OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms involved in the ligustrazine alleviation of the pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) during exacerbation.

METHODSSeventy patients of COPD and CCP with acute exacerbation were randomly and equally divided into control group and treatment group. The control group received standard treatment with antibiotics, antiasthmatic and expectorant medications, and oxygenation; and the ligustrazine treatment group received ligustrazine treatment (80 mg/d; i.v.; for 2 weeks) in addition to the standard treatment. Before and at the end of 2 week treatment, the clinic responses of the two regimens were evaluated, plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined; arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), outflow tract of right ventricle (RVOT), and internal diameter of right ventricle (RV) were measured.

RESULTSGood clinic benefits were achieved in both the standard and ligustrazine regimens, plasma level of ET-1, values of mPAP, RV and RVOT decreased significantly, plasma level of NO and PaO2 values decreased (all P < 0.01 vs pre-treatment to all parameters). Compared with the control group, ligustrazine greatly enhanced the clinic efficacy from 77.1% to 97.1% (P < 0.05), and also resulted in more significant changes of all these parameters (P < 0.01 vs control group for all parameters). For both groups, the levels of plasma ET-1 were positively correlated with values of mPAP, RVOT, and RV (r = 0.710, 0.853, and 0.766, respectively, all P = 0.000), and negatively correlated with plasma NO and PaO2 (r = - 0.823, and - 0.752, respectively, all P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONLigustrazine is effective in treating pulmonary artery hypertension during acute exacerbation of COPD and CCP in patients from the plateau area. The observed changes in the plasma levels of NO and ET-1 in response to ligustrazine treatment suggest that ligustrazine may act through the selective effect on pulmonary blood vessels to enhance the synthesis and release of NO and suppress those of ET-1 from lung vascular endothelial cells, thus reducing pulmonary artery pressure and decreasing pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Altitude ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Chronic Disease ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Respiration

Three hundred and twenty-one bacteria strains were obtained from rice leaves,stem,root tissue and paddy field soil,of which the number of strains which can inhibit mycelium of Magnaporthe grisea growth markedly was fifty-seven through fermentation in 2.0 mL Eppendorf tube,and among these fifty-seven strains,five strains were strongly antagonistic to Magnaporthe grisea.These five strains was identified for their morphologic,physiological and biochemical characteristics,and the results showed that one strain(No.156)was bacillus subtilis,two strains(No.171 and No.177)were Bacillus pumillus and two strains(No.192 and No.279)were Bacillus ploymyxa.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical experience of endoscopic repair for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea in our department in the last 4 years. METHOD: Clinical data of 16 patients with CSF rhinorrhea who underwent nasal endoscopic repair was analyzed retrospectively. The effect of etiology, image data, location of CSF leaks and surgical techniques on treatment were discussed. RESULT: Among the 16 patients, 10 were diagnosed with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea, 2 were diagnosed with traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, 3 were diagnosed with CSF rhinorrhea after catching cold and 1 was diagnosed with meningo-encephalocele in with CSF rhinorrhea. The leak was located by CT scan in 11 cases, by MRI in 7 cases. The common locations of the defect were the frontal sinus (3 cases), cribriform roof (3 cases), sphenoid sinus (6 cases) and the nasal cavity top (4 cases). All the cases were successfully cured after the first nasal endoscopic repair with autologous materials. None of patients had a reoccurrence during 10 to 42 months follow-up time. CONCLUSION The application of CT and MRC before surgery which could make an accurate diagnosis of the location and the size of the defect. The correct selection of repair materials, processing planting bed around the leakage and complete contacting leakage with graft bed are the key points to the successful surgery of CSF rhinorrhea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; surgery ; Child ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different fertilization, measure of breeding seedling, breeding and sowing density on seedlings of Psoralea corylifolia.

METHODThe combination of field sowing and indoor test was applied.

RESULTAll agricultural measures showed positive effect on the growth and development of seedling of P. corylifolia.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable sewing time should be the first and second ten days in March. The suitable sowing density is 150 kg x hm(-2). The combined of application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer is better than using one of them alone.

Agriculture ; methods ; standards ; Animals ; Breeding ; Fertilizers ; Manure ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Psoralea ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seasons ; Seedlings ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of PF4 on the adherence of leukemic CD34+ KG1a cell to human umbilical vein endothelial cell line ECV-304 cell and on the expression of adhesive molecules.

METHODSAdhesion assay and adhesion blocking assay were respectively applied to measure the effect of PF4 and/or adhesion molecule monoclonal antibodies on the adhesion property of KG1a. The expressions of adhesion molecules were determined by RT-PCR and FACS analysis.

RESULTSThe adhesion of KG1a cells to ECV-304 was significantly enhanced in the presence of PF4. Such enhancement was also observed when KG1a or ECV-304 cells were separately treated with PF4 before interaction. The adhesion capacity of KG1a cells was reduced when cells were co-incubated with the blocking monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against CD49d, CD106, CD54, respectively. In contrast, MoAbs against CD62L, CD62P and CD62E had no such effect. During a period of 3 hours when KG1a or ECV-304 cells were respectively incubated with PF4, the mRNA expressions of CD49 d, CD54 were up-regulated. Furthermore, when KG1a or ECV-304 cells were incubated with PF4 for 2 hours, respectively, the percentages of CD49d+ KG1a cells and CD54+ ECV-304 were increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONPF4 can enhance KG1a cell adhesive capacity by increasing the expressions of adhesion molecules.

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; immunology ; pathology ; Platelet Factor 4 ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo establish and evaluate a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with depression for further elaborating the disease.

METHODSTwenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (group N), T2DM group (group T) and T2DM with depression group (group T + D), with 8 rats in each group. The T2DM rat model was induced by high fat diet and low dose of Streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and in addition, the T2DM rats were made restraint stress for 21 days. After the model was established, the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were performed. Then the rat depression level was analyzed by open field test, and the concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA)was determined by ELISA to confirm the model identity.

RESULTSThe blood glucose level in group T and group T + D didn't return to the normal level at 180 minutes in the ITT and OGTT test; Compared with the group N, the max movement distance, retaining time in the central zone and the retaining frequency within 5 minutes in the group T + D decreased; 5-HT and DA level in the serum of rats in. group T + D was reduced.

CONCLUSIONA rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with depression has been successfully established by high fat diet and injection of low dose streptozotocin in combination with restraint stress for 21 days. This rat model is useful for further relevant studies.

Animals ; Depression ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diet, High-Fat ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; Serotonin ; Streptozocin ; Stress, Psychological

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between rs6267 polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODSOne hundred and fourteen children with ADHD and 76 normal volunteers were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques were used for detecting COMT rs6267 polymorphism. The behavioral problems were assessed by Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the COMT genotype distribution and allele frequencies between the ADHD and normal control groups. The frequencies of thinking problems (1.7±1.9 vs 1.0±0.9) and disciplinary problems (4.5±3.7 vs 2.2±1.4) in ADHD children carrying genotype G/G were significantly higher than those in children carrying G/T (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCOMT rs6267 polymorphism may not contribute to susceptibility to ADHD. However, there might be an association between rs6267 polymorphism and some clinical characters of ADHD.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; genetics ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo determine the genetic relationship of three species of official Rheum in molecular level.

METHODTwelve samples from three species of official Rheum were employed to be analyzed by the approach of sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP). Systematic relationships were constructed based on the UPGMA method by TREECONW software.

RESULTA total of 272 bands were scored and 199 bands of them were polymorphic, which were up to 73.2% polymorphic ratio. Genetic similarity coefficient was changed from 0.578 4 to 0.941 6. The results indicated that there was abundant genetic diversity among the tested materials. The clustering analysis revealed that the results between SRAP marker and the traditional morphological characteristics was almost the same.

CONCLUSIONSRAP marker is suitable for variety identification and genetic relationship research in official Rheum.

Cluster Analysis ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Rheum ; classification ; genetics

Human Nestin (hNestin) has been found to express in melanoma,and its expression is positively correlated with the advanced stage of melanoma.However,the precise role of hNestin in the development of melanoma has not been fully understood.The present study aimed to explore the role of hNestin in the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells.The lentivirus vector carrying a short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting hNestin (hNestin-shRNA-LV) was stably infected into human melanoma cells UACC903,which expressed high levels of hNestin.The effects of hNestin knockdown on the proliferation,apoptosis,migration of melanoma cells and the related signaling pathways were investigated by immunofluorence,Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),respectively.The results showed that hNestin was expressed in most melanoma specimens and the melanoma cells studied.Knockdown of hNestin expression significantly inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells,blocked the formation of cell colony,arrested cell cycle at G1/S stage and suppressed the activation of Akt and GSK3β.hNestin-silent cells also showed a sheet-like appearance with tight cell-cell adhesion,decreased membrane expression of N-cadherin and β-catenin,and attenuated migration.Furthermore,hNestin silence resulted in the inhibition of tumor growth in vivo.Our study indicates that hNestin knockdown suppresses the proliferation of melanoma cells,which might be through affecting Akt-GSK3β-Rb pathway-mediated G1/S arrest,and hNestin silence inhibits the migration by selectively modulating the expression of cell adhesion molecules in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effects of hemoperfusion (HP) with continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) on the patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

METHODSNinety-one patients with acute paraquat poisoning were randomly divided into HP group (49 cases) and HP-CVVH group (42 cases). The mortality, survival duration and the death causes between the two groups were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in mortality (59.2% versus 61.9%) between the two groups. The mean time between poisoning and death in HP-CVVH group was (4.9 +/- 3.1) days, which was significantly longer than that (3.5 +/- 2.0) days in HP group (P < 0.05). The death proportion on 4th day after poisoning in HP group was 62.1% (18/29), which was significantly higher than that (30.8%, 8/26) in HP-CVVH group (P < 0.05). The hypoxia appeared in 4.3 +/- 2.5 days after poisoning in HP-CVVH group, which was significantly longer than that (3.2 +/- 1.9) days in HP group (P < 0.05). The mortality due to respiratory failure in HP group was 20.4% (10/49), which was significantly lower than that (40.5%, 17/42) in HP-CVVH group (P < 0.05). The incidence of acute renal failure in HP group was 63.3% (31/49), which was significantly higher than that (40.5%, 17/42) in HP-CVVH group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of HP and CVVH can prevent the patients with acute paraquat poisoning from early death and prolong the survival duration, but can not reduce mortality for the patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; mortality ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult