The methods of 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopy were used in detecting the metabolites of brodimoprim (BDP) in rat plasma. The endogenic compounds in the plasma were removed with solid phase extraction (SPE) column firstly, then the mixture of metabolites was identified with 1H NMR and mass spectroscopy (MS). Two metabolites of BDP in the plasma at 20h were detected, they were demethyl-brodimorpim glucuronide and brodimoprim sulfurate. The study proved that the method of SPE coupled with NMR and MS can be applied to the analysis of metbolites in plasma quickly and conveniently.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the existence in human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) of circulating mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells(MSPC), the adherent cells developed in cultures from hUCB were characterized and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty hUCB harvests were cultured in the media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Homogeneously adherent fibroblast-like cells obtained during successive subcultivation were characterized by immunophenotyping analysis and induced to differentiate into osteoblasts. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of osteogenic markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) stain, and von Kossa stain were performed. RESULTS: The adherent fibroblast-like cells developed in cultures from hUCB positively expressed the MSPCrelated antigens, but, did not express the hematopoietic, HLA-DR, osteoclast, or endothelial antigens. These cells were well proliferated during successive subcultivation. Under osteogenic condition, these cells showed increased levels of osteogenic mRNAs and strong positivity in ALP and von Kossa stains at 4th week. CONCLUSION: The homogeneous fibroblast-like cells developed in cultures from hUCB were considered to be MSPC. Morphological and immunophenotypical characteristics of these cells were very similar to those of bone marrow-derived MSPC, and well differentiated into osteoblasts.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Coloring Agents ; Fetal Blood* ; HLA-DR Antigens ; Humans* ; Immunophenotyping ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoclasts ; RNA, Messenger ; Umbilical Cord*

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determination of the four effective components (genistin; rutin; quercetin; genistein) in Huaijiao pill.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Shim-packODS (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5.0 microm) eluted with a mobile phase of MeOH-H2O-HAc (40:60:0.25). The detection wavelength was set at 256 nm and column temperature was set at 30 degrees C .

RESULTNice linear relation between the peak area and injected amount exists when the amount is within 0.059-0.352 microg for genistin, within 0.435-2.610 microg for rutin, within 0.020-0.121 microg for quercetin and within 0.053-0.319 microg for genistein. The correlation coefficient of each component is 0.999 6, 0.998 2, 0.998 9 and 0.999 9 respectively. The average recoveries of the four components are from 98.7% to 100.2%. The RSD of each group are 1.21%, 1.36%, 0.47% and 1.54% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, repeatable and suitable to determine four effective components in Huaijiao pill. It can be use for quality control of Huaijiao pill.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Genistein ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rutin ; analysis ; Sophora ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture on rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSIn a randomized and controlled trial, sixty-three cases with RA were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (n = 32) and a simple acupuncture group (n = 31). Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Quchi (LI 11), Waiguan (TE 5), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected by coordination method combined whole and local acupoints. The electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture at the local acupoints near painful joints, continuous wave, retaining needle for 30 minutes, and then electroacupuncture at Back-shu acupoints, retaining needle for 15 minutes, and the simple acupuncture group was treated with the same acupoints selection and acupuncture manipulation without electroacupuncture apparatus. They were all treated once every other day for 20 days as one course. After 3 courses, changes of interleukins in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients were observed.

RESULTSBoth of electroacupuncture and simple acupuncture had significant effect on IL-1, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid of patients with RA ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05). But after electroacupuncture, the absolute value and improvement value of decreasing IL-1 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those of simple acupuncture (all P < 0.05), and of IL-4 in joint fluid was super than that after simple acupuncture (P < 0.05), and of IL-6 and the absolute value of decreasing IL-10 were almost the same after both treatment (all P > 0.05), and after electroacupuncture, the improvement value of IL-10 in peripheral blood and joint fluid were super than those after simple acupuncture (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can effectively decrease the proinflammatory cytokine of IL-1 and IL-6 and increase the inhibition cytokine of IL-4 and IL-10 and improve the internal environment of occurrence and progression of RA.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.

METHODSAdopting randomized controlled principle, the 63 RA patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, the 32 patients in the EA group were treated with EA, and the 31 patients in the simple needling (SN) group treated with simple needling. According to the integral-local combining method, the acupoints were selected mainly from yang-meridian and local Ashi points (pain-point). EA or SN was applied every other day, 10 times as a course, and each patient received a total of 3 courses of treatment.

RESULTSBlood and synovial levels of TNF-α and VEGF were reduced significantly after treatment in both groups. The lowering (absolute value and difference value) of TNF-α as well as the absolute value of VEGF, either in blood or in synovia, were similar in the two groups (P>0.05); but the lowering of VEGF after treatment was more significant in the EA group than that in the SN group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; pathology ; Male ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; metabolism ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Measuring grip and pinch strength is an important part of hand injury evaluation. Currently, there are no standardized values of normal grip and pinch strength among the Korean population, and lack of such data prevents objective evaluation of post-surgical recovery in strength. This study was designed to establish the normal values of grip and pinch strength among the healthy Korean population and to identify any dependent variables affecting grip and pinch strength. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The inclusion criterion was being a healthy Korean person without a previous history of hand trauma. The grip strength was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. Pulp and key pinch strength were measured with a hydraulic pinch gauge. Intra-individual and inter-individual variations in these variables were analyzed in a standardized statistical manner. RESULTS: There were a total of 336 healthy participants between 13 and 77 years of age. As would be expected in any given population, the mean grip and pinch strength was greater in the right hand than the left. Male participants (137) showed mean strengths greater than female participants (199) when adjusted for age. Among the male participants, anthropometric variables correlated positively with grip strength, but no such correlations were identifiable in female participants in a statistically significant way. CONCLUSIONS: Objective measurements of hand strength are an important component of hand injury evaluation, and population-specific normative data are essential for clinical and research purposes. This study reports updated normative hand strengths of the South Korean population in the 21st century.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hand ; Hand Injuries ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Pinch Strength ; Population Dynamics ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: In order to rehabilitate patients with replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap, the warm therapy is cost-effective, clean, and easy to use. However, the risk of thermal burn in patients with replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap is not clearly identified yet and only few clinical prognosis exist. For that reason, this study was designed to evaluate the incidence, characteristics and risk factors of thermal burn in patients with replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap. METHODS: We reviewed all the medical records of patients retrospectively, especially who showed clinically important thermal burn of replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap from February 2010 to March 2011. RESULTS: 10 patients out of 370 with successfully replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap presented clinically important thermal burn. (2.70% incidence). The causes of thermal burn were warm therapy (4 cases) and touching hot bowls such as a coffee cup, hot pot or hot grill (6 cases). Among them, 7 patients suffered superficial 2nd degree burn with bullae, 1 patient deep 2nd degree burn, 1 patient 4th degree burn and another 1, 1st degree burn with mild erythema. All of them except two cases were treated with conventional dressing with antibiotic ointment, while one was treated by skin graft and another one by 2nd toe pulp free flap. On the other hand, there were only 3 thermal burn cases among 7,010 patients who had undergone the hand surgeries other than replantation and free flap (0.04% incidence). And 2 were by warm therapy and 1 by hot pot. All of them were superficial 2nd degree burn with bullae and treated with conventional dressing with antibiotic ointment for about 1 week. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients with replanted fingers or reconstructed ones with free flap are more likely to have thermal burn than any other. Therefore we should be aware of the possibility of thermal burn for these patients, paying more attention to prevent it during the warm therapy and letting them always keep an appropriate distance from anything that can cause thermal burn.
Bandages ; Blister ; Burns ; Coffee ; Erythema ; Fingers ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Hand ; Humans ; Incidence ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Replantation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Skin ; Toes ; Transplants

PURPOSE: From May 2000 to January 2008, We experienced the 10 cases of the thenar free flap for the coverage of the large volar soft tissue defect in the finger. METHODS: The pedicles of the flap were the superficial palmar artery of radial artery and subcutaneous vein, and we anastomosed them to the digital artery and subcutaneous vein of the finger. RESULTS: The average size of the flaps was 12cm2 and it was large enough to cover the entire color soft tissue defect of a phalanx or the defect of the neighbored phalanges. All of donor wounds were closed primarily. CONCLUSION: The color and skin texture of the flap was matched with the volar skin of the finger functionally and cosmetically and the debulking of the flap was not necessary. Other advantages were constant anatomic pedicle of the flap, minimal donor site morbidity, one operation field. We consider that the thenar free flap is another reliable and useful method for the reconstructing of the large volar defect of the finger especially at the situation of emergency.
Arteries ; Fingers ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Radial Artery ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Veins

Hepatoid carcinoma is a primary extrahepatic carcinoma whose morphology, immunohistochemistry, and behavior are similar to those of hepatocellular carcinoma. The most common sites of extrahepatic carcinoma are the stomach and ovary, but nine cases of hepatocellular differentiation of the pancreas have been reported in the literature. We report another case of hepatoid carcinoma of the pancreas that was associated with the development of a pancreatic endocrine carcinoma in a 46-year-old man. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was elevated to 262.49 IU/mL and radiological examinations revealed a mass measuring 7.5 cm in diameter in the head of the pancreas. He underwent a conventional Whipple operation, and light microscopy showed adenocarcinoma that was immunopositive for AFP, hepatocyte antigen, cytokeratin, chromogranin, synaptophysin, and alpha-1 antichymotrypsin. Although hepatoid differentiation was not shown unequivocally histologically, other immunohistochemistry findings supported the diagnosis of hepatoid carcinoma combined with neuroendocrine carcinoma. The patient was healthy and had no evidence of recurrence at 4 months after the surgery. This report describes why hepatoid carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of a pancreatic mass, especially when serum AFP is elevated.
Adenocarcinoma ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Head ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; Light ; Microscopy ; Middle Aged ; Ovary ; Pancreas ; Recurrence ; Stomach ; Synaptophysin

Purpose: We report a case of secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) to treat graft failure after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).Case summary: A 66-year-old female underwent DSEK of her right eye to treat pseudophakic bullous keratopathy that developed after cataract surgery and intraocular lens exchange. After 5 years, she complained of decreased vision; graft failure was observed. Secondary DMEK was performed; no additional air injection was needed. The corrected visual acuity was 0.2, 3 months after surgery, and the cornea became clear. Conclusions Visual recovery can be achieved by performing secondary DMEK after primary DSEK graft failure.