Objective To construct an electrochemical immunosensor for ultrasensitive determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) .Methods The electrochemical immunosensor for M PO was prepared by modifying the electrode using Au-graphitized me-soporous carbon nanoparticles(AuNPs@ GMCs) hybrid and immobilizing MPO antibodies onto the glass carbon electrode surface . The effect of experimental parameters on the immunosensor and results comparison with ELISA were investigated .Results The immunosensor was sensitive to M PO with a linear relationship between 2 .000 and 300 .000 ng/mL and a correlation coefficient of 0 .999 ;the detection limit was 0 .5 ng/mL .The correlation coefficient of two methods was 0 .983 .Conclusion The immunosensor can be used for ultrasensitive detection of MPO .

Objective: To investigate the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on fatigue in rats with chronic exercise-induced exhaustion. Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Except rats in the blank group, the remaining rats were subjected to create long-term exhaustion models by repeated swimming. After successful modeling, rats in the moxibustion group received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 15 min, once every other day with a total of 10 times. Rats in the model group and the blank group did not receive moxibustion. At the end of the treatment, the exhausted times, and the body weight of rats before and after the experiment were compared among groups. The levels of blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and urea nitrogen (BUN), as well as the activities of aspartate transarninase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer, 24 h after the exhausting excise. Results: The 10th swimming time was significantly longer in the moxibustion group than that in the model group (P<0.01). The increase rate of the body weight was lower in the rats of the moxibustion group than that in the model group before the 7th and the 10th exhausting excise (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (all P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) can decrease the serum levels of MDA and BUN, as well as activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the long-term fatigue rats, thus to improve the symptoms of fatigue.

OBJECTIVETo establish scientific and efficient quality control standard of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii through two quantitative parameters.

METHODThe contents of isoimperatorin and volatile oils in 29 commercial samples from 22 localities of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii were determined by HPLC and the method in the pharmacopoeia respectively. The data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTOnly 3 of 29 samples met the required standard in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005 edition), 87% of samples newly produced in 2005 not met the standard. Statistics showed that the contents of volatile oils and isoimperatorin should reach 1.63% and 0.17% respectively when the samples meet requirement of criterion with more than 80% probability. The contents of volatile oil and isoimperatorin were not significantly different (P < 0.05) in the samples of 2005 and 2003, while the contents of isoimperatorin were significantly different between Notopterygium incisum and N. forbesii samples.

CONCLUSIONSince the criterion of volatile oils in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2005 version) for Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii is too high to satisfy for most Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii samples, it is suggested to reduce it to 1.6% (mL x g(-1)). The content of isoimperatorin is proposed to add to the quality standard of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii as above 0.2% (mg x g(-1)).

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of the point-to-point needling and perpendicular needling of auricular acupuncture for rapid analgesia on the patients with lumbar disc hernia, and find which method is better for this disease.

METHODSNinety two patients were paired according to the three factors as sex, age and degree of pain, and then randomly divided into the point-to-point needling group and perpendicular needling group. The methods of point-to-point needling through the skin and perpendicular needling towardS the skin were respectively applied at bilateral lumbar areas as auricular acupuncture, and added acupoints following the change of symptom. All patients accorded with the demands of McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ), before treatment, 5 and 30 min after treatment, the accumulated score of pain was recorded respectively for observing the difference of the effects in both groups.

RESULTSAfter 5 min treatment, the effect of analgesia on the male patients in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of in the perpendicular needling group (P<0.05), but there was no difference on the female patients in both groups (P>0.05). After 30 min treatment, the effect of analgesia in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of the perpendicular needling group (P<0.05). Besides the patients with light degree pain, there was no significant difference between the two groups after 5 min treatment as score of pain (P>0.05), paired t-test showed that the effects of analgesia on the patients with lumbar disc hernia in the point-to-point needling group was better than that of perpendicular needling group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe point-to-point needling method can rapidly relieve patients' lumbar disc hernia of pain, which is better than the perpendicular needling method.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pain Management ; Pain Measurement ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To establish HPLC analysis methods and fingerprint of different proportions of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in Angelicae Sinensis Radix; To use HPLC fingerprint method to identify the adulteration of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in Angelicae Sinensis Radix. Methods Agilent TC-C18 column (5 μm, 4.6 mm × 250 mm) was adopted. Acetonitrile (A) - 0.05% phosphoric acid (B) was the mobile phase, and the gradient elution (0–20 min, 95%–75%B; 20–60 min, 75%–65%B; 60–80 min, 65%–5%B) was used; The flowrate was 1 mL/min; Detection wavelength was 254 nm; Column temperature was 30 ℃. The HPLC spectra of Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and adulterated samples were compared and analyzed by using TCM chromatogram fingerprint similarity evaluation system. Results Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Angelicae Pubescentis Radix showed good chromatographic peaks in chromatogram separation. 11 peaks in HPLC fingerprint could be used as the mark, including 7th peak for ferulic acid, 32th peak for osthole, and 34th peak for columbianadin. Conclusion This method is rapid, simple and feasible, can fully reflect the quality of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and clearly identify whether Angelicae Pubescentis Radix is adulterated in Angelicae Sinensis Radix.

ObjectiveTo analyze Echinococcus infection in definitive and intermediate hosts in different zones of Qinghai plateau,Qinghai southern plateau,Qilian mountain-Hehuang valley and Chaidamu basin,and to provideascientificbasisfor developing controlstrategiesagainstEchinococcosisinfection. Methods Echinococcosis infection in definitive hosts,dogs and foxes,was identified by morphological observation; in domesticated and wild intermediate host animals was identified by anatomy and pathology; some of the suspected samples were further identified by molecular biological methods.ResultsStray dogs in different zones of Qinghai plateau were infected with Echinococcus granulosus,the infection rates were 38.71％(300/775),49.60％(124/250),and 9.76％(4/41 ) in Qinghai southem plateau,Qilian mountain-Hehuang valley and Chaidamu basin,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant(x2 =25.72,P ＜ 0.01 ).in addition,only Qinghai southern plateau dogs were infected with Echinococcus multiloularis,and the infection rate was 16.04％(98/611).The infection rates of fox with Echinococcus multilocularis were 22.89％(38/166) and 30.77％(12/39) in Qinghai southern plateau and Qilian mountain-Hehuang valley,respectively,and wolves were also found to be infected with Echinococcus granulosus in the same areas.The infection rates of domesticated sheep,yaks,goats and pigs with Echinococcosis were significantly different statistically in those different areas(x2 =82.70,41.82,212.63,194.58,all P ＜ 0.01 ).The infection rates of sheep and yaks were higher[43.43％(5664/13 042),49.47％(2917/5896),52.99％ (887/1674),42.18％ (779/1847),50.70％ (1049/2069),52.90％ (685/1295) ] in three areas.The infection rates of goats and pigs [3.26％ (7/215),0.00％ (0/108)] in Qinghai southern plateau were lower than that of other two areas[ 19.51％(119/610),26.91％(43/1598),47.91％(343/716),21.91％(71/324)].The infection rates of Ochotona curzoniae with Echinococcosis were 6.21％ (243/3910),1.80％ (3/167) and 0.00％ (0/199) in Qinghai southern plateau,Qilian mountain-Hehuang valley and Chaidamu basin,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =18.50,P ＜ 0.01 ).Moreover,wild intermediate hosts of Echinococcosis,such as Microtus fuscus,Lepus oiostolus,Pseudois nayaur,Procapra picticaudata,and Prodorcas gutturosa were found to be infected only in Qinghai southern plateau.ConclusionsHuman is faced with a threat of Echinococcosis infection from various definitive hosts in different zones of Qinghai plateau.And stray dogs are the most crucial factor.The life-cycles of Echinococcus are very complicated in Qinghai plateau.Qinghai plateau is a key area in prevention and control of Echinococcosis infection in China.

Background At present, revascularization is still one of the most critical technologies in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Hepatic artery (HA) variations occur frequently in both donors and recipients. Moreover, there are always some pathological changes in the recipient hepatic artery. If handled improperly, it may cause complications after anastomosis.Therefore, arterial conduit could be used in primary OLT, re-OLT and multiple-OLT. This study aimed to investigate the indications, methods and techniques with usage of arterial conduit for HA revascularization during adult OLT.Methods We reviewed 1200 patients of consecutive OLTs performed during 2000-2009 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Of these patients, 48 recipients with artery variations received HA revascularization with usage of arterial conduit and special postoperative managements. The indications, methods, techniques, and the managements of postoperative complications in adult OLT with usage of arterial conduit for HA revascularization were analyzed.Results In 48 cases with artery bypass, the arterial conduit were anastomosed between donor hepatic artery and recipient infrarenal aorta (n=32), between donor hepatic artery and recipient suprarenal aorta (n=10), and between donor upper abdominal organ cluster artery and recipient suprarenal aorta (n=6). The technique was applied in 4％ (48/1200 cases) of the whole OLTs performed in the same period, and the patency rate of the conduits was 100％. Forty patients (83.3％) survived, and the average survival time was 3.9 years. Eight patients (16.7％) died (all due to tumor recurrence),while the average survival time was 1.2 years. All these patients have not experienced artery-related complications in their survival time.Conclusions When recipient HA has variations or pathological changes in OLT, the donor artery should be anastomosed to recipient abdominal aorta with an arterial conduit to achieve satisfactory outcomes. For arterial anastomosis can not be routinely performed, donor iliac artery as a conduit to be anastomosed with the recipient abdominal aorta is safe and effective.

BACKGROUNDThe curative effect of liver transplantation for patients with end-stage liver disease was encouraging in recent years and the 5-year patient survival rate can reach up to 70%. However, some patients might lose grafts due to a variety of reasons, including bile duct complications, vascular complications, primary non-function, graft rejection and disease recurrence etc. Liver retransplantation (re-LT) was the only available means for those patients whose initial grafts had failed, but the inferior outcomes of re-LT compared to primary liver transplantation (PLT) continue to be a major concern. This study aimed to analyze the indications for re-LT, optimal timing of re-LT, and strategies to improve the survival rate after re-LT.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to December 2006, we performed 738 liver transplants and 39 re-LT (5.3%) at our center. A retrospective analysis was performed to identify factors (indication for re-LT, preoperative score of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD), interval to re-LT from primary liver transplantation, methods of vascular and biliary reconstruction and common causes of death) associated with survival.

RESULTSMean follow-up period was 1.8 years (1 to 5 years). Patients with MELD score less than 20 were better than those whose MELD score was > 20 and MELD score > 30 (1-year survival, 80.0% versus 50.0% and 3/5). The perioperative survival rate of patients who received re-LT at an interval of more than 30 days and less than 8 days after the initial transplantation was higher than those who received retransplantation between 8 to 30 days following the first operation (88.5% and 74.3% versus 50.0%). The main causes of death were infection (60.0%), multiple organ failure (20.0%), vascular complications (10.0%) and biliary fistula (10.0%) in perioperative period. The overall patient survival rate of 1-month, 6-month and 1-year was 80.0%, 76.7% and 66.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSOur study suggested the favorable results after re-LT. The analysis also showed optimal timing of operation, refined surgical techniques, individualized immunosuppressive regimen and effective prophylaxis and treatment of perioperative infection play an important role in achieving a higher survival after re-LT.

Adult ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reoperation

OBJECTIVEFive heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr) and arsenic (As) contents in 57 samples of from 19 localities in Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii sourcing from two plants Notoperygium incusum and N. forbesii has been analyzed to evaluate the content standard of heavy metal and arsenic for drafting the herbal medicine quality.

METHODICP-AES method was applied to determine As, Cu, Cd, Pb, Cr and CAAS method was applied to determine Hg.

RESULTHg can not be determined through CAAS, and little Pb was determined except in limited N. forbesii samples from certain sites, while the contents of Cu in most samples are higher than 20 mg x kg(-1). As in N. forbesii samples, and Cd in N. incisum samples are higher or approximate the limitation of related standard of medicinal plants and production. Cr varies from different localities, ranging from 0.48 to 8.36 mg x kg(-1) for N. incisum and 1.44-8.03 mg x kg(-1) for N. forbesii.

CONCLUSIONReferring to the related standards of medicine and vegetable, the heavy metals and arsenic contents of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii samples from traditional producing areas are confirmed the propositional standard, i. e., Pb < or = 5.0 mg x kg(-1), Cd < or = 0.3 mg x kg(-1), Hg < or = 0.2 mg x kg(-1), Cu < or = 28.0 mg x kg(-1), As < or = 2.0 mg x kg(-1), and Cr < or = 1.0 mg x kg(-1). Of these five heavy metals, Cu is much over the limitation standard, which suggested that GAP base of Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii must be selected in lower Cu environmental condition in main producing area.

Apiaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; Arsenic ; analysis ; Cadmium ; analysis ; China ; Chromium ; analysis ; Copper ; analysis ; Ecosystem ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; classification ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop a LC-MS method for the determination of senkyunolide I (SI) in rat plasma, in order to observe whether there is significant change in the pharmacokinetics parameters of complex prescriptions of Huoluoxiaolingdan (HLXL) and single herbal extracts from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. in rats, and assess the effect of other components in HLXL on the pharmacokinetics of SI.

METHODTwelve male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups, and orally administered with extract from HLXL and L. chuanxiong (both equal to SI 4.53 mg x kg(-1)). Their blood was collected at different time points for LC-MS, in order to detect the plasma concentration of SI. The pharmacokinetic parameters of SI were calculated by DAS 2.0 software. SPSS 16.0 software was used for independent-sample T-test and Nonparametric T-test.

RESULTA linear relationship of SI ranged from 6.750 to 675.0 microg x L(-1), and with the lowest limit of detection being 6.750 microg L(-1). Both of the plasma concentration-time curves of SI were fitted with the two-compartment model for extract of HLXL and L. chuanxiong. The detected AUC and Cmax of SI showed significant difference, with no significant difference in other parameters.

CONCLUSIONThe LC-MS determination method established in this experiment was so exclusive, accurate and sensitive that it is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies on extracts of HLXL and SI from L. chuanxion. The experiment results show that other ingredients of HLXL have noticeable effect on the absorption of SI in rat plasma.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Benzofurans ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley