Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of nucleic acid amplification (TB- RNA),bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear on the detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Methods 291 clinical sample including 110 sputum,54 thoracic fluid,37 throat swab,31 bronchial fluid,13 cerebrospinal fluid,12 urine,8 lymph fluid and 20 others (pericardial effusion,feces, blood and abdominal fluid) and gynecological specimen (including 6 leucorrhoea and menstrual blood) were analyzed by these four methods.Results Among the 291 clinical samples,the positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 37.1%,28.9%,27.5% and 10.3%.The sensitivity and specificity of the TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 54.3% & 100%,41.7% & 88.9%,31.7% & 93.5% and 14.6% & 98.9%,respectively.Conclusions TB-RNA is an effective clinical diagnostic method for Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Although the sensitivity of smear is poorer than others,it is a universal testing method in clinical laboratory due to low cost.The positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for 3D culture is lower than that of bacteriophage-based assay and TB-RNA.Although the time to result for 3D culture might last for few weeks,the isolates can be used for drug resistance screening and bacterial identification.

Objective To design a high-performance, reliable and practical wireless infusion monitoring system to realize automated infusion monitoring.Methods The system was composed of an infusion monitor,an intelligent gateway and a host computer, which used AD7746 chip to monitor the electric capacity, I2C serial bus for capacity-related data readback, CC2530 SCM for difference calculation and infusion state determination, and ZigBee technology to execute wireless data transmission at real time.Results The system carried out multi-node monitoring on volume and velocity at real time,and the acquired data were accurate and reliable.Conclusion The system gains advantages over the traditional ways in practicability and reliability when used for infusion monitoring.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of modified Shengma Biejia Decoction (MSBD) combined with CAG program in treating elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with yin deficiency toxin stasis syndrome (YDTSS).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly AML patients were assigned to the treatment group (24 cases; treated with MSBD + CAG) and the control group (22 cases; treated with CAG + placebos of Chinese medicine) according to random digit table. The therapeutic course of CM placebo or MSBD was 21 days. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were observed. Meanwhile, physical state (ECOG Score), transfusion dependency, and TCM syndrome score were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The complete remission rate was 54% (13/24) and the objective response rate (ORR) was 71% (17/24) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those of the control group [36% (8/22); 54% (13/24)], with statistical difference (P = 0.036, 0.042). When comparing the efficacy based on risk level, the moderate and poor ORR was 71% (10/14) and 67% (6/9) in the treatment group, and 57% (8/14) and 33% (2/6) in the control group, with statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.048; P = 0.010). (2) Compared with before treatment in the same group, the ECOG score significantly decreased, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were markedly prolonged in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05). ECOG score, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores of fever, hemorrhage, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the control group (P < 0.05); scores of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Better effect in relief of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and so on was obtained in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) In aspect of hematotoxicity, the incidence of neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [29.2% (7/24) vs 54.5% (12/22); 16.7% (4/ 24) vs 45.5% (10/22); 33.3% (8/24) vs 63.6% (14/22); P < 0.05]. The incidence of fatigue and anorexia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [37.5% (9/24) vs 63.6% (14/22), 37.5% (9/24) vs 81.8% (18/22); P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONMSBD combined with CAG program in treating elderly AML patients with YDTSS, with efficacy enhancing toxicity reducing effect, had distinct advantages in improving physical condition and clinical symptoms, and reducing transfusion dependency.

Aclarubicin ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

In this paper, a low-cost PC-based, high-quality and interactive 3D stereoscopic medical visualization system is presented, which can be clinically used for diagnosis and surgical planning. The algorithms of direct volume rendering have been improved for realization with the programmable graphics hardware under PC environment. Local illumination, classification and non-polygonal iso-surface rendering are also incorporated into the system in appropriate consideration of both high-quality rendering and real-time interaction. The medical visualization system has been applied to the neurosurgical and orthopedic planning and the effectiveness has been clinically proved.
Algorithms ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Planning Techniques ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; User-Computer Interface

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene start codon (Fok I) and bone mass accrual, and assessing if such an association could be modified by physical activity in Chinese adolescent girls.

METHODSA total of 228 premenrche Chinese girls (9-11.5-years-old) were recruited for 2-year study. Bone mineral densities (BMD) at the total body, total left hip (including femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanteric and Ward's triangle area) and lumbar spine (L1-L4) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene was detected with PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSThere remained 176 available subjects in our cohort when 2-year study was completed. No significant association was observed between Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene and percentage change in BMD at all sites. Girls with FF genotype had lower percentage change in total left hip BMD (THBMD) and femoral neck BMD (FNBMD) than girls with Ff + ff genotype only in low physical activity(< 1197 kJ/d), and physical activity was associated with percentage change in THBMD and FNBMD only in FF genotype group.

CONCLUSIONThe Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene should have significant interaction effect with physical activity on bone mass accrual in Chinese adolescent girls. Girls with FF genotype in low physical activity would be the potential risk population for low bone mass accrual, and high physical activity would be of benefit to gain higher bone mass accrual for girls with FF genotype.

Adolescent ; Alleles ; Bone Density ; China ; Codon, Initiator ; Exercise ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

The peeled stem of Syringa pinnatifolia is a Mongolia folk medicine, mainly distributed in Helan mountain, inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces of China. It has been used for the treatment of cardiopalmus, angina pectoris, and cardiopulmonary diseases for a long history. Contemporary research revealed the presence of major lignans, sesquitepenes, and essential oils, and showed myocardial ischemia related diseases. This review summarizes the plant origins, taxonomic disputes, phytochemical and pharmacological research progress, hopefully to provide reference for full medicinal utilization, clarification of biological effective substance, and drug development.
Animals ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Structure ; Syringa ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the solubility of Rhizoma Coptidis' main chemical constituents and the proportion of Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae.

METHOD9 samples were selected in which the proportion of Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae were 1:0, 6:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:6 and 0:1, respectively. The samples' water-extracts were analyzed by RP-HPLC. Then solubility changes of eight chemical constituents were calculated, and the regression equations were established.

RESULTAmong the eight chemical constituents, one was independent on the change of proportion of Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae, six having linear relationship. A new constituent was detected, and there was nonlinear relationship between its quantity and the proportion of the couple.

CONCLUSIONThe solubility of Rhizoma Coptidis' main chemical constituents declines almost in the same scale when Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae are used as a couple, and a new constituent has been detected which can't be found in the mono-extraction.

Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility

Most chemical medicines have polymorphs. The difference of medicine polymorphs in physicochemical properties directly affects the stability, efficacy, and safety of solid medicine products. Polymorphs is incomparably important to pharmaceutical chemistry, manufacturing, and control. Meantime polymorphs is a key factor for the quality of high-end drug and formulations. Polymorph prediction technology can effectively guide screening of trial experiments, and reduce the risk of missing stable crystal form in the traditional experiment. Polymorph prediction technology was firstly based on theoretical calculations such as quantum mechanics and computational chemistry, and then was developed by the key technology of machine learning using the artificial intelligence. Nowadays, the popular trend is to combine the advantages of theoretical calculation and machine learning to jointly predict crystal structure. Recently, predicting medicine polymorphs has still been a challenging problem. It is expected to learn from and integrate existing technologies to predict medicine polymorphs more accurately and efficiently.

This paper presents the preliminary investigation on chondromalacia patella at our department in recent years. A random cluster sampling survey covering 2743 normal persons was carried out. The prevalence rate is 36.2%. It was found that, applying transmission electron microscope and immunohistochemical methods on to cartilage tissues of the abnormal region, articular cartilage necrosis was in direct proportion with the abnormal pressure, while the restoration capability of local chondrocytes was in inverse proportion with pathological changes and the pressure. The chondromalacia patella was produced by repeated abnormal stress acting on the carilage. The stress derived from the uncongruency and the decreasing in the contact area of patellofemoral joint when the subluxation or tilt of patellae was caused by the abnormal anatomical and biomechanical relationship. The initial lesion was at the matrix of cartilage,the collagen network was disrupted, then proteoglycan was lost. The microenvironment of chondrocytes was changed with degradation of matrix. So the chon drocytes became degenerative and necrosis from superficial to deep layer, then feed back the matrix again. Finally, the total cartilage layer might disappear, and the bone under cartilage might proliferate. At late stage, the cartilage was completely destroyed and had no self-restorative ability. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are necessary. It is highly suggested axis radiograph of the knee with the tibiae tuberositas localization are helpful to early diagnosis. Furthermore, JKY-Muscle Rehabilitation Instrument is invented for non-operative therapy. It enhances muscle power by selective training of the vastus medialis muscle using electrical stimulator to relieve pain and correct subluxation of patella with 90% efficiency (63% of excellent-effective rate) . In late stage, patellofemoral replacement is recommended. The excellent-effective rate is 86.3%.

The purpose of this study was to observe the expression of LINGO-1 after cerebral ischemia, investigate the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on the expression of LINGO-1 and GAP-43, and the number of synapses, and to emplore the repressive effect of LINGO-1 on neural regeneration after cerebral ischemia. The model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia was established by the modified suture method of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The expression of LINGO-1 was detected by Western blotting and that of GAP-43 by immunohistochemistry. The number of synapses was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The SD rats were divided into three groups: sham operation (sham) group, cerebral ischemia (CI) group and RA treatment (RA) group. The results showed that the expression level of LINGO-1 at 7th day after MCAO in sham, CI and RA groups was 0.266 ± 0.019, 1.215 ± 0.063 and 0.702 ± 0.081, respectively (P<0.01). The number of Gap-43-positive nerve cells at 7th day after MCAO in sham, CI and RA group was 0, 59.08 ± 1.76 and 76.20 ± 3.12 per high power field, respectively (P<0.05). The number of synapses at 7th day after MCAO was 8.42 ± 0.13, 1.74 ± 0.37 and 5.39 ± 0.26 per μm², respectively (P<0.05). It is concluded that LINGO-1 expression is up-regulated after cerebral ischemia, and RA inhibits the expression of LINGO-1, promotes the expression of GAP-43 and increases the number of synapses. It suggests that LINGO-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia, which may provide an experimenal basis for LINGO-1 antogonist, RA, for the treatment of cerebral ischemia.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; GAP-43 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology