Background Ginkgolide B (GB) has been proved to have neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effects and can effectively inhibit apoptosis of retinal photoreceptor cells.But the high hydrophobic feature and low bioavailability of GB limit its clinical application.Self microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) can effectively improve the infusibility drug dissolution and bioavailability in the retina.Objective This study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics and drug-time change of GB-loaded SMEDDS in retina.Methods Eighty SD rats were randomized into 2 groups,2.5％ GB(40 mg/kg) of SMEDDS or GB suspension(0.1％ DMSO dissolve) were gastrically given respectively in two groups.The rats were sacrificed and retinas were isolated 15,30,45 minutes and 1 hour,2,4,8,12 hours to prepare the retinal suspension.The content of GB in retina was assayed with high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-(1) (1)ss spectrum (HPLC-ESI-MS) and contrasted with standard curve.Practical drug dynamics program 3p87 was used to detect the pharmacokinetics parameters.The maximal content(Cmax,mg/g),time to peak (Tmax,h),clearance ratio (Ke/h),high-life period (t1/2) and area under the concentration-time curve(AUC0-∞,mg/(g · h)) of GB in various time points in retina after a single oral dose were calculated and compared between two groups.Results The standard curve was obtained over the concentration range of 1-32 mg/L with a linear regression equation,Y =0.0732X + 0.056 (r =0.992).A similar content-time curve was seen between GB suspension group and GB-SMEDDS group.The GB content was higher in GB-SMEDDS group than that in GB suspension group from 30 minutes through 12 hours after administration of drugs.The Cmax of GB-SMEDDS group and GB suspension group were(15.83±1.84) mg/g and(2.65±0.10) mg/g,the AUC0-∞ were(15.30±0.11)mg/(g· h)and(6.42±0.19)mg/(g · h).Conclusions HPLC-ESI-MS is proved to be a rapid,accurate,sensitive and suitable method for pharmocokinetic study of GB.SMEDDS can raise the concent of GB in retina,and it probably improve the bioavailability of GB.

Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Mucocele ; Nose Diseases ; pathology ; Turbinates ; pathology

OBJECTIVE Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer related deaths worldwide, specially, in China. Hinesol, extracted from Atractylodeslance a(Thunb.) DC. has been proved that has anti-cancer effect in leukemia in vitro and in vivo.However,it has been not well under-stood in liver cancer cells.METHODS Cell proliferation,apoptosis,cell cycle and invasion were performed to investigate the anti-liver cancer effect of hinesol in SMMC-7721 and LM3 by MTT assay,flow cytometry and scratch assay.Western blot was used to research the potential mechanism.RESULTS We revealed that hinesol suppresses cell proliferation and invasion,prompts population of G1 phase,induces apop-tosis in dose-dependent manner in SMMC-7721 and LM3 cells.Western blot data showed that hinesol could inhibits the expression of cyclin-D1, Bcl-2 and Bax, and inhibited phosphorylation of MEK and ERK, down-regulated the expressions of NF-κB p65 and phosphor-p65 in nucleus. The results indicated that hinesol reduces cell proliferation via arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and induces apoptosis.Further-more,western blot showed that hinesol inhibited phosphorylation of MEK and ERK,down-regulated the expressions of NF-κB p65 and phosphor-p65 in nucleus.CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that hinesolreduces cell proliferation via arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and induces apoptosis, it has potent anti-cancer effect against liver cancer cells via down-regulation of MEK/ERK and NF-κB pathway,and indicate that hinesol is a potential liver cancer drug for further research.

Objective:To methodologically establish the lentivirus granule packaging, concentration and infection against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood. Methods:The lentivirus system of the 3~(rd) generation was used to produce the virus. Ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation were employed to concentrate virus. Several treatments were used to improve virus infection including in vitro amplification culture, facilitation of rest cells into cell cycle, promotion of cell adhesion and immobilization during infection, and repeat infection methods. Results:CD34~+ cells were not obviously changed by checking the expression level of CD34 marker on the cell surface after 48 h culture. After two-step concentration, virus titer was increased up to 5.06×10~7/ml, and the infection rate against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood was increased up to 37.7%.Conclusion:Lentivirus supernatant with over 10~7/ml titer can be obtained using the above methods. Efficient infection against CD34~+ cells from umbilical blood can be achieved.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrostomy, Percutaneous ; instrumentation ; methods ; Pyonephrosis ; surgery ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Adolescent ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

This study is to report the study of protective effects of myricitrin against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and the investigation of the possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin. The model of H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was used to determine the protective effects of myricitrin. The levels of LDH, MDA and the activities of SOD, NO were measured using the respective kits. The H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells was detected using MTT reduction, TUNEL assay, JC-1 and ROS staining. The activation of Caspase-3 was also measured by fluorometry. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined with Western blotting assay. Myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The results show that myricitrin could attenuate H2O2-induced decrease in the activities of SOD (P < 0.01). Myricitrin could decrease the levels of LDH, MDA and increase cell viability and the mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.01). Myricitrin had protective effects in a dose-dependent manner between 32 micromol x L(-1) to 64 micromol x L(-1). Myricitrin pretreatment could attenuate H2O2-induced increase of p-ERK. Moreover, myricitrin pretreatment could up-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, down-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, and decrease the expression of Caspase-3, 9. In conclusion, myricitrin had significant protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells. Myricitrin can enhance the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes and decrease the production of free radicals. The possible mechanisms of action of myricitrin are due to myricitrin-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of the apoptosis signaling pathways-related kinase ERK, up-regulation of the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, and down-regulation of the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EnMT), and to explore the mechanism of fibrosis disease.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) from umbilical cord of healthy fetus were isolated by enzymatic digestion and identified by immunofluorescence assay. The third to fifth generations of cultured HUVEC in logarithmic phase were harvested and seeded in 12-well plates and 6-well plates, and they were divided into control group (ordinary culture without any stimulation), 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups (5, 10, 25, 50, 100 ng/mL of TNF-α was respectively added into the nutrient solution) according to the random number table, with three samples in each group. After being cultured for 72 hours, the cell morphology was observed under inverted phase-contrast microscope; the expression levels of coagulation factor VIII and α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by immunofluorescence assay, and the ratios of numbers (absorbance values) of cells with expression of both factors were calculated. The mRNA expression levels of cadherin, α-SMA, and type I collagen were detected by RT-PCR (denoted as gray value ratio). Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test.

RESULTS(1) The shape of primary HUVEC was round, short-spindle, or flat, and cells grew vigorously in cobblestone appearance after passages. After being subcultured for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 passage (s), the positive rate of coagulation factor VIII of HUVEC was respectively (85.5 ± 1.8)%, (88.1 ± 5.0)%, (93.6 ± 3.7)%, (92.9 ± 4.8)%, (89.5 ± 1.1)%, and they were significantly higher than that of primary HUVEC [(81.4 ± 3.8)%, with F values all equal to 7.481, P values all below 0.05]. (2) As compared with that in control group, the appearance of cells in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups was gradually transformed from round, short-spindle, or flat shape to long-spindle shape with reduced intercellular junction and larger intercellular gap along with the increase in the concentration of TNF-α. (3) The ratios of numbers and the absorbance values of coagulation factor VIII and α-SMA double positive cells in control group (0.055 ± 0.015, 0.078 ± 0.017) were significantly lower than those in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups (0.257 ± 0.106, 0.280 ± 0.129, 0.505 ± 0.059, 0.817 ± 0.035, 0.929 ± 0.101 and 0.437 ± 0.040, 0.456 ± 0.097, 0.496 ± 0.082, 0.787 ± 0.131, 0.885 ± 0.087, with F value respectively 45.009, 50.099, P values all below 0.01). (4) The expression levels of cadherin mRNA in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups were 0.70 ± 0.05, 0.63 ± 0.06, 0.60 ± 0.10, 0.45 ± 0.16, and 0.26 ± 0.14, and it was significantly lower in the latter four groups than in control group (0.83 ± 0.03, with F values all equal to 11.593, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA and collagen I in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 ng/mL TNF-α groups were 0.45 ± 0.10, 0.51 ± 0.16, 0.49 ± 0.12, 0.60 ± 0.09, 0.76 ± 0.03 and 0.38 ± 0.18, 0.45 ± 0.15, 0.52 ± 0.12, 0.66 ± 0.17, 0.76 ± 0.20, and they were significantly higher in the latter three groups than in control group (0.37 ± 0.14, 0.31 ± 0.12, with F value respectively 7.839, 2.898, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSTNF-α can obviously promote EnMT in a dose-dependent manner. EnMT may be another significant source of myofibroblasts that contributes to fibrotic tissue in scar formation.

Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of angiography combined with transthoracic echocardiography (TEE) as a modified management of the transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

METHODSForty children with PDA were randomly divided into two groups (n=20 each): observed and control. The control group accepted traditional transcatheter occlusion, and the observed group received a modified management (angiography combined with TEE). The children in the observed group were monitored by realtime TTE.

RESULTSA complete occlusion was acquired by one occlusion operation in each child in the observed group. The TTE demonstrated that the occlusion device was in place, and that the blood flow velocities in the left and right pulmonary artery and the descending aorta were in normal ranges. There were shorter X-ray exposure time, shorter recovering time and less ICU stay time in the observed group than in the control group. The complications associated with blood vessel puncturation occurred in four children from the control group, but none of the observed group had the complications. The total hospitalization cost in the observed group was less than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSAngiography combined with TEE as a modified management of the transcatheter occlusion of PDA is recommended.

Adolescent ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ductus Arteriosus ; diagnostic imaging ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Infant ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo describe the experience with surgical treatment of pituitary adenomas via a fully transnasal endoscopic approach.

METHODSClinical records of 375 cases with pituitary adenomas underwent pure endoscopic operations between December 2006 and December 2009 were carefully assembled. Among 375 pure endoscopic operations of pituitary adenomas, 201 cases were nonfunctional adenomas and 174 cases were functional adenomas. There were 27 giant pituitary adenomas (7.2%) and 41 pituitary adenoma invaded cavernous sinus (10.9%). Intraoperative 1.5 T MRI and neuro-navigation system were used during some operations. The postoperative and follow-up data of patients were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 234 (79.3%) cases of total resection, 56 (19.0%) cases of subtotal resection, 5 (1.7%) cases of partial resection. Sixty-eight patients had vision improved in 73 patients with vision decreasing before operation. Sixty-eight (77.3%) patients got normal endocrine in 88 hyper-prolactin patient. Fifty-five (84.1%) patients got normal growth hormone in 63 patients with somatotrophinomas. Eighteen (78.2%) patients got normal in 23 patients with corticotrophinoma. These was no death case in this group. One case (0.3%) suffered post-operative coma. Transient decreasing of vision occurred in 2 cases (0.5%). Transient palsy of oculomotor nerve or abducens nerve occurred in 7 cases of operations involved cavernous sinus. Three (0.8%) patients had cerebral meningitis. Two patients (0.5%) suffered from cerebrospinal fluid leak but none underwent operation to repair. Fourteen patients (3.7%) had transient diabetes insipidus. Six patients (1.6%) had nose bleeding.

CONCLUSIONSTrans-nasal endoscopy provides a new device for operation of pituitary adenomas which is effective and safe. Comparing with microscope, endoscopic visual field is clearer, closer and wider.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult