3,065 research outputs found
Bilaterally symmetrical congenital absence of radial artery: a case report
BACKGROUND: The radial artery is used for the access of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, as well as for coronary artery bypass surgery. Variations of upper limb arteries are common, however, congenital absence of radial artery is scarce, and most cases were unilateral radial artery absence. CASE PRESENTATION: During a coronary angiography of a 43-year-old man, we encountered a very rare bilateral congenital absence of the radial artery. For both arms, the radial arteries were not observed and the ulnar arteries were small in size, while anterior interosseous arteries were found to be the dominant artery. Coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention were performed via the brachial artery since transradial percutaneous coronary intervention failed. CONCLUSION: The highlight of this case is that it could be the first case to be reported with bilateral absence of radial artery in adults
Potential effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine for cardiac syndrome X (CSX): a systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Treatment of cardiac syndrome X with unknown pathological mechanism remains a big challenge for clinicians. Complementary and alternative medicine may bring a new choice for its management. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical effects of traditional Chinese medicine on cardiac syndrome X patients. METHODS: We systematically searched databases such as Cochrane CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, CBM, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang and VIP, and handsearched relevant journals to identify randomized controlled trials. Following the steps of systematic review recommended by the Cochrane group, we assessed the quality of included studies, extracted valid data and undertook meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty one moderate-to low-quality randomized controlled trials involving 1143 patients were included. The results showed that traditional Chinese medicine could improve angina [OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.50], electrocardiogram (ECG), endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels, prolong exercise duration in treadmill tests, and reduce angina frequency per week compared with routine treatment. No other side effect was reported except two cases of stomach pain. CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional treatment, traditional Chinese medicine shows the potential of optimizing symptomatic outcomes and improving ECG and exercise duration. The efficacy of TCM may find explanation in its pharmacological activity of adjusting the endothelial function. TCM, as a kind of alternative and complementary medicine, may provide another choice for CSX patients
A selective pretreatment method for determination of endogenous active brassinosteroids in plant tissues: double layered solid phase extraction combined with boronate affinity polymer monolith microextraction
BACKGROUND: Brassinosteriods (BRs), a group of important phytohormones, have various effects on plant growth and development. However, their physiological functions in plants have not been fully understood to date. Endogenous BRs in plant tissue are extremely low and the elucidation of BRs functions relies on sensitive detection method. Reported methods for the determination of BRs required large amount of plant tissue, tedious pretreatment process, and were lack of selectivity. Therefore, development of a simple and selective method for the sensitive quantification of BRs is highly needed. RESULTS: We established a pretreatment method of BRs in plant tissues by employing double layered solid phase extraction (DL/SPE) combined with boronate affinity polymer monolith microextraction (BA/PMME). After the initial depigmentation with DL/SPE cartridge, BA/PMME was employed to selectively extract BRs from sample matrix. Uniquely, most sample matrix was successfully removed by BA monolith purification. Using this method, BRs was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Endogenous active BRs could be detected in only 1Â g fresh weigh (FW) leaves or 0.5Â g FW flower tissues. CONCLUSION: A DL/SPE-BA/PMME pretreatment method for the determination of endogenous brassinosteroids in plant tissues was developed and validated. The proposed method was sensitive and selective. Besides, it may be further developed for the determination of other BRs including their precursors and conjugates
Clinical study of the relationship between eczema TCM syndrome types and TCM constitution
Objective To investigate the relationship between Eczema TCM syndrome types and TCM constitutional. Methods 100 cases of eczema were randomly selected and numbered, then sum up the results of report after using DSO1- A system that collect lingual, facial and sphygmic to identify the types of TCM constitution. Finally, the results were analyzed. Results The results show that the nine types of moderate physical quality account for 58.3% of spreading damp-heat pattern , Phlegm-dampness constitution 25.7% of the pattern of spleen vacuity with damp-heat, and yin deficiency 32.1% of the pattern of blood vacuity and wind-dryness. Conclusion There was a correlation between Eczema TCM syndrome types and TCM constitutional. Spreading damp-heat pattern was associated with moderate physical quality. The pattern of spleen vacuity with damp-heat was connected to Phlegm-dampness constitution. The pattern of blood vacuity and wind-dryness had relation with yin deficiency.Objective: To investigate the relationship between Eczema TCM syndrome types and TCM constitution. Methods: 100 cases of eczema were randomly selected and numbered, the results of report after using DSO1-A system that collect lingual, facial and sphygmic to identify the types of TCM constitution were then summarized. Finally, the results were analyzed. Results: The results show that the nine types of moderate physical quality account for 58.3% of spreading damp-heat pattern, Phlegm-dampness constitution 25.7% of the pattern of spleen vacuity with damp-heat, and yin deficiency 32.1% of the pattern of blood vacuity and wind-dryness. Conclusion: There was a correlation between Eczema TCM syndrome types and TCM constitution. Spreading damp-heat pattern was associated with moderate physical quality. The pattern of spleen vacuity with damp-heat was connected to Phlegm-dampness constitution. The pattern of blood vacuity and wind-dryness had relation with yin deficiency
A Biodegradable Polyethylenimine-Based Vector Modified by Trifunctional Peptide R18 for Enhancing Gene Transfection Efficiency In Vivo
Lack of capacity to cross the nucleus membrane seems to be one of the main
reasons for the lower transfection efficiency of gene vectors observed in vivo
study than in vitro. To solve this problem, a new non-viral gene vector was
designed. First, a degradable polyethylenimine (PEI) derivate was synthesized
by crosslinking low-molecular-weight (LMW) PEI with N-octyl-N-quaternary
chitosan (OTMCS), and then adopting a designed trifunctional peptide (RGDC-
TAT-NLS) with good tumor targeting, cell uptake and nucleus transport
capabilities to modify OTMCS-PEI. The new gene vector was termed as OTMCS-
PEI-R18 and characterized in terms of its chemical structure and biophysical
parameters. Gene transfection efficiency and nucleus transport mechanism of
this vector were also evaluated. The polymer showed controlled degradation and
remarkable buffer capabilities with the particle size around 100–300 nm and
the zeta potential ranged from 5 mV to 40 mV. Agraose gel electrophoresis
showed that OTMCS-PEI-R18 could effectively condensed plasmid DNA at a ratio
of 1.0. Besides, the polymer was stable in the presence of sodium heparin and
could resist digestion by DNase I at a concentration of 63U DNase I/DNA.
OTMCS-PEI-R18 also showed much lower cytotoxicity and better transfection
rates compared to polymers OTMCS-PEI-R13, OTMCS-PEI and PEI 25 KDa in vitro
and in vivo. Furthermore, OTMCS-PEI-R18/DNA complexes could accumulate in the
nucleus well soon and not rely on mitosis absolutely due to the newly
incorporated ligand peptide NLS with the specific nuclear delivery pathway
indicating that the gene delivery system OTMCS-PEI-R18 could reinforce gene
transfection efficiency in vivo
Elevation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in the Mouse Brain after Chronic Nonylphenol Exposure
The present study was performed to investigate the effects of chronic administration of nonylphenol (NP) on the expression of inflammation-related genes in the brains of mice. NP was given orally by gavages at 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/d. The expression of inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting assays. The nitric oxide (NO) level and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity were also measured by biochemical analyses. The results showed that NP at a high dose (200 mg/kg/d) significantly increased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in both the hippocampus and cortex. In parallel with the increase in iNOS expression, the NO level was significantly greater at the dose of 200 mg/kg/d, compared to the control. The activity of NOS was also increased in the brain of mice at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg/d. These findings demonstrate that NP may have the potential to induce the chronic inflammation or cause neurotoxicity in the mouse brain
Tracking the nematicity in cuprate superconductors: a resistivity study under uniaxial pressure
Overshadowing the superconducting dome in hole-doped cuprates, the pseudogap
state is still one of the mysteries that no consensus can be achieved. It has
been suggested that the rotational symmetry is broken in this state and may
result in a nematic phase transition, whose temperature seems to coincide with
the onset temperature of the pseudogap state around optimal doping level,
raising the question whether the pseudogap results from the establishment of
the nematic order. Here we report results of resistivity measurements under
uniaxial pressure on several hole-doped cuprates, where the normalized slope of
the elastoresistivity can be obtained as illustrated in iron-based
superconductors. The temperature dependence of along particular lattice
axis exhibits kink feature at and shows Curie-Weiss-like behavior above
it, which may suggest a spontaneous nematic transition. While seems to
be the same as around the optimal doping and in the overdoped region,
they become very different in underdoped LaSrCuO. Our results
suggest that the nematic order, if indeed existing, is an electronic phase
within the pseudogap state.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
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