Objective To develop an UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneously determination of five components (adenosine,cytidine,guanosine,mannitol and adenine) in Qiangshenpaidu capsules. Methods The UPLC separation was performed on an Agilent ZOBAX SB-C18(2.1 mm×150 mm,5 μm) column.Isocratic elution was carried out with mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.1%formic acid (5∶95) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL.min-1.The mass spectrometer was operated in the positive ionization electrospray ( ESI) mode using multiple monitoring ( MRM) for analysis of five components. Results Adenosine,cytidine,guanosine,mannitol and adenine were all analyzed with good precision and accuracy. The linear ranges were 35-1 120 ng.mL-1( r=0.998 1) ,10-320 ng.mL-1( r=0.996 4) , 30-980 ng.mL-1( r=0.999 3) , 40-1 280 ng.mL-1( r=0.993 4), 25-800 ng.mL-1(r=0.996 5),respectively.The recoveries of six analytes ranged from 97.4% to 103.6% and the relative standard deviations were all below 4.7%. Conclusion A sensitive,accurate and suitable UPLC-MS/MS method has been developed,and the method could be applied for the determination of adenosine,cytidine,guanosine,mannitol,and adenine in Qiangshenpaidu Capsules.

Objective To observe the effects of iguratimod ( IT) combined with methotrexate ( MTX) in patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis ( rRA) . Methods Sixty patients with rRA were randomly divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each group) . The cases in treatment group received 50 mg.d-1 of iguratimod and 10 mg of MTX for 16 weeks. The cases in control group were treated by 10-15 mg of MTX. DAS28 was analyzed. Levels of VEGF and endostatin ( ES) were quantified. Results In the treatment group,after 16-week treatment,DAS28,levels of VEGF and ES were (3.0±1.2),(818.9±178.8) pg.mL-1, (337.8±132.6) ng.mL-1,and those in the control group were (5.7±1.9),(1000.2±245.9) pg.mL-1,(253.8±77.8) ng.mL-1,respectively. In the treatment group,DAS28 and VEGF after the treatment were significantly decreased as compared with those before the treatment ( P<0.01) . The decrement was more significant in the treatment group than in the control group ( P<0.01) . At the 16th week of treatment,ES was significantly increased as compared with that before the treatment ( P<0.01) , and there was a significant difference between the treatment group and the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Iguratimod combined with MTX have a prominent effect on rRA with high safety. The efficacy of IT on RA might be related with decreasing VEGF release,increasing ES production and alleviating synovium angiogenesis.

Objective To analyse the high-dose dexamethasone suppression test(HDDST)-related differences in the clinical and biochemical features of the patients with Cushing's disease Methods Cases were drawn from 60 consecutive patients with Cushing's disease,who were then divided into two groups according to the response to the HDDST.The clinical and biochemical features between two groups were compared.Results(1) Of the 60 patients with Cushing's disease,23.3%(14/60)of patients(group A)did not yield results of suppression with the HDDST,and the others(group B)did.No difference was found in the age[(33.8?10.4 vs 36.2?11.2)years]and duration of illness[(2.1?1.6 vs 3.9?3.1)years]between two groups.(2)In clinical features,the patients in group A were more likely to have edema of lower limbs(64.3% vs 32.6%),hypokalemia (71.4% vs 28.3%),secondary diabetes(57.1% vs 26.1%)and purple striae(85.7% vs 54.3%,all P

Objective To study the relationship between intake of nutrients and bone density in the middle-aged and the old people. Methods Dietary investigation was conducted and bone densities of lumbar 2-4, tuberositas of femur and the neck of femur were measured in 200 healthy subjects who received physical check-up in our hospital. Subjects were distributed into 6 groups including young or middle-aged,pre-old and old groups of men and women.Comparison was conducted within those groups.Results The average intake of protein, carbohydrate and energy per day in old men-group were (71.4±11.7)g,(294.2±54.7)g and (2196.9±311.3) kcal, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in young or middle-aged groups,and the average amounts of protein, carbohydrate and energy intake per day in old men-group were (91.7±19.5)g, (81.8±85.2)g and (2716.0±451.7)kcal, respectively. The average intake of calcium in women-old group was (362.0±167.1)mg, the lowest in the groups. The incidence of abnormal bone densities of lumbar 2-4, the tuberositas of femur and the neck of femur in old men group was significantly higher than those in young or middle-aged men groups (P＜0.05 ) and the preold men group. There were significantly different incidence rates of abnormal bone densities between the 3 women groups (P＜0.05), especially between young or middle-aged groups and in the old women-group(P＜0. 0001 ). The incidences of abnormal bone density in pre-old men group and old men group were significantly lower than those in-pre-old and old women groups. Conclusion The decrease of calcium intake seemed to be one of the factors leading to abnormity of bone density in old women. While the increase of calcium intake served as one of the nutritional factors affecting the bones.

The outcome and influencing factors in the reversion of impaired glucose regulation(IGR)to normal glycemia(NG)after health education for one year were analyzed by the criterion of American Diabetes Association 2003.The results showed that the improvement of glucose regulation well accorded with the improvement of insulin resistance and islet 13-cell function.Fasting plasma glucose,fasting insulin,triglycerides, insulin resistance and islet?-cell function were the influencing factors for the reversion of IGR to NG.

We report a case of 51-year-old woman with pure unroofed coronary sinus without persistent left superior vena cava and other cardiac anomaly. She presented with dyspnea on exertion during several years. Her chest film showed prominent cardiomegaly and dilated hilar vessels. Cardiac rhythm was atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated the enlarged coronary sinus with defect toward left atrium on parasternal long axis view and significant flow from coronary sinus into right atrium on subxyphoid view, and its other findings were dilated right ventricle and right atrium, paradoxical septal motion, moderate tricuspid regurgitation and mild mitral regurgitation, which were mimicking of large secundum atrial septal defect. Radionuclide cardioangiography and cardiac catheterization showed the existence of significant shunt. There was no evidence of persistent left superior vena cava on chest CT. Closure of Coronary sinus opening was done. Thereafter her symptoms of congestive heart failure were much improved. We think that careful examination of 2-D echocardiography can be valuable tool for diagnosis of unroofed coronary sinus in adult patient.
Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Cardiomegaly ; Coronary Sinus* ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Vena Cava, Superior*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regular pattern of the distribution of skin epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in the different parts of a healthy human body, and to evaluate the feasibility of the identification of ESCs by P63 and CD29 with single and double labeling.

METHODSFull-thickness skin samples from 21 parts (including scalp, dorsum of foot, sole of foot, pubic region, and scrotum) of 5 healthy persons were harvested for the study. Immunohistochemistry method with biotin-streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (SP) was employed with P63 and CD29 as the first antibody to carry out single and double labeling. The staining results were subjected to image analysis. The distribution of the ESCs in the skin from the above parts was observed and expressed as positive unit (PU) value.

RESULTSIt was found by P63 single labeling and P63 and CD29 double labeling that the PU value in the dorsum of foot was the lowest while that in the scalp was the highest among all the parts of a healthy body. It was also found by CD29 single labeling that the PU value in the dorsum of foot was the lowest [(11.9 +/- 1.5)%] while highest in the scalp [(29.1 +/- 5.0)%]. The PU value in the hairy region of a human body was evidently higher than that in the non-hairy region (P < 0.01), when examined by P63 and CD29 single and double labeling. But there was no difference in the PU values between the trunk and limbs by means of P63 and CD29 single and double labeling (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere are more ESCs in the skin from the scalp, mons pubis and scrotum than other parts of the body. Single P63 or CD29 labeling exhibits higher sensitivity but lower specificity in the identification of ESCs. While the double labeling method exhibits higher specificity but lower sensitivity. Above all, it seems that the double labeling may be a simple and effective method for the identification of ESCs.

Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin beta1 ; Male ; Skin ; cytology ; Stem Cells

AIMAnnonaceous acetogenin 89-2 was obtained from atemoya plant. To investigate the effect of 89-2 on experimental chemotherapy against xenografts derived from multidrug resistant KBv200 cells and parental drug-sensitive KB cells.

METHODSCytotoxicity was determined by tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The models of KB and KBv200 xenografts in nude mice were established to investigate the effect of 89-2 on experimental chemotherapy against cancer in vivo. Mechanistic experiments were conducted to examine the function of P-gp by Fura 2-AM assay.

RESULTSThe compound 89-2 showed potent cytotoxicity in KBv200 and KB cells, and the mean IC50 of 89-2 to KBv200 and KB cells was 48.7 and 64.6 nmol.L-1, respectively. The IC50 of 89-2 to multidrug resistant (MDR) cells was similar to that to the parental drug-sensitive cells (P < 0.05). In the models of KBv200 and KB cell xenografts in nude mice, 89-2 (0.90 mg.kg-1, q2d x 6) exhibited 52.3% and 56.5% in inhibiting the growth of xenografts, respectively. The toxicity was endurable. The intracellular accumulation of Fura-2 in KBv200 cells increased to 1.66, 2.03, and 2.74-fold, respectively, by addition of 12.8, 64 and 320 nmol.L-1 of 89-2.

CONCLUSIONBoth MDR KBv200 cells and parental drug-sensitive KB cells were sensitive to the treatment of 89-2 in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of overcoming MDR was associated with the decrease of P-gp function MDR cells.

4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Animals ; Annona ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Alcohols ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo study whether infantile wheezing pneumonia has similar immune mechanisms to asthma by determining the levels of serum inflammatory factors in wheezing infants with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

METHODSForty-two infants with CAP but without wheezing, 47 infants with CAP and wheezing, and 30 healthy infants as a control were recruited in the study. The peripheral blood levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-l, interferon-γ, interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and periostin were compared in the three groups.

RESULTSThe serum levels of procalcitonin, soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-l, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 in the two CAP groups were higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 in the wheezing pneumonia group was lower than in the non-wheezing pneumonia and control groups (P<0.05). The serum level of periostin in the wheezing pneumonia group was higher than in the non-wheezing pneumonia and control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe unbalanced ratio of interferon-γ/interleukin-4 and airway eosinophilic inflammation in wheezing infants with pneumonia suggest infantile pneumonia with wheezing may has similar immune mechanisms to asthma.

Child, Preschool ; Community-Acquired Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Pneumonia ; immunology ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; Respiratory Sounds ; immunology ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1