Objective To study the role of cell density in the tyrosol production and morphology for Candida albicans biofilms. Methods C. albicans SC5314 and clinical isolates were propagated in yeast peptone dextrose (YPD) medium. Cells were collected by centrifugation and washed twice in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) before this study, then resuspended in RPMI 1640 supplemented with L-glutamine and adjusted to a desired concentration of 5 × 10~6 cells/ml, 5×10~5 cells/ml, 5 × 10~4 cells/ml, 5 × 10~3 cells/ml after counting with a hematocytometer. Standardized C. albicans cells were prepared as above description and 2000 μl of this standardized cell suspension was dispensed into the wells, then C. albicans biofilms were formed on the bottom of the polystyrene wells. In this study, tyrosol synthesized by SC5314 and clinical isolates of C. albicans biofilm was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of tyrosol on morphology of C. albicans biofilms were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Tyrosol production of C. albicans biofilms was affected by cell densities. At lower inoculation size(5 μ 10~3 cells/ml), there was too less tyrosol production to be detected at the early stage of the biofilms formation. At higher inoculation size (5 μ10~6 cells/ml), tyrosol can be detectable at the early stage or at the mature stage of biofilms formation. There was a sharp increase in tyrosol concentration at 24 h, while there was a decrease in tyrosol concentration after that time from the strains when the strains were at an inoculation size of 5 × 10~6 cells/ml and 5 × 10~5 cells/ml. Cell densities affected the morphology formation of the C. albicans biofilms. At the early stage of the biofilms formation, C. albicans grew less germ tube at lower cell densities than that at the higher cell densities. With the mature of the biofilms, C. albicarts grew more hyphae at higher cell densities than that at the lower cell densities. All these above showed that cell densities played an important role in the propagation for the C. albi-cans in the biofilm formation. Conclusion Cell density play an important role in the formation of the C. albi-cans biofilms and the production of the tyrosol.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of neutrophils/lymphocyte(NLR)and platelet/lymphocyte ratioof (PLR)peripheral blood in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.Methods Retrospectively analyzed 62 patients with PBC and three subgroup patients according to Child-pugh,who were hospitalized in Shanghai Changhai Hospital and Shanghai Changzheng Hospital from January 2010 to July 2015.Enrolled 59 healthy controls.Baseline data and laboratory indicators were extracted,and the correlation between PLR and NLR and disease activity were analyzed.The changes of NLR in 3 pa-tients with PBC were analyzed.3 patients were followed up and their NLRs were recorded before and after therapy.Results Compared with healthy controls,NLR was significantly increased in PBC patients (P<0.05),and not PLR (P>0.05). NLR was positively correlated with TBIL and Mayo risk (R=0.35,0.30,P<0.05),and not ALT,AST or ALP (P>0.05).After therapy,NLRs were significantly reduced in three PBC patients (P<0.05).Conclusion NLR may be a useful biomarker for assessing clinical therapy in PBC patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the theory of "Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related" and the pathogenesis of lung injury by observing changes of inflammatory cytokines and oxygen free radicals in ulcerative colitis (UC) rats.

METHODSTotally 50 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, the normal control group and the model group, 25 rats in each group. The UC model was established by allergizing colon mucosa combined with TNBS-alcohol (50%) enema. Another 25 rats were recruited as the normal control group. At week 2 and 4 after modeling, the pathomorphological changes of the lung were observed. Furthermore, the contents of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-1beta were determined by ELISA. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated with colorimetry.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the pathomorphology of the lung tissue in the model group appeared abnormal at week 2 and 4. Compared with the normal control group, levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and MDA in the lung tissue significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 01) and the activities of SOD significantly decreased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha, IL-1beta, SOD, and MDA might be common material bases for the large intestine involved in lung disease of UC patients, thus providing a modern scientific basis for the theory of Fei and Dachang being interior-exteriorly related.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

This study was to investigate the permeability and absorbability of capsaicin cubosome across abdominal skin of the SD rats in vitro. Diffusion of capsaicin cubosome and cream was performed with the modified Franz diffusion cell technique. The capsaicin cubosome showed no enhancement of skin permeation within 24 hours. However, the deposition amounts of capsaicin in the rat skin in the cubosome group was markedly higher than those in the commercial cream group (P < 0.01). Cubosome showed excellent characetristic of skin-targed which could be a good carrier for the local transdermal drug delivery system.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Capsaicin ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Kinetics ; Male ; Particle Size ; Permeability ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

OBJECTIVETo analyze the differences between the oral microbiota of monozygotic and dizygotic twins by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE).

METHODSA total of 20 pairs of twin children were included in this study, in which 10 pairs were monozygotic (MZ) twins, and 10 pairs were dizygotic (DZ) twins. Of the 20 pairs, 10 pairs of twins had primary dentition, and 10 pairs had mixed dentition; 17 children had caries, and 23 children had no caries. Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva samples. The 16s rRNA was amplified and analyzed by PCR-DGGE. The PCR-DGGE band number and Shannon index were calculated.

RESULTSCluster analysis showed high similarity in the oral bacterial community seen in co-twins. However, no significant difference was seen between MZ and DZ twins. In the primary dentition, the PCR-DGGE band number and Shannon index of children with caries (11.00 +/- 1.56, 1.05 +/- 0.36) were lower than those of children without caries (14.00 +/- 2.74, 1.44 +/- 0.37) (P < 0.05). In mixed dentition, the PCR-DGGE band number and Shannon index of children with caries (11.88 +/- 4.05, 1.18 +/- 0.36) were lower than those of children without caries (14.31 +/- 5.71, 1.28 +/- 0.47), but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEnvironmental factors may have a stronger effect on the constitution of oral microbiota in children compared with genetic factors. Children without caries may have a richer microbial diversity compared with children with caries.

Bacteria ; Child ; Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis ; Dental Caries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Saliva ; Twins, Monozygotic

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Huikangling Tablet (HT, extracted from Scabrous Patrinia root) on peripheral blood micrometastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients.

METHODSTotally 87 DTC patients with positive micrometastasis were randomly assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (42 cases). DTC endocrine inhibition treatment standards were executed in all patients. They all took levothyroxine sodium (50 microg/tablet, from low dose, 25 microg each time, once per day, 0.5 h before breakfast), and its dosage was gradually added one week later. The dosage was adjusted according to tested results of TSH combined recurrence risk stratification and endocrine suppression induced adverse reactions risk stratification. Patients in the treatment group took HT (0.4 g per tablet, 3 tablets each time, three times per day for a total of 12 weeks) combined TSH suppression therapy, while those in the control group only received TSH suppression therapy. Peripheral micrometastatic cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and polymorphic epithelial mucin1 (MUC1) were detected by FCM at week 4 and 12. Meanwhile, distant metastasis and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSAfter 4-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 18 cases (40%) of the treatment group and 29 cases (69%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 5.68, P < 0.05). After 12-week treatment positive micrometastasis was shown in 7 cases (15.6%) of the treatment group and 17 cases (44.7%) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 8.49, P < 0.01). Pulmonary metastasis occurred in 2 cases and bone metastasis in 1 case of the control group at follow-ups. Cervical lymph node metastasis without accompanied recurrence of thyroid cancer occurred in one case of the treatment group. No obvious liver or renal abnormalities occurred.

CONCLUSIONHT inhibited peripheral blood micrometastasis of DTC patients and its mechanism needed to be further studied.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Tablets ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Objective To investigate the early change of MR DWI parameters of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and assess the relationship between the changes of the NAC response. Methods Patients with local advanced breast cancer diagnosed by biopsy were enrolled in the prospective study. They received DWI examination before NAC and then received DWI examination at 24 h after the first cycle of NAC. The pathological results of breast cancers were recorded after NAC finished. 14 patients (15 lesions) were enrolled in this study.The minimum ADC values of breast cancer before NAC and after the first cycle of NAC were recorded, and their change rates were calculated. Two weeks after NAC,all cases were divided into clinical complete response (cCR) and non-clinical complete response group according to clinical NAC response evaluation. Then lesions were divided into pathological complete response (pCR) and non-pathological complete response group according to pathological NAC response evaluation. Using the Paired samples t test,we analysed the change of ADC values 24 h after the first cycle of NAC. The ADC values and change rates were compared between cCR and non-cCR group using Mann-Whitney U test. The ADC values and change rates were also compared between pCR and non-pCR group using Mann-Whitney U test.Results The 15 cases were all invasive ductal carcinoma patients. According to clinical NAC response evaluation, 5 cases were cCR and 10 cases were non-cCR. According to pathological NAC response evaluation, 6 cases were pCR and 9 cases were non-pCR. Before NAC, the minimum ADC value of breast cancer was(0.78±0.15)×10-3 mm2/s. After the first cycle of NAC, the minimum ADC value of breast cancer was(0.91 ± 0.16) × 10-3 mm2/s. The minimum ADC value of breast cancer significantly increased 24 h after the first cycle of NAC (t=-2.954,P=0.010). But ADC value and its change rate were not significantly different between cCR and non-cCR groups, also between pCR and non-pCR groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Significant change in the minimum ADC value of breast cancer could be observed 24 h after the first cycle of NAC, but the change do not relate to clinical and pathological NAC response in this study.

Pulsatile drug delivery system,capable of releasing drug at the predetermined times according to clinical therapeutic requirements,can be used to treat several rhythmic diseases.Majority of individuals experience the rise in the blood pressure in the early morning hours,which potentially leads to serious cardiovascular complications.The purpose of the study was to develop pulsatile candesartan cilexetil core-in-cup tablets according to human circadian rhythm of blood pressure.The factors influencing t_(lag) were evaluated by in vitro drug release and tablet erosion observations.In addition,the jugular artery pressures vs times courses of rabbits were recorded after oral administration of commercial candesartan cilexetil tablets or the developed core-in-cup tablets.The quantity and characteristics of the excipients in top layers in the tablets were found to modify t_(lag).In vivo studies showed that the onset times indicating the decreases in the blood pressures of commercial tablets and core-in-cup tablets were (98 ± 17) min and (278 ±29) min,respevtively.In vivo t_(lag) of the prepared core-in-cup tablets was (180 ± 34) min in rabbits,which is consistent with the goal of design.

AIM: To investigate two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the apolipoprotein(a) promoter at positions -418 and -384 and to compare distributing difference of genotype frequencies of single nucleotide among different races and to explore the influencies of them on serum lipid level and their association with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Using PCR-RFLP (BsgI,BfaI) method, we determined genotypes of these two SNPs in 156 unrelated healthy controls of HanZu Chinese and 56 unrelated CHD patients of HanZu Chinese and 56 unrelated African Blacks, then cloned polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products into T-vector and sequenced it by M13 currency primer, correspondingly. RESULTS: (1) There was no polymorphism at position -418A/A and -384C/C in control group. Only one CHD patient′s genotype determined was -418G/G, other were -418A/A and (-384C/C) in CHD patients. (2) Only two African Blacks′ genotype determined was -418G/G, other were -418A/A and (-384C/C) in African Blacks. (3) However, the Apo(a) promoter sequence was in coincident with the sequence publicized in GenBank and the base at positions -418 was adenine (A) and -384 was cytosine (C). CONCLUSION: The mutation frequencies at position -418 and -384 are low in the Chinese Han Population of Hubei and perhaps no single nucleotide polymorphisms is at two positions. No association with serum lipid levels and CHD is observed. There may be great variabilities to the SNPs in the Apo(a) promoter among different races.

Objective To discuss the method of interventional intravascular treatment in traumatic carotid cavernous fistula(TCCF)and the significance of clinical application in emergency.Methods In 297 cases of TCCF,36 cases were treated by interventional intravaseular embolization by detachable balloon, embolization orificium or occlusion in one side of carotid artery.In the 36 cases,serious epistaxis occurred in 22 cases,cortical vein inflow in 9 cases,intracranial hemorrhage in 3 cases,aggravation of eyesight in 3 cases,and limb dysfunction in 2 cases.Results Fistula was successfully embolized and internal carotid artery remained patent in 19 cases.Complete embolization of orificium or internal carotid artery was achieved in 17 cases.The serious epistaxias in 22 cases and intracranial hemorrhage in 3 cases stopped.Eyesight recovered in 2 cases and improved in 1 case.Limb dysfunction improved evidently in 2 cases. Conclusion Intravascular embolization treatment is the first therapeutic choice for TCCF,especially in emergency.It is necessary,safe and effective.