Objective To study the changes of central corneal thickness(CCT) and corneal endothelium morphology in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods The CCT and corneal endothelium morphology in 60 diabetic patients(60 eyes) and 60 healthy volunteers(60 eyes) as the age and gender matched control group were examined by pachymetry and non contact specular microscopy. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of systemic factors on CCT and the corneal endothelial cell density of diabetic patients. Results Compared with that in the control group, the endothelial cell density decreased, and the coefficient of variation of cell area increased significantly( P 0 05). Compared to patients with non proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR), the patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR) had a significant reduction in cell density( P

Acetamides ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; blood

Objective To study transmission characteristics of Acinetobacter baumannii (A.baumannii )clone and clinical features of infected patients in a respiratory intensive care unit (RICU),so as to guide the effective pre-vention and control of A.baumannii transmission.Methods 40 A.baumannii strains isolated from RICU patients were performed homology analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)and cluster analysis,relationship of strains was determined,antimicrobial resistance and clinical data were analyzed.Results 40 A.baumannii strains were divided into 11 genotypes(A-K),the main epidemic strains were type A,B and E.The resistant rate to imipen-em was the lowest(70.00%),the next was levofloxacin (77.50%).The average age of 40 infected patients was 67 years old,the average length of hospital stay was 41 days,12 patients died because of invalid treatment.There was overlapping hospitalization among patients infected with type A and E strains;among patients infected with type B strain,there was no overlapping hospitalization among the last 6 and first 6 infected patients.Conclusion The main epidemic strains of A.baumannii were type A,B and E,antimicrobial resistant rate is high;the infected patients are with high average age and long length of hospital stay.It is important to reduce the transmission of A.baumannii through rational use of antimicrobial agents,strict aseptic operation,and intensified disinfection and sterilization of hospital environment and medical devices.

Objective To establish a new double-antibody sandwich ELISA to detect the antigen AP33(a 33 kDa adhesive protein) of Trichomonas vaginalis based on the quantum dots and magnetic beads.Methods After BALB/c mice were immunized by AP33,the multiclonal antibodies in the antiserum was conjugated with the quantum dots and magnetic beads by carbon diimine crosslinking method respectively.Then the antibodies combined with magnetic beads were coated to microwell of plate as capturing antibody,and the antibodies bound to quantum dots were regarded as the marked antibody which can be directly observed under fluorescence microscope and quatitated by spectrofluorometry.The specificity and sensitivity of our established system were investigated.Results AP33 was successfully detected at the concentration as low as 50 ng/ml by this with-filling method.No crossreaction was observed when this system was used to detect Trichomonas vaginalis and other common bacteria in the vagina.The accuracy was 88% and the specificity was 90%.Conclusion This new double-antibody sandwich ELISA to detect Trichomonas vaginalis is successfully prepared and of sound specificity and sensitivity.

This study analyzed the current clinical terminology standardization, systematization research status of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The previous version of the TCM clinical term system had some problems including imperfect classification structure, unclear relationship between concepts and so on, which made the TCM clinical terminology system(TCMCTS) difficult to support the clinical practice of TCM. The suggestions for system improvement were using ontology method to build TCMCTS concept model bases on the previous researches and data extracted from TCM clinical electronic medical record, and top-level-ontology accordance with ISO standards. The study also tried to summarize the ‘semantic network between classes’ through semantic relationships.

All elements and refinements had been built in ontology with protégé 4.1, which can be used to record over 20 classic Chinese medicine books in related author, publisher, storage site, edition, form and arrangement of lines in calligraphy, and etc. It also realized the graphical display based on ontology. It gave brief analysis on elements which had been used or without using. Studies showed that Web Ontology Language (OWL) can express all elements of TCM literatures clearly. This study indicated that element refinements should be considered to add in the amendment of ISO International Standards application for further improvement.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features, mechanism and cerebral functional correlation of hemianopic anosognosia.Methods16 patients with homonymous visual field defects due to ischemic infarcts were examined on visual field and MMSE. The neuropsychological tests were administered such as hemianopic awareness and visual neglect. The facts were analyzed with the location of ischemic infarct documented by MRI or CT. Results10 of 16 patients with hemianopia had anosognosia of their visual deficit. 8 of 13 right side lesion patients had hemianopic anosognosia. 2 of 3 left side lesion patients had hemianopia anosognosia. 3 of 6 awareness hemianopia patients had visual hemineglect. 7 of 10 hemianopic anosognosia patients had larger infarction of middle cerebral artery. 3 else had smaller infarction in the occipital lobe or in the connective area between the occipital and temporal lobes.ConclusionsThere is no specific cortical area for conscious visual perception. Visual awareness is processed by a distributed network including multiple cortices and subcortices. Both hemispheres are involved in visual processing and conscious awareness.

To study the effect of sodium aescinate in inducing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of sodium aescinate on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes were observed under inverted microscope. DAPI nuclear staining was used to detect the changes in cell nucleus. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Changes in apoptosis-related proteins (PARP, cleaved caspase-8 and pro-caspase-3), cell survival-associated signal molecules (AKT and ERK) and their common upstream kinase SRC was detected by Western blotting. The result showed that after different concentrations of sodium aescinate were used to treat breast cancer MCF-7 cells, they inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced cell apoptosis (typical morphological changes in nucleus, significant increase in cell apoptosis rate). The expressions of cleaved PARP and caspase-8 increased, while the expression of pro-caspase-3 decreased, which further verified sodium aescinate's effect in inducing cell apoptosis. Sodium aescinate significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of cell survival-related signal molecules (AKT, ERK) and down-regulate the activation of their common up-stream kinase SRC. The findings indicated that sodium aescinate can block signals transiting to downstream molecules AKT, ERK, inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7 cell apoptosis and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of SRC.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; src-Family Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Qizhi Jiangtang Capsule (QJC) in treating stage 3b diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients with macroalbuminuria.

METHODSPatients who conformed to the diagnostic criteria of stage 3b DKD were randomly assigned to two groups according to random digital table, the experiment group and the control group, 84 in each group. All patients received a two-week elution period, and then were treated with basic Western therapy. Patients in the experiment group took QJC, 5 pills per time, 3 times a day, while those in the control group took Valsartan Capsule 160 mg each time, once daily. The observation period of follow-ups was limited within 6 months, and the time points were set as the baseline, 1st month, 3rd month, and 6th month. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBS), 24 h urine protein quantitative (24 h UPQ), plasma albumin (ALB), and serum creatinine (SCr) were detected and recorded, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. The occurrence of hypoglycemic reaction, coagulation disorder, gastrointestinal tract reaction, allergy, hyperkalemia, doubling of creatinine, and overall adverse events were observed and recorded at same time.

RESULTSFinally 81 patients in the experiment group and 80 patients in the control group were effectively included. Compared with the baseline level, SBP and DBS obviously decreased in the control group at month 1 of treatment (P < 0.05), and more significantly decreased at month 6 of treatment (P < 0.01). SBP at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups; DBS at month 6 of follow-ups was lower in the control group than in the experiment group (P < 0.05). At month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups, 24 h UPQ of the experiment group was significantly lower than the baseline level (P < 0.01). It was also significantly lower than the level of the control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in 24 h UPQ at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups between the control group and the baseline level (P > 0.05). ALB of the experiment group showed an increasing trend. It was significantly higher than the baseline level at month 6 (P < 0.05), which was also higher than that of the control group at same period (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the ALB level in the control group (P > 0.05). SCr of two groups showed an increasing trend. SCr of the experiment group was significantly higher at month 1, 3, and 6 follow-ups than the baseline level (P < 0.05). But the increment of SCr was higher in the control group than in the experimental group, and obviously higher than the baseline levels (P < 0.05). eGFR of both groups showed a decreasing trend. The decrement was higher in the control group than in the experimental group (P < 0.05). The proportion of progression of renal functions at month 1, 3, and 6 of follow-ups in the experimental group was 0.0% (0 case), 9.55% (8 cases), and 21.4% (18 cases), while they were 8.3% (7 cases), 21.4% (18 cases), and 40.5% (34 cases) in the control group. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of progression of renal functions between the two groups at month 3 and 6 of follow-ups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQJC could effectively reduce urinary protein of patients with stage 3b DKD, and delay the progression of renal functions.

Adult ; Albumins ; analysis ; Albuminuria ; drug therapy ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Creatinine ; blood ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tetrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

To establish an HPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of quercetin, kaempferid and isorhamnetin in rats plasma and study its pharmamacokinetics after an intragastrical administration of Hippophae rhamnoides extracts. Five healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given single doses of H. rhamnoides extracts (quercetin 26.35 mg x kg(-1), kaempferid 4.040 mg x kg(-1), isorhamnetin 31.37 mg x kg(-1)), and then their orbital sinus blood samples were collected at different time points. The drug plasma concentration of the three flavonoids was determined by HPLC-MS/MS method. After that, the main pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by using Kinetica 5. 0. 11 software. The methodological test showed that the linear concentration ranges of quercetin, kaempferid and isorhamnetin were 7.500-600.0 μg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.998 5), 1.000-80.00 μg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.998 5 ) and 10.00-800.0 μg x L(-1) (R2 = 0.998 0), respectively. The inner and inter-days precisions were both less than 14.0%. The plasma samples showed a good stability and consistency with the requirement of biological sample analysis after the samples were frozen once and placed at - 20 degrees C for 15 d and room temperature for 6 h and the treated analytes were placed at -20 degrees C for 24 h. For quercetin, the pharmacokinetic parameter t(½β), AUC(0-∞), MRT(0.∞), C.(max) and T(max) were (113.3 ± 19.37) min, (12 542.14 ± 3 504.05) μg x h x L(-1), (119.6 ± 13.29) h, (164.6 ± 27.33) μg x L(-1) and (5.199 ± 0.840 3) h, respectively. For kaempferid, the pharmacokinetic parameters t(½β), AUC(0-t), MRT(0-∞), C(max) and T(max) were (79.85 ± 17.15) min, (934.51 ± 94.59) μg x h x L(-1), (81.50 ± 13.75) h, (80.15 ± 14.24) μg x L(-1) and (3.827 ± 0.902 7) h, respectively. For isorhamnetin, the pharmacokinetic parameters t1,2,, AUC(0-t), MRT(0-∞), C(max) and T(max) were (118.3 ± 20.73) min, (26 067.77 ± 4 124.60) μg x h x L(-1), (129.0 ± 16.30) h, (269.6 ± 29.32) μg x L(-1) and (6.513 ± 1.450) h, respectively. The HPLC-MS/MS analysis method established in this study was proved to be sensitive and accurate and could be applied in the pharmacokinetic study of quercetin, kaempferid and isorhamnetin in rat plasma.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Hippophae ; chemistry ; Kaempferols ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods