To study the toxicokinetics of bakuchiol, hepatic and renal toxicity in rats after single oral administration of Psoraleae Fructus and combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, in order to provide scientific evidences for clinical safe medication use. A total of 35 SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups: vehicle (distilled water) control group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group, positive control (aristolochic acid A) group, Psoraleae Fructus (40 g x kg(-1)) group( both male and female rats), Psoraleae Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (40 +20) g x kg(-1) group (both male and female rats). HPLC-UV method was used to determine the concentration of bakuchiol in rat plasma at different time points after single oral administration. Plasma alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma creatinine (Cr), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and kidney injury molecule 1 (Kim-1) were measured after administration for 24 h. The main toxicokinetics parameters of bakuchiol in rats exert significantly gender difference. When Psoraleae Fructus combination with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, the total area under the plasma concentration-time curve( AUC), C(max), and plasma clearance (CL) of bakuchiol were increased, respectively; CL, half-life (t½) were decreased, and T(max) were prolonged. The biochemical indicators (including ALT, AST, BUN, Cr and KIM-1 level) in different dose of Psoraleae Fructus groups, were found no statistically significant difference when compared with vehicle control group. The level of NAG in both Psoraleae Fructus and compatibility with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma groups were significant increased (P < 0.05). There are obvious effects on toxicokinetics of bakuchiol in rats when Psoraleae Fructus combined with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma. Renal toxicity induced by Psoraleae Fructus at high dose was observed after single oral administration and no liver damage in rats was found.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; toxicity ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Phenols ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Psoralea ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; toxicity ; Toxicokinetics

Objective To evaluate the the effect of microalbuminuria of combined treatment with fosinopril and losartan,or fosinopril,losartan monotherapy in patients with hypertension.Methods In this double-blind, intention to treat study,136 patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to receive fosinopril 10 mg/d(n= 50),losartan 50 mg/d(n=41),or a combination of fosinopril 5 mg and losartan 25 mg (n=45) qd for 4 weeks, followed by titrating to the maximum recommended doses for another 4 weeks.The primary endpoint was the difference of mean sitting blood pressure and microalbuminuria excretion at baseline and week 8.Results At week 8,the combination of fosinopril and losartan therapy lowered mean mieroalbuminuria from baseline by 26.1?10~(-8) mol/L,significantly more than either monotherapy approaches (fosinopril 20 mg,18.3?10~(-8)mol/L,P

The total RNA was extracted from ginseng leaves of Panax ginseng. The Cu/Zn-SOD gene was amplified via RT-PCR and the pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD expression vector was constructed. The pET-28 (a)-Cu/Zn-SOD recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) competent cells and was induced by IPTG in order to select optimal induction of expression conditions. The target protein was purified by the nickel ions (Ni ) affinity chromatography and the target protein enzyme activity was determinated by the xanthine oxidase method. The similarity of the Cu/Zn-SOD gene sequences and the Cu/Zn-SOD gene sequences of Korean ginseng in NCBI was 99. 00%. The target protein expression level was about 44.42%, and the molecular weight was 16.30 kDa after the pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD recombinants were induced by IPTG. The purified Cu/Zn-SOD protease activity reached 10,596.69 U x mg(-1). The P. ginseng pET-28(a)-Cu/Zn-SOD prokaryotic expression vector was built by the method of molecular biology, which provided the foundation for studying the Cu/Zn-SOD biology function.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Panax ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the factors affecting pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients.

METHODSA retrospective cohort study was carried out to analyze the clinical data of 141 breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The factors affecting pCR and the changes of tumor receptor status before and after treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the 141 patients, 21 patients (14.9%) achieved pCR. The rate of pCR achieved by regimens of anthracycline combined with taxane was higher (16.8%, 19/113) than that by anthracycline-containing regimens (7.1%, 1/14). The dose intensity of anthracycline had a significant correlation with pCR rate (P < 0.05). The pCR rate in the relative dose intensity of taxane ≥ 0.85 arm was higher than that of < 0.85 arm (P = 0.02). Eighty patients (56.7%) had completed more than 4 cycles of chemotherapy and the median time to achieve pCR was 6 (3 to 10) cycles. The pCR rate had a significant difference between patients < 6 and ≥ 6 cycles (7.1% vs. 22.5%,P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size measured by palpation ≤ 5 cm and ≥ 6 chemotherapy cycles were significantly related with pCR rate (P < 0.05). In all the 21 pCR patients, the pre-treatment ER(-), PR(-), HER-2(-) statuses were in 14, 14 and 17 patients, respectively. The status of ER, PR, HER-2 of most patients (74.2%, 69.7% and 87.7%, respectively) was not changed after treatment. Among the patients with changes in receptor status, ER changed from negative to positive was in the majority (37.1%, 13/35 vs. 12.9%, 4/31, P < 0.05), and the percentage of changes in PR and HER-2 status had no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONSThe regimens of anthracycline combined with taxane can achieve a higher pCR rate. The lymph node and receptor status before therapy have no significant correlation with pCR. Patients who have primary tumor size ≤ 5 cm, ≥ 6 chemotherapy cycles and enough dose intensity are easier to achieve pCR. The receptor status before and after therapy should be determined, and according to any positive results, physicians can chose HER-2 targeted therapy and/or endocrine therapy after surgery to benefit the patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracyclines ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; methods ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo investigate the late results of using posterior restoration and three-column fixation to treat lumbar spondylolisthesis.

METHODSOne hundred and eighty-four patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis were collected from March 1999 to May 2007, they were treated by posterior restoration and fixation with single nail-grooved tail steel plate and fixed with cage (WDFC). Among these cases, 87 cases were fixed with one WDFC, 97 cases were used two WDFCs.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 8 to 69 months(averaged 23 months). According to Nakai standard, the results was excellent in 142 cases, good in 34, fair in 8, the excellent and good rates were 95.6%. Seventy-nine vertebraes with I degree spondylolisthesis were reduced after surgery. Eighty-seven vertebraes with II degree spondylolisthesis were reduced except 9 with I degree spondylolisthesis left. Twenty-one with III degree spondylolisthesis were reduced except 5 with I degree spondylolisthesis left; In 2 with IV degree spondylolisthesis, one with I degree spondylolisthesis left and the other with II degree spondylolisthesis left. The follow-up results showed that there was no statistical significance in the height of intervertebral space between preoperation and post-operation, and no recurrence was observed and no single nail-grooved tail steel plate and WDFC were loose or crashed.

CONCLUSIONPosterior restoration and three-column fixation is a positive modus operandi to treat lumbar spondylolisthesis,which can reduce excellently,keep the height of intervertebral space and stabilization of segment, obtain high rate of fusion, and cut down complication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; Spondylolisthesis ; surgery

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; enzymology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDBenign prostate hyperplasia is one of the most common diseases affecting the health of the aging males. Watchful waiting is an acceptable management strategy for benign prostate hyperplasia in which the patient is monitored by the physician but receives no active intervention. The epidemiological data on this are lacking in China. Our study was designed to evaluate the changes of signs and symptoms of patients with benign prostate hyperplasia during management by watchful waiting in China.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-five patients with benign prostate hyperplasia aged > 50 years were enrolled in management by watchful waiting. All the patients were visited every 6 months and were given an International Prostate Symptom Score and Quality of Life questionnaire to complete. They also had uroflowmetry and were assessed using ultrasonography to get the volume of prostate, transition zone and amount of residual urine. The Student's t test, the Chi-square test, and variance analysis were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTSAll patients were visited after 6 months, the mean volume of transitional zone was found to have increased by 1.6 ml (P < 0.01), International Prostate Symptom Score was increased by 0.8 (P < 0.01) and Quality of Life was increased by 0.2 (P < 0.01), and there was no statistical change in other data. Among these patients, 17.9% (26/145) visited again after 12 months when the data failed to show a statistically significant difference among the three groups (0, 6, and 12 months).

CONCLUSIONSAfter one year's follow-up, the progression of benign prostate hyperplasia was slow and the clinical data did not undergo much change.

Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; psychology ; therapy ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and toxicity of capecitabine-based chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer.

METHODSThree hundred and seventy-six patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with capecitabine-based chemotherapy regimens in our department from Sep 2002 to Sep 2009. They were divided into 3 groups. The group 1 was treated with capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) orally twice daily on d1-d14, repeated every 3 weeks. The group 2 was treated with capecitabine as group 1, and combined with docetaxel 60 - 75 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion on d1, repeated every 3 weeks. The group 3 was treated with capecitabine as group 1, and combined with vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion on d1 and d8, repeated every 3 weeks. The median treatment period of treatment was 3 cycles.

RESULTSAmong the 376 patients, 218 patients were evaluable for response. In the group 1 the objective response rate (ORR) was 12.8% and the clinical benefit rate (CBR) was 21.6%. The CBR but not ORR of first line therapy with capecitabine was 35.2%, significantly higher than that of more than first line therapy (17.1%, P < 0.01). The ORRs for group 2 and group 3 were 53.8% and 36.4%, respectively. In the group 2 there was no significant difference in the ORR between the first line therapy and more than first line therapy. In the group 3 the ORR of first line therapy of NX regimen was 36.4%, significantly higher than that of more than first line therapy (16.7%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe capecitabine-based chemotherapy is effective and tolerable, and can be used not only in first line but also more than first line therapy. The single agent maintenance chemotherapy after response to combined chemotherapy can prolonge the duration of treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Adult ; Agranulocytosis ; chemically induced ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Capecitabine ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand-Foot Syndrome ; etiology ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Maintenance Chemotherapy ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of verumontanum hypertrophy with chronic prostatitis.

METHODSFifty-two patients with chronic prostatitis underwent cystourethroscopy for comparing the size of the verumontanum before and after treatment.

RESULTSBefore treatment, all the patients showed different degrees verumontanum hypertrophy, of whom 50 were treated by conventional drug therapy, and the other 2 with voiding dysfunction by drug therapy combined with transurethral resection. Cystourethroscopy revealed significantly decreased size of the verumontanum in 44 of the patients after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with chronic prostatitis often have verumontanum hypertrophy, which could be an indicator of the effect of treatment.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Genitalia, Male ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatitis ; etiology ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of clinical effects and reasonable doses of docetaxel salvage therapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

METHODSWe reviewed retrospectively the clinical records of patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with docetaxel and statistically analyzed the correlation between clinical effects and reasonable doses of docetaxel.

RESULTSThe objective response rate and clinical benefit rate of docetaxol in patients with metastatic breast cancer were 27.0% and 35.0%, respectively, and the median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.0 (3.8 - 6.3) months. In the analysis at a single dose level, the clinical benefit rate and PFS of the ≥ 90.0 mg/m(2) docetaxel group were superior to that of the < 90.0 mg/m(2) group (P = 0.008, P = 0.045). Multi-dose level group stratified analysis showed that the docetaxel < 75.0 mg/m(2) group was better than the 75.0 - 84.9 mg/m(2) PFS group (P = 0.018), and the ≥ 95.0 mg/m(2) group was better than the 75.0 - 84.9 mg/m(2) group (P = 0.048). In patients who received >third line treatment or previously received paclitaxel adjuvant therapy, the PFS of the ≥ 94.9 mg/m(2) docetaxel group was 6.0 months, better than the 3.0 months of the 75.0 ∼ 84.9 mg/m(2) group (P = 0.031; P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONThere is a clear correlation between clinical effects and reasonable doses of docetaxel salvage therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Taxoids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult