Hot-melt extrusion was applied to prepare mesoporous silica/ethylcellulose mini-matrix for sustained release, and fenofibrate was used as a model drug, ethylcellulose and xanthan gum were chosen as sustained-release agent and releasing moderator, respectively. This novel matrix obtained the controlled release ability by combining mesoporous silica drug delivery system and hot-melt extrusion technology. And mesoporous silica particle (SBA-15) was chosen as drug carrier to increase the dissolution rate of fenofibrate in this martix. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, small angle X-ray powder diffraction and N2 adsorption-desorption were introduced to determine the particle morphology, particle size and pore structure of the synthesized SBA-15. The results showed that SBA-15 had a very high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area, a narrow pore size distribution, large pore volume and a ordered two-dimensional hexagonal structure of p6mm symmetry. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction results demonstrated that fenofibrate dispersed in an amorphous state inside the pores of the mesoporous silica which contributed to the improvement in the dissolution rate. The drug release of mini-matrices was influenced by ethylcellulose viscosity grades and xanthan gum concentration, which increased with the increasing of xanthan gum concentration and decreasing of ethylcellulose viscosity. Mini-matrix containing 22% xanthan gum exhibited a good sustained release performance, and the drug release behavior followed the first-order kinetics.
Adsorption ; Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Cellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Porosity ; Powder Diffraction ; Powders ; Silicon Dioxide ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo follow up the electrocardiographic and cardiac autonomic function changes after percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation (PTSMA) in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).

METHODSBaseline, 3 days and 3 years post procedure 12-lead electrocardiographic and 24-hour Holter electrocardiographic recordings including PR interval, QRS duration, cardiac conduct block, QT, QTd, QTcd, JT, JTd, JTcd, heart rate variability (HRV) data (SDNN, SDANN, HF, rMSSD, PNN50, LF, HF, LF/HF) were analyzed in 26 patients with HOCM receiving PTSMA.

RESULTThe PTSMA procedure was successful in all 26 patients. One patient developed complete atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacing. The PR interval was significantly prolonged 3 days after ablation and recovered 3 years post procedure. Right bundle branch block was seen in all patients 3 days after post procedure and in 24 patients at 3 years post procedure. The QRS duration was significantly prolonged at 3 days and 3 years post procedure. There was persistent QT interval prolongation up to 3 years and transient QTd, QTcd prolongation (prolonged at 3 days and returned to baseline at 3 years after ablation) while JT, JTd, JTcd were not significantly changed after PTSMA. LF, HF, rMSSD and PNN50 were significantly increased while LF/HF, SDNN, SDANN remained unchanged post procedure.

CONCLUSIONPTSMA is a safe and effective therapy option for HOCM. Right bundle branch block was the main electrocardiographic change post procedure and PTSMA could partly restore the heart sympathovagal balance by improving vagal activity.

Adult ; Autonomic Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septum ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEOccult hepatitis B infection of voluntary blood donors has been plagued in the serum screening. Determined the OBI through the highly sensitive detection methods Nest-PCR among the blood donors, and then learned occult HBV infection and analysed the genotypes of this area.

METHODS10 080 serums of donors were determined respectively by the imported Abbott HBsAg kit and Beijing Wantai anti-HBc and anti-HBs reagents, obtained the gene and detected DNA sequences by the high sensitive Nest-PCR method.

RESULTSAmong 10 080 cases of unpaid blood donors, 108 cases were detected HBsAg positively by Abbott sensitivity kit (positive rate of 1.07%), 767 cases were anti-HBc single - positive (positive rate of 7.67%). 25 patients screened blood donors who tested negative for serum HBsAg and positive for HBV DNA in the 10 080 cases. Occult HBV infection incidence rate was 0.25%. 12 cases were HBV genotype C (48%), 13 cases were genotype B (52%), and no other genotypes. Genotype B has no statistically significant difference to genotype C (P > 0.05). Sequence analysis showed that 5 patients in the HBsAg epitope "a" (aa124 - aa147) have mutation (20%).

CONCLUSIONThe high proportion of occult hepatitis B infected among voluntary blood donors in our country. Also genotype and mutation was differences in different regions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Donors ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo assess if the modulating effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB on p21(WAF1) was mediated by upregulating transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC).

METHODSTGF-beta(1) mRNA and protein expressions were measured by reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA, the protein expressions of p21(WAF1) and the downstream TGF-beta signalling including TGF-beta type I receptor (ALK-5 in VSMC), Smurf2, pSmad2/3, Smad4, Smad7 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSPDGF-BB significantly upregulated the expressions of TGF-beta(1) at mRNA (0.79-fold) and protein (1.98-fold) levels in VSMC, significantly inhibited the expression of p21(WAF1) (-67 +/- 12)%, and enhanced the expressions of ALK-5, pSmad2/3, Smad4, Smurf2 protein by 1.21-fold, 0.95-fold, 0.69-fold and 2.55-fold respectively, inhibited Smad7 expression (-65 +/- 9)%, these alterations were partially restored by anti-TGF-beta(1) neutralizing antibody.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggested that PDGF-BB inhibited p21(WAF1) expression in VSMC partially through upregulating TGF-beta(1) expression via PDGF-BB and TGF-beta signalling pathways.

Animals ; Cell Division ; Cells ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Female ; Gallstones ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Primary ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pancreatitis ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of binding pancreatic duct to mucosa anastomosis (BDM)-a complementary procedure to both binding pancreaticojejunostomy and binding pancreaticogastrostomy.

METHODS(1) Animal experimental study:gastrostomy and jejunostomy were performed on six adult New Zealand rabbits. The gastrostomy and jejunostomy shared a same stent (rubber urethral catheter, silicone tube or plastic infusion tube). Both ends of the stent were placed in gastric and enteric cavity. Purse-string suture was performed around the stent before the jejunum and the stomach were brought together for fixation by few stitches. And to observe whether the purse-string suture around a plastic tube, rubber tube or silicon tube inserted into jejunum and/or stomach can prevent leaking out of the jejunal or gastric content to cause peritonitis. (2) Clinically 7 patients were performed with BDM anastomosis. The procedure was consisted of five steps: preparation of the pancreatic stump;preparation of the jejunum; preparation of the fixing sutures between the pancreatic stump and the jejunum; implementation of the anastomosis; lastly, fixation of the jejunum beside the pancreas stump. Post-operative periodic examination of the blood amylase and the amylase in the abdominal drainage. Pancreatic fistula was classified in to two categories: parenchymal fistula (pancreatic cut surface fistula) and anastomotic leakage.

RESULTSAnimal experiment did not show any leakage around the plastic tube or silicon tube inserted into jejunum and(or) stomach. There was no anastomotic leak in all the patients. There was transient increase of amylase in two cases, but the volume of drainage did not exceed 50 ml/d and the recovery of the patients was not affected.

CONCLUSIONSBDM is a simple, safe and easy procedure to perform. It provides to the surgeons with a new option in different situations to achieve the most ideal surgical result.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Animals ; Gastric Mucosa ; surgery ; Intestinal Mucosa ; surgery ; Pancreatic Ducts ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; methods ; Pancreaticojejunostomy ; methods ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole in the treatment of children with Tourette syndrome.

METHODA prospective, multi-center, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 195 children aged 5-17 years with Tourette syndrome. The patients were assigned to two groups: aripiprazole group (n=98) and tiapride group (n=97), with the treatment dosage of 5-25 mg/d and 100-500 mg/d, respectively. After 12 weeks treatment, the clinical efficacy was assessed by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) score, and adverse reactions were observed by side effects symptoms scale, blood biochemical indexes, and electrocardiography.

RESULTSignificant pre- and post-treatment differences were ascertained for motor tic, phonic tic, function damage and total scores of YGTSS in the both groups from the second week of treatment (P<0.0001). Compared with the tiapride group, the aripiprazole group showed a more significantly decreased function damage score of YGTSS by the second week of treatment (P<0.05). After 12 weeks treatment, total scores of YGTSS in the aripiprazole group decreased from 53.74±15.71 at baseline to 24.36±16.38, while in the tiapride group from 51.66±13.63 to 23.26±15.31. The mean reduction scores of YGTSS were 29.38 in the aripiprazole group and 28.40 in the tiapride group at the end of treatment, and the clinical response rates were 60.21% and 63.92%, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was similar in the aripiprazole and tiapride groups, with 29.6% and 27.8% respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions between aripiprazole and tiapride groups and no severe adverse events were found in either group.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that aripiprazole showed similar therapeutic effect to tiapride in treatment of children with Tourette syndrome. Aripiprazole was safe and well tolerated in Chinese population, and can be considered as a new valid option for the treatment of tic disorders.

Adolescent ; Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aripiprazole ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Quinolones ; therapeutic use ; Tiapamil Hydrochloride ; therapeutic use ; Tourette Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of Ezrin in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma and investigate the effects of Ezrin gene silence on cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC)-M.

METHODSThe expression of Ezrin was detected by immunohistochemistry in normal salivary gland tissue (n=15), pleomorphic adenoma (n=40) and salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma (n=43). The Ezrin Stealth RNAi Duplex, containing Stealth RNAi Negative Control Duplex were constructed and transfected into ACC-M cells by Lipofectamine 2000. The expression levels of Ezrin were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The cell cycle and apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). The cell proliferation was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and cell invasion by Transwell test.

RESULTSThe positive rate of Ezrin expression in ACC was significantly higher than that in normal salivary gland tissue and pleomorphic adenoma (P<0.05). After transfection of Ezrin Stealth RNAi Duplex, the mRNA and protein expression of Ezrin were down-regulated, the cell proliferation activity was inhibited, the G0-G1 Phase cells were increased, and the apoptosis rate of Ezrin Stealth RNAi Duplex group was higher than that in control groups and cell invasion ability was decreased.

CONCLUSIONSOver expression of Ezrin in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma may promote genesis, development and metastasis of tumors. Ezrin Stealth RNAi Duplex could efficiently down-regulate the expression of Ezrin gene, and partly inhibited proliferation of ACC-M cells, induce apoptosis and decrease invasion ability of these cells in vitro.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

Objective: To investigate reciprocal regulation between Fur and two RyhB homologs in Methods: Regulatory relationships were assessed by a combination of colony morphology assay, primer extension, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNase I footprinting. Results: Fur bound to the promoter-proximal DNA regions of Conclusion Fur and the two RyhB homologs exert negative reciprocal regulation, and RyhB homologs have a positive regulatory effect on biofilm formation in
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism* ; Biofilms ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology* ; Yersinia pestis/physiology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism and re-ablation strategy of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) following circumferential ablation of pulmonary veins (PV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSFifteen patients with recurrent ATA following first AF ablation procedure were included in this study. Under CARTO guidance, PVs were remapped and ablated subsequently for relapse of left atrium to PV conduction. The whole atrium was then remapped and individualized ablation was made to eliminate inducible ATA.

RESULTSLeft atrium to PV conduction relapses were evidenced in 14 patients. After re-ablation, there were no inducible ATA in 9 patients, inducible left atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 3 patients and all were terminated by further linear ablation on the roof and left atrial isthmus, inducible atrial focal tachycardia from left atrial isthmus in 1 patient and was eliminated after additional focal ablation, inducible right atrial macro-reentry tachycardia in 2 patients and were eliminated by right isthmus linear ablation. During 1 - 16 (5.5 +/- 4.4) months follow-up, ATA was disappeared in 13 patients and reduced in another 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONSRelapse of left atrium to PV conduction is one of the main mechanisms for postablation ATA in patients with AF. Atrial macro-reentry tachycardia and focal atrial tachycardia were less common mechanisms for postablation ATA. Re-ablation focused on closing the PV gaps and additional individualized focal and lineal ablation strategies were helpful for treating postablation ATA in AF patients.

Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Heart Atria ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; etiology ; prevention & control