Background Scarring of the filtering bleb is a main cause of filtering surgical failure in glaucoma.It has been reposed that tetrandrine could suppress the proliferation of cultured human fibroblast of Tenons capsule in vitro and thus has the potential effect to prevent scarring after the filtering surgery. Objective Present study was to investigate the anti-cicatricial effect of tetrandrine drug delivery system(Tet DDS)during filtration surgery. Methods Filtration surgery was performed in bilateral eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits.The Tet DDS with 0.3 mg Tet,0.2 mg Tet or free-Tet were implanted subcunjunctially during the surgery.The filtering blebs were scored in 1 day,4,7,10,14 days after referring to the corneal thickness and bleb range under the slit-lamp biomicroscopy.The morphology of filtering bleb was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy in 7 and 14 days after operation.The filtering bleb specimen was prepared in 7 and 14 days for the histopathological examination. Results The filtering bleb scores in Tet DDS implantation groups were significantly higher than those in free-Tet DDS group from 4 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.01),and the scores showed a considerably increase in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group compared with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group from 7 days through 14 days after trabeculectomy(P＜0.05).The filtering blebs of Tet DDS implantation groups were found with distinct subepithelial cystic spaces under the light microscopy and in vivo confocal microscopy on the 7th day and 14th day after surgery.Compared with free-Tet DDS group,the numbers of subepithelial mierocysts were much more(P＜0.01)and the area of microcysts was larger(P＜0.01)in Tet DDS group.The filtering tissue presented with more subepithelial microcysts and larger microcysts range in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group than 0.2 mg Tet DDS group in 7 and 14 days after operation(P＜0.05).The inflammatory cell infiltration wag milder in 0.3 mg Tet DDS group in comparison with 0.2 mg Tet DDS group and free-Ted DDS group.Conclusion Tet DDS has strong inhibitory effects on inflammatory cells activity and fibroblagt activity the early stage after filtering surgery and therefore improve the surgery success rate.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and analyze the relationship of HP infection with the symptoms, disease progression and motor complications of PD.Methods 72 PD outpatients were randomly selected, and 100 gender and age-matched subjects who took health physical examination were considered as healthy controls.Basic data were collected and estimated by Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Hoehn and Yahr stage, the 39-item Parkinson' s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA).All subjects underwent 13C-urea breath test to determine Helicobacter pylori infection status.Results There was no significant difference in H P infection rate between PD and control groups [37.5 ％ (27 cases)vs.32.0％ (32 cases), P=0.45].According to the initial symptoms, PD patients were divided into two groups: bradykinesia/ rigidity group and tremor group.The HP infection rate was higher in bradykinesia/rigidity group than in tremor group [52.2％ (12 cases) vs.30.6％ (15 cases)], but had no significant difference (P=0.08).The mean HY stage was higher in the HP-infected patient group than in the non-infected group [(2.6±0.7) vs.(2.2±0.9), P=0.03].The HP infection rate was higher in patients with HY stage ≥2 than with HY stage ＜2 [46.4％ (26 cases) vs.6.3％ (1 case),P=0.003].There were no correlations of HP infection with gender, age, age of onset, UPDRS, UPDRS-Ⅲ, PDQ-39, the course of the disease, wearing-off phenomenon, and dyskinesias.Conclusions The PD patients with HP infection are mainly at middle-and late-stage.HP infection may be related with the progress of the disease.It needs further study and validation by expanding the sample to investigate whether HP infection affects the motor complications.

Malignant tumors are major diseases that endanger human health. Due to their complex and variable microenvironment, most anti-tumor drugs cannot precisely reach the focal tissue and be released in a controlled manner. Intelligent responsive nano carriers have become a hot spot in the field of anti-tumor drug delivery systems. As an excellent nano material, mesoporous silica has the advantages of non-toxic, stable, adjustable pore volume and pore diameter, and easy functional modification on the surface. By virtue of its perceptive response to the tumor microenvironment or physiological changes, it can achieve the targeted drug release or controlled drug release of the drug delivery system in the tissue, making it an ideal carrier for intelligent response drug delivery system. In this paper, we review the design strategies and current research status of smart responsive anti-tumor drug delivery systems based on mesoporous silica, in order to provide a reference for the development of anti-tumor drug nanoformulations.

Objective To investigate the neuroimaging features in mitochondrial encephalomyopatbies with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes(MELAS).Methods Twenty-two clinically diagnosed patients who came from department of neurology,Huashan hospital in October 2003 to July 2006 were analyzed for CT,MRI,MRI contrast,MRA and MRS.Results In all 22 patients,the neuroimaging results of 21 were positive.There were 9 patients lying in hemisphere,12 in both cerebral hemispheres,including occipital,parietal,temporal and frontal lobe.The abnormal areas showed low signal intensity on T_1-weighted MRI,high signal intensity on T_2-weighted MRI and fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)images.The lesions of 12/16 patients on MR contrasted images were enhanced.The lesions of one patient showed malacoma-like changes,one showed Fahr syndrome' s change and another showed high signal intensity on MR contrasted images.Conclusion Although the neuroimaging features of MELAS are complicated,the specific ones could help to make the diagnosis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of CT guided percutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy in treatment of hepatic cysts.Methods Sixty three patients with single(n=41)and muttiple(n= 22)hepatic cysts were undertaken CT guided pereutaneous aspiration and sclerotherapy with injection of absolute alcohol.Results Sixty three patients underwent follow-up for 3-15 months after the operation showing effective indexes as grade 0 for 4(6.39%),gradeⅠfor 8(12.69%),gradeⅡfor 23(36.51%)and gradeⅢfor 28(44.44%)cases.The total effective rate reached 93.61%.No serious complications occurred. Conclusion Sclerosing therapy with absolute alcohol is safe,economic,simple and effective for treating hepatic cysts.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:850-852)

OBJECTIVE: To access application value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) and coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) in investigation the coronary artery disease (CAD), and to explore the effective way of virtual autopsy to evaluate the sudden death due to CAD. METHODS: Nine cases of sudden cardiac death were collected to analyze MSCT before the autopsy. The quantitative analysis of the degree of coronary artery calcium was made by Agatston's method. The CACS of all the subjects were calculated based on the diagnostic criteria for CAD, in which calcium scoring was more than 400. The results of CACS were compared with that of the autopsy. RESULTS: Only 2 cases got the high calcium scoring which were more than 400 in the 9 cases died of CAD confirmed by the autopsy. The prediction rate of CACS for CAD was only 22.2%. Pulmonary edema of different severity was found in both autopsy and MSCT. There was a higher morbidity rate in the left anterior descending of coronary artery than the other branches. CONCLUSION Obvious calcification of coronary artery can be detected by MSCT and calculating CACS. To detect subtle calcification needs other technologies such as postmortem angiography.
Autopsy ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/diagnostic imaging* ; Death, Sudden/pathology* ; Humans ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/methods* ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Vascular Calcification/diagnostic imaging*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of cryopreserved and thawed peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) fractionated return infusions in children. 35 children patients with malignant tumors (13 acute leukaemias, 15 neuroblastomas and 7 malignant lymphomas) received fractionated return infusions of cryopreserved stem cells after undergoing high-dose chemotherapy without or with total body irradiation. The toxicities of 70 return infusions were evaluated. All patients were mobilized by chemotherapy plus recombination human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), and then PBSCs were collected by a separator CS-3000 plus or COBE spectra-4. The grafts were cryopreserved in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSD) and stored in liquid nitrogen. There were totally 70 PBSC transfusions. The total volume of PBSCs transfused: 190 - 420 ml (265 +/- 73 ml or 13.7 +/- 4.2 ml/kg) with a mean of (4.43 +/- 1.91) x 10(8)/kg of PBSCs, and 0.94 +/- 0.18 g/kg of DMSO. The single dose: 90 - 300 ml (132 +/- 37 ml or 6.6 +/- 5.2 ml/kg) with a mean of 0.68 +/- 0.12 g/kg of DMSO. Symptoms occurring during the infusions were recorded. All patients were monitored for 24 hours after infusion. Pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, and respiratory rate were recorded every 15 minutes. At four hours before and 8 hours after infusion, urinalysis was performed. Serum potassium, sodium, creatinine, total bilirubin, aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were examined within 24 hours before and after the first infusion. The results showed that the toxicities observed included hemoglobinuria in 54 return infusions (77.1%), headache in 28 (40.0%), nausea in 24 (34.3%), vomiting in 17 (24.3%), and abdominal pain in 8 (11.4%). Patients who received a graft > 200 ml tended to have a higher frequency of hemoglobinuria, headache, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain (P<0.01), and they disappeared quickly, too. Total bilirubin increased after the first return infusion (P<0.01), and there was a significant correlation between the volume of infusion and the degree of total bilirubin increase (r=0.8977, P<0.01). No renal failure or shock occurred. It is concluded that transient hemoglobinuria, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are common toxicities associated with PBSC autograft, and these toxicities are related with a single volume of PBSCs transfused. Total bilirubin increase is correlated with the volume of infusion. In a word, the toxicity is less frequent and lower severe in children with fractionated infusions of cryopreserved peripheral blood stem cell.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Headache ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Hemoglobinuria ; etiology ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Lymphoma ; therapy ; Male ; Nausea ; etiology ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Neuroblastoma ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Recombinant Proteins

AIMTo investigate the water-soluble steroidal saponins in total saponin from Dioscorea nipponica Makino and look for new active compounds.

METHODSThe compounds were isolated with silica gel, PTLC and HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by acid hydrolysis, physical and chemical data and spectral analysis (IR, NMR, MS, HMQC, HMBC) as well as chemical correlations.

RESULTSThe two steroidal saponins (water-insoluble saponin and water-soluble saponin) were isolated from the total saponin of Dioscorea nipponica Makino. The structures were elucidated as diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopy ranosyl (1-->2)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (I), diosgenin 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (II).

CONCLUSIONCompound II is a new steroidal saponin and firstly isolated from Dioscorea nipponica Makino. It was named as dioscin Dc.

Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

INTRODUCTIONFunctioning and quality of life (QOL) are negatively impacted as a result of mental illness. This study aimed to determine the: i) socio-demographic and clinical correlates of functioning and; ii) associations between functioning and QOL in a multiethnic sample of psychiatric outpatients.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a cross-sectional study of outpatients receiving treatment from a tertiary psychiatric hospital. Functioning was assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, while QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) which comprises 4 domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment.

RESULTSVarious socio-demographic and clinical correlates were associated with functioning including employment and marital status, education and diagnosis. Depression was the only clinical characteristic which negatively correlated with functioning (= 0.035). Amongst the whole sample, multiple linear regressions revealed that functioning was positively associated with all 4 QOL domains (physical health [<0.001], psychological health [<0.001], social relationships [<0.001] and environment [<0.001]). Further analysis of each diagnostic group revealed that functioning was positively associated with all 4 QOL domains in the anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder subsamples, while in the schizophrenia subsample, functioning was only significantly associated with all environment domain.

CONCLUSIONFunctional impairments were associated with different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, which should be addressed when planning tailored treatment and interventions. Given that functioning is significantly associated with QOL, it is crucial to regularly assess and monitor them (in addition to symptomatic outcomes and adopting a more holistic and biopsychosocial approach).

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of antiviral agents on intrahepatic HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSSeventy-one HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. Lamivudine was administered to 35 patients for 48 weeks, sequential therapy with lamivudine-IFN alpha-2b to 24 of the 71 patients for 48 weeks, and interferon alpha (IFN alpha-2b) was administered to 12 for 24 weeks. All subjects were followed-up for 24 weeks. Serum HBV DNA, intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA were measured quantitatively by PCR. HBV genotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSForty-eight weeks of sequential lamivudine-IFN alpha-therapy and lamivudine monotherapy and 24 weeks of IFN alpha monotherapy reduced the intrahepatic HBV DNA to (4.7+/-1.1) log10, (4.6+/-1.5) log10 and (5.6+/-1.5) log10, and cccDNA to (3.4+/-1.3) log10, (3.8+/-1.1) log10 and (5.0+/-1.5) log10, significantly lower than therapy (P < 0.05). Seventeen of the 71 patients developed HBeAg seroconversion, and the reduction of cccDNA in the HBeAg seroconverted patients was significantly more than that of the HBeAg positive patients (P < 0.05). After 24 weeks of antiviral therapy withdrawal, 18 patients achieved sustained virological response, and the baseline intrahepatic cccDNA in the patients with sustained virological response was significantly lower than that of patients with virological rebound (P < 0.05). The change in intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the reduction in intrahepatic HBV DNA (P < 0.05). The cccDNA levels correlated with the serum HBeAg titers at the end of the treatment (P < 0.01). Of the total 71 cases, HBV genotype C accounted for 85.9% (n = 61), and genotype B for 14.1% (n = 10). There was no significant difference in the changes of intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA levels between HBV genotypes C and B (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth 48 weeks of sequential lamivudine-IFN alpha and lamivudine monotherapy strongly reduced intrahepatic HBV DNA and cccDNA more than 24 weeks of IFN alpha monotherapy. Low baseline intrahepatic cccDNA levels might predict a good long-term efficacy of antiviral treatment. The reduction of intrahepatic cccDNA correlated positively with the changes of intrahepatic HBV DNA, and intrahepatic cccDNA levels correlated with serum HBeAg titers. HBV genotypes had no obvious influence on intrahepatic HBV DNA load or cccDNA load.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Circular ; DNA, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; Young Adult