Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3)and cardiovascular disease(CVD) in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD) patients.Methods Plasma was obtained from 98 MHD patients before and after a session of HD and 50 age-matched healthy subjects.Plasma PTX3 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).Spearman correlation and linear regression were used to examine the correlation between plasma PTX3 level and other laboratory parameters.Binary Logistic regression was used to assess the correlation between plasma PTX3 level and CVD.Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the correlation among PTX3, high sensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP) and CVD.Results Plasma PTX3 level was significantly higher in MHD patients compared to healthy controls [1.87 (1.34-2.50) μg/L vs 1.11(0.86-1.51) μg/L, P＜0.01], and increased after a single HD session[post-HD 2.18(1.80-3.14) μg/L vs pre-HD 1.87(1.34-2.50) μg/L, P＜0.01].Patients with CVD had higher concentrations of PTX3 than those without CVD[2.18 (1.48-2.74) μg/L vs 1.76 (1.25-2.26) μg/L, P＜0.05].High plasma PTX3 (＞1.87 μg/L) was positively and independently associated with CVD[OR=3.15, 95％CI(1.17-8.50), P＜0.05].ROC curve analysis showed the PTX3 was more closely correlated to CVD than hsCRP in MHD patients with hsCRP ＞3 mg/L, and the area under the curve of PTX3 and hsCRP was 0.655 ±0.083(P＜0.05) and 0.562±0.083(P＞0.05) respectively.Plasma PTX3 level was negatively correlated with body mass index (ρ=-0.248,P＜0.05), pre-albumin(ρ=-0.218, P＜0.05), total cholesterol(ρ=-0.265, P＜0.01), triglyceride (ρ=-0.246, P＜0.05), LDL-cholesterol (ρ=-0.254, P＜0.05), hemoglobin (ρ=-0.212, P＜0.05), and positively with erythropoietin dose per week(ρ=0.184, P＜0.01), cardiac troponin T (ρ=0.287,P＜0.01), carotid artery intima-media thickness (ρ=0.294, P＜0.05).Conclusions PTX3 level ismarkedly elevated in HD patients.HD procedure induces PTX3 elevation.Plasma PTX3 could be auseful marker of CVD risk factors in MHD patients.

Objective To explore the prognostic value of Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN)criteria combined with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ)and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)scoring system in acute kidney injury(AKI)after cardiac surgery. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent open-heart surgery in Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University from April 2009 to August 2009 were prospectively collected.AKI after cardiac surgery was classified by AKIN staging system.APACHE Ⅱ and SOFA scores were evaluated according to the worst value of physiologic variables in the 1st 24 h after surgery.Discrimination and calibration of these three models were assessed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test.Besides,their effects on inhospital mortality were evaluated by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 993 admissions,309 patients developed AKI and the incidence was 31.1%.The median time that developed postoperative AKI and reached the Scr peak were 1 d and 2 d respectively.Either APACHE Ⅱ or SOFA scores,which was positively correlted with the severity of AKI(APACHEⅡr=0.37,P<0.01;SOFA r=0.42,P<0.01)was higher in AKI patients compared with that in nonAKI patients(P<0.01).The mortality rose corresponding to the severity of kidney injury.However,the predicted death rate-adjusted(PDR-A)calculated by APACHE Ⅱ scoreS Was higher than the actual value in non-AKI patients and AKIN stage 1(P<0.01),while it was lower in AKIN stage 3 (P<0.01).The areas under the ROC curve of APACHEⅡ,SOFA and AKIN criteria were all above 0.8 and the results of Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test indicated good calibration of three models.Multivariate analysis showed that APACHE Ⅱ≥19(OR=4.26)and AKIN stage 3(OR=76.151 were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusions AKI can be classified by AKIN criteria in the early stage after cardiac surgery and the AKIN staging system may serve the prediction of prognosis.The APACHE Ⅱ and SOFA scores just evaluated in the 1st 24 h after operation can discern the severity of patients'illness.Three models all present good discrimination and calibration in predicting patients'outcome.APACHE Ⅱ≥19 along with AKIN stage 3 are found to be the independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.It should be noticed that the deviation between PDR-A and the actual mortality in subgroups,dynamic evaluation may raise the accuracy of scoring system.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the microbial changes on the greasy tongue coating of the patients with chronic gastritis and to explore the formation mechanism of greasy tongue coating.

METHODSForty cases of tongue coating samples from patients with chronic gastritis were collected, 20 cases of greasy fur (as the greasy fur group), 20 cases of non-greasy fur (as the non-greasy fur group), and 20 cases of tongue coating samples from healthy subjects (as the healthy control group). Using 16S rRNA gene denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) the microbial population of the tongue coating was detected. The DGGE fingerprint of the bacterium on the tongue coating was obtained. After digitalized principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS-DA) were performed.

RESULTSThe microorganism compositions are different in the greasy fur group, the non-greasy fur group, and the healthy control group. (1) There were five significantly different bands between the greasy fur group and the non-greasy fur group, with the accuracy of 97.5% in judging the model. There were 8 significantly different bands between the greasy fur group and the healthy control group, with the accuracy of 95.0% in judging the model. There was no obvious difference between the healthy control group and the non-greasy fur group. (2) The brightness of band 8 was higher in the greasy fur group than in the non-greasy fur group and the healthy control group. It may be a new species closely associated with the formation of greasy tongue coating. Results of the sequence showed its nearest neighbor was Moraxella catarrhalis, but with the similarity of 96.2%. The brightness of band 10 was sequenced as the healthy control group > the non-greasy fur group > the greasy fur group. Results of the sequence showed it had 100.0% similarity to Rothia mucilaginosa (stick-slip Ross strain).

CONCLUSIONSThe bacteria species on band 8 may have a close correlation with the formation of greasy fur of chronic gastritis, while the bacteria species on band 10 may have a close correlation with the formation of non-greasy fur. They indicated the microbial changes in the oral cavity may be one of the formation mechanisms for greasy tongue coating.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Electrophoresis ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Peptide Mapping ; RNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; analysis ; Tongue ; pathology ; Young Adult

Phlomis umbrosa is a traditional medicinal plant, distributed in the north of China. In the west of Hubei province, its roots were used in the treatment of the rheumatic diseases in Tujia nationality. To study the chemical constituents from the rhizome of Phlomis umbrosa chemical constituents were isolated from the plant by using repeated silica gel, toyopearl HW-40 and preparative HPLC chromatography. The structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopic techniques and HRESI-MS. Ten compounds, 6"-syringyl-sesamoside (1), decaffeoylverbascoside (2), calcelarioside B (3), verbascoside (4), isoverbascoside (5), alyssonoside (6), sesamoside (7), shanzhiside methyl ester (8), 8-acetyl-shanzhiside methyl ester (9), 7-epiphlomiol (10) were isolated from P. umbrosa. Compound 1 is a new compound. Compounds 2-6 are isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phlomis ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of small intestine with lymph node metastasis and evaluate the respond to imatinib mesylate (Glivec) therapy.

METHODSTwo cases of GIST of small intestine associated with lymph node metastasis were collected and investigated by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Mutation in exon 9, 11 and of c-kit gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe cases presented as small intestinal mass of irregular shape. Histologically, the tumors consisted of epithelioid and spindled cells, with areas of coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage. The mitotic count measured about 2 per 50 high-power fields. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely distributed and strongly positive for CD117. Mutation analysis revealed that case 1 had an in-frame deletion of 11 amino-acid residues corresponding to 559-569 and carried two missense mutations involving codons 570, 571 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. Case 2 revealed an in-frame deletion involved condons 559-565 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. These two cases were all underwent primary chemotherapy with imatinib mesylate and without new tumor was found during follow-up periods (18, 26 months) after operation.

CONCLUSIONSGIST with nodal metastasis is very rare and needs to be distinguished from other soft tissue sarcomas occurring in this site. The responsiveness to imatinib mesylate therapy correlates with the mutation status of c-kit gene.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Codon ; Exons ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from Centella asiatica.

METHODChemical constituents were isolated by repeated column chromatography (Toyopearl HW-40C and HPLC) and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic method.

RESULTFive compounds were identified as: docosyl ferulates (1), bayogenin (2), 3beta-6beta-23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (3), 3beta-6beta-23-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (4), D-gulonic acid (5).

CONCLUSIONAll of the Compounds were isolated for the first time from C. asiatica.

Centella ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To observe the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects of Dilmang Heji(DHHJ),a compound traditional Chinese medicinal preparation,in patients with multiple sclerosis(MS)and explore the possible mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods Forty MS patients were randomized into prednisone treatment and prednisone+DHHJ group for the corresponding treatments.Another 20 surgical patients without immune or inflammatory diseases undergoing lumbar anesthesia served as the control group.Glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and S100B levels in the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and the peripheral blood of these subjects were detected using ennzynle-linked immtmosorbent assay(ELISA), and the numbers 0f CD4+ and CD8+ cells were detected by flow cytometry.The ambulation index(AD,expanded disability status scale(EDSS)and 9-hole PEG test (9HPT)were used to assess the patients'clinical symptoms.All the patients were followed up for3 years to record the number of times of MS relapse. Results GFAP and S100B levels in the CSF were significantly higher in the MS patients than in the healthy subjects,but lower in MS patients treatedwith prednisone plus DHHJ thanin those with prednisone treatment only(P<0.05).In the MS patients,AI and 9HPT scores were correlated to the GFAP and S100B levels in the CSF.Irednisone plus DHHJ treatment was associated with significantly reduced MS relapse in comparison with prednisone treatment alone(P<0.05).Before the treatment,the MS patients showed increased CD4+ cell number and decreased CD8+ cell number especially in the CSF;atter the treaRnents,the CD4+ ceils decreased and CD8+ cells increased,and this effect was stronger with prednisone plus DHHJ treatment(P<0.05).Conclusions DHHJ produces anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting glial cell activation and modulating immune balance in MS,thus alleviating the symptoms of MS and reducing MS relapse.DHHJ may provide anideal adjuvanttherapy for MS.

s: The onset of Crohn’s disease (CD) is the interaction of environment, heredity, infection, immune and other factors. It is also closely related to abnormal immune functions. Without special treatment, CD is identified as a modern refractory disease. By syndrome differentiation and treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively relieve disease conditions, improve the quality of life and reduce side effects of modern medication. The core compatibility ofBai-Zhu andFu-Ling can reinforce spleen-qi and dispel dampness, which met the common pathogenesis of CD. Therefore, the combination is comprehensively used in the compound prescription. Our previous study found thatBai-Zhu Fu-Ling decoctioncan reduce the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) of animal model of spleen-qi deficiency, downregulate VIP receptors, decrease the affinity of VIP receptors and improve animal model’s sIgA. To further clarify the effects about neurotransmitters and their correlation with the immune system in the pathogenesis of CD and the intervention mechanism treated by different proportional compatibility ofBai-Zhu Fu-Ling decoction, we studied influences of the decoction on related transmitters of nerve- immune network and functions of receptors, as well as cytokine secretion and signal transduction of TLR4-NF-κB. Our studies can provide references and foundations to further explore TCM treatment of CD.

The aim of this study is to establish an HPLC method for simultaneous determinations of mifepristone and its metabolites, mono-demethylated mifepristone, di-demethylated mifepristone and C-hydroxylated mifepristone in plasma and to evaluate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of mifepristone tablet. Twenty healthy female Chinese subjects were recruited and a series of blood samples were collected before and after 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 12.0, 24.0, 48.0, 72.0 and 96.0 hours administration by a single oral dose of 75 mg mifepristone tablet. Mifepristone and its three metabolites were extracted from plasma using ethyl acetate and determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of mifepristone and its metabolites, including Cmax, tmax, MRT, t(1/2), V, CL, AUC(0-96 h) and AUC(0-infinity), were calculated by Drug and Statistical Software Version 2.0. The simple, accurate and stable method allows the sensitive determinations of mifepristone and its metabolites in human plasma up to 4 days after oral administration of 75 mg mifepristone tablet and the clinical applications of their pharmacokinetic studies.
Administration, Oral ; Area Under Curve ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Tablets

Schisaridrae chinensis is the dried ripe fruit of Schisan- drae chinensis in the magnolia family.In recent years studies have shown that Schisandra chinensis has significant effects on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and other neurological and mental diseases.Schisandra chinensis has shown to inhibit the activation of microglia and astrocytes, regulate the level of central neurotransmitters and protect neurons.In this paper, the effects of Schisandrae chinensis on various neurological and mental diseases and the underlying mechanisms are reviewed in order to provide reference for the clinical application of Schisandrae chinensis.