Objective To observe the dynamic serological test results of 28 patients with acute brucellosis,and to investigate the relationship between serological test results and diagnosis,curative effect and prognosis of brucellosis.Methods Twenty eight patients(infected with sheep brucellosis) with acute brucellosis in the Department of Brucellosis in Heilongjiang Provincial Land Reclamation Headquarters General Hospital were selected as research subjects,and their serological changes were tested by means of tube agglutination test (SAT)and clinical outcomes were compared before and after each stage of treatment.In addition,symptoms of fever,weakness,sweating,joint pain,swollen lymph nodes and biochemical parameters [alanine aminotransferase (ALT),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] were also tested 3,6 and 9 weeks after the treatment.Results Antibody titer reached the peak at the third week,1 ∶ 400(++),which accounted for 39.29％ (11/28); 2857％(8/28) of the patients became negative at the sixth week; 50.00％ (14/28) became negative at the ninth week.Before the treatment,20(71.43％) patients had the symptom of fever,8 (28.57％) patients had the symptom of hyperhidrosis,28 (100.00％) patients had the symptom of joint pain,7(25.00％) patients had the symptom of lymph node enlargement,28 (100.00％) patients' ALT was elevated,and 26(92.86％) patients' LDH was elevated.After three weeks of treatment,except the three patients (10.71％) who occasionally had fever,the rest of the patient's temperature was returned to normal.Also the numbers of patients with the symptoms of fatigue,sweating and joint pain were significantly reduced,and specifically,the conesponding number was 13(46.43％),2(7.14％),and 21 (75.00％)patients,respectively.ALT and LDH returned to normal(only one patient's ALT was out of the range).At the sixth week,all the patients' symptoms of fever and hyperhidrosis disappeared.The number of patients with the symptoms of joint pain and lymph node enlargement reduced to 12(42.86％) and 3(10.71％),respectively.The results of biochemical tests(ALT and LDT) returned to normal.At the ninth week,most patients' clinical symptoms disappeared.A few patients still had the symptoms of weakness[2(7.14％)] and joint piin[6(21.43％)].Conclusions After effective treatment,antibody titer of patients decreases rapidly,at the same time,the clinical symptoms improve quickly.There is a parallel relationship between the change of antibody titer and clinical symptoms.It is demonstrated that the appearing time of brucellosis specific antibodies,the ampfitude and speed of change of antibody titers can be used in diagnosis,therapeutic evaluation and prognosis of the disease.

Objective To observe the clinical features of brucellosis spondylitis and analyse the reasons for its misdiagnosis,and improve the level of diagnosis and differential diagnosis.Methods Forty-two clinically diagnosed patients with brucellosis spondylitis were studied retrospectively,and these patients were diagnosed and hospitalized in the General Hospital of Heilongjiang Land Reclamation Bureau.Their medical records were analyzed,which included the general information,medical history,clinical symptoms,results of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and serum tube agglutination test(SAT) and so on.Results Main clinical symptoms and signs were severe persistent neck,back and leg pain.They also had plate shape low back but without kyphosis.In addition,patients had to keep in one posture because their spinal activity was limited.Also,scoliosis or pelvic tilt and lameness may occur when standing,which were typical symptoms of nerve root compression.Thirteen cases were diagnosed as tuberculosis,accounting for 30.95％(13/42); 6 cases were diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation,accounting for 14.28％ (6/42); 2 cases were diagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis,accounting for 4.76％ (2/42).Therefore,the total rate of misdiagnosis was 50％ (21/42).Abnormal MRI signal intensity can be seen in the pathological vertebrae.Specifically,T1-weighted images (T1WI) showed low signal,T2-weighted images (T2WI) showed high signal,or mixed high and low signal intensity was observed.Vertebral showed wedge deformation without collapse and sequestrum; strip and sheet abnormal signal can also be found within the intervertebral disc.Normal structure disappeared and disc space became narrow.Accordingly,the plane dural sac was compressed to form visible abscess near the spine,but psoas abscess was not found.Patients with positive SAT result accounted for 92.85％ (39/42).Conclusion Reasons for misdiagnosis include lack of detailed medical records,atypical clinical symptoms and similar imaging changes and so on.

Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Adenosine Deaminase ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; analysis ; Interleukin-12 ; analysis ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; chemistry ; Tuberculosis, Pleural ; diagnosis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of proto-oncogene c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy and effects of tanshinone II A (Tan) in the primary culture of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

METHODTwelve neonatal Wistar rats aged one day old of clean grade and both sexes were selected to isolate and culture cardiomyocytes. The cardiomyocytes were divided into: normal control group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) +Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, Ang II (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) + valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group, Tan (10(-8) g x L(-1)) group, valsartan (10(-6) mol x L(-1)) group. The cardiomyocyte size was determined by phase contrast microscope, the rate of protein synthesis in cardiomyocytes was measured by 3H-leucine incorporation. The c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes were assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTAng II was added to the culture medium and 30 min later, the c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression of cardiomyocytes increased significantly (P < 0. 01). After Ang II took effect for 24 h, the rate of protein synthesis in Ang II group increased more prominently than that in normal control group (P < 0.01). After Ang II took effect for 7 days, the size of cardiomyocyte in Ang II group increased obviously (P < 0. 05). If tanshinone II or valsartan was added to the culture medium before Ang II, both of them could inhibit the increase of c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression (P < 0.01), cardiomyocyte protein synthesis rate (P < 0.01), and cardiomyocyte size (P < 0.05) induced by Ang II.

CONCLUSIONTanshinone II could ameliorate Ang II-induced cardiomyocytes hypertrophy by inhabiting c-fos, c-jun mRNA expression.

Angiotensin II ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, fos ; genetics ; Genes, jun ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the precision of rat bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by Norland Excellplus dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to investigate the BMD changes in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats in vitro.

METHODS(1) The coefficients of variation (CV) for BMD measurements at various skeletal regions were repeatedly determined by DXA in 10 Wistar rats in vitro. (2) BMD in lumbar vertebra (L5) and both sides of femurs was measured in total 90 rats. And (3) changes in BMD between Ovx and sham rats were compared.

RESULTS(1) The short-term CVs of BMD measurements in different regions by DXA were as follows, 1.58% for lumbar vertebra (L5), 0.90% for left femur, and 0.86% for right femur, respectively. The long-term CVs were 2.22% for lumbar vertebra (L5), 1.09% for left femur, and 1.20% for right femur. (2) The BMD values in 90 Wistar rats were (127.5 +/- 12.3) in lumbar vertebra (L5), (82.6 +/- 11.3) in corpus vertebra (L5'), (150.7 +/- 10.6) in left femur and (149.9 +/- 10.6) mg/cm2 in right femur, respectively. The correlation coefficient of BMD measurements between left and right femurs was 0.792 (P < 0.001). (3) In Ovx group, the BMD values of corpus vertebra (L5') and distal femurs were significantly decreased, that was 10.0%-17.5% lower in comparison with sham group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSMeasurement of rat BMD in vitro by Norland Excellplus DXA is a useful method, and it can reflect the changes in rat bone masses with good precision.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcription coactivator, CRTC (also known as transducer of regulated CREB, TORC), is identified as a potent modulator of cAMP response element (CRE)-driven gene transcription. The CRTC family consists of three members (CRTC1-3), among which the CRTC1 shows the highest expression in the brain. Several studies have demonstrated that the CRTC1 plays critical roles in neuronal dendritic growth, long-term synaptic plasticity, memory consolidation and reconsolidation etc., whereas dysfunction of CRTC1 is mainly involved in neurodegenerative disorders. In light of these findings, we aim to review recent research reports that indicate the CRTC1 dysfunction and its underlying mechanisms in the neurodegenerative disorders.
Brain ; physiology ; Dendrites ; physiology ; Humans ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; physiopathology ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Transcription Factors ; physiology

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; Lymphatic Diseases ; physiopathology ; Lymphoid Tissue ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; physiology ; Pleural Effusion ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Heart Disease ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in different brain regions in aged rats and investigate the role of HIF-1alpha in the aging process of the nervous system.

METHODSThe Nissl bodies and HIF-1alpha expression in different brain regions were observed in rats aged 3 and 30 months using Nissl staining and immunohistochemical method, respectively.

RESULTSIn the 30-month-old rats, the neural cells in 4 different brain regions presented with large cell body and loose alignment, containing reduced Nissl bodies in the cytoplasm. Compared with the 3-month-old rats, the aged rats showed greater number of HIF-1alpha-positive cells in the brain (P < 0.01), and the number varied significantly between the different brain regions (P < 0.01). The CA3 region contained the greatest number of positive cells, which were fewer in the motor cortex and cerebellum.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity for protein synthesis in the neural cells is weakened but the expression of HIF-1alpha increased in aged rats, suggesting the important role that HIF-1alpha may play in the aging process of the nervous system, especially in hypomnesis.

Aging ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated islet neogenesis associated protein (INGAP) gene silencing on the proliferation of islet cells.

METHODSDifferent siRNAs targeting INGAP gene were designed and transfected into INS-1 islet cells, and the expression levels of INGAP mRNA and protein following the transfection were detected using RT-PCR, flow cytometry and Western blotting. The proliferation of the transfected INS-1 cells was evaluated using MTT assay.

RESULTSCompared with those in the irrelevant siRNA, empty vector control, and un-transfected groups, the expression levels of INGAP mRNA and protein in the cells transfected with siRNA6 were reduced significantly. The cell proliferation rate significantly increased after transfection with siRNA6 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA targeting INGAP can effectively down-regulate INGAP expression and inhibit the proliferation of INS-1 cells.

Animals ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Insulinoma ; pathology ; Islets of Langerhans ; pathology ; Lectins, C-Type ; genetics ; Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats