Retinal pigment epithelium ( RPE ) is a vital tissue for the maintenance of photoreceptor function and environment of outer retina, also the predominant cell type of proliferative vitreoretinopathy ( PVR ) . lt is also affected by many diseases of the retina and choroid, including diabetic retinopathy ( DR) , age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) and retinal pigmentosa ( RP ) . Although of neural origin, the RPE is capable of local repair, and cells may migrate and take on altered characteristics. These findings indicate that RPE-based therapy is a promising option for congenital or degenerate disease of the retina.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of comprehensive Western medical treatment plus Compound Yindan Decoction (CYD) in treatment of acute cholestatic hepatitis (ACH).

METHODSUsing randomized controlled study, 60 ACH patients in line with inclusive criteria were randomly assigned to the treatment group (treated by comprehensive Western medical treatment plus CYD) and the control group (treated by comprehensive Western medical treatment alone), 30 in each group. Scores for symptoms and levels of liver functions [total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total biliary acid (TBA)] were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment in the same group, total scores for symptoms decreased in the treatment group and the control group at the end of the 1st and the 4th week after treatment (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, total scores for symptoms decreased in the treatment group at the end of the 1st week (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, ALP, GGT, and TBA all decreased in the two groups at the end of the 4th week after treat- ment (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, ALP, GGT, and TBA all decreased in the treatment group at the end of the 1st and the 2nd week after treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the average time for TBIL and DBIL decreasing to the level less than five times the normal value was significantly shorter in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCYD could significantly improve clinical symptoms of ACH patients, decrease serum levels of TBIL and DBIL, reduce serum levels of ALP, GGT, and TBA, obviously improve cholestasis, and promote the recovery.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Cholestasis ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase

Objective To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of 5 days' and 7 days' course of combination chemotherapy regimen HA in the treatment of chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-CP). Methods 18 cases of CML-CP had received 5 days' course of combination chemotherapy regimen HA including homoharringtonine 4 mg/d and cytarabine 200 mg/d for 5 days. At the same time,another 18 patients diagnosed as CML-CP who were given 7 days' course of HA regimen including homoharringtonine 4 mg/d and cytarabine 200 mg/d for 7 days were compared on the efficacy including peripheral white blood cells, spleen size and cytogenetic responses and adverse effects. Results The complete remission(CR) rate was 50.0 % and 61.1 % in 5 days' and 7 days' treated groups, respectively (P >0.05). The incidence of severe bone marrow suppression in 7 days' group(16.7 %) was higher than that in 5 days' group(0)(P <0.05). Conclusion The 5 days' course of combination chemotherapy HA regimen is same as 7 days' course of HA regimen about their curative effects in CML-CP. But the incidence of severe bone marrow suppression in 7 days' group(16.7 %) was higher than that in 5 days' group (0).

OBJECTIVEOptimize the technic condition of Duzhong Jiangya prescription with Semi-bionic Extraction.

METHODUsing homogeneous design, under the same materials granularity, decoction temperature, consumption of water, filtration, concentration, and taking aucubin, hydrochloric acid stachydrine, maloicacid, baicalin, ethanol extract, dry extract as the indexes, the results were comprehensive considered to optimize the semi-bionic extraction condtions.

RESULTThe optimized SBE extraction conditions are the following: pH values of the water for the thrice extraction is 5.845 3, 7.496 1, 8.011 7, and the total extraction time is 3.418 0 h.

CONCLUSIONConsidering the fact of manufacture, the SBE extraction conditions are the following: pH values of the water for the thrice extraction is 6.0, 7.5, 8.0, and the thrice extraction time is 1.5, 1.0, 1.0 h.

Antihypertensive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Leonurus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Prunella ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Time Factors ; Triterpenes ; analysis ; Uncaria ; chemistry

High-performance liquid chromatographic coupled with variable wavelength detection (HPLC-VWD) has been developed for simultaneous determination of 5 analytes including ellagic acid, quercetin, kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-rutinoside, tiliroside and kaempferol, and high-performance liquid chromatographic with an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD) has been established to determine goshonoside-F5 in extract of Rubi Fructus. Chromatographic separations were carried out on an Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5.0 microm). All calibration curves of reference standards revealed good linearity (R2 > 0.999 5) within the concentration ranges tested. The method limits of detection ranged 0.297-90.144 ng and the method limits ofquantitation ranged 0.990-300.480 ng, respectively. Recoveries of 6 analytes were from 97.11% to 101.7%, with RSD less than 2.1%. The result shows that amounts of the 6 analytes in the samples from 16 localities were found to be different. The higher latitude of growing environment, the more ellagic acid in herb. The content of total flavonoids in sample from east localities were higher than that in middle and west localities, and the content of goshonoside-F5 in Bozhou, Anhui province was higher than others. This method was found to be simple, accurate, sensitive with good repeatability. Those results might serve as a sound foundation for further study, quality control and application of Rubi Fructus.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ellagic Acid ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Geography ; Rosaceae ; chemistry

Objective To observe the morphological changes of macular capillary in type 2 diabetic mellitus (DM) patients without clinical features of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods This is a prospective clinical case-control study. Forty-three eyes of 22 patients with DM without clinical features of DR (case group) and 40 control eyes of 20 age-and sex-matched healthy physical examination subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent OCTA examination with mode of retinal blood flow imaging, macular 3 mm×3 mm and 6 mm×6 mm area, signal strength>45. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, foveal capillary density, parafovea capillary non-perfusion, and micro-aneurysm in shallow capillary vessel layer were evaluated. Results In case group, the mean FAZ area was (0.397±0.141) mm2 and the mean foveal capillary density was (44.6±0.62)%. In control group, the mean FAZ area was (0.253±0.112) mm2 and the mean foveal capillary density was (48.6±0.58)%. FAZ area of eyes in case group was larger than that in control group (t=1.017, P<0.05). There was no difference of foveal capillary density between two groups (t=1.499, P>0.05). The spider web-like FAZ and normal foveolar avascular zone were observed in eyes of control group. The parafovea capillary non-perfusion, abnormal foveolar avascular zone, micro-aneurysm and tortuosity of vessels were observed in eyes of case group. Parafovea capillary non-perfusion (χ2=4.542), micro-aneurysms (χ2=5.183) were seen more often in case group than control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Type 2 DM patients have abnormal retinal vascular microcirculation before DR using OCTA, including larger FAZ area, parafovea capillary non-perfusion, abnormal foveolar avascular zone, micro-aneurysm and tortuosity of vessels.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of MGIT liquid medium fluorescence instrument manual interpretation method for rapid detection of Mycobacterium. Methods Two hundred sputa with newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients were collected from October 2008 to January 2009 in the district hospitals in Shanghai. Of these 200 sputa, 67 sputa were positive AFB, 133 were negative. All the sputa were isolated by L-J, BacT / Alert 3D system and MGIT liquid medium methods. Results Of the 200 sputa specimens,105(52. 5% ) were isolated as Mycobacterium strains. The positive culture rate of the MGIT, BacT/Alert 3D and L-J method was 49. 5% ( 99/200 ), 48. 0% (96/200) and 45.0% ( 90/200), respectively. The MGIT culture positive rate was significantly higher than that of L-J method (x2 = 5.40, P = 0. 020 1 ). Of the 133 sputa with negative AFB, the positive culture rate was 24. 8% ( 33/133 ), 23. 3% ( 31/133 ) and 18. 8% (25/133) with MGIT, BacT/Alert 3D and L-J method, respectively. The MGIT culture positive rate with the AFB negative sputum was significantly higher than that of L-J method (x2 = 5. 33, P = 0. 020 9 ).The median time of detection with MGIT, BacT/Alert 3D system and L-J method was 11 days, 15 days and 22 days, respectively. Comparing the median time of detection of MGIT with BacT/Alert 3D, the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 3.414 ,P ＜ 0. 01 ). Comparing the median time of detection of MGIT with L-J method, the difference was statistically significant (Z =7.083,P＜0. 01).Conclusions MGIT liquid medium manual method is a rapid detection method of Mycobacterium with a high positive detection rate, and do not need expensive equipment This method may suitable to resource limited medical institutions due to its low cost and short round time.

Objective To observe the effects of iodine excess on thyroid morphology,the expression of thyroid peroxidase and sodium iodide symporter mRNA and to explore their mechanisms.Methods One-month SD rats were divided into three groups:control iodine(CI),high iodine Ⅰ(HI Ⅰ)and high iodineⅡ(HI Ⅱ)and were fed with water containing iodine in different concentrations by adding K103(5,5000,10 000μg/L)respectively.Rats were sacrificed after being fed for six months.The morphology of thyroid was investigated under light microscopy and electron microscopy,the serum thyroid hormones and ratio of TPO/β-actin and NIS/β-actin were measured by radio-immunoassay and RT-PCR method.Results The major changes were increased follicles with colloid accumulation in HI groups.The levels of serum thyroid hormones TT3 and TT4 were decreased gradually from CI[(75.68±13.99,1.45±0.49)nmol/L]to HI Ⅰ[(73.82±16.48,1.34±0.31)nmol/L]and HIⅡ groups[(70.65±11.43,1.15±0.39)nmol/L],but there were no significant differences among three groups(F=O.371,l.163,P＞0.05).The TPO and NIS mRNA expressions in HI Ⅰ(1.28±0.10,0.56±O.17)and HI Ⅱ(1.14±0.04,0.39±0.06)were significantly lower(F=30.863,62.62.675,P＜O.05)than those of control group(1.39±0.08,0.71±0.13).Conclusions Chronic iodine excess leads to definite histological changes in rat thyroid,and inhibits the expressions of TPO and NIS mRNA as well as thyroid hormone synthesis,which in turn acts as a protective mechanism against iodine excess.

Humans ; Stents ; Tympanic Membrane ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; surgery

OBJECTlVE To investigate the inhibition of Radix lsatidis and its major constituents indigo and indirubin on three principal subtypes of organic anion transporters ( OATs) , Oat1, Oat2 and Oat3 in vivo in mice. METHODS Granules of Radix lsatidis ( GRl) 0.615 and 2.46 g·kg-1 , decoction of Radix lsatidis ( DRl) 1.6 and 6.4 g·kg-1 , indigo 0.008 and 0.64 mg·kg-1 and indirubin 0.0192 and 1.536 mg·kg-1 were ig given to the NlH mice (60 mice per group), twice a day, for 5 d while four control groups were set up, including vehicle of water, 0.5%sodium carboxymethyl cellulose ( CMC) , positive control probe-necid (0.05 g·kg-1) and additives of sucrose plus dextrin (1.5 g·kg-1 each) groups. After the last dosing of the test samples, para-aminohippuric acid ( PAH) clearance test was conducted. All the mice were iv given PAH 0.03 g·kg-1 and 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 and 20 min later before 10 mice per group were euthanized to collect whole blood and the kidneys were quickly removed. Each right kidney was homoge-nized to analyze the PAH accumulations and each left kidney to extract total mRNA for analysis of Oat1, Oat2 and Oat3 gene expressions using quantitative real-time PCR. The concentrations of PAH in sera and in kidney homogenates were determined by the method of Kiguchi. Major pharmacokinetic parame-ters of PAH in sera were calculated by pharmacokinetic software ( DAS2.0) . PAH uptake test for kidney slices was performed on another group of NlH mice according to the method of Nakakariya. RESULTS There was no significant difference between water control group and 0.5%CMC group in all the examined items. Compared with the vehicle control groups ( water and 0. 5%CMC group ) , elimination half time ( t1/2β) of PAH in GRl 2.46 g·kg-1 ,indigo 0.64 mg·kg-1 and indirubin 1.536 mg·kg-1 groups was signifi-cantly prolonged (P<0.05), the total clearance (Cl) and volume of distribution (Vd) were obviously reduced ( P<0.01) and the area under the curve ( AUC0-20 min ) of PAH in all the tested groups was signifi-cantly increased ( P<0.01) . AUC0-20 min obtained from renal PAH accumulations within the checked time was significantly higher ( P<0.05, P<0.01) than in the vehicle control group. But there was in no signifi-cant difference between all the study groups in kidney-to-plasma AUC ratios. PAH uptake results by kidney slices were significantly lower ( P<0. 05, P<0. 01 ) than in vehicle control group in every two dosages of all the four samples tested. Compared with vehicle control group, the mRNA expressions of Oat1, Oat2 and Oat3 were obviously ( P<0.05, P<0.01) and abnormally regulated in the groups of GRl 2.46 g·kg-1, DRl 6.4 g·kg-1, indigo 0.64 mg·kg-1 and indirubin 1.536 mg·kg-1. CONCLUSlON The renal Oat1, Oat2 and Oat3 of mice are significantly inhibited by GRl, DRl, indigo and indirubin. The inhibitory function of Radix lsatidis probably stems from indigo and indirubin contained in it.