OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid determination method with gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for thiodiglycolic acid (TDGA), a vinyl chloride (VCM) biomarker.

METHODSA high- sensitivity determination method was established using a moderate methyl esterification instead of methyl esterification of highly toxic diazo reaction.

RESULTSThe standard curve regression linear equation of the method was: y=8460.5x-4758.2, the linear coefficient was 0.999 7, the minimum quantity concentration was 2.0 µg/L, the range of precision value was 0.81%-2.38%, and the average recovery of standard addition was 99.0%-102.9%.

CONCLUSIONThis method reduces the risk of traditional methyl esterification, improves the determination sensitivity compared with the GC-FPD method, and meets the determination requirement of TDGA.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Humans ; Thioglycolates ; urine ; Vinyl Chloride

Objective To investigate the children's body environmental Se and T-2 toxin level in their staple food in Kaschin-Beck disease(KBD)relative active regions in Aba state of Sichuan province in 2008.Methods We took X-ray photograph of the right hand on children aged 7-13 years in 48 villages from 11 counties in Aba state.The relative active regions of KBD were chosen according to the X-ray result and historical status of KBD.The children's urine and hair,drinking water and their staple food werr sampled.Selenium contents in urine,hair,water and food samples were determined by naphthalene fluorescence,and T-2 toxin in staple food samples were detected by ELISA kits.Results In 2145 X-ray films,66 films were positive,and the children's KBD positive rate was 3.08%(66/2145).The KBD positive rate was respectively 10.98%(29/264)and 8.52%(19/223)in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and it was 0.75%(3/400)in Rangtang county,historically serious endemic area.The selenium content in urine of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county,Jinchuan county and Rangtang county was (10.41±4.67), (10.11±3.65), (8.42±2.68)μg/g Cr, respectively, there was no statistical difference among three counties(F=0.901, P>0.05). The selenium content in hair of children aged 7-13 years in Maerkang county[(0.18±0.04)mg/kg] was lower than that in Jinchuan county[(0.21±0.04)mg/kg, P<0.05].The selenium content in water in Jinchuan county [(0.225±0.124 )μg/L ] was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county[(0.320±0.092), (0.339±0.105)μg/L, all P<0.05]. The selenium content in staple food in Jinchuan county(0.0033 mg/kg) was lower than that in Maerkang county and Rangtang county(0.0258,0.0137mg/kg, Z=-6.146,-3.042, all P<0.017). The T-2 toxin level in flour in three counties was 19.60,17.95,26.25 ng/g,respectively,there was no statistical difference among three counties(X2=5.623, P>0.05).The T-2 toxin level in grain Maerkang county (10.72 ng/g) was higher than that in Jinchuan county and Rangtang county (3.74,3.30 ng/g, Z=-6.315,-4.407,all P<0.017). T-2 toxin contamination in flour was more severe than that in grain (Z=-6.690,-5.493,-3.676, all P<0.05). Conclusions In 3 relative active KBD regions of Aba state,the children's selenium nutritional status and the T-2 toxin contamination level in their staple food is consistent with the distribution of KBD.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the volumetric changes of upper airway after rapid maxillary expansion using Meta analysis.Methods:All literatures about volumetric changes in the upper airway after rapid maxillary expansion were searched from the database in general.The literatures were screened according to the correlation and the inclusion criteria,included the literatures were analyzed by Rev Man 5.3.Results:11 literatures were finally selected.Meta analysis indicated that,after treatment nasopharyngeal volume increased by 0.62 cm3(P=0.000 2),palatopharyngeal volume increased by 0.62 cm3(P=0.02),glossopharyngeal volume increased by 0.39 cm3(P=0.11),oropharyneal volume increased by 0.40 cm3(P=0.27).Conclusion:The existing evidence indicates that rapid maxillary expansion can increase the volume of nasopharynx and retropalatal part of upper airway.

The efficient and safe delivery of drugs to the therapeutic site through the biofilm has traditionally been a difficult and hot topic in the field of drug delivery. In recent years, alkyl polyglycoside (APG) have become ideal penetration enhancers for drug delivery systems because of their high permeability, good safety and biodegradability, which has attracted wide attention of domestic and foreign researchers. In this paper, the physical and chemical properties, characteristics, action mechanism and application of APG in drug delivery system are reviewed, and its application prospect in drug delivery system is prospected.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether or not administration of folic acid and resveratrol have preventive effects on cleft palate formation as well as the comparison of the two drugs' s effects.

METHODSPregnant mice were randomly divided into 9 groups, with 8 mice in each group. The TCDD group mice were dosed with TCDD 28 microg/kg body weight on gestation day 10 (GD 10) animals in folic acid group were respectively dosed with folic acid 15, 10, 5 mg/kg and TCDD 28 microg/kg; resveratrol treated mice were divided into 3 groups: resveratrol 50 mg/kg were orally administered for 6 consecutive days, from gestational day GD 8 to GD13 in resveratrol (GD8-13 ) group; resveratrol 50 mg/kg were orally administered for 6 consecutive days, from gestational day GD 8 to GD13, followed hy an oral administered with TCDD on GD10 in resveratrol (GD8-13) + TCDD group; resveratrol 50mg/kg and TCDD 28 microg/kg were used by gavage administration at GD10 in resveratrol (GD10) + TCDD group. Control mice were treated with the same volume of water for 6 consecutive days from GD8 to GD13 and were given a single dose of corn oil on GD10. The pregnant mice weight and embryos, the number of live, cleft palate, dead and resorption fetal mice were recorded on GD 17.5. The coronal sections of the fetal mice heads were prepared at GD 17.5 and observed by microscopy.

RESULTSTotal frequency of clefts was 92.86% in TCDD group, 84.00% (15 mg), 73.08% (10 mg), 84.00% (5 mg) in folic acid + TCDD groups, 0% in resveratrol (GD10) group, 74.51% (GD10), 57.78% (GD8-13) in resveratrol + TCDD groups. The frequency of cleft was 0% in the control group. Compared with the control and the TCDD groups, there were significant differences in the number of live, dead and resorption fetal mice in TCCD + resveratrol (GD8-13) group (P < 0.05). No significant differences in embryonic weight, live fetuses weight, the number of live, dead and resorption fetal mice were found in the other groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTest dose of folic acid and resveratrol both had certain antagonistic effect on cleft palate in mice induced by TCDD, with folic acid 10 mg/kg, resveratrol 50 mg/kg GD8-13 doses having stronger antagonistic action. Effects of both the two drugs have no significant difference, but resveratrol (50 mg/kg, GD8-13) significantly affects the fetal mice's growth and development under TCDD exposure in utero.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Cleft Palate ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Female ; Fetus ; Folic Acid ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pregnancy ; Random Allocation ; Stilbenes ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Teratogens

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical characteristics of herb-induced liver injury (HILI).

METHODSGeneral conditions, medical history, clinical manifestations, biochemical indices, prognosis, and Roussed Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) scores were retrospectively analyzed in 595 inpatients at 302 Military Hospital between January 2009 and January 2014.

RESULTSThere were 423 cases (accounting for 71.1%) were females with multiple onset age ranging 41 to 50 years old. The median time from starting Chinese herbs to the occurrence of liver injury (LI) was 30 days (15-75 days), and 511 cases (85.9%) were classified as hepatocellular injury. Chinese herbs inducing HILI were mainly used for skin disease (102 cases, 17.1%), osteoarticular disease (57 cases, 9.6%), and gastrointestinal disease (49 cases, 8.2%), covering 207 kinds of Chinese patent medicines. Polygonum multiflorum, Psoralea corylifolia, and Corydalis ambigua were often seen in Chinese prescriptions. In RUCAM scoring, 451 HILI patients (accounting for 74.1%) were very possibly associated with Chinese herbs. Liver failure occurred in 47 HILI patients (accounting for 7.9%), cirrhosis in 45 patients (accounting for 7.6%), chronic HILI in 80 patients (accounting for 13.4%), 27 (4.5%) died, and only 2 (0.3%) underwent liver transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSChinese herbs could cause LI or even death. Attention should be paid to herbal hepatotoxicity and improving monitoring system of HILI.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence of rhodopsin (RHO) mutations and the genotype-phenotype relationships in Chinese patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE) and direct DNA sequencing.

METHODSWe have screened the five coding exons and splice sites of RHO gene in 27 probands who had no relativity from Chinese ADRP families and 100 normal controls to identify disease-associated mutations, using CSGE and direct DNA sequencing. Family members of some probands with disease-associated mutations were also genotyped to determine whether the RHO mutations segregated with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in their families.

RESULTSTwo RHO mutations, Pro347Leu and Pro327 (1-bp del), were identified separately in two families, thus the frequency of RHO mutations among this set of Chinese ADRP families is about 7.4% (2/27). Pro347Leu mutation was found in one ADRP proband as well as three her children who also had RP. She had relatively early onset at about 17 years. The only one child without this mutation had no symptom or sign of RP at age of 34. Pro327 (1-bp del) was identified in a late-onset ADRP patient, who appeared night blindness around 30 years old and in her fifties electroretinogram (ERG) has been flat in both scotopic and photopic phases. Family analysis showed that this mutation also existed in her younger daughter and her elder sister, both of them also had RP. Three other family members were genotypically and phenotypically normal. Neither of the two mutations was detected in 100 normal controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe frequency of RHO mutations in Chinese patients was lower than that in Europe and North America. The phenotype of the patients with Pro347Leu corresponded to type 1 ADRP, with severe rod degeneration and some cone preservation later, while the phenotype of the patients carrying Pro327 (1-bp del) corresponded to type 2 ADRP, with a concomitant loss of rod and cone visual function. CSGE was found to be a sensitive, simple, and practical method for the screening of a large number of samples under highly reproducible conditions, and could be utilized in routine molecular diagnostic laboratories.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Antisense ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; methods ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; Phenotype ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; genetics ; Rhodopsin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish the quality standard of extracts from Rhizoma Zingiberis by supercritical CO2 fluid extraction.

METHODThe extracts were identified by TLC. The total phenols and the 6-gingerol were determined by dual-wavelength UV spectrophotometry and HPLC separately.

RESULTThe recovery of total phenols was 97.7% (RSD 2.0%). The linear range of 6-gingerol is 0.20-2.0 microg, the average recovery was 97.7% (RSD 2.0%).

CONCLUSIONThe method is convenient for a good resolution and can be used for the quality control of extracts from Rhizoma Zingiberis.

Catechols ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Fatty Alcohols ; analysis ; Ginger ; chemistry ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and prognosis of acute renal failure (ARF) caused by rhabdomyolysis (RM) in children.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data, laboratory examination, and prognosis of 26 RM children with ARF.

RESULTSThe causes for all 26 RM children with ARF were non-traumatic diseases, and the three most common causes were infection (69%), diabetes (12%), and metabolic disease (8%). In the RM children with ARF, the five most frequent clinical manifestations were fever (69%), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (69%), convulsion (46%), oliguria or anuria (35%), and tea-colored urine (27%). All 26 children had a serum creatine kinase (CK) level of >1 000 IU/L, among whom 26 had increased aspartate aminotransferase, 25 had increased alanine aminotransferase, 25 had increased creatine kinase isoenzyme, and 23 had increased lactate dehydrogenase. Serum myoglobin (Mb) was measured in 22 children and was found to increase in all these children. The mean time for CK to decrease to below 1 000 IU/L was 10±5 d. There was no significant difference in the time to CK recovery between the 10 children who were treated with conventional treatment as well as continuous venous-venous hemofiltration and those who were not treated with blood purification (P>0.05). Of all 26 RM children with ARF, 7 were withdrawn from the treatment, and 19 had normal renal function after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSARF and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome are major complications in RM children. The major primary disease for RM children with ARF is infectious disease. CK is the major marker for the diagnosis of RM. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may reverse ARF and improve prognosis.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis ; complications ; therapy

An expression plasmid carrying anthrax protective antigen (PA) gene was constructed, which has an OmpA signal sequence attached to the 5' end of PA gene. The plasmid was transformed into E. coli and induced to express recombinant PA (rPA) . The recombinant protein, about 10% of the total bacterial protein in volume, was secreted to the periplasmic space of the cell. After a purification procedure including ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and gel filtration, about 15 mg of 95 % pure rPA was obtained from 1-liter culture. The bioactivity of rPA was proved by in vitro cytotoxicity assay. The polyclonal antiserum from rabbits immunized with rPA could inhibit the action of anthrax lethal toxin in vitro, which suggests that antibodies against rPA can provide high passive protection against anthrax. The results reported here may be helpful to develop a safe and efficacious recombinant PA vaccine against anthrax.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthrax Vaccines ; immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; toxicity ; Bacterial Toxins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; toxicity ; Base Sequence ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology