To investigate the effects of carbamazepine (CBZ) on the plasma concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) and its toxic metabolite 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid (4-ene VPA) in epileptic patients, the plasma concentrations of VPA and 4-ene VPA were determined, and the effect of CBZ on pharmacokinetics of VPA was evaluated. All patients had been divided into two groups (VPA group, n = 87; and VPA+CBZ group, n = 19). As compared to VPA group, the combination of CBZ significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the trough concentration of VPA [VPA group, (69.5 +/- 28.8) microg x mL(-1); VPA+CBZ group, (46.3 +/- 25.6) microg x mL(-1)] and does-adjusted VPA trough concentration [VPA group, (4.89 +/- 2.21) microg x mL(-1) x mg(-1) x kg(-1); VPA+CBZ group, (3.14 +/- 1.74) microg x mL(-1) x mg(-1) x kg(-1)]. However, the addition of CBZ did not influence the concentration of 4-ene VPA. The present study revealed that coadministration of CBZ can reduce VPA plasma concentration and may impact VPA clinical effect, therefore therapeutic drug mornitoring of VPA should be used when combined use of CBZ and VPA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anticonvulsants ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Carbamazepine ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epilepsy ; blood ; drug therapy ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Valproic Acid ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effect of HanFangJiaSu on pneumoconiosis.

METHOD71 patients with silicosis were divided into trial group and control group at random. The treating group (36 patients) was treated 90 days with HanFangJiaSu and The control group (35 patients) was treated 90 days with XiFeiNing. The silicosis with cough,chest complaint, dyspnoea and immune modulation were observed before treating and after treating. The effect was compared between the two groups.

RESULTTo compared with the group before treatment and the control group, the symptoms score of cough, chest complaint and dyspnoea in treated group was significantly decreased after treatment(P<0.05). The rate was decreased by 69.35% in treated group and 50.00% in controls, which showed the treatment in both groups was effective. The rate in treated group was significantly decreased more than in controls(P<0.05). There were 13 cases with respiratory tract infection and 2 cases with lung infection in treated group of which percentage were 36.11% and 5.55%, while 22 cases and 4 cases in control group of which percentage were 57.14% and 28.57%. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). To compared with the group before treatment, the quantity of CD(4) in blood was obviously increased, while CD(8) was obviously decreased, which showed a significant increase of CD(4)/ CD(8), (P<0.05). To compared with control group, the quantity of CD(4) in treated group was obviously increased, while CD8 was obviously decreased, which also showed a significant increase of CD(4)/CD(8) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference with the concentration of immune globulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) between the groups before and after treatment.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of using an intracavitary convex array probe for detecting the distal extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by transoral carotid ultrasonography (TOCU).

METHODSForty patients underwent examinations with bilateral ICA inspected with an intracavitary convex array probe by TOCU to observe the internal diameter, visible length, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI).

RESULTSEight of the 40 patients were excluded from the observation for the presence of carotid plaques. The examination was terminated in two patients due to sensitive throat and severe pharyngeal reflex. The rest of the patients completed the examination of the internal diameter, visible length, PSV, EDV and RI, which showed no statistically significant differences among them (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONUsing intracavitary convex array probe, the distal extracranial ICA disease can be diagnosed with higher accuracy.

Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; methods

Objective To establish cell strain expressing the genes of HIV vpr and mutant HIV vpr-FS, and to explore cell apoptosis ability by HIV Vpr and Vpr-FS. Methods The recombinant plasmids were constructed by cloning HIV vpr and HIV vpr-FS genes into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1respectively. To determine the primary structures of HIV vpr and HIV vpr-FS, plasmids were cleaved by restriction enzymes. After the plasmids were transfected into HeLa cells by liposome, the HeLa cells were selected with G418 selective medium, mRNA expression of HIV vpr or HIV vpr-FS of transfected cells was detected by RT-PCR, and Vpr and Vpr-FS protein expression were detected by Western blot assay respectively. The DNA content and the percentage of apoptosis in HeLa HIV vpr cell, HeLa HIV vpr-FS cell and HeLa pcDNA3.1 cell were monitored by flow cytometry and the DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results BamH Ⅰ and Hind Ⅲ cleavaged products of pcDNA3.1-vpr and pcDNA3.1-vpr-Fincluded 342 bp length fragments suggesting that the length of DNA sequence containing HIV vpr (HIV vpr-FS) within pcDNA3.1 was the same as theoretical length. The HeLa cells transfected by pcDNA3.1-vpr or pcDNA3, l-vpr-FS and selected with G418 could express HIV vpr or HIV vpr-FS by RT-PCR, and express HIV Vpr or HIV Vpr-FS protein by Western blot. The results of flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation showed that there was significant different in the number of apoptotic cells between HeLa HIV vpr cell and HeLa HIV vpr-FS cell, but the difference between HeLa HIV vpr-FS cell and control group was not obvious. Conclusion Recombinant plasmids pcDNA3.1-vpr and pcDNA3. 1-vpr-FS were constructed successfully, and the cell strain expressing HIV Vpr and HIV Vpr-FS proteins was established. The HIV Vpr could induce host cell apoptosis, while the mutant of Vpr did not or weakened this ability. This study provides foundation for further study on HIV vpr gene.

Fluorescence intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is a potential alternative for identifying anatomical variation and preventing iatrogenic bile duct injuries by using the near-infrared probe indocyanine green (ICG).However,the dynamic process and mechanism of fluorescenceIOC have not been elucidated in previous publications.Herein,the optical properties of the complex of ICG and bile,dynamic fluorescence cholangiography and iatrogenic bile duct injuries were investigated.The emission spectrum of ICG in bile peaked at 844 nm and ICG had higher tissue penetration.Extrahepatic bile ducts could fluoresce 2 min after intravenous injection,and the fluorescence intensity reached a peak at 8 min.Inaddition,biliary dynamics were observed owing to ICG excretion from the bile ducts into the duodenum.Quantitative analysis indicated that ICG-guided fluorescence IOC possessed a high signal to noise ratio compared to the surrounding peripheral tissue and the portal vein.Fluorescence IOC was based on rapid uptake of circulating ICG in plasma by hepatic cells,excretion of ICG into the bile and then its interaction with protein molecules in the bile.Moreover,fluorescence IOC was sensitive to detect bile duct ligation and acute bile duct perforation using ICG in rat models.All of the results indicated that fluorescence IOC using ICG is a valid alternative for the cholangiography of extrahepatic bile ducts and has potential for measurement of biliary dynamics.

OBJECTIVETo characterize DNA-PKcs and Ku70 expressions in hepato- and cholangio-neoplastic tissues and the association with the degree of malignancy and invasiveness of the tumors.

METHODSThe expression of DNA-PKcs and Ku70 was examined in 47 cases of hepato- or cholangio-neoplasm by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSKu70 was expressed in all of the neoplastic tissues examined and with a little variation in levels. The highest expression was observed in adenocarcinomas and adenomas. There was no statistically significant association between Ku70 expression level and the degree of their malignancy extent or invasiveness. In contrast to Ku 70, a wide variation in expression levels of DNA-Pkcs was observed among different types of neoplastic tissues. The highest ratio of positive expressing cells was detected in hepatocellular carcinomas (92.1%), which was significantly higher than that in cholangioadeno carcinomas (65.3%) and biliary cystadenocarcinomas (51.9%). Low or no expression level was detected in papillary adenoma cases. DNA-PKcs expression of invasive adenomas and adeno-carcinomas (61.2%) was significantly higher than that of non-invasive adenomas and adeno-carcinomas (30.4%). There was no expression observed in the normal tissues adjacent to the tumors.

CONCLUSIONDNA-PKcs is expressed in hepato- and cholangio-neoplasms and its variable level of expression is associated with the types of the tumor and their degree of malignancy and invasiveness. DNA-PKcs could be recognized as a new biomarker for liver neoplasm.

Adenocarcinoma ; enzymology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, Nuclear ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; enzymology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; DNA-Activated Protein Kinase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Ku Autoantigen ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adult ; Aged ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Renal Artery ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

Etanercept has been shown to be effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Since most clinical trials examined etanercept in combination with other drugs,the efficacy and safety of etanercept monotherapy for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis have not been well established.This prospective study enrolled 61 Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to explore the efficacy and safety of etanercept monotherapy.These patients were treated with etanercept at a subcutaneous dose of 25 mg,twice a week,for 12 weeks.All the 61 patients completed the treatment and showed significant improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores.At 4,8,and 12 weeks after treatment,the response rates (PASI75) were 0％,21.31％,and 40.98％,respectively.It was concluded that etanercept monotherapy is efficacious and safe for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Objective To analyze the surveillance data on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) including the epidemiological characteristics and trend of the disease,in 2010.Methods Descriptive methods were conducted to analyze the surveillance data in 2010 which were collected from the internet-based National Notifiable Disease Reporting System and 40 HFRS sentinels in China.Results There were 9526 cases of HFRS reported in 2010 in the country with an annual morbidity of 0.71/105,which was higher than that reported in 2009.And the case fatality rate in 2010 was 1.24％.During the year 2010,most cases were reported in spring and autumn-winter season,with November as the peak month.The proportion of cases reported in autumn-winter season was higher than that in spring.The number of cases reported in males was higher than that in females among all the age groups,and similar pattern of mortality could be seen in most of the age groups.The percentage of cases over 60 years old had increased in recent years.Farmers were still under the highest risk.Density and the virus-carrying rate of animal hosts,as well as the infection rate were relatively stable and similar to the previous findings.As to the prevailing species,Apodemus agrarius and Rattus norvegicus were still the most common and leading animal hosts.However,the dominant species in sentinel of Yunnan were Rattus flavipectus and Eothenomys miletus respectively,and a new hantavirus called LUXV was found,namely Eothenomys miletus.Conclusion HFRS cases were widely distributed in most provinces of China,but cases mainly focus on certain areas and present the nature of aggregation.The risk of outbreak could not be ruled out for variety of factors.Population characteristics and seasonal fluctuation had been changing.

Objective To summarize the thoracolumbar injuries and treatment in children and adolescents.Methods Since 2000,clinical data,surgical methods,efficacy and mechanism of 177 children and adolescents with thoracolumbar spine injury treated in Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine were analyzed and compared.Treatment was in accordance with easy typing method of Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine.The principles and systematic methods of analysis of such damage was emphasized.Clinical,physiological and psychological effects were observed.Results According to easy typing method of Honghui Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine.Ⅰ a-c 77 cases,Ⅱ a 40 cases.Twenty-seven cases of Frankel A were unchanged.There were 28 cases that had been restored to Frankel C in 30 cases of Frankel B.There were 2 cases that had been restored to Frankel D in 30 cases of Frankel B.There were 2 cases that had been restored to Frankel D in 27 cases of Frankel C.There were 25 cases that had been restored to Frankel E in 27 cases of Frankel C.There were 30 cases that had been restored to Frankel E in 30 cases of Frankel D.In 177 patients,imaging,VAS,ODI,SF-36,DPQ,MMSE,Barthel and psychology had achieved significant differences before and after treatment for follow-up of 7-12 months(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Simple type is easy to grasp.It applies to children and adolescents treatment of thoracic and lumbar spine injury to good effect.It is a reasonable treatment strategy.