DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the correlation of pretreatment serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCCAg)with the clinico-pathological features of squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix and its significance as a prognostic factor.Methods One hundred and fourteen patients of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix(Ⅰbl-Ⅱa),who underwent pretreatment serum SCCAg evaluation and long-term follow-up after treatment were selected for this study.Clinical data were used to investigate the correlation between SCCAg and clinico-pathological features and factors that influence prognosis through univariate and multivariate analysis.Results Univariate analysis showed elevation of SCCAg(using≤1.5 mg/L as the cut-off value)was correlated with tumor size,deep stromal invasion and pelvic node metastasis (P0.05).However,between no pelvic node metastasis+elevated SCCAg cases and no pelvic node metastasis+normal SCCAg cases,there was a significant difference in DFS (71.8% vs 98.0%,P=0.003),recurrence rate(33.3% vs 9.8%,P=0.006)and local recurrence (26.5% vs 2.1%,P=0.001).Conelusions The independent prognostic factors for Ⅰ bl-Ⅱa squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix include elevated pretreatment SCCAg and pelvic node metastasis. Patients with elevated pretreatment serum SCCAg and no metastasis to pelvic lymph node(s)are at significantly elevated risk of local recurrence,and therefore need individualized treatment to improve local control and long-term survival.

The biochemical mechanism of degrading keratins by S.fradiae var S-221 was primarily studied.The compounds (Na_ 2 SO_ 4 , Na_ 2 SO_ 3 and sulfdryl acohol), which respecitively enhance specific activity of keratinase, activate keratinase intensively and mainly act on the disulfide bonds reductase in the keratinase, Na_ 2 SO_ 3 activates intensively both disulfide bonds reductase and polypeptide hydrolytase at 0.01 mol/L, whereas Na_ 2 S_ 2 O_ 3 , which acts on the disulfide bonds reductase, inhibits keratinase.On the condition that substrate, keratins exists, S.fradiae var S-221 is induced to produce exo-keratinase, which is a multiproteinase, containing disulfide bonds reductase, which is a key enzyme degrading keratins, then, with polypeptidic, hydrolytase, graduately hydrolyzates denatured keratins into polypeptides, oligopeptides and free amino acids, so that keratins have been decomposed completely.Sulfur in the keratins was transferred into sulfhydryl compounds, H_ 2 S and sulfates in the course of keratinolysine.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of phenformin hydrochloride that may be illegally added in traditional Chinese medicine preparations on the pharmacokinetics of puerarin in rats.

METHODRats were randomly divided into the single pueraria group and the phenformin hydrochloride combined with pueraria group. After oral administration in the two groups, their bloods were sampled at different time points to determine the drug concentration of puerarin in rat blood and calculate pharmacokinetic parameters.

RESULTAfter oral administration with pueraria extracts and phenformin hydrochloride combined with pueraria extracts, the two groups showed main pharmacokinetic parameters as follows: Cmax were (2.39 +/- 1.01), (1.03 +/- 0.35) mg x L(-1), respectively; Tmax were (0.50 +/- 0.09), (1.5 +/- 0.5) h, respectively; Ke were (0.153 +/- 0.028), (0.172 +/- 0.042) h(-1), respectively; t(1/2) were (4.65 +/- 0.86), (4.20 +/- 0.81) h, respectively; AUC(0-t), were (5.73 +/- 2.60), (5.45 +/- 1.81) mg x h x L(-1), respectively; AUC(0-infinity) were (6.72 +/- 2.89), (6.26 +/- 1.88) mg x h x L(-1), respectively. Compared with the single puerarin group, the Cmax was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and the Tmax was markedly longer (P < 0.01) than the hydrochloride combined with pueraria group.

CONCLUSIONPhenformin hydrochloride can slow down the absorption process of puerarin and change the pharmacokinetic process of puerarin to some extent.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Drug Interactions ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Phenformin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of psychological factors on post-partum hemorrhage and labor duration.

METHODSA questionnaire-based investigation was conducted in 180 healthy single-fetus spontaneous delivery primigravida to understand their psychological status and related factors, and the duration of labor and postpartum hemorrhage were recorded.

RESULTSAnxiety and depression were common in pregnant women and positively related to age, profession, education and social support. The scores of SAS and SDS of postpartum hemorrhage-free group were significantly lower than those in postpartum hemorrhage group, and the duration of first and the second stage was significantly longer in women with high SAS and SDS score than in those with lower scores.

CONCLUSIONSThe mental health status of pregnant women may vary significantly depending on the social community they belong to. Anxiety and depression may increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage and prolonged labor, so that psychological counseling can be of importance to improve the care in the department of obstetrics.

Adult ; Anxiety ; psychology ; China ; Delivery, Obstetric ; psychology ; Depression ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Obstetric Labor Complications ; psychology ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; psychology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; psychology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The metabonomics method was used to study the intervention effect of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill" on the changes in serum endogenous metabolites in spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea rats before and after processing, screen out differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and explore the metabolic patterns related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea and the processing synergy mechanism of Psoraleae Fructus and Myristicae Semen in "Ershen pill". Efforts were made to detect SOD and MDA of each group, test rat serum metabolic fingerprints in different stages by using GC-MS, analyze by PCA and PLS-DA methods and screen out potential biomarks through VIP and t test. The results revealed that "Ershen pill" could enhance the level of SOD and decrease the level of MDA and identified 10 differentiated metabolites related to spleen-kidney Yang deficiency diarrhea. Compared with the model group, all of metabolites recovered to varying levels after being intervened with "Ershen pill", with the best effect shown in the "Ershen pill" IV group (salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus + bran-roasted Myristicae Semen). It is speculated that that Psoraleae Fructus and Semen Myristicae in "Ershen pill" show a synergistic effect by inhibiting peroxide, improving aglucolipid, amino acids and energy metabolism, with multiple target sites.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Diarrhea ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Myristicaceae ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of childhood asthma, and to find the distribution characteristics, precipitating factors, diagnosis and treatment status, and to provide scientific data for improving the prevention and management of asthma in children in Kunming City, China.

METHODSChildren were selected by random cluster sampling. A standardized preliminary questionnaire was used for screening out possible patients in the survey. Diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by diagnostic criteria in suspected asthmatic children. Asthmatic children were further asked for past diagnosis and treatment with the questionnaire of asthma in children.

RESULTSThe total asthma incidence rate was 1.40%. The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 1.89% and 0.88% respectively (P<0.05). Children aged 0-5 years old had a higher prevalence of asthma (1.69%) than that of school-age children (6-14 years old, 1.21%). In all asthmatic children, 51.3% were previously diagnosed with classical asthma or cough variant asthma, 26.0% were suffered attacks from December to February, and 54.0% were suffered attacks at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection (87.3%) was the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation. Antibiotics were used in 80.0%, bronchodilators in 66.0%, inhaled corticosteroid in 64.0%. A peak flow meter for monitoring lung function was used in 17% of asthmatic children over 5 years old.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of asthma is associated with age and gender in children aged 0-14 years old in Kunming City. Acute asthma attack occurs mostly in winter and at midnight or dawn. Respiratory tract infection is the most common trigger of asthma exacerbation. Nearly a half of patients with asthma had not been diagnosed with asthma in the early stage. Most asthmatic children use antibiotics and only two-thirds use bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroid in the treatment. The treatment and management of asthma in children awaits improvement as well.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seasons

A sensitive, rapid and specific liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for quantification of gabapentin in human plasma has been developed. After a single plasma protein precipitation with methanol, gabapentin and metformin (internal standard) were chromatographed on a Inertsil ODS-3 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm ID, 3 microm) with mobile phase consisting of methanol-0.2% formic acid aqueous solution (80:20, v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.2 mL x min(-1). Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in the positive ion mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with the transitions of m/z 172 --> m/z 154 and m/z 130 --> m/z 71 were used to quantify gabapentin and metformin, respectively. The run time was 2.2 min. The linear calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range of 40.8-8.16x10(3) ng x mL(-1). The lower limit of quantification was 40.8 ng x mL(-1). The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) was less than 12%, and the accuracy (RE) was within +/-6.4% calculated from quality control (QC) samples. The method was used to determine the concentration of gabapentin in human plasma after a single oral administration of 600 mg gabapentin capsule to 20 healthy male Chinese volunteers. The method was proved to be selective, sensitive, rapid and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of gabapentin in human plasma.
Administration, Oral ; Amines ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Anticonvulsants ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Male ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo study the commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellaria Radix, for standardizing market order and achieving industrialization, standardization and modernization of Pseudostellariae Radix.

METHODThe different areas and grade medicinal materials of Pseudostellariae Radix were respectively measured in quantitative characteristics of appearance, and the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was scientifically verified by the content of polysaccharide. Then the determination data were evaluated by spss correlation analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. So combining with the actual production, the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix was formulated.

RESULTCorrelation analysis indicated that the present grade classification of Pseudostellaria Radix was reasonable, and the more the grade of Pseudostellariae Radix was high, the more the content of polysaccharide was high. Meanwhile, length as a classification index was not suitable for the commodity grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix. Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, combining actual production, the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber were filtrated and the grade was divided into 5 ranks: big, mid- dle, small selected goods, big ungraded goods and small ungraded goods.

CONCLUSIONthe commodity specification and grade standard of Pseudostellariae Radix that mainly included the thickest diameter, weight of single root tuber and the number of 50 g root tuber was formulated, the standard was divided into 5 grade. Each grade was not only consistent with the present situation of medicinal materials market, it could also reflected the intrinsic quality of Pseudostellariae Radix. In conclusion, the standard could be used as a classifica- tion basis to the commodity specification and grade.

Caryophyllaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo determine two flavonoid compounds in Psoralea corylifolia L. (PC) simultaneously with HPLC method.

METHODBavachin and corylin isolated from PC and purified in our laboratory were used as the reference compounds. The HPLC separation was carried out on an Techsphere ODS column using mobile phase consisting of a mixture of methanol and 20 mmol.L-1 ammonium acetate buffer pH 4.0 (67:33), and the UV detection wavelength was 240 nm.

RESULTSimultaneous determination of bavachin and corylin was achieved. The linear range was 1.25-20 micrograms.mL-1 for both bavachin and corylin. The average recovery of bavachin and corylin was 94.9% and 96.2%, and RSD was 3.1% and 3.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report on simultaneous determination of bavachin and corylin in PC with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Psoralea ; chemistry