Objective To compare the differences of clinical characteristics between genotype B and C chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients and to summarize clinical factors related to genotype C hepa- titis B virus(HBV)infection.Methods Seventy eight CHB patients who were diagnosed with genotype B or C infection by liver puncture biopsy and genotyping were enrolled.Their serum HBV DNA levels were detected.Severe hepatitis,liver cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma and HBeAg positive rate were analyzed to determine the pathologic inflammation and fibrosis degree of liver tissue.Chi square test and Logistic multiple regression analysis were employed for the statistical analysis.Results The serum albumin and pre-protein were lower in genotype C CHB patients than that in genotype B.The alanine aminotrans- ferase,total bilirubin and prothrombin time were higher in genotype C CHB patients than that in genotype B.The rates of genotype C patients increased significantly with the grade of liver necroin- flammation progressing from GO to G4(1.8%,11.1%,20.4%,33.3%,33.3%) and the stage of liver fibrosis progressing from SO to S4(5.6%,5.6%,14.8%,33.3%,40.7%),but the rates of genotype B patients did not change significantly with the grade of liver necroinflammation(16.7%, 25.0%,25.0%,20.8%,12.5%)and stage of liver fibrosis progressing(16.7%,29.2%%,20.8%, 16.7%,16.7%).There was statistical significance in grades of liver necroinflammation(X~2= 11.49,P=0.022)and stages of liver fibrosis(X~2=13.56,P=0.006)between genotype B and gen- otype C patients.The rates of genotype C CHB patients were higher than,similar with and lower than the rates of genotype B patients of HBV DNA level above 1.0?10~6 copy/mL,between 5.0?10~2-1.0?10~6 copy/mL and under 5.0?10~2 copy/mL,respectively(51.8% vs 12.5%,35.2% vs 45.8% and 13.0% vs 41.7%).There was statistical significance of HBV loads between genotype B and genotype C patients(X~2=13.25,P=0.001).HBeAg positive rate in genotype C patients was significantly higher than that in genotype B patients(61.1% vs 25.0%,X~2=8.67,P=0.003).The rates of decompensated cirrhosis,compensated cirrhosis and no-cirrhosis in genotype C patients were higher than,similiar with and lower than the rates in genotype B patients,respectively(40.7% vs 4.2%,22.2% vs 20.8% and 37.0% vs 75.0%).There was statistical significance of the rate of cirrhosis between genotype B and genotype C patients (X~2=12.47,P=0.002).Conclusions The degree of liver necroinflammation and fibrosis,the HBeAg positive rate and the incidence of cirrhosis are all related with genotype C HBV infection.

This study was aimed to investigate the comprehensive ecological factors of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and their regional suitability in China. Based on field survey, specimen examination and literature investigation, ecologi-cal factors and appropriate production areas were analyzed by Traditional Chinese Medicine Geographic Information System (TCMGIS-II). The results showed that the proper region (with similarity of 95%~100%) of H. rhamnoides L. accounts for 737 994.71 km2, including 15 provinces/municipalities and 387 counties/cities. The largest area among them is Tibet autonomous region with area of 313 857.73 km2 (42.53%), followed by Sichuan province (223 987.02 km2, 30.35%), Gansu province (66 314.43 km2, 8.99%) and Shanxi province (4 237.79 km2, 0.57%). There are also certain appropriate production areas distributed in Liaoning province, Beijing, Chongqing and Hubei province. It was concluded that this system is much valuable to the recognition of the formation of the producing area, the division of adaptive area, introduction and acclimatization of medicinal materials. It also provided a scientific reference for the introduction and cultivation of H. rhamnoides L. Through further field study and experiments, these new areas have the potential to be developed into suitable production region of H. rhamnoides L. in the future.

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance and the role of the p53 gene mutation in the exon 4 to 8 in keloid fibroblasts.

METHODSTissue samples from twelve patients with keloid and twelve hyperplastic scar respectively were harvested for in vitro culture of fibroblasts, and normal skin samples from the same patients were employed as the control. Polymerase chain reaction-based single-strained conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing were employed to detect p53 gene mutations of the fibroblasts.

RESULTSThe points and frameshift mutations in the exon 4, 5, 6, 7 of p53 gene were identified in 9 of the 12 keloid tissue samples. No p53 gene mutation was detected in all hyperplastic scar and normal skin samples.

CONCLUSIONp53 gene mutation might play an important role in the formation and development of keloids.

Female ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation

This paper discusses the application of virtual reality technology in the 3-D visible human body and acupuncture research. Based on the 3-D visible human fused with the localization information and hierarchy of acupoints, the paper analyzes the force against the needle and haptic rendering during the needle manipulation according to the physical properties of different tissues. A haptic model is constructed to demonstrate the force behaviors during acupuncture, and the force will be produced and passed to the manipulator by a force feedback device. It enriches the contents of 3-D visible human project, provides a dynamic simulation instrument for acupuncture teaching, and supplies a platform for acupuncture research.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; China ; Computer Simulation ; Feedback ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; User-Computer Interface ; Visible Human Projects

OBJECTIVETo identify antiviral activity of Toddalia asiatica against influenza virus type A in vitro.

METHODMore than two hundred Chinese medicinal herb extracts were screened for antiviral activities against influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay for virus induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in a primary screening. Positive samples were picked up and were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to quantify reduction of H1N1 virus genomic RNA.

RESULTToddalia asiatica showed potent antiviral activities against H1N1 virus, with 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of 4.7 mg x L(-1) in MTS assay and 0.9 mg x L(-1) in quantitative PCR assay respectively. The cytotoxicity test of Toddalia asiatica generated a CC50 value of 187.2 mg x L(-1) and a selective index (SI) larger than 206 in quantitative PCR. Although the best antiviral activity of Toddalia asiatica was observed with co-treatment of influenza virus infection, it remained effective even when administrated 24 h before and after the initiation of infection.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that Toddalia asiatica compound extract could be a candidate for anti-H1N1 virus agent in the treatment of influenza.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; genetics ; Kidney ; cytology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Viral ; drug effects ; Rutaceae ; chemistry ; Time Factors

To optimize the culture environment and protocol of hematopoietic cells' expansion, avoiding the fluctuation caused by medium changing in stirred culture and concentration gradient in static culture, the hematopoietic cells from cord blood (CB) were cultured in a stirred bioreactor connected with a cell retention system, which is a gravity sedimentation settler designed for hematopoietic cell. Total cells expanded 11.5 and 18.6 fold respectively in the twice perfusion stirred cultures, in which CFU-Mix was expanded 23.2 and 20.4 fold, CFU-GM 13.9 fold and 21.5 fold, BFU-E 8.0 fold and 6.9 fold, CD34+ cells 17.1 fold and 15.4 fold. After 12-day culture, it was obtained that 1082 x 10(6) total cells, 6.31 x 10(6) CFU-GM, 6.2 x 10(6) CFU-Mix and 23 x 10(6) CD34+ cells from 267 x 10(6) CB mononuclear cells (MNC) in the first culture, and 1080 x 10(6) total cells, 4.65 x 10(6) CFU-GM, 11.0 x 10(6) CFU-Mix, and 25.0 x 10(6) CD34+ cells from 180 x 10(6) CB MNC. These two cultures met to the clinical scale. Due to the optimized dissolved oxygen (DO) and stable culture environment, the rate of stem/progenitor cells to total cells in the perfusion culture was higher than that in T-flask cell-retention feeding culture. But the cell growth was inhibited in the later phase of perfusion culture, when the cell density is high. The inhibition should be attribute to the high cell density itself. The perfusion culture environment in bioreactor with optimal DO and pH controlling is more favorable for stem/progenitor cells' maintenance and expansion, and the expanded cells' number has reached a clinical scale. But the high cell density in the later phase of perfusion culture caused inhibition to mature hematopoietic cell's growth.
Bioreactors ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans

To study the effect of Siwu decoction on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cells. The Real-time quantitative poly-merase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of MDR1 gene in Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometer was used to study the effect of Siwu decoction on the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells, in order to evaluate the efflux function of P-gp. Western blotting method was used to detect the effect of Siwu decoction on the P-gp protein expression of Caco-2 cells. Compared with the blank control group, after Caco-2 incubation with Siwu decoction at concentrations of 3.3, 5.0, 10.0 g x L(-1) for 24, 48, 72 h, the mRNA expression of MDR1 was up-regulated, suggesting the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the expression of MDR1. After the administration with Siwu decoction in Caco-2 cells for 48 h, the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells decreased by respectively 16.6%, 22.1% (P < 0.05) and 45.4% (P < 0.01), indicating that the long-term administration of Siwu decoction can enhance the P-gp efflux function of Caco-2 cells. After the incubation of Caco-2 cells with Siwu decoction for 48 h, the P-gp protein expression on Caco-2 cell emebranes, demonstrating the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the protein expression of P-gp.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; genetics ; metabolism ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo discuss the value of a new technique of the binding pancreaticogastrostomy (BPG) in pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to October 2008, 15 patients were performed with BPG, included pancreatic head cancer in 7 cases, duodenal adenocarcinoma in 2 cases,mass-type chronic pancreatitis with pancreatolithiasis in 1 case, ampullary carcinoma in 1 case, gallbladder cancer in 1 case, islet cell tumor in 1 case and cholangiocarcinoma in 2 cases. The main procedures of BPG included: isolating remnant pancreas; slitting partial posterior wall of stomach and preplaced with seromuscular purse-string suture; cutting gastric anterior wall; performing pancreaticogastrostomy (binding of outer seromuscular and inner mucous layer of stomach).

RESULTSThe procedures were successful in 15 patients. Postoperative complications included small amount of pleural effusion in 2 cases, delayed gastric emptying in 2 cases and bile leakage in 2 cases. All patients were cured in 2 weeks. No mortality and anastomosis leakage occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe application of BPG technique can prevent the anastomosis leakage and improve the safety for pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Fistula ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Stomach ; surgery ; Surgical Stomas

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and curative effect of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis (MG) by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) through right anterior-lateral approach.

METHODSFifty-six patients of MG were treated with thoracoscopic thymectomy and mediastinal fat dissection through right anterior-lateral approach from August 2001 to October 2007. The feasibility, safety, complication and remission for MG were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSFifty-five operations were completed by VATS. The mean operative time and blood loss were (96.2 +/- 52.1) min and (68.7 +/- 21.4) ml, respectively. The brachiocephalic vein injury by the electric coagulator occurred in two cases and one of them performed thoracotomy for homeostasis, the other performed ligation. The postoperative pathology showed hyperplasia in 38 cases, atrophy in 5 cases, thymoma in 12 cases and cyst of thymus in 1 case. And the operative complication included one myasthenia crisis (1.8%) at the third day and one death (1.8%) at the eighth day because of postoperative hemorrhage. The average length of stay was (7.9 +/- 2.9) d. All cases were followed up from one to seventy months. Eight (14.3%) of complete remission, 39 cases (69.6%) of partial remission and 7 cases (12.5%) of no change were found. The total effective rate was 83.9%.

CONCLUSIONSThoracoscopic thymectomy through right anterior lateral approach is technically feasible, safe and minimally invasive. It has a high remission rate for MG.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Thymectomy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine whether Acanthamoeba polyphaga could affect the survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae O139 in low temperature.

METHODSV. cholerae O139 was co-cultured with the Acanthamoeba polyphaga to be examined on its intracellular growth and survival rate within cysts at low temperature, using methods as Gram-staining, electron microscope and passage culture.

RESULTSV. cholerae O139 were observed to enter into the trophozoites and grow the within the vacuoles after 8 hour incubation with Acanthamoeba polyphaga. The germs survived in the vacuole and/or endo-layer of wall and could be re-isolated from the excystment of Acanthamoeba polyphaga. At 30 degrees C, V. cholerae O139 could survive for 120 days with the amoeba while less than 45 days in PAS. At 4 degrees C, the number of viable bacteria decreased and reached undetectable levels for both study and control groups after a 30-day incubation. V. cholerae O139 could be re-isolated from the 30-, 45-, 60- and 75-day's infected cysts after excystment. However the ability of excystment for 90-day's infected cysts decreased and V. cholerae O139 within the cyst could not be isolated again because the amoebae had lysed.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicated that V. cholerae O139 could grow within Acanthamoeba polyphaga and the survival time could be increased in the cysts at low temperature. It seemed that Acanthamoeba can provide an environmental reservoir for V. cholerae O139.

Acanthamoeba ; microbiology ; Bacterial Capsules ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Temperature ; Vibrio cholerae ; growth & development