Different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may cause similar adverse effects, one of which is diplopia. However, the AEDs causing diplopia and the dose-response effect of each drug remains uncertain. In this study, we compared several second-generation AEDs to find out whether they would contribute to the risk of diplopia and their effect-causing dose. A meta-analysis was performed on 19 studies in agreement with our inclusion criteria. The results showed that eight commonly used second-generation AEDs (gabapentin, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, pregabalin, topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamide) could cause diplopia. The reported odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.406 to 7.996. Ranking risks from the highest to the lowest ORs of the eight AEDs of any dose resulted in the following order: use of oxcarbazepine (7.996), levetiracetam (7.472), lamotrigine (5.258), vigabatrin (3.562), pregabalin (3.048), topiramate (2.660), gabapentin (1.966), zonisamide (1.406). Taking into account the ORs above, we can conclude that second-generation AEDs of any dose may cause diplopia. However, the levetiracetam-caused diplopia needs to be further studied according to the data (OR, 7.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.375-148.772). These findings ask for better concerns about patients' quality of life when giving antiepileptic treatments.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the role of Caspase 3 in neuronal apoptosis after acute brain injury.

METHODSExperiments were carried out with rat diffuse brain trauma model. The neuronal DNA injury in cortex and hippocampus was observed by TUNEL stain. The mRNA and protein expressions and enzyme activation of Caspase 3 were observed by Northern blot, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry stain and Western blot, respectively. Special Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor was used to observe the therapeutic effect.

RESULTSTUNEL positive neurons appeared 2 hours after severe trauma, peaked at 1 day and lasted for 7 days. Northern blot showed that the Caspase 3 mRNA expression was increased and peaked at 1 day, about twice higher than the control. In the area of cortex and hippocampus, positive mRNA staining neurons appeared most distinct on one day. With the antibody for Caspase 3 P20 subunit, the active Caspase 3 expression peaked at 1-3 days. The electrophoresis band of PARP degradation would be seen by Western blot. Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor could reduce apoptotic neuronal death without any effect on Caspase 3 P20 subunit expression.

CONCLUSIONSAfter brain trauma, Caspase 3 mRNA and protein expressions and enzyme activation are enhanced in combination with neuronal apoptosis. Special Caspase 3 enzyme inhibitor can apparently decrease the neuronal apoptosis.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Brain Injuries ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Caspase 3 ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Nervous System ; physiopathology ; Neurons ; enzymology ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

In view of that there is no report of west Nile virus infection cases in our country, evaluation the self-prepared anti-WNV-IgG diagnostic ELISA kit should be employed with the establishment of the serum sample panel collected from the entry personnel. All individuals of entry personnel were traveled from epidemic area of infectious west Nile disease. In our study, the serum samples were both detected by self-prepared anti-WNV-IgG diagnostic ELISA kit and the FDA certified kits ,which are FOCUS West Nile Virus IgG Dxselect and Panbio Dengue IgG Capture ELISA kits. The self-prepared kit and FDA certified kits were compared and assessed simultaneously. Furthermore, the specificity, repeatability and stability of the kits were also evaluated. The results indicated that no significant difference of detective rates (35. 6% for self-prepared kit vs. 32.5% for FOCUS kit, χ2 = 3. 05, P > 0.05) and good consistency (Kappa = 0.8372) between the self-prepared kit and FDA certified kits. Also, the positive coincidence rate, the negative coincidence rate and the total coincidence rate were calculated as 91.18%, 95.34% and 92.66%, respectively. The laboratory self-developed kit presented similar quality as the counterpart kits with FDA certificate. The development of our self-prepared anti-WNV-IgG diagnostic ELISA kit will provide technical support for the prevention and control of west Nile virus entry.
Endemic Diseases ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; West Nile Fever ; epidemiology ; West Nile virus ; immunology

In order to increase the plasma half-life and tissue specificity of IL-1 receptor antagonist, a recombinant fusion protein IL-1Ra-HSA, linked by a rigid peptide linker PAPAP, was engineered and expressed by the Pichia pastoris host cells. The fusion protein was secreted to the host cells culture, identified by Western blot, and purified by affinity chromatography. This was followed by a further examination of its bioactivity and pharmacokinetics. Our results demonstrated that the fusion protein retained the antagonist activity of IL-1Ra, capable of binding specifically to the IL-1 receptor on human melanoma A375.S2 cells, and inhibits the cytolytic effect of IL-1beta to A375.S2 cells. Albumin fusion dramatically extended the half-life of IL-1Ra and resulted in a specific accumulation of IL-1Ra in the arthritic paws and a lower distribution of IL-1Ra in other organs such as liver, kidney, spleen and lung in mice with collagen-induced arthritis. The findings reported herein indicate that the fusion protein is likely to have greater clinical applications in areas such as the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Forelimb ; metabolism ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; toxicity ; Male ; Melanoma ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Serum Albumin ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Tissue Distribution

Objective MR microscopy technique was used to study the visualization of senile plaque deposition in brains of the Alzheimer disease(AD)transgenic mice.Methods Two transgenic mice and 2 wild type mice at the age of 17 months were scanned in vivo using T_2 weighted image.After MR imaging,the brains were cut serially and immunostained according to the orthogonal pilot images.MR T_2 weighted images and immunohistological images of the senile plaque were observed and matched.Results The MR images showed that some black spots were visible in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of the AD transgenic mice and some spots were consistent with the senile plaques on immunohistological sections.There were no spots in the MR images and the immunohistological sections of the wild type mice.Conclusion It is possible that MR microscopy can be used to detect the deposition of the senile plaque and diagnose AD specifically.

OBJECTIVETo explore the spatial genetic structure of two HIV-I-resistant polymorphisms (CCR2-64 I and SDF1-3'A) alleles in the population of Shandong Province, China.

METHODSUsing the techniques of spatial stratified sampling and spatial statistics, the spatial genetic structure of the locus (CCR2-64 I and SDF1-3'A), which was shown to be important co-receptor for HIV infection, was quantified from the populations of 36 sampled counties of Shandong Province, and a total of 3147 and 3172 samples were taken for testing CCR2-64I and SDF1-3'A respectively from individuals without known history of HIV-I infection and AIDS symptoms.

RESULTSThere were significantly spatial genetic structures of the two alleles at different spatial distance classes on the scale of populations, but on the scale of individuals, no spatial structure was found in either the whole area of Shandong Province or the area of each sampled county. Although the change of frequencies of the two alleles with geographic locations in Shandong Province both showed gradual increase trends, their changing directions were inverse. The frequency of CCR2-64I allele gradually increased from the southwest to the northeast, while the frequency of SDF1-3'A allele gradually increased from the northeast to the southwest. However the RH to AIDS of combined types of their different genotypes did not represent obvious geographic diversity on the whole area of the Province.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of allele usually has some spatial genetic structures or spatial autocorrelation with different spatial distance classes, but the genotypes of individuals have random distribution in the same geographic area. Evaluating spatial distribution of the genetic susceptibility of HIV (AIDS) to CCR2-64I and SDF1-3'A alleles, should focus on the frequencies of combined genotypes of CCR2 and SDF1 based on the two-locus genotypes of each individual rather than the frequencies of CCR2-64I and SDF1-3'A alleles.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines, CXC ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, CCR2 ; Receptors, Chemokine ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical and molecule genetics features of four Ph-positive leukemia patients characterized by pericentric inv(9)(p22q34) with the der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11).

METHODSCytogenetic analysis was carried out on bone marrow directly or after short-period culture. R banding was used for karyotype analysis. BCR/ABL fusion gene was detected with interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosome painting was carried out using specific probes. RT-PCR was used to detect BCR/ABL chimeric transcripts.

RESULTSOne patient with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presented three clones, which included one with a normal karyotype, one with t(9;22)(q34;q11), and one with inv(9)(p22q34) involving the der(9)t(9;22) and additional t(8;12)(q12;p11). The inv(9)(p22q34) has always co-occurred with der(9)t(9;22)(q34;q11) accompanied by der(22)t(9;22)(q34;q11) in all metaphases from the three patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). B3a2 transcript was detected in all patients by RT-PCR. Inv(9)(p22q34) was found in both CML and AML, and was associated with poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONInv(9)(p22q34) is a novel, rare, but recurrent secondary chromosomal abnormality for Ph-positive leukemia. Leukemia with der(9)t(9;22) and inv(9)(p22q34) has unique clinical and laboratory characteristics.

Adult ; Chromosome Inversion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences of clinical manifestation and therapy of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (OPP) between oral exposure and occupational exposure in field work.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to July 2010, 85 patients with acute severe OPP were treated in a hospital, which were divided into oral poisoning group (51 cases) and non-oral poisoning group (34 cases). The differences of clinical manifestations, curative effects and prognosis between two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe rates of myoclonus and ataxia in cases with moderate poisoning of oral poisoning group were 86.4% and 90.9%, which were significantly higher than those (50.0% and 55.0%) of non-oral poisoning group (P<0.05 or P< 0.01). The rates of myoclonus, lung fluid and coma in cases with severe poisoning of oral poisoning group were 100.0%, 89.7% and 93.1%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those (71.4%, 64.3% and 50.0%) of non-oral poisoning group (P<0.05). The mean detoxification hours in cases with moderate poisoning and cases with severe poisoning of non-oral poisoning group were (35.0 +/- 6.2) and (45.0 +/- 11.1) hours which were significantly lower than those [(49.0 +/- 7.7) and (77.0 +/- 10.3) hours] in cases with moderate poisoning and cases with severe poisoning of oral poisoning group (P<0.05). In 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment, the cholinesterase (ChE) activities of non-oral poisoning group were higher than those of oral poisoning group (P< 0.05 or P<0.01). The used doses of pyraloxime methylchloride (PAM-Cl) or atropine and the used total dose of atropine in non-oral poisoning group were lower than those in oral poisoning group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestation of non-oral poisoning group is different from the clinical manifestation of oral poisoning group due to the high morbidity of OPP occurred at field site in summer. The used doses of atropine and PAM-Cl are less and the ChE activity recovers quickly for non-oral poisoning group.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Different antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may cause similar adverse effects, one of which is diplopia. However, the AEDs causing diplopia and the dose-response effect of each drug remains uncertain. In this study, we compared several second-generation AEDs to find out whether they would contribute to the risk of diplopia and their effect-causing dose. A meta-analysis was performed on 19 studies in agreement with our inclusion criteria. The results showed that eight commonly used second-generation AEDs (gabapentin, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, pregabalin, topiramate, vigabatrin and zonisamide) could cause diplopia. The reported odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 1.406 to 7.996. Ranking risks from the highest to the lowest ORs of the eight AEDs of any dose resulted in the following order: use of oxcarbazepine (7.996), levetiracetam (7.472), lamotrigine (5.258), vigabatrin (3.562), pregabalin (3.048), topiramate (2.660), gabapentin (1.966), zonisamide (1.406). Taking into account the ORs above, we can conclude that second-generation AEDs of any dose may cause diplopia. However, the levetiracetam-caused diplopia needs to be further studied according to the data (OR, 7.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.375-148.772). These findings ask for better concerns about patients' quality of life when giving antiepileptic treatments.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Diplopia ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Placebo Effect ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and analyze prognostic factors for surgical treatment of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODSRecords of 256 patients who underwent operation after chemotherapy for lung cancer from June 1995 to May 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Potential prognostic factors which were univariately and multivariately analyzed by COX proportional hazard regression model, included gender, age, p-TNM stage, size of tumor, metastasis of lymph node, histological type and operation extent. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival curve and rate. However, survival difference was calculate by Log-rank test.

RESULTSEleven patients (4.3%) developed postoperative complications. Two hundred and thirty-six patients (92.2%) underwent radical resection (169 for lobectomies, 53 for pneumonectomies and 14 for extended resections). On the contrary, 20 cases had palliative resection. The overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 79.3%, 38.7% and 27.0% respectively. Age, p-TNM stage, size of tumor, metastasis of lymph node and type of operation were valued as prognostic factors in COX univariate analysis, p-TNM stage (OR = 1.323, 95% CI: 1.068 to 1.641, P = 0.017) and age (OR = 1.562, 95% CI: 1.148 to 2.125, P = 0.005) were identified independent prognostic factors in COX multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONSLong-term outcome for lung cancer of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy are encouraging, p-TNM stage and surgical type are the crucial prognostic factors for surgical treatment of patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome