Objective:To optimize the extraction parameters for anthraquinones in Semen Cassiae by Box-Behnken experimental design. Methods:Based on single factor screening, a three-factor and three-level Box-Behnken experimental design was employed with the ethanol concentration, material to liquid ratio and extraction time as the independent variables. The dependent variables including the extration rates of chrysophand and aurantio-obtusin were transformed into desirability mathematically by Hassan 's method. The mathematical relationship was established between the dependent variables and the independent variables. The optimum experimental conditions were selected from the stationary point of the response surfaces. Results:The optimum extraction conditions were as follows:12-fold amount of 44％ ethanol as the solvent, extracted three times with 2. 65h for each time. The extraction rate of chrysophanol and aurantio-obtusin was 1. 921％ and 3. 244％, respectively. Conclusion:The measured value is close to the predicted one,which indi-cates the comprehensive extraction parameters optimized by Box-Behnken experimental design can be used for the extraction of chry-sophanol and aurantio-obtusin from Semen Cassiae.

Objective: To study the ectopic osteogenesis and biocompatibility of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)-derived peptide P24 loaded chitosan-4-thio-butylamidine (CS-TBA) hydrogel. Methods: First, the CS-TBA/hydroxyapatite (HA) solution was prepared by using chitosan, 2-iminothiolane hydrochloride, and HA. Then, the different amount of P24 peptides were added to the CS-TBA/HA to prepare the CS-TBA/5%P24/HA and CS-TBA/10%P24/HA solutions. Finally, β-glycerophosphate disodium (β-GP) was added to the CS-TBA/HA, CS-TBA/5%P24/HA, and CS-TBA/10%P24/HA to prepare the CS-TBA/HA/β-GP, CS-TBA/5%P24/HA/β-GP, and CS-TBA/10%P24/HA/β-GP hydrogels, respectively. Eighteen Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=6), which were injected into the back muscle pouches with equal volume CS-TBA/HA/β-GP hydrogel (group A), CS-TBA/5%P24/HA/β-GP hydrogel (group B), and CS-TBA/10%P24/HA/β-GP hydrogel (group C). The animals were sacrificed at 4 and 8 weeks and conducted micro-CT. The ability of biodegradation and osteogenesis of hydrogl was detected by trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), bone mineral density (BMD), and histological staining (HE and Masson). Results: All the rats in 3 groups survived to the time point of the harvest. Micro-CT results showed that the new bones gradually increased in each group after operation. At the same time, the new bone formation was more obvious in groups B and C than in group A, and with the increase of P24 concentration, new bone formation in group C was much more than that in group B. The Tb.Th, Tb.N, and BMD increased gradually in 3 groups, and the differences between 4 and 8 weeks were significant ( P<0.05) except the Tb.Th in group A. At different time points, the Tb.Th, Tb.N, and BMD were significantly higher in groups B and C than in group A ( P<0.05), and in group C was higher than in group B ( P<0.05), showing significant differences between groups. Histological staining showed that the materials of groups B and C were biodegradable, and the osteogenic effect was increased with the increase of P24 concentration. Conclusion: P24 peptide can improve the ectopic osteogenesis of CS-TBA hydrogel, and the 10% concentration is more effective.

OBJECTIVE:To study the curative effect of different Chailing decoction granules on chronic renal failure(CRF) in rats.METHODS:SD rats in trial groups and model group were given adenine to induce CRF model.The trial groups were treated with Japanese Tsumura granules,imitating Japanese method granules or Chinese normal method granule.The model group and the control group were treated with saline.The urine,blood biochemical parameters as well as morphological change of kidney were monitored.RESULTS:Compared with model group,Japanese Tsumura granules and imitating Japanese method granules significantly reduced the levels of blood ureanitrogen,serum total protein,serum cholesterol and urinary protein,and the damage on renal interstitium was lessened significantly(P

Objective To report therapeutic effects of patients with bladder cancer treated by intra-operative radiation and to recommend an effective method for the treatment of bladder cancer.Methods During the operation,when the tumor of bladder had been removed,a boost dose of electric beam from a linear accelerator was irridiated to the tumor bed.28 cases were follawed-up in a long period.Results Lower local recurrence was observed in patients received intra-operative radiation therapy,only 2 cases had a small recurrent tumor in the bladder during the follow-up period.26 cases had bean followed up,no tumor recurred.Conclusion The intraoperative radiation therapy is a useful treatment for the bladder cancer.

To explore the protective effects of trimetazidine on vascular endothelial cells injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and its pharmacological mechanisms of anti-oxidation.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were injured by H2O2.Next,the cells were treated with three different concentrations of trimetazidine (1 μmol/L,10 μmol/L,100μmol/L,respectively).The viability of cells was detected by methyl thiazoeyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.In addition,malondialdehyde (MDA)contents,superoxide dismutase (SOD) and secretion of NO were measured.Results Trimetazidine could enhance the viability of the injured HUVECs induced by oxidation,decrease the level of MDA,enhance the SOD activity,and increase the secretion of nitrogen monoxide.These effects were in a certain dose-dependent manner and the difference was significant among the three concentrations (P＜0.05).Conclusions Our results suggest that trimctazidine may protect lipid peroxidation and prevent oxidation-induced cellular dysfunction of HUVECs (J Geriatr Cardiol 2008;5:248-251)

BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSForty-one patients with locally advanced (stage IIIB) or metastatic (stage IV) NSCLC were enrolled into the study. The patients received gemcitabine 1 000 mg/m² on days l, 8 and 15, and carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, with 28 days as a cycle. Each patient received at least two cycles.

RESULTSOf the 41 patients, 2 cases got complete response, 18 got partial response, 15 had stable disease, and 6 had progressive disease, with an overall response rate of 48.8%. The response rate was 55.6% (10/18) in the initial patients, and 43.5% (10/23) in the retreated patients (P > 0.05). The median survival duration was 11.8 months. The 1-year survival rate was 49%. There were 29 patients whose KPS score increased. The main toxicities were leukopenia (incidence of 34.1% for grade III+IV) and thrombocytopenia (incidence of 29.3% for grade III+IV).

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin is a feasible, well-tolerated and active scheme in either first-line or second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Objective: To investigate the biological significance of CerbB-2 expression in nasopharyn-geal carcinoma. Methods: The expression of CerbB-2 was detected in 90 nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues and 22 nasopharyngitis tissues by SP immunohistochemical method. The relationship between CerbB-2 ex-pression and clinicopathological characteristics of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was investigated. Results: The positive expression rate of CerbB-2 protein was 65.56% in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, and 31.82% in nasopharyngitis tissues, with a significant difference (P<0.05). The ratio of expression was 81.0% in patients of N_2 and N_3 lymth node stage, significantly different from that in patients of N_0 and N_1 lymph node stage (52.1%, P<0.05). The expression of CerbB-2 gene was not correlated with age, gender, clinical stage, T stage and distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (P>0.05). Conclusion: There is a high expression of CerbB-2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues, which might be an important event in the pathogenesis and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDTo explore the significance of lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis in the diagnosis of space-occupying lesions of the lung.

METHODSThirty-five patients with space occupying lesions of the lung underwent lung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis and DLTRA-CUT 16G, 18G or 20G soft-tissue-cutting biopsy needles and PICKER IQ computerized tomograph were used.

RESULTSOf the 35 patients, 26 were confirmed by pathological examination to suffer from primary malignant tumor, 1 from metastatic carcinoma, 3 from tuberculosis and 3 from inflammatory pseudotumor. No definite diagnosis was made in two patients. The diagnostic rate was 94.3%. After operation, minor pneumothorax occurred in 5 cases and traces of blood in sputum in 2 cases, however, they didn't need any treatment.

CONCLUSIONSLung biopsy through CT-guided percutaneous paracentesis is a safe and practical technique and may be widely used in hospitals if conditions permit.

Objective:To establish an HPLC fingerprint and determine five compounds in Zhengtian pills to provide reference for the effective quality control.Methods:The analysis was carried out on an Agilent XDB-C18analytical column (250 mm × 4.6 mm,5 μm) with gradient elution by acetonitrile (A) -0.19% phosphoric acid solution (B) (0-8 min,10 % A→15% A;10-23 min,15 % A→45 % A;23-50 min,45 % A;50-60 min,45 % A→70 % A;60-70 min,70 % A),the detection wavelength was 310 nm and the flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃. Similarity evaluation was used to evaluate the fingerprints of 12 batches of Zhengtian pills,and five marker components were quantified. Results:There were 33 common peaks in the fingerprints of twelve batches of Zhengtian pills, and five of them (ferulic acid, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin, 5-O-methylvisammioside,imperatorin and isoimperatorin) were identified by comparison with the reference. The similarity of the 12 batches of samples was over 0.99. The linear ranges were 0.050-0.605 μg(r = 0.999 8),0.008-0.100 μg(r = 0.999 2), 0.013-0.150 μg(r = 0.998 6), 0.171- 2.049 μg(r = 0.999 7)and 0.113- 1.352 μg(r = 0.999 6) for ferulic acid, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin,5-O-methylvisammioside, imperatorin and isoimperatorin, respectively. The content of ferulic acid, prim-O-glucosylcimifugin,5-O-methylvisammioside,imperatorin and isoimperatorin was 0.78-0.84 mg/g,0.10-0.13 mg·g-1, 0.18-0.20 mg·g-1,2.44-2.51 mg·g-1and 1.70-1.78 mg·g-1in the 12 batches of samples, respectively. Conclusion:The established method has high sensitivity and specificity,which can be used for the quality control of Zhengtian pills.

BACKGROUNDThe operating microscopes have been applied to modern surgery for nearly a century. However, generations of microsurgeons have to flex their necks and fix their eyes on the eyepieces of a microscope continually that leads to physical and mental fatigue during a long operation. Stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) media provides more ergonomic working environment, subsequently, resulting better performance in tasks and more accurate judgment. In this study, an alternative method of magnification was analyzed using a three-dimensional microsurgical video system and compared with the traditional method under microscopy to evaluate the availability and feasibility of a 3D microsurgical video system for microvascular anastomosis.

METHODSForty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with each of 10. In 20 rats, 10 femoral artery anastomoses with a conventional microscope (arterial microscope group) were compared with that of 10 femoral artery anastomoses with a 3D microsurgical video system (arterial 3D group). For the other 20 rats, 10 femoral vein anastomoses using a conventional microscope (venous microscope group) were compared with that of 10 femoral vein anastomoses using a 3D microsurgical video system (venous 3D group). The arterial and venous microscope groups were considered to be the control groups. The arterial and venous 3D groups were the experimental groups. The examined criteria were as follows: anastomotic time, patency right after the procedure and 10 days later, number of sutures, vessel caliber, and pathological features.

RESULTSThere were no differences between the operating equipment with respect to vessel caliber, anastomotic time, patency rate, number of sutures, and pathological changes in either the small arteries or veins. The average arterial anastomotic time of the arterial microscope group and arterial 3D group was 34.21 and 33.87 minutes, respectively (P > 0.05). The average venous anastomotic time of the venous microscope group and venous 3D group was 29.95 and 31.50 minutes, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA small vessel anastomosis can be performed successfully with the help of a 3D display system. Although the vascular anastomotic time did not demonstrate a significant difference between the groups, the 3D microsurgical video system offers another option to improve the working environment for surgeons. Further development of our 3D monitoring system should focus on a higher resolution and better flexibility.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Animals ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; surgery ; Femoral Vein ; surgery ; Microscopy, Video ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley