Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Styrene

Electronic case report forms (eCRFs) instead of the traditional paper case report forms (pCRFs) are increasingly used by investigators and sponsors of clinical research. We include a total of 14 phase III studies (8 pCRF, 6 eCRF) to compare paper and electronic data documentation both quantitatively and qualitatively in clinical studies. The result suggests that adaptions of electronic data capture (EDC) in clinical trials have the advantages in optimization of data capture process, improvement of data quality and earlier clinical decision compared to paper-based methods. Furthermore, the successful implementation of EDC requires accouplements with corresponding data management processes and reallocation of resources.
Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic ; Data Collection ; methods ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Medical Informatics

Objective To study if 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine along or together with 4-phenylbutyric acid could affect miR-196b expression levels in chronic myeloid leukemia cells .Methods K562 cells were treated with DNA methylation inhibitor 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine, histone deacetylase inhibitors 4-phenylbutyric acid separately and the combined treatment with both of them, then expression levels of miR-196b were detected using Real-time PCR.Results The half inhibition concentration of 4-phenylbutyric acid was 1.58mmol/L.Comparing with the expression level of miR-196b in normal human bone marrow cells, the expression levels of miR-196b were significantly lower in Aza group , PBA group and negative control cells and nearly consistent among three groups , and as high as normal cells in combined treatment group . Conclusion The expression level of miR-196b in K562 cells could not return to normal treated with 5-Aza-2 ’-deoxycytidine or 4-phenylbutyric acid separately , while could restore normal when treated with both agents , indicating that miR-196b expression level in K562 cells is related with both DNA methylation and histone acetylation .

Objective To study the application of Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) in detecting the growth inhibiting effect of 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine on chronic myeloid leukemia cell .Methods The proliferation of K562 cells was detected by CCK-8 with different concentrations of 5-Aza-2 ’-deoxycytidine and the cell cycle and apoptosis of K 562 cells were detected after K562 treated by 50% inhibitory concentration of 5-Aza-2 ’-deoxycytidine .Results The 50% inhibitory concentration of 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine was 15.55nmol/L, after treated with this concentration , K562 cells showed that G2 phase arrest occurred , proliferation inhibited and apoptosis peaks appeared .Conclusion Inhibition of proliferation of K562 cells with different concentrations of 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine varied in a dose-dependent relationship , and 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine could promote apoptosis of K 562 cells.CCK-8 can be used in detecting the effect of 5-Aza-2’-deoxycytidine on chronic myeloid leukemia cells .

Vitamin C precusor-2-keto-L-gulonic acid can be prepared directly by mixed culture of Ghiconobacter oxy-dans SCB329 and Guconobacter subaxydans SCB110. To obtained its high yield, firstly, the proportion of the two micro- organisms, the ingredients of medium and the initial pH were optimized in shake flaskd, then L9 (34) orthogonal experiment confirmed that urea, C. S. L had high degree statistical meaning. Based on these data, an optimized fermentation media was obta ined: D-Sorbitol 9g, C. S.L1.5g, Urea1.5g, KH2PO40.1g, CaCO30.2g. By-product can be inhabited to the greatest extent and the yield increases by 20%.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), also named as a cancer of cardiovascular disease, is a rare disease and has complicated pathogenesis. Recently, there are more understandings of PAH pathogeneses. According to the pathogenesis and active pathways, the clinically used drugs are classified into several groups incluidng prostacyclin analogues and prostacyclin receptor agonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, etc. To elevate the efficacy of the drugs, numerous drug delivery systems are developed. This review mainly summarized the pathological mechanism of PAH, drugs and drug delivery approaches in the treatment of PAH.

Objective To evaluate the risk of plague occurrence via surveying and analyzing indoor rat density and flea index in natural villages having previous plague experience. Methods During August to September 2007, 30 natural villages experiencing previous plague were selected based on the surveillance data, and then all households were coded with numbers and 20 households in each village were randomly selected via computer. Cages and sticky papers were set in 600 selected households to capture rats and fleas. Rat density, flea prevalence, flea index and median were estimated. Results One hundred thirty-three Rattus flavipectus and 33 Suncus murinus were caught and averaged rat density was 2.8 rats per one hundred cage. nights (166/6000), the median was 5 rats each village. One hundred and one mice infected fleas, flea prevalence on rats was 60.8% (101/166), 296 Xenopsylla cheopis and 48 Leptopsylla segnis were collected. Rat flea index was 2.1 fleas per rat (344/166). A total of 315 dissociated flea was caught, average dissociated flea index was 0.026 fleas per sticky paper (315/11888). The median was 5.5 dissociated fleas per village. Of dissociated fleas, Ctenocephalides felis felis (205) and Xenopsylla cheopis (103) accounted for 97.8% (308/315). The proportion for species of the rat flea and the dissociated flea was different(Fisher test: P < 0.01). The rat flea was significantly associated with the rat density(r = 0.68, P < 0.01), but the dissociated flea was significantly associated with neither the rat density(r = -yield than fried wheat batter(χ2 = 5.59, P < 0.05). Conclusions In these villages having previous plague experience of Lianghe County, Rattusflavipectus was dominant species of indoor rats, Xenopsylla cheopis and Ctenocephalides felis felis were dominant species of rat flea and dissociated flea, respectively. Mengsong, Bangdu, and Tangjiatun village had potential risk of plague emergence.

AIMTo discover new drugs which may be applied to diseases of the immune system, hemogenesis system diseases and tumors, several high-throughput drug screening cell models based on JAK-STAT signal pathway have been established.

METHODSFour repeats of STAT DNA binding conserved sequences were synthesized, subcloned into pGL-Luc reporter vector and stably transfected into cell lines in vitro. Cell clones with high copy numbers of STAT binding sites and reporter genes were chosen as high-throughput drug screening cell models. The cell models were tested with known anti-allergic drugs and anti-tumor drugs by determining luciferase activity. The reaction was performed in 96 well micro-plates with a final volume of 50 microL.

RESULTSThe cell models by performing rapid fluorescence assay were shown to be highly sensitive and stable after testing with cytokine and drugs. The modification of the expression plasmid simplified this method and made it more practical. It also provided good linear correlation, wide range of assay, highly sensitive and good reproducibility.

CONCLUSIONThe method can be performed by high-throughput drug screening for effective extraction of Chinese traditional herbs.

Anti-Allergic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Jurkat Cells ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Luciferases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Signal Transduction ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Chinese medicine tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in cultured penis corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell (PCSMC) in rabbits.

METHODSBy using laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM), the [Ca2+]i fluorescence signal changes was investigated in cultured PCSMC loaded with Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3/AM and divided into potassium chloride(KCl) group and norepinephrine (NE) group. Compared with verapamil (Ver), the effects of TMP was observed in different concentrations on [Ca2+]i increase induced by high potassium and NE.

RESULTSTMP had no obvious effect on resting PCSMC [Ca2+]i. It was found that 1, 10, 100 mumol/L TMP significantly inhibited [Ca2+]i increase induced by high potassium-depolarization. The peak inhibition rates were (38.6 +/- 3.0)%, (44.1 +/- 2.4)% and (53.7 +/- 4.1)% respectively. TMP could also inhibit cytosolic calcium pool release induced by 1 mumol/L NE. The peak inhibition rates were (13.9 +/- 2.7)%, (21.2 +/- 1.9)% and (29.5 +/- 3.6)% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSTMP can inhibit rabbit PCSMC [Ca2+]i significantly by suppressing voltage-dependent calcium channel and cytosolic calcium pool release. The effect, similar to Ver, signifies the important mechanism of erectile dysfunction (ED) therapy.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Penis ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

In this study, the COI barcode was used to identify the Scolopendra medicinal materials and its adulterants in order to provide a new method for the identification of Scolopendra. Genomic DNA was extracted from the experimental samples. The COI sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-directionally. Sequence alignment and NJ tree construction was carried out by MEGA6.0 software. The results showed that the COI sequences can be obtained from all experimental samples. The average inter-specific K2P distance of Scolopendra was 0.222 and the minimum inter-specific distance was 0.190. All the Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans medicinal samples clustered into a clade in the NJ tree and can be distinguished from its adulterants. In a conclusion, COI can be used to correctly identify Scolopendra medicinal materials, and it will be a potential DNA barcode for identifying other animal medicinal materials.
Animals ; Arthropod Proteins ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Scorpions ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics