OBJECTIVETo study the scientific evidence of the traditional preparation of Dachengqi: "Boiling Aurantii Immaturus and Magnoliae Officinalis first, and then adding Rhei to decoct together. Discarding the dregs, adding Natrii Sulfas into the decoction and drinking the upper solution when the Natrii Sulfas has dissolved completely".

METHODThe concentrations of free and combined anthraquinonoids(emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, physcion) in different decoctions were determined with HPLC method respectively.

RESULTWhen Natrii Sulfas, Aurantii Immaturus and Magnolias Officinalis are decocted with Rhei in different schemes, the concentrations of anthraquinonoids were changed regularly.

CONCLUSIONThe scientific evidence of traditional preparation method greatly increased the concentrations of the active components in Dachengqi.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Magnolia ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Sulfates ; Time Factors

Data mining technology has become a powerful tool in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) research. In this paper, based on the principle and basic requirements of data mining, the mining methods and procedures were described. And then the application of data mining technology in Chinese medicine pair research was classified and summarized, such as the compatibility characters, characteristic pairs, dosage-effect relationship and property compatibility, which provide the direction and data base for modern research of Chinese medicine pair.
Cluster Analysis ; Data Mining ; methods ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Prescriptions ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

In order to establish a method by which the recombinant suicide plasmids integrated on the chromosome could be recircled, A simple method of transconjugative cloning was established with the helper plasmids pMT999 or pRK2013 and fusion strains of Shigella flexneri which were obtained by screening with in vivo expression technology. And the cloning efficiency with this method is very high.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between condylar marrow signal abnormalities and temporomandibular joint internal derangement (TMJID).

METHODSOblique sagittal T1 weighted MR imaging at closed and open mouth and Oblique sagittal T2 weighted MR imaging at closed mouth were obtained from 88 joints of 44 patients suffering from TMD. Condylar marrow signal abnormalities were reviewed and classified into bone marrow edema pattern (hypointense T1, hyperintense T2), sclerosis pattern (hypointense T1 and hypointense T2) and combined edema and sclerosis pattern.

RESULTSOf 88 joints, 13 (14.8%) joints showed condylar marrow signal abnomalities, among which 11 belonged to edema pattern and, 1 was sclerosis pattern and the other was the combined patten. Of 13 joints with condylar marrow signal abnomalities, 11 (84.6%) had TMJID. Of 75 joints with normal marrow signal, 25 (33.3%) joints had TMJID. There was significant correlation between condylar marrow signal abnormalities and TMJID (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDisc displacement is one of the factors inducing condylar marrow signal abnormalities. The pathological process from disc displacement to osteonecrosis requires further study.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of obesity level and the level change in childhood on hypertension incidence.

METHODSA perspective cohort study was conducted. As part of Beijing Child and Adolescent Metabolic Syndrome Study, 2189 aged 6 - 16 year non-hypertensive children was followed up in December, 2010. In this study, height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure was measured at follow-up, and body mass index (BMI) and WC was respectively used to assess overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity. Non-conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline obesity status, change of obesity status and hypertension incidence. OR and 95%CI were computed in the model using obese status as dummy variable and hypertension at follow up visit as dependent variable.

RESULTSThe total hypertension incidence of 1184 subjects during 6 years follow-up was 19.9% (236/1184). The hypertension incidence in male (23.2%, 149/643) was higher than that in female (16.1%, 87/541) (χ(2) = 9.257, P = 0.002). The hypertension incidence of non-overweight, overweight and obese children at baseline was 8.7% (45/519), 19.3% (35/181) and 32.4% (156/484) respectively (χ(2) = 9.332, P < 0.001), and the incidence of non-obese and abdominal obese children at baseline was respectively 10.3% (63/613) and 30.7% (173/567) (χ(2) = 77.753, P < 0.001). Hypertension incidence in the baseline obesity group was higher than the non-overweight (BMI: OR = 4.9, 95%CI: 3.4 - 7.0) and non-obese group (WC: OR = 3.9, 95%CI: 2.8 - 5.3). The hypertension incidence increased with the follow-up BMI/WC level, based on the same baseline level of BMI and WC. The hypertension risk increased to 0.21 and 0.07 times respectively with elevation of baseline BMI level by 1 kg/m(2) and WC level by 1 cm, and OR (95%CI) were 1.21 (1.16 - 1.26) and 1.07 (1.05 - 1.09), respectively. Similarly, the hypertension risk increased 0.16 and 0.05 times respectively with the elevation of BMI level change by 1 kg/m(2) and 1 cm, and OR (95%CI) were 1.16 (1.11 - 1.22) and 1.05 (1.03 - 1.07), respectively.

CONCLUSIONObesity and increased obesity level change in childhood can increase the risk of incident hypertension.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Incidence ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; epidemiology ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDRecurrence or metastasis of myxomas is not rare and can lead to malignancy. We aimed to analyze the risk factors for postoperative cardiac myxoma recurrence and to summarize its clinical characteristics, treatments and classification.

METHODSThe clinical data of 5 patients with recurrent cardiac myxoma were retrospectively analyzed and our clinical experience was summarized. Moreover, the relevant literatures were reviewed.

RESULTSAll the five cases of primary myxomas were derived from atypical positions. One patient had early distant metastasis, one had family history, and two suffered malignant recurrence. The recurrence interval was (2.30 ± 2.16) years and the recurrent tumors were all found in different chambers from those of the corresponding primary tumors. Re-operation was performed after recurrence. One patient died of heart failure after malignant recurrence, and the other 4 cases had satisfactory therapeutic outcomes after re-operations. Our experience advocated a clinical classification of "typical" and "atypical" cardiac myxoma, the typical myxomas referred to the tumors locating at the left atria, with single pedicle, rooted at or around the fossa ovalis, involving no genetic causes, and the atypical myxomas included the familial tumors, tumors stemming from multiple chambers, rooted in abnormal positions of the left atrium, with evident genetic mutation, or with malignant tendency.

CONCLUSIONSPostoperative follow-up is of vital importance for patients with myxomas characterized by multi-chamber distribution, early distant metastasis, atypical origin, and family history. Once recurs, re-operation is necessary and should be performed immediately.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Heart Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in pathogenic causes and the prognosis of aortic valve replacement (AVR).

METHODSThe clinical data of 1026 patients undergoing AVR from December 1980 to December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The mortality, morbidity, changes in pathogenic causes and risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe postoperative mortality and complication morbidity were 4.3% and 10.6% respectively within 30 days followed operation. Main causes of operative death were heart failure, multi organ failure and endocarditis. The major risk factors for operative death were left ventricle ejection fraction less than 0.4, endocarditis, valve regurgitation and emergency operation before AVR. Late mortality was 0.54% patient-year (3.4%), most of whom died of heart failure, endocarditis and arrhythmias. Patients underwent reoperation 0.22% patient-year (1.4%), with the causes of endocarditis and perivalvular fistula.

CONCLUSIONSMorbidity of rheumatic damage in aortic valve has decreased, while valve degeneration has increased gradually in the recent years. Avoiding prosthesis-patient mismatch, good postoperatively guide and prevention of endocarditis can improve the prognosis of AVR.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aortic Valve ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Valve Diseases ; surgery ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; mortality ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish a new photomacrographic analysis of morphological changes on brain surface to evaluate blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.

METHODSPermanent focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice. Brains were removed 10 min, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after MCAO. The whole brains and brain slices were photographed by a digital camera. BBB disruption was evaluated by hemorrhage and traced Evans blue (EB) on the brain surface. Fluoremetric quantitation of EB and water content in the brains were also performed at various time points.

RESULTPhotomacrographic morphological analysis showed that hemorrhage and traced EB on the surface of the brains significantly increased from 3 h after focal cerebral ischemia,which were correlated to the results in the brain slices. EB content in the ischemic hemispheres was significantly increased from 0.5 h after MCAO, and water content was increased from 1 h after MCAO.

CONCLUSIONPhotomacrographic measurement is a simple and useful method for evaluating BBB disruption semi-quantitatively, and can detect BBB disruption earlier after focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; physiopathology ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Evans Blue ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; physiopathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Photography ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the translocation of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)) after injuries by transfection with green fluorescence protein (GFP)/5-LOX in PC12 cells.

METHODSPC12 cells were stably transfected with pEGFP-C2/5-LOX (GFP/5-LOX) or pEGFP-C2 vectors (control). After treatment with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), H(2)O(2) or NMDA, GFP/5-LOX localization in the cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope. Wild-type 5-LOX was determined by immunostaining after the treatment.

RESULTIn the GFP/5-LOX-transfected cells, GFP/5-LOX was primarily localized in the nucleus; while in the GFP-transfected cells, GFP was localized in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. After OGD and H(2)O(2) treatments, GFP/5-LOX was translocated to the nuclear membrane in 50.6 % and 57.7% cells respectively. However, after NMDA treatment or in GFP-transfected cells, no translocation was observed. Wild-type 5-LOX was distributed in the nuclei and cytoplasm, and all the 3 treatments induced 5-LOX translocation to the nuclear membrane.

CONCLUSIONIn the PC12 cells stably transfected with GFP/5-LOX, GFP/5-LOX is primarily distributed in the nuclei; the OGD-, H(2)O(2)- and NMDA-induced 5-LOX translocation exhibits different properties.

Animals ; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; N-Methylaspartate ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Envelope ; metabolism ; PC12 Cells ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Rats ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of solid focal lesions of pancreas (s-FLPs).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 s-FLPs examined with contrast agent combined with low mechanical indicators contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

RESULTSThe surrounding pancreas parenchyma enhancement time, lesion enhancement time, and peak enhancement time between different groups of s-FLPs had no significant differences (P > 0.05), while the beginning to peak enhancement time showed significant difference (P < 0.05). When using the enhancement speed as a diagnostic indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 90.5%, 71.4%, and 85.7% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 91.7%, and 89.3% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When using the enhancement pattern as a diagnosis indicator to differentiate pancreatic carcinoma from tumor-like pancreatitis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 85.7%, 78.6%, and 83.9% for pancreatic carcinoma and 75.0%, 100%, and 94.6% for tumor-like pancreatitis. When different indicators were combined, enhancement pattern and enhancement speed showed the best diagnostic results; however, the Youden index was not improved.

CONCLUSIONSDifferent s-FLPs show different enhancement findings on contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The enhancement pattern and enhancement speed are the most useful diagnostic indicators.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Pancreas ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Pancreatitis ; diagnostic imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography