ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) combined with CT angiography(CTA) to predict the clinical outcome of acute ischemic stroke patients at ultra-early stage.Methods70 patients with acute ischemic stroke underwent brain CTA within 6 hours from symptom onset and were divided into two groups according to NNIHSS score, and clinical outcome was compared between two groups.ResultsThere were 38 patients with arterial occlusion on CTA and 32 patients with normal CTA. The percentage of occlusion on CTA for patients presenting with more severe neurological deficits was higher than those patients with slight to moderate deficits. The patients with occlusion on CTA and presenting with more severe deficits had a poor clinical outcome (P<0.01). 78% of patients with normal angiograms had good outcome, only 44.7% patients with arterial occlusion had a good clinical outcome(P<0.05). Both CTA evidence of vessel occlusion and admission NIHSS score correlated with clinical outcome measured by discharge NIHSS score(r=0.25, P=0.04 and r=0.73, P=0.000 respectively). The sensitivity and specificity for predicting clinical outcome by using the NIHSS score alone was 56.65% and 85.29%, and positive predictive value (PPV+) was 80.00%. There was a sensitivity of 63.89%, a specificity of 73.53%, a PPV+ of 71.88% if CTA showed vessel obstruction. If NIHSS scores combined with CTA to predict clinical outcome, the result showed a sensitivity of 70.11%, a specificity of 91.18%, a PPV+ of 88.00%.ConclusionThose patients with vessel occlusion on CTA appear to have a worse clinical outcome. NIHSS combining with CTA may increase specificity for judging prognosis and guide treatment.

Objective To explore the potential association of HLA-A alleles and genetic susceptibility with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) was used to analyze the distribution of HLA-A alleles among 106 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 122 healthy persons. Results Nineteen out of twenty-four kinds of HLA-A alleles were found from the specimens, including 18 kinds in SLE specimens, and 15 kinds in control specimens. Among them, HLA-A*11 allele was positively associated with SLE (RR = 2.4380, EF = 0.1502, ?2 = 12.2440, P = 0.0005, Pc = 0.0095). For A*01 and A*24, although the P values were less than 0.05, the Pc values were more than 0.05 (0.9462 or 0.2356, respectively). Conclusions The results indicate that HLA-A*11 may be the susceptible allele or may be closely linked with the susceptible genes in Chinese SLE patients.

An electrolyte cathode atmospheric glow discharge atomic emission spectroscopy(ELCAD-AES) has been developed to determine the hardness of water. By the standard curves of Mg and Ca, the concentration curves of Mg and Ca measurement were obtained. The limits of detection of Mg and Ca were 0.2 and 0.8 mg/L, respectively. The precision and recovery were experimentally elucidated, which indicated that the homemade ELCAD-AES system has a good performance. Finally, practical water samples such as tap water, boiled tap water, ground water, boiled ground water and lake water were analyzed by the method. The results were in agreement with those by the EDTA titration. This demonstrates that ELCAD-AES has the capacity for on-line determination of water hardness.

The distribution of the Na-K-2Cl co-transporter (NKCC1) in the cochlear K+ cycling pathway in cochlea and cochlear histological changes in the NKCC1 knockout mice were investigated. By using immunohistochemistry and toluidine blue staining, the localization of NKCC1 in cochlea of the C57BL/6J mice and the cochlear histological changes in the NKCC1 knockout mice were observed. It was found that the NKCC1 was expressed mainly in the stria marginal cells and the fibrocytes in the inferior portion of the spiral ligament in the adult C57BL/6J mice. Subpopulation of the fibrocytes in the suprastrial region and the limbus was also moderately immunoreactive. While in the cochlea of the NKCC1 knockout mice, Reissner's membrane was collapsed and scala media disappeared, accompanied with the loss of inner hair cells, outer hair cells and the support cells. The tunnel of Corti was often absent. All the findings suggested the localization of NKCC1 in the cochlea was closely correlated with cochlear K+ cycling. Loss of NKCC1 led to the destruction of the cochlear structures, and subsequently influenced the physiological function of cochlea.

Objective To observe the protective effect of Panaxadiol Saponins (PDS)on rabbit heart failure model induced by acute alcohol infusion, and to explore its action mechanism of protecting myocardium. Methods 1 5 healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group, model group and PDS group, 5 rabbits in each group.The rabbits in control group were given 0.2 g·mL-1 saline by intravenous drip at constant speed,the rabbits in model group were given 20% ethanol with same method, and the rabbits in PDS group were given 0.025 g·kg-1 PDS by intravenous injection before intravenous drip of 20% ethanol.The hemodynamic changes were observed by ventricular intubation;the levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),creatine kinase (CK), and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CKMB)were determined by colormetric method.The level of malondialdehyde (MDA)in myocardial tissue homogenate,the activities of superoxide dismutase (T-SOD),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)and catalase (CAT)were also detected.Results Compared with control group,the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP)of the rabbits in model group was significantly decreased at 30 min(P<0.05);the serum LDH,CK and CKMB levels were increased(P<0.05),the MDA level in myocardial tissue homogenate was increased(P<0.05),and the T-SOD,GSH-Px and CAT activities were decreased (P<0.05).Compared with model group,the LVEDP of the rabbits in PDS group was increased,the serum LDH,CK,and CKMB levels were decreased(P<0.05),the MDA level was decreased(P<0.05),and the activities of T-SOD,GSH-Px and CAT were increased(P<0.05).Conclusion PDS has protective effect on heart failure induced by acute alcohol infusion,and its mechanism may be related to the improvement of cardiac peroxidation.

Objective:To investigate polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 genes in Bai ethnic group in Dali,Yunnan province.Methods:Polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) were used to determine HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles in 124 unrelated healthy Bai ethnic individuals living in Eryuan County of the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture,Yunnan province.Results:Among all the 21 DRB1 alleles and 15 DQB1 alleles were identified,the predominant alleles were DRB1*1202(26.61%),DRB1*0901(13.89%) and DRB1*0803(9.92%) on DRB1 locus and DQB1*0301(31.45%),DQB1*0601(10.08%),DQB1*0401(8.06%)and DQB1*0502(8.06%)on DQB1 locus.The most common haplotypes were DRB1*1202-DQB1*0301(20.08%)and DRB1*0803-DQB1*0601(7.19%).Conclusion:The phylogenetic tree constructed according to the HLA-DRB1,-DQB1 allele frequencies of Bais with those of other 10 populations suggests that the Bai ethnic group belongs to the southern group of China,but it keeps genetic distance from others and the HLA genes exhibits a unique profile.This study would provide HLA polymorphism information of Bai for the future investigation on the disease related to the genetic polymorphism.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of lonidamine on apoptosis of human breast carcinoma cells MCF-7 and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSMTT assay and colony-forming assay were used to evaluate the growth inhibition induced by lonidamine in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. PI/Annexin-V staining was used to detect the apoptotic cells. The ATP levels in the cells were detected using an ATP assay kit. The expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78), inhibitor of apoptosis protein (cIAP1) and caspase-8 were analyzed with Western blotting.

RESULTSMTT assay and colony-forming assay showed that 50-250 mmol/L lonidamine caused a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation. Exposure to increased concentrations of lonidamine resulted in significantly increased apoptosis rate in MCF-7 cells. In MCF-7 cells treated with 50, 150 and 250 mmol/L lonidamine for 5 h, the intracellular ATP levels were lowered to 80.67%, 62.78% and 30.73% of the control level, respectively. Western blotting showed that lonidamine up-regulated the expression of GRP78, down-regulated the expression of cIAP1 and promoted caspase-8 activation as the treatment time extended.

CONCLUSIONLonidamine can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, and these effects are probably mediated by reducing ATP level, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress response, down-regulating cIAP1, and promoting caspase-8 activation in the cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Down-Regulation ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Indazoles ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; MCF-7 Cells ; drug effects ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo prepare the nasal thermosensible gels of Chinese medicine Xingbi and study the release mechanism.

METHODThe gels were prepared by using P407 as the gel matrix and P188 and PEG 6000 were used to adjust the gelatination temperature. The formulations were screened by the method of orthogonal test. Mathematic models were used to imitate the drug release.

RESULT20% poloxmar 407, 2% poloxmar 188 and 2% PEG 6000 were suitable to Chinese medicine Xingbi thermosensitive gel in situ. Nasal thermosensible gels of Chinese medicine Xingbi was gelated at the temperature between 32-34 degrees C and the dissolution curves in vitro showed that the drug release could be best described by the Higuchi equation.

CONCLUSIONThe formulation of the nasal thermosensible gels of Chinese medicine Xingbi is reasonable and it is worth doing further research.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Gels ; chemistry ; Humans ; Nose Diseases ; drug therapy ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for gradient elution determination of danshensu and protocatechuic aldehyde in Shengkangling granula.

METHODThe analysis was carried on a column of Hypersil ODS2-C18 with a mobile phase consisted of methanol-1% glacial acetic acid 0-8 min (5:95), 8-11 min (6:94-5:95), 11-20 min (5:95) gradient elution at the flow rate of 1 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 280 nm.

RESULTThe linearity was obtained in the range of 0.0504-0.504 microg (r = 0.9998) for tanshinol and 0.1090-1.090 microg (r = 0.9999) for protocatechuic aldehyde, respectively. The average recoveries of tanshinol and protocatechuic aldehyde in Shenkangling granula were 98.40% and 98.85%, and the RSDs were all less than 2.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and rapid. It may be suitable for the usual quality control of tanshinol and protocatechuic aldehyde in Shengkangling granula.

Benzaldehydes ; analysis ; Catechols ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dosage Forms ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the prevention of scar formation and the promotion of wound healing by gene transfer.

METHODSA total of 12 female New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. Rabbits were anesthetized with an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, and identical wounds were made over the ventral surface of each ear. Five circular wounds, 7 mm in diameter, were created in each ear by excision through the skin to the underlying cartilage using sterile technique. After the surgical procedures, 10 of the rabbits were randomly allocated to five groups, with 2 rabbits in each group: Ad-HGF group 1, Ad-HGF group 2, Ad-HGF group 3, Ad-GFP (a reporter gene) group and the solvent group. Immediately after surgery, 6 x 10(7) pfu Ad-HGF, 6 x 10(8) pfu Ad-HGF, 6 x 10(9) pfu of Ad-HGF, 6 x 10(9) pfu of Ad-GFP, or same volume of solvent (PBS, pH 7.2) was applied once to each wound in groups 1 to 5, respectively. One additional rabbit was used to evaluate the transfer efficiency of the adenovirus vector by transferring Ad-GFP (6 x 10(9) pfu) into its wounds. Ice slides of wounds from this animal were observed under fluorescence microscopy. Another additional rabbit was used to evaluate the expression of HGF and TGFbeta1 after transferring Ad-HGF (6 x 10(9) pfu) into each of its wound. Immunohistochemistry was used for detection.

RESULTSThe effect of HGF on reducing excessive dermal scarring was observed by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. Transfection of the human HGF cDNA into skin wounds through an adenoviral vector suppressed the over-expression of TGFbeta1, which plays an essential role in the progression of dermal fibrogenesis. Application of HGF to the wounds significantly enhanced wound healing and inhibited over scarring.

CONCLUSIONHGF gene therapy could be a new approach for preventing excessive dermal scarring in wound healing.

Animals ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Female ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; physiology