To explore a new method to identify Moutan Cortex to guarantee its safe use, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence was used to identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants. DNA was extracted and target fragments were amplified. Sequences were analyzed and assembled by CodonCode Aligner V3.7.1. Genetic distances were computed and phylogenetic tree was constructed based on kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model by MEGA 5.0. The length of the 20 ITS2 sequences of Moutan Cortex from nine different places is 227 bp, and no variation site was detected. The maximum inter-specificK2P distance of Moutan Cortex is 0, the minimum intra-specific K2P distance is 0.041, the average intra-specific K2P distance is 0.222. According to NJ analysis, Moutan Cortex from different places can get together as one branch with bootstrap support values 99%, which indicates Moutan Cortex can be easily distinguished from its adulterants. Using ITS2 sequence can accurately identify Moutan Cortex and its adulterants, it is an effective supplementary to traditional identification methods.
Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Paeonia ; classification ; genetics ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

In order to investigate the prevalence and track genetic and antigenic evolutions of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and their prevalence in Guangxi, China since 1985, gene amplification and sequencing and virus neutralization (VN) test on chicken embryo tracheal organ cultures were used in genotyping and serotyping of 28 IBV isolates during 2009-2011 in Guangxi. The results of N gene sequencing and comparison showed that the 28 isolates and reference strains were classified into three groups, and most isolates belonged to group Ill, while the isolates in 1985-2008 belonged to groups IV and II. The data of VN test indicated that the 28 isolates belonged to 6 serotypes; among them, 71. 4% belonged to serotypes 1, 2, and 3, and 11 (39.3%) shared the same serotype with the current vaccine strains. Given the data of our previous study, it is found that prevalent serotypes and their proportions varied in different areas of Guangxi and during different periods. These data lay a good foundation for developing an oil-emulsified inactivated polyvalent vaccine containing local dominant serotypes for the effective prevention and control of infectious bronchitis.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Chick Embryo ; Chickens ; China ; epidemiology ; Coronavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; veterinary ; virology ; Infectious bronchitis virus ; classification ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; epidemiology ; immunology ; virology

AIM To explore the effects of Sangtong alkaloids (total alkaloids and total flavones from Mori folium,STA) on the random blood glucose,starch tolerance and hepatic insulin resistance in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS Eight-week-old db/db mice were divided into model group (normal saline),acarbose group (39 mg/kg) and Sangtong alkaloids groups (105,210 and 420 mg/kg),db/m mice were used as control group (normal saline).The mice were given by intragastric administration for one hundred days.The random blood glucose of mice was determined every ten days.The starch tolerance was determined in the 100th day,together with the determination of serum insulin level,insulin resistance index and insulin sensitivity index.Histopathology changes of pancreas were observed by HE staining.Protein expressions of P-IRS1,P-PI3 K,P-AKT and GLUT2 were detected by Western blot.RESULTS Sangtong alkaloids significantly decreased the random blood glucose,serum insulin level and insulin resistance index,and increased the insulin sensitivity index in db/db mice.Meanwhile,Sangtong alkaloids ameliorated the pancreas histopathological damage and up-regulated the protein expressions of P-IRS1,P-PI3K,P-AKT and GLUT2 in liver.CONCLUSION Sangtong alkaloids can decrease the random blood glucose and improve the insulin resistance of liver in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus,whose mechanism may be associated with the regulation of hepatic insulin signal pathway.

OBJECTIVETo describe the incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer from 1974-2002 in Cixian county of Hebei province. Basic information on comparative geographical, epidemiological, and clinical research was collected.

METHODSIn early 1970s, cancer registry system in Cixian was established, collecting information on all the esophageal cancer cases in Cixian. Data was checked manually, then computerized, coded and analyzed using the software--SPSS 11.5.

RESULTSFrom 1974 to 2002, there were 18 471 esophageal cancer cases in Cixian, with 11 068 males and 7403 females, respectively. The age standardized incidence rate (ASR) for males was 208.77 per 100,000, while 120.47 per 100,000 for females. The trend of incidence rate of esophageal cancer had decreased during the 29 years from 1974 to 2002 (trend chi(2) = 19.94, P < 0.001). From 25 years of age onward, the incidence rates of the lower age groups declined with the increase of age. As for geographic distribution, the incidence rate in mountainous areas and hilly areas showed a significant declining trend in mountainous areas, chi(2) = 195.00, P < 0.001; hilly areas, chi(2) = 46.08, P < 0.001. The esophageal cancer incidence in plain areas remained steady, but had a slight increase in recent years. From 1969 to 2002, there were 18,736 cases died of esophageal cancer with 11 598 males and 7138 females. The ASR for male was 127.17 per 100,000 and 101.57 per 100,000 for female. Compared with the year 1969, the mortality rate of esophageal cancer in 2002 had a 37.96% decline. The proportion of esophageal cancer among malignant tumors in different decades decreased significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe trend of the incidence rate of esophageal cancer had been decreasing for the last 29 years. The incidence rate in mountainous areas and hilly areas showed a declining trend while in the plain areas it remained steady but having slight increase in the recent years. The mortality rate of esophageal cancer had a significant decrease from 1969 to 2002.

Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Registries ; Software

OBJECTIVETo explore the invasiveness of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC)with BRAF mutation.

METHODSTotally 99 patients with PTMC with BRAF mutation were enrolled in this study, meanwhile another 97 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (tumor size>1 cm)with BRAF mutation were included as controls. The clinicopathologic factors including extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality, and distant metastasis were analyzed.

RESULTSThe rates of extrathyroidal invasion and nodal metastasis in PTMC group were as high as 16.10% and 71.74%, respectively. In the PTMC group and PTC group,the extrathyroidal invasion rate was 16.10% and 39.18%, cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 71.74% and 91.75%, and distant metastasis rate was 1.01% and 9.28%, respectively. In the PTMC subgroups with tumor sizes ≤0.3 cm, 0.3-0.6 cm, and 0.6-1.0 cm, the cervical lymph node invasion rate was 60.00%, 72.50%, and 73.81%, the extrathyroidal invasion rate was 10.00%, 9.09%, and 24.44%, and the multifocality rate was 60.00%, 38.64%, and 57.78%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor size was not significantly correlated with multifocality (Χ (2)=3.752, P=0.153), cervical lymph node metastasis (Χ (2) = 0.780,P = 0.677), extrathyroidal invasion (Χ (2) = 4.182, P = 0.124), and distant metastasis (Χ (2)=1.212, P = 0.545). While the BRAF group and PTC group were not significantly different in multifocality (Χ (2) = 1.742, P=0.187), they were significantly different in terms of extrathyroidal invasion (Χ (2) = 13.000, P = 0.000), nodal involvement (Χ (2) = 12.819, P = 0.000), and distant metastasis (Χ (2) = 5.316, P = 0.021). Multivariate analysis showed that nodal metastasis was independently associated with size>1 cm (P=0.001) and extrathyroidal invasion (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONSBRAF mutant PTMC manifests relative high extrathyroidal involvement and nodal metastasis, and the similar multifocality as BRAF mutant PTC. Radioactive iodine should be considered in PTMC with the presence of BRAF mutation combined with extrathyroidal invasion or nodal metastasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Logistic Models ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the features of microsatellite alterations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTen high-polymorphic microsatellite markers on chromosome 8 were selected to detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), microsatellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance (AI) in 56 HCCs using automatic capillary array electrophoresis DNA analysis system.

RESULTSLOH was found in 37 of 56 HCCs (66.1%) on at least 10 locus. The three most frequently altered loci were D8S261 (53.5%, 23/43), D8S1721 (52.5%, 21/40) and D8S1771 (52.5%, 21/40). LOH on D8S277 was significantly higher in cases with positive serum HBsAg than in those with negative HBsAg (P < 0.01). Similarly, LOH on D8S261, D8S298 and D8S1733 occurred more frequently in patients with negative HBsAg than those with positive HBsAg (P < 0.01). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequent in tumors larger than 3 cm in size (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). LOH frequencies of D8S1721 were significantly higher in cases with absent or partially encapsulated tumor than in those with intact tumor capsule (P < 0.05). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequently detected in tumors with intrahepatic metastasis than those without (P < 0.01). MSI was found in 12.5% (7/56) cases. AI was found in 19.6% (11/56) of all cases examined.

CONCLUSIONSMicrosatellite alterations on chromosome 8 were frequent in HCC. LOH, possibly representing alterations of the tumor suppressor pathway, may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. MSI, reflecting a dysfunction of the mismatch repair pathway, may also contribute to this process, but in a less significant way. LOH at some particular loci is associated with certain clinicopathological parameters of human HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Allelic Imbalance ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the aggressive properties of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with concurrent BRAF(V600E) mutation and rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene protein expression.

METHODSFifty pathologically confirmed PTC patients who had received thyroidectomy were enrolled in this study. BRAF(V600E) mutation was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while RET protein expression was measured by immunohistochemical SP method. Clinical and pathological features were compared between the concurrent BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET protein expression group (n=24) and BRAF(V600E) mutation or RET protein expression alone group (n=19). Seven patients were ruled out from the final analysis due to the absence of either BRAF(V600E) mutation or RET protein expression.

RESULTSOf these 50 patients, BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET protein expression were detected in 38 patients (76%) and 28 patients (56%), respectively. Concurrent BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET expression was detected in 24 patients (48%). Compared with the concurrent BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET protein expression group, the BRAF(V600E) mutation or RET protein expression alone group had relatively poorer tissue differentiation and higher prognostic score (P=0.011, P=0.022).

CONCLUSIONPTC patients with concurrent BRAF(V600E) mutation and RET expression present poorer differentiation, more highly aggressive variant in carcinoma tissues, and higher cancer-related mortality risk.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

The aim of the study was to look for the chemical constituents of the herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum. The herb of Lysimachia foenum-graecum was extracted with 70% EtOH. The isolation and purification was performed with a combination of multi-column chromatography and the structure was determined by spectral analysis. The flavonoid compound was obtained and elucidated as kaempferol-7-O(4"-(E)-p-coumaroyl-)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl)-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhmanopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. It is a new flavonoid compound.
Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Primulaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of B-ultrasonography, CT and MRI in the evaluation of efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hepatic cancer.

METHODSOne hundred patients with hepatic cancer were treated by ultrasound-guided RFA between October 1999 and September 2000. All patients had been examined by serum AFP, B-ultrasound, CT or MRI before and within one month after RFA.

RESULTSBefore RFA, 34 patients who had had CT, the tumor showed hypo- or iso-density un-enhancement and enhancement on dynamic scanning. After RFA, 14 patients were examined by CT scan. Compared with the density on CT scan before RFA, 5 patients showed lower density lesion without any enhancement on dynamic scanning, but the other 9 patients showed similar images to the previous CT scan before RFA in some parts of their tumor. Before RFA, 66 patients examined by MRI showed hypo-intensity on T(1)-weighted image, hyper-intensity on T(2)-weighted image and enhancement on dynamic scanning. After RFA, among 86 patients examined by MRI, 44 showed iso- or hyper-intensity on T(1)-weighted image, iso- or hypo-intensity on T(2)-weighted image and no enhancement on dynamic scanning. But 42 patients showed similar images to the previous MRI imaging performed before RFA in some parts of their tumor.

CONCLUSIONBoth CT and MRI can be used as imaging evaluation tool on the effect of radiofrequency ablation for hepatic cancer. However, MRI is better than CT to detect whether the tumor is necrotic or still partly viable after radiofrequency ablation. Patients can be regarded as clinically cured provided that the serum AFP declines to the normal level from abnormally high level and/or MRI or CT scans show a complete necrotic lesion after RFA.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of percutaneous radio frequency ablation (PRFA) on hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSUnder local or epidural anaesthesia, radio frequency electrodes were percutaneously introduced with ultrasound guide into the tumor in the liver for ablation.

RESULTSAmong the 96 hepatic cancer lesions in 60 patients, 41 (42.7%) with diameter < 3.5 cm were ablated by one session. The effective rate (CR + PR) was 100% (41/41) with CR 92.6% (38/41) and PR 7.3% (3/41). During the 6 - 24 month follow up of these lesions, 36 (87.8%) of these 41 patients showed no recurrence by CT or MRI. Fifty-five (57.3%) lesions with diameter 3.5 cm < or = Phi < 12 cm were ablated by two or three sessions, with CR 3.6% (2/55), PR 67.3% (37/55) and CR + PR 70.9% (39/55) by CT or MRI in 1 to 3 months after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous radio frequency ablation is effective on liver tumor with Phi < 3.5 cm. It is partly effective on lesions with 3.5 cm < or = Phi < 12 cm.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Punctures ; Treatment Outcome