BACKGROUND:The rabbits were widely used as experimental animal models in the research on etiology and pathological mechanism of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. It is stil a valuable and realistic research topic to improve and to innovate the modeling technology nowadays. OBJECTIVE:To improve the modeling technology on osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits induced by glucocorticoid combined with lipopolysaccharide, with the focus on its reduced mortality and the guaranteed successful rate of modeling. METHODS:A total of 28 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into the control group (n=10) and improvement group (n=18). Models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were established according to different methods. In the improvement group, rabbits were injected with sodium penicilin (5.0 mg/kg) and amikacin sulfate (1.63×104 U/kg) in the left gluteus muscle. Twenty-four hours later, al rabbits were injected with prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) in the right gluteus muscle. Forty-eighthours later, 5.0 μg/kg of lipopolysaccharide was intravenously injectedvia the ear. From then on, two injections of prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) were respectively performed alternately in the left and right gluteal muscle at an interval of each 24 hours. Sodium penicilin (5.0 mg/kg) and amikacin sulfate (1.63×104 U/kg) were intraperitonealy injected for 2 consecutiveweeks. In the control group, 10 μg/kg lipopolysaccharide was injectedvia the ear vein of rabbit. From then on, prednisolone acetate (20 mg/kg) was intramuscularly injected at an interval of each 24 hours, totaly three times. Benzylpenicilin sodium 20×104 U/rabbit was intramuscularly injected once a week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Rabbit models of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were successfuly established in both groups. Compared with the control group, the mortality was significantly reduced after model establishment in the improvement group, and the bone lacuna and osteonecrosis of the femoral head were apparent. These findings indicated that the improved technology of model establishment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head could be used to aleviate the damage degree on the gluteal muscles, to guarantee the successful rate of modeling, and to noticeably reduce the mortality of rabbits.

The intracellular trafficking and subcellular distribution of exogenous gene is very important for gene delivery. A successful gene vehicle should overcome various barriers including endosomal membrane barriers to delivery gene to the target organelle. Traditional nonviral vehicle is unable to avoid endosomal pathway efficiently, so the efficiency of gene delivery is low and the application of gene drugs is limited. In order to achieve efficient nonviral gene delivery, a lot of researches based on endosomal escape have been carried out and some agents with the function of endsomal escape have been found. These agents facilitate the endsomal escape via various mechanisms, such as fusion into the lipid bilayer of endosomes, pore formation in the endosomal membrane, proton sponge effect and photochemical methods to rupture the endosomal membrane. In this review, various reported strategies for endsomal escape are described according to the escape mechanisms, and their applications in intracellular gene delivery are also discussed.
Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Endosomes ; metabolism ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo verify the pharmacological hypothesis of prescriptions by studying the targeted distribution of major components in stewed rhubarb in the rat model with acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODNormal SD rats (control group, n = 5) and the AP model induced with intraperitoneal cerulein (model group, n = 5) were taken as the experimental objects. Rats of the two groups were orally administered with stewed rhubarb granules (20 g x kg(-1)). Their heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and pancreas were collected two hours after the administration. Such constituents as emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, rhein and aloe-emodin and their concentrations in each tissue homogenate were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-mass-mass.

RESULTAloe-emodin and physcion in stewed rhubarb whose concentrations in liver and kidney of normal rats were higher than that in pancreatic tissues, while the distribution spectrums and concentrations of the remaining components in pancreatic tissues had no significant difference with that of other organs. The concentrations of emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein and chrysophanol in stewed rhubarb in pancreatic tissues of the AP model group were higher than that in other tissues and organs, while their concentrations in pancreatic, renal and splenic tissues were notably higher than that in the normal group.

CONCLUSIONIn the conditions of AP, effective components in stewed rhubarb show a targeted distribution feature in pancreas, which provides experimental basis for the pharmacological hypothesis of prescriptions.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Pancreatitis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer, and to probe the relationship between the levels of IL-2, IL-8, IgG, IgA and IgM and the progress of cancer.

METHODSThe serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 72 case of primary esophageal cancer, 68 advanced esophageal cancer and 120 healthy controls, and the level of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer was dynamically observed.

RESULTSThe IL-2 level in patients with early esophageal cancer [(1.69 +/- 0.53) ng/ml] or late esophageal cancer [(1.11 +/- 0.60) ng/ml] was lower than the control group [(2.78 +/- 0.51) ng/ml] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was lower than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 in patients with early esophageal cancer [(85.48 +/- 6.14) ng/L] or late esophageal cancer [(121.41 +/- 6.22) ng/L] was much higher than the control group [(54.48 +/- 12.20) ng/L] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was much higher than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.01); There was correlation between the levels of IL-2 and IL-8 and the worsen-extent of the tumour in patients with early esophageal cancer or late esophageal cancer. But the level of IgG [(12.23 +/- 2.50) g/L], IgM [(1.60 +/- 0.80) g/L] in the patients with esophageal cancer compared with the level of IgG [(11.65 +/- 3.70) g/L], IgM [(1.46 +/- 0.71) g/L] in the health control group have no significant difference (P > 0.05), the level of IgA [(3.50 +/- 1.10) g/L] in patients with esophageal cancer Compared with the control group [(1.88 +/- 1.08) g/L] has significant difference (P < 0.01), and along with the worsen-extent of the tumor in patients the level of IgA has the increased tendency.

CONCLUSIONThe IL-8 might accelerate the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer, and the IL-2 might restrain. The positive correlation between the level of IgA and the patients with esophageal cancer is observed in this study; the immune maladjustment of IL-2, IL-8 and IgA might be correlative to esophageal cancer, and the IL-2, IL-8 and IgA levels might be an available index for the severity of esophageal cancer, Which may be of some help for clinic practitioners to judge the progress, curative effect and prognosis of the cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVETo analyze the pharmacokinetics of intraperitoneal chemotherapy with mitomycin C (MMC) bound to activated carbon particles.

METHODSA nude mouse model with transplanted human gastric cancer was established. The mice were given MMC by i.v. or intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections, or given i.p. MMC bound to activated carbon particles (MMC-CH). Pharmacokinetic assays were carried out at different time points (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h) in 7 mice per each time point, to compare the MMC concentrations revealed by the above mentioned methods.

RESULTSThe MMC concentration in peritoneal exudate, omentum and lymph nodes of MMC-CH group was significantly higher than that of MMC solution i.p. group and MMC i.v. group (P < 0.001). On the other hand, the MMC level in serum was significantly lower than that in two control groups (P < 0.001). High MMC level was maintained longer than 24 hours in the MMC-CH group. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy with MMC solution resulted in a low MMC concentration in serum, peritoneal exudates and lymph nodes, and only a transient high level of MMC in the omentum. After i.v. administration, a significantly higher level of MMC concentration occurred in the serum, but only a shortly increased concentration of MMC in the omentum, and lower concentration in peritoneal exudate and lymph nodes as compared with those in the other two groups (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONHigh concentration of MMC in peritoneal exudate, omentum and lymph nodes maintained longer than 24 hours and a significantly lower MMC serum concentration can be achieved by administration of intraperitoneal administration of MMC bound to activated carbon particles.

Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Charcoal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the myocardial systolic function and ventricular remodeling in heart failure rat induced by myocardial infarction (MI) with S/SRI and MMP-9.

METHODSA total of 70 male SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: 4 weeks and 8 weeks MI (anterior descending branch of left coronary artery were ligated), sham operation (thoracotomy without ligation of coronary artery) and non-operated control group. The regional myocardial systolic function of rats was quantified with S/SRI. The myocardial MMP-9 expression was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSIn the 4 weeks MI group, all segment's Ssys, SRsys, the strain of end-systole were reduced while PSI was increased compared to sham and non-operated group with the exception of the inferior wall. These changes were more significant in 8 weeks MI group compared to the 4 weeks MI group. In the 4 weeks MI group, the expression of MMP-9 was significantly upregulated than the sham operation group and this upregulation was more significant at 8 weeks post MI.

CONCLUSIONSS/SRI can quantitative evaluate the regional systolic function of heart failure rat induced by myocardial infarction. Progressive upregulation of myocardial MMP-9 expression paralleled the deterioration of regional systolic function in this heart failure rat model.

Animals ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Systole ; Ventricular Remodeling

Objective To investigate the prevalence of and predisposing factors of atopic dermatitis (AD ) in 0 - 6 year-old children in rural and urban area of Tianjin. Methods The subjects were chosen by cluster sampling from kindergartens in Tianjin's urban and rural districts. Questionnaires were designed based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC ) and distributed to the children's parents via the teachers. Results In this survey, 3 749 questionaires were returned, of which 3 708 were valid. The response rate was 82.7% in total, 79.3% in the rural area, and 84.9% in the urban area. The age and gender distributions were similar in the urban and rural area. The prevalence rate of AD in these children was 2.9% in total, and it was higher in the urban area than in the rural area (3.5% vs 2.4%, x2 = 3.98, P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of prescription compatibility on the pharmacokinetics of components from Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD, ) in rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male rats were randomly and equally divided into the DCQD group, Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Polygonaceae) group, Houpo (Magnolia officinalis Rehd., Magnoliaceae) group, and Zhishi (Fructus Aurantii Immaturus, Rutaceae) group. The blood samples were collected before dosing and subsequently at 10, 15, 20, 30, 45 min, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h following gavage. The levels of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, honokiol, magnolol, hesperidin, and naringin in rat serum were quantified using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for pharmacokinetic study.

RESULTSThe area under the curve (AUC), mean retention time (MRT), the peak concentration (C(max)) of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, and chrysophanol in the DCQD group were significantly different compared with the Dahuang group (P <0.05, respectively). The mean plasma concentration, C(max), and the absorption of Dahuang's component in the DCQD group were obviously lower at each time point than those in the Dahuang group, while the elimination process of Dahuang's component was obviously delayed (P <0.05). Half-lives of aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, and rhein were also extended in the DCQD group (P <0.05, respectively). In the DCQD group, the mean plasma concentration, AUC, C(max) and absorption of honokiol, and magnolol were significantly lower (P <0.01, respectively) at each time point than those in the Houpo group, while the drug distribution half-life time (T(1/2α)), the drug eliminated half-life time (T(1/2β)), MRT, and time of peak concentration (T(max)) were significantly delayed (P <0.05, respectively). Pharmacokinetic parameters of hesperidin and naringin in the Zhishi group were not significantly different as compared with the DCQD group (P >0.05, respectively), while the MRT of naringin was significantly longer.

CONCLUSIONSThe compatibility in Chinese medicine could affect the drug's pharmacokinetics in DCQD, which proves that the prescription compatibility principle of Chinese medicine formulations has its own pharmacokinetic basis.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Biphenyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Incompatibility ; Emodin ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Hesperidin ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; blood ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical and neurological abnormalities in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to attempt to correlate the types of CP and the gestational age at birth with radiological abnormalities detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain.

METHODSThis is a hospital-based study, the subjects included 104 children with cerebral palsy who were hospitalized in the Qingdao Rehibilitation Center For Disabled Children. All the 104 hospitalized CP cases (47 with spastic diplegia, 9 with tetraplegia, 15 with hemiplegia, 22 with athetosis, and 11 with ataxia) were examined neurologically and their perinatal history was reviewed. Their cranial MRI findings were studied. The association between the gestational ages, CP types, and the radiological findings were studied.

RESULTSThe type distribution was significantly different between term- and preterm- infants. Spastic diplegia was the main type in preterm infants while hemiplegia and ataxia were mainly seen in term infants. MRI abnormalities were found in 88 of the 104 cases and abnormal rates of spastic diplegia, tetraplegia, hemiplegia, athetosis, and ataxia were 89.4%, 100%, 100%, 54.5% and 90.9%, respectively. There was no significant difference in abnormal rates between term and preterm groups. Thirty-one of 42 (73.8%) children with spastic diplegia had significant periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), which was more common among preterm-born children (90%). Of the 15 children with hemiplegia, 13 had unilateral lesions on neuroimaging. Spastic tetraplegia was associated with extensive, bilateral, diffuse brain damage. The abnormalities in term-born infants with athetoid cerebral palsy were mainly located in the basal ganglia region whereas the major abnormality in premature infants was PVL. Of the 11 children with ataxic cerebral palsy, 8 cases showed congenital cerebellum dysplasia on brain imaging.

CONCLUSIONSRadiological abnormalities of the brain were correlated with CP types and the gestational age at birth; MRI scan was useful in revealing underlying brain abnormalities and speculating on the etiology of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy ; classification ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

This study was aimed to establish the quantitative analysis of hIL-2 in culture supernatant by multifunctional Luminex 100. The lymphocytes were separated from ACD-anticoagulated peripheral blood by density gradient method. The lymphocytes were stimulated with PHA for 48 hours, and frozen at -20 degrees C The relative fluorescence units of standard preparations and samples were detected by multifunctional Luminex 100, and the sample concentrations were calculated by standard curve. The results indicated that the regression equation of standard preparation is Lg (RFU) = 1.547 + 0.867 LgC. ANOVA F = 301.7427, p < 0.05 (nu = 6). The analysis of variance showed F = 301.7427, p < 0.05 (nu = 6). The test of regression coefficient showed t = 17.3707 (nu = 6), p < 0.05. It is concluded that method for induction and measurement of human IL-2 in vitro is established. The standard curve established by this way is statistically significant. There is linear relationship between the concentration of hIL-2 and fluorescence intensity.
Cell Separation ; methods ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; analysis ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phytohemagglutinins ; pharmacology