To determine Pb level in blood, we usually used to pull out about 5ml blood from venous vessel and this sample was digested with acids to decompose organic matter and then determined the Pb contents by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with flame. But recent trend in quan titating Pb in small amount of sample is very much recommended in clinical chemistry specially pediatrics, and industrial hygiene and occupational health area. Authors tried to determine Pb contents in small amount blood of 25 microliter by using capillary tube method and got the possibility of determination of ng amount of Pb in 25yl whole blood sample without any pretreatment of sample.
Absorption* ; Capillaries ; Chemistry, Clinical ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers* ; Occupational Health ; Pediatrics

BACKGROUND: To prevent complications of diabetes mellitus, diabetic patients should test blood glucose level frequently. In these days, glucometers are widely used for self-monitoring and many kinds of products are introduced. We performed the present study to evaluate the performance of glucophone (GlucoPack(TM), Infopia Co. Ltd., Anyang, Korea) as a point-of-care testing glucometer. METHODS: Glucometers including glucophone and Finetest(TM) (Infopia Co. Ltd., Anyang, Korea) were evaluated for precision, linearity, and accuracy. The interpersonal variation by different operators, reagent stability, comparison capillary blood with venous blood, and user acceptability were also evaluated. RESULTS: Glucophone and Finetest glucometer showed excellent precisions wtih less than 5% of CVs of within-run and total precision. Linearity was also satisfactory from 24 to 517 mg/dL for glucophone and Finetest glucometer. Comparison with routine chemistry autoanalyzer, TBA-200FR showed close concordance over the entire range of evaluated concentrations (y = 0.8397x + 3.8351, x = TBA-200FR, y=glucophone, R2=0.9523). There were no significant changes in test results during exposure period at room temperature after opening the reagents. Generally random users expressed high satisfaction to glucophone with the exception of complicated operating method. CONCLUSION: Glucophone showed excellent precision, linearity, and correlation with the reference method. Because POCT glucometers are influenced by operator and multiple external factors, it is important that users recognize interfering factors and preservation conditions of test strips. It is hoped that glucophone is a good POCT glucose meter by establishment continuous quality control system and improvement of operation.
Blood Glucose ; Capillaries ; Chemistry ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hope ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Quality Control

Capillaries ; Cells, Cultured ; Down-Regulation ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leptin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ophiopogon ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanisms of baicalin on anti-cerebral ischemic through observing the effect of baicalin on human brain microvascular endothelial cell under the glucose deprivation combined with hypoxia condition.

METHODSHuman brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVECs) cultured in vitro were divided into the following groups: normal group, model group, baicalin high dose group, baicalin middle dose group, baicalin low dose group, nimodipine group. The kits were used to detect the cell viability, leakage rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase, the concentration of Ca2+ in each group, and apoptosis rates of each group were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the cell viability, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase in model group decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But the leakage rate of LDH, Ca2+ in cells and apoptosis rates increased remarkably (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the cell viability, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-ATPase increased obviously (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) in baicalin high dose group. But the leakage rate of LDH and Ca2+ in cells in baicalin high dose group decreased significantly comparing with that of model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). And the reduction of intracellular Ca2+ was superior to that of nimodipine group. Meanwhile, the apoptosis rates decreased significantly in both baicalin high and middle dose groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBaicalin could improve the cell viability of HBMVECs under the glucose deprivation combined with hypoxia condition. And the mechanisms were related with improving the energy metabolism, inhibiting intracellular calcium overload and decreasing the apoptosis rate of cells further.

Apoptosis ; Brain ; blood supply ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Capillaries ; cytology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Humans

To investigate effects of collagen matrices by covalent incorporation of heparin and loading with huangqi injection (HI) on anagenetic capillaries, we established the chick chorioallantois model. The collagen matrices by covalent incorporation of heparin and loading with HI were placed and then the eggs were continuously incubated for 3 days. The number of capillaries in the vicinity of samples, the hemoglobin content inside the samples, the dry weight and the macroscopic observation were evaluated. We found the heparinized matrices had comparable angiogenic effects. The number of capillaries, the hemoglobin content, the expression of CD34 increased remarkably (P < 0.01). So we concluded that HI might be considered as an alternative or addition agent to promote the acidification of capillaries.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; drug effects ; physiology ; Capillaries ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chick Embryo ; Collagen ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Heparin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Injections

In human medicine, diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is usually based on measurement of capillary 3-beta-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) with a hand held ketone sensor. This study was conducted to determine if measurement of capillary 3-HB could be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of canine DKA. Fifteen dogs with diabetic ketosis and 10 with DKA were evaluated. Paired measurements of 3-HB of capillary and venous blood samples were analysed by the electrochemical sensor and reference method. Use of capillary 3-HB measurement during DKA management was then evaluated through simultaneous measurements of capillary 3-HB, urinary AcAc and venous blood gas analysis. Good agreement between capillary and venous 3-HB measurement was detected by the electrochemical sensor and reference method. Monitoring treatment of DKA revealed a significant correlation between capillary 3-HB and acidosis markers, while no significant correlation was observed between AcAc and acidosis markers. A cut-off value of capillary blood 3-HB >3.8 mmol/L for diagnosis of DKA resulted in 70% and 92% sensitivity and specificity. The electrochemical sensor accurately measures 3-HB concentration in both capillary and venous blood samples, is accurate in diagnosing canine DKA, and appears to reflect the patient's metabolic status during DKA treatment.
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid/blood/*diagnostic use ; Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis/standards/*veterinary ; Blood Specimen Collection/instrumentation/*veterinary ; Capillaries/chemistry ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis/diagnosis/therapy/*veterinary ; Dog Diseases/*diagnosis/therapy ; Dogs ; Electrochemical Techniques/instrumentation/*veterinary

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The basic principle of microdialysis is to mimic the function of a capillary blood vessel by perfusing physiologic liquid implanted into the target tissue. Amino acids are supposed to have functions for controlling the homeostasis of normal nasal mucosa and a role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. However, no studies have been conducted about the existence of amino acids in the nasal cavity. This study measures the concentration of 19 amino acids found in the nasal cavity of normal control and experimentally allergy-induced animal model in order to evaluate the difference in the concentration of amino acids between normal and allergic nasal mucosa. MATERIALS AND METHOD: An experimentally induced nasal allergy model was developed by intraperitoneal and intranasal sensitization with ovalbumin in Dunkin-Hartely guinea pigs according to a programmed protocol. A microdialysis probe was designed to be suitable to nasal mucosa using a Cuprophan hollow fiber (200 micrometer inner diameter, 300 micrometer outer diameter, 45 kDa molecular weight cut-off, Fitral, AN 69-HF). After verification of the probe, microdialysis was performed in the inferior turbinate submucosa of normal control (N=8) and experimental (N=8) groups. The concentration of 19 amino acids was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Statistical analysis was performed using a student t-test. RESULTS: All 19 amino acids were validated at various concentrations in the nasal cavity. Glutamate (p=0.036) and GABA (p<0.001) concentrations were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: The 19 amino acids measured existed in the nasal cavity at various concentrations, and the concentrations of glutamate and GABA were significantly higher in the allergy group than in the control group. The microdialysis technique is a powerful tool not only to measure endogenous substances for target organ chemistry but also to pharmacokinetically evaluate exogenous drug delivery processes in the nasal cavity.
Amino Acids ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Capillaries ; Chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Glutamic Acid ; Guinea Pigs ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Microdialysis* ; Models, Animal ; Molecular Weight ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Ovalbumin ; Rhinitis ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND: This clinical trial was performed to evaluate the hemodynamic and side effects of enoximone, a newly developed phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in moderately severe congestive heart failure in Korean population and to base the development of long acting oral preparations in the future. METHODS: Principal admission criteria for this trial were a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 45% by radionuclide ventriculography, NYHA functional class II or III and a documented congestive cardiomyopathy. Exclusion criteria were restrictive cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, multisystemic lillness and uncontrolled ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The hemodynamic measurements were made by using the thermodilution Swan-Ganz catheter and radial arterial canulation. Enoximone was administered(continuous infusion) for 24 hours after initial bolus. The hemodynamic parameters to be observed were blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance. The clinical reponse, hematology, blood chemistry, and Holter monitoring were checked before and after enoximone trial. RESULTS: The following results are obtained. 1) The included patients were 15 females, 24 males, total 39 patients and mean age of 55.3 years old(28-70 years old). 2) The causes of congestive cardiomyopathy were idiopathic 35(89.9%), hypertensive 3(7.7%), and alcoholic 1(2.6%). 3) The mean ejection fraction measured by radionuclide left ventriculography were 28. 6%. 4) THe cardiac output was significantly increased(50%), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(38%), systemic vascular resistance(34%), pulmonary vascular resistance(27%) were significantly decreased during enoximone infusion. 5) NYHA Functional Class was improved by 1 step with enoximone. 6) There were no significant changes in hematology, blood chemistry, and Holter monitoring with enoximone. CONCLUSION: From the above results, the short term intravenous enoximone was very effective in moderately severe congestive heart failure in congestive cardiomyopathy without major adverse effects in Korean.
Alcoholics ; Blood Pressure ; Capillaries ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Catheters ; Chemistry ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Enoximone* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Female ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Rate ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hematology ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Radionuclide Ventriculography ; Stroke Volume ; Tachycardia ; Thermodilution ; Vascular Resistance