Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fetal Diseases ; pathology ; Fetus ; Heart Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; pathology

Objective To explore the value of prenatal diagnosis and sonographic features of lenticulostriate vasculopathy (LSV). Methods Prenatal ultrasonographic features of three cases of fetal lenticulostriate vasculopathy were retrospectively analysed associated with maternal TORCH screen, fetal magnetic resonance imaging, neonatal physical examination and TORCH screen. Results Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of case 1 demonstrated fetal LSV as well as fetal growth restriction (FGR), periventricular hemorrhage, mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, hydropericardium and catatact. Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of case 2 demonstrated fetal LSV, FGR, periventricular hemorrhage, mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of case 3 showed fetal LSV and intraventricular hemorrhage. Maternal TORCH screens of case 1 and case 3 was negative, while in case 2 was positive. Neonatal examinations of case 1 showed cataract, hearing impairment and congenital infection. Case 3 showed prompted retinal hemorrhage, sinus bradycardia, hyperbilirubinemia and congenital infection. In case 2, maternal teratogenic pathogen screen was positive and the baby did not survive because the mother decided to stop pregnancy in 34 weeks. Conclusions Fetal LSV could be imaged by prenatal ultrasonography. Fetal LSV might indicate intrauterine infection when other abnormalities were accompanied. Ultrasound might be useful for the cases with negative maternal TORCH screen results.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Pill (ZBDHP) on urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and sperm quality in ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection infertile patients.

METHODSRecruited were 80 infertility patients with Uu infection at Andriatrics Clinics and Department of Reproduction, including 130 cases of positive Uu semen and 50 cases of negative Uu semen. Patients with positive Uu semen were randomly assigned to the observation group (72 cases) and the control group (58 cases) according to the visit sequence. All patients took antibiotics for 2 weeks. Patients in the observation group additionally took ZBDHP, 6 g each time, twice daily. Those in the control group additionally took Vit E (100 mg each time, twice per day) and ATP (40 mg each time, twice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 90 days. Semen parameters and uPA contents of the sperm membrane were detected and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm in Uu positive infected patients were lower than those in Uu negative infected patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference in the sperm density between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in pre-treatment sperm membrane uPA contents and sperm parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm obviously increased in the two groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the sperm membrane uPA content increased more obviously in the observation group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfection with Uu leads to decreased uPA content of sperm membrance and the sperm motility. ZBDHP could effectively treat Uu infected infertility possibly through fighting against Uu damaged sperm membrane and make the sperm membrane uPA content return to normal, and elevate the fertilizability of sperms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Ureaplasma Infections ; drug therapy ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

This study focused on the intestinal absorption of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) to reveal the scientific connotation of the compatibility of TCM pairs. The single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) was used in rats to compare the absorption of single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix, single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, combined extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma mixture in rats. The content of puerarin, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Re and ginsenoside Rb1 in liquid were tested by HPLC. The speed constant (Ka) and apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) were calculated and compared. Specifically, the order of puerarin Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Puerariae Lobatae Radix > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix; the order of ginsenosides Ka and Papp values from high to low was Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix mixture > single extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma > combined extracts from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix. The combined administration of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma and Puerariae Lobatae Radix may improve the absorption in the intestinal tract.
Animals ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; Isoflavones ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome

The fruit of Lycium ruthenicum is a common folk medicine in China. Now it is popular for its antioxidative effect and other medical functions. The adulterants of the herb confuse consumers. In order to identify a new adulterant of L. ruthenicum, a research was performed based on NCBI Nucleotide Database ITS Sequence, combined analysis of the origin and morphology of the adulterant to traceable varieties. Total genomic DNA was isolated from the materials, and nuclear DNA ITS sequences were amplified and sequenced; DNA fragments were collated and matched by using ContingExpress. Similarity identification of BLAST analysis was performed. Besides, the distribution of plant origin and morphology were considered to further identification and verification. Families and genera were identified by molecular identification method. The adulterant was identified as plant belonging to Berberis. Origin analysis narrowed the range of sample identification. Seven different kinds of plants in Berberis were potential sources of the sample. Adulterants variety was traced by morphological analysis. The united molecular identification-origin-morphology research proves to be a preceding way to medical herbs traceability with time-saving and economic advantages and the results showed the new adulterant of L. ruthenicum was B. kaschgarica. The main differences between B. kaschgarica and L. ruthenicum are as follows: in terms of the traits, the surface of B. kaschgarica is smooth and crispy, and that of L. ruthenicum is shrinkage, solid and hard. In microscopic characteristics, epicarp cells of B. aschgarica thickening like a string of beads, stone cells as the rectangle, and the stone cell walls of L. ruthenicum is wavy, obvious grain layer. In molecular sequences, the length of ITS sequence of B. kaschgarica is 606 bp, L. ruthenicum is 654 bp, the similarity of the two sequences is 53.32%.
Berberis ; classification ; cytology ; genetics ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; chemistry ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Lycium ; classification ; cytology ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

Chronic kidney disease was closely related with unhealthy lifestyle; therefore a strategy focused both on daily life and medical process, like the Expert Patients Program, was of great value in the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease. In China, however, obstacles still existed in the process of implementing the program. Adding traditional Chinese medical interventions to the program assisted both patients and physicians to understand and to accept this new trend in management of chronic disease better. The combination with traditional Chinese medical interventions showed a solution for successfully implementing the Expert Patients Program and provided a new strategy for prevention and control of chronic kidney disease.
Acupuncture Therapy ; China ; Dietetics ; Health Plan Implementation ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Patient Care ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; therapy

Objective To evaluate the correlation of lens density (LD) measured by opacity lensmeter (OLM) and Pentacam with phacodynamics in patients with age-related nuclear cataract.Methods A prospective study was conducted in 78 patients (78 eyes) with age-related nuclear cataract.The lens density was measured with OLM and Pentacam respectively before operation,and the phacoemulsification kinetic parameters in phacoemulsification,including ultrasound time (UST),cumulated dissipated energy (CDE) and balanced salt solution (BSS) usage,were recorded for the analysis of the correlations of LD values with phacodynamics.Results LD measured by OLM and Pentacam was 32.83 ± 14.41 and 15.26 ±5.82,respectively.LD from OLM and Pentacam was positively correlated with both UST (r =0.645,0.807,respectively;both P ＜ 0.05)and CDE (r =0.669,0.828,respectively;both P ＜ 0.05).UST and CDE were more strongly correlated with LD from Pentacam than from OLM (Z =2.153,2.283;both P ＜0.05).Conclusion LD from both OLM and Pentacam are correlated with UST and CDE,and a stronger correlation is observed in Pentacam than OLM.

OBJECTIVE To explorethe correlation betweenhypoxiaand insulin resistance bythe blood gas index in high-fat diets-induced obese rat model. METHODS 36％ of high-fat diets were fed to SD male rats for 12 weeks. The model group was divided into IR group and non-IR group with the HOMA-IR index of the 12th week,and the abdominal aorta blood was taken for blood gas analysis. RESULTS The HOMA-IR index,Hct,ctHb and ctO2in IR group were significantly higher than those in normal group andnon-IR group(P>0.05),simultaneously no significant difference in pO2,pCO2and sO2 between tree groups.CONCLUSION Circulating blood of obese rat with insulin resistance is normoxia,accompanied by higher Hct,tHb and ctO2,which may be due to the higher blood viscositand the self-regulation of chronic hypoxia in the body.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of thrombin on the cytotoxicity of astrocytes injured by hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) and to explore its relationship with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). METHODS: Primary astrocytes were cultured in DMEM with 10% approximately 15% calf serum and divided into 6 groups: a control group, a Tm control group, an H/R group, a Tm+H/R group, a hirudin (HR) control group, and a Tm+HR+ H/R group. The cell damage and viability were detected by the 3-(4, 5-di-methyl-thazol-2-yl)-2, 5 diphenyl-tetrazol-iumbromide (MTT) conversion method. The NO level in the cultured cell supernatant was assayed by Griess reagent. The flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the apoptosis rate of astrocytes. The iNOS mRNA was examined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunocytochemistry was used to observe the expression of iNOS protein. RESULTS: The cell viability injured by H/R was lower than that of the control group, the NO production and apoptosis rate in the cell of H/R group were higher than those of the control group. Incubation of H/R cell with 10kU/L Tm enhanced the cytotoxicity of H/R stimulation compared with the cells injured by H/R. Hirudin can reverse the effect of thrombin. RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analysis demonstrated that the levels of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein increased in the cells treated by H/R. Tm enhanced the expression of iNOS mRNA and iNOS protein in the cells treated by H/R. Hirudin blocked the effect of Tm. CONCLUSION Increasing the level of iNOS and enhancing the production of NO may be the mechanism of thrombin cytotoxicity in astrocytes injured by H/R.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thrombin ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the developments and frontiers of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) research in order to make possible breakthroughs in subsequent studies.Methods Information visualization software Citespace V was applied to draw the mapping knowledge domain based on the database of SLE literature in Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science from 1975 to 2016.In this way,it was possible to analyze the basis of knowledge,network relationships between countries or regions,hot spots and courses frontier evolution in the recent 40 years.Results Totally 39 847 articles of literature were collected.The USA,UK,Spain,Italy and Australia were known as the leading countries in the study of SLE.The relationships between SLE and other autoimmune diseases,autoantibody detection and significance,anticardiolipin antibody expression,gene expression,classification criteria,disease activity were hot spots of SLE.Depression of SLE patients,management of SLE and differentiation of SLE were eye-catching research frontiers in recent years.Conclusion The mapping knowledge domain can display the main hot spots in research of SLE,show the frontier spheres and evolution course of related branches of learning,reveal the potential information in complex giant data networks,and guide future studies.