OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibiting effect of acupuncture on blood lipid, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice with hyperlipemia, and explore its possible action mechanism.

METHODSTen inbred mice (C57) were applied. Forty ApoE(-/-) mice who removed gene of apolipoprotein E were randomly divided into a control group, a non-acupoint group, an acupoint group and a medication group. The points 0. 5 cm and 1 cm next to the end of mice tail were respectively punctured in the non-acupoint group; "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) were punctured in the acupoint group; intragastric administration of simvastatin was applied in the medication group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the changes of total cholesterol (TC) and ratio of heart to body mass in each group were measured; changes of cardiac muscle fiber and ventricular wall thickness were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the level of angiotensin II (Ang I ) in plasma, and western blotting method was used to test protein content of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR) in the heart.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of intervention, compared with the control group, rising range of blood lipid was obviously decreased (P<0.01) in the acupoint group and medication group, ratio of P<0.01), myocardial heart to body mass was decreased (P<0.05), thickness of ventricular wall was reduced (P fibrosis was relieved, levels of Ang II and ET-1 in plasma were decreased (P<0. 05), content of NO was increased (P<0. 05), and protein content of AT1R and ETAR was decreased in the heart (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSION40) could inhibit the rising of blood lipid in ApoE(-/-) mice, lower the levels of Ang II and ET-1 in peripheral blood, increase the content of NO and inhibit the expression of AT1R and ETAR in heart tissue, which could relieve myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis to play a protective role on heart.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium ; metabolism

Base on the traditional Chinese medicinal materials list that include Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, Dao-di Herbs, the common used herbs, endangered species, to analyze the key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list was analysed. Results displayed that the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is 894, the variety number of Dao-di Herbs is 495, the variety number of the common use is 326, the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials from endangered species is 280, and during the third national survey of Chinese material medica resources the variety number of traditional Chinese medicinal materials that were analysed is 360. In the list of Dao-di Herbs and common used herbs over 85% are in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, in the list of the common used herbs over 80% are in the list of Dao-di Herbs, in the list of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China and Dao-di Herbs over 10% are in the list of endangered species. The key-point investigation traditional Chinese medicinal materials list includes three part, the first part includes 563 variery traditional Chinese medicinal materials that need to statistics quantity of resource by field investigation, the second part includes 457 variery that need to monitor the changing situation, the third part includes 280 variery that need to estimated endangered situation.
Animals ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; economics ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; instrumentation ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; growth & development

·AIM: To investigate the visual recovery factors in patients with complex traumatic and non-traumatic retinal detachment. ·METHODS: According to the history of ocular trauma before admission, 135 patients with complex retinal detachment were divided into traumatic group ( n=66, 66 eyes) and non-traumatic group (n=69, 69 eyes). The results of visual recovery and complications were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors of visual recovery in the two groups. ·RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the recovery rate between the two groups within 24h after surgery (77. 3% vs 78. 3%, P>0. 05), and there was no significant difference in the total incidence of complications at 3mo after surgery(18. 2% vs 17. 4%, P>0. 05). Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis showed significant correlation between age, injury type, time since retinal detachment, rage of retinal detachment, preoperative vitreous blood,proliferative vitreoretinopathy ( PVR ) and postoperative visual recovery in patients with complex traumatic retinal detachment ( P < 0. 05 ); age, time since retinal detachment, rage of retinal detachment and macular status were significantly associated with visual recovery in patients with complex non-traumatic retinal detachment (P<0. 05). ·CONCLUSION: Age, time since retinal detachment and rage of retinal detachment were significantly associated with traumatic and non-traumatic retinal detachment. The injury type, preoperative vitreous hemorrhage, PVR were significantly correlated with the visual recovery of traumatic retinal detachment patients. The condition of macular was significantly associated with the visual recovery of non-traumatic retinal detachment patients.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BWHR) on hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), proline hydroxylase2 (PHD2), von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) suppressor gene expressions in endometriosis (EM) rats with Shen yang deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SYDBSS), and to explore the pathogenesis of EM and the mechanism of BWHR for treating EM.

METHODSTotally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, and the Western medicine (WM) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the blank control group and the sham-operation group were fed routinely. Rats in the rest 3 groups received 30-day "extended refrigerator freezing and ice water immersion" and combined with " autotransplantation" to establish EM rat model with SYDBSS. One Milliliter BWHR at 3.33 g/mL was administered to rats in the CM group by gastrogavage. Gestrinone at the daily dose of 0. 5 mg/kg was administered to rats in the WM group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the model group, the blank control group, and the sham-operation group. The size and morphology of ectopic foci in rats were observed after 4 weeks of medication. Expressions of serum CA125, plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Morphological changes of eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue were observed under the optical microscope by HE staining. Protein expressions and contents of HIF-lα, PHD2, and VHL were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method and Western blot. mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe ectopic foci grew significantly in the model group. Their volumes were obviously contracted after treated by CM and WM. Compared with the blank control group and the sham-operation group, serum CA125 and plasma cGMP obviously increased, cAMP obviously decreased (P < 0.05); expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, levels of CA125 and cGMP obviously decreased; cAMP levels obviously increased, expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all increased, mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all increased in the WM group and the CM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CM group, PHD2 protein contents were higher in the WM group (P < 0.05). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with PHD2 (r = -0.799, P = 0.00). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with VHL (r = -0. 625, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONSBWHR could effectively treat EM. Its mechanism might be associated with reducing contents of HIF-1α, serum CA125, and plasma cGMP, and up-regulating expressions of PHD2, VHL, and cAMP.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Proline ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Up-Regulation ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

In order to study the serological characteristics and genetic background of Bel subtypes, A, B and H antigens on the surface of red blood cells of the proband as well as his family and the anti-A, anti-B antibodies in their serum samples were detected by hemagglutination test; the A, B, H substances in saliva were determined by inhibitory agglutination test. The results indicated that the proband, his mother and his daughter all were identified to be Bel phenotype; his two sisters were identified to be ABel phenotype; his father, son and spouse were identified to be A, B and B phenotype respectively. It is concluded that the Bel subtype exists as family genetic characteristics in China.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Adult ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; China ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree

Objectives To synthesize hepatitis B virus e gene which was suitable for yeast protein expression and express hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) in Pichia pastoris.Methods Using synonymous codons preferred by yeast usage on protein expression to replace some native codons of wild-type HBV e gene,the synthetic e gene (syneAg-gene) was achieved by a recursive PCR (rPCR).The syneAg- gene was inserted into the yeast expression vector pPICZ?A.The recombinant plasmid was transformed into GS115 yeast by electroporation.The yeast transformant induced by methanol expressed the HBeAg.Results The restriction analysis and DNA sequencing confirmed that the syneAg-gene was inserted to yeast pPICZ?A in correct orientation.SDS-PAGE,immunoblot and ELISA indicated that the secreted form of HBeAg was expressed by the yeast transformant.The expression level of HBeAg in the strain containing syneAg-gene was 63 mg/L.The titer of the recombinant HBeAg in culture superuatant was 1 :81 920 and the maximum OD (optical density) value of absorbance was 2.8 by ELISA.No cross reactivity between Pichia pastoris-derived HBeAg and anti-HBc antibody was found.Conclusion The recombinant HBeAg with high degree of specificity and immunoreactivity is expressed efficiently in Pichia pastoris.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Shenkang pill on renal function and extracellular matrix secretion on the diabetic rats.

METHODThe diabetic rat models were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) and randomly divided into 3 groups' model control group; Capoten group and Shenkangwan group. Some normal other rats were used as normal control group. All rats were treated with corresponding drugs for 8 weeks. During and after the treatment, the general state, blood and urine glucose levels, excretion rate of the 24 hour urine protein and albumin, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen contents, kidney weight and relative kidney weight were measured. The mRNA of fibronectin(FN) in the kidney also detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).

RESULTDiabetes mellitus and renal lesions occurred in the three model groups. The expression of FN mRNA of the kidney in diabetic rats increased obviously. Shenkang pill could improve the general state and renal function of the diabetic rats, decrease the blood glucose levels and the excretion rate of the 24 hour urine protein and albumin, reduce the expression of FN mRNA in kidney.

CONCLUSIONShenkang pill has a certain protective effect on the diabetic kidney.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fibronectins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Streptozocin

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

OBJECTIVEThis research was to explore the difference between children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in the composition and antibiotic-resistance of pathogenic bacteria.

METHODS241 CAP and 116 HAP with positive sputum culture who were hospitalized from January to December in 2008 in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Suzhou University were selected in this study. The bacteria were identified by traditionally manual method and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed by K-B method. The chi-square or Fisher's exact test were used for statistical test.

RESULTSIn 241 CAP, Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza accounted for (42.2%, 106/251) and (12.4%, 31/251) infection, respectively; however in 116 HAP, Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters accounted for (88.2%, 127/144). In addition, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus weren't isolated, however, its detection rate was 66.7% in HAP. The drug resistance was 1.5 times higher in HAP than that in CAP for several types of antibiotics, such as ceftazidime (37.5% (6/16) vs 75.6% (31/41)), cefepime (37.5% (6/16) vs 78.0% (32/41)), aztreonam (50.0% (8/16) vs 90.2% (37/41)), cefoperazone/sulbactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 51.2% (21/41)) and piperacillin/tazobactam (12.5% (2/16) vs 56.0% (23/41)). Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from HAP had higher drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against some antibiotics, for example, gentamicin (0 vs 63.6% (7/11)), SMZ + TMP (20.0% (1/5) vs 63.6% (7/11)) and cefoperazone/sulbactam (0 vs 54.5% (6/11)). We also found Enterobacter cloacae isolated from HAP showed high drug resistance than that isolated from CAP against imipenem (0 vs 46.7% (7/15)), aztreonam (9.1% (1/11) vs 60.0% (9/15)) and cefoperazone (18.2% (2/11) vs 80.0% (12/15)) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from HAP had higher resistance than that from CAP against gentamicin (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)), amikacin (0 vs 38.9% (7/18)), ceftazidime (0 vs 55.6% (10/18)), cefepime (0 vs 50.0% (9/18)) and cefoperazone (33.3% (2/6) vs 94.4% (17/18)). The detection rates of ESBLs for Escherichia coli were 84.6% (11/13) and 93.3% (14/15) in CAP and HAP, respectively (χ(2) = 0.553, P > 0.05); while for Klebsiella pneumoniae, they were 81.3% (13/16) and 95.1% (39/41), respectively (χ(2) = 2.767, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCAP was mainly comprised of Streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenza; while HAP was mainly comprised of Enterobacteriaceae and Non-fermenters. The drug resistance of gram-negative bacilli was higher in HAP than that in CAP.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; microbiology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Haemophilus influenzae ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; microbiology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the intensity changes of different thickness ratios of Empress II glass ceramic and GI- II glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic before and after Hertzian contact cyclic fatigue.

METHODSDisk-shaped specimens of different thickness ratios of Empress II glass ceramic and GI-II glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic were respectively fabricated. Hertzian contact technique was imposed on the specimens. Critical loads of the specimens before and after 10(5) cycles loading were recorded.

RESULTSThe average values of critical loads of all specimens reduced significantly after cycles loading (P < 0.05), and critical loads declined with diminishing thickness of the core ceramic. The critical load of GI-II glass-infiltrated alumina ceramic was significantly higher than Empress II glass ceramic before and after cycle loading(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCycle loading can reduce the strengths of the two kinds of dental ceramic, and the latter is better than the former in the resistance to fracture and cyclic fatigue. Critical loads of the two kinds of dental ceramic are mainly influenced by the core ceramic's strength and thickness.

Aluminum Oxide ; Ceramics ; Dental Porcelain ; Glass ; Humans ; Materials Testing