This paper explored the specific peptides from Bubali Cornu by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and based on mathematics set theory. Following the profile analysis of peptides from Bubali Cornu, Bovis Grunniens Cornu, Caprae Hircus Cornu, and Suis Cornu by nano LC-LTQ-Obitrap-MS after digestion with trypsin, the relationship of peptide composition among different samples was analyzed using the mathematics set theory. The ones that existed only in the Bubali Cornu set rather than in any other set were considered as the specific peptides of Bubali Cornu. The further bioinformatic analysis revealed four specific peptides from Bubali Cornu, whose specificity was verified by UPLC-QQQ-MS. The results showed that these four peptides could be used for distinguishing Bubali Cornu from Caprae Hircus Cornu and Suis Cornu. This study has provided a rapid and simple method for seeking the specific peptides in animal medicines, which can be utilized for quality evaluation of animal medicines, thus making them authenticable and traceable.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Cornus ; Horns/chemistry* ; Peptides/chemistry* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

This present study is to detect the content of free thiols(-SH) in the horn derived traditional Chinese medicines( TCMs) from different animals and different regions by using fluorescence derivatization method. TCEP was used as a disulfide bond reducing agent,while SBD-F as a derivatization reagent. Fluorescent spectrophotometry was used to determine the content of-SH,and the maximum excitation wavelength and emission wavelength were set as 375 and 510 nm,respectively. As a result,under the optimized condition,the extraction of Caprae Hircus Cornu showed the highest free-SH concentration,followed by Bovis Grunniens Cornu,Bubali Cornu,and Elaphuri Davidiani Cornu. In the present study,we point out that the-SH-contained components might be the most important material basis in animal horn derived TCMs. With good accurate,sensitive and rapid properties,the present method can provide reference basis for the quality evaluation of animal horn derived TCMs and guides for the investigation on effective material basis.
Animals ; Cornus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Horns ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Sulfhydryl Compounds

We identified the echinostome metacercariae in Chinese mystery snails, Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata, from Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR with morphologies of adult worms recovered. Total 20 snails were examined with artificial digestion method and then the collected metacercariae were orally infected to a mouse and a rat. Adult worms recovered from experimental animals were observed with a light microscope and a SEM. The metacercariae were round, 125×123 μm in average size, with a moderately thick cyst wall, collar spines distributed in the head collar and excretory granules in 2 canals of excretory tube. Adult flukes (3-week-old in a rat) were elongated, ventrally curved and 5.310×1.023 mm in average size. Head collar distinct, bearing 43 collar spines with 5 end group ones on each side. Oral sucker subterminal, prepharynx very short, pharynx well developed, and esophagus relatively short. Cirrus sac well developed, with a saccular seminal vesicle, and ventral sucker very large. Ovary round and on the median line of the body. Testes tandom and elongated. Eggs operculated, elliptical and 90×57 μm in average size. In the SEM observation, the head crown prominent, with 43 collar spines resembled with horns of younger stag. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the surface between the head collar and ventral sucker, and their densities were decreased posteriorly. Conclusively, the metacercariae detected in C. chinensis malleata from Lao PDR were identified as those of Echinostoma macrorchis based on the morphological characteristics of adult worms.
Adult ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Crowns ; Digestion ; Echinostoma ; Eggs ; Esophagus ; Female ; Head ; Horns ; Humans ; Metacercariae ; Methods ; Mice ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Pharynx ; Rats ; Seminal Vesicles ; Snails ; Spine ; Testis ; Trematoda

BACKGROUND: Thin or damaged endometrium causes uterine factor-derived infertility resulting in a failure of embryonic implantation. Regeneration of endometrium is a major issue in gynecology and reproductive medicine. Various types of cells and scaffolds were studied to establish an effective therapeutic strategy. For this type of investigations, production of optimal animal models is indispensable. In this study, we tried to establish various murine uterine damage models and compared their features. METHODS: Three to ten-week-old C57BL/6 female mice were anesthetized using isoflurane. Chemical and mechanical methods using ethanol (EtOH) at 70 or 100% and copper scraper were compared to determine the most efficient condition. Damage of uterine tissue was induced either by vaginal or dorsal surgical approach. After 7-10 days, gross and microscopic morphology, safety and efficiency were compared among the groups. RESULTS: Both chemical and mechanical methods resulted in thinner endometrium and reduced number of glands. Gross morphology assessment revealed that the damaged regions of uteri showed various shapes including shrinkage or cystic dilatation of uterine horns. The duration of anesthesia significantly affected recovery after procedure. Uterine damage was most effectively induced by dorsal approach using 100% EtOH treatment compared to mechanical methods. CONCLUSION: Taken together, murine uterine damage models were most successfully established by chemical treatment. This production protocols could be applied further to larger animals such as non-human primate.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Copper ; Dilatation ; Endometrium ; Ethanol ; Female ; Gynecology ; Horns ; Humans ; Infertility ; Isoflurane ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Primates ; Regeneration ; Reproductive Medicine ; Uterus

The differences and the variations of chondroitin sulfate content in different parts of Cervi Cornu Pantotrichum(CCP) with different processing methods were investigated. The chondroitin sulfate from velvet was extracted by dilute alkali-concentrated salt method. Next， the chondroitin sulfate was digested by chondroitinase ABC.The contents of total chondroitin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate A， B and C in the samples were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The content of chondroitin sulfate in wax，powder，gauze，bone slices of CCP with freeze-drying processing is 14.13，11.99，1.74，0.32 g·kg⁻¹， respectively. The content of chondroitin sulfate in wax，powder，gauze，bone slices of CCP with boiling processing is 10.71，8.97，2.21，1.40 g·kg⁻¹， respectively. The content of chondroitin sulfate in wax，powder，gauze，bone slices of CCP without blood is 12.47，9.47，2.64，0.07 g·kg⁻¹， respectively. And the content of chondroitin sulfate in wax，powder，gauze，bone slices of CCP with blood is 8.22，4.39，0.87，0.28 g·kg⁻¹ respectively. The results indicated that the chondroitin sulfate content in different processing methods was significantly different.The content of chondroitin sulfate in CCP with freeze-drying is higher than that in CCP with boiling processing.The content of chondroitin sulfate in CCP without blood is higher than that in CCP with blood. The chondroitin sulfate content in differerent paris of the velvet with the same processing methods was arranged from high to low as： wax slices， powder， gauze slices， bone slices.
Animals ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; analysis ; Deer ; Horns ; chemistry

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) contains two types of neurons projecting to either the rostral ventrolateral medulla (PVN(RVLM)) or the intermediolateral horn (IML) of the spinal cord (PVN(IML)). These two neuron groups are intermingled in the same subdivisions of the PVN and differentially regulate sympathetic outflow. However, electrophysiological evidence supporting such functional differences is largely lacking. Herein, we compared the electrophysiological properties of these neurons by using patch-clamp and retrograde-tracing techniques. Most neurons (>70%) in both groups spontaneously fired in the cell-attached mode. When compared to the PVN(IML) neurons, the PVN(RVLM) neurons had a lower firing rate and a more irregular firing pattern (p < 0.05). The PVN(RVLM) neurons showed smaller resting membrane potential, slower rise and decay times, and greater duration of spontaneous action potentials (p < 0.05). The PVN(RVLM) neurons received greater inhibitory synaptic inputs (frequency, p < 0.05) with a shorter rise time (p < 0.05). Taken together, the results indicate that the two pre-sympathetic neurons differ in their intrinsic and extrinsic electrophysiological properties, which may explain the lower firing activity of the PVN(RVLM) neurons. The greater inhibitory synaptic inputs to the PVN(RVLM) neurons also imply that these neurons have more integrative roles in regulation of sympathetic activity.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Fires ; Horns ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurons ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Lateral Horn

No abstract available.
Animals ; Horns* ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar*

The metacercariae of Artyfechinostomum malayanum (Leiper, 1911) Mendheim, 1943 were discovered in Pila sp. snails purchased from a market in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. They were isolated from the snails using the artificial digestion technique and were orally fed to 2 hamsters, 1 rat, and 2 mice to obtain the adult flukes. The metacercariae were round, 145–165 μm in diameter, having a cyst wall of 6–10 μm in thickness, a head collar and collar spines, and characteristic features of excretory granules. Adult flukes were recovered in the small intestines of the animals at days 14 and 32 post infection and were morphologically observed using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope. They were plump or elongated, ventrally curved, 6.0–8.1×1.6–2.0 mm in size, and characterized by the head collar bearing 43 collar spines, including 5 end group ones on each side, a long cirrus sac extending beyond the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, a submedian ovary, and 2 deeply lobed testes. Eggs in uteri were operculate, ovoid to ellipsoid, and 120–135×68–75 μm in size. In scanning electron microscopy, the head collar was prominent with collar spines looking like horns. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the ventral surface between the head collar and ventral sucker. Sensory papillae were distributed mainly on the tegument around suckers. By this study, it has been first confirmed that the life cycle of A. malayanum exists in Cambodia.
Adult ; Animals ; Cambodia* ; Cricetinae ; Digestion ; Eggs ; Female ; Head ; Horns ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Life Cycle Stages ; Metacercariae* ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Rats ; Snails* ; Spine ; Testis ; Trematoda ; Uterus

OBJECTIVE: An adjustable Ghajar guide is presented to improve the accuracy of the original Ghajar guide technique. The accuracy of the adjustable Ghajar guide technique is also investigated. METHODS: The coronal adjustment angle from the orthogonal catheter trajectory at Kocher's point is determined based on coronal head images using an electronic picture archiving and communication system. For the adjustable Ghajar guide, a protractor is mounted on a C-shaped basal plate that is placed in contact with the margin of a burrhole, keeping the central 0° line of the protractor orthogonal to the calvarial surface. A catheter guide, which is moved along the protractor and fixed at the pre-determined adjustment angle, is then used to guide the ventricular catheter into the frontal horn adjacent to the foramen of Monro. The adjustable Ghajar guide technique was applied to 20 patients, while a freehand technique based on the surface anatomy of the head was applied to another 47 patients. The accuracy of the ventricular catheter placement was then evaluated using postoperative computed tomography scans. RESULTS: For the adjustable Ghajar guide technique (AGT) patients, the bicaudate index ranged from 0.23 to 0.33 (mean±standard deviation [SD]: 0.27±0.03) and the adjustment angle ranged from 0° to 10° (mean±SD: 5.2°±3.2°). All the AGT patients experienced successful cerebrospinal fluid diversion with only one pass of the catheter. Optimal placement of the ventricular catheter in the ipsilateral frontal horn approximating the foramen of Monro (grade 1) was achieved in 19 patients (95.0%), while a suboptimal trajectory into a lateral corner of the frontal horn passing along a lateral wall of the frontal horn (grade 3) occurred in 1 patient (5.0%). Thus, the AGT patients experienced a significantly higher incidence of optimal catheter placement than the freehand catheterized patients (95.0% vs. 68.3%, p=0.024). Moreover, none of the AGT patients experienced any tract hemorrhages along the catheter or procedure-related complications. CONCLUSION: The proposed adjustable Ghajar guide technique, using angular adjustment in the coronal plane from the orthogonal trajectory at Kocher’s point, facilitates accurate freehand placement of a ventricular catheter for hydrocephalic patients.
Animals ; Catheterization ; Catheters* ; Cerebral Ventricles ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Head ; Hemorrhage ; Horns ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Pilot Projects* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

A survey was performed to know the infection status of echinostome metacercariae in Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata snails from Korea. Total 75 snails collected in 5 localities, i.e., Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Hwasun-gun and Shinan-gun (Aphae and Jido), Jeollanam-do, and Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, were examined for metacercariae by the artificial digestion method. Infection rates of metacercariae were 80.0%, 66.7%, 100%, 60.0%, and 73.3%, and their densities were 39, 32, 183, 19, and 30 per snail infected, respectively. The metacercariae were round, 105–118×105–118 μm in size, with a thin cyst wall, collar spines on the head collar, and excretory granules in 2 canals of excretory tube. Adult flukes were elongated, ventrally curved, and 5,167×939 μm in average size. Head collar distinct, bearing 45 collar spines with 5 end groups on each side. Oral sucker subterminal, pharynx well developed, and esophagus somewhat short. Cirrus sac well developed, with a saccular seminal vesicle, and ventral sucker very large. Ovary elliptical and on the median line of the body. Testes tandem and slightly lobed. Eggs operculated, elliptical, and 90–103×55–60 μm in size. By scanning electron microscopy, the head collar was prominent with 45 collar spines resembling horns of younger stags. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the body surface between the head collar and ventral sucker. Conclusively, it has been first confirmed that the life cycle of E. macrorchis is indigenously maintained in Korea, and C. chinensis malleata snails are popularly infected with the metacercariae of this echinostome.
Adult* ; Animals ; Digestion ; Echinostoma* ; Eggs ; Esophagus ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Head ; Horns ; Humans ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea* ; Life Cycle Stages ; Metacercariae* ; Methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ovary ; Ovum ; Pharynx ; Rats* ; Seminal Vesicles ; Snails* ; Spine ; Testis ; Trematoda