OBJECTIVE: To develop a sensitive and specific reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method to determine propofol in follicular fluid. METHODS: Thymol was added into follicular fluid samples as the internal standard, and the samples were then precipitated with methanol. After centrifugation at 20000 r·min-1 for 15 min, 20 μL of supernatant was directly injected into an Agilent Extend-C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of methanol-water (77:23). Analysis was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL ·min-1. Fluorescence detection was applied with excitation and emission wavelengths of 276 and 310 nm, respectively. RESULTS: The calibration curves had good linearity in the range of 0.108-5.4 mg·L-1. The linear regression equation was A=0.2074ρ-0.0012(r=0.9993). The limits of detection and quantity proved to be 54 and 108 μg·L-1, respectively. The method recoveries for low, intermediate and high concentrations were 117.9%, 101.7% and 99.4%, respectively. The RSDs of inter-day assay were 4.10%, 1.28% and 0.20%(n=5), and intra-day assay were 4.34%, 2.33% and 0.61%(n=5), respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and convenient. It can be used to determine propofol for studying its clinical pharmacokinetics.

Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mycoses ; pathology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between Chinese medical constitutions and chemotherapy-induced leucopenia (CIL) of primary breast cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 306 breast cancer patients undergoing adjunctive chemotherapy for the 1st time, and effective 291 breast cancer patients were recruited in this study.Nine Basic Constitutional Scale was used before first chemotherapy. Chinese medical constitutions were classified and quantitatively scored. The highest grading for any item of adverse reactions in each case during the whole chemotherapy course was recorded after chemotherapy. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS16.0.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CIL between different chemotherapy regimens and various Chinese medical constitutions of breast cancer patients (P > 0.05). Yang deficiency constitution is one risk factor for CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the more severe the CIL.

CONCLUSIONSYang deficiency constitution was correlated with the degree of CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the greater the risk of III-IV grade CIL in breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency

Objective To study the value of breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS)in Chinese breast cancer screening. Methods A total number of 3483 women participated in breast cancer screening with mammography in Hexi district in Tianjin from August to December 2009, which was organized by ministry of public health. BI-RADS assessment categories and recommendations were compared with histological findings. The precision, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Results Among 3483 screening mammography cases, 267 were almost entirely fat breast, 1245 were scauered fibroglandular, 1890 were dense and 81 extremely dense.There were 1011 patients(29.0%) with category 1, 1741 (50.0%) with category 2, 383 (11.0%) with category 3, 59 patients(1. 7%) with category 4 and 16 (0. 5%) with category 5 according to BI-RADS assessment categories. Totally, 71 women with 77 lesions were confirmed by histological examinations. There were 29 malignant and 48 benign lesions. The diagnostic precision, sensitivity, specificity of BI-RADS were 63. 6% (49/77) , 93. 1% (27/29) and 45.8% (22/48) . The general PPV of BI-RADS was 50. 9%(27/53). The PPV of categories 0, 4, 5 were 25.0% (1/4), 36. 4% (12/33) and 87. 5% (14/16). The NPV of categories 2 and3 were90.9% (10/11), 100.0% (12/12). Conclusions B1-RADS is of much value in assessing the breast malignancy. It is applicable in Chinese breast cancer screening.

OBJECTIVETo explore the scavenging action of tenuigenin (TEN) on intracerebral amyloid β protein (Aβ) aggregation and the abnormal phosphorylated tau protein and its mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats' brain.

METHODSAβ1-40 was injected into the right CA1 region hippocampus to establish the AD model. Successfully modeled rats were divided into the model group, the low, middle, high TEN group. Rats were administered with TEN (18.5, 37.0, 74.0 mg/kg) by gastrogavage. Besides, a sham-operation group was set up. Expression levels of Aβ1-40 and Tau p-Ser262 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-protein ligase E3 were measured by Western blotting.The content of 26S proteasome was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical results showed that the number of Aβ and Tau p-Ser262 positively reacted neurons significantly increased in model group, when compared with the sham-operation group (P < 0.01). Results of Western blot showed expression levels of ubiquitinated protein were up-regulated and those of Ub-protein ligase E3 were down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). ELISA results showed that the content of 26S proteasome significantly decreased in AD rats' brain (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, expression levels of Aβ1-40, Tau p-Ser262, and Ub significantly decreased; expression levels of Ub-protein ligase E3 apparently increased; the content of 26S proteasome significantly increased in each TEN treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Best effect was shown in 37.0 mg/kg and 74.0 mg/kg TEN groups.

CONCLUSIONSUb proteasome pathway (UPP) participated in the occurrence of AD. TEN could obviously reduce intracere- bral Aβ1-40 accumulation and abnormal tau phosphorylation.

Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex ; metabolism ; Rats ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; metabolism ; Ubiquitins

AIMTo prepare the micelles of stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide and investigate the drug release from micelles.

METHODSMediated by a 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC), stearic acid (SA) was covalently attached to chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO), and the graft polymer (CSO-SA) was obtained. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of the CSO-SA was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity of pyrene as a fluorescent probe. The effect of various pH dispersed media and concentration of tripolyphosphate sodium (TPP) on the micellar size distribution and zeta-potential measured by light scattering and electrophoretic mobility, was investigated. In buffers of different pH, the release profiles of methotrexate (MTX) from micelles were evaluated.

RESULTSThe CAC value of CSO-SA in deionized water was 0.05 g x L(-1). The mean diameter of CSO-SA micelles was 26.7 nm and the zeta potential was (55.9 +/- 0.1) mV. With the increase of TPP concentration, the size and MTX encapsulation of CSO-SA micelles increased, while the zeta-potential decreased. With the decrease of pH value of dispersed media, the size and zeta-potential of CSO-SA micelles increased, and the MTX encapsulation in CSO-SA micelles decreased. While the enhancement of drug release from the micelles was observed.

CONCLUSIONThe graft polymer of CSO-SA provides polymeric micelles, which possessed a low CAC value in aqueous media. The drug release in vitro from CSO-SA micelles was affected by the pH of delivery media.

Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Methotrexate ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Micelles ; Oligosaccharides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polymers ; Polyphosphates ; Solubility ; Stearic Acids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry

Improving medical students' calculation ability in statistics has become the focus and difficulty of medical statistics course teaching, and its application relies heavily on statistical calculation software. In order to explore a new teaching approach which combined the advantages of traditional method and web-based calculation, we intended to build a web computing platform applying the Browser/Server (B/S) mode based on the campus network, and to revise the current syllabus of medical statistics, as well as to create a virtual web-lab containing a typical case library. Practice has proved that the new mode effec-tively improved the practice capability of students and changed the traditional teacher-centered teaching approach.

OBJECTIVETo study the accuracy of position estimation of right-sided double-lumen endobronchial tubes (DLTs) without carinal hook in elderly patients according to the changes of inspiratory peak airway pressure (Ppeak), lung compliance (Cdyn), pressure-volume loop (P-V loop), and flow-volume loop (F-V loop).

METHODSNinety-six elderly patients undergoing thoracic surgery were intubated with right-sided Mallinckrodt DLTs, the depth of which was determined based on the regressive equation. After 15 min of two lung ventilation (TLV), the Ppeak showed a more than 50% increase from the baseline in 22 patients when switching to one lung ventilation (OLV) with Cdyn less than 50% of the baseline and Ppeak in excess of 22 cmH(2)O. In these 22 cases, the position of the DLT was determined by fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB) and adjusted to the precise position at 15 min of OLV.

RESULTSDLTs were inserted into the right middle bronchi in 19 cases and the right lower lobe bronchi in 3 cases. At 124-/+39 s after OLV, the SpO(2) began to decrease, and the Ppeak of OLV increased by 91.0% and Cdyn decreased by 62.7%. The slope of P-V curve was reduced and the P-V loop extended, with reduced increment of the expiratory limb and the area of the F-V loop, so that the tips of the DLT were withdrawn by 0.5 to 1.9 cm. The Ppeak of OLV increased only by 43.4% when DLT was in correct position, and was Cdyn decreased by 33.6% ( P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONWhen changes of Ppeak and Cdyn in excess of above guidelines occurs after switching from TLV to OLV in the elderly patients, FOB should be applied to determine the tip position of DLT before SpO(2) reduction takes place.

Aged ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Fiber Optic Technology ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Respiratory Mechanics ; Spirometry ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures

Objective To investigate the effect of partial body-weight supported treadmill training ( PBW- STT) on function of lower limbs, walk function, ADL performance and quality of life of hemiplegic patient induced by cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 132 cerebral infarction patients were divided into a control group (n = 69) and a training group( n = 63) randomly. Both groups accepted routine rehabilitation therapy, and the training group accepted PBWSTT at the same time in addition. Both groups were evaluated with regard to their walking ability, func- tion of lower limbs, ADL performance and their quality of life by using Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) , Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) , Barthel index (BI) and SF-36 before and after rehabilitation treatment. Results The function of lower limb, walking ability, ADL performance and the quality of life of both groups were improved significantly after treatment, and those in the training group were improved to a significantly greater extent than those in the control group ( P

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic role of multi-slice CT(MSCT)angiography for tumors of intra-abdominal testes.Methods MSCT angiography of 5 cases with seminoma of intra-abdominal testes proved by surgery and pathology was analyzed.All patients were male,and the age ranged from 33 to 59 years with the mean of 43.6 years.Results(1)The arterial-supply of tumors completely came from the testicular artery of the same side.The arteries went into tumors from the posterior side.(2)The tumors had comparatively large volume with complete or incomplete amicula.The tumor density of 3 cases was inhomogeneous.The degree of entity augmentation of 5 patients was about 14—25 HU.Conclusion MSCT angiography can reveal the tumor vessel and is essential for the diagnosis of tumors of intra-abdominal testes.