Acetylcholine and A23187, two acetylcholinergic agonists, were used to induce the stimulus-secretion coupling of the isolated rat adrenal medulla cells. Morphometry of numerical density and electron probe X-ray quantitative microanalysis were adopted to measure the alterations in the number and calcium content of chromaffin granules in adrenal medulla cells during the agonist treatment. Secretion of epinephrine was detected by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that the Ca content of the isolated rat adrenal medulla chromaffin granules dropped significantly after a 10-min incubation with the agonists, whereas the number of chromaffin granule decreased slowly during the agonist treatment and the epinephrine concentration raised significantly after a 20-min incubation with the agonists. The decrease of granule Ca content occurred earlier than the increase of epinephrine concentration, suggesting that the calcium released from chromaffin granule may in part account for the induced cell secretion.

Objective To evaluate the serum prostate specific antigen(PSA)change after I-125 radioactive seed implantation without androgen ablation therapy for prostate cancer,Methods A total of 13 patients with prostate cancer were included.The clinical stage was T_(1c)N_0M_0 in 8 cases,and T_(2a)N_0M_0 in 5. The Gleason scores were 5 in 4 cases and 6 in 9.The mean serum PSA was 8.2 ng/ml(range,2.8-14.6 ng/ml).I-125 seed implantation(D90=140-155 Gy)was performed.Serum PSA was monitored every month for the first 3 months and every 3 months for the next 20 months.Results The range of follow-up time was 3-23 months.At 1,2,3,6,9,12,15,18 and 21 months after implantation,the median serum PSA values were 6.7,5.0,2.7,1.6,1.2,0.9,0.8,0.8 and 0.7 ng/ml;and the median percentage change in ser- um PSA were 72%,51%,29%,20%,13%,11%,9%,9% and 8%,respectively.One month after brachy- therapy,30% of the patients had fluctuation in PSA.Conclusions Compared with radical prostatectomy and androgen ablation therapy,the rate of PSA decline is slower with fluctuation at early phase.The most sig- nificant decline of PSA occurs in the first 12 months,especially in the first 3 months after I-125 seed implan- tation.

Objective To detect the argyrophilic proteins in nucleolar organizer regions(Ag-NORs) that express rDNA and rRNA proliferation of T lymphocytes before chemotherapy and after complete remission(CR) in children with primary acute leukemia(AL).Methods The argyrophilic granules area of NOR/nuclear area(I.S%) of T lymphocytes was detected by image analysis system in peripheral blood of 42 patients before chemotherapy and after CR and 30 normal children.Results I.S% in the patients before chemotherapy(5.06%?1.36%) were significantly lower than those in the healthy donors(7.51%?1.06%)(t=8.238 P0.05).Conclusion These results suggest that decrease of Ag-NORs expresses the evidence for tumour induced suppression of immune function of T cells in children with AL prior to treatment.

The experiment's aim was to optimize the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus which through comparing the difference of UPLC fingerprint and contents of toxicity ingredient in water extract of 16 batches of processed sample. The determination condition of UPLC chromatographic and contents of toxicity ingredient were as follows. UPLC chromatographic: ACQUITY BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) eluted with the mobile phases of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acidwater in gradient mode, the flow rate was 0.25 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was set at 327 nm. Contents of toxicity ingredient: Agilent TC-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase was methanol-0.01 mol x L(-1) sodium dihydrogen phosphate (35: 65), flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and detection wavelength was 203 nm. The chromatographic fingerprints 16 batches of samples were analyzed in using the similarity evaluation system of chromatographic, fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine, SPSS16.0 and SIMCA13.0 software, respectively. The similarity degrees of the 16 batches samples were more than 0.97, all the samples were classified into four categories, and the PCA showed that the peak area of chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were significantly effect index in fingerprint of processed Xanthii Fructus sample. The outcome of determination showed that the toxicity ingredient contents of all samples reduced significantly after processing. This method can be used in optimizing the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus.
Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; toxicity ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; toxicity ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; toxicity ; Xanthium ; chemistry ; classification

OBJECTIVETo develop a quality analysis method based on self-reference principal for dissolution determination of Shuanghuanglian capsules.

METHODDissolution of Shuanghuanglian capsules was determined by principal component analysis consociated HPLC method.

RESULTThe liner of regression equation was good. The average recovery rates of quality assurance samples (QA) and quality control samples (QC) were all no less than 96. 0%. Dissolution curves of Shuanghuanlian capsules of different manufacturers and different batches of the same manufacturer had obvious disparity.

CONCLUSIONThe method can better evaluate the dissolution conditions of Shuanghuanglian capsules. The prospect of the method is expected for assessing the dissolution of other oral solid dosage of traditional Chinese medicines.

Capsules ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Principal Component Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of mild hypothermia on cerebral oxygen partial pressure, carbon dioxide partial pressure, pH and body temperature (PbrO2, PbrCO2, pHbr and BT) in patients with acute severe head injury.

METHODSThirty-eight patients with acute severe head injury were treated with mild hypothermia, meantime PbrO2, PbrCO2, pHbr and BT were monitored in order to study the changes of PbrO2, PbrCO2, pHbr and BT.

RESULTSIn patients with acute head injury, mild hypothermia obviously increased PbrO2, decreased PbrCO2 and CO2 accumulation and acidosis in brain tissue. BT was 1-1.5 deg. higher than rectal temperature (RT) after injury. The BT and RT were decreased when the patients were treated with mild hypothermia, but at the same time the difference between BT and RT was increased.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with acute severe head injury the direct monitoring of PbrO2, PbrCO2, pHbr and BT was safe and reliable, and is helpful in estimating prognosis and mild hypothermia therapy.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Body Temperature ; physiology ; Brain Injuries ; diagnosis ; mortality ; therapy ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypothermia, Induced ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Oxygen ; blood ; Probability ; Risk Assessment ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection(STER) for gastric submucosal tumor(SMT) originating from the muscularis propria (MP) layer.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 23 cases with gastric SMT originating from the MP layer treated with STER from September 2010 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThere were 13 males and 10 females. The age ranged from 28 to 73(mean, 52.4) years old. Of the 23 SMTs, 11 were located in the cardia adjacent to the gastric body, 4 in the cardia adjacent to the fundus, 5 in the lesser curvature of gastric body and 3 in the gastric antrum of greater curvature. All the SMTs originating from the MP layer, 14 were located in the superficial MP layer and 9 in the deep MP layer(including 5 gastric SMTs close to serosa). En bloc STER was performed successfully in all the patients. The mean lesion size was 2.1 cm(range 1.5-3.2 cm). The mean procedure time was 54.8 min(range 30-125 min). Pathological examination showed that the lesions were leiomyomas(n=10), stromal tumors(n=8), glomus tumor(n=2), Schwannoma(n=2), and calcifying fibrous tumor(n=1). Both lateral and vertical margins were negative in all the cases. Three patients developed pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema and 5 pneumoperitoneum. One patient developed effusion under the left half of the diaphragm and secondary infection. All of them recovered uneventfully after conservative treatments. No delayed bleeding or GI tract leakage was noticed. None of the 23 cases encountered submucosal hematoma or infection. No tumor residual or recurrence was found during the follow up(range, 3-18 months).

CONCLUSIONSSTER is a safe, effective for appropriate lesions in the MP layer of the stomach. En bloc resection and accurate histopathological evaluations can be achieved.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Mucosa ; surgery ; Gastroscopy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemiological characteristics of essential hypertension in the northern and western areas of China.

METHODSA community-based sampling survey.

RESULTSRates of awareness, treatment and control were 78.6%, 59.7% and 5.9%, respectively. About half of the diagnosed and treated patients took antihypertensive medicine irregularly before the survey was carried out.

CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to carry out education, prevention and control on hypertension and to establish a series of standards for the management and treatment on cases of hypertension.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; China ; epidemiology ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Social Class

OBJECTIVETo explore transient expression of the eukaryotic expression plasmid carrying human platelet-derived growth factor-B (hPDGF-B) in gingival fibroblasts of Beagle dog.

METHODSPlasmid carrying hPDGF-B (EX-A0380-M03) was amplified and identified, and then transfected into gingival fibroblasts of Beagle dog. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunocytochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western bolt were choose to detect the expression of hPDGF-B.

RESULTSTarget gene carried by EX-A0380-M03 was hPDGF-B. Green fluorescence protein (GFP) expressed by transfected gingival fibroblasts was observed under inverted phase contrast fluorescence microscope (IPCFM) (after 24 hours) and the transfection efficiency was 18%-38% (after 48 hours). Serials other methods (RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA) mentioned above also convinced that cells expressed hPDGF-B, and the protein that was a kind of fusion protein composed of PDGF-BB and GFP was identified by Western blot.

CONCLUSIONEukaryotic expression plasmid carrying hPDGF-B was transfected into gingival fibroblasts successfully, and a kind of fusion protein was expressed.

Animals ; Dogs ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Plasmids ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis ; Transfection

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of combined testing of urinary bladder cancer antigen(UBC),hyaluronic acid(HA)and survivin in the detection of bladder cancer.Methods This study included 64 bladder cancer patients and 20 urinary benign disease patients.The examinations of urine UBC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),HA by radioimmunology assay,survivin by RT-PCR and urine cytology were performed in them.Results The sensitivity of UBC(85.9%,55/64),HA (89.1%,57/64)and survivin(93.8%,60/64)was significantly higher than that of urine cytology (40.6%,P＜0.01).The specificity of UBC,HA,survivin and urine cytology was 85.0%(17/20),80.0% (16/20),95.0%(19/20)and 95.0%(19/20),respectively;there was no significant difference among these 4 methods(P＞0.05).The sensitivity of UBC,HA and survivin was also significantly higher than that of urine cytology in different histologic stages and grades(P＜0.05).The sensitivity of UBC and survivin was not significantly different among different histologie stages and grades(P＞0.05).With regard to HA test, the sensitivity in G_2 and G_3 groups was significantly higher than G_1 group(P＜0.01),but there was no differ- ence between G_2 and G_3 groups(P＞0.05);and no difference among different histologic stages(P＞0.05). However,the sensitivity of cytology was improved with the higher grade of bladder cancer(P＜0.01);there was no difference among histologic stages(P＞0.05),By combined use of UBC,HA and survivin,both the sensitivity and specificity were 100%.Conclusions The study indicates that UBC,HA and survivin are better diagnostic markers for the early detection of urinary bladder cancer.These tests are simple,feasible and noninvasive with higher sensitivity and specificity.In addition,combined use of them can improve the diag- nostic sensitivity and specificity.