藏药组合用药治疗原发性高血压(查隆)的自身对照研究

目的:观察藏药组合用药治疗原发性高血压(查隆)的临床疗效。方法:采用自身对照研究方法,150例原发性高血压(查隆)患者给予二十五味余甘子丸+拉麦丸+清血康+二十味沉香丸的藏药组合,连续治疗4周。初诊时进行量表评估,检测血液一般检查、血脂四项、肝功能、肾功能、心电图、心脏彩超等指标,4周后复查。所有数据录入Excel 2010后,采用Rversion 4.1.0软件进行统计分析。结果:150例原发性高血压患者有效率为88.7%(133/150),藏医症状疗效判定有效率为89.3%(134/150)。藏药组合用药可降低女性患者血红蛋白(HGB)、TC、HDL-C、LDL-C。未发现损害脏器及严重的不良反应。结论:藏药组合用药治疗对原发性高血压共存的高原性红细胞增多症、高血脂等复杂疾病有明显疗效,是治疗原发性高血压的一种切实可行的方法。

Bioinformatics Analysis of Chalconesynthase Gene in Morus

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of mulberry pigment metabolism regulation. [Method] Chalconesynthase（CHS） gene was cloned from Morus（Moraceae） in silico. The amino acid sequence, physical and chemical properties, transmembrane structural domain, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity,subcellular localization, secondary and tertiary structure of protein were predicted and analyzed by bioinformatics tools. [Result] The cDNA sequence of CHS gene was 1 365bp by splicing using the software DNAstar and it contained a complete ORF including 1 170 bp which encoded 389 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis showed that CHS gene included specific peptide sequence RLMMYQQGCFAGGTVLR of chalcone synthase superfamily, but has no signal peptide, belonging to the non-secretory proteins, located inside of cytoplasm. Its molecular evolution is more conservative.[Conclusion] The results above provided foundation for the further studies of structure and function of CHS protein.

Epidemiology and outcome of Crohn's disease in a teaching hospital in Riyadh

AIM: To know the epidemiology and outcome of Crohn's disease at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and to compare the results from other world institutions.METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients seen for 20 years (between 1983 and 2002). Individual case records were reviewed with regard to history, clinical, findings from colonoscopy, biopsies, small bowel enema, computerized tomography scan, treatment and outcome.RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with Crohn's disease were revisited, 13% presented the disease in the first 10 years and 87% over the last 10 years. Thirty-three patients (42.9%) were males and 44 (57.1%) were females. Age ranged from 11-70 years (mean of 25.3+11.3 years). Ninety-two (92%) were Saudi. The mean duration of symptoms was 26+34.7 mo. The mean annual incidence of the disease over the first 10 years was 0.32:100 000 and 1.66:100 000 over the last 10 years with a total mean annual incidence of 0.94:100 000 over the last 20 years. The chief clinical features included abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss,anorexia, rectal bleeding and palpable mass. Colonoscopic findings were abnormal in 58 patients (76%) showing mostly ulcerations and inflammation of the colon. Eighty nine percent of patients showed nonspecific inflammation with chronic inflammatory cells and half of these patients revealed the presence of granulomas and granulations on bowel biopsies. Similarly, 69 (89%) of small bowel enema results revealed ulcerations (49%), narrowing of the bowel lumen (42%), mucosal thickening (35%) and cobblestone appearance (35%). CT scan showed abnormality in 68 (88%) of patients with features of thickened loops (66%) and lymphadenopathy (37%). Seventy-eight percent of patients had small and large bowel disease, 16% had small bowel involvement and only 6% had colitis alone. Of the total 55 (71%) patients treated with steroids at some point in their disease history, a satisfactory response to therapy was seen in 28 patients (51%) while 27 (49%) showed recurrences of the condition with mild to moderate symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea most of which were due to poor compliance to medication. Seven patients (33%) remained with active Crohn's disease. Nine (12%) patients underwent surgery with resections of some parts of bowel, 2 (2.5%) had steroid side effects, 6 (8%) with perianal Crohn's disease and five (6.5%) with fistulae.CONCLUSION: The epidemiological characteristics of Crohn's disease among Saudi patients are comparable to those reported from other parts of the world. However the incidence of Crohn's disease in our hospital increased over the last 10 years. The anatomic distribution of the disease is different from other world institutions with less isolated colonic affection.

Cloning and Sequence Analysis of CHS Gene Fragment from Acer truncatum

[Objective] This study aimed to clone and analyze the sequence of CHS gene from Acer truncatum leaves. [Method] Using A. truncatum cultivars No.1-6 as experimental materials, total RNA was extracted from A. truncatum leaves with the modified CTAB method. CHS gene sequences were downloaded from the NCBI and aligned by BLAST. Degenerate primers were designed by DNAMAN and Primer- premier5 to amplify the target band. CHS gene fragment was amplified by RT-PCR and ligated to pMD18-T vector. The identified positive colonies were sequenced. [Result] A 1 365 bp fragment was amplified. Sequence analysis suggested that the obtained fragment encoded 365 amino acids and shared above 90% homology to nucleotide sequence of CHS gene from A. palmatum and A. [Conclusion] In this study, CHS gene was successfully cloned from A. truncatum for the first time, which laid the foundation for efficient utilization of CHS gene.

The clinical management of Level VI lymph node and neck lymph node micrometastases in follicular thyroid carcinoma

Objective： We evaluated the relationship between the clinical management of level Ⅵ lymph node and neck lymph node micrometastases in follicular thyroid carcinoma. Methods： 326 negative neck lymph nodes of 68 cases with follicular thyroid carcinoma on routine pathology were examined by keratin-19 monoclonal antibody and S-P JmmunohJsto- chemistry to confirm lymph node micrometastasis. Follow-up pathological and clinical documents were compared. Results： Forty-six neck lymph nodes showed positive micrometastasis among 326 negative neck lymph nodes including 4 lymph nodes in Level Ⅱ （4/42）, 5 lymph nodes in Level Ⅲ （5/34）, 5 lymph nodes in Level Ⅳ （5/49）, 1 lymph node in Leve Ⅳ （1/17） and 31 lymph nodes in Level Ⅳ （31/184）. Six in 14 cases with positive micrometastasis showed distant metastasis or local recurrence, but only 3 in 54 cases with negative micrometastasis indicated distant metastasis or local recurrence （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusion： The research showed that Level VI neck lymph node micrometastasis is possibly occur and closely related with local recurrence and metastasis in follicular carcinoma of thyroid.

Mechanisms of resistance to trastuzumab:an updated review

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 （HER2） is over-expressed in 20%-25% of invasive breast cancer and is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and reduced survival rate. As a clinically widely applied HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab （Herceptin）, combined with chemotherapy significantly increases the no tumor survival time of the patient. However, the majority of the cancers that initially respond to Herceptin begin to counter against the treat- ment within 1 year. This review describes several important well-known trastuzumab resistance mechanisms as well as the updated advancement in this field. The sufficiently investigated mechanisms are over-activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, activa- tion of PI3K/AKT via alternative pathway, steric hindrance of receptor-antibody interaction, increase of serum HER2 extracel- lular domain, and abnormal expression of epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） family and their ligands. And the newly investigated mechanisms involve Darpp-32 and t-Darpp, autophagy of tumor cells, HSP27, HsP90, c-MYC, ADAM proteases, EphA2, Racl, MUCI＊, HER2△16, and mesenchymal CD44（pos）CD24（neg/low） phenotype.

＂All Thanks Goes to the Almighty＂ ——A Variational and Postcolonial Pragmatic Perspective on Responses to Thanks

This study examines strategies in responding to thanks by CanE （Canadian English） and CamE （Cameroon English） speakers. Based on data collected by means of a DCT （Discourse Completion Task） questionnaire, the study addresses formal, functional, situational, and interactional similarities and differences in both varieties of English. With regard to speaker strategies （Aijmer, 1996） or conventions of means, it was found that the Canadian participants mostly prefer ＂minimizing the favor＂ when responding to thanks, while the Cameroonians most frequently ＂express appreciation＂. At the level of the realization types, the findings show that patterns with ＂no problem＂ are predominant in the Canadian corpus, whereas the Cameroonian respondents rather employ patterns with ＂welcome＂. Differences can also be found in the situational distribution of the speaker strategies and their linguistic realizations as well as in the use and the length of supportive moves.

Screens, Billboards, and Words： Advertising in Whose Language

A great deal of research has been conducted on public language usage in Cameroon （Echu, 2003a, 2003b; Chumbow, 1996; Wolf, 2001） but very little has been done on advertising. Focus has been on administration, education, and politics. Unlike in South Africa where the 11 official languages are accorded equal status and used in major sectors of the economy, in Cameroon, English and French dominate the landscape. Consequently, there is discontent among the speakers of the marginalized languages, who argue that the exclusive use of English and French accords these European languages unfair advantage. Leaving out their tongues denies them access to information and participation in economic development. This qualitative study examines the current state of advertising in Cameroon and South Africa using a questionnaire, interviews, and observations for data collection. The findings suggest that in order to improve relations between speakers of the indigenous languages in Cameroon, especially those who speak neither English nor French, and speakers of the official languages, advertising should include the use of the major indigenous languages, and perhaps Cameroon Pidgin English too. To affect equity, the hegemonic Cameroonian advertising should take a leaf from the dynamic multilingual practices of South African advertising.

Correlativity of lymph node micrometastases detection in follicular carcinoma of thyroid in different risk groups

Objective:The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between follicular carcinoma of thyroid in different risk groups and lymph node micrometastases.Methods:The keratin-19 of negative neck lymph nodes in 83 cases in routine pathological examination,was detected by SP immunohistochemistry using keratin-19 monoclonal antibody to confirm lymph node micrometastases.All of cases are divided into high risk group,middle risk group and low risk group according to factors related prognosis,the relationship between lymph node micrometastases and different risk groups and follow-up visit documents were analyzed.Results:Fifty-eight neck lymph nodes in 16 cases of 83 cases(19.3%) showed positive lymph node micrometastases,and incidence of lymph node micrometastases was 4/39 in low risk group,5/32 in middle risk group and 7/12 in high risk group,respectively.it showed remarkable difference during 3 groups(P < 0.001).Nine patients in 16 cases with positive lymph node micrometastases showed local recurrence and distant metastases,6 patients in 67 cases with negative lymph node micrometastases showed same result(P < 0.001).Conclusion:Lymph node micrometastases in follicular thyroid carcinoma closely correlated to factors related to prognosis.The detection of lymph node micrometastases can directly assistant postoperative treatment and prognosis evaluation to some extent for follicular thyroid carcinoma.

Charcterization of Type Ⅱ Topoisomerase Gene Mutations in Clinical Isolates of Mycoplasma Hominis Resistant to Fluoroquinolones

Objective: To analyze type II topoisomerase genes in clinical isolates of fluoroquinolone-resistant Mycoplasmahominis. Methods: Eight isolates of M.hominis cross resistant to 6fluoroquinolones were selected from 103 clinical strains ofM.hominis using a broth microdilution method. Type IItopoisomerase genes were amplified by PCR and directlysequenced. Nucleotide sequences were compared to sequencesfrom a susceptible strain (M.hominis PG2I). Results: MICs of resistant Mh isolates were 4- to 512-foldhigher than MICs from the susceptible reference strain.Sequence comparison revealed a C to T change at 113nt ingyrA QRDR led to the substitution of Ser83 by Leucine and noamino acid change in gyrB. A change of G to T at 134nt inparC QRDR led to the substitution of Ser80 by Isoleucine anda G to A change at 70nt in ParE QRDR led to the substitutionof Aspartic acid by Asparagine.Conclusion: These results suggest that a C to T change at113nt in gyrA, a G to T change at 134nt in parC and a G to Achange at 70nt i atrE are associated with fluoroquinolone resistance of M.hominis.

Moving the Goalpost： ＂Come-We-Stay＂ Practice in Menchum Division （MD）, Cameroon

This paper seeks to understand people＇s perception of ＂come-we-stay＂ （CWS） cohabitation in Menchum Division （MD）, Cameroon. As in most of Africa, marriage is a valued institution that ensures the continuation of the family tree. The emergence of CWS is gathering momentum fast in many communities in the country much to the dislike,of the church and custodians of tradition who perceive CWS to be a cheap union form that breaches marriage norms. This paper seeks to address whether the emergence of CWS has affected marriage perceptions in MD. Initially, quantitative data were collected via online survey disseminated via Facebook. The time-efficiency, economic viability, convenience and anonymity of this method made it a viable method for this study. Later, however, due to a low response to the Facebook link, the online survey was constructed into a questionnaire and administered to the same target population. Questionnaires were relevant to this study because they could be self-administered. However, the questionnaires were limited as they did not allow for attention to details. The data were analysed using content analysis.