Effect of Nature and Flavor Subdivision of Ephedrae Herba on Rats Model of Harmful Fluid Retention in Upper Jiao / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To study the effective substance foundation of Ephedrae Herba and explore its mechanism, in order to further enrich the theory of drug resistance of Ephedrae Herba.Method: In this experiment, a compound model was used to establish rat model of Harmful Fluid Retention in upper Jiao. The Rats were randomly divided into model group, captopril group (4.38 mg·kg-1), Ephedrae Herba decoction group(468 mg·kg-1), polysaccharide group (265.36 mg·kg-1), volatile oil group (2.34 mg·kg-1), alkaloid group(40.71 mg·kg-1) and phenolic acid group (210.60 mg·kg-1), and normal group (10 mL·kg-1). The normal group and the model group were given the same volume of normal saline for four weeks. The 24 h urine volume of rats was collected by metabolic cage method. The changes of heart and lung tissue morphology were observed under light microscope. The heart index, lung index, left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), left ventricular short axis shortening rate(LVFS) and pulmonary permeability index, number(LPI), lung dry-wet ratio(W/D), creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB), angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ), aldosterone(ALD), cardiac aquaporin 1(AQP1), lung AQP1, aquaporin-3(AQP3) and kidney AQP1, aquaporin-2(AQP2), interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) change were detected.Result: Compared with the normal group, heart and lungs of the model group were significantly damaged. The amount of 24 h urine, LVEF, LVFS of model rats were significantly reduced(Pα were significantly increased(PPα were significantly increased (PPα were significantly reduced (PPConclusion: Alkaloid components "Wen" and "Xin" are the effective substance basis of its action. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) and the anti-inflammatory effect.

Evaluation of estrogenic effects of Semen Descurainiae and its action mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To evaluate the estrogen-like activity of Semen Descurainiae aqueous extracts (SD-ae), to deter-mine its effective chemical separation components and to study the mechanisms. Methods The estrogen-like ac-tivity of SD-ae and its effective chemical separation com-ponents were evaluated by the animal experiment, uterine weight test and cell experiment, namely E-SCREEN ex-periment. Estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780 inter-vention blocking experiment was carried out to detect the pathway of estrogen-like action; the HEK293 cells were co-transfected with the report gene carrier and the ERα, ERβ expression vector by cationic liposome, the report gene carrier was constructed via the estrogen-responsive component (ERE) and the report gene luciferase (Luc), then the estrogen-like signaling pathway was evaluated with standardized Luc activity; the expression of estrogen receptor ERα, ERβ and estrogen-induced gene PR mR-NA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Results Compared with normal control, SD-ae low and high dose could significantly improve the uterine coefficient of immature female mice(P<0.05), and the oligosaccharides composition of Semen Descurainiae aque-ous extracts(SD-ae-Oli) and the polysaccharide composi-tion of Semen Descurainiae aqueous extracts(SD-ae-Pol) also significantly improved the uterine coefficient of im-mature female mice (P<0.01 or P<0.05); SD-ae, SD-ae-Oli and SD-ae-Pol had a significant proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells ( P <0.01 or P <0.05), while ICI182,780 intervened to block its proliferative effect. The reporter gene technology showed that the standardized Luc activities of SD-ae, SD-ae-Oli and SD-ae-Pol were significantly higher than those of the normal control when they were induced by ERβ respectively (P<0.01); and the SD-ae significantly increased the expression of ERβ mRNA in mouse uterus than the normal control, but no effect was found on the expression of ERα and PR mR- NA. Conclusions The estrogenic effect of SD-ae may be found at the first time, and its effective chemical sepa-ration components are SD-ae-Oli and SD-ae-Pol. Their estrogenic effects are mediated by ERβ. The molecular mechanism of the estrogenic effects is probably that SD-ae promotes the expression of ERβ mRNA.

Clinical efficacy and safety of selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography in primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Intra-operative cholangiography has been shown to be a sensitive and specific method of demonstrating bile duct stones. This study investigated the feasibility, safety, and clinical value of selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography in primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, and identified the factors that positively predict the presence of common bile duct stones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to January 2011, 252 of 1013 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy received selective trans-cystic intra-operative cholangiography and primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration. Their clinical data were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All operations were successful and none was converted to open surgery. The intra-operative cholangiography time was (8.3 ± 2.5) minutes, and the operative duration was (105.4 ± 23.1) minutes. According to selective intra-operative cholangiography, the positive predictive values of current jaundice, small gallstones (< 0.5 cm) and dilated cystic duct (> 0.3 cm), dilated common bile duct (> 0.8 cm), history of jaundice or gallstone pancreatitis, abnormal liver function test, and preoperative demonstration of suspected common bile duct stones on imaging were 87%, 25%, 42%, 15%, 32%, and 75% for common bile duct stones, respectively. Patients with several factors suggestive of common bile duct stones yielded higher numbers of positive cholangiograms. Unexpected stones were found in 13 patients (5.2%) by intra-operative cholangiography. The post-operative hospital stay was (4.7 ± 2.2) days. Post-operative bile leakage occurred in two cases, and these patients recovered by simple drainage for 3 - 7 days without re-operation. Of the 761 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone, 5 (0.7%) presented with a retained common bile duct stone requiring intervention. The median follow-up was 12 months, and only one patient who once suffered from bile leakage presented with obstructive jaundice due to bile duct stenosis 6 months postoperatively. The other patients recovered without any serious complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Selective intra-operative cholangiography yields acceptably high positive results. It is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive approach in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis and primary suture following three-port laparoscopic common bile duct exploration.</p>

Study on the use of TaqMan Real-time PCR to detect genogroup Ⅰ and Ⅱ norovirus in oysters and patients' stool samples / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To develop a rapid, specific and sensitive diagnostic method for quantification and typing of genogroup Ⅰ and Ⅱ norovirus in oyster shellfish and stool samples from patients who had eaten them. Methods Specific primers and probe, following large scale norovirus genome consensus analysis were designed and subsequently a TaqMan based Real-time PCR assay to detect both GⅠ and GⅡ were established. Results This method showed high specificity for norovirus nucleic acid detection, and no cross-reaction among norovirus GⅠ and GⅡ. The limit on detection of NV genomes was 102 copies/μl. A total of 90 oysters and 37 stool specimens with diarrhea were tested for norovirus by conventional reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) assay as well as the TaqMan Real-time PCR, respectively. The norovirus detection rate in oysters by TaqMan PCR was significantly higher than that by conventional RT-PCR, but no differences between the two PCR methods were found when detecting the stool samples. Reliability of the Real-time PCR for norovirus detection was further confirmed by DNA sequencing of the positive samples.Conclusion This TaqMan Real-time PCR assay was proved to be a useful method for quantification and typing for norovirus in routine monitoring of both oyster shellfish and clinical samples.This method is recommended to be an effective diagnostic method for outbreak-associated gastroenteritis due to norovirus.

Astrovirus infection among hospitalized children with acute diarrhea in seven regions of China, 1998-2005 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the epidemiology and strain variations of astrovirus infection among children under 5 years of age, hospitalized for acute diarrhea in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Inpatients under 5 years of age with acute diarrhea in hospitals of seven provinces between 1998 and 2005 were enrolled in the study Stool specimens were collected and tested for astrovirus using the Dako Amplified IDEIA Astrovirus kits or reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Genetic identities of the strains were determined using RT-PCR with serotype-specific primers and confirmed by sequencing of the RT-PCR products.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1668 diarrheal stool samples tested for both rotavirus and calicivirus negative were examined. The detection rate of astrovirus infection was 5.5% (91/1668) and the diarrhea cases caused by astrovirus infection could be found in any season of the year but mainly occurred in cold season from October to next January. Astrovirus detection-rates were: 7.4% among infants aged 9-11 months followed by 6.1% in 12-17 month-olds, and 6-8 months 5.6% & 0-2 months 5.6% before 8 months. Over 95% of astrovirus infections occurred in children before 2 years of age. Among 49 strains, typed, serotype 1(45/91) was most commonly seen while serotype 5 was in two cases and serotype 3 and 8 were detected in only one case respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Astrovirus seemed an important etiologic agent in young children with acute diarrhea in China and Serotype 1 was the most prevalent one.</p>

Etiological study on viral diarrhea among children in Lanzhou, Gansu, from July 2004 through June 2005 / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study molecular epidemiology of four major etiological viruses among children with acute diarrhea in Lanzhou, Gansu province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stool specimens were collected from all 400 inpatients less than 5 years old with acute diarrhea admitted in Department of Pediatrics, the First Hospital, Lanzhou University from Jul. 2004 through Jun. 2005. Dako IDEIA kits were used for detection of rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus. Calicivirus detection was done by both reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) and ELISA. Further strain characterization of rotavirus and astrovirus was carried out with RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 400 stool samples were collected and tested. Rotavirus was present in 47.3% of the cases: calicivirus in 15.5%, astrovirus in 9.5% and adenoviruses in 7.5%. Mixed infections with multiple enteric viruses were present in 13.5% of all samples. Among 189 rotavirus positive samples, serotype G2 (34.4%) was the predominant strain followed by G3 (32.8%), G1 (1.1%) and mixed-G infection (5.8%). 25.9% of strains remained to be non-typeable. P genotyping showed P [4] (45%) was most common followed by P [8] (22.1%), and non-typeable (32.9%). Strain P [4] G2 (43.6%) was the most common combination followed by P [8] G3 (25.6%), P [4] G3 (13.8%), and P [8] G2, P [4] G1 and P [8] G1. Among 38 astrovirus strains, serotypes 1 (57.8%) was the predominant. Serotype 3 and 8 were found only in one case respectively, 14 strains remained to be non-typeable. A peak admission of rotavirus diarrhea was observed from October through December. More than 95.0% of viral diarrhea patients under hospitalization occurred among children younger than 2 years. The incidence rates of rotavirus were highest in infants aged 6 - 23 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rotavirus was the most important pathogen for viral diarrhea among children hospitalized in Lanzhou followed by calicivirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus. The predominant rotavirus strain circulated was P [4] G2, which was different from the finding in the previous years. The high rate of mixed infection with different viral agents was notable.</p>

Comparison of different pacing sites of the right ventricle on left ventricular mechanical synchrony and systolic performance using tissue Doppler imaging / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Right ventricular apical pacing may induce cardiac desynchronize and deteriorate left ventricular systolic performance. We hypothesized that right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) pacing could produce better mechanical synchrony and left ventricular contraction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We enrolled nine patients without structural heart disease who underwent electrophysiological studies. The pacing sites (right apex, low septum, free wall and septum of RVOT of the right ventricle) were defined with fluoroscopy and ECG. The atrioventricular sequential pacing was applied every 5 minutes in a random order at a rate of 120 bpm. Tissue Doppler imaging was carried out with GE VIVID 7 for off-line analysis at each pacing site. The global systolic contraction amplitude (GSCA) was calculated as the average shortening amplitude of all 16 segments of left ventricle.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The GSCA during pacing was 5.76 mm +/- 0.66 mm at free wall of RVOT and 5.66 mm +/- 1.00 mm at septum of RVOT, respectively. The GSCA at both sites was significantly higher than that at apical pacing 4.82 mm +/- 0.94 mm (P < 0.05) or low septum pacing 4.82 mm +/- 1.06 mm (P < 0.05). Moreover, segmental displacement analysis showed that the longitudinal displacement of lateral, posterior, and inferior walls significantly decreased at apical pacing compared with RVOT pacing, although no difference could be demonstrated in anterior and septum walls. Accordingly, the curve of the myocardial displacement at apical or low septum pacing was M-shaped, and had a negative wave at the end of the diastole in lateral, posterior, and inferior walls. The tissue velocity during isovolumic contraction period was also higher than systolic tissue velocity in these walls. The phenomenon could seldom be seen at RVOT pacing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RVOT pacing in patients without structural heart disease is associated with more favorable immediate myocardial contraction and mechanical synchrony compared with right apical pacing or low septum pacing.</p>