Objective To prepare a thrombus-targeted ultrasonic contrast agent and to investigate its targeted ability to fresh blood clots. Methods We first synthesized FITC-KGDS-Palm compound, and then prepared thrombus-targeted microbubbles using "ultrasound & high speed shearing method".Fluorescence labeling thrombus-specific peptides and KGDS,directed at the activated glycoprotein(GP)Ⅱb/Ⅲa receptor of platelets were attached to the surface of lipid microbubbles. The concentration and size of TUCA were measured by Malvern Zeta Sizer Nano-ZS590 and Coulter counter.Immunofluorescence was applied to confirm the conjugation.The conjunct ratio was assessed by flow cytometer (FCM).Results The KGDS-TUCA was straw yellow turbid liquor,and the concentration was 1.5×10~9/mL,and the average size was 1.5 μm. The targeted microbubbles conjugated with the thrombus-specific peptides showed bright green rings by fluorescence microscope.FCM demonstrated that the wavelength of shell of KGDS-TUCA changed greatly,and the conjunct ratio was 90.04%.In vitro study showed KGDS-TUCA remained stable for 48 h at 4 ℃ and target-attached to blood clots and showed good stability.Conclusion The ultrasound & high speed shearing method to prepare TUCA is easy and in favor of purification.KGDS-TUCA has high specific biological activity.The conjunct ratio and stability of KGDS-TUCA are excellent.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic factors in locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) for selectively carrying out prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI).Methods 114 patients with LA-NSCLC between Jun 2006 and Oct 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Related risk factors and features about brain metastases were analyzed.Results The 2-year incidence rate of brain metastases was 31.58 ％ (36/114),the first brain metastases was 20.18 ％ (23/114),and sole brain metastases was 9.65 ％(11/114),respectively.Variables involved in the equation of binary logistic regression analysis were pathology (OR =5.892) and treatment mode(OR =2.888).The incidence rate of brain metastases in patients of non-squamous carcinoma and single treatment mode was higher than others (P ＜ 0.01) Model fitting is better (P ＞ 0.05).Overall accuracy rate of predicting brain metastases is 67.7 ％.The increased rate of lactate dehydrogenase in the patients with brain metastases or death was 17.54 ％, which was higher than that in the survival patients without brain metastases (P ＜ 0.01).At the same time,the station number and the number of mediastinal lymph node metastases were positively correlated (r =0.716, P ＜ 0.01).The incidence rate of brain metastases or mortality rate was higher in the adenocarcinoma cases than that in the squamous carcinoma cases (P ＜ 0.01,P ＜ 0.05),with more frequent occurrence of mediastinal metastases.The mean diameter of squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 5.8 cm and 3.9 cm, respectively (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The incidence rate of brain metastases was higher in patients with single treatment.Large primary tumors, high lactate dehydrogenase, non-squamous carcinoma, multiple stations, and multiple mediastinal lymph nodes metastases can be regarded as risk factors of brain metastases to perform PCI.

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolic change in brain of rats with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and the intervention effect with Anshen Jielu Recipe (AJR) on it.

METHODSEight rats selected from 32 Wistar rats as normal group, the others were established as GAD model by using uncertainty empty water bottles method. Then the GAD rats were randomly divided into the model group (saline, by gastrogavage), the control group [buspirone hydrochloride, 2.0 mg/(kg x d), by gastrogavage], the treatment group [AJR, 12.5 g/(kg x d), by gastrogavage], 8 in each group, all were treated for 7 days. The concentration of cerebral metabolites, including N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), creatine (Cr) and glutamate (Glu), in bilateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were measured using high-field strong super-conductivity (7.0T) animal MRI; and the ratio of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and Glu/Cr were calculated. The effect of AJR intervention was evaluated by changes of MRI before and after rats being treated with AJR for 7 days.

RESULTSRats with GAD showed lowered ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr, and elevated Glu/Cr ratio in the right prefrontal cortex than those in normal rats. After AJR intervention, the abnormal changes in the three indices were restored to certain extents.

CONCLUSIONSAJR has apparent antianxiety effect in rats with GAD, with the effect initiation faster than that in the control group. Its mechanism is probably correlated with the regulation of abnormal metabolism in the brain.

Animals ; Anxiety Disorders ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of immunoadsorption therapy in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and explore the mechanism.

METHODSThis investigation involved 20 patients with MG treated with immunoadsorption combined with hormonal therapy and another 20 with only hormonal therapy, and 15 healthy subjects served as the control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the changes in serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) after the treatments, and the therapeutic effect of the treatments was evaluated using clinical scores.

RESULTSThe clinical scores were significantly decreased after immunoadsorption therapy, showing a significant difference from that in the hormonal treatment group (P<0.05). The serum TNF-a and IL-18 levels were significantly higher in the two patient groups than in the control group (P<0.05), but in the former two groups, their levels were significantly lower in immunoadsorption therapy group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONImmunoadsorption therapy eliminates the inflammatory cytokines and free radicals as well as the circulating autoantibodies to improve the clinical symptoms of MG.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosorbent Techniques ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; blood ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of meatoplasty with the pedicle flap in the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis treated by meato- plasty with the pedicle flap. All the patients had a history of chronic balanitis and had received meatal dilatation or simple ventral mea- totomy without significant effect. Their mean maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was (4.3 ± 2.4) ml/s. During the operation, A "/\"-shaped incision was made in the healthy epidermis and a flap was harvested from the frenulum. After complete removal of the scar, the flap was placed into the urethral wall, followed by reconstruction of the external urethral orifice.

RESULTSThe patients were fol- lowed up for 6 to 30 months, which revealed smooth urination in all the patients with Qmax of (26.7 ± 4.5) ml/s and normal erectile function and uresiesthesis.

CONCLUSIONWith little invasiveness and few complications, meatoplasty with the pedicle flap is an ideal surgical method for the treatment of meatal stenosis secondary to chronic balanitis. However, there might be some change in the normal appearance of the balanus postoperatively, and its long-term effect needs further observation.

Balanitis ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps ; Urethra ; surgery ; Urethral Stricture ; etiology ; surgery ; Urination

Objective To systematically review the effectiveness and safety of pantoprazole ( PAN ) vs. ranitidine (RAN) for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods PubMed,Medline,EMbase,The Cochrane Library and three Chinese literature databases (CNKI,VIP and Wan fang) were retrieveed.Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared the clinical outcomes of PAN group vs. RAN group for GERD were included. Two reviewers independently screened literatures in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies.Then,meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. Results A total of 8 RCTs involving 1 590 patients were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that the PAN group was significantly superior to RAN group in terms of the healing rates and the relief rates of chief symptom for GERD of gradeⅠ-Ⅲ. While there was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups [GradeⅠ,RR=1.17,95%CI (0.80,1.70),P=0.43;GradeⅡorⅢ, RR=0.76,95%CI (0.43,1.36);P=0.36]. Conclusion Current evidence indicates that,pantoprazole is more effective than ranitidine for GERD of grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ,but both treatments are safe and well tolerated.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) gene *008 allele and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODSMICA*008 allele was detected in 86 patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia and 81 unrelated normal individuals by way of sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Anti-HCMV IgM was also detected in the sera of these subjects with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSMICA*008 allele frequency was lower in patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia than in the control group (22.2% vs 34.3%, Chi(2)=4.98, P<0.05). The infection rate of HCMV was significantly higher in those individuals with genotype of MICA*008 (-) than in those with MICA*008 (+), and moderate correlation was suggested between MICA*008 and HCMV infection (C=0.5829, 0.6142).

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with MICA*008 positivity is not liable to HCMV infection, but those with MICA*008 (-) can be vulnerable to HCMV infection, suggesting an inverse correlation between MICA*008 allele with HCMV.

Alleles ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; virology

AIMTo design and synthesize a novel vector for colon-site specific drug delivery system and investigate the relationship between the biodegradation properties and composition of materials in the simulated colon fluid.

METHODSThe azocopolymer P (HEMA-MMA-MAA) was synthesized using 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) as comonmer, azobisisobutyronitrilel (AIBN) as initiator, cross-linked with divinylazobezene (DVAB). The chemical structure of the synthesized series of azocopolymer is examined by UV, FTIR spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance data. Their swelling behavior is evaluated by the swelling equilibrium parameter Q, the biodegradation tests of the materials were carried out at physiologically relevant buffer designed to mimic the colon environment. The biodegradation properties were assessed using the differential scanning calorimeters (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and the morphology on the surface of materials before and after degradation was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTSThe swelling equilibrium parameter Q increased with increasing the contents of HEMA and MAA in the materials. The degradation behavior was relevant to the ratio of three components in the copolymers.

CONCLUSIONThis materials may become a good carrier for the colon-site specific drug delivery system if the contents of commoners HEMA, MMA and MAA are adjusted reasonably.

Azo Compounds ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; Methylmethacrylate ; Polymers ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of suprapubis-assisted umbilical laparoendoscopic mini-dual-site surgery (SAU-LEMDS) in the treatment of varicocele.

METHODSThis study included 80 varicocele patients aged 24 - 44 (mean 28.5 +/- 2.6) years, 25 cases of grade I, 45 cases of grade II and 10 cases of grade III, 58 cases in the left side, 6 in the right and 16 in both sides, and all with asthenospermia. The patients were treated by SAU-LEMDS under subarachnoid anesthesia combined with general anesthesia in a supine position with a head-down-feet-up slope of 15 degrees. Two 5 mm trocars were inserted bilaterally at the umbilical edge, one with a 5 mm 30 degrees laparoscope placed in it, and another into the abdominal cavity below the pubic hairline with a 5 mm laparoendoscopic clipper placed in it. The operation procedure was similar to that of standard laparoscopic ligation of spermatic veins, with reservation of the spermatic artery and double-ligation of spermatic veins. And the procedure was repeated for the contralateral lesion in the bilateral cases. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for the incidences of orchiatrophy and testicular hydrocele and changes of seminal parameters.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful, with the mean operation time of (10 +/- 5.0) min (range 8 to 25 min) for the unilateral cases and (18 +/- 6.5) min (range 15 to 30 min) for the bilateral cases, the mean blood loss of (1.5 +/- 0.5) ml (range 1 to 2 ml), and the mean postoperative hospital stay of (2 +/- 0.5) d (range 1.5 to 3 d). The patients were followed up for 6 -24 (12 +/- 2.5) months, which showed significant improvement in sperm motility as compared with the baseline ([28.53 +/- 5.21] vs [19.62 +/- 3.56]%, P < 0.05), with 28 cases (35.0%) restored to normal. Recurrence was found in 4 cases (5.0%). Testicular hydrocele occurred in 7 cases (8.75%), but orchiatrophy in none. The scars in the umbilicus and suprapubis were invisible because of the wrinkles and pubic hair.

CONCLUSIONSAU-LEMDS is safe, effective and feasible for the treatment of varicocele. It is superior to umbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (U-LESS) for its less invasiveness, simpler operation, and better cosmetic appearance.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Ligation ; methods ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Spermatic Cord ; blood supply ; Testicular Hydrocele ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome ; Umbilicus ; Varicocele ; surgery ; Veins

OBJECTIVETo clone the coding gene of the stage-specific antigen cC1 from Cysticercus cellulosae and express high levels of soluble cC1 in E.coli.

METHODSThe cC1 gene was amplified from Cysticercus cellulosae by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vector, followed by subcloning into the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET28a. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) and the expression conditions were optimized. The expressed product was purified by Ni(+)-affinity chromatography, analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and identified with SDS-PAGE and Western blotting.

RESULTSThe fragment length of the amplification product by RT-PCR was 1056 bp. Comparison of the amplified gene sequence with the cC1 gene in Genbank identified a samesense point mutation at 423 position in the gene cloned into the expression plasmids. After a 6-h induction with 0.05 mmol/L IPTG at 37 degrees celsius;, the expression of the 40 kd soluble fusion protein exceeded 60% of the total bacterial protein, and the fusion protein was recognized by Cysticercus-infected human sera. The purity of the fusion protein was about 94% after purification by affinity chromatography.

CONCLUSIONThe stage-specific antigen cC1 from Cysticercus cellulosae has been successfully cloned and the soluble protein efficiently expressed in E.coli, which provides the basis for its further study and application.

Animals ; Antigens, Helminth ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cysticercus ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Solubility ; Swine ; Taenia solium ; immunology