Objective To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARA). Methods Clinical data from 682 patients with SARS were retrospectively analyzed. Results The patients ranged from 13 to 76 years old, 387 male and 295 female. A total of 356 patients (52.2) had a history of close contact with diagnosed SARS patients, and 113 (25.1%) had been to hospital ever. The most common symptom was fever (99.3%), followed by cough (44.4%), shortness of breath (12.2% ), diarrhea (8.9%). 596 patients (87.4%) had normal or decreased white blood cell counts. Serum ALT and CPK levels were elevated in 112 patients (16.4%)and 17 patients (2.5%) respectively. Infiltrates on chest radiography were seen in all patients, with 69.8% involved both lungs. Six patients (0.9%) died of SARS. Conclusion SARS is infectious. Hospital is an important place where SARS transmits. Fever, cough and infiltrative changes on chest radiography are mainly symptoms and signs.

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of maxillary protraction in the treatment of skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusions in early mixed dentition. Methods Fourteen patients with skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusions in early mixed dentition were treated with maxillary protraction for one year with oral active appliance bonded face mask.Cephalometric records were analyzed to assess the changes of maxillo-facial structure of the hard tissue before and after treatment. Results The anterior crossbite was unlocked in all the patients,and the maxilla moved downwards and forwards.Point A moved forwards,and angle SNA and ANB significantly increased.The mandible rotated downward and backward,and the Wits values significantly increased,which led to the correction of a skeletal class Ⅲ relationship.Maxillary length and protrusion significantly increased,and facial profile improved obviously. Conclusion Maxillary protraction works well in the treatment of skeletal class Ⅲ malocclusions in early mixed dentition,and can reduce the chances of later orthognathic surgery.

In temporomandibular disorders (TMD), pain takes place when neuropeptides stimulate synovial tissue to produce several cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which activate neurons and glia of synovial membrane at the bilaminar regions of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It has been reported that, after neurogenic differentiation, the synovial mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs), deriving from TMJ, possess the same cytological features as the neuronal cells. This study examined the ability of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) to stimulate SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs secreting inflammatory cytokines during TMD, evaluated the mutual effects of inflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides and tested the analgesic effect of hyaluronic acid (HA). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs in the presence of neuropeptides were measured by ELISA. SP and CGRP produced by SMSCs and neurogenic SMSCs were determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of SP and CGRP was significantly enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs in response to IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the effect was remarkably inhibited by HA. IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in return, could be enhanced in the neurogenic SMSCs upon stimulation by SP and CGRP. Neuropeptides and inflammatory cytokines might work mutually on the TMD pain. The HA-mediated analgesic effect may be implicated in the inhibition of SP and CGRP expression in neurogenic SMSCs.

Objective To investigate the molecular characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Guizhou Province. Methods Using a convenience sampling strategy, 8 583 samples were collected in Guizhou and an investigation was conducted including face-to-face questionnaire interview and HIV testing. Results 1 511 cases failed in HIV suppression (viral load, VL>1 000 copies/ml). 1 410 cases (93.31%) were successfully genotyped with HIV pol gene, among which 51.42% were genotyped as CRF01_AE, 26.67% as CRF07_BC and 16.1% as CRF08_BC. Conclusion The subtype changes caused by HIV gene mutation should precede the changes of main transmission routes of HIV through the analysis in recent years. Timely monitoring the changes of HIV subtypes can be one of the main bases for the prevention and control of AIDS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the triterpenoids from root of Achyranthes bidentata in Henan.

METHODSephadex, normal-and reversed-phase column chromatographies were applied for the isolation and purification. The structure determinations were performed by means of physiochemical properties, MS and NMR data analyses.

RESULTSeven compounds were isolated from the water soluble fraction in root of A. bidentata, and determined as achyranthoside A (1), achyranthoside E (2), momordin Ib (3), chikusetsusaponin IVa (4), chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester (5), chikusetsusaponin V (6), chikusetsusaponin V methyl ester (7).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the natural resources for the first time.

Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo explore the character of inorganic elements in Polygonum multiflorum.

METHODThe contents of elements such as Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Na, Ni, P, Se, Sr, Ti and Zn in nine P. multiflorum samples were determined by means of ICP-AEC. The results were used for the development of element distrubution diagram. The principal component analysis and one-way ANOVA of SPSS were applied for the study of characteristic elements in P. multiflorum.

RESULTThe contents of Al, Ca, K, Mg, Sr,Ti in wild P. multiflorum were remarkable higher than those in cultured P. multiflorum, and there was no significant difference between cultured and wild in the other elements. Five principal components which accounted for over 90% of the total variance were extracted from the original data. The analysis results show that Al, B, Ba, Fe, Na, Ni, Ti, Ca and Sr may be the characteristic elements in P. multiflorum. The element distrubution diagram of the sample from Tianyang was remarkable different comparing with the others.

CONCLUSIONThe principal component analysis could be used in data processing in inorganic elements.

Elements ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; methods

Objective To study the different ultrasonic features in patients of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with or without obesity based on body mass index (BMI), and to investigate whether certain hormonal factors correlate with ovarian morphology and blood flow, and to discuss the role of ultrasound combined with hormone test in the diagnosis of obese PCOS. Methods One hundred and five women with PCOS were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups according to BMI;obese PCOS group (OB-PCOS, n=32, BMI≥25 kg/m2) and non-obese PCOS (NOB-PCOS, n=73, BMI<25 kg/m2). The ultrasonic parameters of follicle number (FN), ovarian volume (Vol), resistance index (RI) of ovarian stromal blood, RI of uterine artery and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), the ratio of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH), progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), free testosterone (FT), prolactin (PRL), sex hormoe binding globulin (SHBG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), the extent of insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism (HOMA-IR) were measured and compared. The correlation of the ultrasonic parameters and hormonal factors were analyzed. Results The Vol of OB-PCOS group was significantly higher than NOB-PCOS group [(12.25±4.89) ml vs (10.73±2.30) ml, t=2.20, P < 0.05]. FN and uterine artery RI of OB-PCOS group had a rising trend and RI of ovarian interstitial was on a reducing trend compared with NOB-PCOS group. But the differences were not statistically significant. The levels of FINS and HOMA-IR in OB-PCOS group [(14.82±6.45) mU/L and (3.91±3.30)] were significantly higher than those in NOB-PCOS group [(8.04±4.57) mU/L and (1.64±1.20)] (t=4.87, 3.47, respectively, both P < 0.01). And FSH in NOB-PCOS group was significantly higher than OB-PCOS group [(5.95±1.91) U/L vs (4.65±1.88) U/L, t=-2.77, P<0.01]. In POCS patients, FN was significantly associated with LH/FSH (r=0.35, P<0.01), and FT (r=0.38, P<0.01). Vol was significantly associated with LH/FSH, BMI, HOMA-IR and FPG (r=0.27, P<0.05;r=0.25, P<0.05;r=0.40, P<0.01;r=0.32, P<0.01). RI of ovarian stromal blood flow was significantly associated with SHBG (r=0.28, P<0.05). In OB-POCS group, RI of uterine artery was significantly associated with PRL (r=-0.58, P < 0.05). Vol was significantly associated with HOMA-IR (r=0.47, P < 0.05). In NOB-POCS group, FN was significantly associated with LH/FSH (r=0.33, P<0.05), and FT (r=0. 56, P<0.05). Vol was significantly associated with FT (r=0.31, P < 0.05). Conclusion There are some differences in the ultrasound and endocrine parameters between obese and non-obese PCOS patients, and some correlations exist between them.

Objective To explore the effect of nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-?B) on cardiac myocyte apoptosis and understand the molecular mechanism of decrease of heart function in septic shock rats.Methods Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the septic shock group and the normal control group.The septic shock group(n=10) were fixed with anaesthesia and made into 1.5 cm slices just along the abdomen midline.Then the roots of appendices were returned to the belly cavity after being ligated and punctured 4 times with the No.14 pinhead.After that,the slices were sewn up layer by layer.After 12 hours,the rats were all sacrificed,the blood taken and the serum separated.In the end,the heart specimens of the septic shock group were set aside.Meanwhile,the normal control group were dealt with in the same way except that they were not subjected to cecal ligation and puncture.Then NF-?B protein levels in cardiac tissue and the index of cardiac myocyte apoptosis were measured.Results NF-?B protein levels in the septic shock group(9 cases were strong masculine gender,1 case was middle masculine gender)elevated significantly compared with the normal control group(8 cases were negative gender,2 cases were weak masculine gender) in cardiac tissue(P

Objective To investigate the role of white matter astrocytes and their specific protein S100A4 in sensory neurite outgrowth in vitro.Methods White matter astrocyte cultures expressing S100A4 were prepared. Dissociated adult dorsal root ganglion(DRG)cells were placed on the top of the astrocytes and co-cultured for 6,12, 18,24 hours.Small interfering S100A4 RNA was used to eliminate S100A4 expression.The growth of DRG cell neu- rites on S100A4-sileneed and S100A4-expressing astrocytes was compared.Results 12,18 and 24 hours after the co-culture with S100A4-expressing or S100A4-silenced astroeytes,neurite growth from the DRG cells was observed. Neurite outgrowth was significantly greater in S100A4 siRNA treated cultures compared to control siRNA treated white matter astrocyte cultures.Conclusion These findings suggest that white matter astroeytes are able to support axonal regeneration and,furthermore,that administration of small interfering S100A4 RNA provides strong additional support for axon regeneration.

The hom gene encoding for homoserine dehydrogenase was amplified from the genomic DNA of Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032.After the kanamycin-resistant gene(Km)cassette from plasmid pET28a was inserted into the center of hom,the hom::Km cassette was then electroporated into the competent cell of C.glutamicum ATCC 13032.And kanamycin-resistant clones were obtained.PCR was performed to confirm whether the Km gene was integrated into the hom gene of these clones and the recombinant strains of hom-disrupted were screened out.Fermentation results showed that the lysine yield of the hom-disrupted strain C.g-hom::Km-8 reached 4.7 g/L,which was 6.7 times that of C.glutamicum ATCC 13032.