OBJECTIVETo investigate the absolute bioavailability of caffeic acid in rats and its intestinal absorption properties.

METHODThe absolute bioavailability (Fabs) of caffeic acid was obtained after iv (2 mg x kg(-1)) or ig (10 mg x kg(-1)) administration to rats. The intestinal absorption of caffeic acid was explored by the recirculating vascularly perfused rat intestinal preparation. Caco-2 cell model was applied to measure the permeability of caffeic acid from apical to basolateral said (A-B) and from basolateral to apical said (B-A).

RESULTA two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was best to describe the pharmacokinetics of caffeic acid following iv or ig administration. The Fabs of caffeic acid was 14. 7% , and its intestinal absorption was 12.4%. The values of Papp A-->B and Papp B-->A of caffeic acid were retained stable while its concentration was changed. The efflux ratio values in this study surveyed were above 2.0, and suggesting caffeic acid was active transport.

CONCLUSIONCaffeic acid was shown to have poor permeability across the Caco-2 cells, low intestinal absorption and low oral bioavailability in rats.

Animals ; Biological Availability ; Caco-2 Cells ; Caffeic Acids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To design a new method to verify the position of multileaf collimator(MLC)leaf using a two-dimensional ion chamber array(2D-array).Methods 2D-array of PTW T10018 Seven29~(TM) was used to calibrate the accuracy of MLC leaf position of Elekta Precise accelerator.The edge function of the leaf position of MLC was measured and used as the reference value.The precision of MLC leaf was then evaluated through comparing the measured and reference values.Results The accuracy of MLC leaf position was found within?0.1 mm.Conclusion This method of verifying the accuracy of multileaf collimator leaf position is easy,simple and reliable

BackgroundThe quest to look for seed cells is a hot spot of cornea transplant research in solving the problem of the lack of donor. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) have been successfully induced into retinal ganglion cells(RGCs) in vivo,but the successful induction of BMSCs into corneal endothelial cells has not been reported.Objective This experiment was to study the transplantation of BMSCs on corneal endothelial surface using the splitting Descemet's membrane. MethodsFour healthy adult rhesus monkeys were divided into the experimental group ( 3 monkeys) and control group ( 1 monkey). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from bone marrow by density gradient centrifugation combined with adhering means. The cultured cells were identified by flow cytometry and its ability to differentiate was determined by allowing them to differentiate into adipocytes in vitro and labeled by 5-bromodeoxyuridine ( BrdU ) for subsequent identification. Corneal grafts of 7 mm in size with tearing of the Descemet' s membrane were prepared in the experimental group and control group. After labeling by 5-bromodeoxyuridine( BrdU ) ,cultured cells were transplanted onto the endothelial surface of cornea grafts in the experimental group, but no cultured cells were seeded in the graft of the control group. The corneal grafts were then sutured in situ, and were removed 1,2 or 3 months after operation to examine the distribution and connection between transplanted cells and their morphologic changes under the electron microscope. Results High purity MSCs were harvested by density gradient centrifugation combined with adhering method. Cultured cells reached confluency after 12 to 16 days, presenting with a spindle shape and parallel or swirling arrangement. Flow cytometry analysis showed that 94.26％ of cells were positive for CD29,7. 51％ for CD34 and 4. 02％ for CD45. Larger nuclei filled with plastosomes, golgiosomes and rough endoplasmic reticula were found on the graft under the transmission electron microscope( TEM ). After 3 weeks, MSCs were differentiated into adipocytes where Oil Red O staining resulted in an orange-red staining in the cytoplasm and blue staining in the nuclei. The transplanted cells attached loosely on the endothelial surface of the corneal graft and came in contact with each other in one month. The shape of the cells appeared as spindle-shaped and polygonal after 2 months and became tightly packed after 3 months. The positive cells retained the BrdU label and presented with brown nuclei. No endothelia cells grew in the cornea graft in the control group, with an absence of BrdU labeling. Conclusions Mesenchymal stem cells can be transplanted onto the corneal endothelial surface successfully and form a monolayer using the centrifugation method, and present with good survival and proliferation ability.

Animals ; Cardiomegaly ; Constriction ; Heart ; Mice

Using the qualified rates of particles as the evaluation indexes, the impact tactors of one-step pelletization technology of Jiuwei Xifeng granules were selected from six factors by the Plackett-Burman experimental design and the levels of non-significant factors were identified. According to the Plackett-Burman experimental design, choosing the qualified rates of particles and angle of repose as the evaluation indexes, three levels of the three factors were selected by Box-Behnken of central composite design to optimize the experimental. The best conditions were as follows: the fluid extract was sprayed with frequency of 29 r . min-1, inlet air temperature was 90 °C, the frequency of fan was 34 Hz. Under the response surface methodology optimized scheme, the average experimental results are similar to the predicted values, and surface methodology could be used in the optimization of one-step pelletization for Chinese materia medica.
Air Movements ; Analysis of Variance ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Models, Theoretical ; Research Design ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase was abnormally activated in maldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) with refractory epilepsy.

METHODSA total of 12 archival cases of FCD typeIIwith medically intractable epilepsy treated between 2008 and 2010 were retrieved. Perilesional brain tissue was used as control specimens (n = 8). The expression of phosphorylated p-AKT (Ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448) and p-P70S6K (Thr389) was investigated by imunocytochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of p-AKT (Ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448) and p-P70S6K (Thr389) was found in meldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of FCD. A weak stain in a small amount of pyramid neurons was also found in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal activation of mTOR in maldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of FCD may be a key molecular mechanism underlying the histological changes and repeated seizures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; metabolism ; pathology ; Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antioxidant effect of melatonin (MT) in the rats with phosgene-induced lung injury and its possible mechanism.

METHODSFifty male SD rats were equally randomized into phosgene exposure group, air control group, MT treatment group, dexamethasone (DX) treatment group, and negative control group. All groups except the air control group were exposed to 8.33 mg/L phosgene for 5 min, and the MT treatment group, DX treatment group, and negative control group were injected with MT (10 mg/kg), DX (2.5 mg/kg), and 1% ethanol saline (1 ml/kg), respectively, via the caudal vein 1 hour after exposure. The rats were sacrificed 6h later. Then, the wet/dry ratio of the lung, the total protein content and neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities in lung homogenate were measured; pathological observation was made on the lung tissue under an optical microscope; the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NF-κB in the lung tissue was measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the air control group, the phosgene exposure group showed significantly increased wet/dry ratio of the lung and total protein content and neutrophil count in BALF (P < 0.01) as well as significantly increased MDA content and MPO activity in the lung tissue (P < 0.05). Compared with the phosgene exposure group, the MT treatment group showed significantly decreased MDA content and MPO activity and significantly increased SOD activity (P < 0.01), and the MT treatment group and DX treatment group showed significantly decreased protein expression of iNOS and NF-κB (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMT has protective effect in phosgene-induced lung injury, and its protective mechanism may be associated with scavenging free radicals and inhibiting expression of iNOS and NF-κB.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Melatonin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Phosgene ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

We designed specific primers and fluorescence-labeled probes to develop real-time and conventional RT-PCR assays for detection of human coronavirus NL63 or HKU1. Subsequently, experiments were undertaken to assess diagnostic criteria such as specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility. The detection limit of the real-time RT-PCR assays was 10 RNA copies per reaction mixture. No cross-reactivity was observed between RNA samples derived from designed HCoV and other HCoV or human metapneumovirus. A total of 158 nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected from adult patients with acute respiratory tract infection in Beijing were screened for the presence of human coronavirus NL63 and HKU1 by using real-time RT-PCR and conventional RT-PCR method. The fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR method detected six specimens positive for human coronavirus NL63, five specimens positive for human coronavirus HKU1; and conventional RT-PCR method detected three HCoV-NL63 positive and three HCoV-HKU1 positive, respectively. The convention RT-PCR products of positive samples were obtained and sequence analysis confirmed the reliability of the above methods. In summary, the real-time RT-PCR assay for HCoV- NL63 or HKU1 was more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR and with less time (less than 4 hours) for completion. It may be suitable for molecular epidemiological surveillance and clinical diagnosis for human coronavirus NL63 and HKU1.
Coronavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Nasopharynx ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVENan'ao County in Guandong Province is a high-risk area of esophageal cancer in Southern China. Of the suspected etiological factors in the environment, N-nitrosamines and their precursors have received the greatest attention.

METHODSSixty samples of the diet ingested by the inhabitants were collected and detected for volatile N-nitrosamines and their precursors. Five N-nitrosamines detected by Gas Chromatography-Thermal Energy Analyzer were N-nitrosodimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, N-nitrosopiperidine and N-nitrosomethyl-benzylamine.

RESULTSThe average content of 5 volatile N-nitrosamines in the diet was 312.0 micrograms/kg (median). The daily intake of the nitrosamines was 286.5 micrograms/head/day. Only the ability to exogenously synthesize N-nitrosopiperidine was powerful among 5 volatile N-nitrosamines. By a computerized stepwise regression analysis and curve fitting, we studied the correlation among the nitrosamines, the precursors and the major food items in the samples.

CONCLUSIONIt demonstrated that a relatively high content of volatile N-nitrosamines was present in the diet collected in the area.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitrosamines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors ; Volatilization

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical characteristics of herb-induced liver injury (HILI).

METHODSGeneral conditions, medical history, clinical manifestations, biochemical indices, prognosis, and Roussed Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) scores were retrospectively analyzed in 595 inpatients at 302 Military Hospital between January 2009 and January 2014.

RESULTSThere were 423 cases (accounting for 71.1%) were females with multiple onset age ranging 41 to 50 years old. The median time from starting Chinese herbs to the occurrence of liver injury (LI) was 30 days (15-75 days), and 511 cases (85.9%) were classified as hepatocellular injury. Chinese herbs inducing HILI were mainly used for skin disease (102 cases, 17.1%), osteoarticular disease (57 cases, 9.6%), and gastrointestinal disease (49 cases, 8.2%), covering 207 kinds of Chinese patent medicines. Polygonum multiflorum, Psoralea corylifolia, and Corydalis ambigua were often seen in Chinese prescriptions. In RUCAM scoring, 451 HILI patients (accounting for 74.1%) were very possibly associated with Chinese herbs. Liver failure occurred in 47 HILI patients (accounting for 7.9%), cirrhosis in 45 patients (accounting for 7.6%), chronic HILI in 80 patients (accounting for 13.4%), 27 (4.5%) died, and only 2 (0.3%) underwent liver transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSChinese herbs could cause LI or even death. Attention should be paid to herbal hepatotoxicity and improving monitoring system of HILI.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies