OBJECTIVETo explore the scavenging action of tenuigenin (TEN) on intracerebral amyloid β protein (Aβ) aggregation and the abnormal phosphorylated tau protein and its mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats' brain.

METHODSAβ1-40 was injected into the right CA1 region hippocampus to establish the AD model. Successfully modeled rats were divided into the model group, the low, middle, high TEN group. Rats were administered with TEN (18.5, 37.0, 74.0 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Besides, a sham-operation group was set up. Expression levels of Aβ1-40 and Tau p-Ser262 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-protein ligase E3 were measured by Western blotting.The content of 26S proteasome was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results showed that the number of Aβ and Tau p-Ser262 positively reacted neurons significantly increased in model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed expression levels of ubiquitinated protein were up-regulated and those of Ub-protein ligase E3 were down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). ELISA results showed that the content of 26S proteasome significantly decreased in AD rats' brain (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, expression levels of Aβ1-40, Tau p-Ser262, and Ub significantly decreased; expression levels of Ub-protein ligase E3 apparently increased; the content of 26S proteasome significantly increased in each TEN treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Best effect was shown in 37.0 mg/kg and 74.0 mg/kg TEN groups.

CONCLUSIONSUb proteasome pathway (UPP) participated in the occurrence of AD. TEN could obviously reduce intracere- bral Aβ1-40 accumulation and abnormal tau phosphorylation.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins

To establish the online two-dimensional liquid chromatography by using double gradient liquid chromatography system and UV detector, in order to simultaneously determine the content of paeoniflorin, paenol, amygdaloside and cinnamic acid. A pump of the two-dimensional liquid chromatography was adopted as the one-dimensional separation pump. C18 (3.0 mm x 150 mm, 3 microm) was used as the analytical column, with acetonitrile as the organic phase and 0.08% phosphoric acid + 0.08% triethylamine as the aqueous phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). Another pump of the two-dimensional liquid chromatography was adopted as the two-dimensional separation pump. PAII C18 was used as the analytical column, with acetonitrile as the organic phase and 20 mmol, pH 3.0 monopotassium phosphate as the aqueous phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelengths were set at 218, 230, 275 nm by using wavelength time-switching program. The linearity range of paeoniflorin, amygdaloside, paeonol and cinnamic acid were 5.55-222 (r = 0.999 7), 6.6-264 (r = 0.999 8), 3.3-132 (r = 0.999 5) and 0.315-12.6 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 7), respectively. The average recoveries of the four components were between 96.12% and 103.9%. The experiment proved that this method was so rapid and accurate in determination results that it could be used for evaluating drug quality.
Capsules ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Online Systems ; Time Factors

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genomics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; genetics

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of procalcitonin(PCT) in early diagnosis of neonatal infections.Methods Rapid hemi-quantitative immunoassay was used to measure PCT levels in 196 hospitalized neonates, who were divided into sepsis group,(local-)infection group, virus-infection group and non-infection group.Results If plasma PCT≥0.5 ?g/L was taken as positive,the positive rates in sepsis group,local-infection,virus-infection,non-infection group were 87.87%,41.66 %,12.0%,11.11%,respectively.The positive rate of sepsis group was significantly higher than that of the other 3 groups(all P

Objective To explore the relationship bet-ween air pollution and acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage in Hangzhou.Methods Time-stratified case-crossover study was used to analyze the effect of aerosol optical depth(AOD),PM10,SO2 and NO2 on the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage.Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios(Ors) and their 95% confidence intervals(Cis) in relation to an increase of one unit of AOD and 10 μg/m3 of air pollutants.Results After adjusted temperature and relative humidity,the Ors of acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage by a unit increase in AOD at a 2 day-lag were 1.727(95%CI:1.103-2.703)in first half year and 2.412 (95%CI:1.230-4.733) at a 2 day-lag in spring.For a 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2,the Ors were 1.119(95% CI:1.019-1.229),1.230(95%CI:1.092-1.386),1.254(95%CI:1.076-1.460) in the whole year(2 day-lag),in first half year(2 day-lag) and in spring(2 day-lag),respectively.NO2 exposure in first half year(2 day-lag) was associated with cerebral hemorrhage,with OR as 0.841(95% CI:0.734-0.964).However,there were no statistical significances for AOD,SO2,NO2 in the rest time-periods(P>0.05).Additionally,no association was found between PM10 and the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage in any time-periods(P>0.05).Conclusion Our data showed that there was association between air pollution and the acute onset of cerebral hemorrhage,especially in spring and in the first half of the year.

OBJECTIVETo explore relationship between volume of bone cement injection and concurrent of fracture after thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture treated by percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP).

METHODSFrom January 2006 to December 2008,68 patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture treated by PKP were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 30 patients with less than 3 ml bone cement injection (mean 2.5 ml, low group), including 11 males and 19 females, with an average age of (85.0 +/- 8.5) years (ranging for 60 to 91); 38 cases with over 4 ml bone cement injection (mean 4.5 ml, large group), including 15 males and 23 females,with an average age of (86.0 +/- 9.2) years (ranging for 60 to 93). Factors of concurrent vertebral fractures were observed during follow-up.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 3.4 to 5.1 years with an average of 3.8 years. Thirteen patients (43.3%) co-occurred fracture in low group,among which strengthened concurrent vertebral fracture occurred in 1 case,upper and lower section adjacent vertebral fracture in 8 cases,distal segment of vertebral fracture in 4 cases; while 18 patients (47.3%) co-occurred fracture in large group,among which strengthened concurrent vertebral fracture occurred in 2 cases, upper and lower section adjacent vertebral fracture in 10 cases,distal segment of vertebral fracture in 6 cases. No significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBone cement injection is not main influence factors for treating concurrent of fracture after thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture by PKP. Concurrent fracture mainly relates with progress of osteoporosis, the volume of injection volume may appropriately over the volume of balloon.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections ; Kyphoplasty ; adverse effects ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective:To summarize our experience on perioperative anesthesia management of patients with crush syndrome caused by earthquake under field condition.Methods:The clinical anesthesia data of 10 patients with crush syndrome caused by China Wenchuan earthquake,who were treated under field condition,were retrospectively analyzed,and our experience on perioperative anesthesia management was summarized.Results:After volume therapy,urine alkalization,and stabilization of internal environment,the 10 patients underwent dehridement,decompression by fasciotomy or amputation under epidural anesthesia or brachial plexus block plus psychological therapy and moderate tranquillizer.During the operation,the patients showed smooth respiratory and cardiovascular characteristics without pain.Conclusion:Under field condition,regional anesthesia can provide adequate analgesic effect during and after the surgery.Early fluid resuscitation and life support are vital to the safety and life of patients.

Objective To assess the efficacy of two antibiotic prophylactic regimens in a prospective randomized trial in 1 year for patients undergoing insertion of catheters,and to provide the evidence for uniform consensus existing on the timing,route,and choice of antibiotic.Methods During a period of 12 months,78 patients,who consecutively entered the peritoneal dialysis programme,[45 women and 33 men,mean age (48.2?15.7)years] were included.The prophylactic regimens were a single dose of ceftriaxone (1.0 g) given intravenously 30 minutes before surgery (Group A) and given cefazolin (0.25 g/L) i.p.in the each dialysis bag for 3 days postoperatively (Group B).All operations were performed in one room.The wound was observed every day,and body temperature,Count of white blood corpuscle and type,dialysate were examined every day. Results In Group A and B,none of the patients showed peritonitis or wound infection during the post-operative period (within 10 days).One of 39 patients(2.5%) in the group A,and 2 of 39 patients (5.1%) in the group B had exit site infection (P＞0.05).Conclusions There is no significant difference in the incidence of peritonitis and wound infection between two groups. Prophylactic preoperative single-dose antibiotics intravenously do as well as antibiotics given intraperitoneally for peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion,but is much more convenient.

OBJECTIVEBased on two sets of data from occupational epidemiology, Benchmark dose (BMD) was applied to estimate biological exposure limit (BEL).

METHODSCadmium exposed workers were selected from a cadmium smelting and a zinc products factory and control group was selected from doctors or nurses and staff from shops living in the same area; Urinary cadmium (UCd) was used as exposure biomarker and urinary beta(2) microglobulin (UBM), NAG (UNAG) and albumin (UALB) were as effect biomarkers. All urine parameters were adjusted by urinary creatinine. Software of BMDS (Version 1.3.2, EPA.U.S) was used to calculate BMD.

RESULTSCalculated abnormal prevalence was based on the upper limit of 95% of effect biomarkers in control group; There are significant dose response relationship between the prevalence of effect biomarkers (UBM, UNAG and UALB) and exposure biomarker (UCd); BEL was 5 microg/g creatinine for UBM as effect biomarker, It consists with the recommendation of WHO; BEL was 3 microg/g creatinine for UNAG as effect biomarker; BEL can be estimated by using the method of BMD; the more sensitive biomarker would used, the more occupational people would protected.

CONCLUSIONThe application of BMD in estimating biological exposure limit (BEL) is proper. UNAG is suggested as most sensitive biomarker to be used to estimate BEL for cadmium exposure.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Albuminuria ; urine ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Cadmium ; adverse effects ; urine ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Reference Values ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the usefulness of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in clinical diagnosis and screening for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTotally 290 HCC patients, 48 liver cirrhosis patients, and 49 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum AFP analysis was performed to investigate the correlation between the serum AFP level in HCC and the clinical or biochemical parameters of the disease, which included the size and number of tumor and the TNM stage. Sensitivities and specificities of AFP in HCC prediction at different cut-off levels were determined.

RESULTSThe serum AFP level was significantly higher in HCC patients than in liver cirrhosis patients (P = 0.0274) and healthy subjects (P = 0.0001). Among 290 HCC patients, 95 patients (32.8%) were AFP-negative (AFP < 20 microg/L), 195 (67.2%) were AFP-positive (AFP > or =20 microg/L). Sensitivity and specificity of AFP at 20 microg/L cut-off was 67.2% and 29.2%, respectively, and the positive and negative predictive value was 85.2% and 12.8%, respectively. Sensitivity of AFP at 400 microg/L cut-off was only 42.8%. Serum AFP levels were significantly different among HCC with different tumor size (P = 0.0009), tumor number (P = 0.0001), and TNM stage [TNM I vs. TNM III-IV (P = 0.0001); TNM II vs. TNM III-IV (P = 0.0003)].

CONCLUSIONSIncreased serum AFP level is highly suggestive in HCC diagnosis. Combined with other imaging examinations, AFP level can be used for the screening of high risk population and for the follow-up of AFP-positive patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis