The roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis are widely used in Chinese medicine for their action of clearing heat, detoxicating, relieving cough, dispelling sputum and tonifying spleen and stomach. The reason why Glycyrrhiza uralensis has potent and significant actions is that it contains various active secondary metabolites, especially glycyrrhizic acid. In the present study, we cloned the cDNA coding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary CoA reductase (HMGR) involved in glycyrrhizic acid biosynthesis in Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The corresponding cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins. Recombinant HMGR exhibited catalysis activity in reduction of HMG-CoA to mevalonic acid (MVA) just as HMGR isolated from other species. Because HMGR gene is very important in the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizic acid in Glycyrrhiza uralensis, this work is significant for further studies concerned with strengthening the efficacy of Glycyrrhiza uralensis by means of increasing glycyrrhizic acid content and exploring the biosynthesis of glycyrrhizic acid in vitro.

Adolescent ; Cough ; complications ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Fever ; complications ; Humans ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; complications ; diagnosis

Objective To propose a MR scoring methods for spatium perilymphaticum gadolinium opacification and explore the value of their diagnosis of Meniere' s disease. Methods Fifty-one asymptomatic and 65 symptomatic patients with Meniere's disease were enrolled in this study.MR imaging ofspatium perilymphaticum after intratypanic gadolinium injection were analyzed with following scoring method.　( 1 ) Semicircular canal not visualized equal to score 0 ; some visualized equal score 1 ; full visualized equal　score 2.(2)There were high-signal and low-signal in the vestibule,low-signal areas above the lateral　semicircular canal plane equal score 6 ; low signal areas down to lateral semicircular canal plane equal score　3 ; no higher signal in the vestibule area equal score 0.( 3 ) Basal turn of cochlea:full visualized equal score　3; part visualized equal score 2; scala vestibule of basal turn smaller than scala tympani equal score　1 regardless of full or visualized in basal turn; no visualized equal score 0. Medial turn of cochlea:full　visualized equal score 2 ; part visualized equal score 1 ; no visualized equal score 0.Apical turn of cochlea:　visualized equal score 1 ; no visualized equal score 0. One radiologist scored all cases with double blind.　SPSS 17.0 software was used to conduct multiple independent-samples nonparametric tests,multivariate　Logistic regression, and ROC curve analysis. Evaluate the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of　Meniere's disease with the scoring system. Results ( 1 ) Meniere's disease summation score 0 to 12,median 9 (quarter spacing 4.5 ) ; no symptoms group summation score 15 to 18,median 17 (quarter spacing 3),two group differences has statistics significance (Wilcoxon rank and inspection U =-9.118,P =0.00).(2)Based on summation score for the diagnosis of Meniere's disease,tangent point was 14.5,Youden index 0.969,specificity 100.0％,sensitivity 96.9％.( 3 ) Let cochlear,vestibular,semicircular canal scoring for association variable,Logistic regression model:LogitP =61.216 - 7.381 × vestibular -3.056 × canal,based on the P value of ROC curves,diagnostic cut-off point 0.651 (vestibular ≤ 3 or semicircular canals ≤ 4 points ),Youden index 96.9％,specifisity 100.0％, sensitivity 96.9％.Conclusions Perilymphatic space of gadolinium contrast MR score in distinguishing Meniere's disease have practical value,any case meet one of following point could be diagnostic:( 1 ) Perilymphatic space of gadolinium contrast MRI total less than 14.5 ; (2) Vestibular low signal areas down more than lateral semicircular canal plane,namely vestibular score value ≤3;( 3 )Semicircular Canal scoring value ≤4.

Objective To examine the characteristics of affective intensity and cognitive emotion regulation in subjects with borderline personality disorder ( BPD) . Methods The BPD subscale of personal-ity disorder questionnaire( PDQ-4+) was used to assess the BPD symptoms,the short affective intensity scale (SAIS) and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ) were used to measure affect intensity and cognitive emotion regulation strategy,respectively. 765 subjects with BPD and 776 healthy controls were se-lected. The independent-samples t test was used to analyze the differences between BPD group and controls and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the related factors affecting the BPD. Results Com-pared with the control group(negative intensity:(3.08±0.66),negative coping dimension:(37.20±5.94), BPD group got higher scores in negative intensity((3.88±0.74), t=22.29, P<0.01,Cohen''s d>0.8)and negative coping dimension((44.77±6.36), t=24.16, P<0.01,Cohen''s d>0.8). The logistic regression anal-ysis showed that negative intensity(B=1.38,Exp(B)=3.97,95%CI for EXP(B):3.15~5.00, P<0.01) and negative cognitive regulations strategy(B=0.19,Exp(B)=1.21,95% CI:1.18-1.25, P<0.01) could affect the prevalence of BPD. Conclusion Subjects with BPD traits have more significant negative affective inten-sity and tend to use negative cognitive regulations strategy.

To investigate the effects of gensenoside Rg1 on expressions of phosphorylated tau protein (P-tau), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and tau protein in Alzheimer's disease-like tau phosphorylation rat brain slices, and to explore the mechanisms of gensenoside Rg1 in inhibiting tau phosphorylation.

Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation

Objective: To develop the ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry ( UPLC-MS/MS ) for the determination of perfluorocarboxylic acids ( PFCAs ) in fish. Methods: The fish samples were extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether and purified by WAX columns. The WAX cartridges were rinsed with methanol and 25 mmol/L ammonium acetate, and the target compound residues were eluted with 0.5% ammonia methanol and then redissolved with 50% methanol aqueous solution after nitrogen blowing to nearly dry. Nine kinds of PFCAs were simultaneously quantified by UPLC-MS/MS with 1 mmol/L ammonium acetate-methanol solution as the mobile phase. Results: The extraction was separated well in UPLC BEH C18 column. There were good linear correlations of nine kinds of PFCAs in the range of 1.0-200.0 ng/mL, with the coefficients all more than 0.99. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.06-0.19 μg/kg and 0.19-0.62 μg/kg, respectively. The recovery rates were 70.08%-117.24% at different spiked levels ( 5.0, 25.0, 50.0 μg/kg ), and the relative standard deviations were 2.31%-19.68%. Conclusion Through optimizing the pretreatment conditions, the mobile phase of liquid chromatography and the detection conditions of mass spectrometry, the UPLC-MS/MS could meet the monitoring requirements of PFCAs in fish.

Objective To Establish an evaluation index system of critical care nurses training in Chongqing. Methods A panel of experts was formed with 20 experts from related fields. By the use of Del-phi method, we designed a questionnaire survey and took two rounds of expert consultation and revision, screening the intensive care nurse training evaluation index. SPSS 17.0 statistical software was used to assess the experts involved in the study and to determine the weight of indicators at all levels. Results In the course of the investigation, the experts participating in the initiative was very high, and the authority coeffi-cient (Cr) was 0.896. The training evaluation system of critical care nurses in Chongqing was initially iden-tified, including 3 first-level indicators, 7 second-level indicators 7, 21 third-level indicators. Conclusion The preliminary construction of critical care nurse training evaluation system in Chongqing can promote the ICU specialist nurse training effect and guarantee the training quality, and at the same time it provides some reference for the training and evaluation of the health administrative department.

Objective To explore the contrast perilymphatic MRI characteristics of inner ears with sudden hearing loss with vertigo.Methods Forty three patients with sudden hearing loss with vertigo and 35 patients with unilateral tinnitus diagnosed by the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were retrospectively included.Forty eight ears (38 ears with unilateral sudden hearing loss and 10 ears in 5 cases with bilateral sudden hearing loss) were regarded as sudden hearing loss group,35 asymptomatic ears (the opposite ears of the unilateral tinnitus ears) as control group.Thirty eight opposite ears of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and 35 ears of the control group showed normal in the pure tone audiometry exam.One hundred and twenty one ears (48 hearing loss ears,38 opposite ears of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and the 35 control group's ears) underwent contrast perilymphatic MR exams,0.4 to 0.5 ml gadolinium hydrate diluted with saline was injected through the tympanic membrane,twenty four hours later,three-dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence was performed using a 3.0 T MRI scanner.After the contrast perilymphatic MR exam,success in the exam was judged through the raw image.The signal intensity ratio (SIR) of cochlea basal turn and homolateral brain stem was quantitatively calculated.The SIR difference of 48 ears with sudden hearing loss and 35 asymptomatic ears in control group was analyzed by t test.The SIR difference of the 38 unilateral sudden hearing loss ears and the contralateral asymptomatic ears was also analyzed.The presence of endolymphatic hydrops was judged.Results The contrast perilymphatic MRI of 121 inner ears with intratympanic gadolinium injection were all successful.Endolymphatic hydrops were observed in 12 sudden hearing loss ears with the occurrence rate of 25％(12/48).The SIR of basal turn and homolateral brain stem of the sudden hearing loss ears (2.062±0.907) were lower than the SIR of the control groups' asymptomatic ears (2.703± 0.640) with significant difference between them (t=3.619,P=0.001),the SIR of basal turn and homolateral brain stem of the unilateral sudden hearing loss ears (1.941 ±0.860) were also lower than the SIR of the contralateral asymptomatic ears (2.411±0.670) with statistical difference between them (t =3.270,P=0.002).Conclusions Endolymphatic hydrops were observed in sudden hearing loss with vertigo.The SIR of the cochlea in sudden hearing loss ears were lower than that of the asymptomatic ears,indicating the abnormal permeability of the round window membrane.

Objective To investigate the effects of rigid gas permeable contact lens (RGPCL) wearing 3 years on ocular surface in keratoconus.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 73 patients with keratoconus.Methods From July 2001 to July 2004,73 patients (142 eyes) wearing RGPCL for more than 3 years were collected in Peking University Optometry & Ophthalmology Center.Be- fore and at 1 year,2 years and 3 years of RGPCL wearing,density and morphologic changes of corneal endothelium were examined with non-contact specular microscope.Eye axial length,central and peripheral thickness of cornea were measured with A-scan pachymeter. All eyes were examined with slit-lamp microscope periodically.Main Outcome Measures Corneal endothelial density and morphology, corneal thickness,eye axial length,ocular surface changes.Results Before and at 1 year,2 years and 3 years of RGPCL wearing,aver- age corneal endothelial density was 2901.92?445.20,2862.78?497.13,2854.71?526.80,3015.61?421.22 (cells/mm~2)without significant difference statistically (F=1.571,P=0.20).Morphologic changes were not significant during 3 years.Eye axial length was 25.15?1.50, 24.93?1.36,24.78?1.25,25.39?1.31 (mm) without significant difference statistically (F=2.218,P=0.10).Corneal central thickness was 489.09?59.64,484.02?60.80,496.61?59.74,487.44?54.25(?m)without significant difference statistically (F=0.991,P=0.40).Peripheral thickness changes were also not significant statistically during 3 years.69 eyes with mild conjunctival congestion,12 eyes with corneal fluorescence stain and 6 eyes with corneal epithelial rough were found with slit-lamp microscope during follow-up.Conclusions For the patients with keratoconus,long term of RGPCL wear will not lead to significant ocular changes or severe ocular complications.