Objective To explore the improvement of core symptoms and detailed function in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after treatment with methylphenidate extended-release tablets, and analyse the relationship between core symptoms reduction and detailed function improvement. Methods One hundred and fifty-six children with confirmed ADHD were rated with Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version Ⅳ (SNAP-Ⅳ)Scale before treatment, then methylphenidate extended-release tablets were orally administered 18 mg once daily for 1 month, and children were rated again by means of SNAP-Ⅳ Scale and detailed function improvement questionnaire. The core symptoms reduction and detailed function improvement were observed, and their relationship was analysed. Results The primary mean scores of each factor in SNAP-Ⅳ Scale decreased significantly after treatment with methylphenidate extended-release tablets(P< 0.001). The reduction rate of factor IOWA/I/O was the most significant (>50%), followed by ADHD-H/Im and ADHD-In. The performance of school study, homework doing and social behavioral function was improved, and the detailed function was significantly improved. The reduction rate in ADHD-In factor was significantly correlated with improvement of school study and homework doing (P<0.01). The reduction rate in ADHD-H/Im factor was significantly correlated with improvement of social behavioral function(P<0.05). Conclusion Methylphenidate extended-release tablets play a role in both core symptoms reduction and detailed function improvement in children with ADHD, and core symptoms reduction is related to detailed function improvement to some degree. Methylphenidate extended-release tablets exert different effects on different detailed function.

Objective To identify the changes of morphological development status on minority students in China from 1985 to 2005. Methods We selected a total of 15 groups of the Chinese minority students as subjects of the study, including Mongolian, Hui, Uygur, Zhuang, Korean, Tibetan, Yao, Li, Qiang, Buyi, Dong, Miao, Tu, Salar, Kirgiz, with data from the Chinese national survey on students' physical fitness and health condition in 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2005. Height, weight and waist of the subjects were calculated and analyzed. Results From 1985 to 2005, the growth and characteristics of height in the Chinese minority students had a similar increase when comparing to the Han students, but with different degrees. However the growth rate was gradually decreasing. The average heights of Kirgiz, Korean, Salar and Mongolian schoolboys aged 18 years old were 170 cm, being 170.91 cm, 170.47 cm, 170.29 cm and 170.27 cm, respectively, which were close to that of the Hart students. Some minority students had a substantial increase of body weight. However, the waist of some minority students decreased. Only a few groups of minority students had increasing waist, such as Mongolian and Korean rural boys, Mongolian, Zhuang, and Korean rural girls, with the growth being 0.101 cm, 0.095 cm, 0.126 cm, 0.163 cm and 0.107 cm, respectively. Uygur, Mongolian, Kirgiz and Korean students had the morphological development similar to Han urban students, especially Uighur boys and girls. Conclusion From 1985 to 2005, The height, weight and waist of Chinese minority students had an overall increase at different degrees. In order to improve the physical fitness of minority students, awareness on nutrition and health education of both students and parents should be strengthened. Surveillance and programs on growth, development and health status of the minority children and adolescents should also be carried out continuously.

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism and potential active components of Jiegeng Decotion (JD) with the antitussive and expectorant effects. Methods: Target proteins related with phlegm and cough were selected through mining literature and retrieving in DrugBank and TTD database, and the main active components and potential target proteins from JD were computed and analyzed by DOVIS 2.0 and Cytoscape 3.0 to build a molecular-protein regulatory network. Results: A total of 38 target proteins and 472 small molecules were initially screened based on the pathological mechanism which is related with phlegm and cough. Molecular docking results showed that 78 molecules (five from Platycodi Radix and 73 from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and their structural characteristics analysis were in accordance with the “rules of generic drugs”) were found in JD with higher docking score (Score ≥ 7) of target protein. According to the results of molecular docking, 128 molecular-target protein data pairs with high docking scores (Score ≥ 7) were selected, and then 26 major active components of JD (saponins and flavonoids, etc.) and 13 target proteins were identified by using Network analyzer. Conclusion: The active components of JD could regulate over-inflammatory response on the respiratory tract, improve the lung function, inhibit the over-expression of mucin, and reduce the reaction of the stimulation on cough center through acting on the main target proteins (TLR4, MMP9, IKK2, etc), thereby achieving the antitussive and expectorant effects.

Objective To explore the changes of serum gastrin(GAS),plasma motilin(MTL) and somatostatin(SST) in critically ill children with gastrointestinal dysfunction(GID).Methods According to pediatric critical illness score,75 cases were divided into greatly critical group(score90).Fifty cases of greatly critical and critical group were divided into GID group and non-GID group.The levels of serum GAS,plasma MTL and SST were detected on an empty stomach at acute stage and convalescence stage,comparing with those of normal control group,and then,the relationship between the levels of serum GAS,plasma MTL,SST and GID,the severity of disease were analyzed.Results At acute stage,the levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL of greatly critical group and critical group were higher than those of normal control group,the levels of plasma SST of greatly critical group and critical group were lower than that of normal control group,the more severe condition of critical children,the higher level of serum GAS and plasma MTL,the lower level of plasma SST.At convalescence stage,the level of serum GAS and plasma MTL of the greatly critical group and critical group decreased and the level of plasma SST increased.The levels of serum GAS and plasma MTL of GID group were higher than those of non-GID group,but the level of plasma SST of GID group was lower than that of non-GID group.Conclusion The level of serum GAS,plasma MTL and SST can be used to assess the severity of illness and prognosis,judge the change of disease and determine the efficacy of treatment programs,and detect gastrointestinal functional lesion.

Objective:To analyze the effects of espO gene knockout on the biological characteristics of enterhemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Methods:Two-step methods mediated by the suicide plasmid pCVD442-Δ espO and plasmid pTrc99a were used to construct the espO gene-deleted strain (Δ espO) and the complemented mutant (CΔ espO), respectively. HeLa cells were infected with different EHEC strains to analyze the biological functions and lethal effects of espO gene during infection. Results:PCR, electrophoresis and gene sequencing showed that the Δ espO and CΔ espO mutants were successfully constructed. Compared with the wild-type strain, neither the Δ espO nor CΔ espO mutant showed significant difference in growth rate, indicating that the espO gene had no influence on the growth and replication of EHEC. Furthermore, EspO could activate the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF)-induced NF-κB signaling pathway, while the effector protein NleB could inhibit the process. EspO could not inhibit the death of HeLa cells induced by TNF or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) after EHEC infection. Conclusions:In this study, we successfully constructed the espO gene-deleted and complemented mutants of EHEC and preliminarily analyzed the interaction between espO gene and host cells and the effects of espO gene on cell apoptosis during infection, which provided reference for further research on the in vitro biochemical activity and in vivo pathogenic roles of EspO.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways. Its main pathological manifestations include airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, oxidative stress and apoptotic epithelial cells. Recent research suggests that MAP kinases and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway are involved in the pathological process of inflammation and oxidative stress. This review explores the potential role of the cross talk of these signaling pathways in airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, oxidative stress and apoptotic epithelial cells. To clarify the roles of cross talk between MAP kinases and Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, we also focus on the drugs related to that in the treatment of COPD, and it provides ideas for more drug research in the treatment of COPD.
Apoptosis ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Oxidative Stress ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; metabolism ; Respiratory System ; Signal Transduction

AIMTo explore the relationship between proliferation and hypertrophy of vascular smooth muscle cells and PDGF-AA and PDGFR-alpha expression in SHRs and the role of [Ca2+]i in it.

METHODSExpress difference of PDGF-AA, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta in SHR/WKY-VSMC was observed by Western blot. The effect of Ca2+ inhibitor (nimodipine) on proliferation, hypertrophy and free Ca2+ concentration of SHR-VSMC induced by PDGF-AA was observed by Western blot, [3H] incorporation and fluorescent digital image technique.

RESULTSPDGF-AA and PDGFR-alpha expression was markedly increased in SHR-VSMC than in WKY-VSMC, but PDGFR-beta was not different in SHR and WKY-VSMC. PDGF-AA-stimulated PCNA expression, [3H] incorporation and [Ca2+]i increasing were observed in SHR-VSMC. Dose-dependent nimodipine-inhibited PCNA expression, [3H] incorporation and [Ca2+]i increasing induced by PDGF-AA also were observed in SHR-VSMC.

CONCLUSIONSSpontaneously expression increasing of PDGF-AA and PDGFR-alpha in spontaneously hypertension rats (SHRs) may be one of the important factors on vascular reactivity and vascular modeling mediated through proliferation and hypertrophy in SHR-VSMC, and [Ca2+]i play an important role in this process.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism

To study on the effects of Achyranthes bidentata on Tongsaimai pellets main active ingredients chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and glycyrrhizin in rats in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors, a method for the simultaneous determination of chlorogenic acid, isoliquiritin, harpagoside and liquiritigenin in rat plasma was established by UPLC-MS/MS. The analysis was performed on a waters Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) with the mixture of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid/water as mobile phase, and the gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL x min(-1). The analytes were detected by tandem mass spectrometry with the electrospray ionization (ESI) source and in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. It turned out that the analytes of Tongsaimai pellets groups C(max) and AUC(Q-infinity) values were higher than that with A. bidentata group, and the C(max) values of chlorogenic acid had significantly difference (P < 0.05), the AUC(0-infinity) values of chlorogenic acid and glycyrrhizin had significantly difference (P < 0.05); The T(max) and CL values of two groups had no significantly difference. Results showed that the established method was specific, rapid, accurate and sensitive for the studies of Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic, and A. bidentata have varying degrees of effects on Tongsaimai pellets four main active ingredients in rat in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviors.
Achyranthes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chalcone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chlorogenic Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Male ; Pyrans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective　To explore the effect of hypoxia on the apoptosis of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells（HUVECs） and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF） in inhibition of apoptosis． Methods　①Culture and identification of HUVECs．②Establishment of hypoxic model（0，12，24，48 h）in HUVECs．③Incubation of HUVECs with VEGF(0 ng, 100 ng) under hypoxic condition for 24 h. ④Detection of apoptosis of HUVECs with TUNEL method． Results　The percentages of apoptosis were different under different hypoxic conditions． The longer hypoxic time was，the higher apoptosis percentage was．VEGF reduced the apoptosis of HUVECs induced by hepoxia． Conclusion　Over-apoptosis EVCs in one of the important factors for the impairment of endothelial function. HEGF inhibits the apoptosis of HVCs and having a pretive function on them.

OBJECTIVESulfur dioxide was considered to be toxic and detrimental to human health. However, this review highlights recent advances that suggest sulfur dioxide might be a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.

DATA SOURCESThe data used in this review were mainly from the studies reported in Medline and PubMed published from 1986 to 2010.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews selected were relevant to exogenous and endogenous sulfur dioxide.

RESULTSThe sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is endogenously generated in the cardiovascular system, and sulfur dioxide shows broad bioactive effects, such as antihypertension, vasodilation, and amelioration of vascular remodeling. A disturbed sulfur dioxide/aspartate amino transferase pathway is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, athrosclerosis, spontaneous hypertension and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Furthermore, in experimental studies the prognosis of these cardiovascular diseases can be improved by targeting endogenous sulfur dioxide.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggest that sulfur dioxide is a novel endogenous gaseous signaling molecule involved in the regulation of cardiovascular functions.

Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Sulfur Dioxide ; metabolism