AIMTo elevate the encapsulation efficiency, decrease the burst release and improve the release of protein entrapped in poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) composite microspheres of alginate-chitosan-PLGA were prepared and the release characteristics of BSA from this composite microspheres were studied.

METHODSThe much smaller calcium alginate microcapsules were first prepared by a modified emulsification method in an isopropyl alcohol-washed way and coated with chitosan, then the alginate-chitosan microcapsules were further entrapped in PLGA to form the composite microspheres. The protein concentration was determined using a BCA protein assay kit. The release profiles were changed with various formulation factors.

RESULTSThe average diameter of the composite microcapsules was about 30 microm. Comparing with 60% to 70% of the conventional PLGA microspheres, the average encapsulation efficiency was more than 80%, and the burst releases in phosphate buffer solution of the composite microspheres decreased from 40% and 50% to 25% and further to 5% in saline solution.

CONCLUSIONThe novel composite microspheres were prepared, the drug encapsulation efficiency increased and the burst release decreased. The desired release profiles could be obtained by regulating the ratios of PLG and PLA in the composite microspheres.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry

Acclimatization ; physiology ; Adult ; Altitude ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelin Basic Protein ; metabolism ; Nervous System Diseases ; metabolism ; Occupational Exposure ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

Objective To study effectiveness and effect on the internal environment of exchange transfusion using peripheral arteries and veins.Methods Exchange transfusion were performed through the peripheral arteries and veins on 22 cases of newborn infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia.Blood electrolyte,blood routine,blood bio- chemistry were measured before and after change blood.Vital signs were monitored electronically recorded.Results Total bilirubin was(595.28?134.44)?mol/L before exchange transfusion and(275.17?74.05)?mol/L after ex- change transfusion(P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of cross electro-nape-acupuncture on reflex remodeling of airway protective reflex cough in patients with tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage.

METHODSWith the method of completely random design, according to treatment order, 60 patients who received tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage accompanied with cough reflex difficulty were randomly divided into a cross electro-nape-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with basic treatment, including anti-inflammation, eliminating phlegm, improving cerebral metabolism and so on. The acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Yifeng (TE 17), Fengchi (GB 20), Lianquan (CV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Touwei (ST 8), Dicang (ST 4) through Jiache (ST 6), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), and motor area on the affected side, and the needles were retained for 30 min. Based on the treatment of acupuncture group, the cross electro-nape-acupuncture group was additionally treated with cross electro-nape-acupuncture (continuous wave) for 30 min per treatment. The treatment was both given twice a day from Monday to Friday and once a day on Saturday and Sun day for 4 weeks. Tracheostomy cough reflex grading score (TCRGS) and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy of two groups was evaluated.

RESULTSCompared before the treatment, TCRGS and CPIS were both reduced in two groups (both P < 0.01); after treatment, there were significant differences of TCRGS and CPIS between two groups (both P < 0.01), indicating cross electro-nape-acupuncture group was superior to acupuncture group. Regarding the effects of cough reflex remodeling, the cured and markedly effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the cross electro-nape-acupuncture group, which was significantly different from 55.2% (16/29) in the acupuncture group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCross electro-nape-acupuncture could effectively improve the remodeling of cough reflex and promote the recovery of lung infection in patients with tracheotomy after cerebral hemorrhage, leading to an increased quality of life.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Cough ; physiopathology ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reflex ; Tracheotomy

Objective To explore the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) during renal senescence by using human TIMP-1 transgenic mice.Methods Renal histological changes of wild type mice and transgenic mice at the age of 3,12,24 months were observed by periodic acid-schiff(PAS)staining of paraffin sections.The numbers of F4/80 positive cells were detected by immunofluoreseence.The protein expressions of TIMP-1,TIMP-2,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9,MMP-2,intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1),transforming growth factor?1(TGF-?1),collagenⅢand collagenⅣwere detected by Western blot.The activities of gelatinases and TIMP-1 were examined by gelatin zymography and reverse zymography respectively.Results Focal renal fibrosis was found in two genotypes with aging.At the age of 24 months,compared with wild type,in kidneys of transgenic type,the expressions and activities of gelatinases were dowregulated (MMP-2:2.08?0.20 vs.3.39?0.43;MMP-9:4.02?0.82 vs.6.72?1.40,all P＜0.05);the expressions of collagenⅢ,collagenⅣ,ICAM-1,and TGF-?1 were upragulated(0.72+0.11 vs.0.57?0.09;0.84?0.13 vs.0.6?0.11,0.72?0.12 vs.0.53?0.07; 0.69?0.12 vs.0.45?0.09,all P＜0.05),and the numbers of F4/80 positive cells were increased (18.8?4.4 vs.12.7?3.6,P＜0.05)with the upregulated expression and activity of TIMP-1(1.10?0.18 vs.0.62?0.09;50.75?7.25 vs.20.64?3.50,P＜0.05).Conclusions TIMP-1 could promote age-related renal fibrosis through enhancing inflammation reaction by ICAM-1 upregulation.

In this paper we introduce a new algorithm about ST-segment--Triangle way. At the same time, based on analyzing all kinds of algorithms, we have summarized a compositive algorithm used to detect the emulating data. The testing result shows that the algorithm, which is easy to use, has a high speed and a good accuracy.
Algorithms ; Electrocardiography ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between 1137-1140 Del GTGA in exon 1 at KCNN3 gene and schizophrenia.

METHODSThe study included 289 subjects (affected 107; unaffected 182) from 95 schizophrenic trios. All subjects were collected from Han Chinese in south China and genotyped for 1137-1140 Del GTGA in KCNN3 using PCR and restriction endonuclease Dde I. All the affected patients met the CCMD-II-R criteria for schizophrenia. The haplotype-based haplotype relative risk(HHRR) and transmission/disequilibrium test(TDT) analyses were done in 95 schizophrenic trios.

RESULTSComparative analysis on the distribution of alleles between the affected and unaffected parents(87 family trios) showed no significant difference(X(2)=0.253, P> 0.05). HHRR showed that KCNN3 gene alleles transmitted to the patients were not different from that of the non-transmitted parental alleles(X(2)=0.042, P> 0.05). TDT revealed that A(2) alleles were not preferentially transmitted to schizophrenic patients(X(2)=3.000, P=0.0833).

CONCLUSIONIn this study a lower frequency for 1137-1140 Del homozygote of KCNN3 gene was observed, and the HHRR and TDT analyses suggested that the 1137-1140 Del alleles of KCNN3 gene be unlikely to confer susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Family Health ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Family ; Schizophrenia ; genetics ; Small-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and pathological features of progressive muscular dystrophy (PMD) in children and to provide help for the early and accurate diagnosis of PMD.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 99 hospitalized children with PMD, including clinical manifestations, age of onset, family history, creatase, electromyogram (EMG) and pathological changes of muscles.

RESULTSOf the 99 children with PMD, the age of onset was 0.5-14.5 (4.7 ± 3.1) years. Eleven cases (11%) had a family history of PMD. Twenty-six (26%) were misdiagnosed as other diseases. All patients presented with muscle weakness when seeing the doctor, and 66 (67%) of them had muscle atrophy and/or hypertrophy. All patients had elevated creatine kinase (CK) levels. The 2-7-year-old group (n=51) had a mean CK level of 9965 ± 8876 U/L, and the 7-15-year-old group (n=48) had a mean CK level of 5110 ± 4498 U/L, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.01). The EMG examination performed on 66 patients showed that 54 cases (82%) had myogenic damage and 10 cases (15%) had neurogenic damage. Light microscopy revealed coexistence of atrophy and hypertrophy of muscle fibers, hyaline degeneration and granular degeneration. Electron microscopy showed that muscle fibers were different in thickness, some atrophic or hypertrophic; muscle cell nuclei moved inwardly, myofilaments dissolved and disappeared mildly under the sarcolemma, there were scattered melting lesions within muscle fibers, the numbers of glycogen granules and mitochondria increased, mild hyperplasia and expansion of sarcoplasmic reticulum were seen, and a small number of muscle fibers had necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSWeakness of both lower extremities remains the main reason for PMD patients seeing the doctor. CK is the main laboratory indicator for diagnosis of PMD. PMD is mainly manifested as myogenic damage in the early stage and may be accompanied by neurogenic damage in the late stage, according to the EMG examination. With a high misdiagnosis rate, PMD may be misdiagnosed as many other diseases. Pathological examination under light microscope and electron microscope is the main means for confirming a PMD diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; pathology ; Muscular Dystrophies ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the morphological, ultramicrostructural and pathological changes of tissues from a patient with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSOne autopsy case of diagnosed SARS was investigated. Lung puncture was performed immediately after the patient died, and the autopsy was done after 12 h. The specimens from lymph nodes, spleen, small intestine, colon and bone marrow were studied by immunohistochemical technique. The antibodies used included CD20, CD45RO (UCHL-1), CD4, CD8, CD68 and CD34.

RESULTSThe principal lesions of the SARS case consisted of acute lobular intrastitial pneumonia, hyaloid membranes of pulmonic alveoli and hyperplasia and shedding of alveolar epithelium of. Virus-like inclusions occasionally contained cytoplasm of the alveolar epithelium, which were positive by histochemical staining. The adjacent blood-vessels were changed by hyperplasia and enlargement. The structures of lymph nodes and spleen were damaged with lymph follicles depletion and splenic nodules atrophy. The specific changes included reduction of lymphocytes and hyperplasia of histiocytes, depletion of the follicles of small intestine and colon wall, decreased hyperplasia of the bone marrow and increased number of the megakaryocyte. Meanwhile, in the immunohistochemical study, CD(20)(+) B cells were fully expressed in lymph nodes and spleen, and the CD45RO (UCHL-1)(+) T cells were scatteredly expressed. The number of CD4(+) help T cell was markedly decreased, while the number of CD8+ poisonal T cells increased, and the ratio of the former and latter was no more than 0.5. Under the electronic microscopy observation, virus-like particles with 80 - 160 nm diameter and halo or garland envelope were found in mononuclear macrophage and cytoplasm of alveolar epithelium.

CONCLUSIONThe specific lesions of SARS consist of lobular intrastitial pneumonia with the formation of hyaline membranes of lung, haemorrhage, necrosis, inflammation of blood vessels and the damages of extralung lymphohemopioetic system. The damages were very similar to the pathological features of tissues infected by human immunodeficiency virus, in which numbers of T cells decreased and CD(4)(+) T cell/CD(8)(+) T cell ratio was no more than 0.5. According to the virus-like particles found in lung of the SARS case, it is considered that these virus-like particles may be a new kind of coronavirus which caused the "atypical pneumonia".

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; pathology ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; pathology

AIMTo investigate the lattice mechanisms involved in the increased dissolution effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6,000) dispersion system on poorly soluble drug silymarin (SILY).

METHODSFusion method was used to prepare the solid dispersions of SILY with PEG 6,000. Evaluation of the improvement of dissolution was performed with dissolution studies in vitro. X-ray powder diffraction combined with diffraction peak pattern-fitting procedure were applied to quantitatively analyze the changes of lattice parameters. The interaction of SILY and PEG 6,000 was also determined with Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.

RESULTSThe dissolution rate of SILY was considerably increased when formulated in solid dispersion of PEG 6,000 as compared to pure SILY. The datum from the X-ray diffraction showed the changes in the lattic spacings and particular diffraction peaks (position and the intensity) of PEG 6,000 and SILY. These could explain the increased rate of SILY released from solid dispersion system. The information of FT-IR spectroscopy showed the absence of well-defined drug-polymer interaction.

CONCLUSIONThe dissolution improvement of poorly soluble SILY from solid dispersion of PEG 6,000 can be illuminated by the changes of the lattice parameters of PEG 6,000 and the drug.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Carriers ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Solubility