Objective To evaluate the effect of small dose ketamine on the efficacy of intravenous PCA (POA) with sufentanil after intra-abdominal surgery in aged patients.Methods Sixty ASA Ⅰ orⅡpatienm aged 65-82 yr undergoing elective intra-abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomized into 3 groups (n=20 each)according to the composition of PCIA solution:group I sufentanil 200 μg in 200 ml of noilnal saline (group S);group μ sufentanil 200μh+ketmine 100 mg in NS 200 ml(group K1)and group Ⅲ sufentannil 200 μg+ketmine 200 mg in NS 200 ml(group K2).A loading dose of 5 ml wag given at the end of operation.The PCIA setting was as follows:backgound infusion 1 ml/h,bolus dose 2 ml,lockout interval 5 min and 4-hour maximum dose 30 m1.If VAS score(0=no pain,10=womt pain)was≥7,pethidine 25 mg was given iv.The total amount of pethidine given within 48 h after operation and postoperative complications including nausea and vomiting and respiratory depression were recorded.Results Small dose ketamine added to the PCIA solution can significantly reduce the amount of pethidine administered after operation in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Small dose ketamine can improve the efficacy of PCIA with sufentanil after intra-abdominal surgery in aged patients with no significant adverse effect.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of osteopontin (OPN) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its pathogenic role in SLE by studying the correlation between OPN and clinical manifestations,laboratory parameters and disease activity.Methods The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the level of OPN in serum of 68 SLE patients and 20 healthy controls.the clin-ical data and laboratory parameters were recorded.Results The positive rate of OPN was 79.41%in 68 SLEpatients and could not be detected in healthy controls.Compared with healthy controls.the positive rate and level of OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher(P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in age.gender and disease duration between OPN positive and negative lupus patients(P＞0.05).The Drevalence of fever,hair loss,WBC decrease,liver damage,serum C4 decrease,proteinuria and anti-dsDNA antibody in OPN positive SLE were significantly higher than those of OPN negative SLE(P＜0.05).The positive rate of serum OPN in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-Sm antibody (P＜0.01).The level of plasma OPN was associated with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)(r=0.292,P＜0.05).The positive rate and level of OPN in active SLE patients was significantly higher than that of inactive SLE patients(P＜O.05).Conclusion The level of plasma OPN has a close rela-tionship with the activity of SLE.It may serve as an active disease marker of SLE.

Cough ; diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Humans

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of various planting densities on dynamic growth and root yield of Isatis indigotica.

METHODThe planting samples were collected to measure the growth period of each organ.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONUnder different planting densities, both main root length and breadth exhibited a trend of "fast-slow" by stages. However, the number of individual plant leaves were showed a trend of "slow-fast" on growth period. Meanwhile, the leaf length and breadth were exhibited a trend of "increase-decrease". The increase of dry leaf, dry root and whole plant dry matter was faster during the period of 65-76 days after seeding. The differences of root and leaf yields under various densities were significant. Planting densities has a great effect on yield of root. It must be shown that there was a positive development between the individual plant and colony. According to the dry matter of root and leaf, treatment B (i.e., 7 cm x 25 cm) was good choice.

Biomass ; Isatis ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; growth & development

BACKGROUNDGlycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and malignant diseases. We investigated the expression of GPNMB in benign and malignant skin diseases.

METHODSTissue microarray was performed in the skin tissues of 102 cases including malignant melanoma (MM), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and benign dermatosis. The expression of GPNMB in the tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Twenty cases of normal skin and adjacent neoplastic normal skin tissues were selected as controls.

RESULTSGPNMB was positively stained in skin malignancies (38/50, 76%), which was significantly higher than that in the control and the benign skin tissues (P = 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively). GPNMB was positively stained in MM (13/15, 87%) and SCC (16/20, 80%) (P < 0.001). Significant higher expression of GPNMB was observed in patients aged ≥ 65 years than those less than 65 years (n = 11 and n = 9 respectively, P = 0.027). No significant difference of the expression rates was observed between normal control and BCC; however, stronger intensity was detected in the latter. Negative or weak expression was observed in the controls.

CONCLUSIONOver-expression of GPNMB correlated strongly and might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MM and SCC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Diseases ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Tissue Array Analysis ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDAdipocytes behave like a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) participates in the local chronic inflammatory response, and high-density lipoprotein could counterbalance the proinflammatory function of oxLDL, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F on the secretion and expression of MCP-1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by oxLDL and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSFully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated in the medium containing various concentration of L-4F (0-50 μg/ml) with oxLDL (50 μg/ml) stimulated, with/without protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 (10 μmol/L) preincubated. The concentrations of MCP-1 in the supernatant, the mRNA expression of MCP-1, the levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) were evaluated. The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber.

RESULTSOxLDL stimulation induced a significant increase of MCP-1 expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which were inhibited by L-4F preincubation in a dose-dependent manner. PKA inhibitor H-89 markedly reduced the oxLDL-induced MCP-1 expression, but no further decrease was observed when H-89 was used in combination with L-4F (50 μg/ml) (P > 0.05). OxLDL stimulation showed no significant effect on C/EBPα protein level but increased C/EBPβ protein level in a time-dependent manner. H-89 and L-4F both attenuated C/EBPβ protein level in oxLDL-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONSOxLDL induces C/EBPβ protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner and enhances MCP-1 secretion and expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. L-4F dose-dependently counterbalances the pro-inflammatory effect of oxLDL, and cyclic AMP/PKA-C/EBPβ signaling pathway may participate in it.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; analysis ; physiology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; secretion ; Cyclic AMP ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; physiology ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of ziprasidone tablets in Chinese healthy volunteers.

METHODSA randomized crossover study was performed in 20 healthy volunteers, who received a single oral dose (40 mg) of the test or reference preparation of ziprasidone. Blood samples were collected from the subjects at different time points following the drug administration, and the plasma concentration of ziprasidone was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed by DAS software and the relative bioavailability was calculated according to the formula F=AUC(t)/AUC(r)x100%.

RESULTSFor the test and reference preparation, the pharmacokinetics parameter C(max) was 170.7-/+71.3 and 174.4-/+81.6 ng/ml, t(max) 3.73-/+1.87 and 3.69-/+1.84 h, t((1/2)) 5.57-/+1.62 and 5.61-/+1.73 h, AUC(0-t) 1273-/+252.3 and 1296-/+266.9 ng.h.ml(-1), and AUC(0-infinity)1396-/+276.9 and 1407-/+281.5 ng.h.ml(-1), respectively, with the relative bioavailability of (98.3-/+12.6)%. No significant differences were found in the main parameters of the test and reference preparations as analyzed by ANOVA and two- and one-side t-test.

CONCLUSIONThe test and reference preparation of ziprasidone are bioequivalent.

Administration, Oral ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Availability ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Health ; Humans ; Piperazines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Tablets ; Therapeutic Equivalency ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacokinetics ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clone the urea membrane channel gene (ureI) from Helicobacter pylori (Hp) for its expression in E. coli, and evaluate the expression conditions and immunological features of the fusion protein.

METHODSureI gene cloned by PCR from Hp was inserted into the plasmid pET32a (+) to construct the recombinant plasmid pET32a/ureI, followed by identification by BglII and HindIII digestion and sequencing. E. coli BL-21+(DE3) was transformed with pET32a/ureI to obtain the engineered bacterium BL21+/UreI, which was cultured at different temperatures and induced with 1.0 mmol/L IPTG for expression of the recombinant protein. The expressed proteins were identified by SDS-PAGE and analyzed by Pro-gel analyzer 4.0. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the immunogenicity of the expressed protein.

RESULTSThe cloned gene fragment was about 650 bp in length, and BglII and HindIII digestion of pET32a/ureI yielded a 650-bp band. Sequence analysis revealed that the cloned ureI gene contained 646 bp without reading frame alterations. Comparison against GenBank indicated a homology of 100% of the cloned gene with ureI gene of the corresponding Hp strains, and also one no less than 98.5% with ureI gene from other strains. The engineered E. coli BL21+/UreI could express recombinant UreI (rUreI) with His tag, and the target protein accounted for 20.2% of the total bacterial proteins after 1.0 mmol/L IPTG induction of the bacterium at 37 degrees C for 14 h. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting showed that the recombinant UreI protein was produced mainly in the inclusion bodies and fused with his-tag (rUreI/his), which could react with human anti-Hp and mAb to his tag but not with mAb to Hp UreB.

CONCLUSIONSWe have successfully cloned ureI gene and constructed the prokaryotic expression plasmid for efficient rUreI expression, and the fusion protein rUreI/his expressed in the inclusion bodies can react specifically with both Hp antibody and his-tag antibody.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Helicobacter pylori ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare and evaluate the clinical value among transperitoneal, retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy and open adrenalectomy for the treatment of adrenal tumours.

METHODSFrom January 1996 to June 2002, transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (TLA) was performed for 19 cases, 17 cases were successful (Group A), retroperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy (RLA) for 21 cases, 19 cases were successful (Group B), during the same period 41 patients with adrenal tumours under 6 cm in diameter underwent open adrenalectomy (Group C). The procedure was evaluated and compared in the respects of tumors weight, operation time, blood loss, recovery time of GI function, hospital stay, complications transferable rate and indications among three groups.

RESULTSAverage tumors weight was (13.86) g in group A, (15.66) g in group B and (18.03) g in group C; mean operating time: group A was 17.21 min longer than group B, group A. B was 48.53 min longer and 31.32 min longer han group C respectively, mean blood loss in group A. B was less diminished by 121.55 ml and 137.05 ml than group C, and the blood loss in group B was less diminished by 15.50 ml than group A; mean recovery of Gl function, group A and B was 1.87 day and 2.17 day earlier than group C respectively, group B was 0.3 day earlier than group A, mean hospital stay was 2.60 day and 3.87 day shorter than group C, group B was 1.27 day shorter, than group A; transferable rate of operation was 10.5% (group A) and 9.5% (group B). Postoperative complication rate was 10.5%, 14.3% and 9.7% in group A. B and C respectively.

CONCLUSIONSTLA and RLA were better than open method. On the hand of approach to adrenal gland disturbs to abdominal organ and postoperative recovery on RLA have some slight advantage.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome