AIM To establish a UPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of glycosides,rutinoside,myricitrin,hyperoside,isoquercitrin,guaijaverin,astragalin,quercitrin and afzelin in the shoots of Toona sinensis Roemer.METHODS The analysis of 60％ methanol extract of T.sinensis shoots was performed on a 35 ℃ thermostatic Waters XBridge Shield RP18 column (2.1 mm × 150 mm,1.7 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-water flowing at 0.35 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 350 nm.RESULTS Eight flavonol glycosides showed good linear relationships within their own ranges (r≥ 0.9992),whose average recoveries were 98.3％-103.5％ with the RSDs of 0.46％-3.36％.CONCLUSION This accurate,stable and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of T.sinensis shoots.

This study examined the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among residents aged ≥50 years living in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. Stratified cluster sampling was employed in random selection to estimate the prevalence of glaucoma from April to June, 2005. Twenty-nine villages or neighborhood communities were randomly selected in urban area (Zhongshan Road), suburban area (Shanjiao Town) and exurban area (Zhutuo Town) of this district. All the respondents underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. The examinations included questionnaire investigation, visual acuity test, naked-eye examination, measurement of peripheral anterior chamber depth (Van Herrick's technique), detection of intraocluar pressure (IOP) with a Perkins hand-held applanation tonometer (HA-2) and examination of the optic disc by using a 78 diopters (D) lens (including the cup-disc ratio, cup/disc ratio asymmetries, horizontal and vertical diameter, notching and optic disc hemorrhages). A total of 5938 residents were actually examined, and the response rate was 85.19%. The crude prevalence of POAG was 0.86% (n=51/5938, 95% CI 0.64%-1.11%). There were 24 males and 27 females in the glaucoma group. The glaucoma prevalence was not significant different in case number between the male and female subjects (P=0.4900). Furthermore, no association between age or schooling and POAG was noted (P=0.8030, 0.0734). Out of 51 subjects with POAG, unilateral glaucoma-related blindness occurred in 38 subjects (74.5%) and bilateral glaucoma-related blindness was found in 7 subjects (13.7%). This study exhibited that the prevalence of POAG was 0.86% among residents aged ≥50 years living in Yongchuan District of Chongqing. The vision loss caused by POAG in this population was obviously higher than that previously reported in other studies. Glaucoma management, detection of affected persons and handling of the burden of glaucoma should be the priorities of the agenda of local health authorities of Western China.
Aged ; Blindness ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Gonioscopy ; methods ; Health Surveys ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vision Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVEThis article reports a population genetic study on six short tandem repeat(STR) loci, D7S820, D19S253, D12S391, D5S818, D16S539 and D8S1179, in a sample of unrelated Chinese Han individuals(n=122-173) living in Hebei province.

METHODSDNA extraction from blood samples (200 in number) and multiplex amplification of the above six loci were carried out. Using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain, the authors investigated the distribution of allele frequencies of the six loci in Han population in Hebei province.

RESULTSThe STR polymorphisms at all of the six loci were observed in Chinese Han population in Hebei province. The observed heterozygosities of D7S820, D19S253, D12S391, D5S818, D16S539 and D8S1179 were 0.828, 0.757, 0.769, 0.837, 0.785 and 0.852, respectively. The measured values of the power of discrimination (PD) were 0.914, 0.919, 0.940, 0.909, 0.917, 0.944; of the mean exclusion chance(MEC) 0.618, 0.740, 0.801, 0.557, 0.655, 0.696 and of the polymorphism information content (PIC) in Chinese 0.771, 0.760, 0.762, 0.708, 0.776 and 0.794, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe genotype distributions of the six STR were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The numerical values of the PD and MEC are relatively high in Hebei province, and thus can be of significant application in population genetics and forensic medicine.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics ; physiology

Adult ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Essential Tremor ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; physiology

OBJECTIVEDendritic cells an hyperinsulinemia are both implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of high concentration of insulin on the maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) and related signal transduction pathways.

METHODSHuman monocytes were purified (over 98%) using Anti-CD14 micro-beads and cultured for 5 days with DC Cellgro medium containing rhGM-CSF (100 microg/L) and rhIL-4 (20 microg/L). Immature DC were then incubated with insulin of various concentrations (0, 1, 10, 100 nmol/L) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or PD98059 (MAPK inhibitor). Immunophenotypic expression of CD86 and CD83 were detected using flow cytometry. Endocytosis function of the MoDCs was evaluated using FITC-Dextran and MoDCs secretion IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSInsulin induced significantly higher CD83 and CD86 expressions on MoDCs in a dose-dependent manner. The endocytosis function of MoDCs were significantly inhibited and cytokine secretions of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha significantly increased by 10 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L insulin. These effects could be blocked by the LY294002 and PD98059.

CONCLUSIONHyperinsulinemia contributed to atherosclerosis via stimulating immune maturation of MoDCs via both PI3K and MAPK pathways.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUNDAhmed glaucoma valves (AGV) has been used for decades, but there is no detailed report about the efficacy of AGV in Chinese glaucoma patients. This study aimed to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy and side effects of S-2 polypropylene and PF-7 silicone AGV implantation in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients.

METHODSPatients were divided into S-2 model AGV group and FP-7 model AGV group. The complete and qualified surgical success rate, change of IOP, number of anti-glaucoma medications used and postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTSAverage follow-up time was comparable between two groups. IOP was reduced from (37.9 ± 12.7) mmHg preoperatively to (17.3 ± 5.3) mmHg at the last follow-up in S-2 group and reduced from (39.9 ± 14.4) mmHg to (17.7 ± 4.9) mmHg in FP-7 group. Anti-glaucoma medications were reduced from 3.8 ± 0.2 to 1.5 ± 0.2 in S-2 group, and 3.5 ± 0.2 to 0.7 ± 0.2 in FP-7 groups. The cumulative success rates were comparable in two groups, which were 61.2% and 72.1% in S-2 group and FP-7 group respectively. When IOP reduction criteria was used, complete success rates were 30.6% and 51.2% for S-2 and FP-7 groups, and qualified success rates were 86.1% and 92.7% separately. In both groups, the major complication was hypotony, and the previous trabeculectomy of patients was the major risk factor for surgery failure.

CONCLUSIONSIn this short-term retrospective study, S-2 AGV is showed at least as effective as FP-7 AGV in IOP reduction, but associated with higher rate of complications. Previous trabeculectomy is a principle risk factor for AGV implantation failure. These clinical outcomes are important for converting use of the FP-7 silicon AGV in Chinese refractory glaucoma patients.

Adult ; Female ; Glaucoma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Glaucoma Drainage Implants ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; physiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Atherosclerosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Cytokines ; secretion ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Endocytosis ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; toxicity ; Monocytes ; cytology ; PPAR alpha ; agonists ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to identify short-term result of cell transplantation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) patients who were treated by intracoronary transplantation of autologous mononuclear bone marrow cells (BMCs) in addition to standard therapy.

METHODSBased on given standard therapy, eighteen patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were enrolled and divided into transplantation group and control group. The clinical characteristics of two groups were comparable. Among these patients, 10 patients were performed percutaneous coronary autologous BMCs transplantation. Blood routine test, hepatic function, renal function, glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, low density cholesterol (LDL), high density cholesterol (HDL), uric acid (UA) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were measured at the time point of pre-operation and some time after transplantation. All patients were monitored under ultrasonic cardiography, Holter, six-minute-walk test and magnetic resonance imaging over a period of at least 6 months. Annual hospital days were recorded during two-year follow-up.

RESULTSBlood routine test, hepatic function, renal function, glucose, TG, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, UA and hsCRP had no significant differences among 48 hours, 3 months and 6 months after transplantation compared with control and pre-transplantation (P > 0.05). Six-minute-walk distance elevated significantly six months after BMCs transplantation compared with control and pre-transplantation [(494.3 +/- 62.8) m vs (307.2 +/- 75.0) m, (321.5 +/- 63.7) m, P < 0.05]. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the sizes of LVEDd had no significant changes compared with that of control and pre-transplantation (P > 0.05). Myocardium lesion area measured by (MRI) seemed decrease in transplantation group compared with that of control and pre-operation [(4.96 +/- 0.47) cm(2) vs (5.12 +/- 0.54) cm(2), (5.02 +/- 0.39) cm(2), P > 0.05], but there was no significance. None of proarrhythmias and side effects had been observed around transplantation and 2 years follow-up. There was no significant difference in survival between two groups in 2 years follow-up. Interestingly, annual hospital day in BMCs transplantation patients was significantly shorter than that in control group [(30.2 +/- 11.2) d vs (43.6 +/- 9.8) d, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSAutologous bone marrow mononuclear cells transplantation can prolong six-minute-walk, decrease re-hospitalization rate, elevate exercise ability and help to improve cardiac function in patients with IDC. In addition, it was demonstrated that cell transplantation is safe.

Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of contrast-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (CeMRI) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

METHODSThere were twenty-three patients enrolled in this study. After dynamic observation, there were 20 patients who were diagnosed as MI. All those patients underwent coronary artery angiography and CeMRI. MRI was performed with a 1.5-T magnet (AVANTO, SIMENS). After tagged images were acquired, the patients received an intravenous bolus of 0.1 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA at a rate of 5 ml/s. A first-pass perfusion scan was acquired simultaneously with a bolus injection. A second bolus of 0.3 mmol/kg Gd-DTPA was given following the first-pass images. Delayed images were acquired 5 minutes after the second bolus by using an inversion-recovery prepared gated fast-gradient echo-pulse sequence.

RESULTSHypoenhancement was seen in 20 patients at the first-pass perfusion at the myocardial infarction site, while hyperenhancement was seen at delayed CeMRI. Myocardial infarction area in delayed CeMRI was 16.58% +/- 9.73%, which was correlated positively with peak CK and cTnT (r = 0.821, P < 0.01 and r = 0.565, P < 0.05), respectively. The ejection fraction (EF) detected by MRI was 0.46 +/- 0.13, while the left ventricular EF (LVEF) detected by left ventriculography was 0.49 +/- 0.16. There was no difference between two parameters.

CONCLUSIONSCeMRI may play an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with MI.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNCs) transplantation by intracoronary infusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-four patients with AMI treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomized in a 1:1 way to either intracoronary transplantation of autologous BM-MNCs (n = 92) right after PCI or to sodium chloride concluding heparin (controlled, n = 92) via a micro infusion catheter. In the process of the intracoronary infusion of BM-MNCs, the complications should be recorded, which were aberration reflect (including of pale, syncope, nausea, hypotension and shock), deterioration of angina or heart failure, arrhythmias (including of bradycardia, sinus arrest or atrial ventricular block or ventricular fibrillation), embolism etc. Body temperature, blood pressure and heart rates should be monitored during the first week after transplantation. Holter, coronary angiography and ultrasonic cardiography were performed at the designed time points. Main heart accidents, restenosis and tumor were recorded during 2-years follow up.

RESULTSDuring the period of bone marrow puncture and intracoronary infusion of BM-MNCs, few patients occurred pale, dizziness, bradycardia and hypotension, which were transient and due to vagus reflect. No stem cell-related arrhythmias, deterioration of angina were noted. In BM-MNCs group one patient developed in-stent reocclusion in one week after transplantation, five developed in-stent restenosis during further follow-up 30 months, which were similar with control group. There were no deaths, major adverse cardiac events, tumor and other late adverse events during follow-up period in both groups.

CONCLUSIONIntracoronary transplantation of autologous BM-MNCs in the acute phase after AMI is feasible and seems safe in the 30 months of follow-up.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Coronary Vessels ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; surgery ; Transplantation, Autologous