In order to control the quality of Vigna radiata, the quality control method and standard were established in this study. The tests of water content, ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of V. radiata were carried out according to the methods recoded in appendix of Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition, volume 1). The TLC method was established by using vitexin and isovitexin as references, and a mixture of acetate-method-water (10: 1.7 : 1.3) as the developing solvent system on GF254 thin layer plate. The contents of vitexin and isovitexin were determined by HPLC on a Prevail C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column, using acetonitrile: water (23 : 77) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The column temperature is 30 degrees C and the detection wavelength is 337 nm. As a result, vitexin, isovitexin and the other constituents were well separated on TLC detected under the UV light (254 nm). The methodology validation for the assay of vitexin and isovitexin presented that they were in good linear correlation in the ranges of 6.12-98 mg x L(-1) and 6.85-109.6 mg x L(-1), with the regression equations of Y = 46.213X - 7.100 (r = 1.000) and Y = 54.515X + 6.829 (r = 1.000), and the average recoveries were 98.2% (RSD 1.9%) and 97.2% (RSD 0.79%), respectively. The content ranges of vitexin and isovitexin from 25 different batches of V. radiata were 1.076-2.062 mg x g(1) and 1.127-2.303 mg x g(-1), respectively. suggesting that the qualities of V. radiata are relatively stable. The ethanol-soluble extractives, water content and total ash of 25 samples varied in the ranges of 13.27% - 18.46%, 9.59% - 12.43% and 2.63% - 3.53%, respectively. All of the above data proved that the established quality of control method V. radiata is specific and accurate, which can be used for the quality control of this drug.
Apigenin ; chemistry ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Quality Control

italic>Panax quinquefolium L. is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine with a large market demand. It has a complex chemical composition and numerous biological activities. At present, research on P. quinquefolium is focused on its underground parts, with especial interest in its saponins. There are few studies on non-saponins and the aboveground parts of Panax quinquefolium. Current quality standards are based on the saponin contents, which does not address the other benefits of Panax quinquefolium. This paper summarizes progress on the chemical components, pharmacological effects, quality evaluation, and product development of P. quinquefolium in recent years, and provides references for its further R&D and comprehensive utilization.

Adult ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and whole-cell perforated patch-clamp techniques were combined to study simultaneously the changes of intracellular signal molecules and membrane currents. Intracellular calcium transients and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were recorded simultaneously in freshly isolated mouse cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. The cells loaded with fluo-4/AM were scanned with the confocal line-scan mode. Triggering voltage pulses derived from an EPC-10 patch clamp amplifier triggered the confocal line scan. The results showed that STOCs and intracellular calcium transients could be simultaneously recorded in the same cell. This technique will be useful in studies of diseases caused by impairments of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and related ionic channel activities, or vice versa.
Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Cerebral Arteries ; cytology ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood lead levels (BLLs) in children after 10-year use of unleaded gasoline in Guangzhou and evaluate the effect of this measure.

METHODSThrough stratified random sampling method, 4 kindergartens and 4 elementary schools were selected from each of three districts among 12 districts of Guangzhou. Totally 2373 children were recruited into this survey and 1-2 ml blood was sampled from each child through vein. The lead concentration in blood samples was determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) after diluted with 0.1% Triton X-100 and 0.1% HNO(3) in the ratio of 1:20.

RESULTSAmong 2373 children, the highest BLL was 330 microg/L, while the lowest was 10 microg/L. Geometric mean (GM) of BLL was 58.28 microg/L with 61.11 microg/L of male and 55.37 microg/L of female (t=8.671, P=0.000). Sixty (2.51%) children were identified as elevated BLLs (>or=100 microg/L), including 36 (2.90%) male and 24 (2.09%) female (chi2=1.594, P=0.207). Compared to the surveys conducted in China 10-year ago, the children with elevated BLLs decreased 96.28% and the GM of BLLs reduced 58.37%. BLLs in suburb children (60.33 microg/L) were higher than those in downtown (58.09 microg/L) or in countryside (56.72 microg/L).

CONCLUSIONThe BLLs in children and the ratio for children with elevated BLLs, had declined dramatically after 10-year implement of unleaded gasoline in Guangzhou.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Data Collection ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Gasoline ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Male

Objective To investigate the correlation between the CT perfusion and microvessel density (MVD),expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in neoplasm of head and neck.Methods Eighty-eight lesions of head and neck were scanned by spiral CT.The largest axial surface of the mass was searched on unenhanced imaging,and at this level the dynamic contrast enhanced scan series was acquired.Time-density curves (TDC)were created from circular or oval regions of the interest drawn over the mass,target artery by Toshiba Xpress/SX spiral CT with perfusion functional software.The parameters were measured including:peak height (PH ),peak time (PT ),mean transit time (MTT), contrast enhancement ratio(RPH),and perfusion flow (PF).Histopathological slides of 35 masses were carefully prepared for the anti-CD34 and VEGF immunohistochemical staining and tumor microvessel density and calculation of VEGF expression scores.The parameters of CT perfusion were correlatively study with MVD and VEGF.Results(1)The TDC of CT perfusion imaging could be classified into 3 types.The TDC of 53/77 (68.9% )malignant tumors presented the type with rapid ascending and rapid descending after injecting contrast.The TDC of 6/9 malignant lymphomas showed low platform curve。(2)The PF median of thyroid carcinoma was 82.2(41.0,183.4)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1).There was significantly difference in the parameters of CT perfusion among thyroid carcinoma and squamaous cell cancer (Median 23.8 (7.0, 108.4)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1))and lymphomas (Median 24.5(13.2,78.6)ml?min~(-1)?100 g~(-1)).(3) MVD in benign tumors was (44.7?3.4),and in malignant tumors,it is (49.6?14.8 ).There was no significantly difference in MVD between benign and malignant tumors.High VEGF expression was found in 15 malignant tumors and 1 benign tumors,low VEGF expression was found in 9 malignant tumors and 10 benign tumors.(4)There were no significantly difference in VEGF expression and MVD.There was good correlation between MVD (M 40.0 )and PH (M 26.9 ),RPH (M 14.5 ),PF (M 46.8 )(r = 0.35,45.49, 0.41 ).There was correlation between VEGF(M 4.0)and MTT(M 16.7 )(r = -0.41 ).Conclusion The TDC and CT perfusion could be helpful to differentiate benign from malignant tumors. CT peffusion in neoplasm of head and neck is correlated with MVD and VEGF,and may reflect MVD and expression of VEGF.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of multi-slice CT findings to the clinical staging and prognosis of intestinal obstruction due to mesenteric blood vessel infarction.

METHODSFifty-four patients with intestinal obstruction resulting from infarction of the mesenteric vein or artery underwent multi-slice CT scanning, and the CT findings were analyzed for their relation with the intestinal ischemia and prognosis.

RESULTSSixteen patients were confirmed to have mesenteric arterial thrombosis (29%) and 40 had mesenteric venous thromboses (71%) by multi-slice CT scanning. The total mortality rate was 29%, of which mesenteric artery infarction took up 87% and mesenteric vein infarction 5%. The prognosis of the patients was closely related to the cause of the bowel infarction. Such CT findings as increased intensity of the intestinal canal and decreased enhancement and thickening of the bowel wall indicated favorable prognosis, whereas the signs of paper-thin wall sign, fecal sign, pneumatosis of the bowel wall, mesenteric veno gas and pneumoperitoneum all suggested poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONMulti-slice CT scanning can identify mesenteric blood vessel infarction resulting in intestinal obstruction, and the CT signs can offer objective and valuable information for clinical staging and prognostic evaluation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Intestines ; blood supply ; Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Mesenteric Ischemia ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Vascular Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics of synchronous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter.

METHODSThe clinical data of two cases of synchronous SCC of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. In case 1, a 68-year-old man with hematuria for a month, imaging modalities revealed a right renal pelvis tumor and a right distal ureter tumor. The patient underwent nephroureterectomy and excision of the bladder cuff. Case 2, a 60-year-old man with the complaint of lower abdominal pain and left flank pain for a month, was diagnosed as left distal ureteral stone in another hospital. Ureterolithotomy was performed and a ureteral tumor was found at the lower site of the stone intraoperatively. The pathological report demonstrated SCC, and the patient was transferred to our hospital for further treatment. We found a left renal mass invading the left hemicolon during surgery, and nephroureterectomy was performed with a bladder cuff excision, left hemicolon resection, and also complete lymph node dissection. Neither of patients received adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy.

RESULTSModerately differentiated SCC was reported in both of renal pelvis and ureter in case 1 and the tumor invaded the subepithelial connective tissue in the renal pelvis and superficial muscle in the ureter. In case 2, moderately differentiated SCC of the left renal pelvis with colon metastasis and poorly differentiated SCC of the ureter was reported with two retroperitoneal lymph node metastases. The two patients died from tumor recurrence and metastasis 5 and 6 months after the surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSynchronous SCC of the renal pelvis and SCC of the ureter are rare and has high likeliness of early recurrence and metastasis, often with poor prognosis.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Kidney Pelvis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ureteral Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of different injection techniques of radiotracer on the visualization rate of internal mammary sentinel lymph nodes (IMSLN) in breast cancer patients.

METHODSA series of 137 consecutive breast cancer patients was included in this prospective study. Fifty-eight patients (group A) received the radiotracer (99)Tc(m)-sulphur colloid injected only into 1-2 points in the breast parenchyma in one quadrant, and seventy-nine patients (group B) received the radiotracer injection into the breast parenchyma in two quadrants of the breast. The differences of IMSLN visualization rates of the two groups were compared and the relevant affecting factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe IMSLN visualization rate of the group B (70.9%, 56/79) was significantly higher than that of the group A (13.8%, 8/58) (P < 0.001). Both techniques seemed to be reliable to identify sentinel lymph node in the axilla (98.7% vs. 98.3%, P = 0.825). In addition, the visualization rate of internal mammary hotspots (82.2%) was more commonly seen in patients receiving injection of a larger volume of radiotracer ( ≥ 0.5 ml/point) than those receiving a smaller volume of radiotracer (<0.5 ml/point, 55.9%, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONSThe modified injection technique (two quadrants, large volume radiotraver, and ultrasound guidance) can significantly improve the visualization rate of IMSLN. Our findings should make the biopsy of IMSLN widely implemented and provide an effective and minimally invasive technique to evaluate the internal mammary lymph node status.

Adult ; Aged ; Axilla ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Lymph Nodes ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; administration & dosage ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; methods ; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid ; administration & dosage