Equipment Design ; Humans ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to prepare uniform-sized silybin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in study of silybin with stainless steel membrane.

METHODSilybin PLGA microspheres were prepared by stainless steel membrane emulsification. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor test and orthogonal experiment, and evaluating the mean diameters, the particle size distribution, drug loading, entrapment efficiency and morphology of microsphere.

RESULTPrepared microspheres were round and surface was smooth. The mean diameter was (4.961 +/- 0.56) microm. The span was (1.75 +/- 0.18). The entrapment efficiency was (54.997 +/- 4.05)% and the average drug loading was (23.6 +/- 1.70)%.

CONCLUSIONThe stainless steel membrane emulsification can be used to prepare the silybin PLGA microspheres. The mean diameters of the silybin PLGA microspheres can be controlled in certain level. Stainless steel membrane emulsification has great potentiality exploitation and utilization.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the correlation of uric acid(UA) level and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Methods Among the individuals who presented to the cardiology clinic, 70 patients who had hypertension and were diagnozed with non- dipper hypertension (non-dipper hypertension group) by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), 70 patients with dipper hypertension patients (dipper hypertension group), and 52 normotensive individuals (control group) were enrolled in this study. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from all the patients in order to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters. All the assessed parameters were compared among three groups. Results The level of UA in non-dipper hypertension group was the highest, in dipper hypertension group was higher and in contrl group was the lowerst:(393.57 ± 53.52), (280.57 ± 41.64), (267.66 ± 59.38) μmol/L, and there were significant differences (P<0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the level of UA was an independent risk factor for non-dipper circadian rhythm of blood pressure (P = 0.003, OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.34- 3.89). Conclusions The higher level of UA may be a risk factor for non-dipper circadian rhythm of blood pressure in hypertension patients.

Objective To evaluate the application and initial experience of laparoscopy in kidneypreserving surgery for savage giant hydronephrosis. Methods This series included 6 cases of savage gianthydronephrosis (2 men and 4 women;age range,15 -57 years;mean age,28 years).Of them 5 cases weredetected when visiting doctors due to flank pain,abdominal mass,and the rest one by B-ultrasound duringpregnancy.Four cases had hydronephrosis on the left;and 2 cases,on the right.The quantity of hydronephro-sis was 2250 -8300 ml,respectively.None had development on IVU examination.Of them,3 cases had con-genital ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction;2 had multiple stones in infracalices secondary to UPJ ob-struction;1 had stones in pelvis with polyp formation.Relieving obstruction,pyeloplasty,nephroplication andnephropexy were performed via laparoscope. Results All the operations were successful.The operativetime was 2.5 -5.0 h;the blood loss was 50 -150 ml,and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 7.2 d.The postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 to 24 months. Three months after operation,B-ultrasound showedthat giant hydronephrosis was markedly relieved in 5 cases (the renal sinus separation was 1.8 m,2.0 cm,2.5 cm,2.5 cm and 2.8cm,respectively),and in the rest 1 case the kidney was slightly smaller than nor-mal.IVU examination was performed every 3 months after operation, and different degrees of developmentappeared in all cases.During the follow-up,no obvious ureteropelvic anastomotic stricture was found on retro-grade pyelography (RGP). Conclusions The protective renal treatment via laparoscopy for savage gianthydronephrosis is a feasible and minimally invasive technique that provides the same clinical and radiograph-ic results as open operation.

Objective To study the auditory perception and speech ability outcomes after cochlear implantation in prelingually deaf children with extremely severe neurosensory hearing loss and comorbid leukoencephalopathy.Methods Our study included 14 prelingually deaf children with leukoencephalopathy (confirmed by preoperative MRI scanning) who were treated with cochlear implantation in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Hainan Provincial People''s Hospital, including 8 males and 6 females of 1~6 yr with a mean age of 3.8 yr.Sixteen synchronous prelingually deaf children without central nervous system (CNS) diseases were also included as the control group, including 11 males and 5 females of 1~6 yr with a mean age of 4.4 yr.All the patients underwent pre-surgical assessments of audiology, radiology, speech ability and intelligence before cochlear implantation via transmastoid facial nerve recess approach was done, after which rehabilitation was provided at the Hainan Rehabilitation Center for Deaf Children.Categories of auditory performance (CAP) and speech intelligibility rate (SIR) were employed as the assessment criteria for the outcome of surgery, the scores of which at different timepoints after surgery were statistically compared through paired t-test between the two groups.Results All the patients gained post-surgical hearing and speech abilities to different degrees, whereas CAP and SIR scores both chronologically improved in the both groups.No statistical difference was revealed either in CAP or in SIR scores between the two groups at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery (P>0.05).Conclusion Children with extremely severe neurosensory hearing loss can be reated with cochlear implantation even if they have comorbid leukoencephalopathy.The effects of auditory and speech rehabilitation for the same age patients with leukoencephalopathy are similar to those without leukoencephalopathy in 2 years after surgery.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Cuichan Zhunsheng Decoction (CZD) on the cervical ripening factors in late pregnancy.

METHODSNinety women with full-term pregnant ready for labor inducing were equally assigned to 3 groups. The treated group was orally treated with CZD, the control group was with pitocin by adding 1 U into 500 mL of 5% glucose for intravenous dripping in 6 h, and the placebo group was orally treated with simulator of CZD as placebo, with the medication lasted for 3 days. Changes of cervical length and width, and neck tube diameter were measured by vaginal B-ultrasonography to estimate the degree of cervical maturation referring to the clinical Bishop scale; meanwhile, changes in blood levels of prostaglandin E2alpha(PGE2alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured.

RESULTSThe total effective rate on cervical ripening was 96.7% in the treated group, which was significantly superior to those in the control group (83.3%) and the placebo group (26.7%, P < 0.05). The blood levels of PGE2alpha, IL-8, and ET-1 after treatment in the treated group were significantly higher than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05), and levels of PGE2alpha and IL-8 were higher in the control group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCZD can promote the cervical ripening through raising blood levels of PGE2alpha, IL-8 and ET-1, altering the structure of cervical tissue to reduce the cervical tension, which could increase the maturation of cervix, induce delivery sign, so as to elevate the vaginal delivery rate and reduce the percentage of caesarean birth.

Adult ; Cervical Ripening ; drug effects ; Dinoprostone ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy on post-stroke mild cognitive impairment (MCI) treated with acupuncture at Jing-well points on the differentiated meridians and temple-three-needle therapy.

METHODSSeventy-three of stroke patients were randomized into an acupuncture group (37 cases) and a conventional treatment group (36 cases). Twenty healthy aged people in physical examination were collected as a control group. In the acupuncture group, on the basis of the conventional treatment of internal medication, the acupuncture at Jing-well points on the differentiated meridians and temple-three-needle therapy were applied. In the conventional treatment group, no any therapy was used except the conventional treatment of internal medication. In the control group, no any intervention was adopted. Neuroscan Nuamps electroencephalogram recording analysis system was used to determine the event-related potentials P300, and the amplitude and mini mental state examination (MMSE) score was observed before and after treatment in both groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, in the acupuncture group, P300 latent stage was shortened, and the amplitude and the score of MMSE were increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the conventional treatment group, above indices were not changed obviously as compared with that before treatment (all P > 0.05). Compared with the conventional treatment group, the differences in P300 latent stage, amplitude and MMSE score were remarkable in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe acupuncture at Jing-well points on the differentiated meridians and temple-three-needle therapy improves the cognitive function of the patients with MCI.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Event-Related Potentials, P300 ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged

Aim Kadsuraheteroclita ( Roxb ) Craib ( Schizandraceae) is a medicinal plant termed Xuetong in Chinese Tujia ethnomedicine. Xuetong possesses therapeutic effects of, in the terms of Chinese medical theories, reinforcing vital energy, promoting blood cir-culation, expelling wind-evil, and removing damp-e-vil, and has been long used for the prevention and treatment of rheumatic and arthritic diseases, especial-ly in the southern China. The HPLC analysis has iden-tified that the ethanol extract of Xuetong contains large-ly biologically active lignans and triterpenoids. Our previous studies have shown that KHS exhibits very fa-vorable safety profile and potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In the present study, we investiga-ted anti-arthritic effects and the possible mechanisms of Xuetongon adjuvant-induced arthritis ( AIA ) in rats. Methods AIA was established in male Sprague-Daw-ley ( SD ) rats as described previously, and animals were daily treated by gavage with Xuetong ethanol ex-tract ( 1. 0 g · kg-1 ) or vehicle ( 0. 3% CMC-Na ) throughout the 30-day experiment. The incidence and severity of arthritis were evaluated using clinical pa-rameters. On day 30, bone destruction of the arthritic joints was assessed by computed tomography( CT) and histopathological analyses. The serum levels of pro-in-flammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured by ELISA. Results Treatment with 1. 0 g/kg Xuetong significantly inhibited the onset and pro-gression of AIA. The vehicle-treated rats all developed severe arthritis, while the incidence of AIA in the Xue-tong-treated rats was as low as 55%( P=0. 035 ) . The Xuetong -treated rats exhibited 1. 8 to 2. 3 fold reduc-tion of paw swelling, and gained 10 to 20% more body weight than the vehicle-treated AIA rats throughout the experiment. CT and histopathological examinations re-vealed that Xuetong markedly protected AIA rats from cartilage and bone destruction of joints. Moreover, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were signifi-cantly decreased in the Xuetong-treated rats than the vehicle-treated AIA rats. Conclusions These data strongly support the clinical use of Xuetong for rheu-matic and arthritic diseases, and suggest that Xuetong is a valuable candidate for further investigation to be a new anti-arthritic drug with favorable safety profile.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabies ; epidemiology

BACKGROUNDTraumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes cognitive deficits and remote symptomatic epilepsy. Hippocampal regional excitability is associated with the cognitive function. However, little is known about injury-induced neuronal loss and subsequent alterations of hippocampal regional excitability. The present study was designed to determine whether TBI may impair the cellular circuit in the hippocampus.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were randomized into control (n = 20) and TBI groups (n = 20). Long-term potentiation, extracellular input/output curves, and hippocampal parvalbumin-immunoreactive and cholecystokinin-immunoreactive interneurons were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSTBI resulted in a significantly increased excitability in the dentate gyrus (DG), but a significantly decreased excitability in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) area. Using design-based stereological injury procedures, we induced interneuronal loss in the DG and CA3 subregions in the hippocampus, but not in the CA1 area.

CONCLUSIONSTBI leads to the impairment of hippocampus synaptic plasticity due to the changing of interneuronal interaction. The injury-induced disruption of synaptic efficacy within the hippocampal circuit may underlie the observed cognitive deficits and symptomatic epilepsy.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; Male ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar