Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; HELLP Syndrome ; pathology ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Plasma Exchange ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic ; pathology ; Young Adult

Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; diagnosis ; Radiography ; Syndrome

Objective To investigate the morphological features of normal lumbar dorsal root ganglia using a three-dimensional(3D)coronal MR imaging.Methods One hundred and fifteen volunteers were included.Ages ranged from 15 to 75 years,with a mean of 40 years.Coronal 3D fast field echo(FFE) with water selective excitation(Proset)MR examination of 1150 dorsal root gangha were underwent at nerve root levels from L1 to L5.The source coronal images were further reconstructed into a series of rotational alignment coronal images with an interval angel of 12 degree using maximum intensity projection(MIP) technique.All DRGs of bilateral spinal nerve from L1 to L5 were morphologically analyzed on the original and MIP images including qualitative evaluation of the location,signal intensity,architecture and quantitative dimensional measurement.Results There were 225,225,219,210 and 160 foraminal ganglia from L1 to L5 level,respectively.The incidence of intraspinal ganglia from L3 to L5 gradually increased with a maximum at L5 level of 29.1%(X~2=188.371,P

Adult ; Aged ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery

In order to establish a rapid method for identifying six constituents in Guizhi Fuling capsule, Q-TOF with DART ion source was used to perform the direct analysis of compounds in Guizhi Fuling capsule. The DART sampler delivery rate was 0.2 mm s(-1). The temperature of helium gas of DART was 450 degrees C. The capillary voltage was kept at 1 000 V. The temperature of the drying gas of Agilent 6538 Q-TOF MS was set at 350 degrees C. The flow rate of the drying gas of MS was set at 3.5 L x min(-1). The MS scan range was m/z 50-1 000. Based on accurate mass measurements and the elemental compositions of the product ions and fragmentation patterns of reference conpounds, six components, amygdalin, paeonol, paeoniflorin, cinnamic acids, gallic acid, benzoic acid were identified rapidly. The method can rapidly identify six chemical constituents in three batch of Guizhi Fuling capsule. The DART-Q-TOF-MS method is simple, rapid and specific and it can be used for rapid identification and characterization of compounds in traditional Chinese medicines.
Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid quantitative analysis method for the content of chlorogenic acid and solid content in the extraction liquid concentration process during the production of Reduning injection by using the near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, in order to reflect the concentration state in a real-time manner and really realize the quality control of concentrating process of the extraction and concentration process.

METHODThe samples during the Jinqing extraction liquid concentration process were collected. After the removal of abnormal samples, the spectra pretreatment and the wave band selection, the quantitative calibration model between NIR spectra and chlorogenic acid HPLC analytical value and solid content was established by using PLS algorithm, and unknown samples were predicted.

RESULTThe correlation coefficients between the chlorogenic acid content and the solid content were respectively 0.992 1 and 0.994 0, and the correlation coefficients of the verification model were respectively 0.994 4 and 0.998 4, with the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.814 6 and 2.656 1 and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.704 6 and 1.876 7 respectively, and the relative standard errors of predictions (RSEP) were 6.01% and 2.93% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid, nondestructive, accurate and reliable, thus could be adopted for the fast monitoring of the chlorogenic acid content and the solid content during the concentration process of Reduning injection extraction liquid.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Quality Control ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

AIMTo study the non-ion surfactant vehicle (niosome) entrapped-camptothecin.

METHODSThe niosome loaded with camptothecin was prepared from Span and cholesterol using aqueous dispersion of film. The vehicles were visualised by transmission electron microscopy and sized by laser particle analyzer on a Malvern Mastersizer. An HPLC analysis method of the camptothecin was established by fluorescence detection. The entrapment efficiency of the niosomes containing camptothecin was determinated after the ultracentrifugation of the niosome. The antitumor activities of the vehicles on S180 sarcoma in mouse were studied.

RESULTSThe given niosomes were the suspension finely dispersed in aqueous solution. They were spherical vehicles with the single lamellar bilayers similar to phospholipid vehicles. The mean sizes of the vehicles were (565 +/- 6) nm. The recovery of the HPLC analysis method was 100.3% with 0.4% RSD. The entrapment efficiency of the camptothecin encapsulated by the niosome was 61%. The inhibition (%) of the niosome loaded with camptothecin on S180 sarcoma in mouse were 76.1% (P < 0.05). After the given dose the weight of the mouse of the niosome groups were 92.7% (P > 0.05) and 134.7% of blank control groups and compatothecin solution groups, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe camptothecin niosomes were spherical in shape and similar to phospholipid vehicles with singlelamellar bilayers. Their size distributions were narrow. Their entrapment efficiency were higher. Its antitumor activity was better than camptothecin.

Acrylic Resins ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cholesterol ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Particle Size ; Sarcoma 180 ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Surface-Active Agents ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Scalp acupuncture on serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β concentrations, and incidence rates of postoperative delirium (POD) and postoperative cognitive function (POCD) of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

METHODSEighty-four patients undergoing scheduled hip replacement under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) were assigned to the control group (group C) and the scalp acupuncture group (group S) according to random digit table, 42 cases in each group. In group S, scalp acupuncture was additionally performed according to International Standardized Scheme for Scalp Acupuncture. Scalp acupuncture was performed during the operation from the MS1 middle line of forehead [1 cun before Shenting (GV24), including Shenting (GV24)] and MS5 middle line of vertex [from Baihui (DU20) to Qianding (DU21), including Baihui (DU20) and Qianding (DU21)]. The operation time and post-operative length of stay were observed. The midazolam dosage, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine during the operation were also observed and compared between the two groups. The occurrence rate of POD and POCD at post-operative day 3 (T₁), week 1 (T₂), month 3 (T₃), and month 6 (T₄) were measured. Eighteen patients were randomly selected to collect blood from internal jugular vein before anesthesia t₀), immediately after ending the surgery (t₁), 6 h after operation (t₂), 24 h after operation (t₃), and 48 h after operation (t₄), respectively. Serum levels of NSE and S-100β were correspondingly measured.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in the operation time, midazolam dosage used during the operation, hemorrhage amount, fluid transfusion amount, urine amount, use rates of ephedrine and atropine (P > 0.05). Compared with group C, the post-operative length of stay was shortened in group S (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of POD and that of POCD at each time point were lower in group S (P < 0.05). The expression level of NSE decreased at t₂, t3, and t₄, and the expression level of S100β also decreased at t₁, t₂, t₃, and t₄(P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of NSE or S100β between the two groups at other time points (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONScalp acupuncture could attenuate central nervous system lesion and improve POCD of elderly patients undergoing hip replacement.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cognition ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood ; Scalp

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) can stimulate the cholesterol efflux in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells and the possible mechanism. METHODS: Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 cells were incubated in the medium containing various concentrations of ox-LDL ( 0 to 50 microg/mL) for 8 or 24 hours. 22(R)-Hydroxycholesterol (10 micromol/L) was exposed to preconditioned adipocytes with 25 microg/mL ox-LDL for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), and liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha) mRNA expression. Cholesterol efflux mediated by apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was determined using liquid scintillator. RESULTS: Low levels (12.5-25 microg/mL) of ox-LDL could increase cholesterol efflux via the enhancement of ABCA1 pathway and SR-BI expression, whereas the higher concentration (50 microg/mL) could not. In adipocytes preincubated with 25 microg/mL ox-LDL for 24 hours, 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol could increase ABCA1 and LXRalpha mRNA and apoA-I-mediated cholesterol efflux, but had no effect on the SR-BI mRNA expression. CONCLUSION Low levels of ox-LDL may enhance the LXRalpha-ABCA1-apoA-I pathway in adipocytes, up-regulate SR-BI mRNA expression, and then increase the cholesterol efflux. This new effect of ox-LDL will not only make contribution to cholesterol homeostasis in adipocytes, but also be potentially atheroprotective.
3T3-L1 Cells ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; metabolism ; Adipocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Liver X Receptors ; Mice ; Orphan Nuclear Receptors ; metabolism ; Scavenger Receptors, Class B ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAdipocytes behave like a rich source of pro-inflammatory cytokines including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) participates in the local chronic inflammatory response, and high-density lipoprotein could counterbalance the proinflammatory function of oxLDL, but the underlying mechanism is not completely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide L-4F on the secretion and expression of MCP-1 in fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes induced by oxLDL and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.

METHODSFully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were incubated in the medium containing various concentration of L-4F (0-50 μg/ml) with oxLDL (50 μg/ml) stimulated, with/without protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 (10 μmol/L) preincubated. The concentrations of MCP-1 in the supernatant, the mRNA expression of MCP-1, the levels of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) were evaluated. The monocyte chemotaxis assay was performed by micropore filter method using a modified Boyden chamber.

RESULTSOxLDL stimulation induced a significant increase of MCP-1 expression and secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, which were inhibited by L-4F preincubation in a dose-dependent manner. PKA inhibitor H-89 markedly reduced the oxLDL-induced MCP-1 expression, but no further decrease was observed when H-89 was used in combination with L-4F (50 μg/ml) (P > 0.05). OxLDL stimulation showed no significant effect on C/EBPα protein level but increased C/EBPβ protein level in a time-dependent manner. H-89 and L-4F both attenuated C/EBPβ protein level in oxLDL-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

CONCLUSIONSOxLDL induces C/EBPβ protein synthesis in a time-dependent manner and enhances MCP-1 secretion and expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. L-4F dose-dependently counterbalances the pro-inflammatory effect of oxLDL, and cyclic AMP/PKA-C/EBPβ signaling pathway may participate in it.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Animals ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; analysis ; physiology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; secretion ; Cyclic AMP ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; physiology ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; physiology