AIMTo prepare rifapentine (RIF) liposomes modified by surfactants for studying their the water-solubility, drug loading effeciency, release rate and pulmonary drug delivery.

METHODSThe film method was used to prepare RIF liposomes. Of verious RIF liposomes morphology by lauric diethanolamide (LDEA), Tween 80 and azone, the properties were studied, envolving morphology, entrapment drug release rate and dissected lung-membrance penetration rate of swine. Pulmonary delivery study was carried out through bronchoscope.

RESULTSThe particle size of RIF-LDEA liposomes was between 15 - 50 nm. The top entrapment efficiency reached 83.0%. The apparent coefficient of membrane penetration (Kp) was 44.29. LD50 was 675 mg x kg(-1) by iv.

CONCLUSIONLDEA increased the water-solubility, loading effeciency and release rate of RIF liposomes. The prepared RIF-LDEA liposomes were suitable for the treatment of pulmonary tubrculosis through bronchoscope.

Animals ; Antibiotics, Antitubercular ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Ethanolamines ; chemistry ; Lauric Acids ; chemistry ; Liposomes ; Lung ; metabolism ; Particle Size ; Permeability ; Rifampin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo observe amplitude changes of low frequency fluctuation in brain spontaneous nervous activities induced by needling at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel, and to preliminarily explore the possible brain function network of Hand Taiyin Lung Channel.

METHODSBy using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), 16 healthy volunteers underwent resting-state scanning (R1) and scanning with retained acupuncture at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel (acupuncture, AP). Data of fMRI collected were statistically calculated using amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF).

RESULTSUnder R1 significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, left inferior parietal lobule, bilateral superior temporal gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left superior frontal gyrus, left inferior frontal gyrus, left medial frontal gyrus. Under AP significantly enhanced ALFF occurred in right precuneus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, right medial frontal gyrus, and so on. Compared with R1, needing at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly enhance ALFF in right gyrus subcallosum and right inferior frontal gyrus. Significant decreased ALFF appeared in right postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and so on.

CONCLUSIONNeeding at Hand Taiyin Lung Channel could significantly change fixed activities of cerebral cortex, especially in right subcallosal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, and so on.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Brain ; physiology ; Brain Mapping ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of cigarette smoking on the cyclogeny of spermatogenic cells in rats.

METHODSRat models of passive smoking were established using a self-made smoking device, and then allocated randomly into two passive smoking groups (A and B, n = 10) and two corresponding control groups (C and D, n = 10). Groups A and B were exposed to cigarette smoke for 8 weeks, followed by the sacrifice of the rats in Groups A and C. And the animals in Groups B and D were killed 48 days after the cessation of passive smoking. The spermatogenesis cycle of each group of rats was detected by flow cytometry, the levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH) measured by radio-immunity method, and the testis histopathology analyzed by HE staining and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with Group C, Group A showed a significant decrease in the number of spermatids, spermatozoa ([18.76 +/- 3.58]%) and primary spermatocytes ([5.71 +/- 1.18]%) (P < 0.01), but an obvious increase in the spermatogonias ([55.98 +/- 5.35]%, P < 0.01), with a markedly decreased proliferation index ( P < 0.01). The rats of Group A also exhibited pycnosis of spermatocytes, nucleus aberration of Leydig cells, expansion and degranulation of the endoplasmic reticulum, decreased Golgi apparatus, increased lysosomes and fat drops of Sertoli cells, as well as a reduction in the thickness of the wall and the layers of seminiferous tubules and the number of spermatogonia. The T and LH levels were significantly lower in Group A than in C (P < 0.01). After the cessation of passive smoking, a remarkable increase was observed in the percentage of spermatozoa and primary spermatocytes and the levels of serum T and LH in Group B, although the latter were still lower than those of Group D.

CONCLUSIONSmoking damages spermatogenic epithelia, Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, reduces the T and LH levels, and block the proliferation of spermatogenetic cells. These changes can be partially reversed after cessation of smoking.

Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Smoking ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of portal vein microscopic and macroscopic tumor thrombi on post-operation patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThree thousand three hundred and forty eight HCC patients were retrospectively reviewed, which were divided into no portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT), microscopic PVTT and macroscopic PVTT groups according to the pathology, effects of portal vein microscopic and macroscopic tumor thrombi on post-operation patients's survival were studied by univariate analysis and overall survival was evaluated in each group.

RESULTSHazard ratio (HR) of portal vein microscopic tumor thrombi and macroscopic tumor thrombi was 1.421 and 3.136 respectively; The overall 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year cumulative survival rate was 85.97%, 62.78%, 49.88% and 35.42% respectively, and mean time for survival was 59.7 months in group without PVTT, while 74.42%, 51.66%, 39.25% and 27.28% respectively and mean time for survival 39.1 months in group with microscopic PVTT, 52.59%, 25.97%, 20.42% and 11.33% respectively and mean time for survival 13.5 months in group with macroscopic PVTT.

CONCLUSIONSPVTT was an important prognostic factor for survival in post-operation patients with HCC while macroscopic PVTT was more danger than microscopic PVTT. The period of microscopic PVTT was the landmark affecting post-operation survival.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of abnormal myoelectricity at gastroduodenal anastomosis on gastric emptying in rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into experimental group (n=16) and control group (n=16). Pylorectomy and end-to-end gastroduodenal anastomosis were performed in the experimental group and electrodes were implanted in the serosal surface adjacent to the anastomosis. Slow waves were recorded by the implanted electrode in vivo. Gastric emptying was examined by scintigraphy.

RESULTSAt the first week after surgery, antral slow-wave frequency was significantly lower in the experimental group (0.8±1.4 vs. 3.3±1.2, P<0.01), as was the duodenal slow-wave frequency (2.1±0.6 vs. 11.1±0.7, P<0.01). There was no consecutive slow-waves transduction across the pylorus or the anastomosis. Within 12-16 weeks after operation, antral slow-wave frequency in the experimental group and the control group were (8.7±0.6) cpm and (4.0±0.4) cpm, respectively (P<0.01), and duodenal slow-wave frequency were (11.1±0.8) cpm and (10.8±0.7) cpm, respectively (P>0.05). Retrograde and antegrade myoelectricity transduction through the anastomosis were detected. The mean semi-emptying time in the proximal stomach was 14.7 min in the experimental group and 13.6 min in the control group (P>0.05). Radionuclide retention rate was 25.4% in the experimental group and 39.4% in the control group (P>0.05). The mean semi-emptying time in the distal stomach was 25.3 min in the experimental group and 10.5 min in the control group (P<0.01). Radionuclide retention rate was 46.4% in the experimental group and 18.7% in the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal myoelectricity in the region of gastroduodenal stoma may delay liquid gastric emptying in pylorectomy rats.

Animals ; Duodenum ; physiology ; surgery ; Gastric Emptying ; physiology ; Gastroenterostomy ; Male ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surgical Stomas ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of needle-knife therapy and acupuncture on cervical spondylosis.

METHODSMulti-central clinical randomized controlled trial was adopted. The patients were divided into a needle-knife treatment group treated with needle-knife therapy at the upper and lower interspinal ligaments of the affected vertebral body and bilateral posterior joint capsules; and the acupuncture control group were treated with acupuncture at Laozhen, Ashi points and cervical Jiaji points, etc. The short-term and the long-term therapeutic effects were observed at the end of the therapeutic course and 6 months after the end of the therapeutic course.

RESULTSThe short-term therapeutic effect and the long-term therapeutic effect were 91.3% and 94.7% in the needle-knife treatment group and 59.4% and 56.6% in the acupuncture control group, respectively, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needle-knife treatment in the therapeutic effect on cervical spondylosis is superior to acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; etiology ; surgery ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate their long-term outcome and the efficacy and economic significance of antiviral drugs by investigating the long-term health-related quality of life (HQL) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSThe HQL of 101 CHB patients with biopsy-proven 6 to 18 years ago and 105 persons of general population as control was studied with revised SF-36 questionnaire.

RESULTSThe HQL in CHB patients was lower than that in general population in physical functioning, role physical, general health, mental health, and specific symptoms (mu > or = 2.10, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe long-term HQL in chronic hepatitis B patients is poor.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cost of Illness ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; economics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo set up a technique of single lymphocytes 3-plex nested PCR for dystrophin and SRY gene, and to evaluate the possibility of using this technique for preimplantation genetic diagnosis(PGD) of deleted Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with family history.

METHODSFifty single lymphocytes of a normal male and fifty of a normal female were obtained for detecting dystrophin gene(exon 51, exon 19, exon 48) and SRY gene by 3-plex nested PCR.

RESULTSIn the group of exon 51/exon 19/SRY, the amplification rates of exon 51, exon 19 and SRY in male were 96%, 94% and 94%; the amplification rates of exon 51 and exon19 in female were 94% and 94%, respectively. In the exon 48/exon 19/SRY group, the amplification rates of exon 48, exon 19 and SRY in male were 92%, 90% and 94%, the amplification rates of exon 48, exon 19 in female were 94% and 92%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe technique of single lymphocytes 3-plex nested PCR for dystrophin and SRY gene established in this study is highly sensitive, specific and reliable, and is suitable for PGD of deleted DMD with family history.

Dystrophin ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sequence Deletion ; Sex Determination Processes

OBJECTIVETo increase the sensitivity and specificity of conventional gene diagnosis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy 1A(FSHD1A) by analyzing the distribution of translocation between chromosomes 4q35 and 10q26 in suspected FSHD cases.

METHODSThe Bgl II- Bln I dosage test was performed to detect translocation between chromosomes 4q35 and 10q26 in 7 cases of presymptomatic FSHD patients showing positive result in gene diagnosis and 5 cases of sporadic FSHD patients showing negative result in gene diagnosis. DNA samples were digested with Bgl II and Bln I, followed by agrose gel electrophoresis. Probe p13E-11 was labeled with alpha-(32) P dCTP, followed by Southern hybridization. Then the ratio between the chromosomes 4 and 10 derived signal intensities was judged and hence was made known whether there was interchromosomal translocation between chromosomes 4 and 10.

RESULTSThe Bgl II-Bln I dosage test revealed a translocation from chromosome 4q35 to 10q26 in one presymptomatic FSHD patient, thus indicating the result of gene diagnosis for her might be false positive. There was one translocation from chromosome 10q26 to 4q35 detected in one sporadic FSHD patient, indicating the result of gene diagnosis for her might be false negative. There were no translocations between chromosomes 4 and 10 in the other 10 cases.

CONCLUSIONThe Bgl II-Bln I dosage test can detect the translocation between chromosomes 4q35 and 10q26. It can improve the accuracy of the conventional method for gene diagnosis of FSHD1A.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bacterial Proteins ; pharmacology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscular Dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; Proteins ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic