The degradation kinetics of chlorogenic acid (5-CQA), cryptochlorogenic acid (4-CQA), and neochlorogenic acid (3-CQA) in aqueous solution at 37 degrees C and different pH values (7.05, 7.96, 9.25) were investigated in the present work. The results indicated that 3-, 4- and 5-CQA tended to remain stable in acidic pH circumstance, and unstable in neutral and alkaline pH circumstance. With the increase of the alkalinity, the degradation of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA was increased leading to a less amount of total CQA and was satisfactorily described by the Weibull equation. Meanwhile, caffeic acid was not detected after the degradation of CQA. Moreover, the degradation of 3-CQA and 5-CQA tended to be converted to 4-CQA, and the degradation of 4-CQA tended to be converted to 3-CQA rather than 5-CQA. The comparison of the degradation kinetics parameters of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA at neutral and alkaline pH values showed that the orders of the rate constant (k) values were 4-CQA > 3-CQA > 5-CQA, while the orders of the degradation half life (t½) values were 4-CQA < 3-CQA < 5-CQA, indicating the orders of the stabilities of 3-, 4- and 5-CQA at 37 degrees C and neutral and alkaline pH values were 4-CQA < 3-CQA < 5-CQA.
Caffeic Acids ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics

BACKGROUND:Tissue-engineered bone in the treatment of large bone defects has obvious advantages especial y when the autologous ilium transplantation is limited, which can effectively fil bone defects.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the rationality of intramedul ary nailing support and tissue-engineered bone fil ing in the treatment of fibrous dysplasia of the proximal femur and the biocompatibility of the tissue-engineered bone.
METHODS:Seven patients with fibrous dysplasia of the proximal femur were subjected to intramedul ary nailing support and tissue-engineered bone fil ing.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al of the seven patients underwent more than 8 months of fol ow-up, no rejection reaction and other complications occurred. After 4-6 weeks of fixation, al the seven patients removed hip spica braces, with a good hip mobility. After 10-12 weeks, X-ray review showed no pathological fracture, internal fixation loosening and narrow neck stem angle. Using the Harris hip score evaluation of the hip function, the affected side of the seven patients was optimized. After 16-18 weeks, X-ray films reviewed good creeping substitution in the affected area treated with the intramedul ary nailing support and bone graft. After 24-26 weeks, new bone appeared within the scope of lesions. After 1.0-1.5 years, bone creeping substitution was basical y completed in the intertrochanteric region, and original lesions were invisible on X-ray films. These findings confirmed that intramedul ary nailing support and tissue-engineered bone fil ing for treating fibrous dysplasia of the proximal femur has good effectiveness, exhibiting stable internal fixation and avoiding resection of autogenous iliac bone. Tissue-engineered bone has a good biocompatibility in the medium-term fol ow-up, with good hip function activities.

Arachidonic acid is an essential fatty acid in human nutrition and a biogenetic precursor of the biologically active prostaglandins and leukotrienes. ?~5 desaturase catalyzes the ?~5 dehydrogenation of di-homo-?-linolenic acid to form arachidonic acid in biosynthetic pathway of arachidonic acid. Using real time PCR technology,the transcriptional expression levels of gene encoding ?5 desaturase in three Mortierella alpina strains M10,M6 and M23,and in different growth phase of high arachidonic acid yielding strain M6,were determined. Results showed that there was a distinct corelationship between mRNA transcript level of ?~5 desaturase gene and biosynthesis of arachidonic acid. Results indicated that ?~5 desaturase plays an important role in arachidonic acid biosynthesis.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of taurine (Tau) on the proliferation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), and study whether the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process and the possible molecular mechanism.

METHODThe primary culture was performed for PASMCs in rats. The second to fifth generations were adopted for the experiment. The Tau concentration was 80 mmol x L(-1). The concentration of ERK1/2 blocker (PD98059) was 50 micromol x L(-1). The drug administration time was 24 h. The effect of Tau on the PASMC proliferation was detected by MTT assay, immunofluorescence staining method and western blot under different conditions. The PASMCs were growing were divided into four groups: the normoxia group, the normoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia group and the hypoxia + Tau group. The Western blot was adopted to detect whether the ERK1/2 signal pathway participated in the Tau-inhibited PASMC proliferation process. Subsequently, the PASMCs were divided into five groups: the normoxia group, the hypoxia group, the hypoxia + Tau group, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group and the hypoxia + PD98059 group.

RESULTHypoxia could induce the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the PASMC proliferation. Under the conditions of normoxia and hypoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) among PASMCs. Tau could reverse the expression up-regulation of hypoxia-induced proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (P < 0.01) and Cyclin A (Cyclin A) (P < 0. 05). Under the conditions of normoxia, Tau had no effect on the expression of phosphoryl extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2). Hypoxia could up-regulate the p-ERK1/2 expression (P < 0.01). Tau could reverse the up-regulation of the hypoxia-induced p-ERK1/2 expression(P < 0.01). Both PD98059 and Tau could inhibit the up-regulated expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2. According to the comparison between the single addition of Tau and PD98059 under conditions of hypoxia, the hypoxia + Tau + PD98059 group showed more significant down-regulation in the expressions of PCNA, Cyclin A and p-ERK1/2.

CONCLUSIONTau could inhibit the hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation, and may regulate it through ERK1/2 pathway.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Taurine ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To establish a HPLC method for the determination of levofloxacin hydrochloride in the levoflo_ xacin hydrochloride ointment.METHODS:The chromatographic column was C 18 ,the mobile phase was consisted of0.05mol/L citric acid-acetonitrile(85∶15)with detection wavelength at293nm and flow speed at1.0ml/min,the column temperature was40℃and the sample size was10?l.RESULTS:Good linear relation was achieved when the levofloxacin hydrochloride concen-tration was at the range of3.88～37.88ug/ml(r=0.9998);The average recovery was99.4%(n=9).CONCLUSION:This determination method is accurate,reliable and it can act as an effective quality control for levofloxacin hydrochloride ointment.

Objective To investigate the CT features of pulmonary sarcoidosis.Methods Ninety patients with histologically proved pulmonary sarcoidosis were retrospectively studied by using CT scans and clinical recording.Results The main CT findings of pulmonary sarcoidosis were nodules which were seen in 69 cases(76.7%),and the nodules mostly distributed around the bronchovascular bundle(n=37, 41.1%).Other abnormalities included consolidation(n=31,34.4%),ground-grass(n=39,43.3 %), thickening of bronchovascular bundle(n=30,33.3%),interlobular septal lines(n=58,64.4%), fibrosis(n=17,18.9%)including bronchial distortion(n=8,8.9%),linear shadow(n=5,5.6%), and honeycombing shadow(n=4,4.4%),air-trapping(n=3,5.3%),bronchial straitness(n=8, 8.9%),pleural thickening(n=42,46.7%),and hilar and mediastinal adenopathy(n=76,84.4%). Two or more abnormal findings co-existed in 83 cases.The pulmonary lesions co-existed with hilar and mediastinal adenopathy in 76 cases.The nodules(n=25),consolidation(n=9),ground-grass(n=11), thickening of bronehovascular bundle(n=10)were improved after therapy.Ten cases of the interlobular septal(10/22),0 of bronchial distortion(0/4),1 case of diffuse linear(1/3),and 0 case of honeycombing(0/2)were improved.Conclusion CT manifestations of pulmonary sarcoidosis are varied, but has some specific radiographic features.A correct diagnosis can be made.combined with hilar and mediastinal adenopathy.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of the difference values between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)in elderly patients with dementia.Methods 331 elderly patients with dementia were collected from outpatients in our hospital.There were 148 people with Alzheimer's disease (AD),87 cases with vascular dementia (VaD),44 cases with mixed dementia (MD),41 cases with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and 11 cases with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).MMSE and MoCA were applied to test the cognitive impairment separately.Results The difference values between MMSE and MoCA was (3.3±1.7) points,(6.6±2.1) points,(6.6±2.1) points,(5.4±2.3) points,(6.1 ± 1.9) points in AD,VaD,MD,FTD and DLB group respectively,and there were statistical differences among the five groups (F=46.420,P=0.000).Statistical differences were found in the difference values between MMSE and MoCA between dementia patients with AD and non-AD (t=-13.429,P=0.000).According to receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve),the optimal cut off point of the difference values between MMSE and MoCA for differential diagnosis between AD and non-AD dementia was 5 points,with 79.8％ sensitivity and 78.4％ specificity,and area under the curve was 0.848 (95％CI:0.807-0.890).Conclusions The difference values between MMSE and MoCA may be one of parameters for differential diagnosis between AD and non-AD dementia.

Objective To statistically analyze data of blood transfusion from General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command,Mianyang field blood station,Deyang field blood station and other military medical institutions from May 12 to June 30,2008 so as to provided certain references for reasonable blood supportability in wartime and disaster.Methods A statistical analysis was done on data of blood collection and supply including self-taken blood and assembled blood,total amount of blood supply as well as the transfusion information of inpatients injured by earthquake in our hospital.Results The amount of self-taken blood was 5 111 U,the amount of assembled blood 3 380 U and the total amount of blood supply 1 0405.5 U.But blood transfusion was 4 090.6 U in 132 patients admitted into General Hospital of Chengdu Military Command.In addition,the crest-time of transfusion appeared at 96 hours after earthquake.Moreover,patients with fractures received the highest rate of blood transfusion and crush syndrome patients received the most blood transfusion and the highest per capita transfusion.Conclusions Blood supportability in earthquake is different from that in wartime and other disasters in aspects of transfusion time,blood types and blood transfusion volume.It is important to analyze the characteristics of transfusion in patients injured by earthquake for national strategy of blood supportability in disasters and for blood supportability in the wartime.

Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of deep brain magnetic stimulation technique (dTMS) for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods Totally 116 patients with AD were randomly divided into 4 groups:(1) dTMS:given dTMS really stimulation therapy,(2)medication group:treatment with donepezil 5 mg/d,(3) combination treatment group:given dTMS and donepezil therapy,(4) blank control group:given pseudorandom stimulation treatment.33 healthy control cases were given dTMS's stimulation treatment.The treatment course was 6 months.Application of mini mental state examination scale (MMSE),the Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA),Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD),ischemic scale (HIS),Boston naming test,activity of daily living(ADL) and neuropsychological questionnaire (NPI) were used to evaluate the cognitive function.All the participants received blood tests and ECG in order to evaluate the safety of dTMS.Results After 6 months treatment,compair with the blank control group,all scale scoresof dTMS group,medication group and combined treatment group were improved significantly in MMSE (t=2.49,2.46,2.20),MoCA(t=2.59,2.39,2.87),ADL(t=2.35,2.17,2.83),NPI(t=3.05,2.40,2.65) and sub-cognitive scale score (all P＜0.05).All scale scores of combination treatment group were better than dTMS group and medication group (P＜0.05).There's no significant difference between drug treatment groups and dTMS group (P＞0.05).After 6 months treatment,compared with healthy control group,the scale scores were aggravated in 4 groups of AD (P＜0.05)Conclusions dTMS can be effective and safe in the treatment of AD patients with cognitive and noncognitive symptoms.

?Proliferative diabetic retinopathy ( PDR ) is a group of disease characterized by neovascular disease complication of diabetes mellitus. Neovascular diseases of eye are one of the major causes of blindness of the world. Recent studies showed that vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) and pigment epithelium-derived factor ( PEDF ) are now accepted as the key cytokine in the development of diabetic retinopathy. Recent progress in the investigation of VEGF and PEDF of PDR are summarized in this review.