Objective To evaluate the role of gamma curve fitting technique of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in quantitative analysis of microcirculation in renal solid lesions. Methods A total of fifty patients with renal parenchyma solid lesions were performed contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The images were analysed by computer with gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasonic system. The quantitative parameters were obtained by the time-intensity curves, such as ascending slope (a3), descending slope (a2), arrival time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), basic intensity (BI), peak intensity, amplification (AMP), area under the curve (AUC), mean transit time (MTT) and perfusion index (PI). The parameters were compared between renal malignant and benign solid lesions. Results Fast-in and fast-out was the main perfusion mode in renal malignant tumors while slow-in and slow-out was found in renal angiomyolipoma (AML). The perfusion modes in renal malignant tumors and renal AML were fast-in and fast-out in 28 cases and 0 case, fast-in and slow-out in 4 cases and 1 case, slow-in and fast-out in 5 cases and 1 case, and slow-in and slow-out in 1 case and 10 cases, respectively. There were significant differences in the quantitative parameters such as a2, AUC and PI between renal malignant tumors and renal AML obtained by the time-intensity curves (P<0.05). Conclusion Gamma fitting analysis of contrast-enhanced ultrasound system can provide quantitative information of microcirculation of renal tumors, which helps to differentiate benign renal tumors from malignant ones.

A study on the microbial transformation of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was conducted by a fungus, Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 systematically. After incubation with the cell cultures of C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 at 25 degrees C for 7 days on a rotary shaker operating at 135 r x min(-1), GA was converted into one major product and five minor products. The products were extracted and purified by solvent extraction, macroporous adsorbent resin, silica gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative RP-HPLC chromatography. Their structures were identified as 3-oxo-15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(1), 3-oxo-15β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (2), 7β,15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3), 3-oxo-7β, 15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (4), 7β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(5) and 15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(6) by the analyses of MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data respectively. Among them, 2 was a new compound. These results suggest that C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 has the capability of selective ketonization and hydroxylation for GA. [Key words] glycyrrhetinic acid; Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3. 970; microbial transformation
Biotransformation ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngitis ; therapy ; Young Adult

The response of glueagon to the change of glucose and its relation to blood pressure in 71 eidely patients with type 2 diabetes was investigated. The results showed that the postprandial increment of glucagon in the group of patients with postprandial 2h plasma glucose increment<2.5 mmol/L was significantly higher than that in the group with plasma glucose inerement≥ 2.5 mmoi/L (P<0. 05). The postprandial increment of glucagon in patients with normal blood pressure was significantly higher than that in patients with hypertension (P<0.05). The results suggest that the decreased response of glucagon to the change in plasma glucose in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes is related to increased blood glucose and high blood pressure.

To study the effect of Gegen Qinlian decoction and its major effective components on five hepatic microsomal CYP450 isozymes in rats. The in vitro hepatic microsomal incubation technique was used to co-culture Gegen Qinlian decoction and its major effective components together with each probe substrate. HPLC-MS/MS was used to establish the analytical method for metabolites of the five isoform probe substrates of CYP450 isozymes, detect the linearity among micoromal protein concentration, incubation time and metabolite formation amount. And HPLC-MS/MS was applied to determine the formation rate (V) of corresponding metabolites (acetaminophen, 4-OH-chlorzoxazone, dextrophan, 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and 6β-hydroxytestosterone) specific probe substrates of the five isoform probe substrates of CYP450 isozymes (phenacetin, polbutamide, dextromethorphan, chlorzoxazone, testosterone), in order to determine the activity of each isozyme. The result showed good linearity among acetaminophen, 4-OH-tolbutamide, dextrophan, 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and 6β-hydroxytestosterone, satisfactory precision, stability and average recovery, suggesting the method was feasible. The optimized in vitro microsomal incubation conditions conformed to the requirements in the guideline of drug-drug interaction. Gegen Qinlian decoction showed different degrees of inhibitor effect on 5 CYP450 isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C11, CYP2D2, CYP2E1, CYP3A1/2). Its major effective component berberine could inhibit each CYP450 isoform at high concentrations (except for CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2).
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Liver ; enzymology ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Objective To explore the relationship between fluconazole resistance and expression of multidrug resistant protein genes,including CDR1,CDR2,MDRI.Methods The total RNA was extracted from fluconazole-resistant and -susceptible Candida albicans isolates,and cDNA was synthesized.The expression of CDR1,CDR2 and MDRl genes was then detected by quantitative real-time PCR.The?CT (threshold cycle) value was obtained by subtracting the CT value of 18S rRNA from that of the targeted gene.Results The?CT value of CDR2 was significantly lower in fluconazole-resistant isolates than in fluconazole- susceptible isolates (7.52?2.53 vs.9.28?3.15,t=2.367,P

Objective To study whether carbon dioxide used to establish pneumoperitoneum has an influence on port-site and intraperitoneal implantation and metastasis of tumor cells. Methods R 15 hepatic cancer cells were injected into 30 Wistar rats’ peritoneal cavities 1 hour before operation, then the 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: gasless group, helium group and carbon dioxide group. The suspension was exposed to the gas environment for 2 hours, all animals were killed after 28 days and the port-site and intraperitoneal implantation and metastasis of tumor cells were examined.Results On port-site, intestinal serous coat, mesentery, greater omentum and diaphragm, the weights of tumor cells, in carbon dioxide group were (326.7?230.3) mg, (626.2?215.9) mg, (476.2?204.8) mg,(2 536.5?906.7) mg and (384.5?149.9) mg respectively; in helium group were (235.6?107.3) mg, (414.2?148.4) mg, (261.8?92.6) mg, (1 633.4?247.3) mg and(220.0?57.9) mg; in gasless group were (145.0?42.4) mg, (221.5?108.2) mg, (212.5?109.6) mg, (797.5?335.9) mg and 113.0 mg.The weights of carbon dioxide group showed a significant increase, compared with helium group and gasless group (P 0.05). Conclusion The insufflation of carbon dioxide promotes intraperitoneal tumor implantation and growth compared with helium and gaslessness in a rat model.

Objective To explore the effect of upgrade of dialysate quality on the microinflammation in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. Methods Fifty-three MHD patients in Kidney Center of the First Affiliated Hospital,Medical College,Zhejiang University in January 2003 were enrolled in the prospectively study.The main end-points were survival at 8 years or weaning from haemodialysis during 8-year period including death, receiving renal transplantation or transferring to peritoneal dialysis.The endotoxin level of dialysate and patients' serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α),C reaction protein (CRP),and albumin were recorded during the observation period. Results After the upgrade of water management system,endotoxin level of dialysate obviously decreased [(0.046±0.012) EU/ml vs (0.454±0.002) EU/ml,P＜0.01],and serum IL-6 [(3.947±3.624) ng/L vs (13.779±7.106) ng/L,P=0.036],TNF-α [(7.935±3.864) ng/L vs (12.804±8.017) ng/L,P=0.012] as well as CRP [(0.194±0.149) mg/L vs (0.561 ±0.309) mg/L,P＜0.01] decreased significantly,while serum albumin increased [(41.900±6.803) g/L vs (38.140±7.083) g/L,P=0.042].Hemoglobin level did not change significantly after the system upgrade,however,the dose of erythropoietin decreased [(93.0±12.7) U·kg-1·week-1 vs (131.0±10.1) U·kg-1·week-1,P=0.015]. Conclusions The upgrade of central dialysis fluid delivery and water management system by application of double reverse osmosis,high frequency heat disinfection and endotoxin filter can improve the quality of dialysate.Improvement of dialysate quality can ameliorate the microinflammation state of MHD patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-cataract effect of gigantol combined with syringic acid and their action mechanism.

METHODH202-induced lens oxidative injury in vitro rat model was establish to observe the impact of gigantol combined with syringic acid on lens transparency under a dissecting microscope. D-galactose-induced cataract rat model was established to observe the impact of gigantol combined with syringic acid on lens transparency under a slit-lamp. UV spectrophotometry was adopted to detect the inhibitory activity of gigantol combined with syringic acid against AR. Molecular docking method was used to detect binding sites, binding types and pharmacophores of gigantol combined with syringic acid in prohibiting aldose reductase.

RESULTBoth in vitro and in vivo experiments showed a good anti-sugar cataract activity in the combination of gigantol and syringic acid and a better collaborative effect than single component-gigantol and syringic acid and positive control drug Catalin. Molecular docking and dynamic simulation showed their collaborative AR-inhibiting amino acid residue was Asn160 and the major acting force was Van der Waals' force, which formed common pharmacophores.

CONCLUSIONGigantol combined with syringic acid shows good anti-cataract, their action mechanism is reflected in their good collaborative inhibitory effect on AR.

Aldehyde Reductase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Bibenzyls ; Cataract ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Gallic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Guaiacol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Lens, Crystalline ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To explore the effects of acupuncture and individualized occupational therapy on the rehabilitation of patients with unilateral spatial neglect ( USN ) after stroke.Methods Stroke patients with hemiplegia were evaluated by neuropsychological tests,including line bisection,a cancellation test,clock drawing,and figure and shape copying.Sixty-nine right hemispheric stroke patients identified with USN were randomly assigned to 3 groups:20 patients as a control group received conventional rehabilitation therapy ; another 22 patients as an occupational group received type-specific individualized occupational therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy; the remaining 23 patients as an acupuncture combined with occupational therapy group received acupuncture in addition to both conventional rehabilitation therapy and occupational therapy.These three groups were evaluated with neuropsychological tests and the modified Barthel index (MBI) before and after treatment.Results ①MBI scores in the occupational therapy group and the combined group were significantly higher after treatment,but no significant difference was observed in the control group.②The increased MBI scores in the combined and occupational groups were higher than those in the control group.At the same time the increase in MBI scores in the combined group was significantly greater than in the occupational therapy group.③The assessment results with both line bisection and cancellation tests in all three groups were significantly different after treatment.The line bisection results in the occupational therapy group and the combined group were significantly better than in the control group.The cancellation test results in the combined group were significantly better than in the control group.Conclusion These findings show that acupuncture combined with occupational therapy can have a positive effect on neglect recovery and greatly improve the daily life of USN patients.