Objective To determine the levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(SICAM-1) in serum and induced sputum in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP),and to investigate the role of SICAM-1 in pathogenesis of MPP.Methods The levels of SICAM-1 in serum and induced sputum and sputum cell count were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit in 44/34 children with MPP in acute episode period,36/28 children in remission episode period and 38/30 healthy children.Results The levels of serum SICAM-1,sputum SICAM-1 and percent of neutrophil(N),lymphocyte(L),eosinophile(EO),mast cell(Ma) were significantly higher in acute episode period in MPP than those in remission episode period and control group,respectively((all P0.05);)the indexs in remission period and in controls showed no marked difference.The le-(vels of) serum and sputum(SICAM-1) in children with asthma attack in acute and remission episode periods in MPP increased significantly compared with those in children without asthma in both periods(P

AIMTo study the preparation of silymarin proliposomes. To study its physicochemic properties, its pharmacokinetical characteristics and bioavailability in rats after oral administration.

METHODSSilymarin proliposomes were prepared by film-deposition on carriers. When the proliposomes were contacted with water to form liposome suspensions, the tests of physicochemical properties including encapsulation efficiency, particle size and stability of the formed liposome suspensions were determined by HPLC, laser-particle-sizer and etc. The concentrations of non-conjugated and overall silymarin in plasma of rats and their pharmacokinetic behaviors after oral administration were studied by RP-HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were computed by software program 3P97.

RESULTSThe encapsulation efficiency of silymarin liposomes could be more than 90%, with an average particle size of about 238.8 nm and a very good stability. The high bioavailability of silymarin proliposomes could be gotten by oral administration.

CONCLUSIONCompared with silymarin, silymarin proliposome is a stable and easily industrialized preparation and did enchance the gastrointestinal absorption of silymarin.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Stability ; Liposomes ; Male ; Milk Thistle ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silymarin ; administration & dosage ; blood ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Objective To analyze obese children serum lipid level in order to understand the relationship between serum lipid and cardiovascular disease in obese children.Methods One hundred and fifty-three children(109 male and 44 female)aged 4-16 years old with obesity who attended the outpatient clinic of Beijing Children′s Hospital were collected.Percentage body fat (%BF),body fat (BF),fat-free mass (FFM) was estimated by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and calculate.Waist and hip circumference,waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was estimated by soft tape measure and calculate.Skinfold thickness of scapular bone below (S) and triceps muscle (T),S/T rate was estimated by skin fold meter and calculate.Serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein(LDL-C),apolipoprotein(Apo) AI and Apo B levels were also measured.SPSS 11.0 software was used to analyzed the data.Results The cardiovascular disease related was the prevalence of high TC levels(3.3%)or high LDL-C level(6.0%) and high TG level(24.7%) was rather low.HDL-C level was reduced in 31.3% of obese children.In children over 10 years old,%BW and %BF showed a weak correlation with HDL-C(r=-0.202,-0.211).Conclusions In obese children,serum lipid as well as Apo level should be exa-mined in order to evaluate angiocardiopathy.

AIMTo prepare silybin-phospholipid complex and study its physicochemical properties. To compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability after oral administration of silybinphospholipid complex and silybin material in rats.

METHODSUsing acetone as a reaction medium, silybin and phospholipid were resolved into the medium, when the organic solvent was clear, then removed under vacuum evaporation, silybin-phospholipid complex was obtained. The new complex' s physicochemical properties including DSC, UV, IR were determined. The concentrations of non-conjugated and total silybin after oral administration of silybin-phospholipid complex and silybin material at different time in rats were determined by RP-HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were computed by software program 3P97.

RESULTSExperiment results showed that silybin and phospholipid in the silybin-phospholipid complex were combined by non-covalent-bond, not forming a new compound and the solubility of silybin-phospholipid complex in water and n-octanol was effectively enhanced. It was found that mean plasma concentration-time curve of silybin after oral administration of silybin-phospholipid complex in rats was in accordance with one-compartment model with first-order absorption. Pharmacokinetic parameters of non-conjugated and total silybin in rats were respectively T(max) 10 min and 2 h; C(max) 0.11 and 1.08 microg x mL(-1); T1/2 2.18 and 3.84 h; AUC(0-infinity) 1.71 and 12.94 microg x mL(-1) x h. However, after oral administration of silybin material, plasma levels of both non-conjugated and total silybin were within the analytical detection limit.

CONCLUSIONIt was concluded that after oral administration of silybin-phospholipid complex in rats the bioavailability of silybin increased greatly. This was mainly due to an obvious improvement of the lipophilic property of silybin-phospholipid complex compared with silybin material and an increase in gastrointestinal absorption.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Drug Compounding ; Male ; Phospholipids ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Silymarin ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Solubility

Objective To investigate the sleep disorders status of patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD),and analyze the related factors of sleep disorders.Methods The KDQOL sleep sub-scale was used to conducted the sleep investigation in 84 PD patients.Meanwhile,the fatigue,physical activity level and depression were collected.Results The mean score of sleep sub - scale of patients was (53.12 ± 19.33 ).The prevalence of sleep disorders was 48.8％.And the logistic regression analysis showed that low physical activity level( OR =2.172,P ＜0.05 ),medical expenses ( OR =1.793,P ＜0.05 ) and depression ( OR =1.367,P ＜0.05) were predicted factors of sleep disorders.Conclusions More attention should be paid to sleep disorders in PD patients,promote them to take part in physical activity,take medicine or non-medicine measures to improve their quality of sleep and mental health so as to decrease the incidence of sleep disorders in PD patients.

Objective To assess and compare the peri-implant stress distribution of three posterior implants under immediate loading with 4 different bone qualities using three dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analysis. Methods A 3D finite element model representing three implants in a portion of mandible at the 654-| region was developed, and three implants received a crown each. Four types of bone qualities (B1,B2, B3 and B4) were designed for the model. Load of 100 N was applied on the occlusal surfaces of the crowns at a 45° angle to the vertical axis of the implants. Results Von Mises stresses in the peri-implant bone of4-| in bone quality from B1 to B4 were ( 13. 17 ± 9. 32), ( 12. 95 ± 9. 14), ( 15. 00 ± 9. 44 ), and(16.81 ±10.74) MPa, and those of 5-| were (15.51 ± 10.32), (14.73 ±8.96), (16.79 ±8.40), and(18. 34 ±8.45) MPa. Stress in bone quality B4 showed the highest value, followed by B3 bone, the loweststress were found in B1 and B2 bone. It was significantly different (P ＜0. 05). However, von Mises stresses in different quality of bone around 6-| [(42.45 ±25.71), (41.66 ±25.29), (42.70 ±23.24), (42.06 ±23.66) MPa] were close to each other, and were as twice or three times as those of 4-| and 5-| , irrespective of different bone qualities. Conclusions The stress distribution around implant under immediate loading was not only affected by different bone qualities, but also by the direction of loading, and the latter may have a greater impact when a severe load delivered.

The morphological index of the seedlings including the plants height, the ground diameter, the leaf amounts, the fresh weight of the whole plant and the ratio of height to diameter was measured and the principal components were analyzed so as to determine the grading index, and stepwise cluster analysis was applied for clustering analysis. Pot experiments were used to measure the indicators of plant growth and development, the yield and the quality. The results showed that the height and ground diameter were determined as the quality indicators of the seedlings grading and the standard quality grading of seedlings of Anoectochilus roxburghii was initially set up, different seeding plants influenced the plants growth and the yield. The ground diameter of the class I was larger than that of the class II and III, so as the yield. The seedling grading had no obvious effect on the internal quality of medicinal materials. The results of the study provide the basis for standard cultivation of A. roxburghii.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development ; Quality Control ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; classification ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo investigate the status of pubertal development in children born with assisted reproductive technology (ART).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on the pubertal development data of children born with ART in Peking University Third Hospital from 1994 to 2003 (ART group). The data in the cross-sectional study "Reports on the Physical Fitness and Health Research of Chinese School Students in 2010" were used as a control. The age at menarche and the age at spermarche were compared between the two groups. The status of pubertal development in the overweight and obese children in the ART group was evaluated to investigate the correlation between pubertal development and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTSA total of 200 children born with ART were enrolled in this study, and 72 of them (41 males and 31 females) completed the survey (response rate=36.0%). In the ART group, the mean age at spermarche and the mean age at menarche were 13.9 years (95%CI: 13.7-14.3 years) and 12.2 years (95%CI: 11.8-12.6 years), respectively. There were no significant differences in the age at spermarche and the age at menarche between the ART and control groups (P>0.05). In the ART group, there were no significant differences in the age at spermarche and the age at menarche between the overweight and obese children and the normal weight children (P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in overweight rate and obesity rate between the children in the ART group and the adolescents in Beijing (P>0.05). In the ART group, there was no significant correlation between the age at spermarche or menarche and BMI (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNo delayed or precocious puberty is observed in children born with ART. This is consistent with the normal control data. And there is no significant correlation between pubertal development and BMI in children born with ART.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child Development ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menarche ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; physiopathology ; Puberty ; physiology ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Retrospective Studies

The essence of endogenous turbidity in Chinese medicine (CM) is different from cream, fat, phlegm, retention, damp, toxicity, and stasis. Along with the development of modern scientific technologies and biology, researches on the essence of endogenous turbidity should keep pace with the time. Its material bases should be defined and new connotation endowed at the microscopic level. The essence of turbidity lies in abnormal functions of zang-fu organs. Sugar, fat, protein, and other nutrient substances cannot be properly decomposed, but into semi-finished products or intermediate metabolites. They are inactive and cannot participate in normal material syntheses and decomposition. They cannot be transformed to energy metabolism, but also cannot be synthesized as executive functioning of active proteins. If they cannot be degraded by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome into glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, and other basic nutrients to be used again, they will accumulate inside the human body and become endogenous turbidity. Therefore, endogenous turbidity is different from final metabolites such as urea, carbon dioxide, etc., which can transform vital qi. How to improve the function of zang-fu organs, enhance its degradation by autophagy-lysosome or ubiquitin-prosome is of great significance in normal operating of zang-fu organs and preventing the emergence and progress of related diseases.
Autophagy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex

AIMTo evaluate the characteristics, the hypoglycemic efficacy and the pharmacokinetics of the insulin-liposomes double-coated by chitosan (CH) and chitosan-EDTA conjugates (CEC).

METHODSInsulin-liposomes were prepared by reversed-phase evaporation. The protection of insulin against peptic and tryptic digestion was studied with HPLC. The hypoglycemic effects of insulin-liposomes were investigated using the glucose oxidase method after oral administration to rats. Serum insulin concentration in rats were determined by radio-immunoassay, and were assessed by Pkanalyst computer program.

RESULTSThe insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC was shown to protect insulin against digestion of pepsin, trypsin and gastrointestinal contents. In glucose tolerance test in normal rats, as compared with phosphate buffer solution control group, the insulin-liposomes coated by CH and CEC could reduce the glucose-induced peak of hyperglycemia. The reduction of the insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC was superior to that of other insulin-liposomes. When administered intragastrically to normal rats, the insulin-liposomes coated by CH and CEC could reduce glycemia measured after an overnight fast. The hypoglycemic effect the insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC was superior to that of other insulin-liposomes, and the dosage of 50 mu x kg(-1) decreased by 45.98% of initial blood glucose level at 1 h. As compared with subcutaneous injection, the relative pharmacological bioavailability was 17.02% calculated by area under the curve of glucose level versus time profile after oral administration of the insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC to rats. The serum insulin concentration-time curves were found to best fit the one-compartment open model. As compared with subcutaneous injection, the relative bioavailability was 8.91% calculated by the area under the curve of serum insulin concentration versus time profile after oral administration of the insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC to rats.

CONCLUSIONThe stability and absorption of insulin-liposomes double-coated by CH and CEC was superior to that of the insulin-liposomes coated either by CH, or by CEC respectively.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Liposomes ; Male ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods