Animal DNA Typing and Its Research Progress in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

With the advance of molecular biology, DNA analysis technology has been widely applied in forensic science. Non-human DNA analysis can be used in some special cases and has unique forensic value to provide investigation clues and trial basis. Animal DNA typing plays a more prominent role in the detection of all kinds of non-human DNA related cases and is the main content of forensic non-human DNA analysis. This paper reviews the development history, present situation, advantages and disadvantages of animal DNA typing according to its technology, characteristic, challenges facing forensic science application scenarios, and also its future development.

DNA Barcode Technology and Its Application Prospects in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

Traditional species identification has gone through five stages -- morphology, cytology, biochemistry, immunology and molecular biology. At present, the use of DNA technology for species identification has become a research hotspot. In the use of DNA for species identification, the presentation and application of DNA barcode is of epoch-making significance. With the successful application of new technology in species identification, forensic species identification has also made corresponding development, and is expected to play an important role in forensic related fields. This paper briefly describes the general situation and principles of DNA barcode technology as well as its advantages and limitations when applied to biological classification, and discusses the future significance and feasibility of DNA barcode technology in forensic applications, in order to provide new ideas for future forensic identification.

Advances in research on autoantibodies of primary sj?gren′s syndrome / 中国免疫学杂志

Primary Sj?gren′s syndrome(pSS)is a chronic autoimmune disease which is characterized by exocrine gland dam-age.Studies have found that pSS is associated with a variety of autoantibodies,including anti-Ro/SSA,-La/SSB,-M3R,-α-fodrin,-AD-AMTS13,-NA-14,-IFN-γ,-REG Iα,-MDM2.In this paper,we reviewed the progress of autoantibodies in the diagnosis,disease prediction and pathogenesis of pSS in recent years,so as to provide new ideas for pSS clinical and scientific research.

Efficacy and safety investigation of Kuntai capsule for the add-back therapy of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist administration to endometriosis patients: a randomized, double-blind, blank- and tibolone-controlled study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>As a Chinese Traditional Medicine product, Kuntai capsule could improve the peri-menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. But it is still not clear whether Kuntai capsule has a good effect on alleviating peri-menopausal symptoms induced by gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Kuntai capsule, on peri-menopausal symptoms in endometriosis (EMS) patients, with postoperative GnRH-a treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety EMS ovarian cyst women with postoperative GnRH-a administration were enrolled in the study, and were randomly divided into Kuntai group, Tibolone group, or blank Control group. The therapeutic strategy in Kuntai group was 4 Kuntai capsules tid,po for 12 weeks after the first GnRH-a injection, while Tibolone 2.5 mg qd, po for 12 weeks in Tibolone group. There was no drug addition in Control group. Climacteric complaints were evaluated by Kupperman menopausal index (KMI) and hot flash/sweating score. Liver and renal functions, lipid profile, serum sex hormone levels and endometrial thickness were measured, and the frequency of adverse events in Kuntai and Tibolone groups was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Before GnRH-a therapy, the baseline parameter results were comparable in the three groups (P > 0.05). (2) After GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating scores in all the three groups increased significantly (P < 0.05). At the 4 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score results were as follows: Control group > Kuntai group > Tibolone group (P < 0.05); at the 8 th and 12 th week after GnRH-a therapy, KMI and hot flash/sweating score in Control group were significantly higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), and no significant difference was identified between Kuntai and Tibolone group (P > 0.05). (3) No statistical change took place in the liver and renal functions and lipid profile in all the three groups after the treatment (P > 0.05). (4) The posttherapeutic serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2) level and endometrial thickness decreased significantly in all the three groups (P < 0.05). After therapy, serum E2 level in Tibolone group was obviously higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05), while FSH and LH levels were obviously lower (P < 0.05). (5) The incidence of vaginal bleeding, breast distending pain in Tibolne group was obviously higher than Kuntai group (P < 0. 05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Kuntai capsule is effective on the peri-menopausal symptoms induced by postoperative GnRH-a administration to EMS patients, although its clinical effect might be a few weeks later than Tibolone. Kuntai capsule might be a little safer than Tibolone tablet.</p>

Effect of Epimedium extract on osteoprotegerin and RANKL mRNA expressions in glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid on the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) mRNAs in rat femoral head and the antagonistic effect of Epimedium, and explore the mechanism of Epimedium in preventing glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight adult SD rats were randomized into glucocorticoid group, Epimedium group and control group. In the former two groups, the rats received intramuscular injection of 12.5 mg prednisolone twice a week, and in Epimedium group, additional 1 ml/100 g aqueous Epimedium extract (equivalent to 0.1 g/ml of the crude drug) was administered intragastrically once daily. The control group received only intramuscular saline injection. After 4 weeks of treatment, osteonecrosis of the left femoral head was detected by HE staining, and the right femoral head was sampled for detection of OPG and RANKL mRNA expressions using real-time quantitative PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In glucocorticoid, Epimedium and control groups, the mortality rate of the rats was 12.5% (2/16), 6.25% (1/16), 0 (0/16), and femoral head necrosis occurred at a rate of 71.43% (10/14), 26.67% (4/15), and 0 (0/16), respectively. In glucocorticoid group, the expression level of OPG mRNA was significantly lower, RANKL expression significantly higher, and OPG/RANKL ratio significantly lower than those in Epimedium and control groups (P<0.05). OPG, RANKL and their ratios showed no significant differences between Epimedium group and the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epimedium can prevent glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis probably by antagonizing glucocorticiod-induced abnormal expressions of OPG and RANKL mRNA.</p>

Quantitative study of effects of cinnamaldehyde on levels of endotoxin in root canals in rats' periapical periodontitis model / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide experimental evidence for the exploitation of cinnamaldehyde as a kind of root canal disinfectant through studying the effect of cinnamaldehyde on endotoxin in root canals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This experimental model of periapical periodontitis was established with Wistar rats. The 75 rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: Group of cinnamaldehyde, group of formaldehyde cresol formocresol, group of physiological saline. The level of endotoxin was measured by quantitative chromogenic tachypleus amebocyte lysate method before and after sealing the drugs in the root canal.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The level of endotoxin in the group of cinnamaldehyde and formaldehyde cresol formocresol decreased obviously (P < 0.05), and the difference between them was of no significance (P > 0.05), the group of physiological saline was of no significant difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cinnamaldehyde can decrease the level of endotoxin obviously.</p>

Histopathology research of Cinnamaldehyde as pulp-cap of pulpotomy in rats / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the stimulation of Cinnamaldehyde to the pulp tissue and the periapical tissue of rats' teeth, to provide evidence for developing Cinnamaldehyde as a pulp-cap of pulpotomy in primary teeth.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using Cinnamaldehyde as pulp-cap in pulpotomy of rats' teeth, set up Cinnamaldehyde group, formaldehyde cresol formocresol group and blank group. After different treatment according to the empirical procedure, rats were killed in the 4th week and on the 12th week. Then the experiment teeth and the periodontal tissue were made into HE slides and observed using light microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 4" week, internal absorption, external absorption, and calcification were of no significance among all the groups. Inflammation in blank group was far more severe than that in other two groups (P<0.05), while the latter two were of no significance. The 12th week, internal absorption, external absorption, and inflammation between the former two groups were of no differences, but the indexes were significantly different from them of the blank group (P<0.005). Calcify was not obvious in all the slides.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As a pulp-cap, Cinnamaldehyde stimulates the pulp tissue and the periapical tissue at a very low level. The research provides histopathology rationale for Cinnamaldehyde as pulp-cap of pulpotomy in primary teeth.</p>