OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of detection of Hepcidin together with indicator of iron overload on clinical diagnosis and treatment of MDS with iron overload by measuring Hepcidin and iron load indices of transfusion dependent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay and colorimetry were used to determine the Hepcidin, serum ferritin (SF) and serum iron (SI) levels of 106 serum samples from 68 cases of transfusion dependent MDS patients, 30 serum samples of MDS patients without transfusion and 60 serum samples of controls.

RESULTSFor MDS group, Hepcidin level in blood transfusion < 9 U subgroup was significantly higher than that in control group \[(583 ± 50) µg/L vs (175 ± 35) µg/L\] and there was a strong positive correlation between Hepcidin levels and SF (r = 0.976), but no correlation between Hepcidin and SI (r = 0.284); Both Hepcidin and SF level in transfusion 9 ∼ 24 U subgroup was significantly higher than those in control group \[(665 ± 80) µg/L vs (175 ± 35) µg/L; (1445 ± 275) µg/L vs (112 ± 26)µg/L\]; whereas for SI level, there was no difference between transfusion 9 ∼ 24 U subgroup and the control group. Hepcidin did not correlate with SF or SI; For blood transfusion > 24 U group, all of Hepcidin, SF and SI levels were higher than those in control groups \[(703 ± 64) µg/L vs (175 ± 35) µg/L; (2587 ± 352) µg/L vs (112 ± 26)µg/L; (20 ± 4) µg/L vs (14 ± 4) µmol/L\], Hepcidin negatively correlated with SF and SI (r = -0.536; r = -0.456). Hepcidin levels of RARS patients were significantly lower than RAEB patients \[(260 ± 40) µg/L vs (442 ± 51) µg/L\], and there was no significant difference between RARS group and control group regardless of the number of blood transfusion.

CONCLUSIONBoth Hepcidin and SF levels in MDS patients regardless of transfusion dependent or not, or the number of blood transfused were higher than those of normal controls, the increase of Hepcidin can not synchronize with the increase of SF level due to the increased blood transfusion, when blood transfusion > 24 U, Hepcidin level showed a negative relationship with SF and SI, reflecting the decreased ability of Hepcidin to inhibit body iron absorption during the increase of blood transfusion, which finally would lead to iron overload. We can predict the occurrence of iron overload in transfusion dependent MDS patients by dynamic monitoring concentration of Hepcidin.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; blood ; Blood Transfusion ; Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Hepcidins ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; Iron Overload ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; therapy

The release behavior of single pellet was investigated by LC/MS/MS method with tamsulosin hydrochloride (TSH) as the model drug of the research and then the pellets were divided into four groups according to the drug loading. Comparison of dissolution profiles of each group and capsule were performed using f1 and f2 factor methods to study the difference and similarity. The release profiles of single pellet, each group and capsule were analyzed using principle component analysis (PCA). The particle system was built through Matlab to get the target release profile. The result of this research demonstrated the release behavior of single pellet correlated well with the drug loading. While the dissolution profile of capsule as a reference, the similarity factor of dissolution profiles of the lower drug loading groups were 62.2, 67.1, 53.9, respectively and, 43.3 for highest drug loading group. The particle systems with different pellet distribution and same release profiles were built through release behavior of single pellet. It is of significance to investigate the release behavior of single pellets for studying the release regularity of multiple-unit drug delivery system.
Capsules ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Drug Liberation ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of acupoint injection by astragalus injection on local SIgA and pathomorphologial changes in rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID).

METHOD50 female Wistar rats were randomly devided into 6 groups, in which CPID model was made except the normal group and sham operation group. The astragalus injection group and the 0.9% NaCl injection group were treated by acupoint injection in Guanyuan (RN4) and Zusanli (ST36). The group was fed Qianjinpian solution into stomach. The histopathologic changes of rats' uterus of each group were observed and SIgA in vagina flushing was detected.

RESULTThe model group showed inflammatory changes, and astragalus injection group and Qianjinpian group showed little histopathologic changes. The levels of SIgA in astragalus injection group were significantly higher than those in other groups, but that in the model group was the lowest.

CONCLUSIONThe deficiency of local SIgA lead to repeatedly attack of CPID. The treatment of acupoint injection by astragalus injection can improve the excretion of SIgA, reinforce the local immunity, and prevent the repeatedly attack.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; blood ; Injections ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; blood ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; pathology

In the present experiments, the characteristics of the electrical responses to stimulation of the cerebellum in crucian carp Mauthner cell were explored with microeletrode intracellular recording technique. A composite excitatory postsynaptic potential (cerebellum-evoked EPSP) could be induced from the soma, the ventral dendrite and the proximal end of the lateral dendrite in crucian carp Mauthner cell (M-cell) on either side by stimulation of the ventrolateral region of the cerebellum. The cerebellum-evoked EPSP presented characteristics of relatively short latency (0.63+/-0.09 ms), longer duration (5.49+/-1.13 ms), graded amplitude and dependence on stimulation frequency. Stimulation of the cerebellum with higher intensity always activated the M-cell orthodromically. Multiple intracellular recordings showed that the cerebellum-evoked EPSP originated in the distal end of the ventral dendrite. The results suggest that the cerebellum-M-cell pathway is probably composed of a group of neuron chains with different numbers of synaptic relays projecting to the distal end of the ventral dendrite in order of length of the chains.
Animals ; Carps ; physiology ; Cerebellum ; physiology ; Dendrites ; physiology ; Electric Stimulation ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Synapses ; physiology ; Synaptic Transmission ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo optimize the therapeutic programs for periarthritis of shoulder treated with acupuncture, moxibustion and kinetohterapy with orthogonal design method adopted.

METHODSThe orthogonal design table of L8 (2(7)) hierarchical principle was used to randomly divide 192 patients of periarthritis of shoulder into 8 groups, 24 cases in each one. Separately, 4 factors and each different 2 levels were adopted in treatment, named acupuncture timing (factor A: A, acute stage, A2 adhesion stage), acupoint combination (factor B: B, local acupoints, B2 local acupoints and distal acupoints along meridians), filiform needling and warm needling therapy (factor C: C1 acupuncture with filiform needle, CZ acupuncture with filiform needle and warm needling therapy) and positive functional exercise (factor D: D1 without positive functional exercise, D2 with positive functional exercise). The treatment was given once a day, 10 treatments made one session and 2 sessions were required totally. The time points of observation were the point after 1 session of treatment and after 2 sessions of treatment. The short-form McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and shoulder joint motor disturbance score were adopted for evaluation.

RESULTSIn the orthogonal design analysis, taking the hierarchical factors into consideration, the age was considered as the main factor in the evaluation of shoulder pain and shoulder motor disturbance (P<0.01), and the shoulder function grade apparently impacted pain evaluation and the efficacy on shoulder motor disturbance (P<0.01). The best combination of 4 factors and 2 levels were A1B1CzD2 and A2BC2D2. SAS statistical analysis showed that at acute stage and adhesion stage, CZ Dz , meaning acupuncture with fifiform needling and warm needling therapy combined with positive functional exercise, is the main factor of the improvements of shoulder motor function (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor periarthritis of shoulder at acute stage, the combined therapy of acupuncture at local acupoints, warm needling and positive functional exercise is adopted. At chronic stage, the combined therapy of acupuncture at local acupoints and distal acupoints, acupuncture with filiform needle and warm needling and positive functional exercise is the best program. Additionally, in clinical treatment, the patients' age, sex, shoulder joint function and duration of treatment should be considered comprehensively for the impacts on the efficacy.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Periarthritis ; therapy ; Shoulder Pain ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of ricin temperature response gel on breast cancer and its regulatory effect on immune function in rats.

METHODSRicin was purified by chromatography and identified by immunoblotting. The rat subcutaneously transplanted breast cancer model was established. Forty model rats with a tumor diameter of about 3.0 cm were subjected to the study. They were randomized into four groups equally: the model group and three treated groups (blank gel, ricin, ricin-gel) were administered with blank gel, ricin, and ricin temperature response gel via percutaneous intratumor injection, respectively. The tumor was isolated 10 days later for the estimation of tumor inhibition rate (TIR) by weighing, pathologic examination, and detection of tumor apoptosis-associated genes bcl-2 and bax with semiquantitative RT-PCR. Also, peripheral blood was obtained to test T-lymphocyte subsets, the killing function of lymphocytes, and the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). The outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTSThe TIR in the ricin-gel group was 61.8%, with the pathologic examination showing extensive tumor tissue necrosis. Compared with the model group, after ricin temperature response gel treatment, bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, bax expression was up-regulated, CD4+ lymphocytes and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in peripheral blood were increased, the killing function of lymphocytes was enhanced, and the contents of TNF-α and IL-2 were elevated (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIntratumor injection of ricin temperature-responsive gel showed significant antitumor effect on breast cancer and could enhance the immune function in the tumor-bearing rat.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gels ; therapeutic use ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunomodulation ; drug effects ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; metabolism ; Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Ricin ; administration & dosage ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Temperature ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology ; metabolism

Objectives To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of dyslipidemia as well as its treatment and influence on accompanying diseases in impaired glucose status among inpatients. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the inpatients registered in ten university hospitals of Guangdong, China during the week before the Diabetes Day in 2004. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profiles, BMI, waist to hip ratio (WHR) and concomitant disorders of the first screen during the hospitalization period were recorded. Those who had FBG level from 5.6 to 6. 9 mmol/L and not been previously diagnosed diabetes (PDM) underwent oral glucose tolerance test (OGTF). Results Of the 8753 inpatients investigated, 1067 eases had complete medical records(CMR case) including PDM cases and previously non-diagnosed diabetes ones with FBG ≥ 5. 6 mmol/L. Of the previously non-diagnosed diabetes cases with FBG levels from 5.6 to 6.9 mmmol/L, 65.8% accepted OGTT. Of the CMR cases, 41.9% had PDM, 21.7% was newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (NDM), 29. 1% had impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and only 7.3% had normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The TG levels in NDM and PDM group were higher than those in IGR and NGT group (P < 0.05, respectively). The HDL-C levels in IGR, NDM and PDM group were lower than those in NGT group (P < 0.05, respectively). Sixty-nine point six percent of the diabetes mellitus (DM) inpatients was accompanied with dyslipidemia and the rate was higher than those in NGT (56.4%) and IGR inpatients (52.5%, P <0.05, respectively). Only 22. 8% of the PDM inpatients underwent treatment of dyslipidaemia and just 3.4% achieved the target suggested by the guideline of ATP-Ⅲ. BMI was higher and waistline longer in the PDM and NDM inpatients than those in the NGT cases (P <0.05, respectively). Seventy-two point eight percent of the PDM inpatients was complicated with more than one type of vascular diseases. Nine point seven percent and 0. 2% of the NDM inpatients were tormented by diabetic nephropathy and diabetic retinopathy respectively. Conclusions More inpatients with accompany DM or IGR had concomitant dyslipidemia than those with NGT, which included hypertriglyccridemia, hypo-high-density lipoproteinemia and metabolic syndrome. Concomitant vascular diseases were more frequently found in PDM inpatients than in the others. Some of the NDM and IGT inpatients were complicated with microvascular diseases.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to establish and evaluate the methodology of isolated rabbit eye (IRE) test.

METHODSIRE test was performed according to modifications of the in vitro toxicology (INVITTOX) Protocol No.85: Rabbit enucleated eye test by European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), and then 26 chemicals and 26 cosmetic products were tested in both in vitro IRE and in vivo Draize tests. A statistical analysis was conducted to determine the relevance of the IRE test to the data generated in the Draize test.

RESULTSIRE test was established successfully in our laboratory. It was shown that ranking correlation and class concordance were fairly well between the IRE test and the Draize test for 26 reference chemicals (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=51.314, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.261; Gamma=0.960, P<0.001; Kappa=0.843, P<0.001) and 26 cosmetic products (Fisher's Exact Test χ(2)=15.522, P<0.001; McNemar P=0.311; Gamma=0.967, P<0.001; Kappa=0.611, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIRE test was established successfully for in vitro testing of eye irritation as an alternative to Draize test.

Animal Testing Alternatives ; Animals ; Cosmetics ; toxicity ; Eye ; drug effects ; Irritants ; toxicity ; Rabbits ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

Iron-doped titanium dioxide nanosheets was prepared by hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate (C16H36O4Ti) and iron trifluoride (FeF3) and modified on ITO electrode.ITO/Fe : TiO2/CdS photoelectrochemical sensor was fabricated by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction(SILAR) method for determination of copper ion.The band gap of electode material was narrowed by iron doped TiO2 nanosheets,which made its absorption red-shifted and its response range of light was magnified.Based on the sensitization effect of CdS,the absorption and utilization of visible light of sensor was significantly enhanced and the photoelectric signal was amplified via reducing the recombination of electrons and holes.The sensor displayed excellent analytical performance for detection of copper ion with linear range of 0.2-4.0 μmol/L and 4.0-80.0 μmol/L and with the detection limit of 85 nmol/L.The sensor was used to detect copper ion in tap water,drinking water and Yongjiang river water with recoveries ranging from 94% to 111%.

China ; epidemiology ; Dengue ; epidemiology ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; classification ; genetics ; Genome, Viral ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics