Drug eluting stents (DESs) have revolutionized the interventional cardiology over the past decade since the first DES became commercially available in Europe in 2002. Compared to bare metal stents that are deployed to keep the vessel open by mechanical force, DESs have an additional function of reducing restenosis by the action of the drug on the target site. Coatings on the stent surface which ensure the maximum delivery of therapeutic agents to the target site with minimal systematic toxicity, also play an important role in adjusting the drug release profile. Coating material and technology not only affect the surface biocompatibility and the integrity maintenance during the implanting process, but also decide the way of drug delivering and transmitting from the coating. This paper reviews the basic principles of DES coating design, the categories of DES coatings, the commonly used clinical DES coatings and their efficiency in reducing restenosis, and finally provides the future perspectives for DES coatings.
Biocompatible Materials ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Lactic Acid ; Phosphorylcholine ; Polyethylenes ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Prosthesis Design ; Titanium

Objective To develop the humanized animal model for RA cartilage erosion,and study the mechanisms of its pathogenesis.Methods RA synovium and normal human cartilage under the kidney cap- sule of the SCID mice were engrafted,and were maintained for 4～16 weeks.In addition,mice underwent simi- lar surgery except the engraftment served as controls.After 4,8,12 or 16 weeks,the mice were killed and the grafts were harvested and the cartilage destruction was assessed histologically by haematoxylin/eosin-stained paraffin sections.Results Histological examination revealed the presence of infiltration of RA synovium cells into the cartilage after 4 weeks and the cartilage was destructed evidently.These studies demonstrated that the RA-SCID model maintained many of the phenotypic and functional features of RA.Conclusion This RA-SCID mouse is a useful animal model for study of the pathogenesis and the development of new drugs for RA patients.

OBJECTIVETo screen aptamers that can bind P24 antigen tightly and specificly, and verify its specificity and affinity.

METHODSPolycarbonate PCR plate was coated with P24 antigen and SELEX technology was used to screen aptamer on the PCR plate. The primary and secondary structure of these aptamers was analyzed by software. Through HRP labeled streptavidin and biotin labeled aptamers, the affinity and specificity of obtained aptamers were verified by ELISA.

RESULTSThe polycarbonate PCR plate could be coated with P24 antigen. Electrophoretic analysis showed the aptamers had been enriched. Sequence aligment analysis showed that these aptamers have consensus sequence and their apatial structure was multiple; ELISA verified that aptamers had high affinity with P24 antigen.

CONCLUSIONA simple method was established for screening aptamers that can bind HIV-1 P24 antigen specificly and tightly.

HIV Core Protein p24 ; analysis ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SELEX Aptamer Technique ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis effect induced by D-limonene on BGC-823 gastric cancer cells.

METHODSThe expression of p53, bc1-2 in BGC-823 cells and qualitative, quantitative index of cell apoptosis were detected with MTT, electron microscopy, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSD-limonene could induce the formation of apoptotic bodies in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The expression of bcl-2 protein decreased and p53 protein increased in BGC-823 cells treated with D-limonene, compared with the control cells.

CONCLUSIOND-limonene exerts its cytotoxic effect on BGC-823 gastric cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclohexenes ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Terpenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Abstract: Our previous work revealed berberine can significantly enhance the susceptibility of fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans, which suggested that berberine has synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. Preliminary SAR of berberine needs to be studied for the possibility of investigating its target and SAR, improving its drug-likeness, and exploring new scaffold. In this work, 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives and N-benzyl isoquinoline analogues were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and MS. Their synergetic activity with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans was evaluated in vitro. The 13-substitutited benzyl berberine derivatives 1a-1e exhibited comparable activity to berberine, which suggested that the introduction of functional groups to C-13 can maintain its activity. The N-benzyl isoquinolines, which were designed as analogues of berberine with its D ring opened, exhibited lower activity than berberine. However, compound 2b, 2c, and 4b showed moderate activity, which indicated that berberine may be deconstructed to new scaffold with synergistic antifungal activity with fluconazole. The results of our research may be helpful to the SAR studies on its other biological activities.
Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; Drug Synergism ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Isoquinolines ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Renal angiomyolipoma is a type of benign tumor that occurs sporadically in addition to being associated with tuberous sclerosis. Preoperative embolization of large tumors is important to avoid excessive blood loss during surgery. We reported a patient with a 5505-g giant renal angiomyolipoma in a solitary kidney. The patient was treated with preoperative embolization and radical nephrectomy without complications. This type of treatment for an enormous angiomyolipoma can reduce the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage caused by rupture of the tumor during the operation and should be considered for the treatment of similar tumors.
Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; surgery ; Arteries ; surgery ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the short-term clinical outcome of non-fusion techniques using interspinous implantation Coflex(TM) and Wallis treatment in patients with lumbar spine degenerative diseases.

METHODSForty-one cases of lumbar stenosis, 18 of lumbar disc herniation, and 34 of lumbar stenosis with lumbar disc herniation were evaluated. Among the 43 cases receiving Coflex(TM) implantation, 41 had operations in one segment and 2 in 2 segments. In the other 50 cases with Wallis implantation, 47 had fixation of 1 segment and 3 had 2 segments fixed. JOA Score, Oswestry Disable Index (ODI) and VAS were used to evaluate the short-term clinical results.

RESULTSThe average operating time was 64.55 min in Coflex(TM) implantation with an average blood loss of 81.82 ml. The average operating time was 82.71 min in Wallis implantation, which caused an average blood loss of 89.66 ml. Significant improvements in the JOA Score, ODI and VAS were noted after the operations.

CONCLUSIONThe two interspinous non-fusion techniques, Coflex and Wallis, produce good short-term clinical outcome in the treatment of lumbar spine degenerative diseases.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; methods ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Stenosis ; surgery ; Young Adult

Abdominal Wall ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and SLC25A13 gene mutations of a child with citrin deficiency complicated with purpura, convulsive seizures and methioninemia.

METHODSThe patient was subjected to physical examination and routine laboratory tests. Blood amino acids and acylcarnitines, and urine organic acids and galactose were analyzed respectively with tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. SLC25A13 gene mutation screening was conducted by high resolution melt (HRM) analysis.

RESULTSThe petechiae on the patient's face and platelet count (27×10(9)/L, reference range 100×10(9)/L-300×10(9)/L) supported the diagnosis of immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Laboratory tests found that the patient have abnormal coagulation, cardiac enzyme, liver function and liver enzymes dysfunction. Tandem mass spectrometry also found methionine to be increased (286 μmol/L, reference ranges 8-35 μmol/L). The patient did not manifest any galactosemia, citrullinemia and tyrosinemia. Analysis of SLC25A13 gene mutation found that the patient has carried IVS16ins3kb, in addition with abnormal HRM result for exon 6. Direct sequencing of exon 6 revealed a novel mutation c.495delA. The same mutation was not detected in 100 unrelated healthy controls. Further analysis of her family has confirmed that the c.495delA mutation has derived from her farther, and that the IVS16ins3kb was derived from her mother.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical features and metabolic spectrum of citrin deficiency can be variable. The poor prognosis and severity of clinical symptoms of the patient may be attributed to the novel c.495delA mutation.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; genetics ; pathology ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; deficiency ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Glycine N-Methyltransferase ; deficiency ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Organic Anion Transporters ; deficiency ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Purpura ; genetics ; pathology ; Seizures ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively compare the clinical outcomes of anterior and posterior surgical treatment in single thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODSBetween January 2004 and August 2008, 22 female patients, averaged 14.5 years old (12 to 18 years), of thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were corrected by anterior correction and fusion. At the same time, 20 female patients, average 14.8 years old (11 to 19 years), were corrected by posterior segmental pedicle screw correction and fusion. Operation time, SRS-24 score, intraoperative blood loss, and coronal and sagittal plane correction were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 12 to 63 months, the mean follow-up time was 28.3 months. Operation time was (334 + or - 36) min in anterior group and (292 + or - 17) min in posterior group; intraoperative blood loose was (940 + or - 207) ml in anterior group and (596 + or - 227) ml in posterior group; fusion levels were (5.2 + or - 0.8) in anterior group and (6.7 + or - 1.2) in posterior group. There were statistically significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fusion levels (P < 0.05). Coronal correction was (93 + or - 5)% in anterior group and (88 + or - 5)% in posterior group. SRS-24 scores averaged 98 in anterior group and averaged 94 in posterior group. There was no statistical difference in coronal correction or SRS-24 scores (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPosterior surgery has the same correction results compared with anterior surgery in treating thoracolumbar-lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Posterior surgery takes less operation time, brings less trauma but has longer fusion levels.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult