Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Facial Nerve ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Parotid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Young Adult

Using brain microdialysis and LC-MS/MS to detect acetylcholine in rat brain to investigate the effects of ligustrazine. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the determination of acetylcholine in rat brain dialysate sampling by microdialysis. The results indicated that ligustrazine administration by subcutaneous injection significantly increased Ach release in rat medial prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens in a dose-related manner. The drug' s effect on Ach release in rat brain could be directly detected by microdialysis combined with HPLC-MS/MS and this method is selective and sensitive.
Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Male ; Microdialysis ; Nucleus Accumbens ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Using brain microdialysis and LC-ECD, the content of dopamine in rat brain was detected to investigate the effects of ligustrazine. A liquid chromatography-electrochemical detector method has been established and validated for the determination of dopamine in rat brain dialysate. The results indicate that ligustrazine administration by subcutaneous injection significantly increased dopamine release in rat medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus in a dose-related manner. The drug's effects on dopa release in rat brain could be directly detected by microdialysis combined with HPLC-ECD and this method has the preponderance over traditional neurology methods.
Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Electrochemical Techniques ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Male ; Microdialysis ; methods ; Nucleus Accumbens ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prefrontal Cortex ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Our previous work has indicated that mycelium growth and exopolysaccharide accumulation in submerged fermentation by Pholiota squarrosa (Pers. ex Fr.) Quel. AS 5.245 are strongly affected by many internal and external factors, including medium constituents and fermentation conditions. In this study, we use an effective two-phase statistical approach to enhance exopolysaccharide production. In the first phase, Plackett-Burman design was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the twenty factors, i.e., glucose, fructose, maltose, yeast extract, tryptone, K2HPO4, KH2PO4, (NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, FeSO4, MgSO4, MnCl2, ZnCl2, FeCl3, CuSO4.5H2O, vitamin B1, initial pH, the temperature, the medium volume and the duration, to the fermentation. By regression analysis, yeast extract, tryptone, fructose, MgSO4, MnCl2, initial pH and temperature were found to be important for exopolysaccharide production, while glucose, maltose, NaNO3, ZnCl2, vitamin B1, the duration and the volume are important to the mycelium biomass. In the second phase of the optimization process, a response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the above critical internal factors, and to find out the optimal concentration levels and the relationships between these factors. Based on the results of the first phase, a five-level six-factor (yeast extract, fructose, MgSO4, maltose, ZnCl2 and initial pH) central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed. By solving the quadratic regression model equation using appropriate statistic methods, the optimal concentrations for obtaining 876.32 microg exopolysaccharide per milliliter of fermentation liquor were calculated as: 6.0g/L yeast extract, 11.5g/L fructose, 0.5g/L MgSO4, 9.6g/L maltose, 38.6mg/L ZnCl2 and with the initial pH 5.3. The experimental data under various conditions have validated the theoretical values.
Culture Media ; Fermentation ; Fructose ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Maltose ; metabolism ; Pholiota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; Temperature

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Spinal Stenosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; surgery

BACKGROUNDVasoactive factors have been reported to correlate with vulnerable plaque and acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vasoactive factors and plaque morphology in patients suffering from non-ST-segment elevated ACS.

METHODSFrom April 2007 to April 2009, 124 consecutive patients suffering from non-ST-segment elevated ACS who had received coronary angiography (CAG) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in the People's Liberation Army General Hospital and Beijing Anzhen Hospital were enrolled in this study. Three serum vasoactive factors, plasma soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sFlt-1), placental growth factor (PLGF) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), were measured by enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay of the patients. The levels of vasoactive factors were compared between vulnerable plaque group and stable plaque group, and between unstable angina pectoris (UAP) group and non-ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTE-AMI) group. The relationship between the plaque morphology and levels of vasoactive factors was analyzed.

RESULTSThe levels of vasoactive factors were similar between the UAP group (69 patients) and NSTE-AMI group (55 patients). The levels of sFlt-1 and PLGF in the vulnerable plaque group were significantly higher than those in the stable plaque group. The level of IL-18 was correlated positively with plaque morphology. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the level of PLGF was an independent risk factor for vulnerable plaque (OR=2.115, 95% CI 1.415-5.758, P=0.018). Using the ROC curve, PLGF was a significant factor for the diagnosis of vulnerable plaque (the diagnostic point was 26.3 ng/L, the proportion of square area under the ROC curve was 0.799, 95%CI 0.758-0.839, P<0.001; the sensitivity of PLGF under the ROC curve was 86%, and the specificity 63%).

CONCLUSIONBoth IL-18 and PLGF are biomarkers for vulnerable plaques and helpful to predict vulnerable plaque.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Placenta Growth Factor ; Pregnancy Proteins ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVEEpidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) such as gefitinib and erlotinib are used as standard 2(nd)/3(rd) line therapy in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the optimal treatment for patients who experienced disease progression after chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI is unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of a salvage chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients who failed the previous treatment of platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 55 cases of advanced NSCLC patients who failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and subsequent treatment with TKI were collected and analyzed. The patients were of PS = 0-2, and with normal vital organ function. Patients received salvage chemotherapy until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or the patient refused to continue receiving treatment. A chart review assessed the key outcomes including the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTSFifty-five patients were enrolled in this study from march 2007 to october 2009. The median age of patients was 55 years (range: 34 - 72), 60.0% were males, PS 0-1 patients were 65.5%, stage IV patients were 100%; 34.5% had a TKI treatment duration ≥ 6 months. Twenty-four patients received pemetrexed as salvage chemotherapy, 21 received docetaxal and 10 had other chemotherapy. All patients were evaluable for efficacy. Among them, 7 (12.7%) patients achieved PR, 21 (38.2%) patients SD, and 27 (49.1%) patients PD, with ORR of 12.7% and DCR of 50.9%. The median follow-up duration was 5.5 months, and the median PFS was 2.0 months. The ORR and PFS were not significantly related with gender, PS and chemotherapy regimens (all P > 0.05), but patients with EGFR-TKI treatment ≥ 6 months achieved a significantly better ORR and DCR than those < 6 months (ORR: 21.1% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.012; DCR: 73.3% vs. 38.9%, P = 0.017), mPFS was significant longer in the patients received ≥ 6 months of EGFR-TKI (4.5 vs. 2.0 months, P = 0.008). The toxicity was acceptable and there were no treatment-related deaths.

CONCLUSIONAdvanced NSCLC patients failed with the previous treatment of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy and EGFR-TKI may benefit from salvage chemotherapy, especially in patients who received ≥ 6 months of EGFR-TKI. The toxicity of the salvage chemotherapy is acceptable.

Adult ; Aged ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glutamates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Guanine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Pemetrexed ; Platinum ; administration & dosage ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Salvage Therapy ; Taxoids ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Failure

This study was aimed to verify the efficacy of home-made LSI bcr/abl ES probe for detection of bcr/abl fusion gene and derivative chromosome 9 deletions in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was carried out with dual color bcr/abl extra signal (ES) probe in 97 cases of CML based on morphology and cytogenetic karyotype and 129 cases of non-hematological malignancies/non-myeloproliferative diseases with normal cytogenetic karyotype. For the patients with signals of 1R1G1F indicating der(9) deletions, FISH were done using ASS DNA probe. The results showed that 91 cases with standard t(9;22) and 6 cases with variant translocation of t(9;22) were detected by conventional G banding technique. All of the 97 patients displayed bcr/abl fusion gene by ES-FISH, including 16 cases with signal patterns of 1R1G1F showing der(9) deletions. Among the 16 cases with der(9) deletions, 13 cases were detected to have deletions of ASS gene. Meanwhile, none of the 129 cases of negative control showed bcr/abl fusion gene by ES-FISH. It is concluded that home-made LSI bcr/abl ES probe is effective to identify the bcr/abl fusion gene and der(9) deletions in CML, and the ES-FISH results are consistent with conventional cytogenetic karyotype.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; DNA Probes ; genetics ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; analysis ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sequence Deletion ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo set up a new analysis method of the traditional Chinese medicine Scorpio.

METHODSTen Scorpio samples were obtained from Hubei, Shaanxi, and Shandong provinces and analyzed with X-ray diffraction Fourier pattern technique to obtain the geometric topology and characteristic marked peak of Scorpio.

RESULTSThe geometric topologies of 9 samples were similar, excepting Sample 7#. Totally 11 characteristic marked peaks were observed among these 9 samples.

CONCLUSIONX-ray diffraction Fourier pattern is a useful tool for the identification and quality control of the Scorpio.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fourier Analysis ; Powders ; Scorpions ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the eGFR as a risk factor for long-term (4-year) outcome in Chinese renal insufficiency patients after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our institution.

METHODSFrom January 1999 to September 2003, 3371 consecutive patients who underwent isolated CABG were retrospectively reviewed. Of these patients, 549 (16.29%) patients were female, 1979 (58.71%) patients with hypertension, 866 (25.69%) patients with diabetes, 1130 (33.52%) patients with hyperlipidemia, 1011 (29.99%) patients with left main stenosis > 50%, and 1150 (34.11%) patients undergoing off-pump procedures. The mean age was (60 +/- 9) years old. Estimated GFR was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. The main outcomes were in-hospital mortality, in-hospital morbidity and long-term mortality. COX analysis was used in this study.

RESULTSThere were 649 patients with glomerular filtration rate estimates < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) and 2722 patients with glomerular filtration rate estimates > 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)). The in-hospital mortality and follow-up mortality was higher in the estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) group (2.77% vs. 0.77%, P < 0.01), (6.81% vs. 2.63%, P < 0.01). The COX analysis result confirmed eGFR < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)), derived using the Cockcroft-Gault formula (HR: 1.948, 95%CI: 1.357 to 2.797, P < 0.01) was an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

CONCLUSIONSThe estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/(min.1.73 m(2)) derived using the Cockcroft-Gault formula is an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; mortality ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors