Isolated alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch. The compounds were identified as berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, corydaldine and ferulic acid methylester. Then measured their bitter degree based on the electronic tongue and evaluated the antibacterial. The results based on the Electronic Tongue showed that berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine and jatrorrhizine have higher bitter degree than magnoflorine and corydaldine. And they also appeared better antibacterial activity on E. coli and S. aureus. The correlation coefficients between bitter degree and the two bacteria antibacterial activity were 0.983 and 0.911. So there was close relationship between the bitter degree and antibacterial activity of bitter components. Thus, it is confirmed further that bitter components are the material foundation of medicinal effectiveness of bitter herbs.
Aporphines ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Biomedical Research ; instrumentation ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Electronics ; instrumentation ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Reproducibility of Results ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Taste

Objective To investigate the situation of prevalence,treatment and control of hypertension in patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD)by CROSS-sectional study. Methods Nine hundred out-patients with CKD in our department from November 2006 to March 2007 were enrolled in the study,including 480 male and 420 female.Among 900 CKD cases,354 patients underwent maintenance dialysis,including 228 on hemodialysis and 126 on peritoneal dialysis.Results The prevalence of hypertension in CKD patients was 80.2%(nude 83.5%vs female 76.4%,P<0.01).The prevalence of hypertension in patients on dialysis was significantly higher than that in non-dialysis patients(90.1%vs 73.8%,P<0.01),but there was no significant difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis cases.Antihypertensive treatment rate was 92.4%in CKD patients with hypertension.and was significantly higher in patients on dialysis than that in non-dialysis patients(95.6%vs 89.8%.P<0.01).The control rate according to current recommendations for CKD patients (BP<130/80 mm Hg) was very low. Control of both SBP and DBP was only achieved in 20.4% of non- dialysis patients. The control rate of hypertension (BP< 125/75 mm Hg) in patients with proteinuria >1 g/24 h was 8.4%. The proportion of dialysis patients with BP<140/90 mm Hg was significantly lower than that of non-dialysis patients (45.2% vs 55.5%, P<0.01). The percentage of hemodialysis patients with BP < 140/90 mm Hg was significantly higher than that of peritoneal dialysis patients (49.8% vs 36.5%, P<0.05). The prevalence of hypertension was associated with the decrease of renal function and the increase of age. The prevalence of hypertension in diabetic nephropathy was higher than that in primary glomerular diseases. Patients received 1, 2, 3 and 4 or more kinds of antihypertensive drugs accounted for 37.2%, 37.5%, 19.3% and 5.9% respectively. The combination of calcium channel blocker (CCB) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors was more frequently used in CKD patients. The CCB was the most frequently prescribed drug (74.1% ), followed by angiotensin Ⅱ receptor blockers (ARB) (48.4%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (25.6%) and alpha, beta-blockers (24.7%). Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension in CKD patients is quite high, which is associated with the progression of renal function, increase of age, the type of underlying kidney disease, obesity and diabetes mellitus. The control of hypertension is unsatisfied in CKD patients, especially in dialysis patients and those with overt proteinuria.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of intermittent patient-initiated single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in postmenopausal women. MethodsA randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection. Single dose of antibiotic was given every night in continuous antibiotic prophylaxis group and every time after exposure to conditions predisposed to UTI in intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis group. The duration of prevention was 12 months in both groups. ResultsThe effective rates of intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis were 71.0% and 81.8% respectively (P＞0.05). The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reaction in intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis group was significantly lower than that in continuous antibiotic prophylaxis group (7.7% vs 28.6%,P＜0.05). ConclusionsCompared with continuous antibiotic prophylaxis, intermittent patient-initiated single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis is a better prophylaxis with less gastrointestinal adverse reactions for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women.

Objective To develop and optimize a new method to extract miRNAs from plasma.Methods miRNAs were extracted from plasma by mixing it with the extraction solution that contained surfactant and by heating .Then the ribonuclease inhibitor was added into the extraction to prevent RNAs from degradation .The expression level of each miRNA was detected by real-time quantitative PCR in oder to evaluate the feasibility of this method .Results A method which extracted miRNAs from plamsa in just one step was established .The specificity , reproducibility and stability of this method have been demonstrated by real-time quantitative PCR .Conclusion The one-step method is simple , inexpensive , and plasma-saving.It seems like a new method for clinical examination of miRNAs from plasma .

Objective To study the efficacy of low-dose daytime ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (DAPD) and low-dose CAPD in diabetic end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with better residual renal function (RRF). Methods Forty stable diabetic ESRD patients with better RRF (rGFR ≥ 5 ml/min and urine volume ≥ 750 ml/d) were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups: low-dose DAPD group (n=20) and low-dose CAPD group (n=20). DAPD group received three 1.5 L to 2 L daily exchanges with a nocturnal empty belly, dwelling for 3 to 4 hours. CAPD group received three 1.5 L to 2 L daily exchange or four 1.5 L daily exchange regimens and dwelled during the night. At the beginning of the study and 6 months later, total weekly Kt/V and Ccr (peritoneal+renal), rGFR were calculated. Meanwhile 24-hour urinary protein,serum albumin (Alb), hemoglobin (Hb), fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and insulin dosage were measured. Nutritional status was assessed by SGA. Results Thirty-five patients fulfilled the study. There were no significant differences between two groups in age, gender, BMI,PD time, D/Pcr, etc. At the end of the 6th month, the insulin dose[(33.6±10.9) U/d] and 24-hour dialysate protein [(11.13t4.95) g] in CAPD group were significantly higher as compared to DAPD group [(20.6±6.2) U/d, P＜0.05 and (5.66±2.88) g, P＜0.01 respectively]. Alb in CAPD group [(29.7±4.2) g/L] was significantly lower than that in DAPD group [(36.5 ±3.9) g/L, P＜0.05].While the net ultrafiltration [(554±187) ml vs (309±177) ml], 24-hour urine volume [(1090±361)ml vs (750±258) ml] and rGFR [(8.21±2.40) ml/min vs (4.88±2.11) ml/min] in DAPD group were all significantly higher than those in CAPD group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion For the diabetic ESRD patients with better RRF, the low-dose DAPD regimen is more effective to control plasma glucose, improve nutritional status and protect RRF than the low-dose CAPD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of in vitro low-temperature degradation (LTD) treatment on the structural stability of 5 kinds of Y2O3 stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) dental ceramics.

METHODSTZ-3YS powder was compacted at 200 MPa using cold isostatic pressure and pre-sintered at 1050 degrees C for 2 h forming presintered blocks. Specimens were sectioned into 15 mm x 15 mm x 1.5 mm slices from blocks of TZ-3YS, Vita In-Ceram YZ, Ivoclar, Cercon Smart, and Kavo Y-TZP presintered blocks, 18 slices for each brand, and then densely sintered. Specimens were divided into 6 groups and subjected to an accelerated aging test carried out in an autoclave in steam at 134 degrees C, 0.2 MPa, for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify crystal phases and relative content of monoclinic phase was calculated. Specimens for three-point bending test were fabricated using TZ-3YS ceramics according to the ISO 6872 standard and bending strength was tested before and after aging. The polished and aging specimens of TZ-3YS and Cercon Smart zirconia ceramics were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate surface microstructure.

RESULTSTetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation was detected for specimens of TZ-3YS, Vita In-Ceram YZ, Ivoclar, and Kavo zirconia ceramics except for Cercon Smart ceramics after aging, and the relative content of monoclinic phase was increasing with the prolonged aging time. TZ-3YS was the most affected material, Kavo took the second, and Vita and Ivoclar were similar. Aging had no significant negative effects on flexural strength of TZ-3YS with average bending strength being over 1100 MPa. The nucleation and growth of monoclinic phase were detected by AFM in surface of Cercon Smart zirconia in which monoclinic phase was not detected by XRD.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that LTD of dental Y-TZP is time dependent, but the aging test does not reduce the flexural strength of TZ-3YS. The long-term clinical serviceability of dental Y-TZP needs further observation.

Cold Temperature ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Materials Testing ; Time Factors ; Zirconium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between syndrome types of late-onset acne female patients and constitutions of Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSA questionnaire was performed in 365 late-onset acne female patients and 135 healthy subjects (as the control) using Professor WANG Qi's. methods and Standards for Chinese Medical Constitutions Classification.

RESULTSTheir CM constitutions were sequenced as damp-heat constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, balanced constitution, yang-deficiency constitution, blood-stasis constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, qi-deficiency constitution, phlegm-damp constitution, inherited special constitution, with statistical difference when compared with those of the control group ( χ2 = 85.206, P < 0.01). In the 365 female late-onset acne patients, 114 (31.23%) were with Chongren imbalance syndrome, 108 (29.59%) were with blood stasis or coagulated phlegm syndrome, 83 (22.74%) were with dampness heat syndrome, and 60 (16.44%) were with wind heat syndrome. There was statistical difference in CM constitution distributions among different CM syndrome types (χ2 = 105.671, P < 0.01). The distribution of CM medical constitutions was different between the two groups. Biased constitutions were often seen in the patient group, while balanced constitution was often seen in the control group. Binary Logistic regression analysis indicated that influencing factors covered sweet food, light diet, roasted food, coffee, stress, work pressure, and family pressure. Of them light diet was one protective factor, while the rest were adverse factors.

CONCLUSIONThe etiology and syndrome types of female late-onset acne female patients were associated with CM constitution.

Acne Vulgaris ; epidemiology ; Body Constitution ; Female ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syndrome ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency

Objective To explore the residual undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in embryoid bodies. Methods Mouse R1 and Oct-4-GFP transgenic ESCs were firstly cultured in suspension to form embryoid bodies (EBs). Twenty days later, EBs were digested into single cells and then re-plated in standard ESC culture condition. The morphology of residual undifferentiated cells in EBs was observed, and surface makers and in vitro redifferentiation potency of residual cells were examined by flow cytometry and immunofluoreseent staining. The residual cells were expanded and subcutaneously injected into nude mice, and the specimens were harvested from the injection site for histological analysis 6 weeks after injection. Results There were residual undifferentiated ESCs in EBs differentiated for 20 days, which displayed clonal morphology and expressed undifferentiated cell markers of ESCs, including SSEA1, CD31, CD9 and Oct-4. The cells could be differentiated to form EBs again, and could be re-expanded from secondary EBs. The residual cells were able to form teratoma at the injection site, and mature endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm tissues could be found in teratoma tissues. Conclusion There are residual undifferentiated ESCs after differentiation of ESCs into EBs. The residual ESCs can differentiate again in vitro and in vivo, and can residue again in the in vitro differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methods of culturing and identifying mouse myeloid semimature dendritic cell (smDC) in vitro.

METHODSMyeloid monocytes derived from 6-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 2 ng/ml recombinant murine granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and 20 ng/ml recombinant murine interleukin (IL)-4 for 9 days. Then cells were incubated with 40 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) for 24 hours to obtain smDC. Meanwhile, smDC was differentiated into mature dendritic cell (mDC) or immature dendritic cell (iDC) by treatment with 1 micro/m1 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or without LPS. The morphological features of smDC were assayed by inverted microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface markers such as CD11c, CD4O, CD8O, CD86, and MHC-II were tested by flow cytometry. IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-10 in the supernatant were tested by ELISA. The activation of allogene lymphocyte (BALB/c mice) stimulated by C57BL/6 myeloid smDC in mixed lymphocyte reaction was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 in vitro.

RESULTSThe shape of smDC was round or oval-shaped, and the diameter of smDC was about 15 microm. The length of smDC dendrite was between 5 to 10 microm. smDC, iDC, and mDC all expressed high level of CD11 c. The expressions of MHC-II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 on smDC were higher than those of iDC and lower than those of mDC. IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-12 secretion of smDC was significantly lower than that of mDC (P < 0.01), and IL-12 was significantly lower than that of iDC (P < 0.05), while no significant difference of IL-1beta and IL-6 secretion was found between smDC and iDC (P > 0.05). Furthermore, IL-10 secretion was not significantly different among these three kinds of DCs (P > 0.05). The effect of allogene lymphocytes activation on smDC was significantly lower than that of mDC and positive control (P < 0.01), but had no significant difference when compared with that of iDC and negative control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSsmDC may be a relatively independent dendritic cell sub-population in terms of function and morphology. It is a feasible way to induce myeloid monocytes to differentiate into smDC using GM-CSF, IL-4, and TNF-alpha in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Monocytes ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficiency and safety of two-micron laser resection of the prostate-tangerine technique (TmLRP-TT) for the treatment of large-volume ( > 70 ml) prostate in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis included 80 BPH patients with the prostatic volume larger than 70 ml, all treated by TmLRP-TT. We comparatively analyzed the levels of hemoglobin and serum sodium before and after surgery, recorded intra- and post-operative com- plications, and followed up the patients at 6 and 12 months after operation for International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR).

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully completed. The mean hemoglobin decreased (0.68 +/- 0.43) g/dl intraoperatively, but no apparent reduction was observed in serum sodium. Lower urinary tract symptoms were relieved significantly in all the cases. At 12 months after surgery, IPSS was decreased by 73.89% as compared with the baseline (20.03 +/- 6.9 vs 5.23 +/- 3.59), QOL by 64.55% (4.09 +/- 1.19 vs 1.45 +/- 1.36), and PVR by 79.30% (97.31 +/- 57.90 vs 20.14 +/- 24.20 ml), while Qmax increased by 140.42% ([8.04 +/- 3.62] vs [19.33 +/- 3.28] ml/s). The incidence of complications was low either intraoperatively or during the 12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONTmLRP-TT is a safe and effective surgical endoscopic approach to the treatment of large-volume prostate in BPH patients.

Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome