OBJECTIVE: To prepare and evaluate the quality of clarithromycin microcapsules.METHODS: Clarithromycin microcapsules were prepared by emulsion-solvent volatilixation method using ethylcellulose as capsule wall material.The particle size,entrapment efficiency,the loading amount and the drug release property in vitro were investigated.RESULTS: The prepared microcapsules were well-distributed in particle size with average particle size at 33.0～38.0 ?m,encapsulation efficiency at above 87%,loading amount above 45%,and accumulative drug release rate of 75% at 6 h.CONCLUSION: The method is simple and feasible and the quality of prepared microcapsules is up to the standard.

Objective To establish the expression of exogenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) gene in human umbilical vein endotheliocytes to provide both theoretical basis and new method for gene therapy of ischemic heart disease and prevention of postoperative vessel re-stenosis. Methods Expression vector pcDNA3 1(+)TPA was constructed, and transfected into human umbilical vein endotheliocytes cultivated in vitro by lyposome. The exogenous TPA expression was observed. Results The expression vector pcDNA3 1(+)TPA could efficaciously express TPA in human umbilical vein endotheliocytes. The protein quantity of TPA in the transfected cells was 568 6ng/10 6cell/24h, when measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while that in the non-transfected cells was 17 8ng/10 6 cell/24h. The exogenous TPA's activity in the transfected cells was 108 8IU/10 6cell/24h, when measured by chromogenic substrate assay, while that in the non-transfected cells was 5 6 IU/10 6cell/24h. Conclusion When pcDNA3 1(+)TPA was transfected into human umbilical vein endotheliocytes, exogenous TPA could be expressed efficaciously, which provides theoretical basis and new method for TPA gene therapy of ischemic heart disease.

Objective To study the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis function in female patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD). Method By RIA test the levels of serum pituitary and sex hormones were observed. Results The level of fallicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly lower than that in control group ( P

Objective To investigate the distribution of the mini mental status examination in the elderly Methods Totally 3 776 residents aged 55 years or over serving as samples in the urban and rural areas of Lhasa city, from August to December in 2001 were studied A residential area and a door to door general sampling procedures were used in this study, respectively Mini mental status examination (MMSE) and a activity of daily living scale (ADL) were used as screening methods for dementia Results The distribution of lower scores in such examination in middle elderly people, in Lhasa city was 7 2%, in which, males were 9 3% and femals, 6 3% Conclusion The results of lower scores in the mini mental status examination were similar to those reporting from inland cities, but there appear some what differences in distributions of ages, educational levels and sexes from Tibetan, which may be due to their special location and living habits

Objective One of the major obstacle to the successful treatment of cancer in clinic is the drug-resistance phenotype.In this study,the effect of realgar(REA) on the induction of apoptosis and the reversal of drug resistance were investigated. Methods Human breast cancer line MCF-7 and its adriamycin(ADM) resistant counterpart MCF-7/ADM cells were used in this study.15mg/L REA and 25mg/L REA were selected as non-cytotoxic dose and low-cytotoxic to MCF-7/ADM cells respectively by MTT assay.Then,they were adopted to affect the growth of MCF-7/ADM cells. MTT assay was used to analyze the effect of REA on drug sensitivity to ADM.The cells apoptosis was detected by transmission electron microscope and flow cytornetry.The expressions of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 were detected by flow cytometry.Finally,the intracellular accumulation of ADM in MCF-7/ADM cells was detected by fluorescent-spectrophotometry. Results REA reversed the drug-resistance of ADM in MCF-7/ADM cells with dose-dependent relationship.When 15mg/L REA or 25mg/L REA was added into the culture,the 50% inhibitory concentration(IC_(50)) of ADM in MCF-7/ADM cells was reduced from 30.4mg/L to 13.2mg/L and 10.8mg/L(P

The study assessed the early functional outcomes with cemented titanium implants of radius in the treatment of comminuted fractures of radial heads. The functional outcomes of arthroplasty with cemented titanium implants of radius in the treatment of radial head fractures (Mason Type III: 6; Mason Type IV: 4) in 10 consecutive patients (mean age, 38 years) were evaluated over a mean time of 23.7 months (18-31 months). The patients were assessed on the basis of physical examination, functional rating (Mayo) and radiographic findings. The parameters evaluated included motion, stability, pain, and grip strength. Five patients were considered to have excellent results, 4 patients had good results and 1 patient had fairly good results. There were no cases of infection, prosthetic failure, heterotopic ossification or dislocation. When medial collateral ligament was injured, radial head became the main stabilizing structure of the elbow. Titanium radial head implant may provide the stability similar to that of native radial head. We believe that titanium radial head implants may be indicated for the Mason Type III and Mason Type IV radial head fractures.
Elbow Joint/surgery ; Fracture Fixation/*methods ; Fractures, Comminuted/*surgery ; Prostheses and Implants ; Radius Fractures/*surgery ; Titanium ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the relation between the apotosis of B cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and the expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The proportions of apoptosis of B cells in the PB of 80 patients with RA and 80 healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry.B cells in the PB of 20 RA and 20 healthy individuals were isolated by MACS and Western blotting was used to detect the Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein levels.IL-17 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).T-test and linear regression were used to analyze the data.Results The proportions of apoptosis of B cells in the PB of patients with RA and healthy controls were (14±6)％ and (24±9)％ respectively.The rate of apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA was significantly less than healthy controls (t=2.737,P=0.021).The Bcl-2 protein level of B cells in the PB of patients with RA group was significantly higher than that of control group (26±10,12±6,P＜0.01).Conversely,the Caspase-3 protein level of B cells in the PB of patients with RA group was significantly lower than that of the control group (16±7,31±12,P＜0.01).ELISA detected elevated level of serum IL-17 in the patients with RA as compared with controls [(69±19),(27±10) pg/ml,t=4.631,P=0.014].There was a negative correlation between the level of IL-17 and apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA (r=0.36,P＜0.01).Conclusion The elevated bcl-2 and reduced caspase-3 of B cells in patients with RA further proves there is abnormal apoptosis of B cells in RA patients.There is negative correlation between the expression of IL-17 and apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA and IL-17 can inhibit B cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the expression of helper T cells (Th)17/regulatory T cells (Treg) balance associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and their correlation with serum midkine (MK).Methods A total of 60 RA patients were divided into active RA patients (n=32) and inactive RA patients group (n=28).MK level in sera was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 60 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls (HCs).The fraction of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells and IL-17+CD4+ Th17 cells in RA patients and healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expreasion of Foxp3, RORγt, Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and STAT5 mRNA were detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results were evaluated using ANOVA followed by q tests for comparisons of Th17 population between active RA patients, inactive RA patients and HCs, t test was used for comparing of Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3, STAT5 mRNA between RA group and HCs.The correlations between serum MK concentration and peripheral Treg cells, Th17 cells, Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3, STAT5 mRNA were analyzed by Pearson's correlation analysis.Results The percentages of Treg cells from active RA patients, inactive RA patients and HCs were significantly different (F=129.6, P＜0.01), the percentages of Treg cells of active RA patients [(1.41±1.05)％] were lower than that of the inactive RA patients [(3.6±1.6)％;q =7.92, P＜0.05] and healthy group [(7.7±1.7)％;q=22.45, P＜0.05], and there was significant difference between healthy group and inactive RA group (q=14.53, P＜0.05).The percentages of Th17 cells of the three groups were also significantly different (F=36.3, P＜0.01),the percentage of Th17 cells of active RA patients [(1.84±1.01)％] was significantly higher than that of inactive RA patients [(0.71±0.28)％;q=9.59, P＜0.05] and healthy group (0.53±0.16)％ [(P＜0.05;q=1 1.10, P＜0.05], there was no significant difference between the inactive RA group and healthy group (q=1.51, P＞0.05).The expression of RORγt and STAT3 mRNA in RA patients was higher than that of healthy controls (t=5.84, P＜0.01;t=4.52, P＜0.01).The expression of Foxp3 and STAT5 mRNA in RA patients were lower than healthy controls (t=6.01, P＜0.01;t=2.18, P＜0.05).Serum MK values were correlated with STAT5 (r=-0.55, P＜0.01), but not with Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3 mRNA or the percentage of Treg/Th17 cells.Conclusion Serum MK expression and the percentage of Th17 cells increase, while the percentage of Treg cells decrease in RA patients.Serum MK values are negatively correlated with STAT5 mRNA which is associated with Th17/Treg balance.This may be important in the pathogenesis of RA.

Objective In many types of epithelial tumors,down-regulation or mutation of the epithelial cell-adherent molecule E-cadherin is associated with an increased invasiveness that can be prevented by the forced expression of the cell-adherent molecule.This suggests that E-cadherin is a latestage tumor suppressor that prevents invasion and metastasis.This study was to investigate cell invasion and migration status of human ovary serous cystadeno carcinoma HO-8910 cell line when the E-cadherin expression was down-regulated with RNA interference(RNAi) technology. Methods E-cadherin siRNA was transfected into HO-8910 cells to inhibit the expression of E-cadherin.The effect of RNAi was detected by immunofluoresence assay and Western blotting.The invasive ability of the cancer cells was determined by Transwell assay. Results After RNAi,the expressions of E-cadherin were significantly decreased from 63.7% to 11.9%(P

Objective To study the reversal effect of adriamycin (ADM) resistance in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADM by realgar (REA) combined with ?-elemene (?-ELE), two types of anticancer drugs. Methods The sensitivity to ADM of MCF-7/ADM cells was studied by MTT assay.The intracellular accumulation of ADM in MCF-7/ADM cells was observed by fluorescent-spectrophotometry. Expressions of P-GP protein and Bcl-2 protein were detected by flow cytometry. Results The combined treatment of REA and ?-ELE could significantly enhance the cytotoxic effect of ADM on MCF-7/ADM cells to 4.2 fold as compared with the treatment of REA or ?-ELE respectively (P