AIM: To establish an analytical method for detecting 14 kinds of amino acid in Wuling Capsule(xylaria) by HPLC-FLD. METHODS: After being derivated in precolumn with o-phthalaldehyde and ?-mercaptoethanol,the amino acids were eluted by gradient elution and were detected with a fluorescence detector (Ex = 340 nm,Em = 450 nm). The mobile phase consisted of 0. 1 mol/L NaH2PO4 ( adjusted to pH 6. 8 by phosphoric acid) and methanol with a flow rate of 1. 0 mL/min,column temperature was set at 30 ℃. RESULTS: The deriva-tives of 14 amino acids with o-phthalaldehyde could be separated with a stable base line within 40 min. The linear range of the detection was 5-200 nmol/mL and correlation coefficients were over 0. 999 0. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,accurate and well reproduced for the determination of amino acids in Wuling Capsule.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the status quo of the use of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital and to put forward the coping strategies.METHODS:The data about the consumption of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital during the period of 2002～2006 obtained from medical information platform were analyzed in respect of consumption sum,DDDs,and DDC using the method of DDDs sequence and the method in pharmacoeconomics.RESULTS:The use of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital during 2002～2006 took on an obvious rising trend.CONCLUSION:The utilization of Chinese patent medicines in our hospital is rational basically.The Chinese patent medicines with suitable prices and proved efficacy take a great share in the clinical application.However,there are still some problems remain to be standardized.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utilization and development trend of heat-clearing drugs(HCDs) in our hospital so as to provide references for rational drug use and reasonable drug purchase.METHODS: The consumption quantity and consumption sum of HCDs during the period 2006～2007 were investigated,and the DDDs and daily consumption sum of HCDs were analyzed using DDDs sequence analytical method.RESULTS: The consumption quantity of HCDs in the hospital during 2006～2007 showed a steady increase and the DDDs of HCDs increased synchronously.CONCLUSION: The utilization status of HCDs in the hospital is basically in consistent with national drug consumption tendency.

BACKGROUND:Anticancer drug deguelin delays the embryonic development of zebrafish, but its exact mechanism is not yet clear.
OBJECTIVE:To explore expression differences in genes and signaling pathways in deguelin-treated zebrafish embryos.
METHODS:Zebrafish embryos were harvested from zebrafish fed according to the Zebrafish Book. Zebrafish embryos at 2-cel stage were selected and divided into two groups:control group treated with dimethyl sulfoxide incubator liquid, and experimental group treated with 0.6μmol/L deguelin. Total RNA was extracted from the two groups at sphere stage. Then, gene chip technique was used to detect differential y expressed genes in the deguelin-treated zebrafish embryos. Real-time quantitative PCR was employed to validate microarray cluster analysis and pathway analysis to explore the mechanism of action of deguelin.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Chip results showed that 407 genes were upregulated more than three times and 461 genes were downregulated more than three times after deguelin treatment. PCR validation results were consistent with those of the chip. Fourteen pathways were identified by KEGG pathway analysis. Deguelin may play an important role by intervening cel metabolism growth and differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T locus and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in Shanxi Province of China.

METHODSBlood samples from 150 patients and their parents and 150 controls and their mothers were collected. The polymorphism of MTHFR gene C677T locus were analyzed by the methods of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism technique(PCR-RFLP). Case-control analysis, transmission-disequilibrium test(TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk analysis(HHRR) were used to study the correlation between the gene mutation and NSCL/P.

RESULTSHardy-Weinberg equilibrium test results showed that, the offspring and mother genotype in the case group and the control group was not deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg law of genetic equilibrium (P > 0.05). The distribution of genotype CC, CT and TT in offspring had significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). In the offspring and mother of case group and the control group, the carriers of the TT genotype compared to CC genotype, the OR are greater than 1 and 95% CI do not contain 1 (offspring OR: 2.692, 95% CI: 1.319-5.495; mother OR: 2.469, 95% CI: 1.136-5.363). The distribution of C allele and T mutation gene were significantly different in the offspring and mother between the two groups (P < 0.05). The TDT test showed: chi2 = 4.507, P < 0.05. The HHRR test showed: P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONThe single nucleotide polymorphism of MTHFR C677T locus is associated with the development of NSCL/P in Shanxi Province.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cleft Lip ; genetics ; Cleft Palate ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Objective To study the effects and the mechanism of exogenous carbon monoxide on apoptosis of rat intestinal cells during endotoxemia. Methods The experimental rats were divided into 6 groups:control group, LPS(lipopolysaccharide: 5 mg/kg) group, CO inhalation(250?10~ -6) group, CO intraperitoneal injection(2 ml/kg) group, LPS(LPS 5 mg/kg) with CO inhalation(250?10~ -6) group and LPS(LPS 5 mg/kg) with CO intraperitoneal injection(2 ml/kg) group. The PaO_2, PaCO_2, SO_2 and COHb were monitored by blood gas analysis. The rat intestine malondialdehyde(MDA) was determined by thiobarbitric acid method and superoxide dismutase(SOD) was determined by hydroxylamine method after the rats were treated for 1, 3 and 6 hours. We also checked the apoptosis ratio of intestinal cells with flow cytometry(FCM). We also monitored the pathological changes with HE staining. Results Low concentration CO(250?10~ -6) inhalation and CO intraperitoneal injection(2 ml/kg) did not cause hypoxia. Comparing to control group and endotoxemia group,the intestineal MDA of the endotoxemic rats decreased after exposure to exogenous CO and the SOD activation increased. The apoptosis ratio of intestinal cells decreased after exposure to exogenous CO. On the apoptosis of endotoxemia rat intestinal cells, the effect of CO intraperitoneal injection was earlier than that of CO inhalation, but the effect of CO inhalation last longer. Conclusion Low concentration CO(250?10~ -6) inhalation and low dose CO(2 ml/kg) intraperitoneal injection were safe to rat. Exposure to exogenous CO could protect rat intestine against endotoxemia by inhibiting the apoptosis of intestinal cells. The effect of intraperitoneal CO injection was earlier than that of CO inhalation, but the effect of CO inhalation could last for longer than intraperitoneal CO injection.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and significance of anti-?2-glycoprotein Ⅰ (anti-?2-GPⅠ) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Anti-?2-GPⅠ level was determined in 112 SLE patients, 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 30 patients with Sj?gren′s syndrome (SS) and 40 healthy individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The laboratory and clinical features (thrombosis, fetal loss, etc) were analyzed retrospectively from the clinical database. Results Sensitivities of anti-?2-GPⅠ were 21.4%, 15.0%, 6.7% in SLE, RA and SS, respectively. The specificity of anti-?2-GPⅠ was 88.6% in SLE. Correlations between thrombosis and titers of ACL-IgG/IgM and anti-?2-GPⅠ were statistically significant. No association was found between anti-?2-GPⅠ and other clinical and laboratory features. Conclusion The results indicate that anti-?2-glycoprotein Ⅰ antibodies are common and may play a role in SLE with thrombosis. Combination of ACL and anti-?2-GPⅠ can facilitate the diagnosis of SLE with thrombosis.

Objective To investigate the concentrations of serum N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pm BNP) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) of acute exacerbation of chronic obstrnctive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) patients treated by bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP) for with respiratory failure.Methods A total of 100 respiratory failure in patients with AECOPD were divided into study group and control group,and 50 cases of each group.Patients in study group were received the conventional treatment(anti infection,diastolic bronchial,cough and phlegm and oxygen therapy) combined with BiPAP therapy,while in control group were received the conventional treatment.Blood samples were drawn at beginning and 3 d later.Serum hs-CRP and NT-pro BNP levels were determined,and the expenses and duration of hospitalization of two groups were compared.Result After treatment,the level of serum NT-pro BNP in study group and control group were (105.79 ± 4.56) ng/L and (113.33 ± 3.26) ng/L,and the difference was statistically signifi cant (t =3.03,P ＜ 0.05).The serum hs-CRP levels were (10.83 ± 16.35) mg/L and (26.39 ± 26.87) mg/L in study and control group,and the differences were statistically significant (t =-3.44,P ＜ 0.05).The expenses and duration of hospitalization in study group were both less than those in control group((11.15 ± 1.86) d vs.(12.78±2.25) d;(6 659.11 ±1 609.49) yuan vs.(8 031.31 ±1 449.79) yuan;t=-3.87,-4.38;P ＜0.05).Conclusion Early BiPAP therapy in AECOPD patients with respiratory failure in patients is showed that NT-pro BNP and hs-CRP levels faster decrease and disease is recovery remission,which suggests that NTpro BNP or BNP for AECOPD patients and respiratory failure condition monitoring,clinical efficacy have some clinical value.

Objective: To establish capillary zone electrophoresis method for determination of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) content in its troche. Methods： Using tetrandrine as internal standard(IS), the electrophoretic separation was achieved with 25 mmol/L borate (pH=7.89) running buffer. And a voltage of 14 kV was applied to the 40 cm×75 μm(i.d) capillary. The analytes were introduced into capillary by siphon (1 s) and determined with on-column monitoring at 214 nm. Results：The determination could be completed within 4 min and the minimum concentration of detection was 5 μg/ml.The analytical results of sildenafil citrate samples demonstrated a good linear relationship within the range of 24-480 μg/ml.The relative standard deviations (RSD) of intra-day was less than 1.58% and that of inter-day was less than 2.46%.The present recoveries were between 95%-105％. Conclusion：The CZE method is accurate, simple, rapid and reliable, so it can be applied to the determination of sildenafil citrate content.

AIM: To observe the effects of norepinephrine (NE) on the cardiopulmonary and lung injury in goats with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by endotoxin. METHODS: A model of septic ARDS was induced by intravenous infusion of low dose endotoxin in six goats. Then 40?10~ -6 NO inhalation was applied to the animals. After 30 min, combined intravenous infusion of NE at concentration of 0.5 mg?kg~ -1 ?min~ -1 was conducted. The dynamic changes in gas exchange and hemodynamics were measured with the aid of Swan-Ganz catheter. Arterial blood gas analysis before and after the onset of ARDS, 30 min after NO inhalation and combined NE was detected. Histology of the lung was also observed. RESULTS: Inhalation of NO rapidly reduced mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), increased PaO_2, decreased P_ (A-a) O_2 and Qs/Qt in septic ARDS goats. These decrease and increase were more significant than those in NO inhaled alone when animals received NE. The combination of NO inhalation and NE injection resulted in increase in mean arterial pressure. NO inhalation did not ameliorate lung injury and combined NE intravenous injection ameliorated lung injury. CONCLUSION: Injection of low dose norepinephrine improves the beneficial effects of inhaled nitric oxide on lung gas exchange and ameliorates lung injury in goats with acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by endotoxin.