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

ObjectiveTo make a comparison between microsurgical lumbar discectomy(MSLD) and microendoscopic discectomy(MED) in terms of methods,feathers,and effectiveness for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsA prospective clinical review was conducted.From January 2006 to December 2009,900patients with single segment lumber disc herniation were randomly divided into the MSLD group and the MED group.There were 450 patients in each group.Comparison would be made in terms of the length of skin incision,the operative time,amount of bleeding,incidence of complication,duration of hospitalization,the time of recovery to ordinary work or life,pre- and post-operative assessment based on the criteria of visual analogue scales (VAS),and the Oswestry disability index(ODI).ResultsThe mean lengths of skin incision were (3.8±1.1) cm and (2.4±0.7) cm for MSLD and MED respectively; the operative time were (51.0±14.2) min and (62.0±16.3) min; and the blood loss were (60±35) ml and (106±43) ml,which showed a significant difference(P＜0.05).There was no significant differences in terms of the hospitalization time and the time of recovery to ordinary work or life between the two groups (P＞0.05).The results of VAS and ODI of two groups also showed no significant difference at final follow-up (P＞0.05).As for the complications,the incidence of dural tear,acute hematomas of sacrospinalis,nerve roots and cauda equina injury and recurrence in MSLD group were much lower than that of MED group (P＜0.01).There was no incidence of wrong segment,greater artery injury,or postoperative infection in each group.ConclusionThe clinical effects of both minimal invasive methods are satisfactory.However,MSLD has advantages of simpler maneuvering,shorter learning curve,and less complication than MED.

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

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 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

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for HPLC fingerprint determination of different growing areas on Fructus Aurantii fried with bran.

METHODHPLC chromatographic experiment was carried out by ultrasonic distilment of acetacetic ester, gradient elution mode and the detection wavelength of 320 nm. The column temperature was set at 30 degrees C, and flow rate is 1.0 mL x min(-1). Naringin served as the reference standard. Ten batches of Fructus Aurantii fried with bran in the different places were analyzed. Similarity evaluation system for chromatographic fingerprint of TCM proceeded the evaluation, The correlation coefficients between ten batches were used to define the similarity.

RESULTThere were eleven characteristic peaks in Fructus Aurantii fried with bran by HPLC fingerprint which constituted fingerprint characters. Both the reproducibility and stability on HPLC fingerprint were proper.

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate and simple. It can be applied to the analysis on Fructus Aurantii fried with bran. The fingerprint spectrum can be used to distinguish Fructus Aurantii fried with bran and to be its quality control.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Citrus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Ecosystem ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results

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

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