Protective Effects of Hydroxysafflor Yellow A against Oxidative Damage of β-Mercaptoethanol During Neural Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells / 中草药·英文版

Objective To study the protective effects of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) against the oxidative damage caused by β-mercaptoethanol (BME) during neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro. Methods When the confluence reached 50%-60%, 4th passage MSCs were divided into three groups to culture. G1: normal group which was cultured using basic medium (DMEM containing 10% FBS all the time); G2: unprotected group which was continuously cultured using basic medium for 24 h, and then cultured using pre-induction medium (DMEM containing 10% FBS and 1 mmol/L BME); G3: protected group which was firstly cultured using protective medium (DMEM containing 10% FBS and 160 mg/L HSYA) for 24 h, and then cultured using pre-induction medium for 24 h. After these treatments as above, cell viability, relative levels of SOD/GSH and apoptosis rate were respectively detected. The expression of Bcl and Bax was examined by Western blotting. After HSYA protection and BME pre-induction, neural induction was performed. The expression of NSE and MAP-2 was respectively analyzed on cellular and molecular levels. Results Compared with unprotected group, 160 mg/L HSYA could obviously improve cells viability, maintain high level of SOD and GSH in MSCs, reduce apoptosis rate and improve the ratio of Bcl/Bax. After protection with 160 mg/L HSYA, the survival time of neuron-like cells could be extended. Immunocytochemical staining showed that after 10 h of neural induction, the differentiated neuron-like cells in protected group were still in a good state, and the mRNA levels of NSE and MAP-2 were increased during the induction course checked. Conclusion HSYA could improve the resistance of cells to the oxidative damage caused by BME.

Establishment and application of HPLC-QAMS for quality evaluation of Chuanxiong Rhizoma / 药学学报

A quantitative analysis method of multi-components with a single marker (QAMS) for simultaneous determination of six marker compounds (one from phenolic acids and five from phthalides) in Chuanxiong Rhizoma was established by applying HPLC and using butylidenephthalide as the internal reference substance. And also the feasibility and accuracy of the established method for quality evaluation and application of Chuanxiong Rhizoma were investigated and validated. The analysis was performed with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile - 0.2% aqueous formic acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL . min-1 and the column temperature was maintained at 30 °C. The detection wavelengths were set at 252 nm (for ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide) and 266 nm (for senkyunolide I, senkyunolide A, and coniferyl ferulate), separately, and 20 µL was injected for analysis with gradient elution. The results showed that there were no significant differences observed between the HPLC-QAMS method and the external standard method (RSD <5%). The relative correction factors were credible (RSD < 5%) in changed chromatographic conditions. The established HPLC-QAMS method can be accurately used for simultaneously evaluating and controlling the quality of Chuanxiong Rhizoma with multi-components.

A new puncture needle with multiple holes for testicular sperm extraction / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate a new puncture needle with multiple holes (National Invention Patent of China: ZL 2010202466554) in testicular sperm extraction for infertile males.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study included 215 azoospermia patients, who underwent testicular sperm extraction with a new puncture needle with multiple holes (group A, n = 133), by open biopsy (group B, n = 37), or with a fine needle (group C, n = 45).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The first-time success rate was 100% in group A, 19% in B and 100% in C. The average operation time was obviously shorter in group A ([3 +/- 1] min) than in B ([15 +/- 3] min) and C ([7 +/- 2] min). The rate of postoperative complications was 3.0% in group A, significantly lower than in B (21.6%) and C (11.1%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The new puncture needle with multiple holes, with its advantages of accuracy, high first-time success rate, minimal invasiveness and low rate of complications, deserves to be generally applied in testicular sperm extraction.</p>

Values of tandem mass spectrometry in etiologic diagnosis of cerebral developmental retardation / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the values of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in etiologic diagnosis and understanding therapeutic effect in cerebral developmental retardation, and to help patients in early diagnosis, treatment and favorable prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty-eight childhood patients with brain heteroplasia were tested from July 2004 to October 2006. The blood was collected on filter paper, punched and extracted into methanol solution with stable isotope labeled internal standards, then derivatized with butanolic-HCl. After preparation, the samples were analysed by tandem mass spectrometry. Eleven MS/MS-positive patients were further analyzed based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of urine, clinical course, and treatment outcome.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven of 158 patients (7.0%) with inborn metabolic error were confirmed, including five with methylmalonic acidemia, two with propionic acidemia, one with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, one with maple syrup urine disease, one with phenylketonuria, and one with biotinidase deficiency. Among them, five were male, six were female, aged from 4 days to 21 months. The clinical manifestations were diverse, including mental developmental retardation or degradation (11 cases), convulsion (5 cases), coma (4 cases), vomiting (4 cases), malnutrition (4 cases), lethargy (3 cases), repeated infection (3 cases), hypotonia (2 cases), etc. Laboratory findings showed metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, hyperlactacidemia, anemia, etc. MRI findings of the brain showed cerebral atrophy, a pattern of bilateral T(2)W high signal intensity or/and T(1)W low signal intensity in cerebral white matter and multiple encephalomalacia or vesicular change, ect. In methylmalonic acidemia patients, the early onset with severe acidosis and coma have had a poor prognosis. Improvement was observed in 8 cases after treatment with vitamin B(12), L-carnitine, special milk, low-protein diet or biotin, etc. However 3 MMA patients died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MS/MS was helpful for some patients in etiologic diagnosis and understanding therapeutic effect of cerebral developmental retardation. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential to improve the prognosis and prevent brain damage.</p>

Effect of carbamazepine and valproate on bone metabolism in children with epilepsy / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess bone health in epileptic children who have been treated with carbamazepine (CBZ) or valproate (VPA) by using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and determining the biochemical indices of bone metabolism, and to provide a proposal to improve quality of life of epileptic children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-two epileptic children who had been treated with CBZ or VPA for more than two years were evaluated for bone mineral density (BMD) at the mid-shaft tibia and the distal third of the radius. Biochemical indices of bone metabolism including urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and serum osteocalcin (OC), and daily calcium intake were also evaluated. Thirty-five age-matched healthy children were used as controls. Reduced BMD was defined as speed of sound (SOS) Z scores of the mid-shaft tibia and (or) the distal third of the radius less than -0.7.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BMD was reduced in epileptic children significantly when compared to the controls (P < 0.05). In addition, a negative correlation was found between the duration of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) use and BMD (r(s) = -0.21 - -0.31, P < 0.05), the lowest BMD was observed in those who had been treated for the longest time. The serum values of OC in epileptic children were significantly reduced relative to the controls (P < 0.01), children who took VPA had the lowest value of OC. However, the urine values of DPD showed no significant difference between epileptic and healthy children (P > 0.05); children who took CBZ had the highest value of DPD. Thirty-two epileptic children (35%) and five (14%) sex- and age-matched healthy children had reduced BMD, significant difference was found between them (P < 0.05). Moreover, epileptic children with reduced BMD seemed to have higher body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.05), take less daily calcium intake (P < 0.01), and had longer duration of AEDs (P < 0.01). The two risk factors of having reduced BMD in epileptic children were those who had been treated with AEDs for more than five years and higher BMI, while the protective factor was daily calcium intake.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Long-term use of CBZ or VPA is associated with bone metabolism abnormalities, which include reduced BMD and decreased bone turnover (mainly decreased bone formation). Long-term anti-epileptic therapy is an important factor for impaired bone health in epileptic children, and that low calcium intake and high BMI could be two aggravating factors. QUS is a useful method to evaluate BMD of epileptic children who are on long-term anti-epileptic therapy, and to recognize the status of bone health, in helping to promote bone health and improve quality of life in epileptic children by the use of calcium and vitamin D supplementation.</p>

Predictive Factors of Early-Onset Complications in Children with Acute Bacterial Meningitis / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore predictive factors of early-onset complications in children with acute bacterial meningitis.Method Retrospective study was made on clinical data and predictive factors of early-onset complications of 75 children with acute bacterial meningitis who were treated in our hospital during 2000-2005.Results The incidence of early-onset complications in children with acute bacterial meningitis was 50.7%,subdural effusions and hydrocephalus occured freqiently.The incidence of early-onset complications were closely correlated with onset age,coma,seizure,cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) protein concentration and CSF glucose concentration.Onset age younger than 12 months(OR=11.876,95% CI:2.592-54.33 P