The shape and structure of granules are controlled by the granulation process, which is one of the main factors to determine the nature of the solid dosage forms. In this article, three kinds of granules of a traditional Chinese medicine for improving appetite and promoting digestion, namely, Jianwei Granules, were prepared using granulation technologies as pendular granulation, high speed stirring granulation, and fluidized bed granulation and the powder properties of them were investigated. Meanwhile, synchrotron radiation X-ray computed micro tomography (SR-µCT) was applied to quantitatively determine the irregular internal structures of the granules. The three-dimensional (3D) structure models were obtained by 3D reconstruction, which were more accurately to characterize the three-dimensional structures of the particles through the quantitative data. The models were also used to quantitatively compare the structural differences of granules prepared by different granulation processes with the same formula, so as to characterize how the production process plays a role in the pharmaceutical behaviors of the granules. To focus on the irregularity of the particle structure, the box counting method was used to calculate the fractal dimensions of the granules. The results showed that the fractal dimension is more sensitive to reflect the minor differences in the structure features than the conventional parameters, and capable to specifically distinct granules in structure. It is proved that the fractal dimension could quantitatively characterize the structural information of irregular granules. It is the first time suggested by our research that the fractal dimension difference (Df,c) between two fractal dimension parameters, namely, the volume matrix fractal dimension and the surface matrix fractal dimension, is a new index to characterize granules with irregular structures and evaluate the effects of production processes on the structures of granules as a new indicator for the granulating process control and optimization.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Fractals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Powders ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship ; Synchrotrons ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between mitochondrial DNA instability (mtMSI) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) activity in gastric mucosa of various lesions.

METHODSIL-8 level in gastric mucosa was assayed using ELISA method. The mtMSI was detected by PCR-SSCP techniques.

RESULTSmtMSI was observed in 11 out of 30 (36.7%) gastric cancers, 2 of 15 (13.3%) intestinal metaplasia, 2 of 10 dysplasia and 1 of 10 chronic atrophic gastritis. IL-8 level in mtMSI+ group [(76.8 +/- 3.8) pg/mg] was significantly higher than that in mtMSI- group [(48.3 +/- 3.6) pg/mg, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONmtMSI closely correlates with IL-8 level in gastric mucosa and is involved in gastric carcinogenesis.

DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genomic Instability ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Metaplasia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Precancerous Conditions ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect and adverse reaction of total glucosides of paeony capsule (TGPC) in combining with citirizine for the treatment of chronic urticaria.

METHODSA total of 120 patients were assigned to two groups by lottery, 65 in the treated group and 55 in the control group. They all were orally treated with citirizine tablet 10 mg per day, but to the treated group, additional 0.2 g TGPC was given three times per day, the therapeutic course for both groups was 4 weeks. The effectiveness of treatment was observed, and the changes of total symptom score, serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), and immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured before and after treatment. Moreover, a follow-up was carried out one month after ending the treatment.

RESULTSThe dropped cases were two in the treated group and seven in the control group; so, the study was accomplished on 63 patients in the treated group and 48 patients in the control group. The total effective rate was assessed at 73.02% (46/63) in the treated group, which was significantly higher than 47.92% (23/48) in the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the total symptom score decreased in both groups, but the decrement in the treated group was more significant (P<0.05). Serum levels of IL-4 and IgE in the treated group lowered significantly, while the changes in the control group were insignificant, so statistical significant differences were shown between groups (P<0.01). A follow-up study showed that the relapse rate in the treated group was 30.00% (6/20), while that in the control group was 90.00% (9/10), and the former was lower than the latter (P<0.01). Adverse reactions, revealed as drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness, were seen in eight cases and seven cases in the two groups, respectively. Besides, mild diarrhea occurred in two cases of the treated group.

CONCLUSIONSThe treatment of TGPC combining citirizine shows definite curative effect in treating chronic urticaria, with low relapse rate and without evident adverse reaction. Its therapeutic effect might be realized by means of regulating patients' immune function. Besides, the medication should be continued for a rather long period to achieve the full effect.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Allergic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Cetirizine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucosides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Urticaria ; blood ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of importing triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles.

METHODSThirty-two cases with burn hypertrophic scar were treated. The skin roller needles were moved back and forth on the hypertrophic scars with triamcinolone acetonide dropping on the scar surface at the same time. So the triamcinolone acetonide could be imported into the scar through needles and needle holes. The effect was evaluated as cured, effective, and no effect. The Vancouver scaring criteria and visual analogue scale was used to assess the scar color, thickness, texture and feeling before and after treatment, as well as at the untreated scar area (control).

RESULTSThirty-two cases were treated 1-3 times, including 28 cases with cured result and 4 cases with effective result. The total effective rate was 100%. The scar color, thickness, texture and feeling was significantly different between the scar before and after treatment, or between the treated and untreated scar (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSImporting triamcinolone acetonide into hypertrophic scars with skin roller needles is effective. It is a new method for the treatment of large hypertrophic scar with medicine.

Burns ; complications ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; instrumentation ; Needles ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV, Human herpesvirus 3) is a member of the family Herpesviridae, and is classified as alpha-subfamily along with HSV-1 and HSV-2. VZV is the causative agent of chicken pox (varicella) mostly in children, after which it establishes latency in the sensory ganglia with the potential to reactivate at a later time to cause shingles (zoster). Increasing molecular epidemiological studies in recent years have been performed to monitor the mutations in VZV genome, discriminate vaccine virus from wild type virus, study the phylogeny of VZV strains throughout the world, and understand the evolution of the different clades of VZV. The progress has great impact on the fields of epidemiology, virology and bioinformatics. In this review, the currently available data concerning the geographic distribution and molecular evolution of VZV clades are discussed.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genotype ; Herpes Zoster ; virology ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and the localization of Cathepsin K and IL-6 mRNA in root-resorbing tissue and to elucidate the molecular changes and mechanism of root resorption induced by tooth movement.

METHODSRats were subject to experimental tooth movement to induce root resorption. In situ hybridization was performed to identify the cells in root-resorbing tissue that produced Cathepsin K or IL-6 the difference of CK mRNA or IL-6 mRNA expression between root resorption group and control group was calculated by t-test.

RESULTSCathepsin K mRNA was highly and selectively expressed in multinuclear odontoclast and IL-6 mRNA expressed in fibroblast, osteoblast, osteocyte and cementoblast. The expression of Cathepsin K mRNA and IL-6 mRNA in root-resorbing tissue increased evidently compared with the normal periodontium.

CONCLUSIONSOdontoclast in the root-resorbing tissue expresses Cathepsin K mRNA that participates in proteolysis during root resorption. IL-6 plays a very important role in the root resorption as a multifunctional cytokine.

Animals ; Cathepsin K ; Cathepsins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Osteoclasts ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tooth Movement Techniques ; Tooth Resorption ; enzymology

Objective: To explore influence of continuous thoracic paravertebral block(CTPVB)under ultrasound-guidance combined with general anesthesia on inflammatory reaction and homodynamic of patients who underwent thoracotomy.Methods: 138 patients who underwent thoracotomy were prospectively selected and were divided into observation group(69 cases)and control group(69 cases)as random number table.Patients of observation group received CTPVB under ultrasound-guidance combined with general anesthesia and that of control group received general anesthesia.The changes of IL-6,IL-10 and TNF-α postoperative 48h and postoperative VAS score between the two groups were compared.And the VAS scores postoperative 2h,12h,24h and 48h also were observed.Besides,the mean arterial pressure and heart rate between the two groups at various time point included tranquillization time(T0),the 15 min(T1)after CTPVB combined with general anesthesia,the time post induced intubation(T2),5 min post skin incision(T3)and the time pre extubation(T4)were compared and analyzed so as to research its influence on hemodynamic.Results: The IL-6 and TNF-α postoperative 48h of observation group were significantly lower than that of control group(t=15.95,t=46.99,P＜0.05).And postoperative IL-10 of observation group was significantly higher than that of control group(t=134.3,P＜0.05).And the VAS scores of observation group at postoperative 2h,12h,24h and 48h were significantly lower than that of control group(t=13.91,t=17.1,t=2.321,t=9.231,P＜0.05),respectively.Conclusion: CTPVB under ultrasound-guidance combined with general anesthesia can improve postoperatively analgesic effect for patients,and it don't affect patients' blood pressure and heart rate,and it can reduce inflammatory reaction of patients who underwent thoracotomy and promote rehabilitation of patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of microwave ablation assistant therapy in severe traumatic liver rup -ture.Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with severe traumatic liver rupture treated by microwave ablation in Fuling central hospital from October 2012 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed .The treatment effect ,operation time ,intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were observed .Results Among the 42 patients,simple microwave ablation hemostasis was performed in 11 cases,microwave ablation hemostasis and deep mattress suture in 13 cases and microwave ablation hemostasis debridement plus partial hepatectomy in 18 ca-ses.Forty cases were cured .During perioperative period ,3 cases of bile leakage occurred ,massive ascites was found in 2 cases,massive pleu-ral effusion was found in 4 cases,incision infection was found in 2 cases,transient mild hemoglobinuria occurred in 3 cases.After treatment, the patients recovered to normal without postoperative bleeding ,gastrointestinal leakage ,liver failure or other complications .During the follow-up of at least 2 months,massive pleural effusion occurred in 3 cases,liver abscess in 2 cases,no deaths more.Conclusion Microwave abla-tion assisted treatment of severe traumatic liver rupture is a relatively safe and effective method ,it can reduce operation time and intraoperative bleeding and be used in clinical practice .

OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics and biomechanical mechanism of riding injuries involving bicycles collided by motor vehicles. METHODS: The real traffic accident cases of bicycles collided by motor vehicles, including the information of scenes, bicycles, motor vehicles, rider wounds and traffic directions, were collected. Retrospective method was used to study these riding injuries. In addition, typical cases were selected to simulate traffic accident courses with computer simulation software, and the dynamic data like acceleration, force, moment were cxtracted to compare with those in the real cases. RESULTS: There were no difference of occurring frequency between cases with or without riding injuries, as well as between one-side-collision and front- or back-collision. The riding injuries seemed less in accidents involving large-scale vehicles. The frequency of riding injuries increased with vehicle speed. The wound location was low on collision side and high on opposite. CONCLUSION Analysis of riding injury characteristic in traffic accidents and their biomechanical mechanism would be helpful for estimation of traffic manner.
Accidents, Traffic ; Area Under Curve ; Bicycling/injuries* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Leg Injuries/pathology* ; Models, Theoretical ; Motor Vehicles ; Perineum/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds and Injuries/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: Using computer simulation to analyze the effects of speed, type of automobile and impacted position on crash-course and injuries of pedestrians in automobile vs. pedestrian accidents. METHODS: Automobiles (bus, minibus, car and truck) and pedestrian models were constructed with multi-body dynamics computing method. The crashes were simulated at different impact speeds (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 km/h) and different positions (front, lateral and rear of pedestrians). Crash-courses and their biomechanical responses were studied. RESULTS: If the type of automobile and impact position were the same, the crash-courses were similar (impact speed < or = 60 km/h). There were some characteristics in the head acceleration, upper neck axial force and leg axial force. CONCLUSION Multi-body dynamics computer simulation of crash can be applied to analyze crash-course and injuries (head, neck and leg) of pedestrians.
Accidents, Traffic ; Automobiles ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Walking