Objective To investigate the alterations of regional spontaneous activity in patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) during resting state.Methods Twenty-seven patients with CTN (CTN group) and 27 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited and underwent a rest-state functional MRI.The regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis was used to compare the differences of regional synchronization of spontaneous brain activity.And correlation tests were performed between ReHo values in the abnormal brain areas and clinical metrics (visual analogue scale and disease duration) of the disease.Results Compared with control group (P＜0.05,Gaussian random field correction),ReHo increased in bilateral primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and primary motor cortex (M1),right supplementary motor area (SMA),inferotemporal cortex and cerebellum,left thalamus,limbic lobe,parahippocampa gyrus,middle and superior temporal gyrus in CTN group;ReHo decreased in bilateral insula,prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex,right frontal medial cortex and superior temporal gyrus,left anterior cingulate area,supramarginal gyrus and cerebellum in CTN group.ReHo values in right frontal medial cortex was negatively correlated with the course of disease (r=-0.45,P=0.03).The ReHo values of left primary sensorimotor cortex were positively correlated with the visual analogue scale scores (r=0.46,P=0.02).Conclusion CTN patients has abnormal functional homogeneity of spontaneous brain activity in regions involved in the pain processing,which can help understanding mechanism of CTN.

Artemisnin is a novel sesquiterpene lactone with an internal peroxide bridge structure, which is extracted from traditional Chinese herb Artemisia annua L. (Qinghao). Recommended by World Health Organization, artemisinin is the first-line drug in the treatment of encephalic and chloroquine-resistant malaria. In the present study, transgenic A. annua plants were developed by overexpressing the key enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of artemisinin. Based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation methods, transgenic plants of A. annua with overexpression of both HDR and ADS were obtained through hygromycin screening. The genomic PCR analysis confirmed six transgenic lines in which both HDR and ADS were integrated into genome. The gene expression analysis given by real-time quantitative PCR showed that all the transgenic lines had higher expression levels of HDR and ADS than the non-transgenic control (except ah3 in which the expression level of ADS showed no significant difference compared with control); and the HPLC analysis of artemisinin demonstrated that transgenic A. annua plants produced artemisinin at significantly higher level than non-transgenic plants. Especially, the highest content of artemisinin was found in transgenic line ah70, in which the artemisinin content was 3.48 times compared with that in non-transgenic lines. In summary, overexpression of HDR and ADS facilitated artemisinin biosynthesis and this method could be applied to develop transgenic plants of A. annua with higher yield of artemisinin.
Artemisia annua ; genetics ; metabolism ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Mixed Function Oxygenases ; genetics ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the serum concentration of IL-6,S100β,NT-3 and the cognitive functions in first-episode schizophrenia characterized by positive or negative symptoms.Methods44 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms (positive group),36 first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by negative symptoms (negative group) and 50 healthy controls (controls) were collected.The serum levels of IL-6,S100β and NT-3 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The systematic evaluation tool-MCCB was applied to assess cognitive function in patients and controls.ResultsNT-3 serum levels in positive or negative groups were lower than those in controls and the differences were significant((118.39±37.50) ng/L,(112.55±32.29) ng/L vs (141.18±29.67) ng/L) (P<0.01).IL-6 and S100β serum levels in positive or negative groups were higher than those in controls and the differences were statistically significant((5.74±1.00)ng/L,(5.07±1.17)ng/L vs (4.23±0.91)ng/L),((132.98±46.71)ng/L,(124.99±43.14)ng/L vs (103.63±31.57)ng/L)(P<0.01).IL-6 serum levels in the positive group ((5.07±1.17)ng/L) were lower than those in the negative group ((5.74±0.99)ng/L) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).In MCCB test,the TMT scores in patients characterize by positive symptoms or patients characterize by negative symptoms were higher than those in healthy control group (P<0.01).BACS SC,HVLT-R WMS-Ⅲ,SS,NAB,BVMT-R,CF in patients characterize by positive symptoms or by negative symptoms were lower than those in healthy control group(P<0.01).There were no statistical difference in the MCCB scores between the patients with positive symptoms and negative symptoms.In positive group,there was a positive correlation between the IL-6 serum concentration and the general symptom scores in PANSS (P<0.05).In positive group,NT-3 serum concentration was positively correlated with the general symptom scores or total scores of PANSS (P<0.05).BVMT-R scores in MCCB were also positively correlated with IL-6 or NT-3 serum concentration in positive group (P<0.05).ConclusionThe impairment of part of cognitive functions for schizophrenic patients may be related to the serum protein factors.There may be different in pathophysiology between the first-episode schizophrenic patients characterized by positive symptoms and those characterized by negative symptoms.

Objective To establish the normal parameters of psychometric measures such as the number connection tests A(NCT-A)and digit symbol tests(DST)in assessment of minimal hepatic en- cephalopathy(MHE).Methods One hundred and sixty healthy volunteers(aged 25 to 64 years;educa- tional level＞9 years)were divided into＜35 ys,35～44 ys,45～54 ys and 55～64 ys groups.All of the healthy volunteers were assessed with NCT-A and DST to establish the normal value of age-related parameters,which can be used for diagnosis of MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.Two standard devi- ation of the normal mean was used as a diagnostic criterion for MHE.One hundred and six cirrhotic patients were assessed with these parameters.Results The parameters of NCT-A were(25.1?4.6) sec in＜35 ys group,(32.1?6.8) sec in 35～44 ys group,(38.6?7.1)sec in 45～54 ys group or (49.3?6.3)sec in 55～64 ys group.The scores of DST were 49.9?4.7 in＜35 ys group,44.6?4.8 in 35～44 ys group,38.5?5.0 in 45～54 ys group or 35.4?4.7 in 55～64 ys group.Thirty one out of 106 cirrhotic patients were diagnosed as MHE based on these parameters.Conclusion The NCT- A and DST are psychometric assessments for diagnosis of MHE.Age-based normal paramerters of NCT- A and DST are needed to be established.

Phycoerythrocyanin(PEC) lyase-isomerase PecE/PecF from Mastigocladus laminosus is the specific enzyme for biosynthesis of PEC alpha-subunit(alpha-PEC). In this work, the specificity of PecE/PecF on substrate apoproteins was reported. PecE/PecF could catalyse the reconstitution of phycocyanobilin(PCB) with apoproteins of alpha-PEC from two different subspecies of Mastigocladus laminosus, as well the site-directed mutated apoprotein of alpha-PEC with Trp at 128 to Phe in vitro, but could not catalyse the reconstitution of PCB with apoprotein of phycocyanin alpha-subunit(alpha-CPC) from Mastigocladus laminosus. The surfactant Triton X-100 had no effect for the reconstitution of alpha-PEC, while it could improve the reconstitution of PCB with apoprotein of alpha-CPC.
Apoproteins ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; Catalysis ; Cyanobacteria ; enzymology ; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes ; Lyases ; metabolism ; Octoxynol ; pharmacology ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Substrate Specificity

OBJECTIVETo understand the changing trend of occupational hazard of industries in Shunde area and to provide the scientific evidence for the prevention of occupational diseases.

METHODSThe pre-evaluation of occupational hazard was carried out for the construction projects. The data about employee number scale, industry species, occupational hazard factors, hazard levels and prevention measures for construction projects were collected and analyzed. The data of Shunde Occupational Health Survey in 2011 served as the control data.

RESULTSThere were 258 construction projects in 2010 and 2011, in which the proportions of medium and large scales increased to 8.1% and 2.4% respectively, the proportions of the furniture and chemical industries decreased from 25.6% or/and 5.1% to 2.7% or/and 1.8%, the proportions of the high-tech industries increased from 1.8% to 9.2%. The proportions of the projects with serious, medium and slight occupational hazard levels were 4.3%, 67.8% and 27.9%, respectively. The proportions of the projects with harmful chemicals, dusts and physical factors were 34.2%, 46.8%, 42.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe feature of occupational hazard in Shunde industries has changed at upgrading stage. We should pay attention to the prevention of occupational diseases in high-tech industries.

Construction Industry ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Risk Factors

Tanshinone IIA nanoparticles were constructed and perfused in rabbit's right carotid after intimal denudation with ballon. Localization and retention at different time points of the coumarin-labeled drug nanoparticles were evaluated under laser confocal microscope. Nanoparticles were seen in the three layers of the cross-section artery. At 7 days, they were mainly deposited in the medial layer, while the deposition was generally observed in the adventitia and media at 14 days and 28 days. In the Tanshinone IIA nanoparticle study, a significant reduction of the neo-intimal hyperplasia was noted by comparing the intimal area and the intima-media ratio in the three groups. And the PLGA nanoparticles appeared to be fully biocompatible. As a result, the local administration of the nanoparticles with incorporated Tanshinone IIA showed not only the preventive effects, but aslo the high absorption and good biocompatability in the whole arterial wall.
Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Caprolactam ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drug Carriers ; Hyperplasia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Lactic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Nanoparticles ; Phenanthrenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; administration & dosage ; Rabbits ; Tunica Intima ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the significance of C4d deposition in follicular lymphoma (FL).

METHODSThe deposition of C4d was detected in samples from 133 cases of lymphoma by immunohistochemistry and FL was studied by the double stainings of CD35/C4d, CD21/C4d and Bcl-2/C4d,respectively.

RESULTSAmong the 26 FL tissues, irregular C4d deposition was seen in 19 tumor tissues. Double staining for CD35, CD21 or Bcl-2 showed the C4d deposition was around the follicular dendritic cells (FDC). There was no significant difference between the positive rate of C4d and the degree of lymphoma. No deposition was found in the diffuse areas of FL and other type lymphomas.

CONCLUSIONC4d deposition around the follicular dendritic cell in the neoplastic follicles is a specific indicator of follicular lymphoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement C4b ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Fragments ; immunology

In this study, an analytical method was developed and used to quantify simultaneously protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid--four bioactive compounds contained in Fructus Xanthii using UPLC. The contents of four phenolic components of 28 batches of samples collected from different product areas and markets were determined and compared by means of this established method. The mobile phase was composed of methanol and water containing 0.1% phosphoric acid. Chromatography was monitored at dual-wavelengths--220 and 327 nm. Flow rate was 0.4 mL x min(-1) and column temperature was 35 degrees C. The correlation coefficient between concentration and chromatographic peak area of protocatechuic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid and 1, 3-dicaffeoylquinic acid was over 0.9999 in the range of 0.3570-35.70, 2.500-250.0, 1.060-106.1, 1.010-101.0 microg x mL(-1), respectively. The average recoveries of the four compounds were 97.68%, 99.55%, 97.92% and 100.4%, respectively. In conclusion, the established method can rapidly attain an accurate and reproducible result used to control the quality of Fructus Xanthii.
Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Xanthium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different permeation enhancers on the transdermal permeation of Xiao'er Niuhuang tuire cataplasms (XNTC).

METHODUsing improved franz-type diffusion cell with excised rat skin in vitro as the transdermal barrier, the content of permeated geniposide was determined by HPLC to study the kinetic parameters such as cumulative permeation quantity and permeation rate.

RESULTThe result showed that the process of penetrating of geniposide in XNTC through skin could be in accordance with zero-rade releasing equation and XNTC was stable during the course of experiment.

CONCLUSION5% Propylene glycol (PG)-azone (2:3) has the best permeation-enhancing effect, and the results provided a primary basis for the future research on Xiao'er Niuhuang tuire cataplasms.

Animals ; Azepines ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; Pharmaceutical Vehicles ; pharmacology ; Propylene Glycol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; drug effects