The content of the asarone submicro emulsion injection was determind by HPLC method, and thereby a quality evaluation method was established based on indexes of pH value, particle size, peroxide value, methoxy aniline values, free fatty acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, visible foreign substances, insoluble particle, sterility, bacterial endotoxin and impurities, etc. The results showed that the injection exhibited uniform physical appearance and all the products were in milkwhite liquid. The content of the three batches products were respectively 102.9%, 100.8%, 97.70% of the labeled amount, with mean particle size of 210-250 nm, and other indexes all met with the standards. The reserved samples showed no obvious change in terms of detection indexes and indicated good stability after the accelerated stability test and long-term stability for 12 months. The quality evaluation method established in this study could be applied to quality control and stability investigation of asarone submicron emulsion injection, which laid a basis for further clinical research and application.
Anisoles ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Quality Control

The feasibility of simultaneously loading both liposoluble and water-soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in emulsion was discussed, in order to provide new ideas in comprehensive application of effective components in S. miltiorrhiza in terms of technology of pharmaceutics. With tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B as raw materials, soybean phospholipid and poloxamer 188 as emulsifiers, and glycerin as isoosmotic regulator, the central composite design-response surface method was employed to optimize the prescription. The coarse emulsion was prepared with the high-speed shearing method and then homogenized in the high pressure homogenizer. The biphasic drug-loading intravenous emulsion was prepared to investigate its pharmaceutical properties and stability. The prepared emulsion is orange-yellow, with the average diameter of 241 nm and Zeta potential of -35.3 mV. Specifically, the drug loading capacity of tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B were 0.5 g x L(-1) and 1 g x L(-1), respectively, with a good stability among long-term retention samples. According to the results, the prepared emulsion could load liposoluble tanshinone II (A) and water-soluble salvianolic acid B simultaneously, which lays a pharmaceutical foundation for giving full play to the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDThe most critical mechanism governing drug resistance in Candida albicans (C. albicans) involves efflux pumps, the functionality of which largely depends on energy metabolism. Alcohol dehydrogenase I (ADH1) plays an important role in intracellular energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between ADH1 and drug resistance in C. albicans.

METHODSTwenty clinical C. albicans samples isolated from individual patients diagnosed with vulvovaginal candidiasis, and two C. albicans strains obtained from a single parental source (the fuconazole (FLC)-sensitive strain CA-1S and the FLC-resistant strain CA-16(R)) were included in our study. In accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3 guidelines, we used the microdilution method to examine the FLC minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 and the azole resistance genes CDR1, CDR2, MDR1, FLU1 and ERG11 in all the isolates.

RESULTSA highly significant positive correlation between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and the MICs (rs = 0.921, P = 0.000), as well as positive correlations between the mRNA level of ADH1 and those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1 (rs of 0.704, 0.772 and 0.779, respectively, P < 0.01), were observed in the 20 clinical C. albicans samples. The relative expression of ADH1 was upregulated 10.63- to 17.61-fold in all of the drug-resistant isolates. No correlations were found between the mRNA levels of ADH1 and those of MDR1 or ERG11 (P > 0.05). The mRNA levels of the examined drug resistance genes were higher in the CA-16(R) strain than in CA-1(S), and the mRNA levels of ADH1 in CA-16(R) were 11.64-fold higher than those in CA-1(S) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that high levels of ADH1 transcription are implicated in FLC resistance in C. albicans and that the mRNA expression levels of ADH1 are positively correlated with those of CDR1, CDR2 and FLU1.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Female ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

Carnitine, an important compound in the beta-oxidative process of mitochondrial fatty acid, plays a significant role in the cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive system. Recently, carnitine has been used as a therapeutic in the treatment of male infertility, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie's disease, etc. Accordingly, the objective of this review is to summarize the progress in researches on carnitine as a clinical therapy in andrology.
Carnitine ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; drug therapy ; Male

Carnitines are important conditionally essential nutrients in the organism, with extensive physiological functions, and highly concentrated in the epididymis and sperm. Carnitines play an important role not only in initiating sperm motility, promoting sperm maturation and enhancing sperm fertilizing, but also in regulating Sertoli cell function, protecting sperm against oxidative damage, reducing apoptosis of spermatogenic cell and inhibiting sperm aggregation. Accordingly, the objective of this review is to summarize the multifunctional roles of carnitine in male reproduction.
Animals ; Carnitine ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Maturation ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Testis ; physiology

Abdominal Pain ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Adult ; Duodenal Obstruction ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreas ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe dyschromatoses are a group of disorders characterized by simultaneous hyperpigmented macules together with hypopigmented macules. Dyschromatosis universalis hereditaria (DUH) and dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria are two major types. While clinical and histological presentations are similar in these two diseases, genetic diagnosis is critical in the differential diagnosis of these entities.

METHODSThree patients initially diagnosed with DUH were included. The gene test was carried out by targeted gene sequencing. All mutations detected on ADAR1 and ABCB6 genes were analyzed according to the frequency in control database, the mutation types, and the published evidence to determine the pathogenicity.

RESULTSFamily pedigree and clinical presentations were reported in 3 patients from two Chinese families. All patients have prominent cutaneous dyschromatoses involving the whole body without systemic complications. Different pathogenic genes in these patients with similar phenotype were identified: One novel mutation on ADAR1 (c. 1325C>G) and one recurrent mutation in ABCB6 (c. 1270T>C), which successfully distinguished two diseases with the similar phenotype.

CONCLUSIONTargeted gene sequencing is an effective tool for genetic diagnosis in pigmentary skin diseases.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adenosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Pigmentation Disorders ; congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Skin Diseases, Genetic ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of platelet in May-Hegglin anomaly (MHA) and the molecular pathogenesis mechanism.

METHODSPeripheral blood was drawn from the MHA proband, her father and her uncle. Platelet count and morphology were examined by automatic blood cell counter and microscopy, respectively. The platelet membrane protein was examined by flow cytometry. Membrane antibodies were determined by ELISA. PCR was used to amplify the exons 25, 31 approximately 32, 38 and 40 of the MYH 9 gene in the MHA patient and her diseased father. Furthermore, PCR products were sequenced, a specific point mutation was identified and inclusions (Dohle's body) in the neutrophil was detected by indirect immunofluorescence technique.

RESULTSIt was proved that in MHA patients, platelet count was higher by cell counter than by microscope (P < 0.01). Giant platelet was 94% but platelet membrane proteins (CD41, CD61, CD42A, CD42b) were in normal range. Membrane antibodies was undetectable. An A5521G mutation (GAG-->AAG) in the exon 38 was found in the proband and her diseased father, resulting in a characteristic change of NMMHC-A1841 (Glutamic acid-->Arginine), which was not found in other members of the family and in normal controls. Spindle-like inclusions with fluorescence were clearly displayed in neutrophil cytoplasm.

CONCLUSIONThe molecular pathogenesis mechanism of May-Hegglin anomaly is the mutation in MYH 9 gene.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Molecular Motor Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Thrombocytopenia ; blood ; genetics ; pathology

For the first time, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology published an analysis report of Chinese papers indexed in MEDLINE, which indicates that the Chinese government is paying more and more attention to the role of MEDLINE in the evaluation of scientific research. A total of 4 959 journals are listed in the Lists of Journals Indexed in MEDLINE (2006) published by National Library of Medicine, USA (NLM), of which 95 are published in China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) and 2 another Chinese periodicals are published abroad. To familiarize MEDLINE to more medical researchers and to help them contribute to the journals indexed in MEDLINE, this article lists the top 10 Chinese medical institution whose published papers were indexed in MEDLINE in 2004 along with the Chinese periodicals indexed in MEDLINE in 2006. And the status of MEDLINE in China is briefly analyzed as well.
Bibliometrics ; China ; MEDLINE ; Periodicals as Topic ; statistics & numerical data

The study was aimed to investigate the correlation of tissue factor promotor polymorphism -1208I/D with the venous thromboembolism in patients. Tissue factor promotor polymorphism -1208 was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing in 96 cases of DVT, 14 cases of PE and 59 nonthrombosis normal individuals. The results showed that the allele containing a 18-bp nucleotides insertion at -1208. 67.8% of normal individuals exhibited D/D, 25.4% were heterozygous I/D, and 6.8% were homozygous for I/I. DVT group and PE group exhibited a similar distributions (62.5%D/D, 29.8% I/D, 8.3% I/I and 57.1% D/D, 35.7% I/D, 7.1% I/I). The allele frequencies of D and the allele frequencies of I in the normal control, DVT and PE groups were 80.5%, 77.1%, 75.0% and 19.5%, 22.9%, 25.0% respectively. There was no significant difference in the TF-12081/D genotype frequency between the groups of patients and normal individuals. In conclusion, there is no correlation of the tissue factor promotor polymorphism -1208I/D in the patients with venous thromboembolism. The gene of promoter -1208I/D may not be a major susceptible gene of VTE in Chinese Han. Further investigations would be necessary to define accurately tissue factor gene polymorphisms.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Thromboplastin ; genetics ; Venous Thromboembolism ; genetics