Adult ; Fatty Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perfusion Imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo screen the optimum formulation and prepare O/W sinomenine microemulsion and investigate its in vitro transdermal delivery ability.

METHODThe microemulsions were prepared with the formulation containing oleic acid-tween 80-dehydrated alcohol-water by the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The permeation flux of sinomenine was determined in vitro by Franz diffusion cell fitted with rat skin. The sinomenine was determined by HPLC. The transdermal characteristics of sinomenine microemulsion were compared with that of sinomenine gels.

RESULTThe steady state flux of sinomenine microemulsion was significantly higher than that of sinomenine gels. The average permeation rate of sinomenine microemulsion was 116. 44 microg x cm(-2) x h(-1) in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicated that the studied microemulsion system with high permeation rate may be a potential vehicle for the transdermal delivery of sinomenine.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Emulsions ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Male ; Morphinans ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Oleic Acid ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysorbates ; chemistry ; Rats ; Sinomenium ; chemistry ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; Surface-Active Agents ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDConnective tissue growth factor (CTGF) contributes greatly to renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, which is the final event leading to end-stage renal failure. This study was designed to investigate the effects of CTGF antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on the expressions of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and fibronectin in renal tubular cells induced by transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in addition to the role of CTGF in the accumulation and degradation of renal extracellular matrix (ECM).

METHODSA human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HKC) was cultured in vitro. Cationic lipid-mediated CTGF antisense ODNs were transfected into HKC cells. After HKC cells were stimulated with TGF-beta1 (5 microg/L), the mRNA levels of PAI-1 and fibronectin were measured by RT-PCR. Intracellular PAI-1 protein synthesis was assessed by flow cytometry. The secreted PAI-1 and fibronectin in the medium were determined by Western blot and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSTGF-beta1 was found to induce tubular CTGF, PAI-1, and fibronectin mRNA expression. PAI-1 and fibronectin mRNA expression induced by TGF-beta1 was significantly inhibited by CTGF antisense ODNs. CTGF antisense ODNs also inhibited intracellular PAI-1 protein synthesis and lowered the levels of PAI-1 and fibronectin protein secreted into the medium.

CONCLUSIONSCTGF may play a crucial role in the accumulation and degradation of excessive ECM during tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and transfecting CTGF antisense ODNs may be an effective way to prevent renal fibrosis.

Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Fibronectins ; genetics ; secretion ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; genetics ; secretion ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo investigate the long-term effects of non-surgical treatment on clinical and hematologic states of patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).

METHODSPatients with GAgP (n = 25) and healthy controls (n = 28) were recruited. The clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI), attachment loss (AL) were examined and recorded. Blood cell variables, including white blood cells (WBC), leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, as well as serum triglycerides, fasting glucose and protein parameters, including total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G), were analyzed. Twenty-five GAgP patients received non-surgical treatment and the clinical and blood parameters 3 to 7 years after treatment were re-evaluated. Clinical and hematological parameters of the two groups were compared. Comparisons of clinical and hematologic parameters pre- and post-treatment in GAgP group were performed through one-way ANOVA and paired-t test.

RESULTSElevated white blood cells, neutrophil numbers and serum total protein, globulin levels were observed in patients with GAgP compared to controls[(6.3 ± 2.0)×10(9)cell/L vs.(5.4 ± 1.0)×10(9)cell/L, (4.1 ± 1.8)×10(9) cell/L vs.(3.0 ± 0.9)×10(9) cell/L, (78.2 ± 4.4) g/L vs. (75.6 ± 4.6) g/L and (29.3 ± 3.8) g/L vs.(26.5 ± 3.9) g/L respectively, P < 0.05]. A/G ratio was lower in the GAgP group than in the control group (1.7 ± 0.2 vs.1.9 ± 0.3, P < 0.01). Three to seven years after periodontal treatment, the reduction of PD and BI was observed in GAgP group(P < 0.05). There were significant decreases of WBC count, neutrophil count, serum total protein and globulin level, and significant increases of albumin level and A/G at 3 to 7 years after treatment(P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNon-surgical treatment may have long-term beneficial effect on the periodontal clinical status and hematologic parameters of generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Adult ; Aggressive Periodontitis ; blood ; therapy ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Dental Scaling ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Periodontal Attachment Loss ; blood ; Periodontal Index ; Root Planing ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism ; Serum Globulins ; metabolism ; Tooth Extraction ; Treatment Outcome ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective To understand the prevalence of anemia and its influencing factors in infants aged 6 to 24 months in poor areas of Gansu Province, and to provide reference for improving the prevalence of anemia in local children. Methods A multi-stage sampling method was used to conduct a survey on infant and caregivers, in the 12 children nutrition improvement project counties in Gansu Province. T-test and analysis of variance were used to compare the hemoglobin content, the chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of anemia, and the Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results Among the 3 188 effective data, the detection rate of anemia was 25.69% (819). The detection rate of anemia among boys and girls was 24.54% and 26.90%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of anemia among different sexes ( 2=2.326, P=0.127). The detection rate of anemia between different age groups were statistically significant ( 2=42.339, P<0.001); The results of multivariate analysis showed that children's age, children's ethnic groups, parents' awareness of feeding knowledge, the feeding method of 6 months after birth and the way of taking nutritional packs were associated with anemia (all P<0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of anemia in infants aged 6 to 24 months in poor areas in Gansu Province was relatively high. Strengthening the education of caretakers’ knowledge of guardian feeding and scientific child-rearing, and ensuring the nutrition packages intake can significantly reduce the prevalence of anemia prevalence in poor areas in Gansu Province.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and efficacy of low-concentration inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in the treatment of hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF) among premature infants.

METHODSSixty premature infants (gestational age ≤ 34 weeks) with HRF were randomized into NO and control groups between 2012 and 2013, with 30 cases in each group. Both groups received nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or mechanical ventilation. NO inhalation was continued for at least 7 days or until weaning in the NO group. The general conditions, blood gas results, complications, and clinical outcomes of the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe NO group showed significantly more improvement in blood gas results than the control group after 12 hours of treatment (P<0.05). After that, the change in oxygenation status over time showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in total time of assisted ventilation and duration of oxygen therapy between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, and pneumothorax in infants showed no significant differences between the NO and control groups (P>0.05), but the incidence of IVH and mortality were significantly lower in the NO group than in the control group (7% vs 17%, P<0.05; 3% vs 13%, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNO inhalation may improve oxygenation status and reduce the mortality in premature infants with HRF, but it cannot reduce the incidence of BPD and the total time of mechanical ventilation or nCPAP and duration of oxygen therapy. NO therapy may have a brain-protective effect for premature infants with HRF and does not increase clinical complications.

Administration, Inhalation ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Nitric Oxide ; administration & dosage ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on takayasu arteritis of brachiocephalic artery type and the mechanism.

METHODSThirty-one cases were treated by acupuncture and moxibustion at main acupoint Renying (ST 9) and adjuvant acupoints selected according to the symptoms. The therapeutic effect and changes of color Doppler's ultrasonic flow image (CDFI) of relevant arteries in patients before and after treatment were investigated.

RESULTSThe clinical total effective rate was 90.3%. Of the 31 cases, 5 cases were clinically cured, 16 cases were markedly effective, 7 cases improved and 3 cases were ineffective; and it was showed that acupuncture and moxibustion could enlarge the inner diameter of the injured blood vessel, increase the volume of blood flow and the elastic index of the injured blood vessel, and improve the abnormal velocity and the abnormal crest form of blood flow.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and moxibustion has a good therapeutic effect on takayasu arteritis of brachiocephalic artery type; acupuncture and moxibustion can improve the stenotic degree of the injured blood vessel and abnormal hemodynamics of blood flow in the limb and brain.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Vessels ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Takayasu Arteritis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Acute Disease ; Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Klebsiella Infections ; complications ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Pyelonephritis ; complications

Etanercept has been shown to be effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Since most clinical trials examined etanercept in combination with other drugs,the efficacy and safety of etanercept monotherapy for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis have not been well established.This prospective study enrolled 61 Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to explore the efficacy and safety of etanercept monotherapy.These patients were treated with etanercept at a subcutaneous dose of 25 mg,twice a week,for 12 weeks.All the 61 patients completed the treatment and showed significant improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores.At 4,8,and 12 weeks after treatment,the response rates (PASI75) were 0％,21.31％,and 40.98％,respectively.It was concluded that etanercept monotherapy is efficacious and safe for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

To investigate the crucial role of particle size in the biological effects of nanoparticles, a series of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were prepared with particle size gradients (50, 100, 150, 200 nm) with the traditional Stober method and adjusting the type and ratio of the silica source. The correlation between toxicity and size-caused biological effects were then further examined both in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that the prepared MSNs had a uniform size, good dispersal, and ordered mesoporous structure. Hemolytic toxicity was found to be independent of particle size. At the cellular level, MSNs with smaller particle sizes were more readily internalized by cells, which initiated to more intense oxidative stress, therefor inducing higher cytotoxicity, and apoptosis rate. In vivo studies demonstrated that MSNs primarily accumulated in the liver and kidneys of mice. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that larger MSNs were eliminated more efficiently by the urinary system than smaller MSNs. The mice's body weight monitoring, blood tests, and pathological sections of major organs indicated good biocompatibility for MSNs of different sizes. Animal welfare and the animal experimental protocols were strictly consistent with related ethics regulations of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. Overall, this study prepared MSNs with a particle size gradient to investigate the correlation between toxicity and particle size using macrophages and endothelial cells. The study also examined the biosafety of MSNs with different particle sizes in vivo and in vitro, which could help to improve the safety design strategy of MSNs for drug delivery systems.