AIM: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of vincamine sustained release capsules on non- arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy ( NAION) . · METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with monocular onset NAION in acute stage from January to September 2015 were divided into two groups. Routine treatment such as steroid pulse therapy and neurotrophic treatment were given to all the patients. Vincamine was added to the treatment group patients with 30mg twice a day for 3mo. The best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA), mean deviation ( MD) of visual field, retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL ) , ganglion cell complex ( GCC ) , pattern visual evoked potential ( PVEP ) and OCT results were analyzed before and after the treatment. ·RESULTS:Totally 42 eyes of 42 patients were enrolled in our study. There were 27 patients in the treatment group, aged from 33 to 79 years old, the average value was 55. 55± 11. 83 years old. The control group has 15 patients, aged from 40 to 70 years old, the average value was 55. 71 ± 10. 06 years old. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in the baseline. After 3mo of the treatment, MD value of the two groups were lower compared with the baseline, the difference was statistically significant in the treatment and control group respectively (t= 2. 342, 2. 692; P = 0. 027, 0. 041). The difference of PVEP amplitude and potential of the two groups before and after the treatment were not statistically significant. The thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer and the ganglion cell complex were all lower than the baseline, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 001). The treatment of the two groups were both effective, the treatment group has better treatment effect than the control group. Adverse events related to the treatment of vincamine had not been found. ·CONCLUSION:Vincamine is helpful in the treatment of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: The study was carried out to investigate genetic polymorphism of 15 STR loci in Guangxi Miao population. METHORDS: DNA samples from southern China 274 Miao unrelated individuals were screened by using AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and 3100 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS: These 15 loci meet the Hardy-Weinberg expectations. The matching probability of the 15 STR loci was 5.04 x 10(-17), and combined paternity of exclution was 0.9999993 in Guangxi Miao population. CONCLUSION Our results showed Identifiler PCR Amplification systems of 15 STR loci were useful enough to forensic case work in Guangxi Miao population.
Alleles ; China/ethnology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Markers ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the allele frequency distribution, gene diversity and haplotype diversity of 12 Y-specific short tandem repeats (STR) in Guangzhou Han population and evaluate their forensic application.

METHODSTwelve Y-STR loci in 401 unrelated male Han individuals in Guangzhou were amplified with PowerPlex(R) Y System, and the PCR products were detected with 3100 Genetic Analyzer.

RESULTSThe data of allele distribution and gene diversity of the 12 Y-STR loci were obtained from these individuals. A total of 398 haplotypes were observed and the overall haplotype diversity for the 12 Y-STR loci was 0.99997. The DNA samples of 13 different species of animals were amplified and no specific products were observed. Different tissues from the same individual exhibited the same Y-STR haplotype.

CONCLUSIONThe 12 Y-STR loci exhibit high genetic polymorphism and are of important value in understanding of the human origin, individual identification for mixed male/female DNA samples and paternity identification.

China ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Forensic Medicine ; methods ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups

A LC-MS method was established for the determination of the protein binding rates of oleanolic acid in human plasma and serum albumin. The equilibrium dialysis combined with LC-MS to determine the total concentration in plasma and free drug concentration of oleanolic acid was carried out. The human plasma protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 79.6%, 81.9% and 63.3%, respectively. The human serum albumin protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 53.5%, 56.6% and 47.7%, respectively. The method is shown to be simple, accurate, sensitive and specific for the determination of biological samples. The protein binding rates in human plasma and serum albumin were of high strength.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oleanolic Acid ; blood ; Protein Binding ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: The genetic studies of 13 short tandem repeats(STRs) loci in two multiplex amplification systems were carried out on Chinese Han population in Guangdong. METHODS: DNA samples from 328 unrelated individuals were screened. The 13 loci were D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, TH01, TPOX and CSF1PO. The PCR products were analyzed and genotyped by ABI 377-96 Sequencer. RESULTS: The combined power of discrimination (DP) was 0.999999999999993 and the combined paternity of exclusion(PE) was 99.999%. These 13 loci met the Hardy-Weinberg expectations. CONCLUSION The two multiplex amplification systems were very useful in forensic case investigation.
Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Paternity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo provide a new means for forensic examination of difficult samples including old blood stain, hair (containing hair shafts), decomposed samples and old bone tissues using co-amplification of mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

METHODSWith Identifiler kit, STR genotyping and 18 mtDNA SNPs (16 SNPs in the coding region and 2 in the control region) detection were carried out using multiple amplification with labeled fluorescence and capillary electrophoresis. The two methods were compared for their performance in forensic caseworks such as old blood stain, cast-off cells, degraded muscles, cartilages, teeth and old bones.

RESULTSThe detection rates of STR and mtDNA SNPs were both beyond 80%, but the latter had a greater success rate. The success rates of mtDNA SNPs were significantly greater than those of STR in the examination of such samples as degraded muscles, cartilages, and old bones.

CONCLUSIONMultiplex amplification of mitochondrial DNA SNPs shows a bright prospect in the examination of difficult forensic samples.

DNA Fingerprinting ; methods ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Forensic Medicine ; methods ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Specimen Handling

To prepare composite phospholipid liposomes containing total alkaloids of Strychnos nux-vomica with hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphacholine (DPPC), and compare with normal DPPC thermosensitive liposomes for thermosensitive release property. Total alkaloids were extracted from S. nux-vomica with the impregnation method and further purified. Liposomes containing total alkaloids, thermosensitive liposomes and conventional thermosensitive liposomes without thermosensitive release property were prepared by ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradients and stealth liposome technique. Their encapsulation efficiency (EE), grain size, zeta potential and drug release behavior were compared. Their EEs and zeta potentials were almost identical; but the grain sizes of composite phospholipid liposomes and thermosensitive liposomes were significantly smaller than conventional liposomes. After comparing release behaviors of the three liposomes at 37, 43 degrees C, we found that the release of composite phospholipid liposomes was significantly lower than that of thermosensitive liposomes at 37 degrees C, but higher than that of thermosensitive liposomes at 43 degrees C. Meanwhile, conventional liposomes, with a very high phase-transition temperature, showed only slight release behavior at both temperatures. The study results showed that composite phospholipid liposomes had a better thermosensitive release behavior when the dosage of lysophosphatidic was reduced by 2. 5 times.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Phospholipids ; chemistry ; Strychnos nux-vomica ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDMicrowaves have other biological effects on cancer as well besides killing tumor cells by coagulation. Some studies showed that microwaves may induce apoptosis in some tumor cells. The apoptotic effect of microwaves may help in clinic to remove residual malignant cells nearby the primary lesion and avoid relapse subsequently. However, there is little evidence on this subject from lung cancer. We studied the effect of microwaves on inducing apoptosis in the human lung carcinoma cell line A549 cells, aiming to identify its effect on apoptosis.

METHODSA549 cells were radiated by various intensities and durations of microwaves. Apoptosis induction in A549 cells was analyzed by morphological observations, tetrazolium blue color method (MTT) assays, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and image analyses.

RESULTSMorphological changes in A549 cells, including cell shrinking and nuclear pyknosis, were observed after microwave radiation. Microwaves significantly inhibited metabolic activities and induced apoptosis in A549 cells. The results of the MTT assay showed a significant decrease of cell activities in all the radiation groups compared with the normal control (P < 0.01). The low point of cell activities often appeared at 6 - 12 hours after radiation. Apoptosis was also confirmed by flow cytometry. The early stage apoptotic rate reached 6.10% - 17.98% and the advanced stage apoptotic rate + necrosis rate reached 8.04% - 44.06% at 6 hours after microwave irradiation, in contrast to 2.32% and 4.10% in the respective control groups. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and up-regulation of p53 expression were observed by immunohistochemistry after radiation. In most treated groups, the down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression reached its lowest level at 3 - 6 hours after radiation (integrated optical density (IOD)-6 hours: 2.13 ± 0.08 - 5.14 ± 0.13 vs. control: 5.79 ± 0.10, P < 0.01) and the up-regulation of P53 expression peaked at about 3 hours (IOD-3 hours: 2.61 ± 0.13 - 8.07 ± 0.11 vs. control: 1.29 ± 0.07, P < 0.01). Cell damage, apoptosis, and protein expression levels in the samples differed depending on the radiation intensity and duration.

CONCLUSIONSMicrowaves can promote apoptosis in A549 cells. The effect depends on the duration and dosage of microwave radiation. Bcl-2 and p53 proteins may be involved in the apoptotic process of A549 cells induced by microwaves.

Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Microwaves ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, diagnosis and therapy of thyroid neoplasm in children.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 32 children with thyroid nodular who were underwent operation in Xiangya Hospital between January 2002 and December 2010.

RESULTSOf the 32 cases, there were 23 girls and 9 boys. Six cases were diagnosed as nodular Goiter adenoma and 26 cases were diagnosed as thyroid papillary carcinoma. B-ultrasonic examination showed a 100% accurate rate for the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. Fourteen children (44%) were proven to have concurrent Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Twenty-two (69%) children with thyroid carcinoma were found to have lymph metastasis in the lateral neck. The children younger than 10 years showed a high rate of metastasis than those older one (94% vs 56%, P<0.05). All 32 children received a surgical therapy. Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed on the 6 children with nodular Goiter adenoma. Total thyroidectomy (17 cases) or ipsilateral thyroidectomy (9 cases) was performed according to the stage of thyroid carcinoma. The surgical outcomes were followed up for 3 months to 9 years and no recurrence or death occurred. The development and growth were normal in the children.

CONCLUSIONSChildhood thyroid nodular attacks girls more than boys, and the frequency of malignancy is high. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a common concurrent disease. The incidence of local lymph metastasis is high in those younger than 10 years. The surgical therapy for thyroid neoplasm may lead satisfactory outcomes in children.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) loaded tetrandrine (TET) extracted from traditional Chinese medicine with ultrasonication and high pressure homogenization, and to compare the physicochemical characteristics of the particles produced by the two methods.

METHODSTET was incorporated into SLN by ultrasonication and high pressure homogenization separately. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to study the shape. Particle characterization system and Zeta potential analyzer were used to study the diameter and Zeta potential of SLN in suspension. The entrapment efficiency was determined with the high-performance liquid chromatography. The stability of SLN was also studied.

RESULTSTET-SLNs prepared by these two methods were sheet-shaped and irregular, but the SLNs prepared by high pressure homogenization were smaller. The mean diameter of SLN prepared by ultrasonication was (92 +/- 6) nm with Zeta potential of (-21.11 +/- 2.12) mV in distilled water, and the mean entrapment efficiency was 95.27%. The mean diameter of TET-SLN prepared by high pressure homogenization was (47 +/- 3) nm with Zeta potential of (-32.99 +/- 2.54) mV, and up to 97.82% of TET was incorporated. The diameter of SLN prepared by high pressure homogenization and ultrasonication were (52 +/- 5) nm and (168 +/- 12) nm after 90 days of storage at room temperature.

CONCLUSIONCompared with ultrasonication, high pressure homogenization is a better method to prepare TET-SLN, which is smaller, steadier and highly incorporated.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Benzylisoquinolines ; chemistry ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Sonication