Objective To establish a citrate pharmacokinetics model which is applied to evaluate the risk of citrate accumulation in patients with liver dysfunction in the continuous renal replacement treatment (CRRT) with regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA). Methods The source of citrate for extracorporeal anticoagulation, the body clearance and filter elimination of citrate, which were the three major citrate fluxes of systemic citrate level, were combined into a single-pool, first order kinetic equation. The data from a published clinical study of systemic citrate kinetics in the intensive care unit patients with or without liver cirrhosis were adapted and the citrate kinetic equation was applied to predict the risk of systemic citrate accumulation in patients with normal, impaired and absent liver clearance while different RCA-CRRT protocols were carried out. Results The single pool, first order citrate kinetic modeling equation was as follows:Csys=C(0)·e-[(clb+clf)·t/V]+G/CLb+CLf×(1-e-[(clb+clf)·t/V])There was excellent agreement between published citrate measurements and our predictions. Kinetic modeling showed that the plasma citrate concentration of patients with normal citrate body clearance was no more than 1 mmol/L during common RCA-CRRT. The model predicted that when the single pass fractional extraction of citrate on the artificial kidney was above 66％, systemic steady citrate concentration would be among the safe range even in patients of impaired body metabolism of citrate.Conclusions The citrate kinetic model of RCA-CRRT can predict the risk of systemic citrate accumulation and provide the basis for designing the safe RCA-protocols for the patients with impaired body clearance of citrate.

Meridians and Acupoints Science is a basic course and important component of acupuncture and Tuina science. This course contains considerable theoretical and basic knowledge to be memorized, which causes some difficulties for students to study and inevitably influences the learning effect. In view of that, the authors implemented reforms in interest teaching practice in teaching of Meridians and Acupoints Science. Reforms including the use of interesting memory method, string comparison of acupoints, interspersed discussion of cases, presentation of famous doctors' experience in acupoint application and development of the second class activities have achieved some success. That has aroused the students' enthusiasm for learning and improved the quality of teaching.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of action of Longbixiao Capsule (LBXC, a Chinese herbal preparation) on human prostatic stromal cell cultured in vitro.

METHODSNine Japan rabbits were assigned to 3 groups. The high, low dose group was given LBXC [2.0 g/(kg x d), 1.0 g/(kg x d)] by gastro gavage respectively, while equal volume of normal saline was given by gastrog avage 60 rats in the control group, all twice a day with an infeval of 12 h, for 3 successive days. The serum collected at 3 h after the last gastro gavage was added into cell culture fluid. Rabbit's serum containing LBXC was incubated with the cultured stromal cells, and the levels of cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined using relative techniques as TUNEL, ELISA, and immunocytochemistry. Besides, Real-time RT-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, and Smad7 in the stromal cells.

RESULTSThe cell proliferation showed culture time dependence in all groups. The proliferation in the drug-serum treated groups was lower than that in the control group, and it was lower in the high dose treated group than in the low dose treated group (all P < 0.01). The unfavorable growth did not occur morphologically after being cultured for 48 h and showed insignificant difference between various groups. Cell apoptosis was not found excepting for a few appeared in the high dose treated group (with a little amount of apoptotic cells occurring). After treatment, the expressions of TGF-beta, and Smad7 were lower in the low dose treated group and high dose treated group than in the control group (P < 0.01). There was not statistical difference between the low dose treated group and high dose treated group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLBXC could reduce the expressions of TGF-beta1, and smad7 mRNA in stromal cells and inhibit the stromal cell proliferation, but its effect on promoting cell apoptosis is unobvious.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Serum ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

In adipose tissues from sreater omentum of patients with type 2 diabetes,the mRNA and protein expressions of human rearranged immunoglobulin?light chain (HSIGVL) 022 were measured by the fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.The results showed that mRNA and protein levels of HSIGVL022 were up-regulated in patients with type 2 diabetes.The mRNA level of HSIGVL022 was linearly correlated with insulin resistance index,suggesting that this gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

This study was purposed to investigate the ratio of Th17 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis. Based on the number of peripheral lymphocytes and treatment condition, the CLL patients were divided into 2 groups: untreated group (n = 30) and remission group (n = 15), the healthy control group (n = 20) was set up as well. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells of all cases were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that frequencies of CD3(+)CD4(+)T cells and Th17 cells were significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the frequencies of CD3(+)CD8(+)T cells and Treg cells were significantly lower in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05). The frequencies of Th17 were not statistically different between remission and healthy control groups, the frequencies of Treg cells were significantly lower in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), frequencies of Th17 cells were markedly lower in remission group than that in untreated group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that Th17/Treg imbalance exists in patients with CLL, which may play a key role in pathogenesis and development of CLL.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

Based on the reconstruction of two-dimension phase space of time series of short ECG signals, the variation of the strange attractor geometry is described and two indices, VMI and VAI, are derived in this paper. The two indices can distinguish clearly the ECG signals of sinus rhythm, tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Stable results of VMI and VAI can be obtained by analyzing ECG signals of several seconds. They are expected to be used in the development of medical instruments for a fast realtime display of analysis results.
Animals ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

An online ECG signals analysis service system based on the network has been established and is introduced in this paper which integrates the advantages of the network, database and ECG analysis tools, providing on-line ECG signal analysis service. Users with the knowledge of general operation of a browser, can process the ECG data and get a real-time display of analysis results.
Computer Systems ; Database Management Systems ; Databases, Factual ; Electrocardiography ; methods ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Software Design

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors in the modulation of basic respiratory rhythm.

METHODSNeonatal (0-3 days) SD rats of either sex were used. The medulla oblongata brain slice containing the medial region of the nucleus retrofacialis (mNRF) and the hypoglossal nerve rootlets was prepared, and the surgical procedure was performed in the modified Kreb's solution (MKS) with continuous carbogen (95% O2 and 5% CO2) within 3 min. The brain slices were quickly transferred to a recording chamber and continuously perfused with oxygen-saturated MKS at a rate of 4-6 ml/min at 27-29 degrees celsius. Eighteen medulla oblongata slices were divided into 3 groups and treated for 10 min with group II metabotropic glutamate receptor-specific agonist 2R,4R-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (APDC) (at concentrations of 10, 20, 50 micromol/L), group II metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist (2S)-alpha-ethylglutamic acid (EGLU) (300 micromol/L), or APDC (50 micromol/L)+EGLU (300 micromol/L) after a 10 min APDC (50 micromol/L) application. Respiratory rhythmical discharge activity (RRDA) of the rootlets of the hypoglossal nerve was recorded by suction electrodes.

RESULTSAPDC produced a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the RRDA, prolonging the respiratory cycle and expiratory time and decreasing the integral amplitude and inspiratory time. EGLU induced a significant decrease in the respiratory cycle and expiratory time. The effect of APDC on the respiratory rhythm was partially reversed by the application of APDC+EGLU.

CONCLUSIONGroup II metabotropic glutamate receptors are probably involved in the modulation of the RRDA in isolated neonatal rat brainstem slice.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; In Vitro Techniques ; Medulla Oblongata ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; physiology ; Respiratory Center ; physiology

Chinese Pharmacopoeia I (2010 edition) covers dosage and usage of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and decoction pieces, and provides dosage ranges of most of decoction pieces. By using the descriptive statistical method, the article discusses the distribution of maximum dosage, minimum dosage and dosage range of decoction pieces set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and compares toxic drugs and non-toxic drugs. Altogether 617 drugs are included into the study. Except for 16 decoction pieces whose dosages are not clear, all of the remaining decoction pieces are covered by Chinese Pharmacopoeia, with the maximum common dosage, minimum common dosage and dosage range of 3, 10 and 6 g. Upon comparison, we discovered that Chinese Pharmacopoeia sets stricter standards for toxic drugs than non-toxic drugs. Compared with dosages in classical prescriptions and actual clinical usages, dosage ranges described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia are much narrower. There is no significant difference between drugs that can be used as foods or healthcare foods and other drugs according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Drug Dosage Calculations ; Drug Therapy ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Humans ; Prescriptions ; standards

OBJECTIVEThe co-culture model of Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) normal (primary cell) and preneoplastic cells mimicking in vivo status was established and used to study the chemopreventive effects of epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and regulated genes expression of SHE preneoplastic cells and discussed on the mechanism of EGCG's chemopreventive effect of carcinogenesis.

METHODSThe SHE cell preneoplastic and normal cells were cultured on the plates with 1:10,000, 1:1000, 1:100, 1:10 rates for 7 days, and the co-culture model was established. The different concentration of EGCG (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 50 micromol/L) were used to treat the cells and the SHE cells growth assay, in situ cell apoptosis assay, in situ cell proliferation assay and microarray assay were used to determined the growth, apoptosis and proliferation of SHE preneoplastic cells.

RESULTSThe co-culture model of SHE cells with the 1:100 rate between SHE preneoplastic cells and normal cells was established. 0.5, 1, 5, 10 micromol/L EGCG increased the colony growth and proliferation of SHE normal cells. In the coculture model of SHE cells with 1:200 rate, compared the the control group, 5, 10 micromol/L EGCG suppressed the growth of different size of SHE preneoplastic cells clone. The DNA proliferation index and apoptosis index in the control group were 39.3% and 6.5%, respectively. After treatment of 5, 10 micromol/L EGCG, the proliferation index were decreased to 25.6% and 24.8%, and the apoptosis index were increased to 12.65% and 14.5%. EGCG suppressed the growth and proliferation of SHE preneoplastic cells in co-culture model and increased its apoptosis. The pathway of cell apoptosis was regulated through the P53, NF-kappaB, bcl-2 signal pathway, and the pathway of cell proliferation was regulated through the growth arrest at G1/S phase of cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONThe selective regulation of EGCG to normal and preneoplastic cells, the interaction of EGCG, SHE normal cells and SHE preneoplastic cells in co-culture model indicate that the suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis of preneoplastic cells by EGCG might be the mechanism of green tea' s chemopreventive effects to tumorigenicity.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CHO Cells ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Female ; Precancerous Conditions ; Pregnancy ; Tea ; chemistry