0.05); the levels of LL, LI, RRS in CBA group and CBA+IBT group were significantly lower than those in control group(P

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; biosynthesis ; Hepacivirus ; pathogenicity ; Hepcidins ; Iron ; metabolism ; Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; pathology

AIMTo identify the main metabolites of aconitine in the urine of rabbits.

METHODSAfter oral administration of aconitine (5 mg.kg-1), the urine of male rabbits was collected and extracted by solid phase extraction and analyzed by liquid chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry.

RESULTSAconitine and 4 metabolites were found in the rabbit urine. Their protonated molecular ions at m/z 632, m/z 604, m/z 590, m/z 500 and multistage fragment ions with neutral loss of 60 u, 32 u, 28 u and 18 u were monitored. Their relative concentration were M1 > Aconitine > M4 > M2 > M3.

CONCLUSIONThe metabolites M1-M4 were deduced as 16-O-demethylaconitine, benzoylaconine, 16-O-demethylbenzoylaconine and aconine, respectively.

Aconitine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; urine ; Alkaloids ; urine ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Male ; Rabbits ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of glutamate. The GDHs from Corynebacterium glutamicum S9114 the most commonly used strain in glutamate fermentation, were purified and their molecular structures and properties characterized. The coenzymes were also studied in the hope to increase glutamate production. Cells were harvested at mid-exponential phase by centrifugation and washed with Tris-HCl buffer containing DTT and EDTA (pH 7.5). The cells were then disrupted using a French pressure cell press and the supernatant was collected by centrifugation. The extract was concentrated by 70-fold using the AKTA-100 FPLC system employing a DEAE-cellulose ion exchange column, a hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The purified extracts contained NADPH-dependent GDH and NADH-dependent GDH. Both of the enzymes were highly specific for the coenzymes. The molecular masses of the NADPH-dependent GDH and its subunit were 188kD and 32kD respectively, suggesting the enzyme is a homo-hexamer. Our data reported for the first time the presence of NADH- dependent GDH in Corynebacterium glutamicum S9114, similar to other microorganisms containing both GDHs. The NADPH-dependent and NADH-dependent GDH in Corynebacterium glutamicum S9114 may participate in the assimilation and dissimilation of ammonia respectively. The absorptions of NADPH-dependent GDH was very weak at 280nm but very high at 215nm, suggesting a low phenylalanine and tyrosine content in the enzyme.
Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Corynebacterium glutamicum ; enzymology ; Glutamate Dehydrogenase ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; NADP ; metabolism ; Substrate Specificity

Objective To introduce the technique of interictal 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) examination and explore the value of 18F-FDG-PET in the localization of epileptogenic focus of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) confirmed by surgical result.Methods Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed in 82 TLE patients having received interictal 18F-FDG-PET preoperative evaluation and got EngleⅠ grade epileptic surgical outcome, and the sensitivity and specialty of interictal 18F-FDG-PET were compared with those of MRI and scalp video-EEG. Results Epileptogenic foci showed hypometabolism on 18F-FDG-PET, and the hypometabolism zones were localized in ipsilateral temporal lobe in 68 cases,beyond ipsilateral temporal lobe in 9 cases; the other 5 had no hypometabolism zone. Accuracy rate of localization of epileptogenic foci by interictal 18F-FDG-PET was 82.9% (68/82), significantly higher than that by MRI or EEG(P＜0.05).77.4%(41/53)epileptogenic foci where MRI showed negative and 75%(15/20)where EEG with imbedded electrode was applied were precisely localized by 18F-FDG-PET. The accuracy was higher in the cases with positive pathological result than in the ones with negative result. Conclusions Interictal 18F-FDG-PET possesses excellent sensitivity and specialty in preopemtive assessment for TLE, and is of good value in the localization of epileptogenic focus where MRI shows negative or invasive electrophysiologic monitoring is needed.Rational application may raise the accuracy rate.

Objective To explore the clinical factors affecting the prognosis of craniocerebral traffic injuries to provide scientific evidence for ameliorating the prognosis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 652 patients treated in our hospital for serious injuries in car accidents (Glascow Coma score [GCS] 3～8) between February, 1998 and February, 2008. According to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) three months after injury, patients were divided into good prognosis and poor prognosis groups. Their gender, age, type of brain injury, admission time, pupil status, blood oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, level of blood sugar, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and GCS were compared. Results As compared with the good prognosis group, the poor prognosis group showed a significant low level of blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure, low GCS and pupils status score (P<0.05);it showed a long admission time, a significant high level of blood sugar and high ISS (P<0.05). Bad prognosis appeared in intracranial hematoma, contusion and laceration of the brain. And the level of blood sugar and oxygen, GCS and ISS were the independent factors affected the prognosis. Conclusion The level of oxygen saturation and blood sugar, ISS and GCS can help to evaluate the prognosis of patients with severe brain injury, effectively.

AIMTo investigate whether estrogen stimulates the proliferation of spermatogonia or induces spermatogenesis in cryptorchid mice.

METHODSMice were surgically rendered cryptorchid, then treated with different doses of 17beta-estradiol (E2) s.c. once a day. Mice were killed at sexual maturity (45 days of age), and histological analysis and immunofluorescence were performed. Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured.

RESULTSLow doses of E2 had no notable effect on spermatogonia, but at higher doses, E2 stimulated the proliferation of spermatogonia.

CONCLUSIONE2 has a dose-related mitogenic effect on spermatogonia.

Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cryptorchidism ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Estradiol ; blood ; pharmacology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Spermatogonia ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Testosterone ; blood

Lycopene liposomes were prepared by conventional rotary-evaporated film-ultrasonication method. The release of lycopene from lycopene liposome was evaluated in vitro. The pharmacokinetic parameters of lycopene liposomes (L-LYC) and lycopene (LYC) oil, the effect of LYC and L-LYC on antioxidation were also investigated in rats. HPLC method was used to assay the concentration of lycopene in rat's plasma. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by 3P97 program. The release of L-LYC and LYC were measured in the artificial stomach liquid and bowel liquid. After 4 weeks of L-LYC or LYC feeding, the activity of SOD, T-AOC, GSH-Px, MDA and CAT in serum and liver were measured separately. The pharmacokinetic parameters of LYC oil and L-LYC in a single dose were 4.45 and 7.45 h for Tmax; 0.473 and 0.654 microg x mL(-1) for Cmax; 12.38 and 21.67 mirog x h x mL(-1) for AUC,respectively. The activities of GSH-Px and T-AOC in serum and liver of the L-LYC group increased (P < 0.05) and the concentrations of MDA and CAT decreased significantly (P < 0.05). It could be concluded that lycopene liposomes could prolong the time of absorption. L-LYC could increase antioxidative effect and reduce lipid peroxidation obviously compared with LYC in rats.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Carotenoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Catalase ; blood ; metabolism ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Carriers ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRegulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) plays a critical role in T-lymphocyte activation and proliferation. The process is involved in both acute and chronic phases of inflammation. The present study was to ascertain the possible correlations between chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the RANTES gene polymorphisms and their expression.

METHODSThe study included 130 HBV negative healthy donors and 152 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus infection. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were used to detect RANTES gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RANTES levels in the platelet depleted plasma were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSRANTES alleles -403G, -28C and In1.1T were the predominant alleles in the subjects studied. No significant correlation was found between CHB infection and the RANTES alleles, while a significant correlation was found between CHB infection and increased RANTES expression in platelet depleted plasma (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSNPs in RANTES gene do not affect chronic HBV infection or the outcome of interferon-alpha treatment in patients positive for HBV "e" antigen (HBeAg+). However, patients with CHB infection express the higher levels of plasma RANTES, which is thus associated with CHB infection.

Alleles ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

BACKGROUNDThe diagnostic value of virtual imaging combined with three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (3D-CTA) for intracranial aneurysms has not been fully elucidated yet. This study aimed to evaluate the value of combined application of virtual imaging techniques and 3D-CTA in diagnosing patients with aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) at the acute stage.

METHODSEighty patients with non-traumatic SAH received 3D-CTA examinations. The raw CT data of these patients were reconstructed and transferred into the 3D mode through the surgical plan system based on virtual reality (VR) image, and the 3D virtual images of skulls and brain blood vessels were acquired. The location, size and shape of aneurysms and their anatomic relationship with adjacent tissues were measured from many points of view.

RESULTSSeventy-three aneurysms were detected in 68 of the 80 patients, but 2 aneurysms were detected in 2 of the 5 patients who had been found free of aneurysms previously and had received 3D-CTA examinations for a second time one month later. The 3D virtual images produced by the virtual imaging system were clear and vivid, and they could reveal the location and size of the aneurysm and its relations to the parent artery and skull directly.

CONCLUSIONSThe imaging of 3D-CTA is convenient, reliable and fast in diagnosing intracranial aneurysms and can be regarded as the first choice for the diagnosis and treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Combined with the surgical plan system based on the VR image, 3D-CTA may obtain more imaging information about aneurysms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult