Objective To explore the role of Clara cell secretory protein(CCSP) in asthmatic children and compare the levels of CCSP in sera and induced sputum.Methods Thirty-four children with asthma who were in remission and 25 healthy controls were enrolled.Sera and hypertonic saline-induced sputum were obtained in asthmatic children,and sera alone were obtained in control subjects.The le-(vels) of CCSP were measured in sera and induced sputum by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results Asthmatic children,compared with controls,had significantly lower concentration of CCSP in sera(P

Objective To investigate the management of pregnancy and cardiovascular complications in women with Marian syndrome(MFS).Methods From October 1994 to September 2006, 30 patients with MFS undergoing cardiovascular surgery were studied retrospectively.Results In the labor of 46 offsprings given birth by 30 women,5 cases(11%)were performed elective cesarean section because of the existence of aortic complication,and 12(26%)were diagnosed as MFS.The gestation in two patients was terminated due to deterioration of aortic abnormalities during their third trimester,and they received surgical treatment with Bcntall procedure.Two developed acute aortic dissection during labor and post delivery respectively.With the manipulation of anticoagulation peripartum,one who had the implantation with mechanical prosthesis went through pregnancy and delivery uneventfully.The average duration between delivery and cardiovascular surgery was(15?9)years.Conclusions Vaginal delivery can be done safely in patients with the MFS who do not have or have mild cardiovascular system abnormalities,aortic dissection,or other important cardiac abnormalities,cesarean section should be the preferred method of delivery.Women with MFS are at increased risk for dissection and congestive heart failure during pregnancy and should be counseled before pregnancy about these risks,as well as the inheritance of the condition.

OBJECTIVEThe study the patterns of rDNA ITS sequence variation of 9 medicinal species of genus Bupleurum in China to find the DNA molecular markers for identification of these crude drugs.

METHODThe ITS regions of these species were amplified by PCR and sequenced, and their sequences were analyzed by DNAssist Version 2.2.

RESULTSHomologous alignment indicated that the consanguinity of the ITS sequences between genus Bupleurum and outgroups was lower than 75%, and that within genus Bupleurum was higher than 88%. For the same species, the consanguinity was higher than 99%.

CONCLUSIONThe ITS sequences may serve as reliable molecular markers for identification of Radix Bupleuri.

Bupleurum ; classification ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

Itraconazole has been used to treat superficial candidal infections in China for 12 years with promising efficacy and safety. This article retrospectively reviewed literatures published in the mainstream journals in China with an attempt to find a reasonable therapy for Chinese populations.
Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Candidiasis ; drug therapy ; Dermatomycoses ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomatitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Vaginitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of three Chinese herbal antidotes, i.e. Herba Artemisiae annuae (A), Herba Hedyotis diffusae (H) and Rhizoma Cimicifugae (C), all were ingredients of Jiedu Quyu Ziyin Recipe, for adjusting the regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreated (RANTES), gene expression in serum and renal tissue of MRL/lpr mice.

METHODSFifty-four MRL/lpr mice were randomized into 9 groups, with 6 in each, and intragastrically infused with A, H, C, A+H, H+C, A+C, A+H+C (all in dosage-form of decoction), prednisone suspension and physiological saline, respectively for 12 weeks. RANTES expression in serum and renal tissue of animals were detected with ELISA and RT-PCR at the end of the study.

RESULTSLevels of RANTES expression was significantly reduced in the prednisone treated group after treatment. Excepting no significant change being observed in the groups treated with A and C, the changes in the other groups were all milder than those in the group treated with A+H+C.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal antidotes A, H and C in combination can significantly inhibit the RANTES expression in serum and renal tissue of MRL/lpr mice.

Animals ; Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; Chemokine CCL5 ; blood ; metabolism ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hedyotis ; chemistry ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the flexibility of both the covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vasculature and the delivering system in passing through the bone tube and the physiological curves of the cranial internal carotid artery(CICA)to reach the targeted area,the performance (adherence)of the covered stents in occluding vascular wall diseases and the impact on the vascular branches of the covered segment.Methods The covered stents specially designed for use in intracranial vaseulature were used to treat 13 patients with CICA diseases using endovascular techniques.There were 4 huge pseudoaneurysms,4 giant aneurysms,3 small wide-necked aneurysms,1 giant pseudoaneurysm with concurrent internal carotid cavernous fistula(CCF),and 1 CCF.Prior to the detachment of the covered stents,balloon occlusion test(BOT)of the internal carotid artery on the diseased side and whole-brain digital subtraction angiography(DSA)were performed in all the patients.Three to 16 months following procedure,DSA and clinical follow-ups were performed.Results Thirteen patients all tolerated the BOT well with the DSA demonstrating well-opened anterior and posterior communicating arteries.The covered stents and the delivering systems all successfully passed CICA to reach the targeted diseased area,with the diseased segments of the internal carotid artery including C3—C4 in 4 cases,C4—C5 in 4 and C6—C7 in 5.Immediately following the detachment of the covered stents,DSA demonstrated that 7 aneurysms were completely occluded,4 aneurysms had slight endoleak,and 1 CCF had markedly-decreased blood flow through the fistula.In the patient with concurrent pseudoaneurysm and CCF,the pseudoaneurysm disappeared and the blood flow through the fistula was markedly-reduced immediately following the stenting procedure.Apart from one patient with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who died due to extensive vascular spasm on the 9th day following the stenting procedure,all the other 12 patients had unobstructed stented vessels on the follow-up DSA images,with 2 demonstrating slight stenosis.In the 6 patients with post-procedure endoleak,DSA showed that the endoleak in 4 patients had disappeared,one endoleak disappeared following the second stenting,and one CCF remained low-flow fistula.There was no sequela related to the occlusion of branches in the covered arterial segment.Conclusion The covered stents specially designed for use in the intracranial vasculature and the delivering system are both flexible enough to pass the tortuous CICA to reach the intracranial diseased artery,and are effective in managing CICA diseases.Further follow-up is still needed to determine the long-term effect of the covered stents,and the adherence of the covered stents needs further investigation.

The variability of peak current of L-type calcium channel (I(Ca,L)) shows an increase in cardiomyocytes after 6 h of preservation when the acutely isolated cardiomyocytes are preserved in a small volume buffer solution. The mechanism of the increased variability of I(Ca,L) is not clear. In order to obtain more accurately and stably experimental data of I(Ca,L), the aim of this study was to observe the pH changes of preservation buffer solution with acutely isolated rat cardiomyocytes, and the effects of pH changes on the shape of cardiomyocytes, the function of mitochondria and the gating property of L-type calcium channel. The results indicated that the pH was kept stable in 100 mL buffer solution, but was decreased from 7.20 to 6.95 in 20 mL buffer solution during 10 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. Therefore, 100 mL or 20 mL preservation solution was used as a normal control or acidotic group, respectively. The ratio of abnormal to normal rod-shaped cardiomyocytes increased in the acidotic group after 6 h of preservation. The acidosis induced a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential indicated by JC-1 fluorescent probe after 8 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. The acidosis also shifted the autofluorescence of NADPH from blue to green after 8 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. The above changes in mitochondrial function induced a significant decrease in the peak I(Ca,L) and a shift in the clamped voltage at peak I(Ca,L) from +10 mV to 0 mV, after 10 h of cardiomyocyte preservation. These results suggest that the best way to preserve acutely isolated cardiomyocytes is to use a larger volume buffer system. In order to get stable peak I(Ca,L), we need to not only select a normal shape of cardiomyocyte at a bright field but also a blue fluorescent myocyte at an ultraviolet excitation.
Animals ; Buffers ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; physiology ; Preservation, Biological ; Rats

Objective To investigate the new way that can improve the emergency treatment rate on patients with traumatic brain injuries in Guangdong mountain area. Methods New emergency treatment way was adopted from June 2006 to June 2008 in patients traumatic brain injuries and these patients were chosen as experimental group. Control group is composed of patients treated with old emergency treatment way from June 2004 to June 2006. The pre-hospital mortality rate, in-hospital mortality rate and CPR success rate in the 2 groups were compared; the interphase between injury and receiving treatment, and the rescuing radius in these 2 groups were analyzed. Results Control grouphad the in-hospital mortality rate and pre-hospital mortality rate reaching 29.06% (68/234) and 32.76%(114/348), respectively, which was significantly higher than the experimental group (in-hospital mortality rate: 10.49% [28/267], pre-hospital mortality rate:18.10% [59/326]) (P<0.05). The maxima rescuing radius and mean interphase between injury and receiving treatment in the experimental group (10 km, 50min) were statistically different as compared with those in the control group (70 km, 85 min) (P<0.05).CPR success rate in the experimental group (80.32%) was obviously higher man that in the control group (23.24%) (P<0.05). The death rate in the experimental group was increased following the prolonged interphase between injury and receiving treatment. Conclusion The new way, by increasing 120urgent care centre, shortening the rescuing radius and reaction time, strengthening the care technique ofthe doctors and nurses and reinforcing the equipment in the urgent care centre, can obviously increase the emergency treatment rate.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ganxian recipe (GXR) and lamivudine (LVD) in a two-year treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with CHB were randomly divided into the combinedly treated group (combined group) of 40 CHB patients who were treated with GXR combined with LVD. Another 40 CHB patients were treated with LVD alone (WM group), and still another 40 CHB patients were treated with GXR alone (TCM group). All these cases were randomly controlled and observed for two years.

RESULTSComprehensive efficacy: Total effective rate of the combined group (complete response and partial response) was 92.5%, while that of the WM group was 67.5% and TCM group 57.5%, respectively, with the difference between them was significant (P < 0.01); after treatment, the hepatic functions (AST, ALT, SB) of the three groups were all reduced, and the reduction in the combined group was particularly significant in comparison with the WM group or TCM group, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 respectively, suggesting that the effect in the combined group was better than that in the other two groups; the rate of tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate (YMDD) virus mutation: it was 7.5% in the combined group, 40.0% in the WM group, and 5.0% in the TCM group; liver fibrosis improvement parameter: after treatment, the results in the combined group got better than those in the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONGXR could inhibit the appearance of YMDD after long-term application of LVD, and combined use has marked synergism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, Viral ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; physiopathology ; therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Phytotherapy ; adverse effects ; Plant Preparations ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome