Due to their biological and physiological importance, flavonoids received considerable attention in the literature. This review discusses the widely used analytical method i.e. capillary electrophoresis (CE) including the chiral flavonoids separation and the hyphenation of CE and MS. Techniques used for enhancement of sensitivity such as stacking, sweeping, isotachophoresis etc. were also discussed.

Objective To investigate the correlation between drug resistance and β-actamase genes of multi-drug resistance Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) in neonatal intensive care unit to provide evidence for rational antibiotics administration and nosocomial infection control.Methods Twenty-six MDR-AB strains were separated and collected from clinical specimens.The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 13 antimicrobial agents were determined by agar dilution method.Genotypes of β-lactamase were detected by polymerase chain reaction.Results The resistant rates of the 26 strains to Ceftazidime,Cefoxitin,Piperacillin-tazobactam and Ciprofloxacin were 100.0%.About 80.8% to 96.2% of these strains were resistant to the other antimicrobial drugs.Among the 26 MDR-AB strains,100% (26/26) strains possessed oxa-51,77% (20/26) possessed oxa-23 gene,54% (14/26) carried arnpC gene,both oxa-23 and ampC were identified in 42% (11/26) strains,while oxa-24,oxa-58,imp-1,imp-4 and vim-2 gene were not identified.Conclusions The drug resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii is serious,oxa-23 and ampC are the major plactamase genes carried by MDR-AB in neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective To discuss the value of combining secretin-enhanced MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and conventional MRI in the evaluation of chronic pancreatitis (CP).Methods Seventeen normal volunteers,and 36 patients with CP were enrolled in this study.Thick slab two dimension MRCP sequence,coronal T2 weighted sequence and conventional MRI were performed on all subjects.The changes of pancreatic ducts were observed before and after the injection of secretin.The exocrine function of the pancreas was evaluated using duodenal filling (DF) grades.Pancreatic parenchyma was reflected by signal intensity ratio (SIR) between the pancreas and the left psoas muscle on MR plain scan,and the ratio between the pancreatic substance phase and portal phase (A/V) of MR enhanced scan.All subjects were classified based on Cambridge classification and DF grades.The SIR and A/V were compared between all groups of Cambridge classification using the one-way ANOVA test,and between two groups of DF grades using Student's t test.Correlations between Cambridge classifications,DF grades and SIR,A/V were tested using Spearman rank correlation coefficients.Results After secretin injection,the visualization of all portions of the main pancreatic ducts and branch ducts were significantly improved in all subjects.Ten minutes after secretin injection,17 volunteers showed grade 3.Grade 3,2 and 1 were seen in 23,8,5 patients,respectively.Mild,moderate and severe CP by Cambridge classification showed in 11,12,13 patients,respectively.The mean SIR values of the volunteers and the three groups were 1.21 ± 0.19,1.07 ±0.21,0.98 ± 0.21 and 0.85 ± 0.18,respectively; the mean A/V values:1.15 ± 0.11,1.23 ± 0.34,0.97 ± 0.16 and 0.91 ± 0.12.There was statistically significant difference of SIR and A/V (F =8.72 and 7.72,P ＜0.01) between volunteers and CP.Normal and abnormal DF were seen in 40 and 13 patients.The mean SIR values of the two groups were 1.09 ± 0.20 and 0.88 ± 0.27 ; the mean A/V values:1.15 ± 0.11 and 0.94 ± 0.30.There was statistically significant difference of SIR and A/V (t =3.10 and -2.40,P ＜ 0.01) between two groups.There were correlations between Cambridge classification,DF grades and SIR (r =0.60 and 0.41,P＜0.01),A/V (r =0.60 and 0.52,P＜0.01).Conclusion Secretin-enhanced MRCP combined with conventional MRI can be used to evaluate CP regarding changes of morphology and function,which can provide a useful reference for the clinical diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of neonatal invasive fungal infection(IFI) so as to guide diagnosis,prevention and treatment of IFI.Methods Seventy-six neonates with IFI admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital of Fudan University from 2004 to 2014 were included in the study.Pathogens,clinical manifestation,risk factor exposure,laboratory findings,complications,and clinical outcome of neonatal IFI were analyzed.Results Seventy-six cases were diagnosed as IFI between 2004 and 2014,with an yearly increasing trend.Sixty-eight patients were premature infants (89.5％).Of the 76 cases,except one with unknown birth weight,11(14.7％),34(45.3％),20(26.7％)and 10 (13.3％) cases had birth weight ＜ 1 000 g,(≥ 1 000-＜1 500) g,(≥ 1 500-＜2 500) g and ≥ 2 500 g,respectively.The pathogens were mainly Candida (74/76,97.4％),including 26 cases of Candida albicans (34.2％).However,the incidence of non-Candida albicans infection was increasing.Candida guilliermondii was the most common in nonCandida albicans,accounting for 29.2％ (14/48).All Candida albicans were sensitive to fluconazole.One strain of Candida glabrata was resistant to fluconazole.The most common risk factors included use of broad-spectrum antibiotics(93.3％,56/60),parenteral nutrition(70.0％,42/60),central vein catheterization(53.3％,32/60),invasive ventilation(40.0％,24/60) and history of abdominal surgery(21.7％,13/60).Clinical manifestations of IFI included temperature instability,frequent apnea,increased requirement of respiratory support and feeding intolerance.Among all cases,six were diagnosed as central nervous system infection.Of the patients who received cranial MRI,46.8％(22/47) showed multiple abnormal signals in cerebral parenchyma.Fiftytwo patients were cured and seven patients died before discharge,including one death due to fungal infection.Conclusions There is an increasing trend of IFI cases in NICU,especially in premature infants.Non-Candida albicans has become the main pathogenic fungus.There are no specific clinical manifestations in neonatal IFI.Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics,parenteral nutrition and central venous catheterization are common risk factors,and preventive measures should be taken in high-risk infants.In addition,IFI in neonates may affect important organs such as central nervous system,thus early treatment is necessary in suspected patients.

Objective To explore the role of white matter injuries in the schizophrenia induced by the NMDA re-ceptor antagonist. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice (8 week old) were equally divided into four groups. One group was sub-chronically treated with saline solution, and the other three groups were intraperitoneally treated with MK-801 at dose of 0.025 mg/mL (M1), 0.050 mg/mL (M2) and 0.100 mg/mL (M3) in a volume 10 ml per kilogram body weight. All ani-mals were tested using Morris water maze at the 9th-15th day and using the Hole Board exploration as well as Rota Rod performance tests on the 16th day. The myelin basic protein (MBP) and the ultrastructure of the myelin sheaths in the cor-pus callosum were then examined using immunohistochemical methods, transmission electron microscope technique and stereological methods. Results The repeated sub-chronic MK-801 treatment did not induce impairment of spatial learning and memory in Morris water maze. The MK-801 treatment at 0.25 mg/kg and 1.00 mg/kg but not at 0.50 mg/kg resulted in less exploration to a new environment. The myelin staining with anti-MBP antibody was less intense in all three schizo-phrenic groups when compared to saline control group (P<0.01). Furthermore, MK-801 treatment caused pathological al-terations of the myelin sheaths including segmental demyelination of myelinated fibers and splitting of myelin sheath lamel- lae in schizophrenic groups. The ratio of the injured myelinated nerve fibers in the corpus callosum of MK-801 treated mice [M3 group, (22.42 ± 4.24)%] was significantly higher when compared to the control mice [(3.84 ± 1.35)%,P<0.01)]. Conclusions The present study demonstrated the white matter damages, mainly low MBP expression and segmental demye-lization in the corpus callosum in the mice sub-chronic treated with MK-801, indicating that the white matter changes might be involved in the schizophrenia induced by NMDA antagonist.

Twelve compounds were isolated from the herb of Chenopodium ambrosioides, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods as kaempferol-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol-3,7-di-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), patuletin (3), quercetin-7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), grasshopper ketone (5), 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (6), syringaresinol (7), benzyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (8), dendranthemoside B (9), N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (10), N-trans-feruloyl 4'-O-methyldopamine (11), and 4-hydroxy-N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl] benzamide (12). Among them,compounds 3, 6-8,10, and 12 were isolated from the genus Chenopodium for the first time, and compounds 2-12 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chenopodium ambrosioides ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo introduce synergetic inactivation of microorganisms in drinking water by short-term free chlorination for less than 15 minutes followed by monochloramination.

METHODSIndicator microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and spores of Bacillus subtilis were used to assess the efficiency of sequential chlorination and free chlorination.

RESULTSThe sequential chlorination was more efficient in inactivating these microorganisms than free chlorination, indicating that synergy was provided by free chlorine and monochloramine. Ammonia addition time, temperature and pH had influences on this synergy.

CONCLUSIONSThe possible mechanism of this synergy might involve three aspects: free chlorine causing sublethal injury to microorganisms and monochloramine further inactivating them; different ability of free chlorine and monochloramine to penetrate and inactivate microorganism congeries; and higher concentration of residual chlorine in sequential chlorination than in free chlorination.

Chloramines ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chlorine ; chemistry ; Disinfection ; methods ; Halogenation ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Microbiology ; Water Purification ; methods

Chemical investigation of fruits of Mours alba L. lead to the isolation of fifteen compounds by various chromatographies such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, RP-C18 column chromatography. Their structures were determined to be: 1-[5-(2-formlfuryl) methyl] dihydrogen 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate 2, 3-diethyl ester (1), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl] pyrrolidin-2-one (2), divaricataester A (3), methyl 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (4), 1-[2-(furan-2-yl)-2-oxoethyl]-5-oxopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (5), L-pyroglutamic acid (6), L-pyroglutamic acid ethyl ester (7), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (8), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (9), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (10), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid ethyl ester (11), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (12), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (13), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (14), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (15), respectively, based on the spectral analysis such as NMR, MS etc. Compounds 1-14 were isolated from this genus for the first time, among which 1 was a new compound.
Chlorogenic Acid ; isolation & purification ; Esters ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lactams ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid ; isolation & purification ; Tricarboxylic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the respiratory burst function of neutrophils in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods Twenty two VLBWI was divided into two groups:neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and non NRDS (11 in each).The respiratory burst function of neutrophils in the peripheral blood of VLBWI within 48 hours after birth was determined using the flow cytometrydihydrorhodamine 1,2,3 method before and after the chemical stimulation of phorbol-12-myrismte 14 acetate (PMA),and the gp91Phox was also measured in resting neutrophils by flow cytometry.Twenty healthy term neonates served as controls.Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical analysis.Results Before the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI [(49.10±20.19) ％] producing a respiratory burst was higher than that of term neonates [(18.73 ±6.81) ％] (Z--4.911,P=0.000),however,after the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI [(96.58 ± 3.44) ％] was lower than that of term neonates [(99.20±0.62) ％] (Z--3.186,P=0.001),and the stimulation index (SI) of VLBWI (171.40 ± 103.35) was lower than that of term neonates (306.30 ± 138.47),with significant difference (Z=-3.413,P=0.001).The geometric mean of gp91Phox in VLBWI (21.66± 19.87) was higher compared with term neonates (19.60±8.03),however,the difference was not significant (P=0.350).The percentage of neutrophils that expressed gp91Phox [(56.11 ± 29.40) ％] was lower in VLBWI than that in term neonates [(80.14± 14.87) ％],with significant difference (Z=-2.374,P=0.018).Before the stimulation of PMA,the percentage of activated neutrophils of VLBWI with NRDS (63.40± 16.45) ％] was higher than that of VLBWI without NRDS [(34.80± 11.65) ％],with significant difference (Z=-3.382,P=0.001),the SI of VLBWI with NRDS (129.46 ± 75.36) was significantly lower than that of VLBWI without NRDS (213.35 ± 113.49) (Z=-2.331,P=0.020).Conclusions Neutrophils producing a respiratory burst in both VLBWI and term neonates are active without stimulation of PMA,while the phenomenon is more obvious in VLBWI.Neutrophils in VLBWI and term infants can be activated by the stimulation of PMA,and express gp91Phox.The activation and gp91Phox expression of neutrophils in VLBWI with NRDS tend to be lower than those in VLBWI without NRDS.

Objective To investigate the ultrasonic imaging features of thyroid follicular adenoma for conducting the correct diagnosis and differentiation diagnosis.Methods The clinical and imaging data in 64 cases of pathologically proven thyroid follicular adenoma were analyzed on the maximal diameter of tumor,nodularity number,high and low echogenicity,peripheral halo,echo hom-ogeneity,calcifications,and so on.The misdiagnosis causes were investigated.Results The mass was mainly solid or cystic-solid mixed echo.The ultrasonic imaging features of thyroid follicular adenoma were non-peripheral halo or thin wall halo,hyperecho or isoecho,internal macrocalcifications and peripheral calcifications,homogeneous echo structure.Conclusion The ultrasonographic examination can provide the better diagnosis and differentiation diagnosis on thyroid follicular carcinoma.