Epilepsy ; diet therapy ; metabolism ; Food-Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Ketone Bodies ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: Researches suggest that transient ischemic attack (TIA)can induce cognitive dysfunction, and cerebral blood flow and its distribution are hypothesized to be closely related to cognitive activities.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alteration of cognitive function and provide insights into its relations with cerebral perfusion in TIA patients.DESIGN: A case-control study.SETTING: Departments of Geriatrics, Electrophysiology and Magnetic Resonance of Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 35 male right-handed TIA patients aged 45-78 years with an average of (68.1±8.4) years were selected from the inpatients and outpatients in the Department of Geriatrics, Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Command of Chinese PLA between January 2002 and June 2003. Another 33 healthy right handed male subjects aged 45-77 years with an average of (67.8±8.6) years coming for physical examination were recruited to serve as the control group.METHODS: Patients and control subjects were tested with event-related potentials (ERPs) and the scale of elderly cognitive function (SECF) to examine the orientation, learning and memory, span, recall 1 (association),long-term memory, naming of animals, calculation, classification, copying,language and recall 2 (relation). According to the T score transformation table, the original scores were transformed into T scores relative to the age to eliminate the impact of age, and also into T'score to eliminate the interference by the patients'education, so that cognitive function of the patients could be evaluated with T'score, and the lower the score, the poorer the cognitive function. Cases in the two groups were all tested, and TIA patients were also examined with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Results of ERPs, SECF and MRA.RESULTS: Of the 35 TIA patients and 33 control subjects all completed the trial. Examination of ERPs reveled significantly prolonged latency of P300 components of ERP in the TIA group [(336.2±34.2) ms] than that in the control group [(311.3±44.2) ms, P ＜ 0.05]. The scores of span, recall 1,long-term memory, naming of animals, calculation, and recall 2 in SECF in TIA group were all lower than those in control group (39.7±11.9 vs 47.4±12.0; 54.5±14.8 vs 61.8±14.5; 61.1±7.8 vs 64.7±1.7; 59.4±11.0 vs 64.7±8.8; 50.0±14.7 vs 58.1±14.2; 44.6±15.4 vs 53.2±17.8, t=4.151 0-7.292 8, P ＜ 0.05-0.01). MRA identified abnormalities in 33 of the 35 TIA patients (94%), manifested mainly by stenosis and occlusion involving the vertebral artery (54%, 19/35), bilateral anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries (40% ,28/70;59% ,41/70;47% ,33/70), basilar artery (5.71%, 2/35) and bilateral internal carotid artery (5.71%, 4/70) respectively.CONCLUSION: TIA patients are characterized by prolonged P300 latency with multiple cognitive impairments especially in memory and cerebral artery stenosis and occlusion as shown by MRA, suggests that TIA patients have persistent low cerebral perfusion and frequently, cognitive dysfunction in the presence of local blood supply disorder in the hemispheres.

Based on the reconstruction of two-dimension phase space of time series of short ECG signals, the variation of the strange attractor geometry is described and two indices, VMI and VAI, are derived in this paper. The two indices can distinguish clearly the ECG signals of sinus rhythm, tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Stable results of VMI and VAI can be obtained by analyzing ECG signals of several seconds. They are expected to be used in the development of medical instruments for a fast realtime display of analysis results.
Animals ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVETo establish a reliable model for drug screening and therapy by culturing rat femoral head and inducing cartilage degeneration quickly in vitro.

METHODSThe femoral heads from the same SD rats of two-month old were divided into control group and experimental group respectively. They were cultured with DMEM medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum or DMEM medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum plus 50 ng/ml IL-1β for three days. Femoral heads were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, decalcified, dehydrated, embedded in paraffin and cut into slices. Specimens were stained with Toluidine blue and Safranine O-Fast Green FCF. The protein expression levels of type II collagen, MMP13, Sox9 and ADAMTS5 were analyzed by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSBoth the Toluidine blue and Safranine O staining were pale in the margin of femoral heads which were stimulated with IL-1β for three days compared to that in control group. The Fast Green FCF staining was positive at the edge of the femoral head in experimental group, which indicated that cartilage became degenerated. The expression levels of both type H collagen and Sox9 were decreased significantly while the expression levels of MMP13 and ADAMTS5 were increased in experimental group.

CONCLUSIONThe model of cartilage degeneration is established by culturing and inducing the degeneration of the femoral heads quickly in vitro.

Animals ; Cartilage Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Collagen Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Femur Head ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo establish the fundamentals for the design of scutellarin prodrug and formulation with feasible physicochemical and biopharmaceutical properties by esterifying scutellarin, an active component with poor absorption extracted from Erigeron breviscapus of Chinese medicine.

METHODSWith the method of salifying followed by esterifying, ethyl and benzyl ester of scutellarin were synthesized. Glycolamide ester of scutellarin was also synthesized with an improved method. Their structures were confirmed by MS and 1H NMR. The solubility and partition coefficient of the prodrugs were determined and their degradations were investigated in various buffers and in human plasma. The emulsion and cyclodextrin complex of glycolamide ester were prepared and the protection of the ester from degradation was compared in the intestinal tract contents. Furthermore, the degradation of glycolamide ester in the homogenates of various intestinal segments was studied. Results Three prodrugs were synthesized successfully and their structures were confirmed. Glycolamide ester of scutellarin showed better stability in the aqueous solution (t(1/2) approximately =16 d, pH 4.2) and the shortest half-life in the human serum (t(1/2) approximately =7 min). Compared with scutellarin, the solubility of glycolamide ester was increased about ten times in pH 4.0 buffer, and about thirty five times in water. Partition coefficient of the glycolamide ester increased significantly from -2.56 to 1.48. However, the ester degradation in the homogenates of intestinal mucus would be an obstacle for its absorption. The degradation rates were in the order duodenum > ileum > or = jejunum > colon. The emulsion showed a better protection of glycolamide ester from the degradation than cyclodextrin complex.

CONCLUSIONGlycolamide ester of scutellarin shows better physicochemical properties than ethyl and benzyl eater of scutellarin, but its stability in intestinal tract needs to be improved. The emulsion or / and colon-targeted delivery may be selected as one of strategies to decrease the presystemic degradation.

Animals ; Apigenin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Emulsions ; Erigeron ; chemistry ; Esters ; Flavones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronides ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prodrugs ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and the efficacy of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in treating thoracolumbar fractures.

METHODSFrom October 2000 to December 2009, the data of 44 patients with thoracolumbar fractures were retrospetively analyzed. All patients were treated with anterior decompression, auto-iliac bone graft and anterior internal fixation system. They were divided into thoracoscopic group (23 cases, treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) and traditional group (21 cases, treated with traditional anterior approach surgery). In the thoracoscopic group, there were 15 males and 8 females with an average age of 41.4 years (ranged, 19 to 76); and in the traditional group, there were 14 males and 7 females with an average age of 39.3 years (ranged, 20 to 74). All patients were followed up from 6 to 36 months with an average of 18 months. The operative time, volume of the blood loss, the decreased value of the occupation ratio of spinal canal (OR), the corrected and loss degree of Cobb angle, the improved condition of ASIA classification were compared between two groups.

RESULTSIn traditional group, operative time, volume of the blood loss, the decreased value of the occupation ratio of spinal canal (OR), the corrected and loss degree of Cobb angle, the improved grade of ASIA classification were (150.0 +/- 19.4) min, (970.0 +/- 72.0) ml, (35.5 +/- 6.4)%, (25.1 +/- 4.8) degrees, (1.0 +/- 0.7) degrees, (1.8 +/- 0.9) grades, respectively; and in thoracoscopic group, the above items were (170.0 +/- 20.8) min, (650.0 +/- 65.4) ml, (33.2 +/- 8.0)%, (23.6 +/- 5.4) degrees, (1.1 +/- 0.8) degrees, (2.0 +/- 1.1) grades, respectively. There was significant difference in volume of the blood loss between two groups (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in operative time, the decreased value of the occupation ratio of spinal canal (OR), the corrected and loss degree of Cobb angle,the improved grade of ASIA classification between two groups (P > 0.05). The rate of fusion of all patients was 100%.

CONCLUSIONCompared with the traditional anterior approach surgery, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has advantages of little incision,less blood loss, less trauma, can obtain same clinical outcome and is a safe,effective method in treating thoracolumbar fractures.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Injuries ; surgery ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

Objective To evaluate the 80 mm volume shuttle cerebral CT perfusion(CTP) and 4D-CT angiography (CTA) in patients with stenosis or occlusion in Willis circle.Methods Conventional cerebral plain CT, 80 mm CTP and dynamic 4D-CTA were performed in 55 patients with unilateral MCA/ ICA stenosis or occlusion.The parameter maps of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT) and time to peak (TTP) were analyzed.Meanwhile dynamic 4D-CTA images were also obtained.The significance of the differences of CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP between the affected side and the contralateral side was assessed using K Independent Samples analysis.Results In 40 patients with unilateral stenosis or occlusion of MCA/ICA, CTP was found abnormal in 36 patients.MTT and TTP of affected side [(7.18 ±1.34), (19.65 ±1.81) s] were significantly prolonged compared to contralateral side [(5.22±1.14) s, (17.62±1.65) s, X~2 =30.833,25.817, P<0.017].Centrum ovale or parietal lobe ischemic lesions were observed in 16 patients on CTP.In 15 patients with bilateral stenosis or occlusion of MCA/ICA, CTP was observed abnormal in 10 patients.CBF, CBV, MTT and TTP of affected side [(42.85 ±6.09) ml·100 g~(-1)·min~(-1), (2.63 ±0.42) ml·100 g~(-1), (11.27 ±1.43) s, (21.07 ±1.44) s)] were significantly different from those of contralateral side [(71.20 ±6.30) ml·100 g~(-1)·min~(-1), (2.29 ±0.15) ml·100 g~(-1), (3.38 ±0.61) s, (17.64 ±1.70) s (X~2 =17.314, 5.913,17.334,13.834,P<0.017)].On 4D-CTA covering 80 mm (0.625 mm×l28), unilateral stenosis of MCA were observed in 22 patients (13 right MCA and 9 left MCA), unilateral occlusion were observed in 5 patients (1 right MCA and 4 left MCA) and bilateral MCA stenosis/occlusion were observed in 9 patients.4D-CTA covering Willis cycle can display stenosis/occlsion of MCA as same as conventional CTA and DSA.Conclusion 80 mm volume shuttle CTP and 4D-CTA provide valuable information about the hemodynamic changes and the abnormalities of intracranial artery in patients with MCA/ICA stenosis or occlusion.

AIMTo establish RP-HPLC method for determination of plasma scutellarin concentration and study of the pharmacokinetic behavior of scutellarin in rat after ig administration of breviscapine and its beta-cyclodextrin complex (breviscapine-beta-CD).

METHODSMobile phase composed of methanol and acetate buffer. The column was Shim-pack C18. Twelve rats randomized into 2 groups were separately given breviscapine and breviscapine-beta-CD at single dose of 10.8 mg.kg(-1). Drug in plasma was extracted and determined by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by 3P97 software.

RESULTSLinearity was obtained over the range of 10-400 ng.mL(-1). The recovery was 95.32%-98.81%. C(max) and AUC(0-12 h) of breviscapine were (154 +/- 18) ng.mL(-1) and (710 +/- 126) ng.h.mL(-1). For breviscapine-beta-CD, C(max) and AUC(0-12 h) were (328 +/- 31) ng.mL(-1) and (1,093 +/- 200) ng.h.mL(-1), respectively. There were significant differences of AUC(0-12 h) between breviscapine and breviscapine-beta-CD (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe assay method was suitable for the determination of scutellarin plasma concentration in rat. Brevescapine-beta-CD showed greater absorption compared with that of brevescapine.

Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Compounding ; Erigeron ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; blood ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

Objective To determine the pharmacokinetic interaction between cefalor and bromhexine in healthy Chinese volunteers. Methods Twelve subjects received a cefaclor (CEF) treatment, a bromhexine (BHX) treatment, and a co-treatment of CEF and BHX with a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The wash-out time between periods was 14 days. The plasma and urine drug concentrations of CEF and BHX were detected by HPLC-UV and LC/MS, respectively. Results All the 12 volunteers completed the study. There were no significant differences in AUC0-t and Cmax of CEF in logarithm between the single administration group of CEF and the co-administration group of CEF with BHX. Two one sided t-test showed that CEF was bioequivalent in the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in tmax, MRT, t1/2, and Clr between the 2 groups. Vd/F was significantly lower in the single CEF group than in the co-administration group of CEF and BHX. There were no significant differences of AUC0-t and Cmax of BHX in logarithm between the single administration group of BHX and the co-administration group of BHX with CEF. Two one sided t-test showed that BHX was bioequivalent in the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in tmax, MRT, t1/2, Vd/F, and Clr between the 2 groups. Conclusion There is no significant pharmacokinetic parameter change in the drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion, but Va/F of CEF significant increases in the co-administration of CEF with BHX. The co-administration of CEF and BHX has no adverse drug interaction. The increase of Vd/F may be a favorable drug interaction, which may be the mechanism of the synergistic effect of the 2 drugs.

The study was purposed to investigate whether the cyclooxygenase inhibitors from some dietary vegetables can inhibit platelet aggregation function by the arachidonic acid (AA). The vegetable juice was mixed with platelet rich plasma (PRP), and asprin was used as positive control. The maximum ratio of platelet aggregation induced by AA was measured on the aggregometer; heme and cyclooxygenase-1 (COX(1)) or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX(2)) were added to test tubes containing COX reaction buffer, the mixture was vortex-mixed and exposed to aspirin or vegetable juice, followed by addition of AA and then hydrochloric acid (1 mol/L) was added to stop the COX reaction, followed by chemical reduction with stannous chloride solution. The concentration of COX inhibitors was detected by the enzyme immunoassay kit; vegetable juice (aspirin as positive control) was mixed with whole blood, which was followed by the addition of AA, and then the reaction was stopped by adding indomethacin, centrifuged, then the supernatant was collected, and the plasma thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) was measured by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that spinach juice, garlic bolt juice, blanched garlic leave juice and Chinese leek juice could inhibit by 80% human platelet aggregation induced by AA. 4 kinds of vegetables were all found a certain amount of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which COX(1) and COX(2) inhibitor concentrations of spinach were higher than that of aspirin; 4 vegetable juice could significantly reduce the human plasma concentrations of TXB(2) induced by AA (p < 0.05). It is concluded that 4 kinds of raw vegetables containing cyclooxygenase inhibitors inhibit the production of TXA(2) and thus hinder platelet aggregation. Raw spinach, garlic bolt, blanched garlic and chinese leek inhibit significantly AA-induced human platelet aggregation in vitro. 4 kinds of vegetables may have a good potential perspective of anti-platelet aggregation therapy or prevention of thrombosis.
Adult ; Arachidonic Acid ; metabolism ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Vegetables ; chemistry