Objective: To study the quality and transdermal properties of matrine microemulsion-based hydrogel (MBH) to provide basis for the development of the preparation.Methods: The stability of MBH was observed at 4 ℃ for 3 months and the changes of particle appearance, viscosity, pH and matrine content were observed.The transdermal permeation of MBH was investigated by a dual chamber permeation and diffusion device with excised mouse skin as the barrier.Taking rabbits as the experimental subjects, the irritation of MBH to the normal skin and damaged skin was investigated.Results: The appearance, viscosity, pH and matrine content of MBH at 4 ℃ in 3 months did not change significantly.In vitro transdermal test showed that MBH had a good penetration rate on mouse skin, and no skin irritation occurred after single or multiple administrations.Conclusion: MBH has good stability and high rate of transdermal penetration without skin irritation, which is a promising drug delivery system of matrine with good application prospects.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of low-dose heparin in the treament of children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). Methods It was an open and comparative trial. Eightyeight children with PNS in the hypercoagulable state,on the basis of administrating with glucocorticosteroid,were administrated with low-dose heparin that infused by micro pump oriented to time ( group A). Eighty patients only treated with glucocorticosteroid were chosen as control (group B). Results Serum-albumin and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) increased,but fibrinogen (Fib) decreased after therapy in the group A,and they all showed significant differences (P ＜ 0. 01 ). Serum-albumin increased after therapy in the group B and there was significant difference (P＜0. 01 ). However,APTT and Fib in the group B showed no significant difference( P ＞ 0. 05 ) between post-treatment and pretherapy. Post-treatment serum-albumin and APTT in the group A were significantly higher than those in group B, and Fib was significantly lower than that in group B ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The rate of urine protein remission in group A (82/88) was significantly higher than that in group B (63/80). Urine protein remission time and edema disappearance time were significantly shorter in group A than group B ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). APTT of group A at the peak concentration of heparin after therapy was significantly higher than that of pretherapy ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), and the ratio was 2. 38. However, there was no significant difference in APTT at the valley concentration of heparin between post-treatment and pretherapy ( P ＞ 0.05 ). Conclusion Low dose-heparin infused by micro pump oriented to time in the treatment of children with PNS has an obvious anticoagulative effect. It can improve the rate of urine protein remission and shorten edema disappearance time. Meanwhile it is safety ,requires no laboratory monitor and has few drug side effects,thus it deserves further clinical application.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of laboratory tests in the renal damage early diagnosis of children with Henoch-Schoalein purpura (HSP) and clinical effect of early intervention.Methods For the 143 HSP patients with normal repeated urine routine test findings,renal function biomarkers including urinary proteins ( immunoglobulin G (IgG),micro-albumin ( MA ),transferrin (TRF),a1 -microglobulin ( α1 -MG),β2-Microglobulin (β2-MG) ) and urinary enzymes ( N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase ( NAG ),γ-glutamyltransferase (y-GT) ) were detected to investigate the details of renal function changes.One hundred and thirty-one HSP patients,who had abnormal laboratory test findings of renal function biomarkers mentioned above,were randomly divided into control group ( n =65 ) and intervention group ( n =66 ),and both groups received comprehensive treatment including cimetidine,loratadine and calcium agents.However,66 patients in intervention group received low-dose heparin via micropump-based continuous intravenous infusion and regular oral diammonium glycyrrhizinate treatment.Sixty-five patients were enrolled in control group,without further treatment.Results Among the 143 patients with normal urine routine examination,131 cases (91.61％ ) had abnormal findings of renal function biomarkers.After therapy either for 2 months or 4 months,urine protein and urine enzymes were lower than before treatment,and the difference was significant (P ＜ 0.01 ).In the control group only β2-MG,NAG,γ-GT3 indexes significantly lowered at the end of 2 months ( P ＜0.01 ),and all parameters were significantly decreased at the end of 4 months ( P ＜0.01 ).Furthermore,Intervention group had lower levels of renal function biomarkers at the end of 2 months or 4 months,as compared with the control group,showing significant difference ( P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01 ).Urinary IgG,MA,TRF,NAG recovered rapidly in the intervention group after 4 months and almost returned to the normal,but urinary α1-MG,β2-MG,γ-GT recovered slowly and still remained abnormal after 4 months due to the varying severity.After treatment for 4 months,the rate of urine testing abnormalities was higher in the control group than in the intervention group (36.92％ vs 6.10％ ),and the difference was significant (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Combined detection of renal function biomarkers is helpful for early diagnosis of renal damage in HSP patients.Early intervention with heparin and diammonium glycyrrhizinate can prevent kidney damage,delay disease progress.Early diagnosis and early intervention should be emphasized for the treatment strategy of the renal damage of children with HSP.

Objective The discussion on the strategy for developing nursing human resources was carried out through truthfully understanding the medical managers' experiences of developing nursing human resources. We aimed to supply reference for establishment of policies by relevant government departments. Methods We collected data of 13 medical managers by in-depth interview and took notes (or recording) on the spot. The data were analyzed by Colaizzi's analysis program. Results Two aspects were summarized through reading, analyzing, reflecting, classifying and extracting. One was policy guidance for developing nursing human resource (4 items) and the other was policies and measures for developing nursing human resource (7 items). Conclusions The development of nursing human resource was influenced by many factors. It needs the common efforts by government, society, hospital and nurses.

Objectives The ferredoxins are iron-sulfur proteins, which function in electron transfer reactions in a variety of systems and participate in the activation of the antimicrobial agent metronidazole. The aim of this study is to clone and characterize ferredoxin genes of Trichomonas vaginalis. Methods A cDNA expression library was constructed with T. Vaginalis total RNA. Hundreds of cDNA clones were isolated and sequenced. Sequence analysis was performed using BLAST programs, ClustalW program, etc. Results One of the cDNA clones, which has homology with T.vaginalis ferredoxin, was further analyzed. This cDNA clone has an open reading frame of 312 base pairs. The deduced precursor protein contains 103 amino acid residues with a hydrogenosome targeting sequence (MLSQCSPLRF) at the N-terminal end. The primary sequence analysis revealed that this new ferredoxin (TvFd2) has a high homology (69% identity) to the previous reported T.vaginalis ferredoxin(TvFd). Interestingly, TvFd2 is homologous to both the two subclasses of (2Fe-2S) ferredoxins, the oxidase ferredoxins and the photosynthetic ferredoxins,but with low similarity. The conserved four-cysteine residues, which are predicted to form the iron-sulfur cluster,are arranged in a typical pattern of (2Fe-2S)ferredoxins(-C-X5-C-X2-C-Xn-C-). Conclusion These data show that TvFd2 is a putative new (2Fe-2S) ferredoxin of T.vaginalis. Its biological function remains to be studied.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of low dose dopamine combined with phentolamine in the treatment of primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) with edema. Methods Retrospective control studies were performed in 155 patients of PNS with edema, who received comprehensive treatment with small dose dopamine combined with phentolamine (group A). Patients treated with furosemide infusion were recruited as control (group B). Results The urinary output, urinary sodium increased after therapy in group A, showing significant differences (P ＜ 0. 01). But urinary potassium excretion, serum sodium and potassium showed no significant difference after therapy in group A. The urinary output, urinary sodium and potassium excretion increased and the serum sodium and potassium decreased after therapy in group B, all showing significant differences between before and after treatment (P ＜0. 01). The edema relief rate,urinary output, urinary sodium excretion, serum sodium and potassium in group A was significantly higher whereas urinary potassium excretion were significantly lower than those of group B(P ＜0. 01). The rate of drug adverse reaction in group A was significantly lower than that of group B. Conclusion Low dose dopamine combined with phentolamine in PNS with edema is safe and effective,which may be a substitute of diuretic like furosemide in the treatment of edema of patients with different blood volume.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol combined with monochromatic excimer light (MEL) 308 nm vs MEL 308 nm monotherapy in treating vitiligo.Methods Thirty-eight pa- tients with vitiligo were enrolled in the single-blind clinical trial,using plabebo-treated lesions in the same patient as controls.Contralateral or nearby lesions were randomly selected to be treated by either tacalcitol or placebo.All lesions were treated weekly with MEL 308 nm,for a total of 12 sessions.Patients were ex- amined at monthly intervals.The mean number of sessions and the cumulative dosage for initial and excel- lent repigrnentation were calculated.Results Thirty-five patients were evaluated.The mean?SEM cumu- lative dose and number of MEL exposures for initial repigmentation,respectively,were 4.27?3.59 J/cm~2 and 4.89?3.16 on tacalcitol-treated site,5.36?4.12 J/cm~2 and 5.69?3.29 on placebo-treated site,re- spectively (both P＜0.05).For excellent repigrnentation,the cumulative dose and number of exposures were 7.72?5.64 J/cm~2 and 7.79?4.70 respectively on tacalcitol-treated site,and 8.18?4.87 J/cm~2 and 8.4?3.92 respectively on placebo-treated site (both P＞0.05).Treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a sig- nificantly higher percentage (71.4% vs 54.3%) of repigmentation than that with placebo.Conclusions Our results show that MEL 308 nm is safe and effective for the treatment of vitiligo.Additionally,concur- rent topical tacalcitol potentiates the efficacy of MEL 308 nm in the treatment of vitiligo;this combination achieves more rapid pigmentation with a lower total MEL dosage.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18floro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CY(~(18)FDG PET-CT)in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis from advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods A prospective study is perfonued here to assess whether ~(18)FDG PET-CT can improve the diagnostic accuracy in lymph node metastasis for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.Thirty patients had undergone esophagectomy with extensive lymph node dissection.PET-CT findings were compared with that d CT with pathological finding as the final say.Results All patients were operated successfully without peri-operative complications.The pathological examination conformed metastasis in 22 patients and 49 out of 243 excised lymph nodes.In CT analysis,the sensitivity was 40.8%,specificity was 96.9%,with a diagnostic accuracy of 85.6%, The positive and negative predictive value was 76.9%,86.4% respectively;PET-CT resulted in a sensitivity of 93.9%,specificity of 91.2%,accuracy of 91.8%.The positive predictive value was 73.0% and negative predictive value was 98.3%,The difference of sensitivity(P＜0.001),accuracy(P＜0.05)and negative predictive value between the two radiological modalities was statistically significant(P＜0.001).Conclusions With a high sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis,PET-CT appears necessary in preoperative examination for advanced esophageal carcinoma in the hope that surgical treatment be guided by the results of PET-CT,especially for the elder patients with poor pulmonary function or heart or brain complications. Moreover,it could be used as the basis of the conformal radiation therapy planning for inoperable patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CT(~(18)FDG PET-CT) for recurrence and metastasis in treated esophageal carcinoma (EC). Methods A retrospective study is done on 37 previously treated EC patients who underwent PET-CT scans to detect recurrent or metastatic lesions.The diagnostic accuracy of ~(18)FDG PET-CT was assessed with the help of pathological finding as well as clinical or follow-up data.Results Fourty-six sites of recurrence were finally confirmed in 37 patients by cytology,pathology or follow-up data.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of PET-CT in detecting recurrence of all sites were 93.5% (43/46),76.9% (20/26) and 87.5% (63/72),respectively.Two false-positive findings were found both at the anastomosis and hilar nodes,which caused the decrease in the overall specificity,especially that locally.The analysis of standard uptake value (SUV) demonstrated that patients with recurrence or who died during follow-up had higher SU- Vs compared with the control group.Condusions ~(18)FDG PET-CT is highly effective in detecting recur- rence in previously treated EC patients despite the low specificity at local sites.The analysis of stardard up- take value(SUV) provides incremental value in prognosis for this patient cohart.

Rap1 is expressed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Rap1-GTPase activating protein (Rap1GAP), with its specific target, Rap1, has been shown to be important in the regulation of many physiological and certain pathological processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of Rap1GAP expression on endothelial cell function, or, more specifically, proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. HUVECs were transfected with pcDNA3.1 (empty vector), pcDNA3.1 containing Flag-tagged-Rap1GAP or Myc-tagged-Rap1N17. The proliferation, migration and tube formation were examined and compared among the 3 groups. Expression of Rap1, Rap1GAP, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), phospho-ERK, Akt, phosphor-Akt was detected by Western blotting. The results showed that the proliferation, migration and tube formation were significantly reduced in Rap1GAP- and Rap1N17-transfected HUVECs as compared with empty vector-transfected control. These changes were coincident with increased expression of Rap1GAP and decreased expression of activated Rap1, phospho-ERK and -Akt. After treatment of Rap1GAP-transfected HUVECs with a stimulator of Rap1 guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor (Rap1GEF) 8CPT-2'OMe-cAMP, it was found that Rap1 activity was decreased as compared with empty vector-transfected control. Pretreatment of HUVECs with an ERK inhibitor PD98059 or a PI3K inhibitor LY294002 prior to stimulation not only blocked 8CPT-2'OMe-cAMP-induced phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, but also significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Finally, we examined the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on HUVECs overexpressing Rap1GAP. VEGF-stimulated Rap1 activity, phosphorylation of ERK and Akt, cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation were repressed in HUVECs overexpressing Rap1GAP as compared to empty vector-transfected control. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Rap1GAP/Rap1 and their downstream effectors regulate proliferation and migration of HUVECs via ERK and Akt pathways.