Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Fluorescence enhancement reaction of flavoxate hydrochloride (FX) in strong alkali solution was studied, the mechanism of the reaction was investigated, and a novel fluorimetric method for analysis of FX in drug sample was established. FX has no intrinsic fluorescence, but it can slowly produce fluorescence in strong alkali solution. Heating can promote the fluorescence enhancement reaction. In 3D fluorescence spectra of the decomposition product of FX, two fluorescence peaks, located respectively at excitation wavelengths λex/ emission wavelength λem =223/410 nm, and 302/410 nm, were observed. Using quinine sulfate as a reference, fluorescence quantum yield of the decomposition product was measured to be 0.50. The structural characteriza- tion and spectral analysis of the decomposition product reveal that ester bond hydrolysis reaction of FX is firstly occurred during heating process, forming 3-methylflavone-8-carboxylic acid (MFA), then a cleavage reaction of the γ-pyrone ring of MFA occurred, producing α, β-unsaturated ketone. This product includes adjacent hydroxyl benzoic acid group in its molecule, which can form intramolecular hydrogen bond under alkaline condition, so that increase the conjugate degree and enhance the rigidity of the molecule, and thereby cause fluorescence enhancement. Based on this fluorescence enhancement reaction, a fluorimetric method was proposed for the determination of FX. A linear calibration curve covered the concentration range 0.020 3-0.487 µg · mL. The regression equation was I(F) = 23.9 + 5357.3 c, with correlation coefficient r = 0.999 7 (n = 8), detection limit D = 1.1 ng · mL(-1). The method was applied to the analysis of FX tablets, with a spiked recovery rate of 100.2%. The reliability of the method was verified by a UV-spectrophotometric method.
Alkalies ; Calibration ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Flavoxate ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Fluorescence ; Limit of Detection ; Reproducibility of Results ; Solutions ; Tablets

Background Scarring of the filtering bleb is a main cause of filtering surgical failure in glaucoma.It has been reposed that tetrandrine could suppress the proliferation of cultured human fibroblast of Tenons capsule in vitro and thus has the potential effect to prevent scarring after the filtering surgery. Objective Present study was to investigate the anti-cicatricial effect of tetrandrine drug delivery system(Tet DDS)during filtration surgery. Methods Filtration surgery was performed in bilateral eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits.The Tet DDS with 0.3 mg Tet,0.2 mg Tet or free-Tet were implanted subcunjunctially during the surgery.The filtering blebs were scored in 1 day,4,7,10,14 days after referring to the corneal thickness and bleb range under the slit-lamp biomicroscopy.The morphology of filtering bleb was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy in 7 and 14 days after operation.The filtering bleb specimen was prepared in 7 and 14 days for the histopathological examination. Results The filtering bleb scores in Tet DDS implantation groups were significantly higher than those in free-Tet DDS group from 4 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.01),and the scores showed a considerably increase in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group compared with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group from 7 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.05).The filtering blebs of Tet DDS implantation groups were found with distinct subepithelial cystic spaces under the light microscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy on the 7th day and 14th day after surgery.Compared with free-Tet DDS group,the numbers of subepithelial mierocysts were much more(P＜0.01)and the area of microcysts was larger(P＜0.01)in Tet DDS group.The filtering tissue presented with more subepithelial microcysts and larger microcysts range in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group than 0.2 mg Tet DDS group in 7 and 14 days after operation(P＜0.05).The inflammatory cell infiltration wag milder in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group in comparison with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group and free-Ted DDS group.Conclusion Tet DDS has strong inhibitory effects on inflammatory cells activity and fibroblagt activity the early stage after filtering surgery and therefore improve the surgery success rate.

A simple and cost-effective indirect competitive enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was developed to rapidly screen the content of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in lotus seeds, and the results were confirmed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry( UFLC-MS/MS). Matrix-matched calibration expressed a good linearity ranging from 0. 171 to 7. 25 µg · L(-1) for AFB, with R2 > 0.978. The medium inhibitory concentration( IC50 ) for AFB1 was 1.29 µg · L(-1), the recovery for AFB1 was 74.73% to 126.9% with RSD < 5%, and the limit of detection (IC10) was 0.128 µg · L(-1). The developed ic-ELSIA method was applied to rapid analysis of AFB, in 20 lotus seeds samples and the results indicated that the contents of AFB, in samples 1-15 were in the range of 1. 19- 115. 3 µg · kg(-1) and in 40% of the samples exceeded the legal limit(5 µg · kg(-1)), while the contamination rate of AFB, in samples 16-20 was 40%. Pearson correlation coefficient(r) reached 0.997 for AFB1 content in the samples detected by ic-ELSIA and UFLC-MS/MS methods. The results proved that the developed ic-ELISA method is simple, sensitive and reliable, and can be used for rapid and high-throughput screening of AFB1 in lotus seeds
Aflatoxin B1 ; analysis ; Drug Contamination ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To access application value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) in investigation the coronary artery disease (CAD), and to explore the effective way of virtual autopsy to evaluate the sudden death due to CAD. METHODS: Nine cases of sudden cardiac death were collected to analyze MSCT before the autopsy. The quantitative analysis of the degree of coronary artery calcium was made by Agatston's method. The CACS of all the subjects were calculated based on the diagnostic criteria for CAD, in which calcium scoring was more than 400. The results of CACS were compared with that of the autopsy. RESULTS: Only 2 cases got the high calcium scoring which were more than 400 in the 9 cases died of CAD confirmed by the autopsy. The prediction rate of CACS for CAD was only 22.2%. Pulmonary edema of different severity was found in both autopsy and MSCT. There was a higher morbidity rate in the left anterior descending of coronary artery than the other branches. CONCLUSION Obvious calcification of coronary artery can be detected by MSCT and calculating CACS. To detect subtle calcification needs other technologies such as postmortem angiography.
Autopsy ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Death, Sudden/pathology* ; Humans ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/methods* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Vascular Calcification/diagnostic imaging*

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral ; Genome, Viral ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phylogeny

Objective: To discuss the application principle in tuina manipulation for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) in Chinese literatures published in recent 30 years. Methods: The three major Chinese databases, Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched to collect the studies of tuina manipulations in treatment of LIDH published in recent 30 years. Clustering analysis was applied to analyze the top 20 tuina manipulations for LIDH. Results: The top 20 most frequently used manipulations for LIDH were Gun-rolling, Rou-kneading, Dian-digital pressing, oblique Ban-pulling, An-pressing, Tanbo-plucking, Bashen-pulling and extending, horizontal Tui-pushing, Na-grasping, Anrou-pressing and kneading, Dou-shaking, Yao-rocking, Ca-scrubbing, Pai-patting, post-extension Ban-pulling, Mo-rubbing, Zhen-vibrating, Nie-pinching, fist-back Ji-tapping, and dorsal Shen-extending methods. The involved manipulations can be divided into two categories by the treated body areas. One category is applied to the soft tissues, including Gun-rolling, Rou-kneading, Dian-digital pressing, An-pressing, Tanbo-plucking, horizontal Tui-pushing, Na-grasping, Anrou-pressing and kneading, Ca-scrubbing, Pai-patting, Mo-rubbing, Zhen-vibrating, Nie-pinching, and fist-back Ji-tapping methods. The other category is applied to bones and joints, including oblique Ban-pulling, Bashen-pulling and extending, Dou-shaking, Yao-rocking, post-extension Ban-pulling, and dorsal Shen-extending methods. Conclusion: Based on the treated body area, the tuina manipulations applied to treat LIDH are predominated by the ones performed on soft tissues, assisted by those on bones and joints. From the way of force exertion, the involved manipulations are majorly the swinging methods, followed by squeezing and pressing ones. The manipulations applied to bones and joints are predominated by the Ban-pulling ones, followed by the Bashen-pulling and extending ones.

Introduction:The properties of a tumor itself were considered the main factors determining the survival of patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). However, recurrent tumors were mainly evaluated by using the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, which was modeled on primary tumors and did not incorporate the tumor volume. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic values of the primary tumor location and tumor volume, and to determine whether evaluating these parameters could improve the current staging system. Methods:Magnetic resonance (MR) images for 229 patients with local y recurrent NPC who underwent IMRT were analyzed retrospectively. Results:The skul base, parapharyngeal space, and intracranial cavity were the most common sites of tumors. There was a difference in the survival between patients with T1 and T2 diseases (77.6%vs. 50.0%, P<0.01) and those with T3 and T4 diseases (33.0%vs. 18.0%, P=0.04) but no difference between patients with T2 and T3 diseases (50.0%vs. 33.0%, P=0.18). Patients with a tumor volume≤38 cm3 had a significantly higher survival rate compared with those with a tumor volume>38 cm3 (48.7%vs. 15.2%, P<0.01). Conclusions:A new staging system has been proposed, with T3 tumors being down-staged to T2 and with the tumor volume being incorporated into the staging, which may lead to an improved evaluation of these tumors. This new system can be used to guide the treatment strategy for different risk groups of recurrent NPC.

OBJECTIVETo establish an experimental model of HCV C-HBV X co-expression protein and explore its effect on the expression of VEGF.

METHODSThe HBV X gene was recovered by enzyme excision and inserted into PBK-CMV and PBK-HCVC, and recombinant plasmids PBK-X and PBK-X-C were constructed. The plasmids PBK-CMV, PBK-X, PBK-HCVC and PBK-X-C were transfected into HepG2 cells with liposomes. After being selected by G418, resistant colonies were obtained. Reverse transcription PCR and Western blot were used to show HBV X and HCV core protein expression. VEGF was analyzed using immunohistochemical methods and Western blot.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid PBK-X-C expressed HBV X and HCV core protein efficiently under the control of the vectors promoter. VEGF and VEGF mRNA of the cells co-expressing HCV C-HBV X proteins were higher than those cells expressing HBV X, HCV C and vector alone.

CONCLUSIONHBV X-HCV C co-expression protein can increase the expression of VEGF of HepG2 cells. It suggests that HBV and HCV have a synergic action in the carcinogenesis.

Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Viral Core Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSSeventy-one HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. Lamivudine was administered to 35 patients for 48 weeks, sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN alpha-2b to 24 of the 71 patients for 48 weeks, and interferon alpha (IFN alpha-2b) was administered to 12 for 24 weeks. All subjects were followed-up for 24 weeks. Serum HBV DNA, intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA were measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSForty-eight weeks of sequential lamivudine-IFN alpha-therapy and lamivudine monotherapy and 24 weeks of IFN alpha monotherapy reduced the intrahepatic HBV DNA to (4.7+/-1.1) log10, (4.6+/-1.5) log10 and (5.6+/-1.5) log10, and cccDNA to (3.4+/-1.3) log10, (3.8+/-1.1) log10 and (5.0+/-1.5) log10, significantly lower than therapy (P < 0.05). Seventeen of the 71 patients developed HBeAg seroconversion, and the reduction of cccDNA in the HBeAg seroconverted patients was significantly more than that of the HBeAg positive patients (P < 0.05). After 24 weeks of antiviral therapy withdrawal, 18 patients achieved sustained virological response, and the baseline intrahepatic cccDNA in the patients with sustained virological response was significantly lower than that of patients with virological rebound (P < 0.05). The change in intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the reduction in intrahepatic HBV DNA (P < 0.05). The cccDNA levels correlated with the serum HBeAg titers at the end of the treatment (P < 0.01). Of the total 71 cases, HBV genotype C accounted for 85.9% (n = 61), and genotype B for 14.1% (n = 10). There was no significant difference in the changes of intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA levels between HBV genotypes C and B (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth 48 weeks of sequential lamivudine-IFN alpha and lamivudine monotherapy strongly reduced intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA more than 24 weeks of IFN alpha monotherapy. Low baseline intrahepatic cccDNA levels might predict a good long-term efficacy of antiviral treatment. The reduction of intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the changes of intrahepatic HBV DNA, and intrahepatic cccDNA levels correlated with serum HBeAg titers. HBV genotypes had no obvious influence on intrahepatic HBV DNA load or cccDNA load.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Circular ; DNA, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; Young Adult