10 U/ml was determined as positive value.Urinary NMP 22 protein was elevated in 22 cases.Bladder cancer was diagnosed in 11 cases.The sensitivity and specificity of the NMP 22 test were 100%(11/11) and 81%(46/57),respectively.Cystoscopy alone identified 35% of the cancers (4/11).Among 22 cases with elevated NMP 22,1 case was dignosized as bladder cancer during 1 year visit. Conclusions Urine NMP 22 is a new useful marker in early diagnosis of bladder cancer.

AIMTo establish the fundamentals for the design of scutellarin prodrug and formulation with feasible physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties by esterifying scutellarin, an active component with poor absorption extracted from Erigeron breviscapus of Chinese medicine.

METHODSWith the method of salifying followed by esterifying, ethyl and benzyl ester of scutellarin were synthesized. Glycolamide ester of scutellarin was also synthesized with an improved method. Their structures were confirmed by MS and 1H NMR. The solubility and partition coefficient of the prodrugs were determined and their degradations were investigated in various buffers and in human plasma. The emulsion and cyclodextrin complex of glycolamide ester were prepared and the protection of the ester from degradation was compared in the intestinal tract contents. Furthermore, the degradation of glycolamide ester in the homogenates of various intestinal segments was studied. Results Three prodrugs were synthesized successfully and their structures were confirmed. Glycolamide ester of scutellarin showed better stability in the aqueous solution (t(1/2) approximately =16 d, pH 4.2) and the shortest half-life in the human serum (t(1/2) approximately =7 min). Compared with scutellarin, the solubility of glycolamide ester was increased about ten times in pH 4.0 buffer, and about thirty five times in water. Partition coefficient of the glycolamide ester increased significantly from -2.56 to 1.48. However, the ester degradation in the homogenates of intestinal mucus would be an obstacle for its absorption. The degradation rates were in the order duodenum > ileum > or = jejunum > colon. The emulsion showed a better protection of glycolamide ester from the degradation than cyclodextrin complex.

CONCLUSIONGlycolamide ester of scutellarin shows better physicochemical properties than ethyl and benzyl eater of scutellarin, but its stability in intestinal tract needs to be improved. The emulsion or / and colon-targeted delivery may be selected as one of strategies to decrease the presystemic degradation.

Animals ; Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Emulsions ; Erigeron ; chemistry ; Esters ; Flavones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIM: To clarify the effects of specific and non-specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors on gastric epithelial cell proliferating and gastric healing following acid-induced damage. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 1 mL of 0.6 mol/L hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the stomach. Ten minutes after the administration of the acid,the animals were given NS-398 (COX-2 inhibitor) or indomethacin. Levels of COX-1 and COX-2 in the gastric mucosa before and after HCl-administration were analyzed using western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected using immunohistochemistry for epithelial cell proliferation. Gastric lesion index (LI) was assessed using planimetry. RESULTS: Expression of COX-2 was enhanced mainly in surface epithelial cells and neck cells following HCl-administration. At 24 h following acid administration,PCNA labeling index (PCNA-LI) was (22.72?4.33) % and (21.98?5.18) % in the groups treated with 40 mg/kg of NS-398 and indomethacin respectively,which was significantly lower than that in the control group [ (34.46?3.61) %,P

BACKGROUNDMycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the common pathogens causing atypical pneumonia. In recent years, resistance to macrolides has become more common, especially in China. Previous studies have confirmed that the mutation at position 2063 in domain V of the 23S rRNA is the most prevalent, followed by the mutation at position 2064. Reported molecular detection methods for the identification of these mutations include direct sequencing, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with high-resolution melt analysis, and nested PCR-linked with capillary electrophoresis, etc. The most commonly used method for monitoring resistance-conferring mutations in M. pneumoniae is direct DNA sequencing of PCR or nested PCR products. However, these methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive or need expensive equipments. Therefore the development of rapid and sensitive methods is very important for monitoring the resistance globally.

METHODSIn this study, we reported a fast and cost-effective method for detecting 2063 and/or 2064 macrolide resistant mutations from specimens using a modified allele-specific PCR analysis, and all results were compared with the sequencing data. We also analyzed the clinical courses of these samples to confirm the modified allele-specific PCR results.

RESULTSAmong 97 M. pneumoniae specimens, 88 were found to possess mutations by this method, and all modified allele-specific PCR analysis results were consistent with the sequencing data. The data of the clinical courses of these 97 cases showed that they suffered from severe pneumonia. Erythromycin showed better efficacy on cases from which no macrolide resistance mutation was found on their specimens. However, in some cases from which mutations were detected, erythromycin monotherapy had poor efficacy, and on these patients severe symptoms improved only when azithromycin was added to the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe drug-resistant M. pneumoniae is very common in Beijing, China. Our modified allele-specific PCR analysis can identify erythromycin resistant mutations more rapidly from specimens than any other method currently available. Erythromycin is still effective for treating patients infected with the mutation negative M. pneumoniae, but this treatment fails to work on mutant organisms. This method can facilitate clinicians in selecting appropriate therapy within short timescales.

Alleles ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Erythromycin ; pharmacology ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; drug effects ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

AIMTo immunolocalize the c-mos gene product and to investigate its spatial and temporal expression in mouse testis during postnatal development.

METHODSSemi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization techniques were used to examine c-mos mRNA and indirect immunofluorescence was used to localize c-Mos protein in mouse testis on postnatal days 14, 21, 25, 28, 30, 35, 49 and 70.

RESULTSc-mos mRNA remained low on postnatal days 14-21, increased abruptly from day 25 and peaked on day 30. Its levels decreased a little on day 35 and became almost stable thereafter until day 70. c-mos mRNA was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the spermatocytes and round spermatids. The nuclear staining was much stronger than the cytoplasmic staining. Using a polyclonal anti-c-Mos antibody, Western blotting detected a single band at 43 kDa in testis lysate. c-Mos protein was exclusively localized to the elongating spermatids and was first detected on postnatal day 30. The number of c-Mos-positive spermatids increased progressively till day 49 and stabilized thereafter.

CONCLUSIONThe c-mos gene displays a spatial and temporal expression pattern in the mouse testis during postnatal development at both the mRNA and protein level. This suggests that c-mos might play important roles in spermatogenesis.

Animals ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Gene Expression ; Genes, mos ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spermatocytes ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Testis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the character of inorganic elements in Asari Radix et Rhizoma (Xixin).

METHODThe contents of 53 inorganic elements in Xixin samples from different localities and species were determined by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The statistical data were made using SAS.

RESULTThe result demonstrated that Xixin has the high contents of Fe, Cr, Li. It has been observed that the content of Cu and Pb of the samples are much higher than the standard level. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis revealed two groups which correspond with the species of the samples. No correlations between the contents of the inorganic elements and the localities of the samples were found. Some characteristic elements were displayed in some specific areas. The difference of the contents of the 53 inorganic elements between root and rhizome of Xixin was reported for the first time. The primary form of inorganic elements in Xixin has been studied for the first time. The result demonstrated that the extraction rate between different elements varied, with the average extraction rate of (22.25 +/- 24.96)%.

CONCLUSIONThe inorganic elements analysis of Xixin can provide evidence of its identification, cultivation and application.

Asarum ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

The epididymis is a single and highly convoluted tubule system in mammals. The epithelium is the major compartment for epididymal function. Proteins synthesized and secreted by epididymal epithelium provide a special and ever-changing luminal fluid environment for sperm as they progress through the epididymis, which makes sperm achieve motility and ultimately results in sperm functional maturation. Specialized genes expressed in the epididymis have regional-specific characteristics. They are regulated by androgen and/or testicular factors and present spatial and tempel-specialized expression pattern in postnatal development, all these hint that they play important and unique roles in epididymis.
Animals ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; genetics ; Epididymis ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mammals ; Sperm Maturation ; genetics

This article is to introduce the dramatic improvements in efficiency, sensitivity and bandwidth of the ultrasound transducers--PureWave Crystal Technology.
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics ; instrumentation

The applications of PET-CT have developed from qualitative analysis to quantitative analysis. Target volume is important for tumor biological volume defining, tumor isotope therapy, organ function evaluation, acceptor affinity calculation, and pharmaceutical metabolic kinetics. Many factors work on the target volume calculation, such as PET image acquisition mode, scatter correction, attenuation correction, reconstruction method, image display mode, positron pharmacy. The commonly-used methods of target volume calculation are background-threshold, max threshold, and background-max threshold. In this article we will discuss about the methods of target volume calculation.
Algorithms ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safety of 980 nm diode laser vaporization in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSWe treated 92 BPH patients by 980 nm diode laser vaporization. The patients were aged 65 - 89 years, with a mean prostate volume of (50.1 +/- 13.0) ml. We analyzed and compared the mean operation time, intra-operative blood loss, postoperative complications, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) score, maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), and post void residual (PVR) before and after surgery.

RESULTSOperations were successful in all the 92 cases, with an average operation time of (70.2 +/- 16.9) min, very little blood loss and no blood transfusion. The transurethral catheter indwelling time was 2 -5 (2.4 +/- 0.3) days. The patients were followed up for 1 to 3 months, which revealed a significant reduction in IPPS (P < 0.01) and improvement in Qmax and PVR (P < 0.01) as compared with preoperation. No severe complications were reported, including urinary incontinence and bladder irritation symptoms. None of the patients complained of impaired erectile function.

CONCLUSIONTransurethral 980 nm diode laser vaporization is a safe and effective treatment for BPH.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; surgery ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome