A rapid, sensitive and convenient LC-MS/MS method was developed for the determination of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in human plasma. d2-γ-Aminobutyric acid (d2-GABA) was synthesized as internal standard (IS). After extraction from human plasma by protein precipitation with acetonitrile, all analytes were separated on a Luna HILIC column (100 mm x 3.0 mm, 3 μm) using an isocratic mobile phase of water: acetonitrile: formic acid (20 : 80 : 0.12) with a flow rate of 0.5 mL x min(-1). Acquisition of mass spectrometric data was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) in positive electrospray ionization using the transitions of m/z 104 --> 69 for GABA and m/z 106 --> 71 for d2-GABA. The method was linear in the concentration range of 5.00 to 1 000 ng x mL(-1). The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 9.9%, and accuracy ranged from 99.1% to 104%, within the acceptable limit across all concentrations. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of GABA tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Humans ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of tetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSSixty-three patients with silicosis were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 33) and control group (n = 30). Both groups received anti-inflammatory, cough-relieving, and anti-asthmatic treatment. Meanwhile, the treatment group was given tetrandrine tablets (100 mg bid) and matrine injection (150 mg qd). There were 4 courses of tetrandrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with one-month intervals among them. Matrine injection was used for 15 consecutive days in each month. There were 2 courses of matrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with a one-month interval in between. The clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and chest X-ray images were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, chest distress, chest pain, shortness of breath, and other respiratory symptoms were relieved significantly (P < 0.05). The treatment group showed significantly higher SOD activity than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05) and significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, 5 patients (4 stage II cases and 1 stage III case, all in rapidly progressive forms) in the treatment group showed smaller, lighter, and clearer shadows with decreased overall intensity on chest X-ray; 12 patients showed significantly fewer and clearer lung markings on chest X-ray.

CONCLUSIONTetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection have some therapeutic effect on silicosis.

Aged ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Benzylisoquinolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for TN restaging and predicting response to advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods A total of 22 patients,15 males and 7 females, mean age 64 (36-80 years ), with advanced gastric cancer were recruited to the study from June 2007 to December 2009 with written informed consents. All patients underwent 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( Folfox 6 ), and subsequent surgery ( R0 resction) in 3-4 weeks after chemotherapy. EUS was performed 1-2 weeks before and 1-2 weeks after chemotherapy. EUS TN staging was compared with pathological findings. The correlation of peri-chemotherapy EUS TN staging with postoperative pathological response was evaluated. Results After chemotherapy, the overall accuracy of EUS T staging was 63.6% (14/22), with overstaging (36. 4%, 8/22) more frequent than understaging (0). The overall accuracy of N staging was 54. 5% (12/22) with 4 ( 18. 2%, 4/22) overstaging and 6 ( 27. 3%, 6/22 ) understaging. EUS revealed T and/or N downstaging ( concyrrence of T and N downstaging was accounted once) after chemotherapy in 10 patients, with 9 T downstaging (4 from T3 to T2, 5 from T4 to T3) and 4 N downstaging (4 from N1 to N0). TN downstaging was correlated with pathological response, with 7 patients achieving pathological response 2 and 1 patient 3. Conclusion T and N restaging by EUS after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer is not accurate enough. However, T and/or N downstaging confirmed by EUS is well correlated with a better degree of pathological response to chemotherapy.

Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; analysis ; genetics ; Male ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; blood ; genetics ; pathology

Objective To investigate the prognosis and efficiency of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)in children. Methods A retrospective analysis of 35 cases of biopsy - proven membranous nephropathy without secondary factors was performed,who were found present with ne-phrotic proteinuria and admitted to hospital from March 2004 to July 2013,to explore the efficiency of treatment with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressor and its prognosis. Results The 35 IMN cases included 18 boys and 17 girls,and the ratio was 1. 1∶ 1. 0. The mean age at onset was(11. 3 ± 0. 5)years with a range of 3. 0 - 17. 1 years. Five cases with gross hematuria,24 cases present with microscopic hematuria,8 cases with hypertension,1 case with chronic renal insufficiency,and 2 cases were complicated with thrombosis. According to membranous nephropathy staging criteria,9 cases(25. 7% )were in stage Ⅰ,16 cases(45. 7% )in stage Ⅱ,10 cases(28. 6% )in stage Ⅲ;about 94. 3%(33 / 35 cases)had mesangial cells and mesangial matrix with mild to moderate hyperplasia. They were all treated with glucocor-ticoid initially and one of them showed sensitive to flucocorticoid but developed flucocorticoid resistance after relapse, while all the others were flucocorticoid - resistant. Cyclophosphamide A(CsA)was introduced to 17 cases and at least lasted for 3 months,in which 13 cases(76. 5% )reached complete remission and 3 cases reached partial remission, while 1 case didn't achieve remission,and the mean time for proteinuria to disappear was(4. 9 ± 3. 7)months;5 cases were treated with Mycophenolate mefetil( MMF),among which 4 cases reached complete remission in 2 months,4 months,5 months,and 9 months separately,while 1 case reached partial remission. Cyclophosphamide(CTX)was intro-duced to 6 cases,in which the mean cumulative dosage was(91. 2 ± 46. 5)mg/ kg,among them 1 case(87 mg/ kg) reached complete remission,1 case(160 mg/ kg)partial remission,but 4 cases didn't achieve remission. One case reached remission after Rituximab(RTX)was introduced. One case got partial remission after Leflunomide(LEF)was introduced,and the complete remission rate was higher in those treated with combined therapy of glucocorticoid and CsA than those treated with glucocorticoid only(76. 5% vs 12. 5% ,P = 0. 004),but the total efficacy showed no difference (94. 2% vs 62. 5% ,P = 0. 081). The complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 38. 5% ,P = 0. 042)and total efficacy (94. 1% vs 61. 5% ,P = 0. 040)were higher in those with combined therapy of steroid and CsA than those treated with steroid and other immunosuppressor. The complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 16. 7% ,P = 0. 018)and total efficacy (94. 1% vs 33. 3% ,P = 0. 008)were also higher than those treated with steroid and CTX,but the complete remission rate(76. 5% vs 80. 0% ,P = 0. 687)and total efficacy(94. 1% vs 100. 0% ,P = 0. 773)showed no difference com-pared with those treated with steroid and MMF. Conclusions IMN shows glucocorticoid resistance mostly,while CsA had definite efficiency and may be better than CTX. And the efficiency of MMF should be noted.

Objective To understand the skeletal metabolism in glucocorticoids-treated children with kidney diseases and to evaluate the role of Alfacalcidol plus calcium supplements.Methods A retrospective self-controlled study was performed in children with kidney diseases,admitted to Department of Pediatrics,Peking University First Hospital from July 2012 to November 2014,and they conformed to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Inclusion criteria:children with renal diseases were included when they were administered with glucocorticoids,Alfacalcidol and calcium at the enrollment and follow-up,whose proteinuria was in remission or improved on follow-up,and renal function defined by glomerular filtration rate was more than 80 mL/(min · 1.73 m2),and they were followed up for at least 3 months.Exclusion criteria:whereas on follow-up,children with renal diseases were excluded if glucocorticoids was discontinued,or the follow-up period was less than 3 months,and related parameters were not available at the initial and finial visit.Serum levels of calcium,phosphate,alkaline phosphatase,25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25-OH-VitD) were detected,and bone mineral density at the left radius and mid tibia was measured by using quantitative ultrasound at the initial and finial visit.The levels of calcium,phosphate,alkaline phosphatase,25-OH-VitD and bone mineral density were compared between the initial and finial visit.Results A total of 29 cases (23 male,6 female) were recruited.Their ages at study entry were 2.4 to 14.9 years.Underlying disorders were primary nephrotic syndrome(17 cases),IgA nephropathy (4 cases),lupus nephritis (3 cases),purpura nephritis (2 cases),acute glomerulonephritis (1 case),Sjogren's disease(1 case),and autoimmune disease(1 case).At the time of enrollment,the course of disease was 1 to 69 months (median course of disease was 8 months),the duration of using corticosteroid was 0-60 months (median duration was 5 months),and the follow-up time was 92-409 days.The serum calcium,alkaline phosphatase and 25-OH-VitD levels at finial visit[(2.29 ±0.11) mmol/L,(153.21 ±71.00) U/L,and (40.96 ± 11.40) nmol/L,respectively] were significantly higher as compared with those at initial visit [(2.17 ± 0.16) mmol/L,(114.10 ±64.48) U/L,and (31.64 ± 10.99) nmol/L,respectively],and the differences were significant (all P ＜ 0.01),whereas there was no significant difference in serum level of phosphorate between initial and finial visit[(1.45 ±0.25) mmol/L vs.(1.48 ± 0.25) mmol/L] (t =-0.452,P ＞ 0.05).Meanwhile,there was significant difference in serum level of albumin level between initial and finial visit [(31.41 ± 9.31) g/L vs.(42.09 ± 4.00) g/L,t =-3.670,P ＜ 0.001].Compared with baseline assessment,bone mineral density at the left radius and tibia improved or maintained in 24/29 patients,whereas that of 5/29 patients declined.However,compared with initial and finial visit of bone mineral density in all patients(0.09 ± 1.58 vs.0.22 ± 1.07 at the left radius;0.93 ± 1.13 vs.1.00 ± 1.35 at the mid tibia),there was no significant difference (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Bone loss can be prevented by Alfacalcidol plus calcium supplement in glucocorticoids-treated children with kidney diseases.

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method versus ordinary acupuncture on superficial fascia for treating neck type cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz. Methods:A total of 64 Kyrgyz patients conforming to the diagnostic criteria of neck type cervical spondylopathy were included. The patients were randomized into a Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, with 32 cases in each group. Patients in the Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were treated with Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method to stimulate the superficial fascia, the stimulation sites were primarily located at bilateral sides of the cervical vertebra as well as the trigger points in shoulder-neck region; patients in the conventional acupuncture group were punctured at the same acupoints, with twirling reducing method, and the depth of insertion was determined by the treated region. Patients in both groups received treatment every day for a succession of 5 d as a course, with a 2-day interval between 2 courses, and the whole treatment lasted for 3 courses. After 3 courses of treatment, the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and neck disability index (NDI) were measured to compare the clinical effect between the two groups. Results: After treatment, scores of MPQ and NDI scale dropped when compared with those before treatment, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05); scores of MPQ and NDI in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group were substantially lower than those in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (allP<0.05). The total effective rate was 96.9％ in the Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture group and the cured rate was 78.1％, which were higher than 81.3％ and 40.6％ in the conventional acupuncture group, and the differences showed statistical significance (bothP<0.05). Conclusion: Zheng's Jin Gou Diao Yu (gold-hook-fishing) acupuncture method by stimulating superficial fascia to treat cervical spondylopathy in Kyrgyz can produce a better clinical effect than conventional acupuncture treatment, and is effective in improving pain and stiffness in patients, and thus is worth clinical popularization.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between hyperuricemia and primary nephrotic syndrome in childhood.

METHODA retrospective study was carried out in 107 children with primary nephrotic syndrome. The clinical data were analyzed with statistical methods to identify the related factors with hyperuricemia.

RESULTThe morbidity of hyperuricemia in children with primary nephrotic syndrome was 45% (48/107). Compared to those in normal serum uric acid group, the incidence of hypertension (33%, 16/48), serum triglyceride [2.59(1.62-3.87) mmol/L], creatinine [43.85(33.38-56.38)mmol/L], urea [6.11(3.77-8.40)mmol/L] and blood uric acid/creatinine ratio [9.30(7.03-12.72)] increased while creatinine clearance rate [141.74(103.57-160.97)ml/(min·1.73 (2))] decreased in hyperuricemia group.

CONCLUSIONHyperuricemia in children with primary nephrotic syndrome correlated with the increase of serum creatinine, urea and blood uric acid/creatinine ratio, the decrease of creatinine clearance rate and the occurance of hypertension.

Child ; Creatinine ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Hyperuricemia ; epidemiology ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Uric Acid ; blood

Objective To study the effects of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) in the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsA total of 300 SCI patients from six institutions were divided into a research group and a control group. Systematic rehabilitation was given to the patients of the control group, while systematic rehabilitation and REBT were given to the patients of the research group. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Psychological state, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (QOL) were evaluated with a symptom check list (SCL-90), a modified version of the Barthel index (MBI) and the World Health Organization's quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-100).ResultsOne year after treatment, the improvement in QOL of patients in the research group was better, on average, than that in the control group. The differences were primarily in mental items. The ADL ability of patients in both groups improved, and any differences were not significant. The psychological state of patients in the research group had improved significantly 1 year after treatment, while the improvements in the control group were not significant on average, except in terms of interpersonal sensitivity.ConclusionREBT had little effect on the ADL ability of SCI patients, however, it improved their psychological state significantly, and thus improved their QOL.

85 mL/min),CL=6.0?(WT/60)~(0.52).④The increased volume of peripheral distribution (V_2) was observed when norvancomycin was co-administered with diuretics;④Reduced drug clearance,prolonged t_(1/2),and increased values of AUC_(24) were found in elderly patients.Conclusions Renal function impairment and age have significant impact on PK parameters of norvancomycin.Dosing regimens of norvancomycin were finally established for different patients on the basis of important PPK parameters generated from different groups of patients.