Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Urea ; analysis ; Workplace

·AIM: To investigate whether Erigeron Breviscapus (vant) Hand-Mazz (EBHM) EBHM has neuroprotective effect against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neuron death in retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL).· METHODS: 60 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into four groups. 6 animals were normal control group (group A). The others were divided as group B (EBHM group), group C (normal saline+NMDA group) and group D (EBHM + NMDA group). Each group had 18 rats.10nmol NMDA was intravitreally injected to induce partial damage of the neurons in RGCL in the right eyes of Groups C and D. Same volume PBS was intravitreally injected into the left eyes as self-control. Groups B and D were pre-treated intraperitoneally with 6g/L EBHM solution at a dose of 150mg/kg body weight/day seven days before and after NMDA treatment. Group C were administrated intraperitoneally with 9g/L normal saline at the same time of EBHM injection. Rats were sacrificed at 4,7,14d after NMDA treatment. Flat whole retinas were stained with 5g/L cresyl violet and neuron counting in RGCL from both eyes were observed. Each subgroup had 6 rats.· RESULTS: There was no significant difference of neuron counting in RGCL between the right eye and the left eye in group A (P=0.200). There was no significant difference between normal control group and EBHM group either in the right eyes or in the left eyes at 4, 7 and 14 d respectively after intravitreal injection of 10nmol NMDA in group C and group D. (P=0.636, P=0.193). Neuron counting of RGCL in group C and D was significantly decreased in the NMDA-treated eyes at 4, 7 and 14d after intravitreal injection (P＜0.001). There was no significant difference between self-control eyes group and normai control group(P＞0.05). However, neuron counting was significantly higher in the EBHM+NMDA group than normal saline +NMDA group at 14days after intravitreal injection (P=0.044), but was lowered than normal control group (P＜0.05).· CONCLUSION: EBHM has no effect on neuron counting of RGCL when administered alone in normal rats.The results indicates that EBHM plays a partial protective role in NMDA-induced neuron loss in RGCL in the rats.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Huikangling Tablet (HT, extracted from Scabrous Patrinia root) on peripheral blood micrometastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients.

METHODSTotally 87 DTC patients with positive micrometastasis were randomly assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (42 cases). DTC endocrine inhibition treatment standards were executed in all patients. They all took levothyroxine sodium (50 microg/tablet, from low dose, 25 microg each time, once per day, 0.5 h before breakfast), and its dosage was gradually added one week later. The dosage was adjusted according to tested results of TSH combined recurrence risk stratification and endocrine suppression induced adverse reactions risk stratification. Patients in the treatment group took HT (0.4 g per tablet, 3 tablets each time, three times per day for a total of 12 weeks) combined TSH suppression therapy, while those in the control group only received TSH suppression therapy. Peripheral micrometastatic cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and polymorphic epithelial mucin1 (MUC1) were detected by FCM at week 4 and 12. Meanwhile, distant metastasis and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSAfter 4-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 18 cases (40%) of the treatment group and 29 cases (69%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 5.68, P < 0.05). After 12-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 7 cases (15.6%) of the treatment group and 17 cases (44.7%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 8.49, P < 0.01). Pulmonary metastasis occurred in 2 cases and bone metastasis in 1 case of the control group at follow-ups. Cervical lymph node metastasis without accompanied recurrence of thyroid cancer occurred in one case of the treatment group. No obvious liver or renal abnormalities occurred.

CONCLUSIONHT inhibited peripheral blood micrometastasis of DTC patients and its mechanism needed to be further studied.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Tablets ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) plus full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in benign and malignant breast disease.Methods The prospective study enrolled 46 consenting women with a clinical suspicious of breast lesion confirmed by pathology. All the patients underwent DBT, FFDM and dedicated breast magnetic resonance image (DB-MRI) examinations before surgery or biopsy. To observe the manifestation of breast disease in different examinations according to breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS), and to evaluate the visibility grade of disease between DBT plus FFDM and FFDM alone. Using receiving operating characteristic(ROC) and Z test to analysis the diagnostic efficiency of three examinations.Results Forty-six cases included 14 benign cases and 32 malignant cases. Compared with FFDM, 35 cases showed increased visibility in DBT plus FFDM, that the malignant lesion manifested mass with speculated and architectural distortion(23/27) and the benign lesion manifested mass with halo sign(6/8). Eleven cases didn't show increase visibility in both DBT plus FFDM and FFDM alone. The ration of BI-RADS 0 in FFDM was 23.9%(11/46), meanwhile in other two examination were 0. The ration of BI-RADS 3 in DBT plus FFDM was the lowest(6.5%, 3/46). When the lesion in DBT plus FFDM showed mass or speculated, in MRI showed similar morphology with mass or mass-like enhancement. According pathology as the gold standard, excluded 11 cases with BI-RADS 0 in FFDM, there was significant statistical difference between DBT plus FFDM and FFDM alone in 35 cases (Z=2.132, P=0.033) to differentiate benign and malignant breast disease, the area of ROC curve were respectively 0.955, 0.878. There is no statistical difference between DBT plus FFDM and MRI in 46 cases (Z=0.502, P=0.616), the area of ROC curve were respectively 0.887, 0.908.Conclusion DBT combined with FFDM can improve both detection of breast lesion and diagnostic efficiency, while the performance value between DBT and MRI are equal.

OBJECTIVE To established a viable and convenient method for human nasoseptal chondrocyte culture in vitro and study the biological characters of the chondrocyte. METHODS The chondrocytes were obtained by incomplete enzyme digestion of cartilage and were seeded with small piece of cartilage in 25 ml culture flasks coated with polylysine previously. This study determines the biologic synthesis of the chondrocytes by toluidine blue and type Ⅱcollagen immunohistochemistry reaction. The proteoglycan synthesis efficiencies of human nasoseptal chondrocytes cultured in vitro were measured by using 35S-Na2SO4 incorporation. The modified method and the conventional method in proteoglycan synthesis were also compared. RESULTS The results suggested that human nasoseptal chondrocytes cultured by modified method still show the normal structure and morphology, and maintain the function of metabolism and self duplication. With the modified method, we can get a higher cell survival rate and more cells. CONCLUSION The modified method is a viable and convenient method.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of genipin on hypoxia/reoxygenation induced oxidative stress injury in H9c2 cell line. METHODS: For mimicking myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, H9c2 cells were cultured in vitro and established hypoxia/reoxygenation induced oxidative stress injury model. H9c2 cells were divided into six groups: control group, H/R group, H/R+0.5 μmol·L-1 genipin group, H/R+1.25 μmol·L-1genipin group, H/R+2.5 μmol·L-1 genipin group and H/R+10 μmol·L-1 genipin group. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8). The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), intracellular total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed using microplate reader. Confocal laser scanning microscope was performed to examine the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the level of mitochondrial calcium (m) as well as the depolarization ratio of mitochondrial membranes potential(ΔΨm). The protein expression of cytochrome-C was detected by Western-blot. RESULTS: Comparing to control group, the cell viability of H/R group was significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner(r=-0.82,P<0.01). Low concentration(1.25-40 μmol·L-1) of genipin could improve cell viability exposed to H/R treatment (P<0.05), on the contrary, high concentration(80-320 μmol·L-1) of genipin remarkably reduced the cell viability (P<0.05). In compared with H/R group, the levels of LDH release, MDA production and ROS production, the level of m, depolarization ratio of ΔΨm and the protein expression of cytochrome-c in H/R+(1.25-10 μmol·L-1) genipin groups were notably lessened, while the level of T-SOD was increased(P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Genipin could reduce H/R-induced oxidative stress injury, the mechanism might be connected with balancing the oxidative stress products and anti-oxidation enzyme system as well as improving mitochondrial dysfunction.

Plasma ghrelin level was measured by RIA in 49 grids with idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP)and 35 girls with simple premature thelarche(PT).The results showed that the plasma ghrelin level was negatively correlated with Tanner stage,bone age,Lid at 15,30 and 60 min after GnRH activation, uterus and ovary volumes.The plasma ghrelin level in the ICPP group was remarkably lower than that in the PT and control groups(both P

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) combined with neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods Forty healthy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group,an SCI group,an NSC group and an HBO+NSC group.In the latter three groups,complete spinal cord transection was performed at T10.The rats of the HBO+NSC group were treated with HBO therapy after NSC transplantation.Hindlimb motor function was assessed with the BassoBeattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and tilt table testing.Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were measured to evaluate the rats'nerve conduction function.The amount of surviving transplanted NSCs at the injured site was counted using Hoechst dyeing.Results The average BBB scores and tilt table test results in the HBO+NSCs group were significantly better than in the SCI and NSC groups from the 2nd week post-SCI.By the 4th week the average latency period and MEP amplitude in the HBO+NSC group were significantly better than in the NSC group,while MEPs in the SCI group still had not re-appeared.The surviving amount of transplanted NSCs in the HBO+NSC group was also significantly greater than in the NSC group.Conclusion HBO combined with NSC transplantation has synergistic effects and can improve functional recovery after SCI.This may be explained by the important role of HBO in promoting the survival of transplanted NSCs.

OBJECTIVETo study chemical constituents from Cynanchum auriculatum.

METHODThe chemical components were isolated and purified by silca gel, sephedex-LH-20 and ODS column chromatography. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTThirteen compounds were isolated and identified as: caudatin (1), metaplexigenin (2), cynauricuoside A (3), succinic acid (4), azelaic acid (5), wilforibiose (6), sucrose (7), 1-O-hexadecanolenin (8), beta-amyrin acetate (9), cynanchone A (10), acetylquinol (11), beta-sitosterol (12), daucosterol (13).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 4-9 were obtained from this plant for the first time.

Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Dicarboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Tubers ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Succinic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from Hedyotis diffusa.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques and identified by their physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTEight compounds were isolated and identified as octadecyl (E)-p-coumarate (1), p-E-methoxy-cinnamic acid (2), ferulic acid (3), scopoletin (4), succinic acid (5), aurantiamide acetate (6), rubiadin (7), robustaquinone D (8).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-8 were obtained from genus Hedyotis for the first time.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Dipeptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hedyotis ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Scopoletin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Succinic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification