Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; congenital ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; genetics ; Humans

In the present study,we examined the codon usage bias between pseudorabies virus (PRV) US1 gene and the US1-like genes of 20 reference alphaherpesviruses.Comparative analysis showed noticeable disparities of the synonymous codon usage bias in the 21 alphaherpesviruses,indicated by codon adaptation index,effective number of codons (ENc) and GC3s value.The codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene was phylogenetically conserved and similar to that of the US1-like genes of the genus Varicellovirus of alphaherpesvirus,with a strong bias towards the codons with C and G at the third codon position.Cluster analysis of codon usage pattern of PRV US1 gene with its reference alphaherpesviruses demonstrated that the codon usage bias of US1-like genes of 21 alphaherpesviruses had a very close relation with their gene functions.ENc-plot revealed that the genetic heterogeneity in PRV US1 gene and the 20 reference alphaherpesviruses was constrained by G+C content,as well as the gene length.In addition,comparison of codon preferences in the US1 gene of PRV with those of E.coli,yeast and human revealed that there were 50 codons showing distinct usage differences between PRV and yeast,49 between PRV and human,but 48 between PRV and E.coli.Although there were slightly fewer differences in codon usages between E.coli and PRV,the difference is unlikely to be statistically significant,and experimental studies are necessary to establish the most suitable expression system for PRV US1.In conclusion,these results may improve our understanding of the evolution,pathogenesis and functional studies of PRV,as well as contributing to the area of herpesvirus research or even studies with other viruses.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to prepare uniform-sized silybin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in study of silybin with stainless steel membrane.

METHODSilybin PLGA microspheres were prepared by stainless steel membrane emulsification. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor test and orthogonal experiment, and evaluating the mean diameters, the particle size distribution, drug loading, entrapment efficiency and morphology of microsphere.

RESULTPrepared microspheres were round and surface was smooth. The mean diameter was (4.961 +/- 0.56) microm. The span was (1.75 +/- 0.18). The entrapment efficiency was (54.997 +/- 4.05)% and the average drug loading was (23.6 +/- 1.70)%.

CONCLUSIONThe stainless steel membrane emulsification can be used to prepare the silybin PLGA microspheres. The mean diameters of the silybin PLGA microspheres can be controlled in certain level. Stainless steel membrane emulsification has great potentiality exploitation and utilization.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of compound bushen recipe (CBR) in improving the survival state of stress and the overall life span in C. elegans by simulating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) under various stress states.

METHODSThe tolerance and the average survival time of adult larvae against heat stress (35 degrees C), oxidative stress (250 microg/mL juglone), and in vivo Abeta protein toxicity (Abeta(1-42) transgenic mutant CL4176) under the intervention of the high (500 mg/L), middle (250 mg/L), and low (100 mg/L) dose CBR were observed. The effect of CBR on the average live time (at 25 degrees C), movement distance in 20 seconds, the frequency of pharyngeal pump in 30 seconds, and the reproductive capability were assessed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the survival time of heat stressed C. elegans could be significantly increased in each CBR group (P < 0.01). The survival time of heat stressed C. elegans could be elongated, the protein toxicity be attenuated, and the live time prolonged in the high and middle dose CBR groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).The movement distance and the frequency of pharyngeal pump could also be increased in the high dose CBR group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the reproductive capability among all groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCBR could significantly enhance the stress capacity of C. elegans against internal and external environment, and prolong their lifespan. It did not interfere their normal production, and also could improve the quality of life, thus laying a foundation for further mechanism studies and pharmacological researches on CBR in preventing and treating CFS.

Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Longevity ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo explore the factors effecting restoring femoral offset and the relation between femoral offset and hip abductor strength during total hip arthroplasty (THA).

METHODSNinety-nine THA for 81 patients were performed from March 1998 to January 2002. And follow-up was finished. There were 53 women and 28 men and the average age was 57 years (29 to 80). The right hip had been replaced in 28 cases, the left in 35 cases and the bilateral in 18 cases. The mean duration of clinical and roentgenographic follow-up was 36.8 months (range, 19 approximately 66 months). A posterolateral approach was used in all THA. The femoral offset and the abductor lever arm were measured from each radiograph. The measurement of the hip abduction strength was made for some THA by the Cybex machine. Statistical data analysis was performed by SPSS10.0 software.

RESULTSFemoral offset correlated positively with the length of the abductor lever arm (r = 0.613; P < 0.001). Simple regression analysis showed that femoral offset was significantly and positively related to the length of femoral neck and neck-shaft angle (r = 0.451, P = 0.001; r = 0.567, P < 0.001). There was a highly significant and positive correlation between femoral offset (and consequently abductor lever arm) and hip abductor strength (r = 0.500, P = 0.009; r = 0.477, P = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONSIt is very important to template both sides of hip preoperatively for restoring femoral offset in THA. Femoral component with more anatomical neck-shaft angle will be used with the increase in the femoral neck length.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Femur ; physiology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Joint ; physiology ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome

With the deployment of electronic medical records systems, more and more routine clinical data are recorded electronically, which become a potential data source for new drug clinical trials. In this paper, we summarized the opportunities, challenges, obstacles and the latest development in this field.
Clinical Trials as Topic ; Data Collection ; methods ; Drug Evaluation ; Electronic Health Records

The study is aimed to understand the resource and the current situation of the use of Cibotii Rhizoma and provide the basis for protecting and utilization. The method of literature survey, field survey and quality assessment were applied in the study. The results showed that all the Cibotii Rhizoma came from wild resource and was mainly founded in Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Zhejiang, etc. It contains over 5 000 000 kg in the area which total is about 7 000 hm2. The annual output is over 850 000 kg. At present, there is no cultivated resources. Based on the investigation and market sampling analysis from various regions, the results showed that the quality of the collected crude drugs conformed with the regulations of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. However the qualification rate of decoction pieces of Cibotii Rhizoma in market was only 56.4%. At present, the resource of Cibotii Rhizoma could meet the needs of medinal uses. It is important to protect the wild resource which is less and less because of the environmental factors. It also need to make a standard of processing method to ensure the safety, and solve quality problem of the decoction pieces.
China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Ferns ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; growth & development

Objective:To investigate the impact of self-concealment,self-disclosure,coping style and per- ceived social support on university students'loneliness.Methods:Loneliness and related factors were assessed among 482 university students using scales including UCLA Loneliness Scale,Self-concealment Scale(SCS),Self-disclosure Index(SDI),Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire(SCSQ)and Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS).Results: The level of university students'loneliness was not high(36.5?7.4);males experienced more loneliness than fe- males(37.4?7.5/35.4?7.3,F=8.25,P0.05). Regression analysis showed that SCS,SCSQ and PSSS predicted UCLA effectively(?=0.207,-0.218,0.157, -0.380).The testing of mediating effect indicated that SCS had direct and indirect impact on UCLA through nega- tive coping style and PSSS;SDI had only indirect impact on UCLA through positive coping style and PSSS.Conclusion:SCS,SDI,SCSQ and PSSS are important factors influencing UCLA,and the intervention of univer- sity students'loneliness should focus on these variables.

AIM: To investigate the apoptosis and molecular mechanism of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells induced by ginsenoside Rh4.METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells were treated with ginsenoside Rh4 at doses of 10, 20 and 40 μmol/L, and the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rh4 on HepG2 cell viability was measured by MTT assay.The apoptotic rate of HepG2 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry.The morphological changes of the HepG2 cells were observed by Hoechst 33258 and TUNEL staining.The expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Ginsenoside Rh4 promoted apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner.TUNEL and Hoechst 33258 staining showed that the cells appeared obvious shrinking, swelling and rupture after treated with ginsenoside Rh4 for 24 h.The results of Western blot showed that with the increasing concentrations of ginsenoside Rh4, the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 increased, while anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 decreased gradually.CONCLUSION: Ginsenoside Rh4 induces apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells, and the main mechanism may be related to down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and caspase-9.