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The purpose of this study was to determine whether compound zhi zhu xiang (CZZX) exerts anxiolytic-like effects in rats. The animals were orally administered CZZX (0.75, 1.5, and 3 g/kg daily) for 10 days and tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM), Vogel conflict test (VCT), and open field. Repeated treatment with CZZX (3 g/kg/day, p.o.) significantly increased the percentage of both entries into and time spent on the open arms of the EPM compared with saline controls. In the VCT, repeated treatment with CZZX (1.5 and 3 g/kg/day, p.o.) significantly increased the number of punished licks. The drug did not change the total entries into the open arms of the EPM or interfere with water consumption or nociceptive threshold, discarding potential confounding factors in the two tests. In the open field, locomotion was not reduced, discarding the possible sedative effect of CZZX. In the binding assay, the binding of [(3)H] Ro 15-1788 (flumazenil) to the benzodiazepine binding site in washed crude synaptosomal membranes from rat cerebral cortex was affected by CZZX. These data indicate an anxiolytic-like profile of action for CZZX without sedative side effects, and this activity may be mediated by benzodiazepine binding site modulation at γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptors.

The title compound, [Zn(C(7)H(3)NO(4))(C(6)H(6)N(4)S(2))(H(2)O)]·4H(2)O, assumes a distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry around the Zn(2+) cation, formed by a diamino-bithia-zole (DABT) mol-ecule, a pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl-ate anion and a water mol-ecule. The pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl-ate anion chelates to the Zn(II) atom with a facial configuration. Within the chelating DABT ligand, the two thia-zole rings are twisted by a dihedral angle of 14.52 (8)° with respect to each other. O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur in the crystal structure.

In the title compound, [Cu(C(4)H(4)O(5))(C(5)H(8)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)]·2H(2)O, the Cu(II) cation assumes a distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry formed by two 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole ligands, one oxydiacetate (ODA) dianion and one coordinated water mol-ecule. The tridentate ODA ligand chelates to the Cu cation in a facial configuration with a longer Cu-O bond [2.597 (3) Å], and both chelating rings display envelope conformations. In the mol-ecule, the two pyrazole rings are twisted with respect to each other at a dihedral angle of 57.5 (3)°. Extensive inter-molecular O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe grisea, is one of the most devastating diseases of rice. The specific interaction between rice and M. grisea is an important model system for studying the host-pathogen interaction mechanisms. In this article, we summarized recent research progresses on avirulence genes, which are the most important effectors in M. grisea with the focus on chromosome mapping, cloning method, functional analysis, and evolution study of avirulence genes, and the possible hotspot of the research on avirulence genes in the future was also been discussed. This knowledge may shed a light on the molecular mechanism underlying avirulence genes function and the possible interaction relationship between the host and the pathogen.

In the title compound, [Ni(C(4)H(4)O(4)S)(C(6)H(6)N(4)S(2))(H(2)O)]·H(2)O, the Ni(II) cation assumes a distorted octa-hedral coordination geometry formed by a diamino-bithia-zole (DABT) ligand, a thio-diacetate (TDA) dianion and a coordinated water mol-ecule. The tridentate TDA chelates to the Ni cation in a facial configuration, and both chelating rings display the envelope conformations. The two thia-zole rings of the DABT ligand are twisted with respect to each other, making a dihedral angle of 9.96 (9)°. Extensive O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O and weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding is present in the crystal structure.

The effect of high salt environments on biological characteristics of Helicobacter pylori is still unclear. In the present study, we therefore investigated biological characteristics of the bacterium exposed to high salt concentrations. H. pylori strain, L301, was cultured in media supplemented with different concentrations (3%, 15% and 30%) of sodium chloride (NaCl) under microaerophilic conditions for 48 h. Morphology was assessed by light microscopy, the ATP content was quantitated by single-tube fluorescent light-emission and the levels of CagA and UreB proteins were determined by Western blotting. After exposure to NaCl, H. pylori transformed from common spiral shape to U or even coccoid shapes. The ATP content was significantly higher in 30% NaCl group than in 15% and 3% NaCl group and the level of CagA protein increased with the salt concentration. The urease reaction was all strongly positive in H. pylori exposed to different salt concentrations. The level of 8-OHdG expression was significantly increased in GES-1 cells co-cultured with H. pylori exposed to high salt, compared with the level in uninfected cells. H. pylori survives under exposure to high salt concentrations up to 30%, exhibiting changes in mobility, morphology and CagA expression, associated with increased 8-OHdG in the gastric epithelial cells, indicative of DNA damage.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for the aphasia., Methods: The publications of acupuncture for the treatment of aphasia are comprehensively searched from relevant domestic medical literature databases, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database. Meta analysis was conducted by using the publications., Results: Twenty six trials of 338 matched the selection criteria and their data were suitable for Meta analysis. The total aphasia patients were 1749. The total odds ratio (OR) of the improvement with acupuncture plus language training and drugs compared with language training plus drug intervention was 3.66 (95% confidence interval, 2.81, 4.76), and the funnel plot was approximately symmetry. It is indicated that the curative effect of the acupuncture group is better than that of the control group (Z = 9.60, P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The effect of acupuncture with language training plus drugs for the treatment of aphasia is better than that of language training plus drugs only.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of glucocorticoid therapy in idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (INSIP)., Methods: Twenty-nine cases of INSIP confirmed by clinical- radiological-pathological (CRP) diagnosis were collected and classified into 2 groups according to the degree of fibrosis: INSIP-1 (including 9 cases of cellular type) and INSIP-2 (20 cases of mixed and fibrotic type). Thirty cases of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) confirmed by CRP diagnosis served as the control. Clinical and pathological features, therapeutic effects of glucocorticoids and the follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed and the survival curves were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method., Results: The mean age at onset of INSIP-1 group [(48 ± 5) years] was significantly younger than INSIP-2 group [(52 ± 11) years] and the UIP group [(57 ± 14) years]. The course of disease in INSIP-1 group [(60 ± 28) months] was longer than that in INSIP-2 group [(48 ± 33) months] and that in the UIP group [(44 ± 23) months], but the differences were not statistically significant (F = 1.22, all P > 0.05). The efficacy rate of glucocorticoid treatment in INSIP-1 group (9/9) was higher than that in INSIP-2 group (11/20) and that in the UIP group (2/30), the differences being statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The follow-up period for INSIP-1 group [(56 ± 27) months] was significantly longer than for INSIP-2 group [(23 ± 18) months] and for the UIP group [(25 ± 17) months], and the rate of significant improvement (6/9) was higher than that of the INSIP-2 group (9/20) and the UIP group (0/30), the differences being statistically significant (F = 9.224, all P < 0.05). The mortality of INSIP-1 group (0/9) was lower than that in INSIP-2 group (4/20) and the UIP group (16/30), the difference being statistically significant (exact probability value 0.000 - 0.005, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The degree of fibrosis of INSIP is closely correlated with the effect of glucocorticoid therapy and prognosis. The cellular type has a favorable reaction to glucocorticoid therapy and a better prognosis as compared to the fibrotic type.

In urban cities in Southern China, the tissue S/N ratios of epilithic mosses (Haplocladium microphyllum), varied widely from 0.11 to 0.19, are strongly related to some atmospheric chemical parameters (e.g. rainwater SO(4)(2-)/NH(4)(+) ratios, each people SO(2) emission). If tissue S/N ratios in the healthy moss species tend to maintain a constant ratio of 0.15 in unpolluted area, our study cities can be divided into two classes: class I (S/N > 0.15, S excess) and class II (S/N < 0.15, N excess), possibly indicative of stronger industrial activity and higher density of population, respectively. Mosses in all these cities obtained S and N from rainwater at a similar ratio. Sulphur and N isotope ratios in mosses are found significantly linearly correlated with local coal delta(34)S and NH(4)(+)-N wet deposition, respectively, indicating that local coal and animal NH(3) are the major atmospheric S and N sources., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A study of the continuous precipitation in Guiyang has been taken during October 30 and November 7. The results showed that the range of pH was between 3.65 and 7.20, and volume-weighted mean was 4.24. SO4(2-) was the main anion and volume-weighted mean was 119.06 microeq x L(-1), accounting for 80.63% of total anions. While Ca2+ was the main cation and volume-weighted mean was 48.87 microeq x L(-1), accounting for 48.16% of total cation and NH4+ was 38.38 microeq x L(-1), 37.82%. Good correlations between Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+ and SO4(2-) are observed, which may exist as MgSO4, CaSO4 and (NH4)2SO4 in the rainwater in Guiyang City. Different ions of the atmosphere had different scavenged ways and rate in the precipitation process. In the initial stage of precipitation, the ions such as Mg2+, which were rich in coarse particles, were quickly removed from atmosphere. However the ions such as NH4+ and SO4(2-), which were rich in fine particles, could remain in the atmosphere for a longer time.

In the title compound, [Zn(C(4)H(5)O(2))Cl(C(6)H(6)N(4)S(2))]·H(2)O, the Zn(II) cation is coordinated by a bidentate diamino-bithia-zole (DABT) ligand, a but-2-enoate anion and a Cl(-) anion in a distorted tetra-hedral geometry. Within the DABT ligand, the two thia-zole rings are twisted to each other at a dihedral angle of 4.38 (10)°. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O inter-action occurs. The centroid-centroid distance of 3.6650 (17) Å and partially overlapped arrangement between nearly parallel thia-zole rings of adjacent complexes indicate the existence of π-π stacking in the crystal structure. Extensive O-H⋯Cl, O-H⋯O, N-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding helps to stabilize the crystal structure.

Chemical investigation of one fungal strain P. chlamydosporia YMF 1.00613 isolated from root knots of tobacco infected by Meloidogyne incognita led to the isolation and identification of four aurovertin-type metabolites, which include a new compound, aurovertin I (A1), and three known metabolites, aurovertins E, F and D (A2-A4). Their structures were established by spectroscopic studies such as 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS analysis. Aurovertin I (A1) is the first natural product with an aurovertin skeleton with one less carbon. Compounds A3 and A4 showed the toxicity to the worms of the free-living nematode Panagrellus redivevus with the LC(50) values 88.6 and 41.7 microg/mL at 48 h, respectively. All four aurovertins did not show obvious inhibitory effects on egg hatch of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. The results suggested that the aurovertin-type metabolites produced by P. chlamydosporia might be one of the pathogenic factors involved in the suppression of nematodes.

Objective: To find out the effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) genetic polymorphism and nutrition intervention to blood lipid abnormal population., Methods: 412 hyperlipemia residents of Han group were screened from 3 main districts in Nanjing by multistage stratified cluster random sampling, and separated into nutritional intervention and control group by simple random method. The intervention group (221 individuals) were provided with coarse good grain and health education while only health education was provided for the control group (191 individuals). Medical examinations (including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR); total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) were taken every 6 months between March 2007 and March 2008, and PPARgamma2 genetic polymorphism was also detected later., Results: After intervention, TC levels of intervention group and control group were (4.90 +/- 0.86) and (5.16 +/- 0.94) mmol/L respectively; TG levels were (1.68 +/- 0.97) and (2.29 +/- 1.10) mmol/L respectively; HDL-C levels were (1.35 +/- 0.36) and (1.16 +/- 0.33) mmol/L respectively, all of the differences were significant in statistics (t values were -2.95, -6.01, 5.55 respectively, P < 0.01). The levels of BMI ((24.81 +/- 3.21) kg/m(2)), WHR (0.88 +/- 0.07), FBG ((5.40 +/- 1.17) mmol/L), TC ((4.92 +/- 0.87) mmol/L) and TG ((1.68 +/- 1.01) mmol/L) decreased significantly (t values were 19.06, 16.43, 1.98, 8.86, -14.32 respectively, P < 0.01) compared to the levels before intervention (BMI (25.39 +/- 3.30) kg/m(2), WHR (0.92 +/- 0.07), FBG (6.07 +/- 2.17) mmol/L, TC (5.28 +/- 0.94) mmol/L and TG (2.70 +/- 1.86) mmol/L), while HDL-C (1.37 +/- 0.36) mmol/L increased significantly compared to the level before intervention (1.13 +/- 0.42) mmol/L (t = -7.68, P < 0.01) in the individuals with Pro/Pro of intervention group. WHR (0.90 +/- 0.06) and TG ((1.71 +/- 0.59) mmol/L) decreased significantly compared to the levels before intervention (WHR (0.95 +/- 0.06) and TG (2.58 +/- 1.12) mmol/L) (t values were -3.53 and -8.05 respectively, P < 0.01) in the ones with Pro/Ala. Moreover, susceptibility of change for BMI in Pro/Pro genotype carriers ((-1.21 +/- 1.02) kg/m(2)) was significantly greater than that in Pro/Ala genotype carriers ((-0.58 +/- 1.85) kg/m(2), t = -6.29, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Several indices of individuals with Pro/Pro improved obviously after nutrition intervention, which showed that effects of intervention to these people were better than those with Pro/Ala and Ala/Ala.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Chinese medicine formula-Yu Zhang Dan (YZD, composed of Herba Lysimachiae, Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, Radix Curcumae) on the model rats with hepatic fibrosis. Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used in the present study, and they were separated randomly into 4 groups: a normal control group (Group A, n=5), a model control (Group B, n=15), a high dose of YZD (Group C, n=10), and a low dose of YZD (Group D, n=10). Hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). The variation of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronate acid (HA), laminin (LN), type • • procollagen peptide (P• •NP), L-Glutathione (GSH) was respectively measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA) and detection of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and smooth muscle alpha actin (α-SMA) was conducted with immunohistochemistry. The ALT, AST HA, LN and PIII NP levels in the serum of the model control group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05), and both of the high dose of YZD and low dose of YZD significantly decreased the ALT, AST HA, LN and PIII NP levels of the model rats (P<0.05). The TGF-β1 and α-SMA levels of the model control group were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (P<0.05), and both of the high dose of YZD and low dose of YZD significantly decreased the TGF-β1 levels of the model rats (P<0.05) , and only the high dose of YZD significantly decreased the α-SMA levels of the model rats (P<0.05). The expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in the liver tissues of the rats were in the cytoplasm of the cells. It may be through decreasing the ALT, AST, HA, LN and PIII NP levels in the serum of the model rats and decreasing the expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in the liver tissues of the model rats that YZD significantly relieved the hepatic fibrosis.

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of small intestine with lymph node metastasis and evaluate the respond to imatinib mesylate (Glivec) therapy., Methods: Two cases of GIST of small intestine associated with lymph node metastasis were collected and investigated by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Mutation in exon 9, 11 and of c-kit gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing., Results: The cases presented as small intestinal mass of irregular shape. Histologically, the tumors consisted of epithelioid and spindled cells, with areas of coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage. The mitotic count measured about 2 per 50 high-power fields. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely distributed and strongly positive for CD117. Mutation analysis revealed that case 1 had an in-frame deletion of 11 amino-acid residues corresponding to 559-569 and carried two missense mutations involving codons 570, 571 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. Case 2 revealed an in-frame deletion involved condons 559-565 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. These two cases were all underwent primary chemotherapy with imatinib mesylate and without new tumor was found during follow-up periods (18, 26 months) after operation., Conclusions: GIST with nodal metastasis is very rare and needs to be distinguished from other soft tissue sarcomas occurring in this site. The responsiveness to imatinib mesylate therapy correlates with the mutation status of c-kit gene.

The application of geochemical signals in mosses is more and more popular to investigate the deposition of atmospheric pollutants, but it is unclear whether records of atmospheric sulfur in mosses differ between their diverse habitats. This study aimed to investigate the influence of growing condition on tissue sulfur and delta34S of Haplocladium microphyllum. Epilithic and terricolous mosses in open fields, mosses under different canopy conditions were considered. We found that tissue sulfur and delta34S of mosses under different habitats were not consistent and could not be compared for atmospheric sulfur research with each other even collected at the same site, moss sulfur and delta34S records would be distorted by subsoil and upper canopies in different degrees, which possibly mislead the interpretation of atmospheric sulfur level and sources. Consequently, mosses on open rocks can be used reliably to assess atmospheric-derived sulfur in view of their identical sulfur and delta34S evidences.

1. Cytoprotection by H(2)O(2) preconditioning against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells has been demonstrated previously. In the present study, we investigated the effects of H(2)O(2) preconditioning on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation and the role of NF-kappaB in the adaptive cytoprotection of H(2)O(2) preconditioning in PC12 cells. 2. The PC12 cells were preconditioned with 100 micromol/L H(2)O(2) for 90 min, followed by 24 h recovery and subsequent exposure to 300 micromol/L H(2)O(2) for a further 12 h. 3. The results showed that preconditioning with 100 micromol/L H(2)O(2) upregulated NF-kappaB expression and enhanced its nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity. In addition to its own effects on NF-kappaB expression, H(2)O(2) preconditioning also promoted the overexpression of NF-kappaB induced by a lethal concentration of H(2)O(2) (300 micromol/L). 4. N-Tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK; 20 micromol/L), an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, was administered 20 min before preconditioning with 100 micromol/L H(2)O(2). At this concenteration, TPCK blocked the overexpression of NF-kappaB induced by H(2)O(2) preconditioning, accompanied by attenuation of H(2)O(2) preconditioning-induced cytoprotection. The inhibition of NF-kappaB by TPCK enhanced caspase 3 activity induced by 300 micromol/L H(2)O(2). 5. The findings of the present study provide novel evidence for the effects of preconditioning with H(2)O(2) on constitutive activation of NF-kappaB, which contributes to the adaptive cytoprotection of H(2)O(2) preconditioning against PC12 cells apoptosis.

Background: Vascular access (VA) dysfunction is a major clinical complication in the hemodialysis population and has a direct effect on dialysis outcome. This study was conducted to explore the role of microinflammation in the VA dysfunction in maintenance hemodialysis patients., Methods: Forty-seven patients (male 35 and female 12) receiving maintenance hemodialysis were included for this study. They were divided into three groups: group 1 (n = 15), patients with initial hemodialysis and new arteriovenous fistula (AVF); group 2 (n = 18), patients treated with hemodialysis for long term with well-functional VA; group 3 (n = 14), maintenance hemodialysis patients with VA dysfunction. Biochemical parameters and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were determined. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was determined by latex-enhanced immuno-nephelometric method. Tissues of radial artery were taken from group 1 and group 3 for the histological study. Expression of CD68 and MCP-1 in the radial artery was determined by immunohistochemistry., Results: Serum hs-CRP in group 3 was significantly higher than those in group 1 and group 2 ((7.40 +/- 2.42) mg/L vs (4.21 +/- 1.62) mg/L and (5.04 +/- 3.65) mg/L, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Serum TNF-alpha in group 3 was significantly higher than those in group 1 and group 2 ((64.03 +/- 9.29) pg/ml vs (54.69 +/- 12.39) pg/ml and (54.05 +/- 7.68) pg/ml, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Serum IL-6 in group 3 was also significantly higher than those in group 1 and group 2 ((70.09 +/- 14.53) pg/ml vs (56.43 +/- 10.11) pg/ml and (60.77 +/- 9.70) pg/ml, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Patients in group 3 had a thicker internal layer of vessels than in group 1 ((0.356 +/- 0.056) mm vs (0.111 +/- 0.021) mm, P < 0.01). Expression of CD68 and MCP-1 in the fistula vessel walls in group 3 were much higher than those in group 1 (P < 0.01). Moreover, serum hs-CRP level was positively correlated with the neointimal hyperplasia, the expression of CD68 and MCP-1 in fistula vessel (P < 0.01, respectively)., Conclusion: Microinflammation might be involved in the dysfunction of AVF in patients with maintenance hemodialysis.

Fluorocarbon-modified silica membranes were deposited on gamma-Al2O3/alpha-Al2O3 supports by the sol-gel technique for hydrogen separation. The hydrophobic property, pore structure, gas transport and separation performance, and hydrothermal stability of the modified membranes were investigated. It is observed that the water contact angle increases from 27.2+/-1.5 degrees for the pure silica membranes to 115.0+/-1.2 degrees for the modified ones with a (trifluoropropyl)triethoxysilane (TFPTES)/tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) molar ratio of 0.6. The modified membranes preserve a microporous structure with a micropore volume of 0.14 cm3/g and a pore size of approximately 0.5 nm. A single gas permeation of H2 and CO2 through the modified membranes presents small positive apparent thermal activation energies, indicating a dominant microporous membrane transport. At 200 degrees C, a single H2 permeance of 3.1x10(-6) mol m(-2) s(-1) Pa(-1) and a H2/CO2 permselectivity of 15.2 were obtained after proper correction for the support resistance and the contribution from the defects. In the gas mixture measurement, the H2 permeance and the H2/CO2 separation factor almost remain constant at 200 degrees C with a water vapor pressure of 1.2x10(4) Pa for at least 220 h, indicating that the modified membranes are hydrothermally stable, benefiting from the integrity of the microporous structure due to the fluorocarbon modification.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of detecting Helicobacter pylori (Hp) directly from gastric mucosa and the relationship of HP genotypes to gastric diseases., Methods: Specimens of gastric mucosa were collected by biopsy from 217 patients, 90 with superficial gastritis (GS), 70 with atrophic gastritis (GA), 28 with gastroesophageal erosions and ulcers (GEU), and 29 with gastric cancer (GC), to undergo pathological examination, culture of Hp, and DNA isolation from the gastric mucosa respectively. Routine phenol/chloroform method was used to isolate the DNA in the cultured Hp. PCR was conducted to detect the ureB, cagA, vacAs1, vacAm1, vacAm2, iceA1, iceA2, and baba2 genotypes in both the gastric mucosa-originated Hp-DNA and cultured Hp-DNA., Results: The concordance rates of ureB, cagA, vacAs1, vacAm1, vacAm2, iceA1, iceA2, and baba2 genotypes between the gastric mucosa-originated Hp-DNA and cultured Hp-DNA were 74.23%, 73.39%, 93.69%, 62.16%, 78.16%, 89.13%, 88.37%, and 75% respectively (all P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the distribution rates of ureB, cagA, vacAs1, vacAm1b, iceA1, iceA2, and baba2 genotypes among different gastric diseases (all P > 0.05). However, the distribution frequency of vacAs1m1 strain in the GA patients was 22.22%, significantly higher than that in the GA patients (5.71%, chi2 = 8.416, P = 0.004), and the distribution frequency of vacAs1m2 strains in the GA patients was 47.14%, significantly higher than that in GS patients (18.89%, chi2 = 13.336, P = 0.000)., Conclusion: Rapid detection of Hp can be achieved by using DNA isolated directly from infected gastric mucosa. VacAs1 m1 is associated with GA and vacAs1m2 is associated with GA.

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the prevalence and distribution of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in hospitalized Chinese adult patients., Methods: The medical histories of 13,383 adult patients hospitalized in Zhongda Hospital from September 2004 to August 2005, 6215 males and 7168 female, aged (51 +/- 19) (18 - 103), were reviewed. The blood pressure, serum creatinine, proteinuria were investigated. CKD was defined and classified according to the NKF/DOQI guideline. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by using the simplified modification of diet in renal disease study (MDRD) equation. eGFR = 186.3 x serum creatinine(-1.154) x age(-0.203) x (0.742 for women) ml.min(-1).(1.7 3 m2)(-1)., Results: The prevalence rate of CKD was 14.82% in this group, and the prevalence rates of CKD of stage 1 to 5 were 3.33%, 2.49%, 7.07%, 1.08%, and 0.86% respectively. 53.07% of the CKD patients were elderly patients (age > 65) with a CKD prevalence rate of 29.47%, significantly higher than that of the middle-aged and young patients (9.49%, P < 0.01). The eGFR levels of 9.01% of the hospitalized patients were below 60 ml.min(-1).(1.73 m2)(-1). The prevalence rate of proteinuria was 8.87%. 39.06% of the patients at stages 1 - 3 failed to be diagnosed as with CKD during their hospitalization. The most common causes of CKD were hypertension (29.49%), diabetes (11.64%), and primary glomerulonephritis (4.39%). Hypertension, diabetes and being elderly were main risk factors for CKD., Conclusion: CKD is a very common disease among the hospitalized patients in China. With the increasing number of aging populations, elderly people will be the highest risk group for CKD. More strategies have to be made for its early detection and prevention.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mutations of the forkhead transcription factor 2 (FOXL2) gene on the primary and secondary structure of the coded protein and seek for the molecular mechanism of blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES)., Methods: The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 7 clinically diagnosed BPES patients, PCR amplification of FOXL2 coding region and 5' untranslated region were performed. Sequence analysis was performed using the PCR or cloning products. The structure of the protein was predicted with PDH and ExPASy software, and the difference between the normal and the mutational protein was analyzed., Results: A 901- 930 dup 30 mutation of FOXL2 was found in two patients from a BPES family of type II and a sporadic case, and no any mutations were detected in normal control. Analysis of the primary structure displayed that the molecular weight of the protein coded by the mutated gene was greater than the normal, but both have the same isoelectric point. Analysis of the secondary structure showed that FOXL2 was a transmembrane protein with a polyalanine tract which contained a alpha-helix. When the polyalanine tract expanded, the helix region extended, as a result, the proportion of alpha-helix increased by 4.1%, but the proportions of beta-pleated sheet and random coil decreased correspondingly., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the 901 - 930 dup 30 mutation of FOXL2 is a novel finding. Moreover, this mutation causes great changes in the primary and secondary structure of the coded protein, which may be the molecular pathogenesis of BPES.

Objective: We have studied 4 generations 12 patients in a family which has blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus-inversus syndrome (BPES) for the gene, FOXL2, the group also have 12 normal members in this family and other 80 normal individuals for contrast., Methods: The FOXL2 gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and then analyzed by direct genomic sequencing., Results: A 892C > T at nucleotides in FOXL2 was found in the twelve affected patients. No mutations was found in any of the health members in the family., Conclusions: FOXL2 may be a important pathogenesis for the disease in this Chinese family.

Objective: To study the sexual function of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and the effect of Tamsulosin., Methods: One hundred and ninety-two cases of BPH accompanied with typical LUTS were investigated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QOL), International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) and measuring the flow rate of urine before treatment. The patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treatment group (n = 103) given Tamsulosin 0.2 mg, and the control group (n = 89) taking placebo once a day for 8 weeks. The influence of various factors on sexual function was analyzed before and after treatment., Results: The mean scores of IPSS, QOL, Qmax and IIEF-5 were (20.20 +/- 6.81), (4.51 +/- 0.76), (9.60 +/- 8.79) ml/s and (9.80 +/- 8.62), respectively. The incidence of erectile dysfunction was 75% (144/192). There was statistically significant correlation between age and IPSS score (r = 0. 203, P < 0. 005) or IIEF-5 score (r = -0.571, P < 0.001) as well as between IPSS and IIEF-5 scores (r = - 0.312, P < 0.001). Various indexes were significantly improved after Tamsulosin treatment as compared with pre-treatment (P < 0.001) and placebo administration (P < 0.001), but no significant difference in various indexes was observed in the control group., Conclusion: Age and LUTS are dangerous factors for sexual function, and the severity of LUTS is closely related to the development of sexual dysfunction. Tamsulosin can at once improve the sexual function and the lower urinary tract symptoms of the BPH patients.

Aim: To study the effects of extract from Ginkgo biloba (EGb) containing 22% flavonoid and 5% terpenoid on chronic liver injury and liver fibrosis of rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))., Methods: All rats were randomly divided into control group, CCl(4)-treated group, colchicine-treated group and EGb-protected group. Chronic liver injury was induced in experimental groups by subcutaneous injection of CCl(4) and fed with chows premixed with 79.5% corn powder, 20% lard and 0.5% cholesterol (v/v). EGb-protected group was treated with EGb (0.5 g/kg body weight per day) for 7 wk. At the end of wk 8, all the rats were killed. Liver function, liver fibrosis, oxidative stress and expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and type I collagens in liver were determined. In addition, pathology changes of liver tissue were observed under light microscope., Results: The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin (Alb) in EGb-protected group were notably improved as compared with the CCl(4)-treated group (P < 0.01). The contents of serum hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PCIII), type IV collagen (CIV) and the expression of hepatic tissue TGF-beta1, alpha-SMA and type I collagen in EGb-protected group were significantly lower than those in CCl(4)-treated groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The degrees of liver fibrosis in EGb-protected groups were lower than those in CCl(4)-treated groups (6.58 +/- 1.25 vs 9.52 +/- 2.06, P < 0.05). Compared to the CCl(4)-treated group, the levels of plasma glutathoine peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were strikingly improved also in EGb-protected group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: EGb resists oxidative stress and thereby reduces chronic liver injury and liver fibrosis in rats with liver injury induced by CCl(4).

Objective: To explore the relationship between sexual dysfunction and chronic prostatitis and investigate the effect of psychologic treatment., Methods: A total number of 346 patients with chronic prostatitis complicated by sexual dysfunction were randomized into two groups, one treated with routine medication (antibiotic, indomethacin, alpha1 receptor blocker and Chinese traditional medicine), and the other with both routine medication and psychologic treatment. Results were analyzed by comparing NIH-CPSI and IIEF-5 between pre- and post-treatment groups., Results: The prostatitis symptoms and sexual dysfunction were improved obviously after treatment in the two groups, but compared with the control, more marked improvement was observed in the combined psychologic treatment group (P <0.01). The degree of chronic prostatitis related sexual dysfunction was not correlated with that of prostatitis symptoms., Conclusion: Psychology plays a very important role in chronic prostatitis related sexual dysfunction. Psychologic treatment not only works on the sexual dysfunction, but also improves prostatitis symptoms.

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of IgM to recombinant antigen E2 of HEV envelope protein in the diagnosis of acute sporadic hepatitis E., Methods: anti-E2 IgM was detected in sera samples from 176 cases of acute sporadic hepatitis E and 191 cases of acute non A-E hepatitis by ELISA and was compared with HEV IgM detected by some domestic and Genelabs (GL) kits. HEV RNA was also detected in sera positive for anti-E2 IgM. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with the detection of anti-E2 IgM and HEV RNA., Results: Anti-E2 IgM was found in 68.75% of the serum samples from the 176 patients of acute hepatitis E and the positive rate of HEV IgM detection by domestic kits was 56.25% (chi2 IgM = 6.49, P < 0.05). There were 37 (19.37%) anti-E2 IgM positive cases in those 191 sera of the acute non A-E hepatitis, out of which 11 cases were also detected as positive by the GL kit. Of the 158 anti-E2 IgM positive sera, HEV RNA was found in 81 (51.27%), among which 57.02% was positive in acute hepatitis E and 32.43% in acute non A-E hepatitis. No HEV RNA was found in the anti-E2 IgM negative sera from the cases of acute hepatitis E. By logistic regression analysis, no variance relative to the detection of anti-E2 IgM was found with the time interval from onset to hospitalization, age, levels of bilirubin, ALT and AST of the serum. Only the level of serum ALT was found being significantly associated with the detection of HEV RNA (P = 0.024)., Conclusions: (1) anti-E2 IgM is a sensitive and specific serological maker for diagnosing an acute infection of HEV. (2) HEV is still the pathogen of some cases diagnosed clinically as non-A-E hepatitis. (3) Persistent HEV viremia is possibly an important factor influencing the severity of acute hepatitis E.

Objective: To screen mutations in the forkhead transcriptional factor 2 gene (FOXL2) in six Chinese families with blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome(BPES)., Methods: PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the FOXL2 coding region in genomic DNA were performed in affected patients and 80 healthy controls. BLAST analysis of the sequence was made on Internet., Results: A novel 951-953(delC) was found in the two affected patients of a Chinese family with BPES. No mutations were found in the healthy controls. The 951-953(delC) may cause a frameshift mutation after codon 238 that exists downstream of the forkhead domain, resulting in the production of truncated proteins., Conclusion: These findings indicated that the 951-953(delC) deletion mutation in the two patients resulted in truncated proteins and hence led to their BPES. To the authors' knowledge, the 951-953(delC) in FOXL2 has not been previously reported.

Objective: To study the effects of alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide on aluminum contents in serum and brain of mice with high performance capillary., Method: 60 days after the mice were given daily alum, aluminum chloride and aluminum hydroxide with the same aluminum content of 14.25, 57 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), respectively, the aluminum content in serum and brain of mice were determined with high performance capillary chromatography., Result: The average recoveries of serum aluminum determination was 96.5%-103%. The average recoveries of brain aluminum assay was 92.2%-105.3%. Except control group, serum aluminum increased obviously. Brain aluminum increased in all the large doses groups. 2 weeks after the mice were stopped being given these drugs, serum and brain aluminum recovered to normal level, except aluminum chloride large doses group., Conclusion: The metabolism and excretion mechanism of aluminum in mice depends on the chemical states of the aluminum compound.