Objective Analyze the amino acids and acylcarnitines in the blood of patients first diagnosed with uremia using tandem mass spectrometry in order to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods 30 patients with uremia were selected as the research objects,while 15 cases of healthy person were served as the control. The values of 11 kinds of amino acids and 2 kinds of acylcarnitines in the two groups were detected using tandem mass spectrometry,and the data were analyzed and compared. Results The levels of alanine(Ala)and tyrosine(Tyr)in uremia group were significantly lower than those in control group(P < 0.05),while the levels of citrulline(Cit),glycine(Gly)and proline(Pro)were significantly higher in uremia group than in control group (P < 0.05). The differences were mainly in non-essential amino acids between the two groups. The levels of free carnitines and total carnitines in uremia group were significantly higher than those in normal group(P < 0.05). Conclusion For the patients first diagnosed with uremia(not treated with replacement therapy),the disturbance of amino acid metabolism mainly in non-essential amino acids were found in their blood,and the carnitine levels were higher than normal levels. The results could provide the basis for clinical nutrition therapy for patients with uremia.

Hirudin is one of the most potent anti-coagulant protein ever found, and its C-terminus is a key domain for inhibiting thrombin.In order to enhance its specificity,a novel anti-coagulant protein was constructed via fusing the C-terminus of hirudin to Annexin V, which was expected to sustain both anti coagulant activity and phorspholipid affinity. The structure of the designed protein was predicted with both molecular mechanics and dynamics. Molecular dynamics was adopted to simulate the docking interaction between the fusion protein and thrombin. The results showed the inhibitory activity of the fusion protein to thrombin.

The change of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside in Siegesbeckia and its first to ninth processed products were studied, and the ten fingerprints were compared, which provided the experimental basis for the study of Siegesbeckia processing tech- nology. The samples were analysed by HPLC on a SunFire-C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 μm) with gradient elution of acetonitrile (0.1% formic acid)-water (0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). Column temperaturewas 30 °C and the detected wavelength was 215, 320 nm. The calibration curves of kirenol, darutigenol and darutoside were linear in the range of 2.180-26.16, 2.900-34.80, and 1.012-6.072 mg x L(-1), respectively, and the average recoveries were 96.4%, 97.2% and 96.3% wit RSD 2.2%, 1.7% and 2.4%. This method was simple, the result was stable and had good repeatability, recovery and precision. The re- sult was the basis of the chemical contents variation in the processing of Siegesbeckia Herbs and further clarifying the effect of the changing.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and action mechanism of petroleum ether extracts from Saussurea involucrate on brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions.

METHODThe PESI dosage-dependent experiment for hypoxia rats was conducted under constant pressure and closed conditions by intraperitoneally injecting 125, 250, 500 mg x kg(-1) to finalize that the optimum dosage is the high dose of PESI. Afterwards, 90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the hypoxic model group, the acetazolamide 250 mg x kg(-1) group and the PESI high dose group. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to different hypoxia times, with 10 rats in each subgroup. Under the same hypoxia and administration conditions, the rats were sacrificed after 0, 3, 6 h respectively. Their brain samples were collected for common pathological observation and immunohistochemical staining of HIF-1alpha. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect HIF-1alpha, EPO, HO-1 and Caspase-3 gene expressions. And the Western blot assay was adopted to detect HIF-1alpha protein expression.

RESULTThe brain tissues of the hypoxia model group were severely damaged with the increase in the hypoxia time. The acetazolamide group and the PESI high does group were damaged in a much lower degree. According to the gene expression and the Western blot assay, high dose of PESI could inhibit HIF-1alpha expression. According to the pure gene expression test, high dose of PESI could increase EPO and HO-1 mRNA expressions, but inhibit Caspase-3 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONPESI's protective mechanism for brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions may be related to its effects in inhibiting HIF-1alpha expression, increasing EPO expression and resisting cell apoptosis.

Alkanes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saussurea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in children with sepsis, and to analyze its risk factors.

METHODSClinical data of 384 children with sepsis was studied retrospectively. They included 304 cases of general sepsis, 54 cases of severe sepsis and 26 cases of septic shock, and were divided into non-CLS (n=356) and CLS groups (n=28). Univariate analysis was performed for each of the following variables: sex, age, malnutrition, anemia, coagulation disorders, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, blood glucose, lactic acid, Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) III score, pediatric critical illness score (PICS), severe sepsis and number of failed organs≥3. The statistically significant variables (as independent variables) were subjected to multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of CLS in children with septic shock, severe sepsis and general sepsis were 42.3%, 20.1% and 1.3%, respectively, with significant differences among them (P<0.01). There were significant differences in anemia, coagulation disorders, CRP, PCT>2 ng/mL, TNF, IL-1, IL-6, blood glucose, lactic acid, PRISM III score, PICS and number of failed organs≥3 between the non-CLS and CLS groups (P<0.05). Severe sepsis/shock and PRISM III score were the independent risk factors for CLS in children with sepsis.

CONCLUSIONSThe severity of sepsis and PRISM III score are positively correlated with the incidence of CLS in children with sepsis. Early monitoring of such factors as infection markers and blood glucose in children with severe sepsis and high PRISM III score may contribute to early diagnosis and effective intervention, thus reducing the mortality from CLS in children with sepsis.

Adolescent ; Capillary Leak Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood lead level in children aged 0-6 years in urban areas of China.

METHODSFourteen cities were selected as sites under surveillance. A total of 44 045 peripheral blood specimens were collected from 2004 to 2006, during which 15 727, 14 737, and 13 584 specimens were tested in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. Tungsten atomizer absorption spectrophotometer was employed to determine blood lead level.

RESULTSThe geometric mean blood lead level in the tested children was 47.10 microg/L with 10.10% > or = 100 microg/L, 46.17 microg/L with 7.78% > or = 100 microg/L, and 47.03 microg/L with 7.30% > or = 100 microg/L in 2004, 2005, and 2006, respectively. The blood lead levels seemed to tend to rise in parallel with the increase of age of the children and were higher in boys (48.84 microg/L, 47.56 microg/L, and 47.78 microg/L in the 3 respective years) than in girls (45.00 microg/L, 44.53 microg/L, and 46.13 microg/L).

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead levels in children in cities of China are lower than those in previous national studies, but higher than those in developed countries. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem in China.

Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Male ; Population Surveillance ; Sex Characteristics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood lead status and influencing factors among preschool children in the sampling city.

METHODStratified-clustered-random sampling was used. Standardized questionnaire and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 69 968 children aged 0-6 years in fixed kindergartens and communities of Yinchuan, Xi'an, Chengdu, Wuhan, Hefei, Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Huhhot, Shijiazhuang, Haikou, Dalian, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Nanning and Changsha from 2004 to 2008, respectively. Tungsten atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry was employed to determine the blood lead level of children.

RESULTThe proportion of children with blood lead level ≥ 100 µg/L was 7.57% (among which the proportion of high blood lead level, mild lead poisoning, moderate lead poisoning, severe lead poisoning were 91.0%, 2.76%, 3.32%, 2.93%, respectively) and the blood lead level was lower than those of the past studies. The proportion of high blood lead level has steadily declined from 2004 to 2008 [the proportions were 10.03%, 7.85%, 7.40%, 6.91% and 4.78%, respectively (χ(2) = 297.36, P < 0.0001)]. The proportion of children with blood lead level ≥ 100 µg/L in Haikou, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Shijiazhuang, Changsha, Xi'an, Wuhan, Hefei, Chengdu, Yinchuan, Harbin, Beijing, Dalian, Huhhot, Nanning and Qingdao were 12.15%, 10.49%, 10.37%, 9.69%, 9.53%, 9.46%, 9.40%, 8.50%, 7.99%, 7.98%, 7.51%, 6.10%, 3.25%, 2.89%, 2.46% and 2.39%, respectively (χ(2) = 768.21, P < 0.0001). By multiple regression method, the risk factors which influenced blood lead status of children were education status of mother, older children, behavior and dietary habit of children, boy, stay for long time in traffic busy areas, the type of housing, taking traditional Chinese and herbal medicine. The protective factors against lead poisoning in children mainly included scattered living, the nutritional status of calcium, iron, zinc, frequent intake of milk, and older mother.

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead level of children has decreased, but is still higher than those in developed countries. Lead exposure remains a public health issue which affects children most. The blood lead level of children is affected by multiple factors. Government and the whole society should pay attention to interrupt the lead pollutant and to promote nutritional health education. With all these efforts, it is possible to stop the progress of lead exposure and reduce its hazardous effects on the growth and development of children.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo observe blood lead level and related risk factors among children aged 0-6 years old living in cities in China and to provide data for policy development to the prevention on environmental lead pollution.

METHODSA stratified-clustered-random sampling method was used. 17 141 peripheral blood samples of 0-6 years old children from 15 cities in China were tested. Tungsten atomizer absorption spectrophotometer was employed to determined the blood lead level. Related factors were also studied using a standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed on related risk factors that affecting blood lead levels through multiple regression method.

RESULTSThe mean blood lead level of 0-6 years old children from 15 cities in China was 59.52 microg/L including 10.45% of those > or =100 microg/L, and 0.62% > or = 200 microg/L. However, the blood lead levels seemed to have had a trend of increase parallel to age among 0-6 years-old children and were higher for boys (59.50 microg/L) than girls (54.95 microg/L). The risk factors which influenceing children's blood lead levels would include the type of housing, parent's education levels, social status and hobby, children's behavior habit, dieting habit and nutritional condition.

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead levels of children in China were lower than data gathered from former national studies but higher than those from developed countries, suggesting that the. Government and the whole society should be aware of the problem on lead poisoning among children during their childhood.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lead ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Quality Control ; Risk Factors ; Sampling Studies ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of tea polyphenols (TP) on cell proliferation and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT).

METHODSThe experiment was divided into tea polyphenols 0.100 g/L, tea polyphenols 0.050 g/L and blank control groups. The inhibitory ratio of cell proliferation was assayed with MTT, and hTERT mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and hTERT protein analyzed by Western-blotting. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls of SPSS 11.0 for windows.

RESULTSCell proliferations were significantly inhibited after exposure to TP. The proliferation inhibiting rate of TP 0.025, 0.050, 0.100, 0.200 g/L on Tca8113 cell at 72 h was 69.75% +/- 3.24%, 63.17% +/- 3.19%, 50.35% +/- 4.21% and 34.75% +/- 3.71%, respectively (F = 270.19, P < 0.05). At the end of 72 h, the hTERT mRNA expression in TP 0.100 g/L, 0.050 g/L and control group were 0.32 +/- 0.05, 0.41 +/- 0.04, 0.72 +/- 0.05, respectively (P < 0.05). The Western-blotting assay showed that hTERT protein was also decreased by tea polyphenols compared to control group.

CONCLUSIONSTea polyphenols could inhibit the proliferation of Tca8113 cells and expression of the hTERT mRNA and protein in Tca8113 cell lines. This effect might be one of the mechanisms for anticancer function of tea polyphenols.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Polyphenols ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tea ; chemistry ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Tongue Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology