OBJECTIVE: To develop a UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of neopanaxadiol (NPD) in rat urine samples, and to explore the excretion patterns of NPD in rats after oral administration. METHODS: NPD was extracted from u-rine samples by liquid-liquid extraction. The concentration of NPD in urine was determined by UPLC-MS/MS and the cumulative excretion amount and excretion rate of NPD were calculated after a single oral administration of NPD at 100 mg · kg-1 to SD rats. RESULTS: Excellent linearity was found between 80-1280 ng · mL-1. The intra-and inter-day RSDs of the QC samples were both below 15% and the extraction recoveries of NPD were higher than 80%. The cumulative excretion of unchanged NPD in urine within 96 h amounted to (0.0233±0.0356)% of the dose. CONCLUSION: NPD is hardly eliminated through urine within 96 h in rats.

Objective To explore the relationship between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and fibrinogen (Fib) in the elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods According to the level of BNP,325 subjects aged more than 65 years were divided into four groups,BNP:≤32.4ng/Lgroup,32.5～62.3 ng/Lgroup,62.4～162.5 ng/Lgroup,＞162.5 ng/L group.The levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end-diastole dimension (LVEDD) and Fib were compared among the groups. Results With increasing BNP level,the LVEF was gradually decreased [(63.3±8.2)％,(59.6±7.4)％,(57.9±9.7)％,(55.2±10.6)％] and the level of LVEDD was increased[(50.5±4.7)mm,(51.4±5.4)mm,(52.8±5.7)mm,(54.2±5.9)mm ;F=11.54,6.76,both P＜0.01],the level of Fib was enhanced [(3.4±0.7)g/L,(3.7±0.8)g/L,(3.8±1.1)g/L,(4.2±1.0)g/L; F=8.02,P＜0.01].The level of BNP had positive correlation with Fib (r=0.25,P＜0.01). Multi-linear regression analysis showed that Fib and LVEF were influencing factors of BNP (t =2.92, - 3.15, both P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions The BNP level is helpful to diagnose heart failure and assess heart function.There is an association between BNP and Fib level.

Objective To explore the relationship between blood lipids and creatinine clearance (Ccr)in aged patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods According to coronary artery angiography(CAG)and Ccr,784 subjects aged 65 years and over were divided into groups and Their lipid levels were compared.Results With increasing lesion of coronary branches,the level of Ccr was obviously decreased(F=5.35,P＜0.01).The level of apolipoprotein A1(ApoA1)was reduced and apolipoprotein B(ApoB)enhanced in renal function of moderate-severe injury(CCr＜0.83 ml ·s-1 · 1.73m-2)(F=5.31,F=4.91,both P＜0.01).The level of ApoA1 was decreased(F=3.52,P＜0.05)and Apo B increased(F=5.65,P＜0.01)in male renal function of moderate-severe injury.The levels of ApoA1 decreased(F=5.79,P＜0.01),ApoB increased(F=4.56,P＜0.05)and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol reduced(F=3.39,P＜0.05)in CHD with renal group of moderatesevere injury.Multi-logistic regression analysis showed that Ccr,HDL-C,ApoA1 and ApoB were influencing factors of CHD.Conclusions Abnormal blood lipid and renal dysfunction are risk factors of CHD,dyslipidemia may induce renal dysfunction.It is important to control lipids and improve other organ functions in the aged patients with CHD.

Objective To investigate the value of MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bladder leiomyoma.Methods Clinical data,pathological files and MRI findings of 8 patients with bladder leiomyoma that verified by pathologic were analyzed retrospectively.Results 4 cases of bladder leiomyoma were located in front bladder wall, 3 cases were in post bladder wall and 1 case in right bladder wall;meanwhile, 6 cases were endovesical(75.0%),1 case was intramural(12.5%) and another 1 case was extravesical(12.5%).All lesions displayed equal signals on T1WI, equal or slightly high signals on T2WI with mild and moderate enhancements;bladder wall adjacent to tumors and structures around were not invaded by tumors.6 cases of all displayed inhomogeneous signals on T2WI and with some patchy or stripe high signals in it, the signals turned to equal on a fat-saturated T1WI which was similar with muscle of pelvic wall.Conclusion MRI features of bladder leiomyoma showed certain characteristics.

Objective To evaluate the optimized efficacy of thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) combined with general anesthesia via the research on the postoperative cellular immune function in the patients undergoing radical resection for esophageal cancer.Methods Forty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients of both sexes,aged 45-64 yr,with body mass index of 20-25 kg/m2,scheduled for elective radical resection for esophageal cancer,were divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) using a random number table:general anesthesia group (G group) and TPVB combined with general anesthesia group (TPVB+G group).In group TPVB+G,TPVB was performed at T4 and T6 on the operated side under ultrasound guidance with 0.5％ ropivacaine 15 ml before anesthesia induction.Anesthesia induction was started after the level of block was confirmed.Anesthesia was maintained with propofol given by target-controlled infusion at the target plasma concentration of 1-4 μg/ml,and bispectral index value was maintained at 40-50.Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed after operation,and visual analog scale score was maintained ≤ 3.Before anesthesia induction,at the end of operation and at 24 and 48 h after operation,blood samples were collected from the central vein for determination of the levels of T lymphocyte subsets CD3+,CD4+ and CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio.Ricker Sedation-Agitation Scale scores were recorded at 10 min,20 min,30 min and 1 h after extubation and 6,24 and 48 h after operation.The consumption of intraoperative remifentanil,requirement for vasoactive agents during recovery from anesthesia,the number of unsuccessfully delivered doses and the total number of attempts were also recorded.Results Compared with group G,Ricker Sedation-Agitation Scale scores were significantly decreased at 10 min after extubation,the consumption of intraoperative remifentanil,requirement for vasoactive agents during recovery from anesthesia and the number of unsuccessfully delivered doses were decreased,and the postoperative CD4+ level and CD4 +/CD8 + ratio were increased in group TPVB+G (P＜0.05).Conclusion TPVB combined with general anesthesia can improve the postoperative cellular immune function and is an optimal anesthesia regimen in the patients undergoing radical resection for esophageal cancer.

Objective To explore the correlation of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) with blood lipids and renal function in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods According to the four quantiles of BNP level,325 subjects aged 65 years and over were divided into four groups:group A (≤32.4 ng/L),group B (32.5 ng/L),group C (62.4 ng/L),group D (＞ 162.5 ng/L).The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end-diastole dimension (LVEDD),levels of blood lipids and renal function were compared among the groups.Results With the increase of BNP level,the LVEF was gradually decreased [(63.3±8.2) ％,(59.6±7.4) ％,(57.9±9.7)％,(55.2±10.6)％,respectively,F=11.54,P＜0.01] and the LVEDD was gradually increased (F=6.76,P＜0.01),the level of triglyceride (TG) was gradually decreased (F=2.73,P ＜0.05) in group A,B,C and D.Creatinine clearance was gradually decreased [(1.24±0.31) ml ·s-1 · 1.73 m-2,(1.21±0.31) ml· s-1 · 1.73 m-2,(1.24±0.29) ml · s-1 · 1.73 m 2,(1.09± 0.33) ml · s-1 · 1.73 m-2,respectively,F=3.62,P＜0.05],and blood urea nitrogen was gradually increased (F=4.43,P＜0.05) in group A,B,C and D.Multi-linear regression analysis showed that levels of total cholesterol,triglyceride,low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,high density lipoproteincholesterol,very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol,creatinine clearance and blood urea nitrogen were influencing factors for BNP (all P＜0.05).Conclusions BNP level can be used as a sensitive indicator for the diagnosis of heart failure and the assessment of its severity.The levels of blood lipids and renal function are associated with BNP.

BACKGROUND:A number of in vitro experiments have confirmed that the tricalcium silicate not only can be closely integrated with the dentin through self-curing process, but also can induce dentin remineralization in the physiological environment, thereby effectively blocking the dentinal tubules.
OBJECTIVE:To further verify the effects of tricalcium silicate solution on the occlusion of dentinal tubules.
METHODS:Thirty-six dentinal discs were made of free first premolars from orthodontic patients, and divided into three pretreatment groups randomly. The teeth were soaked in pretreatment solution for 2 minutes, namely 0.29 mol/L ethylene diamine tetraacetie acid, 6%citric acid, and rinsed ultrasonical y with deionized water 20 minutes, respectively. Every above-mentioned group was randomly assigned into experimental group (tricalcium silicate), control group (sodium fluoride) and blank group, and corresponding materials in each group were used to coat the outer dentinal tubules (2 minutes/time). Then, the dentinal discs were saved in artificial saliva in a 37 observed using scanning electron microscope. Diameter and area of open dentinal tubules were calculated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After pretreatment, the dentinal tubules were at open state;except for the blank control group to maintain the original state, acid etching and ethylene diamine tetraacetie acid pretreatment solutions had a stronger capacity of demineralization, which led to the dentinal tubules open. After the dentinal tubules were treated with sodium fluoride and tricalcium silicate, there were varying degrees of sediments, and open dentinal tubule area and average diameter in the sodium fluoride and tricalcium silicate groups were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The dentinal tubule treated with tricalcium silicate was almost entirely closed homogeneously, and occasional y, a single open dentinal tubule was seen. Open dentinal tubule area and average diameter in the tricalcium silicate group were significantly lower than those in the sodium fluoride group (P<0.05). The findings verify that dentin occlusion using tricalcium silicate is superior to that using sodium fluoride;and dentin tubule pretreatment with acid etching or ethylene diamine tetraacetie acid is beneficial to desensitization effects.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of neopanaxadiol(NPD) in rat plasma sample, and to investigate plasma protein binding rate of NPD in rats. METHODS: Under three different concentrations, equilibrium dialysis method was utilized to imitate the binding process between NPD and plasma protein. The concentration of NPD in and out of the dialysis membrane was determined by UPLC-MS/MS and the plasma protein binding rate of NPD were calculated. RESULTS: Excellent linearity was found between 0.05-8 μg·mL -1. Intra- and inter-day precision values (RSD) of QC samples were both below 15% and the extraction recoveries of NPD from biological matrices were better than 79.37%. The plasma protein binding rates of NPD were (86.55±4.50)%, (76.50±2.61)% and (78.25±1.32)% at low, middle and high concentrations, respectively. There was no significant difference among three concentrations. CONCLUSION: These results indicate the high plasma protein binding rates of NPD in plasma in combination mode.

ObjectiveTo study the imaging characteristics of SPN of adenocarcinoma (ASPNs) on 18F-FDG PET/CT.MethodsThe morphological and metabolic features of 35 ASPNs on FDG PET/CT were retrospectively reviewed.SUVmax (SUV) was measured and ΔSUVmax was calculated according to ΔSUVmax =(SUVmax on delay imaging - SUVmax on early imaging)/SUVmax on early imaging × 100％.Statistical analysis was performed by software SPSS 11.5 using t-test,analysis of variance and Fisher exact test.Results( 1 ) Fifteen ASPNs (42.86％,15/35) presented as nodular pattern on FDG PET imaging,while 20 (57.14％,20/35) as lamellar,cloudy or ill-defined patterns.The SUVmax of these ASPNs followed a descending order of nodular,lamellar,cloudy and ill:defined on both early and delay imaging (F =30.696 and 24.758,both P＜0.001).(2)There were 54.29％ (19/35) ASPNs with SUVmax ≥2.5 and 45.71％ (16/35) ASPNs with SUVmax ＜2.5.(3) Of 35 ASPNs,24(68.57％ ) were solid nodules and 11(31.43％) were ground glass nodules with SUVmax =4.54 ±2.69 and 1.30±0.87,respectively (t =-5.234,P ＜O.001 ).(4) The SUVmax of ASPNs on delay FDG imaging (4.22 ±3.52) was significantly higher than that on early imaging (3.49 ±2.72) (t =-4.021,P ＜0.001 ).However,SUVmax was dependent on SUVmax on the early imaging:when SUVmax ≥2.5,ΔSUVmax was positive in 94.74％ (18/19) of ASPNs; while SUVmax ＜2.5,ΔSUVmax was positive in 56.25％ (9/16) of ASPNs (P =0.013).(5) Of 31 ASPNs with cell differentiation data,there were 10/17 well-differentiated ASPNs and 13/14 poorly-differentiated ASPNs with positive ΔSUVmax ( P =0.045 ).The average SUVmax of well-differentiated ASPNs was significantly lower than that of poorly-differentiated ASPNs ( 1.70 ± 1.51 vs 4.91 ± 2.69,t =- 3.951,P ＜ 0.001 ).Conclusions The morphological and metabolic features of ASPNs are diversified.It is common for ASPN to present with SUVmax ＜ 2.5.ΔSUVmax may be helpful for differentiating malignant from benign SPNs.

Objective To investigate the expression of astrocyte elevated gene -1( AEG-1) and matrix metallopeptidase 9(MMP-9)in colorectal tissues and evaluate its correlation with clinical pathologic factors of colorectal cancer.Methods AEG-1 and MMP-9 expression in normal colorectal mucous (n=45),low-grade adenoma(n=31),high-grade adenoma(n=15)and colorectal carcinoma(n=146)were examined by immuno-histochemistry .Statistical analyses were applied to test the significance of its expression .Results AEG-1 ex-pression levels were gradually elevated in normal tissues ,low-grade adenoma ,high-grade adenoma and colorec-tal carcinoma respectively .Furthermore ,there was a similar trend for MMP -9from normal mucous to adenoma and carcinoma .Statistical analysis revealed that AEG -1 expression was markedly correlated with the UICC stage,T classification,N classification,M classification,and histological differentiation in the colorectal cancer pa-tients,but not with age,gender,tumor location and tumor size.In addition,AEG-1 expression was positively cor-related with the MMP-9 expression in colorectal cancer .Besides,those patients with high AEG-1 and MMP-9 levels had shorter survival time ( P<0 .05 ) .Conclusion AEG-1 may be involved in carcinogenesis and pro-gression of colorectal carcinoma and can be a novel prognostic biomarker in patients with colorectal carcinoma .