Visfatin is a recently discovered adipokine secreted by visceral adipose tissue,corresponds to pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor(PBEF), which is composed of 473 amino acid coding a 52kDa polypeptide and expressed in bone marrow,liver,muscle and so on.Visfatin binds and activates the insulin receptor,exerting insulin-mimetic effects;promotes adipose tissue to differentiate,synthesis and accumulate,which is correlated with obesity;promote vascular smooth muscle cell to mature,participating in the processes of inflammatory response and cell differentiation and apoptosis.The multi-function of visfatin increases new contents of correlated disease pathogenesis and new targets of disease management.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) is an important prognostic predictor and the key predictor of anti-HER-2 therapy of breast cancer. Accurate testing of HER-2 status for breast cancer patients is important in clinical practice. As of this writing, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the College of American Pathologists recommend three methods for HER-2 detection, namely, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and bright-field in situ hybridization. The abovementioned methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. New methods, such as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and RNA in situ hybridization, are currently applied to detect HER-2 status. New technologies not only make up for the shortcomings of routine methods but also have unique benefits that can meet the demands for HER-2 testing of some breast cancer patients. Thus, these methods are promising for clinical applications and can improve clinical diagnosis and treatment. The characteristics, advantages, and drawbacks of these technologies are introduced and reviewed in this paper.

Objective To establish the HPLC fingerprints of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi.Methods HPLC-ELSD analysis was carried out with Lichrospher C18 column(4.6 mm ? 250 mm,5 ?m).The detector was Alltech ELSD 2000.The method was developed by gradient elution with methanol and water as the mobile phase.With oleanolic acid as the marker,sixteen batches of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi were analyzed with computer-aided similarity evaluation system.Results HPLC fingerprints of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi showed 14 characteristic peaks and the similarity of the fingerprints of 10 batches of samples was over 0.90,indicating the fingerprints being stable and repeatable.Conclusion The method is simple,accurate and with a good reproducibility,and can be used for the identification and quality control of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi.

Objective To investigate the anti-arrhythmias mechanism of nardostachyos chinensis batal by intracardiac electrophysiologic study. Methods Intracardiac electrophysiologic study were performed in 40 supraventricular tachycardia(SVT)patients before and after oral nardostachys chinensis batal administraton,and the results were compared with 35 SVT patients or normal persons without nardostachys chineusis batal intake. Results The atrial effective,relative,functional refractory periods(AERP,ARRP,AFRP)and ventricular ERP(VERP)were significantly longer in nardostachyos chinensis batal administration group than control(AFRP(358 ± 76)ms vs.(256 ±69)ms;ARRP(365 ±74)ms vs.(287 ±55)ms;VERP(264 ± 36)ms vs.(213 ± 27)ms respectively);but the sinus and atrioventricular node function had no changes. Conclusions The anti-arrhythmia mechanism of nardostachyos chinensis batal were related to the prolonged cardiac refractory periods and the reduced cardiac excitability.

BACKGROUND:During artificial knee replacement for al kinds of severe knee disease or conservative treatment for end-stage knee disease, Deluxe-PS knee prosthesis and PFC Sigma RP knee prosthesis have their advantages.
OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the matching of the Deluxe-PS and PFC Sigma RP knee prostheses with bone cross section.
METHODS:According to the use of the knee prosthesis, 87 gonarthritis patients undergoing bilateral knee replacement were divided into two groups. 46 cases in the test group received Deluxe-PS knee prosthesis replacement. 41 cases in the control group received PFC Sigma RP knee prosthesis replacement. Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were compared between the two groups. American Knee Society score, knee score of American Special Surgical Hospital and knee joint range of motion were used to evaluate knee joint function before replacement, 3 months after replacement and during final folow-up. Anteroposterior X-ray films were obtained after replacement to measure valgus angle and flexion angle of femoral prosthesis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly better in the test group than in the control group (P< 0.05). (2) No significant difference in American Knee Society score, knee score of American Special Surgical Hospital and knee joint motion was detected between the two groups before replacement and 3 months after replacement (P > 0.05). Above indexes were significantly improved in both groups at 3 months after replacement and during final follow-up (P < 0.05). (3) No significant difference in valgus angle and flexion angle of femoral prosthesis was identified between test and control groups during final follow-up (P > 0.05). (4) These findings indicate that effect of Deluxe-PS type artificial knee prosthesis was identical to that of PFC Sigma RP knee prosthesis in knee osteoarthritis patients receiving bilateral knee joint replacement. Deluxe-PS type artificial knee prosthesis can perfectly realize high-accuracy combination of the prosthesis and the bone cross section, and enhance the fusion suitability of the prosthesis and the bone surface. Deluxe-PS type artificial knee prosthesis has the advantage of operation. This advantage is possibly because Deluxe-PS type artificial knee prosthesis is more in line with the anatomical structure of the knee joint of Chinese.

Objective To establish a sensitive,valid and rapid high performance liquid chromatography-trap mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method for determining carbocisteine concentration in human plasma. Methods Plasma samples were pretreated by 100 mL/L perchloric acid to remove the interference protein. The supernatant was separated by reverse phase HPLC,electrospray MS was used to detect carbocisteine in plasma samples,and selective ion method of multiple reaction modes was used to determine the concentration of carbocisteine. Results The limit of detection was 0.01 ?g/mL and the linear range was 0.2-200.0 ?g/mL. The recovery rate was within the range of 89.2%-105.6%. Conclusion The proposed method could be used to determine carbocisteine in biological samples.

Objective To evaluate the value of echocardiography in investigation the failure of interventional therapy of VSDs and to increase the successful rate. Methods 15 cases with failure of VSD closure through interventional approach were undertaken measurement of major parameters of the defect on left ventriculography and then followed by Philips 5500 color Doppler US for repeated multi-direction tangential measuring of the size, morphologic change, relation with peripheral structure and individual valvular regurgitation. Results (1) Marginal membranous VSD 10 cases; membranance aneurysm 8 cases, ≥2 outlets 6 cases. Width of basal part of membranous aneurysm was 8 ～ 18 (10 ?2) mm with depth of 3 ～ 10 (6 ? 2) mm, distance from aortic valve was 0 ～ 6 (2 ? 1) mm and from tricuspid valve was 2 ～ 5 (2 ?1) mm; associated with slight tricuspid valvular regurgitation. Aortic valvular regurgitation 5 cases showed slight to mild amount and without membranous aneurysm occurred in 2 cases. (2) Intracristal VSD 5 cases showed the size of defect as 6 ～ 10 (7 ? 1) mm, with distances of 2 ～ 3 (1 ? 0.8) mm from pulmonary valve and 1 ～ 2 (1 ? 0.6) mm from aortic valve associated with slight regurgitation in 4 cases, slight tricuspid valvular regurgitation in 5 cases and aortic valvular prolapse in 4 cases. Conclusions Many factors can influence the direction tangential continuous scanning should be taken for accurate localization and measurement of VSD in order to select the very sight occludor providing high successful rate of occlusion and long term efficacy.

Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchoscopy ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of lopinavir(LPV) in Chinese HIV-infected patients.Methods A total of 16 patients were enrolled in the LPV pharmacokinetic study.Blood samples were collected before LPV intake and 0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0,2.5,3.0,4.0,6.0,8.0,10.0,12.0 h after administration.Serum level of LPV was determined by the developed high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.The pharmacokinetic profiles were assessed by WinNonlin software.Results The non-compartment model pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were as follows:the peak time of LPV (Tmax) (3.88 ± 0.23) h,maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) (10.36 ± 3.42) mg/L,minimum plasma concentration (Cmin) (2.18 ± 0.34) mg/L,the 24 h area under plasma-concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) (116.22 ± 15.68) mg · h · L-1,half life(T1/2) (4.5 ± 0.13) h,and clearance rate (CL/F) (3.44 ± 1.34) L/h respectively.Conclusions The pharmacokinetic profiles of LPV in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients demonstrate lower Cmin than those of reported studies,while other parameters are similar.Patients should be educated for compliance based on the narrow gap between Cmin and minimum effect concentration.

Objective To investigate the effects of tagged fluid and substraction in CT virtual colonoscopy (CTVC) on the conspicuity of polyps and to confirm the optimal attenuation value and the optimal viewing window. Methods Polyps measured 3-10 mm were created in fresh porcine colon in vitro and submerged in saline and mixed with positive contrast medium for the CT values of 200 HU, 400 Hu, 600 HU, and 800 HU. Polyps were measured before and after substraction and compared with those in the control group. The effects of different viewing windows and different attenuation values on the measurement and conspicuity of polyps were analyzed. Results The optimal attenuation value of tagged fluid was 800 HU and the optimal viewing window was colon (-150 HU, 1 500 HU) and bone (500 HU, 2 500 HU). Conclusion The combination of tagged fluid and CT substraction can improve the conspicuity of small polyps covered by colonic fluid.