Objective To explore the relationship between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization in carotid artery and the level of serum homocysteine.Methods Contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed on 72 carotid atherosclerotic plaques of 48 patients.Contrast-enhancement within the plaque was categorizde as grade 1 to grade 3.The level of serum homocysteine were detected in the fasting state during the same period.Results According to the degree of contrast enhancement(grade 1 to 3),patients were divided into 3 groups.The more new vessels in plaque,the higher the level of homocysteine.The levels of homocysteine in three groups increased in turn.There were distinct differences among the three groups(F =18.49,P ＜0.05),and there was significant difference between every two groups (P ＜0.05).The linear correlation analysis showed that the level of homocysteine was positively correlated with the degree of carotid plaque enhancement (r =0.66,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Contrastenhanced ultrasonography could semi-quantitate new vessles in plaque.There was positive correlation between the degree of intraplaque neovascularization with the level of serum homocysteine.Combine with the level of serum homocysteine based on intraplaque neovascularization detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasound,the plaque stability could be more accurately evaluated.

With the in-depth study of related substances and the development of consistency evaluation of generic drugs, relative correction factors are gaining increasing attention. By analyzing the domestic and foreign literature on correction factors in recent years, this paper describes the correction factor component, the current measurement method and its application. The rules and key points of use of an impurity correction factor and its determination and application are described, and some problems in its determination and application are discussed, providing a reference and basis for the standardization of research on impurity correction factors in the future.

The quality of some earlier developed antibiotics is usually ensured by the combination of HPLC purity and microbiological potency measurement in the pharmacopoeias of various countries because the relationship between their purity and potency is not clearly quantified. Due to potency is assessed using certain units of measurement, it can not be directly traced to the international system of units (SI unit). This has become a hotspot in the study of the quantitative relationship between purity and potency of antibiotics. It would be quite an achievement to simultaneously determine both purity and potency using HPLC methods during quality control. This study evaluated a multicomponent antibiotic product, gentamycin, as a test sample. First, pure samples of the C components of gentamycin: C1a, C2, C2a and C1 were prepared, separately. Second, quantitative relationship (theoretical potency) between the purity and potency of each C component of gentamycin were determined using 1H NMR, HPLC-ELSD and microbiological assay method. One milligram of gentamycin C1a, C2, C2a and C1 was equal to 1 286.98, 1 095.74, 1 079.52 and 739.61 gentamycin units, respectively. Finally, a method for the determination of gentamycin potency was established based on the proportion and content of C components of gentamycin. The unification of purity and potency for gentamycin was achieved using only HPLC-ELSD. It is also demonstrated that C components of gentamycin and micronomicin produce the same responses under ELSD, which means that it is not necessary to prepare separate reference standards for each C component of gentamycin and that quantitative testing can be performed accurately using only one micronomicin reference standard. This study simplified the previous method for the determination of the content of C components of gentamycin using HPLC-ELSD. The developed method is suitable for regular use as a part of quality control and can simplify the rigmarole quality control procedures provided in current pharmacopeias.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Gentamicins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; methods ; Molecular Structure ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective To observe the effect of shock lymph drainage on multiple organ injury of rats with traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) and discuss the relating mechanism. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into control group, lymph drainage group and lymph return group. The THS model was established in lymph drainage group and lymph return group, when the shock mesenteric lymph was drained in lymph drainage group. The change of the mean arterial pressure ( MAP), the biochemical indices of liver, kidney, myocardium and acid-base, the morphology, ATP contents and ATPase activities of lung, kidney, liver and myocardium were observed. Results The MAP at multiple time points after 80 minutes of infusion, the ATP contents and ATPase activities of multiple organs in lymph drainage group were higher than those in lymph return group. Multiple biochemical indices in lymph drainage group were superior to those in lymph return group, with statistical difference. The inflammation, congestion, degeneration and necrosis were found in organs of lymph return group, but only mild lesions could be seen in lymph drainage group. Conclusions The shock lymph drainage can alleviate multiple organ injury of THS rats, mechanism of which is correlated with improvement of the energy metabolism and maintenance of MAP and acid-base status.

The stability of melittin in different solvents (water, deoxygenated water, physiological saline, PBS, 50% ethanol, ethanol, glycerol)was studied and the results showed that the stability of melittin is not influenced by light, temperature and pH in 50% ethanol, which melittin can be completed dissolved when compared with ethanol and glycerol, in such, 50% ethanol was chosen as solvent storage when measured content of melittin. Then the effect of different concentrations of PBS, the pH of PBS and rat skin ho- mogenates were tested, and the results showed that melittin was degraded rapidly at low concentration solution and low ionic strength. Increasing pH of PBS and rat skin homogenate can accelerate the degradation of melittin. These researches provide an experimental ba- sis for further study of melittin.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Melitten ; chemistry ; Rats ; Skin ; drug effects ; Solvents ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the host-defense role of short palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1) in Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) infection and the effect of resveratrol (Res) on SPLUNC1 expression, and to provide new thoughts for the treatment of diseases caused by SP infection.

METHODSAccording to the multiplicity of infection (MOI), BEAS-2B cells with SP infection were divided into control group, MOI20 SP group, and MOI50 SP group. According to the different concentrations of Res, the BEAS-2B cells with MOI20 SP infection pretreated by Res were divided into 12.5Res+SP group, 25Res+SP group, and 50Res+SP group (the final concentrations of Res were 12.5, 25, and 50 μmol/L, respectively). Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to measure cell activity and determine the optimal concentration and action time of SP and Res. In the formal experiment, the cells were divided into control group, Res group, SP group, and Res+SP group. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of SPLUNC1.

RESULTSOver the time of SP infection, cell activity tended to decrease. Compared with the control group and the MOI20 SP group, the MOI50 SP group had a reduction in cell activity. Compared with the MOI20 SP group, the 25Res+SP group had increased cell activity and the 50Res+SP group had reduced cell activity (P<0.05). MOI20 SP bacterial suspension and 25 μmol/L Res were used for the formal experiment. Over the time of SP infection, the mRNA expression of SPLUNC1 in BEAS-2B cells firstly increased and then decreased in the SP group and the Res+SP group (P<0.05). Compared with the SP group, the Res+SP group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression of SPLUNC1 at all time points (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the Res group had no significant changes in the mRNA and protein expression of SPLUNC1 (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSP infection can induce SPLUNC1 expression and the host-defense role of SPLUNC1. Res can upregulate SPLUNC1 expression during the development of infection and enhance cell protection in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.

Bronchi ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoprotection ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Phosphoproteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; pathogenicity

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

OBJECTIVETo compare the transduction efficiencies of adenoviral vector, adeno-associated viral vector, baculoviral vector, and plasmid vector in human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs).

METHODSThe hBMSCs were cultured in vitro and transducted with the adenoviral vector, adeno-associated viral vector, baculoviral vector, and plasmid vector. The expression of target protein was observed by inverted fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry.

RESULTSInverted fluorescent microscopy showed that some of the hBMSCs after transduction expressed the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the hBMSCs transducted with baculoviral vector expressed more GFP than those of other three vectors. Flow cytometry showed that the transduction efficiencies and mean fluorescence intensities of the adenoviral vector, adeno-associated viral vector, and plasmid vector were 42%, 37%, and 22% and 158, 115, and 77, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of baculoviral vector (70%, P < 0.01; 212, P < 0.05; respectively).

CONCLUSIONCompared with the adenoviral vector, adeno-associated viral vector, and plasmid vector, the baculoviral vector has higher transduction efficiency in hBMSCs and therefore may be a more suitable gene vector for research in human gene therapy.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; virology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transduction, Genetic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyze antiviral effects of telbivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHOD72 chronic hepatitis B patients without prior history of antiviral therapy were treated with telbivudine 600mg once daily.

RESULTSAt week 4, 37.5% of the patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA, and 33.3% achieved ALT normalization. At week 108, 87.5% of the patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA, and 91.7% achieved ALT normalization. HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 23.9% of the 46 HBeAg positive patients. The rates of undetectable HBV DNA and HBeAg seroconversion at week 108 in the patients with HBV DNA < 3 log(10) copies/ml at week 12 were significant higher than those in patients with HBV DNA >or= 3 log(10) copies/ml. The rate of undetectable HBV DNA at week 108 in the patients with HBV DNA < 3 log(10) copies/ml at week 24 was significantly higher than that in patients with HBV DNA >or= 3 log(10) copies/ml, and the rate of antiviral resistance rate at week 108 in the patients with HBV DNA < 3 log(10) copies/ml at week 24 was significantly lower than that in patients with HBV DNA >or= 3 log(10) copies/ml. Antiviral therapy could significantly improve Child-Pugh score in patients with liver cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONTelbivudine treatment results in suppression of HBV and high HBeAg seroconversion, and improvement of Child-Pugh score in the patients with liver cirrhosis.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidinones ; therapeutic use ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo analyze antiviral effects of entecavir in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

METHODS104 patients of hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis with no previous history of antiviral therapy were treated with entecavir 0.5 mg once daily. 37 patients were taken hepatic histologic examination before and after the treatment.

RESULTSMean reductions of serum HBV DNA was 5.1 log10 96 weeks after the treatment, HBV DNA became undetectable in 98.1% patients, and ALT became normal in 80.7% patients; HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 13.9% of the 72 HBeAg positive patients; 61.5% of these patients were infected with genotype C HBV, and 26.9% were infected with genotype B HBV. The genotype of HBV was not associated with the therapeutical effect. Child-pugh score was associated with the progression of the disease: the proportion of patients with disease progression was highest in Child-Pugh C grade patients and lowest in Child-Pugh A grade patients. The level of the HBV DNA load was positively correlated with Knodell HAI score at the baseline and 96 weeks after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONEntecavir treatment results in suppression of HBV replication and delayed progression of fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Genotype ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Replication ; drug effects