Aminoacyl-tRNA syntheses (AARS) can catalyze the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent acylation of their cognate tRNA(s) with a specific amino acid. They can be seen as an index to reflect the energy metabolic rate of ischemic brain cells in ischemic penumbra. This study examined the relationship between arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS), one of the AARS, and cerebral ischemia in rats. The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established in rats. The expression levels of ArgRS protein and mRNA were detected in rat brain tissues at different time points following MCAO by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. The results showed that the MCAO model was successfully established. Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the ArgRS protein and mRNA were expressed in brain cells in both ischemic and normal penumbra tissues. The expression levels of ArgRS protein and mRNA peaked at 6 h after MCAO and decreased gradually. At 24 h, the expression levels of ArgRs protein and mRNA in ischemic penumbral tissues were lower than those in normal tissues. The expression levels of ArgRS mRNA and protein in ischemic penumbra varied with ischemic time, suggesting that the energy metabolism of brain cells in penumbra changed dynamically after ischemia to ensure the endogenous self-protection of the body. The brain oxygen supply should be improved as soon as possible, especially within 6-12 h after ischemia, so as to meet the demand for energy metabolism in ischemic penumbra and make sure the cell structure remains stable.

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is an effective herbicide and is widely used in agricultural production, but PQ poisoning is frequently seen in humans with the lung as the target organ. Clinically pulmonary pathological changes are often used to predict the severity and prognosis of the patients. In this study, we observed the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rat lung after PQ poisoning and to investigate the therapeutic effects of ulinastatin. METHODS: Seventy-two adult healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (group A, n=24), a poisoning group (group B, n=24), and an ulinastatin group (group C, n=24). The rat models of acute PQ poisoning were established by intra-gastric administration of 80 mg/kg PQ to rats of groups B and C, and the rats of group C were intra-peritoneally injected with 100000 IU/kg ulinastatin 30 minutes after poisoning. The expression of HSP70 in lung tissue was observed, and W/D and histopathological changes in the lung tissue were compared 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after poisoning. The expression of HSP70 in the lung tissue was assayed by using RT-PCR. All quantitative data were processed with one-way analysis of variance to compare multiple sample means. RESULTS: Compared to group A, the expression of HSP70 in the lung of rats in groups B and C increased significantly at all intervals (P<0.05). The pathological changes in lung tissue of rats with PQ poisoning included congestion, leukocytes infiltration and local hemorrhage, whereas those of group C were significantly lessened. CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin may ameliorate acute lung injury to some extent after PQ poisoning in rats by enhancing the expression of HSP70.

BACKGROUND: Paraquat (PQ) is an effective herbicide and is widely used in agricultural production, but PQ poisoning is frequently seen in humans with the lung as the target organ. Currently, there are many studies on lung injury after PQ poisoning. But the kidney as the main excretory organ after PQ poisoning is rarely studied and the mechanisms of this poisoning is not very clear. In this study, we observed the expression of caspase-3 and livin protein in rat renal tissue after PQ poisoning as well as the therapeutic effects of ulinastatin. METHODS: Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: control group (group A), paraquat poisoning group (group B) and ulinastatin group (group C), with 18 rats in each group. Rats in group B and group C were administered intragastrically with 80 mg/kg PQ, rats in group C were injected peritoneally with 100000 U/kg ulinastatin once a day, while rats in group A were administered intragastrically with the same volume of saline as PQ. At 24, 48, 72 hours after poisoning, the expression of livin in renal tissue was detected by Westen blotting, the expression of caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the rate of renal cell apoptosis was tested by TUNEL detection. The histopathological changes were observed at the same time. RESULTS: Compared to group A, the expression of caspase-3 in the renal tissue of rats in groups B and C increased significantly at any time point. Compared with group B, the expression of caspase-3 in renal tissue of rats in group C decreased. Compared with group A, the expression of livin in renal tissue in rats of groups B and C increased significantly at any time point (P<0.01), especially in group C (P<0.01). TUNEL method showed that the rate of renal cell apoptosis index was higher in group B at corresponding time points than in group A (P<0.01), and was lower in group C at corresponding time points than in group B (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: UTI has a protective effect on the renal tissue of rats after paraquat poisoning through up-regulating the expression of livin and down-regulating the expression of caspase-3, but the regulation path still needs a further research.

Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history, unique system and perfect technology, which has been used to prevent or treat a variety of diseases in the form of compound medicine. Recently, some of the active ingredients from Chinese medicine were found to have self-assembly properties, mainly through non-covalent interactions, including π-π stacking, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bond and coordination interactions, etc. Carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine could not only improve the solubility of insoluble active ingredients, but also the bioavailability. As nanocarriers, the natural active ingredients could exert synergistic therapeutic effects. The strategy of self-assembly without carrier is safer and almost non-toxic compared to the commonly used nanocarriers. In addition, some ingredients from Chinese medicine could coordinate with metal ions to form stable nanoparticles, which could be applied to photothermal therapy. In this paper, we summarized and analyzed the recent achievements of carrier-free nanoparticles based on self-assembly of active ingredients from Chinese medicine, and briefly outlined the future development of this kind of nanomedicine.

Recent years, China has released a series of policies to encourage drug research and development in pediatric populations, aiming to meet pediatric populations' medical needs. Because of the physical and psychological developmental characteristics, tolerance of aversive feelings when taking medications are different between pediatric population and adults. So pediatric populations are at a relatively higher risk of not taking medications as prescribed when the medication tasted unpleasant. Therefore, sound design and evaluation of oral sensory features have important clinical significance and value in developing pediatric medications. "Technical guidance for the design and evaluation of the oral sensory features of pediatric drugs (trial version) " was released in November 2022, by Centre for Drug Evaluation, National Medical Products Administration of China. Based on the guidance, this article will introduce the drafting background and review considerations, hoping to provide reference for the design and evaluation of oral sensory features, and promote drug developing in pediatric population.

To study the in situ intestinal absorption kinetics of flrubiprofen in rats, the absorption of flurbiprofen in small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and colon of rats was investigated using in situ single-pass perfusion method and the drug content was measured by HPLC. The effects of drug concentration on the intestinal absorption were investigated. The K(a) and P(app) values of flurbiprofen in the small intestine and colon had no significant difference (P > 0.05). Drug concentration (4.0, 10.0 and 16.0 mg x L(-1)) had no significant influence on the K(a) values (P > 0.05). However, when concentration was 4.0 mg x L(-1) and 10.0 mg x L(-1), significant effect on the P(app) values (P < 0.05) was found, but significant effect on the P(app) values was not shown between 10.0 mg x L(-1) and 16.0 mg x L(-1) (P > 0.05). The K(a) and P(app) values of flurbiprofen on the perfusion flow rate had significant difference (P < 0.05). Flurbiprofen could be absorbed at all segments of the intestine in rats and had no special absorption window. The absorption of flurbiprofen complies with the facilitated diffusion in the general intestinal segments, and accompany with the cytopsistransport mechanism probably. The perfusion flow rate had significant effect on the K(a) and P(app).
Analgesics ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Colon ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Female ; Flurbiprofen ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Ileum ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Jejunum ; metabolism ; Male ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of fixation of Kirschner needle and thread cancellous bone screw through the sinus tarsi interstice for the treatment of calcaneal fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to December 2012,20 patients with calcaneal fracture were treated by minimally invasive Kirschner wire and threaded cancellous bone screw fixation and bone graft,including 12 males and 8 females with an average age of 39 years old ranging from 21 to 65. Among them, 8 cases were left foot, 12 were right foot. According to Sanders's classification, 8 cases were type II, 10 cases were type III, 2 cases were type IV.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 6 to 16 months with an average of 12 months. The incision were healed. Böhler angle were increased from preoperative (17.75 +/- 4.22) degrees to postoperative (26.85 +/- 7.37) degrees (t = 4.308, P = 0.000). Gissane angle were reduced from preoperative (137.05 +/- 24.91) degrees to postoperative (113.75 +/- 13.17) degrees (t = 7.083, P = 0.000). At 3 months after operation, the scores of AOFAS were 85.50 +/- 7.99; the results were excellent in 5 feet and good in 11 feet, fair in 3 feet, and poor in 1 foot.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive fixation of Kirschner needle and thread cancellous bone screw fixation is a simple operation, it can get reliable fixation, easy to remove, low cost, less postoperative complications, and it is a good treatment of calcaneal fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Bone Wires ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Familial isolated pituitary adenoma (FIPA) is an autosomal dominant disease, characterized by low penetrance, early-onset disease, more invasive tumor growth, as well as somatotroph and lactotroph adenomas in most cases. It has been indicated that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP) gene is a tumor suppressor gene. Many heterozygous mutations have been discovered in AIP in about 20% of FIPA families. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which its disfunction promotes tumorigenesis of pituitary is unclear.
Growth Hormone-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; genetics ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; genetics

Aminoacyl-tRNA syntheses (AARS) can catalyze the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent acylation of their cognate tRNA(s) with a specific amino acid. They can be seen as an index to reflect the energy metabolic rate of ischemic brain cells in ischemic penumbra. This study examined the relationship between arginyl-tRNA synthetase (ArgRS), one of the AARS, and cerebral ischemia in rats. The model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was established in rats. The expression levels of ArgRS protein and mRNA were detected in rat brain tissues at different time points following MCAO by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. The results showed that the MCAO model was successfully established. Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the ArgRS protein and mRNA were expressed in brain cells in both ischemic and normal penumbra tissues. The expression levels of ArgRS protein and mRNA peaked at 6 h after MCAO and decreased gradually. At 24 h, the expression levels of ArgRs protein and mRNA in ischemic penumbral tissues were lower than those in normal tissues. The expression levels of ArgRS mRNA and protein in ischemic penumbra varied with ischemic time, suggesting that the energy metabolism of brain cells in penumbra changed dynamically after ischemia to ensure the endogenous self-protection of the body. The brain oxygen supply should be improved as soon as possible, especially within 6-12 h after ischemia, so as to meet the demand for energy metabolism in ischemic penumbra and make sure the cell structure remains stable.
Animals ; Arginine-tRNA Ligase ; biosynthesis ; Brain Ischemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Energy Metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore the epidemiological factors of an influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in a hospital.

METHODSGeneral data were collected via face-to-face interview and telephone survey. Total 132 individuals including medical and nursing staffs (37), in-patients (39) and patients' family members (56) who were exposed to the pediatric surgery ward during August 11 - 18, 2009, were investigated. The case group included 35 cases according to the diagnostic criteria for influenza A (H1N1). The other 97 persons were grouped as control. A case-control study was then conducted to explore the epidemic factors, and layering analysis was applied to determine the interactions among these factors.

RESULTSThe overall incidence in this study was 26.5% (35/132), which included 12 confirmed and 23 suspected cases, and there was no severe case. The first case was a child with the influenza-like symptoms before admission on August 11. The onsets of these cases were during August 7 - 17. The cases were distributed in 9 of 13 rooms, and there was no room aggregation in the cases distribution (χ(2) = 0.00, P > 0.05). Twelve of 25 oropharyngeal swabs were influenza A (H1N1) nucleic acid positive. The case-control study showed that exposure to the enema room accounted for 93.10% (27/29) in cases and 72.73% (48/66) in control; OR = 5.06, 95%CI = 1.01 - 34.23), long time exposure to ward was 71.43% (25/35) in cases and 44.33% (43/97) in control; OR = 3.14, 95%CI = 1.27 - 7.90), and short distance contact with the nurse LIU (76.46% (26/34) in cases and 50.52% (49/97) in control; OR = 3.18, 95%CI = 1.22 - 8.54) were the risk factors. However, keeping the window open (27.59% (8/29) in cases and 68.18% (45/66) in control; OR = 0.14, 95%CI = 0.05 - 0.39) and hand washing (25.71% (9/35) in cases and 76.29% (74/97) in control; OR = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.04 - 0.28) were the protective factors. The longer time exposure to ward had the higher risk (ratios of cases to control were 4:20 (0 - 1 day), 6:34 (2 - 4 days) and 25:43 (≥ 5 days); χ(2)(trend) = 5.737, P < 0.05). In contrast, hand washing with more frequencies (ratios of cases to control were 26:23 (0 - 1 time one day), 7:9 (2 - 3 times one day) and 2:65 (≥ 4 times one day); χ(2)(trend) = 37.136, P < 0.01) and the longer time window opening (ratios of cases to control were 21:21 (no), 4:13 (a few) and 4:32 (often); χ(2)(trend) = 13.830, P < 0.01) had the lower risk. Nevertheless, layering analysis excluded long time exposure to ward from the risk factors (for individuals with more frequent hand washing, 6.90% (2/29) exposed in cases, 7.14% (1/14) exposed in control, OR = 0.97, 95%CI = 0.06 - 29.51; for individuals keeping window open, 21.21% (7/33) exposed in cases, 8.33% (1/12) exposed in control, OR = 2.55, 95%CI = 0.26 - 60.87), indicating the main risk factors in this outbreak were exposure to the enema room and short distance contagion with the infected nurse.

CONCLUSIONThe influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in this hospital was induced by an inpatient infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus before admission. Infected medical staffs keeping on work and exposure to the same place, e.g.the enema room in this study might spread the influenza A (H1N1) virus, and frequent hand washing and keeping the window open are the most effective and economic methods to prevent influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Cross Infection ; epidemiology ; virology ; Disease Outbreaks ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; virology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Factors