AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of dosing technology and excipient application on solid drug's moisture-proof property and to provide a method improving the solid drug's moisture-proof property. METHODS: Based on the analysis of the moisture absorbing process and the absorbing mechanics,a new concept "active moisture absorbance site"(AMAS) was defined and mathematic model was constituted.Two constants as: initial AMAS concentration C_0,moisture resistance coemcient K,were proposed to indicate the drugs moisture-proof ability. The CI WU JIA extracts and SHUANG HUANG LIAN extracts were used to conduct experiments, which were designed to investigate the improvement of the drug's moisture resistance ability when varying the AMAS's concentration and/or its space distribution. RESULTS: Reducing the amount of moisture absorbance excipients in each dosage of solid drug can lower the drug's moisture absorbance ability,and applying a thin film coating material outside the drug can also slow the drug's moisture absorbance rate. CONCLUSION: The proposed mathematic model is useful for finding a way to improve the drug's moisture resistance;experimental data shows that the drug's moisture-proof property would be improved by reducing the amount of moisture absorbance excipient in each dosage and improving the moisture distribution resistance through a certain dosing technology,such as film coating technology.

Objective To explore the effects of mirror therapy combined with Tongdu Xingshen acupuncture on the upper extremity function of stroke survivors.Methods Sixty stroke survivors were randomly divided into a mirror group (n =20),an acupuncture group (n =20) and a combined group (n =20).In addition to routine rehabilitation treatment,those in each group received mirror therapy,acupuncture or both for 4 weeks.Before the treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment,all of the patients were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA),Brunnstrom upper limb and hand staging (BSULH),the Barthel Index (BI) and in terms of the active range of motion in the wrist contralateral to their hemiplegia (AROM).The combined group was also evaluated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before treatment and after the 4 weeks.Results After 2 and 4 weeks of the treatment,the average BI,AROM,FMA and BSULH results had improved significantly compared with before the treatment.The improvements in the combined group were significantly greater than in the other groups after 2 and 4 weeks.The fMRI demonstrated that there were high-intensity signals in the primary motor area,the premotor area and the supplementary motor area on the affected side after 4 weeks of treatment.Conclusions Mirror therapy combined with Tungdu Xingshen acupuncture can improve the functional performance of the upper extremities of stroke survivors.

Objective To explore the expression difference of cytokines related to nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway among different traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in the patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1 (IL-1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in 146 patients with DN and 62 individuals undergoing healthy physical examination in the control group were measured.Results The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 in various DN groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05).The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly different among groups of different TCM syndromes (P＜0.05).With the progression of DN,all cytokines levels showed a gradually increasing trend,moreover the increased extents and time were different in different TCM syndrome types of DN.Conclusion The levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1,IL-6 and IL-8 related to NF-κB signaling pathway are correlated with different TCM syndromes types and may play a role in the occurrence and progression of different TCM syndrome types of DN.

Objective To compare and evaluate the performance and applications of three assays in preliminary screening of dengue infections.Methods This study was designed as a retrospective study.Clinical data were obtained from 2 137 borderline cases from September to October in 2014 and 2015.Markers of dengue infections of serum samples were detected by NS1 antigen captured ELISA, dengue NS1 detect rapid test and dengue IgM detect rapid test, respectively.Chi square test was used to compare the preliminary screening value of these 3 methods.Forty-eight diagnosed patients were also examined in the 1st-3rd day, 4th-5th day, 6th-7th days and 14th day after infection to access the sensitivities and specificities of three assays.Results Nine hundred and fifty-seven ( 57.2%) cases in 2014 and 48 ( 10.4%) cases in 2015 were diagnosed to be Dengue fever of 2 137 borderline cases.The overall sensitivity of NS1-ELISA was superior to NS1 and IgM rapid detect test (χ2 =40.865,P<0.001;χ2 =151.383,P<0.001).No significant differences were found in specificity between three assays(χ2 =0.661,P=0.416;χ2 =0.548,P=0.459; χ2 =2.397,P=0.122).The NS1 detecting assays were sensitive in 7 days after infection, but the sensitivity of IgM detecting assay increased over time.Conclusions NS1 detecting assays had good sensitivities and specificities, which can be used as an important method in preliminary screening of dengue infection.ELISA or rapid test can be selected according to epidemic situation.

Objective To evaluate the effect of isoflurane preconditioning on inflammatory responses during spinal cord injury (SCI ) in rats .Methods Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats ,weighing 250-300 g , were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n= 20 each ) using a random number table :sham operation group (S group) , SCI group , and isoflurane preconditioning group (I group ) . The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium 40 mg/kg .SCI was produced by a weight-drop contusion at the T10 level .The rats inhaled 2% isoflurane for 2 h ,and the model was established at 24 h after the end of isoflurane inhalation in I group . Neurological function was assessed and scored by using the the Basso , Beattie , Bresnahan (BBB ) Locomotor Rating Scale on 7 days after SCI .Five rats in each group were then chosen and spinal cord specimens were obtained and cut into sections which were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for determination of the viable neuron count .Fifteen rats in each group were sacrificed and the spinal cord was removed for detection of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB ) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression (by Western blot ) .Results Compared with S group ,BBB score and the number of viable neurons were significantly decreased ,and the expression of NF-κB and IL-1βprotein was up-regulated in SCI group ( P<0.05) .Compared with SCI group ,BBB score and the number of viable neurons were significantly increased ,and the expression of NF-κB and IL-1βprotein was down-regulated in group I ( P<0.05 ) .Conclusion The mechanism by which isoflurane preconditioning protects the spinal cord is related to inhibition of inflammatory responses in rats .

Objective To establish a simple and efficient method for developing a keloid model in nude mice with human keloid-derived fibroblasts.Methods Twenty-seven female BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into five groups with 5,5,5,8 and 4 mice in group A,B,C,D and E respectively.The mice in group A,B and C were inoculated with 0.1 ml of suspension containing human keloid-derived fibroblasts at concentrations of 1.0 × 104,3.0 × 104 and 5.0 × 104 per microliter Matrigel,respectively,at the right axillary fossa.The tumors that formed in one mouse in group C were taken out,and cut into several parts measuring 5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm in size,which were then subcutaneously transplanted into the right axillary fossa of mice in group D.The mice in group E were subcutaneously injected with 100 μl of Matrigel and served as the control group.The formation of tumor in mice was observed by naked eyes,and the size of tumors was measured until day 30 after tumor formation in group A,B and C as well as after tumor transplantation in group D.Mice were sacrificed on day 30 after tumor formation,and histopathologic examination was performed to analyze histological features of transplanted tumors and pathological changes in visceral organs such as heart,liver,spleen,lung and kidney.Results The tumor formation rate was consistently 100％ in group A,B and C,and the time required for tumor formation was (90.20 ± 3.96),(61.00 ± 2.92) and (39.60 ± 3.20) days in group A,B and C respectively.There was a significant difference in tumor volume on the 30th day after tumor formation between group A,B and C ((288.34 ± 25.29) vs.(1 370.63 ± 105.24) vs.(1 940.98 ± 184.37) mm3,F =138.74,P ＜ 0.05).The size of implanted tumor mass in group D firstly increased,then gradually decreased,but began to continuously increase since the 14~ day,and tumor finally formed in 7 out of 8 mice.There was no evidence of tumor formation in group E.Histopathologic examination showed uniform histological manifestations,which were similar to those of human scar,in tumor tissues from mice in group A,B,C and D.Neither pathological changes nor metastases were observed in visceral organs of these mice.Conclusion Keloid-bearing nude mouse model can be established by subcutaneous inoculation with human keloidderived fibroblasts,or by subcutaneous transplantation of tumor masses of a certain size that have formed in nude mice.

Objective This study was to explore the expression and significance of HMA2 in bladder cancer , analyze its correlations to clinicopathologic and recurrence of bladder cancer. Methods The expression of HMGA2 protein in 148 specimens of bladder cancer and 30 specimens of normal bladder tissues was detected by immunohistochemtry, its correlations to clinicopathologic features was analyzed. Results There was no expression of HMGA2 protein in normal bladder tissues,while the expression level of HMGA2 protein was getting higher with the increase of tumor pathology grade and stage. The positive rate of HMGA2 protein was 21.3% in G1 bladder cancer, 60. 3% in G2 bladder cancer, 82.1% in G3 bladder cancer, its difference is significant (P＜0. 001). It was significantly lower in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer than in muscle invasive bladder cancer (43.3% vs 72. 7%, P=0. 003). The patients were followed up for 2～95 months, patients of recurrence was 64,HMGA2 protein expression was significantly higher in patients with recurrence than with non-recurrence (54.7% vs 25.0%, P=0. 007). Conclusions The expression of HMGA2 protein was highly in bladder cancer, the positive rate of HMGA2 protein expression was related with classification,TMN stage and recurrence, but not with sex, age, tumor number (P＞0. 05). The detection of the expression of HMGA2 protein is in favor of diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of bladder cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of the microbubbles combined with different mechanical index ultrasound irradiation on ultrastmcture and migration of colon cancer cells.Methods The experimental study was conducted.Colon cancer cells inn vitro (Lovo ceils) were cultured and divided into 4 groups,ceils in the A group were not treated and cells in the B,C and D groups were treated by microbubbles combined with different mechanical index ultrasound irradiation (mechanical index were 0.20,0.80 and 1.45).The changes of ultrastructure and migration of cells were observed using laser scanning confocal microscope and MilliceIl-PCF cell culturechamber method,respectively.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.Comparisons among groups were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA.Pairwise comparisons were done by the t test.Results (1)Effects of the microbubbles combined with different mechanical index ultrasound irradiation on ultrastructure of Lovo cells:Lovo cells in the A group showed big nucleus,less plasma,regular arrangement,jagged-like or more irregular varicosity surrounding nucleus,twisted euchmmatin,expansion of nucleus cisternal space,homogeneous distribution and normal development of granular soil and clear mitochondrial ridge-like structures.Lovo cells in the B group showed big nucleus with regular arrangement,obvious nucleolus margination,endoplasmic reticulum dilatation,normal development of mitochondrion and clear mitochondrial ridge-like structures.Lovo cells in the C group showed broadening nucleus space,abnormal nucleus with karyopycnosis,chromatin condensation,a few remaining or obvious dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum,typically consisting of different fragments or bubbles,cytoplasmic vacuoles changes and decreasing mitochondrial ridge-like structures.Lovo cells in the D group showed big and irregular nucleus,nucleolus margination,obvious endoplasmic reticulum dilatation,fewer mitochondrion with extended cell area and swelling shape,rare mitochondrial ridge-like structures with disordered or broken arrangement,even disappearing.(2) Effects of the microbubbles combined with different mechanical index ultrasound irradiation on migration of Lovo cells:Millicell-PCF cell culture chamber method showed that number of migration of Lovo cells were respectively 63±7,61±4,21±3 and 19±5 in the A,B,C and D groups,with a statistically significant difference (F=55.040,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in migration of Lovo cells between group A and B (t =1.571,P＞0.05) and between group C and D (t =2.013,P＞0.05).There were statistically significant differences in migration of Lovo cells between group A and C or D (t=7.861,10.652,P＜0.05) and between group B and group C or D (t=7.161,10.453,P＜0.05).Conclusion Microbubbles combined with high mechanical index ultrasound irradiation can make the ultrastructural alterations in the cancer cells,resulting in tumor cell degeneration and death,ultimately inhibit tumor cell migration and metastasis.

AIM: To isolate, purify and differentiate endothelial progenitor cells from cord blood in vitro and to study their biological characteristics. METHODS: CD133~+ cells were selected from fresh cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by magnetic activated cell-sorting system (MACS). EPC was studied by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence staining. Isolated cells were cultured in IMDM medium supplemented with or without VEGF, bFGF, SCF. RESULTS: The percentage of CD133~+ cells of cord blood MNC was (1.41?1.14)%, and purity was 75%-85% (FACS method). CD133~+ cells were grown on fibronectin-coated chamber slides in the presence of VEGF, bFGF, SCF. Within 1-2 hours of culture cells became adherent. On day 7-10, the adherent cells displayed a typical "cobblestone" morphology. After 14 days of culture, the adherent cells revealed a heterogeneous cell population, comprising small-sized round cells, spindle-like cells and formed tube-like structure. Weibel-Palade bodies were shown on the transmission electron microscopy photomicrographs. Compared with the (original,) cell markers CD133 and CD34 decreased significantly (77.0%?3.3% to 1.6%?2.2% and 93.1%?4.7% to 37.4%?4.9%, P

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of lung ultrasound score (LUS) on assessing the severity and prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and to investigate its correlation with oxygenation index, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHEⅡ) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), and other traditional parameters.Methods A prospective double-blind cohort study was conducted. Sixty-two ARDS patients conformed to the Berlin diagnostic criteria admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of Beijing Huaxin Hospital from October 2013 to December 2014 were enrolled, including 14 cases with mild, 18 moderate, and 30 severe ARDS; among them 37 cases were of ARDS with pulmonary origin, and 25 non-pulmonary ARDS; 35 patients survived, and 27 died. The clinical data and scores of all patients were recorded by one specialized observer, including baseline data, hemodynamic parameters, lactate, respiratory parameters, and APACHEⅡ, SOFA and CPIS scores. Another observer of recording was responsible for the results of lung ultrasound, LUS, and echocardiogram. The correlation between LUS and oxygenation index as well as APACHEⅡ, SOFA and CPIS scores was analyzed by bivariate correlation analysis. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted, and the predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of mild ARDS, moderate ARDS, severe ARDS and mortality by LUS were calculated. Results LUS had a negative correlation with oxygenation index (r = -0.755,P< 0.001), a good positive correlation with APACHEⅡ (r = 0.504,P< 0.001), SOFA (r = 0.461,P< 0.001) and CPIS (r = 0.571,P< 0.001) was found. LUS in the pulmonary ARDS group had a positive correlation with CPIS (r = 0.399,P< 0.05), and a positive correlation was found in non-pulmonary ARDS group (r = 0.350,P< 0.05), which indicated that the correlation in pulmonary ARDS was more satisfactory than that in non-pulmonary ARDS. LUS in the pulmonary ARDS group was significantly higher than that in non-pulmonary ARDS group (22.1±4.9 vs. 11.3±2.1,t = 11.667,P< 0.001); LUS in mild, moderate, severe ARDS groups was 9.9±1.7, 14.0±1.4, 23.6±4.1. The predictive value for mild ARDS by LUS was 7.0, sensitivity of 87.0%, specificity of 89.0%; that for moderate ARDS was 11.0, sensitivity of 89.0%, specificity of 87.0%; that for severe ARDS was 8.0, sensitivity of 90.0%, specificity of 88.5%. LUS was 24.3±3.8 in the death group, and 12.7±2.9 in the survival group. Area under ROC curve (AUC) was calculated, and the patients with LUS> 19.0 had a high mortality, sensitivity for predicting death was 84.0%, and specificity of 89.0%.Conclusion Bedside LUS, which is simple and easily available, could evaluate the changes in pulmonary ventilation area of ARDS, and its degree of severity, and prognosis including prediction of mortality of the patients.