ObjectiveTo probe the indication,treatment algorithm,anesthesia method,safety and efficacy ofextracorporealshockwavelithotripsy(ESWL)incombinationwithendoscopicretrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for pancreatic duct stones.MethodsThe patients with chronic pancreatitis and large pancreatic duct stones ( ＞ 5 mm diameter) and receiving ESWL and ERCP between March and July 2011 in Changhai Hospital were prospective studied.The third generation of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy was applied in ESWL,and the localization of stone was determined by X-ray.No more than 5000 shocks were given per session,and ESWL was performed continuously till the calculi were fragmented,and then was cleared by ERCP.ResultsA total of 100 patients underwent ESWL during the 5 months,among whom 84 patients received ERCP treatment and 41 cases failed to deep cannulation (41/84,48.8％ ).Multiple stones were seen in 83 patients.Ninety five patients had radio-opaque stones,two patients had radiolucent calculi,while three patients had both radio-opaque and radiolucent stones.Seventy five percent,14％ and 11％ stones were located in pancreatic head,pancreatic head and body,pancreatic body and tail,respectively.A total of 175 ESWL procedures were performed,43 patients needed 2 or more sessions for successful fragmentation.Anesthesia method was mainly intravenous sedation,accounting for 96％ (168/175).ERCP was successful in 96 patients after ESWL,only 4 patients failed after ESWL. Forty one cases which failed ERCP procedures before ESWL underwent ERCP,and 37 patients (90.2％) achieved successful cannulation.Successful fragmentation ratewas 100％.Complete clearance was achieved in 78 patients,and complication rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis,fever was 1.71％ (n =3 ),0.57％ (n =1 ),and the overall complication rate was 2.28％.Conclusions ESWL is an effective,safe and necessary modality for fragmentation of large PD stones in the management of minimal invasive treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

AIMTo evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles of the pharmacologically active primary amine metabolite of sibutramine, N-di-desmethyl sibutramine (BTS 54505) in Chinese origin.

METHODSAccording to a randomized cross-over design, a single oral dose of 20 mg of sibutramine hydrochloride capsule was given to 20 healthy Chinese young volunteers. After dosing, serial blood samples were collected for a period of 72 h. BTS 54505 concentration in plasma was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTSVarious pharmacokinetic parameters including AUC0-t, AUC0-infinity, Cmax, Tmax, T1/2, Kelm and MRT were determined for both test and reference capsules and found to be in good agreement with literature values.

CONCLUSIONThe test and reference sibutramine capsules were bioequivalent.

Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cross-Over Studies ; Cyclobutanes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Male ; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Chuangxinmycin (CM) from Actinoplanes tsinanensis was an antibiotic discovered by Chinese scientists about 40 years ago. It contains a new heterocyclic system of indole fused with dihydrothiopyran, whose biosynthetic mechanism remains unclear. CM is used as an oral medicine in the treatment of bacterial infections in China. The simple structure makes CM as an attractive candidate of structure modification for improvement of antibacterial activity. Recently, we analyzed the secondary metabolites of Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056, a CM producing strain, as a natural CM analogue. We discovered the first natural CM analogue 3-demethylchuangxinmycin (DCM) as a new natural product. Compared to CM, DCM exhibited a much weaker activity in the inhibition of the bacterial strains tested. The finding provides valuable information for the structure-activity relationship in the biosynthesis of CM.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; China ; Indoles ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Micromonosporaceae ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship

The completion of many malaria parasite genomes provides great opportunities for genomewide characterization of gene expression and high-throughput genotyping. Substantial progress in malaria genomics and genotyping has been made recently, particularly the development of various microarray platforms for large-scale characterization of the Plasmodium falciparum genome. Microarray has been used for gene expression analysis, detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number variation (CNV), characterization of chromatin modifications, and other applications. Here we discuss some recent advances in genetic mapping and genomic studies of malaria parasites, focusing on the use of high-throughput arrays for the detection of SNP and CNV in the P. falciparum genome. Strategies for genetic mapping of malaria traits are also discussed.
Animals ; *Chromosome Mapping ; DNA, Protozoan/*genetics ; Gene Dosage ; *Microarray Analysis ; Plasmodium falciparum/*genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

PURPOSE: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an inflammatory enzyme expressed in atherosclerotic plaques. We investigated the association of circulating Lp-PLA2 with characteristics of vulnerable coronary atherosclerotic plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 113 patients with either unstable angina (UA, n=59) and stable angina (SA, n=54) by coronary angiography. Thirty-six healthy subjects served as controls. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was used to evaluate the characteristics of coronary atherosclerotic plaque, and serum Lp-PLA2 concentration was measured as well. RESULTS: Lp-PLA2 concentration was significantly higher in both UA and SA patients [(396+/-36) microg/L and (321+/-39) microg/L, respectively] compared with the controls [(127+/-49) microg/L, p<0.01], and higher in UA than SA group. IVUS findings showed that remodeling index (RI) (0.91+/-0.15 vs. 0.85+/-0.11, p=0.005) and eccentricity index (EI) (0.73+/-0.16 vs. 0.65+/-0.22, p=0.039) were larger in UA than in SA group, and fibrous caps were thicker in SA than UA group [(0.91+/-0.23) mm vs. (0.63+/-0.21) mm, p=0.032]. Moreover, Lp-PLA2 correlated positively with EI (r=0.439, p<0.01) and RI (r=0.592, p<0.05) in UA group. There was an inverse relationship between Lp-PLA2 and fibrous cap thickness in both UA (r=-0.587, p<0.001) and SA (r=-0.318, p<0.05) groups. The independent risk factors in UA group were Lp-PLA2 (OR=1.055, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08, p=0.013), LDL-cholesterol (OR=0.032, 95% CI: 0.00-0.05, p=0.041) and fibrous cap thickness (OR=0.008, 95% CI: 0.00-0.45, p=0.019). Lp-PLA2 was strongly associated with both EI and fibrous cap thickness in both groups. CONCLUSION: Serum level of Lp-PLA2 is associated with both eccentricity index and fibrous cap thickness in both UA and SA groups. Elevated levels of circulating Lp-PLA2 might to be a strong risk factor and more serious for unstable angina than stable angina.
1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase/*blood ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angina, Stable/*blood/enzymology/*pathology ; Angina, Unstable/*blood/enzymology/pathology ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease/*blood/enzymology/*pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of tadalafil on demand and on time in men with erectile dysfunction.

METHODSWe conducted a multi-centered randomized controlled study on 120 ED males, who were assigned to take tadalafil at 10 mg/ 20 mg on demand before sexual activity and at the same dose on time twice a week for 8 weeks. Before and at 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, and 1 month after withdrawal, we obtained the scores on IIEF-5, ED Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) and the short form of Psychological and Interpersonal Relationship Scales (SF-PAIRS) , and compared the safety and efficacy of medication between the two groups of patients.

RESULTSTotally, 110 patients accomplished the trial, 56 in the on-time and 54 in the on-demand group. At 4 and 8 weeks of medication and 1 month after withdrawal, the IIEF-5 scores were improved in both the on-time and on-demand groups, even more significantly in the former than in the latter at 8 weeks of treatment (21.6 +/- 2.9 vs 18.5 +/- 1.7) and 1 month after withdrawal (20.9 +/- 2.1 vs 17.9 +/- 2.3) (P < 0.05). The EDITS scores were significantly higher in the on-time than in the on-demand group at 8 weeks of treatment (31.7 +/- 6.9 vs 28.6 +/- 5.8) and 1 month after withdrawal (30.6 +/- 4.7 vs 27.9 +/- 6.5) (P < 0.05). The scores on the sexual self-confidence, spontaneity and time-concern domains of SF-PAIRS were remarkably improved after medication as compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), even more significantly in the on-time than in the on-demand group at 1 month after withdrawal. Both dosing schedules were well tolerated and no significant differences were observed in safety between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONOn-time dosing of tadalafil is efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of ED, and has an even better effect than on-demand dosing at 8 weeks of medication and 1 month after withdrawal.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome

Chuangxinmycin (CM) from Actinoplanes tsinanensis was an antibiotic discovered by Chinese scientists about 40 years ago. It contains a new heterocyclic system of indole fused with dihydrothiopyran, whose biosynthetic mechanism remains unclear. CM is used as an oral medicine in the treatment of bacterial infections in China. The simple structure makes CM as an attractive candidate of structure modification for improvement of antibacterial activity. Recently, we analyzed the secondary metabolites of Actinoplanes tsinanensis CPCC 200056, a CM producing strain, as a natural CM analogue. We discovered the first natural CM analogue 3-demethylchuangxinmycin (DCM) as a new natural product. Compared to CM, DCM exhibited a much weaker activity in the inhibition of the bacterial strains tested. The finding provides valuable information for the structure-activity relationship in the biosynthesis of CM.