Objective To observe the level of reduced glutathione(GSH) and oxidized glutathione(GSSG)in a mouse bone cell line MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to fluoride.Methods MTT method was used to detect cell viability of M C3T3-E1 cells exposed to varying concentrations and periods of fluoride [F-concentration:0(control),0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0,12.0,20.0 mg/L; F-periods:1,2,4 and 10 days].The Xevo TQ MS was employed to test the levels of GSH,GSSG and glutamine (Gln).Results The MC3T3-E1 cell viability was significantly higher in the 2 mg/L group(0.57 ± 0.05) 1 day after the exposure compared to the respective control(0.49 ± 0.03,P ＜0.01); conversely,cell viability was markedly lower in the 8 mg/L(0.49 ± 0.07) and 12 mg/L(0.47 ± 0.09)groups 4 days after the exposure in comparison to the control(0.63 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).The cell viability in the 8 mg/L group(1.52 ± 0.29) 10 days after the exposure was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.86 ± 0.23,P ＜ 0.01),however,the value in the 20.0 mg/L group (0.54 ± 0.07) was significantly lower(P ＜0.01).The level of cell GSH decreased significantly in the 20 mg/L groups 2 days[(13.92 ± 4.63)μmol/L]and 10 days [(0.53 ± 0.30)μmol/L]after exposure compared to the respective comtrols [(26.42 ± 3.67),(24.85 ± 5.68)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of cell GSSG markedly increased in the 2 mg/L group 2 days [(1.12 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]and the 8 mg/L group 4 days [(2.13 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]after exposure compared to the controls[(0.55 ± 0.22),(1.46 ± 0.46)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The similar change was observed in the 8 mg/L group[(2.97 ± 1.30)μmol/L] 10 days after exposure compared to the control [(1.35 ± 0.50)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Glndecreased significantly in the 2 mg/L group[ (62.80 ± 17.4l)μ mol/L] 4 days and in the 8 and 20 mg/L groups 10 days[ (122.26 ± 19.51), (19.38 ± 8.11)μmol/L] after exposure compared to the controls [ (83.28 ±14.32), ( 147.15± 16.95) μmol/L , all P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ]. Conclusions Fluoride exposure can significantly promote the changes of GSH, GSSG and Gln levels in the osteoblast, thus affecting the intracellular redox equilibrium.

Objective To analyze clinical diagnosis and management of 5 patients with actinomycete keratitis.Design Retro- spective case series.Participants 5 patients (5 eyes) with actinomycete keratitis.Methods The clinical features and microbiologic da- ta of 5 culture-proven cases of actinomycete keratitis recorded between October 2004 to March 2006 were analyzed.Main Outcome Measures clinical characteristics,isolations identification,drug susceptibility test and treatments.Results All patients were males and farmers.Of the 5 cases presented in this study,4 cases were followed by minor trauma as a predominant risk factor,and were pre- sented by a chronic progressive corneal ulcer with a wreath pattern of infiltrate.The diagnosis of all cases was based on laboratory in- vestigations,by which 4 cases of nocardia and one case of streptomyce were identified.A variable drug sensitivities were presented in nocardia isolates,which including TMP-SMZ,amicasin,gentamicin and fluorine-quinolones.Conclusions Nocardia keratitis is mainly followed by a minor trauma.It is identified predominantly by laboratory investigations.Tropical and systemically sensitive biotic are the initial choice,while debridement and amnionic transplantation could be an effective alternative.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Interleukin-13 ; genetics ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; MyoD Protein ; metabolism ; Pneumonectomy ; Pulmonary Veins ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

BackgroundStudies confirmed that ultraviolet A (UVA)- riboflavin photodynamic therapy can control keratoconus progresses by altering the physicochemical property of cornea.The collagen components of amniotic membrane transplantation is similar to that of cornea and amniotic membrane transplantation has been widely used to ocular surface reconstruction.However,the study on UVA riboflavin-induced-collagen crosslinking for amniotic tissue is less now.ObjectiveThis study was to investigate the role of UVA-riboflavin on frozen-preserved human amniotic membrane.Methods Human amnions were obtained in informed consent and prepared into 2 mm×15 mm pieces and were then divided into 4 groups using lottery method and 6 pieces for each group.The first 3 groups were treated with the photosensitizer riboflavin and UVA-irradiation ( wavelength:370 nm ; irradiation energy:1,2 or 3 mW/cm2,distance:10 mm) for 30 minutes,and the untreated fourth group was as control group.Biomechanical stress-strain test was performed using a microcomputer-controlled biomaterial tester and the stress(mN) was recorded when the strains were set to 5％,10％ and 15％.The 7 mm diameter of human amniotic membrane pieces were trephined and divided into 4 groups(5 pieces for each group) with the treated method as mentioned above,and then the buttons were exposed to 0.1％ collagenase Ⅰ solution.The transparency was scored and the complete dissolving time was record.In histological evaluation,three groups (3 pieces for each group) of human amniotic membranes were treated using UVAriboflavin(3 mW/cm2),0.1％riboflavin,normal saline for 30 minutes respectively and examined under the transmission electron microscopy.This study was performed under the permission of the Ethic Commission of Beijing Tongren Hospital.ResultsWhenthestrainwas 5％,10％,15％,thestressof controlgroupand1,2,3 mW/cm2UVA group were statistically signifcantly different ( F =3.411,P =0.037; F =9.927,P =0.001;F=11.118,P=0.000).The tensile strength of human amniotic membrane cross-linked with UVA-riboflavin was statistically significantly increased in comparison to the control group (P＜0.05 ),and the tensile strength of human amniotic membrane became stronger as UVA power increased.The complete dissolve time was (8.6± 1.8 ) hours for the control group,(39.6± 2.3 ) hours for 1 mW/cm2 UVA group,(71.4±0.9 ) hours for 2 mW/cm2 UVA group,(78.8± 1.8 ) hours for 3 mW/cm2 UVA group,showing the enhanced anti-enzyme ability of human amniotic membrane after cross-linking(P＜0.01 ).The collagen density in the UVA-riboflavin treated group was increased,the connection among the collagen fibers as well as between the stroma and the epithelium became tighter than those of control group.ConclusionsCollagen cross-linking with UVA-riboflavin make the biomechanical strength and enzymatic resistance of human amniotic membrane enhance and ultrastructure change of human amniotic membrane.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LDT) versus entecavir treatments in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

METHODSEighty HBeAg-positive compensated CHB patients with HBV DNA more than 6 log10 copies/ml and serum ALT 2 x ULN were divided into two groups: a telbivudine treatment group, and a entecavir treatment group. HBV DNA, ALT and HBeAg were surveyed at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. The efficacy and safety of the two nucleoside analogues were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks.

RESULTSUndetectable serum HBV DNA levels of the telbivudine group (50% and 80%) were similar to those of the entecavir B group (50% and 70%) according to the polymerase-chain-reaction assay at week 12 and 24. There were no significant differences in the normalization of alanine aminotransferase levels between the two groups at week 12 and 24 (52.5% vs 60.0%, 77.5% vs 75.0%). The mean reductions in serum HBV DNA from the baseline levels at week 12 and 24 were similar between the two groups [5.27 vs.5.36, 6.49 vs.6.18 log (on a base-10 scale) copies per milliliter]. More patients in the telbivudine group had HBeAg seroconversion at week 12 than those in the entecavir group (20.0% vs 5.0%, P = 0.043); however, there was no significant difference between the two groups at week 24 (27.5% vs 17.5%). No adverse reactions were found in either group.

CONCLUSIONThere was no significant difference in HBV DNA undetectable rates and the ALT normalization rates between the two groups in a short-term therapy (24 weeks), but the telbivudine group had a higher rate in HBeAg seroconversion than that in the entecavir group at week 12.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidinones ; therapeutic use ; Thymidine ; analogs & derivatives ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) hydrogel in wound healing in patients with deep partial thickness burn.

METHODSThe study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel clinical trial. Three hundred and twenty-one patients (302 cases finally fulfilled the protocol) with deep partial thickness burn were divided into A group (n = 200, with treatment of rhGM-CSF hydrogel, 100 microg/10 g/100 cm2/d), C group (n = 102,with treatment of placebo). Side-effect, systemic condition, wound healing time, wound healing rate, and total effective rate at different time points were observed.

RESULTSThere were no obvious differences in vital signs, wound secretion, wound edge reaction, blood and urine routine, liver and kidney function between two groups (P > 0.05). No side-effect was observed. The median wound healing time was 17 days in A group, which was obviously shorter than that in C group (20 days, P < 0.01). The mean wound healing rate in A group was 24.5%, 70.5%, 95.3%, 99.6% respectively on 8th, 14th, 20th, 28th day after treatment, which were obviously higher than that in C group (15.1%, 51.4%, 84.6%, 97.1%, respectively, P < 0.01). The total effective rates in A group on 8th, 14th, 20th day after treatment were also higher than that in C group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONrhGM-CSF hydrogel can significantly accelerate wound healing in patients with deep partial thickness burn with certain safety.

Burns ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Placebos ; Recombinant Proteins ; Wound Healing

The paper aimed to elucidate the specific impact of supramolecular chemistry on the Chinese medicine theories (CMT) in their modernization, after had summarized up the research status of supramolecular chemistry and analyzed the possible supramolecular forms of Chinese medicine (CM), as well as considered the problems in modernization of CM theories. On comparison of the classical chemistry that delt with chemical bonds among atoms, the supramolecular chemistry was rather concerned with varietes of weak noncovalent bonds intermolecules, and reflected the macro-apparent chemical properties of each molecules, and was the most appropriate chemical theories to explain the CMT and microcosmic materials. The molecules in the human body and Chinese material medica (CMM) formed supramolecules by way of self-assembly, self-organization, self-recognition and self-replication, with themselves or with complexation, composition, chelation, inclusion, neutralization etc. Meridian and Zang-fu viscera in CMT might be a space channel structure continuously consisted of unique molecules cavity that was imprinted with the supramolecularly template inside and outside of cells, through which the molecules in CMM interacted with the meridian and Zang-fu viscera. When small molecules in human body imprinted with macromolecules in meridian and Zang-fu viscera, in other words, they migrated along within imprinting channels of meridian and Zang-fu viscera on behavior of "Qi chromatography" impulsed by the heart beat, finally showed up on macroscopic the anisotropy of tissue and organ, as described namely as visceral manifestation in Chinese medical science. When small molecules in CMM interacted with imprinting channel on meridian and Zang-fu viscera, the natural properties and efficacy regularities of CMM was reflected on macroscopic. Therefore, the special representation forms of basic CMT is based on the macroscopic expression of "Qi chromatography" abided by imprinting effect regularities, and on whether the imprinted template of small molecules matched with cavity template of macromolecules in meridian and Zang-fu viscera, only is the adequate representation of supramolecular chemistry for them. The CMM materials is the mixture including single molecules and supramolecules. The compatibility for CM prescriptions can significantly change the function rules. Therefore in the study of basic CMT, we should pay special attention to the laws of supramolecular chemistry. It is the most essential differences of the CMT from the modern medicine which established by the laws of single molecular theories.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Meridians ; Nanotechnology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on postuburn hypermetabolism in burn patients and its mechanism.

METHODSThirty-two patients inflicted with burn of 50% to 90% TBSA admitted to our department during past 5 years (1998-2002) were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into A (with 0.25 U.kg(-1).d(-1) of rhGH treatment on 7-10 PBD, n=16) and B (with 0.25 U.kg(-1).d(-1) of normal saline as control, n = 16) groups. The changes in the rest energy expenditure (REE), non-protein respiratory quotient (NPRQ), glucose metabolism, nitrogen balance as well as plasma levels of endocrines and inflammatory mediators were determined before and after the administration of rhGH.

RESULTSrhGH was given to patients in group A during 7 - 10 PBD. The NPRQ in group A began to increase at the 7th PBD, raised to 0.80 +/- 0.09 in the 21st PBD. The plasma levels of PGE2, TXB2, TNF-alpha and IL-6 significantly decreased and insulin, rhGH and IGF-1 obviously increased when compared with those in group B. The accumulated nitrogen loss in group A was also much lower than that in group B. The plasma levels of adrenaline, cortisol, glucagon in group A were significantly higher than those in group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe postburn administration of rhGH timely could regulate postburn hypermetabolism in severely burned patients by increasing the plasma levels of GH, IGF-1 and insulin, which was beneficial to the improvement of nutrition state and to the promotion of protein synthesis and wound healing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; metabolism ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Female ; Human Growth Hormone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteins ; metabolism

To investigate the role and mechanism of ceramide (Cer) regulation in alcohol-induced neuronal proliferation and the newborn neurons formation, we used sphingomyelin synthase 2 (predominant enzyme of Cer metabolism) knockout (SMS2(-/-)) and wild type (WT) female mice to establish the model of prenatal alcohol exposure. In 24 h after being given birth (postnatal day 0, P0), the offspring of model mice received blood sphingomyelin (SM) measurement with enzymatic method. On P0, P7, P14 and P30, the proliferation of granule cells in the dentate gyrus and newborn neurons were investigated with immunofluorescent labeling. The expression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in the hippocampus was tested with Western blot analysis. The results showed that the SM level of blood in SMS2(-/-) pups was significantly lower than that in WT pups. No matter in SMS2(-/-) or WT mice, the prenatal alcohol exposure down-regulated the SM levels in pups with dose-dependency. In both SMS2(-/-) and WT pups, the number of proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus gradually decreased with the growing age. Compared with the WT pups, SMS2(-/-) pups showed significantly more proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus. Notably, prenatal alcohol exposure dose-dependently increased proliferative neurons and newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus in both WT and SMS2(-/-) pups. The hippocampal expression of PKCα protein in SMS2(-/-) mice was lower than that in WT mice, and prenatal alcohol exposure could up-regulate the PKCα protein expression in both WT and SMS2(-/-) mice with dose dependency. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during pregnancy can induce the compensatory neural cell proliferation and the production of newborn neurons in offspring, and the Cer-ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) pathway is involved in alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation. The activation of PKCα may be a key step to start the Cer-C1P pathway and up-regulate the alcohol-induced neural cell proliferation and the newborn neurons formation.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Ceramides ; metabolism ; Dentate Gyrus ; cytology ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects ; physiopathology ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transferases (Other Substituted Phosphate Groups) ; genetics