A novel method for the simultaneous quantification of seven metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in human urine was developed using online solid phase extraction-HPLC with double ternary liquid chromatography system combined with fluorescence detector. The target compounds were online concentrated on the Turboflow Cyclone solid phase extraction column at first, then transferred by the six-way valve to the Hypersil Green PAH column for separation with acetonitrile and water as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min and at 35 ℃. A single sample analysis cycle took only 20 min. Under the optimized chromatographic conditions, the method showed good linear relationship ( r≥0. 999 ) in the range of 5-2000 ng/L or 50-20000 ng/L. The LODs were 0. 5-15 ng/L, and the recoveries were 80. 7%-110. 7%. The proposed method was successfully applied in the detection of metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine from several smokers and non-smokers. The concentrations of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene and 6-hydroxychrysene in the smokers urine were much higher than that in non-smokers.

Background Epidemiological investigation in human has been conclusive. In postmenopausal women,the incidence of cataract is higher than men at the same age. In addition,hormone replacement therapy may protect against the development of cataract. However,this role of androgen is not clear. Objective This study was to explore the effects of estrogen and androgen on anti-oxidative ability of lens after ovariectomy. Methods Fifty-six three-month-old clean female Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group,sham operation group, castration group,estrogen eyedrops group;estrogen injection group;androgen eyedrops group;androgen injection group and 8 rats for each. Ovariectomy was performed in the rats of castration group and gonadal hormone application group, and estradiol benzoate solution or testosterone propionate solution were utilized topically or systemly in 5 months after ovariectomy for 6 weeks respectively. Only abdominal cut was curried out in sham operation group. The lenses of rats were examined weekly under the slit lamp. The serum estrogen and androgen levels of rats were detected before,after operation and 6 weeks following the administration of gonadal hormone. The contents of superoxide dismutase( SOD) , glutathione( GSH) ,malondialdehyde( MDA) and water-soluble protein ( WSP) in rat lens homogenate were detected at the end of the experiment. Utilization of animals complied with the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results No opacity of lenses was found during the experiment duration in various groups. The serum estradiol levels of rats in sham group were insignificantly different from normal groups in various time points( P>0. 05). The evident decline of serum estradiol was detected in the rats of castration group and gonadal hormone application groups compared with sham group in 5 months after operation( all P<0. 01). However,at the sixth weeks after the system use of estradiol or testosterone,the serum estradiol levels were significantly higher than the castration group and topical application groups of gonadal hormone(P<0. 01). The contents of SOD,GSH and WSP in lenses were considerably increased,but the MDA level in lenses was decreased after system use of estrogen ( P<0. 01). The activity of SOD and GSH were lower after system use of testosterone in comparison with castration rats ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Estrogen can protect lens against oxidation damage. However, androgen, to a certain extent, may contribute to the development of oxidative damage in OVX female rats.

Objective To observe the expression of estrogen receptor(ER)? and ER? in the vaginal wall of women with anterior vaginal prolapse,and to investigate the relationships of ER subtypes with the development of pelvic organ prolapse(POP).Methods Seven premenopausal women and 33 postmenopausal women with anterior vaginal prolapse who underwent surgery in our hospital from July 1999 to July 2004 were analyzed.Nine premenopausal and 8 postmenopausal women with squamous carcinoma of cervix who underwent surgery served as controls.The expression of ER? and ER? in squamous epithelium (SE),lamina propria(LP)and muscular layer(ML)of anterior vaginal wall were studied by immunohistochemical staining.Results(1)Both ER? and ER? were expressed in SE,LP,ML of vaginal wall of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.(2)The expression of ER? was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women;the expression of ER? was not significantly different in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with POP;however,it was decreased in postmenopausal women without POP(P

OBJECTIVETo develop a RP-HPLC method for determination of three alkaloids in total alkaloids exfracted from Lotus plumule.

METHODA Hypersil C18 column was used with the mobile phase of methanol-phosphate (73:27, pH 9.0) at the detection wavelength of 230 and 286 nm. The flow rate was 1 mL min(-1).

RESULTThe linear range was 20-700 microg mL(-1), the recovery of three alkaloids were 97.9%, 98.4% and 98.1%. The RSD of intra-day and inter-day was 0. 24% -4. 83%. Different groups of samples were determined by this method. The result showed that the extraction method with methanol was prior to the extraction method with alcohol.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid and suitable for the determination of three alkaloids in total alkaloids exfracted from L. plumule.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Benzylisoquinolines ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoquinolines ; analysis ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Feiji Recipe (FR) intervening indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) induced immune escape on the murine model of Lewis lung carcinoma. Methods Totally 48 C57BL/6 mice inoculated with Lewis lung cancer cells transfected with human (enhanced green fluorescent protein,EGFP)-IDO gene were divided into four groups according to radom digit table, i.e., the model group (administered with normal saline by gastrogavage) , the Chinese medicine group (treated with FR Decoction at the daily dose of 100 mg/g by gastrogavage), the 1-methyl-D-trytaphan (1-MT) group (administered with 1-MT mixed liquor at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg by gastrogavage), and the Paclitaxel group (treated with Paclitaxel at the daily dose of 15 mg/kg by peritoneal injection), 12 in each group. The intervention was started from the 2nd day of modeling. The survival time was observed in 24 of them. Ratios of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in the spleen were detected in the rest 24 mice by flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells remarkably decreased in the Chinese medicine group, the 1-MT group, and the Paclitaxel group (P < 0. 01). Compared with the Paclitaxel group, the survival time was significantly prolonged in the Chinese medicine group and the 1-MT group (P < 0.01); ratios of Treg cells decreased significantly in the 1-MT group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFR could inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer cells and immune eseape, improve the immune function, and prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Paclitaxel ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience and the role of hepatectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSFrom 1998 to 2003, the clinical records of 118 cases with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed.

RESULTSOf the 118 patients, 66 were performed palliative treatment; and 52 patients underwent radical resection, of which 47 patients, including 11 cases combined with portal vein resection and reconstruction, underwent hepatectomy. The rate of postoperation complication was 22.9% and 27.3% in hepatectomy with or without portal vein resection and reconstruction respectively. The 1, 3-year survival rate were 85.7%, 31.4% and 81.8%, 27.8% in hepatectomy with or without portal vein resection and reconstruction respectively (P > 0.05). Only 5 patients were alive more than 3 years (7.58%), and no patient with palliative treatment lived over 5 years.

CONCLUSIONSPortal vain invasion is not the contraindication of resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatectomy with portal vein resection and reconstruction may raise the radical resection rate of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and improve the results of prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Escin ; pharmacology ; Intestines ; blood supply ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of phase-weighted imaging in differentiating multiple system atrophy (MSA) from idiopathic Parkinson disease (IPD).

METHODSA phase-weighted sequence was performed covering striatum in 21 patients with MSA, 20 patients with IPD, and 26 age-matched healthy volunteers after conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging examination on a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging system. An experienced neuroradiologist who were blind to the clinical diagnosis applied region of interest (ROI) on post-processing phase images to measure the phase shift value of bilateral globus pallidus, putamen, and caudate head.

RESULTSThe phase shift values at bilateral putamen of MSA group were significantly lower than those of IPD group and control group (P < 0.05), while phase shift values at other locations of MSA group were not statistically different from those of other groups. The phase shift values showed no statistical difference between IPD group and control group at all regions.

CONCLUSIONQuantitative phase-weighted imaging is a useful sequence to reflect the abnormal iron accumulation in brains of patients with movement disorders and is helpful in the differential diagnosis between MSA and IPD.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Caudate Nucleus ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple System Atrophy ; diagnosis ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnosis ; Putamen ; pathology

AIMTo observe redox modulation of ion channel in trigeminal ganglion neurons by oxidants and reducing agents.

METHODSThe effects of oxidants and reducing agents on maxi-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel in cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons by using whole-cell patch-clamp technique.

RESULTSMethionine-specific oxidant chloramine-T (Ch-T) 1 mmol/L slightly increased the current amplitude and this enhancement did not antagonized by DTT. In contrast, cysteine-specific reagent 5, 5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) 500 micromol/L significantly decreased current amplitude of BK(Ca) channels. The effect was reversed by the reducing agent 2 mmol/L 1, 4-dithio-DL-threitol (DTT).

CONCLUSIONReactive oxygen species were definitely involved in regulation of native neuronal function via redox modulation of BK(Ca) channels, which are suggested to play compensatory roles under oxidative stress-related conditions.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trigeminal Ganglion ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the variation and significance of serum and stool IL-18 and IFN-gamma levels in children with rotavirus enteritis.

METHODSSerum and stool specimens from 50 children with acute rotavirus enteritis were collected before treatment. Serum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were measured using ELISA. Serum and stool specimens from 21 age and gender-matched healthy children were used as the Control group.

RESULTSSerum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients with rotavirus enteritis were significantly higher than those in the Control group. There was a negative correlation between the serum IFN-gamma level and the frequency of vomiting (r=-0.368, P < 0.05). The stool IL-18 level negatively correlated to the frequency of diarrhea (r=-0.414, P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma (r=0.416, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSerum and stool levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were increased and associated with the severity in children with rotavirus enteritis. IL-18 and IFN-gamma might have protective effects against acute rotavirus infection at the early stage.

Child, Preschool ; Enteritis ; immunology ; Feces ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; physiology ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; physiology ; Male ; Rotavirus Infections ; immunology