To determine the optimum conditions of supercritical CO2 extraction of Xiaoyaosan, and establish its fingerprint by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the yield of extract were investigated, an orthogonal test was used to quantify the effects of extraction temperature, pressure, CO2 flow rate and time, and fingerprint analysis of different batches of extracts were by GC-MS. The optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: extraction pressure 20 MPa, extraction temperature 50 degrees C, CO2 flow rate 25 kg x h(-1), extraction time 3 h, and average yield 2.2%. The GC-MS fingerprint was established and 27 common peaks were found, whose contents add up to 81.89% of the total peak area. Among them, 21 compounds were identified, accounting for 53.20% of the total extract. The extraction process is reasonable and favorable for industrial production. The GC-MS method is accurate, reliable, reproducible, and can be used for quality control of supercritical CO2 extract from Xiaoyaosan.
Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To analyze alterations in electrocardiogram (ECG) of adenosine test in 99Tcm-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging(MPI)SPECT study. Methods A total of 641 patients were in cluded in the study. The patients each underwent 99Tcm-MIBI MPI with adenosine test. The ECGs were taken before, during, and after adenosine infusion. Results In all, abnormal ECGs were found in 205(32.0%) patients. During adenosine infusion, 20.6%(132/641) of patients suffered from arrhythmia,29.5%(39/132) had atrial premature beats, 34. 1% (45/132) had premature ventricular beats, and 6. 1% (8/132) had sinoatrial block. In addition, 5.3% (7/132) had first-, 24.2% (32/132) had second-, and 0.8%(1/132) had third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB). After adenosine infusion, 4.4%( 28/641) of patients suffered from arrhythmia, 57.1% (16/28) had atrial premature beats, 39.3%(11/28) had premature ventricular beats, and 3.6% (1/28) had sinoatrial block. The perfusion images showed ischemia in 36 patients and infarction in 8 patients. Adenosine infusion was terminated in 39 patients (6. 1%) because of poorly tolerated side effects. However, no death or acute myocardial infarction occurred in the study. Conclusions Adenosine pharmacologic test for 99TcmMIBI MPI may result in relatively high incidence of arrhythmia in ECG monitoring.

Biomacromolecules play an important role in the treatment of many diseases, but as a result of cell membrane serving as the natural barriers, only the small molecular compounds whose molecular weights are smaller than 600 Da can get through cell membrane and enter the cell. In recent years, some short peptides (the length less than 30 amino acids) are found to have the cell-penetrating function, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). They are able to effectively translocate segments of protein, polypeptides, nucleic acid into the cells of many mammal animals with many methods. They have high transduction efficiency and will not lead to cell damage. So, the discovery of CPPs has a very good applicable prospect in such research fields as cell-biology, gene-therapy, drug transduction in vivo, evaluation of clinical medicine and medical immunology. This paper reviews the types and characteristics of CPPs, internalization mechanisms, applications, and their existing problems.
Absorption ; drug effects ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; Cell-Penetrating Peptides ; classification ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Drug Carriers ; Endocytosis ; physiology ; Humans ; Protein Transport

OBJECTIVETo investigate the kinetic processes of direct electrooxidation for both matrine and sophoridine in a physiological medium.

METHODTheir direct electrooxidative behaviors and the parameters of electrochemical kinetics were obtained by cyclic voltammetry (CV), bulk electrolysis with coulometry, chronocoulometry (CC), chronoamperometry (CA).

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe electrochemical experimental results show that the two totally irreversible oxidation peaks in the region of 0.3-1.2 V vs SCE for both MT and SR were observed, and the electrode reactions processes were diffusion-controlled. Their electron transfer number n and electron transfer coefficient alpha were obtained by CV and electrolysis with coulometry. The diffusion coefficient D and rate constant kf were also calculated by CC and CA.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electrochemistry ; methods ; Electrodes ; Kinetics ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quinolizines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sophora ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of rapid decompression on rat multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and to explore the characteristics of the retinal function impairment due to decompression sickness at early stage.

METHODSTwenty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control (NC) group, safe decompression (SD) group, 0 h and 6 h after rapid decompression (RD0 and RD6) groups. The treated rats in safe decompression group and each rapid decompression group were exposed in hyperbaric cabin and air pressure in the cabin rose up to 1.0 MPa in 30 s and lasted for 5.5 min. The pressure decreased to normal pressure in 55 s as for the treatment of rapid compression while air pressure of safe decompression decreased to normal pressure according to an animal safe decompression protocol. The mfERG parameters of one eye each rat were recorded by RETIscan 3.15 system.

RESULTSRapid decompression increased noise, delayed latent period and reduced amplitude in mfERG. The topographic map showed that the P1 wave response density in RD0 group was lower than that in NC and SD groups and higher than that in RD6 group in peripheral regions. The amplitudes of sum response density in NC, SD, RD0 and RD6 groups were (71.1 ± 7.5), (53.6 ± 9.3), (38.2 ± 13.1) and (18.4 ± 7.7) µV, respectively, and there was statistical difference among them (F = 17.313, P < 0.01). The P1 wave response densities of RD0 and RD6 groups were lower than that of NC group in 4 quadrants (P < 0.05) and the P1 wave amplitudes of RD0 and RD6 groups decreased in supranasal and supratemporal quadrants (P < 0.05). The P1 wave amplitudes of RD0 and RD6 groups were less than these of NC and SD groups in supranasal and supratemporal quadrants (P < 0.05). In 5 rings, the response densities of RD0 and RD6 groups were lower than these of NC and SD groups (P < 0.05) and the P1 and N1 wave amplitudes were less than these of NC and SD groups (P < 0.05). The P1 and N1 wave amplitudes of RD6 group were lower than those of RD0 group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRapid decompression can cause characteristic changes of mfERG and the major involved parts are superior retina and juxtaprepapillary region.

Animals ; Decompression Sickness ; physiopathology ; Electroretinography ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Retina ; physiopathology ; Retinoscopy ; Visual Acuity

Objective To investigate the value of 18F-FDG/99Tcm-MIBI SPECT myocardial imaging for the detection of myocardial viability and prognosis in patients with AMI. Methods 18F-FDG/99Tcm-MIBI SPECT myocardial imaging was performed in 98 consecutive patients [man 87, women 11; average age (58 ±11)y] with AMI. The myocardium was scored individually for nine segments: mildly decreased uptake = 1,significantly decreased uptake = 2, and no uptake = 3. Perfusion defect but preserved 18 F-FDG uptake was defined as perfusion-metabolism mismatch, indicating jeopardized but viable myocardium. Perfusion defect and decreased 18 F-FDG uptake were defined as match, indicating myocardial necrosis. Echocardiogram was performed before and after treatment for evaluating the LVEF. All patients were followed after treatment.The rate of cardiac events was calculated and compared between patients with medication and revascularization. Paired t test, Chi-square test and log-rank test were used for statistical analysis. Results In the group with viable myocardium, 27 patients received revascularization and 10 received medication. In the group with infarcted myocardium, 26 patients received medication and 35 received revascularization. Patients underwent revascularization and with medication had no significant difference in improvement of LVEF between both groups (viable myocardium group: χ2 = 0.509, P > 0. 05; infarcted myocardium group: χ2 =0.035, P > 0.05). In viable myocardium group, cardiac event rate was significantly higher in patients with medication than in those who had undergone revascularization (50.0% vs 14.8%, χ2 =4.91, P<0.05).In the infarcted myocardium group, cardiac event rate was also significantly higher in patients with medication (30.7% vs5.7% ,χ2 =6.83, P<0.05). Conclusions 18F-FDG/ -MIBI SPECT myocardial imaging may well be of value but limited for the detection of myocardial viability and prediction of improvement in cardiac function as well as prognosis. However, more prospective data are needed for final evaluation.

Objective To explore the role of regulatory T-lymphocytes(Treg) in the immune pathogenesis of suba-cute thyroiditis (SAT). Methods The proportion of Treg in CD4+T cells in peripheral blood of 46 SAT patients and15 controls was detected using flow cytometry. And the concentration of interleukin-10(IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta1(TGF-β1) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) in serum of 46 SAT patients and 15 controls was measured with ELISA. In addition, the Forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) positive cells in thyroid tissue of 29 SAT patients and20 controls was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The proportion of Treg in peripheral blood of SAT pa-tients was significantly lower than that of controls (P＜0.05). And the concentration of TGF-β1 in serum of SAT patients was apparently higher than that of controls(P＜0.05). Additionally, the positive rate of Foxp3 in thyroid tissue of SAT patients was markedly higher than that of controls(P＜0.05).Conclusions The decrease of Treg may play an important role in the immune pathogenesis of SAT.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pharmacokinetic effect of Sappan Lignum on hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) in Carthami Flos.

METHODConcentration of HSYA in rat plasma was detected by RP-HPLC after rats were orally administered with extracts of Carthami Flos or Carthami Flos combined with Sappan Lignum. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by DAS 2.0 pharmacokinetic software.

RESULTIn vivo pharmacokinetic models of HSYA were two-compartment open models in both of the Carthami Flos group and the Carthami Flos combined with Sappan Lignum group. After compatibility, HSYA showed a significant lower in apparent volumes of distribution of t(1/2Ka), t(1/2alpha) and V1/F, with slight advance in T(max).

CONCLUSIONSappan Lignum can accelerate absorption, distribution and metabolic process of HSYA in vivo and reduce its accumulation in vivo.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Caesalpinia ; chemistry ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Chalcone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Male ; Quinones ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Wood ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDMany clinical studies have been published involving the use of a high hip center (HHC), achieved good follow-up. However, there is a little anatomic guidance in the literature regarding the amount of bone stock available for initial implant coverage in this area of the ilium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thickness and width of the human ilium and related acetabular cup coverage for guiding acetabular component placement in HHC.

METHODSA total of 120 normal hips in 60 cases of adult patients from lower extremities computer tomographic angiography Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine data were chosen for the study. After importing the data to the mimics software, we chose the cross sections every 5-mm increments from the rotational center of the hip to the cephalic of the ilium according the body sagittal axis, then we measured the thickness and width of the ilium for each cross section in axial plane, calculated the cup coverage at each chosen section.

RESULTSAt the acetabular dome, the mean thickness and width of the ilium were 49.71 ± 4.88 mm and 38.92 ± 3.67 mm, respectively, whereas at 1 cm above the dome, decreased to 41.35 ± 5.13 and 31.13 ± 3.37 respectively, and 2 cm above the dome, decreased to 31.25 ± 4.04 and 26.65 ± 3.43, respectively. Acetabular cup averaged coverage for 40-, 50-, and 60-mm hemispheric shells, was 100%, 89%, and 44% at the acetabular dome, 100%, 43.7%, and 27.5% for 1 cm above the dome, and 37.5%, 21.9%, and 14.2% for 2 cm above the dome.

CONCLUSIONSHHC reconstructions within 1 cm above the acetabular dome will be an acceptable and smaller diameter prosthesis would be better.

Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Ilium ; anatomy & histology ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the femoral head perfusion and to predict the traumatic avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head by single photon emission computerized tomography and computerized tomography (SPECT/CT).

METHODSTotally 18 adult beagle dogs were divided randomly into three equal-sized (n equal to 6) groups. Subsequently different degrees of ischemia model were developed by destroying blood vessels of the femoral head. The left hip received sham operation as normal control and the right hip underwent blood interruption. In Group A, the ligamentum teres was cut off. In Group B, the marrow cavity of the right femoral neck was destroyed while in Group C, the soft tissues at the base of the femoral neck were stripped in addition to the resection of the ligamentum teres and destruction of the marrow cavity. Three hours after surgery, SPECT/CT was performed. Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) measurements were also obtained at three different time points (before operation, immediately and three hours after operation) in order to assess the change process of blood supply to the femoral head.

RESULTSSPECT/CT showed no significant difference in the radionuclide uptake between the right and left femoral heads in Group A (t equal to -0.09, P equal to 0.94) and Group B (t equal to 0.52, P equal to 0.62). However, in Group C, it was 261+/-62 for the right femoral head, only 12% of that in the left femoral head. LDF measurements indicated that the femoral head perfusion was decreased from (45.0+/-3.3) PU to (39.1+/-3.7) PU in Group A,from (44.0+/-2.7) PU to (34.3+/-2.6) PU in Group B, and from (47.3+/-2.1) PU to (4.96+/-0.6) PU in Group C immediately after operation. However, the perfusion was restored and returned to normal values three hours after operation except in Group C.

CONCLUSIONSPECT/CT could assess the perfusion of the femoral head semiquantitatively, which might be useful in predicting the development of traumatic AVN.

Animals ; Dogs ; Femur Head ; Femur Head Necrosis ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon