Objective:To investigate the in vivo absorption kinetics of caffeine at different intestine segments in rats.Methods: The rat intestine was cannulated for in situ recirculation.The absorption kinetics of caffeine,including the absorption segments of intestine,drug concentration and pH value,were investigated in all the rats under light anesthesia.Ultraviolet light spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to determine the concentrations of phenol red and caffeine,respectively.Results: The absorption rate constants(Ka) of caffeine in the small intestine at the concentrations of 2.5,5,10 and 25 mg?L-1 were 0.252,0.247,0.304 and 0.232 h-1,respectively.The Ka values at pH of 7.8,6.8,and 5.4 were 0.267,0.274 and 0.247 h-1,respectively.The Ka values in the duodenum,jejunum,ileum,and colon were 0.112,0.099,0.095 and 0.069 5 h-1,respectively.Conclusion: Concentration and pH value have no obvious effect on the absorption kinetics of caffeine.Caffeine can be better absorbed in the duodenum,jejunum and ileum than in the colon.The absorption of caffeine in the intestine is a first-order process through passive diffusion mechanism.

OBJECTIVETo inquire into the relationship between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene D9N, N291S and S447X polymorphisms and the development of cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RLFP) techniques were used to detect three common mutations of LPL gene exon D9N, N291S and S447X in 157 obese children and 175 normal controls. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels between children with different genotypes were compared.

RESULTSThe D9N and N291S gene mutations were not detected in either the obese or the control groups. There were no significant differences in the frequency of S447X gene mutation between the two groups. There were no significant differences in the levels of plasma lipid and lipoprotein between children with S447 and X447 genotypes.

CONCLUSIONSD9N and N291S gene mutations may not be risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in children with obesity. S447X gene mutation might not play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseases in childhood.

Adolescent ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Obesity ; genetics ; Risk Factors

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo develop the method and investigate the value of the application of multislice helical computed tomography (CT) in the maxillofacial distraction osteogenesis.

METHODSTwelve cases of maxillofacial distraction osteogenesis (3 in zygoma, 2 in maxilla, and 7 in mandible) were scanned by the multislice helical CT, then the reconstruction of three dimensional and fault image and the relative measurement were carried out to study the effect of distraction and osteogenesis.

RESULTSThe three dimensional image provided clear and high resolution stereoscopic view that the effect of distraction osteogenesis could be evaluated easily and exactly. The fault image could be set up in private computer by Mimics and the measurements, such as distance, thickness and density, could be performed as expected. The effect of 12 cases was satisfied, and the average distracted distance was 16.73 mm.

CONCLUSIONBasing on multislice helical CT scanning, the high resolution image reconstruction and relative measurement data could be obtained which could meet the need of clear and direct observation. Its application in the maxillofacial distraction osteogenesis is expecting and promising.

Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical results of metal on metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia patients.

METHODSFrom March 2005 to December 2006, 34 cases of developmental dysplasia patients (Crowe I, Crowe II) were attempted to have metal on metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty. There were 29 females (32 hips), 5 males (5 hips). The average age was 45 (26 - 57) years old. Radiographic and clinical evaluations were taken at 6 weeks, 3 months, 1 year and then once a year postoperatively. The average Harris score was 35 (25 - 44). Hip flexion was 101 degrees , abduction 24 degrees , adduction 15 degrees .

RESULTSThree patients were turned to total hip arthroplasty during operations. Thirty-one patients (34 hips) received hip resurfacing surgery. These 31 patients were followed for average 21.4 months (12 - 33 months). The average Harris score was 94 (82 - 100) at the latest follow-up, and there was statistical difference compared with the preoperative score (P < 0.01). Hip flexion increased to 133 degrees , abduction to 48 degrees , adduction to 26 degrees . No radiolucency line was found at both acetabular and femoral sides in all the patients. The average abduction angle of acetabular cup was 43 degrees (40 degrees - 53 degrees ), and the average stem shaft angle was 139 degrees (130 degrees - 145 degrees ).

CONCLUSIONSThe short term result is excellent. While the mid to long term results for hip resurfacing arthroplasty in developmental dysplasia patients are still looking forward, and the meticulous surgical technique and strict patient selection are the key of the good results.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; surgery ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) is widely applied for the treatment of end-stage painful hip arthrosis. Traditional THA needed a long incision and caused significant soft tissue trauma. Patients usually required long recovery time after the operation. In this research we aimed to study the feasibility and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive two-incision THA.

METHODSFrom February 2004 to March 2005, 27 patients, 12 males and 15 females with a mean age of 71 years (55 - 76), underwent minimally invasive two-incision THA in our department. The patients included 9 cases of osteoarthritis, 10 cases of osteonecrosis, and 8 cases of femoral neck fracture. The operations were done with VerSys cementless prosthesis and minimally invasive instruments from Zimmer China. Operation time, blood loss, length of incision, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were observed.

RESULTSThe mean operation time was 90 minutes (80 - 170 min). The mean blood loss was 260 ml (170 - 450 ml) and blood transfusion was carried out in 4 cases of femoral neck fracture (average 400 ml). The average length of the anterior incision was 5.0 cm (4.6 - 6.5 cm) and of the posterior incision 3.7 cm (3.0 - 4.2 cm). All of the patients were ambulant the day after surgery. Nineteen patients were discharged 5 days post-operatively and 8 patients 7 days post-operatively. The patients were followed for 18 months (13 - 25 months). One patient was complicated by a proximal femoral fracture intraoperatively. No other complications, including infections, dislocations, and vascular injuries, occurred. The mean Harris score was 94.5 (92 - 96).

CONCLUSIONSTwo-incision THA has the advantage of being muscle sparing and minimally invasive with less blood loss and rapid recovery. However, this technique is time consuming, technically demanding, and requires fluoroscopy.

Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Female ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo identify antigens which may help evaluate the therapeutic effect of angiostrongyliasis from adult worm antigen of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

METHODSThe adult worm antigens of A. cantonensis were analyzed by Western blotting with the sera of rats infected with A. cantonensis before and after treatment. The sera of rats were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe antigens with relative molecular mass between 38,000 and 78,000 reacted not only with the sera of rats before treatment, but also with that after treatment. The antigens with M(r) between 190,000 and 17,000 reacted with the sera of rats before treatment but not with that after treatment; those with M(r) between 32,000 and 24,000 antigens strongly reacted with the former, but the reaction became much weakened with the latter. The AC32-IgG antibody appeared earlier than the AC-IgG, and disappeared rapidly after treatment. Six of the 10 treated rats became negative for AC-IgG as found by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONThe antigens of adult worm antigen of A. cantonensis with M(r) of 190,000, 32,000, 24,000, 17,000 and 16,000 may serve as candidate antigens for therapeutic effect evaluation of angiostrongyliasis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Antigens, Helminth ; blood ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Strongylida Infections ; diagnosis ; immunology ; parasitology

BACKGROUNDMany kinds of approaches have been used for minimally invasive surgery of total hip arthroplasty (MIS-THA). However, until now when considering the balance of efficacy and associated surgical injury there is no approach widely accepted for MIS-THA. In this study, a modified anterolateral muscle sparing approach was developed to optimize MIS-THA.

METHODSTwenty adult cadaver specimens (40 hips) were used for anatomic research. The distance from anterior origin of the gluteus medius on the iliac crest to the anterior superior iliac spine was measured; the course of the superior gluteal nerve and the distances from the nerve to the regional anatomic landmarks were recorded. Simulated surgeries were performed in three fresh cadaver specimens to evaluate the soft tissues injury around incisions. From October 2004 to June 2006, 57 patients (57 hips) were treated with anterolateral muscle sparing minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty, of which 17 were femoral neck fractures, 9 osteoarthritis, 16 developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) and 15 avascular necrosis (AVN). All the operations were performed by the same senior surgeon. Operation time, blood loss and drainage volume were recorded and the correlation between the local complications and the native anatomical characteristics was especially noted. All cases were followed for at least 12 months.

RESULTSThe distance from the anterior origin of the gluteus medius to anterior superior iliac spine along the iliac crest was (61+/-4) mm (range, 55-68 mm), and the distance from inferior branch of the superior gluteal nerve to the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter was (74+/-6) mm (range, 60-88 mm). In simulated surgeries, excessive distraction of tissue was found to be the main cause of the anterior border injury of the gluteus medius muscle. Of the 57 patients treated with anterolateral muscle sparing MIS-THA, the average incision length was 9 cm (range 7.5-13 cm). Blood transfusions were performed in 11 patients. During the operations, anterior border injury in deep layers of the gluteus medius was found in 9 patients. Posteromedial perforation of the prosthesis stem on the femoral side was found in 2 patients, which were revised immediately. No positive Trenderlenburg sign was found during the 12 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSThe incision of the anterolateral muscle sparing approach should be directed from the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter toward 6 cm posterior to the anterior superior iliac spine. The proximal part of the incision should be within 6 cm from the anterior tubercle of the greater trochanter, and it is safe to be extended distally. The anterolateral muscle sparing approach is a minimally invasive approach for total hip arthroplasty, through which the surgeon can operate on the acetabulum and femoral sides in a single incision without muscle detachment, and fluoroscopy assistance is not needed. The surgeon should pay more attention to protecting the gluteus medius from injury by distraction before femoral neck cutting and during the preparation of the femoral side.

Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; methods ; Autopsy ; Female ; Hip ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Muscle, Skeletal ; surgery

BACKGROUNDLumiracoxib is a highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor with antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities comparable with class specific drugs, but with much improved gastrointestinal safety. No studies have examined lumiracoxib for antitumorigenic activity on human nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro or its possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThe antiproliferative effect of lumiracoxib alone or combined with docetaxol on A549 and NCI-H460 lines was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Drug-drug interactions were analyzed using the coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) to characterize the interactions as synergism, additivity or antagonism. Morphological changes were observed by acridine orange fluorescent staining. Extent of apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSLumiracoxib (15 - 240 micromol/L) has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of A549 and NCI-H460 cell lines in concentration- and time-dependent manners with the IC50 values of 2597 micromol/L and 833 micromol/L, respectively. The synergistic effect was prominent when lumiracoxib (15 - 240 micromol/L) was combined with docetaxol (0.2 - 2 micromol/L) (CDI < 1). Fluorescent staining showed that lumiracoxib could induce apoptosis in A549 and NCI-H460 cells. Lumiracoxib treatment also caused an increase of the sub-G1 fraction in each cell line and resulted in an increase of G0/G1-phase cells and a decrease of S-phase cells.

CONCLUSIONSLumiracoxib had antiproliferative effect on the human nonsmall cell lung cancer cell lines A549 and NCI-H460 and had a significant synergy with docetaxol, which may be related to apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Diclofenac ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Taxoids ; pharmacology

Objective　To establish animal model for hypertrophic scar and study the characters of its morphology and collagen metabolism. Methods　A total of 64 round wounds (diameter of 6 mm each) with total skin loss were made on the ventral side of rabbit ear using a trephine. Morphology and collagen metabolism of scar wounds were studied at 14,21,35,70 and 98 days after operation, respectively. Results　There were 76% elevated scars developed (45/59 wounds) on the ventral side of rabbit ear at 21 days and 46% elevated scars disappeared (11/24) at 98 days after operation. There were numerous fibroblast proliferation and whorl-arranged collagen fibers at 21 and 35 days. The number of fibroblast decreased, but irregular-arranged fibers still presented in the elevated scars at 70 and 98 days after operation. Hydroxyproline content in elevated scars at 21 days was higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05), and at 35 days was 3 times as that in normal skin and at 98 days was also markedly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05). Conclusion　Excessive deposition of collagen is a characteristic of hypertrophic scar in rabbits. The conversion of normal scarring to hypertrophic scarring in rabbits occurs at 14～21 days after operation. Both development and regression of hypertrophic scar in rabbit are quicker than that in human.