OBJECTIVEAn UPLC method was developed to evaluate the quality of Paeoniae Radix by simultaneously determining four components, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol in Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces.

METHODThe UPLC chromatographic column was ACQUITY UPLC® HSS T3. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05% phosphoric acid water with gradient elution. The column temperature was 30 °C and detection wavelength was 230 nm with a flow rate of 0.4 mL · min(-1). A linear model was obtained through principal component analysis (PCA), and PCA scores were used to evaluate the quality of Radix Paeoniae Alba decoction pieces comprehensively.

RESULTPaeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol could be well separated from other components, and the results of specificity, precision, repeatability, linearity, recovery rate and stability reached the standards, respectively. The content of paeoniflorin in 9 batches of Paeoniae Radix Alba decoction pieces was below the standard given by Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). Using the comprehensive scoring method with principal component analysis, the results showed that the samples from Zhejiang province have better quality than those from Anhui and Shandong provinces.

CONCLUSIONThe method established in this study can effectively determine the content of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol, which could be used for quality control of Paeoniae Radix Alba.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis

To ensure the stability of chemistry components and the convenience of operation, ultrasound method was chosen to study in this investigation. As the total common peaks area in chromatograms was set to be evaluation index, the influence on the technology caused by extraction time, ethanol concentration and liquid-to-solid ratio was studied by using single factor methodology, and the extraction technology of Paeoniae Radix Alba was optimized by using response surface methodology. The results showed that the extracting results were most affected by ethanol concentration; liquid-to-solid ratio came the second and extraction time thirdly. The optimum ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were as follow: the ultrasonic extraction time was 20.06 min, the ethanol concentration in solvent was 72.04%, and the liquid-to-solid ratio was 53.38 mL · g(-1), the predicted value of total common peaks area was 2.1608 x 10(8). Under the extraction conditions after optimization, the total common peaks area was 2.1422 x 10(8), and the relative deviation between the measured and predicted value was 0.86%, so the optimized extraction technology for Paeoniae Radix Alba is suitable and feasible. Besides, for the purpose of extracting more sufficiently and completely, the optimized extraction technology had more advantages than the extraction method recorded in the monogragh of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which will come true the assessment and utilization comprehensively.
Paeonia ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

After studying the discipline of chemical components distribution in peony root, it was found that the content distribution of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol was inhomogeneous in different parts of peony root, as same as in different roots belonging to a same plant. Therefore, in order to minimize the effects of different qualities of materials on experimental result, the content changing percentages of four chemical components was chosen as indicators to study processing method of Paeoniae Radix Alba. The processing technique of Paeoniae Radix Alba was put peony roots in the boiled water for at most ten minutes, and cut them into 2-3 mm slices after peeling the root bark, finally dry them in a oven under 55 degrees C, which was similar to the traditional processing method used in Bozhou. And the peeling, boiling and drying methods would affect the contents of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin and paeonol on several levels.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between HBeAg expression and HBV-DNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

METHODS208 patients with chronic hepatitis B were included in this present study. HBV-DNA in the PBMCs were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with the serum HBV-DNA level being determined by the way of fluoresces quantities PCR (FQ-PCR). Meanwhile, HBV-GM was also detected via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThere were 106 patients for positivity in the HBV-DNA level of PBMCs with 102 for negativity, in which the HBV-DNA high levels (HBV DNA load > or = 1.0E5) in serum were 91.5%, 45.1% (chi2=52.12, P>0.01) respectively, with 76.4% and 50.9% (chi2=21.55, P>0.01) for the positive percentage of HBeAg expression.

CONCLUSIONA significantly positive correlation was found between HBV-DNA in PBMCs and serum HBV-DNA along with the positive percentage of HBeAg, indicating that obvious PBMCs' increase infected by HBV in patients with positivity of HBeAg and high level of serum HBV-DNA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of 5-FU in rat plasma and liver tissue following systemic or local 5-FU infusion.

METHODS5-FU was administered at the dose of 20 mg/kg systemically via bolus injection through the jugular vein or locally via infusion through the hepatic artery and portal vein of the rats. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to measure 5-FU concentration in the plasma and liver tissue, and the pharmacokinetic parameters, penetration rate and therapeutic dominance of 5-FU were calculated.

RESULTSSystemic administration of 5-FU resulted in the peak 5-FU concentration (Cmax) and area under curve (AUC) in the liver tissue of 13.79-/+4.56 microg/g and 342.20-/+108.20 microg.min(-1).g(-1)g-1, with the plasma Cmax and AUC of 36.85-/+5.96 microg/g and 842.00-/+158.00 microg.min(-1).ml(-1), respectively. Local 5-FU administration through the hepatic artery resulted in Cmax and AUC in the liver tissue of 29.58-/+4.30 microg/g and 794.60-/+115.40 microg.min(-1).g(-1) and Cmax and AUC in the plasma of 24.39-/+4.63 microg/g and 639.70-/+133.80 microg.min(-1).ml(-1), respectively. After administration through the portal vein, the Cmax and AUC of 5-FU was 28.21-/+4.46 microg/g and 733.60-/+180.3 microg.min(-1).g(-1) in the liver tissue, and 21.02-/+4.06 microg/ml and 529.80-/+111.50 microg.min(-1).ml(-1) in the plasma, respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompared with systemic venous bolus injection, administration through the hepatic artery and portal vein can significantly increase 5-FU concentration in the liver, and decrease its concentration in the peripheral blood.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Hepatic Artery ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Portal Vein ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

A simple and quick method is described for the determination of ferulic acid, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide A and ligustilide in rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. The 5 active ingredients in the sample was extracted using 40% ethanol and analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Chromatography separation was performed using Agilent 1100 series HPLC system with a Symmetry C18 column and gradient elution with a mixture of three solvents : solvent A, acetonitrile, solvent B, methanol and solvent C, 1% aqueous acetic acid, 0 min to 5 min A: B: C 20: 40: 40, 5 min to 30 min A: B: C 60 to 100 : 0 : 40 to 0. The effluent was monitored using a VWD detector set at 321 nm (0-4.3 min) and 275 nm (4.31-30 min). The flow rate was set at 1 mL x min(-1) and the injection volume was 10 microL. The column temperature was maintained at 35 degrees C. The calibration curve was linear (r > or = 0.99) over the tested ranges. The average recovery was 94.44%-103.1% (n = 6). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis in different harvest periods of L. chuanxiong samples. In this paper, single-factor randomized block design to study the 5 components content of L. chuanxiong on ten collecting stages. For the L. chuanxiong collected from April 15th to May 30rd, the content of 5 ingredients increased primarily, and then decreased. Determine the appropriate harvest time has important significance to the promotion of the quality of L. chuanxiong.
4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Acetic Acid ; chemistry ; Acetonitriles ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coumaric Acids ; analysis ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Time Factors

Objective To study the MRI appearance and clinical features of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT) to improve accurate diagnosis of DNT. Methods The clinical data and MRI appearance of 12 patients with DNT confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively. Routine MRI was performed in all of the 12 patients, and also dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in 10 of them. Results Eight lesions resided in the temporal lobes, 2in the frontal lobe, and the other 2 in the parietal lobe. All of the 12 DNTs located in supratentorial hemisphere cortex, and 6 of them encroached the adjacent white matter. The lesions appeared as hypointense or iso-hypointense signal on T1WI of MRI, and hyperintense on T2WI and FLAIR of MRI.Cystic structure was shown in all the lesions or as its main part, and mesh-separated structure was also noted in some of the tumors. Five lesions appeared as a triangle in shape, 5 in gyrus-like shape and the remaining 2 in round shape. All the tumors had no significant mass effect with 1 having mild edema around the tumor. Enhanced MR imaging showed only 1 lesion having slight and heterogeneous enhancement. Conclusion DNT is accorded with general tumor's biological characteristics. MRI has great value on DNT's diagnosis. If a cystic lesion locates in the hemisphere cortex with a triangle in shape or gyrus-like shape, having no significant mass effect and peripheral edema, it has a great possibility of being DNT.

OBJECTIVEObstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) may cause serious morbidities, such as systemic hypertension, diabetes, and cor pulmonale. However, currently no many reports on study of OSAHS in children are available. This study aimed to explore the effects of OSAHS on children's multiple systems.

METHODA total of 89 cases of children who came to the Sleep Treatment Center in the authors' hospital from March 2009 to December 2010 with snoring were tested with overnight polysomnography (PSG). They were classified into mild OSAHS group (n = 59, mean age of 5.71, SD = 2.46) and moderate to severe group (n = 30, mean age of 5.30, SD = 2.73) based on the PSG results, and 100 healthy children were selected as the control group (n = 100, mean age of 6 years, SD = 2.98). Data including height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure, peripheral blood routine, blood lipids, glucose and insulin, electrocardiogram and echocardiography were collected. Patients' adenoid face and abnormal occlusion were also recorded. Comparisons of the data were made among those groups.

RESULTMild OSAHS and moderate to severe group had significantly higher prevalence of adenoid face (23.7%, 26.7%), and abnormal occlusion (74.6%, 60.0%) than that in control group (0, 40%) (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of BMI between the OSAHS group and the control group, but the weight (kg) and height (cm) in the mild OSAHS group (23.3 ± 10.1, 114.9 ± 16.2) and moderate to severe group (21.9 ± 8.4, 110.8 ± 13.3) were lower than those of the control group (31.8 ± 10.1, 136.1 ± 15.1) (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the level of HDL-C (mmol/L)and insulin (mU/L) in moderate and severe group decreased [(1.20 ± 0.30) vs. (1.40 ± 0.27), 2.79 (0.84 - 16.16) vs. 4.92 (0.76 - 16.80), P < 0.05], while the LDL-C (mmol/L) increased [(2.61 ± 0.75) vs. (2.32 ± 0.62), P < 0.05]. The red blood cell counts (× 10(12)/L) and the blood platelet counts (× 10(9)/L) in the mild OSAHS (4.93 ± 0.37, 292.92 ± 75.64) and moderate and severe OSAHS group (5.23 ± 0.22, 292.50 ± 63.05) were significantly higher in contrast to the control group (4.70 ± 0.31, 255.60 ± 69.12) (all P < 0.05), systolic blood pressure (mmHg) in mild group (98.54 ± 10.44) and moderate to severe group (99.13 ± 19.13) was significantly higher compared to control group (87.88 ± 11.37), and the heart rate (beats/min) in moderate to severe group (94.43 ± 10.64) was higher than those in control group (87.12 ± 16.20) (all P < 0.05). The mild OSAHS and moderate and severe OSAHS group had decreased right ventricular internal diameter [(14.24 ± 1.64) mm, (13.17 ± 2.07) mm ], increased main pulmonary artery diameter [(17.05 ± 3.33) mm, (16.33 ± 3.14) mm] and the thickness of right ventricular wall [(3.43 ± 0.26) mm, (3.57 ± 0.20) mm] compared to control group [ (16.10 ± 2.96) mm, (14.11 ± 2.52) mm, (3.32 ± 0.25) mm] (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOSAHS in children may be associated with craniofacial malformations, and may contribute to slow growth and development, elevated blood viscosity and blood pressure, metabolic abnormalities, and change cardiac structure.

Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; Male ; Maxillofacial Abnormalities ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate relative factors affecting the efficiency of ultrasound-guided compression repair in iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm.

METHODSUltrasound-guided manual compression was performed in 42 patients of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm from June 2004 to June 2010. There were 28 male and 14 female patients, with a mean age of (52 ± 5) years. These patients were presented with femoral artery pseudoaneurysm after catheterisation procedure by percutaneous femoral artery puncture and confirmed by color doppler flow image. Ultrasound-guided manual persistent compression with probe was performed at the puncture site between femoral artery and pseudoaneurysm, until completely thrombosis of pseudoaneurysm, whereas the pseudoaneurysm failed to complete closure required surgical repair.

RESULTSOut of 42 patients, 34 patients (81.0%) were successfully treated by compression resulted in completely thrombosis. There were 8 (19.0%) failures conversion to surgery. Factors associated with success were size of pseudoaneurysm (< 25 mm, 25 - 40 mm, > 40 mm; χ(2) = 13.956, P = 0.001), anti-coagulation status (χ(2) = 5.578, P = 0.010), depth of artery break (< 50 mm, 50 - 80 mm, > 80 mm; χ(2) = 14.055, P = 0.001), pseudoaneurysm communicated with common femoral artery, superficial femoral artery and profunda femoral artery (χ(2) = 8.968, P = 0.011), as well as days to presented with pseudoaneurysm (< 3 d, ≥ 3 d; χ(2) = 5.733, P = 0.012). In multivariate Logistic regression analysis, success by compression was associated with size of pseudoaneurysm (WALD = 5.34, P = 0.021) and with depth of artery break (WALD = 4.84, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONThe ultrasound-guided compression repair of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is safe, convenient, inexpensive and reliable treatment.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, False ; surgery ; therapy ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Humans ; Iatrogenic Disease ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between changes in serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, especially in relation to metastasis.

METHODSSerum VEGF expression level, measured by quatitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, R&D system), was measured before, 3 days and 4 weeks after TACE in 30 patients with HCC. The development of metastasis was evaluated at the end of the third month after TACE.

RESULTS1. The serum VEGF level in 30 patients was 154.47 +/- 90.17 pg/ml, 2. Post-TACE total serum VEGF level increased as compared with their basal level in 30 patients (P < 0.05) and serum VEGF level had a tendency to increase in patients with heterogeneous uptake of iodized oil and portal vein thrombosis. During the follow-up of 1 - 2 years, metastatic foci were found in 74% (20) patients with SVEGF increase, while none of the patients showing SVEGF decrease developed metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSerum VEGF expression increase is associated with the development of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood