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D-Limonene is a component of essential oil extracted from citrus fruits. This component has shown chemopreventive and therapeutic activity against a wide variety of experimental tumors, but D-limonene is unstable and lose its lemon-like flavor under normal storage condition, and it is almost insoluble in water. Therefore, studying the formation of nanoemulsion in D-limonene in water system is probably a good method to prevent the oxidation degradation of D-limonene. For the purpose of our study, we used mixed surfactant to form D- limonene-in-water emulsion, and found the best formula for forming nanoemulsion droplets with specified hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value and droplet size. The results demonstrated that nanoemulsion droplets formed at So ratio of 0.4 and applied power of 18 W for 120 s under mixed surfactant at HLB values 12 and had droplet size of 20-50 nm.

Objective: To optimize the hydrolysis process of linarin by response surface methodology, and to use the model of aldose reductase to study the acacetin's activity of aldose reductase inhibitory., Method: The model of acacetin enzyme in vitro was established by the determination of fluorescence absorption of NADPH, the inhibition rate of acacetin aldose reductase was calculated, and then the IC50 of hydrolysis was obtained. The hydrolysis process of linarin hydrolysis condition was optimized by using response surface method., Result: The results indicated that the IC50 of acacetin (2.74 mg x L(-1)) was less than the IC50 of linarin (3.53 mg x L(-1)). Hydrolyzation time of 7.4 h, sulphuric acid concentration of 0.54 mol x L(-1) and the ratio of material to liquid of 3 : 1 were the optimum conditions., Conclusion: Hydrolyzate acacetin has preferable inhibitory activity of aldose reductase. The optimized hydrolysis condition of linarin is convenient to use with good predictability.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). It influences amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance and aggregation, which likely contributes in large part to its role in AD pathogenesis. We recently found that HJ6.3, a monoclonal antibody against apoE, significantly reduced Aβ plaque load when given to APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mice starting before the onset of plaque deposition. To determine whether the anti-apoE antibody HJ6.3 affects Aβ plaques, neuronal network function, and behavior in APP/PS1 mice after plaque onset, we administered HJ6.3 (10 mg/kg/week) or PBS intraperitoneally to 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice for 21 weeks. HJ6.3 mildly improved spatial learning performance in the water maze, restored resting-state functional connectivity, and modestly reduced brain Aβ plaque load. There was no effect of HJ6.3 on total plasma cholesterol or cerebral amyloid angiopathy. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of anti-apoE immunotherapy, HJ6.3 was applied to the brain cortical surface and amyloid deposition was followed over 2 weeks using in vivo imaging. Acute exposure to HJ6.3 affected the course of amyloid deposition in that it prevented the formation of new amyloid deposits, limited their growth, and was associated with occasional clearance of plaques, a process likely associated with direct binding to amyloid aggregates. Topical application of HJ6.3 for only 14 d also decreased the density of amyloid plaques assessed postmortem. Collectively, these studies suggest that anti-apoE antibodies have therapeutic potential when given before or after the onset of Aβ pathology., (Copyright © 2014 the authors 0270-6474/14/347281-12$15.00/0.)

A metabonomic approach based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) was used to study the hepatotoxicity of ricinine in rats. Potential biomarkers of ricinine toxicity and toxicological mechanism were analyzed by serum metabonomic method. The significant differences in the metabolic profiling of the control and treated rats were clear by using the principal components analysis (PCA) of the chromatographic data. Significant changes of metabolite biomarkers like phenylalanine, tryptophan, cholic acid, LPC and PC were detected in the serum. These biochemical changes were related to the metabolic disorders in amino acids and phospholipids. This research indicates that UPLC/MS-based metabonomic analysis of serum samples can be used to predict the hepatotoxicity and further understand the toxicological mechanism induced by ricinine. This work shows that metabonomics method is a valuable tool in drug mechanism study.

This study investigated the effects of iron oxides with different crystallinities, ferrihydrite (SF) and hematite (SH), on the methane emission in paddy soil of South China under different water conditions, alternative drying/wetting cycles (DW) and continuous flooding (CF). The rates of methane emission, methane production potential and concentrations of Fe(II) and Fe(III) were determined. Results showed that compared with CF, the average methane emission rate was greatly inhibited by DW over 61%, and the addition of iron oxides reduced methane emission rates by 53%. Under the circumstance of DW and iron oxides addition, the combined inhibition effect on the average methane emission (65%-94%) and methane production potential (57%-93%) was significantly higher than the single effect caused by DW or iron oxides. Interestingly, DW coupling poorly crystalline ferrihydrite (SF-DW, 94%) posed a more significantly inhibitory effect on the methane emission than coupling crystalline hematite (SH-DW, 65%). Statistical analysis showed that there was a significantly negative correlation between the Fe(III) concentrations and the methane emission rates (R2 = -0.98, P < 0.01). Experimental results showed that DW facilitated the cyclic regeneration of Fe(III), and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle in poorly crystalline ferrihydrite was more susceptible to DW than hematite. This study suggested that alternative drying/wetting cycles can remarkably enhance the inhibitory effect of iron oxides on methane emission from paddy soil, and the coupled suppression effect of DW and poorly crystalline ferrihydrite is more obvious than the coupled effect of DW and crystalline hematite.

By using the entropy change equation of the second law of thermodynamics, entropy method and PSE model, this article made an analysis on coupling relationship between urbanization and ecological environment in Jilin Province from 2001 to 2011. In the study period, the urbanization development had been out of normal evolution track: The economic urbanization and space urbanization dominated the whole urbanization process, while population urbanization was neglected too seriously, with an apparent characteristic of extensive and inefficient input of resources (especially land resource). According to the levels of ecological environment on the basis of PSE model, not only the pressure index, sensitivity index and the elasticity index, but also the comprehensive index showed considerable growth with obvious stage characteristics: ascending-descending-ascending. The total entropy values of the urbanization were less than zero during the time, which meant an unstable rising curve. While the total trophy values of the ecological environment varied below and above zero, and 2003, 2006, 2010 and 2011 were the "turning points", reflecting the instability of the ecological environment. The coupling total entropy values between urbanization and ecological environment had the same characteristics with the ecological environment: the same "turning points" and shape of the curve, in which, the "turning points" corresponded to the type of antagonistic evolution pattern, while the rest of years responded to the type of coordination evolution pattern.

The present study investigated the effect of antiflammin-1 (AF-1) on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from RAW264.7 cells through uteroglobin-binding protein (UGBP). Cultured RAW264.7 cells, a murine monocyte-macrophage cell line, were divided as following: control group, LPS group (1 µg/mL LPS), AF-1 group (100 μmol/L AF-1), LPS+AF-1 group (2 h of 100 μmol/L AF-1 pretreatment before LPS addition), and LPS+AF-1+anti-UGBP group (30 min of anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment before successive treatments with AF-1 and LPS). IL-10 concentration in the supernatants was detected by ELISA assay, and the level of IL-10 mRNA expression in macrophage was detected by using RT-PCR method. The results showed that AF-1 significantly increased LPS-induced IL-10 secretion in RAW264.7 cells in a dose dependent way, and up-regulated its mRNA level. Anti-UGBP antibody pretreatment attenuated the augmented effect of AF-1 on LPS-induced IL-10 secretion and gene expression. These results suggest that AF-1 promotes LPS-induced IL-10 secretion from macrophages, and this effect is mediated by UGBP.

Dithiobis-succinimidyl propionate (DTSP), an important homobifunctional crosslinker, has been widely used for the covalent immobilization of proteins onto solid supports by amine coupling. In the present study, adsorption of DTSP on vacuum-deposited gold island films was analyzed by means of surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). For the sake of a reliable assignment of the vibrational spectra, IR intensity of the adsorption model of TSP on one gold surface was calculated using density functional theory (DFT) at the Beck' s three-parameter Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) level with the LANL2DZ basis set. SEIRAS and multiple-angle-of-incidence polarization infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy indicated that TSP is arranged orderly in a tilted fashion with a dihedral angle of 65 degrees between the plane of succinimidyl ring and the gold surface. The binding kinetics revealed that that the time constant of self-assembly of the TSP layer is 220 sec. Furthermore, the coupling process of amino-nitrilotriacetic acid (ANTA) with surface-bound TSP monolayer was monitored in situ by SEIRAS. Three negative bands observed at 1 807, 1 776, and 1 728 cm(-1) respectively provided direct evidence for the reaction of the succinimidyl ester. The appearance of one intense band at 1 566 cm(-1) gave a clear support for the presence of the cross-link between ANTA and TSP. We hope that the results in current investigation will contribute to the better understanding of properties of DTSP and related reactions at the molecular level.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes associated with high disability rate and low quality of life. Tang-Luo-Ning (TLN) is an effective traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of DPN. To illustrate the underlying neural protection mechanisms of TLN, the effect of TLN on electrophysiology and sciatic nerve morphology was investigated in a model of streptozotocin-induced DPN, as well as the underlying mechanism. Sciatic motor nerve conduction velocity and digital sensory nerve conduction velocity were reduced in DPN and were significantly improved by TLN or α -lipoic acid at 10 and 20 weeks after streptozotocin injection. It was demonstrated that TLN intervention for 20 weeks significantly alleviated pathological injury as well as increased the phosphorylation of ErbB2, Erk, Bad (Ser112), and the mRNA expression of neuregulin 1 (Nrg1), GRB2-associated binding protein 1 (Gab1), and mammalian target of rapamycin (Mtor) in injured sciatic nerve. These novel therapeutic properties of TLN to promote Schwann cell survival may offer a promising alternative medicine for the patients to delay the progression of DPN. The underlying mechanism may be that TLN exerts neural protection effect after sciatic nerve injury through Nrg1/ErbB2→Erk/Bad Schwann cell survival signaling pathway.

Objective: To study the metabolism of total terpene ketones from Swertia mussotii with human intestinal bacteria., Method: Total terpene ketones were incubated with human intestinal bacteria under an anaerobic environment and at 37 degrees C. The metabolites were extracted by ethyl acetate processing, detected by HPLC-DAD method. A qualitative analysis was made for its metabolites by HPLC-MS., Result: Eight metabolites were detected from total terpene ketones from S. mussotii with human intestinal bacteria, and two of them were preliminarily identified as gentianine and mangiferin aglycon., Conclusion: Total terpene ketones can be metabolized with human intestinal bacteria, which provides basis for experiments on the metabolism process total terpene ketones from S. mussotii with human intestinal bacteria.

The purpose of this study was to compare single arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for spine SBRT in terms of target coverage, organ at risk (OAR) sparing and delivery performance. VMAT plans with 91 control points (VMAT-91CP) were generated for 15 spine metastases patients previously treated with a nine-field IMRT technique. VMAT and IMRT plans were compared based on target coverage, maximum spinal cord dose, maximum plan dose and volume of normal tissue receiving 20% to 80% of the prescribed dose. Treatment delivery time and monitor units (MU) were measured to determine delivery efficiency. To assess the impact of arc discretization in the treatment planning system (TPS), the VMAT-91CP plans were modified by almost doubling the number of CPs (VMAT-181CP). Planned-to-delivered dose agreement for both techniques was assessed using two types of 3D detector arrays.VMAT-91CP target coverage was equivalent to IMRT while maintaining or improving spinal cord sparing. This was achieved without increasing the volume of normal tissue receiving low or intermediate dose levels. Planned-to-delivered dose agreement equivalent to IMRT was achieved with VMAT, but required decreasing the CP angular spacing from 4° to 2° (VMAT-181CP plans). On average, VMAT-181CP plans reduced delivery time by 53% compared to IMRT. Single-arc VMAT for spine SBRT improved delivery efficiency while maintaining target coverage and OAR sparing compared to IMRT. VMAT plans generated with a CP gantry angular spacing of 2° is recommended to avoid a discretization effect in the TPS and ensure acceptable planned-to-delivered dose agreement.

Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients with late diagnosis and find the factors associated with late HIV detection., Methods: HIV late diagnosed patients and early diagnosed patients, which were identified and classified by definition in advance, were selected from the case reporting database of HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System in eight counties of four provinces (Zhumadian, Nanyang, and Zhoukou of Hennan province; Liuzhou and Lingshan county of Guangxi autonomous region; Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong province; Dehong of Yunnan province) between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. A total of 3912 eligible patients were investigated, including 2496 late diagnosis and 1416 early diagnosis. The structured questionnaires were used to obtain information on behaviors, HIV detection history and reason of late detection for all eligible HIV/AIDS patients. Late diagnosed patients were defined by CD4 T-cell counts less than 200 cells/mm(3) or diagnosis as AIDS within the reported year after the first HIV positive test. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to analyze the characteristics of HIV/AIDS late diagnosed patients., Results: Only 14.2% (350/2469) of them have ever had the awareness of "to go for HIV testing", 68.8% (150/218)of which did not put it into practice within one month because of discrimination and stigma. Among those HIV late diagnosed patients without the awareness of "to go for HIV testing", the proportions of "never worried about HIV infection" or "never heard of AIDS" were 69.7% (1476/2116) and 18.1% (383/2116), respectively. When those HIV late diagnosed patients visited health settings because of AIDS related symptoms, only 40.0% (590/1475) of them received the HIV testing service. Furthermore, 54.5% (322/590) of those received HIV testing were not informed the results. Compared with early diagnosed patients, patients with late diagnosis were over 50 years old (OR = 4.14, 95%CI: 3.09 - 5.55), primary school education (OR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.10 - 1.52) and illiteracy (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.25 - 2.82), Routes of transmission from former illegal blood or plasma (OR = 2.91, 95%CI: 2.27 - 3.74) and transfusion of blood/blood products (OR = 2.79, 95%CI: 2.11 - 3.68). Late diagnosed patients were identified mainly from voluntary counseling and testing (45.4%, 1130/1528) and medical institutions (38.3%, 954/1469)., Conclusion: The main reasons for late diagnosis of HIV infection are low initiative of HIV testing and discrimination and stigma. Furthermore, the low awareness of medical institutions to actively provide HIV testing affects the early diagnosis of HIV infections.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of thrombocytopenia in patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)., Methods: Four hundred and nineteen primary MDS patients were retrospectively analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test and COX regression model were used to evaluate factors that influence the prognosis., Results: Two hundred and fifty-six cases (61.1%) had thrombocytopenia (PLT < 100×10(9)/L), one hundred and three cases (24.6%) had severe thrombocytopenia (PLT < 30×10(9)/L). Overall survival (OS) tended to shorten along with the decreasing of platelet count. Univariate analysis indicated that PL < 30×10(9)/L, MCV ≤ 95 fl, LDH ≥ 300 U/L, lymphocyte-like micromegakaryocyte, nucleated RBC PAS positive, IPSS cytogenetic intermediate- and poor-risk were all related with poor prognosis. Moreover, the prognosis of patients with RCMD, RAEB-Ior RAEB-IIwas poorer than that of the other subgroups. Among these parameters, PLT < 30×10(9)/L, MCV ≤ 95 fl, IPSS cytogenetic intermediate- and poor-risk group and RCMD, RAEB-I and RAEB-II had independent prognostic significance in multivariate analysis. Modified WPSS prognostic model was proposed by adopting PLT, MCV, chromosomal karyotype and WHO classification. The OS of patients with low risk, intermediate-1 risk, intermediate-2 risk and high risk were 59, 28, 14 and 4 months, respectively, and there was a statistically significant difference between the groups (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Severe thrombocytopenia indicated unfavorable prognosis, in combination with MCV, chromosomal karyotype and WHO classification, a modified WPSS prognostic model was proposed and worked well for prognostic indication in patients with MDS.

Objective: To investigate in vitro characteristics of colony-forming cells (CFC) in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and to compare that in patients with non-severe aplastic anemia (NSAA)., Methods: Data of in vitro CFC and correlation with other related laboratory tests in 155 newly diagnosed MDS patients were analyzed retrospectively, and to compare with data of in vitro CFC in 122 newly diagnosed NSAA patients., Results: Median number of burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) was 9 (0 - 157)/10(5) bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC), colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) 30 (0 - 425)/10(5)BMMNC and colony forming unit-granulocytes/macrophages (CFU-GM) 14 (0 - 125)/10(5)BMMNC in patients with MDS, being significantly lower than those in healthy control; number of BFU-E and/or CFU-E was lower than the lower limit of normal control in 66 cases (42.6%), CFU-GM lower in 3 cases (1.9%) and BFU-E and/or CFU-E with CFU-GM lower in 70 cases (45.2%). Cluster/CFU-GM ratio was significantly lower in low blast group (MDS < 5% blast in bone marrow smear) than that in high blast group (MDS ≥ 5% blast) (0.65 vs 1.0, P = 0.049). In all MDS patients, cluster had positive correlation with each type of CFC (r = 0.415, 0.338, 0.642 for BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-GM, respectively, P = 0.000), but had negative correlation with neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (N-ALP) positive rate and scores (r(rate) = -0.315, P = 0.001 and r(scores) = -0.257, P = 0.006). The median number of each type of CFC was significantly higher in MDS group than that in NSAA group (BFU-E 9 vs 5/10(5)BMMNC, P = 0.017; CFU-E 30 vs 19.5/10(5)BMMNC, P = 0.023; CFU-GM 14 vs 10/10(5)BMMNC, P = 0.003, respectively). Positive correlation between BFU-E and CFU-E were revealed in both MDS and NSAA group (r(MDS) = 0.712, P = 0.000 and r(NSAA) = 0.757, P = 0.000), with a lower correlation coefficient in MDS (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Early onset MDS present markedly decreased hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC), and particularly in erythroid progenitors extensively and severely. The number of BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-GM can reflect HPC number in vivo but not stand for normal hematopoietic clones, the number of clusters represent pathologic HPC clones but not exactly leukemic blasts.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and survival time in primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients accompanied with immunological abnormalities., Methods: The clinical information, laboratory findings and survival time in 194 untreated primary MDS patients with complete immunological laboratory tests or a past history of autoimmune disease were analyzed retrospectively., Results: There were 37/194 cases (19.07%) with autoimmune abnormalities, including 16/194 (8.25%) with autoimmune disease and 21/194 asymptomatic cases (10.82%) with serologic immunological abnormalities only. There was significant differences in the distribution of age < 60 years old, female, CD4(+)T-cell/CD8(+)T-cell ration < 1 and trisomy 8 (P < 0.05) between the cases with autoimmune disease and without autoimmune abnormalities. The former had a higher 2-year OS, but there was no significance (P = 0.065). There was no significant differences in the distribution of age, MDS-subtype, IPSS risk groups, haemoglobin, absolute neutrophil count, platelets count, the severity of anemia and neutropenia, high level of serologic TNF, chromosomal abnormalities, cytogenetic risk groups and bone marrow cellularity (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: MDS patients with autoimmune disease are mainly female and younger than 60 years old, with high proportion of trisomy 8 and better prognosis.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is an important opportunistic infection of HIV/AIDS. However, very little is known about antibody seropositivities to HHV8 lytic and latent antigens among HIV-infected patients in China. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore HHV8 serostatus among 316 HIV-infected patients in a rural area of central China. The antibody seropositivity to HHV8 ORF65 (lytic) and LANA (latent) antigens was 12.7% and 10.4%, respectively. Patients who were naïve to antiretroviral therapy (ART) were more likely to be seropositive for antibodies to ORF65 (OR: 3.79; 95% CI: 1.71-8.42) and LANA (OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.55-9.14) than patients receiving ART. Patients having CD4+ cell counts less than 200 cells/mm3 were more likely to be seropositive for LANA antibody (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.44-8.64) and to have lower LANA antibody titer (p = 0.007). They were also more likely to be seropositive for ORF65 antibody (OR: 2.12; 95% CI: 0.94-4.78) and to have a lower ORF65 antibody titer (p = 0.065), though the difference was marginally significant. No associations between other viral coinfections studied and antibody seropositivity to either latent or lytic HHV8 antigens were identified. Study findings suggest that antibody responses to both lytic and latent HHV8 antigens among HIV patients in China were fairly high and were associated with immunodeficiency status and ART.

Objective: To analyze significances of different cytogenetic categories for prognostic stratification in patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)., Methods: Chromosomal abnormalities of 532 primary MDS patients were categorized according to cytogenetic categories of International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS), Revised IPSS (IPSS-R), and German-Austrian (G-A). Prognostic impacts of different cytogenetic categories and frequent isolated anomalies were investigated., Results: Of 532 patients, 346(65%) patients had clonal cytogenetic abnormalities, including 200(38%) patients had 1 abnormality, 61(11%) patients had 2 abnormalities, and 85(16%) patients had complex abnormalities. Trisomy 8 was the most frequent karyotype abnormality, occurring in 31% of the patients with clonal cytogenetic abnormalities, other frequent anomalies were -7/del(7q)(13%), del(20q)(12%), del(5q)(9%), -18(5%), -21(5%), i(17q)(5%), -Y(4%), -17(4%), +21(4%), -13/del(13q)(4%), and -22(4%). The proportion of poor karyotypes of IPSS was higher in RAEBI and RAEBII among the World Health Organization classifications than in subgroups with less than 5% blasts. The follow-up data were available for 310 patients with a median follow-up duration of 14.5 months. Median survival was 59 months for patients with normal karyotypes and 26 months for those with abnormal karyotypes. According to IPSS cytogenetic categories, the median survivals of good-risk subgroup, intermediate-risk subgroup and poor-risk subgroup were 59, 43 and 12 months, respectively (P < 0.01). For IPSS-R cytogenetic groups, the median survivals of good-risk subgroup, intermediate-risk(int-risk) subgroup, poor-risk and very poor-risk subgroup were 59, 36, 15, and 10 months, respectively (P < 0.01). According to G-A classification, the median survivals of good-risk subgroup, int-1-risk subgroup, int-2-risk subgroup and poor-risk subgroup were 59, 44, 15, and 11 months, respectively (P < 0.01). In frequent isolated karyotypic abnormalities, +8 had a median survival of 44 months, i(17q) had a median survival of 12 months, and -7/del(7q) had a median survival of 14 months., Conclusion: In comparison with IPSS and G-A categories, IPSS-R cytogenetic categories are more sophisticated, and can stratify prognosis effectively, but prognostic significances of some karyotypes in IPSS-R still need to be confirmed.

Aim: To investigate the effect of Ad-ING4 on proliferation and migration of glioma cells and explore its probable mechanism., Methods: U251 were infected with Ad-ING4. ING4 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR. MTT assay was adopted to evaluate the effect of ING4 on proliferation of U251; Boyden chamber assay was used to check the effect of ING4 on the migration of U251. In ING4 transfected U251, Western blot was used for detecting NGF and TrkA expression; Pull-down assay was used for detecting active RhoA expression., Results: ING4 was overexpressed in Ad-ING4 transfected U251 cells. ING4 inhibited proliferation and migration of U251 significantly. Moreover, overexpression of ING4 result in depression of NGF, TrkA and active RhoA., Conclusion: ING4 mediated inhibition of the proliferation and migration of human glioma cells by down regulating NGF, TrkA and active RhoA expression.

Treatment-refractory depression (TRD) represents a large proportion of the depressive population, yet has seldom been investigated using advanced imaging techniques. To characterize brain dysfunction in TRD, we performed resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) on 22 TRD patients, along with 26 matched healthy subjects and 22 patients who were depressed but not treatment-refractory (NDD) as comparison groups. Results were analyzed using a data-driven approach known as Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) analysis which measures the synchronization of spontaneous fMRI signal oscillations within spatially neighboring voxels. Relative to healthy controls, both depressed groups showed high ReHo primarily within temporo-limbic structures, and more widespread low ReHo in frontal, parietal, posterior fusiform cortices, and caudate. TRD patients showed more cerebral regions with altered ReHo than did NDD. Moderate but significant correlations between the altered regional ReHo and measures of clinical severity were observed in some identified clusters. These findings shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying TRD and demonstrate the feasibility of using ReHo as a research and clinical tool to monitor persistent cerebral dysfunction in depression, although further work is necessary to compare different measures of brain function to elucidate the neural substrates of these ReHo abnormalities., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: There is not a general agreement regarding antiarrhythmic effects on atrial fibrillation (AF) of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). This study was to assess whether ACEIs and ARBs could decrease the incidence of AF., Materials and Methods: Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched for trials reported from 1950 to May 2009. Search terms included 'randomized controlled trial (RCT), controlled clinical trials, random allocation' and medical subject headings that included all spellings of ACEIs and ARBs agents, 'atrial fibrillation' and 'atrial flutter'. Randomized, controlled human trials of ACEIs or ARBs reporting AF were included. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using a predefined data extraction sheet, including study quality indicators. Meta-analysis and subgroup analyses were carried out with a random effects model., Results: Twenty-one trials including 91,381 patients and 5730 AF events were identified. Overall, ACEIs/ARBs reduced the relative risk (c) of AF by 25%. In primary and secondary prevention, ACEIs/ARBs decreased the incidence of AF by 24% and 27%, respectively. Patients with hypertension (RR: 0·71, 95%CI: 0·54-0·92), patients with chronic heart failure (RR: 0·58, 95%CI: 0·39-0·87) and those with AF (RR: 0·71, 95%CI: 0·52-0·96) benefited from ACEIs/ARBs treatment., Conclusions: ACEIs/ARBs are effective for primary prevention and secondary prevention of AF. They decrease the incidence of AF especially in patients with hypertension, patients with chronic heart failure and those with AF., (© 2011 The Authors. European Journal of Clinical Investigation © 2011 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation.)

The present paper investigates the quantitative relationship between the NDVI and SAVI vegetation indices of Landsat and ASTER sensors based on three tandem image pairs. The study examines how well ASTER sensor vegetation observations replicate ETM+ vegetation observations, and more importantly, the difference in the vegetation observations between the two sensors. The DN values of the three image pairs were first converted to at-sensor reflectance to reduce radiometric differences between two sensors, images. The NDVI and SAVI vegetation indices of the two sensors were then calculated using the converted reflectance. The quantitative relationship was revealed through regression analysis on the scatter plots of the vegetation index values of the two sensors. The models for the conversion between the two sensors, vegetation indices were also obtained from the regression. The results show that the difference does exist between the two sensors, vegetation indices though they have a very strong positive linear relationship. The study found that the red and near infrared measurements differ between the two sensors, with ASTER generally producing higher reflectance in the red band and lower reflectance in the near infrared band than the ETM+ sensor. This results in the ASTER sensor producing lower spectral vegetation index measurements, for the same target, than ETM+. The relative spectral response function differences in the red and near infrared bands between the two sensors are believed to be the main factor contributing to their differences in vegetation index measurements, because the red and near infrared relative spectral response features of the ASTER sensor overlap the vegetation "red edge" spectral region. The obtained conversion models have high accuracy with a RMSE less than 0.04 for both sensors' inter-conversion between corresponding vegetation indices.

A novel matrix, gold nanoparticles-bacterial cellulose nanofibers (Au-BC) nanocomposite was developed for enzyme immobilization and biosensor fabrication due to its unique properties such as satisfying biocompatibility, good conductivity and extensive surface area, which were inherited from both gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BC). Heme proteins such as horseradish peroxidase (HRP), hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) were successfully immobilized on the surface of Au-BC nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The immobilized heme proteins showed electrocatalytic activities to the reduction of H(2)O(2) in the presence of the mediator hydroquinone (HQ), which might be due to the fact that heme proteins retained the near-native secondary structures in the Au-BC nanocomposite which was proved by UV-vis and IR spectra. The response of the developed biosensor to H(2)O(2) was related to the amount of AuNPs in Au-BC nanocomposite, indicating that the AuNPs in BC network played an important role in the biosensor performance. Under the optimum conditions, the biosensor based on HRP exhibited a fast amperometric response (within 1s) to H(2)O(2), a good linear response over a wide range of concentration from 0.3 μM to 1.00 mM, and a low detection limit of 0.1 μM based on S/N=3. The high performance of the biosensor made Au-BC nanocomposite superior to other materials as immobilization matrix., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine the global incidence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)., Methods: Meta-analysis was performed to systematically and quantitatively review all the original research papers and reports that were published in 1990 - 2010 on the global incidence of HSV-2. Pooled incidence, pooled hazard ratios, publication bias, heterogeneity and sensitivity analysis for those studies were calculated or conducted using Stata 10.0., Results: HSV-2 incidence varied considerably across different countries, regions and/or populations, with a range from 1.0 to 23.1/100 person-years (PYs). Africa and United States were highly epidemic with HSV-2 while females and HIV-infected people were at higher risk of HSV-2 infection, whereas HSV-1 infection status was not significantly associated with acquisition of HSV-2 infection., Conclusion: HSV-2 incidence varied considerably among countries, regions and populations, which called for different and tailored control strategies. More research was also needed in China to examine the HSV-2 incidence and risk factors in different regions and populations.

Choroid plexus tumors (CPTs) are uncommon primary intracranial tumors. Here, we describe two patients with CPTs of the cerebellum: one had a choroid plexus papilloma located in the left cerebellar hemisphere that presented as an irregular, lobulated and solid-cystic mass, whereas the other had a choroid plexus carcinoma that exhibited a poorly defined, mixed-intensity mass associated with invasion of adjacent brain parenchyma. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging showed prominent heterogeneous enhancement. CPTs should be considered in the differential diagnosis for irregular, heterogeneous and intensely enhancing masses that occur in the cerebellum., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ba0.65Sr0.35TiO2 (BST) nanopowders doped with Er3+ were prepared by sol-gel method. The absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of Er3+ : BST nanopowders was measured at room temperature. Based on the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters of Er3+ in BST nanopowders were determined, omega2 = 0.993 x 10(-20) cm2, omega4 = 1.665 x 10(-20) cm2 and omega = 0.540 x 10(-20) cm2, and then the values of the line strengths, radiative transition probabilities and branching ratios of Er3+ were calculated. According to the PL spectrum, the emission bands centered at about 522, 545, 654 and 851 nm corresponding to 2H(11/2)-->4S(3/2-->4I(15/2), 4F(9/2)-->4I(15/2), and 4S(3/2-->4I(13/2) transition were observed, and the emission properties were also discussed. The results show that the Er3+ : BST nanomaterials are prospective candidates for applications in new photoelectric devices.

Objective: To explore the epidemiological status of abnormal glucose metabolism and its influential factors among middle and aged population with hypertension in Chengdu area., Methods: In 2008, after adopting the methods of stratified cluster sampling, the authors investigated 4685 subjects of the middle and aged population between the age of 40 - 79 in Chengdu urban and rural area by checking blood pressure and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Patients with previously known diabetes mellitus (DM) were only asked to perform fasting glucose and to carry out a questionnaire. Comparison of the prevalence rates of abnormal glucose metabolism in hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects was carried out. The prevalence rates of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (I-IGT) and isolated postprandial hyperglycemia (IPH) among middle and aged subjects with hypertension were acquired and the influential factors of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged subjects with hypertension were analyzed., Results: The prevalence rate of abnormal glucose metabolism in the hypertensive subjects was obviously higher than that in the non-hypertensive subjects; without using OGTT, 72.9% of the pre-diabetic and 54.4% of the new diagnosed DM patients would remain undiagnosed if fasting plasma glucose detection was used alone. Age, diabetic history of first degree relatives, overweight or obesity were the risk factors for the development of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged male subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area. Exercise training and high education level were the protective factors. Age, diabetic history of first degree relatives, abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were the risk factors for the development of abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged female subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area., Conclusions: More than 50% of middle and aged subjects with hypertension in Chengdu area has accompanying abnormal glucose metabolism. OGTT easily discloses the abnormal status and should be a routine procedure in the diagnosis of pre-diabetes or DM in such population. Appropriate exercise, learning diabetes-related knowledge to take reasonable lifestyle, and intervention of metabolic factors such as overweight or obesity are advised. Abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia play important roles in leading to abnormal glucose metabolism among middle and aged population with hypertension.

Objective: To develop the evaluation tool for the risk level of abnormal glucose metabolism morbidity in the middle-aged and elder populations., Methods: By the stratified cluster sampling method, a survey was conducted in middle-aged and elder populations aged 40 - 70 years old in urban and rural areas of Chengdu during April-November 2008. The parameters included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, blood glucose after oral administration of 75 g glucose, blood lipid, blood uric acid, height, body weight and waistline, etc. A total of 5205 valid copies of questionnaires were obtained. A discriminant analysis and a multifactorial logistic regression analysis were conducted. The quantitative scoring system was established and the ROC analysis conducted to screen the boundary point of the quantitative scoring system. The discriminant performance of simple scoring model was conducted in 336 subjects for physical examination., Results: The accuracies of discriminant analysis in male and female models were 79.04% and 81.35% respectively. The simple male scoring mode included the following eight parameters: age, physical work intensity, parental history of diabetes mellitus, sibling's history of diabetes mellitus, BMI index, existing abdominal obesity and history of hypertension. The simple female scoring mode included the following eight parameters: age, physical work intensity, physical training, parental history of diabetes mellitus, sibling's history of diabetes mellitus, BMI index, existing abdominal obesity, history of hypertension, number of parturition and history of gestational diabetes mellitus. The ROC AUCs were 0.701 and 0.728 in male and female models respectively. During applications in other populations, the sensitivity and specificity of the male model were 86.86% and 65.12% while those of female model 88.89% and 72.97% respectively., Conclusions: The newly developed evaluation tool for the risk level of abnormal glucose metabolism morbidity in middle-aged and elder populations is both simple and practical. With an excellent practicability; it may be used to screen abnormal glucose metabolism in middle-aged and elder populations.

Objective: To investigate the microstructural integrity of basal ganglia and thalamus in children with first episode drug-naive Tourette's syndrome (TS) by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)., Methods: Ten right handed patients with TS (mean age = 8.1 +/- 2.7 years old, 7 males and 3 females) and 10 age and gender-matched healthy control subjects (mean age = 9.5 +/- 1.6 years old, 9 males and 1 female) were recruited. All of the participants had normal findings on conventional MRI. DTI was performed using a 3.0T MR scanner by employing a spin echo single-shot EPI sequence with 15 diffusion encoding directions. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were generated from each participant's DTI images using DTIStudio software. Bilateral regions of interest (ROI) for the caudate nucleus, putamen,globus pallidus and thalamus were manually traced through ROIEditor software on averaged DWI maps. The differences on DT-MRI variables (ADC, FA) between the two groups were compared using the SPSS13.0 software. Significance level was set at 0.05., Results: Significant decrease in FA values in left globus pallidus and bilateral thalamus, and increase in ADC values in the bilateral caudate nucleus, bilateral putamen and bilateral thalamus were found in the children with TS compared with the normal controls., Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis of abnormalities in basal ganglia and thalamus in the pathophysiology of TS.

Objective: To observe and evaluate the clinical effects of surgical treatment for the accessory navicular syndrome with simple excision., Methods: From November 2006 to December 2008, 23 patients (twenty-five feet) with accessory navicular syndrome received simple excision of the accessory navicular bone. The chief complains were intermittent pain of feet after running or walking. Physical examination showed local tenderness on palpation in the region of the navicular bone. X-ray or CT showed there was an accessory navicular bone. The present history ranged from 6 months to 12 years. There were 14 males and 9 females. The mean age was 14.6 years, ranging from 8 to 35 years. About 2 cm long incision was made at the tip of the medial prominence of the navicular bone. After partial dissection of the posterior tibial tendon, the accesssory navicular bone was exposed and excisied. The prominence of the tuberosity of the navicular bone was cut and shaved. The posterior tibial tenden was repaired before closing the wound. The foot was immobilized with cast or brace in inversion position and no weight-bearing for 2 weeks. Strenuous jumping or dancing must be avoided in 3 months after surgery. The patients with residual symptoms and signs received physical therapy and an arch support for shoes without flatfoot deformity., Results: The average clinical follow-up during was 12 month (ranged, 3 to 18 months). The excellent results in 21 feet and good in 4 feet (3 feet with mild flat deformity and 1 foot with old sprain injury). The average hospital stay was 5 days and no wound infection occurred. All patients resumed the normal life and study after operation., Conclusion: Surgical treatment of the accessory navicular syndrome with simple excision has the advantages of less invasive to the posterior tibial tenden and the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, shorter time of immobilization of the foot and stay in hospital, small incision and good clinical results. This procedure is one of the best selective treatments for the accessory navicular syndrome, especially for the patients without flatfoot deformity and old sprain injury.

Objective: To study the expression of nm23-H(1) gene in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the relationship between nm23-H(1) expression and immunophenotype., Methods: nm23-H(1) expression was measured by semiquantitative RT-PCR in children with ALL (newly diagnosed, n = 40; remission, n = 32; relapse, n = 16; refractory, n = 3). Twenty normal children served as the control group. The relationship between nm23-H(1) expression and immunophenotype was evaluated., Results: The expression of nm23-H(1) in the newly diagnosed ALL group was significantly higher than that in the control (p<0.01) and the remission groups (p<0.01). There was no difference in the nm23-H(1) expression between the remission and the control groups. The expression of nm23-H(1) in the relapse group was significantly higher than that in the control (p<0.01) and the remission groups (p<0.01), and similar to that in the newly diagnosed ALL group. The three children with refractory ALL had higher nm23-H(1) expression. Both the positive rate and expression of nm23-H(1) in children with T-lineage ALL were higher than in children with B-lineage ALL (p<0.05)., Conclusions: The expression level of nm23-H(1) varies with the stages of ALL. Newly diagnosed, relapsed and refractory ALL children have higher nm23-H(1) expression. High nm23-H(1) expression may be associated with a poor prognosis and relapse. A higher expression of nm23-H(1) in children with T-ALL may be contributed to a low remission rate and a poor prognosis.

Background: Studies on treatment resistant depression (TRD) using advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques are very limited., Methods: A group of 15 patients with clinically defined TRD and 15 matched healthy controls underwent magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) and T1-weighted (T1W) imaging. MTI data were processed and analyzed voxel-wised in SPM2. A voxel based morphometric (VBM) analysis was performed using T1W images., Results: Reduced magnetization transfer ratio was observed in the TRD group relative to normal controls in the anterior cingulate, insula, caudate tail and amygdala-parahippocampal areas. All these regions were identified within the right hemisphere. VBM revealed no morphological abnormalities in the TRD group compared to the control group. Negative correlations were found between MRI and clinical measures in the inferior temporal gyrus., Limitations: The cross-sectional design and small sample size., Conclusions: The findings suggest that MTI is capable of identifying subtle brain abnormalities which underlie TRD and in general more sensitive than morphological measures.

A new sucrose ester named beta-D-(1-O-acetyl-3-O-cis-feruloyl)fructofuranosyl alpha-D-2',3',6'-O-triacetylglucopyranoside 1 and a novel phenylpropanoid glycerol named 1-O-cis-feruloyl-3-O-trans-p-coumaroylglycerol 2, have been isolated from Sparganium stoloniferum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genes polymorphisms in Chinese population and smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases of Jilin province., Methods: Articles about GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes polymorphisms published before 2009 in China were searched. The study population was obtained from fourteen counties (or districts) of Jilin province, which included all cases from November, 2007 to May, 2008, totally 1120. The genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were detected by multiplex PCR technique., Results: The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 'null' genotypes and combination M1-T1 'null' genotype acquired from systematic review were 54.2%, 46.8% and 26.2%, respectively, in Chinese Hans they were 53.4%, 44.9% and 25.5%, and in our research they are 57.2%, 20.4% and 13.7%, respectively. No significant differences between the frequencies of males and females as well as among that of different age groups were observed (P > 0.05). The frequency of GSTM1 'null' genotype in our research is slightly higher than that in systematic review (P = 0.016) , and the frequencies of GSTT1 'null' genotype and combination M1-T1 'null' genotype and are significantly lower than those in systematic review (both P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 'null' genotypes were different among ethnic. The statistical difference between systematic review and our research may due to our large sample size and mostly Southern people in previous studies.

Objective: To assess the adherence, immunologic and survival responses in HIV-infected patients receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART)., Methods: All adult HIV-infected patients in Wenxi county who started antiretroviral treatment (ART) between 01 July 2001 and 31 December 2006 and aged above 18 years were included in this study. Epidemiological survey and laboratory tests were performed before, 0.5 months after, 1 months after, 2 months after and every 3 months after initiation of ART to recognize the adherence, efficacy (CD(4)(+) T cell counts) and survival to the regimens., Results: The median follow-up time period was 16.5 months (Interquartile: 15.5 - 20.8 months). At baseline, the median of CD(4)(+) T cell counts were 154 cells/microl (Interquartile: 81 - 212 cells/microl). Treatment was effective in most of the patients, the CD(4)(+) T cell count of patients increased after the initiation of ART. The maximum increase was recorded at month 3, from the median of 154 cells/microl to 220 cells/microl (P < 0.001), and thereafter the count remained stable. When comparing with patients with baseline CD(4)(+) T cell count > or = 100 cells/microl, those with baseline CD(4)(+) T cell count < 100 cells/microl showed a higher mean increase in the first three months of treatment. The cumulative probability rates of remaining alive were 0.94, 0.88 and 0.87 at 3, 12, 24 months, respectively. In multivariate Cox's proportional hazard models, after adjustment for the type ofinitial regimens (NVP vs. EFV/IDV), CD(+)(4) T cell count of less than 50 cells/microl (vs. 50 cells/microl or more) was strongly associated with death hazard ratio 0.21 (95%CI: 0.06 - 0.68)., Conclusion: Our data showed that ART was effective for improving immunologic response of adult patients with HIV/AIDS. CD(4)(+) T cell count at initiation was associated with survival time in patients starting ART, suggesting that monitoring of CD(4)(+) T count should be strengthened to early initiate antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected patients.

Two new triterpenoids, 25-anhydro-alisol F (1) and 11-anhydro-alisol F (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Alisma orientalis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Two novel phenanthrofurans, shanciol G (1) and shanciol H (2), together with three known phenolic compounds were isolated from the tubers of Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch) Rolfe. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

Two new sucrose esters, beta-d-(1-O-acetyl-3-O-trans-feruloyl)fructofuranosyl-alpha-d-2',4',6'-O-triacetylglucopyranoside (1) and beta-d-(1-O-acetyl-3-O-trans-feruloyl)fructofuranosyl-alpha-d-2',3',6'-O-triacetylglucopyranoside (2), together with two known sucrose esters have been isolated from Sparganium stoloniferum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.

In order to deeply understand the spectral characteristics of beta-D-galactopyranose in the terahertz region, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy was used to measure the absorption coefficient and refractive index in the frequency range 0.3-3.0 THz at room temperature, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was also used to obtain the absorption spectrum between 1.5 and 19.5 THz. In parallel with the experimental study, the 6-311+G * * basis set and density functional theory(DFT) were applied to obtain the structure and vibrational frequencies of the isolated beta-D-galactopyranose molecule at in phase. The observed vibrational spectra were assigned according to the DFT calculations. Results show that the theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental data except somewhat blue shifts due to the intermolecular interactions. The observed resonances at the high frequency above 6 THz originate from distinct intra-molecular vibrational modes, while at the low frequency below 6 THz the observed resonances are dominated by vibrations of hydrogen bonds between the molecules or phonon modes. The comparison of experimental and theoretical studies shows that far-infrared absorption features are highly sensitive to the structure and spatial arrangement of molecules.

The efficacy of neurolytic coeliac plexus block (NCPB) guided by computerized tomography (CT) was compared with pharmacological therapy in the treatment of pain due to pancreatic cancer. The study involved 56 patients who were placed randomly in either a NCPB group and pharmacological therapy group. At day 1, 7, and 14, the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores of the NCPB group were significantly lower than those of the pharmacological therapy group (P < 0.01), with values of 1.3 +/- 0.8 versus 4.1 +/- 0.9, 1.7 +/- 1.1 versus 3.1 +/- 1.1, and 2.0 +/- 1.1 versus 2.9 +/- 0.6, respectively. However, the differences in the improvement of quality of life (QOL) between two groups were not statistically significant. Moreover, the dose of opioid was significantly lower in the patients of group 1 than those of group 2, while the complications related to NCPB were transient. We therefore concludes that CT-guided NCPB with alcohol is an effective and safe modality in the management of intractable pancreatic cancer pain.

To investigate the population structure and systematic evolution of the domestic duck in China, we sequenced the 667 bp mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) D-loop control region of 106 ducks from nine breeds along the Yangtze-Huai River. Of the total analyzed sites, 34 (5.1%) were polymorphic due to transitions, transversions, insertions, and deletions. Nucleotide content was 25.6% A, 33.3% C, 15.2% G, and 25.9% T. In total, 31 haplotypes were identified in the target region; of these, the major haplotype was A7, and nine haplotypes were shared by the tested ducks. The haplotype diversity (Hd) and average nucleotide diversity (Pi) were 0.798% and 0.28%, respectively. Hd was highest in the Jingjiang shelduck, followed by the Youxian and Enshi shelducks, and it was lowest in the Wendeng black duck. Nucleotide diversity (Dxy) among the nine breeds ranged from 0.139 to 0.433%, and the Kimura 2-parameter distances were 0.0013-0.0044. Molecular variance indicated that a very high proportion of the insignificant genetic variance was attributable to variations within breeds. Phylogenetic analysis of 31 haplotypes revealed only one distinct maternal lineage in the tested ducks, and no evidence was found of a contribution of the Anas zonorhyncha group B haplotype to the maternal origin of Chinese domestic duck breeds along the Yangtze-Huai.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between penA/ponA and penicillin resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae., Methods: Agar dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the strains. Polymerase chain reaction-single stand conformation polymerphism (PCR-SSCP) and PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used to detect the mutations in ponA and penA genes, which encoding the penicillin binding protein-1 and -2 (PBP1 and PBP2), respectively., Results: All the 80 N. gonorrhoeae isolates had a D345 insertion detected in penA while 93.7% of N. gonorrhoeae isolates having a point mutation Leu421 --> Pro in ponA. Most of the penicillinase producing N. gonorrhoeae (PPNG) strains possessed the mutations in ponA and penA., Conclusion: Our data suggested that the plasmid and chromosome mediated penicillin-resistance conjugately increased the level of resistance.

A considerable body of evidence implicates endogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) in conditions in which pain is a prominent feature, including neuropathic pain. However, previous studies of NGF antagonism in animal models of neuropathic pain have examined only the prevention of hyperalgesia and allodynia after injury, whereas the more relevant issue is whether treatment can provide relief of established pain, particularly without tolerance. In the current work, we studied the effects of potent, neutralizing anti-NGF antibodies on the reversal of tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in established models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain in rats and mice. In the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced hind-paw inflammation, spinal nerve ligation and streptozotocin-induced neuropathic pain models, a single intraperitoneal injection of a polyclonal anti-NGF antibody reversed established tactile allodynia from approximately day 3 to day 7 after treatment. Effects on thermal hyperalgesia were variable with a significant effect observed only in the spinal nerve ligation model. In the mouse chronic constriction injury (CCI) model, a mouse monoclonal anti-NGF antibody reversed tactile allodynia when administered 2 weeks after surgery. Repeated administration of this antibody to CCI mice for 3 weeks produced a sustained reversal (days 4 to 21) of tactile allodynia that returned 5 days after the end of dosing. In conclusion, NGF seems to play a critical role in models of established neuropathic and inflammatory pain in both rats and mice, with no development of tolerance to antagonism. Antagonists of NGF, such as fully human monoclonal anti-NGF antibodies, may have therapeutic utility in analogous human pain conditions.

Tussilago farfara contained the chemical constitutents including terpenes, flavonoids, and alkanoids. It has been used for the relief of coughs and as an expectorant, blood pressure raiser, platelet activating factor inhibitor and anti-inflammatory agents. This paper reviewed the phytochemical and pharmacological research progress in T. farfara, including the chemical ingredients, the pharmaceutical activities and the security evaluation aiming at its toxicity. The problems at present and the reseach direction for the future on T. farfara have been put forward.

Objective: To optimize the preparation process and to set up the quality standard of Ephedra sinica Dispensing Granules., Methods: Nine experiments were carried out by L9 (3(4)) orthogonal design. Ephedra sinica Dispensing Granules was identified by TLC and the content of ephedrine was determined by HPLC., Results: The optimal extraction process was as follows: the water that 10 times of Ephedra sinica, was decocted 3 times and each time was sustained for 1.5 hours. The linear relationship of ephedrine hydrochloride was at the range of 0.0081 - 0.1377 microg (r = 0.999 9). The average recovery was 100.25% ( RSD = 2.24%, n = 6)., Conclusion: The extraction process is scientific. The method is available with a good reproducibility and can control the quality of Ephedra sinica Dispensing Granules.

Using a rat model of moderate hypothermic (26 degrees C-28 degrees C) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with hemodilution, we investigated hippocampal apoptotic gene expression and neuronal apoptosis up to 6 h after CPB. The CPB was performed on male rats (380-400 g) under general anesthesia with isoflurane and fentanyl. The right atrium and tail artery were cannulated, and a peristaltic pump and membrane oxygenator were used for CPB. Two groups were studied: Group 1 consisted of fasted rats (n = 15) subjected to 60 min of moderate hypothermic nonpulsatile CPB; Group 2 consisted of sham-operated rats (n = 15). At 1 h after CPB, in 6 rats per group, hippocampus was processed for the apoptotic gene (bcl-2 and bax) messenger RNAs detection by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and messenger RNA expression was determined by the ratio of the polymerase chain reaction product of bcl-2 or bax to the beta-actin gene. At 6 h after CPB, in 6 rats per group, hippocampus expression of Bcl-2 and bax protein was determined by immunohistochemistry, and neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. At 6 h after CPB, in three rats per group, changes in hippocampal CA1 neuronal ultra structure were determined with electron microscopy. Group 1 had increased ratios of bcl-2/beta-actin, bax/beta-actin, and bax/bcl-2 mRNA at 1 h after CPB (bcl-2/beta-actin, 0.82 +/- 0.14 versus 0.63 +/- 0.07; P = 0.03; bax/beta-actin, 1.04 +/- 0.14 versus 0.56 +/- 0.03; P = 0.00; bax/bcl-2, 1.31 +/- 0.12 versus 0.84 +/- 0.09; P = 0.02; Group 1 versus Group 2, respectively). Group 1 had increased bcl-2 and bax protein expression in hippocampal CA1 region at 6 h after CPB (bcl-2, 0.18 +/- 0.05 versus 0.09 +/- 0.01; P = 0.02; bax, 0.20 +/- 0.06 versus 0.04 +/- 0.02; P = 0.01; Group 1 versus Group 2, respectively). Group 1 had increased TUNEL staining in hippocampus CA1 at 6 h after CPB (0.14 +/- 0.02 versus 0.03 +/- 0.01; P = 0.00; Group 1 versus Group 2, respectively). In Group 1 CA1 hippocampus neurons, ultra-structural changes consistent with apoptosis occurred. In rats, moderate hypothermic CPB with hemodilution is associated with CA1 hippocampus bax and bcl-2 gene expression and neuronal apoptosis during the early post-CPB recovery period.

To identify genes and pathways not previously implicated in the mesenchymal-epithelial (M/E) interactions that are critical for normal mouse prostate development, we constructed six serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries. Bioinformatic analyses revealed expression of various members of numerous signalling pathways and the differential expression of several members of the wingless-related MMTV integration site (Wnt) signalling pathway. This pathway has not been previously implicated in prostate development thus expression of selected Wnt pathway members in the developing prostate was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Of particular interest, an antagonist of the Wnt pathway, secreted frizzled related protein 2 (Sfrp2), was highly expressed in the early prostate libraries and down regulated at later developmental stages. The expression levels of four Wnt ligands reported to interact with Sfrp2 were, therefore, examined by RT-qPCR. We found that only Wnt4 transcripts were detectable in the developing prostate. Expression of Sfrp2 was validated using RT-qPCR and localization of Sfrp2 transcripts and protein was carried out using in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, respectively. These studies provide the first evidence that Wnt pathway members are expressed in the developing prostate. Functional analyses are now required to establish the biological significance of this observation.

Background: It was proved that higher haematocrit (Hct) might improve the function of brain after hypothermia circulation arrest (HCA). In the present study we established a new rat HCA model and investigated whether retrograde cerebral perfusion of oxygenated, compacted red blood cells (RBC) could attenuate brain injury after HCA., Methods: A new rat HCA model was developed and rats were randomly distributed into three groups: HCA group, HCA combined with retrograde cerebral perfusion of oxygenated, compacted red blood cell group (HCArcp group), and sham operation group (sham op. group). Animals both in the HCA group and in the HCArcp group underwent HCA 90 min at 18 degrees C. Brain damage after HCA was evaluated with light microscopy and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR techniques were used to measured the different expressions of the C-Fos, Bcl-2, Bax mRNA and protein among the groups. Additionally we measured the wet/dry ratio of the brain in order to evaluate the oedema degree after HCA., Results: The new HCA model of rat we developed was comparable to the clinical setting not only in terms of the intubation, anaesthesia method and materials employed but also in terms of the priming volume in relation to body weight. The number of injured neurones in the hippocampus CA1 and parietal cortex, but not in the thalamus of the HCA group, was significantly greater than that of the HCArcp group (P<0.05). The mean score of mitochondrion of the hippocampus CA1 in the HCA group was significantly higher than in the HCArcp group (P<0.05). The expression of C-Fos, Bax mRNA and protein in the hippocampus CA1 and/or parietal cortex area was higher in the HCA group than in the HCArcp group (P<0.05). Expression of the mRNA and protein of Bcl-2 was higher in the HCArcp group than in the HCA group (P<0.05). The degree of oedema after HCA between the HCA group and HCArcp group had no significant difference (P>0.05)., Conclusions: We established a new rat model of HCA comparable to the clinical setting. Retrograde cerebral perfusion of oxygenated, compacted RBC is a simple, effective, and safe method to protect the brain during HCA. Adjusting the gene expression in relation to apoptosis might contribute to the neuroprotective effects of a retrograde cerebral infusion of oxygenated, compacted RBC.

This paper reviewed application of chitin and its derivatives in pharmaceutical industry of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years. Chitin and its derivatives could be used as a clarificant, retaining active substances, stabiliting preparation, reducing the heavy metals of traditional Chinese medicine extraction. Because of their churacteristics in biodegradation, biocompatibility and its tendency to film easily, chitin and its derivatives was ideal assistant materials in traditional Chinese medicine. Its application was largely enhanced after chitosan was modified. The problems and prospects of the application of chitin and its derivatives were also discussed.

The vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1 or TRPV1) is a membrane-bound, nonselective cation channel expressed by peripheral sensory neurons. TRPV1 antagonists produce antihyperalgesic effects in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Here, we describe the in vitro and in vivo pharmacology of a novel TRPV1 antagonist, AMG 9810, (E)-3-(4-t-butylphenyl)-N-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)acrylamide. AMG 9810 is a competitive antagonist of capsaicin activation (IC50 value for human TRPV1, 24.5 +/- 15.7 nM; rat TRPV1, 85.6 +/- 39.4 nM) and blocks all known modes of TRPV1 activation, including protons (IC50 value for rat TRPV1, 294 +/- 192 nM; human TRPV1, 92.7 +/- 72.8 nM), heat (IC50 value for rat TRPV1, 21 +/- 17 nM; human TRPV1, 15.8 +/- 10.8 nM), and endogenous ligands, such as anandamide, N-arachidonyl dopamine, and oleoyldopamine. AMG 9810 blocks capsaicin-evoked depolarization and calcitonin gene-related peptide release in cultures of rat dorsal root ganglion primary neurons. Screening of AMG 9810 against a panel of G protein-coupled receptors and ion channels indicated selectivity toward TRPV1. In vivo, AMG 9810 is effective at preventing capsaicin-induced eye wiping in a dose-dependent manner, and it reverses thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in a model of inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. At effective doses, AMG 9810 did not show any significant effects on motor function, as measured by open field locomotor activity and motor coordination tests. AMG 9810 is the first cinnamide TRPV1 antagonist reported to block capsaicin-induced eye wiping behavior and reverse hyperalgesia in an animal model of inflammatory pain.