Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Rural Population ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVETo establish a microemulsion liquid chromatography system with direct sample loading for determining the serum level of emodin in rats.

METHODSThe separation was performed on C₁₈ column (Hypersil BDS, 5 µm,150 mm×4.6 mm) with the microemulsion mobile phase consisting of 3.3% (w/V) SDS, 6.6% (V/V) n-butyl alcohol, and 1.0% (V/V) octane and water. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min and the detection wavelength was 254 nm.

RESULTSThe linear range of emodin detection was 0.333-5.32 µg/ml. The average recovery was 99.65% with a RSD of 3.60%. The limit of quantification was 0.1386 µg/mL.

CONCLUSIONMicroemulsion liquid chromatography system with direct sample loading allows simple, accurate and rapid determination of emodin in rat serum.

Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Emodin ; blood ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; chemistry

The required time of conventional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging technique is too long to be applied to clinic. It is necessary to develop the fast methods for magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Nowadays there are 7 kinds of methods presented, which come from MRI techniques. In this contribution the conventional spectroscopic imaging and 7 sorts of fast spectroscopic imaging are elaborated. It is envisaged that more rapid imaging techniques will be designed, if these arbitrary trajectory reconstruction methods in MRI are applied to spectroscopic imaging.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; trends ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods

A PC-based software was developed and programmed with VC++6 for reconstructing MR images from the data acquired on an irregular k-space trajectory. It can read clinical MRI raw data and image data, create numerical phantoms, design k-space trajectories, generate k-space data from numerical phantom, calculate weighting functions, reconstruct images, and carry out error analysis for the reconstructed images. It is helpful to the investigations of new k-space trajectories and new reconstruction algorithms.
Algorithms ; Bayes Theorem ; Brain ; anatomy & histology ; Fourier Analysis ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Programming Languages ; Software ; Software Design

Objective: To assess the diagnostic values of ¹¹C-methionine (MET) PET/CT semiquantitative parameters for detecting recurrence in patients who were diagnosed with suspicious recurrence by MRI after resection of supratentorial gliomas. Methods: A total of 164 patients (107 males, 57 females, age 6-74 years; high-grade 94, low-grade 63, unclear 7) with supratentorial gliomas who underwent ¹¹C-MET PET/CT between June 2015 and June 2017 in Beijing Tiantan Hospital were enrolled respectively. All patients were with suspicious recurrence after surgery showed by MRI and followed up for 6 months at least. The final diagnosis was determined with histopathological analysis or clinical follow-up. The maximum and mean standardized uptake value (SUV_max and SUV_mean), tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) of SUV_max and SUV_mean (TBR_max and TBR_mean) were recorded and compared between patients with recurrence or without recurrence using independent-sample t test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the threshold, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of each parameter were calculated. Results: According to the clinical diagnosis, there were 139 patients with recurrence and 25 without recurrence. SUV_max, SUV_mean, TBR_max and TBR_mean were significantly higher for patients with recurrence than those without recurrence (4.19±1.95 vs 2.59±1.18, 2.34±1.08 vs 1.46±0.72, 2.95±1.17 vs 1.83±0.79, 2.64±1.11 vs 1.59±0.71; t values: 5.126-6.183, all P<0.01), but there was no difference in the areas under the ROC curve (AUC) for diagnosis of recurrence with the 4 parameters (z values: 0.265-1.674, all P>0.05), for which the optimal cut-off values were 3.05, 1.65, 1.96 and 1.79, respectively, and the corresponding sensitivities/specificities for the diagnosis of recurrence were 67.6%(94/139)/100%(25/25), 67.6%(94/139)/100%(25/25), 79.9%(111/139)/100%(25/25), 74.8%(104/139)/100%(25/25), respectively. Patients with (n=81) or without (n=13) recurrence had different semiquantitative parameters in high-grade glioma group (t values: 5.137-5.871, all P<0.01), and the AUC for TBR_mean was greater than that for SUV_mean (0.858 vs 0.802; z=1.982, P<0.05). Patients with (n=54) or without (n=9) recurrence in low-grade glioma group showed significant difference in the 4 parameters (t values: 2.730-7.009, all P<0.01), while the AUCs of the 4 parameters were not significantly different (z values: 0.444-1.407, all P>0.05). Among 37 patients with recurrence confirmed by pathology, there were no significant differences in the semiquantitative parameters between the high-grade and low-grade glioma groups and AUCs were not different either (t values: 1.387-1.937, z values: 0.106-1.752, all P>0.05). Conclusions Semiquantitative parameters of ¹¹C-MET PET/CT are equally accurate in the differentiation of recurrence from radiation injury in patients with gliomas, while TBR_mean was superior than SUV_mean in patients with the high-grade gliomas. Among the patients with recurrence confirmed by pathology, the value of the semiquantitative parameter is limited for the identification of high- and low- grade gliomas.

BACKGROUNDCD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) mediate immune suppression through cell-cell contact with surface molecules, particularly cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related protein (GITR), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), but little is known about the exact role of Tregs in the pathogenesis of asthma. This study sought to characterize the expression of surface markers on peripheral blood mononuclear cells-derived Tregs in patients with atopic asthma and healthy subjects, and to investigate the effect of inhaled corticosteroid on them.

METHODSThe expression of surface molecules on CD4(+)CD25(high) Tregs was detected by flow cytometry. The effect of inhaled corticosteroid on expression of the surface molecules on Tregs was determined in vivo and in vitro. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and latex enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay, respectively.

RESULTSEquivalent numbers of peripheral Tregs were found in patients with atopic asthma (stable and acute) and healthy subjects. Tregs preferentially expressed CTLA-4, GITR, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), latency-associated peptide (LAP/TGF-beta1), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3). Patients with acute asthma had decreased numbers of CD4(+)CD25(high)LAP(+) T cells compared to healthy subjects and stable asthmatics. Inhaled corticosteroid enhanced the percentage of Tregs expressing LAP in vivo and in vitro dose-dependently. Furthermore, the percentages of Tregs expressing LAP were negatively correlated with total serum IgE levels and severity of asthma, but positively correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second percentage of the predicted value in patients with asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that membrane-bound TGF-beta1 is a potential candidate for predicting the severity of asthma, and may contribute to the sustained remission of asthma. Strategies targeting Tregs on their surface markers, especially TGF-beta1, are promising for future therapy of asthma.

Administration, Inhalation ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Antigens, Differentiation ; blood ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Budesonide ; pharmacology ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; blood ; Glucocorticoid-Induced TNFR-Related Protein ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor ; blood ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; drug effects ; immunology ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

BACKGROUNDBeta(2)-adrenoceptor (beta(2)AR) desensitization is a common problem in clinical practice. beta(2)AR desensitization proceeds by at least such three mechanisms as heterologous desensitization, homologous desensitization and a kind of agonist-induced rapid phosphorylation by a variety of serine/threonine kinases. It is not clear whether there are other mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms of beta(2)AR desensitization.

METHODSTwenty-four BALB/c (6-8 weeks old) mice were divided into three groups, which is, group A, phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-treated; group B, ovalbumin (OVA)-induced; and group C, salbutamol-treated. Inflammatory cell counts, cytokine concentrations of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), pathological sections, total serum IgE, airway responsiveness, membrane receptor numbers and total amount of beta(2)AR were observed. Asthmatic mouse model and beta(2)AR desensitization asthmatic mouse model were established. Groups B and C were selected for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) analysis so as to find key protein spots related to beta(2)AR desensitization.

RESULTSAsthmatic mouse model and beta(2)AR desensitization asthmatic mouse model were verified by inflammatory cell count, cytokine concentration of BALF, serum IgE level, airway hyperreactivity measurement, radioligand receptor binding assay, Western blot analysis, and pathologic examination. Then the two groups (groups B and C) were subjected to 2DE. Two key protein spots associated with beta(2)AR desensitization, Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor 2 (RhoGDI(2)) and peroxiredoxin 5, were found by comparative proteomics (2DE and mass spectrum analysis).

CONCLUSIONOxidative stress and small G protein regulators may play an important role in the process of beta(2)AR desensitization.

Albuterol ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors ; analysis ; Lung ; chemistry ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oxidative Stress ; Peroxiredoxins ; analysis ; Proteomics ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; physiology ; rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors

BACKGROUNDAs two novel adipocytokines, chemerin and apelin play a key role in the pathological process of insulin resistance (IR), glucose metabolism and obesity, researchers have found that the levels of chemerin and apelin changed significantly in type 2 diabetic patients with obesity, however, the underlying mechanism involved remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chemerin and apelin play an important role in the pathophysiologic proceeding of diabetes.

METHODSThis study enrolled 81 newly diagnosed obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (T2DM group, n = 81). All the patients were randomly assigned to DM1 group treated with metformin (n = 41) and DM2 group treated with pioglitazone (n = 40). After hypoglycemic agents treatment, patients under better blood glucose control were chosen to be given antioxidant treatment. Another 79 subjects without T2DM were recruited as normal control group (NC group), including 40 subjects (NC1 group) with normal body mass index (BMI) and 39 obese subjects (NC2 group). Levels of chemerin, apelin, BMI, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and 8-isoprotaglandim F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) were examined at baseline and post-treatment. The relationship between chemerin, apelin and BMI, TNF-α, HOMA-IR, 8-iso-PGF2α was analyzed.

RESULTSThe baseline levels of chemerin, apelin, TNF-α, HOMA-IR and 8-iso-PGF2α in T2DM group were significantly higher than normal control group (P < 0.001). All indices mentioned above were significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.05). In T2DM patients treated with pioglitazone, indices mentioned above except for HOMA-IR, were decreased significantly compared with patients treated with metformin (P < 0.05). After antioxidant treatment using lipoic acid, levels of chemerin, apelin, TNF-α and 8-iso-PGF2α were further significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the levels of chemerin and apelin correlated positively with BMI, TNF-α, HOMA-IR and 8-iso-PGF2α before and after treatment with hypoglycemic agents (P < 0.01). The levels of chemerin and apelin also had positive correlation with TNF-α and 8-iso-PGF2α after antioxidant treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of chemerin and apelin in obese T2DM patients are closely related to IR. The increased levels may be a result of compensatory response to IR, and also may be the causative factor of IR. The levels of chemerin and apelin correlate closely with oxidative stress and inflammation. The two adipokines may be inflammatory factors playing important roles in the initiation and development of obese T2DM. Chemerin and apelin are related to the pathophysiology of IR, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Apelin ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Chemokines ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Thiazolidinediones ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of cdx2 gene in pediatric patients with acute leukemia and its clinical implication. The bone marrow and peripheral blood were collected from 33 newly diagnosed pediatric patients with acute leukemia, the cdx2 gene expression in each AL subtypes and normal controls was detected by RT-PCR, the relationship between cdx2 expression and response to treatment was observed. The results showed that the expression of cdx2 was positive in 25 out of 30 AL cases (83.3%), to be exact, in 20 of 21 ALL cases (95.2%) and in 5 of 9 AML cases (55.6%), which showed statistical difference (p < 0.05). The cdx2 mRNA could be detected also in 1 of 3 CML cases. However, no expression of cdx2 was observed in all normal control which revealed significant difference between patient group and normal control group. 21 AL patients with cdx2 positive expression (17 ALL and 4 AML patients) and 4 AL patients with cxd2 negative expression (1 ALL and 3 AML patients) all reached complete remission (CR) after treatment, which showed no correlation with CR rate. 8 patients with positive cdx2 expression were followed up. As a result, the cdx2 positive expression at initial diagnosis of patients remained positive at reaching CR, but it gradually turned to negative along with prolonging of CR, while the cdx2 negative expression at initial diagnosis of patients remained negative at CR in bone marrow level. It is concluded that cdx2 positive expression is observed in the majority of pediatric AL patients, even positive rate in ALL patients is higher than that in AML patients, while the cdx2 expression also can be observed in CML patients. The cdx2 positive expression is not related to the CR rate in AL patients.
CDX2 Transcription Factor ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Treatment Outcome

This study was purposed to investigate the effectiveness of bacterial screening with 24 hours holding in preventing and controlling bacterial contamination of platelets. Bacterial screening of apheresis platelets preserved for 24 hours was performed by using BacT/ALERT automatic bacterial culture system. The samples from 5 bags of platelet were taken in aseptic condition and were merged into 1 bag. The final sample was inoculated into aerobic and anaerobic bottle respectively for testing, meanwhile the screened platelet samples were held for 24 hours. If the platelets were cultured for 24 hours and identification of bacterial strains showed negative, the platelets could be released, and the original platelet samples should be rescreened if initiate positive was found. The results showed that in screening 8017 samples of apheresis platelets the initiate positive results were 16 (0.2%) and confirmed positive were 4 (0.05%). Out of 4 confirmed positive strains, three were Staphylococcus aureus and another was Staphylococcus auricularis. It is concluded that it is necessary for blood center to apply the method of bacterial screening of platelet with 24 hours holding as conventional screening method, which is an effective and feasible way to prevent and control bacterial contamination of platelets.
Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections ; prevention & control ; Bacteriological Techniques ; instrumentation ; Blood Platelets ; microbiology ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; standards ; Humans ; Platelet Transfusion ; adverse effects ; Plateletpheresis ; instrumentation