Objective　The authors present a retrospective analysis of 22 patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL) in order to provide a reasonable basis for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods　This report involves a clinicopathological study of 22 patients with histologically proven PCNSL,all diagnosed between January 1993 and May 2000. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis are used to determine prognostic factors significantly associated with an unfavorable or favorable impact on survival. Results　The cohort included 11 men and 11 women whose median age at diagnosis was 49.5 years. At the end point of follow-up, 11 died. The median survival time for the patients in study was 14.5 months. With univariate and multivariate regression analysis, prognostic factors significantly associated with survival included intrathecal injection(P=0.005) and local/diffuse neurological deficit(P=0.031). Conclusion　There continues to be a significantly increasing incidence of PCNSL. This survey throws light on the clinical and prognostic features of this uncommon disease. Through univariate and multivariate regression analysis the authors highly recommend a theraputic regime including surgery, intrathecal injection and chemotherapy, especially those drugs capable of passing blood-brain barrier, for example high dose MTX.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on liver injury in the rats with ob?structive jaundice. Methods Forty?five healthy male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 250-300 g, aged 8-9 weeks, were divided into 3 groups ( n=15 each) using a random number table: sham operation group ( S group) , obstructive jaundice group ( OJ group) and dexmedetomidine group ( D group) . Obstructive jaun?dice was induced in rats by division and double ligation of the common bile duct in OJ and D groups. Dexmedetomidine 100 μg∕kg was injected intraperitoneally at 72 h after establishment of the model in group D. At 3, 5 and 24 h after administration, blood samples were collected from hearts for determination of the plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and C?reactive protein (CRP) levels. After blood sampling at each time point, the specimens from the external right lobe of the liver were obtained for detection of the expres?sion of Toll?like receptor 4 ( TLR4) mRNA ( by real?time polymerase chain reaction) and TLR4 content ( by enzyme?linked immunosorbent assay) in liver tissues and for pathological examination of liver tissues ( with light microscope) . Results Compared with group S, the plasma ALT and CRP levels were significantly increased at each time point after administration, and the expression of TLR4 mRNA in liver tissues was significantly up?regulated, and TLR4 content in liver tissues was significantly increased in OJ and D groups ( P<0?05) . Compared with group OJ, the plasma ALT and CRP levels were significantly decreased at each time point after administration, and the expression of TLR4 mRNA in liver tissues was significantly down?regulated, and TLR4 content in liver tissues was significantly decreased in group D ( P<0?05) . The degree of damage to liver tissues was significantly attenuated in group D compared with group OJ, and was aggrava?ted in group D compared with group S. Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can reduce liver injury in the rats with obstructive jaundice.

PurposeTo evaluate the existence and extent of magnetic resonance(MR) artifacts caused by frequently used metallic dental materials and to compare the influence of different MRI sequences on artifacts.MethodsA total of 22 kinds and 25 metallic dental samples were tested with 1.5 T MR imager and gradient-echo sequence. Spin-echo and fast spin-echo were added to parts of these samples. Results Of all the 25 metallic dental samples, 11 including gold, amalgam, and silver point did not produce artifact. Titanium alloy and porcelain product fused in metal had mild artifacts. Whereas the remaining 12 samples such as the retention pin and pivot pin showed severe artifacts. Artifacts produced by retention pin, nickel chromium crown and so on were less severe on fast spin-echo. ConclusionsAttention should be paid to some of the metallic dental materials, which could cause severe MR artifacts and image degradation, when undergoing face,jaw and head MR examination. Artifacts can be alleviated by using proper metallic materials or choosing proper imaging sequence and parameters.

Objective To establish the standard of quality control for Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride (PCRV) and to identify two kinds of PCRV which are collected in different times. Methods In this article,volatile components and flavonoid in 10 batches of samples which were collected from eight provinces were determined by GC and HPLC-DAD,respectively. Their fingerprints were handled by weighted similarity of range and by principal component analysis (PCA). Results According to the result of similarity and classification,there were obvious differences between the two kinds of PCRV.To know whether the differences have great influences on the pharmacological actions of PCRV, pharmacological studies will be needed. Weighted similarity is suitable for this system which has a high content of similar components. Conclusion These methods are effective and will help us to establish the criterion of quality control for PCRV.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) during propofol-induced apoptosis in hippocampal nerve cells of newborn rats.Methods Sixty male 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 10-15 g,were divided into 6 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:normal saline group (group NS),fat emulsion group (group F),propofol group (group P) and different doses of dexmedetomindine groups (group D25,group D50 and group D75).Normal saline and fat emulsion 100 μl were injected intraperitoneally in group NS and group F,respectively.In group P,propofol 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected,and an increment of propofol 50 mg/kg was added after righting reflex completely recovered,with the total amount of 100 mg/kg.In group D25,group D50 and group D75,dexmedetomidine 25,50 and 75 μg/kg were intraperitoneally injected,respectively,and 30 min later propofol 100 mg/kg was administered.At 2 h after emergence,the rats were sacrificed,their brains were removed for determination of apoptosis in hippocampal nerve cells (by TUNEL),and the hippocampi were isolated for detection of the expression of GSK-3β and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) by Western blot analysis.The apoptosis index (AI) and ratio of p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β were calculated.Results Compared with group NS,AI was significantly increased,the expression of p-GSK-3β was down-regulated,and the p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio was decreased in P,D25,D50 and D75 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group P,AI was significantly decreased,the expression of p-GSK-3β was up-regulated,and the p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β ratio was increased in D25,D50 and D75 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group D25,AI was significantly decreased (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the expression of p-GSK-3β or ratio of p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in D50 and D75 groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group D50,AI was significantly decreased (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in the expression of p-GSK-3β or ratio of p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in group D75 (P＞0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine attenuates propofol-induced apoptosis in hippocampal nerve cells may be related to inhibition of GSK-3β activity in newborn rats.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hemopexin (HPX) in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods:One hundred and twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7-8 weeks, weighing 250-280 g, were divided into sham operation group (S group, n=36), cerebral I/R group (I/R group, n=36), vehicle group (V group, n=24), and HPX group ( n=24). The model of cerebral I/R injury was established by 120 min middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion in anesthetized rats.At 6, 12 and 24 h of reperfusion, 4 rats in S group and I/R group were sacrificed, and the ischemic penumbra of the ipsilateral cerebral cortex was obtained to detect the expression of HPX by Western blot.In I/R, V and HPX groups, 0.9% normal saline 10 μl, 0.1% NaN 3 10 μl, and 1.86 mg/ml HPX 10 μl were injected into the lateral ventricle, respectively, immediately after reperfusion.Eight rats in each group were selected, and neurological deficit was scored at 1-7 days of reperfusion.Eight rats in each group were sacrificed at 1 and 7 days of reperfusion, brains were removed, and brain tissues were obtained for measurement of infarct size, and the percentage of infarct size was calculated. Results:Compared with S group, the expression of HPX in cerebral ischemic penumbra was significantly up-regulated at 24 h of reperfusion in I/R group, and the neurological deficit scores were significantly decreased at 1-7 days of reperfusion, and the percentage of cerebral infarct size was increased at 1 and 7 days of reperfusion in I/R, V and HPX groups ( P<0.05). Compared with I/R group, the neurological deficit scores were significantly increased at 1-7 days of reperfusion, and the percentage of cerebral infarct size was decreased at 1 and 7 days of reperfusion in HPX group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the above indicators in V and I/R groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Up-regulation of HPX expression is the endogenous protective mechanism of cerebral I/R injury in rats.

To study the relation between drug release and the drug status within curcumin-loaded microsphere, SPG (shirasu porous glass) membrane emulsification was used to prepare the curcumin-PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres with three levels of drug loading respectively, and the in vitro release was studied with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The morphology of microspheres was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the drug status was studied with X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared analysis (IR). The drug loading of microspheres was (5.85 ± 0.21)%, (11.71 ± 0.39)%, (15.41 ± 0.40)%, respectively. No chemical connection was found between curcumin and PLGA. According to the results of XRD, curcumin dispersed in PLGA as amorphous form within the microspheres of the lowest drug loading, while (2.12 ± 0.64)% and (5.66 ± 0.07)% curcumin crystals was detected in the other two kinds of microspheres, respectively, indicating that the drug status was different within three kinds of microspheres. In the data analysis, we found that PLGA had a limited capacity of dissolving curcumin. When the drug loading exceeded the limit, the excess curcumin would exist in the form of crystals in microspheres independently. Meanwhile, this factor contributes to the difference in drug release behavior of the three groups of microspheres.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Curcumin ; chemistry ; Drug Liberation ; Lactic Acid ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microspheres ; Polyglycolic Acid ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To investigate the mechanism of BVT. 2733 on insulin resistance, by using diet-induced obese (DIO) mice model. Methods After having been balanced for 3 days, the C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a high-fat diet (HFD) group. After 20 weeks, the obese mice were further randomly divided into an obese control group, a BVT. 2733 group and a pioglltazone (PGZ) group and they were orally administered with placebo, BVT. 2733 and PGZ separately for two weeks.Adiponectin and leptin mRNA expression levels from adipose tissue were analyzed with real-time quantitative PCR. The levels of plasma glucose, serum insulin and adiponectin were measured with biochemical technology, radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Adipocyte sizes were observed with immunohistocbemistry.Results The body weight, plasma glucose and serum insulin levels raised(P<0.05)in the HFD group and the adipocyte sizes were bigger. Serum insulin levels significantly reduced (P<0.05) and adipocyte sizes reduced, while plasma adiponectin level raised (P<0.01)in the two treatment groups as compared with those in obese controls. Both the mRNA expressions of adiponectin and leptin upregulated(P<0.05)in the PGZ group, but their expressions in the BVT. 2733 group did not alter significantly. The body weight of the mice reduced significantly in the BVT. 2733 group. Conclusion BVT. 2733 can reduce body weight significantly and improve insulin resistance, but cannot influence the expression of adipocytokines.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestation of hMPV in infants and young chil-dren presented with acute respiratory tract infection and to identify the molecular character. Methods Na-sopharyngeal aspirates were taken from 310 hospitalized pediatric patients from February to May in 2006, March to April in 2008, and September 2008 to February 2009, and the N gene fragments of hMPV were de-tected by nested PCR amplification. Phylogenetic analysis of 17 strains hMPV N genes was performed. The clinical materials of patients were collected and analyzed. All hMPV-positive samples were examined by multi-PCR for other respiratory viruses. Results Of 310 pediatric patients, 20 (6.5%) were positive for hMPV. The median age of hMPV infected children was 15.0 months(from 16 days to 9 years old), 90% (18/20)of the cases were under 2 years, and 60% were male. Phylogenetic analysis of 17 N gene fragments showed that 11 hMPV strains were A2b subtype. 20 hMPV-positive children were subjected to pneumonia, accounting for 7.1% (20/282) among all pneumonia subjects in this study. The common clinical manifesta-tions of hMPV infected patients were cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and fever. 35% (7/20) needed intensive care, 15% (3/20) were given oxygen therapy. The median length of hospital stay was (11.9 ±4.8) d. No significant seasonal distribution of hMPV was displayed. Two patients were coinfected with ade-novirus and rhinovirus respectively. Conclusion hMPV was an important respiratory pathogen in young children subjected to pneumonia in Tianjin. Three subtypes(A2a/A2b, B1, B2) were prevalent in Tianjin, and A2b was the predominant subtype. No significant difference of clinical characters was observed between A and B type hMPV infected patients.

The compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) formulae containing enormous information, is a complex component system. Applications of mathematical statistics methods on the compatibility researches of traditional Chinese medicines formulae have great significance for promoting the modernization of traditional Chinese medicines and improving clinical efficacies and optimizations of formulae. As a tool for quantitative analysis, data inference and exploring inherent rules of substances, the mathematical statistics method can be used to reveal the working mechanisms of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicines formulae in qualitatively and quantitatively. By reviewing studies based on the applications of mathematical statistics methods, this paper were summarized from perspective of dosages optimization, efficacies and changes of chemical components as well as the rules of incompatibility and contraindication of formulae, will provide the references for further studying and revealing the working mechanisms and the connotations of traditional Chinese medicines.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; statistics & numerical data ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional