OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the growth rate of the corpus callosum and neurological motor development in premature infants.

METHODSFifty infants whose gestational ages were less than 34 weeks and who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from March 2007 to August 2007 were enrolled. From 0 to 6 weeks of postnatal age, the sagittal midline cranial sonography via anterior fontanel was performed, once weekly. The length and the morphology of the corpus callosum were measured. The 52-neuromotor examinations were performed at 3 months of corrected gestational age.

RESULTSThe mean length of the corpus callosum was 39.16 mm at birth. The mean growth rate of the corpus callosum during the first 6 weeks of life was 1.05 mm/week. Fourteen infants showed abnormal neuromotor development and 36 had normal-neuromotor function at 3 months of corrected gestational age. A decreased growth rate of the corpus callosum was observed in the abnormal nervimotion group between 2 and 3 weeks (0.68 mm/week vs 1.17 mm/week) and between 4 and 5 weeks (0.86 mm/week vs 1.12 mm/week) after birth compared with that in normal nervimotion group (p<0.05). The total growth rate of the corpus callosum from 2 to 6 weeks after birth in the abnormal nervimotion group was also lower than that in the normal nervimotion group (0.91 mm/week vs 1.15 mm/week; p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSA neuromotor delay at 3 months of corrected gestational age may be associated with the decreased growth rate of the corpus callosum between 2 and 6 weeks of life in premature infants.

Corpus Callosum ; diagnostic imaging ; growth & development ; Developmental Disabilities ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Motor Activity ; Ultrasonography

Wuzhuyu Tang is a classical formula for treating migraine, but its' pharmacological ingredients is unclear yet. Present study employed the everted intestinal sac model to collect the absorption samples of 10 kinds of Wuzhuyu decoction, and then analyzed the contents of 9 ingredients in Wuzhuyu Tang and absorption samples quantitatively or semi-quantitatively by HPLC-DAD method. Reserpine was used to establish the mice model of migraine, and then the contents and activities of 5-hydroxytryptamine, noradrenaline, dopamine, nitric oxide and nitricoxide synthase in brain tissues and serums were determined respectively after oral administration of Wuzhuyu Tang. Using the partial least squares regression method to correlate the total absorption quantity of 9 ingredients and pharmacodynamics. The result shows that limocitrin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1, rutaevine, limonin, evodiamine and rutaecarpine are the main ingredients influenced the effects in absorption samples in everted intestinal sacs, especially ginsenoside Rg1, rutaevine, evodiamine and rutaecarpine among them have obvious improving effects to most pharmacodynamics index, might be the pharmacological ingredients influenced the therapeutical effects of Wuzhuyu Tang treating migraine.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Migraine Disorders ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Coptis chinensis on jaundice of G6PD deficient neonates.

METHOD122 G6PD deficient neonates with jaundice who were in People' s Hospital of Guigang of Guangxi province from January 1999 to October 2004 were divided into two groups: C. chinensis group (62 neonates with C. chinensis administration before jaundice' s appearance) and none C. chinensis group (60 neonates without C. chinensis administration before jaundice' s appearance). The initial time, duration of jaundice, hemoglobin and serum bilirubin level and the incidence of kernicterus were analyzed between the two groups.

RESULTThe initial time of jaundice is significantly later and the duration of jaundice is markedly shorter in the neonates with C. chinensis than that without C. chinensis. Simultaneously, the level of hemoglobin is significantly increased, and there is a low tendency of serum total bilirubin and direct bilirubin level in C. chinensis group as compared to that in none C. chinensis group. Moreover, there is no kernicterus in C. chinensis group and no difference in the treating result out of hospital between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONOur results do not support the view that C. chinensis could aggravate jaundice of G6PD deficient neonates.

Bilirubin ; blood ; China ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Female ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; blood ; chemically induced ; complications ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; blood ; chemically induced ; complications ; Kernicterus ; blood ; chemically induced ; complications ; Male ; Plant Preparations ; adverse effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the effect of Astragalus injection on iodine-131(131 I)induced thyroid radiation injury.Methods Two-stage SD male rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, 131I irradiation group and Astragalus intervention 131I irradiation group.131I irradiation group and Astragalus intervention 131I irradiation group were treated with intragastric administration of 11.1MBq 131I, respectively.At the same time, the Astragalus intervention 131 I irradiation group was injected intraperitoneally 400 mg/(kg· d)Astragalus injection liquid.The levels of thyroid hormone were measured by solid-phase radioimmunoassay in the 2nd and 8th weeks of the experiment.The thyroid tissues from rats were HE stained into paraffin sections after 8 weeks.Administration of 0,25,50,100,200 MBq/ml into 131I irradiation of thyroid follicular carcinoma cells(WRO)lasted 24 hours, the proliferation and apoptosis of WRO in Astragalus membranaceus 0.5 g/L intervention and non-Astragalus intervention were detected by MTT assay and flow cytometry.Results Compared with the normal control group, FT3and FT4were significantly decreased in the 131 I irradiation group(P=0.021,0.017).The morphological changes of the follicular epithelial cells in the thyroid tissue were irregular and the hyaline degeneration was observed.However, compared with 131I irradiation group, FT3and FT4were significantly improved by Astragalus injection(P=0.033,0.045),and the degree of vitreous degeneration of thyroid tissue was alleviated.Cell experiments in vitro showed that the proliferation of thyroid cells was increased, but apoptosis was reduced.Conclusion Astragalus injection can improve the thyroid function and thyroid injury induced by 131 I in rats.

Child ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Thrombosis ; surgery ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical characteristics among premenopausal women with coronary arterial disease (CAD) with or without atherosclerosis (AS) and postmenopausal women with CAD.

METHODSThe clinical and coronary angiographic data, traditional risk factors (age, smoking, blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose, BMI, family history) were compared among premenopause (Pre-M, n=42) and post-menopause (Post-M, n=172) women with CAD as well as Pre-M patients with non-AS CAD (non-AS CAD, n=8).

RESULTSCompared with the Post-M patients with CAD, Pre-M CAD patients had significantly fewer traditional risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, significantly more acute coronary syndrome and fewer previous history of chest pain, significantly more single vessel lesion and lower Gessini score (all P < 0. 01). The logistic regression results showed that obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of CAD in premenopausal women (OR = 3. 655, 95% CI: 1. 5-11.59, P = 0.028). Hypertension (OR = 4.73, 95% CI: 0.991-22.589, P = 0.051) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 4.68, 95% CI: 0.971-22.564, P = 0.055) might also contribute to the development of CAD in these patients. Clinical characteristics were similar between Pre-M and non-AS CAD patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPre-M CAD patients had less traditional risk factors and lower coronary lesion score compared to post-M CAD patients. Obesity is an independent risk factor for Pre-M CAD. Non-AS coronary artery disease is also an important reason for the development of coronary arterial events in premenopausal women.

Adult ; Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Premenopause ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytotoxic effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 cells and corresponding changes of TGF-beta1-Smad pathway.

METHODSThe cytotoxic effect of EGCG on HepG2 cells was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by flow cytometry. RT-PCR and luciferase assay were used to verify whether TGF-beta1-Smad signaling pathway is intact in HepG2. The mRNA expression of Smad 2, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 was detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSEGCG induced apoptosis in the HepG2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The proportion of G(1) phase cells was increased gradually as the concentration increased. However, the percentage of cells in S phase was decreased gradually. Annexin V/PI assay demonstrated that early apoptosis increased as the concentration increased, and late apoptosis also increased, when treated with high-concentration EGCG. The intact TGF-beta1-Smad pathway was verified by luciferase assay and RT-PCR. There was no significant effect of EGCG on mRNA level of Smad 2, Smad 3, and Smad 4 in HepG2 cells, but downregulated mRNA level of Smad 7.

CONCLUSIONEGCG can reduce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 cells. The activation of TGF-beta1-Smad signaling pathway may be involved in its cytotoxicity mechanisms.

Anticarcinogenic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smad Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

China ; Genetic Testing ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Mutation

[Abstract] Objective To investigate the ultrastructural changes of hippocampus in urea transporter B (UT-B) null mice and the alterations of distribution and expression level of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in brain, and to discuss the relationship between AQP4 expression changes and depression-like behaviors in UT-B null mice. Methods Behavior differences of wild-type and UT-B null mice(10 in each group) were detected with sucrose preference and forced swimming test. The ultrastructural changes of hippocampus were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed to detect the distribution and expression level of AQP4 in both genotypes. Results The sucrose preference index of wild-type mice and UT-B null mice were (84. 67 ± 1. 62)% and (65. 67±2. 66)%, respectively (P<0. 001). The immobility time of forced swimming was (209. 1±7. 00) seconds and (128. 6±3. 75) seconds respectively (P<0. 001). The two behavioral test results showed that UT-B null mice exhibited depression-like behavior. TEM results displayed the abnormal neurons with swelling of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers and degenerative changes, and perivascular astrocyte end-feet swelling. Immunohistochemistry results showed AQP4-immunoreactive (IR) cells were significantly reduced in cortex, hippocampus and thalamus. AQP4-IR cells were distributed in the pia matter, ependymal and cerebrovascular, but the perivascular immunostaining decreased. Western blotting analysis showed that the expression level of AQP4 in hippocampus was down-regulated by 27. 1% (P< 0. 05). Conclusion Reduced expression of AQP4 in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of UT-B null mice might induce depressive behaviors by inference neurogenesis and cerebral metabolism.

To explore the resource components and availability of different parts of Panax quinquefolium in Shandong province, the paper employed the non-targeted metabolomics technology based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the root, fibril, stem, and leaf of P. quinquefolium. The content of seven ginsenosides and polysaccharides in different parts was determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry(UV-Vis). The results showed that the metabolites were mainly sugars, glycosides, organic acids, amino acids and their derivatives, terpenoids, etc. The total abundance of metabolites followed the trend of leaf > root > fibril > stem. Most of the differential metabolites were concentrated in phenylpropane biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, citric acid cycle, and amino acid biosynthesis. The leaf contained high levels of sugars, glycosides, amino acids and their derivatives, and flavonoids; the root was rich in terpenoids, volatile oils, vitamins, and lignin; the fibril contained rich organic acids; and the stem had high content of nucleotides and their derivatives. The content of ginsenosides Re and Rb_1 was significantly higher in the root; the content of ginsenosides Rg_1, Rg_2, Rd, F_(11), and polysaccharide was significantly higher in the leaf; and the content of ginsenoside Rb_2 was significantly higher in the stem. We analyzed the resource components and availability of different parts of P. quinquefolium, aiming to provide basic information for the comprehensive development and utilization of P. quinquefolium resources in Shandong province.
Ginsenosides/analysis* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Panax/chemistry* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Sugars