The volatile components of roots and stems of Zanthoxylum nitidum were investigated by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFE-CO2) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). Thirty-one and fifty-one compounds were identified in the supercritical extracts from roots and stems of Z. nitidum, respectively, and total twenty-seven compounds were the common constituents. Among them, the major constituents in root and stem supercritical extracts were spathulenol (18.49 and 26.18%), n-hexadecanoic acid (14.24% and 12.79%), ar-tumerone (6.95% and 8.88%), oleic acid (8.39% and 5.71%) and hexanoic acid (4.39% and 7.78%). The in-vitro MTT assay showed that the volatile components of roots and stems of Z. nitidum did not exhibited any cytotoxic activity against human cancer Huh-7 and normal IEC-6 cells. These results indicated the same nature of the volatile constituents in the root and stem of Z. nitidum. This investigation may provide further evidence for expansion of medicinal parts of Z. nitidum.
Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; toxicity ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and curative effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSThe protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital, and ten patients with silicosis who had given written consent were enrolled in this study. BMSCs isolated from 100 ml of bone marrow for each case were purified and cultured. In each case the 3rd generation of qualified BMSCs (5 × 10(7)) were intravenously administered weekly for 3 weeks. Three cases among 10 patients were treated with BMSCs modified by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene. The clinical symptoms, chest films, chest CT, pulmonary functions, T cells, serum IgG and ceruloplasmin (CP) were observed in 6 or 9 months after treatment.

RESULTSNo obvious sub-effect was observed in cases treated with BMSCs, the clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum and chest tightness) basically disappeared in 9 months after treatment. Pulmonary function tests showed that FVC increased from 71.2% ± 17.0% to 84.0% ± 10.9% (P < 0.01) and FEV1.0 increased from 67.5% ± 17.7% to 80.6% ± 14.9% (P < 0.01). The levels of serum CP and IgG significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Further, the chest films and CT in cases treated with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene were improved to different extent.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene exhibit a beneficial effect on silicosis.

Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Female ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; surgery ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Chylothorax ; congenital ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Octreotide ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of bedside treatment by laser photocoagulation for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

METHODSThe clinical data of 30 cases of ROP who underwent peripheral laser ablation on bedside in the NICU from March to August 2009 were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSA total of 59 eyes from 30 patients received the laser therapy, with a total cure rate of 95%. According to the International Classification of ROP, 26 eyes of 13 infants had zone 1 disease, and 33 eyes of 17 infants had zone 2 disease. The birth gestational age and birth weight as well as corrected gestational age and corrected weight at operation in the zone 1 disease group were significantly lower than those in the zone 2 disease group. The number of laser spots in the zone 1 disease group was significantly higher than that in the zone 2 disease group. The cure rate in the zone 2 disease group (100%) was significantly higher than that in the zone 1 disease group (88%).

CONCLUSIONSLaser retinal photocoagulation on bedside in the NICU is effective for both zone 1 and zone 2 ROP. As compared with the infants with zone 2 disease, the infants with zone 1 disease may have a poor outcome.

Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Laser Coagulation ; Male ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEPrecursor T lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) is a highly aggressive lymphoma. Myeloid antigen expression was found in some of the patients, and its clinical significance is worth studying. This study was to compare the clinical features, short-term efficacy and survival of T-LBL patients with or without myeloid antigen expression so as to evaluate its prognostic significance.

METHODSForty-five T-LBL patients, with a median age of 14 years, were treated at Sun Yet-sen University Cancer Center between January 2000 and July 2008. These patients were divided into myeloid antigen-positive group (My(+) group) and myeloid antigen-negative group (My(-) group) based on the flow cytometric (FCM) analysis in bone marrow or pleural fluid. Myeloid antigen expression and its correlation with the short-term efficacy and overall survival were assessed in the two groups.

RESULTSThere were 18 patients (40.0%) in the My(+) group and 27 (60.0%) in the My(-) group. The myeloid antigen expression was negatively correlated with the initial level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), but not with other clinical features. The remission rate was lower in the My(+) group than in the My(-) group (38.8% vs. 70.3%, P = 0.028). The 2-year overall survival rate was lower in the My(+) group than in the My(-) group (51.9% vs. 78.7%, P = 0.036). By age subgroup analysis, there were no differences in response and survival rate among children and adolescents with or without myeloid antigen expression. But the remission rate and the 2-year overall survival rate were significantly lower in adult patients with myeloid antigen expression than in patients without it. Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated that age and myeloid antigen expression were adverse prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONMyeloid antigen expression is a predictor of a poor response to chemotherapy, and adverse prognostic factor in adult T-LBL, but not in children with T-LBL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Antigens, CD7 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Asparaginase ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Cyclin D3 ; metabolism ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Daunorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Etoposide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mercaptopurine ; therapeutic use ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to investigate whether murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) is able to exacerbate the atherosclerotic process in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE -/-) mice, and the effect of fluvastatin on the atherogenesis.

METHODSThe apoE-/- mice kept on a west diet were given low dosage of MCMV. At 14,18 and 24 weeks post infection, AS lesion were measured on aorta. The fluvastatin was administered, and AS lesion were measured accordingly above.

RESULTSWe observed that in the chronic phase of the infection, AS lesion area was significantly increased. MCMV gB mRNA was not amplified by real-time PCR from the arterial wall. The IgG antibody level of MCMV in blood plasma and the content of virus DNA in salivary gland were not correlated with AS lesions. After the administration of fluvastatin, there was no significant difference of AS lesions between MCMV infected group and mock-infected group.

CONCLUSIONMCMV may aggravate the AS lesion in apoE -/- mice in the chronic phase of infection, and promote more severe type of AS lesions. But it might not be the direct effects of mechanism of MCMV on the local lesion of AS. Fluvastatin could meliorate the progression of AS after MCMV infection, but this was not accomplished by decreasing MCMV duplication.

Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; virology ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Herpesviridae Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Muromegalovirus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cytomegalovirus infection on expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human endothelial cells.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured in vitro. Cells between 3-6 passages were infected with cytomegalovirus for different time. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity was detected by gel zymography.

RESULTSExpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA and its activity 6 hours after infection was almost equal to control, and was greatly enhanced 12 and 24 hours after infection.

CONCLUSIONCytomegalovirus infection up-regulates expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in human endothelial cells. It might be one of the mechanisms that cytomegalovirus is involved in atherosclerosis.

Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; physiology ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; virology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of arthroscopy and fibula osteotomy in the treatment of medial knee osteoarthritis.Methods Thirty-six patients with medial knee osteoarthritis treated in our hospital from September 2014 to September 2016 were divided into two groups according to the acceptable surgical protocol.The control group was treated by fibula osteotomy,and the observation group received arthroscopy combined with fibula osteotomy.The clinical signs and symptoms,VAS and ISOA scores were evaluated and compared between the two groups.Results The control group of 18 cases,clinical recovery in 0 cases,markedly effective in 7 cases,effective in 8 cases,3 cases with no effect,the effective rate was 38.9％;observation group of 18 cases,3 cases clinically cured,effective in 10 cases,effective in 5 cases,the effective rate was 72.2％.The effective rate of observation group was better than that of the control group,the difference was signicant (P ＜ 0.05).VAS and ISOA in both groups were significantly improved after operation,the difference was signicant (P ＜ 0.05);VAS improvement in observation group was better than that in control group,the difference was signicant(P ＜ 0.05),ISOA score in observation group was significantly better than that in control group,the difference was signicant(P ＜0.01).The clinical signs and symptoms(pain and numbness,walking,living and working abilities,tenderness,straight leg raising test,knee and Achilles reflex,total score) in two groups were improved respectively compared with those before treatment,and the differences were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05).The pain and numbness,walking,tenderness,straight leg raising test and total score in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The arthroscopy and fibula osteotomy is safe and feasible to treat patients of medial knee osteoarthritis with less traumatic,more effective and better functional recovery.

Objective To analyze the genetic diversity of Pomacea canaliculata based on the mitochondria DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunitⅠ(mtDNA COⅠ)gene as a molecular marker in Lincang City of Yunnan Province,so as to provide the scien-tific data for monitoring Angiostrongylus cantonensis in local areas. Methods The genotypes and polymorphisms of 38 speci-mens of P.canaliculata collected from Mengding Town of Lincang City were analyzed by sequencing COⅠgene.The phylogenet-ic tree and genetic distances were produced based on the haplotypes from GenBank and the present study by using the neighbour-joining method with the software MEGA version 6.06. Results Totally 31 sequences were acquired in the present study and they produced 3 unique haplotypes.Haplotype 1 showed a higher frequency compared to the others and it accounted for 83.9 % (26/31).The data showed that the least genetic distances ranged from 0 to 0.052 between P.canaliculata and 3 haplotypes,as well as the largest genetic distances ranged from 0.021 to 0.239 between Pila conica and 3 haplotypes.Otherwise,the analysis of the phylogenetic trees based on COⅠgene sequences of P.canaliculata indicated that all of 3 haplotypes clustered into one big clade with that from Japan(GenBank accession number: AB433769),China(GenBank accession number: KT313034)and USA(GenBank accession number:EU523129),which owned the closet relationship amongst them.Their genetic relationships were distantly related to the GenBank's reference sequences of P.insularum(GenBank accession number:EF514942),P.cam-ena(GenBank accession number: EF515059)and so on. Conclusion There is a P. canaliculata species in Lincang City of Yunnan Province as well as a high genetic diversity amongst the acquired 3 haplotypes in this study.

Objective To assess the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog on glucose and lipid metabolism in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP).Methods A total of 26 girls (aged 6-8 years,breast stage B2) with ICPP were followed up in Department of Endocrinology,Shenzhen Children's Hospital from Jan.2008 to Jun.2011.Those girls received triptorelin therapy for 12 months.Before and the end of the 6th month,the 12th month of the treatment,body mass index(BMI) was calculated,fasting plasma glucose(FPG),fasting plasma insulin(FPI),total cholesterol,triacylglycerols,high density lipoprotein cholesterol,low density lipoprotein cholesterol,apolipoprotein A,apolipoprotein B and estradiol(E2) were measured.Insulin sensitivity was estimated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).Twenty age-matched prepuberty girls were set as controls.Results 1.Before treatment,BMI,FPG,FPI and HOMA-IR in ICPP girls had no significant difference compared with the controls.2.After 6 months treatment of triptrolin,serum E2 concentration in ICPP girls declined from(30.5 ± 9.8) ng/L at the beginning of treatment to (11.2 ± 4.6) ng/L at the end of 6th month (P ＜ 0.01) ; The end of 12 th month of the treatment,FPG and FPI had no significant difference compared with that before of the treatment,but BMI increased from(16.46 ± 1.10) kg/m2 to(18.35 ± 1.30) kg/m2,the difference was significant(P ＜0.05),HOMA-IR increased from 1.24 ±0.30 to 2.08 ±0.40,the difference was significant(P ＜0.05).3.Lipid metabolism parameters remained unchangeable after 12 months of triptrolin treatment.Conclusion Triptorelin may lead to raise of BMI and HOMA-IR in girls with ICPP at 12 months after treatment.