Though parched Chinese herbal medicines contain less effective or index components, their pharmacological actions do not reduce or even become improved to some extent. However, the current studies related to material basis could not explain the changes in property, flavour and efficacy of parched Chinese herbal medicines. Meanwhile, due to the lack of objective and specific evaluation indexes, the quality evaluation could not reflect features of parched Chinese herbal pieces. Therefore, how to break the bottleneck for the studies on parched Chinese herbal pieces, make further innovation and conduct in-depth studies on the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines are common problems that medical scholars are facing. According to the findings in the previous studies, the author proposed to explain the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines by studying Maillard reaction and establish specific quality evaluation indexes according to the features of parched Chinese herbal pieces, and conducted relevant studies.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Maillard Reaction ; Quality Control

Objective To explore the effect of minimally invasive clinical pathway in patients after car-diac interventional therapy. Methods One hundred and twenty patients who received cardiac interventional therapy from June 2005 to October 2006 were divided into the control group and the observation group.The control group received routine nursing while the observation group adopted minimally invasive clinical pathway of nursing.The nursing effect in the two groups was compared. Results The mean hospitalized duration, sat-isfaction degree and health knowledge level in the observation group were superior to those of the control group (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The adoption of minimally invasive clinical pathway in patients after cardiac inter-ventional therapy could increase working efficiency nd ensure the nusing quality.

Objective The color of the syphilis quality control material adopted by most detection institutes was the same with the detected serum sample and they were all colorless,transparent or light yellow.There were cases of wrong adding,missing adding or insufficient adding due to the color of quality control materials which was hard to distinguish with naked eyes.To avoid this phenomenon,a new method was established for the distinction of quality control materials.Methods A new method of syphilis quality control materials that had been improved three concentrations control materials:0.125,0.250 and 0.500 NCU/mL.The syphilis diagnostic kit that was created by Shanghai Kehua and Xiamen Yingke was adopted to conduct detection and compare results.Results The difference between stained quality control material and unstained quality control materials had no statistical significance (P＞0.05).Two different reagents were used to detect quality control materials of different concentration for 20 times and the CV were 11.7 ％-13.4％ and 9.3 ％-12.9 ％ respectively.Two different reagents were used to detect quality control materials of different concentration for 30 days and the CV range were 10.1 ％-13.4 ％ and 8.08 ％-12.8 ％.Conclusion Citric yellow staining does not influence the properties of syphilis control materials and it can be used stably for a long time.It is suitable for clinical lab application and promotion.

Objective To observe the imaging features of ultra-wide field short wave fundus autofluorescence (SW-FAF) in eyes with multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS),and analysis the correspondence to conventional images.Methods It was a retrospective case series study.Thirteen patients (14 eyes) diagnosed with MEWDS were enrolled.There were 12 females and 1 male,aged from 22 to 57 years,mean age was 34.5 years.All the eyes underwent fundus color photography,optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultra-wide field autofluorescence (FAF).Simultaneous fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed in 6 eyes.The characteristic changes of SW-FAF in studied eyes were observed and compared with the images of FFA and ICGA.All the eyes were followed up every 1 to 2 weeks,with an average of 16.7 weeks.The characteristic images of SW-FAF and corresponding OCT were studied during follow up.Results MEWDS presented with numerous multiple hyper-autofluorescent spots,sized from 50-500 μm,with a vague boundary in ultra-wide field SW-FAF.These spots located mainly at the peripapillary area and the posterior pole with a confluent pattern.The lesions extended to the mid-peripheral retina as well and became more scattered.The distribution of the hyper-autofluorescent lesions in SW-FAF corresponded roughly to that of the greyish-white spots seen in color photograph and the hyper-fluorescent spots detected by FFA.It was consistent with the distribution of hypo-fluorescent spots in late-phase ICGA as well.But the number of the spot showed in FAF is much more than that in FFA,and slightly less than that in ICGA.The OCT scans through the hyper-autofluorescent lesions in SW-FAF showed impairment of outer retina.After the recovery,the hyper-autofluorescent spots disappeared with the outer retina structure repaired completely.Conclusions MEWDS presented with numerous multiple hyper-autofluorescent spots which located mainly at the peripapillary area in ultra-wide field SW-FAF.The distribution of the hyper-autofluorescent lesions in SW-FAF corresponded roughly to color photograph,FFA and ICGA in late-phase.The OCT scans through the hyper-autofluorescent lesions in SW-FAF showed impairment of outer retina.

Objective To explore the feasibility of culturing dermal papillae cells (DPC) of hu- man hair in a serum-flee medium,and to observe the growth characteristics of these cells.Methods Cell culture flasks (plates) were pretreated with fibronectin,and DPC (2nd passage) were incubated with Williams E serum-flee medium supplemented with insulin-transferrin-selenite (ITS).Cells were observed by an inverted phase-contrast microscope.Proliferation of DPC was evaluated with 3-(4,5-dimethylthia- zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and by their growth curve.Results In a serum-free medium,2nd passage DPC adhered to the flask surface within two to four hours of incubation; two to three days later,confluence,of the cells was observed,without noticeable proliferation.Four days later,cell connection was interrupted,isolated cells or cell clusters were seen,and detachment of some cells from the flask surface was observed.One to two weeks later,most cells had died.After incubation with 4% bovine serum for ten hours,cell proliferation was observed surrounding the remaining viable cell colonies. DPC growth curve showed stagnant phase and slow growth phase;however,log growth phase was not ob- served.Conclusion DPC could be successfully cultured in serum-free medium.However,the culture con- dition needs to be further optimized.

Objective:To investigate association of the new polymorphism G352A in the dopaminetransporter gene(DAT1)exon 15 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)in Han Chinesechildren.Methods:The new mutant polymorphism G352A in the dopamine transporter gene(DAT1)ex-on 15 was found by the fluorescently-labeled dye-terminators assay.The study samples were comprised of337 ADHD children,207 unrelated controls and 201 integrated ADHD trios(included proband and bio-logical parents).Associations of polymorphisms with ADHD and its subtypes were examined by:(i)comparing cases and controls;and(ii)using family-based association study in transmission-disequilibri-um test(TDT).Results:The allele frequencies at the DAT1 G352A locus in the control samples were79.5% for 352G and 20.5% for 352A respectively.Association studies revealed no association betweenG352A in exon 15 of DAT1 and ADHD.But after a stratification by gender,there was possible associationbetween G352A and ADHD girls:the 352G allele had a tendency to be preferentially transmitted toADHD girls.Conclusion:There is no association between G352A,the new polymorphism,in exon 15 ofDAT1 and ADHD.The 352G allele has a tendency to be preferentially transmitted to ADHD girls,but thefindings require replication before drawing a definitive conclusion.

Objective To evaluate the effect of digital subtraction angiography and transcatheter embolization for gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Methods Twenty patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage received celiac arteries,superior mesenteric arteries and inferior mesenteric arteries angiography. Superselective angiography were performed when the arteries were suspicious by clinic or angiogrraphy.Ten patients with definite diagnosis and manifestation of hemorrhagic arteries by angiography were embolized after superseleetive catheterization with gelfoam particles,gelfoam particles and coils,polyvinyl alcohol particles. Results The positive signs were observed in 13 cases.The DSA features including contrast medium accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract outside vascular,aneurysm,tumorous vascularization and staining, artery affect and local vasospasm.The bleedings were stopped immediately in 8 patients.No rebleeding and intestinal ischaemia or necrosis were observed in 30 days.One patient died in the second day after embolization from multiple organ failure.Rebleeding occurred 3 days after embolization in another patient, and was recovered after surgical operation.Conclusion DSA is more effective for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal vascular malformation and tumors complicating acute bleeding.Transcatheter embolization is effective and safe to control the hemorrhage.

Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a lipid soluble active compound in Salvia miltiorrhiza, has a significant inhibitory effect on multiple malignant tumors, e. g. chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells and can effectively enhance imatinib's chemotherapeutic effect. However, its functional molecular mechanism remained unclear. In this experiment, the authors conducted a systematic study on the effect of CPT on the imatinib sensitivity and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in CML cells by using CML cells K562 and imatinib persister K562-R. The MTT assays were performed to determine CPT's impact on the inhibitory effect of imatinib. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis was used to detect the changes in the cell apoptosis rate. The active changes in apoptosis regulatory proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP were determined by Western blot. After the cells were pretreated with the gradient concentration of CPT, the expression of P-gp was analyzed by Western blot and flow cytometry. The changes in intracellular concentrations of imatinib were determined by HPLC analysis. The results indicated that the pretreatment with CPT significantly increased the proliferation inhibiting and apoptosis inducing effects of imatinib on K562 and K562-R cells as well as the degradation product expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and PARP, with a significant difference with the control group (P < 0.01). However, CPT showed no impact on the P-gp expression in CML cells and the intracellular concentrations of imatinib. In summary, the findings suggested that CPT enhanced the sensitivity of CML cells to imatinib. Its mechanism is not dependent on the inhibition in P-gp expression and the increase in intracellular drug concentration.
ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology

Objective:To explore the expression of N-cadherin and its correlations with the clinicopathological features of human ovarian carcinoma.Methods:The expression of N-cadherin in 281 cases of ovarian carcinoma tissues were determined by immunohistochemical method.The correlations of N-cadherin expression with the clinicopathological features of human ovarian carcinoma were analyzed.Results:There was higher expression of N-cadherin in the metastatic lesions than its paired primary lesions (P =0.018).The expression level of N-cadherin in ovarian carcinoma was correlated with the FIGO stage (P =0.034),histological type (P ＜0.001) and tumor grade (P =0.004).Conclusions:High expression of N-cadherin might positively correlate with the invasion and migration ability of ovarian carcinoma cells,which was more common in the the advanced (FIGO Ⅱ-Ⅳ) ovarian carcinoma,high-grade serous carcinoma,and high grade ovarian carcinoma.N-cadherin might be useful in estimating the biological behavior of human ovarian carcinoma.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most frequent pattern of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with poor prognosis and high mortality.Studies in recent years found that non-coding small RNA molecules (miRNA) were closely related to the clinical course of DCM.The present article made a review on the expression pattern of miRNA and development of DCM study.