BACKGROUND: In this study, we attempted to find the relations between blood pressure (BP) measured on the brachial artery (bBP) and BP assessed on the radial artery (rBP) in the right arm. METHODS: Three hundred and fifteen patients were enrolled in this study. Those who had peripheral vascular disease, wounds of arm skin or subcutaneous tissue infection were excluded. After a 15-minute equilibration and stabilization period after inducation of anesthesia, three bBP and rBP records were obtained sequentially using an oscillometric device with an adult cuff and infant cuff, respectively. Order for each BP was randomized. RESULTS: The bBP was significantly lower than the rBP (P<0.05). The difference between the two values varied from 13 to 18 mmHg in systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and mean blood pressure (MAP) respectively. And the rBP was positively correlated with the bBP (r=0.872, 0.754, 0.765; P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001; SBP, DBP, MAP, respectively). CONCLUSION: The bBP value can be evaluated by the noninvasive measurements of rBP using an appropriate cuff in clinical practice.

To analyze the constituents in supercritical fluid CO2 extraction (SFE-CO2) of Radix caulophylli, the Radix caulophylli was extracted with SFE-CO2, and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis with a DB-5MS capillary column (30 mm x 0.32 mm ID, 0.25 microm film thickness) was used. The inlet temperature was maintained at 280 degrees C. The column oven was held at 80 degrees C for 2 min, then programmed from 80 to 280 degrees C at 5 degrees C x min(-1) and, finally, held for 4 min. Helium at a constant flow rate of 2.0 mL x min(-1) was used as the carrier gas. The mass spectrometry conditions were as follows: ionization energy, 70 eV; ion source temperature, 200 degrees C. The mass selective detector was operated in the TIC mode (m/z was from 40 - 500). For the first time 49 peaks were separated and identified, the compounds were quantitatively determined by normalization method, and the identified compounds represent 97.44% of total GC peak areas. Viz, n-hexadecanoic acid (31.4%), (E, E) -9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (26.54%), (Z)-7-tetradecenal (9.4%), hexadecenoic acid (3.23%), 10-undecenal (3.22%), octadecanoic acid (2.25%), and caulophylline (1.76%) etc. The results will provide important foundation for understanding the constituents and further exploitation of Radix caulophylli.
Carbon Dioxide ; Caulophyllum ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Linoleic Acid ; analysis ; Palmitic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the clinical features of patients at early stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSFifty-three cases of early SARS were studied retrospectively. The data reviewed included those of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory investigation and roentgenology.

RESULTSThe patients consisted of 24 men and 29 women, aged 10.85 years (mean 38+/-16.7 years), including 9 infected health-care professionals (17.0%). The mean incubation period was 7.3+/-7.0 days (3.14 days). The onset symptoms were characterized by fever (100%), cough (49.1%), maylgia (24.5%), shortness of breath (20.8%), malaise (17.0%),and diarrhea (5.7%). Routine blood test during the first to the fifth day of the disease revealed WBCs less than 4.0x10(9) /L in 33 patients (62.3%), 4.0-10.0x10(9)/L in 18 patients (34.0%), lymphopenia in 36 patients (67.9%), and PLT less than 100.0x10(9) in 7 patients (13.2%). The main abnormal X-ray finding was single (75.4%) or bilateral (15.1%) localized patchy clouding opacity. The decrease of arterial partial pressure of oxygen occurred in 26 patients (49.1%). The damage of several organs was common, including the elevated ALT or AST in 20 patients (37.7%), elevated BUN or SCR in 6 patients (11.3%) and elevated LDH or CK or HBDH in 23 patients (43.4%).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical manifestations of SARS at the early stage were complex. The close monitoring of the blood cell counts, the blood gas analysis and chest radiography might be crucial to the early diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Child ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

The specific inhibition of angiotensin II action at AT(1) receptors by losartan has been shown to decrease peripheral insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients and animal models. We examined the effect of losartan on the expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein kinase B (PKB) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), as well as the phosphorylation status of IRS-1 and the association between IRS-1 and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in skeletal muscle from fat-fed and-streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, the effects of losartan on GLUT4 translocation in muscle cells and on insulin sensitivity were also evaluated. Muscle tissues were isolated from male losartan-treated and untreated normal or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats with a dose of 4 mg/kg per day for 6 weeks. Oral administration of losartan improved insulin sensitivity, which was determined by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). In skeletal muscles, the protein levels of IRS-1, PKB and GLUT4 in NIDDM rats were not significantly different from those of the control rats, and they were not affected by losartan. The levels of IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, PI 3-kinase activity associated with IRS-1 and PKB activation after stimulation with insulin in muscle tissue of NIDDM rats were significantly decreased (P<0.01) compared with those in the control rats, while they were not increased by losartan. Losartan had a major effect on GLUT4 translocation in myocytes, as it significantly increased (P<0.05) the insulin-induced amounts of GLUT4 in plasma membrane (PM) and T-tubules (TT) in myocytes from NIDDM rats. Consistent with these results, the plasma glucose level in losartan-treated NIDDM rats was decreased (P<0.05) compared with that in untreated NIDDM rats. Our results suggest that losartan may exert beneficial effects on insulin resistance by increasing the translocation of GLUT4 in muscle tissue, which is probably associated with a non-PI 3-kinase-dependent mechanism.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; Insulin Resistance ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with stage III rectal cancer after curative resection.

METHODSA retrospective review of the clinicopathological data was performed in 161 patients with stage III rectal cancer who received curative surgical excision in our hospital from June 2005 to June 2010. The variables including LNR, age, gender, T stage, N stage, total number of dissected lymph nodes, number of metastatic lymph nodes, and positive rate of lymph node metastasis were studied through univariate and multivariate analyses, and the survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test.

RESULTSMultivariate analysis revealed that LNR, but not number of positive nodes or number of harvested lymph nodes, had independent prognostic value for overall survival and disease-free survival for patients with stage III rectal cancer. The overall survival in the LNR < 0.43 and LNR ≥ 0.43 groups was 75.8% and 41.3%, respectively (P < 0.01), while the disease-free survival was 68.8% and 40.3%, respectively (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe LNR is an independent prognostic factor for survival of patients with stage III rectal cancer, and is more efficient than the number of positive nodes and total number of dissected lymph nodes in the survival prediction.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the bioequivalence of tiopronin enteric capsules (testing preparation, T) versus tablets (reference preparation, R).

METHODSA single oral dose of tiopronin enteric capsules or tablets at 200 mg was administered in 2 groups of Chinese healthy volunteers (n=9) in a randomized crossover design at the interval of 2 weeks. The plasma concentrations of tiopronin were measured by HPLC-MS/MS, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 program. The bioequivalence between the two preparations was evaluated.

RESULTSThe main pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: C(max)(microg.ml(-1)) 3.612-/+1.2393 (R), 3.644-/+1.540 (T); t(max) 4.333-/+1.0853 (R), 3.611-/+1.420 (T); t((1/2))(h) 18.245-/+11.270 (R), 23.403-/+10.500 (T); AUC0-t (microg.h.ml(-1)) 18.732-/+6.92318 (R), 18.713-/+6.585 (T); AUC0-infinity (microg.h.ml(-1)) 21.900-/+7.31220 (R), 20.780-/+7.965 (T). The relative bioavailability of tiopronin enteric capsule was 103.712-/+23.956%, with 90% confidential intervals of ln(AUC0-->72), ln(AUC0-infinity) and ln(C(max)) of 91.1%-111.8%, 96.8%-118.3%, and 85.1%-113.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe tiopronin enteric capsules were bioequivalent to the tablets.

Biological Availability ; Capsules ; Cross-Over Studies ; Health ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Therapeutic Equivalency ; Tiopronin ; pharmacokinetics ; Young Adult

To prepare Fe(3)O(4)-magnetic nanoparticles loaded with adriamycin and investigate the reversal role of drug-loaded nanoparticles in K562 and resistant cell line K562/A02, the drug-loaded nanoparticles were prepared by using mechanical absorption polymerization at different conditions of 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C for 24 or 48 hours. The survival of cells cultured with drug-loaded nanoparticles for 48 hours was detected by MTT assay, then the growth inhibition efficacy of cells was calculated. The results showed that the growth inhibition efficacy of both two cell lines was enhanced with increasing concentration of Fe(3)O(4)-magnetic nanoparticles. The inhibitory ratio of two cell lines obtained at 4 degrees C and for 48 hours was significantly better than that at 37 degrees C and 24 hours. In conclusion, Fe(3)O(4)-magnetic nanoparticles can load adriamycin by using mechanical absorption polymerization, but depended on proper temperature and time. Furthermore, drug-loaded nanoparticles showed an ability reversing multidrug resistance.
Doxorubicin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Ferric Compounds ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Magnetics ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size

BACKGROUND5-dihydroxyanthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (rhein) inhibits oxidoreduction induced by reducing nicotingamide adenine dinucleotide in the mitochondria and reducing reactive oxygen species, it also suppresses lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates. This study was to assess the effects of anthraquinone derivatives, rhein on synaptic transmission in the rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell layer by intracellular recording.

METHODSThe excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) evoked by stimulation of the Schaffer collaterals in the presence of bicuculline (15 micromol/L) was depressed by application of rhein (0.3 - 30 micromol/L). The amplitude of the EPSP was restored within 20 minutes after removal of rhein from the supernatant. At a concentration of 30 micromol/L, rhein reduced the amplitude of the EPSP to 42% +/- 3.7% (n = 24) of the control. Subsequently, wavelet spectral entropy was used to analyze the EPSP.

RESULTSA strong positive correlation was observed between the wavelet spectral entropy and other parameters such as amplitude, slope of rising phase and slope of descending phase of the EPSP. The paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) of the EPSP was significantly increased by rhein (30 micromol/L). The inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) recorded in the presence of CNQX (20 micromol/L) and APV (40 micromol/L) is not altered by rhein (30 micromol/L).

CONCLUSIONSRhein (30 micromol/L) can decrease the frequency but not the amplitude of the miniature EPSP (mEPSP). It is suggested that rhein inhibits excitatory synaptic transmission by decreasing the release of glutamate in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Entropy ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synaptic Transmission ; drug effects

To study the gene polymorphism of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and to explore the correlation of HLA with chronic myelogenous leukemia, the polymerase chain reaction-reverse sequence specific oligonucleotide (PCR-RSSO) was used to analyze the polymorphism of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles of 293 CML Patients and 406 randomized and synchronous blood donors (healthy and unrelated with patients) from Guangdong Han population. The results indicate that the gene frequency of HLA-A*24 in CML group was 15.53% lower than that of control group (22.09%, RR = 0.63, p = 0.005); the gene frequency of HLA-B*13 in CML group was 10.41% higher than that of control group (6.74%, RR = 1.68, p = 0.016). The gene frequency of HLA- DRB1*14 in CML group was 7.51% lower than that of control group (11.89%, RR = 0.58, p = 0.008). The differences were all statistically significant. It is concluded that the gene frequency of HLA-A*24, HLA- DRB1*14 in CML patients is significantly lower than normal people in Guangdong. The gene frequency of HLA-B*13 in CML patients is significantly higher than normal people in Guangdong. Further study is needed to make sure whether HLA-A*24 and HLA- DRB1*14 are protective gene markers for CML acquisition on Guangdong Chinese Han population and whether HLA-B*13 is a gene marker for CML susceptibility on this population.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-A24 Antigen ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-B13 Antigen ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the correlations between clinical features and liver pathohistological changes of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and to discuss the factors which may influence the prognosis.

METHODSNinety HBV carriers who had liver biopsies were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS(1) The mean follow-up period of the patients was 118 weeks. (2) Fifty-four patients (60.0%) had G1 hepatitis and 21 (23.3%) had G2 hepatitis. The fibrosis stages were graded as S1(42) and S2(21). (3) There were significant age differences among S0, S1 and S2. (4) There were significant differences in aminotransferase levels between patients who had a normal liver histology and those who had mild hepatitis. (5) The grades of liver inflammation were not correlated with the titers of HBeAg and HBV DNA in sera. The stages of liver fibrosis were not correlated with the titers of HBVDNA in sera. Most of the HBeAg negative patients progressed to S2. (6) There were significant differences in spleen dimensions measured by ultrasonography between S0, S1 and S2 patients. (7) During the follow-up period serum aminotransferase (ALT) levels remained normal in 60 patients (group A); 22 patients had transient elevations (group B), and 8 patients had persistent increases (group C). There were significant differences of the ratios of S0 and S2 cases among patients in groups A, B and C. (8) Age and fibrosis stages were predictive factors of liver cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONSMost chronic HBV carriers had mild inflammatory histological changes in their livers and also had different degrees of liver fibrosis. This follow-up study shows that some of those carriers should have had antiviral therapy.

Adult ; Carrier State ; diagnosis ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis