Electrochemical constant current linear polarization and atomic absorption spectroscopy were used to measure the corrosion rate of coronary stents made of 316L and 317L stainless steel in 30 degrees C Tyrode's solution. The results indicated that the corrosion rate of 316L and 317L stainless steel was 21 X 10(-3) microm/a, 9.8 X 10(-3) microm/a and 0.8 X 10(-3) m/a, 0.6 X 10(-3) microm/a, respectively. All corrosion rates were lower than the medical materials corrosion rate criteria, i.e. 0.25 microm/a. Moreover the corrosion resistance of 317L stainless steel was much higher than that of 316L stainless steel. The results from atomic absorption spectroscopy may correctly reflect the quantity of releasing metal ions in the solution.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Corrosion ; Materials Testing ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry ; Stents ; Surface Properties

Abstract: Objective　To explore the antiviral effect of baricitinib in the SARS-CoV-2 infection and influence on cytokine levels. Methods　Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at MOI of 0.1, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1β), interferon β (IFN-β) and interferon-stimulated gene, IFIT2 in the infected cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR methods. At the same time, Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (MOI=0.1) after being treated with baricitinib for 2 hours. Cells were collected at 0, 24, 36, and 48 hours, and analyzed for the mRNA of the above genes in the drug-treated and untreated groups. Results　The mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-a, IL-1β, IFN-β and IFIT2 in Calu-3 infected by SARS-CoV-2 cells were increased significantly. These cytokines were increased by nearly 100-fold post-infection 48 h compared with the control (P<0.000 1), and continued to increase with the infection time (P<0.001 or P<0.000 1). The increase of IL-8 mRNA level was not as significant as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β, but it also showed a 2-4 folds increase. Baricitinib does not affect the level of viral RNA in Calu-3 cells after SARS-CoV-2 infection (P>0.05). However, baricitinib can significantly inhibit the up-regulation of IL-6 and TNF-α levels induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection (5.25-fold and 3.90-fold down-regulation, respectively, P<0.01), and has little effect on the levels of IL-8 and IL-1β . In addition, the drug could also significantly down-regulate the increase in IFN-β and IFIT2 levels caused by viral infection (10.51-fold and 90.78-fold down-regulation, respectively, P<0.000 1). Conclusions　Baricitinib inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines to some extent, but it drastically down-regulates the expression of interferons and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), and has limited antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2. Considering that interferon signal pathways play important roles on viral infection, caution should be exercised when using baricitinib to treat COVID-19 patients.

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.

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

Multidrug resistance proteins (MRP2, ABCC2) may play a role in drug resistance in epilepsy by limiting gastrointestinal absorption and brain access of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). We sought to investigate the effects of ABCC2 polymorphisms on plasma carbamazepine (CBZ) concentrations and pharmacoresistance in Chinese patients with epilepsy. ABCC2 rs717620, rs2273697, rs3740066 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or direct automated DNA sequencing in 80 patients treated with CBZ monotherapy. There were no differences in CBZ maintenance doses or adjusted plasma CBZ concentrations among the ABCC2 rs717620, rs2273697 and rs3740066 genotypic groups. No associations between all the studied genotypes and haplotypes involving the three SNPs of ABCC2 and CBZ resistance were observed in this patient cohort. These results suggest that ABCC2 polymorphisms may not contribute to interindividual variabilities in CBZ daily maintenance doses, plasma concentrations, and treatment efficacy.
Epilepsy

Objective To investigate the relationship between tumor invasion and changes of mRNA expression of MMP-2, TIMP-2 and CD147 in human pituitary adenoma. Methods 60 patients with pituitary adenoma were devided into two groups, invasive and non-invasive group, by MRI. The expression level of MMP-2,TIMP-2 and CD147 in the samples of pituitary adenoma was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Pearson analysis was used to reveal the correlation between the expression of each marker. Results The mRNA expression level of MMP-2 and CD147 was significantly higher in invasive pituitary adenoma group than that in non-invasive group (P ＜ 0. 01 ) while the mRNA expression level of TIMP-2was lower in invasive pituitary adenoma group than that in non-invasive group (P ＜0.01 ). According to Pearson analysis, the mRNA expression of MMP-2 was positively correlated with CD147 in invasive pituitary adenoma (r=0. 69, P ＜ 0. 05 ), and M MP-2 was negatively correlated with TIMP-2 in non-invasive pituitary adenoma (r =-0.68, P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions The invasion of human pituitary adenoma are closely related to the low expression level of TIMP-2 as well as the high expression level of MMP-2 and CD147. MMP-2, TIMP-2 and CD147 can be used as indicators of tumor invasion of human pituitary adenoma.

Objective To detect the effects of 17 β-estradiol(E2)on the expression of Calbindin-D9k (CaBP-9k) in pituitary GH3 cells,and to investigate the antagonistic effect of a selective estrogen receptor antagonist,ⅡCI 182780 on CaBP-9k expression.Methods A rat pituitary prolactinoma cell line,GH3 cell was used as the in vitro model.The localization of CaBP-9k in GH3 cells was observed by immunofluorescence.GH3 cells were cultured with exogenous E2-added medium for 24 hours,and the concentrations of E2 were 10-8,10-9,10-10M,respectively.mRNA and protein expression levels of CaBP-9k in different groups were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.The estrogen receptor antagonist,and ⅡCI 182780 was added to GH3 cells before E2 administration (10-8M)with the concentration of 10-6M,in order to investigate the regulation of ER-mediated pathway on the expression of CaBP-9k.Immunoprecipitation was used to detect the interaction between CaBP-9k and ERα.Results E2 had significant stimulatory effect on the CaBP-9k expression of GH3 cells in a dose dependent manner,and the expression level of CaBP-9k was higher when treated with a higher concentration of E2.ⅡCI 182780 could suppress the stimulatory effect of E2 on the CaBP-9k expression of GH3 cells.The expression level of CaBP-9k was significantly reduced by coadministration of E2 with ⅡCI 182780 in GH3 cells,which meant the CaBP-9k expression was mediated through ERα pathway.The immunoprecipitation results further illustrated the fact that CaBP-9k could directly interact with ERα,and E2 could increase the interaction between CaBP-9k and ERα.Conclusion Estrogen might induce CaBP-9k expression via ERα mediated pathway and CaBP-9k could directly combine with ERα,suggesting that CaBP-9k might be involved in the biological effects mediated by ER pathway in GH3 cells.

AIM:To examine the difference of vascular remodeling between aorta and small artery in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and control rats.METHODS:Male SHR (20-week-old) were used as experiment group,and age matched male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as control group.The systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured once a week.At 43 weeks old,the rats were anaesthetized,blood samples were collected,and thoracic aorta and mesenteric small artery tissue were harvested.The morphological changes of the arterial tissue were observed with HE staining.The collagen and elastine fibers were detected by the Sirius red-Victoria blue staining.The protein expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagens were analyzed by confocal laser-scanning microscopy and Western blot.The changes of the vascular ultrastructure were imaged by transmission electron microscopy.The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the cell apoptosis in the arterial wall were examined by immunohistochemical method and TdT-mediated dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) detection.RESULTS:The inner diameter (ID) and luminal cross-sectional area (LCSA) of mesenteric small artery were decreased,whereas ratio of wall thickness (WT) to ID (WT/ID) and ratio of wall cross-sectional area (WCSA) to LCSA (WCSA/LCSA) were increased.Meanwhile,adventitia fibroblast migrated to the nedia,with overload collagens,especially collagen Ⅲ.Proliferation index (PI) and apoptotic index (AI) of the mesenteric small artery wall cells were increased.The ID,LCSA,WT/ID and WCSA/LCSA of the aorta were increased.Moreover,the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia,with overload collagens.The PI and AI of the aortic wall cells were increased.CONCLUSION:The difference of vascular remodeling between the aorta and small artery is significant.The small artery mainly appears hyperplasia of matrix,especially the adventitial collagen Ⅲ.Meanwhile,the cell apoptosis in the small artery wall is increased.The aorta mainly appears hyperplasia and hypertrophy of media VSMCs.

The electrochemical mechanism of austenitic stainless steel (SUS316L and SUS317L) coronary stents in flowing artificial body fluid has been investigated with electrochemical technologies. The results indicated that the flowing medium coursed the samples' pitting potential Eb shift negatively, increased the pitting corrosion sensitivity, accelerated its anodic dissolution, but had little effects on repassivated potential. The flowing environment had great effects on cathodic process. The oxygen reaction on the samples' surface became faster as the cathodic process was not controlled by oxygen diffusion but by mixed diffusion and electrochemical process. With the increase of velocity of solution, the pitting corrosion becomes liable to occur under this circumstance.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Body Fluids ; chemistry ; Corrosion ; Electrochemistry ; Materials Testing ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry ; Stents