Objective To observe the characteristics of the full-field flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) in rats with oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR).Methods Twenty-four neonatal Sprague Dawley rats were divided into OIR group and control group.In OIR group,12 rats were exposed to (75 ± 2)％ oxygen for 7 days and then to room air for 7 days;in control group,12 rats were raised in room air for 14 days.At postnatal day 21,F-ERG tests were performed to examine the rod response,the maximum mixing reaction and the cone reaction.Results Compared with the control group,the b-wave amplitudes decreased (t=3.650) and the implicit times increased (t=2.410) in rod response in OIR group,the differences were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05);the a-and b-wave amplitudes decreased (t=3.333,2.562) and the implicit times increased (t=2.725,2.482) in the maximum mixing reaction in OIR group,the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no difference between OIR and control group on a-and b-wave amplitudes (t=0.650,0.204) and implicit times (t=0.422,0.076) in cone response (P＞0.05).0.001 cd.s/m2 light intensity stimulation on rats F-ERG wave almost no response.0.010 cd.s/m2 light intensity stimulation on rats can be recorded to the rod response waveform,with the increase of light intensity,the amplitude of b-wave increases,the a-wave extraction.Conclusions F-ERG of OIR rat showed that the amplitude and sensitivity of the rod response and maximal rodcone response was decreased.The intensity of light had effect on the OIR rod cells,and the amplitude of b-wave increased with the increase of light intensity,the a-wave extraction.

The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formulae containing enormous information, is a complex component system. Applications of mathematical statistics methods on the compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae have great significance for promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines and improving clinical efficacies and optimizations of formulae. As a tool for quantitative analysis, data inference and exploring inherent rules of substances, the mathematical statistics method can be used to reveal the working mechanisms of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines formulae in qualitatively and quantitatively. By reviewing studies based on the applications of mathematical statistics methods, this paper were summarized from perspective of dosages optimization, efficacies and changes of chemical components as well as the rules of incompatibility and contraindication of formulae, will provide the references for further studying and revealing the working mechanisms and the connotations of traditional Chinese medicines.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

The study was aimed to explore the NF-kappaB continual activity and the expression of WT1 and MDR1 in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) patients, and to investigate if the three factors affect the curative effect of ANLL together as to provide some theoretical basis for finding new measures to improve the curative effect of refractory ANLL. The bone marrow samples of 45 ANLL patients was collected. 45 patients including 20 primary ANLL patients (A group) and 25 refractory ANLL patients. Refractory ANLL patients were divided into 2 sub-groups (B, C groups). The primary patients who was no effect after more than two courses of treatment were taken as group B, and the patients with more than two relapses were taken as group C. At the same time, 15 patients with simple iron deficiency anemia were collected as negative control. The NF-kappaB continual activity was measured by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and the expressions of WT1, MDR1 were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that the activity of NF-kappaB and the expressions of WT1, MDR1 were not detected in 15 samples of simply iron deficiency anemia subjects. The NF-kappaB continual activity, the expression levels of WT1 and MDR1 in the refractory group were significantly higher than that in primary group (P<0.001). But the NF-kappaB continual activity, the expression of WT1 gene and MDR1 gene were not significantly different between group B and group C (P>0.05). By assaying the relativity between the them the NF-kappaB continual activity and the expression of WT1 or MDR1 had positive correlation in ANLL patients. It is concluded that the NF-kappaB continual activity, the overexpression of WT1 and MDR1 may be one of the reasons causing poor curative effect in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. The NF-kappaB continual activity and the expression of WT1, MDR1, all show positive correlation in ANLL patients.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; WT1 Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUND: The introduction of cyclosporin A (CsA) has greatly enhanced the early survival rate of kidney graft, but the long-term graft survival rate is still limited. Whether tacrolimus prevents chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and prolongs survival time is now becoming a hot spot in field of renal transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and safety of converting CsA to tacrolimus (FK506) in preventing progression of CAN. DESIGN: Observation and controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 73 patients who had received kidney transplantation at the Department of Urological Organ Transplantation, Center of Organ Transplantation, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from April 2001 to October 2005, and had been diagnosed as CAN by graft biopsy (42 male patients and 31 female patients; age ranged 19-69 years), were enrolled in the study approved by the ethics committee of this hospital after their written informed consents. CsA soft capsules (Hangzhou Zhongmei Huadong Pharmaceutical Limited Company or Huabei Pharmaceutical Limited Company); mycophenolate mofetil capsules (Shanghai Roche Pharmaceutical Limited Company); prednisone acetate tablets (Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University); tacrolimus capsules (Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Limited Company).METHODS: Seventy-three patients voluntarily participated in CsA group (n =30) or FK506 group (n =43). The two groups were homogenous regarding patients' sex, age and general data (P > 0.05). Patients in the CsA group were continued on their initial immunosuppression protocol, which consisted of CsA, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone acetate. In the FK506 group, CsA was stopped, and FK506 was started at a dose of 0.08-0.1 mg/(kg·d) 24 hours later, twice daily, administered 2 hours after breakfast and supper. Three days later, the blood trough concentration of FK506 was tested and adjusted to a target range of 5-8μg/L. FK506 dosage adjustment was based on the blood trough concentration, serum creatinine (SCr) and its side effects. All 73 patients were treated for 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SCr, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), 24-hour urine protein excretion, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and the toxic side effects of calcineurin inhibitors (incidences of tremor, hyperglycemia and hypertension) were monitored during a follow-up of over 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were involved in the result analysis.①12 months after conversion, the level of SCr was statistically reduced and GFR levels were markedly elevated in the FK506 group compared with the CsA group (P < 0.01). TC, TG and LDL levels in the FK506 group were significantly lower than those in the CsA group (P < 0.01).②Compared with the CsA group, the incidence of tremor was obviously increased [30% (9/30), 5% (2/43), P < 0.01] and the incidence of hypertension was obviously decreased [56% (24/43), 83% (25/30), P < 0.05] in the FK506 group.CONCLUSION: Conversion from CsA to FK506 can postpone renal dysfunction, reduce proteinuria and improve hyperlipidemia. FK506 treatment is an effective therapy in slowing the progression of CAN.

To investigate the chemosensitizing effect of pyrroledithiocarbomate (PDTC) on daunorubicin in drug-resistant leukemic cells in vitro, MTT method was used to observe the changes of the proliferation of intractable leukemia MNC treated with daunorubicin (30 microg/ml) combined with PDTC (25, 50 or 100 micromol/L). The results showed that inhibiting rate of daunorubicin combined with PDTC(25, 50 or 100 micromol/L) on drug-resistant leukemic cells was significantly higher than that of daunorubicin alone (P < 0.05). Among the three different doses of PDTC, the concentration of 50 micromol/L of PDTC inhibited the proliferation of drug-resistant leukemic cells significantly. In conclusion, PDTC can sensitize anti-tumor effect of daunorubicin in vitro. The concentration of 50 micromol/L of PDTC has stronger chemosensitizing effect on daunorubicin than that of the other concentrations of PDTC (25 micromol/L or 100 micromol/L) in vitro.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; pathology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; pathology ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

2 in some patients with the loss of high and medium sized vWF multimers in plasma.Eight patients with vWD were identified, wherein two were characterized as type 1,4 as type 2A and 2 as type 3 respectively.Conclusion The panel of tests is suitable for diagnosis and classification of vWD.

Intracellular pH (pHi) has an important influence on the metabolic activity of cells or cellular processes. The intracellular pH (pHi) of long-chain alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acid-producing Candida tropicalis was determined by fluorescence technique using a pH-sensitive fluorescent probe 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate. Optimal loading conditions of the fluorescent probe into the cells were experimentally determined. Effects of extracellular pH and carbon sources for growth on pHi in the cell grown in a flask were studied; the results indicated that extracellular pH has a slight influence on pHi, whereas carbon sources such as sucrose, glucose, acetic acid, and n-tridecane showed moderate influences. Further work on the relationship between the cell growth activity and pHi was carried out in a 5 L bioreactor. The time course of specific rates of the cell growth, glucose consumption, CO2 production, and pH gradients across cell plasma membrane were plotted, where the cell growth was improved by the higher pHi at 8 - 12 h. The measured pHi values were varied from 5.72 to 6.15 at medium pH 6.0 in which glucose and sodium acetate were used together as carbon source. The investigation of pHi can be helpful for understanding its effects on the kinetics of the metabolic steps involved in the synthesis rate of alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acid and alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acid transport across plasma membranes.
Candida tropicalis ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Dicarboxylic Acids ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Microscopy, Fluorescence

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been shown to be involved in the growth, production, proliferation and differentiation of the bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells, while aplastic anemia (AA) is a disease in which proliferation ability of the BM hematopoietic cells is damaged with defective hematopoietic microenvironment. To investigated the pathogenesis of AA, the rennin activity, angiotensin I (Ang I) and angiotensin II (Ang II) concentration in peripheral blood and BM of 22 AA patients were detected by radioimmunoassay, 16 nonhematological disease patients with normal blood counts and BM picture were used as control, and the difference between two groups was compared. The results showed that BM Ang II concentration in the AA patients was significantly lower than that in the control (P < 0.01). In nonhematological disease patients, Ang II concentration in BM was significantly higher than that in peripheral blood, the renin activities and Ang I concentrations were not significantly different in the two groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the decreased BM Ang II concentration in AA patients may be involved to the pathogenesis of AA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Angiotensin II ; analysis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; chemistry ; cytology ; physiology ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renin ; analysis ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; physiology

A quick HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous determination of three chemical compositions in Usnea, including usnic acid, diffractaic acid, and ramalic acid. The separation was performed on a chromatographic column of Agilent ZORBAX SB-C, (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm), and the mobile phase was methanol (0.05% formic acid)-0.05% formic acid solution (4 mmol ammonium acetate), with an isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.8 ml · min⁻¹. Multiple reaction monitoring scanning mode (MRM) was performed combined with the ion switching technology in positive and negative ion switching mode to apply for the quantitative determination. The calibration curves for the above three compounds were linear in corresponding injection amount. Their average recoveries were 95.0%-105.1%, with RSDs of 1.1%-5.2%. The method was simple, rapid, accurate with high repeatability, which could provide a reference for overcalling evaluation the quality of Usnea.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Usnea ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDOur previous study has confirmed that one bout of exhaustion (Ex) can cause hippocampus neurocyte damage, excessive apoptosis, and dysfunction. Its initial reason is intracellular calcium overload in hippocampus triggered by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) over-activation. NMDAR activation can be suppressed by γ-aminobutyric acid (A) receptor (GABAAR). Whether GABAAR can prevent intense exercise-induced hippocampus apoptosis, damage, or dysfunction will be studied in this study.

METHODSAccording to dose test, rats were randomly divided into control (Con), Ex, muscimol (MUS, 0.1 mg/kg) and bicuculline (BIC, 0.5 mg/kg) groups, then all rats underwent once swimming Ex except ones in Con group only underwent training. Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured by Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester; glial librillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYP) immunofluorescence were also performed; apoptosis were displayed by dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) stain; endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis pathway was detected by Western blotting analysis; Morris water maze was used to detect learning ability and spatial memory.

RESULTSThe appropriate dose was 0.1 mg/kg for MUS and 0.5 mg/kg for BIC. Ex group showed significantly increased [Ca2+]i and astrogliosis; TUNEL positive cells and levels of GFAP, B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) associated X protein (Bax), caspase-3, caspase-12 cleavage, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and p-Jun amino-terminal kinase (p-JNK) in Ex group also raised significantly compared to Con group, while SYP, synapse plasticity, and Bcl-2 levels in Ex group were significantly lower than those in Con group. These indexes were back to normal in MUS group. BIC group had the highest levels of [Ca2+]i, astrogliosis, TUNEL positive cell, GFAP, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-12 cleavage, CHOP, and p-JNK, it also gained the lowest SYP, synapse plasticity, and Bcl-2 levels among all groups. Water maze test showed that Ex group had longer escape latency (EL) and less quadrant dwell time than Con group; all indexes between MUS and Con groups had no significant differences; BIC had the longest EL and least quadrant dwell time among all groups.

CONCLUSIONSActivation of GABAA R could prevent intense exercise-induced synapses damage, excessive apoptosis, and dysfunction of hippocampus.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Body Weight ; physiology ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; physiology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, GABA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synapses ; pathology