Syndromes constitute a core aspect in the study of Chinese medicine, and research on the concept of syndromes is important to the study of the process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is somewhat challenging to define a syndrome due to the complexity inherent in the subject, even with the assistance of the reductionism approach of modern medicine. Holistic and dynamic in nature and attaching much importance to functional changes, the newly emerging metabonomics is in many ways inline with the concepts of syndrome differentiation of pathological states in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, metabonomics has comparatively strong advantages in the very respect of revealing the natural laws of syndrome differentiation. By reviewing and analyzing the current research on the concept of syndromes and the application of metabonomic technology to exploring the essential core of syndrome differentiation, the authors illustrated the potential commonalities. This would also show the issues requiring attention between the study of syndromes and the metabonomic technology. In the meantime this study reflected the core problems in detail and put forward suggestions with regard to reaching solutions.

Objective To observe the changes of intracerebral amino acid transmitters in the periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) of newborn rats with microdialysis and so as to explore the role of excitotoxicity in PVL.Methods Replicated the model for PVL at the age of postnatal day 5 (P5) by intracerebral injection of 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA).Before injection of 3-NPA,and 15 min,30 min,45 min,60 min,75 min,90 min after injection of 3-NPA,collected the sample of extracellular fluid (ECF) at the corpus callosum above the left ventricle through microdialysis,respectively.After microdialysis,the experimental rats were allowed to survive to P6-P14,and then they were killed and the brains were prepared for HE stain.The amino accids of dialysate were quantified through high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),and then the excitotoxic index (EI) was calculated.Results Fifteen min to 45 min after injection of 3-NPA,the concentrations of glumate (Glu) and aspartic acid (Asp) of ECF elevated significantly,and then returned to the normal levels.Fifteen min to 75 min and 15 min to 30 min after injection of 3-NPA,the concentrations of glycine (Gly) and GABA significantly elevated,respectively,and returned to normal levels at 90 min and 45 min after injection of 3-NPA,respectively.But the EI,which indicated the balance of excitatory amino acids(EAAs) and inhibitory amno aciols(IAAs),significantly elevated 15 min to 75 min after injection of 3-NPA,then retured to normal level after 90 min.Sub-cortical and periventricular white matter rarefaction and significant lateral ventricle enlargement were observed in HE staining.Conclusions Changes of intracerebral amino acid transmitters in the PVL of newborn rats show regularity:EAAs,IAAs of ECF and EI elavate in the early stage,and then return to the normal level quickly.It indicates that excitotoxicity play a great role in PVL,especially at the early stage.Therefore,the preventions of PVL must be executed at the early stage.

ObjectiveTo study the effct of the early rehabilitation of acute stroke with acupunction added to rehabilitational training.Methods120 patients with acute stroke were divided into 2 growps with 60 cases each:the acupunction growp,in which the patients were acepted acupuncture added to rehabilitational training,and the control growp,in which the patients were acepted the rehabilitational training only.All the patients were evaluated with Clinical Nervous Functional Deficiency(CNFD),Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA) and Modified Barthel Index(MBI).Results The scales of CNFD,FMAanal Deficiency (CNFD),Fugl-Meyer Assess me that of the control growp.The rate of cure and significantly in the acupunction growp was 75%,while that of the control growp was 41.7%(P<0.01).Conclusions Acupunction compared with the rehabilitational training is effective on the with stroke.

Objective:Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a key molecule negatively regulating osteoclast differentiation and activation; and the conserved mycobacterial heat shock 70 (HSP70) peptide p111-125 has also been found to inhibit inflammation reactions in chronic arthritis. BaculoDirectTM baculovirus expression system was selected to express recombinant OPG-HSP70 in insect cells.Methods:The human functional fragment (p22-194) of OPG and functional fragment (p111-125) of mycobacterial HSP70 gene were cloned into the transfer vector pENTRTM/SD/D-TOPO. The recombinant plasmid was performed an LR reaction with the BaculoDirectTM Linear DNA to generate recombinant baculovirus DNA. The cultured Sf9 insect cells were directly transferred with the recombinant baculovirus DNA,and the pure recombinant baculovirus was obtained. Then recombinant baculovirus was infected Sf9 insect cells again to express the OPG-HSP70 gene.Results:The target protein was detected at the time of 48h post infection,reached at highest yield at the time of 72h post-infection. A 28kDa protein immunostaining band was detected by Western blotting from lysate of those cells.And the purified protein was obtained by using Ni-NTA system. Functional stuies on the fusion protein showed it significantly reduce osteoclast cell number[(3.10?0.640) cells under each microscope field in treatment group by comparing to (10.70?0.817)cells in the control group] in the osteoclast inhibition test,and reduce the inflammation reaction in a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) mice model (P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the gene mutation in the areas of pre core/core (Pre C/C) and basic core promotor (BCP) of HBV DNA and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe nt 1 735-1 965 segment of HBV DNA was amplified with PCR in 54 cases with chronic hepatitis B and 10 cases with post-hepatitis cirrhosis. Then the PCR product was sequenced.

RESULTSThere were 168 site mutations in 48.5% (33/68) cases with hepatitis B. The first ten mutation sites were nt 1 764 (58.8%), 1 762 (48.5%), 1 799 (21.0%), 1 766 (14.7%), 1 896 (13.2%), 1 754 (8.8%), 1 899 (8.8%), 1 768 (7.4%), 1 814 (7.4%) and 1 913 (7.4%). Three rare mutations of nt 1907, 1 922 and 1 923 were also detected. The mutations of nt 1 896, 1 764 and 1 762 were found in 16.7%, 35.2% and 35.2% of chronic hepatitis, and in 30.0%, 60.0% and 60.0% respectively of post-hepatitis cirrhosis cases. There was statistical significance between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mutations in the areas of Pre C/C and BCP of HBV DNA might possibly be associated with liver fibrosis. There are many mutation sites in HBV DNA and mutation occurs frequently, therefore gene sequencing is helpful to the design of gene chip and to clinical application.

DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

In this study, we explored the feasibility of biotin-mediated modified polymeric micelles for pancreatic cancer targeted photodynamic therapy. Poly (ethylene glycol)-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (mPEG2000-DSPE) served as the drug-loaded material, biotin-poly(ethylene glycol)-distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (Biotin-PEG3400-DSPE) as the functional material and the polymeric micelles were prepared by a thin-film hydration method. The targeting capability of micelles was investigated by cell uptake assay in vitro and fluorescence imaging in vivo and the amounts of Biotin-PEG-DSPE were optimized accordingly. Hypocrellin B (HB), a novel photosensitizer was then encapsulated in biotinylated polymeric micelles and the anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated systemically in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that micelles with 5 mol % Biotin-PEG-DSPE demonstrated the best targeting capability than those with 20 mol % or 0.5 mol % of corresponding materials. This formulation has a small particle size [mean diameter of (36.74 ± 2.16) nm] with a homogeneous distribution and high encapsulation efficiency (80.06 ± 0.19) %. The following pharmacodynamics assays showed that the biotinylated micelles significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of HB against tumor cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo, suggesting a promising potential of this formulation for treatment of pancreatic cancer, especially those poorly permeable, or insensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; Biotin ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Micelles ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Photochemotherapy

Animals ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; prevention & control ; virology ; Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

To observe the dynamic change of parasites in the brains of BALB/c mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis in order to explore its possible mechanism of pathogenesis', BALB/c mice infected with the III stage larvae of A.cantonensis were observed and killed in different times after infection. The number and distribution of parasites in the brains of the infected mice were observed microscopically and macroscopically. It was found that the larvae of A.cantonensis were distributed in the cerebrum and cerebellum of mice in accordance with the rule of parasitization of worms in the host, i.e.multiplication at first and then dropping in number. And the places where the parasites located were damaged due to mechanical action or inflammatory reactions. The time of onset of symptoms, such as ataxia and twitch was coincided with the dynamic changes in the brains of the infected mice.

Objective:To investigate the immune response after injecting polysaccharide nucleic acid of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin(BCG-PSN)under the mucous membrane of bladder in rabbits and to search for the most suitable dose of BCG-PSN.Methods:The rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups:high dose(0.35 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,mid- dle dose(0.175 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,low dose(0.0875 mg/ml)BCG-PSN group,BCG(0.35 mg/ml)control group and BCG-PSN(0.35 mg/ml)intra-bladder perfusion control group.T lymphocyte subsets(CD4~+,CD8~+)in the peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry before and 1 week,2 weeks,1 month and 3 months after the treatment; the levels of IL-2,TNF-?,and IFN-?of peripheral blood were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;H-E and Masson staining was used for the pathological examination of the bladder.Results:(1)BCG-PSN injection increased the number of CD4~+ and CD8~+ T lymphocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner,with the peak numbers appeared 2 weeks after BCG-PSN injection;the numbers restored to the normal levels 3 months after BCG-PSN injection.BCG control group had a similar changing pattern to the BCG-PSN injection group.The number of CD4~+ T cells BCG-PSN perfusion group was significantly lower than that in the high-dose BCG-PSN injection group(P

Purpose To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Foxp3 ( cell surface marker of regulatroy T) mRNA and its protein in endometrial carcinomas and normal endometrial tissues. Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immuno-histochemical SP methods were used to detect the expressions of mRNA and protein in tumor tissue of 84 cases of endometrial carcino-mas and 40 cases of normal endometrial tissue, then to analyze the relationship between Foxp3 gene and clinical pathological character-istics of endometrial carcinoma specimens, such as differentiation, FIGO stage. Results Foxp3 mRNA and it′s protein expression of endometrial carcinomas were significantly higher than that of normal endometrial tissues. There were significantly relationships between Foxp3 mRNA expression and FIGO stage of endometrial cancer, Foxp3 mRNA expressions of III+IV stage was higher than that ofⅠ+Ⅱ stage endometrial carcinoma (P<0. 05). But the relationship between Foxp3 expression and differentiation degree reached differ-ent conclusions in the two detection methods. By immunohistochemistry the expression of Foxp3 protein was correlation with histological differentiation grade (rs =0. 72, P <0. 01). In poorly differentiated endometrial carcinoma Foxp3 + cell number was significantly higher than that in well differentiated endometrial carcinoma. By detection of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method, Foxp3 mRNA expression was not correlated with tumor grade (rs =0. 01, P=0. 35). Conclusion Foxp3 in endometrial carcinomas are high expressions. Immunohistochemical method has more clinical value than real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR test results. Foxp3 may be involved in the regulation of the development of endometrial cancers.