Object The analysis of oligomeric procyanidins in crude grape seed extracts was performed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-MS). Methods Procyanidin monomer and oligomers were identified according to the mass of the charged pseudomolecular ion [M-H]. Results Three monomers, seven dimmers and three trimers were tentatively identified. Conclusion This study demonstrates the capability of the combination of RP-HPLC with ESI-MS to analyze the composition of oligomeric procyanidins in grape seed extracts.

Objective To investigate the characteristic changes of the auditory brainstem response (ABR) of normal hearing newborn and infants .Methods One hundred and forty -five cases (290 ears) normal hearing new-born and infants were enrolled for ABR test .Before that they passed the distortion product otoacoustic emissions and acoustic immitance test previously .According to age ,13 (26 ears) of 145 were included in the 1~7 days age group ,17 (34 ears) was in the 30~59 days age group ,20 (40 ears) in the 2~4 months age group ,19 (38 ears) in the 5~7 months age group ,17 (34 ears) in the 8~10 months age group ,18 (36 ears) in the 11~13 months age group ,12 (24 ears) in the 14~16 months age group ,13 (26 ears) in the 17~19 months age group ,16 (32 ears) in the more than 20~24 months age group .The control group was 20 (40 ears) normal hearing young persons (18~25 years old) .The variation of the peak latency and interpeak latency of waves were observed ,and compared with the normal young people .Results In 70 dB nHL click sound stimulus ,the peak latency and interpeak latency ofⅠ ,Ⅲ ,Ⅴ waves of normal hearing neonates and infants progressively shortened as they grew older .As they ap-proach 18 months or more old age ,their peak latency and interpeak latency of Ⅰ ,Ⅲ ,Ⅴ waves may be same as nor-mal young people .Conclusion With the growth of the age ,the peak latency and interpeak latency of Ⅰ ,Ⅲ ,Ⅴwaves of normal hearing newborn and infants gradually shortened .The reason may be related to the maturity of the auditory system .

Functional analysis concisely summarizes and concentrates on the therapeutic characteristics and features of Chinese herbal medicine. Standardization of the terms for Chinese herbal functions not only plays a key role in modern research and development of Chinese herbal medicine, but also has far-reaching clinical applications. In this paper, a new method for standardizing the terms for Chinese herbal function was proposed. Firstly, functional targets were collected. Secondly, the pathological conditions and the mode of action of every functional target were determined by analyzing the references. Thirdly, the relationships between the pathological condition and the mode of action were determined based on Chinese medicine theory and data. This three-step approach allows for standardization of the terms for Chinese herbal functions. Promoting the standardization of Chinese medicine terms will benefit the overall clinical application of Chinese herbal medicine.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of microbubble-enhanced ultrasound (MEUS) for detecting perforators preoperatively in supraclavicular flap surgery.

METHODSFrom May 2009 to October 2013, there were 20 patients (26 flaps were involved) who planned to undergo supraclavicular artery based flap surgeries to recover the large-area defects in head and neck. The MEUS together with regular color Doppler ultrasound ( CDUS) were conducted preoperatively to determine the anatomical features of perforators branching from supraclavicular arteries (SCA). The perforator with wider caliber, faster flow speed, longer pedicles and closer pivot point was selected and the flap was designed according to the observed results.

RESULTSThere were 37 perforators of SCA detected by CDUS, whose calibers were ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mm [Mean: (0.6 ± 0.1) mm]. There were 48 perforators of SCA detected by MEUS. Compared to CDUS, the caliber obtained from MEUS for same vessel is significantly increased [(0.7 ± 0.3) mm vs (0.6 ± 0.1) mm, P < 0.05]. According to the results of MEUS and three-dimensional reconstructive techniques, in at least 65.4% (17/26) of the flaps, thoracic branch of SCA (TBSA) has large caliber and good flow velocity which can be regarded as the predominant vessel and used as the pedicle of flap. The results of the operations confirmed the existences of all the marked vessels. 25 flaps were obtained according to the preoperative plans and one case used perforators of internal mammary artery as free flaps since the perforator of SCA was found improper. The contrast-related complication occurred in one patient which was manifested by gastrointestinal adverse effect like nausea and anorexia. The patient recovered 1 day later without treatment. All the patients have been followed up for 3 to 16 months (Mean: 8 months) with well-survived flaps.

CONCLUSIONSThe perforators of SCA demonstrated significant variations and preoperative mapping was vital for the success of surgery. MEUS is a valuable imaging modality for the preoperative assessment of the vascular supply for supraclavicular artery based flap.

Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries ; Microbubbles ; Neck ; surgery ; Perforator Flap ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Ultrasonography ; methods

Objective To evaluate prourodynamic study and somatosensory evoked potentials(SEPs)before and after operation of children with lipomyelomeningocele(LMMC)and its clinical significance.Methods Urodynamic study(UDS)and SEPs in 31 cases of LMMC who underwent microsurgical release within 1 week preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively were conducted.The 4 parameters used for UDS evaluation were bladder volume,compliance,detrusor activity and residual urine;parameters used for SEPs evaluation were latent period and amplitude.Results There was a statistics significant difference between operation and control group;the similar result was attented in the comparison of before and after operation,also in the comprison of the improved group and the group without improvement after operation.Conclusions UDS and SEPs investigation can provide guidance for the treatment of tethered cord syndrome(TCS)and evaluate clinical prognosis.These cases with the severity changing in UDS and somatosensory shall be avoided unnecessary action in operation.

Objective To investigate the changes of serum N-terminal-pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in patients with Graves' disease (GD) and its clinical significance. Methods Two hundred and sixty-nine patients with GD were enrolled in this study. Serum concentrations of thyroid hormones,TRAb, and NT-proBNP were measured. Results Serum NT-proBNP levels were positively associated with FT3(r=0.260, P<0.01), FT4(r=0.297,P<0.01) and heart rate (r=0.251, P<0.05) independent of age,sex and body mass index (BMI). The difference of serum NT-proBNP concentrations between newly-onset and treated patients existed (P<0.01) after the adjustment for thyroid hormone levels, age, sex and BMI. Serum FT4level exerted a significant impact on NT-proBNP level (P <0.01). Serum NT-proBNP increased even in patients with controlled thyroid function. Conclusion Serum NT-proBNP level in patients with GD increases with elevation of FT4 independent of sex, age and BMI. The measurement of serum NT-proBNP concentration appears to be helpful to monitor the alteration of vascular stiffness and fluid volume in GD patients, and may provide useful evidence for early intervention of cardiovascular disease induced by hyperthyroidism.

Animals ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Mitochondria, Heart ; genetics ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Aim at the two problems in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mechanism elucidation, one is the lack of detailed biological processes information, next is the low efficient in constructing network models, we constructed an auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism and realize the automatic establishment of biological network model. This study used the Entity Grammar Systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework, integrated the data of formulae, herbs, chemical components, targets of component, biological reactions, signaling pathways and disease related proteins, established the formal models, wrote the reasoning engine, constructed the auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism elucidation. The platform provides an automatic modeling method for biological network model of TCM mechanism. It would be benefit to perform the in-depth research on TCM theory of natures and combination and provides the scientific references for R&D of TCM.
Animals ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains. Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI. And the results of LV measurements were compared, which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains, radial strains and circumferential strains. Also, the time consumption of these two methods was compared. Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s, (305.5±11.2)s, while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s, (1261.4±39.9)s. The differences were signiifcant(t=-21.81, 69.94, both P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)%by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)%by 2D-STI. The difference was signiifcant(t=9.16, P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%, (-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%, (-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI. The differences were signiifcant(t=5.33, 5.99, both P < 0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV. The longitudinal, circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels. However, 2D-STI strains didn′ t show such trend. Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart. Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel, convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes of pathogens in hematological ward and susceptibility of patients received chemotherapy to antibiotics. The pathogens were taken from blood, urine and sputum of patients who accepted chemotherapy from years 2001 to 2005, then were isolated and identified. The susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. The results showed that the total of 418 strains were detected. Gram-negative bacteria were the most common of nosocomial infection. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, E. coli account for the most of Gram negative- bacteria infection and most resistant to broad-spectrum penicillin, Acinetobacter baumannii showed a trend of increase. The ratios of gram positive bacteria and fungi were increased slowly, mainly as Enterococcus and Candida. Enterococcus is the most common cause of Gram-positive bacterial infection. Vancomycin resistance did not occur. It is concluded that Gram-negative bacteria are main cause of nosocomial infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Gram positive bacteria and fungi had been more frequent. Strains resistant to antimicrobial agents increase.
Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Hematologic Diseases ; microbiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; microbiology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests