Glycine/analogs & derivatives* ; Humans ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

Bovine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that is hampering the development of the domestic cattle industry in northern China. This study involved a molecular survey of bovine Theileria species in 137 blood samples from cattle in the Jilin province of China. The DNA samples were screened by species-specific 18S rRNA PCR. Results revealed that 19.7% (27/137), 17.5% (24/137) and 10.9% (15/137) were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis, Theileria orientalis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in 8.8% (12/137). The overall detection rates of Baishan, Yanji, Jilin and Liaoyuan districts was 60.0%, 17.5%, 5.3% and 0%, respectively. There is little information on the detection and distribution of bovine Theileria species in northern China. Therefore, this study provides important data for understanding the epidemiology of Theileria species and designing appropriate approaches for the diagnosis and control of bovine theileriosis in northern China.

Sulconazole has been reported to degrade into sulconazole sulfoxide via sulfur oxidation; however, structural characterization data was lacking and the potential formation of an N-oxide or sulfone could not be excluded. To clarify the degradation pathways and incorporate the impurity profile of sulconazole into the United States Pharmacopeia–National Formulary (USP–NF) monographs, a multifaceted approach was utilized to confirm the identity of the degradant. The approach combines stress testing of sulco-nazole nitrate, chemical synthesis of the degradant via a hydrogen peroxide-mediated oxidation reaction, semi-preparative HPLC purification, and structural elucidation by LC―MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. Structural determination was primarily based on the comparison of spectroscopic data of sulconazole and the oxidative degradant. The mass spectrometric data have revealed a McLafferty-type rearrange-ment as the characteristic fragmentation pathway for alkyl sulfoxides with aβ-hydrogen atom, and was used to distinguish the sulfoxide from N-oxide or sulfone derivatives. Moreover, the generated sulco-nazole sulfoxide was utilized as reference material for compendial procedure development and valida-tion, which provides support for USP monograph modernization.

BACKGROUNDCongenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited ion channel disorder resulting in abnormal cardiac repolarization that can cause syncope and sudden death associated with a prolonged rate-corrected QT interval and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Several studies in adults showed that LQTS patients have altered QT adaptation to heart rate changes compared with normal subjects which forming a "hysteresis loop" in the QT-circle length plot. This study was to observe the QT interval changing during exercise testing in children long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients, explore the new diagnosis methods of LQTS.

METHODSThe subjects were divided into 3 groups according to 1993 LQTS diagnostic criteria. Group 1: LQTS group (n = 17) who scored > or = 4 points indicating definite LQTS. Group 2: Middle group (n = 16), patients who have prolonged QT interval but scored 1.5 to 3.5. Group 3: Normal control group (n = 18). The average age of all study population is (12.3 +/- 5.8) years. No case had beta-adrenergic antagonists administration before exercise testing. All subjects were underwent tread mill exercise testing and electrocardiograph in whole exercise testing and recovery were recorded. QT and heart rate changing during whole exercise testing period were recorded. DeltaQT, the QT interval at 1, 2, 4, 6 minutes into recovery subtract from the QT interval at a similar heart rate during exercise, were calculated.

RESULTSIn all three groups, QT intervals were shortening with the increasing of heart rate, but QTc had no significant change. DeltaQT at 1 minute ((45 +/- 11) ms), 2 minutes ((37 +/- 15) ms), 4 minutes ((23 +/- 12) ms) into recovery in LQTS group were significantly greater than that of the other two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). There was no DeltaQT significant difference between middle group and normal control group at recovery time. During the recovery phase in LQTS group, the QT interval remained shortened despite a decelerating heart rate, forming a hysteresis "loop" in the curve relating the QT interval to the cycle length.

CONCLUSIONSIn children LQTS patients, there is significant QT hysteresis loop in the relation of QT interval with heart rate during recovery of exercise testing, which could be useful to the early diagnosis for LQTS.

Adolescent ; Child ; Electrocardiography ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of retinal vascular calibers with hyperuricemia in a middle-aged and elderly population.

METHODSA cross-sectional design was applied in this study and 869 participants aged =40 years from a high-risk group for diabetes were recruited. All participants received the anthropometrical measurements and laboratory tests. Retinal arteriolar and venular caliber of the participants were measured with a semi-automated system. Hyperuricemia was defined as a serum uric acid level >420 μmol/L in men and >360 μmol/L in women. Linear regression models were used to assess the association of hyperuricemia with retinal vascular calibers. These models were additionally adjusted for age, central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, weekly activity, smoking status, and education.

RESULTSAmong the 869 participants, 133 (15.3%) suffered from hyperuricemia. The crude mean serum uric acid level was 312.3 μmol/L (Standard Deviation 79.5); mean concentration was 355.0 μmol/L (SD 75.5) in male participants, and 288.0 μmol/L (SD 71.1) in female participants (age-adjusted difference 58.1 μmol/L, 95% Confidence Internal 48.5, 67.6). After adjusting for additional covariates, male participants with hyperuricemia had 3.77 μm (95% CI -0.46, 8.00) smaller arteriolar caliber and 6.20 μm (95% CI 0.36, 12.04) larger venule than those without hyperuricemia; the corresponding numbers among female participants were 1.57 μm (95% CI -1.07, 4.21) for retinal arteriolar caliber and 2.28 μm (95% CI -1.72, 6.27) for retinal venular caliber.

CONCLUSIONHyperuricemia was associated with smaller retinal arteriolar caliber and larger venular caliber mainly in male participants in this study.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperuricemia ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Vessels ; pathology ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics

Biomarkers ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the expression pattern of the MAL protein in normal and laryngeal carcinoma to derive possible implications of MAL in carcinoma development of larynx. METHOD: Use the immunohistochemical technique to analyze the distribution of MAL in normal laryngeal epithelial cells, polyp of vocal cords, laryngeal atypical hyperplasia and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. RESULT: MAL-like immunohistochemical reactions are strongly expressed in normal laryngeal epithelial cells and its expression is no significantly different in epithelial cells of the polyp of vocal cords. Comparatively, MAL expression is significantly down regulated in laryngeal atypical hyperplasia and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION MAL is normally expressed in laryngeal epithelial cells and its expression changes at early stages of carcinoma development. MAL, therefore, is a potential marker for early diagnosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Double-Blind Method ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Mucosa ; cytology ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; Myelin Proteins ; metabolism ; Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins ; Proteolipids ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This was a Phase 2 study (NCT02015793) to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of adalimumab in Chinese patients with Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: Thirty, adult Chinese patients with CD (CD Activity Index [CDAI] 220-450; high-sensitivity [hs]-C-reactive protein [CRP] ≥3 mg/L) received double-blind adalimumab 160/80 mg or 80/40 mg at weeks 0/2, followed by 40 mg at weeks 4 and 6. An open-label extension period occurred from weeks 8-26; patients received 40 mg adalimumab every other week. Serum adalimumab concentration and change from baseline in fecal calprotectin (FC) were measured during the double-blind period. Clinical remission (CDAI <150), response (decrease in CDAI ≥70 points from baseline), and change from baseline in hs-CRP were assessed through week 26. Nonresponder imputation was used for missing categorical data and last observation carried forward for missing hs-CRP/FC values. No formal hypothesis was tested. Adverse events were monitored. RESULTS: Mean adalimumab serum concentrations during the induction phase were 13.9-18.1 µg/mL (160/80 mg group) and 7.5-9.5 µg/mL (80/40 mg group). During the double-blind period, higher remission/response rates and greater reductions from baseline in hs-CRP and FC were observed with adalimumab 160/80 mg compared to that with 80/40 mg. Adverse event rates were similar among all treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adalimumab serum concentrations in Chinese patients with CD were comparable to those observed previously in Western and Japanese patients. Clinically meaningful remission rates and improvement in inflammatory markers were achieved with both dosing regimens; changes occurred rapidly with adalimumab 160/80 mg induction therapy. No new safety signals were reported.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Crohn Disease* ; Humans ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex ; Pharmacokinetics

BACKGROUNDInterleukin (IL)-1beta may effectively decrease introcular pressure (IOP) when administered by subconjunctival injection in normal rabbit. However, IL-1beta is a large molecular agent and an inflammation factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetrability of IL-1beta, and the concentrations of both tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-6 in the aqueous humor of normal rabbits treated with IL-1beta.

METHODSA total of 170 rabbits were used in the study and were assigned to several different treatment groups as follows: 125 of the rabbits were assigned to two groups. In one group, 33 rabbits were injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta and 39 were injected with saline alone. In the other group, 27 rabbits were given eye drops containing IL-1beta (400 ng/ml) and 26 were given saline alone. Aqueous humor (AH) was drawn and the concentration of IL-1beta within the fluid measured. The IOP was measured in another six rabbits after administration of eye drops containing IL-1beta (400 ng/ml). A further 20 rabbits were assigned to 3 groups as follows: eight untreated normal controls; six injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta; and six injected subconjunctivally with saline alone. AH was drawn and the concentration of TNF-alpha in the fluid was measured. Another 19 rabbits were assigned to 3 groups as follows: seven untreated normal controls; and six injected subconjunctivally with IL-1beta; and six injected subconjunctivally with saline alone. AH was drawn and the concentration of IL-6 in the fluid measured. Measurement of cytokine concentration was by radio-immunoassay in all cases.

RESULTSThe IL-1beta concentration in the AH was higher in those animals in which it had been administered subconjunctivally (P < 0.01). The IL-1beta concentration in the AH of the animals given eye drops was almost the same as that in the controls (P > 0.05). The administration of IL-1beta in the form of eye drops had little effect upon IOP reduction. Lower TNF-alpha concentrations were seen in the AH after the subconjunctival administration of IL-1beta, but the concentration of IL-6 was the same as in the normal controls.

CONCLUSIONSIL-1beta shows good corneal penetrability after subconjunctival injection into normal rabbit eyes. The IOP reduction induced by IL-1beta is unlikely be associated with an inflammatory response.

Animals ; Aqueous Humor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Aged ; Animals ; Asphyxia ; etiology ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Fundoplication ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Laryngismus ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration Disorders ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome