The concentration of precursors for the production of taxol with Fusarium mairei K178 was optimized by response surface methodology.Firstly,Plackett-Burman design was undertaken to evaluate the effects of eight factors.With statistic regression analysis,the significant factors affecting taxol production were determined as follows: phenylalanine,sodium acetate and sodium benzoate.Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the three critical internal factors mentioned above,and the optimum concentration levels and the relationships among these factors was found out.By quadratic regression model equation with Design-Expert statistic methods,the optimal concentration of the variables were determined as: phenylalanine 2.8mg/L,sodium acetate 3.3g/L,sodium benzoate 31.8mg/L.Under such conditions,the taxol production was increased to 242.6?g/L,which was 15.6% higher than the maximum value in the single factor tests.The experiment values under the optimal conditions agreed with the predicted values,which indicated that the model was proper and effective.

This study aimed to explore the impact of depression caused by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on in vivo activity of six kinds of CYP450 isoforms in rats. According to 'Katz' method, the model of CUMS was established. Tolbutamide, chlorzoxazone, theophylline, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan were chosen as probe substrates of CYP2C6, CYP2E1, CYP1A2, CYP3A2, CYP2D1 and CYP2D2 of rats. Plasma concentration of six kinds of CYP450 in control group and model group were determined by LC-MS/MS and computed pharmacokinetic parameters. Consequently, metabolism of theophylline and chlorzoxazone accelerated significantly (P < 0.01), but tolbutamide, dextromethorphan, omeprazole and midazolam had no significant difference. The present study proved that depression caused by CUMS had strong induction to CYP1A2 and medium induction to CYP2E1.
Animals ; Chlorzoxazone ; metabolism ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Depression ; Dextromethorphan ; metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; Midazolam ; metabolism ; Omeprazole ; metabolism ; Rats ; Stress, Physiological ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Theophylline ; metabolism ; Tolbutamide ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of rhubarb in treating secondary damage of central nerve system (CNS) in rats with acute hemorrhagic stroke (AHS) and to explore the possible mechanism.

METHODSThe rat's AHS model was established by autologous blood injection, the effect of rhubarb on the secondary damage of CNS, plasminogen (PLG) in brain and tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were observed.

RESULTS(1) The nerve function deficit signs reappeared in about 70% model rats 4 - 6 days after modeling and reached the peak at day 6 - 8, scored as 1.63 +/- 0.72 on day 4 and as 2.32 +/- 1.12 on day 7; (2) Rhubarb could effectively improve the secondary nerve function damage, with the nerve deficit scores kept to 1.24 +/- 0.19 from day 4 on, and no sign of secondary CNS damage was shown. The nerve deficit score was 1.22 +/- 0.15 on day 7 in the rhubarb treated group, showing significant difference as compared with that in the model group (P<0.05); (3) The specific amplified products of t-PA mRNA on day 3 and that of PLG mRNA on day 7 in CNS of model group were significantly higher than those in the sham operated group and the rhubarb treated group.

CONCLUSIONRhubarb could effectively reduce the secondary CNS damage in rats with AHS, it might be related with the suppressive effect of rhubarb on tPA mRNA and PLG mRNA expression in CNS.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Plasminogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Stroke ; blood ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo probe into the correlativity of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with traction on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with the three-dimensional location.

METHODSAccording to the three-dimensional location developed by HU You-gu, the position of the prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc in the spinal canal was located from the sagittal plain, frontal plain and horizontal plain. One hundred and thirty patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and completion of clinical data were treated with acupuncture, and the therapeutic effects were analyzed with three-dimensional location.

RESULTSAmong 98 cases in the effective group, 73 cases had the prolapse at the I plane in sagittal location, accounting for 74.49%, 82 cases had the prolapse at the 1, 2 zone in horizontal location, accounting for 83.68%, 52 cases had the prolapse at the a area in frontal location, accounting for 53.06%; among the 32 cases in the ineffective group, 10 cases had the prolapse at the I plane, accounting for 31.25%, 12 cases in the 1, 2 zone, accounting for 37.50%, 3 cases in the a area, accounting for 9.38%. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the location.

CONCLUSIONThe three-dimensional location can objectively show the size, direction, position, and the characteristics of the protruded discs, and correctly infer the pathological changes of the affected nerve root. Acupuncture combined with tract has a better effect on I plane, 1-2 zone, and a area.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Prolapse

0.05).Conclusion MK mRNA overexpresses in the breast cancer tissues.It might be considered to be a reference indicator for deter- mining the angiogenesis and invasion of breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

We reported a rare case of a dialysis patient coincident pituitary prolactinoma with calcification. A 55-year-old woman who had undergone hemodialysis for 8 years was admitted to the nephrology unit because of headache, blurred vision, and hypotension. Physical examination was normal; endocrinological examination demonstrated elevated serum levels of prolactin (> 4240 mIU/L), but other hormonal profiles, such as growth hormon, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, were absolutely or relatively lower. A cranial computed tomography (CT) suggested saddle area a high-density screenage with an anteroposterior diameter of 1.0 cm. A cerebral magnetic resonance scan confirmed the pituitary adenoma accompanied with calcification. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images revealed a less enhancing tumor, 14 mm wide round lesion with a high intensity signal. It enlarges the sella turcica, but the optic chiasma is not displaced. We suggest that in the differential diagnosis of any hemodialysis patient with severe headache, hypotension, and visual disturbances, this syndrome should be considered as prompt pituitary adenoma.
Female ; Headache ; parasitology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Prolactinoma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Renal Dialysis ; Vision Disorders ; pathology

Objective CD4 +IL-17 +cells are a group of newly discovered effector CD4 +T cells, which may play a key role in the pathogenesis of cancer.This study aims to investigate the expres-sion of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of the dis-ease as well as the clinical significance of the cells in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected tumor tis-sue and tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples from 51 pancreatic cancer patients.We determined the expressions of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and measured the proportion of IL-17 +cells in the cancer tissue using immunohistochemistry and the fluorescence activated cell sorter, respectively, followed by analysis of their correlation with tumor angiogenesis, clinicopathological pa-rameters, and survival time of the patients. Results The percentage of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in tumor tissue was positively correlated with microvessel density (r =0.534, P<0.05) and the expression of VEGF in the tumor tissue (r=0.356, P<0.05).IL-17 +cells were expressed more highly in the tumorous than in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue (P<0.05), and the expression level was correla-ted with the stage of tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with the patients′gender or age, tumor size, tumor location, histological grade, or local invasion (P>0.05).Fifty (98.0%) of the patients were successfully followed up for 2-67 months, which revealed a median survival time of 16.6 ±4.8 months, significantly longer in those with a higher expression of intratumoral IL-17 +cells (P<0.05).Univariate analysis showed an association of the survival rate with the tumor size, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and level of intratumoral IL-17 +cells, while multivariate analysis showed the TNM stage to be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of the pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusion The expression of CD4 +IL-17 +cells in the tumor tissue is positively correlated with tumor angiogenesis, while that of IL-17 +cells with the clinicopathological parameters and survival time of the patients and therefore may serve as an important immune indicator for the prognosis of pancreatic cancer.

AIM:To observe the application efficiency of 5g/L indocyanine green ( ICG ) staining technique for continuous circular capsulorhexis ( CCC ) during phacoemulsification in white cataract.
METHODS:Ninety-eight patients (98 eyes) with white cataract were randomly divided into staining group ( 50 cases, 50 eyes) and control group (48 cases, 48 eyes). The control group didn't do anterior capsule staining. The staining group was injected to fill the anterior chamber, 5g/L ICG 0.1mL was applied on the central surface of the anterior capsule, using a 27G blunt needle through the side-port after 30s, and the redundant ICG was replaced by BSS, and continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis was accomplished using capsulorhexis forceps.
RESULTS: In staining group: after ICG staining, the capsule, which presented uniform light green and visualization of the anterior capsule was significantly improved. There are 48 eyes capsulorhexis success. The rate of success was 96%. Meanwhile, in control group, there was 29 eyes capsulorhexis success. The rate of success was 60%. The difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). During follow-up, no dye particle and the complications of iritis or high intraocular pressure were found in the eyes of staining group. Anterior chamber inflammation, corneal opacity compared with control group, the difference was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION:Indocyanine green staining increases the visibility of anterior capsule in over mature cataract, and it should be an effective and helpful method which can increase the success rate of capsulorehxis. At the same time, it can reduce the incidence of intraoperative complications. This will help beginners quickly grasp continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, and shorten the learning curve.

AIM:To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on acute alcoholic hepatic injury in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms .METHODS:Kunming mice (n=50) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10):normal saline control (NS) group, acute alcoholic hepatic injury model (E) group, low-dose (10μg/kg) DEX (E+L) group, medium-dose (50 μg/kg) DEX (E+M) group and high-dose (100 μg/kg) DEX (E+H) group.The animals were sacrificed at 6 h after gavage of alcohol or normal saline .The levels of alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) , as-partate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dis-mutase ( SOD) were measured .The livers were removed for evaluation of histological characteristics and determining the content of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) amd interleukin-1β( IL-1β) in the liver tissues by ELISA .The expression levels of cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and nuclear factor -κB (NF-κB) in the liver tissues were evaluated by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with NS group, the levels of ALT, AST and TG were obviously increased in E group , which were obviously decreased in E +M and E+H groups.Compared with NS group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1βand MDA were obviously increase in E group , which were obviously decreased in E +M and E+H groups.Compared with NS group, the activity of SOD and the content of GSH were obviously decreased in E group , which were obviously increased in E +M and E+H groups.Compared with NS group, the expression of CYP2E1 and NF-κB was obviously increase in E group , which was obviously decreased in E +M and E+H groups.Compared with NS group , ethanol induced marked liver histo- logical injury, which was less pronounced in E +M and E+H groups.CONCLUSION: DEX has a protective effect on mouse liver with acute alcoholic injury by the involvement in the processes of antioxidation and antiinflammation , and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of CYP 2E1 and NF-κB expression.