The contamination of extrinsic harmful contaminants including mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides, etc, brings serious risks to traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), further to human health. Due to their unique photoluminescence, chemiluminescence, electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence properties, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) nanoparticles are widely used to immobilize bioprobes and biosensors, etc. In this review, the luminescence characteristics and specific ligands of QDs probles which are used to determine contaminants were summed up. Then, the applications of QDs-coated novel probes in the determination of mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides were discussed in detail. In addition, the contamination levels and characteristics of extrinsic harmful residues in TCMs were investigated. Further, the maximum levels of those contaminants in TCMs were compared with those set by various countries. Finally, the future development trends and problems of QDs-coated probes in the determination of those extrinsic residues in TCMs were prospected.
Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Nanotechnology ; instrumentation ; methods ; Quantum Dots ; Safety ; Time Factors

Objective To analyze the ophthalmologic characteristics and examinations which caused by vertebral-basilar insuffi- ciency.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 469 eases of vertebral-basilar insufficiency.Methods Retrospective analysis of 469 cases of vertebral-basilar insufficiency patients with ophthalmologic signs' features,incidence,the main cause,color Doppler flow imaging and(or)digital subtraction angiography clearly stenosis location,the degree of stenosis from July 1st 2005 to July ist 2007 in PLA General Hospital.Main Outcome Measures Ophthalmologic signs' related reasons and supplementary examination.Results 96 cases were with the corresponding eye symptoms(20.4%).Vision decreased in 83 cases,diplopia was in 56 cases,ipsilateral hemiopia quadrant blind in 12 cases and depending on deformation in 10 cases,fundus arteriosclerosis in 72 cases,nystagmus in 39 cases,the eye movement disorder in 16 cases.Among 96 patients with associated ocular symptoms,75 patients with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI)showed unilateral vertebral artery abnormal in 66 cases(88%),among those blood flow velocity decreased in 26 cases,17 cases with vascular plaque stenosis,thinning in 20 cases,3 cases with complete occlusion;different bilateral vertebral artery abnormal in 9 cases(12%),among those velocity dropped in 4 cases,two cases with vascular plaque stenosis and thinning in 3 cases.Forty-five cases with the digital subtraction angiography(DSA),left vertebral artery was abnormal in 24 cases,18 cases with stenosis,occlusion in 5 cas- es,abnormal bending in 1 case.Right vertebral artery was abnormal in 16 cases,13 cases with stenosis,occlusion in 3 cases.Bilateral vertebral artery stenosis was found in 2 cases;vertebral artery stenosis was in 3 patients.Conclusion Vertebral-basilar insufficiency may cause eye-related symptoms,therefore,vision acuity decrease,fundus 'arteriosclerosis,diplopia and nystagmus symptoms are more likely for patients with vertebral-patients with basilar artery insufficiency performance of the eye.(Ophthalmol CHN,2002,16:406-410)

Objective To investigate the effect of transcatheter bladder arterial chemoembolization on microvessel density(MVD)change in bladder cancer. Methods The MVD count of bladder cancer tissue of 30 patients before and after chemoembolization were examined by SP immunohistochemical staining.Cancer tissues were examined pathology after chemoembolization.All the cases were followed up for 12 to 36 months(mean 24.6 months),the 3 years survival rate was evaluated clinically. Results MVD counts were 69.8±3.4 and 56.4±3.3 before and after therapy respectively(P<0.05).Cancer tissues were severely damaged ultramicroscopically after interventional chemotherapy.The recurrent rate was 16.67%in 30 cases. Conclusions The chemoembolization could decrease MVD,improve survival rate and reduce the recurrence rate.

Objective To explore how to prevent biliary duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods The clinical data of 484 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy from December 2002 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed,and the experiences of preventing biliary duct injury were summarized.Results No biliary duct injury case was found but 26 cases were converted to laparotomy during operation and 20 cases were placed drainage tube.Conclusion Familiar with the anatomy of bile duct,careful handling of the Calot's triangle are the keys to prevent biliary duct injury in LC.

Theexcretionofurinaryandplasmametabolitesofsalbutamolwasstudiedusingultrahigh performance liquid chromatography electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry, after a single intragastric gavaged dose administration with salbutamol. The software of Agilent MassHunter Metabolite ID was employed to find and identify the chemical structure of metabolites of salbutamol. Five metabolites from salbutamol were identified. Metabolites identified in swine urine included glucuronide conjugate salbutamol, N-oxide-salbutamol, hydroxyl-salbutamol, methoxyl-salbutamol and dehydrated hydroxyl-salbutamol. Whereas, only the parent drug, glucuronide conjugate salbutamol and dehydrated hydroxyl-salbutamol were observed in swine plasma.

Objective To develop a tool capable of early and exactly predicting various outcomes in comatose survivors who restore spontaneous circulation after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and validate its performance.Methods Variables that were both readily available and predictive of outcomes were identified by systematically reviewing published literature on resuscitation.A value was assigned to these variables.We used these variables in combination with APACHE Ⅱ/score to devise a multifactorial prediction score system,which we called PRCSs Prognostication Score (PRCSs-PS).Outcomes in 115 hospitalized comatose survivors after CPR were retrospectively reviewed using PRCSs-PS.Score of patients with different outcomes was compared.The area under the receiveroperating characteristic (ROC) curve was determined to evaluate performance of this tool to identify patients with a poor outcome (CPC4 and 5) and other outcomes (CPC1,2,and 3).Results There were differences of PRCSs-PS score among multiple groups with five different outcomes (CPC1-5)(F=65.91,P=0.000).Pairwise groups with different CPC were compared:no significant difference was noted between CPC 1 and CPC2 (12.41±6.49 vs 17.38±6.91,P=0.092),but difference between other pairwise CPC groups was statistically significant (CPC2 vs CPC3:17.38±6.91 vs 24.50±5.80,P=0.041,CPC3 vs CPC4:24.50±5.80 vs 32.29±5.24,P=0.006).The performance of PRCSs-PS to discriminate patients with a poor outcome from patients with other outcomes went as follows:it had 100% sensitivity,78.6% specificity,and 178.6 diagnostic index at the score cut-off22.5; it had 77.8% sensitivity,100% specificity and 176.4 diagnostic index at the score cut-off32.5.Score 23 and 33 were two key cut-offpoints.The area under the ROC curve was 0.968,showing excellent discrimination.Conclusions The final outcomes in post-resuscitation comatose survivors can be accurately predicted using PRCSs-PS Score.

Objective To study changes of phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate(c-AMP) response element binding protein in hippocampus(CA1) of neonatal rats after cerebral hypoxic-ischemia(HI)and effects of gangliosides (GM1)on the p-CREB.Methods An animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemia brain damage was established. Changes of p-CREB in hippocampal CA1 was detected with immunohistochemical methods.Results The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI and GM1 groups increased transiently and then decreased quickly, but there was no significant difference between HI and GM1 group.Conclusion The p-CREB levels in the CA1 of HI group increase transiently and then decrease quickly after HI ;GM1 has little effect on p-CREB in the CA1 after HI.

In order to confirm the alteration and significance of cigarette smoke exposure on SP-A in rats, 20 Wistar rats were assigned randomly to two groups: an N group (n=10), and an S group (n=10). The ultra-structural change was observed by electron microscopy. The number of cells positive for SPA was by immunohistochemically measured. The mRNA expression in the lung tissues was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of cells positive for SPA of the S group (0.52 +/- 0.05) was lower than that of the N group (0.72+/-0.06) (P<0.05). The levels of mRNA of SPA in the lung tissues of the S group (0.3522+/-0.0512) was significantly lower than that of the N group (0.4432+/-0.05628) (P<0.05). It is concluded that cigarette smoke alone decreased the level of SP-A and that might have an important effect on surfactant metabolism and the host defense functions of surfactant in the peripheral airways, which might play a crucial role in the development of chronic obstructive lung disease.
Gene Expression Regulation ; Immunohistochemistry/methods ; Lung/metabolism ; Microscopy, Electron ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A/*biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking/*adverse effects ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/*adverse effects

OBJECTIVE To discuss the characteristics and risk factors of nosocomial infection inpatients with chronic kidney disease.METHODS The data from chronic kidney disease(CKD) patients retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS The nosocomial infection rate of CKD patients was 14.73%,urinary tract was the most comun site,The main-pathogens were Gram-negative bacteria,and then Gram-positive bacteria and fungii.The patients with diabetic nephropathy,lupus nephritis,aging,lower glomerular filtration rate,hypoproteinemia,anemia,and long time duration were easy to get nosocomial infection.CONCLUSIONS Nosocomial infection in CKD patients is related to underlying diseases,age,kidney function,serum albumin level,hemoglobin level,duration time in the hospital.

Objective To investigate the possible protective effect of adenoviral vector expressing interleukin-1β (IL-1β) small hairpin RNA (shRNA) on spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanism in rats.Methods Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups including the Sham, the Vehicle,the Ad-GFP and the Ad-shIL-1β groups.SCI was induced by epidural compression.Motor function of hind limbs was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, the expressions of green fluorescence in injured spinal cord tissue were observed by fluorescence microscope.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence were also performed.Results The expressions of green fluorescence in injured spinal cord tissue were observed in the Ad-GFP and Ad-shIL-1β groups one day after SCI.Significant functional improvement was observed in the Ad-shIL-1β group (8.17 ± 1.17, 10.17 ± 0.98 and 11.33 ± 0.82, respectively) compared to the Vehicle (4.00 ± 0.89, 5.67 ± 1.03 and 6.17 ± 1.17, respectively) and Ad-GFP (3.83 ± 0.98, 5.33 ± 1.21 and 5.67 ± 1.03, respectively) groups at 7, 14 and 21 days after SCI (P ＜ 0.05).Rats in the Ad-shIL-1β group had less neuronal loss 21 days after SCI.In addition, IL-1β downregulation significantly decreased IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-or (TNF-α) and IL-6 levels (138.83 ± 7.96,143.38 ± 10.20 and 120.43 ± 9.79 in Ad-shIL-1β group;169.33 ± 11.45, 172.33 ± 8.26 and 163.00 ± 9.57 in Vehicle group;172.83 ± 10.85,167.48 ± 8.19 and 159.48 ± 10.98 in Ad-GFP group, respectively) one day after SCI (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion This study demonstrated that the IL-1β downregulation may have potential therapeutic benefits for improving the outcomes after SCI.