Objective: To study the plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters of 6,7 dimethoxycoumarin after oral administration of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae decoction and Yinchenhao decoction. Methods: A HPLC UV method was developed to determine 6,7 dimethoxycoumarin in rat plasma. The drug was extracted with acetonitrile from plasma and separated on a Kromasil ODS (250mm?4.6mm,5?m)column with methanol 1% solution of acetic acid THF (30∶63∶7) as mobile phase, UV detecter was set at 340nm. The data obtained were analyzed with Topfit program. Results: The liner calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 0.026～2.5 ?g?mL -1 . With non compartmental analysis, the main pharmacokinetic parameters after oral administration of Artemisiae Scopariae decoction and Yinchenhao decoction were as follows: T 1/2 was 1.30 and 1.75h, AUC 0→t was 1215.00 and 2527.85ng?h?mL -1 , AUC 0→∝ was 1325.90 and 2612.58ng?h?mL -1 respectively. Conclusion: This method can be used to study the pharmacokinetics of 6,7 dimethoxycoumarin derived from different traditional Chinese medicines containing this component.

Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction/etiology* ; Meckel Diverticulum/complications*

Objective To improve the understanding of cutaneous intravascular natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (CIVNKTC). Methods Clinical data on five cases of CIVNKTC were collected. The histopathological feature, treatment and prognosis of CIVNKTC were retrospectively analyzed and discussed. Results Of the 5 patients, 1 was male and 4 were female. The age of onset ranged from 38 to 83 years (average, 56.2 years). All the patients presented with multiple plaques and nodules as the primary symptoms. Histopathological examination revealed vasodilatation in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, as well as atypical lymphoid cells with large hyperchromatic nuclei containing 1-2 small nucleoli in dilated veins. Immunohistochemical studies of tumor cells showed positive staining for CD3ε, cytotoxic proteins (including T cell-restricted intracellular antigen-1, granzyme B and perforin)and Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)-encoded microRNA, but negative staining for cytokeratin, CD20, CD79a, CD4 and CD8. Furthermore, the tumor cells stained positive for CD56 in two patients. Among the 5 patients, only 2 received chemotherapy and the remaining received no treatment. During a 24-month follow-up, 4 patients died, and only 1 survived with the tumor. Conclusion CIVNKTC is a rare extranodal Hodgkin′s lymphoma with distinct histologic manifestations and immunophenotypes, rapid and aggressive clinical course, and poor prognosis.

Objective Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (CNDI) is a rare disease, the aim of this article is to help better understanding of this disease. Methods The clinical features, genetic analysis and treatments of two siblings with CNDI were retrospectively analyzed, and related literatures were reviewed. Results Both brothers had polydispia, polyuria and low concentrate urine continuously, and they both had a mutation in AQP 2 conifrmmed with Sanger sequencing. This novel frame shift mutation caused arginine of 254 to histidine, and prolonged AQP 2 protein. Conclusions Gene analysis can help diagnosis of CNDI. Amiloride is useful option for treatment.

Objective To prospectively investigate the value of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) following adult cardiac surgery. Methods Twenty-nine hospitalization patients undergone cardiac surgery were enrolled in the study. Serial blood and urinary samples were collected immediately before incision and at various time intervals after surgery. The primary outcome measure was acute kidney injury, defined as a 50% increase in the level of serum creatinine (Scr) from baseline. Results Fourteen of 29 developed acute kidney injury. The diagnosis time point with Ser was at 24 (10, 48) h after cardiac surgery. By contrast, the concentration of urinary NGAL rose from a median of 3.42(1.60, 9.92) μg/L at baseline to 20.51(13.42, 50.02) μg/L at admission to ICU (P=0.006),and the median concentration of urinary NGAL in patients who developed AKI was significantly higher at admission to ICU compared with patients who did not develop AKI [20.51 (13.42, 50.02) μg/L vs 2.91 (0.72,8.61) μg/L, P=0.002]. As to urinary NGAL at admission to ICU, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.824, the sensitivity was 85.7% and the specificity was 80.0% with a cutoff value of 10.95 μg/L. Significant correlation was found between urinary NGAL at admission and the levd of Scr at 24 h in ICU (r=0.545, P=0.002), as well as estimated GFR (r=-0.546,P=0.002). Conclusion Urinary NGAL concentration is significantly higher in patients developing postoperative AKI at the early time of admission to ICU, which may be a useful early biomarker of AKI after adult cardiac surgery.

Objective To investigate the markers in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing heart surgery.Methods Markers included serum cystatin C (CyC),and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL),interleukin 18(IL-18),retinol binding protein(RBP)and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase(NAG).Twenty-nine cardiac surgical patients hospitalized were enrolled in the study.Serial blood and urine samples were collected immediately before incision and at various time intervals after surgery.The primary outcome measure was AKI.defined as a 50%increase in Scr from baseline. Results The cohort consisted of 29 patients aged(62.9±13.7)years,and baseline Scr was(73.2±11.9)μmol/L.There were no significant differences in demographics between cases and controls,while the aortic clamp time was predictably longer in AKI cases as compared to controls[(60.63±13.92)vs(43.00±9.20)rain,P<0.05].Each biomarker difiered significantly between cases and controls at least one timepoint.Optimal AUCs were for CyC at 10 houm with sensitivity (ST)0.71,specificity(SP)0.92,AUC=0.83(0.67-1.00),cut-off(CO)1.31 mg/L;NGAL at 0 hour with ST 0.84,SP 0.80,Auc=0.85(0.70-1.00),CO 49.15 μg/g Ucr;IL-18 at 2 hours with ST 0.85,SP 0.73,AUC=0.81(0.64-0.97),CO 285.65 ng/g Ucr;RBP at 0 hour with ST 0.75,SP 0.67,AUC=0.77(0.60-0.95),CO 2934.65μg/g Ucr and NAG at 4 hours with ST 0.86,SP 0.67,AUC=0.72(0.53-O.92),CO 37.05 U/mg Ucr.Using a combination of all the 5 biomarkers analyzed at the optimal time-point as above,an AUC of 0.98(0.93-1.02)(P<0.01)in this limited sample was able to obtain. Conclusions Application of serum and urinary biomarkers for the prediction of AKI in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is highly dependent on the sampling time.Of the evaluated markers,uNGAL has the best predictive profile.uRBP also shows similar predictive power.Combining all the five above biomarkers is able to predict significantly more cases,suggesting that the use of more than one marker may be beneficial clinically.

Objective To compare the RIFLE and AKIN diagnosis criteria for acute kidney injury ( AKI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods Patients undergoing cardiac surgery from January 2004 to June 2007 were retrospectively evaluated. RIFLE and AKIN criteria were employed for the diagnosis and staging of AKI which occurred 7 d after cardiac surgery. The diagnosis sensitivity and precision for prediction of hospital mortality were compared between these two criteria. Results One thousand and fifty-six patients were included in this study. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of AKI after cardiac surgery diagnosed by RIFLE criteria and that diagnosed by AKIN criteria (29.55% vs 31.06%, P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the total hospital mortality and the hospital mortality of each stage of AKI diagnosed by RIFLE criteria and those diagnosed by AKIN criteria ( P > 0. 05). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the relative risk of hospital mortality for AKI was similar between patients diagnosed by AKIN criteria and those diagnosed by RIFLE criteria. The area under the ROC curve for hospital mortality was 0. 856 for RIFLE and 0.865 for AKIN in all patients (P<0.001). Conclusion Compared to RIFLE criteria, AKIN criteria do not improve the sensitivity of diagnosis and predictive ability of hospital mortality of AKI after cardiac surgery.

Objective To investigate the function of the left ventricular (LV) myocardial regional contractility in hyperthyroid by measuring the LV rotation and torsion using speckle tracking imaging (STI).Methods 58 patients with hyperthyroidism had accepted 131 I treatment the first time and cured and improved after treatment for 6 months were enrolled.According to the course of disease,they were divided into two groups:Group A,duration less than 6 months,28 cases;Group B,duration more than 6 months,30 cases.30 normal cases age and gender matched were enrolled as control group.LV peak rotation and torsion of endocardium and epicardium at basal and apical of levels were measured using STI in groups A and B before and after treatment,and correlation with cardiac function and structure parameters,heart rate,blood pressure,and the thyroid hormone were analyzed.Results ①Comparing group A and group B before and after treatment with control group,there was no statistically significant in the LV structure and function parameters (LVDd,LVDs,IVSd,PWd,LVEF) (P ＞0.05).②As for LV peak rotation of endocardium and epicardium at apical levels (EN PAR,EP-PAR) before treatment,group A was higher than the control group (P ＜0.05),group B was lower than the control group (P ＜0.01);After treatment,group A has improved (P ＜0.01),group B has improved only in EP-PAR (P ＜0.05),and there was no statistically significant compared with the control group (P ＞0.05).③ LV peak torsion of endocardium and epicardium (EN-Ptor,EP-Ptor) in group A was higher than the control group before treatment (P ＜0.05),group B was lower than the control group (P ＜0.01) ;After treatment,group A has improved (P ＜0.05),group B has only improved in EP-Ptor(P ＜0.05),and comparing with the control group,there was no statistically significant (P ＞0.05).④LV peak apical rotation and LV torsion were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure,heart rate,E-peak,A-peak,LVOT-V in different degree (P ＜0.01 or P ＜0.05),but no correlation with FT3,FT4,TSH (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Myocardial contractile function strengthens in early patients with hyperthyroidism and lessens with the extension of the course.Have not yet appeared heart diseases in patients with hyperthyroidism whose myocardial regional systolic function had changed,short duration can recover after treatment,but the long duration can not restore completely.Change of myocardial motion of patients with hyperthyroidism is associated with blood flow dynamics.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo study the mechanisms of protection of bcl-2 gene transfection against heat-stressed cardiomyocytes.

METHODSCardiomyocytes were isolated and cultured. bcl-2 was transfected into cardiomyocytes with Lipofectamine transfection methods. The cardiomyocytes were stressed by heat. The change of H+ -ATPase synthesis activity of cardiomyocytes mitochondria caused by bcl-2 transfection was measured by chemical radiation method. The changes of Caspase 3 activity of cardiomyocytes caused by bcl-2 transfection was measured by fluorometric analysis.

RESULTSbcl-2 transfection could increase the H+ -ATPase synthesis activity of cardiomyocytes mitochondria under heat stress at 41 degrees C and 43 degrees C and could decrease the Caspase 3 activity of cardiomyocytes under heat stress at 41 degrees C and 43 degrees C.

CONCLUSIONThe protection effect of bcl-2 transfection on heat-stressed cardiomyocytes may be associated with preserved H+ ATPase synthesis activity of cardiomyocytes mitochondria and the activity of Caspase 3 of cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Heat-Shock Response ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proton-Translocating ATPases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transfection