Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of 2 mg/d and 4 mg/d of terazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).Methods A total of 120 BPH patients were randomly divided into 2 groups receiving 2 mg or 4 mg terazosin per day for 2 months. Arterial blood pressure, International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and peak flow rate (Qmax) before and after treatment were compared while side effects were estimated. Results Forty-six patients receiving 2 mg and 54 patients receiving 4 mg terazosin completed this study. Patients' age and pre-treatment blood pressure, IPSS and Qmax had no difference between the 2 groups. The improvement of IPSS (including obstructive score, irritating score and total IPSS) and Qmax was significantly better in 4 mg group. The percentage of patients experiencing greater than 30% improvement in Qmax in the 4 mg treatment groups was significantly higher than that of the 2 mg group (46.3% vs 23.9%, P=0.02). Side effects were rare and mild in both groups.Conclusion The improvements of IPSS and Qmax are significantly greater in 4 mg treatment of terazosin than that of 2 mg with no obvious increase of side effects.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation effects of recombinant human CuZn superoxide dismutase(rhSOD) on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by meconium aspiration in rats.

METHODS1 ml/kg of 20% human newborn meconium suspension was intratracheally (IT) administrated to induce the model of ALI in 32 male Sprage-Dawley rats, and the animals were then randomized to 4 groups: 3 treatment groups with IT administration of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg rhSOD dissolved in 1 ml/kg saline and the control group with IT administration of 1 ml/kg saline. The animals were killed after 24 h of treatments. The measurements included lung tissue wet/dry ratio, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein, BALF protein/plasma protein (pulmonary permeability index, PPI),lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, nitric oxide (NO) and 8-isoprostane levels. Lung injury score was also evaluated.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, pulmonary MPO activity, NO and 8-isoprostane levels were significantly decreased and SOD activity was markedly increased in all rhSOD treatment groups (P<0.05 or 0.01). Compared with the rhSOD 5 mg/kg group, pulmonary 8-isoprostane level was further low in the rhSOD 20 mg/kg group(P=0.01). Lung injury score was decreased in rhSOD 20 mg/kg group (P<0.05). But there were no statistically differences in lung wet/dry, BALF protein and PPI among all groups.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that a single IT dose of 5,10 or 20 mg/kg rhSOD can prevent lung damages in rats with ALI following meconium aspiration.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Meconium ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; pharmacology

Along with the increase in fungal infections, Candida albicans prevention and control become the focus of anti-fungal infection at present. This study aims to discuss the effect monomer andrographolide (AG) on C. albicans biofilm dispersion. In the experiment, micro-well plates and medical catheter pieces were used to establish the C. albicans biofilm model. It was discovered by XTT assay and flat band method that 1 000, 500, 250 mg x L(-1) AG could impact the activity of C. albicans biofilm dispersion cells. The morphological structures of residual biofilms on catheter pieces were observed with scanning electron microscopy, which showed that 1 000, 500, 250 mg x L(-1) AG could induce C. albicans biofilm dispersion in a dose-dependent manner, and the dispersed cells were dominated by the yeast phase. According to the real-time fluorescence quantification PCR (qRT-PCR) test, AG could up-regulate HSP90 expression and down-regulate UME6 and PES1 expressions. This study demonstrates that AG could induce C. albicans biofilm dispersion to some extent.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Candida albicans ; genetics ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; drug effects ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Huanglian Jiedu decoction (EAHD) , alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLZ) on FLZ-resistant Candida albicans.

METHODThe minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and sessile MIC80 (SMIC80) of EAHD and FLZ to FLZ-resistant C. albicans were determined by CLSI M27-A3 microdilution method, and the synergy of EAHD combined with FLZ were examined by the checkerboard microdilution assay. Agar plate-method was adopted to observe the rate of antifungal activity according to time-kill curve. HPLC and qRT-PCR were utilized to evaluate the changes of ergosterol content and expressions of related genes, respectively.

RESULTMICs of EAHD ranged from 156 to 1,250 mg · L(-1), those of FLZ from 256 to above 2,048 mg · L(-1) with FICI approximate 0.066 in combination; SMIC80 of EAHD were higher than 1,250 mg · L(-1), SMIC80 of FLZ were higher than 512 mg · L(-1) and up to above 2,048 mg · L(-1). Combination group also showed synergy effect except one group showing addition effect. The results of T-K experiment also confirmed obviously fungicidal effect when treated for 12 h. When compared with control groups, the ergosterol was reduced 85% and 50% in the treatments of combination and EAHD alone by HPLC, respective- ly. The expressions of ERG1, ERG2, ERG6, ERG7 and ERG11 were upregulated, and ACS1, ACS2, MET6 were downregulated when exposed to FLZ. The expressions of the above genes were downregulated by treatment of EAHD. The expressions of ERG2, ERG6, ERG11 were upregulated, while ERG1, ERG7, ACS1, ACS2, MET6 were downregulated in combination group.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of EAHD and FLZ exhibited synergy against FLZ-resistant C. albicans through decreasing the synthesis of ergosterol, and resulting in the breakage of cell membrane.

Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Fungal ; drug effects ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Ergosterol ; biosynthesis ; Fluconazole ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of andrographolide derivative Yanhuning (YHN) on Candida albicans biofilms in rats.

METHODThe rat C. albicans biofilms subcutaneous catheter model was established by intraperitoneally injecting YHN (40, 20, 10, 5, 2.5 mg x kg (-1)), with the FLC (80 mg x kg(-1)) positive group as the control group. After 7 d, CFU counting and XTT assay were used to evaluate the effect of YHN on C. albicans biofllms in vivo. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to observe the morphological changes in rat biofilms intervened by YHN. The real-time fluorescence quantification PCR was adopted to detect expressions of C. albicans adhesion-related genes, such as ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, EAP1 and MP65.

RESULTThe YHN group showed much less CFUs on catheter pieces and lower XTT metabolic activity than the blank group, with dosage dependence. SEM also showed that YHN could obviously decrease C. albicans adhesion on subcutaneous catheters in rats. According to qRT-PCR's results, YHN can down-regulate expressions of ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, EAP1 and MP65.

CONCLUSIONYHN could inhibit C. albicans biofilms in rats.

Animals ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Candida albicans ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Catheters ; microbiology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Rats

OBJECTIVE To investigate macrolide resistance and main molecular mechanisms in Mycoplasma pneumoniae. METHODS Thirty two throat swabs from children infected with M. pneumoniae were cultured by modified Hayflick medium. Antibiotic susceptibility test was used to screen the macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae. The 23S rRNA gene sequences of the strains were determined with polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. RESULTS Nineteen strains were isolated from 32 throat swabs successfully.Fifteen strains were resistant to macrolide antibiotics according to the results of antibiotic susceptibility test. Once the strain was resistant to one of macrolide antibiotics,it would be resistant to the others. Sequencing results of the sensitive strains and the standard strain FH were completely same. Fifteen resistant strains presented A2063G point mutation in 23 SrRNA region Ⅴ, in which 2 examples showed the coexistence of the sensitive strain and the resistant strain. CONCLUSIONS Macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae is common and serious at present. The antibiotic resistant isolate carries point mutations of the 23S rRNA region Ⅴ.

The fourth time national survey of Chinese materia medica (CMM) was used. The quadrat survey contained recording on species and amounts of plants, collection of specimens and CMM. The weight of main medicinal plant was measured. The quadrat numbers were calculated on regions, plant species and sea level of samples from different regions. There were 703 species of medicinal plants. The 143 species of main medicinal plants, which occupied to 74.5% in main medicinal plants in Chongqing, belonged to 71 families and 132 genera. There were 128 species of wild main medicinal plants. The 30 species of main medicinal plants were cultivated (including 15 species of both wild and cultivated medicinal plants). Among them, 14 species were in large-scale cultivation. This investigation helped the understanding of present situation of medicinal species distribution in Chengkou County, the habitats of wild medicinal plants, and the resources reserves, which provided references for the continuous development of Chinese herbal medicine resources.

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of tacalcitol combined with monochromatic excimer light (MEL) 308 nm vs MEL 308 nm monotherapy in treating vitiligo.Methods Thirty-eight pa- tients with vitiligo were enrolled in the single-blind clinical trial,using plabebo-treated lesions in the same patient as controls.Contralateral or nearby lesions were randomly selected to be treated by either tacalcitol or placebo.All lesions were treated weekly with MEL 308 nm,for a total of 12 sessions.Patients were ex- amined at monthly intervals.The mean number of sessions and the cumulative dosage for initial and excel- lent repigrnentation were calculated.Results Thirty-five patients were evaluated.The mean?SEM cumu- lative dose and number of MEL exposures for initial repigmentation,respectively,were 4.27?3.59 J/cm~2 and 4.89?3.16 on tacalcitol-treated site,5.36?4.12 J/cm~2 and 5.69?3.29 on placebo-treated site,re- spectively (both P＜0.05).For excellent repigrnentation,the cumulative dose and number of exposures were 7.72?5.64 J/cm~2 and 7.79?4.70 respectively on tacalcitol-treated site,and 8.18?4.87 J/cm~2 and 8.4?3.92 respectively on placebo-treated site (both P＞0.05).Treatment with tacalcitol resulted in a sig- nificantly higher percentage (71.4% vs 54.3%) of repigmentation than that with placebo.Conclusions Our results show that MEL 308 nm is safe and effective for the treatment of vitiligo.Additionally,concur- rent topical tacalcitol potentiates the efficacy of MEL 308 nm in the treatment of vitiligo;this combination achieves more rapid pigmentation with a lower total MEL dosage.

Objective To investigate the relationship between bed rest time and development of prethrombotic state in the elderly patients with hip fracture.Methods One hundred and sixty-six patients who stayed in bed after hip fracture,aged ≥65 yr,were divided into 5 groups according to the bed rest time on admission to hospital:bed rest time ＜ 24 h (Ⅰ group,n =61),bed rest time 24-48 h (Ⅱ group,n =29),bed rest time 3-6days (Ⅲ group,n =29),bed rest time 7-14 days (Ⅳ group,n =34),and bed rest time ＞ 14 days (Ⅴ group,n =13).Venous blood samples were collected to measure the platelet count,coagulation function,and concentrations of plasma D-Dimer and serum α-granule membrane protein 140 (GMP-140).The development of abnormality in each index was recorded.The development of deep vein thrombosis in both lower extremities was diagnosed using color Doppler ultrasound in D-Dimer-positive patients.Results Compared with group Ⅰ,the abnormal rate of fibrinogen (Fib) and D-Dimer and serum GMP-140 concentrations were significantly increased in Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups,the abnormal rate of platelet count,Fib and D-Dimer and serum GMP-140 concentrations were increased in lⅣ group,and the abnormal rate of platelet count was increased,and no significant change was found in the serum GMP-140 concentrations and abnormal rate of Fib and D-Dimer in Ⅴ group.Compared with group Ⅱ,the serum GMP-140 concentrations were significantly increased in Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups,the abnormal rate of Fib and D-Dimer was increased in Ⅳ group,and no significant change was found in the abnormal rate of Fib and DDimer in Ⅲ group.The abnormal rate of platelet count was significantly lower in Ⅳ group than in Ⅲ group.Color Doppler Ultrasonography showed no sign of deep vein thrombosis.Conclusion For the elderly patients with hip fracture,the possibility of pre-thrombotic state developed is increased when the bed rest time is more than 24 h,and the patients were classified as high-risk patients when the bed rest time is more than 3 days.