilm. Dental caries and periodontal disease are oral chronic infections diseases of the oral tissue. The occurrence of them has a close relationship with biofilm. The mechanism of dispersal is a hot topic in recent years. Some agents which promote dispersal might be a therapeutic potential against biofilm infections. The clinical implication of dispersal agents and potential application are promising. This article reviews the dispersal-inducing agents of oral biofilms.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Dental Caries ; Humans

Objective To study the role of CXC chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5) in the pathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) by detecting the expression of CXCR5 on follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in skin lesions of BP.Methods An immunohistochemical procedure was used to detect CXCR5 expression in biopsy specimens from skin lesions of 16 patients with BP and normal skin of 10 healthy individuals.Results CXCR5 was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm and membrane of Tfh cells in the basal cell layer of normal skin as well as in both basal cell layer and prickle cell layer of BP lesions.The number of CXCR5-positive ceils per high power field (× 400) was 11.16 ± 4.47 in normal skin specimens,significantly lower than that in lesional skin specimens (35.70 ± 12.20,t =6.07,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion CXCR5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of BP.

Objective To evaluate the implementation of the early goal-directed therapy after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Suzhou area,in order to provide clinical data for standardized post resuscitation care.Methods This retrospective study included comatose survivors of CA,admitted into intensive care units (ICU) of 10 hospitals in Suzhou area between January 2009 and December 2010.the parameters,mean arterial pressure (MAP),peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2),partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2),blood glucose (Glu) and body temperature (T),were collected for 48 h after CA.The percentage of parameters achieving recommended goals was compared.Results A total of 101 CA patients were enrolled in this study.Among the parameters of GDT,the percentage of achieving recommended goals for SpO2 and MAP was 90.1％ and 81.4％ ; the percentage of achieving recommended goals for Glu and PaCO2 was 55.4％ and 32.8％ ; however,mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) reached the lowest percentage,only 10％ ; there were significant differences in the percentage of achieving recommended goals for these parameters,P ＜0.01.Conclusions The quality of early goal-directed therapy in the CA patients should be improved,especially in the management of body temperature and partial pressure of carbon dioxide.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of early rehabilitation treatment on patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods Forty sTBI patients were divided into treatment group (n =20) and control group (n =20) according to the random number table.Conventional treatment was performed on all patients including dehydration to decrease intracranial pressure,hemorrhage control,neurotrophic treatment,antiinflammation therapy,and gastric acid control.In addition to these interventions,patients in treatment group received hyperbaric oxygen treatment,median nerve stimulation,fastigial nucleus stimulation,and bedside motor therapy in the early period.Intracranial pressure and partial pressure of brain tissue oxygen (PbtO2) were continuously monitored during the process of treatment.GCS was measured before and 15 days after treatment and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPE-CT) was used to evaluate cerebral perfusion.Results There was no statistical difference between the two groups with respect to GCS in advance of treatment (P ＞ 0.05),but GCS differed between treatment group and control group after treatment [(10.18 ± 3.75) points vs (8.33 ±2.36) points,P ＜0.05],with substantial improvement in treatment group.Significantly improved cerebral perfusion was seen in treatment group.On day 5 after treatment,intracranial pressure in treatment group lowered significantly compared with that in control group (P ＜ 0.05).On day 6 after treatment,PbtO2 was significantly higher in treatment group than in control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Early rehabilitation treatment leads to improved outcome and acts a positive effect on nerve function recovery.