This study is to establish an HPLC-DAD-ELSD method for simultaneous determination of 5 flavones and saponins in Rhizoma Anemarrhenae including neo-mangiferin, mangiferin, timosaponin B II, timosaponin B III and timosaponin A III. Samples were analyzed on a Merck Purospher STAR column(4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile( A) and 0. 1% formic acid (B) with gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL · min(-1). The column temperature was set at 40 °C. The DAD detector wavelength was set at 254 nm. The ELSD conditions were as follows: the nebulizing gas flow rate was 2.0 L · min(-1) and temperature of drift tube was 105 °C. The volume was 10 μL. The five compounds were well separated with good linear correlations. The mean recoveries were between 102.0%-104.0%. This method was quick and reliable which provides a foundation for quality control of R. Anemarrhenae.
Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Flavones ; analysis ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

Objective To explore the role of dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) in the tubulointerstitial lesions of immune-mediated nephrotoxic nephritis (NTN) and the intervention regulation by anti-P-selectin lectin-EGF domain monoclonal antibody (PsL-EGFmAb). Methods WKY rats were randomly divided into control,NTN and PsL-EGFmAb-treated groups. The mrs in NTN group were injected with 1 ml nephrotoxic rabbit serum per kilogram of rat body weight; the ones in PsL-EGFmAb-treated group were injected with 2 mg PsL-EGFmAb per kilogram of rat body weight simultaneously and 2 h later after nephrotoxic rabbit serum injection; and those in control group were injected with equal volume of 0.9% saline. Renal function and pathology were observed at day 4, 7 and 14 after the induction of NTN. Distribution of DC-SIGN + dendritic cells (DCs) in renal tissues was measured by immunofluorescence. Real-time PCR was performed to examine the expression of P-selectin,RANTES, TNF-α, IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-4. Expression of MHC Ⅱ , CD80 and DC-SIGN on dendritic cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Transendothelial migration was used to detect the ability of DCs migration. DCs ability to activate T cells was determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). ELISA was used to detect the concentration of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant of MLR. Results At day 4, immature DC-SIGN+ DCs infiltrated the rat renal tubulointerstium of NTN group, matured at day 14, and enhanced the ability to migrate and activate T cells. The distribution of DC-SIGN + DCs was significantly related to the form of crescent, tubulointerstial lesions and renal function. In addition, expression of chemokine RANTES and proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α continuously augmented since day 4, while anti-inflammatory eytokine IL-10 decreased after markedly increased at day 4. At day 14, IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA increased, which was obviously related to DCs maturation. The intervention of PsL-EGFmAb supressed the expression of DC-SIGN and CD80 on DCs, depressed DCs maturation, migration and ability to activate T cells,down-regulated proinflammatory cytokines and up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines in kidney,and thus regulated Th1/Th2 bias. At the same time, kidneys showed the decrease of crescents,improvement of tnbulointerstium damage and renal function. Conclusions DC-SIGN may mediate DCs tubulointerstitial infiltration. It may be also a potent regulator of local immune reaction imbalance and pathology of tubulointerstium. PsL-EGFmAb may depress DCs migration and downregulate DCs maturation and function through DC-SIGN, and thus having a role in prevention and treatment.

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in treatment of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants.

METHODSAccording to the requirements of Cochrane systematic review, a thorough literature search was performed among PubMed (1977-2008), Embase (1989-2008), OVID, Cochrane (2008), Chinese Digital Hospital Library (www.chkd.cnki.net) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Disk Database (CBMdisc). Quality assessments of clinical trials were carried out. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with NIPPV and RDS were enrolled, and Revman 4.2 software was used for meta-analysis. The trials were analyzed using relative risk (RR) for dichotomous data, weighted mean difference (WMD) were used for continuous data, both kind of data were expressed by 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). For homogenous data (P> or =0.10), fixed effects model was calculated, for heterogeneity data (P<0.10), random effects model was calculated.

RESULTSFive RCTs involving 284 premature infants diagnosed as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were included. Three studies comparing NIPPV with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in the postextubation period, the extubation failure rate was 8.34% vs 40.79% in NIPPV group and NCPAP group, the NIPPV group had significantly lower extubation failure rates [RR 0.21 (95% CI: 0.10-0.45; P<0.001)]. Two of the above-mentioned three studies analyzed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) rates, the incidence of BPD was 39.34% vs 54.39% in NIPPV group and NCPAP group, the NIPPV group had a trend towards lower BPD rates, but this did not reach statistical significance [RR 0.73 (95% CI: 0.49-1.07; P=0.11)]. NIPPV was used as primary mode in two studies, one compared with conventional ventilation (CV), which detected that the NIPPV group had significantly lower BPD rates (10% vs. 33.33%, P=0.04); the other compared with NCPAP, which also showed that NIPPV group had significantly lower BPD rates (2.33% vs. 17.07%, P=0.03).

CONCLUSIONThe primary mode NIPPV was found to be feasible as a method of ventilation in preterm infants with RDS, and was associated with a decreased incidence of BPD. In the postextubation period, NIPPV is more effective in preventing failure of extubation than NCPAP.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; therapy

Altitude ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Oxygen Consumption

A high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of mizoribine in human serum using thiamphenicol as internal standard (IS). The serum samples of mizoribine were precipitated with acetonitrile and separated by HPLC on a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.1% ammonium acetate water solution-methanol (47:53, v/v). Mizoribine and IS were detected in the multiple reaction monitoring mode with precursor/product ion transitions of m/z 258.2/126.0 and 354.1/185.2, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 0.02-2 microg mL(-1) for mizoribine. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.02 microg mL(-1) with acceptable precision and accuracy. The validated method was successfully applied for the evaluation of a bioequivalence study on Chinese healthy volunteers. The main pharmacokinetics parameters after oral administration of 100 mg mizoribine test or reference formulation were as follows: Cmax (1.00 +/- 0.21), (1.00 +/- 0.22) microg mL(-1); AUC(0-infinity) (6.72 +/- 1.39), (6.48 +/- 1.44) microg h mL(-1); t1/2 (2.77 +/- 0.26), (2.66 +/- 0.29) h; tmax (2.95 +/- 0.78), (2.84 +/- 0.50) h.
Adult ; Area Under Curve ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Confidence Intervals ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Ribonucleosides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Therapeutic Equivalency ; Young Adult

Proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2), the causative gene of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesias (PKD), benign familial infantile seizures (BFIS) and infantile convulsions with paroxysmal choreoathetosis (ICCA), also causes a variety of neurological paroxysmal disorders. These diseases share the same characteristics which may be due to the same genetic defect. We therefore propose to name them as PRRT2-related paroxysmal disorders (PRPDs) in order to assist clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. This paper has reviewed the clinical phenotype, common features and pathogenesis of the PRPDs.
Chorea ; genetics ; Epilepsy, Benign Neonatal ; genetics ; Family Health ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of early or late administration of caffeine citrate in the prevention and treatment of apnea in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. METHODS: A total of 82 VLBW infants who were hospitalized and treated in the neonatal intensive care unit between June 2015 and May 2017 were enrolled. According to the age in days when caffeine citrate treatment was started, they were divided into early treatment group (<3 days) with 22 infants and late treatment group (3 - <10 days) with 60 infants. A retrospective analysis was performed for their clinical data. The two groups were compared in terms of general information during the perinatal period, treatment process, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Compared with the late treatment group, the early treatment group had a significantly lower birth weight (P=0.004), significantly shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and oxygen inhalation (P<0.05), and a significantly lower incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P=0.032). There were no significant differences in other general information, treatment process, and clinical outcome between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Early administration of caffeine citrate can improve the prognosis of VLBW infants.
Apnea ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Caffeine ; Child ; Citrates ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To observe the change of hard tissue in dental immediate implantation.Methods Twenty implants were implanted in 10 patients including 10 implants of immediate implantation and 10 regular implantation.They were followed up for one year after functional loading.Hard and soft tissue changes were evaluated by measuring the mesial and distal bone lever on X-ray.Pocket probing depth and papilla index were assessed during 1 year follow up period.Results After one year of functional loading,the implant retention rate was 100％,the patient subjective satisfaction rate was 100％.Hard and soft tissues around implant showed no pathological abnormalities.The average absorption of hard tissue after 1 year in conventional group was (1.76 ±0.21) mm,and (1.80 ±0.15) mm in immediate implant group,which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.The pocket probing depth in immediate implantation group was (2.31 ± 0.84) mm and (2.27 ± 0.84)mm in conventional group (P ＞0.05).The frequency distributions of the scores of papilla index of both groups were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions The hard and soft tissue changes in immediate dental implantation were within the normal ranges.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy difference between meridian cosmetology and western medicine in the treatment of chloasma and explore the impacts of meridian cosmetology on E2 and PRGE.

METHODSThree hundreds cases of chloasma were randomized into a meridian cosmetology group and a western medication group according to the visit sequence, 150 cases in each one. In the meridian cosmetology group, the meridian regulation, acupuncture based on pattern/syndrome differentiation [at the body acupoints such as Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ganshu (BL 18), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23), etc.] and the local surrounding needling therapy on the chloasma skin lesion were adopted. In the western medication group, the oral administration of Vitamin C and E was prescribed for 3 months. The clinical efficacy was observed for the patients in the two groups. Additionally, 30 cases were collected from the meridian cosmetology group randomly for the detection of estrogen (E2) and progestin (PRGE) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe effective rate in the meridian cosmetology group was 92.6% (126/136), which was superior to 67.0% (75/112) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). For the patients collected from the meridian cosmetology group, as compared with that before treatment, E2 level was decreased (P < 0.01) and PRGE level was increased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe meridian cosmetology achieves the superior efficacy as compared with the western medication group for the chloasma and it can regulate the levels of E2 and PRGE.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Cosmetic Techniques ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Melanosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Meridians ; Progestins ; metabolism ; Young Adult

We sought to identify common key regulators and build a gene-metabolite network in different nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) phenotypes. We used a high-fat diet (HFD), a methionine-choline-deficient diet (MCDD) and streptozocin (STZ) to establish nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and NAFL+type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in rat models, respectively. Transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses were performed in rat livers and serum. A functional network-based regulation model was constructed using Cytoscape with information derived from transcriptomics and metabolomics. The results revealed that 96 genes, 17 liver metabolites and 4 serum metabolites consistently changed in different NAFLD phenotypes (>2-fold, P<0.05). Gene-metabolite network analysis identified ccl2 and jun as hubs with the largest connections to other genes, which were mainly involved in tumor necrosis factor, P53, nuclear factor-kappa B, chemokine, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. The specifically regulated genes and metabolites in different NAFLD phenotypes constructed their own networks, which were mainly involved in the lipid and fatty acid metabolism in HFD models, the inflammatory and immune response in MCDD models, and the AMPK signaling pathway and response to insulin in HFD+STZ models. Our study identified networks showing the general and specific characteristics in different NAFLD phenotypes, complementing the genetic and metabolic features in NAFLD with hepatic and extra-hepatic manifestations.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Animals ; Complement System Proteins ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Insulin ; Liver ; Metabolism ; Metabolomics ; Models, Animal ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* ; Peroxisomes ; Phenotype ; Rats ; Streptozocin ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha