Objective To investigate precipitants of epileptic seizure, and to explore the correlation between various precipitants and relationship between precipitants and clinical features of epilepsy.Methods Data were collected from 154 patients attending a tertiary-care epilepsy clinic of Nanjing Brain Hospital between April 2015 and April 2016.The patients with epilepsy were older than 16 years, had a clinical history of one year or more, and one seizure at least a year and one seizure at least in the latest three months.An enclosed questionnaire was combined with open interview to identify and characterize seizure precipitants and clinical characteristics of patients.Patients were asked respectively whether there were some precipitants three months before and during last three months.Correlation between seizure precipitants and relationship between precipitants and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, course, seizure frequency and so on, were calculated.Results A total of 125 (81.2%) participants reported at least one precipitant.Common precipitants (in descending order) were as follows: emotional stress (56.0%), sleep disorder (38.4%), fatigue (27.2%), missed medication (20.0%).There were one to six different precipitants for one patient, and 60.8% of patients had two or more precipitants.There was a correlation between emotional stress and sleep disorders as well as fatigue (χ2=4.665, 8.668;P<0.05).Patients with idiopathic epilepsy were more sensitive to sleep disorders.There was no relationship between total precipitants and clinical features such as age, gender, age of onset, duration, type of seizure, seizure frequency, number of drug taking and so on.Conclusions Seizure precipitants were found widespread.The most common precipitants were found to be emotional stress, sleep disorders, fatigue and missed medication.There existed a correlation between emotional stress and sleep disorders as well as fatigue.There was no connection between total precipitants and patient′s demographic characteristics as well as clinical features.However, the type of seizure precipitants was different in patients with different demographic and clinical characteristics.

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of bone morphogenetic protein 3 (BMP3) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma tissues.METHODS: Thirty cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma specimens were col-lected.The expression of BMP3 at mRNA and protein levels in the tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.The hilar cholangiocarcinoma paraffin-embedded specimens (n=103) were collected. The protein expression of BMP3 was determined by immunohistochemical method, and the relationship of BMP3 protein ex-pression with clinical pathological characteristics was evaluated.RESULTS:In the 30 patients with hilar cholangiocarcino-ma, the expressions of BMP3 protein and mRNA in 22 cases of tumor tissues were significantly decreased compared with the adjacent normal tissues.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that 87 cases were negative and 16 cases were weakly positive in all 103 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The expression of BMP3 protein was associated with the tumor TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:BMP3 gene might be inhibited in human hilar cholangiocarcinoma.The down-regulation of BMP3 gene might be associated with the carcinogenesis and devel-opment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

AIM: To evaluate the anti-angiogenesis effect of interferon-?(IFN-?) on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) and human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) bearing nude mouse.METHODS: Anti-proliferation test,MTT test,tube-formation test,migration test on cultured HUVECs were employed and the tumor volume and microvascular desity(MVD) of IFN-? treated human hepatoma cell line(HuH7) were meassured.RESULTS: IFN-? displayed apparent inhibitory effects on cultured HUVECs in anti-proliferation test,MTT test,tube-formation test,migration test,and the tumor diameter and MVD in IFN-? treated HuH7 inoculated nude mouse group were significantly less than those in PBS treated HuH7 inoculated nude mouse group.CONCLUSION: IFN-? inhibits tumor growth through anti-angiogenesis.

Objective To investigate micro-inflammatory state and protein-energy wasting (PEW) states in maintenance peritoneal dialysis(MPD) patients,then analysis of the correlation between them.Methods Ninty-six cases of MPD patients in this Hospital were selected from March 2012 to September 2015.The status of nutrition were assessed by Quantitative Subjective and global Assessment(SGA),malnutrition-inflammation score(MIS) and albumin(Alb),micro-inflammatory state was assessed by enzyme-linked immunoassay(ELISA) method serum hypersensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6).At the same time,various serological markers like serum Alb,serum total protein(TP),serum prealbumin(PA),hemoglobin(Hb),transferrin(TF),serum creatinine(Scr),urea nitrogen(BUN),cholesterol(Teh) were measured.Results The incidence of PEW in MPD patients was 36.50％,among which 62.86 ％ of them were over 65 years old,57.10％ were over 2 years of dialysis time and 40.00％ with diabetic nephropathy.MPD patients with hs-CRP＞5 mg/L accounted for 58.33％,of which over 65 year old accounted for 42.86％,MPD age longer than 2 years accounted for 60.71％,32.14％ of them with diabetic nephropathy.The proportion of diabetic nephropathy,average age,dialysis duration time,hs-CRP,TNF-α and IL-6 in PEW group were higher than non-PEW group(P＜0.05);BM,TP,Alb,PA,Hb,TCh,MAC and MAMC were lower ban non-PEW group(P＜0.05).Compared with the hs-CRP≤5 mg/L group,average age,the time of dialysis duration,TNF-α,IL-6 were higher and TP,Alb,PA,TF,Hb,the proportion of Kt/V≥1.72 were lower in the hs-CRP＞5 mg/L group.After the correction of age,sex,dialysis ages,it was found that the level of hs-CRP in MPD patients was negatively correlated with the level of Alb,PA,TF,Tch,Scr,TG;The level of IL-6 was negatively correlated with the levels of Alb,PA,TF,Tch,TG.The level of TNF-α in MPD patients showed different degrees of negative correlation with the leves of Alb,PA,TF,TG,Tch(all P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis showed that elderly,the time of dialysis duration,the microinflammatory state,and hypoalbuminemia were the independent risk factors of PEW.Conclusion PEW and micro-inflammatory state are very common in PHD patients.Patients with longer duration of dialysis,elderly or associated with diabetic nephropathy are more likely to suffer PEW and micro-inflammatory.Elderly,the time of dialysis duration,microinflammatory state,hypoalbuminemia are the independent risk factors of PEW.

AIMTo study the pharmacokinetics of fudosteine in healthy volunteers after the single and multiple dose administration.

METHODSThirty-six volunteers were divided into three groups randomly, each group included six men and six women. In the single dose design, the volunteers received either a single dose of 600 mg, 400 mg or 200 mg fudosteine. After a one-week wash out period, the volunteers of 400 mg group participated in the multiple dose design in which each volunteer received 400 mg fudosteine three times a day for five consecutive days. The plasma concentrations were determined by pre-column derivatization HPLC-FL method and the pharmacokinetic parameters of fudosteine were calculated.

RESULTSThe obtained pharmacokinetic parameters of fudosteine in single dose of 600 mg, 400 mg and 200 mg groups were as follows: T1/2 were (2.8 +/- 0.5), (2.7 +/- 0.5) and (3.2 +/- 0.6) h, respectively. T(max) were (0.51 +/- 0.22), (0.59 +/- 0.21) and (0.48 +/- 0.18) h, respectively. C(max) were (16 +/- 4), (11 +/- 3) and (6.1 +/- 1.5) microg x mL(-1), respectively. The AUC(0-10 h) and C(max) correlated linearly with doses, respectively (r > 0.99). The T(max), C(max) and AUC values of fudosteine in healthy male volunteers were smaller than those in female volunteers, and the T1/2 value was longer than that in female volunteers. The obtained multi-dose pharmacokinetic parameters of fudosteine were as follows: C(ss) was (4.1 +/- 0.8) microg x mL(-1); DF was 3.0 +/- 0.7; T1/2 was (2.5 +/- 0.4) h; T(max) was (0.6 +/- 0.3) h; C(max) was (13.2 +/- 1.3) microg x mL(-1).

CONCLUSIONThe values of pharmacokinetic parameters in healthy volunteers were linear in the range from 200 mg to 600 mg. Statistic analysis results showed that the differences of AUC and C(max) between men and women were not resulted from sexual differences, but from the weight differences. There was no significant difference in pharmacokinetic parameters between single dose and multi-dose.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Area Under Curve ; Body Weight ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cystine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Factors

Dalian Medical University, aiming at cultivating innovative talents, has formulated and implemented a "5+3" innovative talents training reform plan. In the whole process of medical undergraduate education, tutorial system is used as the carrier to develop a phased innovative ability training system, which covers basic scientific research ability training such as courses, lectures, experimental design, papers and so on, and strengthens the cultivation of undergraduate scientific research ability. Through statistical analysis of the results of the first "5+3" students' periodic training, it is found that the proportion of "5+3" students publishing Chinese periodicals and SCI, and hosting national innovation projects and provincial innovation projects is significantly higher than that of ordinary 5-year students ( P<0.05). Although there are some problems and deficiencies in the implementation process, the basic scientific research training with tutorial system as the core has a significant effect on improving students' scientific research thinking and innovation ability, and is feasible for training medical innovative talents.

OBJECTIVETo establish a fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) method for detecting the coronavirus related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and to evaluate its value for clinical application.

METHODSThe primers and the fluorescence-labeled probe were designed and synthesized according to the published sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genes. A F-PCR diagnosis kit for detecting the coronavirus was developed, and 115 clinical nasopharyngeal gargling liquid samples were tested.

RESULTSThe sequence of PCR amplified products completely matched the related sequence of the SARS-associated coronavirus genome. Forty-nine out of 67 samples from identified SARS patients and 8 of 18 samples from persons having close contact with SARS patients showed positive results. All 30 samples from healthy controls were negative.

CONCLUSIONThe F-PCR method established may be a rapid, accurate and efficient way for screening and for the early diagnosis of SARS patients.

Fluorescence ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology

The constituents in 95% ethanol extract of the root of Rosa cymosa Tratt were purified by column chromatography techniques, leading to isolation of eleven triterpenes. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data as pomolic acid (1), fupenzic acid (2), ursolic acid (3), euscaphic acid (4), arjunic acid (5), tomentic acid (6), 3β-E-feruloyl corosolic acid (7), 1β-hydroxyeuscaphic acid (8), myrianthic acid (9), cecropiacic acid (10), and ilexoside B (11). Among them, compounds 3, 6-8, 10 and 11 were obtained from this plant for the first time, and compounds 7 and 10 were obtained from this genus for the first time.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rosa ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo prepare eukaryotic expression of rotavirus (RV) SA11 capsid protein VP7, and to generate and purify yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) antibodies against the recombinant VP7 from Roman hens.

METHODSMA104 cells were infected with the standard SA11 strain and the culture fluid was collected. A DNA fragment of 978 bp encoding SA11 VP7 was obtained by RT-PCR amplification from genomic RNA of RV SA11. The PCR products were ligated to pMD18-T vector following the confirmation by DNA sequencing and sub-cloned into pPICZalphaB. The recombinant pPICZalphaB-SA11 VP7 was transformed into E coli Top10. The plasmids were linearized by digestion of BstXI and transformed into Pichia pastoris X-33 through electroporation by DNA sequencing. The transformants were induced with methanol for expression. The cultural supernatant was subjected to SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Fusion expression was purified through the column of affinity chromatography. IgY was identified and purified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting from eggs of Roman hens immunized with recombinant SA11 VP7.

RESULTSThe RNA extracted from the RV culture fluid consisted of 11 bands visualized by silver staining. The expression vector pPICZalphaB-SA11 VP7 was constructed and the fusion protein in Pichia pastoris X-33 was harvested and purified. The recombinant SA11 VP7 with molecular weight of 40 200 was identified by Western blotting. The IgY antibodies against the recombinant SA11 VP7 were produced with a purity of 95 percent and yield of 10.2 mg per egg.

CONCLUSIONThe preparation of IgY antibodies to recombinant SA11 VP7 might lay a foundation for the development of vaccines and diagnostic techniques.

Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Chickens ; Cloning, Molecular ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), one of the most essential conjugative enzymes, is responsible for the metabolism and detoxification of bilirubin and other endogenous substances, as well as many different xenobiotic compounds. Deciphering UGT1A1 relevance to human diseases and characterizing the effects of small molecules on the activities of UGT1A1 requires reliable tools for probing the function of this key enzyme in complex biological matrices. Herein, an easy-to-use assay for highly-selective and sensitive monitoring of UGT1A1 activities in various biological matrices, using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD), has been developed and validated. The newly developed LC-FD based assay has been confirmed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, quanti-tative linear range and stability. One of its main advantages is lowering the limits of detection and quantification by about 100-fold in comparison to the previous assay that used the same probe substrate, enabling reliable quantification of lower amounts of active enzyme than any other method. The precision test demonstrated that both intra- and inter-day variations for this assay were less than 5.5％. Further-more, the newly developed assay has also been successfully used to screen and characterize the regu-latory effects of small molecules on the expression level of UGT1A1 in living cells. Overall, an easy-to-use LC-FD based assay has been developed for ultra-sensitive UGT1A1 activities measurements in various biological systems, providing an inexpensive and practical approach for exploring the role of UGT1A1 in human diseases, interactions with xenobiotics, and characterization modulatory effects of small mole-cules on this conjugative enzyme.