Objective This study is undertaken to evaluate the changes of serum cytokine levels in different stages of collagen induced arthritis(CIA)rats,to search for the specific proteins related with rheuma- toid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis and inflammation,and to explore the mechanism of RA pathogenesis.Methods Rat cytokine antibody array coated with 19 specific cytokine antibodies was used to examine serum samples at peak and late stage of CIA rats,and were compared to normal cytokine levels.At the same time,ELISA assay for serum TNF-?production was used to verify the array results.Results Among the target cytokines,10 up- regulating cytokines were kept in high expression in different phases of disease,while 1 showed significant change only at the peak of disease.There was no downregnlating cytokines in the results.Serum TNF-?assay results were consistent to the array results.Conclusion Cytokines show different expression in CIA at differ- ent stages,and specific cytokines can be used as the candidates to further study of the RA pathogenesis.This study also provides molecular makers for early diagnosis.

AIM:To investigate the correlation between matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-1(TIMP-1),MMP-9/TIMP-1 and carotid atheromatous plaque stability in cerebral infarction patients.METHODS:80 patients with cerebral infarction were categorized as microemboli-negative group(n=70)and microemboli-positive group(n=10),20 normal human were served as control group.The MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in plasma were determined by mean of ELISA in 3 groups.RESULTS:The levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in plasma were significantly higher in cerebral infarction patients than those in control group(P

Objective To assess the value of whole cerebral perfusion weighted map (PWM) and whole cerebral perfusion blood volume (PBV) integrating in scan protocol about CT perfusion (CTP) combined with CT angiography (CTA) in acute cerebral infarction. Methods Twenty-three patients with acute cerebral infarction proved clinically underwent CTP examination combined with CTA. The color-coded images of PWM and PBV were attained using workstation, and the raw data of contract CTA images and subtractive images between contract CTA and non-contract CTA were processed. The diagnostic sensitivity and the value of CTP and PWM, PBV integrating CTP in acute cerebral infraction were evaluated. Results Seven of 9 patients with negative results on CTP images had positive expressions on PWM and PBV images. The sensitivity of CTP was 60.87% and the sensitivity of PWM and PBV integrating CTP was 91.30%. Conclusion The scan protocol of PWM, PBV integrating CTP not only increases detection rate of acute cerebral infraction, but also has ability to predict the clinical prognosis of patients with cerebral infraction.

Objective To investigate the effect of manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) at 7.0T for tracing nerve tracts in rat brain in vivo. Methods With brain stereotactic apparatus, 0.4 μl Mncl_2 with aqueous solution of 1 mol/L was injected into the right somatosensory cortex of 9 SD rats. MR scan was performed for tracing corticospinal tracts and other coherent nerve tracts pre-, and 24, 48, 72 h, 7 days post-injection with 7.0T micro-MRI system, respectively. Results Corticospinal tracts were showed in intact after Mn~(2+) administration from somatosensory cortex, thalamus, cerebral peduncle to pons at the time point of 24, 48, 72 h and 7 days, while the best tdisplaying was achieved at 24-48 h after Mn~(2+) administration. Simultaneously a small quantity of Mn~(2+) reached the opposite somatosensory cortex through the corpus callosum. Conclusion MEMRI for tracing rat nerve tracts can be showed clearly with 7.0T MRI. The location of manganese-enhanced corticospinal tracts in agreement with the rat brain atlas in stereotaxic is in agreement with that Paxinos' published. MEMRI can display the relationship between the two sides of hemisphere, and may play an important role in investigating the brain function and nerve plasticity after nerve injury in vivo.

Animals ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Physical Conditioning, Animal ; Physical Endurance ; physiology ; Quadriceps Muscle ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Salvianolic acid A (Sal A) is one of the most effective compounds isolated from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Up to now, several studies regarding the pharmacokinetic profiles of Sal A have been reported, however there is no such study reported in monkeys, the species which is more similar to human. The aim of this study is to develop a LC-MS method for the determination of Sal A in monkey plasma and apply it to the pharmacokinetic studies of monkeys. After single intravenous administration of Sal A, the plasma concentration-time curves were observed and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. The plasma concentration at 2 min (C2 (min)) values were (28.343 ± 6.426), (45.679 ± 12.301) and (113.293 ± 24.360) mg x L(-1) for Rhesus monkeys treated with Sal A at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg x kg(-1). The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC(0-∞)) values were (3.316 ± 0.871), (5.754 ± 2.150) and (13.761 ± 2.825) μg x L(-1) x h, respectively. Furthermore, this method was improved and applied to the simultaneous determination of Sal A, Sal B and Sal C, which provided useful information for preclinical studies and clinical trials of Sal A, Sal B and Sal C.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Caffeic Acids ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactates ; pharmacokinetics ; Macaca mulatta ; Mass Spectrometry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

The endophytic bacteria of the mangroves were studied in this paper. The results show that there are 1.728 (0. 195 -4.225)?104cfu/g (fw) bacterial endophytes in the variety of mangroves, the most population of the endophytic bacteria was found in Rhizophora stylosa, the figure was4. 225?104cfu/g (fw) , the next was Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel and Avicennia marina. In parts of the mangroves, the contents of the bacteria in stem was the most, the figure was 1. 649?10 cfu/g (fw) , then the root and the leaf. Of the bacteria, about 43. 53% strains expressed the antagonism against the growth of the plant pathogens, such as Fusarium oxyspontm f. sp. cubense , Colletotrichum sp. and Rahtonia solanaceance etc. and these bacteria were identified as Bacillus sp. . The results also showed that 9 of the 13 strains (69. 23% ) could promote the growth of the tomato, while 4 strains (30. 77% ) restrained the tomato's growth.

Objective To evaluate the pulmonary imaging features in patients with severe or critical severe A H1N1 influenza. Methods Clinical and imaging findings of 18 cases with H1N1 pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into 2 groups including severe group (n=11) and critical group (n=7). Results Among the severe group, bilateral ill-defined nodules and patch shadows were found in 8 cases, local ill-defined patchy was shown in 3 cases, and consolidation of right inferior lung was demonstrated by CT scan in 1 case. Among the critical group, diffuse ground-glass attenuation with partial consolidation were found in bilateral lungs of 4 cases, subcutaneous emphysema was observed in 1 case. CT showed diffuse ground-glass attenuation and nodular like consolidation in bilateral inferior lungs in 1 case, and other 3 cases showed diffuse consolidation of bilateral lungs. Conclusions The radiologic findings of severe and critical severe pulmonary infections with H1N1 include ill-defined nodules and patch shadows of bilateral lung in sever patients, diffuse peribronchial ground-glass opacity and multifocal consolidation in critical severe patients. The radiologists should learn the features of H1N1 pneumonia on thoracic plain film and CT to make diagnosis in time.

Objective To study the role of manganese-enhanced MRI(MEMRI) in the depiction of cortical architecture of rat brain after systemic administration of Mn~(2+) through caudal vein and compare the effects of normal or opened blood-brain barrier on the manganese-enhanced MRI. Methods Fifteen SD rats were randomly divided into three groups according to ranked list of random. Blood-brain barrier was opened in short time by the injection of 30% mannitol via the right internal carotid artery, in group A, then 100 mmol/L MnCl_2 physiologic saline solution was delivered through vena caudalis, and MRI was performed 12 hours later. In group B, 100 mmol/L MnCl_2 physiologic saline solutions was administrated through vena caudalis, following normal saline injection into the right internal carotid artery, and MRI was performed 12 hours later. The group C served as normal control group. All images were acquired with a 7.0 T microMR scanner. Signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) in regions of interest were measured by Paravision 4.0 and the differences of three groups were compared by using one-way ANOVA. The differences of SNR on both sides of hemispheres were compared by using paired t test. Results MEMRI could show the gray matter and white matter of rat brain and the anatomy borders between somatosensory cortex and motor cortex clearly. Periventricular structures such as hippocampus, dentate gyms, habenula united, and olfactory bulb could also be showed clearly. Symmetrical enhancement on both sides of the cortex and banded structures was shown clearly in group B. The SNR increased and the differences were significant in right cerebral cortex, both sides of cerebellar cortex, hippocampus and pituitary, among three groups (right cerebral cortex 35.2±7.0,30.1±2.4,26.6±2.8,F =4.36,P=0.038;left cerebellar cortex 27.1±5.2,29.4±3.8,19.4±4.5, F=6.66, P=0.011;right cerebellar cortex 27.8±3.8,28.5±4.2,20.4±4.8, F=5.84, P=0.017; left hippocampus 34.5±4.9,38.1±5.3,24.5±3.6, F=11.38, P=0.002; right hippocampus 35.3±5.5, 37.6±4.7,25.6±3.0,F=9.93,P=0.003;pituitary 39.5±3.8,52.6±9.1,26.2±4.2,F=22.80, P=0.001) after systemic administration of Mn~(2+). Asymmetric enhancement on two sides of cortex was shown in group A. The mannitol-infused side was enhanced obviously but displayed blurring banded structures. However,the SNR differences of both sides of hemispheres in group A and B were not significant (P >0.05). Conclusions After systemic administration of MnCl_2 through vena caudalis, MEMRI could map the laminar architectures and the anatomy border of functional zone of somatosensory cortex specifically. High concentration of mannitol could open blood brain barrier(BBB) effectively and have distinct impacts on the architectures displayed in MEMRI. Opening or maintaining BBB in MEMRI had respective characteristics, and it should be selected according to practical needs.

OBJECTIVE:To establish the method for the determination of mildronate in human plasma and urine,and to study the pharmacokinetic characteristics in healthy volunteers. METHODS:After precipitating plasma and urine sample,LC-MS/MS method was adopted. Dikma Diamonsil C18 column was used with mobile phase consisted of methanol-water(containing 0.2% for-mic acid,0.3% ammonium acetate)(31∶69,V/V)at the flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. ESI was adopted in MRM mode,by using nega-tive ion. The ion for quantitative analysis were m/z 147.10→58.20 (mildronate) and m/z 152.00→110.10 (internal standard,acet-aminophen). The pharmacokinetic parameters of mildronate with single administration and multiple administration were calculated by using DAS 2.1 software and compared. RESULTS:The linear range of mildronate in plasma were 0.02-20 ng/ml(r=0.999 3) and in urine were 0.05-40 ng/ml(r=0.998 2). The lowest limits of quantitation were 0.02 and 0.05 ng/ml. Precision and recovery met the requirements of biological specimen determination,and endogenous impurities hadn’t effect on the determination. The main pharmacokinetics parameters of low-dose,medium-dose and low-dose(250,500,750 mg)of mildronate in plasma with single ad-ministration were as follows:t1/2 were(3.39±0.81),(5.52±0.57)and(5.32±0.96)h;tmax were(0.80±0.45),(1.38±0.43)and (1.10±0.36)h;cmax were(4.17±1.46),(8.08±1.04)and(15.04±1.86)ng/ml;AUC0-36 h were(24.55±5.81),(45.50±7.07)and (85.60 ± 13.09)ng·h/ml. In the dose range,cmax,AUC0-36 h h had a linear relationship with dose (R2 were 0.974 5 and 0.968 3). The main pharmacokinetic parameters of low-dose of mildronate with multiple administration after keeping stable were as follows:cmin was(0.28 ± 0.10)ng/ml;AUCs was(38.78 ± 4.18)ng·h/ml;cs was(1.62 ± 0.17)ng/ml;DF was(3.81 ± 1.14);t1/2 was(6.17 ± 1.46)h;tmax was(1.20 ± 0.33)h;cmax was(6.46 ± 1.96)ng/ml;AUC0-36 h was(40.33 ± 4.65)ng·h/ml;accumulation factor of cmax and AUC were(1.73±0.90)and(1.64±0.40). Compared with single administration,t1/2,cmax and AUC of mildronate with multiple admin-istration after keeping stable all changed,and tmax had no signifi-cant difference. After single administration,26 h accumulative excretion rate of those groups were (0.004 009 ± 0.001 1)%, (0.004 026±0.001 01)% and(0.003 858±0.000 68)% respec-tively. CONCLUSIONS:Established method is sensitive,accurate and specific,and suitable for the determination of mildronate concentration in human plasma and urine and pharmacokinetics study. Mildronate capsule shows certain accumulation effect in healthy volunteers,and linear pharmacokinetic characteristics.