AIM:To bring forward a method of determining aflatoxin G_2、G_1、B_2、B_1 in six kinds of traditional Chinese drugs by HPLC.METHODS:After being extracted by 70% methanol,purified by immunoaffinity column,aflatoxins were analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection.RESULTS:Aflatoxin G_2、B_2 showed a good linear relationship at a range of 1.5-60pg,and Aflatoxin G_1、B_1 at a range of 5-200 pg,r＞0.999 9.The recovery was between 60%-120%.CONCLUSION:The method is simple,accurate and can be used to determine aflatoxin G_2、G_1、B_2、B_1 in Naoliqing Pill,Renshen Yangrong Pill,Rensen Jiapi Pill,Sanqi Tablet,Jinshuibao Capsule and Bailine Capsule.

0.999 9.The recovery was between 60%-120%.CONCLUSION:The method is simple,accurate and can be used to determine aflatoxin G2、G1、B2、B1 in Naoliqing Pill,Renshen Yangrong Pill,Rensen Jiapi Pill,Sanqi Tablet,Jinshuibao Capsule and Bailine Capsule.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A deficiency disorders (VADD) is a healthy problem of children in the world, especially in the west of China and remote areas, and the nutritional intervention is needed.OBJECTIVE: To compare the improved effects of biscuits fortified with three different doses of vitamin A on the vitamin A status in children aged 3-6 years and explore ap ideal dose of vitamin A supplement for preventing VADD.DESIGN: Randomized controlled observation.SETTING: Health Surveillance Institute, Chongqing Municipal Health Bureau; Staff Room of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences; Center for Children Nutrition, Children's Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences.PARTICIPANTS: The investigation was done between March and December 2002. 753 children aged 3-6 years from 8 kindergartens in Banan district of Chongqing city were enrolled with the agreement of their guardians. They were divided randomly into 4 groups: 30% recommended intake group, 100% recommended intake group, 20 000 international unit (IU) and 200 000 IU groups.METHODS: ① The biscuits fortified with 30% recommended intake of vitamin A (500 IU) were once given to people of the 30% recommended intake group (177 cases) every day. ②The biscuits fortified with 100% recommended intake of vitamin A (1666 IU) were once given to people of the 100% recommended intake group (173 cases) every day. ③The biscuits fortified with 20 000 IU of vitamin A were once given to people of the 20 000 IU group (209 cases) every week. ④The soft gelatin capsule with 200 000 IU of vitamin A were once given to people of the 200 000 IU group (194 cases).Height, body mass, serum retinal, prealbumin, haematoglobin and retinal binding protein of all children were measured before intervention and after intervention for 3 months. Above indexes were rechecked after supplement for 9 months in 87 children of 30% recommended intake groupMAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Prevalence rate of VADD before in-tervention and after intervention for 3 months in children of every group.② Serum retinal, serum prealbumin, serum retinal binding protein,haematoglobin, height and body mass of children before intervention and after interventional for 3 months in every group.RESULTS: Because of lose of samples and detective technology, only 580 children' examination results were got by rechecking. ①Comparison of the prevalence rate of VADD of children in every group: Three months supplementation later, the prevalence of VADD in every group all decreased sig nificantly [1.48%,1.42%,1.21%, 2.16% ;6.78%,6.54%,8.61%,8.25%(χ2=3.86-8.57, P ＜ 0.05-0.01 )]. ②Comparison of serum retinal, serum prealbumin, serum retinal binding protein, haematoglobin, height and body mass of children of every group: After supplement for 3 months, except prealbumin and haematoglobin in the 30% recommended intake group ,other indexes in each group all increased significantly (t=2.52-37.44, P＜ 0.05-0.01 ). The increase of serum vitamin A in the 20 000 IU group was larger than that in the other groups (F=4.62,P＜ 0.01 ). The increases of haematoglobin, prealbumin and height in the 30% recommended intake group were less than those in the other groups (F=5.04-7.78 ,P ＜ 0.01 ).After supplement for 9 months, the increases of haematoglobin and prealbumin in the 30% recommended intake group were larger than those in the other groups (F= 11.62,10.21 ,P ＜ 0.01). The increase of serum retinal was still lower than that in the 20 000 IU group (F=4.21 ,P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Supplement with biscuits fortified with 3 different doses of vitamin A and capsule with 200 000 IU of vitamin A can improve obviously the nourished status of vitamin A and the level of ferrohemoglobin, in which 30% recommended intake and 100% recommended intake have small risk, and everyday supplement can maintain stably the level of vitamin A. That may be suitable for the long-term supplement for children, and the effect of 30% recommended intake was better than that of 100% recommended intake.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of DENG Tie-tao's Foot-bath Recipe (mainly composed of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae,Rhizoma Chuanxiong,Spica Prunellae,Fructus Evodiae,Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis,etc.)for the treatment of essential hypertension with hyperactivity of liver Yang syndrome. Methods Eighty essential hypertension patients with hyperactivity of liver Yang syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,40 cases in each group. Both groups were given basic antihypertensive western medicine treatment, and additionally the treatment group was given external application of DENG Tie-Tao's Foot-bath Recipe and the control group was given foot-bath with warm water. Seven days constituted one treatment course. Before and after treatment , the scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)symptoms and Athens Insomnia Scale were observed , blood pressure variability (BPV)was detected with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring instrument , and plasma norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results (1)The total effective rate for improving TCM symptom scores of the treatment group was 87.5%, and that of the control group was 75.0% , the difference being significant (P < 0.05). (2)The total effective rate for lowering blood pressure of the treatment group was 85.0%, and that of the control group was 72.5% , the difference being significant (P < 0.05). (3)After treatment,scores of Athens Insomnia Scale in the two groups were obviously decreased(P<0.01 compared with those before treatment),and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P <0.01). (4)After treatment,24h BPV,daytime BPV and night BPV in the two groups were decreased to certain degrees (P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment),and the decrease of 24h BPV and night BPV in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).(5)After treatment,plasma NE and E levels in the two groups were decreased to certain degree (P < 0 . 05 compared with those before treatment), and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion DENG Tie-Tao's Foot-bath Recipe exerts synergistic action on lowering blood pressure steadily by relieving TCM symptoms, improving the quality of sleep, decreasing 24hBPV of essential hypertension with hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome. And the regulation of plasma NE and E levels may be one of its therapeutic mechanisms.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of cyclosporine A (CsA), a powerful inhibitor of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP), on pneumocyte apoptosis, the release of cytochrome C and the activity of caspase-3 after lung ischemia/reperfusion, and explore the mechanisms.

METHODSSingle lung in situ ischemia/reperfusion animal model was used. 30 SD rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): sham (S) group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group and cyclosporine A (CsA) group. Apoptosis of pneumocyte was assessed by TUNEL method, cytochrome C (CytC) in cytoplasm was detected by immunohistochemistry techniques, and the activity of caspase-3 was measured with spectrophotometer.

RESULTSThe content of CytC in cytoplasm, the activity of caspase-3, and the value of apoptosis index (AI) in ischemia/reperfusion group were evidently higher than that in S group (P < 0.01). CsA suppressed apoptosis as well as CytC release and caspase-3 activity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCsA can prevent the release of cytochrome C, block the apoptosis of pneumocyte accordingly maybe by closing the MPTP.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Lung ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUND: The effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) during traumatic brain injury (TBI) and whether it can modulate secondary injury has not been reported previously. The present study evaluated the potential protective effects of ventricular infusion of PACAP in a rat model of TBI. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups (n=6, each): sham-operated, vehicle (normal saline)+TBI, and PACAP+TBI. Normal saline or PACAP (1g/5L) was administered intracerebroventricularly 20 minutes before TBI. Right parietal cortical contusion was produced via a weight-dropping method. Brains were extracted 24 hours after trauma. Histological changes in brains were examined by HE staining. The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in blood and the spleen were detected via flow cytometry. RESULTS: In injured brain regions, edema, hemorrhage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and swollen and degenerated neurons were observed under a light microscope, and the neurons were disorderly arrayed in the hippocampi. Compared to the sham group, average CD4+ CD8– lymphocyte counts in blood and the spleen were significantly decreased in rats that received TBI+vehicle, and CD4– CD8+ were increased. In rats administered PACAP prior to TBI, damage was attenuated as evidenced by significantly increased CD4+, and decreased CD8+, T lymphocytes in blood and the spleen. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with PACAP may protect against TBI by influencing periphery T cellular immune function.

In this study, it is to compare the effectiveness of prevention against and treatment of doxorubicin (DOX) induced cardiotoxicity by dexrazoxane and schisandrin B (Sch B) in rats. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the following 6 groups: normal saline group, DOX group, DOX+DEX group, DOX+Sch B (80 mg x kg(-1)) group, DOX+Sch B (40 mg x kg(-1)) group and DOX+Sch B (20 mg x kg(-1)) group. The results showed that Sch B could combat the increase of myocardial enzymes in peripheral blood, decrease of the enzyme activity of myocardial tissue antioxidant enzymes and disorders of systolic and diastolic function of heart in rats intravenously injected with doxorubicin (15 mg x kg(-1)). Sch B was better than DEX in protecting rat against DOX-induced the symptoms. Sch B could protect rat against DOX-induced acute cardiomyopathy and has clinical potential applications.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Cardiomyopathies ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Cardiotoxicity ; drug therapy ; Cyclooctanes ; therapeutic use ; Dexrazoxane ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; therapeutic use ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; Polycyclic Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is usually comorbid with thymoma. More accurate estimates of the incidence thymoma in MG will help inform patients and their physicians, facilitate health policy discussions, provide etiologic clues, and optimize the management of MG. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review search of relevant English-language studies published between 1960 and 2012 using MEDLINE and Embase. We identified additional studies by reviewing the bibliographies of the retrieved articles and hand searched the main neurology journals. Only incidence studies and case series of unselected MG patients in which information about thymoma were included. RESULTS: Out of 2206 potentially relevant studies, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Although there was a considerable degree of heterogeneity, the pooled estimate of the incidence of thymoma in MG was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20-22%). The pooled incidence was significantly higher for surgery-based studies than for population- and hospital-based studies. A large proportion of the reported thymomas were noninvasive. Furthermore, thymoma appears to occur significantly more frequently among male MG patients and those older than 40 years at the onset of MG. CONCLUSIONS: Thymoma is common in MG patients, but appears to be found more often in male MG patients and those older than 40 years at the onset of MG. Further research is needed to expand our understanding of these association conditions.
Cohort Studies ; Hand ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Neurology ; Population Characteristics ; Thymoma

Cisplatin (CDDP), homoharringtonine (HHT), mitoxantrone (MIT) and hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) are highly effective anti-tumor drugs. To evaluate their effects in the therapy of leukemia and establish a valuable method to estimate anti-tumor drugs, Annexin V/PI double parameter flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of these drug inducing apoptosis and death in Jurkat cell line. The results showed that MIT and HCTP-induced apoptosis effects on Jurkat cell line were obvious at 4 hours in early phase after adding drug (P < 0.05) and at 8 hours in late phase after adding drug (P < 0.05). HHT had obvious effect on inducing apoptosis of Jurkat cells, but no significant difference from low to high doses. The effect of CDDP on inducing apoptosis of Jurkat cell line was obviously weaker than that of HHT, MIT and HCPT, its weak effect on apoptosis of Jurkat cell line was found only at high concentration of drug for long time. Death effects on Jurkat cell line can not be observed in every experimental group. It is concluded that low dose of MIT can effectively induced apoptosis of Jurkat cell line. Annexin V/PI double parameter flow cytometry can be used as a reliable method for clinical screening anti-tumor drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Camptothecin ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Mitoxantrone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of the common antivirals, including adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), pegylated-interferon alpha-2a (peg-IFN) and lamivudine (LAM), used as combination therapies to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with positivity for the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) harboring the ADV-resistance mutation, rtN236T, and to explore the factors associated with curative outcome.

METHODSSixty-five adult CHB patients (age range: 20-60 years) who were unresponsive to ADV therapy (HBeAg-positive; HBV DNA >or= 10(5) copies/ml), LAM-naive, and tested positive for the rtN236T HBV mutation were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two treatment groups: Group A (n = 33), who were administered ADV (10 mg/day, orally) plus peg-IFN (180 microg/week, subcutaneous injection) for 48 weeks; and Group B (n = 32 patients), who received the ADV plus LAM (100 mg/day, orally) for 48 weeks followed by continued LAM treatment for an additional 24 weeks. Pre- (baseline), during and post-treatment measurements of HBV viral loads and hepatitis B markers were made by quantitative PCR and electrochemiluminescence assays, respectively. All patients underwent liver biopsies to determine the histological activity index (HAI) and treatment response regarding inflammation and fibrosis stage. The rates of virological response (VR), HBeAg-negativity, HBeAg seroconversion, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization were calculated, and the significance of differences between groups were assessed by Student's t-test and Chi2 test.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the two groups in regards to sex, age, or baseline levels of HBV DNA, ALT, and total bilirubin (P > 0.05). At weeks 24 and 48 of treatment and 24 after treatment end, group A showed significantly higher (vs. group B, P < 0.05) rates of reduced HBV DNA viral loads (81.8%, 90.9%, and 75.8% vs. 53.1%, 56.2%, and 59.4%), VR (48.5%, 60.6%, and 42.4% vs. 31.3%, 34.4%, and 31.3%), HBeAg-negativity (39.4%, 60.6%, and 54.5% vs. 12.5%, 37.5%, and 37.5%), HBeAg seroconversion (27.3%, 54.5%, and 48.5% vs. 6.3%, 15.6%, and 18.8%), and ALT normalization (72.7%, 84.8%, and 78.8% vs. 46.9%, 56.3%, and 46.9%). After 48 weeks of treatment, group A showed significantly improved HAI (vs. group B, P < 0.05). With the exception of treatment-related increased creatinine (P < 0.05), group A showed significantly higher rates of adverse reactions; although, none was serious enough to threaten patient safety or necessitate early termination of the treatment regimen. Twenty-four weeks after treatment completion, five patients had HBV viral loads of >or= 2log10 copies/ml and four had < or= 500 copies/ml, and ALT was normalized in 28 patients. The four patients in group A with HBV DNA < or= 500 copies/ml and elevated ALT during treatment did not show HBeAg seroconversion.

CONCLUSIONPeg-IFN plus ADV combination therapy produced better outcomes than the ADV plus LAM combination therapy in regards to HBV viral loads, VR rate, HBeAg-negative rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate, ALT normalization rate, and HAI, but was associated with a higher rate of adverse reactions (none of which were severe). Lack of HBeAg seroconversion was associated with higher virus load and ALT levels.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult