Calomel is a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) containing mercury in clinical external application. Although the toxicity of calomel has attracted concern, there is no unified standard yet in clinical external application. Risk assessment is used for evaluating the potential health effects of hazardous substances. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the health risk of calomel in clinical external application on the basis of toxicity data, to ensure safe and rational application of TCM containing calomel. The toxicity data of transdermal administration of calomel or mercurous chloride were collected by searching the literature. The daily maximum exposure dosage of calomel in clinical external application was estimated by following the four procedures of risk assessment, and Margin of Safety (MOS) as an evaluation indicator was then calculated to evaluate the safety of calomel on clinical application. It has been reported that the adult in single transdermal administration of calomel at 1. 5 g was lethal. Based on the LOAEL of calomel for long-term transdermal exposure (1 month) in rats was 0.096 g · kg(-1) · d(-1), the NOAEL of calomel for patients (about 60 kg) by external application within 2 weeks was estimated to be 1.46 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1). When MOS value equals to 1, the daily maximum exposure of calomel in clinical external application within 2 weeks was calculated to be 1.1 g. The results suggest that daily single dose of calomel in clinical external application should be lower than 1.5 g for adults, and more attention should be paid to changes in hepatic and renal function of patients when repeated dose more than 1.1 g within 2 weeks. The approach of risk assessment could be helpful in rational application of TCM containing mercury.
Animals ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mercury Compounds ; toxicity ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Rats ; Risk Assessment

Objective To assess the effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) and the factors associated with clinical efficacy. Methods 183 patients with MG who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy from January 2011 to May 2016 were enrolled, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated based on the MGFA. Furthermore, the potential factors associated with the clinical efficacy were analyzed using univariate analysis and Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results 173 in 183 patients completed the whole follow-up. Among whom, 115 patients achieved complete stable remission (66.5%), 13 patients achieved pharmacologic remission (7.5%), 2 patients achieved minimal manifestations (1.2%), 20 patients had no changes (11.6%), 8 patients showed recurrent MG (4.6%), and 3 patients died (1.7%). Further analysis shown age (RR = 1.53, P = 0.031), pathological type of thymus (RR = 5.84, P = 0.022) and MGFA classification (RR = 3.72, P = 0.028) were main factors associated with the therapeutic efficacy. Conclusions Thoracoscopic expand resection is effective in the treatment of MG patients with satisfactory therapeutic efficacy, and age, pathological type and MGFA type were the main factors associated with the therapeutic efficacy.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide precursor(NT-proBNP) on auricular thrombosis in patients of coronary heart disease (CHD) combined with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods The clinical data of 124 patients of CHD combined with AF were analyzed retrospectively.All patients were divided into research group (60 cases,compliance with auricular thrombosis) and control group (64 cases,non-compliance with auricular thrombosis),according to the occurrence of auricular thrombosis.The values of NT-proBNP,fasting plasma glucose (FPG),postprandial plasma glucose(2 h PG),total cholesterol (TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL),high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd) and left atrial diameter (LAD) were detected and compared between two groups.The relative factors to the occurrence of auricular thrombosis were confirmed by multivariate Logistic analysis.The best cutoff point of NT-proBNP was confirmed by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).Results The values of NT-proBNP,ox-LDL,hs-CRP,LVEDd and LAD in research group were higher than those in control group [(4 312.6 ± 209.1) pmol/L vs.(3 421.6 ± 156.8) pmol/L,(4.0 ± 0.9) mmol/L vs.(3.4 ± 0.8) mmol/L,(7.4 ± 1.3)mg/L vs.(5.8 ± 1.0) mg/L,(74.3 ± 6.8) mm vs.(58.1 ± 5.5) mm,(39.6 ± 4.3) mm vs.(32.5 ± 3.8) mm],LVEF and HDL-C were lower than those in control group [(48.2 ± 3.1)％ vs.(57.3 ± 3.8)％,(0.72 ± 0.16)mmol/L vs.(1.08 ±0.27) mmol/L],and there were significant differences (P ＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the values of FPG,2 h PG and TC between two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that NT-proBNP and LAD were independent factors to the occurrence of auricular thrombosis (P =0.009,0.028).There was significant difference in the occurrence of auricular thrombosis between patients with NT-proBNP ＞ 4 250 pmol/L and patients with NT-proBNP≤4 250 pmol/L (P =0.028).Conclusion NT-proBNP is an independent predictor for the occurrence of auricular thrombosis to patients of CHD combined with AF.

Objective:To observe and identify the inhibitory effect of oncostatin M (OSM) combined with dacarbazine (DTIC) on mouse melanoma cells B16 in vitro and in vivo. Methods:The inhibitory effect of OSM combined with DTIC on the proliferation and apoptosis of B16 melanoma cell line B16 were determined through MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The change in nu-cleus morphology of B16 cells was observed under a fluorescence microscope by Hoechst staining method. The effects of single agents OSM and DTIC, as well as OSM-DTIC joint treatments, on tumor in mice in vivo were observed by inoculating B16 cells into C57 BL of six mice. Results:The OSM, DTIC, and combined OSM-DTIC treatments inhibited the proliferation of B16 cells by (11.2±2.3)%, (25.3±4.6)%, and (32.5±3.8)%, respectively (P<0.05). Apoptosis of B16 occurred at (1.32±0.42)%, (10.64±2.13)%, and (15.86±2.76)%, respectively (P<0.05). Cell morphology showed a significant increase in nuclear fragmentation, as proven by OSM-DTIC combined treatment. In the in vivo experiment, DTIC caused an apparent inhibition on the growth of mouse melanoma compared with the control group, and the joint treatment showed that the addition of OSM enhanced the tumor suppression effect of DTIC. Conclusion: OSM combined with DTIC has a synergistic effect that inhibits proliferation and apoptosis of B16 in vitro. This approach suggests a new po-tential treatment for melanoma.

Objective To evaluate ischemia preconditioning (IP) and intermittent ischemia (II) in ameliorating the incidence of paraplegia. MethodCross clamping of the infrarenal aorta in New-Zealand rabbit was used to establish a spinal cord ischemia model. 25 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. The continuous ischemia(CS) group (n=10) with the aorta clamped for 40 minutes. While in the IP group (n=6) the aorta was clamped for 3 sessions each lasting for 5 min, with 5 min interval between the sessions before 40 minutes clamping, in the Ⅱ group (n=9) the 40 min clamping was interposed by a 15 min interval. The muscle force of the lower extremity, the excitatory amino acid (EAA) in CSF, the malondiadehyde (MDA)in spinal cord and the pathology were compared between the groups.Result The muscle force of the lower extremity was better in Ⅱ and IP group than that in CS group (3.4?1.0) in Ⅱ, (3.5?0.8) in IP vs (1.3?1.4) in CS, all P

Adult ; Aged ; Cantharidin ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To characterize the association of adiponectin,leptin and free fatty acids(FFA)with adiposity,insulin resistance,lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes.Methods We measured fasting serum adiponectin,leptin,FFA,high-sensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP) levels and metabolic parameters in 77 cases of type 2 diabetic patients with or without obesity and 26 healthy subjects.Results Following parameters were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in healthy subjects: fasting serum leptin(?g/L)(4.5?3.9 vs 4.1?2.1),hsCRP(mg/L)(0.69?1.07 vs 0.33?0.47),FFA(?mol/L)(566?227 vs 391?129) and triglyceride(mmol/L)(1.61?1.02 vs 1.01?0.40);however,following parameters were significantly lower in type 2 diabetic patients than in healthy subjects: serum adiponectin(mg/L)(5.5?3.4 vs 9.1?4.1),highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)(mmol/L)(1.22?0.27 vs 1.48?0.26), apolipoprotein AI(mmol/L)(1.35?0.19 vs 1.49?0.18) and apolipoprotein AII(mmol/L)(0.29?0.07 vs 0.34?0.06) concentrations(P

Objective To detect protein PTEN in live and muscle tissue of KKAy diabetic mice and to investigate whether PTEN is associated with the insulin resistance in diabetic KKAy mice.Methods Animals were divided into normal diet C57BL group(n=7,sixteen-week-old C57BL mice),high fat diet C57BL group(n=7),diabetic KKAy group(n=7),the latter two groups were fed with normal diet until week 12,followed by high fat diet for 4 weeks.Blood glucose was measured every week,it would be diagnosed of diabetes if blood glucose more than 300 mg/dl(16.7 mmol/L) in two consecutive weeks.Dispatched the mice,took quadriceps of femoris muscle and liver tissue,added tissue lytic solution,measured the protein concentration by Bradford method and detect the PTEN protein expression in muscle and liver tissue by Western bolts methods.Results The PTEN protein level was significantly increased in quadriceps muscle and live tissue in KKAy mice as compared to the both age-matched C57BL control groups(P

Objective To construct and to identify eukaryotic expression vector expressing Islet-brain 1(IB1) gene.Methods Total RNA was extracted from human insulinoma.IB1 gene was amplified by PCR from human IB1cDNA library.The eukaryotic expression vector encoding IB1 was constructed by inserting the IB1 cDNA into EcoR I/Kpn I sites of the pEGFP-N1 vector with the green fluorescent.The construct was transfected into RINm5F cell line,screened by G418.The phase contrast fluorescence microscope,flow cytometer,and Western blot were used to identify the recombinant plasmid and transfeced cell line.Results The RT-PCR products for IB1(AA1-280)generated from human insulinoma was 840 bp.Sequence analysis proved the same sequence as published in Gen-Bank.Two bands showed that pEGFP-N1 vector encoding IB1 digested by EcoR I or Kpn I.Western blot showed IB1 gene was expressed in RINm5F cells.Conclusion The recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-N1-IB1 has been successfully constructed.

Objective To detect the expression of FoxO3a in adipose tissue from KKay diabetic mice and the effects of treatment with rosiglitazone and metformin on FoxO3a expression in adipose tissue in order to understand the mechanism of insulin resistance.Methods Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: the group without any treatment,group with rosiglitazone and group treated with metformin 3 g/kg/day.Control group consists of 7 C57BL mice 16.Dispatched the mice and sampled adipose tissue to measure the protein concentration by Bradford method and to detect Foxo3a protein expression on adipose tissue by Western Blot with multiple colony antibody 1∶1250.Results Foxo3a was highly expressed in adipose from KKAy diabetic mice as compared with that in control group(FoxO3a/?-actin ratio 1.76?0.19 vs 1.15?0.10,P