OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation between constitution of yin deficiency syndrome (YDS) and polymorphism of HLA-DQA1/treatment response of Peg-lFNalpha therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and to explore constitution of Chinese medicine (CM) in response of interferon therapy.

METHODSTotally 120 HBeAg positive CHB patients who were treated with Peg-IFNalpha were enrolled, and assigned to YDS group (59 cases) and non-YDS group (61 cases) according to classification of CM constitutions. All patients were subcutaneously injected with Peg-IFNalpha-2b (1.0 microg/kg body weight) or Peg-IFNalpha-2a (180 microg), once per week. Effective efficacy was primarily judged when complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was obtained at month 6. Those with CR or PR completed 1 year therapeutic course. HLA-DQA1 gene types were detected by polymerase chain reaction sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). The distribution difference of CM constitutions in patients with CR or PR and their inter-group HLA-DQA1 allele frequency were compared.

RESULTSDifferent treatment responses of Peg-IFNalpha were observed in CHB patients of two different CM constitutions. The ratio of CR + PR was 61.0% (36/59) in YDS group, obviously lower than that in NYDS group [78.7% (48/61), P < 0. 05]. Patients with CR had a lower allele frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0501 than those with no-response [14.8% (8/54) vs. 30.6% (22/72)] with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Patients with CR had a higher allele frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0601 than those with no-response [18.5% (10/54) vs. 5.6% (4/72)] with statistical difference (P < 0.05). The allele frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0301 was lower in YDS group than in non-YDS group [2. 5% (3/118) vs. 9.8% (12/122)] with statistical difference (P < 0.05). The allele frequency of HLA-DQA1 * 0501 was higher in YDS group than in non-YDS group [33.9% (40/118) vs. 18.9% (23/122)] with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Yet statistical significance was lost after adjustment (Pc > 0.05 for both).

CONCLUSIONSBoth constitutions of CM and HLA-DQA1 gene polymorphism af- fect HBeAg positive CHB patients' response to Peg-INFalpha. Constitutions of YDS and HLA-DQA1 * 0501 was not favorable to response, their association needed to be further studied.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; genetics ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Yin Deficiency ; genetics

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of the amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) tracings within 6 hours after birth in term infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and explore the value of aEEG in early diagnosis and prediction of neurological outcome in term infants.

METHODSFrom May 2003 to February 2005, 33 term infants with HIE at the Division of Neonatology, Pediatric Hospital of Fudan University were studied by aEEG within 6 hours after birth. The results of aEEG were categorized into three groups (normal, mildly abnormal and severely abnormal aEEG), while HIE was clinically classified into three grades (mild, moderate and severe) and the neurological outcomes at 18 months were assessed (normal, disabled and dead). The correlation between the results of aEEG, severity of HIE and neurological outcome at 18 months were analyzed, respectively. The values of aEEG on early diagnosis and neurological outcome prediction of HIE were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 33 term infants with HIE, 20 infants had normal aEEG (normal amplitude aEEG), 5 had mildly abnormal aEEG (4 with mildly abnormal amplitude aEEG, 1 with normal amplitude and seizure) and 8 had severely abnormal aEEG (2 with mildly abnormal aEEG and seizures, 4 with severely abnormal amplitude and 2 with severely abnormal amplitude and seizures), respectively. Seventeen infants (51.5%) had mild HIE, 19 moderate (27.3%) and 7 (21.2%) severe HIE, respectively. Twenty-five cases were followed up, which showed that 19 had normal neurological outcome, 1 had disability and 5 died. By CMH square analysis and Spearman rank correlation analysis, the results of aEEG classification were correlated with the severity of HIE and the neurological outcome of term infants. Abnormal aEEG could predict the severity of HIE in term infants with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 81.3%, positive predictive value of 85.0% and negative predictive value of 100%, respectively. Abnormal aEEG could predict the neurological outcome of term infants with HIE, which showed a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 90.9%, positive predictive value of 93.3% and negative predictive value of 100%, respectively. Severely abnormal aEEG could predict the severe HIE in term infants with sensitivity of 96.2%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 87.5%, respectively. Severely abnormal aEEG could predict the neurological outcome of term infants with HIE, which showed sensitivity of 94.7%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 85.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSMonitoring with aEEG in term infants with HIE within 6 hours after birth could predict the severity of HIE and its neurological outcome at 18 months.

Early Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; diagnosis ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Severity of Illness Index ; Term Birth

Adult ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rodentia ; virology

In order to evaluate the characteristics of the spray drying of total flavonoids of Epimedium extracts assisted with soybean polysaccharide, a certain percentage of soybean polysaccharide or polyvidone were added to the total flavonoids of Epimedium extract to conduct the spray drying. The effect of soybean polysaccharides against the wall sticking effect of the spray drying was detected, as well as the powder property of total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder and the dissolution in vitro behavior of the effective component. Compared with the total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder, soybean polysaccharide revealed a significant anti-wall sticking effect. The spray drying power which had no notable change in the grain size made a increase in the fluidity, improvement in the moisture absorption and remarkable rise in the dissolution in vitro behavior. It was worth further studying the application of soybean polysaccharide in spray drying power of traditional Chinese medicine.
Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Powders ; Soybeans ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effects of angelica solution on chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats.Methods Thirty SD rats were randomized into normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group.The model of rat chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was made by method of isobaric hypoxia.Angelica solution were injected before hypoxia,while the other two groups were injected normal saline.After 28d of hypoxia,pulmonary artery pressure were measured.Expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in pulmonary artery were detected by immunohistochemical staining.The index of wall thickness of rat pulmonary arteriole-percentage of the wall area in the total vascular area(wA%) were measured by a computerized image analyzer.Results The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were10.50±1.90,35.36±9.11,18.32±2.30 (mm Hg);wA% of the three groups were 52.71±5.16,82.38±8.43,64.58±9.54 (%),mPAP and wA% were significantly higher in the hypoxic group than those in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and angelica solution-protected group (P<0.01).PCNA expression of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were 3.15±1.10,24.50±5.72,12.67±3.46 (%).The PCNA expression in the pulmonary artery was significantly higher in the hypoxic group than those in the normoxic group (P<0.01) and in the angelica solution-protected group (P<0.01).iNOS expression of normoxic group,hypoxic group and angelica solution-protected group were 2.13±1.01,17.33±3.53,37.50±7.04 (%).iNOS expression in the pulmonary artery was higher in the hypoxic group than those in normoxic group (P<0.01),and angelica significantly increased iNOS expression in comparison with the normoxic and hypoxic groups (P<0.01).Conclusion Angelica solution alleviates chronically hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension in rats by inhibiting the espression of PCNA in pulmonary artery and up-regulating the expression of iNOS.

Objective To analysis the quality of life of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods The quality of life was assessed in 52 patients with active AS using SF-36 and was compared with the general population.The correlation between the quality of life and the clinical measures of disease,in- cluding the Bath AS disease activity index(BASDAI),Bath AS functional index(BASFI),Bath AS metrology index(BASMI),patient's global assessment(PGA),spinal inflammation,total back pain,nocturnal back pain, and enthesis index(EI),were determined.Results The patients with active AS reported significant decreased scores on all dimensions of SF-36.The score of physical health components was poorer than that of mental health components.BASFI was the strongest factor correlated with the score of SF-36,followed by BASDAI and PGA.BASMI and total back pain were correlated with three dimensions only.In multivariate regression analysis,BASFI showed relative closer relationship to the qulity of life with active AS than other clinical mea- sures of disease and it accounted for 50.3%,35.2% and 47.9% of the variance in the physical health compo- nents,the mental health components and the overall score of SF-36,respectively.Conclusion The quality of life in patients with active AS is significantly declined compared with general population.The physical aspects seem to be more severely affected.Functional status of the patients with active AS are correlated with the quality of life closely.

This study was designed to analyze the effect of the mitochondrial respiratory pathways of Candida albicans (C.albicans) on the biofilm formation.The 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay was used to measure the metabolic activities of biofilms formed by the C.albicans which were cultured in the presence of respiratory pathways inhibitors.The biofilms formed by the wide type (WT),GOA1-deleted (GOA31),GOA1-reconstituted (GOA32),AOX1a-deleted (AOX1) and AOX1b-deleted (AOX2) C.albicans strains were examined by the XTT reduction assay and fluorescence microscopy.The expression of adhesion-related genes BCR1,ALS1,ALS3,ECE1 and HWP1 in the biofilms formed by the above five C.albicans strains was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction.It was found that the metabolic activity of biofilms formed by C.albicans was decreased in the presence of alternative oxidase inhibitor whereas it was increased in the presence of classical mitochondrial respiratory pathway complex Ⅲ or complex Ⅳ inhibitor.AOX1 strain produced scarce biofilms interspersed with few hyphal filaments.Moreover,no significant changes in the expression of BCR1 and ALS3 were observed in the AOX1 strain,but the expression of ALS1 and ECE1 was down-regulated,and that of HWP1 was up-regulated.These results indicate that both AOX1 and AOX2 can promote the biofilm formation.However,AOX1a primarily plays a regulatory role in biofilm formation in the absence of inducers where the promoting effect is mainly achieved by promoting mycelial formation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference of serum high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase (HMAP) levels between biliary atresia (BA) and neonatal hepatitis (NH), and to develop a new differential method and early diagnostic indicators for cholestatic jaundice in neonates.

METHODSTotally 31 patients with cholestatic jaundice seen between Aug. 2000 and Feb. 2002, including 15 cases with BA, 16 cases with NH, 30 healthy infants and 30 infants with non-cholestatic jaundice were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were obtained from each subject by using venipuncture. The samples were stored at -80 degrees C and analyzed within 6 months. A murine hybridoma producing monoclonal antibody to human high molecular weight alkaline phosphatase (MoAb HMAP-1) was prepared by using partially purified HMAP from human serum as the immunogen. The antibody did not cross-react with other alkaline phosphatase (ALP) isozymes. A monoclonal antibody immunocatalytic assay for HMAP in serum was developed by using MoAb HMAP-1 bound to nitrocellulose membrane discs. The serum total ALP (TALP) and gamma-GT were determined in the meantime, the hepatobiliary ultrasonography and scintigraphy were performed too. The data were analyzed with t test, chi-square test and percentage. Comparisons were made between BA and NH with their sensitivity and specificity in different methods.

RESULTSSerum HMAP was detected in 14 of 15 patients of BA, in 2 of 16 NH patients, while in none of the healthy control group. The positive ratios of serum HMAP in BA and NH were 93.3% and 12.5%, respectively (P < 0.005). The sensitivity and specificity of serum HMAP in BA and NH were 93.3% and 87.5%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of TALP, gamma-GT and hepatobiliary scintigraphy were 80.0%, 73.3%, 86.7% and 62.5%, 68.8%, 62.5%, respectively, which were clearly lower than those of serum HMAP.

CONCLUSIONSThe determination of serum HMAP was more sensitive and specific than the other methods tested. Therefore the method can be used as a useful indicator for cholestatic jaundice in neonates, although it needs further study.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; methods ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; Male ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

Reperfusion is the most effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction, markedly reducing mortality and morbidity. Reperfusion however induces necrotic and apoptotic damages to cardiomyocytes, that were viable prior to reperfusion, a process called myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury(MI/RI). Over the past 30 years, hundreds of experimental interventions (both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic) have been reported to protect the ischemic myocardium in experimental animals; however, with the exception of early reperfusion, none has been translated into clinical practice. The population-based survey assessed men have about twice the total incidence of morbidity and mortality of women, and the sex gap in morbidity tends to diminish after age 45 years. So hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is given to treat the MI/RI, and lots of studies shows that the side effect is greater for estrogen, compared with phyestrogen. In this article, we review the important pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, the prevention and limitations of HRT. And we highlight the mechanism of phyestrogens treatment the MI/RI in experiment. The aim is to provide the theoretically new way of develop the safe and effective products for the researchers.
Animals ; Humans ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; Phytoestrogens ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage