Objective To analyze and discuss how the scanning parameters influence the quality of dual source CT(DSCT) images by the various settings and the corresponding scans.Methods Testees were scanned with corresponding settings of scanning parameters in SOMATOM Definition DSCT produced by SIEMENS and then the results were analyzed and discussed.Results Parameters in relation with the quality of DSCT images could be influenced by the settings of corresponding scanning parameters.Conclusion The settings of scanning parameters have close relationship with the quality of DSCT images,and sometimes one kind of setting can improve image quality in one field but depress image quality in another field,so all factors should be considered synthetically.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(2):102-104]

AIMTo study the stereoselectivity of skin carboxylesterase metabolism and its molecular biological foundation for improving drug percutaneous absorption.

METHODSKetoprofen ethyl ester was used as a model drug, and skin homogenate was applied for studying the stereoselectivity of carboxylesterase metabolism. Human liver L02 cell was used as control of carboxylesterase expression, and RT-PCR was used for studying the expression of carboxylesterase.

RESULTSThe main metabolite of ketoprofen ethyl ester in human skin homogenate was R-ketoprofen. Human carboxylesterase-2 was highly expressed in skin and its cells. However, the expression of human carboxylesterase-1 was very weak or not detectable.

CONCLUSIONHuman carboxylesterase-2 is the main hydrolytic enzyme of prodrugs in percutaneous absorption, and shows metabolic stereoselectivity to prodrugs with chiral esters.

Adult ; Carboxylesterase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Ketoprofen ; metabolism ; Liver ; cytology ; enzymology ; Prodrugs ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; enzymology ; Stereoisomerism

OBJECTIVETo establish an appropriate animal model of uterine leiomyoma and to understand the pathogenesis of this disease.

METHODSMature female rats were intramuscularly injected with estradiol benzoate at 200 μg or 300 μg twice a week. After injection for 8 or 10 weeks, the rats were sacrificed. We measured the serum levels of estrogen (E(2)) and progesterone (P), evaluated ER and PR expression, and calculated the leiomyoma forming rate and mortality of the rats. Histological changes were compared between rat uterine leiomyoma and human uterine leiomyoma with HE staining. The optimal dose and duration of E(2) for induction of uterine leiomyoma in rat were determined.

RESULTSIn the rats treated with estradiol benzoate 200 μg for 8 weeks ìn the serum E(2) level increased significantly (P<0.01). Uterine nodules were visible in some of the tested rats. Based on the pathohistological Results , the uterine leiomyoma developed in the treated rats demonstrated similar features as in human uterine leiomyoma. The expressions of ER and PR were increased in the leiomyoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe rat model of uterine leiomyoma can be established by intramuscular injection of estradiol benzoate at 200 μg twice per week for 8 weeks, with similar features as those of human uterine leiomyoma. The high concentrations of ER and PR in uterine tissue might be related with the development of uterine leiomyoma in animal.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estrogens ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Leiomyoma ; chemically induced ; Rats ; Uterine Neoplasms ; chemically induced

Objective To investigate the immunological rejection in the brain of cloning goats received neural stem cell transplantation. Methods Eight cloning goats of CL series were chosen at random and divided into 2 groups. Neural stem cells and saline at the same dosages were transplanted into the fixed site by surgical intervention in the brain cortex of each group, respectively. The levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the blood of each group were detected at different times (1 w before, and 0, 1 and 3 w,and 3 months after the cell transplantation) to reflect the systemic immune rejection of the goats after the transplatation. The CD3+ cells in the cell transplantation areas in each group were also detected by the method of immunohistochemistry to reflect the local immune rejection after the transplatation. Results The level of IL-2 was obviously higher and the level of IL-10 was obviously lower in the neural stem cell transplantation group than those in the control group 1 and 3 w, and 3 months after the cell transplantation (P＜0.05). The quantity of CD3+ cells in the neural stem cell transplantation group was much larger than that of control groups at the acute period (1 w after cell transplantation) and chronic period (3 months alter cell transplantation, P＜0.05). Conclusion Systemic and local immunological rejections at acute or chronic periods will appear at the brain of cloning goats with neural stem cells transplantation.

AIMTo establish an in situ perfused pig ear model for percutaneous absorption.

METHODSThe in situ perfused pig ear model for percutaneous absorption consisted of artificial gas, sample chamber, constant flow pump, constant temperature system, polytetrafluorethylene connective tube, porcine ear vein, porcine ear skin and special laminar flow apparatus. The perfused system viability was assessed by glucose utilization and lactate production. Ketoprofen isopropyl ester and methyl salicylate was used for validating this model. The concentrations of perfused sample were measured by HPLC.

RESULTSGlucose utilization and lactate production showed that this model was viable till 7 h. Ketoprofen isopropyl ester was completely metabolized to ketoprofen in situ in perfused pig ear model. The steady cumulative amount (Q) of ketoprofen from permeation and metabolism was linear with time (t), the equation of ketoprofen formation was Q = -0.024 + 0.120t, the rate of ketoprofen formation was 0.120 microgram.cm-2.h-1. Methyl salicylate was partially metabolized to salicylic acid. The steady cumulative amount (Q) of methyl salicylate from permeation was linear with time (t), the permeation equation of methyl salicylate was Q = -3.809 + 6.129t, the permeation rate of metyl salicylate was 6.129 micrograms.cm-2.h-1. The steady cumulative amount (Q) of salicylic acid from metabolism was also linear with time (t), the formation equation of salicylic acid was Q = -1.785 + 0.879t, the formation rate of salicylic acid was 0.879 microgram.cm-2.h-1.

CONCLUSIONThe in situ pig ear vein perfused model is a novel easy-handing and cost-efficient technique for percutaneous absorption and skin metabolism.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Ear, External ; blood supply ; Ketoprofen ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Perfusion ; Salicylates ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Salicylic Acid ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; Swine ; Veins

OBJECTIVETo explore the changes of metastatic potential of residual hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after in vivo chemotherapy and its mechanism.

METHODSNude mouse models of orthotopic HCC in the nude mouse livers was established using human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97L cells. Oxaliplatin (10 mg/kg, once per week) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) to mice in the trial group. Mice in the control group received 0.2 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride on the same days. On day 7 after the third injection, all mice were sacrificed and tumor fragments of equal volume (2 mm×2 mm×2 mm) from each mouse of the oxaliplatin-treated and untreated groups were reinoculated into the livers of each new recipient mouse correspondingly. The growth, metastasis and molecular phenotype of the reinoculated tumors in both groups were determined.

RESULTSIn the new recipient mice, compared with untreated tumors, oxaliplatin pre-treated tumors grew significantly slower [(2624.59 ± 491.60) mm(3) vs. (3849.72 ± 827.09) mm(3), P < 0.001], but gave more spontaneous metastasis to the lung (10/12 vs. 3/12, P = 0.012). A decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of N-cadherin, vimentin and transcription factor Snail were detected in the oxaliplatin pre-treated tumors by immunohistochemistry, which provided the evidence of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in these tumors.

CONCLUSIONResidual hepatocellular carcinomas after in vivo chemotherapy grow slower but gain enhanced metastatic potential to the lung, associated with epithelial mesenchymal transition.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; secondary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neoplasm, Residual ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; secondary ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo establish a suitable dosage form for a traditional anti-anaphylaxis Chinese medicine of Kushen recipe, and investigate the effect of cutaneous permeation in vitro of the recipe.

METHODTechniques of extracting with ethanol and purifying with absorbent resin to obtain alkaloids from Kushen recipe were adopted, while volatile oil was extracted by steam distillation. The extraction was made to gel. The skin from SD rats' abdomen was used as permeability barriers. Then effects of permeation of the aqueous extraction, the purifying extraction and the gel were compared by Valia-Chien and Franz diffusion cell method. HPLC was utilized to quantitate the alkaloids in permeating liquid.

RESULTIn view of the permeation cumulation quantity, the permeation velocity and the lag time of the four kinds of alkaloids, the effect of permeation of purifying extraction was better than the aqueous extraction, and the purifying extraction gel surpassed both the aqueous extraction and the purifying extraction.

CONCLUSIONIt was certified that the purifying extraction gel had improved the effect of cutaneous permeation of alkaloids, and it is the befitting dosage form for Kushen recipe to treat anaphylaxis disease in skin.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Female ; Gels ; In Vitro Techniques ; Quinolizines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

BACKGROUNDMechanical asynchrony is an important parameter in predicting the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy, but detailed knowledge about cardiac timing in healthy persons is scarce. Therefore, in the current study, we sought to investigate the physiological status of interventricular synchronicity using pulse wave flow and tissue Doppler imaging in a healthy Chinese population.

METHODSEighty-eight healthy volunteers underwent standard flow and tissue Doppler echocardiographic examinations. Ventricular inflow and outflow pulse wave flow Doppler patterns were recorded together with annulus pulse tissue Doppler imaging. Time intervals from the beginning of the QRS complex to the onset, peak and end of each wave were measured.

RESULTSThe onsets of systole between left and right ventricles were highly synchronized by both imaging modalities. However, the left ventricle reached the peak flow ejection and peak mechanical contraction earlier than the right ventricle, (165.61 ± 26.23) ms vs. (204.3 ± 34.55) ms (P < 0.01) and (133.62 ± 26.19) ms vs. (191.25 ± 38.47) ms (P < 0.01). Time to peak early diastolic relaxation was earlier in the left ventricle than in the right heart, (500.23 ± 56.52) ms vs. (524.94 ± 47.42) ms (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLeft and right ventricles were well synchronized at the onsets of systole and diastole even though interventricular peak systolic and peak early diastolic dyssynchrony was observed in healthy people by pulse wave Doppler imaging. In addition, diastolic timing events were slightly affected by age and gender.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Diastole ; physiology ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Systole ; physiology ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Ventricular Function, Right ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate the lattice mechanisms involved in the increased dissolution effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6,000) dispersion system on poorly soluble drug silymarin (SILY).

METHODSFusion method was used to prepare the solid dispersions of SILY with PEG 6,000. Evaluation of the improvement of dissolution was performed with dissolution studies in vitro. X-ray powder diffraction combined with diffraction peak pattern-fitting procedure were applied to quantitatively analyze the changes of lattice parameters. The interaction of SILY and PEG 6,000 was also determined with Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.

RESULTSThe dissolution rate of SILY was considerably increased when formulated in solid dispersion of PEG 6,000 as compared to pure SILY. The datum from the X-ray diffraction showed the changes in the lattic spacings and particular diffraction peaks (position and the intensity) of PEG 6,000 and SILY. These could explain the increased rate of SILY released from solid dispersion system. The information of FT-IR spectroscopy showed the absence of well-defined drug-polymer interaction.

CONCLUSIONThe dissolution improvement of poorly soluble SILY from solid dispersion of PEG 6,000 can be illuminated by the changes of the lattice parameters of PEG 6,000 and the drug.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Drug Carriers ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Solubility

To investigate the effect of cetirizine hydrochloride on the expression of neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) and cytokines production induced by substance P (SP) in HaCaT cells (a human epidermal keratinocyte cell line) and dermal fibroblasts. The effect of cetirizine on the expression of NK-1R protein was detected by flow cytometry and Western blotting analysis. The modulation of cetirizine on the production of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and IL-8 in HaCaT cells and fibroblasts was measured by ELISA. The results showed that cetirizine significantly inhibited the expression of NK-1R in HaCaT cells and fibroblasts. SP induced the production of IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and IL-8 in both cell types. Cetirizine 1-100 micromol x L(-1) inhibited SP-induced IL-1beta and IL-8 production in HaCaT cells and fibroblasts, while had no effect on the production of IFN-gamma in both cells. Both SP and cetirizine had no effect on the secretion of IL-6 in HaCaT cells and fibroblasts. These findings suggest that cetirizine may be involved in the treatment of SP-induced skin inflammation by inhibiting the expression of substance P receptor and regulation the production of IL-1beta and IL-8 in epidermal keratinocyte and dermal fibroblasts.
Anti-Allergic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cetirizine ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 ; metabolism ; Substance P ; pharmacology