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 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 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

Objective To investigate the relation between retinol binding protein-4(RBP4) levels and metabolic parameters and to explore the correlation between RBP4-G 803 A SNP and metabolic syndrome.Methods One hundred and sixteen metabolic syndrome(MS) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 93 healthy controls were included.Serum RBP4 level was measured by RIA.RBP4-G 803 A different genotypes were examined by PCR and sequence analysis.Results RBP4 levels showed significant positive correlations with BMI,waist circumference,FINS,HOMA-IR,and TG in all the participants,with TG,TC,and LDL-C in control,with DBP in males,and with age,FINS,HOMA-IR,TG and SBP in females.In multiple stepwise regression analysis,RBP4 was independently associated with BMI,waist circumference,TG and age.Serum RBP4 concentrations were significantly higher in MS group than in control.RBP4 levels were higher in males as compared to females.In control,RBP4 level was lower in subjects with regular exercise.There was no significant difference in the frequency of RBP4-G 803 A genotypes and alleles in MS group and neither difference in metabolic parameters between the carriers of GG+GA and AA.Conclusion In Chinese Han population,serum RBP4 concentrations are correlated with various metabolic parameters and there is no relation between RBP4-G 803 A SNP and metabolic syndrome.

Objective To detect the expression of FoxO1 and FoxO3a in liver and muscle tissue from KKAy diabetic mice.Methods Study group consists of 7 KKAy diabetic mice until 12 weeks,thereafter fed high fat diet for 4 weeks.It was diagnosed as diabetes when blood glucose was more than(16.7 mmol/L) in two consequent weeks.Control group consists of 7 C57BL mice 16 week old.Dispatched the mice and took quadriceps of femoris muscle and liver tissue to detect the FoxO1 and FoxO3a protein expression by Western blot with antibody.Results Liver and muscle FoxO1 expression was higher in KKAy diabetic mice than that in C57BL mice.FoxO3a expression was much higher in liver than in muscle in both groups.Muscle FoxO3a expression was higher in KKAy diabetic mice than that in control mice.Conclusion FoxO1 and FoxO3a in liver and muscle expressed differently in diabetic mice and control mice.They may play a role in mechanisms of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective To study the characteristics of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin dry powder inhalation and its relative bioavailability as compared with subcutaneous injection of regular insulin. Methods In this open,single-center,randomized,two-period,cross-over,euglycemic glucose clamp study,18 healthy volunteers(14 men and 4 women),aged(24.9?1.7)years,with body mass index(20.6?1.2)kg/m~2, received the insulin dry powder inhalatin(80 U)or regular insulin(15 U)subcutaneous administration.The blood samples of this study at 0,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100,110,120,135,150,165,180,195, 210,225,240,270,300,330,360,390,420,450 and 480 rain were taken for serum insulin measurement, meanwhile,glucose infusion rates(GIR)were determined per 5 minutes over a period of 8 hours.Results The C_(max)were(57.9?17.8 vs 114.5?29.7)mU/L(tested vs reference preparation),T_(max)were(46.7?45.6 vs 107.8?33.7)min,GIR_(max)were(3.35?0.98 vs 5.17?1.75)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1)and T_(GIRmax)were(88.3?17.0 vs 151.9?34.6)min.The relative bioavailability was(10.26?2.25)%,and the relative bioefficacy was(14.33?7.26)%.Conclusion The study shows that insulin dry powder inhalation is absorbed via lungs and its action sets in earlier than that of the regular insulin injected subcutaneously.These pharmacokinetie and pharmacodynamic data may provide a reliabe guide for further clinical trial.

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 study the rationality and possibility of 64 slice spiral CT in the examination of the temporal bone at low dose.Methods The same CT technique and temporal bone mode as those for clinical CT were used,two cranium specimens(four ears)were scanned with Somatom Sensation 64-slice spiral CT at different mA(380,300,200,160,120,80),and muhi-planar reformation was performed.The CT dose index at different mA groups were measured by 10 cm pencil ionization chamber and head dose phantom.Four anatomic structures on axial images(subarcuate fossa,tendon of tensor tympani, facial recess,etc),four anatomic structures on coronal images(scute,crista transversa,fenestra cochleae, etc)and six anatomic structures on double oblique images(malleus,incus,stirrup bone,upper bony semicircular,etc)were chosen to evaluate and grade the reformation images among different mA groups,and to determine the minimum mA value.Ten ears of five patients were used to test the validity of the minimum mA value.Results CT radiation dose was significantly reduced from(47.8?2.7)to(20.1?2.0)raCy (P

Angiopoietin-1 ; chemistry ; physiology ; Angiopoietin-2 ; chemistry ; physiology ; Angiopoietins ; physiology ; Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; therapy ; Embryonic and Fetal Development ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Receptor, TIE-2 ; chemistry ; physiology ; Signal Transduction