OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints of the chloroform extract fractions of Peucedanum harrysmithii var. subglabrum (PHS) and its phlegm-reducing effect, in order to establish "active component group for reducing phlegm".

METHODHPLC was adopted to determine and analyze HPLC fingerprints of chloroform extract fractions of PHS. Phenol red expectorant experiment was used to observe the phlegm-reducing effect in mice. Mice were administered intragastrically with chloroform extract fractions for 6 days (1.4 g x kg(-1)), with acute bronchitis syrup as the positive control drug (12 mL x kg(-1)). The phenol red secretion in mice was determined by spectrophotometer. Then the grey relational analysis was used to study the spectrum-effect relationship.

RESULTThe phlegm-reducing effect of the chloroform extract fractions of PHS were resulted from the combined effect of all of its chemical components. Its various characteristic peaks represented different chemical components, and the order of their contributions to the phlegm-reducing effect was (number of peaks) 13 > 12 > 16 > 18 > 19 > 6 > 20 > 14 > 1 > 11 > 15 > 10 > 17 > 2 > 5 > 4 > 7 > 3 > 8 > 9, in No. 1, 3, 4, 10, 13 and 16 characteristic peaks were identified as marmesin, psoralen, xanthotoxin, Pd-Ib, pteryxin and peuformosin.

CONCLUSIONThe chloroform extract fractions of PHS show strongly phlegm-reducing effect. There may be certain relationship between their HPLC fingerprint and phlegm-reducing effect.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Ferns ; chemistry ; Mucus ; drug effects

A new viral sampling concentration device was designed which was equipped with a new cationic filter membrane-Nanoceram suitable for field sampling. Norovirus Genegroup II was detected from environmental water with the aid of this device. The effects on virus recovery of prefiltration, various second-concentration methods, and different eluants were investigated through pre-experiment. The concentration optimized process, and the optimal concentration process were then determined. The results showed that the prefiltration had a profound effect on virus recovery, and two second-concentration method: PEG-NaC1 precipitation and celite adsorption, had almost the same concentration effects. The Na2 HPO4 solution of 0.15 mol/L was selected as the final eluant to elute the adsorbed Nuorovirus from the celite. The virus recovery of Nanoceram was determined to be 3.02%. Finally, successful detection of Norovirus GII in sewage from Yangqiao River, Fengtai District, Beijing was acheived. All these data had shown that the Naneceram filter concentration method could concentrate Norovirus from environmental water with a steady effects.
Filtration ; instrumentation ; methods ; Fractional Precipitation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Genotype ; Norovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Rivers ; virology ; Water Microbiology

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have suggested that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signalling pathway plays an important role in hepatic fibrosis. This study explored the antifibrotic effect of oxymatrine on tetrachloromethane induced liver fibrosis in rats and its modulation on the p38 MAPK signalling pathway.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to six groups: normal (n = 20), induced fibrosis (n = 20), colchicine (n = 20) and three treatment groups of oxymatrine (n = 20 x 3). We obesrved changes in deposition of collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (CIV), procollagen III (PCIII) and hydroxyproline (Hyp), a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and phosphor-p38 (pp38).

RESULTSThe relative indicators of changes in histopathology, HA, LN, CIV, PCIII, Hyp, alpha-SMA and pp38 were raised significantly in the induced fibrosis group (P < 0.01 vs normal group). The semiquantitative hepatic fibrosis staging scores of middle dose group and high dose group were decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively vs the induced fibrosis group), as was the average area of collagen in rats' liver, the concentrations of serum HA, LN, CIV, PCIII and liver tissue homogenate Hyp. The gene expression of alpha-SMA mRNA was considerably decreased in the treated animals, as was the protein espression of pp38 protein.

CONCLUSIONSOxymatrine is effective in reducing the production and deposition of collagen in the liver tissue of experimental rats in ways which relate to modulating the fibrogenic signal transduction via p38 MAPK signalling pathway.

Actins ; metabolism ; Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Hyaluronic Acid ; metabolism ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Laminin ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Procollagen ; metabolism ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and analyze the prognostic factors of large cell lung cancer (LCLC).

METHODSThe clinical data of 111 LCLC cases were collected and retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTSAmong the 111 cases, the lesions were in the right lung of 53 patients and 26 of them were located in the superior lobe. The lesions were in the left lung of 58 cases, and 35 of them were in the superior lobe. The lesions were presented as central in 36 cases and peripheral in 75 cases, with a mean diameter of 5.3 cm. All the 111 patients were diagnosed as stage I in 38 cases, stage II in 11 cases, stage III in 45 and stage IV in 17 cases. 60 patients had lymph node metastasis and 17 cases had distant metastasis. The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of the LCLC were 54.7%, 30.9% and 20.6%, respectively. Cox univariate analysis revealed that TNM stage (P = 0.000), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.000) and M stage (P = 0.000) are prognostic factors. Cox multivariate analysis indicated that TNM stage (P = 0.000) is an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONThe prognosis of LCLC is worse than other types of non-small cell lung cancer. Complete surgical resection remains the main therapeutic approach. TNM stage is an independent prognostic factor.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Large Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation between long term efficacy/safety and treatment cycles of rh-endostatin (endostar) combined with TP (paclitaxel plus cisplatin/carboplatin) or NP (navelbine plus cisplatin/carboplatin) regimens in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSTwenty-five patients with advanced NSCLC confirmed by histopathology and/or cytology were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one patients underwent endostar combined with NP regimen and other four patients underwent endostar combined with TP regimen (all repeated 21 days) treatment. The therapeutic effects, quality of life (QOL) and adverse effects were evaluated according to RECIST criteria, Karnofsky performance scores and WHO grading of adverse effects, respectively. Our intention was to make knowledge of the therapeutic effects, median time to progression, one-year survival rate, median overall survival and adverse reactions. The amount of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) in peripheral blood was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSAll the 25 patients were evaluable for efficacy and safety. They were comprised of 5 cases of PR, 14 cases of SD and 6 cases of PD. Of the 25 cases, RR was obtained in 5 cases (20.0%), CBR in 19 cases (76.0%), mTTP was 8 months and mOS was 19 months. Of the 14 patients with short treatment cycles (< 4), PR was obtained in 2 cases, SD in 6 cases and PD in 6 cases, RR was 14.3%. Of the 8 patients who obtained PR or SD, the median TTP was 6 months and median overall survival was 18 months. Of the 11 patients with long treatment cycles (≥ 4), PR was obtained in 3 cases, SD in 8 cases, RR was 27.3%, mTTP was 17 months and mOS was 26 months. After treatment, the amount of activated CECs was increased by (293 ± 12)/10(5) in patients with short treatment cycles, and decreased by (243 ± 181)/10(5) in patients with long treatment cycles. A positive correlation was found between the changes of activated CECs after therapy, time to progression (TTP) and treatment cycles (r = 0.970, P = 0.001; r = 0.829, P = 0.042, respectively). The quality of life (QOL) was improved in 12 cases (48.0%), stable in 10 cases (40.0%), and decreased in 3 cases (12.0%). Grade 3 and 4 toxicities were mainly related with chemotherapeutics, including neutropenia in 4 cases (16.0%), vomiting in 3 cases (12.0%) and arrhythmia in 1 case. No hypertension was observed. All the adverse reactions did not affect the following treatment, and there was no significant difference in incidence rate of grade 3 and 4 adverse events between the patients treated with long-term and short-term cycles.

CONCLUSIONSEndostar combined with TP or NP regimen chemotherapy is effective and safe in the treatment of advanced NSCLC, especially in patients with long term treatment cycles which can effectively prolong TTP and reach long term survival, but not increase adverse events. The QOL of patients can be improved or remain stable. The changes of CECs may be used as a useful maker in predicting the efficacy of the combination treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Disease Progression ; Endostatins ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Quality of Life ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Remission Induction ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Vomiting ; chemically induced

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cytogenetic and molecular genetic features of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in Chinese.

METHODSA total of 1193 CML patients were retrospectively studied. Chromosome preparation of bone marrow cells was made using direct and short-term culture. Karyotype and bcr-abl fusion genes were analyzed by R-banding, RT-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSIn the 1193 cases, 98.07% was Ph chromosome positive (Ph+) and 1.93% negative (Ph-). In the Ph+ patients, 95.64% was classical Ph and 4.36% variant rearrangements. Additional genetic changes were demonstrated in 11.88% of classical Ph cases. Cytogenetic clonal evolution was found in 7.94% of patients in chronic phase (CP), 27.78% in accelerated phase (AP), and 49. 04% in blast crisis (BC). Among the classical Ph cases, +Ph, +8, -21 were found in 14.62%, 10.77% and 7.69% of them respectively. In patients in BC and AP, the most common additional chromosome changes were + Ph (28.57%), +8 (16.67%) and +19 (7.14%), while in CP, -21 (10.26%), +Ph (8.97%), and +8 (8.97%). The combination of +Ph and +8 (3.60%) was the most frequent of combination pattern. 524 cases were investigated for bcr-abl fusion gene, and 54.01% was b3a2 (+) and 27.67% b2a2 (+).

CONCLUSIONIn Chinese CML patients seem to have their unique features in terms of cytogenetic clonal evaluation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

The objective of this study was to elucidate the correlation of killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene diversity with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the Chinese southern Han population. KIR genotyping of peripheral blood samples from 67 patients with NPC and 77 randomly-selected healthy controls was performed by PCR-SSP, the relative risk (RR) value was calculated by means of Wolf method. The results showed that the KIR2DL3 gene frequency in NPC patient group was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (χ²>3.84, p < 0.05, RR = 0.08), whereas the KIR2DS5 and KIR2DL5B gene frequencies in patient group were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (χ²>3.84, p < 0.05, RR > 1), the other KIR gene frequencies were no statistically different between two groups. It is concluded that the KIR2DL3, KIR2DS5 and KIR2DL5B genes may be correlated with pathogenesis of NPC in the Chinese southern Han population.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR2DL3 ; genetics ; Receptors, KIR2DL5 ; genetics

MiRNAs have a close relation with the development of malignancy. As a new type of regulatory factor, miRNA plays an important role in the development and progression of tumors, and plays the role of oncogene or tumor suppressor gene. Abnormal expression of miRNA is found in tumors. Most of the abnormal expression of miRNA are related to tumor staging, malignancy, treatment and prognosis, which provides a new strategy for the evaluation of early diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of tumors. The miRNA-183 family is composed of three types of miRNAs including miRNA-96, miRNA-182 and miRNA-183. They present abnormal expressions in tumors of digestive system, urogenital system and respiratory system. More and more researches have been done on the relationship between miRNA-183 family and tumor, and the mechanism has been deeply studied.

Objective To investigate the effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,and to evaluate the relationship between brain reorganization and motor recovery.Methods Nine AIS patients and 9 healthy volunteers were assessed by fMR1 during passive finger clenching at a pace of 1 Hz.The fMRI results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Lateral indices (LIs) and activated regions were calculated,and the relationship between LI and muscle strength was examined.Results In the control group,activation was observed in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and the bilateral supplementary area (SMA) during the passive movement.In the AIS group,similar results were recorded dur- ing unaffected hand movement,but the ipsilateral activation areas were greater than those on the eontralateral side during movement of the affected hand.LI results confirmed that movement of the affected hand mainly elici- ted activation in the ipsilateral hemisphere.Conclusion The different fMRI manifestations of patients and nor- mal subjects reflect brain compensation,and fMRI is valuable for studying the correlation between motor function and brain reorganization.