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

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.

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.

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*

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 explore the effects and anti-depression mechanisms of Kaixin Jieyu Decoction (, KJD).

METHODSThe rat vascular depression (VD) model was established by ligation of bilateral common carotid arteries (LBCCA) combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, VD model, VD + high-dose KJD [15.4 g/(kg·d) of crude drug], VD + medium-dose KJD [7.7 g/(kg·d) of crude drug], and VD + fluoxetine [2.4 mg/(kg·d)] groups (n=8 in each group), and the treatments lasted for 21 days. Changes of behavior and hippocampus pathology were observed. The level of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) protein and mRNA in hippocampus was detected respectively by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with the sham group, rats in model group showed a variety of behavioral obstacles, including a significant reduction in sucrose consumption percentage, horizontal and vertical activity scores in open-field tests (P<0.05 or P<0.01), pathological damage like neuronal degeneration, necrosis, and a significant decrease of GFAP protein and mRNA in hippocampus (P<0.01); compared with the model group, rats in the high-dose KJD group, medium-dose KJD group and fluoxetine group obtained notable higher behavioral scores, and pathological injury lessened in hippocampus with a increased expression of GFAP protein and mRNA P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with the medium-dose KJD group and fluoxetine group, GFAP mRNA in high-dose KJD group expressed higer (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLBCCA combined with CUMS may cause depression-like behavioral changes resulting in the VD model of rats whose depression state can be ameliorated by KJD, and the mechanism of cerebral protection is related possibly with promoting expression of GFAP in hippocampus.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Transition Temperature

BACKGROUNDSubclinical apoplexy of pituitary functional adenoma can cause spontaneous remission of hormone hypersecretion. The typical presence of pituitary growth hormone (GH) adenoma is gigantism and/or acromegaly. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with spontaneous partial remission of acromegaly or gigantism due to subclinical apoplexy of GH adenoma.

METHODSSix patients with spontaneous remission of acromegaly or gigantism were enrolled. The clinical characteristics, endocrinological evaluation and imageological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSIn these cases, the initial clinical presences were diabetes mellitus or hypogonadism. No abrupt headache, vomiting, visual function impairment, or conscious disturbance had ever been complained of. The base levels of GH and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were normal or higher, but nadir GH levels were all still > 1 µg/L in 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Magnetic resonance imaging detected enlarged sella, partial empty sella and compressed pituitary. The transsphenoidal surgery was performed in 2 cases, and the other patients were conservatively managed. All the patients were in clinical remission.

CONCLUSIONSWhen the clinical presences, endocrine evaluation, biochemical examination and imageology indicate spontaneous remission of GH hypersecretion in patients with gigantism or acromegaly, the diagnosis of subclinical apoplexy of pituitary GH adenoma should be presumed. To these patients, conservative therapy may be appropriate.

Acromegaly ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gigantism ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; complications ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; complications ; Young Adult