Heparin and low molecular weight heparin have been widely used in clinical therapy as anticoagulants in cardiovascular disease and in hemodialysis. Crude heparin is usually prepared from porcine intestinal mucosa. Purified heparin is a mixture of polysaccharides consisting mainly of repeating GlcNS(6S)-IdoA2S disaccharides and other disaccharides with different GlcNAc/GlcNS±3S±6S-GlcA/IdoA±2S residues. Heparin injections are drugs prepared from heparin active pharmaceutical ingredient ( API ) that is prepared from crude heparin. Low molecular weight heparins are dominant heparin-based drugs used clinically, which are prepared by degrading heparin into smaller sizes. As a result, low molecular weight heparins are sharing the same major disaccharides but have different reducing and non-reducing ends. In current study, we focused on the disaccharide compositional analysis of clinically used heparin and heparin-based drugs. HeparinaseⅠ,II, and Ⅲ were used to degrade all heparin and heparin-based drugs including heparin sodium injection, Enoxaparin sodium injection, Nadroparin calcium injection, Dalteparin sodium injection, Fondaparinux sodium into disaccharides. All the degraded products were analyzed by strong anion high perforance liquid chromatography ( SAX-HPLC) coupled with an UV-detector. Commercially available unsaturated disaccharide standards were then used for structral identification. Furthermore, unusual disaccharides present in Nadroparin, Dalteparin, and Fondaparinux were confirmed by reversed-phase ion pair HPLC coupled with mass spectrometry. The developed method produced detailed structural information, which should be useful for quality control of heparin and heparin-based drugs.

Objective To evaluate (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BG) assay as an aid for invasive fungal infection (IFI) diagnosis in severe pneumonia patients (diagnosis followed 2007 American Thoracic Society (ATS) and Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) severe pneumonia standard).Methods BG antigenemia was measured by BG Assay Box.IFIs was classified according to the blood fungal laboratory reports.Results 558 patients (185 females,373 males,mean age 64.7) were included.41 patients were proven to be fungal infected to be classified in exposure group.BG assay mean value in exposure group and unexposure group were (568.53 ±796.57) pg/mL,(51.4 ±63.27) pg/mL,respectively.Patients in the exposure group had significantly higher BG assay value than patients in the unexposure group (P ＜0.05).For the cutoff 100 pg/mL recommended by manufacturer,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predict value and negative predict value of the BG assay were 92.7％,92.5％,49.4％ and 0.6％,respectively.Conclusion BG assay has positive clinical value in invasive fungal infection diagnosis in severe pneumonia patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of insulin on D_5 dopamine receptor expression and function in renal proximal tubule (RPT).Methods Immortalized RPT cells and D_5 receptor transfected HEK293 (HEK-D_5) cells were used in the study to investigate the effect of insulin on D_5 receptor expression and function,and those effects were compared in RPT cells from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The function of D_5 receptor was determined by measurement of the Na~+-K~+-ATPase activity in HEK-D_5 cells. Results Insulin increased D_5 receptor protein expression in a concentration and time-dependent manner in WKY RPT cells,but not in SHR.The basal level of D_5 receptor expression was higher in WKY cells than that in SHR cells. Stimulation with fenoldopam(D_1-like dopamine receptor agonist) inhibited the Na~+-K~+-ATPase activity;pretreat- ment with insulin increased the inhibitory effect of fenoldopam on Na~+-K~+-ATPase activity in HEK-D_5 cells. Conclusion The abnormal regulation of insulin on D_5 receptor expression and function might be involved in the path- ogenesis of essential hypertension.

One new dicyclopeptide cyclo-(L-N-methyl Glu-L-N-methyl Glu) (1), together with one new natural dicyclopeptide cyclo-(L-methyl Glu ester-L-methyl Glu ester) (2), and two known dicyclopeptides cyclo-(L-methyl Glu ester-L-Glu) (3), and cyclo-(L-Glu-L-Glu) (4), were isolated from the aerial parts of Dianthus chinensis L. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods.
Dianthus ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the expression of survivin/Human leukocyte antigen class I ( HLA-Ⅰ) proteins and its physiological significance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma ( CCRCC ) . Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze survivin/HLA-Ⅰ protein expression in 90 cases of CCRCC and 10 normal tissues to study relationships with clinical symptoms and disease prognosis . Resutl s The level of survivin protein expression was found to be significantly higher in CCRCC tissues 82.2%( 74/90) than in normal tissues( 0/10).However, the relative amount of HLA-Ⅰprotein in colorectal cancer tis-sue was also found to be significantly lower 67.8%(61/90) than in normal tissues 90%(9/10).Survivin expression was associated with tumor grade , stage,and lymph node metastasis ( P=0.000, P=0.016, and P=0.001, respectively ) .Conversely , lost HLA-Ⅰexpression did not have any associations with clinicopath-ological data (P>0.05).Survivin negative patients (25.0%, 4/16) had a higher tumor-free survival rate than patients (52.7%, 39/74)with survivin expression (P=0.037).Patients (27.6%, 8/29) with normal HLA-Ⅰlevels had a higher tumor-free survival rate than those ( 60.7%, 37/61) with reduced HLA-Ⅰlev-els (P=0.020).The univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that expression of survivin and HLA indi -vidually and in combination were independent predictors for CCRCC patient survival . Conclusions Over-expression of survivin but reduced HLA-Ⅰ expression is associated with CCRCC development and progres-sion.

Objective To evaluate the effects of rigorous surveillance and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) in the treatment of low-risk patients with clinical stage Ⅰ nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (NSGCT) after radical orchiectomy.Methods The data of 71 patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT were analyzed retrospectively in Hunan Provincial Tumor Hospital,Xiangya Third Hospital of Central South University and Hunan Provincial People's Hospital between Feb,2001 and Apr,2012.Excluding lymphatic and vascular invasion,percentage of embryonal carcinoma＞50％ and increasing tumour markers (AFP/β-HCG) following orchiectomy,46 low-risk patients out of 71 patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT were selected and divided into rigorous surveillance group (30 cases) and RPLND group (16 cases) according to different therapeutic methods after radical orchiectomy.Univariate analysis was used to confirm variables associated with disease progression,and the disease free survival rates (DFSR) were compared by using Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results Five cases were lost,and 41 cases were followed up for an average of 61 months (range,15-147 months),with 58 months in rigorous surveillance group (range,19-147months) and 65 months in RPLND group (range,15-144 months).The survival rate was 100％ in 2 groups.The DFSR was 89％ (24/27) and 86％ (12/14),respectively,and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =0.08,P=0.78).The DFSR was 83％ in patients with small amout of embryonal (percentage of embryonal carcinoma ＜ 50％),and 92％ in patients without embryonal carcinoma,and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=1.07,P=0.30).Also there was no significant difference between the patients less than 15 years and patients more than 15 years (x2=1.59,P =0.21).Conclusions There is no significant difference in recurrence rate and DFSR between rigorous surveillance group and RPLND group.Low-risk patients with clinical stage Ⅰ NSGCT may achieve satisfactory prognosis with surveillance after radical orchiectomy.

Objective To evaluate the roles of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2),TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in immune recognition and immune mediation in sporotrichosis by detecting their expressions in skin lesions of sporotrichosis.Methods Biopsy specimens were obtained from the skin lesions of 19 patients with sporotrichosis and normal skin of 12 healthy human controls.Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of TLR4 and MyD88,and real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR to quantify the expressions of TLR2 and MyD88 mRNAs.Data were expressed as mean ± standard error.Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS17.0 software.Independent samples t-test was conducted to compare the parameters between the lesional and control specimens.A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results TLR4 and MyD88 were mainly observed in the whole epidermis except the stratum corneum as well as plasma cells and lymphocytes in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in lesional skin.However,TLR4 was nearly absent and MyD88 was weakly expressed in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in normal skin.The expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 were significantly higher in the lesional skin than in the control skin (TLR4,63.767 ± 3.829 vs.5.167 ± 3.246,t =4.82,P ＜ 0.05; MyD88,57.236 ± 4.744 vs.10.588 ± 1.640,t =3.30,P ＜ 0.05).Similarly,the lesional skin showed significantly stronger expressions of TLR2 and MyD88 mRNAs compared with the normal skin (TLR2,1.974 ± 1.452 vs.1.430 ± 1.073,P ＜ 0.05; MyD88,2.028 ± 2.061 vs.0.688 ± 0.422,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Sporothrix may induce the development of sporotrichosis by interacting with host immune system via TLR signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Optical coherence tomography(OCT) is a new type of noncontactable, noninjurious retinal tomographic technique. Minor serous detachment in retinal neuroepithelial layer can be resoluted and shown by it. The range of inferior fluid of retinal neuroepithelail layer or pigment epithelial layer can also be quantitatively measured to evaluate the recovery of vision.OBJECTIVE: To study the applicative value of OPT in evaluating the relation of vision and neuroepithelial layer in idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy(ICSC) and its prognosis.DESIGN: Single sample study.SETTING: Ophthalmologic center in a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Patients with ICSC who were primarily diagnosed from January 1999 to June 2003 in the Ophthalmologic Center of the Medical College of Jinan University were included. There were 32 males and 8 females, with an average of(36.2 ± 5.6) years old.INTERVENTIONS: Zeiss-Humphrey OCT imaging meter was used for the examination. The maximal range and height of detachment in the serous detachment region of ICSC were measured respectively, and average value and standard deviation were then calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vision and the maximal range and height of serous detachment.RESULTS: Local detachment of retinal neuroepithelial layer in the center of macula retina was shown in the OCT images of the 40 eases(41 eyes) with ICSC. Detachment ranged from 705 to 5 720 μm[an average of (3 051 ± 1 338) μm], with the height from 55 to 491 μm[an average of (270 ± 114) μm] . Four eyes were complicated with serous detachment of pigment epithelial layer. And it was suggested by statistical analysis that the range and height of detachment were related with vision.CONCLUSION: OCT, as an objective noninjurious retinal tomography, its high resolution has important value and special predominee in the diagnosis, quantitative analysis and the detection and follow-up of optical functional assessment during the course of the ICSC.

Objective To discuss the effectiveness of the second surgical procedure of adjacent segment degeneration after the first spinal fusion.Method 35 patients who had been performed spinal fusion in our hospital or had symptoms recurred or aggravated after 12 ～ 114 (42 ±35) months of the prior surgery were enrolled in this study.A second surgery was performed and intraoperative the intradiscal pressure of adjacent segments of degeneration and normal segments was measured.The VAS score systems were compared among prior surgery,3 months later and 2 years after the second surgery.Result The intradiscal pressure of adjacent segments after the cervical vertebra and lumbar vertebra fusion were [ (15 ± 4.6)cmH2O,(23 ±5.2)cmH2O],much higher than normal segments [ (3 ±2.3)cmH2O,(8 ±4.1)cmH2O](P ＜0.01).The VAS score systems of 3 months later and 2 years after the second surgery were [ (2.9 ±0.7),(2.0 ± 0.6) ],which were dramatically lower than the prior (7.8 ± 1.2) (P ＜ 0.01).In 12 ～ 46(31 ± 12) months of follow-up after the second procedure,X-ray and MRI showed that fusion segments reached nearly bone fusion,well decompressed and without nerve compression or other complications.Conclusion If recurrence of symptoms after spinal fusion were caused by adjacent segment degeneration,reoperation would guarantee good clinical outcome.

AIM:To investigate the effect of tumor-suppressor RUNX3 on the transcription of apoptosis-related genes bcl-2,bax,caspase-3,caspase-8,caspase-9 in human gastric carcinoma cells BGC823,and to reveal the apoptosis molecular mechanism promoted by RUNX3. METHODS:The eukaryotic expression vector of human Runx3 gene pcDNA3.1-Runx3 was constructed. pcDNA3.1-Runx3 and blank vector pcDNA3.1 were transfected into BGC823 cells,respectively. After 48 h,the total mRNA and protein were acquired and the expression level of Runx3 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Then,the mRNA and protein expression of bcl-2,bax,caspase-3,caspase-8 and caspase-9 was determined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. ?-actin was used as a control. RESULTS:The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-Runx3 was constructed successfully and transfected into BGC823 cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting confirmed that RUNX3 level was higher in pcDNA3.1-Runx3 transfected BGC823 cells than that in blank vector-transfected cells (P