To detect the in vitro probe microdialysis recoveries based on an HPLC-DAD method for simultaneous quantification of nine active ingredients (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, amygdalin, liquiritin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid) in Mahuang decoction, which provides reference for in vivo pharmacokinetic study. The concentrations of nine active ingredients in dialysate were detected by HPLC-DAD, to investigate the effect of flow rates (incremental method and subtraction method) and intraday stability of the probe recoveries and medium concentrations on the recoveries. Nine active ingredients could be well separated in 52 min. At the perfusion rate of 1.0 μL x min(-1), the relative recoveries of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, amygdalin, liquiritin, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid were (50.95 ± 0.82)%, (52.74 ± 1.13)%, (51.29 ± 0.51)%, (32.56 ± 0.84)%, (45.36 ± 0.83)%, (70.94 ± 0.99)%, (69.98 ± 2.30)%, (71.68 ± 0.63)%, and (22.14 ± 0.48)%, respectively. And the probe kept steady in 7 hours. At the same medium concentration, the probe recoveries decreased exponentially with the increase in flow rates. The recoveries of seven ingredients detected by these two methods were similar at certain flow rates, except for amygdalin and cinnamaldehyde. At the same flow rate, the relative recoveries of cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid and cinnamaldehyde changed greatly (9.55%-16.2%) and the others six ingredients had less change (3.27%-5.71%) with the changes in medium concentrations. Microdialysis method could be used to detect the in vitro recoveries of nine ingredients in Mahuang decoction. Reverse dialysis method could be used for the in vivo probe recovery calibration of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylephedrine, liquiritin, cinnamyl alcohol and cinnamic acid at the flow rate of 2.0 μL x min(-1).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ephedra sinica ; chemistry ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Molecular Structure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of burn pathogens and their antibiotic resistance in a burn unit, so as to provide reference for clinical practice.

METHODSThree hundred and forty-eight burn patients hospitalized in our department were enrolled in this study. The pathogens isolated from the wounds, blood, venous catheter, sputum, urine, purulent discharge of wounds in these patients, and their antibiotic resistance were surveyed by retrospective analysis from Jan, 2001 to Dec, 2006.

RESULTSTotal-ly 464 strains were isolated, among which Gram negative (G-) bacilli accounted for 52.6%, Gram positive microorganisms (G+) accounted for 40.5%, and fungi accounted for 6.9%. The main pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species and Escherichia coli, among which Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was predominant (93.5%). MRSA was 100% resistant to levofloxacin, penicillium, oxacillin, and it was also resistant to other antibiotics except Vancomycin. The resistance rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Cefoperazone/Sulbactam, Imipenem and cefepime were 15.8%, 36.8%, 33.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONStaphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species and Escherichia coli were predominant in the burn unit,among them Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter were more resistant to antibiotics.

Acinetobacter baumannii ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Burn Units ; Burns ; microbiology ; Cross Infection ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predictive value of the adenosine triphosphate-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) in the chemotherapy applied in primary epithelial ovarian cancer (PEOC), and to analyze if the neoadjuvant chemotherapy have any influence on the postoperative chemosensitivity.

METHODSATP-TCA results from 61 PEOC specimens were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into sensitive group and resistant group according to the ATP-TCA results. Sensitive index (SI) was applied to analyze the ATP-TCA results. The correlation between in vitro results and clinical outcome was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTSSI set at > 250 had the highest test sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 91.6%, 73.9%, 84.6% and 85.0%, respectively. The ATP-TCA results had significant correlation with clinical outcome (chi(2) = 26.9, P < 0.001). Patients with tumors shown to be resistant had a higher risk of recurrence in comparison with those who were tested as sensitive (P = 0.030, OR = 0.033, 95%CI 0.002 approximately 0.724). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of in vitro-sensitive patients were 26 months and 39 months, respectively, significantly longer than those in the in vitro drug-resistant group of patients (PFS 10 months and OS 25 months) (both P < 0.01). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a significant correlation with the clinical chemoresistance (chi(2) = 15.214, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONATP-TCA assay may effectively predict the chemosensitivity of primary ovarian cancer, and predict the early recurrence of the tumor.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of BRCA1, ERCC1, TUBB3 and PRR13 mRNA and their relationship with clinical chemosensitivity in primary ovarian cancer, and to assess the predictive value of joint detection of both BRCA1 and ERCC1 genes for the treatment of primary ovarian cancer.

METHODSPrimary epithelial ovarian tumor samples were collected from 46 patients who underwent cytoreductive surgery. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to analyze the relative expression of BRCA1, ERCC1, TUBB3 and PRR13 mRNA in those cases. The correlation of clinical chemosensitivity and the test results was statistically analyzed. The efficacy of the joint prediction of clinical chemosensitivity by combining the two drug resistance gene detection was evaluated.

RESULTSThe BRCA1 mRNA relative expression logarithm in the clinical-resistant group was 0.673±2.143, and clinical-sensitive group -1.436±2.594 (P=0.008). The ERCC1 mRNA relative expression logarithm in the clinical-resistant group was -0.529±1.982 and clinical-sensitive group -3.188±2.601 (P=0.001). BRCA1 and ERCC1 expression level is negatively correlated with platinum-based chemosensitivity. The PRR13 expressions in the two groups were not significantly different (P=0.074), and the TUBB3 expressions between the two groups were also not significantly different (P=0.619). When the intercept point value BRCA1 mRNA expression logarithm was -0.6, the predictive sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 73.3%, 75.0%, 84.6% and 60.0%, respectively, with the best comprehensive assessment. When the intercept point value of ERCC1 mRNA expression logarithm was -1, the predictive sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 80.0%, 68.8%, 82.8% and 64.7%, respectively, with the best comprehensive assessment. The combination detection of BRCA1 and ERCC1 can improve the chemotherapeutic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value to 86.7%, 68.8%, 83.9% and 73.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSBRCA1 and ERCC1 mRNA expression has a negative correlation with the clinical sensitivity of platinum-based chemotherapy. Combination detection of the two drug-resistance associated genes can improve the predictive efficacy of ovarian cancer chemosensitivity and beneficial to individual treatment of ovarian cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; BRCA1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; surgery ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; surgery ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tubulin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the incidence rates of both typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever in the high prevalent areas of Guizhou province so as to provide evidence for the development of programs on comprehensive intervention and effectiveness evaluation.

METHODSSix townships in Pingba county were selected as intervention areas while six townships in Kaiyang county were taken as control. All hospitals and clinics were classified into A, B and C types according to its level and the capacity of the blood culture. Surveillance on typhoid and paratyphoid fever was conducted based on all population and all hospitals, clinics and county CDCs among the patients with unknown fever.

RESULTSIn the surveillance area in those two counties, there were 12 944 blood samples from patients with unknown fever which have been tested and cultured. Among them, 200 strains of Salmonella including 16 typhoid strains, 184 paratyphoid A strains were identified, with the total positive rate as 1.55%. The positive rate before the intervention program was higher than the after. The detection rate was 1.91% in the type A hospitals. 39 strains of Salmonella have been cultured from 2039 samples which accounting for 19.50% (39/200) of the total strains. 4315 blood samples were cultured at the 'Class B' sites which isolated 82 strains of Salmonella, accounting for 41.00% (82/200), with a detection rate as 1.90%. 6590 samples were cultured at the 'Class C' sites, which identified 79 strains of Salmonella, accounting for 39.50% (79/200), with a detection rate as 1.20%. The detection rate was much higher before the use of antibiotics than after using them (P < 0.05). The annual peak time of positive detection was in spring and fall. The outbreaks or epidemics often appeared in the same places, with farmers, students as the high-risk populations. Symptoms of both typhoid and paratyphoid fever were not typical.

CONCLUSIONTyphoid and paratyphoid monitoring programs which covered primary health care institutions in the high incidence area seemed to be effective in reflecting the pictures as well as the burden of both typhoid and paratyphoid.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Fever ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paratyphoid Fever ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Population Surveillance ; Salmonella paratyphi A ; isolation & purification ; Salmonella typhi ; isolation & purification ; Typhoid Fever ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of adenosine triphosphate-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) in individualized treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (REOC), and to evaluate the correlation between the in vitro chemosensitivity assay and clinical drug sensitivity.

METHODSSixty-nine REOC specimens were tested by ATP-TCA assay retrospectively. The patients were divided into strong sensitive, moderate sensitively and resistant groups according to the ATP-TCA assay results. The clinical results were evaluated according to imaging and serum CA125 analysis. The correlation between in vitro ATP-TCA assay and clinical outcome was statistically analyzed by χ(2) test. The progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of each group were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSThe results of ATP-TCA assay had significant correlation with clinical outcome. The clinical chemotherapy outcome became better with increased drug sensitivity in vitro (χ(2) = 9.066, P = 0.004). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy rate for ATP-TCA method to predict the clinical chemotherapy sensitivity of REOC were 87.5%, 45.9%, 58.3%, 80.9% and 65.2%, respectively. The mean PFS of strong sensitive group, moderately sensitive group and resistant group were 187.1 days, 195.0 days and 60.3 days, respectively. The mean OS were 476.7, 335.7 and 237.5 days, respectively, following the start of TCA-directed therapy. The PFS and OS of the two sensitivity groups in vitro were significantly longer than that of the in vitro-resistant group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results of ATP-TCA assay are well correlated with clinical treatment responses. The assay may be an important and useful method for individualized chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Survival Rate ; Topotecan ; administration & dosage

Purpose: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and has poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. The lack of effective therapy has spurred our investigation of new targets for treating this malignant cancer. Here, we identified RON (macrophage-stimulating 1 receptor) and MET (MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase) as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic targets for potential TNBC treatment. Materials and Methods: We analyzed RON and MET expression in 187 primary TNBC clinical samples with immunohistochemistry. We validated the targeted therapeutic effects of RON and MET in TNBC using three tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): BMS-777607, INCB28060, and tivantinib. The preclinical therapeutic efficacy of the TKIs was mainly estimated using a TNBC xenograft model. Results: Patients with TNBC had widespread, abnormal expression of RON and MET. There was RON overexpression, MET overexpression, and RON and MET co-overexpression in 63 (33.7%), 63 (33.7%), and 43 cases (23.0%), respectively, which had poor prognosis and short survival. In vivo, the TKI targeting RON ant MET inhibited the activation of the downstream signaling molecules, inhibited TNBC cell migration and proliferation, and increased TNBC cell apoptosis; in the xenograft model, they significantly inhibited tumor growth and shrank tumor volumes. The TKI targeting RON and Met, such as BMS-777607 and tivantinib, yielded stronger anti-tumor effects than INCB28060. Conclusion RON and MET co-overexpression can be significant pathological characteristics in TNBC for poor prognosis. TKIs targeting RON and MET have stronger drug development potential for treating TNBC.

In the present paper,after the febrile rat model was prepared by injecting yeast,orthogonally compatible effective components from prescription drugs of Mahuang Decoction( Ephedra sinica total alkaloids,Cinnamomum cassia essential oil,amygdalin,Glycyrrhiza uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponins) with nine different dosage ratios were given by gavage administration.The plasma concentrations of main active ingredients including ephedrine hydrochloride,pseudoephedrine hydrochloride,methylephedrine hydrochloride,cinnamic acid,amygdalin,liquritin and glycyrrhizin at different time points were analyzed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer( LC-MS). Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters of non-compartmental model,the area under curve of total quantum( AUCt) and the mean chromatographic retention time of total quantum( MRTt) were further calculated,in order to evaluate the effect of compatibility on the total statistical moment parameters. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of main active components in febrile rats were significantly different after treatment with orthogonally compatibility of E. sinica total alkaloids,C.cassia essential oil,amygdalin,G. uralensis total flavonoids and G. uralensis total saponins. Orthogonal analysis confirmed that different compatibility components had different effects on the total statistical moment parameters. The contribution of effective components of Mahuang Decoction to AUCtwas as follows in a descending order: E. sinica total alkaloids>C. cassia essential oil>amygdalin>G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin,while the contribution to MRTtwas: E. sinica total alkaloids >G. uralensis total flavonoids+G. uralensis total saponin>amygdalin>C. cassia essential oil. The E. sinica total alkaloid had the greatest effects on both of the above parameters,and the optimal combination was A_3B_3C_2D_1 for AUCt,and A_1B_1C_1D_1 for MRTt.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedra sinica ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacokinetics ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats

Objective: To establish and evaluate a method of enriching bacteriophages in natural water based on ferric trichloride-polyvinylidene fluoride (FeCl₃-PVDF)membrane filter. Methods: Based on the principle of flocculation concentration, the method of recovering bacteriophage from water sample was established by using iron ion flocculation combined with membrane filter. The titer of phage was determined by Agar double layer method. The recovery efficiency of phage was detected by phage fluorescence staining and real-time fluorescence PCR reaction. Water samples from different sources were collected for simulation experiment to evaluate the enrichment effect. At the same time, the sewage discharged from hospitals was taken as the actual water sample, and the common clinical drug-resistant bacteria were used as the host indicator bacteria to further analyze the enrichment effect of FeCl₃-PVDF membrane filter rapid enrichment method on the bacteriophage in natural water samples. Results: The method of enrichment of bacteriophages in natural water by iron ion concentration 50 mg/L and PVDF membrane filter was established. The recovery rate of this method for bacteriophage was 93%-100%. Under the multi-functional microscope, it was found that the bacteriophage of the enriched water sample increased significantly and the fluorescence value of the enriched water sample determined by the enzyme labeling instrument was about 13 times as high as that before enrichment. After concentration of the actual water samples from the hospital drainage, the positive rate of bacteriophage isolation in the concentrated group and the non-concentrated group was 23% and 4%, and the fluorescence value in the concentrated group was 2-24 times as high as that of the non-concentrated group. Conclusion: The method of FeCl₃-PVDF membrane filter is a simple, efficient and rapid method for enriching bacteriophages in different water samples.
Humans ; Bacteriophages ; Bacteria ; Iron ; Iron, Dietary ; Water