Prednisolone-induced zebrafish osteoporosis model was used to explore the bone-strengthening effect of Jie-Gu-Tang (JGT). Zebrafish larvae of 5 days post fertilization (d.p.f.) were co-exposed with 25 μmol·L-1 pred-nisolone and a series of JGT solutions with a range of concentrations (0.025, 0.25, 2.5, 25 and 100 mg crude herb per liter). The 25 μmol·L-1 prednisolone was selected as the model group. Etidronate disodium (15 and 30 mg·mL-1) with 25 μmol·L-1 prednisolone was used as the positive group. And 0.5% DMSO was used as the vehicle control group. All groups were incubated in 24-well plates (28.5℃) until 10 d.p.f. Zebrafish skeleton at 10 d.p.f. was anes-thetized and fixed for staining with alizarin red. Quantitative analysis of the stained area was performed by microscop-ic inspection and digital imaging methods to reflect the amount of zebrafish head skeleton mineralization. The results showed that prednisolone group at 25 μmol·L-1 concentration can obviously decrease the staining area and the stain-ing optical density values when compared with the vehicle control group (0.5% DMSO). Compared with the model group, both etidronate disodium (15 and 30 mg·mL-1) and JGT (2.5, 25 and 100 mg crude herb per liter) can in-crease the mineralized matrix and integrated optical density (IOD) of zebrafish head skeleton significantly with dose-effect relationship. It was concluded that zebrafish osteoporosis model was successfully used in the evaluation on bone loss prevention and bone formation promotion of JGT, which provided basis for the reliability and reasonability of zebrafish model.

Objective To determine the incidence of lung infection and associated factors in patients with traumatic brain injury for the sake of improving the clinical outcomes.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on records of 325 patients who hospitalized between January 2014 and June 2014.There were 198 male and 127 female patients,aged 11-78 years [(38.4 ±8.3) years].A total of 172 patients were injured in traffic accidents,80 in high falls,56 in blow accidents,and 17 in others.Lung infection status was documented and related risk factors were analyzed.Results Thirty-two patients (9.8％) had lung infection.Pseudomonas aeruginosa amounting to 12 strains was the most common pathogenic bacteria.Univariate analysis showed mechanical ventilation,airway open,and aspiration were significantly related to lung infection.Logistic regression identified aspiration (OR =2.891,P ＜ 0.05) and mechanical ventilation (OR =1.323,P ＜ 0.05) as the independent risk factors for lung infection.Conclusions Lung infection is a serious complication of traumatic brain injury,affected largely by aspiration and mechanical ventilation.Active preventions,reductions of risk factors,and early treatments should be done to get the best efficacy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the DICE regimen in combination with recombinant human endostatin (Endostar) in patients with recurrent or refractory DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma). Methods: DICE regimen were given intravenously for 4 consecutive days, consisting of dexamethasone 10 mg/d, ifosfamide 1 g·m-2·d -1, cisplatin 25 mg·m-2·d-1, and etoposide 60 mg·m-2·d-1. Endostar were given at 7.5 mg/m2 (i.v.) on days 1-14. Cycles were repeated every 3 or 4 weeks. Results: Between January 2009 and September 2011, 15 patients with recurrent or refractory DLBCL were enrolled: 11(73.3%) with primary refractory lymphoma and 4 (26.7%) with recurrent lymphoma. Two patients (13.3%) achieved a complete remission and 2 (13.3%) achieved a partial remission. The overall response rate was 26.7%. The clinical factors of gender (P = 0.011), International Prognostic Index (P = 0.033) and serum lactate dehydrogenase level (P = 0.011) had significant effects on overall response rate. The TTF (median time to treatment failure) and the OS (overall survival) time were 2 and 10 months, respectively. The one-year OS rate and the TTF rate were 46.7% and 26.7%, respectively. Myelosuppression was the major toxicity. WHO grade III/IV leukopenia and granulocytopenia were developed in 11 patients (78.6%). Conclusion: DICE regimen in combination with Endostar was well tolerated and its efficacy was mild in patients with recurrent or refractory DLBCL, probably due to these extremely poor prognostic patients. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

Abstract: Objective To investigate the antibacterial action and skin sensitization by percutaneous administration of lavender essential oil (LEO), providing a basis for its antibacterial application of percutaneous administration. Methods The disk diffusion method was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of LEO on five types of bacteria, and to measure its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC); The effect of LEO on guinea pig skin irritation was observed by topical application, and its allergic reaction and allergic rate were evaluated; the levels of IgA, IgG, and IgE in the supernatant of serum and spleen tissue sensitized with dimethylbenzene and smeared with LEO were determined by the enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), and the antibacterial ability, skin sensitization, and inflammation of LEO were comprehensively evaluated. Results The antibacterial circle experiment showed that LEO had an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Propionibacterium acnes; the antibacterial ability from strong to weak was Staphylococcus Epidermidis (8.25 mg/mL), Escherichia coli (15.00 mg/mL), Candida albicans (16.31 mg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus (18.00 mg/mL), Propionibacterium acnes (20.78 mg/mL). The percutaneous administration of LEO did not cause skin sensitization and inflammatory reaction in guinea pigs. Compared with the blank group, the effect of topical LEO application on the weight of the guinea pig's spleen is not statistically significant (P>0.05), and the effect on the levels of IgA, IgE, IgG in the serum and spleen tissue of guinea pigs is not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusions LEO has a certain antibacterial effect on five common pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes, and is safe for percutaneous administration. The results provide some reference for the development of LEO related products and their application in the field of dermatology.

Objective To identify the level of functional immunity as measured by the ImmuKnow assay in Chinese stable liver transplant recipients and to correlate these values with the dose and the trough levels of immunosuppressant, and with other clinical parameters of these patients. Methods Functional immune response was assessed by the ImmuKnow assay in 46 blood samples taken from 46 stable liver transplant recipients from Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University Liver Transplantation Center. Results The average ATP value in these stable liver transplant recipients was 203±114 ng/ml (range: 38.47 ATP ng/ml to 524.06 ATP ng/ml) at 22± 15 month post liver transplantation. There was no correlation either between ImmuKnow ATP values and the tacrolimus trough levels, or between ImmuKnow ATP values and the liver function (P<0. 05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified WBC and CD3+, CD3+ CD4+ as independent predictors of ImmuKnow assay levels when age, gender and underlying diagnosis were taken into account (P<0. 05). Five patients who were detected to have active HCV infection had lower ImmuKnow ATP values (<61 ng/ml). Conclusions The Cylex ImmuKnow assay ATP values were lower in Chinese stable liver transplant recipients compared with American patients. Further investigation is required to determine the role of the ImmuKnow assay in tailoring immunosuppressant therapy in liver transplant recipients.

To compare the differences of the active ingredient contents and the sulfur dioxide residue in Astragali Radix before and after sulfur fumigation and provide a basis for establishing an alternative processing method. Astragali Radix, harvested at the same time in Longxi Gansu, were processed with different methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the contents of the active ingredients in Astragali Radix and the revised method of the pharmacopoeia of China in 2011 was applied to determine the sulfur dioxide residue. The results show that the three-fold sulfur-fumigation group has the highest level of astragaloside IV and the dried sulfur-fumigation group with 10% water has the lowest level; the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside is the highest in naturally dried group and the lowest in the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times; the sulfur dioxide residue of all sulfur-fumigation groups exceeds certain limit significantly and the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times reaches the highest level.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; adverse effects ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

AIM:To investigate the effect of intense pulsed light on the meibomian gland dysfunction ( MGD) , and to observe whether the intense pulsed light can improve the symptoms and objective indexes of the patients with meibomian gland dysfunction. · METHODS: A retrospective noncomparative interventional case series was conducted. Totally 21 MGD patients (42 eyes) were selected from November 2016 to February 2017 in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, the results of the following tests is recorded:OSDI score, corneal fluorescein staining, tear break-up time, ocular surface analyzer, scanning confocal microscopy, all patients respectively were received intense pulsed light treatment 3 times at 3wk intervals, and followed up after 1mo. Paired sample t test was used to analyze the difference in outcome. ·RESULTS: In the 21 cases ( 42 eyes ) , the OSDI score decreased, the mean value before treatment was 30. 18 ± 4. 07, and the mean value after treatment was 24. 87±4. 32. The first tear film break-up time ( first, BUT) increased, the mean value before treatment was 5. 37 ± 0. 82s, the mean value after treatment was 7. 12 ± 0. 74s. The mean value of meibomian gland secretion scores before the treatment was 1. 57 ± 0. 52,the mean value after treatment was 1. 22 ± 0. 52. The mean value of corneal fluorescence staining before treatment was 0. 82 ± 0. 41, and the mean value after treatment was 0. 51 ± 0. 53, the difference was statistically significant (t=11. 2, 2. 68, 3. 31, 2. 78, 2. 61;P<0. 05). · CONCLUSION: Intense pulsed light can effectively improve the subjective symptoms of patients with MGD and alleviate the obstruction of meibomian glands. It is an important method for MGD treatment.

Background Various studies have suggested that inflammatory factors such as leucocytes and macrophages are involved in the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy (DR),and many cytokines promote the occurrence of DR.However,the relationship of aqueous and serum monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) change with DR is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of MCP-1 and MIF in aqueous and serum during DR development.Methods Eighty patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled from Beijing Shijitan Hospital.These patients received phacoemulsification or phacoemulsification and vitrectomy from September,2010 to June,2011.Twenty-six cataract patients in the same stage (without diabetes) who underwent phacoemulsification surgery served as controls.According to the clinical stage of the DR,the diabetic patients were classified as the non-DR group (NDR) (20 eyes),non-proliferative DR group (NPDR) (38 eyes) and proliferative DR group (PDR) (22 eyes).Aqueous humour and periphery blood samples were collected during the operation to detect MCP-1 and MIF using enzyme-linked immnunosorbent assay (ELISA).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject before any relevant medical examination.Results The average aqueous MCP-1 levels were(1660.78±562.98),(1463.26± 623.41),(686.76±186.16) and(494.35±148.59) ng/L in the PDR group,NPDR group,NDR group and control group,respectively,showing a significant difference among the 4 groups (F=37.968,P=0.000).No significant differences were found in the aqueous MCP-1 levels between the control group and NDR group (P=0.169),or between the NPDR group and PDR group (P=0.117).However,the aqueous MCP-1 levels were significantly elevated in the PDR group,NPDR group and NDR group compared with the control group (P=0.000).The average aqueous MIF levels were (6.85±1.99),(3.56±0.90),(1.10±0.48) and (0.86 ± 0.46) μg/L,respectively,with significant differences among them (F =144.502,P =0.000).Multiple comparisons between groups were found to be significantly different (P =0.000) according to the LSD-t test,except between the control group and NDR group (P =0.475).A significant positive correlation was seen between the aqueous MCP-1 level and MCP-1 level in all study participants (r =0.564,P =0.000).However,serum levels of MCP-1 and MIF were not statistically significantly different among the 4 groups (F =2.158,P＞0.05;F =0.813,P＞0.05).Conclusions The increase of the aqueous MIF and MCP-1 levels is associated with the progression of diabetic retinopathy.The results suggest that MIF and MCP-1 promote the occurrence of DR.

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS). Methods: Clinical data of 27 patients with LAHS diagnosed at Peking University Cancer Hospital between May 2007 and August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of the 27 patients, there were 18 males and 9 females, with a median age of 32 years (range: 14 to 77). At diagnosis of lymphoma, 17 patients (63.0%) were stage HI/IV, 8 (29.6%) had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) score 5≥2, 12 (46.2%) had International Prognostic Index (IPI) score 5≥3. The most common subtype was extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) (74.1%, 20/27). Three patients presented with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) at lymphoma diagnosis, while the other 24 patients developed HPS during lymphoma progression after failure of chemotherapy. The clinical features of HPS were persistent fever (100.0%), splenomegaly (88.9%), hepatomegaly (37.0%), lymph node enlargement (63.0%), cytopenia (100.0%), ferritin increased (92.6%), hypertriglyceridemia (55.6%), hypofibrinogenemia (55.6%), and hemophagocytosis in bone marrow (70.4%). After a median follow-up of 11.0 months (range: 0.3 to 66.0 months), 24 (88.9%) patients died, and 3 survived. The median overall survival (OS) after the diagnosis of lymphoma was 11 months, and the median OS after the diagnosis of HPS was 28 days. One patient receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remained alive with complete remission for 53 months. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of LAHS were complex, and the prognosis and survival time remain dismal. More effective therapeutic strategies should be develpoed, and allo-HSCT may provide survival benefts to LAHS.

The contents of adenosine, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, parishin and sulfur dioxide residue were compared in differently-processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma to provide the basis for a reasonable processing method of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. The analysis was performed on a Merck Purospher STAR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) under gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The eluates were detected at 270 nm, and the column temperature was 35°C. The content of adenosin, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and parishin in processing of boiling or sulfur-fumigated were lower than that of in processing of steaming. Furthermore, the sulfur dioxide residue of sulphur-fumigated groups exceed 400 mg x kg(-1). This stable and reliable method will contribute to the quality control of different processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma.
Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods