Objective To investigate the influence of Levetiracetam(LEV) and Topiramate(TPM) on P-glycoprotein(P-gp) expression at brain in the epileptic rats.Methods The epileptic rat models were made with 1.5 ?g(3 ?l) Kainic acid stereotaxic injected into male SD rats' hippocampi(epilepsy group) and the control group rats were injected with 3 ?l normal saline(NS).The rats in epilepsy group(18 rats) and control group(15 rats) were randomized into TPM,LEV and NS subgroups(6 or 5 rats for each subgroup) to receive once-daily orally feeding of TPM(50 mg/kg),LEV(40 mg/kg) and NS(same amount NS) for 30 d.Immunohistochemistry(EnVision) was used to measure the level of P-gp exprssion in the rats brain.The level of P-gp expression was semi-quantitatively analyzed by mean integrated blue(MIB) value in Leica Qwin imaging analysis & measuring system.Results The expression levels(MIB value) of P-gp in hippocampus and temporal lobe in epilepsy subgroups were significantly higher than those in the corresponding control subgroups(P

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Occupational Health Services ; Women's Health Services ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the influence of different treatment time on the relapse and prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Methods To prospectively studied the clinical characteristics of 155 patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. Patients were separated into immediate ( n =84, seizures ≤3 times) or deferred (n =71, seizures ＞ 3 times) treatment groups according to number of seizures before treatment with appropriate antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). The patients were followed up for at least one year (median, 29 months). Kaplan-Meier survival statistics was used to analyze time to first seizure or time to treatment failure (inadequate seizure control and (or) intolerable side-effects ). The proportions of patients with treatment failure and seizure free during follow up were also compared. Results There was no significant difference in time to first seizure or time to treatment failure between immediate ( 1484 days and 2992 days) and deferred treatment ( 1104 days and 1964 days; Log-Rank test x2 =0. 571 and 0. 018 respectively, P = 0. 450 and 0. 893 ). Subgroup analyses according to etiology ( primary and cryptogenic/symptomatic epilepsy) and age (children ≤ 16 years; adult ＞ 16 years) did not reveal any difference between immediate and deferred treatment. During follow up, there were 20 treatment failure patients ( 23. 8% ) in immediate treatment group and 16 ( 22.5% ) in deferred treatment group ( no statistical difference, x2 =0. 035 ,P =0. 852). There were 40 seizure free patients (47. 6% ) in immediate treatment group and 30 (42. 3% ) in deferred treatment group ( no statistical difference, x2 = 0. 447, P =0. 504 ). Conclusions For newly diagnosed epilepsy patients with a few seizures ( seizures ≤ 3 ), immediate AEDs treatment does not affect the relapse and prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo screen the exon12 mutation of pot1 gene in cultured human carcinoma cell strains (lines).

METHODSThe chromosomal DNA was extracted from 27 cultured carcinoma cell strains (lines). The exon 12 of pot1 gene was amplified by PCR, and the product was purified and screened. The screening results were compared with the data of GenBank and NCBI and the exon 12 mutations in cultured human carcinoma cell strains (lines) analyzed.

RESULTSThe exon12 sequence of pot1 could be specifically amplified using the designed primers. Direct sequence analysis of the PCR products after purification showed that 4 of the 5 carcinoma cell lines of the female genital system such as Hela and HO8910-PM cells shared the same transition (G17722-->C) in exon12 of human pot1 gene resulting in a conversion of G1385-->C in the cDNA and amino acid change of Leu454-->Phe in the translated polypeptide. The rest of the 23 cell strains (lines) from different origins showed no such mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe exon12 (17,722 bp) is a mutant region specific for female genital system tumor.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Point Mutation ; Telomere-Binding Proteins ; genetics

Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; genetics ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of patients with mucormycosis.

METHODWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of all 9 cases of mucormycosis in our hospital from 1986 to 2009.

RESULTSThe average age was(31 ∓ 19)years. The intervals between the onset of disease to diagnosis ranged from 1 weeks to 31 months. One patient had rhinocerebral mucormycosis, 4 had pulmonary mucormycosis, 2 had disseminated mucormycosis, and 1 had isolated central nervous system mucormycosis. Risk factors included long-term high-dose usage of corticosteroids, diabetes,acidosis, and extensive skin lesions. Laboratory analysis showed elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased C-reactive protein. Laboratory evidences also suggested 6 patients were obviously immunocompromised. Chest CT scans of all patients with pulmonary mucormycosis revealed bilateral multiple patches. All patients were treated with intravenous amphotericin B, and two patients also underwent surgeries. One of two patients with disseminated mucormycosis died, the patient with rhinocerebral mucormycosis was stabilized,and the other patients were improved.

CONCLUSIONSMucormycosis is a rare disease, and all patients are immunocompromised. Due to the rapid progression and poor prognosis, early diagnosis and correct treatment are necessary and may improve survival.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Background and purpose:Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) is an albumin-bound form of paclitaxel that utilizes the natural properties of albumin to improve paclitaxel delivery to the tumor. It has recently been approved for treatment of breast cancer after failure of combination chemotherapy for metastatic disease or relapse within short time after adjuvant chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efifcacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel in patients with aggressive and refractory metastatic breast cancer (MBC).Methods:A total of 58 patients with MBC were enrolled into this study from Jul. 2009 to Jan. 2014. All patients received albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. The adverse reactions were evaluated every cycle, and the short-term response was evaluated every two cycles. The patients were followed-up, and the survival was analyzed.Results:58 patients with refractory MBC were evaluable for response, 67.2% of patients received multiple line (≥3 lines) chemotherapy, 32.8% of patients with first and second line of chemotherapy were involved metastasis within one year after adjuvant chemotherapy, 84.5% of patients with visceral metastasis and 93.1% with prior taxane treatment. The objective response rate (ORR) was 13.8%, and disease control rate (DCR) was 60.3%, the median progression free survival (PFS) was 4.0 months, and the overall survival (OS) was 10.1 months. For 23 patients with triple negative breast cancer, ORR was 13.0% and DCR was 56.5%, the median PFS was 4.1 months, and OS was 6.6 months. The main toxicity was myelosuppression (grades 3 and 4 neutropenia, anemia and thombocytopenia were seen in 34.5%, 12.1% and 6.9% of patients, respectively), gastrointestinal reactions, sensory neuropathy, myodynia/arthragia, fatigue, alopecia and so on.Conclusion:The albumin-bound paclitaxel-based chemotherapy can be used in aggressive and refractory MBC. It also showed antitumor activity in taxanes-resistance patients and triple negative patients with good safety and tolerance.

Objective To know the prevalence of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) and the implementation of control measures against the disorders in high-risk areas of Hainan province. Methods Typical sampling principle was used. Eight townships with lower coverage rate of iodized salt were chosen in IDD high-risk counties of Hainan. New cretinism cases were screened among children aged 10 years and under. Intelligence quotient (IQ)value, urinary iodine (UI) concentration and thyroid gland size (by palpation and B ultrasonic) were investigated in children aged 8 to 10 years and questionnaire was also carried out among students from grade 5 in elementary school. Edible salt and urine of women of childbearing age were collected to detect iodine levels, respectively,questionnaire was also carried out among the women of childbearing age. The UI was determined by As3-Ce4+ catalytic spectrophotometer, the salt iodine level was determined using self-quantitative kit. IQ values were measured by the Combined Raven Test in China (CRT-C2). Results Seventy-two townships were investigated in three consecutive years, 7937 children aged 8 to 10 years, 1797 women of childbearing age and 4128 students of grade 5 were included in the survey. One child was diagnosed as suspected new cretinism case. The coverage rate of iodized salt was increased from 44.6%(629/1411) in 2007 to 92.1%(1688/1832) in 2009. The goiter rate was dropped from 5.9% (269/4548), 6.0% (274/4548) in 2007 to 1.6% (24/1461), 0.1% (2/1461) in 2009 bypalpation, and by B-ultrasound, respectively, in children aged 8 to 10 years. The median urinary iodine(MUI) was found to be increased from 97.4 μg/L in 2007 to 165.0 μg/L in 2009, and the percentage of UI less than 50.0 μg/L, and 100.0 μg/L were dropped from 21.4%(973/4548), 51.2%(2329/4548) in 2007 to 7.5 %(110/1461), 23.4%(342/1461) in 2009, respectively. The MUI of women of childbearing age was found to be elevated from 73.7 μg/L in 2007 to 126.1 μg/L in 2009, and the value was also increased from 55.7 μg/L to 121.5 μg/L in pregnant women, but these values were still lower than 150.0 μg/L The pass rate of the questionnaire of IDD controlling among the students of grade 5 and the women of childbearing age was raised from 29.8% (446/1495) ,24.1% (179/742) in 2007 to 65.8%(732/1112), 72.1%(264/366) in 2009, respectively. The mean IQ of children was 90.4±16.0, and the percentage of IQ value less than 69 was 12.6% (1000/7937). Conclusions The diseased state of IDD has improved in the high-risk counties of disorders in Hainan province, but the pregnant women are still iodine deficient. Iodine supplimentation should be promoted among pregnant women.

OBJECTIVETo screen out main molecular target promoting human neural stem cells (NSCs) of ginsenoside Rg1 by using the gene chip technology.

METHODFirst, MTT assay was adopted to screen out the optimal concentration of Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation (120 mg x L(-1)). Then, on the 7th day after the Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation, the expression of target genes was observed by the gene chip technology. The most important target gene and signal transduction pathways were screened out through the data calculations.

RESULTOn the 7th day after the Rg1-promoted NSC proliferation, obtained 440 differential genes, 266 significantly upregulated genes and 174 significantly down-regulated genes. HES1 gene, CAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate)-PKA (protein kinase A) and PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase)-AKT signal transduction pathways were closely related to the NSC proliferation.

CONCLUSIONThe differentially expressed genes screened out by gene chip may provide new clues for studies on molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rg1-promoted NSCs proliferation.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on the functional expression of human neural stem cells (hNSCs).

METHODThe membrane electrophysiological properties and sodium and potassium ion channels in the hNSCs induced by Rg1 were analyzed using the whole-cell patch-clamp.

RESULTOn the 7th day, the neuron-like cells derived from ginsenoside Rg1 (20 mg x L(-1))-induced NSCs show: (1) The resting membrane potential: (-45.70 +/- 2.63) mV, the membrane capacitance: (26.89 +/- 1.91) pF, the membrane input impedance: (877.51 +/- 20.44) MH (P < 0.05 compared with the control group, respectively); (2) The detection rate of inward sodium current which is rapidly activated and inactivated in voltage-dependence was 50%, and its average peak value was (711.48 +/- 158.03) pA (P < 0.05 compared with the control group); (3) The outward potassium currents were composed of rapidly activated and inactivated transient outward potassium current and delayed rectifier outward potassium current, and its average peak value was (1 070.42 +/- 177.18) pA (P < 0.05 compared with the control group).

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rg1 can promote the functional expression and maturity of hNSCs.

Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Potassium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sodium Channels ; genetics ; metabolism