The tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model were used to evaluate the anti-depressant effect of supercritical CO2 extract from Compound Chaigui Fang (FFCGF). A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis was performed to explore the mechanism of FFCGF. Rats were conducted by CUMS procedure for 28 days and drugs were administrated at the same time. The body weight, sucrose preference, crossings and rearings in open-field tests were evaluated and the urine was collected simultaneously. The metabonomic profiles of rats' urine were analyzed by NMR and potential biomarkers were searched by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that administration of FFCGF significantly decreasing the immobility time in FST and TST and improving rats' body weight, sucrose preference, crossings and rearings in CUMS, which were indication that the anti-depressant effect of FFCGF was abvious. Significant differences in the metabolic profile of the CUMS treated group and the control group were observed, which were consistent with the results of behavioral tests. Decreased levels of acetic acid, succinic acid, 2-oxidation glutaric acid and citric acid and increased glycine and pyruvic acid in urine were significantly affected by the CUMS procedure and the 6 biomarkers were reversed evidently after administration of FFCGF. These changes were suggestion that the anti-depressant mechanism of FFCGF was associated with energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism.
Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Depression ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo construct the eukaryotic expression vector PCI-dhfr-lambda1 and PCI-dhfr-SP163-lambda1 which linked the enhancer SP163 with interferon lambda1. Then express the interferon lambda1 in CHO (dhfr-) cells.

METHODSUsing PCR method to introduce the restriction enzyme sites and through the fusion PCR binding the enhancer with the interferon Lambda1. After sequenced, lambda1 and SP163-lambda1 was inserted into PCI-dhfr forming the expression vector PCI-dhfr-lambda1 and PCI-dhfr-SP163-lambda1 which was constructed successfully confirming by sequencing. Then the expressing vectors were transfected into CHO (dhfr-) cells using liposome transfection method and interferon lambda1 protein was assayed with indirect immunofluorescence and Western Blot. Using cytopathic effect inhibition evaluated the antiviral activity of interferon lambda1.

RESULTSSuccessfully constructing the eukaryotic expression vectors of interferon lambda and the vectors could express interferon lambda1. The result of immunofluorescence showed the enhancer developed the expression of interferon lambda1. Detecting the interferon lambda1 in CHO (dhfr-) cells after transfecting 48 hour using Western Blot. The cytopathic effect inhibition showed the expressed interferon lambda1 has the antiviral activity.

CONCLUSIONSuccessfully expressed the interferon lambda1 in CHO (dhfr-) cells and the protein possesses antiviral activity, which may supply a valuable basis for building the stable cell line of interferon lambda1.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Interleukins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; pharmacology ; Transfection

This study is aimed at establishing a sensitive approach to detect disseminated tumor cells in peripheral blood and evaluate its clinical significance. A total of 198 blood samples including 168 from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients and 30 from healthy volunteers were examined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA. CEA mRNA was detected in 35.8% of patients and 3.3% of controls, CK20 mRNA in 28.3% of patients and 6.7% of controls, and CK19 mRNA in 41.9% of patients and 3.3% of controls. CEA and CK20 mRNA positive ratio increased with the advancing Dukes stages, but there was no significant difference in positive ratio between any two stages (P>0.05). Also, relatively high positive ratio of CEA, CK20 and CK19 mRNA expression was observed in some CRC patients with earlier Dukes stages. A higher positive ratio was obtained when two or three detection markers were combined compared to a single marker. Our study indicates that quantitative real-time RT-PCR detection for CEA, CK20 and CK19 mRNA in peripheral blood is a valuable tool for monitoring early stage dissemination of CRC cells in blood circulation.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Carcinoma ; blood ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-20 ; Keratins ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-aging effects and reveal the underlying mechanism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extract (SBG) in D-galactose-induced rats. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five groups: vehicle control group, D-galactose group, and D-galactose combined with 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG. A rat aging model was induced by injecting subcutaneously D-galactose (100 mg x kg(-1)) for ten weeks. At the tenth week, the locomotor activity (in open-field test) and the learning and memory abilities (in Morris water maze test) were examined respectively. The urine was collected using metabolic cages and analyzed by high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The SBG at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg x kg(-1) treatments groups could significantly ameliorate aging process in rats' cognitive performance. The 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) SBG regulated citrate, pyruvate, lactate, trimethylamine (TMA), pantothenate, β-hydroxybutyrate in urine favorably toward the control group. These biochemical changes are related to the disturbance in energy metabolism, glycometabolism and microbiome metabolism, which is helpful to further understanding the D-galactose induced aging rats and the therapeutic mechanism of SBG.
Aging ; drug effects ; Animals ; Galactose ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metabolome ; Metabolomics ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of graft composition on hematopoietic reconstitution and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in HLA-identical related donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for hematological malignancies.

METHODSThe relationship between the number of graft composition and their hematopoietic reconstitution and GVHD in 107 patients with hematological malignancies undergoing HLA-identical related donor PBSCT was retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSNone of the graft composition numbers had correlation with the time of neutrophil reconstitution. There was a negative correlation between the number of mononuclear cells (MNCs) or CD34+ cells and the time of platelet reconstitution (P < 0.05) with the absolute correlation coefficients below 0.4, and so did between the number of CD34+ or CD34+ CD38- cells and the development of acute GVHD (P < 0.05) and their absolute correlation coefficients. Each lymphocyte subset number had no correlation with acute GVHD. There was a positive correlation between the number of CD25+ CD4+, CD3+ or CD4+ CD3+ cells or CD4+ /CD8+ ratio and the development of chronic GVHD (P < 0.05). And the correlation coefficients all exceeded 0.4, more over, CD25+ CD4+ cells number reached up to 0.78. CD34+, CD34+ CD38- cells number had no correlation with chronic GVHD.

CONCLUSIONIn HLA-identical related donor PBSCT, further increasing infused MNC, CD34+, CD34+ CD38- cells can no more accelerated hematopoietic reconstitution after these cells attained their threshold values, otherwise the incidence of cGVHD might increase due to the increase of the accompanied lymphocytes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; pathology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

Being aimed at the management of investment equipments, the flow of data has been put forward and the two main modes of data calculating have been established by our relying on No.1 Network of Military Healthy. The real-time management has been realized by the system in regard to eguipments' contact, charges, payouts, interest, payment, forecast and decision-makiing. It has been steadily test-running for more than 10 months in our hospital, and data have been processed exactly and creditably.
Computer Communication Networks ; Computer Simulation ; Computer Systems ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; methods ; Equipment and Supplies, Hospital ; economics ; Financial Management, Hospital ; methods ; Software

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in peripheral blood of colorectal carcinoma and to discuss its clinical value.

METHODSReal-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the CK20 mRNA expression in the peripheral blood of 51 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS27.45% of the patients showed CK20 mRNA expression, while it was 6.67% for the control group (P<0.025). With the progress of Dukes' stages, the expression level of CK20 mRNA increased, but there was no statistic significance (P<0.05). More samples in Dukes'C and D than in Dukes'A and B stages showed >10 copies/ml.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of CK20 mRNA expression in peripheral blood of patients with colorectal carcinoma may be helpful to identify early shedding tumor cells. It is also useful to monitor the progression of the disease and observe the effect of clinical treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Keratin-20 ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

At present, the objective of cutting and pruning Cistanche deserticola is to harvest in successive years and enhance the harvesting yield and quality of C. deserticola in the process of the artificial cultivating C. deserticola. An experiment was conducted focusing on cutting and pruning C. deserticola in artificial forests of Haloxylon ammodendron drip-irrigated with saline water at the hinter-land of the Taklimakan desert, according to different growth stages and lengths. The results were following: (1) The effect of cutting on C. deserticola was similar to that of pruning, which resulted in three kinds of morphological types, not related to the bloom and size of C. deserticola. (2) The growth forms were diversified after pruning. Among them, there had sprouting new body, died or maintaining life with no sprouting, mildewed on its surface layer, etc. However, some of new bodies were sprouting from the lower part of the old body. The death rate of bloomed C. deserticola was higher than that of the underground, and the death rate of the 40 cm in stubble height for C. deserticola was higher than those with the stubble height of 20 cm and 5 cm. (3) Most of the diameter of living C. deserticola after pruning was increasing, but some of them changed little. (4) The mildew and rot of C. deserticola and the broken of the roots of the H. ammodendron and the fallen of the point of the inoculated when it was dug, which would cause the death of the C. deserticola. On the other, the yield-increasing effect and the economic benefit of the techniques of the pruning of Cistanche would need further research and evaluate. Therefore, the application of this technique needs to be cautious.
Amaranthaceae ; growth & development ; Cistanche ; growth & development ; Forests ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ultrasonographic features of epididymides in congenital obstructive azoospermia (COA) and acquired obstructive azoospermia (AOA).

METHODSA total of 211 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia were observed by scrotal ultrasonography, and the features of the epididymal ultrasonograms were compared between COA and AOA.

RESULTSCOA exhibited significantly higher rates of ectasia in the epididymal head, cord-like changes, abrupt tapering and absence of the epididymal body and tail than AOA (P < 0.05), while AOA showed markedly higher rates of epididymal body and tail duct ectasia and epididymal inflammatory mass than COA (P < 0.01). Tubular ectasia of the epididymal duct in the head, body and tail were markedly higher in the COA (14 [5.9%], 41 [17.2%] and 20 [8.4%] cases in 236 epididymides) than in the AOA (P < 0.05). Retiform ectasia were markedly higher in the AOA (119 [64.0%], 142 [76.3%] and 109 [58.6%] cases in 186 epididymides) than in the COA (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). Ultrasonographically, the epididymides of the COA patients were characterized by irregular ectasia of the epididymal tube with decreased and unclear wall echoes (P < 0.05), and those of the AOA patients by regular ectasia with enhanced wall echoes (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe ultrasonographic epididymal features of COA are obviously different from those of AOA, which is of important clinical application value for distinguishing the two conditions from each other.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Epididymis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVEThis review discusses the experimental and clinical studies those show the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and the possible role of connexin 36 in epileptic seizure.

DATA SOURCESAll articles used in this review were mainly searched from PubMed published in English from 1996 to 2012.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and reviews were selected if they were related to the expression of connexin 36 in the central nervous system and its role in epilepsy.

RESULTSThe distribution of connexin 36 is developmentally regulated, cell-specific and region-specific. Connexin 36 is involved in some neuronal functions and epileptic synchronization. Changes in the connexin 36 gene and protein were accompanied by seizures. Selective gap junction blockers have exerted anticonvulsant actions in a variety of experiments examined in both humans and experimental animals.

CONCLUSIONSConnexin 36 plays an important role in both physiological and pathological conditions in the central nervous system. A better understanding of the role of connexin 36 in seizure activity may contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating epilepsy.

Animals ; Central Nervous System ; metabolism ; Connexins ; metabolism ; Gap Junctions ; metabolism ; Humans ; Seizures ; metabolism