BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (vWF) is only released from endothelial cells and platelets and is an in vivo and in vitro marker of endothelial injury in septic patients with acute lung injury (ALI). Interleukin-8 (IL-8), as a proinflammatory mediator causing recruitment of inflammatory cells, induces an increase in oxidant stress mediators and makes it as a key parameter for localized inflammation. However, it has not been well established whether the level of serum IL-8 is associated with the severity of lung injury and whether it is a prognosis marker for severe lung contusion. This study was to investigate the expression of plasma vWF and IL-8 and their association with the severity and outcomes of severe pulmonary contusion. METHODS: A total of 63 patients were divided into a severe pulmonary contusion with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) group and a non-ARDS group, or a survivor group and a non-survivor group, or an injury severity score (ISS) <20 group and an ISS ≥20 group. Another 20 healthy volunteers served as controls. The levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injury. The expression patterns of the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were compared between different groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 were significantly increased in all severe pulmonary contusion patients at all time points in comparison with the control group. The concentrations of plasma vWF in patients with ARDS increased during the whole study period, but vWF in patients with non-ARDS increased gradually until day 5 and then decreased at day 7. The concentration of serum IL-8 showed a similar expression pattern in both groups, but the expression increased more significantly in the ARDS group than in the non-ARDS group. Interestingly, both plasma vWF and serum IL-8 levels steadily increased in the non-survivor group. Furthermore, the level of plasma vWF was higher in the ISS≥20 group than in the ISS<20 group. The level of serum IL-8 in the ISS≥20 group was consistently high, while that in the ISS<20 group peaked at day 3 and decreased at day 5. In addition, the level of plasma vWF was positively correlated with platelet count, but negatively correlated with oxygen index. The level of serum IL-8 was positively correlated with white blood cell count and ISS score, and inversely correlated with oxygen index. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of plasma vWF and serum IL-8 in severe pulmonary contusion patients reflect the severity of pulmonary injury and patients outcomes, suggesting that the plasma vWF and serum IL-8 are sensitive markers for clinical evaluation of the severity of pulmonary injury and predication of patient prognosis.

Permeability is a key factor in the bioavailability of oral drugs. Therefore, in the early stage of drug discovery, accurate and efficient evaluation of drug permeability is essential. The parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) with Caco-2 cells model was used by the industry as early evaluation methods. At present, the Ussing chamber rat model is also widely used. This review summarizes the human data for the in vivo single-pass perfusion technique (Loc-I-Gut) – the gold standard, and then focuses on the basic principles, experimental operation, and efficiency of the three in vitro methods, with correlation to the effective permeability coefficient (P_eff) and fractional absorbed (Fa) in man. We provide recommendations for the use of proper permeability methods at different stages in drug discovery and development.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absorption mechanism of genistein self-microemulsifying system in rat intestines.

METHODThe concentrations of phenol red and genistein by in situ perfusion in rats were determined by UV and HPLC, respectively. The effects of drug concentrations, pH, various intestinal segments and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor verapamil on the absorption had been studied.

RESULTThe absorption rate constant (Ka) of genistein had no significant difference at concentrations of 0.05-0.5 mg x mL(-1) and pH of 5.4-7.8 in perfusion. It was Ka of jejunum > ileum > duodenum > colon. The absorption of genistein in jejunum had significant difference (P < 0.05) compared with other parts of intestines. Ka was increased obviously when verapamil was coper-fused with genistein (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe absorption of genistein self-microemulsifying system is a first order process with passive diffusion mechanism related to P-gp efflux. It can be absorbed at all segments of rat intestine, and the jejunum is the best absorption segment, pH had no special effect on the absorption of genistein self-microemulsifying system in rat intestine.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Emulsions ; Genistein ; analysis ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Temperature ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

To investigate the effect of Jiawei Foshou San and its various combined administration on hepatic P450 enzyme activity and hepatocyte morphology in rats. Rats were orally administered with drugs for four weeks and then sacrificed to prepare liver microsomes. The liver microsomes were incubated with the cocktail method; The metabolites were determined with the rapid liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to investigate the hepatocyte P450 enzyme activity. In addition, the hepatic pathological changes were observed by using the hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Compared with the control group, the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in the Jiawei Foshou san group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid + ligustrazine group and the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05) ; the enzyme activity of CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1 in the ligustrazine group showed a significant rise (P < 0.05); the enzyme activity of CYP3A4 in the ferulic acid group showed a significant reduction (P < 0.05). After the administration with various drugs, the hepatocyte morphologies in the ferulic acid group and the ligustrazine group were normal. The pathological changes were observed in the tetrahydropalmatine group, such as unclear boundary of hepatic lobules, disordered hepatic cell arrangement, blurred edge, anisokaryosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The ferulic acid + tetrahydropalmatine group, the ligustrazine + tetrahydropalmatine group and the Jiawei Foshou San group also showed inflammatory infiltration, but with less pathological changes, particularly the Jiawei Foshou San group. The study result shows that Jiawei Foshou San can induce the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4, and ligustrazine may be the effective substance for inducing CYP1A2. Its combination with ferulic acid and ligustrazine can significantly reduce the liver toxicity of tetrahydropalmatine.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective: To prepare monoclonal antibodies (McAb) with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) which was purified from fresh human cardiac muscle within 6 h. Methods: (1) Extraction and purification of human cTnI: cTnI was purified by high salt extraction, saltless precipitation, 65℃ treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, etc. (2) Preparation of anti human cTnI McAb: The purified cTnI was injected into the spleen of BALB/c mice. The cTnI-primed spleen cells were fused with Sp2/0 myoloma cell. The McAbs anti human cTnI were obtained by screening with indirect ELISA and 3 times clone. (3)The identification of anti cTnI McAb. Results: Five hybridoma cell lines, named 3A7，3A11，3D2，3F10 and 1H9 were developed, which could secret McAb stably. The 5 McAbs all were demonstrated to be IgG2a by double gel diffusion test. The number of hybridoma chromosomes was between 92 to 110 and the chromosomes were mainly telocentric. Five kinds of ascites had no cross-reaction to LDH，CK，CK-MB ，AST and cardiac troponin T(cTnT), and their titers were between 3.2×10-6 to 1.6×10-7. Conclusion: 3D2，3F10 and 3A7,3A11,1H9 react to different epitopes of cTnI.

Objective: To prepare monoclonal antibodies (McAb) with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) which was purified from fresh human cardiac muscle within 6 h. Methods: (1) Extraction and purification of human cTnI: cTnI was purified by high salt extraction, saltless precipitation, 65℃ treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, etc. (2) Preparation of anti human cTnI McAb: The purified cTnI was injected into the spleen of BALB/c mice. The cTnI-primed spleen cells were fused with Sp2/0 myoloma cell. The McAbs anti human cTnI were obtained by screening with indirect ELISA and 3 times clone. (3)The identification of anti cTnI McAb. Results: Five hybridoma cell lines, named 3A7，3A11，3D2，3F10 and 1H9 were developed, which could secret McAb stably. The 5 McAbs all were demonstrated to be IgG2a by double gel diffusion test. The number of hybridoma chromosomes was between 92 to 110 and the chromosomes were mainly telocentric. Five kinds of ascites had no cross-reaction to LDH，CK，CK-MB ，AST and cardiac troponin T(cTnT), and their titers were between 3.2×10-6 to 1.6×10-7. Conclusion: 3D2，3F10 and 3A7,3A11,1H9 react to different epitopes of cTnI.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and purification of a secreted form of fusion glycoprotein (sF) of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) encoded by recombinant baculovirus.

METHODSAccording the ORF of F protein, a pair of specific primers was designed and PCR technique was exploited to amplify the gene of sF in which the gene sequence of the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail domains were replaced by a C-terminal six-histidine tag. Then, a recombinant baculovirus encoding sF-His was constructed, and transfected into sf9 insect cells by Lipofectamine cellfectine reagent. Finally, the expressed sF was purified by Ni2+ -affinity chromatograph.

RESULTSThe gene encoding sF-His was obtained. The resulting construct of recombinant baculovirus is capable of expressing sF protein. The concentration of Ni2+ -affinity chromatograph purified sF is 1.084 mg/ml with the purity of no less than 90%.

CONCLUSIONBaculovirus expression system is a good method for large scale of preparation of sF. The purified F paves the way for the development of potential RSV vaccine and diagnostic kit, etc.

Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Transport ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spodoptera ; Viral Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of neutralizing anti-interferon-alpha antibodies (NA) in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with recombinant interferon-alpha(rIFN-alpha).

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-one patients (128 male and 53 female) with histological proven chronic hepatitis B were treated with 5 MU recombinant interferon-alpha 1b (rIFN-alpha 1b) subcutaneously thrice weekly for 6 to 37 (median 10) months. For each patient, Specific detection of serum HBV DNA level with fluorescent-quantitative PCR, HBeAg with enzymoimmunoassay and NA with an antiviral neutralizing biological assay were performed during therapy.

RESULTSNA was found in 61 (33.7%) of 181 patients. At the end of treatment, complete-response was achieved in 17 (27.9%) of 61 patients with NA and in 54 (45.0%) of 120 patients without NA, respectively (chi2=4.979). For NA positive patients, the complete-response rate was significantly lower in those who had not achieved partial-response prior to or at the same time as NA occurred than in those who did (3.8%, 1/26, vs. 45.7%, 16/35, chi2 = 7.457). Moreover, it was lower in patients who either had 20pg/ml of serum HBV DNA or above or HBV DNA had being reduced by less than 60% recent 3 months, but higher in those who had less than 20pg/ml of HBV DNA and HBV DNA had being reduced by 60% or above (20.0%, 9/45, vs. 56.3%, 9/16, chi2 = 11.009).

CONCLUSIONNA may negate the antiviral effects of rIFN-alpha in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with rIFN-alpha, especially if they appear before partial-response or at the occasion at which serum HBV DNA level was not below 20pg/ml or HBV DNA had being reduced by less than 60% recent 3 months.

Antibodies ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor CCI-779 on the chemosensitivity of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line PC-3.

METHODSProstate cancer cells PC-3 were cultured and treated with CCI-779, Paclitaxel and combination of the two. Then the inhibitory effects of the three medications on the growth of the PC-3 cells were determined by MTT, and the their cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the three medications all significantly inhibited the proliferation of the PC-3 cells, and the combined method even enhanced the effect. Flow cytometry showed that CCI-779 and Paclitaxel blocked the cell cycle mainly in the G1/G2 stage, while the combined medication mainly in the G0/G1 stage. Significantly increased apoptosis of the PC-3 cells was observed in the three medication groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCCI-779 can inhibit the proliferation of PC-3 cells and enhance the chemosensitivity of prostate cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Male ; Paclitaxel ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Sirolimus ; analogs & derivatives ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate abnormal liver function associated with polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 in workers exposed to N, N-dimethylformamide.

METHODSSixty-nine workers with abnormal liver function in a synthetic leather factory were recruited as case. One hundred and twenty five control subjects with similar work tasks were selected from the same factory. Genotypes for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined by multiplex PCR, and for CYP2E1 PstI by PCR-RFLP assay.

RESULTSThe frequency of positive GSTM1 was 59.42% in cases and 38.40% in control, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.34,95% CI: 1.29-4.29 (P=0.005). For GSTT1 and CYP2E1 PstI, the frequencies of genotypes showed no significant difference between case and control.

CONCLUSIONGSTM1 positive genotype may be genetic risk factors for development of abnormal liver function in workers exposed to N, N-dimethylformamide.

Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; genetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; Dimethylformamide ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Polymorphism, Genetic