AIMTo determine clonidine in rabbit plasma by LC-MS.

METHODSThe LC-MS system consisted of Waters Alliance 2790 HPLC and Micromass ZQ-4000 MS. The HPLC was performed by using XTerra C18 (150 mm x 2.1 mm ID, 5 microm). The mobile phase, consisting of acetonitrile/ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution, was maintained to a flow-rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1) and the linear gradient elution was adopted. Mass spectrum was obtained by using electrospray ionization interface and the m/z of SIM was 230.

RESULTSThe average recovery was high and the method was reproducible. The calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 1 - 80 microg x L(-1), the lowest limit of detection was 0.05 microg x L(-1). The Cmax, AUC0-t, and Tmax value of the pharmacokinetics parameter were (27 +/- 9) microg x L(-1), (5,352 +/- 1,121) microg x L(-1), (79 +/- 17) h.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that the method had high sensitivity, good selectivity, accuracy and precision. It is used to determine the clonidine concentration in plasma. The transdermal patch can deliver clonidine to the surface of rabbit skin stably for periods of up to 1 week after a single application.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Clonidine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rabbits ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis and therapy of mediastinal enterogenous cysts in children.

METHODSClinical data of 17 cases with mediastinal enterogenous cysts within 19 years in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOne case was intramural esophageal cyst and 16 cases were enteric cysts, two among which were complicated with abdominal enteric duplications. Most cases presented with symptoms of respiratory distress. Twelve cases were complicated with vertebral anomalies. Ultrasound of 12 cases and magnetic resonance imaging of 4 cases were helpful in confirming the cystic nature of these lesions. Eight cases had technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy of posterior mediastinum.

CONCLUSIONSMost patients present with symptoms of respiratory distress, complicated with vertebral anomalies. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful in confirming the cystic nature of these lesions. Technetium-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy is the most effective method for differentiation of the disease from other mediastinal cysts.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo estimate prevalence of HIV/AIDS among children and the transmission routes in a highly endemic villages of AIDS.

METHODSTotally 208 high-risk women of child bearing age and 159 of their children aged 0 - 14 years were investigated. Their medical histories of blood donation or transfusion were collected, blood samples were taken and sera were separated for HIV test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assay were performed for HIV antibody. The Nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay amplifying gag gene p17 was performed on samples of children aged less than 18 months.

RESULTSThirty-seven HIV infected cases were found among 159 children aged 0 - 14 years of whom 33 were infected by mother-to-child transmission (89.2%, 33/37), 3 by blood transfusion (8.1%, 3/37) and one by iatrogenic route (2.7%, 1/37). Sixty seven mothers who were seropositive for HIV and their 86 children who were born after 1992 were investigated, 33 cases of them were infected with HIV. The rate of vertical transmission was 38.4% (33/86). The HIV vertical transmission rate among mothers with AIDS (68.8%, 22/32) was significantly greater than that among mothers with asymptomatic HIV infection (20.4%, 11/54, P < 0.05). The number of children infected with HIV through vertical transmission increased from 1993 to 2001. Among 37 children infected with HIV, 12 cases developed AIDS and 4 of them died, of whom 2 cases died from tuberculosis. The morbidity of AIDS was 27.3% (9/33). Ninety three point nine percent (31/33) of infected mothers didn't know their HIV seropositive status before pregnancy and delivery. Of 8 pregnant women infected with HIV, one had aggravation of AIDS, 2 miscarried, 2 terminated their pregnancy and 3 continued their pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONMother-to-child transmission of HIV was the major route of HIV/AIDS transmission to the children. The main reason leading to HIV infection in children was the lack of prenatal HIV counseling and testing for the high-risk women of childbearing age and lake of interventions. The countermeasures must be taken to control the further transmission of AIDS in order to protect the health of women and children in the highly endemic areas of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gene Products, gag ; genetics ; HIV Antigens ; genetics ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; transmission ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Viral Proteins ; gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Objective To execute experimental study injection rate and volumetric error and to explore their correlations with sizes of injectors and extension tube,so as to lay a foundation for the quality control of the injection pump.Methods Simulation experiment was carried out with involving in 10,20 and 50 ml of injectors and 80 and 120 cm extension tubes,and 6 kinds of connection systems were formed with auxiliary appliances.The injection rate and flow reading of the flow meter were obtained and then compared with the set values,and the correlations were proved between sizes of auxiliary appliances and the precision of injection dose and rate.Results In case other conditions kept the same,the injector with larger capacity behaved better in controlling injection rate and dose,and the shorter extension tube gained advantages over the longer one in regulating the precision for injection and injection dose.Conclusion The experiment contributes to the selection of auxiliary appliances and the enhancement of quality control,and the further research provides references for process design and materials selection of the injector.

The current situation of medical equipment management informatization was introduced in China,and its deficiencies were described in standard,top-level design,data island and etc.A development strategy divided into preliminary,intermediate and advanced levels was put forward,which used business support,data fusion and iterative analysis as the tools.The steps and methods for medical equipment management informatization were studied,and it's pointed out industrial informatization was of great significance to enhance the quality,efficacy and ability of medical equipment management.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the abnormal expression of interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the effect of IFITM3 knock-down on the biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

METHODSWestern blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the expression of IFITM3 protein in 60 HCC samples and paired adjacent tissues. A small interfering RNA fragments of IFITM3 (IFITM3 siRNA) was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells and expressions of IFITM3 at mRNA and protein levels were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The changes in the proliferation of the transfected cells were determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) assay, and the cell invasion and migration were tested using Transwell assay and wound-healing assay.

RESULTSCompared with the adjacent tissues, HCC tissues expressed significantly higher levels of IFITM3. In HepG2 cells, transfection with IFITM3 siRNA resulted in significant down-regulation of IFITM3 expression at both the protein and mRNA levels and obviously suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration ability as compared with the cells transfected with scrambled siRNA and control cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIFITM3, which is overexpressed in HCC, plays a vital role in the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells and may serve as a potential target for gene therapy of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDHepatitis B virus (HBV) replication has been reported to be involved in many extrahepatic viral disorders; however, the mechanism by which HBV is transinfected into extrahepatic tissues such as myocardium and causes HBV associated myocarditis remains largely unknown.

METHODSIn this study, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were infected by HBV and then transfused into ischemic model of mice. HBV surface and core antigen as well as mutation of HBV particles were detected by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent activated cell sorter and transmission electron microscopy in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTSHuman cord blood EPCs, but not human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) could be effectively infected by taking up HBV in vitro. HBV envelope surface and core antigen expressions were first detectable in EPCs at day 3 after virus challenge, sustained for up to 11 days, and decreased thereafter. Similarly, the virus particles were the most abundant in EPCs in the first week observed by a transmission electron microscope, and declined in 3 weeks after HBV infection. HBV DNA but not HBV cccDNA in EPCs were detectable even 3 weeks after virus challenge, as shown by PCR analysis. Furthermore, intravenous transplantation of HBV-treated EPCs into myocardial infarction Sprague & Dawley rats model resulted in incorporation of both EPCs and HBV into injured endothelial tissues of capillaries in the ischemic border zone.

CONCLUSIONSThese results strongly support that EPCs serve as virus carrier mediating HBV trans-infection into the injured myocardial tissues. The findings might suggest a novel mechanism for HBV-associated myocarditis.

Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; physiology ; Heart ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Stem Cells ; physiology

Sedum alfredii Hance has been identified as zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) co-hyperaccumulator. In this paper the relationships of Zn or Cd hyperaccumulation to the generation and the role of H2O2 in Sedum alfredii H. were examined. The results show that Zn and Cd contents in the shoots of Sedum alfredii H. treated with 1000 micromol/L Zn2+ and/or 200 micromol/L Cd2+ increased linearly within 15 d. Contents of total S, glutathione (GSH) and H2O2 in shoots also increased within 15 d, and then decreased. Total S and GSH contents in shoots were higher under Cd2+ treatment than under Zn2+ treatment. However, reverse trends of H2O2 content in shoots were obtained, in which much higher H2O2 content was observed in Zn2+-treated shoots than in Cd2+-treated shoots. Similarly, the microscopic imaging of H2O2 accumulation in leaves using H2O2 probe technique showed that much higher H2O2 accumulation was observed in the Zn2+-treated leaf than in the Cd2+-treated one. These results suggest that there are different responses in the generation of H2O2 upon exposure to Zn2+ and Cd2+ for the hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii H. And this is the first report that the generation of H2O2 may play an important role in Zn hyperaccumulation in the leaves. Our results also imply that GSH may play an important role in the detoxification of dissociated Zn/Cd and the generation of H2O2.
Cadmium ; pharmacology ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Plant Shoots ; drug effects ; Sedum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sulfur ; metabolism ; Zinc ; pharmacology

Coronary Artery Bypass ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mammary Arteries ; injuries

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feeding patterns of infants in Huining County, Gansu Province, an economically undeveloped county in China, so as to provide scientific evidence for nutritional intervention.

METHODSBy cluster sampling based on the area distribution and the economic state, 437 children from 7 different areas in Huining County, Gansu Province were enrolled. A questionnaire on the feeding patterns within 24 months of age was completed by the caregivers. The addition of nutrient supplements (calcium, zinc, ferri, vitamin AD, etc.) during the last year was investigated using the food frequency questionnaires.

RESULTSThe average percentages of breast feeding, mixed feeding and artificial feeding were 45.3%, 40.5% and 14.2% respectively. Delayed introduction of complementary food was the most common. Formula powder was added earliest, at age of 6.4 months. The meats were added latest, at age of 17.2 months. Only 66.8% of infants received an addition of complementary food at age of 4-6 months. Grains, vegetables, fruits and eggs were common complementary additional diets, but fishes and shrimps were seldom provided. The proportion of nutrient supplement use was low. The choice of nutrient supplements in urban districts mainly depended on the physicians' suggestions, but in rural area it depended on the caregivers' experience and media advertisements.

CONCLUSIONSThe feeding patterns for the infants are not reasonable in Huining County, Gansu Province. It is important to provide nutritional education and reasonable feeding program for caregivers from economically undeveloped areas.

Breast Feeding ; Dietary Supplements ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Infant, Newborn ; Male