For understanding the effect of MDG-1, a water-soluble β-D-fructan polysaccharide from Ophiopogon japonicas, on intestinal microecological balance, especially on the changes of lactobacillus, sixty 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were given a high-fat diet for six weeks and were also gavaged with saline once a day simultaneously. Then the mice which is below 30 grams or dropped more than 10% through lavage were eliminated and the rest were randomly divided into four groups: diet-induced obese (DIO) model group (n = 12, gavaged with saline), low-dose MDG-1 group (n = 12, gavaged with MDG-1, 75 mg · kg(-1)) , medial-dose MDG- 1 group (n = 12, gavaged with 150 mg · kg(-1)), and high-dose MDG-1 group (n = 12, gavaged with 300 mg · kg(-1)) according to the weight and blood glucose; the model group and MDG-1 group were placed on a high-fat diet while the normal control group (n = 12, gavaged with saline) were kept on a low-fat diet through the experiment. After 12-weeks of treatment, feces samples were collected and cultured for intestinal microecological balance analysis. Then the intestinal probiotics were cultured through traditional methods combined with modified gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method. The changes of lactobacillus in each treatment group were also detected by a statistical analysis of the total number of the intestinal flora. We have established the phylogenetic tree by 16S rDNA sequencing and use some molecular identification methods such as PCR-DGGE to analyse the changes of the dominant bacteria floras, and also get the pure culture. In conclusion, different concentrations of MDG-1 can increase the number of the intestinal probiotics, especially Taiwan lactobacillus and Lactobacillus murinus, and improve their diversity and promote proliferation in a dose-dependent way.
Animals ; Biodiversity ; Diet, High-Fat ; adverse effects ; Dietary Carbohydrates ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Lactobacillus ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; growth & development ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Obese ; Molecular Structure ; Obesity ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Phylogeny ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry

Objective To discuss the relation between influenza peak, temperature and relative humidity. Methods Statistical analysis on the data of influenza consultation rates, temperature and relative humidity from 1998 to 2002 in Hong Kong area was carried out to propose some relation between influenza peak, temperature and relative humidity. Results It was slightly possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was less than 20 ℃ and largely possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was less than 15 ℃. It was also largely possible to cause influenza peak when the week-averaged temperature was very low and the relative humidity was higher which resulted the lower body-sense temperature compared with the forecasting temperature. Conclusion The prevalence of influenza occurs during four seasons in one year in Hong Kong, but the prevalence peak of influenza mainly appears under the condition of lower temperature(

China ; Humans ; Occupational Health Services

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effects of genistein(Gen) on mouse allergic contact dermatitis(ACD).METHODS: The animal model of ACD was induced by DNFB.The effects of different doses of Gen on mouse ear swelling,body weight,histopathological changes in mouse ear skin,thymus index and spleen index were observed.RESULTS: All groups of Gen inhibited mouse ear swelling induced by DNFB significantly.The infiltration of inflammatory cells and thymus index were also reduced.However,the increase in mouse body weight was not affected.Low dose of Gen increased spleen index,high dose of Gen decreased spleen index.CONCLUSION: Genistein has significant inhibitory effects on mouse ACD induced by DNFB.

Objective To explore the effect of action research based on group learning in hospice care module for nursing students. Methods 82 students were divided into cooperative learning group (40) and conventional teaching group (42). The cognition and attitude of good death questionnaire was used to evaluate teaching effect before and after teaching of hospice care. After teaching, self-feedback and self-feedback questionnaire were made to evaluate the effect of cooperative learning group. SPSS 17 was used to make comparison of data between groups and within groups, and t test, chi square test or Fisher exact probability 2 were also used . Results There were no difference between two groups of nurses before teaching. The students' cognitive level and attitude in cooperative learning group increased significantly, especially their cognitive level of physiological needs (t=5.398, P=0.001), cognition and attitude of death education in intervention group was higher than control group (t=2.992, P=0.004; t=3.661, P=0.001). Although 95% of the nursing students of the cooperative learning group thought group cooperative studying could improve their interests and cultivated their comprehensive abilities, only 50% could accept this kind of studying methods . Conclusions Action research based on group cooperative studying can improve students' cognitive level and attitude of good death, and it is also good for cultivating their ability of au-tonomous learning, innovation, cooperation, and meanwhile, educational action research is a good way to improve both teaching effect and research ability of teacher staffs, but in practice, students' acceptance of group learning needs to be improved.

AIM: To provide experimental evidence for gene therapy of thrombophilia disease, we constructed the eukaryotic expression plasmid with human thrombomodulin (hTM) gene and observed the alteration of hTM expression on the surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with and without the reconstructive plasmid. METHODS: The whole expressive fragment of hTM gene was amplified by PCR from human genome. Both hTM gene and pcDNA3.1(+)/neo empty vector was digested by HindⅢ and EcoRⅠ. Two digested fragments were ligated into pcDNA3.1/hTM with T_4DNA ligase. After identifying, the reconstructive plasmid transfected into HUVECs using lipofectin. The hTM antigen on the HUVECs was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The hTM reconstructive plasmid was confirmed by double endonuclease redigesting and sequencing. About 10% HUVECs were transfected by pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmid with lipofectin and the high-level hTM was detected on the transfected cells. CONCLUSION: We constructed the pcDNA3.1/hTM plasmid successfully, and it could be expressed on the HUVECs. [

Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix is the dry root of plant Euphorbia fischeriana or E. ebracteolata of Euphorbiaceae, which is a widely utilized natural medicine with broad development prospect. It has been discovered that Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix contains several biologically active constituents, among which diterpenoids are the most important. The diterpenoids of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix contain eight types including abietane-type, tigliane-type, pimarane-type, rosane-type, cembrane-type, ent-kaurane-type, ingenane-type and atisane-type. Diterpenoids of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix have significant anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and other pharmacological activities. In this paper, the chemical constituents of diterpenoids and pharmacological activities of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix in recent years were reviewed in order to provide references for better developing the resources of Euphorbiae Ebracteolatae Radix and its clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the effects of ischemic preconditioning(IP) on liver function,complications and hospital stays after hepatectomy under hepatic vascular exclusion by a meta-analysis.Methods Randomized controlled trials(RCTs) were identified from PUBMED,EMBASE,the Cochrane Library,VIP,CNKI and Wanfang Data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Literature screening,data extraction and quality assessment were made and the meta-analysis was processed by RevMan 4.2.2.Results Eight RCTs involving a total of 511 patients were included.The methodological quality was evaluated and all the trials were in graded B.The meta-analysis revealed that the postoperative ALT peak level(weighted mean difference=-176.37;95%CI:-320.67~-30.06;P=0.02)and postoperative complications incidence(odd ratio=0.64;95%CI: 0.41~0.98;P=0.04)were lower in IP group compared with control group,but there were no significant differences in blood loss,operating time,hepatic vascular exclusion time,postoperative AST and total bilirubin peak level,and hospital stays in both groups.Conclusions IP reduces the postoperative ALT peak level and complications incidence after hepatectomy under hepatic vascular exclusion,but there is no sufficient evidence to support that the IP can protect the liver from ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Aim Toinvestigatetheeffectofrecombi-nant snake venom metalloproteinase inhibitor (rSVM-PI ) on neovascularization and its molecular mecha-nism.Methods Chickenchorioallantoicmembrane (CAM)assay was used to examine the antiangiogenic effect of rSVMPI.Alamar blue analysis was used to de-tect cell proliferation.Annexin V-FITC double labeling flow cytometry was used to assay cell apoptosis. Scratch marker was used to assay cell migration.Boy-den chamber analysis method was used to detect cells chemotaxis in vitro.Tube like structure(TLS)of HU-VECs was used to detect the ability of neovasculariza-tion in vitro.Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to assay the expressions of KDR and FGFR-1 inHUVECs. Results Thevasculardensityindex (VDI)of CAM was drastically decreased after rSVMPI treatment, chemotaxis of HUVECs in response of VEGF was inhibited in the presence of rSVMPI,TLS of HUVECs was less than control group.The expres-sions of KDR and FGFR-1 were down-regulated by re-al-timePCRandWesternblotassay.Conclusion rS-VMPI may inhibit neovascularization by blocking the VEGF-KDR or bFGF-FGFR signal transduction path-way.

Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)with respect to the bal- ance of Th1/Th2.Methods:Eighteen healthy male minipigs,weighing 22-30 kg,were randomly divided into two groups: MODS group and control group.Double-hit method including hemorrhagic shock and endotoxiemia was used to establish the porcine MODS model.The peripheral vein blood samples were collected at different time-points(before bloodletting,before en- dotoxin injection,1 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h after endotoxin injection)in the two groups.The spleen samples were collected after death of the animals.Plasma levels of IFN-?and IL-4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Real- time PCR was used to detect the expression of IFN-?,IL-4,T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA(The latter 2 were the key transcription factors associated with Th1/Th2 response)in the spleen samples.Results:The plasma levels of IFN-?and IL-4 quickly reached the peak values 1 h after the endotoxin injection,then the level of IFN-?decreased quickly.The ratio of IFN-?/IL-4 was signifi- cantly lower than the baseline value 72 h after endotoxin injection(P=0.000).The ratio of IFN-?/IL-4 mRNA in MODS group was obviously lower than that in the control group(P=0.020);the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 was also lower in MODS group (P=0.038).Conclusion:The shift from Th1 to Th2 occurs in the progress of MODS.