Syndromes constitute a core aspect in the study of Chinese medicine, and research on the concept of syndromes is important to the study of the process of modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. However, it is somewhat challenging to define a syndrome due to the complexity inherent in the subject, even with the assistance of the reductionism approach of modern medicine. Holistic and dynamic in nature and attaching much importance to functional changes, the newly emerging metabonomics is in many ways inline with the concepts of syndrome differentiation of pathological states in traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, metabonomics has comparatively strong advantages in the very respect of revealing the natural laws of syndrome differentiation. By reviewing and analyzing the current research on the concept of syndromes and the application of metabonomic technology to exploring the essential core of syndrome differentiation, the authors illustrated the potential commonalities. This would also show the issues requiring attention between the study of syndromes and the metabonomic technology. In the meantime this study reflected the core problems in detail and put forward suggestions with regard to reaching solutions.

The design space of the high shear wet granulation process was established and validated within the framework of quality by design (QbD). The system of microcrystalline cellulose-de-ioned water was used in this study. The median granule size and bulk density of granules were identified as critical quality attributes. Plackeet-Burmann experimental design was used to screen these factors as follows: dry mixing time, the impeller and chopper speed of dry mixing, water amount, water addition time, wet massing time, the impeller and chopper speed of wet massing and drying time. And the optimization was implemented with the central composite experimental design based on screened critical process parameters. The design space of the high shear wet granulation process was established based on the quadratic polynomial regression model. Since the P-values of both models were less than 0.05 and values of lack of fit were more than 0.1, the relationship between critical quality attributes and critical process parameters could be well described by the two models. The reliability of design space, illustrated by overlay plot, was improved with the addition of 95% confidence interval. For those granules whose process parameters were in the design space, the granule size could be controlled within 250 to 355 μm, and the bulk density could be controlled within a range of 0.4 to 0.6 g x cm(-3). The robustness and flexibility of the high shear wet granulation process have been enhanced via the establishment of the design space based on the QbD concept.
Cellulose ; chemistry ; Reproducibility of Results ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Water

Objective To investigate the usage of distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) in normal infants hearing screening.Methods One hundred infants(200 ears) without clinical condition of illness were checked in GSI 70 DPOAE screening.The pure tones were 2,3,4 kHz,the OAE screener scored the test result as a pass,when the responses were above the PASS/REFER line and the signal-to-noise was at least 10 dB.Results Ninty-four infants(188 ears) passed hearing screening. Four infants(8 ears) with ceruminous impaction didn′t pass screening;after extracting impacted cerumen from the external auditory meatus,the 4 infants(8 ears) passed screening.Two infants(2 ears) with secretory otitis media didn′t pass screening,but after medicine treatment for 1 week,they passed screening too.Conclusion DPOAE has advantages in infants hearing screening.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):168-169

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jinlida on changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes in fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- mice.

METHODEight male C57BL/6J mice were selected in the normal group (NF), 40 male ApoE -/- mice were fed for 16 weeks, divided into the model group (HF), the rosiglitazone group ( LGLT), the Jinlida low-dose group (JLDL), the Jinlida medium-dose group (JLDM), the Jinlida high-dose group (JLDH) and then orally given drugs for 8 weeks. The organization free fatty acids, BCA protein concentration determination methods were used to determine the skeletal muscle FFA content. The Real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR ( RT-PCR) and Western blot method were adopted to determine mRNA and protein expressions of mice fatty acids transposition enzyme (FAT/CD36), carnitine palm acyltransferase 1 (CPT1), peroxide proliferators-activated receptor α( PPAR α).

RESULTJinlida could decrease fasting blood glucose (FBG), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and fasting insulin (FIns) and raise insulin sensitive index (ISI) in mice to varying degrees. It could also up-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1 and PPARα, and down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of FAT/CD36.

CONCLUSIONJinlida can improve fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- in mice by adjusting the changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; CD36 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism

AIMTo evaluate in vitro release of lycopene microcapsules. Pharmacokinetic parameters of lycopene microcapsule and lycopene powder as reference were estimated after a single dose of oral administration to dogs. The relationship between in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption was investigated.

METHODSThe content of lycopene in the release medium was determined by UV spectroscopy method. Health hybrid male dogs were used as experiment subjects and lycopene powder used as standard to estimate the pharmacokinetics of lycopene microcapsules. HPLC method was used to assay the concentration of lycopene in dog plasma. Pharmacokinetics parameters were estimated by 3P87 program. The drug release percentage in stimulated intestinal fluid was compared with the absorption at a given time point.

RESULTSThe release profiles of lycopene from microcapsule showed that the lycopene gelatin microcapsule exhibited enteric property. The pharmacokinetics parameters estimated after oral administration of lycopene powder and lycopene microcapsule in a single dose of 2.5 mg x kg(-1) body weight to dogs were 7.30 h, 15.06 h for T1/2alpha; 28.10 h, 46.76 h for T1/2beta; 22.32 h, 41.03 h for T(max); 1.67 microg x h x L(-1), 2.08 microg x h x L(-1) for AUC(0-infinity), respectively. The concentration-time curves could be fitted to a two-compartment model for both the lycopene powder and the lycopene microcapsule analyzed by 3P87 program. The relationship between in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption was found to have good correlation (r = 0. 981 9) was found.

CONCLUSIONIt could be concluded that lycopene microcapsule was a sustained release dosage form. The result of release in vitro could be used to predict the absorption in vivo.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Capsules ; Carotenoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dogs ; Male

BACKGROUNDCervicothoracic junction spinal tuberculosis (CJST) in children is uncommon, especially when accompanied by a huge abscess. However, its consequences can be severe. Because of the special anatomic location of the cervicothoracic junction, surgical treatment is difficult and rarely reported. The aim of this clinical study was to assess the effectiveness of combined anterior and posterior approaches for focal debridement, decompression, allografting and anterior instrumentation in the treatment of CJST in children.

METHODSTen pediatric CJST patients underwent focal debridement and cord decompression through combined anterior and posterior approaches. Then an appropriate allograft and titanium plate were applied to reconstruct the spine. The patients were asked to wear head-neck-chest braces for six months and received regular anti-tubercular drugs therapy for 12 months.

RESULTSThe patients were followed-up for an average of 26 months (range, 15-32 months). There was no recurrent tuberculous infection. The bone grafts incorporated well and the instrumentation was stable. Cervical and thoracic kyphosis was successfully corrected from 40° (range, 30-52°) before the operation to 18° (range, 12-26°) post-operation. Neurological function was improved in all patients.

CONCLUSIONSCombined anterior and posterior approaches for focal debridement, decompression, bone allografting and anterior instrumentation provided an effective means of treatment in children of CJST with a huge abscess in the posterior part of the vertebral body.

Bone Transplantation ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Child, Preschool ; Debridement ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery

In this study,we aimed to study the pattern visual evoked potentials (P-VEPs) in two eyes with varying visual acuity in one eye and to provide an objective estimation of visual acuity by comparing P-VEPs in one and two eyes.Thirty subjects were chosen,who had one eye with an acuity of 5.0,4.85,4.6,4.0,or scieropia and obstructed vision and the other eye with an acuity of 5.0,respectively.P-VEPs were detected under the large grating stimuli at 3×4 spatial frequency,moderate grating stimuli (12× 16 spatial frequency) and small grating stimuli (48×64 spatial frequency).Under large grating stimuli,there was no significant difference in P100 peak latency between the groups,nor was there a significant difference between the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye.Under moderate and small grating stimuli,there was a significant difference in P100 peak latency between the group with both eyes having an acuity of 5.0 and the group with visual acuity below 4.0 in one eye.There was a significant difference in P100 amplitude between the group with visual acuity of 5.0 in both eyes and the group with one normal-vision eye.There was no significant difference in the amplitude of two eyes and the amplitude of one normal-vision eye between any other two groups.In forensic identification,characteristics and variability of P-VEPs in one and two eyes can be used to identify malingering or decline in visual acuity.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the effect of Drynariae Rhizoma's naringin on osteoclasts induced by mouse monocyte RAW264.7.

METHODRAW264.7 cells were induced by 100 μg x L(-1) nuclear factor-κB receptor activator ligand (RANKL) and became mature osteoclasts, which were identified through TRAP specific staining and bone resorption. MTT method was sued to screen and inhibit and the highest concentration of osteoclasts. After being cultured with the screened medium containing naringin for 5 days, positive TRAP cell counting and bone absorption area analysis were adopted to observe the effect of naringin on the formation of osteoclast sells and the bone absorption function. The osteoclast proliferation was measured by flow cytometry. The effects of RANK, TRAP, MMP-9, NFATc1 and C-fos mRNA expressions on nuclear factor-κB were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTNaringin could inhibit osteoclast differentiation, bone absorption function and proliferation activity of osteoclasts, significantly down-regulate RANK, TRAP, MMP-9 and NFATc1 mRNA expressions in the osteoclast differentiation process, and up-regulate the C-fos mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONNaringin could inhibit osteoclast differentiation, proliferation and bone absorption function. Its mechanism may be achieved by inhibiting the specific gene expression during the osteoclast differentiation process.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; Mice ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Osteoclasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

OBJECTIVETo investigate the knowledge and the attitude toward prostate cancer (PCa) among Chinese city men and raise some suggestions for the improvement of the present state.

METHODSIn October 2007, a questionnaire investigation was conducted among males in 17 Chinese cities on the knowledge of PCa in the following 6 aspects: general state of PCa susceptible city men, basic knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, management and outcome, and attitude toward the treatment of PCa. The influences of education on their scores were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSWe distributed 1,700 copies of the questionnaire and collected 376 (22.1%) valid ones. The subjects averaged 67.1 +/- 10.1 years of age, 80.1% with junior high school education and above. As for the basic knowledge of PCa, 92.6% of them admitted hearing of it, but only 45.5% knew what it was, with statistically significant differences among men of different educations. The most common accesses to PCa knowledge were media (43.3%), hospital consultation (25.2%) and health booklets (10.1%). Of the total number of subjects, 32.7% regarded "Father has prostate cancer" as a risk factor, 82.2% knew that PCa could be treated by surgery, but only 8.9% knew that " hormonotherapy has an important role in PCa treatment". More positive attitudes toward PCa treatment and its consequence were found among those with higher education.

CONCLUSIONPCa susceptible men in Chinese cities have insufficient knowledge on the disease. Strengthened education in this aspect can improve the present state and promote early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Aged ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Men ; psychology ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells which can support hematopoiesis, have immunomodulatory property, may differentiate into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes, and specifically migrate to damage sites and tumor site, but the mechanism involved in the regulation of migration of MSCs still remains unelucidated. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying MSCs migration holds the promise of developing novel clinical strategies which can deliver antitumor proteins to suppress tumor growth. In this review, the MSC migration in vitro mediated by growth factors, chemokines, adhesion molecules and toll-like receptors are summarized.
Cell Movement ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism