Animals ; Epilepsy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genes, MDR ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Triazines ; pharmacology

Objective To propose a new blood purification modality-hemodialysis with plasma- based dialysate (HD-PBD) plus high volume hemofiltration (HVHF) for patients with liver failure, and to evaluate the effect of this treatment on plasma cytokines.Methods Twelve patients with liver failure were included in this study.All patients received HD-PBD therapy in the first 6 hours,and then were treated with HVHF for 24 hours with the same filter (AV600).The levels of TNF-?,IL-1?, IL-6 and IL-8 in plasma before and after HD-PBD plus HVHF for 6 and 24 hours were examined respectively by ELISA,and changes of clinical parameters were observed at the same time point. Serum bilirubin,total bile acids (TBA),serum ammonia,blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were detected before and after treatment.Arterial blood gas analysis and the concentration of electrolytes were monitored before and after treatment.Results (1)HD-PBD for 6 hours was more effective than HVHF for 24 hours in removal of serum bilirubin and TBA(P＜0.05). (2)Serum ammonia,BUN,Ser,arterial blood HCO_3~-,PCO_2,PO_2 and electrolytes did not show significant difference before and after HD-PBD (P＞0.05),but these parameters significantly changed before and after HVHF (P＜0.05).(3)The average level of serum bilirubin was sharply decreased after HVHF for 24 h following HD-PBD(P＜0.05).(4)After HD-PBD plus HVHF,there was a marked reduction of the plasma levels of TNF-?,IL-6 and IL-8.Conclusions HD-PBD plus HVHF,a newly proposed modality for patients with liver failure,can effectively decrease serum bilirubin,TBA,BUN,Scr,ammonia and cytokines,and adjust water-electrolyte as well as acid- alkali balance.It is a low-cost,safe,simple and convenient therapy.

BACKGROUND: Fibrin glue has been demonstrated to function as a kind of biomaterial with high quality. It has been used in nerve tissue engineering and proved to be a kind of scaffold for some cells.OBJECTIVE: To explore the biocompatibility of fibrin glue and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs).DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro control trial based on cytology was performed at the Institute of Neurobiology,Nantong University from August 2007 to February 2008.MATERIALS: Fibrin glue was made of fibrin and catalyst, and OECs derived from rats' olfactory bulb were normally primary-cultured.METHODS: OECs were divided into control (OECs clone spheres were cultured alone) and in fibrin glue (OECs clone spheres were cultured and combined with fibrin glue) groups. After 1 week of culture, the proliferation of OECs were observed by convert microscope and detected by S-100 immunofluorescence histochemical staining.MAIN OUTCOME M EASURES: OECs morphology, cell count, the area of the cell bodies and the perimeter of the cell were determined.RESULTS: OECs could survive, migrate in fibrin glue, and float in the fibrin glue in the lower layer. After 7 days of incubation, cell body exhibited fusiform or triangle, predominantly bipolar or bipolar. The number of the S-100 positive cells was more, and cell bodies were larger in fibrin glue group than control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no obvious difference between two groups in cell perimeter (P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Fibrin glue has good biocompatibility with OECs, and OECs can survive and migrate in fibrin glue.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese culture, absorbing the wisdom of the Chinese people. Continuous application of new technologies makes traditional Chinese medicine research advance with the times. After several years of development, high-throughput transcriptome study has become a mature research tool in biology. This paper reviewed the advances in medicine transcriptome study, and compared two sequencing platforms, Roche's GS FLX platform and Illumina's HiSeq 2000 platform. Moreover, this paper introduced medicine transcriptome analysis process, with Panax quinquefolius and Lonicera japonica for examples, showing the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine transcriptome studies. High-throughput transcriptome studies facilitate traditional Chinese medicine research with overall understand of functional genes, give clear elucidation of metabolic pathways, lay molecular foundation for the traditional Chinese medicine research and offer modern interpretation for traditional Chinese medicine theory. However, the current study faces several difficulties, including weak molecular basis, high sequencing cost and staff shortages in data anaysis. In the future, with the development in sequencing technology, the combination of transcriptome and other genomics, such as proteome and metabolome, will lay a solid foundation for the new high-throughput screening and developing model for the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
Biomedical Research ; methods ; trends ; Forecasting ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; Lonicera ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Panax ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; trends ; Transcriptome ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in ice cream by phenotypic typing and molecular typing.

METHODSThe Staphylococcus aureus isolates were separated from ice cream, filler, cutter, salves and material. The separated isolates were characterized by drug-resistance, staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEA-E), SE (A-E, G-J) genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) types.

RESULTTwo Staphylococcus aureus isolates were separated, one from ice cream, another from cutter. Their characteristics of drug-resistance, staphylococcal enterotoxin (SEA-E), SE (A-E,G-J) genes and PFGE type were the same.

CONCLUSIONThe two Staphylococcus aureus isolates were the same clone. The contaminated Staphylococcus aureus isolates could be traced to the contaminated cutters.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; Food Microbiology ; Ice Cream ; microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Staphylococcus aureus ; classification ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo observe the treatment effect and toxicity of nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (NST) for hematologic diseases.

METHODSA total of 243 hematologic diseases patients received HLA-identical NST were enrolled in this study from 9 transplant centers of NST Cooperative Group in China. Nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen was based on fludarabine (Flud), rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclophosphamide (CTX) (FAC), and plus cytarabine or busulfan (BU) etc. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included cyclosporin A (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).

RESULTSAmong the 243 patients, 219 (90.1%) achieved full donor chimerism (FDC), 2(0.8%) engraftment failure. 78 (32.1%) had mixture chimerism (MC) at 4 weeks after NST, out of which 56 switched to FDC, 16 remained MC and 6 (2.5%) developed graft rejection. The incidence of acute GVHD was 34.2%, including 6.6% of grade III-IV acute GVHD. Chronic GVHD developed in 78 (32.1%) patients. The follow-up durations were 3 - 99 months, 162 (66.7%) were still alive and the overall survival rates were 76.5%, 73.9%, 70.7%, and 27.8% for MDS/SAA, chronic myeloid leukemia, acute leukemia at first remission, and refractory or relapsed leukemia, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation based on FAC conditioning results in sustained engraftment and mild aGVHD, providing a new feasible curative therapy for hematology diseases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematologic Diseases ; surgery ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Calcinosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; methods ; Mastectomy, Segmental

AIMTo investigate whether NR2B-pERK1/2-pElk-1 signaling contributes to the Y-maze learning and memory of rat brain.

METHODS45 adult male SD rats were divided into 4 groups: (1) Ifenprodil peritoneal injection group (Ifenprodil ip, n = 14); (2) DMSO peritoneal injection group(DMSO ip, n = 15); (3) Ifenprodil cerebral ventricle injection group (Ifenprodil ic, n = 8); (4) DMSO cerebral ventricle injection group(DMSO ic, n = 8). Y-maze training and test were used as an learning and memory enhancing stimulus. Immunohistochemical and Western blotting methods were used for detecting pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression intensity of different brain regions.

RESULTSCompared with the DMSO ip group, the ifenprodil ip group showed no change on the Y-maze learning score (P > 0.05), but its Y-maze memory score tested 24 after learning decreased (P < 0.05). Ifenprodil peritoneal injection made brain pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression decreased generally. In hippocampus, marginal division of striatum(MrD), amygdala,these changes were more significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the DMSO ic group, the reconsolidation of Y-maze memory tested 6 hours after ifenprodil injection was impaired in ifenprodil ic group (P < 0.05). The OD value of pERK1/2 and pElk-1 positive bands in ifenprodil ic group attenuated generally. The pElk-1 positive bands of caudate putamen and MrD almost disappeared in ifenprodil ic group.

CONCLUSIONNR2B is essential for the formation of long-term memory, reconsolidation of Y-maze memory. The deactivation of NR2B by ifenprodil will impair these courses. Meanwhile, the deactivation of NR2B attenuates pERK1/2 and pElk-1 expression of learning and memory related regions after Y-maze learning and memory reconsolidation test. In MrD and caudate putamen, the pElk-1 expression are completely blocked by ifenprodil after memory reconsolidation test.

Animals ; Avoidance Learning ; physiology ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Maze Learning ; physiology ; Memory ; physiology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; metabolism ; ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo express and purify the protein coded by the TRAF-type zinc finger domain of myasthenia gravis (MG)-related gene P9 (P9-ZFD) and to prepare P9-ZFD antiserum for detecting expression and subcellular distribution of P9-ZFD protein in the skeletal muscles of patient with MG.

METHODSThe cDNA encoding P9-ZFD was amplified by RT-PCR. The cloned P9-ZFD cDNA was ligated into pET24a, and the P9-ZFD recombinant protein was induced via E. coli. BL21 (DE3) and purified by histidine affinity chromatography. P9-ZFD antiserum was prepared and its titer and specificity were determined by ELISA and Western blot. Expression and subcellular distribution of P9-ZFD protein in the skeletal muscles of MG and control were studied.

RESULTSThe molecular weight of purified P9-ZFD protein was about 30 kD. Its purity was more than 95%. Antiserum specific for P9-ZFD was excellent. P9-ZFD protein is fully confined to the cytoplasm membrane of skeletal muscle cell of MG, obvious immunostaining was absent in the A, I, and Z bands of cytoplasm and no immunoreactivity was observed in the skeletal muscle cell of control.

CONCLUSIONP9-ZFD protein is expressed as a cytoplasm membrane-bound protein and has obvious distribution difference in the skeletal muscle cells of patient with MG and normal control.

Adult ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myasthenia Gravis ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Zinc Fingers

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical efficacy on post-stroke speech disorder treated with acupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training.

METHODSThe multi-central randomized controlled study was adopted. One hundred and twenty cases of brain stroke were divided into a speech rehabilitation group (control group), a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture group (observation group 1) and a speech rehabilitation plus acupuncture combined with psychotherapy group (observation group 2), 40 cases in each one. The rehabilitation training was conducted by a professional speech trainer. In acupuncture treatment, speech function area in scalp acupuncture, Jinjin (EX-HN 12) and Yuye (EX-HN 13) in tongue acupuncture and Lianquan (CV 23) were the basic points. The supplementary points were selected according to syndrome differentiation. Bloodletting method was used in combination with acupuncture. Psychotherapy was applied by the physician in psychiatric department of the hospital. The corresponding programs were used in each group. Examination of Aphasia of Chinese of Beijing Hospital was adopted to observe the oral speech expression, listening comprehension and reading and writing ability.

RESULTSAfter 21-day treatment, the total effective rate was 92.5% (37/40) in observation group 1, 97.5% (39/40) in observation group 2 and 87.5% (35/40) in control group. The efficacies were similar in comparison among 3 groups. The remarkable effective rate was 15.0% (6/40) in observation group 1, 50.0% (20/40) in observation group 2 and 2.5% (1/40) in control group. The result in observation group 2 was superior to the other two groups (P<0.01, P<0.001). In comparison of the improvements of oral expression, listening comprehension, reading and writing ability, all of the 3 groups had achieved the improvements to different extents after treatment (P<0.01, P<0.001). The results in observation group 2 were better than those in observation group 1 and control group.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and psychological intervention combined with rehabilitation training is obviously advantageous in the treatment of post-stroke speech disorder.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Speech Disorders ; etiology ; psychology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Speech Therapy ; Stroke ; complications