Ictal semiology is essential for the pre-operative evaluation of candidates for epilepsy surgery. We propose an ictal sign of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) termed tonic-automotor (TA), defi ned as contralateral tonic spasm of upper limb associated with ipsilateral hand automotor seizure and often accompanied ipsilateral head turning. We assessed the occurrence and lateralizing/localizing value of TA in TLE, we analyzed 129 seizures in 41 patients with TLE: 90 seizures in 30 patients with TLE of hippocampal sclerosis (TLE/HS) and 39 seizures in 11 patients with TLE of other lesions (TLE/ non-HS). When compared with unilateral automotor seizure and unilateral tonic spasm, TA occurred more frequently in TLE/HS patients (40% vs 10% and 16.7%). In addition, 24 seizures in 12 patients with TA were observed only in TLE/HS patients and contralateral to the seizure focus based on the side of tonic spasm. However, there was no signifi cant difference in the TLE/HS between dominant side and nondominant side. In addition, TA sign occurred relatively early in the ictal phase. Thus, TA may be a more reliable lateralizing sign of epileptogenic zone and a semiologic marker of TLE/ HS patients.

Computational epidemiology is a fast-developing and interdisciplinary research area .Through comprehensive computation-analysis of multi-uncertain factors affecting the epidemic process , this method may add to our knowledge about epidemic patterns and help design reasonable response plans and emergency strategies .This article briefly summarizes the idea and theory of computational epidemiology based on related researches in the recent years , introduces the application of this method in case of smallpox bioterrorism and influenza pandemic , and predicts the development of this area .

Sixteen compounds have been isolated from the EtOAc fraction of 95% ethanolic extract of Sophora dunnii through silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-prerarative HPLC column chromatographies. Their structures were identified on the basis of NMR and MS spectra data as phaseollidin (1), L-maackiain (2), 2-(2',4'-dihidroxyphenyl)-5,6-methylenedioxy benzofuran (3), 8-demethyl-farrerol (4), liquiritigenin (5), genistein (6), 6-methylgenistein (7), 5-O-methyl genistein (8), 7,2',4'-trihydroxys-5-methoxy-isoflavanone (9), 7, 3', 4'-trihydroxy-isoflavanone (10), erythribyssin D (11), calycosin (12), trans-resveratrol (13), cis-resveratrol (14), stigmasterol (15), β-sitosterol (16). Among these, compounds 1-14 and 16 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chemical Fractionation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Sophora ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo establish a RP-HPLC method for the determination of swertiamarin, sweroside, gentiopicrin and oleanolic acid in different parts of Swertia pseudochinesis.

METHODA Zorbax SB-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column was used with acetonitrile-water (10:90) and methnol-water(86:14) at detection wavelengths of 238 nm, 246 nm, 274 nm and 207 nm for swertiamarin, sweroside, gentiopicrin and oleanolic acid respectively. The flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the column temperature was 25 degrees C.

RESULTAll of the compounds were based--isolated. The linear ranges of swertiamarin, sweroside, gentiopicrin and oleanolic acid were 0.068 9-0.344 4(r = 0.999 2) , 0.001 1-0.014 0 (r2 = 0. 999 8), 0.001 1-0.013 4 (r2 = 0.999 9) and 0.001 1-0.008 8 mg x mL(-1) (r2 = 0. 999 6), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and accurate, which can be used for quality control of S. pseudochinesis.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Oleanolic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrones ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Swertia ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the polysaccharide of Condonopsis pilosula.

METHODThe polysaccharide, CPP-1, was purified by DE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-200 gel column chromatography. Purity and molecular weight of the polysaccharide were determined by gel permeation chromatography. Methylation analysis, periodate oxidation and degradation, IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR methods were adopted to elucidate the chemical structure.

RESULTThe molecular weight of CPP-1 was estimated to be 7.5 x 10(4), and the structure of CPP-1 was a beta-(2 --> 1) linked beta-D-fructosan.

CONCLUSIONCPP-1 was a neutral homosaccharide.

Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fructans ; chemistry

Using the character of natural aggregation of CHO cells, and an ultrasonic and sedimentation column combined perfusion system to promote cells aggregation and retention into bioreactor,recombinant CHO cell strain MK3-A2 was cultured,which could secrete rhTNK-tPA, by a serum-free perfusion culture system. The culture periods in this two experiments were as long as 77 and 110 days respectively. The cells density reached 2?107 cells /ml. The average volumetric productivity of rhTNK-tPA was 89 mg/L?d, and the highest one was 216mg/L?d.The cells aggregation rate was approximately 90%, and the diameters of most of them were 285～570?m. During the perfusion culture the cells retention rate almost kept in 95% and the viability of cells was more than 85%.Thus, it means that aggregation culture with such perfusion system could be used to scale up produce biopharmaceuticals instead of microcarrier culture system.

OBJECTIVEHemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a common primary disease that can cause acute renal failure in childhood. Renal disease is the most important long-term complication in patients who survived the acute stage of HUS. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and a restricted protein intake may be beneficial to the patients. However, it is not established whether such patients should be treated with steroids and immunosuppressors. The present study aimed to probe into the benefit of using steroid and immunosuppressor in patients after acute stage of HUS.

METHODSThe subjects included 17 patients (aged 9 months to 15 years, 12 males, 5 females) with HUS. Thirteen patients recovered from the acute stage of HUS, and underwent continuative treatment and follow-up. All the patients were treated with ACEI and early restriction of protein intake. Additionally, 2 children manifested as glomerulonephritis, one was treated with triperygium glycosides. Other 11 children who manifested as nephrotic syndrome were treated with prednisone, among them 5 children had no response or had incomplete response to prednisone, for these children short-term high dose cyclophosphamide or methylprednisolone pulse treatment were added; in 3 of the children short-term high dose methylprednisolone treatment was applied additionally for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and/or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and crescentic glomerulonephritis.

RESULTSAfter follow-up for 2 months to 8 years, 4 patients with milder disease recovered, their blood pressure, renal function and urinalysis became normal, but 1 patient had recurrence. Among 9 patients with severe disease, 6 maintained normal blood pressure, recovered renal function and urinalysis, the other 3 patients failed to comply with treatment protocol and died during the 3rd, 9th and 13th month. The remainder (4 cases) gave up therapy and died on the 27th to 48th days of the course.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment applied in this study could improve the prognosis of patients after acute phase of HUS evidently by using the steroid and immuno suppressor according to clinical classification and pathological findings. It is recommended that triperygium glycosides is beneficial to children with glomerulonephritis, proteinuria and hematuria after acute stage of HUS. Adjustment of therapeutic schedule based on pathological findings after renal biopsy is helpful. To the patients with progressive renal failure who have no response to the steroid and immunosuppressors, steroid and immunosuppressor should be discontinued and dialysis treatment should be applied. Protocol compliance is also an important factor.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diet, Protein-Restricted ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; diet therapy ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.

Objective: The effect on fat infiltration (FI) of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal diseases has been demonstrated except for spinopelvic parameters. The present study is to identify the effect of spinopelvic parameters on FI of paraspinal muscle (PSM) and psoas major muscle (PMM) in patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. Methods: A single-center, retrospective cross-sectional study of 160 patients with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) and lumbar stenosis (LSS) who had lateral full-spine x-ray and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging was conducted. PSM and PMM FIs were defined as the ratio of fat to its muscle cross-sectional area. The FIs were compared among patients with different pelvic tilt (PT) and pelvic incidence (PI), respectively. Results: The PSM FI correlated significantly with pelvic parameters in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients. The PSM FI in pelvic retroversion (PT > 25°) was 0.54 ± 0.13, which was significantly higher in DLS patients than in normal pelvis (0.41 ± 0.14) and pelvic anteversion (PT < 5°) (0.34 ± 0.12). The PSM FI of DLS patients with large PI ( > 60°) was 0.50 ± 0.13, which was higher than those with small ( < 45°) and normal PI (0.37 ± 0.11 and 0.36 ± 0.13). However, the PSM FI of LSS patients didn’t change significantly with PT or PI. Moreover, the PMM FI was about 0.10–0.15, which was significantly lower than the PSM FI, and changed with PT and PI in a similar way of PSM FI with much less in magnitude. Conclusion FI of the PSMs increased with greater pelvic retroversion or larger pelvic incidence in DLS patients, but not in LSS patients.