Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; HIV ; pathogenicity ; Hepacivirus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male ; Sulfonamides ; therapeutic use

The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To study the relationship between environmental chemical elements,vires infection and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM).Methods In 2008,233 patients with DCM(case group)and 150 patient with stable angina(control group)were chosen in Liaocheng People's Hospital and Yanggu People's Hospital,Shandong province.Population distribution and disease history were surveyed in the two groups.Human myocardial antibody IgG(AMA-IgG),Coxsackie B virus IgG(CBV-IgG),Adenofirus antibody IgG(ADV-IgG)were detected by ELISA in both the case group and the control group.Serum trace elements were detected in the two groups.The general chemical and toxicological indicators in drinking water of the high-and the low-incidence aireas of the disease were control group[60.00%(90/150),χ2=13.80,P<0.01)].Per capita annual income(Yuan,RMB)in the case group (3207.82±618.51)was lower than that of the control group[(5086.61±886.12),t=24.40,P<0.01].Personal alcohol consumption in the case group[(175.00±160.50)g/d]was higher than that of the control group[(110.22±100.03)g/d,t=4.40,P<0.01)].The rate of myocarditis in the case group[5.15%(12/233)]was higher than ADV-IgG in the cage group were 7.78%(7/90),6.67%(6/90)and 6.67%(6/90),respectively.Compared with those in the control group[3.33%(2/60),5.00%(3/60)and 5.00%(3/60),χ2=1.26,0.18,0.18,all P>0.05],no mg/L]in drinking water of the high-incidence areas were significantly higher than that of iron[(0.39±0.67)mg/L,t=2.11,P<0.05]and that of manganese[(0.15±0.14)mg/L,t=3.01,P<0.01]in the low-incidence arefas.The content of semm iron[(69.1±57.8)μmol/L]in the case group evidently exceeded the normal range(15.6-35.9 μmol/L)and obviously higher than that in the control group[(20.0±17.5)μmol/L,t=5.04,P<0.01].Conclusions Theso data do not support that DCM is related with persistent virus infection and autoimmunization.DCM is probably related with low incomes,high alcohol consumption,myocarditis,high iron and manganese contents in drinking water and high content of serum iron.

Objective Toinvestigatetheprevalenceofurinaryincontinenceanditseffectonlifequalityamongfemale adultsinHangzhou,andtoprovideevidencetothecontroloffemaleurinaryincontinence.Methods Aquestionnaire survey was performed in Gongshu and Xiacheng districts in Hangzhou from October 2013 to June 2014,and 4 563 women aged over 20 years were interviewed through a questionnaire including International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Lower Urinary Tract,IQ-FLUTS and demographic information.Single and multi factor logistic regression analysiswereusedtoanalyzetheriskfactorsofurinaryincontinence.Results Atotalof4785questionnairesweresent, and 4 563 effective questionnaires were recovered,with a recovery rate of 95.4%.The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 33.5%(1 530/4 563),and female with older age tended to have a higher prevalence of UI(P<0.01).Among which stress urinary incontinence (SUI ),urge incontinence (UUI )and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI ) were accounted for 20.2%(922/4 563),3.0%(135/4 563)and 10.3%(473/4 563)respectively.UUI and MUI had a greater effect on quality of life.According to the multi factor logistic regression analysis,gravidity,age,constipation,pelvic surgery and fat (BMI>24)wereriskfactorsforurinaryincontinence(P<0.05).Conclusion Becauseofthehighprevalenceofurinary incontinence among female adults,more attention should be paid to urinary incontinence suffers in order to improve the quality of life of female adults.

Objective To study the clinical value of microvascular decompression(MVD)through the retrosigmoid approach in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia. Methods The clinical data of 769 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia undergoing MVD through the retrosigmoid approach was retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the treatment. Results MVD was accomplished in 769 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia.Neuralgia was totally relieved in 743 patients,significantly relieved in 17 patients and not relieved in 9 patients after the treatment.Operative mortality occurred in none ofthe cases.The patients were followed up for 6 to 180 months,during which period 46 patients were found to experience recurrent neuralgia,and 9 ofthem wgre cured after a second operation. Conclusion MVD is a safe and effective surgical approach causing minimal invasiveness and lower recurrence rate, and can serve as the primary option for treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia.

BACKGROUND: Yaotu Granules have been proved to protect human nucleus pulposus cells and delay their degeneration. Notably, Yaotu Granules for lumbar disc herniation has achieved good clinical results.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the herbal compound formula Yaotu Granules on the Fas/FasL expression in a rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration, and further elucidate the underling mechanism of preventing and treating lumbar disc degeneration.METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled and the models of lumbar disc degeneration were established by minimally invasive puncture and rotation cutting, followed by randomized into normal saline, low-, middle-,and high-dose groups (n=5 per group). 10 mL of normal saline, 10, 20, and 40 mL of water decoction of Yaotu Granules were administered intragastrically into the normal saline, low-, middle-, and high-dose drug groups for 21 days, twice daily, respectively. Subsequently, the expression level of Fas/FasL in the rabbit nucleus pulposus cells in each group was detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The signal intensity of the rabbit lumbar disc on MRI was decreased, and ruptured annulus and posterior herniated disc were visible at 12 weeks after modeling. Masson staining showed that the nucleus pulposus cells arranged in disorder, and even ruptured. Additionally, safranin O staining found that the number of nucleus pulposus cells was decreased obviously. The order of the relative expression levels of Fas and FasL mRNA in the nucleus pulposus cells was as follows: normal saline group > low-dose drug group > middle-dose drug group > high-dose drug group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that Yaotu Granules delay the rabbit lumbar disc degeneration by downregulating the expression level of Fas/FasL.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and potential renal impairment of one-year combination therapy de novo of adefovir dipivoxil(ADV) and lamivudine(LMV) for decompensated cirrhosis related to HBV. Methods A total of 36 patients with decompensated cirrhosis related to HBV, nobody had nucleos(t)ide analogs(NAs) treatment history, were recruited and were divided into two group(control group and observation group) randomly. A monotherapy of LMV (100 mg per day ) was selected to individuals in control group(n = 18), in contrast, a combination therapy de novo of ADV( 10 mg per day) and LMV( 100 mg per day) was applied to those in observation group( n = 18). Basic approaches including liver protection, symptom-driven intervention, and supporting therapy, were given to all of the individuals. A course of one year was applied to all. Liver function, Child-Pugh score, serum creatinine(sCr) level,virological response(VR) rate, and virological breakthrough rate were observed pro- and post- treatment, differences between the two populations were analysed statistically. Results ( 1 ) The averages of gender,age, HBeAg status, HBV viral load, sCr level, and Child-Pugh score were all compatible in the two groupsat baseline( P ~ 0. 05 for all). (2) At the endpoint of treatment, none of deaths was reported. Comparing with the status before treatment in each group itself, liver function, Child-Pugh score, and viral load were improved statistically (P <0. 01 for all), especially in observed group( P <0. 01 for all variables, vs control group), as for VR rate, result is significant superior to that of control group too(88. 89% vs 66. 67% , P <0.05). (3) Virological breakthrough occurred to none in observed group and three cases (16. 67% ) in control group, all of them were confirmed to be rtM204V variant in the following detection of direct sequencing. (4) Elevated level of sCr didn't arised at the end of treatment in two groups. Conclusion Present study reveals that in populations with decompensated cirrhosis related to HBV, one-year combination therapy de novo of ADV and LMV is superior to monotherapy of LMV, and the renal safety is favorable within one year.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical classification method of keloids and providing a thread for the treatment of keloids.

METHODSTo summarize the 600 cases of keloid patients we accepted and diagnosed from November 2004 to October 2012, and filling in keloid patients information sheet, recording the keloids form by photographs, analyzing the treatment, putting forward the classification method of keloids in clinic.

RESULTSAccording to the position and quantity that keloids grow, the keloid patients are divided into four major categories:one in single site, one in each site, more than one in single site and more than one in each site; According to the area and thickness of keloids, the keloid single lesion is divided into four subclasses: type of small area and thin, type of small area and thick, type of large areas and thin,type of large areas and thick; According to the number of lesions, keloid multiple lesions is divided into two subgenera: isolated multiple and dispersion multiple, different kinds of keloids suit different methods of treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical classification method of keloids can be used to provide thought for the treatment of keloids, and have a good application value.

Humans ; Keloid ; classification ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the subcellular localization of Rac1 and the expression of Tiam1 and Rac1 in gastric carcinoma, in order to reveal the relationship between the distribution of Rac1 and progression of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSBoth carcinoma and adjacent normal tissue of 48 patients with gastric carcinoma were studied in this study. Tissue distribution and expression of Rac1 and Tiam1 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSCompared with that of adjacent non-cancerous gastric mucosa, the expression of Rac1 in cancer tissues was significantly increased. The positive rate of Rac1 expression was 18.8% (9/48 cases) in adjacent non-neoplastic gastric and 79.2% (38/48 cases) in cancer tissues. The positive staining was mainly located in the cell nuclei (31 samples). The real-time PCR results demonstrated that the expression levels of Tiam1 and Rac1 mRNA in cancerous tissues with nuclear localization of Rac1 were evidently increased. Furthermore, nuclear localization of Rac1 was associated with tumor stage and metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSThe majority of gastric cancer tissues show nuclear dislocalization of Rac1 expression, which may be a sign of abnormal activation of Tiam1-Rac1 pathway. It may suggest enhanced invasion ability of the gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1 ; rac1 GTP-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and the localization of Cathepsin K and IL-6 mRNA in root-resorbing tissue and to elucidate the molecular changes and mechanism of root resorption induced by tooth movement.

METHODSRats were subject to experimental tooth movement to induce root resorption. In situ hybridization was performed to identify the cells in root-resorbing tissue that produced Cathepsin K or IL-6 the difference of CK mRNA or IL-6 mRNA expression between root resorption group and control group was calculated by t-test.

RESULTSCathepsin K mRNA was highly and selectively expressed in multinuclear odontoclast and IL-6 mRNA expressed in fibroblast, osteoblast, osteocyte and cementoblast. The expression of Cathepsin K mRNA and IL-6 mRNA in root-resorbing tissue increased evidently compared with the normal periodontium.

CONCLUSIONSOdontoclast in the root-resorbing tissue expresses Cathepsin K mRNA that participates in proteolysis during root resorption. IL-6 plays a very important role in the root resorption as a multifunctional cytokine.

Animals ; Cathepsin K ; Cathepsins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Osteoclasts ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; Tooth Resorption ; enzymology