The effects of the feed attractants on Whitmania pigra were studied. The average weight of Wh. pigra were 5.0 g. Arginine was selected as feed attractants, xanthan gum was selected as feed substrate. The times of Wh. pigra going into the inducing room were recorded. The water temperature was 22-25 degrees C during the whole experiment. Arginine that had better inducing effect was chosen to carry on in the gradient experiment. The results showed that the best inducing effect was found when the added amount of arginine was 0.3%, which was close to the arginine content of the natural body fluid of Wh. Pigra and Bellamya purificata, 2.97 mg x g(-1).
Animal Feed ; analysis ; Animals ; Arginine ; analysis ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Feeding Behavior ; Leeches ; growth & development ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo research the effects of Qingyang Toujie Mixture (QTM) in combination with prednisone tablet on the balance of Th1 and Th2 (Th1/Th2) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients of yin deficiency syndrome (YDS).

METHODSTotally 42 patients with SLE were recruited from clinics of internal medicine and hospitalization department of First Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 2009 to March 2011. They were randomly assigned to the treatment group (22 cases) and the control group (20 cases) according to the random digit table. Another 12 healthy subjects were recruited as the healthy control group from employees of First Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and healthy students in physical examinations. All patients took prednisone tablet. The dosage was adjusted according to the severity of SLE activity index and the condition: 40 -60 mg per day for severe active stage; 20-40 mg per day for moderate active stage; 15 -20 mg per day for light active stage; and less than 15 mg per day for those in the stable stage, respectively. When patients' condition had been stabilized for 1 to 2 weeks, the dosage was gradually reduced according to the method of hormone reduction. In case of the recurrence of symptoms or when complicated with lupus nephritis or lupus encephalitis uncontrollable, standard shock therapy with Cyclophosphamide Injection (0.5-1 g/m2 body surface area, intravenous dripping, once every 4 weeks) was performed. Patients in the treatment group took QTM additionally, one dose daily, taken in two portions, once in the morning and once in the evening. Those in the control group took placebos additionally, one dose daily, taken in two portions, once in the morning and once in the evening. The therapeutic course was 6 months for all. No measure was taken for those in the healthy control group. Venous blood was withdrawal before and after treatment. Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-12) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-4) were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, the serum Th1 cytokines such as IL-12 and IFN-gamma, Th2 cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-4 increased, the Th1/Th2 ratios such as IFN-gamma/IL-4 and IL-12/IL-10 decreased in the treatment group and the control group before treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the serum Th1 cytokines such as IL-12 and IFN-gamma decreased, the serum Th2 cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-4 decreased, the ratios of Th1/Th2 cytokines such as IFN-gamma/IL-4 and IL-12/IL-10 increased in the treatment group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, IL-4 decreased, and the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Fewer patients suffered from adverse reactions in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONQTM in combination with prednisone tablet was effective to improve the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines, and alleviate the toxic and adverse reactions of hormone or immune inhibitors.

Adult ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; drug effects ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: Larotaxel is a new chemical structure drug, which has not been marketed worldwide. Accordingly, the standard identification and quantification methods for larotaxel remain unclear. The spectrometric analyses were performed for verifying weight molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel. Besides, a quantification method was developed for measuring larotaxel in the liposomes. METHODS: The molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel were studied by using mass spectrometry (MS), infra-red (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrometric techniques. The absorption wavelength of larotaxel was investigated by UV-vis spectrophotometry full-wavelength scanning. Besides, a quantification method was developed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and then validated by measuring the encapsulation efficacy of larotaxel liposomes. RESULTS: The four spectral characteristics of larotaxel were revealed and the corresponding standard spectra were defined. It was confirmed that larotaxel had the structure of tricyclic diterpenoids, with the molecular formula of C45H53NO14, the molecular weight of 831.900 1, and the maximum absorption wavelength of 230 nm. The quantitative method of larotaxel was established by using HPLC with a reversed phase C18 column (5 μm, 250 mm×4.6 mm), a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (75:25, volume/volume), and a detection wavelength of 230 nm. The validation study exhibited that the established HPLC method was stable, and had a high recovery and precision in the quantitative measurement of larotaxel in liposomes. In addition, a new kind of larotaxel liposomes was also successfully prepared. The particle size of the liposomes was about 105 nm, with an even size distribution. And the encapsulation efficiency of larotaxel in the liposomes was above 80%. CONCLUSION The present study offers reference standard spectra of larotaxel, including MS, IR, NMR, and UV-vis, and confirms the molecular formula, molecular weight and chemical structure of larotaxel. Besides, the study develops a rapid HPLC method for quality control of larotaxel liposomes.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Liposomes ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Taxoids

BACKGROUNDThe efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) are unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for IgAN.

METHODSIt is a multicenter, prospective, double-dummy randomized controlled trial. Primary IgAN patients were recruited in 13 renal units across Beijing, China, from July 2010 to June 2012. After a 4-week telmisartan (80 mg/d) wash-in, 400 patients continuing on 80 mg/d telmisartan were randomly assigned to additionally receive placebo (Group A), 50 mg/d clopidogrel (Group B), 20 mg/d leflunomide (Group C), or 50 mg/d clopidogrel and 20 mg/d leflunomide (Group D). The 24-week intervention was completed by 360 patients. The primary endpoint was change in 24-h proteinuria at 24 weeks. A linear mixed-effect model was used to analyze the changes at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate changes in hematuria grade. This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.

RESULTSThe effects of telmisartan combined with leflunomide on changes in proteinuria (0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.55] g/d, P < 0.001), in serum uric acid (76.96 [95% CI 57.44-96.49] μmol/L, P < 0.001), in serum creatinine (9.49 [95% CI 6.54-12.44] μmol/L, P < 0.001), and in estimated glomerular filtration rate (-6.72 [95% CI-9.46 to -3.98] ml·min-1·1.73 m-2, P < 0.001) were statistically significant, whereas they were not statistically significant on changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and weight (P > 0.05). Telmisartan combined with clopidogrel had no statistical effect on any outcome, and there was no interaction between the interventions. No obvious adverse reactions were observed.

CONCLUSIONSTelmisartan combined with leflunomide, not clopidogrel, is safe and effective for decreasing proteinuria in certain IgAN patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONchictr.org.cn, ChiCTR-TRC-10000776; http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=8760.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzimidazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Benzoates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; China ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; drug effects ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Isoxazoles ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Ticlopidine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Uric Acid ; blood ; Young Adult