AIM　To study the effect of 18α-glycyrrhizic acid (18α-GL) on hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. METHODS　18α-GL (12.5, 50.0 mg*kg-1*d-1) were given ip to male Wistar rats for 3, 6 or 12 consecutive days. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last dose and the liver microsomes were prepared for analysis of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes and phase II transferase activites. RESULTS Aniline hydroxylase (CYP2E1) activities in the rats treated with 18α-GL (12.5, 50.0 mg*kg-1) for 6 days decreased dose-dependently by up to 53.2%; For 3, 6 or 12 days 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (CYP1A1) activities in the rats of 50 mg*kg-1 dose group decreased time-dependently by 17.6%, 38.3% and 47.3%, respectively; Erythromycin N-demethylase (CYP3A) activities was significantly inhibited from 23.1% to 34.3%. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin significantly increased ranging from 19.3% to 29.9%. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward 4-phenylphenol in the rats treated with 18α-GL (12.5, 50.0 mg*kg-1) for 6 days increased by 45.9% and 70.3%. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities in the rats treated with 18α-GL (12.5，50.0 mg*kg-1) for 6 days increased by 13.7% and 48.3% in dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION　18α-GL inhibited rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 while induced phase II transferase.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of hydrophilic polymers on the stability of self-microemulsifying drug deliv-ery systems (SMEDDS). METHODS:Taking felodipine (FDP) as model drug,the content of FDP was determined by HPLC method. The effects of pure water,0.5% Kollidon VA64,HPMC E5,HPMC K100LV,HPMC K4M,PVP K30 solution,while 0.1%,0.5% and 1.0% HPMC E5 and Kollidon VA64 on residual content of dissolved FDP were determined in SMEDDS. RE-SULTS:The residual contents of dissolved FDP in SMEDDS placed in Kollidon VA64,HPMC E5,HPMC K100LV,PVP K30, HPMC K4M and pure water for 1 h were 92.7%,63.6%,50.2%,46.2%,36.0%and 24.0%,respectively. The order of maintain-ing the supersaturation state was Kollidon VA64>HPMC E5>HPMC K100LV>PVP K30>HPMC K4M>pure water. The residu-al contents of dissolved FDP in SMEDDS placed in 0.1%,0.5%,1% Kollidon VA64 and HPMC E5 and pure water for 1 h were 93.2%,95.1%,96.0% and 48.4%,62.1%,75.1%. CONCLUSIONS:Kollidon VA64 and HPMC E5 can significantly inhibit drug release in SMEDDS and be used as stabilizer of SMEDDS,wherein Kollidon VA64 was better.

BACKGROUND:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is classified into four types, and the major treatment is to tonify kidney and nourishyin, clear blood stasis and toxin by the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Even though, there are stil many patients with poor efficacy. Mesenchymal stem cels have the capacity of multiple differentiation, hematopoietic support and immune regulation, thus having been used for the treatment of refractory, recurrent SLE and achieving good effects. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on SLE patients with different patterns of syndromes. METHODS: Twenty-one SLE patients were clustered to four syndrome types of TCM, including heat-toxin,yin deficiency of liver and kidney,yang deficiency of spleen and kidney, andqi stagnation and blood stasis. The changes in clinical and laboratory indicators were analyzed statisticaly before and after cel transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The level of 24-hour proteinuria and SLE disease activity index scores in SLE patients were significantly decreased at 1, 3, 6 months after cel transplantation (P < 0.01). Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel transplantation could significantly reduce the 24-hour proteinuria in SLE patients withyin deficiency of liver and kidney at 1, 3 and 6 months (P < 0.01), while slightly reduce the 24-hour proteinuria in SLE patients with heat-toxin andqi stagnation and blood stasis at 1, 3 months (P < 0.05) as wel as in SLE patients withyang deficiency of spleen and kidney at 1 month (P < 0.05). Additionaly, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel transplantation could increase the serum albumin levels in al the SLE patients (P < 0.01), although the changes in patients with heat-toxin were moderate (P < 0.05). Al the SLE patients of four types had an increasing trend of their platelet counting after cel transplantation, but there was no statistical difference before and after cel transplantation. Taken together, umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cel transplantation is effective for treatment of SLE, but has different therapeutic efficacy on SLE patients with different syndrome types of TCM.

Objective To explore the value of ectopic gastic mucosa imaging in diagnosis of Meckel′s diverticulum.Methods Twenty-five cases suspected of gastrointestinal bleeding underwent conventional ectopic gastic mucosa imaging with 99mT_cO_4-.The diagnostic criteria Meckel′s diverticulum was that abnormal radio active accumulation in the abdomen observed.Results Three cases of ectopic gastic mucosa imaging was positive,and the diagnosis was all confirmed by surgery and pathology examination.The rest 22 cases were caused by other reasons confirmed by affirmative examinations.Conclusions Ectopic gastic mucosa imaging is easy to conduct,safe with no injury to the patients.It can be the first choice of examination in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding in children.

Objective:To explore the method of building the formative assessment (FA) system in diagnostics teaching and investigate its implementation effect.Methods:We planned and formulated the formative assessment system in diagnostics teaching of undergraduate curriculum. The correlation between the scores of the formative assessment and final exam were analyzed. A questionnaire survey on students' attitudes towards FA and an interview on teachers' perspectives were conducted. SPSS 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Linear correlation analysis was used to compare the final exam scores with formative assessment scores, and Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the scores of questionnaire items.Results:The scores of FA were significantly positive related to the scores of final exam ( r = 0.559, P < 0.001). The questionnaire analysis showed that students significantly valued the formative assessment superior to the summative assessment ( Z = -8.632, P<0.001). It was generally approved of the promotion of FA in students' self-direct learning and self-supervision and the advances in acquirement of knowledge and skills. Conclusion:It is feasible of carrying FA in diagnostics teaching which could provide better learning outcome and might have an extensive prospect of application.

Objective To observe the effects of 860 MHz microwave radiation on an established dual task model of trace and delay eyeblink conditioning in guinea pigs.Methods Twenty-four guinea pigs with an established dual task model of trace and delay eyeblink conditioning were assigned randomly into four groups : a microwave-exposed 1 h group, a microwave-exposed 20 min group, a sham-exposed group and a normal control group.The guinea pigs in the 1 h and 20 min groups were irradiated on the head daily for 3 days using 860 MHz electromagnetic radiation at a power density of 1 mW/cm2 for 1 h and for 20 min, respectively. After radiation the guinea pigs were trained with classical dual task eyeblink conditioning.Results Compared with the normal control group, the behavioral parameters (acquisition rate and peak amplitude of trace and delay eyeblink) of guinea pigs in the microwave-exposed 1 h group had decreased significantly with no obvious change in latency. The behavioral parameters of guinea pigs in the microwave-exposed 20 min group, the sham-exposed group and the normal control group showed no obvious change.Conclusions Microwave radiation at 860 MHz and 1.0 mW/cm2 for 1 h can cause changes in dual trace and delay eyeblink conditioning in guinea pigs and decrease learning and memory capacity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate development of a cell extraction process for preparing human meniscus acellular matrix, and morphology and biomechanical properties.

METHODSHuman meniscus were subjected to modified eight-step detergent, then, the specimens were assessed by staining with haematoxylin-eosin, toluidine blue, sirius red, saffron O, alcain blue and hoechst-33258, et al. The ultrastructure of the specimens was observed with scanning electron microscope. Transient recovery rate of deformation, maximal recovery rate of deformation and maximal compressive strength were tested to determine the biomechanical properties of the scaffold.

RESULTSEvery stain confirmed that the celluar constituents of the specimens were removed. The specimens stained positively by staining with sirius red. Lacuna were found irregularly not only on the surface of the meniscus,but also in the meniscus with scanning electron microscope. Pores in the specinmens were large, the diameter of pores was 80 to 760 microm, porosity was over 67%. The transient recovery rate of deformation was (89.62 +/- 1.04)%, the maximal recovery rate of deformation was 100% and the maximal compressive strength was (3.04 +/- 0.13)N, when the specimens were compressed 30%.

CONCLUSIONThe modified eight-step detergent can remove the immunogenic cell components from human meniscus, in addition, 3D extracellular matrix can be retained. The scaffold has good biomechanical properties. This scaffold stands a good chance to be an implant for future tissue engineering of the human meniscus.

Adult ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells ; chemistry ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Male ; Menisci, Tibial ; cytology ; Staining and Labeling

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Chronic Disease ; Daunorubicin ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Spinal biomechanics, especially the range of spine motion,has close connection with spinal surgery. The change of the range of motion (ROM) is an important indicator of diseases and injuries of spine, and the essential evaluating standards of effect of surgeries and therapies to spine. The analysis of ROM can be dated to the time of the invention of X-ray and even that before it. With the development of science and technology as well as the optimization of various types of calculation methods, diverse measuring methods have emerged, from imaging methods to non-imaging methods, from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, from measuring directly on the X-ray films to calculating automatically by computer. Analysis of ROM has made great progress, but there are some older methods cannot meet the needs of the times and disappear, some classical methods such as X-ray still have vitality. Combining different methods, three dimensions and more vivo spine research are the trend of analysis of ROM. And more and more researchers began to focus on vivo spine research. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods utilized recently are presented through viewing recent literatures, providing reference and help for the movement analysis of spine.
Animals ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; trends ; Radiography ; Spine ; diagnostic imaging

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protect effects of sodium ferulate (SF) on the daunormbicin(DNR-induced cardiotoxicity in juvenile rats.

METHODSForty male juvenile SD rats were randomly divided into control group (Control), daunorubicin group (DNR), sodium ferudate treatment group (DNR + SF), sodium ferudate group (SF) (n = 10) . Juvenile rats were intraperitoneally treated with DNR (2.5 mg/kg every week for a cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg) preparation immature myocardial injury model in presence with SF (60 mg/kg) oral treat- ment for 25 days. The left ventricular pressure and its response to isoproterenol were measured using left ventricular catheter. Rat myocardium myocardial pathology specimens and ultrastructure changes were also observed. The expression of cardiac Troponin I (cTNI) was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results: SF treatment could inhibit the decreasing of heart rates induced by DNR damage (P < 0.05); it could increase the left ventrivular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP), heart rate, the maximal left ventrivular systolic speed(LVP + dp/dtmax) and the maximal left ventrivular diastolic speed (LVP-dp/dtmax) responding to isoproterenol stimulation(P < 0.01); SF also could improve the myocardial ultrastructure injuries and inhibit the decreasing of cTNI expression caused by DNR damages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSF treatment could alleviate the decreasing of cardiac reservation induced by DNR damages in juvenile rats, which might be related to its reversing the effects on the cardiac systolic and diastolic function injuries and its inhibiting effects on the decreasing of cTNI expression caused by DNR. The mechanism of SF preventing daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in juvenile rats is relevant to inhabited cardiac Troponin I expression.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiotoxicity ; drug therapy ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Daunorubicin ; toxicity ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; Isoproterenol ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism