Objective To design an atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion cage and evaluate its biomechanical stability when it is combined with atlantoaxial vertebral pedicle screw fixation.Methods Forty-six sets of CT 3D reconstruction pieces of the normal atlantoaxial junction were chosen to measure sagittal diameter and transverse diameter of atlantoaxial lateral mass joint,sagittal diameter and transverse diameter of epistropheus lateral mass and space height of atlantoaxial lateral mass joint.An atlantoaxial lateral mass fusion cage was designed on this basis.Six fresh human cadaveric cervical spines (C0-C4) were used as samples to measure 3D motion range of C1,and 2 segments under 1.5 N · m load.3D motion range of samples under the following situations was measured at random:intact state,unstable state (ligament around odontoid process was cut off),fixation with atlantoaxial joint screw+Gallie steel wire,atlantoaxial pedicle screw,atlantoaxial lateral mass joint fusion cage+atlantoaxial vertebral pedicle screw.Results Corresponding width/length of fusion cage is 8/11,9/12,10/13 mm,respectively,and the height is designed to 3.5,4.0,and 4.5 mm,respectively.The motion range of three internal fixation methods is less than that under intact state and unstable state.The difference has statistical significance.The C1+C2+cage fixation produces the least motion range in lateral bending and axial rotation directions and generates the highest motion range in flexion/extension direction.But,the difference has no statistical significance.Conclusion The C1+C2+cage internal fixation technique has similar stability with common atlantoaxial intemal fixation method and can provide extra atlantoaxial fusion spots.Thus,it may be a feasible alternative for atlantoaxial fusion when the posterior arch of the atlas is absent.

Objective To evaluate the contribution of gyrA and parE detection in Ureaplasma genotyping.Methods Sixty Ureaplasma isolates were selected with the Mycoplasma IST kit.The gyrA and parE were amplified by PCR.The DNA was sequenced and compared with the corresponding sequences in GenBank.Results The nucleotide sequence of gyrA had 100% identity in serovar 1,3,6,14 and 100%identity in serovar 2,4,5,7～13,too.But the sequence had 91%identity between the two groups.The nucleotide sequence of parE had 98%～99% identity in serovar 1,3,6,14.And it had 100% identity in erovar 2,5,7,8,11 and 100% identity in serovar4,12,13.But it had only 90% identity between the two groups.Ureaplasma parvum(Up),Ureaplasma urealyticum(Uu)and Up+Uu infection were found 68.3%(41/60),21.7%(13/60)and 10%(6/60) of clinical specimens,respectively.In Up isolates,serovar 3 was 48.8%(20/41).Conclusion Ureaplasma can be divided into two genotypes(Up and Uu)by gyrA analysis.And Up can be divided into four subtypes which correspond to serovar 1,3,6,14,respectively.Serovar 3 is the main isolate in our research.

Survey on research and development of Fructus Gardeniae in the recent 10 years. Gardenia yellow has been used for food colorent, medicine, feedingstuff and cosmetic. Garnedia blue has been used for developing another pigment with red and yellow. Fructus Gardeniae has been used in digestive system for cholecyst constracting and gall-stone eliminating, for declining peroxide on SAP mouse and increasing immune ability, for protecting liver against cancel, anti-acetylcholinic restraining on stomach enginery, in cardiovascular system it has been used for centrally anti-hypertension, preventing atheroma and thrombus, also Fructus Gardeniae has been used for anti-inflammation, treating parenchyma injure etc. Geniposide used for increasing production in agriculture has wider perspect.
Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Bile ; secretion ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Food Coloring Agents ; toxicity ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Gastric Acid ; secretion ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE:To systematically review the efficacy of Berberine hydrochloride tablet in the treatment of non-alco-holic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),and provide evidence-based reference for the clinical treatment. METHODS:Retrieved from CJFD,Wanfang Database,VIP,CBM and PubMed,observational studies about Berberine hydrochloride tablet in the treatment of NAFLD were collected. After data extraction and quality evaluation,Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.3 statistics software. RESULTS:A total of 6 studies were included,involving 294 patients. Results of Meta-analysis showed Berberine hydro-chloride tablet could significantly reduce the levels of AST[WMD=18.97,95%CI(2.25,35.70),P=0.03],ALT[WMD=31.04, 95%CI(7.17,54.91),P=0.01],TG[WMD=1.07,95%CI(0.39,1.74),P=0.002] and TC[WMD=1.31,95%CI(0.79,1.84),P<0.001] in the serum of patients with NAFLD. There were significant differences. CONCLUSIONS:Berberine hydrochloride tablet can significantly improve the liver function and blood lipid levels of patients with NAFLD,and the clinical efficacy is relatively pre-cise. Due to the limit of methodological quality,it remains to be further verified by large-scale and high quality RCT.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the serum level of a novel autoantibody, anti-tubulin-α-1C, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to investigate its clinical significance. METHODS: Anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 62 patients with SSc, 38 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 24 primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), immunoglobulin A(IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), C3, C4, rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibody(ANA), anti-centromere antibodies(ACA), anticardiolipin (aCL), anti-dsDNA antibody, anti-Sm antibody, anti-RNP antibody, anti-Scl-70 antibody, anti-Ro52 antibody, anti-SSA antibody, anti-SSB antibody, centromere protein A(CENP-A), centromere protein B (CENP-B) were measured by standard laboratory techniques. Raynaud's phenomenon and modified Rodnan skin score(MRSS) were recorded to evaluate the disease status of SSc. Independent sample t test, Chi square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman rank correlation were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: The serum anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody concentration in SSc group was 81.24±34.38, the serum anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody concentration in SLE group was 87.84±38.52, the serum anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody concentration in pSS group was 59.79±25.24, and the serum anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody concentration in healthy group was 39.37±18.7. Multivariate analysis revealed that anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody levels were significantly increased in the SSc and SLE patients. The expression level of anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody in SSc was higher compared with the pSS group and the health control group (P < 0.01). Further analysis demonstrated that the elevated anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody were correlated with the SSc inflammation and disease activity markers ESR(r=0.313, P=0.019), The levels of anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody were also significantly correlated with MRSS(r=0.636, P < 0.01). The best cut-off value for the diagnose of SSc was 76.77 as mean+2SD value. The proportion of Raynaud's phenomenon was higher in the group of anti-tubulin-α-1C autoantibody-postive SSc patients than that in anti-tubulin-α-1C autoantibody negative group(71.4% vs. 37.5%, P=0.039). The proportions of anti-Scl-70 antibody, anti-CENP antibody and anti-cardiolipin antibody were higher in the group of anti-tubulin-α-1C autoantibody-postive SSc patients than in the anti-tubulin-α-1C autoantibody negative group (37.9% vs. 15.2%, 34.5% vs. 12.1%, 13.8 vs. 0, respectively, all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Based on this explorative stu-dy, the level of anti-tubulin-α-1C antibody increased in the serum of the patients with SSc. There were correlations between anti-tubulin-α-1C autoantibody and clinical and laboratory indicators of the SSc patients. It may become a novel biomarker indicative of active SSc and could be applied in future clinical practice.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Sjogren's Syndrome

Purpose: Elevated plasma D-dimer level is a poor prognostic factor for many solid tumors. However, limited research has been conducted on D-dimer in children with neuroblastoma (NB), and its clinical significance remains unclear. The present study investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of D-dimer in pediatric NB patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all newly admitted NB patients was conducted from January 2014 to December 2020.Baseline clinicopathological features, preoperative laboratory parameters, and follow-up information were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the relationship between D-dimer level, clinical features, and the prognostic value. Results: Among 266 patients, the median value of D-dimer was 2.98 ng/mL, of which 132 patients showed elevated D-dimer levels before surgery (>2.98 ng/mL). Univariate analysis revealed that elevated D-dimer was significantly associated with age, hemoglobin, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, neuron-specific enolase, 24-hour vanillylmandelic acid, overall survival, and so on (P < 0.05). Patients with elevated D-dimer levels had shorter median overall survival time when compared with normal D-dimer levels (P = 0.01). The prognosis was better in patients with normal D-dimer levels when combined with lower age, ganglioneuroblastoma tumor type, lower stage on International Neuroblastoma Staging System, low-risk group, and without bone metastasis or bone marrow metastasis. The continuous increase of D-dimer level after treatment indicated tumor recurrence or progression. Conclusion A high D-dimer level is associated with low overall survival, and an elevated D-dimer level after treatment indicates tumor recurrence and progression. D-dimer can be used as one of the evaluation factors for NB treatment or prognosis.

AIM:To clone the SPA gene promoter and construct its luciferase report vector of SPA gene and to study its transcriptional targeting activity.METHODS:① The SPA gene sequence was acquired from GenBank,of which the upstream was analyzed according to bioinformatics.The results showed that the upstream region of SPA gene sequence about 163bp has the function of promoter.② The SPA gene promoter fragment was generated by polymerase chain reaction and then subcloned into the multiple clone site(MCS)of luciferase report gene vector pGL3-basic to generate the recombined plasmid pGL3-SPA.This fragment was also subcloned into pGL3-control to generate recombined plasmid pGL3-SPA-enhancer by replacing its primary SV40 promoter.③ pGL3-SPA,pGL3-SPA-enhancer,pGL3-control,pGL3-basic were cotransfected with pRL-TK into A549 cells and H441 cells.The luciferase activities were measured by dual luciferase reportor(DLR)system.RESULTS:Sequencing and restricted digestive results showed that SPA gene promoter was successfully cloned and identified,and also correctly subcloned into plasmid pGL3-basic and pGL3-control to construct its luciferase report plasmid pGL3-SPA and pGL3-SPA-enhancer,respectively.The transcriptional activity was high in H441 cells.CONCLUSION:The luciferase report system of SPA gene promoter is successfully constructed with high transcriptional activity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of dried whole plants of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography, medium pressure column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and comparison of NMR data with those reported in literature.

RESULT15 compounds were isolated and identified to be 5-O-[(E)-Caffeoyl] quinic acid(l), 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(2), 4 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(3), 3, 5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4), 3, 4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5), methyl-3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(6), methyl-3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid(7), 3,6'-O-diferuloylsucrose(8), 5'-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyjasmonic acid(9), Scopoletin(10), scoparone (11), 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-hydroxyl-6-methoxyacetophenone (12), chrysosplenol D (13), casticin (14), chrysosplenetin(15).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 2, 6, 8 and 9 are obtained from the Artemisia genus for the first time. Compounds 7 and 15 are obtained from this plant for the first time.

Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Silica Gel

Background and Objective: Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been found in multiple carcinoma tissues.MMP-26 is highly expressed in prostate and breast cancer tissues,and promotes the invasion of human prostate cancer cells not only through the cleavage of fibronectin and type Ⅳ collagen but also by the activation of pro-MMP-9,a powerful gelatinase. This study was to present a comprehensive protein expression profile of MMP-26 in multiple human cancer tissues. Methods: The protein expression pattern of MMP-26 was examined using immunohistochemistry and multiple-tissue microarray. MMP-26 mRNA expression in coronary artery smooth muscle cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results: The expression of MMP-26 in breast,colon,lung, brain, head and neck, prostate cancer, and melanoma tissues was significantly elevated when compared with parallel normal tissues (P＜0.05), while not significantly elevated in kidney cancer,ovarian cancer,and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (P＞0.05).MMP-26 was also detected to express in gastric,rectal,thyroid, esophageal,and pancreatic cancers.MMP-26 protein was expressed in smooth muscle cells of the prostate and associated blood vessels. MMP-26 mRNA was also detected to express in human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Conclusions: MMP-26 expression may be associated with multiple human carcinomas,and it may serve as a molecular marker for the early diagnosis of these carcinomas.MMP-26 may also contribute to smooth muscle function in the human prostate and cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and investigate the influencing factors of the interferon (IFN) retreatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsed after a previous IFN treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was designed to analyze the retreatment with IFN of 60 relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were from a randomized, opened and multi-center clinical trial about the efficacy and security of PEG-IFNalpha-2a compared to CIFNalpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. There were 35 patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a and 25 with CIFNalpha-2a. The main parameter to evaluate the efficacy was sustained viral response (SVR) rate. The influence of viral concentration in serum, genotype and drug categories on the responses to IFN were analyzed.

RESULTSFor all the patients, the end of treatment virus response (ETVR) and SVR rates were 55.00% and 35.00% respectively. ETVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was significantly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (74.29% and 28.00% respectively, P < 0.01). SVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was also markedly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (45.71% and 20.00% respectively, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the high and low viral load groups. Among the patients with genotype 1, ETVR and SVR rates of PEG-IFNalpha-2a (75.00%, 45.83%) were significantly higher than those of CIFNalpha-2a (22.22%, 11.11%), (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively), but in patients with genotype non-1, there were no such differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSome relapsed patients were not responsive to the IFN retreatment. The efficacy of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was superior to CIFNalpha-2a. The conventional IFN was not suggested to be used in the relapsed cases with genotype 1. The viral load was not associated with the efficacy of IFN retreatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies