Objective To explore prognosis and remission-related factors in lupus nephritis (LN) patients.Methods Patients diagnosed as LN by renal biopsy in Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology between Jan 1,2011 and July 31,2016 were enrolled.All related baseline clinical data was recorded and regular follow-up was performed.Kaplan-Meier curves was used to analyze partial remission and complete remission rates.Log-rank test was performed to compare remission rates of patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria (24-hour proteinuria≥3.5 g) and without nephrotic-range proteinuria (24-hour proteinuria＜3.5 g).Univariate and muhivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the remission-related factors in different periods.Results A total of 115 patients,with 88.7％ female and (31.5±9.5)years mean age,were followed up for up to 5 years.During follow-up period 2 patients died and 1 dialyzed.The 6-,12-,24-and 36-and 48-month renal partial remission and complete remission rates were 33.3％,58.2％,71.5％,84.0％,89.6％,and 18.9％,40.5％,67.3％,79.4％,87.0％,respectively.Patients without nephrotic-range proteinuria had higher complete remission than patients with nephrotic -range proteinuria (HR=2.01,95％CI 1.15-3.34,P=0.014),but there was no difference in their partial remission (HR=1.33,95％ CI 0.74-2.43,P=0.341).Multivariate Cox regression model indicated that every 1 g/L increase in baseline level of serum albumin was associated with increased 8％ and 9％ risk,respectively,in partial remission (HR=1.08,95％CI 1.01-1.15,P=0.024) and complete remission (HR=1.09,95％CI 1.01-1.07,P=0.038).Conclusions Around half of LN patients reach remission during 1 year.Patients without nephrotic-range proteinuria have higher complete remission,and serum albumin is a remission-related factors.

Objective To compare three different internal fixations using dual plates in treatment of type C distal humerus fractures.Methods A total of 59 patients with type C distal humerus fractures fixed with dual plates between January 2004 and December 2008 were enrolled in the study,including 34 patients managed by perpendicular dual plate internal fixation (Group A),14 patients by dorsal dual plate internal fixation (Group B),and 11 patients by parallel dual plate internal fixation (Group C).Functional outcomes of injured elbow joints were assessed using Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS).Fisher' s exact probability,chi-square test and variance analysis were used to compare the perioperative variables among groups.Results The patients were followed up for average 28 months (range,12-55 months),which showed that all fractures were smoothly healed with satisfactory curative effects in each group.There were no significant differences with respect to functional outcomes among three groups.The patients with surgery difficulty in Group C were more than those in other two groups.Besides,an additional intercondylar screw was always required in Groups A and B,but rarely in Group C.Conclusions All internal fixations with three dual plates are effective in management of type C distal humeral fractures.The location of plates is determined by experiences of orthopedic surgeons and specific fracture type.

Objective To investigate the immediate effects of lower limb with open chain weight-adding on joint position sense and gait symmetry in stroke patients. Methods From January, 2016 to January, 2017, 39 stroke patients were included. Their joint position sense and gait symmetry were compared before and after weight-adding. The joint position senses of active reproduction of active positioning (ARAP) and passive reproduction of passive positioning (PRPP) were assessed during lower limb straight leg raise. The gait symmetry was also as-sessed and three indexes were recorded including the symmetry of foot rotation angle, step length and percentage of single leg support phase. Results After weight-adding, the position sense of PRPP did not improve (t=0.832, P=0.832), nor of the symmetry of foot rotation an-gle (t=-0.704, P=0.483) and percentage of single leg support phase (t=0.381, P=0.702);the position sense of ARAP improved (t=3.158, P=0.011), as well as the symmetry of step length (t=2.022, P=0.041). Conclusion The lower limb with open chain weight-adding could im-prove the active joint position sense and symmetry of step length.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of effective part of Epimedium brevicornum.

METHODThe sample was extracted with ethanol and purified by macroporous resin. The structures were identified by HPLC-MS3 experiments.

RESULTNine compounds were identified from the effective part of E. brevicornum.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and rapid for the identification of the flavonoids from E. brevicornum.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results

IL-8 was radiolabeled with 125I via Bolten-Hunter agent and the distribution of 125I-IL-8 in mice was determined in order to understand IL-8 behaviors in vivo. The percentage of 125I-IL-8 in blood, heart, liver, lung, kidneys, bone and spleen was obtained. The half-clearance of fast phase T1/2 alpha and slow phase T1/2 beta were 0.32 h and 8.01 h respectively. Most of 125I-IL-8 was excluded by kidneys.
Animals ; Interleukin-8 ; pharmacokinetics ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; Male ; Mice ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacokinetics ; Tissue Distribution

Objective To study the discrepancy influence of the sulbactam content on susceptibility testing results of cefoperazone/sulbactam combination disks.Methods Agar dilution method was used to determine MICs of cefoperazone,cefoperazone/sulbactam(2:1 and 1:1),and disk diffusion was used to detect the zone diameters of cefoperazone,cefoperazone/sulbactam(75/30 and 75/75μg/disk)disks against 534 clinical gram-negative isolates.The discrepancy within the results of MICs,zore diameters,the method of agar dilution and disk diffusion was analyzed.Results By standard agar dilution method,MIC_(50) of cefoperazone,cefoperazone/sulbactam(2:1 and 1:1)were 32,16,16μg/ml,and MIC_(90) of those were ≥256.128,64 μg/ml respectively.No statistic discrepancy was found for MICs between the ratios of 2:1 and 1:1 combination by Wilcoxon ranks test(Z=-0.248,P=0.804).Susceptibility rate,resistance rate,and intermediate rate with 75/30μg disk were 55.3%,24.5%and 20.2%respectively,which were similar to those determined by agar dilution method.Susceptibility rate,resistance rate,and intermediate rate(I%)with 75/75μg disk were 72.5%,12.4% and 15.1% respectively,compared with the susceptibility rate from 75/30μg disk was 17.2% higher.Statistic discrepancy were tested by paired t-test (t=21.613,P＜0.01)with two groups of whole strains' zone diameters from 75/30μg and 75/75μg disks,and resulting in the difference of susceptibility or resistance rates for ESBL-producing strains,Acinetobacter bauamnnii and Enterobacteriaceae without ESBL tested isolates.On the contrary,for Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and ESBL negative isolates,the zone diameters discrepancy was not statistically significant between the results from 75/30μg and 75/75μg disks.Conclusions There is no statistic discrepancy between the susceptibility results from cefoperazone/sulbactam(2:1 or 1:1 ratios)in dilution method and in diffusion method with 75/30μg disk.When the 75/75μg disk is used to be tested for ESBL-producing strains,Acinetobacter bauamnnii and other Enterobacteriaceae,the results should be shown with sulbactam content.

Objective To optimize the process conditions of one-step pelletization of Rouganbao Granules. Methods The factors influencing the pelletization of Rouganbao Granules were investigated by L9(34)orthogonal test, with the indexes of forming rate and fluidity. Results The spraying speed had the greatest effect on one-step pelletization, followed by atomization pressure and material temperature, and wind temperature had the smallest effect. At last, the best process parameters were relative density 1.15 (60 ℃), spray speed 55 mL/min, atomization pressure 0.25 MPa, wind temperature 75 ℃, material temperature 55 ℃, and critical relative humidity was 63%. Conclusion One-step pelletization technology can improve the preparation level and product quality, which can be used for the industrial production of Rouganbao Granules.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of sodium hya- luronate in relieving the symptoms of refractory non-bacterial cystitis.Methods Totally,20 patients(1 man and 19 women;mean age,47 years;age range,22-68 years)with refractory non-bacterial cystitis were included.Their disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years.Of them,16 patients had the disease for more than 1 year.Instillation of sodium hyaluronate(50 ml solution of 40 mg HA)was performed intravesically in them for a total of 12 weeks(once a week for the first 4 weeks and once every 4 weeks for the succeeding 8 weeks).Follow-up visit ended at 16 weeks,when the patients filled in the symptom assessment scores(VAS on pain,frequency and urgency)according to the subjective evaluation.Therapeutic results were classified as(1)total response:symptom disappearance or relief by at least 90% of the symptom scores;(2)partial response:symptom relief by 50%-89%;(3)mild response:symptom relief by 49% or less;(4)no re- sponse:no improvement in symptom scores.Results Nineteen patients completed the 16-week follow-up with only 1 withdrawing.The average general symptom score decreased from 22.32?5.53 to 9.47?5.88 (P＜0.001);frequency score from 8.21?1.75 to 3.89v2.31(P＜0.001);urgency score from 7.47?2.14 to 3.37?2.14(P＜0.001);pain score from 6.63?3.47 to 2.21?2.74(P＜0.001).After 16 weeks,overall positive response rate(total+partial response)was 53%(10/19).No serious adverse effect occurred except for urethral irritation(25%,5/20),worsening of distending pain of the bladder(5%,1/20) and vertigo(15%,3/20)caused by the procedure itself.Conclusions For patients suffering from refrac- tory non-bacterial cystitis,intravesical instillations of sodium hyaluronate can significantly relieve the symp- toms and is safe and of good patient compliance.

A quick HPLC-ESI-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous determination of three chemical compositions in Usnea, including usnic acid, diffractaic acid, and ramalic acid. The separation was performed on a chromatographic column of Agilent ZORBAX SB-C, (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 µm), and the mobile phase was methanol (0.05% formic acid)-0.05% formic acid solution (4 mmol ammonium acetate), with an isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.8 ml · min⁻¹. Multiple reaction monitoring scanning mode (MRM) was performed combined with the ion switching technology in positive and negative ion switching mode to apply for the quantitative determination. The calibration curves for the above three compounds were linear in corresponding injection amount. Their average recoveries were 95.0%-105.1%, with RSDs of 1.1%-5.2%. The method was simple, rapid, accurate with high repeatability, which could provide a reference for overcalling evaluation the quality of Usnea.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Hydroxybenzoates ; analysis ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Usnea ; chemistry

The aim is to study the intestinal absorption of different combinations of active compounds out of Gegenqinlian decoction. Rat single pass intestinal perfusion model with jugular vein cannulated was used. Samples were obtained continuously from the outlet perfusate and the mesenteric vein. The levels of puerarin, daidzin, liquilitin, baicalin, wogonoside, jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine were determined by LC-MS/MS and their permeability coefficients were calculated. The results showed that Glycyrrhiza could promote the absorption of the active ingredients in Pueraria which is the monarch herb; meanwhile, Pueraria also played a role in promoting the absorption of liquilitin. Based on the Gegenqinlian decoction and the different combinations experiments, the results concerning the absorption of baicalin and wogonoside were as follows. For baicalin, Pueraria and Glycyrrhiza could promote its absorption and the effect of Pueraria was more obvious. For wogonoside, Pueraria could also promote its absorption, while Glycyrrhiza played a opposite role. Pueraria and Glycyrrhiza both played a part in promoting the absorption of jateorhizine, berberine and palmatine, the effective compounds in Coptis.
Animals ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Berberine Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; metabolism ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry