A rapid, sensitive and convenient LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in human plasma. d2-γ-Aminobutyric acid (d2-GABA) was synthesized as internal standard (IS). After extraction from human plasma by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, all analytes were separated on a Luna HILIC column (100 mm x 3.0 mm, 3 μm) using an isocratic mobile phase of water: acetonitrile: formic acid (20 : 80 : 0.12) with a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). Acquisition of mass spectrometric data was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) in positive electrospray ionization using the transitions of m/z 104 --> 69 for GABA and m/z 106 --> 71 for d2-GABA. The method was linear in the concentration range of 5.00 to 1 000 ng x mL(-1). The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 9.9%, and accuracy ranged from 99.1% to 104%, within the acceptable limit across all concentrations. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of GABA tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; blood

Benzene ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced

Objective To investigate the distribution of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) —the pacemaker cells of the gut in the different parts of guinea pig pyeloureteral tract and explore the effect on the contraction of smooth muscle. Methods The ureteropelvic junction, upper ureteral, middle ureteral, lower ureteral tissues harvested from 10 guinea pigs were performed KIT immunofluorescent staining in stretched preparations. Smooth muscle strips of 2 mm?6 mm were dissected from the sites for tone determination. The frequency and amplitude of the smooth muscle were compared among different sites of pyeloureteral tract. Results Cells with positive staining by KIT and with similar morphology to ICCs were found in the entire pyeloureteral tract of guinea pigs. The density of ICCs-like cells in the ureteropelvic junction, upper ureteral, middle ureteral, and lower ureteral tissues were (5.20?0.98), (3.90?0.98), (3.03?0.98) and (2.50?0.81) respectively. The contraction of strips in different sites varied according to the distribution of ICCs. The amplitude and frequency of strips from the ureteropelvic junction and upper ureteral were significantly higher than those from middle ureteral and lower ureteral (P

Objective To investigate the efficacy of losartan combined with amiodarone in cardioversion of atrial fibrillation(AF)and maint of sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal AF.Methods From January 2003 to October 2005,a total of 86 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF in 421 Hospital of PLA were randomly dividid into two group:group A(amiodarone,n=44)and.group B(amiodarone plus losartan n=42).The conversion of atrial fibrillation in 24 h,3 d and 7 d after therapy was investigated.The left atrial diameter was measured with transthoracic echocardiogram at before and after 6,12-months of treatment andyzed up to 12 months.Results The rate of cardioversion of AF is significantly higher in group A than group B at 7 d(86.36% vs 95.23%,P

The effects of ultrafine grinding on the dissolution rates of the effective components in Sanjie Zhentong capsule (SZC) were studied in this experiment. Fine and ultrafine powder of SZC intermediates were made by ordinary grinding and ultrafine grinding technology, and then granulated by wet granulation. SZC were prepared by fine powder, ultrafine powder and ultrafine granules, respectively. With resveratrol and loureirin B as investigated indexes, dissolution rates of the four intermediates in SZC were determined by cup method and HPLC. The dissolution rates of resveratrol in SZC prepared by fine powder, ultrafine powder and ultrafine granules were 26.11%, 63.27%, 67.49%, respectively; and the dissolution rates of loureirin B were 7.160%, 20.29%, 23.05%, respectively. The dissolution rate of resveratrol and loureirin B in SZC prepared by ultrafine granules was the best. D90 size of ultrafine grinding was 13.221 μm and could improve the dissolution rates of resveratrol and loureirin B in SZC.
Capsules ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Silicones ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; physiopathology ; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Sports ; Stress, Psychological ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of Müller method for reconstruction of posterolateral corner (PLS) of knee joint.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to June 2007, 13 patients with PLS injured were treated with Müller method. Four patients complicated with injuries in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), 7 patients complicated with injuries in PCL, 4 patient also had injuries in ACL, 1 patient complicated with ACL injury, and 1 patient complicated with avulsions fractures of the tibial ACL insertion. Among the patients, 5 patients had chronic injuries with a duration of 2 to 7 months. After the cruciate ligament was reconstructed, the popliteus tendon was reconstructed with iliotibial band and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) reconstructed with biceps femoris tendon. All the ligaments were fixed with interface screws. The patients were encouraged to do strength and motion exercise on bed immediately after operation and permit toe-touch weight-bearing till two months after operation. The brace was used till six months after operation.

RESULTSThe average follow-up period was 13 months (ranged from 6 to 27 months). There was no restriction of range of motion. External rotation range were good compared to the normal side. One year after operation, one-grade varus instability at 30 degrees flexion was found only in 2 patients. The postoperative Lysholm scores were from 77 to 94 (average 86).

CONCLUSIONThe method is easier to perform, easier to get the materiar for reconstruction and promised satisfactory clinical results.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study therapeutic effects of lateral ankle ligaments reconstruction for the treatment of chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint.

METHODSFrom July 2005 to January 2008, among 13 patients with chronic lateral instability of the ankle joint, 10 patients were male and 3 patients were female, ranging in age from 24 to 45 years,with an average of 33 years. Anterior talo-fibular ligament (ATFL) and calcanea-fibular ligament (CFL) were anatomy reconstructed with a split peroneus brevis tendon graft for all patients. The ankle scoring system was used to evaluate ankle joint function before and after operation, which including stability, pain, locomotor activity and X-ray films.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up ranged from 6 to 32 months, averaged 16.4 months. The postoperative scores of the ankles increased in respect to stability, pain and locomotor activity. The total average score increased from preoperative (43.54+/-7.04) to postoperative (73.38+/-4.17). There was significant difference between preoperative scores and postoperative scores (P<0.01). All the patients were satisfied with the results.

CONCLUSIONAnatomy reconstruct of the ATFL and CFL with a split peroneus brevis tendon graft (Sammarco method) is a practical method for lateral ankle instability and promise good results especially for patients complained of instability.

Adult ; Ankle Joint ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; pathology ; surgery ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Biological ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of early combination treatment with intratympanic glucocorticoid injection for sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL).METHODSTotal of 178 patients with diagnosis of SSNHL, including 44 with hearing loss at middle-low frequencies,50 at high frequencies,44 at all frequencies and 40 at total deafness, were randomly divided into combination treatment group (CT group) and systemic oral prednisone group (OP group).CT group (82 patients) received intratympanic administration of methylprednisolone and oral prednisone in tapering doses. Pure-tone threshold audiometry (PTA) was performed at week 8 after beginning of therapy. RESULTSIn middle-low frequencies, the final PTA and PTA improvement were 26.14±24.82 dB and 42.23±1.61 dB in CT group respectively, and were 37.91±13.98 dB and 30.00±13.30 dB in OP group respectively (both P<0.05). In high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness SSNHL group, the differences of the final PTA and PTA improvement were not statistically significant in both groups. The PTA improvement in CT group for total deafness (26.52±14.03) dB was more than that of OP group (22.06±11.17)dB (t=2.361,P<0.05). In middle-low frequencies, the recovery rate was 72.73%(16 cases) in CT group, and 40.91% (9 cases) in OP group, the difference was significant (χ2=4.539,P<0.05), but not in apparent effective rate, effective rate and total effective rate. In high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness, there were no significant differences in therapeutic effect. The recovery rate of total CT group (40.24%) was significantly increased compared with that of OP group (26.04%)(χ2=4.061,P<0.05), the differences of apparent effective rate, effective rate and total effective rate were not statistically significant in both groups.CONCLUSIONFor low-middle frequencies SSNHL, the early combination treatment with intratympanic glucocorticoid injection leads to higher hearing recovery and therapeutic effect compared with traditional oral prednisone. Systemic application should be applied for high frequencies, all frequencies and total deafness of SSNHL.

AIM: To investigate the expression of microRNA-375 (miR-375) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to analyze the target genes and signaling pathways regulated by miR-375.METHODS: The expression of miR-375 was examined at tissue microarray of HCC by in situ hybridization.The whole human genome chip and bioinforma-tics analysis were applied to screen out the differential expression genes and signaling pathways in 4 HCC cell lines trans-fected with miR-375 mimic.RESULTS:In situ hybridization showed the expression of miR-375 in HCC tissues were obvi-ously higher than that in tumor-adjacent tissues (P<0.05).There were 20 co-upregulated genes and 17 co-downregulated genes in all 4 cell lines.Bioinformatic analysis showed that there were 54 signaling pathways related to up-regulated genes and 48 signaling pathways related to down-regulated genes in all 4 cell lines.CONCLUSION: miR-375 may play a key role in the pathological process of HCC.The bioinformatic analysis is able to screen the target genes and signaling pathways regulated by miR-375 and to provide an explicit direction for further mechanism research on HCC.