AIM: To build an allergic rhinitis model to evaluate the effect of budesonide on the eosinophils and histamine in nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis guinea pig.METHODS: 33 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: natural controlled group,allergic rhinitis(AR) group and budesonide treatment group.Allergic rhinitis model in guinea pigs were built by using toluene-2,4-disocyanate(TDI) nasal immunization and challenge.The indexes of clinical symptoms,pathomorphological diagnosis and content of histamine in mucosa were used to evaluate the potency of budesonide when used to treat allergic rhinitis.RESULTS: The expression of eosinophils and the content of histamine in nasal mucosa in AR group both were significantly higher than that of in natural controlled group(respectively,P(0.05)).CONCLUSION: Budesonide could effectively reduce the expression of eosinophils and content of histamine in nasal mucosa,but it is invalid in releasing the symptoms of AR in guinea pig.The reason of this phenomenon may be concerned with the method of model building.

OBJECTIVE To observe the expres-sion of interleukin-12 and eosinophils in the nasal mu-cosa of allergic rhinitis mice. METHODS Thirty nine male BALB/c mice,6～8 weeks old,were randomly divided into three groups: control group,allergic rhinitis (AR)group, and Budesonide treatment group. Al-lergic rhinitis model in mice were established by using ovalbumin intraperitoneal immunization and nasal anti-gen challenge. The nasal mucosa obtained from mice of three groups were stained routinely by HE and im-munohistochemical method to observe the distribu-tion and expression of interleukin-12 and eosinophils. RESULTS The expression of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa of AR group was significantly higher than con-trol group(P

Objective To analyze the ultrasonic features of thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) and the causes of misdiagnosis. Methods The ultrasonic features including shape, margin, echogenecity, microcalcification, vascularity and lymphadenopathy were analyzed retrospectively in 26 pathologically-proven TMC patients. Results In 26 cases, 11 cases were diagnosed correctly before operation (11/26, 42.31%), 12 cases were misdiagnosed (12/26, 46.15%) as adenoma or benign nodule, and 3 cases were missed diagnosed (3/26, 11.54%). Among the 23 cases detected on ultrasound, 21 cases were solid and hypoechoic (21/23, 91.30%);19 cases were ill-defined (19/23, 82.61%);12 cases were taller than wide in shape (12/23, 52.17%); 14 cases had microcalcification (14/23, 60.87%); 7 cases showed central or peripheral blood flow signals (7/23,30.43%) with arterial resistance index>0.70 in 3 lesions and<0.70 in 4 lesions. Conclusions Several ultrasonographic features are helpful in identiifcation of TMC, including hypo/iso-echogenecity, ill-deifned margin, taller-than-wide shape, microcalciifcation, arterial signals with high resistance index, and abnormal lymphadenopathy. Moreover, for cases with multiple lesions, to the potential co-existence of benign and malignant lesions should be considered.

Objective To develop psychosocial skills training module for schizophrenic outpatients.Methods Structured psychosocial skills training program, which were made according to community rehabilitation plan for schizophrenia, featured convenience and well operability. Subjects were 96 of 204 schizorenic outpatients in remission who were randomly assigned to receive psychosocial skills training combined medicine(observation group) or medicine only(control group) and followed up by 24 months. The changes during treatment were evaluated by positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS), Social Disability Screening Schedule(SDSS) and patients' cognition function were also evaluated longitudinally. Results Relapse rate of control group (37%) is higer than observation group (17.7%, P＜0.01). After Last Observation Carried Forward(LOCF), control group showed higer scores than observation group on positive syndrome (8.34±2.04 vs 7.66±0.97), negative syndrome(9.15±1.97 vs 813±1.15), total score (37.64±5.58 vs 34.79±3.64) and Social disability (2.81±1.90 vs 2.07±1.47) (P＜0.01); observation group also showed a significant progress on cognition function(P＜0.05). Conclusion This trial demonstrated the efficacy of the easy-operating structured psychosocial skill training grogram in preventing relapse and improving social adoptive function for schizophrenia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; therapy ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

High-speed counte-recurrent chromatography (HSCCC) is a continuous liquid-liquid partition chromatography without solid matrix, which has the significant features of high resolution and high recovery. The separation of bio-macromolecule in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPs) with HSCCC is still under research, and the establishment of high-speed counter-current aqueous two-phase chromatography (HSCCC-ATP) relies on the improvement of equipment structure and optimization of operation parameters. By using a multi-column high-speed counter-current chromatograph, the separation of protein mixture and the purification of ovalbumin from hen egg white were studied. The effects of pH and PEG concentration on the partition coefficients of proteins were tested in PEG1000-phosphate ATPs, and distinct differences among partition coefficients of proteins were found at pH 9.2 and 15.0% (W/W) PEG concentration in said system. The separation of protein mixture, consisting of cytochrome C, lysozyme and myoglobin was successfully performed in 15.0% (W/W) PEG1000-17.0% (W/W) potassium phosphate ATPs at pH 9.2 with high-speed counter-current chromatograph at rotation speed of 850r/min and flow rate of 0.8mL/min, using upper phase as stationary phase. pH and PEG concentration also had distinct effects on the partition coefficients of the major protein components in hen egg white, including ovaltransferrin, ovalbumin and lysozyme. The optimal pH value and PEG concentration for the purification of ovalbumin by HSCCC-ATP were found to be 9.2 and 16.0% (W/W) respectively. Ovalbumin was successfully purified to homogeneity from the hen egg white sample in 16.0% (W/W) PEG1000-17.0% (W/W) potassium phosphate ATPs at pH 9.2 with high-speed counter-current chromatograph at rotation speed of 850r/min and flow rate of 1.8mL/min, using upper phase as stationary phase. The purification recovery of ovalbumin was around 95%.
Animals ; Chickens ; Countercurrent Distribution ; methods ; Egg White ; chemistry ; Ovalbumin ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study on the differences of metabolites in the blood of rats after injection or oral administration of volatile oil in Houttuyniae Herba and of 2-undecanone in order to validate hypothesis of network compatability and to establish the theoretical foundation of elucidating metabolic mechanism for multiple constituents in Chinese Material.

METHODA gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was employed for qualitative determination of the metabolites in blood of rats by injection or oral administration of volatile oil in Houttuyniae Herba and of 2-undecanone, which were compared with the differences between binary two drugs as well as two administration.

RESULTThere were 45 kinds of ingredients in volatile oil for original materials for Houttuyniae Herba, and 53, 69 kinds of metabolites were detected in blood of rats for oral administration of volatile oil in Houttuyniae Herba, and 2-undecanone, respectively, whereas 52, 42 kinds of metabolites were detected for injection administration. Although there were various constitutes, i. e. single versus multiple ingredients, administrated by various ways, i. e. oral versus injection, the metabolites were so similar with each manners, in which alpha-pinene and beta-myrcene occurred in two constitute forms and two administrations, while there were 18, 13 kinds of ingredients for oral or injection administration of volatile oil in Houttuyniae Herba, i. e. 34%, 25% of total ingredients, respectively, and 17, 15 kinds of ingredients, i. e. 24.6%, 35.7% for that of, 2-undecanone, respectively, on average of 29.8% that suggested one of third as co-metabolites.

CONCLUSIONThere are network compatibility existed in metabolism of the houttuynia volatile oil in rats, and similar metabolic pathways in accordance with original plant, among their ingredients no matter alone or multiple constitute forms and oral or injection administration.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Houttuynia ; chemistry ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Oils, Volatile ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats

Homo sapiens longevity assurance homologue 2 (LASS2) is a novel gene isolated from a human liver cDNA library by our laboratory, and it is a human homologue of the yeast longevity assurance gene LAG1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae longevity assurance gene). According to our previous results, LASS2 could interact with subunit c of vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase), and the overexpression of LASS2 could inhibit the cell growth of a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, SMMC-7721. In order to understand the role of the interaction between LASS2 and V-ATPase in HCC cell growth, we transiently transfected plasmid pCMV-HA2-LASS2 into HCCLM3, a HCC cell line without the significant expression of endogenous LASS2. The pH-sensitive fluorescence probes, BCECF and BCECF-AM, were used to measure the intracellular and extracellular H(+) concentrations of HCCLM3 cells respectively. The effect of LASS2 gene on apoptosis was evaluated with Annexin-V/FITC and propidium iodide (PI) by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect cytochrome c (Cyt c) in the cytosol and mitochondria, as well as pro-caspase-3 in cytosol. The results showed that the cell growth of LASS2-transfected HCCLM3 cells was significantly inhibited compared with that of the mock control. LASS2 transfection increased intracellular H(+) concentration of HCCLM3 cells, while decreased extracellular H(+) concentration. Moreover, LASS2 transfection significantly enhanced the apoptosis of HCCLM3 cells. In LASS2-transfected cells, the amounts of Cyt c increased in the cytosol, while decreased in the mitochondria. Meanwhile, the expression of pro-caspase-3 in the cytosolic extracts was decreased. These results implicate that LASS2 gene might increase intracellular H(+) of HCC cells via the interaction with V-ATPase, thereby inducing cell apoptosis through mitochondrial pathway.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sphingosine N-Acyltransferase ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the therapeutic methods of hyperpotassemia induced by excessively high blood concentration of tacrolimus (FK506) caused by drug use after renal transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 10 patients diagnosed with hyperpotassemia induced by excessively high blood concentration of FK506 after administration of antifunga l medication following renal transplantation were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Results At 1-2 months after renal transplantation, 10 patients suffered from pulmonary infectiono r pneumonia complicated with pulmonary fungal infection . An appropriate dose of compound sulfamethoxazole, micafungin, cefoperazone sodium-sulbactam sodium and moxifloxacin was administered for antifungal infection. After potassium-lowering therapy, termination of antifungal medication and FK506 dose adjustment (replaced by cyclosporin for certain cases), the serum level of potassium was declined and maintained within normal range for 10 cases. The serum concentration of FK506 was within normal range. No sign of excessively high level of potassium was observed without any potassium-lowering intervention. Conclusions Postoperative administration of drugs is likely to cause excessively high level of FK506 and hyperpotasesmia. Potassium-lowering therapy, termination of drug use and adjustment of immunosuppressive agents should be adopted to avoid the incidence of adverse pharmacologic interaction.

OBJECTIVETo develop a new method to detect anti-Hantavirus IgG antibodies (HV IgG) based on quantum dots (QDs) and indirect immune technique.

METHODSThe carbodiimide crosslinking method was used to couple protein G and goat antihuman IgG on the surface of water-solubility QDs. The coverglass covered HV antigen was used as carrier, and QDs-PG-IgG conjugates was used as labeled second antibody to detect the HV-IgG in the serum samples. The detecting conditions were optimized.

RESULTSThe optimum reaction time, pH and goat antihuman IgG concentration for conjugating the QDs with goat antihuman IgG were 6.0, 2h, and 20 microg/ml, respectively. The optimum working dilution of QDs-PG-IgG conjugates was 1: 200. The detection limit of the serum samples was about 1: 1280 dilution.

CONCLUSIONThe method established in this study has been demonstrated to be a specific, sensitive, rapid test for detecting HV antibodies, laying the foundation of single molecule detection. The anti-fluorescence quenching ability of this method was significant improved.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Fluorescence ; Hantavirus Infections ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; methods ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Quantum Dots