This article was aimed to study the species identification capability of psbA-trnH among Guanzhong herbs from Dryopteri. The nucleotide sequence information of psbA-trnH region was abstracted using standardized manners from 9 Dryopteri species (19 samples). The identification efficiency of psbA-trnH was analyzed based on TaxonGap among both tested materials (9 species, 19 samples) and tested materials plus GenBank data (17 species, 44 samples in total). The results showed that with the expanded species range, the discriminative efficiency of psbA-trnH de-clined from 100% (9/9) to 82.4% (14/17), while the proportion of within-specific heterogeneity larger than between-specific separability increased from 11.1% (1/9) to 52.9% (9/17). It was concluded that psbA-trnH can be recom-mended as the valuable barcode for homonym distinguishment among Guanzhong herbs, with attention of adequate sampling within species.

This study was aimed to identify original plants of Xi-Huang-Cao (XHC) through DNA barcodes. The nu-cleotide sequence information of rbcL, psbA-trnH, matK and ITS2 regions were abstracted using standardized man-ners from 41 samples (including Rabdosia serra, R. lophanthoides and R. lophanthoides var. graciliflora). Sequencing efficiency of each marker was calculated. Species identification capability was tested on the basis of TaxonGap. The results showed that sequence success rates were 100% for rbcL, 90.2% for psbA-trnH, 87.8% for ITS2, and 70.7%for matK. Three markers (rbcL, psbA-trnH and ITS2) were competent for species discrimination (not for subspecies). It was concluded that rbcL can be the preferred barcode for XHC because of its convenience and efficacy.

Objective To establish a stable and feasible animal model of acute cerebral infarction,and to evaluate it with functional magnetic resonance imaging and pathology.Methods Twenty-five S-D rats were randomly divided into five groups,and there were 5 rats in each group.Rats in group A were sham-operated for control study.Unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was performed with improved thread in group B,C,D,E and were enrolled for MRI and MRS study at 3,6,12,24 hours after MCAO.All rats were examined by 1-hydrogen magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1H MRS).Two or three rats in each group were sacrificed for 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining of the brain and two rats for pathological examination after MRS.Results Rats in group A showed no change in brain on ~1 H MRS or pathological study.~1H MRS of the rat brains after right MCAO showed a decrease of N-acetyl-aspartate(NAA),an increase of Lactate(Lac) in all groups.There was no significant change of Choline(Cho) and Creatine(Cr) peaks onrats in group B,C,D.The peaks of Cho and Cr were slightly dropped in group E.Conclusion The acute regional cerebral ischemic model in rats made by our approach is stable and reproducible,and it is suitable for evaluation and study with functional magnetic resonancespectroscopy accurately and sensitively.

A systematic review was undertaken, including studies that evaluated the incidence of the blood system adverse events of Tripterygium wilfordii (TWP). Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library were searched for relevant studies, including RCT, cohort studies and case series, of patients treated with TWP published in English and Chinese from inception up until May 25th, 2013 with the keywords including "Tripterygium wilfordii", "toxicity", "reproductive", "side effect", "adverse", "safety" and "tolerability". Relevant information was extracted and the incidence of the blood system adverse events was pooled with MetaAnalyst software. Besides, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed based on age, mode of medicine, observation time and disease system. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 49 articles were included in the meta-analysis, they were split into 54 researches incorporated in the analysis. There is a large degree of heterogeneity among the studies, so data was analyzed using random-effects model and the summary estimates of incidence of the blood system adverse events was 6.1%. The weighted combined incidence of three major blood system adverse events were white-blood cells decreasing 5.6% (95% CI, 4.3% - 7.3%), hemoglobin decreasing 1.7% (95% CI, 0.5% - 5.0%) and platelet decreasing 1.8% (95% CI, 1.0% - 3.1%), respectively . Sensitivity analyses based on 45 studies with high quality showed the combined value was close to the summary estimate of total 54 studies. The current evidence indicates that the incidence of the blood system adverse events induced by TWP was high; attentions should be paid on to the prevention and treatment of the blood system adverse events.
Blood Cells ; drug effects ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Tripterygium ; adverse effects

To study the effect of genistein on the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts(CF), CFs were cultured from neonatal rat hearts, DNA synthesis of the cells was determined by incorporation of ［3H］TdR into DNA, the cell cycle was measured by flow cytometric analysis. Genistein(0.5－50 μmol*L-1) attenuated 2.5% fetal calf serum-induced proliferation of CF in concentration-dependent manner. Genistein(50 μmol*L-1) arrested CF cell progression at G2/M phase. The results suggest that genistein be a potential substance for treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of the virology background of HLA-A2 restricted HBcAg(18-27) epitope mutations in HBV infected patients in China.

METHOD30 HBV sequences with different genotypes from Genbank were analyzed by bioinformatics and the mismatched primers were designed for constructing a PCR-RFLP method to screen HBcAg(18-27)V/I in China. The distributions of HBcAg(18-27)V/I of 160 samples with HBV genotype B/C infection from 8 areas in China were screened and analyzed by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. The affinity of HBcAg(18-27)V/I to HLA-A0201 was analyzed through referencing the bioinformatics websites.

RESULTSWe successfully constructed a PCR-RFLP method for screening HBcAg(18-27)V/I from genotype B/C, and only 3 samples with HBcAg(18-27)V sequence were found in the 160 samples (3/160, 1.88%). The affinity of HBcAg(18-27)I to HLA-A 0201 was lower than the one of HBcAg(18-27)V through bioinformatic analysis (HLA ligand score was 123 vs 156, and the SYFPEITHI score was 22 vs 24).

CONCLUSIONThe last amino acid of most HBcAg(18-27) sequences of epidemic HBV strains in China is isoleucine, and not valine. Therefore HBcAg(18-27) sequence background in different HBV genotypes should be thoroughly considered when using it as a reference or control in immunological research about HBV.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; Female ; Genotype ; HLA-A Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype B subgenotype in China.

METHODSA cohort of 511 patients with chronic HBV genotype B infection, collected from 7 centers across China, were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) or nucleotide sequencing.

RESULTSFor the 511 patients, only subgenotype Ba was identified and subgenotype Bj was not found.

CONCLUSIONIn China, subgenotype Ba was the most prevalent HBV strains, while subgenotype Bj was very rarely found.

China ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

OBJECTIVETo analyze the forces of rotational wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor on small tissue pieces or microcarrier particles and to determine the tracks of microcarrier particles in RWV bioreactor.

METHODSThe motion of the microcarrier in the rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor with both the inner and outer cylinders rotating was modeled by numerical simulation.

RESULTSThe continuous trajectory of microcarrier particles, including the possible collision with the wall was obtained. An expression between the minimum rotational speed difference of the inner and outer cylinders and the microcarrier particle or aggregate radius could avoid collisions with either wall. The range of microcarrier radius or tissue size, which could be safely cultured in the RWV bioreactor, in terms of shear stress level, was determined.

CONCLUSIONThe model works well in describing the trajectory of a heavier microcarrier particle in rotating wall vessel.

Bioreactors ; Computer Simulation ; Microspheres ; Motion ; Porosity ; Rheology ; Rotation ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

PURPOSE: Tubulointerstitial hypoxia in the kidney is considered a hallmark of injury and a mediator of the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), a master transcription factor in cellular adaptation to hypoxia, regulates a wide variety of genes, some of which are closely associated with tissue fibrosis. The present study set out to characterize urinary HIF-1alpha expressions in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and to explore whether urinary HIF-1alpha expressions are associated with histologic chronicity changes and renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 42 patients with LN and in 30 healthy controls. Activity and chronicity indexes as well as tubular HIF-1alpha expressions were analyzed for each specimen. RESULTS: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were higher in LN patients than in healthy controls (3.977+/-1.696 vs. 2.153+/-0.554 ng/mL, p<0.001) and were associated with histologic chronicity indexes (r=0.463, p<0.01) and eGFR (r=-0.324, p<0.05). However, urinary HIF-1alpha levels showed no correlation with histologic activity indexes, anti-dsDNA, ANA, complement 3 and 4 levels, proteinuria, systemic lupus erythematosis disease activity index, and WHO pathological classification (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Urinary HIF-1alpha levels were elevated in LN patients and were associated with histologic chronicity changes and renal function, indicating that HIF-1alpha might contribute to histologic chronicity in LN.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/*urine ; Kidney/metabolism/pathology ; Lupus Nephritis/*urine ; Male ; Young Adult

Objective To study the effect of time and temperature on the count of peripheral blood cells in newborns.Methods The peripheral blood of 100 cases of newborns who were admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2016 to June 2016 were collected,and measured with Sysmex XS-500i automatic blood cell analyzer immediately,then were split into two parts and stored at 4 ℃ and room temperature respectively.The measurement was repeated in 24 and 48 h,and the groups were compared on WBC,RBC,PLT,HGB,IG％ and IG#.Results There were statistically significant differences between the instantly measuring result and those in 24 and 48 h under room temperature (P＜0.05).In case of 4 ℃,the instantly measuring result had no obvious difference with that in 24 h (P＞0.05),while statistical difference with that in 48 h (P＜0.05).Conclusion Newborns' peripheral blood can be stored at 4 ℃C,and the counting results will not be affected for WBC,RBC,PLT,HGB,IG％ and IG# within 24 h.