Objective :To study safety and effectiveness of vitamin D combined benazepril on patients with essential hyper-tension (EH) and positive urine microalbumin (UMA).Methods :A total of 92 EH patients with positive UMA were ran-domly divided into benazepril group (n＝44 , received benazepril 5md/d ,placebo 1 capsule/d) and combined treatment group (n＝48 , received vitamin D3 400mg/d and benazepril 5mg/d) ,both groups were treated for 12 weeks.Levels of mean arterial pressure (MAP) ,serum creatinine (SCr) and UMA were measured and compared between two groups before and after treatment .Results :Compared with before treatment ,there were significant reductions in levels of MAP and UMA in two groups after treatment , P＝0.001 all ;compared with benazepril group ,there were significant reductions in levels of MAP [ (108.45 ± 15.09) mmHg vs.(101.1 ± 15.02) mmHg] and UMA [ (52.35 ± 17.45) mg/L vs.(43.75 ± 13.29) mg/L] in combined treatment group ,P＜0.05 or ＜0.01.There was no significant difference in SCr level between two groups before and after treatment , P＞0.05 all.Conclusion : Compared with pure benazepril antihypertensive treat-ment ,vitamin D combined benazepril possesses better therapeutic effect on reducing UMA and antihypertensive effect .And it is safe without obvious damage on kidney function ,which is worth extending .

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between polyoma virus load and hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic stem cells transplantation for prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis.

METHODSBlood and urine specimens were collected from 40 healthy persons, 40 patient with stem cells transplantation and 20 cases complicated with hemorrhagic cystitis for determination of VP1 gene of polyomaviruses BK virus (BKV)/Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and EvaGreen stain fluorescence quantitative assay.

RESULTSIn the peripheral blood, all genes of BKV/JCV and SV40 were negative, while BKV gene in urine and blood from healthy persons and patient with stem cells transplantation was 15% (6/40) and 100% (40/40), respectively. The gene of JCV was positive in 10% (4/40) and 12% (5/40), the gene of SV40 was negative.

CONCLUSIONGenes of BKV and JCV was detectable in urine specimens of healthy persons and there was a correlation between the load of polyomavirus and incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis.

Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; Cystitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; urine ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; virology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polyomavirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Polyomavirus Infections ; complications ; virology ; Viral Load

AIM To investigate the effects of drying temperature,growing area and plucking time on hederacoside C,α-hederin from leaves of Hedera helix L..METHODS Three batches of H.helix leaves plucked in different time from two growing areas were dried in a vacuum oven to the constant weight at 60 ℃,70 ℃,80 ℃,90 ℃ and 105 ℃,respectively.Two saponins in the processed leaves were determined by HPLC.The powders of the processed H.helix leaves of different batches were mixed with proper ratios,which were determined by least squares optimization method with constraints.RESULTS The content of hederacoside C in the processed H.helix leaves of the three batches increased while that of α-hederin decreased with increasing temperature.The relative error between measured value and desired contents of hederacoside C and α-hederin in the mixed H.helix leaves was less than 5.5％.CONCLUSION The effects of three factors on the content of two saponins in the H.helix leaves are in the order of drying temperature,growing area and plucking time.Mixing processed H.helix leaves of different quality statues reasonably can control the contents of two saponins in a certain range.

BACKGROUNDWe investigated whether and to what extent the ratio between circulating fibrinogen (Fg) and its degradation products (FDP) reflects the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODSPlasma levels of Fg and FDP were determined, and Fg/FDP ratio was calculated in 344 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes and chest pain on exertion undergoing coronary angiography. The severity of CAD was evaluated by the number of significant CAD (>50% luminal diameter narrowing) and Gensini score.

RESULTSPlasma Fg was higher, but Fg/FDP ratio was lower in patients with significant CAD (n = 255) compared with those without (n = 89), due to a disproportionate increase in FDP. Fg and FDP correlated positively, while Fg/FDP ratio negatively, with the number of diseased coronary arteries and the tertile of Gensini score (all P values for trend < 0.01). After adjusting for age, sex, risk factors for CAD, lipid profiles, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, creatinine, leukocyte count, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Fg/FDP ratio remained an independent determinant for multivessel coronary disease (MVD) (odds ratio [OR], 0.869; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.788-0.958, P = 0.005) and high tertile of Gensini score (OR, 0.797, 95% CI, 0.682-0.930, P = 0.004). The area under the curve of Fg/FDP ratio was larger than that of Fg for predicting the presence of MVD (0.647 vs. 0.563, P = 0.048) and Gensini score ≥ 30 (0.656 vs. 0.538, P = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONSElevated plasma Fg and FDP level and reduced Fg/FDP ratio are associated with presence of CAD, and Fg/FDP ratio is superior to Fg in reflecting severe coronary atherosclerosis for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibrin ; metabolism ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the change of nucleic acid sequence and the germicidal effect of an E. coli bacteriophage with broad host range isolated from hospital sewage as well as to study the mechanism of phage host specificity and the effect of killed bacteria by phage-disinfectant to the samples from sewage water.

METHODSTo extract the nucleic acid from phage f(2) and phage with broad host range using anti-serum-carbamidine hydrochloride assay. Purity with agarose gel electrophoresis was then evaluated. Differences of nucleic acid sequence between phage f(2) and phage with broad host range with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR were also comparing and analysed. Through observing the germicidal test of phage f(2) and phage with broad host range to samples from environment, different sterilization effects between the two phages were compared.

RESULTSAnalystic test for nucleic acid revealed that the two phages both belonged to 6000 bp, single-stranded RNA bacteriophage. Significant differences in their specificity of RAPD-PCR and RT-PCR were found during the changed of host range; with 26 RAPD-cDNA differential fragments found that in two phages RAPD-PCR products. The RT-PCR product of phage f(2) was 450 bp cDNA fragment, but the phage with broad host range did not show PCR product. Treating the sewage water with phage under broad host range, the germicidal test showed that the cleaning rate of E. coli bacteria and phage f(2) in water samples from environment could reach 36.75% - 56.28%, 30.84% - 47.96%, 19.19% - 35.06% and 13.05% - 27.85%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe cleaning rates to E. coli and bacteria by phage with broad host range were obviously higher than phage f(2) (P = 0.000). Analytic test for nucleic acid indicated that host-specific lytic effect of phage with broad host range had been changed at genetic level.

Bacteriophages ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Escherichia coli ; virology ; F Factor ; RNA Phages ; genetics ; Sewage ; microbiology ; virology ; Water Microbiology

To investigate the biological characteristics of the variant translocation der ins (17;15) in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), the conventional G-banding technique, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (int-FISH), RT-PCR, gene scanning, gene sequence and flow cytometry were performed. The results indicated that the variant translocation der ins (17, 15) observed by G banding technique was a rare type, the int-FISH assay by using dual-color pml/raralpha fusion probes confirmed the cytogenetic findings. The detection results of other molecular methods demonstrated the existence of the whole pml/raralpha fusion gene, while this case had insertion variant translocation. This patient got complete remission by using combined chemotherapy, and survives with continuous complete remission during following up for 1 year. In conclusion, the variant translocation der ins (17; 15) is rare type in APL, its incidence is lower, several signal types in detection of int-FISH were observed and the combination chemotherapy for this patient showed more obvious efficacy.
Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Interphase ; genetics ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

This study is to explore whether the protective effect of resveratrol on ischemia-reperfusion injury is correlated with the structural and functional association between M3 receptor (M3 subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor) and Cx43 (connexin 43 gap junction proteins). Immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were applied to investigate whether resveratrol has an effect on structural and functional association between M3 and Cx43. The effect of resveratrol on electrocardiogram Lead II ex vivo in rats, SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and MDA (malondialdehyde) content was also observed in order to evaluate the protective effect of resveratrol on ischemia-reperfusion injury. Resveratrol could restore the structural and functional association between M3 receptor and Cx43 gap junction proteins that was partially destroyed under ischemia-reperfusion injury. The phosphorylation and spatial distribution disturbances in Cx43 expression caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury were also restored. Also, the QRS duration, SOD activity and MDA content were restored. Resveratrol could restore the structural and functional association between M3 receptor and Cx43 gap junction proteins.
Animals ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDSepsis is a leading cause of death in the intensive care units. The late inflammatory cytokine, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), plays a critical role in sepsis. In the present study, we investigated the association between the serum HMGB1 levels and the severity of organ injury in the lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in rats.

METHODSTo produce an animal model of sepsis with different degree of organ injury, animals were treated with three different doses of lipopolysaccharide (4, 8 and 16 mg/kg), and the animals in control group were treated with the same volume of the vehicle (saline). The levels of serum HMGB1 were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 48 hours after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle injection, meanwhile the biochemical and histopathological indicators for the severity of organ injury were assessed.

RESULTSThe level of HMGB1 had a positive, high correlation with the abnormal changes of serum cardiac troponin I, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, as well as the pathologic scores of heart, lung, liver and kidney.

CONCLUSIONSThe level of serum HMGB1 is highly correlated with the severity of sepsis in rats, suggesting that HMGB1 could serve as a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis and management of sepsis.

Animals ; HMGB1 Protein ; blood ; Lipopolysaccharides ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology

The invasive fungal infections (IFI) in immunocompromised patients are associated with a high mortality rate and diagnostic difficulty. Serological methods such as aspergillus galactomannan assay (GM test) and (1, 3)-beta-D glucan (BG) assay (G test) can be used as an adjunctive method for IFI diagnosis based on their characteristics of easy-operating, rapidness and high sensitivity. Compared with GM test, G test can be more widely used except for the diagnosis of aspergillosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of G test in the diagnosis of IFI in patients with hematological disorders. The plasma was collected from 162 suspected IFI patients with hematological disorders in Beijing Daopei Hospital, including 85 patients after chemotherapy and 77 patients after stem cell transplantation from May 2007 to May 2008, BG level was measured with MB-80 Microbiology Kinetic Rapid Reader and the measured results together with the clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. According to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria, there were 2 patients diagnosed as proven IFI, 18 as probable IFI, 75 as possible IFI and 67 as no IFI. The results showed that at a cutoff of 20 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of G test were 75% and 91% respectively, with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 71.4% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 92.4%. 51 out of the 75 possible IFI patients with elevated BG level were responsive to antifungal treatment but non responsive to broad-spectrum antibiotics, retrospectively were diagnosed as IFI, suggesting that G test improved the IFI diagnostic rate by 31.4%. In conclusion, G test is a rapid and simple method for early diagnosis of IFI in patients with hematological disorders.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; blood ; diagnosis ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Young Adult ; beta-Glucans ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) patients who had high risk of recurrence.

METHODSA prospective, open-label, multi-center trial conducted in sixteen teaching hospitals in China was carried out. The criteria of the enrolled patients included age more than 18 years old, CD117 positive GIST, tumor size more than 5 cm, pathological mitosis counts more than 5/50 HPF, and treatment beginning within 4 weeks after complete resection and with imatinib (400 mg, once a day) for at least 12 months. The 1, 3 year recurrence rates, disease free survival, overall survival rate and quality of life were evaluated.

RESULTSFrom Aug. 16th 2004 to Sep. 13th 2005, there were totally 74 patients screened and 57 patients (34 men, 23 women) enrolled in the imatinib treatment group. The primary tumors were located in the stomach in 50.9%, the small intestine in 38.6% and the colorectum in 10.5% of the cases. All the patients received radical resection. Until the cut-off date of interim analysis, there was no evidence of tumor relapse or metastasis in all patients and no death was reported either. Among the 57 enrolled patients with intention to treat(ITT), twelve patients finished the protocol (per protocol, PP). The disease free survival was (268.3 +/-120.2) d in ITT analysis, and (396.7+/-38.2) d in the PP analysis. The incidence of adverse effect was 44.4% . The score in quality of life showed no statistically significant difference between the baseline visit and the follow-up visits.

CONCLUSIONImatinib is a promising postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in GISTs patients with high risk of recurrence, and the adverse effects are receivable.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzamides ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Period ; Prospective Studies ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult