OBJECTIVETo establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

METHODSA Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables.

RESULTSClustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390).

CONCLUSIONThe establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Alarmins ; Brain ; Cluster Analysis ; Diarrhea ; classification ; diagnosis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; classification ; diagnosis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Yang Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of melatonin on residual hair follicle cells of scald rats at early stage.

METHODSEighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into scald group, treatment group, sham group , with 6 rats in each group. The rats in scald group and treatment group were subjected to 30% TBSA partial thickness scald on the back, and were resuscitated with balanced solution after 1 hour, while those in sham group were immersed in water at 37 degrees C for 25 s to simulate scald, and did not receive fluid replacement. Rats in treatment group were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg melatonin solution at 1 minute, 8 hours and 12 hours after scald, while those in sham group and scald group were given equal volume of 1% alcohol sodium-isotonic saline instead. Tissue samples were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 post scald hours (PSH) for determination of MDA and GSH levels. Apoptosis of residul hair follicle was detected by TUNEL method and immunohistochemistry of caspase-3.

RESULTSThe level of MDA in scald group at each time point was much higher than that in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05), and it peaked at 12 PSH. The changes in GSH were just opposite to that of MDA. Under fluorescence microscope, the residual hair follicle cells were blue, and the apoptotic cells appeared green. The apoptosis rate in scald group at 6, 12, 24 PSH was obviously higher than that in sham (P < 0.01) and treatment groups (P < 0.05), which was (20.2 +/- 3.4)% vs (4.3 +/- 2.3)% vs (10.9 +/- 3.2)%, (31.2 +/- 3.6)% vs (5.1 +/- 2.5)% vs (19.1 +/- 3.7)%, (22.4 +/- 2.7)% vs (4.1 +/- 2.4)% vs (13.1 +/- 3.4)%, respectively. The score of caspase-3 positive cell in scald group was higher than those in sham group (P < 0.01) and treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is obvious correlation between oxidative stress and apoptosis rate of hair follicle cells in rats with partial thickness scald. Early administration of melatonin may have anti-apoptosis ability for residual hair follicle cells by attenuation of oxidative stress.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Melatonin ; therapeutic use ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Zengjing Capsule No. 1 (ZJC1) on morphology and motility of sperm in patients with oligospermia (OSM).

METHODSSeventy-two OSM patients were assigned to 2 groups by a randomizing digital table, the treated group and the control group, they were treated respectively by ZJC1 and Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WYP). The changes of density, motility and morphology of sperm in patients before and after 3-month treatment were examined using computerized WLJY-9000 colour semen analysis system with refined Papanicolaou's stain.

RESULTSThe density, motility and morphology of sperm were improved and sperm deformity rate was significantly decreased after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01), but the effects in the treated group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZJC1 can enhance the density and motility of sperm and reduce the sperm deformity rate in patients with OSM.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Young Adult

Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupational Health ; Riboflavin ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Thiamine ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Vitamins ; administration & dosage ; analysis

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clubfoot ; physiopathology ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

AIM: To investigate the different effects of salvianolic acid and notoginseng triterpenes on proliferation, angiogenesis and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in EA-hy926 cells in vitro. METHODS: EA-hy926 cells were cultured in vitro. Salvianolic acid and notoginseng triterpenes at concentrations of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg·L(-1) were used to culture EA-hy926 cells. EA-hy926 cells in a blank control group were grown in culture solution only. Viability of cells was assessed by CCK-8, and after treated for 12 h, capillary-like structures were examined. After 24 h culture, the expression of VEGF was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Salvianolic acid at 0.4, 0.8 mg·L(-1), the same as notoginseng triterpenes, increased VEGF content in EA-hy926 cells. Expression of VEGF protein in the salvianolic acid at 1.2 mg·L(-1) group, was up-regulated as compared with notoginseng triterpenes group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Salvianolic acid and notoginseng triterpenes can promote EA-hy926 cell proliferation, angiogenesis and expression of VEGF protein. This analysis also provided evidence that salvianolic acid had the better effects as compared with notoginseng triterpenes.
Alkenes ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Coronary Stenosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Polyphenols ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study changes in the radiographic appearance during weight-bearing and non-weigh-bearing in hallux valgus, and to analyse the correlation between the elasticity of plantar soft tissue of hallux valgus and the pain under the metatarsal head.

METHODSFrom May 2012 to October 2012, 240 feet of 120 patients with hallux valgus were enrolled in the study. The degrees of the pian under the metatarsal head of all the patients were observed. AP and lateral X-ray films of feet were taken on the condition of weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing. So the hallux valgus angle (HVA), the inter-metatarsal angle between the first and second metatarsals (IM1-2), the inter-metatarsal angle between the first and fifth metatarsals (IM1-5), top angle of the medial longitudinal arch (TAOTMLA),and anterior angle of the medial longitudinal arch (AAOTMLA) were measured on the X-ray films. The differences of HVA, IM1-2, IM1-5, TAOTMLA and AAOTMLA between two groups were compared, and the correlation between the changes of IM1-2, IM 1-5, TAOTMLA, AAOTMLA and the degree of the pain under the metatarsal head were analysed.

RESULTSOne hundred and forty-eight feet had the pain under the metatarsal head. The IM1-2, IM1-5 and TAOTMLA increased on weight-bearing position compared with those on non-weight-bearing position, but the HVA and AAOTMLA decreased on weight-bearing position compared with those on non-weight-bearing position. There was a moderate relationship between the changes of IM 1-2,IM1-5 and the degree of the hallux valgus deformity, as well as the relationship between the different of IM1-5 and the degree of the pian under the metatarsal head.

CONCLUSIONThe degree of the collapse of the arch of foot with hallux valgus becomes serious with its deformity increasing. The pain under the metatarsal head of hallux valgus increases with the increased changes of IM 1-2,IM 1-5 and TAOTMLA. Analysis of the X-ray observation indexes of hallux valgus on weight-bearing position and non-weight-bearing position has important significance in evaluating the degree of the collapse of the arch of foot with hallux valgus,preventing and curing the the pain under the metatarsal head.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hallux ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Hallux Valgus ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Metatarsalgia ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Weight-Bearing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonists on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β(1))-induced scarring of skin.

METHODSFibroblasts isolated from healthy adult skin were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group (serum-free DMEM culture), TGF-β(1) group (with stimulation of 10 ng/mL TGF-β(1) for 48 hours), troglitazone group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L troglitazone for 2 hours), and 15-dioxygen prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) group (with the same treatment as in TGF-β(1) group after stimulation of 10 µmol/L 15d-PGJ2 for 2 hours) according to the stimulation added into DMEM. The expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was determined with Western blot. The mRNA levels of CTGF, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were determined with real-time fluorescence RT-PCR. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTSThe expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in skin fibroblasts were significantly increased in TGF-β(1) group as compared with control group; while expression of CTGF at mRNA and protein levels in 15d-PGJ2 and troglitazone groups were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group. The mRNA level of MMP-1 in TGF-β(1) group (0.193 ± 0.051) was obviously lower than that in blank control group (1.281 ± 0.195, F = 12.811, P < 0.01), while the mRNA levels of MMP-1 in troglitazone group (0.417 ± 0.043) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.485 ± 0.027) were significantly increased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 12.811, P values all below 0.01). The mRNA level of PDGF in TGF-β(1) group (1.044 ± 0.237) was obviously higher than that in control group (0.349 ± 0.057, F = 16.848, P < 0.01), while the levels in troglitazone group (0.677 ± 0.055) and 15d-PGJ2 group (0.511 ± 0.017) were significantly decreased as compared with that in TGF-β(1) group (F = 16.848, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe inhibitory effect of activated PPARγ on the expression of CTGF induced by TGF-β(1) may be the main mechanism of its inhibitory effect on TGF-β(1)-induced scarring on skin, and its influence on MMP-1 and PDGF may also be one of the underlying mechanisms.

Cell Line ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; agonists ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica", to control and prevent students from schistosoma infection.

METHODSTwelve primary schools of four heavy endemic counties (districts) with schistosomiasis in the Poyang Lake areas were selected as the study fields, of which, ten schools were the experimental groups, and the other two schools were the control groups by cluster random sampling. All enrolment students were the target population. The baseline survey was carried out in 2005, and an intervention model, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", was applied in the experiment groups in 2006 - 2008, then the effect of intervention was assessed.

RESULTSBefore intervention (2005), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 14.75% (324/2196) and 16.58% (91/549), and the different was not significant (χ(2) = 1.14, P > 0.05); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 14.71% (323/2196) and 11.84% (65/549) in experimental and control groups, and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 2.98, P > 0.05); the rate of contacting infected water were 15.44% (18 988/122 976) and 15.03% (4622/30 744) in experimental and control group and the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 3.13, P > 0.05); and the infection rate of schistosomiasis of experiment control groups were 9.65% (212/2196) and 10.56% (58/549), the difference was not significant (χ(2) = 0.41, P > 0.05). After one year intervention (2006), the anti-schistosomiasis knowledge awareness rate of experimental and control groups were 97.79% (2032/2078) and 18.11% (98/541), and the different was significant (χ(2) = 1794.31, P < 0.01); the rate of accurate attitude of anti-schistosomiasis were 99.09% (2059/2078) and 13.49% (73/541) in experimental and control group, and the difference was significant (χ(2) = 2077.45, P < 0.01). After 1 - 3 years intervention (2006 - 2008), there were no any contactors with infected water and infectors with schistosome in students of the experiment group in successive 3 years. While in the control group of the same period, the rate contacting infected water were 16.12% (4884/30 296), 11.11% (3079/27 720) and 12.25% (3451/28 168); the infection rate of schistosomiasis were 8.87% (48/541), 7.47% (37/495) and 7.95% (40/503), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe intervention model of health promotion, "information dissemination + behavior participation + behavior encouragement", can effectively control and prevent students from infecting schistosoma japonica in heavy endemic areas with schistosomiasis.

Animals ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Schistosomiasis ; prevention & control ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; School Health Services ; Schools ; Students

OBJECTIVEHigh altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a life-threatening disease, has no biological markers used for the routine prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to identify serum proteins differentially expressed in patients with HAPE for discovering essential biomarkers.

METHODSA complete serum proteomic analysis was performed on 10 HAPE patients and on 10 high altitude and 11 sea level healthy people as control using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and peptide mass fingerprinting. Finally, two most significantly changed proteins were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSEight protein spots stained with differential intensity, respresenting 5 distinct proteins were identified in patients compared with healthy controls through analysis of these composite gels. Among them, four proteins, namely alpha 1-antitrypsin(alpha1-AT), Haptoglobin(Hp), apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1) and Complement C3 increased remarkably, while one protein, apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) decreased significantly. The variation of alpha1-AT and Haptoglobin, as detected by ELISA, was consistent with the results from proteomic analysis.

CONCLUSIONSIt is well known that Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 are associated with inflammation and apoA-1 and apoA-IV play important roles in lipid absorption, transport and metabolism. Therefore, the significant expression changes of Hp, alpha1-AT and complement C3 and apoA-1 and apoA-IV between HAPE patients and their corresponding healthy controls highlight the role of inflammatory response system and lipid metabolism system in the pathophysiology of HAPE.

Altitude ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteome ; Pulmonary Edema ; blood ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization