Objective To investigate the relationship between neurokinin B (NKB), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and the pathogenesis of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP). Methods 22 HDCP, who received antenatal examination in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College in Huazhong University of Science and Technology from March to July in 2005, were selected for the study, including 12 gestational hypertension (gestational hypertension group) and 10 preeclampsia (preeclamptic group); 22 normal pregnant women in the same period were served as control. At different gestational weeks, maternal plasma levels of NKB and ET-1 in three groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay technique, the expression and location of NKB in placenta were examined by immunohistochemical SP, and mRNA expressions of NKB and ET-1 in placenta were measured with RT-PCR method. Results (1) At 10 - 14, 20 - 24, and 30 - 34 gestational weeks, the plasma levels of NKB and ET-1 in preeclamptic group were ( 35. 6±5.2), ( 17. 9±4. 3), (39. 5±4. 3 ), (22. 7± 3.6), (47. 1±3. 3) and (27.5±3.5) μg/L, respectively; in the control group they were (22. 9±3. 3), (10.7±5.3), (30.2±3.4), (13.2±4.1), (34.6±4.3) and (16.6±4.8) μg/L, respectively. There was a significant difference between preeclamptic group and control group ( P < 0. 05), while there was no significant difference between gestational hypertension group and control group (P>0.05).(2) Immunohistochemical staining for NKB protein was observed in all groups and was located in the villous syncytintrophoblast and villous vascular endothelial cells as well as cytoplasm of stromal cells, mostly located in villous syncytiotrophoblast. The expressions of NKB in placenta of preeclamptic group (0.244±0.020) was significantly higher than that in control group (0. 160±0. 012), with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05 ). However, there was no significant difference between gestational hypertension group (0.162±0.019) and control group (P>0.05). (3) The transcription levels of the NKB mRNA (0. 97±0. 36) and ET-1 mRNA (0. 90±0. 36) in preeclamptic placentas were both significantly higher than those in control groups (0. 78±0. 54, 0. 65±0. 47, respectively ), with a significant difference between the two groups( P <0. 05 ). But there was no significant difference between gestational hypertension group (0. 80±0. 40, 0. 70±0. 32, respectively) and control group (P >0. 05). (4) There was an evident positive correlation between plasma NKB and ET-1 levels in preeclampsia ( r =0. 79, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions The significantly increased maternal plasma levels of NKB and ET-1 of patients with preeclampsia occur at early pregnancy (10 -14 gestational weeks) before the onset of clinical symptoms. The change of maternal plasma levels of NKB and ET-1 is closely related to pathogenesis of HDCP.

ObjectiveTo assess the recent effect of the invasiveness and transsphenoidal microsurgical operation in the treatment of growth hormone-secreting adenom tumor.MethodsThe data of 22 patients with growth hormone(GH) adenomas were collected.All patients were tested preoperative GH level and that within the first 3 days,30 days following surgery.The invasiveness of pituitary adenomas was judged according to Hardy's classification scheme modified by Wilson.ResultsThere were 22 patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas,8 males and 14 females,11 patients with invasive adenomas and 11 patients with noninvasive adenomas.The remission rate between the patients with invasive adenomas and the patients with non-invasive adenomas had no statistically significant difference (P ＞ 0.05 ).The postoperative remission rate of patients with GH values ≤ 50μg/L was no significantly lower than that of ＞ 50μg/L( P ＞ 0.05).ConclusionThe recent effects of operation were not significantly different with the invasiveness of tumor.

Objective To reduce immunogenicity of porcine skin by removingα-Gal epitopes expressed in cell surface and extracellular matrix using recombinant α-galactosidase produced by Bacteroides fragilis.Methods The porcine skin was harvested from healthy 2-month-old pigs without any skin disorders before being sterilized by iodine and 75%alcohol, respectively.Enzymatic removal of α-Gal antigen was followed by washing with PBS.The α-Gal antigen in the prepared porcine skin was measured with immunofluorostaining of cryosections and the residual enzyme was measured with a double-antibody sandwich ELISA method.Enzymatic removal procedures were optimized by detecting residual enzyme and the effi-cacy ofα-Gal removal under different enzymatic and washing conditions.Results Efficient enzymatic and washing methods were established to removeα-Gal antigen.Theα-Gal removal efficacy was above 90% and residual enzyme was undetect-able (αprescribed minimum ofα-galactosidase detection with indirect ELISA was 1 ng/ml) .Conclusion It is feasible to efficiently removeα-Gal antigen under these enzymatic and washing conditions, and a method of producing low-immunoge-nicity pig skin dressing for burn is established.

Objective To analyze CT and MR features of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST)of children. Methods Sixteen patients with histologically proven MPNST were retrospectively reviewed.There were 8 male and 8 female, ages from 0.3 to 11.0 years, and median age was 2.5 years. Sixteen cases were performed with CT plain scan, and eight cases with CT enhancement scans, and three with MR examination. The imaging data were analyzed by two highly experienced doctors and obtained agreements after mutual consultation. Results Among 16 cases, 3 cases were located at neck, 5 cases at waist and back,3 cases at abdominal and pelvic, 2 cases at foot, 1 case at left clavicle, 1 case at right mediastinum, 1 case at right orbit. Fifteen cases appeared as solid masses and 1 case showed a diffuse growth. CT plain scan showed 8 cases were solid-appearing masses and 7 cases were cystic-solid mass. Enhanced CT showed enhancement of solid component was moderate to marked and gradually delayed enhanced while cystic component had no any enhancement. One was located on the left side of the neck and appeared as diffuse growth. Two cases of solid mass type appeared as hypo-intensity on T1WI and hyper-intensity on T2WI, and obviously high signal intensity of cystic component on T2WI, and with significantly heterogeneous enhanced.One case with diffuse growth appeared as hypo-intensity on T1WI and slightly hyper-intensity on T2WI, and with significantly enhanced. Sixteen cases appeared as invasive growth, 11 caseswith multiple organic metastases and recurrences, and 4 cases with neurofibromatosis type I and scoliosis.Conclusion CT and MR appearances of MPNST have certain characteristic features, and can demonstrateaggressive performance and multiple organic metastases, which is helpful for definite diagnosis and treatment plan.

Objective To establish a method of quantiying trace α-galactosidase from Bacteroides fragilis in enzymatic conversion of blood group B to O red blood cells ( B-ECO RBCs) .Methods BALB/c mice were immunized with purified recombinant B.fragilisα-galactosidase ( the purity>90%) to prepare monoclonal antibodies.The ascites were prepared using hybridoma cell lines stably secreting antibody and purified by HiTrap rProtein A column.The antibody titer and spe-cificity were detected by ELISA and Western blotting, respectively.Purified monoclonal antibody and rabbit polyclonal an-tibody were applied to detect residual enzyme in B-ECO RBCs and the washing solution was analyzed by indirect ELISA. Results A high titer and purity antibody was obtained.Western blotting showed that the antibody specifically reacted with B.fragilisα-galactosidase.Moreover, indirect ELISA was sensitive enough to detect the minimal amount of residualα-gal-actosidase at the concentration of 1 ng/ml.After four repeat washing cycles with 1∶4 ( v/v) phosphate-buffered saline, the amount of residual enzyme in B-ECO RBCs was less than 10 ng/ml.Conclusion An effective method of detecting the min-imal amount of residual α-galactosidase in blood conversion is established for safety evaluation of universal RBCs prepara-tion by enzymatic treatment.

Current patent protection of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds is far from being satisfactory with increasing research and development achievements. As patent protection of traditional Chinese medicine compounds is closely related with many fields such as research and development of new TCM drugs, industrial development and TCM internationalization, the development of research and harmonious development of TCM compounds and their patent protection is bound to have a far-reaching influence on domestic and even international societies.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; economics ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; Patents as Topic

Objective To explore the value of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and a sharp recon kernel to obtain high resolution pulmonary images in low-dose pediatric chest CT scans.Methods Totally 42 children underwent low-dose chest CT scans with ASIR were included.Age dependent noise index (NI) was used for dose optimization:NI=12 for 0-12 months old,NI=15 for ＞1 2 years old,NI=17 for 3-6 years old and NI=20 for ≥7 years old.Images were reconstructed to 0.625 mm using different recon kernels:Soft,Standard,Lung,and Chest kernel.ASIR blending was varied from 0 100％ to provide balanced image noise and spatial resolution.Two radiologists independently evaluated images for normal lung structures,abnormal CT findings and image noise on a 5 point scale with 3 being clinically acceptable.The best kernel,as well as the match with the best ASIR weight were analyzed statistically.Results CT images with lung kernel and ASIR 60％ were rated substantially better than those kernel.Conclusion ASIR 60％ with a sharp lung kernel can significantly improve image quality in low dose pediatric chest CT scans.

Objective To explore the CT features of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma (IHH).Methods CT imaging features of 16 IHH patients confirmed by surgical pathology and clinical diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed.Results Of 16 patients,there were single lesion in 10 cases and multiple lesions in 6 cases.All the lesions were rich in blood supply,and the arterial phase showed obviously rings enhanced.Some linear enhancement towards to the center below the annular enhancement of solitary lesions were found.There were patchy enhancement in annular enhancement center area,and the area of enhancement obvious increasing in venous phase and delayed phase in 4 cases with multiple lesions,enhancement mode was similar to single lesion in 1 case with multiple lesions.The lesions of IHH Ⅱ were small and multiple,and showed intermittent line shaped edge enhancement;some lesions below the linear enhancement showed small nodular enhancement and the area of nodular enhancement enlarged in venous phase,the range of linear enhancement was not obvious.Conclusion CT manifestations of IHH have some characteristics,and the enhancement of CT is more important in the diagnosis of this disease.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) in low-dose chest CT (80 kV) examination in children.Methods Forty-four children who had post-operation scoliosis and received low dose chest CT scans were included.The fix tube voltage was 80 kV,fix current was 50 mA.Images were reconstructed with MBIR (observation group).The pre-operation scan were used 120 kV and 50 mA for acquisition,and images were reconstructed with filtered back-projection (FBP) mehed (control group).The subjective quality of the images was independently evaluated by two radiologists.Objective noises in the muscle and lung field were measured,the SNR,CNR were calculated,and the CTDIvol was record.Results The subjective noise score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05).Objective noise reduced about 40.36％,SNR increased 72.37％,CNR increased 78.69％,CTDIvol decreased by 66.52％,all of which had statistical difference between both groups (all P＜0.001).Conclusion Low-dose chest CT (80 kV) examination in children can meet the requirements of diagnosis for children.

Eight compounds were isolated from Bufonis periostracum by repeated column chromatography on silica gel, ODS and Sephadex LH-20 and their structures were characterized as palmitatic acid cholesteryl ester (1), cholesterol (2), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxycholesta-6-en-3beta-ol (3), cholest-5-en-3beta, 7beta-diol (4), cholest-7-en-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (5), 3-octaddecyloxy-1, 2-propanediol (6), isisamide (7) and bufothionine (8) on the base of spectral analysis. Compounds 1-8 were isolated from Bufonis periostracum for the first time and compounds 3, 5, 6, 7 were obtained from Bufo bufo gargarizans and Bufo genus for the first time. The bioassays showed all tested samples displayed no antitumor activity against the cell lines such as A549, BeL 7402, HGC-27 and HL-60, except the control compound bufalin.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bufo bufo ; metabolism ; Bufonidae ; metabolism ; Humans