A RP-HPLC method was established for simultaneous determination of phellodendrine hydrochloride (PH1), magnoflorine hydrochloride (MH), jatrorrhizine hydrochloride (JH), palmatine hydrochloride (PH2) and berberine hydrochloride (BH) in Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex by using ionic liquids as mobile phase additives. The separation was performed on a Kromasil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) coupled with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The effect of extraction solvent, detection wavelength, length of alkyl chain on different imidazolium ionic liquids and concentration of ionic liquids on the separation and determination of alkaloids were investigated. Ionic liquid, [BMIm] BF4, can obviously improve the resolution and peak shape. This ILs-HPLC method is simple, rapid, and reliable, which can be used for determination of alkaloids in Phellodenddri Chinensis Cortex.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phellodendron ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences of electroacupuncture (EA) on onset time and symptom improvement for treatment of different types of functional constipation.

METHODSThirty-eight cases of constipation were selected, including 9 cases of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C), 10 cases of slow transit constipation (STC), 10 cases of pelvic floor dyssynergia (PFD) and 9 cases of inadequate defecatory propulsion (IDP). The electroacupuncture was applied at Tianshu (ST 25), Fujie (SP 14), Shenshu (BL 23), Dachangshu (BL 25) and so on in abdominal and lumbosacral area, 5 times per week, 10 times as a treatment course. The onset time, score of clinical symptoms of constipation and improvement of every symptom in each group were compared.

RESULTS(1) The onset time was (1.78 +/- 0.83) days in IBS-C type, (3.11 +/- 1.90) days in IDP type, (4.10 +/- 1.85) days in STC type and (4.30 +/- 2.00) days in PFD type, indicating statistical differences between IBS-C type and STC type, IBS-C type and PFD type (both P < 0.05). (2) Compared before the treatment, the total scores of symptoms on the onset day in each group were all improved (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and score of IBS-C type was superior to the rest 3 types (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) EA improved desire to defecate or frequency of defecation in each type (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), in which both were improved in STC type and PFD type, and the improvement of defecation frequency was more significant in STC type (P < 0.01). EA relieved unsmooth defecation or pendant-expansion feeling in each type (all P < 0.05), in which both were improved in IBS-C type (both P < 0.05). EA relieved abdominal distension and pain in IBS-C type, STC type and PFD type (all P < 0.05), while its effects were not obvious on defecation difficulty, defecation time and defecation texture (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture for treatment of 4 types of constipation is characterized by rapid onset; the improved symptoms are not identical in the electroacupuncture treatment plan for each type of defecation; the main improvement of symptoms are lied on desire to defecate and frequency of defecation, unsmooth defecation or pendant-expansion feeling and abdominal distension and pain. Meanwhile the improvements of defecation texture, defecation difficulty and defecation time were not signi-ficant.

Adult ; Aged ; Constipation ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Defecation ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Floor Disorders ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To compare the transplant-related toxicity and the efficacy of busulfan/fludarabine (Bu/Flu) and busulfan/cyclophosphamide (Bu/Cy) as conditioning regimen in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for acute myeloid leukemia(AML) in the first complete remission (CR1).Methods Totally 32 AML-CR1 patients underwent allo-HSCT were divided into Bu/Cy (Bu 3.2 mg· kg-1 · d-1,7-4 days before transplantation; Cy 60 mg · kg-1 · d-1,3-2 days before transplantation) and Bu/Flu (Bu 3.2 mg · kg-1 · d-1,5-2 days before transplantation; Flu 30 mg · m-2·d-1,6-2 days before transplantation) groups.The regimen-related toxicity (RRT),incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD),3-year cumulative relapse rate,non-relapse mortality (NRM),3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were compared between the two groups.Results The median follow-up duration was 617.5 (6-1261) days.All patients achieved successful engraftment on 30 day after transplantation.There were no significant differences in the median time to neutrophil engraftment (P =0.121) and platelet engraftment (P =0.171) between the two groups.The median duration of neutrophil count under 0.1 × 109/L and platelet count under 20 × 109/L in the Bu/Cy group were significantly longer than those in the Bu/Flu group (P =0.000 and P =0.047).The incidence of grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ RRT were 68.8％ and 25.0％ (P =0.032) in the Bu/Cy and the Bu/Flu groups,respectively.There were no significant differences in the incidence of acute GVHD (P =0.149),chronic GVHD (P =0.149),incidence of NRM (P =0.333),3-year cumulative relapse rates (P =0.834),3-year EFS rate (P =0.362) and OS rate (P =0.111) between the two groups.Conclusion Compared with Bu/Cy,Bu/Flu is a myeloablative condition regimen with milder bone marrow suppression and lower RRT incidence rate in allogeneic HSCT for AML-CR1 patients without compromising the efficacy.

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of hypothermia therapy on serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) levels in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

METHODSSixty-four HIE neonates were enrolled in this study. Thirty-three neonates with mild HIE were given conventional treatment and 31 neonates with moderate or severe HIE received conventional treatment and hypothermia therapy. Serum levels of GFAP and UCH-L1 were measured using ELISA before treatment and 6-12 hours after treatment.

RESULTSSerum levels of IL-6, IL-8, GFAP and UCH-L1 in the moderate/severe HIE group were significantly higher than in the mild HIE group (P<0.05) before treatment. Serum GFAP level was positively correlated with serum IL-6 (r=0.54; P<0.05) and IL-8 levels (r=0.63; P<0.05), while negatively correlated with Apgar score (r=-0.47, P<0.05). After treatment, serum levels of IL-6, IL-8 and UCH-L1 in the moderate/severe HIE group were significantly reduced (P<0.05), while serum GFAP levels increased significantly (P<0.05). The patients with abnormal neurological development showed higher serum GFAP levels than those with favourable prognosis (P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis demonstrated that the area under curve (AUC) of GFAP and UCH-L1 were 0.714 and 0.703 respectively. At a cut-off value of 0.07 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of GFAP for the diagnosis of HIE were 77% and 78% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSHypothermia therapy can decrease serum UCH-L1 levels and increase serum GFAP levels in neonates with HIE. Based on their diagnostic value of brain injury, GFAP and UCH-L1 are promising to be novel biomarkers for HIE.

Biomarkers ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; blood ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; blood ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase ; blood

Aim To explore the effects of Shp2 on cig-arette smoke extract (CSE)-induced epithelial-mesen-chymal transition (EMT). Methods The effects of CSE on TGF-β1 levels in epithelial cells were meas-ured by Q-PCR and ELISA. Immunofluorescent stai-ning was used to assess the expressions of CSE-induced EMT-related markers. The activation of CSE-induced Shp2,Smad2 was investigated by Western blot. Re-sults CSE induced Shp2 phosphorylation in a concen-tration-dependent manner in A549 cells. PHPS1 inhib-ited the increase in mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 induced by CSE. PHPS1 regulated the expres-sions of CSE-induced EMT markers (down-regulation of E-cadherin,up-regulation expression of Vimentin and α-SMA). The inhibition of either Shp2 inhibitor or Shp2 siRNA decreased Smad2 phosphorylation induced by CSE. Conclusions CSE initiates EMT through the Shp2 / Smad2 signaling pathway,which is activated by CSE through TGF-β1 generation. It is suggested that Shp2 might be a possible new target for COPD and lung cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the changes and significance of plasma cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) complicated by myocardial ischemic injury.

METHODSForty-five neonates with HIE (15 mild cases, 24 moderate cases and 6 severe cases) were enrolled and divided into two subgroups based on the presence of myocardial injury (n=19) and not (n=26). Twenty healthy neonates were used as the control group. Plasma CT-1 levels were measured using double-antibody sandwich enzyme immunoassay method. Serum creatinine kinase MB (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (CTnI ) levels were also measured.

RESULTSPlasma CT-1 levels in the mild HIE (169±20 pg/mL) and moderate/severe HIE subgroups (287±44 pg/mL) were significantly higher than those in the control group (30±8 pg/mL), and plasma CT-1 levels were associated with the severity of HIE (P<0.01). Plasma CT-1 levels were positively correlated with serum CK-MB and CTnI levels in neonates with HIE in the acute phase (r=0.565 and 0.621 respectively; P<0.01). Plasma CT-1 levels in neonates with myocardial injury were significantly higher than those without myocardial injury (249 ±35 pg/mL vs 177±26 pg/mL; P<0.01). Plasma CT-1 levels were significantly reduced in neonates with myocardial injury in the convalescent phase (157±19 pg/mL) compared with those in the acute phase (249±35 pg/mL; P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDetection of plasma CT-1 levels may be useful in the diagnosis of myocardial ischemic injury and the severity evaluation of HIE.

Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; blood ; Troponin I ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the regulatory effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Hegu (LI4) on the visceral hyper-sensitivity in the rat model of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the acting targets and specialty of acupoints.

METHODSExcept 8 rats of the normal control group, the rest 32 rats were prepared to set up the IBS models. IBS animal model was prepared by enema with acetic acid. Model rats were divided into three groups. Except for rats in the model group for control, those in the other two groups were treated 20 min by EA on ST36 (EA-ST36) and LI4 (EA-LI4) respectively for 2 weeks to observe the effect on behavior response of viscera sensitivity. The changes of neuropeptide (NPY), the somatostatin (SS) levels in blood and tissues of brain and intestine were monitored as well.

RESULTSThe volume thresholds for abdomen uplifting and back hunching were obviously increased after EA-ST36 (P<0.05), but showed insignificant change after EA-LI4. NPY contents lowered and SS contents increased in model rats; both EA-ST36 and EA-LI4 could raise the level of thalamic NPY (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but showed insignificant effects on NPY in colonic tissue. As for SS content, its colonic level could be reduced by EA-S36 and EA-LI4 (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), however, its blood level was affected only by EA-ST36 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA-ST36 or EA-LI4 could regulate the NPY in thalamus and SS in colonic tissue, the former could affect blood level of SS as well. It is deemed that NPY and SS may be the key substances for regulating the action of acupuncture in the brain-intestinal axis; their different levels could be regarded as an indicator for the functional difference between the acupoints.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Somatostatin ; metabolism ; Viscera ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted D3 lymph node dissection for right colon cancer with a medial-to-lateral approach.

METHODSClinical data of 61 patients with right colon cancer undergoing D3 lymph node dissection from March 2006 to June 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them,29 underwent laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy (LARH group) and 32 underwent open right hemicolectomy (ORH group). The number of lymph node harvest, operative details, and complication rate were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mean number of lymph node harvest did not differ significantly between the two groups (16.9±3.8 vs. 15.4±3.6). As compared to ORH group, although the operative time was significantly longer [(214.4±37.9) min vs. (193.3±28.8) min] in LARH group, the mean blood loss [(83.4±38.0) ml vs. (192.7±43.6) ml], time to first flatus [(44.6±20.8) h vs. (70.4±80.0) h], time to resumption of soft diet[(32.5±10.6) h vs. (59.7±10.4) h], and postoperative hospital stay [(11.2±2.2) d vs. (13.8±2.8) d] were more favorable(all P<0.05). Complication rate was lower in LARH group(10.4% vs. 9.4%), however the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSLARH with D3 lymph node dissection is oncologically comparable with ORH for right colon cancer. It is a safe and feasible procedure associated with rapid postoperative recovery.

Aged ; Colectomy ; methods ; Colonic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of extensively hydrolyzed formula on the growth and development in very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.

METHODSA total of 375 VLBW or ELBW infants were enrolled and divided into an observation group (187 infants) and a control group (188 infants) using a random number table. The infants in the observation group were given extensively hydrolyzed formula, and when the amount of extensively hydrolyzed formula reached 10 mL/time, it was changed to the standard formula for preterm infants. The infants in the control group were given standard formula for preterm infants. Both groups were fed for 4 consecutive weeks and were compared in terms of incidence rate of feeding intolerance, time to establish full enteral feeding, time to complete meconium excretion, number of spontaneous bowel movements, growth and development, motilin level at 4 and 10 days after feeding, and incidence rate of infection.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the observation group had a lower rate of feeding intolerance (P<0.05), a shorter duration to full enteral feeding and time to complete meconium excretion (P<0.05), a higher mean number of daily spontaneous bowel movements (P<0.05), higher body weight (1 793±317 g vs 1 621±138 g; P<0.05), head circumference (30.5±1.1 cm vs 30.0±1.6 cm; P<0.05), and body length (43.9±1.2 cm vs 42.1±2.0 cm; P<0.05), a higher motilin level at 4 and 10 days after feeding (P<0.05), and a significantly lower infection rate (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExtensively hydrolyzed formula can increase motilin level, improve gastrointestinal feeding tolerance, promote early growth and development, and reduce the incidence of infection in VLBW and ELBW infants.

Child Development ; Enteral Nutrition ; Female ; Humans ; Infant Formula ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; growth & development ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; growth & development ; Male ; Motilin ; blood