OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Blumea balsamifera (BBE) residue on treating rats of adjuvant arthritis (AA) and its mechanism.

METHODThe rats were immunized with the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). After modeling, 28 days' treatment with BBE was performed. During the experimental process, rat mass, toe girth, arthritic index (AI), proliferation of immune organs and pathological section were measured. After treatment, blood samples were collected through fossa orbitalis vein for detection of serum SOD, MDA, GSH, NO, OH*, ALP, AST, ALT, NAG and SA content using colorimetric method and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α content using ELISA method.

RESULTAdministration with BBE (high dose) could significantly ameliorate joint swelling and arthritis index, effectively inhibit synovial hyperplasia, down-regulate the levels of MDA, NO, OH*, ALP, AST, ALT, NAG, SA, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and up-regulate the SOD and GSH levels in serum.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested BBE possesses substantial anti-arthritis and antioxidant activities.

Acetates ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Two lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed reactors were operated using granular sludge and river sediments as seed sludge respectively, through gradually lowering down the inner pH values, acid-tolerant methanogenic granular sludge with good methanogenic activity were acquired and formed. Two EGSB reactors could be operated steadily under the condition of pH 5.8～6.2, and their volumetric loading rates were about 5.5～7.5 kg COD/(m3/d), the COD removal efficiencies were about 90%. The granular sludges taken from two reactors could maintain relatively higher methanogenic activity under low pH, and the relative activities of the granular could be 51.78% and 55.6% of the value with the condition of pH 7.0 when pH was 5.5. Studies on the diameter distribution, settling velocities, concentrations of different metal elements and microbiological characteristics of these acid-tolerant granular sludges were also conducted.

AlM:To observe the changes of corneal endothelium after phacoemulsification cataract surgery in different types of cataract patients.
METHODS: Randomly selected age-related cataract, diabetic cataract and cataract of high myopia 30 eyes of 30 cases, respectively, in our hospital. All patients underwent phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation, corneal endothelial density and the percentage of hexagonal cells were measured by corneal endothelial cell instrument without touching before surgery and one week after surgery.
RESULTS: The difference of the preoperative corneal endothelial cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells among three groups were not statistically significant (P>0. 05). One week after surgery, the cell density in three groups were respectively 2 496. 86 ± 298. 96/mm2 , 2 379. 51 ± 375. 13/mm2 , 2 425. 38 ± 312. 68/mm2 , the percentage of hexagonal cells were respectively ( 46. 20 ± 12. 03)%, (43. 44±13. 99)%, (44. 35±8. 13)%. Both the cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells one week after surgery were lower than those before operation. There were significant difference in three groups ( P <0. 05). Both the measurements in diabetic cataract group and cataract of high myopia group after surgery were lower than those in age-related cataract group, the cell density and the percentage of hexagonal cells in diabetic cataract group were lower obviously compared with those in age- related cataract group and the difference was significant (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON:The tolerance of corneal endothelial cell to phacoemulsification cataract surgery is lower in cataract with diabetes and high myopia. Corneal endothelium should be assessed preoperatively and protected intraoperatively.

BACKGROUND: Blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption can clean larger molecules that exceed the molecular weight cutoff of combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). Hence blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined CVVH (HP+CVVH) has higher ability of mediator clearance, and can improve clinical outcomes in theory. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (HP+CVVH) on plasm cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, cellular immunity and prognosis in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 patients who had been diagnosed with MODS were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to routine treatment+HP+CVVH group (treatment group) and routine treatment+only CVVH group (control group). In the treatment group, patients received blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption for 2 hours, and then received CVVH for 10 hours every day. In the control group, patients received CVVH for 12 hours only every day. The patients in the two groups received blood purification therapy for three days. The plasma of patients in the treatment group was obtained at 0, 2, 12, 24, 26, 36, 48, 50, 60 hours, 5th day, 7th day and 10th day, respectively. The plasma of patients in the control group was obtained at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 hours, 5th day, 7th day and 10th day, respectively. APACHE II score, T-lymphocytes subpopulations, blood lactate acid concentration, heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygenation index were observed. RESULTS: Plasma cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 decreased markedly after HP (P<0.01);T-lymphocytes subpopulations CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ increased after HP+CVVH or only CVVH. The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the two groups were not markedly different at 12, 36, and 50 hours. But on the 5th day, the plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). On the 28th day, 5 patients died in the treatment group, and 6 patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Both HP+CVVH and CVVH can clean plasma cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and improve cellular immunity and clinical symptoms and signs of patients. Compared with only CVVH, the plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were lower on the 5th day, and patients have an increased survival rate on the 28 day in the HP+CVVH group.

Objective To evaluate the characteristics of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin and explore its feasibility in early detection of secondary infectious foci of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods Ciprofloxacin was labeled with 99Tcm.The labeling efficiency and radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin were calculated and its biodistribution in normal pigs was measured.The recruited baby pigs were divided into three groups:normal control group (6), non-infected group (6) and infected group (16).370-400 MBq of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin was injected into each pig intravenously.SPECT scanning was performed at 0.5, 1,2, 3, 4 and 6 h after administration.The differences of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin uptake among groups were calculated and the tracer activity ratio of lesion-to-background was recorded at each time point.The diagnostic value of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin SPECT imaging for the dectection of secondary infection of SAP was assessed using histopathological results as the gold standard.Variance analysis and least significant difference test were used to analyze the data.Results Both the labehing efficiency and radiochemical purity of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin were over 90% within 6 h.Organs with rich blood supply, such as kidney, liver and spleen were the target organs for the accumulation of 99Tcm-ciprofloxacin; while no significant uptake was found in gastrointestinal tract or normal pancreas tissue of SAP.Rapid plasma clearance and renal excretion were observed.In the infected group, the lesion was visualized at 1 h after administration.The highest radioactivity ratio of lesion-to-background (3.36 ± 0.33) was at 3 h after administration, which was significantly higher than that of the other time point ( F =99.570, P ＜0.001 ).The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, Youden's index (YI) and Kappa value of 99Tc%ciprofloxacin imaging were 88.2% (15/17), 83.3% (5/6), 93.8% ( 15/16), 71.4% (5/7), 0.715 and 0.667 respectively.Conclusions The biodistribution of99Tcm-ciprofloxacin is suitable for imaging infectious focus of SAP.The optimal imaging time for the detection of secondary infection of SAP is 3 h after administration, with high sensitivity and specificity.

AIMTo search for new artemisinin derivatives with higher immunosuppressive activity.

METHODSTwo kinds of new artemisinin derivatives containing polyethylene glycol group were synthesized from dihydroartemisinin via condensation and esterification. These compounds were assayed for their inhibitory activity on ConA-induced T cell proliferation and LPS-induced B cell proliferation.

RESULTSTwenty three new compounds (2a - 2f, 3a - 3d, 4a - 4f, 6a, 6b and 7a - 7g) were synthesized and identified by 1H NMR and elemental analysis.

CONCLUSIONThese compounds had immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Among them, the symmetrical substituted compound 2 and 6 had higher activity than mono-substituted compound 3, 4 and 7. Especially, compounds 2a - 2f remarkably exhibited higher inhibition in comparison with artemisinin and artesunate.

Animals ; Artemisinins ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Sesquiterpenes ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the kinetic processes of direct electrooxidation for both matrine and sophoridine in a physiological medium.

METHODTheir direct electrooxidative behaviors and the parameters of electrochemical kinetics were obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV), bulk electrolysis with coulometry, chronocoulometry (CC), chronoamperometry (CA).

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe electrochemical experimental results show that the two totally irreversible oxidation peaks in the region of 0.3-1.2 V vs SCE for both MT and SR were observed, and the electrode reactions processes were diffusion-controlled. Their electron transfer number n and electron transfer coefficient alpha were obtained by CV and electrolysis with coulometry. The diffusion coefficient D and rate constant kf were also calculated by CC and CA.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Electrodes ; Kinetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quinolizines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sophora ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo discuss the therapeutic effects of the atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation in treatment of atlantoaxial instability.

METHODSFrom June 2003 to March 2010, 32 patients with atlantoaxial instability were treated by atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation, included 21 males and 11 females wiht an average age of 42.5 years old ranging from 28 to 66 years. Among them, 18 cases were odontoid process fractures, 7 were congenital dissociate odontoid process, 4 were Jefferson fracture combined with odontoid fracture, 3 were rheumatic arthritis causing atlantoaxial instability. All patients suffered from the atlantoaxial subluxation and atlantoaxial instability. The JOA score ranged from 4 to 14 (means 9.1 +/- 0.3) before operation. The patients had some image examination including the X-ray of cervical vertebrae (include of dynamic position film), spiral CT 3D reconstruction and/or MRI. The position of pedicle screw system implantation,the angle of pedicle screw system implantation and screw length were measured. Operating skull traction. Operation undewent general anesthesia, implanted the pedicle screw, reduction and bone fusion under direct vision. The bone was fixated between posterior arch of atlas and lamina of axis by the lateral combination bended to posterior.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-eight atlantoaxial pedicle screws were implanted in 32 patients. No patient had the injure of spinal cord, nerve root and vertebral artery. All patients were followed-up from 6 to 48 months (averaged 16 months). After operation, the JOA score ranged from 11 to 17 (averaged 15.9 +/- 0.2), improvement rate was 86.1%. The fracture of odontoid process were healing completely. All fusion bone were combinated. The internal fixation wasn't loosening and breaking.

CONCLUSIONThe atlantoaxial pedicle screw system fixation was effective method to treat atlantoaxial instability. The method had many advantages, such as provide rigid and short segment fixation, safe and simple, high fusion rate. The method was worth in clinical application.

Adult ; Aged ; Atlanto-Axial Joint ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo discuss the central modulating mechanism of Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) differences of the functional brain regions between SP 6 and sham acupoint.

METHODSSixteen volunteers accepted right Sanyinjiao (SP 6) (SP 6 group) or right sham (sham group) acupuncture for two times after 24 h sleep deprivation (SD), there was two weeks between two acupunctures. The needle was retained for 4 minutes and the brain fMRI scanning was performed by 3.0 TMR every time. The ALFF consequent data was processed by REST. One-sample t-test and two-pair t-test were performed by SPM5.

RESULTSSP 6 group mainly caused ALFF change in inferior parietal lobule, posterior cingulated while sham group in precuneus, posterior cingulated. SP 6 group increased ALFF in left fusiform temporal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus with no decreased regions compared with sham group.

CONCLUSIONSRetaining needle dose influence the activity of the brain region during resting-state in both group, especially the mood-related regions. And its mechanism is probably that the relevant effect is carried out by regulating function to target organs of complex brain network comprised of relevant functional center and related brain region. There are differences between SP 6 and Sham acupoint.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiography ; Sleep Deprivation ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective To monitor the prevalence of Keshan disease in Huangling County, Shaanxi Previnee in 2007. Methods All local residents in surveinance area of Keshan disease in Diantou and Yaoping Township of Huangling County, were surveyed and given overall examinations by electrocardiography. The patients of latent and chronic Keshan disease were examined by X-ray. The selenium contents in blood and hair were monitored by fluorospectrophotometry in surveillance and non-surveillance areas. Results No new ease of acute or sub-acute patient was found. Latent and chronic patients detected accounted for 3.92% (35/893). Only 1 ease of new latent Keshan disease was newly found. Major feature of electrocardiographic abnormality was ST-T change. By X-ray, there were 27 eases with a normal heart, 20 eases with mild enlargement, 20 eases with medium enlargement, and 16 eases with marked enlargement. Serological selenium eoncentrations were (38.67±19.58), (48.55±22.36), (67.29±17.32)μg/L, respectively in patients, internal and external eontrols(F=16.291 ,P<0.01). Selenium contents of children's hair were (0.376±0.101), (0.372±0.085), (0.436±0.085)μg/L, respectively(F= 17.032, P<0.01). Conclusions Cases of diagnosed Keshan disease were decreased compared with the previous years. There were new eases of latent Keshan disease in Huangling County, Shaanxi Province.