There have been many methods to prepare fluoroquinolones-loaded sustained-release chitosan microspheres, including precipitation, emulsion crosslinking, spray-drying, and ionic gelation. Each of them has its own merits and disadvantages, but the mechanisms underlying drug delivery are basically similar. The prepared drug microspheres can enhance the capacity of anti-fluoroquinolones-resistant bacteria and are primarily used in the anti-inflammation and anti-infection. This paper introduces the preparation methods and sustained drug delivery mechanisms of fluoroquinolones-loaded sustained-release chitosan microspheres and investigates drug delivery characteristics and applications by analyzing, sorting, and summarizing related manuscripts published recently. Fluoroquinolones-loaded sustained-release chitosan microspheres show satisfactory sustained-release and anti-bacterial properties. Therefore, it is of important scientific research and clinical application significance to develop fluoroquinolones-loaded sustained-release nanometer-sized chitosan microspheres.

Objective To study the quality standard of different specifications of Frutus Aurantii Immaturus. Methods The contents of synephrine, volatile oil, total ash, acid- insoluble ash and water in different specifications of Frutus Aurantii Immaturus were determined by HPLC or other methods according the china pharmacopoeia. Results The contents of volatile oil and synephrine in different specifications of Frutus Aurantii Immaturus were obviously different, and in accordance with empirically traditional classification. The contents of the total ash, acid- insoluble ash and water were similar in the different specifications and the total ash content was lower than 7 % which was in accordance with that recorded in China Pharmacopoeia.Conclusion Volatile oil, acid- insoluble ash, water and synephrine with a definite content limit can be chosen as the parameters for the research of quality standard of Frutus Aurantii Immaturus, which will supply evidence for the medicinal trade and research of Frutus Aurantii Immaturus.

Chitosan microsphere containing fluoroquinolones is a kind of novel sustained-released antibacterial agent that possesses the antibacterial and bacteriostatic property of chitosan as well as bactericidal properties of fluoroquinolones. Loading fluoroquinolones in the chitosan microsphere can greatly enhance its antibacterial, bactericidal, anti-inflammation and anti-infection characteristics. This paper reviewes the recent study on different preparation methods of chitosan mierosphere containing fluoroqninolones and discusses its applications.

Objective To explore the imaging features on chest radiograph and CT in children with Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia. Methods The imaging data of chest radiograph and CT in six children with Influenza A H1N1 pneumonia confirmed by real-time RT-PCR assay was retrospectively analysis. All patients had chest radiograph at first examination and 4 of them re-examed. One children took CT. Results All cases showed thick lung markings with varied degrees of pulmonary infiltration and interstitial changes on chest radiograph. Among them, 3 cases showed bilateral pulmonary infiltration and 3 cases showed infiltration in left lung; enlarged hilar was observed in 3 cases. The imaging findings of the pneumonia changed quickly during the follow-up accompanied with the improvement of clinical symptoms. The only one chest CT examination showed bilateral infiltration, multiple ground-glass opacities,small subpleural nodulars, right pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy of lung hila and mediastinum. Conclusions Chest radiograph and CT revealed certain typical imaging features in the children with influenza A H1N1 pneumonia. However, the final diagnosis of influenza A H1N1 pneumonia still should be made based on epidemiology and laboratory examination.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of combined electroacupuncture and nerve growth factor (NGF) injection at acupoints in the treatment of common fibular nerve paralysis and provide evidences for integrative Chinese & western medicine against diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: Forty subjects were randomized into two groups and NGF injection; and control group was given herbal suffocation, oral Dibazol and compound vitamin B and Mecobalamin Injection. The clinical symptoms and nerve conduction velocity were observed and compared. Results: The cure rate was higher in treatment group than in control group (P<0.05); after treatment, the nerve conduction velocity was improved in both groups (P<0.01), with a significant improvement in treatment group than in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combined electro-acupuncture and NGF injection at acupoints is quite effective in the treatment of common fibular nerve paralysis.

Objective To identify predictors of prescription initiation and persistence of warfarin in non-valvular atrial fibrillation ( NVAF ) patients with high risk of stroke ( CHA2 DS2-VASc≥2 ) . Methods NVAF patients consulted in our hospital from Aug , 2011 to Apr, 2015 were enrolled.Patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation were excluded . Patients were divided into two groups (warfarin group and non-warfarin group).Logistic regression was used to estimate the predictors of initiation warfarin prescription.Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine rate of warfarin persistence and its associated factors .Results A total of 622 AF patients were enrolled and 490 patients with CHA2DS2-VASc≥2.Ten patients lost follow up and 480 patients were followed up with a mean follow-up period of ( 40.0 ±11.55 ) months.Of which 245 NVAF patients ( 51%) had a warfarin prescription.Patients with ischemic stroke ( OR 2.447 , 95%CI 1.435-4.171 , P=0.001 ) , heart failure ( OR 2.009 , 95%CI 1.084-3.724 , P=0.027 ) and persistent AF ( OR 2.231 , 95%CI 1.448-3.437 , P=0.0001 ) had a higher likelihood of warfarin prescription .Anemia ( OR 0.479 , 95%CI 0.238-0.964 , P=0.039), concommitant Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use (OR 0.638, 95%CI 0.456-0.891, P=0.008 ) and longer distance to hospital ( OR 0.759 , 95%CI 0.610-0.945 , P=0.014 ) decreased the likelihood of warfarin prescription . One hundred and seventy-six ( 71.8%) warfarin users continued persistent therapy and the overall proportion of warfarin persistence was 78.3% for one year , 71.0% for 3 years.Seventy-six existing warfarin users continued the warfarin therapy (80%, 76/95),one hundred new users showed persistence to therapy ( 66.7%, 100/150 ) .Warfarin use before enrollment significantly increased warfarin persistence than new prescription ( P =0.008 ) .Variables associated with higher discontinuation were new prescription ( HR 1.786 , 95% CI 1.029-3.100 , P=0.039 ) , TCM use ( HR 1.687 , 95%CI 1.201-2.37 , P=0.003 ) and longer distance to hospital ( HR 1.446 , 95% CI 1.121-1.865, P=0.005).Conclusions In anticoagulation clinic, concommitant TCM use, distance to hospital and other factors were associated with warfarin initiation prescription and persistence .Identifying factors associated with warfarin treatment could help in developing adherence of patients .

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is a world-wide used herbicide and also a type of common poison for suicide and accidental poisoning. Numerous studies have proved that the concentration of serum PQ plays an important role in prognosis. Spectrophotometry, including common spectrophotometry and second-derivative spectrophotometry, is commonly used for PQ detection in primary hospitals. So far, lack of systematic research on the reliability of the method and the correlation between clinical features of patients with PQ poisoning and the test results has restricted the clinical use of spectrophotometry. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and value of spectrophotometry in detecting the concentration of serum PQ. METHODS: The wavelengths for detecting the concentration of serum PQ by common and second-derivative spectrophotometry were determined. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was applied to detect the concentration of serum PQ. The linear range and precision for detection of PQ concentration by this method were confirmed. The concentration of serum PQ shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry and HPLC were compared in 8 patients with PQ poisoning. Altogether 21 patients with acute poisoning 4 hours after PQ ingestion treated in the period of October 2008 to September 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into higher and lower than 1.8 μg/mL groups based on their concentrations of serum PQ measured by second-derivative spectrophotometry on admission. The severity of clinical manifestations between the two groups were analyzed with Student's t test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The absorption peak of 257 nm could not be found when common spectrophotometry was used to detect the PQ concentration in serum. The calibration curve in the 0.4–8.0 μg/mL range for PQ concentration shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry obeyed Beer's law with r=0.996. The average recovery rates of PQ were within a range of 95.0％ to 99.5％, relative standard deviation (RSD) was within 1.35％ to 5.41％ (n=6), and the lower detection limit was 0.05 μg/mL. The PQ concentrations in serum of 8 patients with PQ poisoning shown by second-derivative spectrophotometry were consistent with the quantitative determinations by HPLC (r=0.995, P<0.0001). The survival rate was 22.2％ in patients whose PQ concentration in serum was more than 1.8 μg/mL, and the incidences of acidosis, oliguria and pneumomediastinum in these patients were 55.6％, 55.6％and 77.8％, respectively. These clinical manifestations were different significantly from those of the patients whose PQ concentration in serum was less than 1.8 μg/mL (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For common spectrophotometry, the wavelength at 257 nm was not suitable for detecting serum PQ as no absorbance was shown. Second-derivative spectrophotometry was reliable for detecting serum paraquat concentration. Serum PQ concentration detected by second-derivative spectrophotometry could be used to predict the severity of clinical manifestations of patients with PQ poisoning, and PQ content higher than 1.8 μg/mL 4 hours after ingestion could be an important predictive factor for poor prognosis.

AIM: To analyze the difference of endonuclease domain containing 1 (ENDOD1) expression be-tween benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) tissues and prostate cancer ( PCa ) tissues and to investigate the effect of ENDOD1 on the biological function of human prostate cancer cells .METHODS: The BPH samples ( n=20 ) and PCa samples (n=21) were processed and analyzed according to the instruction of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.The mRNA and protein levels of ENDOD 1 in the normal prostate epithelial cells and prostate cancer cells were evaluated by RT -qPCR and Western blot , respectively .The recombinant plasmids pCMV-N-Flag-ENDOD1 was constructed and was trans-fected into the human prostate cancer cells .The proliferation , apoptosis , migration and invasion abilities of the prostate cancer cells were evaluated by MTT assay , flow cytometry, Transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assays , respectively. RESULTS:The analysis of variance of the immunoreactivity score showed that PCa tissues with high Gleason score dis -played significantly lower ENDOD1expression than that with low Gleason score and BPH (P<0.05).The expression of ENDOD1 at mRNA and protein levels in PC3 cells and DU145 cells was significantly lower than that in the LNCap cells (P<0.05).The proliferation of DU145 transfected with ENDOD1 was inhibited.The flow cytometry indicated that ENDOD1 over-expression in the DU145 cells resulted in a notable increase in G0/G1 phase arrest (P<0.05), but the ap-optotic rates showed no statistical difference .The results of Transwell assay showed that migration and invasion abilities of the cells were also inhibited after transfection with over-expressing ENDOD1 plasmid (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The expression of ENDOD1 significantly decreased in prostate cancer with high Gleaon score .Meanwhile, the ENDOD1 is spe-cifically down-regulated in androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC) cell lines.Over-expression of ENDOD1 remark-ably inhibits the proliferation , migration and invasion abilities of AIPC .

Objective To investigate the characteristics of spinal MR images in acute flaccid paralysis(AFP) associated with enterevirus 71 infected hand-foot-mouth disease.Methods The spinal MR images of eight infants with AFP and positive EV71 cultures were analyzed during an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease in China in 2008.Results Acute paralysis was observed in one lower limb in 4 of the 8 patients,in four limbs in 2 patients,in one upper limb and both lower limbs in 1 patient,2 of the 8 patients also had brain stem encephalitis.Lesions were identified in anterior horn regions of spinal cord with hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and hypointensity on T1-weighted images.Location of the lesions included C3 to C7(1 case),T10 extending to conus medullaris(5 cases)and a combination of the above (2 cases).Five of the 8 patients presented with unilateral paralysis.Two of the 5 cases showed unilateral hyperintense lesions in anterior horn regions and the remaining 3 cases showed bilateral hyperintense lesions in anterior horn regions with a unilateral predominance.One of the 3 patients with bilateral lesions showed slight enhancement of anterior horn with prominent enhancement of ventral roots after intravenous injections of contrast medium.Three of the 8 patients with bilateral paralysis showed bilateral hyperintensity in both anterior horn regions.Conclusion MR is the imaging medality of choice for the detection of radiculomyelitis of AFP associated with EV71 infection.

Puerariae Lobatae Radix, also known as Gegen, is a root derived from Pueraria lobata. Based on field investigation and the developmental anatomy of root tuber, we have elucidated the relationship between the growth of root tuber and the anomalous structure. The results of analysis showed that the root system of P. lobata was developed from seed and adventitious root and there existed root tuber, adventitious root and conductive root according to morphology and function. The root tuber was developed from adventitious root, its secondary structure conformed to the secondary structure of dicotyledon's root. With the development of root, the secondary phloem of root tuber appeared abnormal vascular tissue, which was distributed like ring in the outside of secondary vascular tissue. The root tuber might have 4-6 concentric circular permutation abnormal vascular tissuelobate, and was formed by the internal development of abnormal vascular tissue. The xylem and phloem of abnormal vascular tissue were the main body of the root tuber. The results reveal the abnormal anatomical structure development of P. lobata, also provides the theoretical basis for reasonable harvest medicinal parts and promoting sustainable utilization of resources of P. lobata.
Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Plant Tubers ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Pueraria ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development