Objective To evaluate the feasibility of monitoring the gene expression of VEGF165 via the diglycylcysteine (GGC) reporter gene system by reporter probe of 99Tcm-GH. Methods DNA fragments encoding GGC binding motifs were prepared by PCR and positioned at the C end of VEGF165 gene after the linearization of pcDNA3-VEGF165 plasmid. A replication-defective adenovirus vector Ad5-VEGF165GGC motif-internal ribosomal entry site(IRES) -enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) (Ad5-VIE)was constructed, with a cytomegalovirus (CMV) early promoter driving the expression of VEGF165 gene,GGC motif and EGFP, under the aid of an IRFS. A replication-defective adenovirus carrying the Ad5-EGFP was used as the control. Mensenchymal stem cells (MSC) were infected with the recombinant adenovirus at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) from 0 to 100 infectious units (0,10,25,50,100). The cellular uptake of 99Tcm-GH in infected MSC were then studied at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min. VEGF165 was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-PCR), Western-blot, and immunohistochemisty. EGFP was observed by RT-PCR and fluorescence microscopy. The correlation analysis was studied between the cellular uptake of 99Tcm-GH and the expression of VEGF165. SPSS 13.0 was applied for statistical analysis. Independent samples t-test, q-test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. Results After infected with different viral titer of Ad-VIE, the cellular uptake of 99Tcm-GH increased with the increasing virus titer(r2 =0.86, P ＜0.05), with the peak rate (7.94 ±0.75) % at MOI = 100. In time-dependent uptake study, the cellular uptake rates increased rapidly with the time extension, and the highest uptake occurred at 120 min with the peak uptake rate (7.72 ±0.22)%. The uptake rates of 99Tcm-GH in Ad5-VIE-infected cells were significantly higher than those of Ad5 -EGFP-transfected cells at all time points (t = 15.10- 54.92, all P ＜0.05). The VEGF165 and EGFP mRNA levels increased with increasing virus titer, and the VEGF165 mRNA correlated well with the EGFP mRNA(r2 = 0. 99, P ＜ 0.05). After infected with different MOI of Ad5-VIE, good relationship was found between the cellular uptake of 99Tcm-GH and the expression of VEGF165protein in MSC(r2 =0.90, P ＜0.05). Inmunohistochemisty showed VEGF165 protein expressed obviously at Ad5-VIE-infected MSC, and the EGFP was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Conclusions The cellular uptake of 99Tcm-GH in Ad5-VIE-infected MSC are well correlated with the expression of VEGF165 in vitro. The expression of therapeutic gene VEGF165 can be monitored by the GGC peptide expression.

Objective To study the value of MR diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)in differentiating benign and malignant lesions of prostate.Methods Twenty-two patients with prostate cancer and 17 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia confirmed by pathology or biopsy,and 20 healthy volunteers were underwent prostate plain MRI,DWI and enhanced MRI,and measuring the value of ADC in the regions of interest in the workstation,and the ADC values of prostate cancer,benign prostatic hyperplasia,normal prostate were analyzed statistically.Results The ADC of prostate cancer,benign prostatic hyperplasia,normal prostate in central gland and peripheral zone were 1.08 ±0.23,1.43 ±0.27,1.51 ±0.26 and 1.26 ±0.47,1.72 ±0.40,1.75 ± 0.28,respectively,the ADC of prostate cancer was significantly lower than that of benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal prostate,and there was significant difference(P＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between benign prostatic hyperplasia and normal prostate(P ＞0.05).Looking the ADC was 1.30 and 1.60 in central gland and peripheral zone as the threshold to distinguish benign and malignant lesions of prostate,had high sensitivity and specificity.Conclusion The application of DWI combined with ADC,has improved the capability of diagnosis and differential diagnosis in benign and malignant lesions of prostate greatly.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of nitric oxide (NO) and eNOS in the pathogenesis of vasovagal syncope (VVS).

METHODSFourteen children with VVS (group A), 10 children with syncope other than vasovagal (group B) and 20 healthy volunteers (group C) were enrolled. Plasma NO levels in groups A and B were determined before and at the termination of the head-up tilt table test (HUT). The G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene was determined in the three groups.

RESULTSPlasma NO levels in group A increased significantly when syncope attacked from 76.7+/-9.6 micromol/L (before HUT) to 90.0+/-11.4 micromol/L (P<0.05). After the syncope attack was improved, plasma NO level in group A was significantly reduced. There were no statistical differences in plasma NO levels before and after the HUT in group B. Determining the G894T polymorphism within the eNOS gene showed that group A was associated with a higher incidence of the GT gene type as compared to groups B and C (42.9% vs 10%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma NO may be involved in the pathogenesis of VVS. The increased plasma NO level may be associated with the G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene.

Child ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; physiology ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; etiology

Objective The expression and impaired function of ion channels might be one of the pathophysiological mecha -nisms responsible for diarrhea in inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD) .Proper animal model is the key to explore detailed pathophysiolog-ical process.The purpose of this study was to build a rat model of acute colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in C57BL/6 mice and evaluate diarrhea-associated clinical , histological , pathological parameters and expressions of ion channel protein . Methods C57BL/6J mice of model group were treated with 4%DSS solution for 7 days to induce acute colitis.Mice body weight, stool moisture, stool consistency and the degree of hematochezia were recorded .The histopathological changes of mice colon specimens were observed visually and microcosmically, and the ion channel SLC26A3 protein was detected by Western Blot . Results All experimental mice survived.In the experiment, compared with control group , bloody diarrhea and weight lose occurred in model group , along with increased stool moisture ([73.30 ±8.31]% after experiment vs [44.32 ±6.42]% before experiment, P=0.004), and rapidly in-creased disease activity index (DAI) of acute colitis ([3.50 ±0.87] after experiment vs [1.0 ±0.00] before experiment, P=0.000).At the end of this experiment , compared with control group , the model group resulted in higher colonic damage score and pathological inflammation score (P=0.00, P=0.002), significantly shortened co-lon (P=0.00) and decreased expression of SLC26A3. Conclusion The intestinal mucosal injury and phenotypic features of 4%DSS-induced acute colitis are very similar to those of human ulcerative colitis .Impaired expression of intestinal ion transporter SLC26 A3 coexists with diarrhea in model group mice , and this model can support the research on mechanism of functional changes of ion channels in inflammatory diarrhea .

Objective To evaluate the roles of magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS) in the diagnosis of meningiomas. Methods 98 patients with meningiomas underwent conventional pre-contrast MR and contrast MR. Among them, 28 cases had two dimensional single voxel or multi voxel 1 H-MRS simultaneously both in the lesion's region and the contralateral side. Results On precontrast MR images of 98 cases, T1 WI showed 58.1% (61/105) isointensities, 31.4% (33/105) faintly low intensities and 10. 5% (11/105) mixed intensities; T2WI showed 40. 0% (42/105) isointensities, 41.0%(43/105) hyperintensities, 10.5% (11/105) faintly low intensities and 8.5% (9/105) mixed intensities. After administration of Gd-DTPA, the solid part of the tumors exhibited various enhancement in all the 98 cases.28 cases of MRS exhibited specific different spectral peaks, including increased of choline-containing compounds(Cho), absent or decreased of acetylaspartate(NAA), and the unchanged of creatine(Cr). The value of NAA, Cr, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho in the tumor center of meningioma were 0. 09 ± 0.06,0.31 ± 0. 22, 0.46 ± 0. 16, 0.33 ± 0. 42, 1.50 ± 0. 68, 0. 15 ± 0.08, compared with the contralateral normal region, Cr has no significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05), NAA, Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho had significantly differences(P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion Conventional pre-contrast MR and contrast MR is the most important dignostic means for meningiomas, 1H-MRS combined with MRI can improve the diagnostic accuracy of meningiomas.

OBJECTIVETo establish a UPLC-MS/MS analysical method for simultaneous determination of concentrations of isoorientin, scutellarin and cynaroside in rat plasma and to study their pharmacokinetic characteristics after intravenous injection of 3 doses of Fufang Hongcao in rats.

METHODAcidified plasma samples were precipitated for protein with methanol. Waters Acquity BEH C18 column was adopted for spectrum, with mobile phase as 0. 1% formic acid acetonitrile-0. 1% formic acid-water gradient elution. Detection was carried out by the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) positive ion mode with ESI ionization source.

RESULTThree flavonoids show a good linear relationship, with the extraction recovery ranging between 78.56% and 101.91% and a high intra-and inter-day precisions and accuracy. The MRT of the three flavonoids were all lower than 22 min in rats.

CONCLUSIONThe above men tioned method is so specific, rapid, sensitive that it is suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of Fufang Hongcao injection in rats.

Animals ; Apigenin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Glucosides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronates ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Luteolin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Time Factors

Objective To retrospectively determine the features of stones and calcifications in hepatobiliary system on virtual nonenhanced (VNE) dual-energy computed tomography (CT), and to evaluate the possibility of VNE images in diagnosis for those lesions.Methods A total of 128 gall stones and calcifications of the liver found in 110 patients were examined with triple phase abdominal CT scan from July 2007 to December 2011, in which true nonenhanced (TNE) phase and arterial phase were performed with single-energy CT (120 kVp) and portal venous phase was performed with dual-energy CT (100 kVp and 140 kVp). VNE images were generated from the portal venous phase dual-energy CT data sets by using commercially VNC software. The mean CT values for the stone, liver, bile and paraspinal muscle, mean lesion density and size in area dimension, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lesion to the liver or bile, and image noise were assessed and compared between VNE and TNE images. The effective dose and size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) were also calculated.Results The mean CT values of the lesions measured on VNE images declined significantly compared with those measured on TNE images (164.51±102.13 vs. 290.72±197.80 HU, P<0.001), so did the lesion-to-liver CNR (10.80±11.82 vs.18.81±17.06, P<0.001) and the lesion-to-bile CNR (17.24±14.41 vs. 21.32±17.31, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in size of lesions area between VNE and TNE images (0.69±0.88 vs. 0.72±0.85 cm, P=0.062). Compared to the 128 lesions found in TNE images, VNE images showed the same density in 30 (23.4%) lesions, lighter density in 88 (68.8%) lesions, while failed to show 10 (7.8%) lesions, and showed the same size in 61 (47.7%) lesions and smaller size in 57 (44.5%) lesions. The CT cutoff values of lesion and size were 229.21 HU and 0.15 cm, respectively. The total effective dose for triple phase scan protocol with TNE images was 19.51±7.03 mSv, and the SSDE was 39.84±11.10 mGy. The effective dose for dual phase scan protocol with VNE images instead of TNE images was 13.29±4.89 mSv, and the SSDE was 27.83±9.99 mGy. Compared with TNE images, the effective dose and SSDE of VNE images were down by 32.05%±3.69 % and 30.63%±2.34 %, respectively.Conclusions Although the CT values and CNR of the lesions decreased in VNE images, the lesions of which attenuation greater than 229.21 HU and size larger than 0.15 cmcould be detected with good reliability and obvious dose reduction. There was good consistency in the size of stones and calcifications in hepatobiliary system between VNE images and TNE images, which ensured the possibility of the clinical application of VNE images.

As nanomedicines are developing fast in both academic and market areas, building up suitable methods for nanomedicine analysis with proper techniques is an important subject, requiring further research. The techniques, which could be employed for grain size analysis of nanomedicines, were reviewed. Several key techniques were discussed with their principles, scope of applications, advantages and defects. Their applications to nanomedine analysis were discussed according to the properties of different nanomedicines, with the purpose of providing some suggestions for the control and administration of nanomedicines.
Drug Delivery Systems ; Light ; Microscopy, Electron ; methods ; Microscopy, Scanning Probe ; methods ; Nanoparticles ; analysis ; chemistry ; classification ; Particle Size ; Scattering, Radiation ; Scattering, Small Angle ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman ; methods ; X-Ray Diffraction ; methods

A simple and selective ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) assay was developed for the determination of the human plasma protein binding of four bioactive flavonoids (such as orientin and vitexin) in Polygonum orientale. Protein precipitation was used for sample preparation. Equilibrium dialysis technique was applied to determine the plasma protein binding under physiological conditions. The separation was achieved through a Waters C18 column with a mobile phase composed of 0.1%formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1%aqueous formic acid using step gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. A Waters ACQUITY?TQD system was operated under the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode of positive electrospray ionization. All of the recovery, precision, accuracy and stability of the method met the requirements. Good correlations (r40.99) of the four compounds were found, which suggested that these compounds can be simultaneously determined with acceptable accuracy. Results showed that the plasma protein bindings of the four bioactive flavonoids were in the range of 74-89% over the six concentrations studied. The binding parameters containing protein binding affinity, protein binding dissociation constant, and protein binding site were studied. The maximum ability to bind with protein was also determined in the assay in order to understand the drug-protein binding of each compound better.

OBJECTIVETo study the technical conditions of the extraction and purification of the active composition from Polygonum orientale and Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. in Hongye Xingtong soft capsules with the macroporous resin.

METHODThe orientm, isorientm and hyperoside were used as index to screen the five kinds of resins. And the technical conditions of the enrichment and purification of D101 resin selected out of above were all-round studied.

RESULTThe D101 was fit for adsorbing orientm, isorientm and hyperoside. Under the optimal conditions, the transfer rate of orientm, isorientm and hyperoside was above 91%, and the total solid was cut down by more than 60%.

CONCLUSIONThe D101 is greatly effective for the enrichment and purification of the active composition of P. orientale and C. pinnatifida Bge.

Crataegus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry