Cell Line ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Transfection

Objective:To evaluate the value of Cook MOB-15 system in guiding wire insertion during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: The clinical data of 51 patients who received Cook MOB-15 system-guided wire insertion during ERCP between Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty patients who received conventional ERCP catheter for malignant jaundice between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2004 were taken as control. The successful insertion rates were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The successful insertion rate was 90.2% (46/51) in the Cook MOB-15 system group and 72.5% (29/40) in the conventional group; there was significant difference between the 2 groups (P

Objective To report the development of clinical symptoms in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia(adPEO).Methods Electromyologram and muscle biopsy were performed in the proband and 4 family members with the disease.Results The proband was a 57 year-old woman,who developed bilateral ptosis after the age of 30,external ophthalmoplegia after the age of 35 years old,weakness of extremities at the age of 37 years old and bulb palsy with palmus at the age of 47 years old.In the family there were 20 male and female members from five generations.All of them complained about bilateral ptosis between 26—33 years old,external ophthalmoplegia(12/15)and weakness of all extremities(14/15)between 35—45,facial and masticatory weakness(9/9)as well as dysphagia(8/9)between 44—60,accompanied with heart lesions(4/7)after 50 years old.Some patients died due to cardiac impairment.Electromyologram showed myopathic abnormalities in the examined patients. The main myopathological changes were ragged red fibers,cytochrome c oxidase negative fibers and ragged blue fibers in succinate dehydrogenase staining.Conclusions The adPEO started from extra-ocular muscles to limbs,finally facial and bulbar muscles.Heart lesions were presented in late stage and lead to death in some members.The developing process of symptoms suggested that we should pay more attention to cardiac manifestations in this disease.

Objective To analyze the epidemiologic characters of human plague from Rattus flavipectus plague natural foci in Yunnan Province from 1986 to 2006 and to provide references for prevention and control strategy.Methods Data were collected and analyzed on epidemic situation of human plague in the past twenty-one years.Results From 1986 to 2006,the total human plague cases from Rattus flavipectus plague natural foci in Yunnan were 507,accounted for 59.5%(507/866)of the total cases in the whole country.There were three peaks of human plague outbreak in 1990,1996 and 2000.The number of annual cases were 73,88 and 122,accounting for 97.3%(73/75),89.8%(88/98),48.0%(122/254)of the total cases in the whole country respectively.The epidemic areas were mainly located in the west,southwest and southeast pans of Yunnan,but the number of cases changed with year in different prefectures(or cities).Seasonal pattern analyses revealed that the epidemic could occur in whole year,with a peak period through July to November,especially September.There were different prevalence of plague cases in age and professions,which related to the chance of contact with infected animals and infectious fleas.All human plague cases were primary bubonic plague.Conclusions The results suggested that there were clear epidemic characteristics for human plague for Rattus flavipectus plague natural foci in Yunnan.In order to control human plague effectively,it was necessary to reinforce surveillance and warning system to diminish the outbreak of human plague.

AIM: To analyze the effect factors of trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma.
METHODS: Fifty patients (50 eyes) with neovascular glaucoma collected from January 2013 to August 2015 in our hospital were treated by trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C. Single factor and multi factor variables analysis were used for effect factors of trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative application of mitomycin C in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma.
RESULTS: By results of single factor variable analysis,< 50 years old, preoperative intraocular pressure ( IOP) was ≥45mmHg and postoperative occurrence of anterior chamber hemorrhage were risk factors for treatment failure ( P < 0. 05 ), and gender, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and previous cataract surgery and prior photocoagulation were not the risk factors for failure (P>0. 05 ). By multivariate analysis, < 50 years old and postoperative occurrence of anterior chamber hemorrhage were risk factors for treatment failure ( P < 0. 05 ), and preoperative IOP≥45mmHg was not a risk factor (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: For patients < 50 years old with neovascular glaucoma, should be careful on the selection of surgical treatment. For high- risk patients, we should strengthen the monitoring and give timely intervention, which are helpful to improve the prognosis.

Objective To discuss the clinical characteristic and diagnosis of children with moyamoya disease(MMD).Method The clinical features of 4 children with MMD were analyzed.Results The early clinical spectrum in children with MMD was transiently ischemic attack,and presented with injured neuron manifestations after some seizures,such as paralysis,extremity sensory disturbance, seizure of epilepsy,language disorder,involuntary movement and psychotic symptoms.Magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and DSA demonstrated multiple cerebral vessels occlusion or stenosis and moyamoya vessels,so MRA became the first choice for detec- ting MMD.Conclusions The clinical symptom and neuron symptom of children MMD may not be typical,and it is easily misdiagnosed.Its correct diagnosis depends on thorough physical examination,appropriate laboratory tests,and the general knowledge of this disease.

The five-flavor theory of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) and the flavor efficacy generation mechanism has long been focuses and difficulties in studies on traditional Chinese medicinal properties. In this paper, by using the pharmacophore-based virtual screening technique, the authors discussed the relations between the pungent property and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) by studying the TCM components' role in regulating TRPV1 ion channel. The results showed that the matching relationship between TRPV1 agonist pharmacophore model and TCM chemical components could identify the active ingredients from pungent herbs. Therefore, the authors proposed that TRPV1 is one of the potential targets for efficient pungent herbs. The pungent property of TCMs is decided by its chemical components, and consistent with the inherited and additive characteristics.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Smell ; TRPV Cation Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Taste

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum amyloid A (SAA) and disease activity (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Forty-four patients with RA, 35 patients with systemic lupus erythe-matosus (SLE), 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The levels of SAA were measured by ELISA. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured by the Westergren method. The value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) was examined by immunonephelometry assay. The correlation between SAA and DAS 28, ESR and CRP was assessed, respectively. Results The SAA levels were significantly higher in RA group than those of SLE, OA, and HC groups (P<0.05). The serum ESR and CRP levels were both higher in RA group than those of OA and HC groups (P>0.05), but there was no significant difference between RA group and SLE group. There was positive correlation between SAA and DAS28, ESR, and CRP levels (rs=0.790, P<0.001;rs=0.674, P<0.001;rs=0.679, P=0.004), respective-ly. Conclusion SAA may be a new serological marker to assess disease activity in RA.

To make a preliminary study on the mechanism of Coptidis Rhizoma(CR) and Rehmanniae Radix(RR) before and after the combined administration in treating type II diabetes mellitus. The type I diabetes animal model in rats was established by fat emulsion and intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin, in order to compare the hpyerglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of CR, RR and their combined administration of different ratio. The urinary metabolic profiling in rats of Coptidis Rhizoma and Rehmanniae Radix before and after the combined administration was analyzed by using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The differences among groups in metabolome were analyzed by the principal component analysis (PCA). The biochemical index results indicated that both CR and RR before and after the combined administration could lower high blood glucose, hypertriglyceride and high cholesterol. According to the analytical results of PCA of the rats' urine samples, the CR group was the most close to the normal group, with no significant difference in CR and RR group of different combination ratios. Twelve differentiated metabolites were identified to be related to type II diabetes. Compared with the normal group, the CR-treated group showed significant increase in seven differentiated metabolites. Among CR and RR drugs with different combination ratios, CR played a major role and thus acted as the monarch drug. Whereas RR served as the ministerial drug and assisted CR to show the efficacy. This study laid a foundation for the explanation of the combination mechanism of traditional Chinese medicines.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; urine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rehmannia ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the axonal lesion in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy(CIDP).Methods Eighteen patients had undergone sural nerve biopsy.The clinical and electrophysiological distinction based on the different pathological changes were analyzed.Results Five patients with demyelination predominance which presented myelinated fiber with thin myelin.Three of them showed also mild axonal degeneration.Eight patients with axonal lesion predominance which presented Wallerian degeneration and regeneration of myelinated fibers.Three patients with mixed myelin and axon lesion of myelinated fibers and two with mild lesion.There was no significant difference between CIDP predominantly with axonal lesion and demyelination.Electrophysiological examination shows both axonal lesion and demyelination feature in some of the 2 types patients at the same time.Conclusions Axonal lesion is a common pathological change in CIDP and should not be considered as an exclusive criterion in diagnosis of the disease.Infiltration of macrophages is a common change.