OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study was to prepare uniform-sized silybin loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres in study of silybin with stainless steel membrane.

METHODSilybin PLGA microspheres were prepared by stainless steel membrane emulsification. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor test and orthogonal experiment, and evaluating the mean diameters, the particle size distribution, drug loading, entrapment efficiency and morphology of microsphere.

RESULTPrepared microspheres were round and surface was smooth. The mean diameter was (4.961 +/- 0.56) microm. The span was (1.75 +/- 0.18). The entrapment efficiency was (54.997 +/- 4.05)% and the average drug loading was (23.6 +/- 1.70)%.

CONCLUSIONThe stainless steel membrane emulsification can be used to prepare the silybin PLGA microspheres. The mean diameters of the silybin PLGA microspheres can be controlled in certain level. Stainless steel membrane emulsification has great potentiality exploitation and utilization.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microspheres ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Silymarin ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

Objective To explore the status quo of job stress and happiness in nurses of three grade A hospitals and mediation effects of hope between above two elements. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted. The Hope Status Scale, The Nurse's Job Stressor Scale, General Well-Being Schedule and self-designed demographic questionnaire were delivered to 1200 nurses from nine hospitals. Results The path analysis results showed that the direct effect of job stress on the subjective well-being was-0.193, the indirect effect was (-0.486) × 0.456=-0.222, the total effect of working pressure on the subjective well-being was-0.415, the indirect effect of total effect was 53.49％. want direct effect on subjective well-being of 0.456, job stress on the direct effect of hope for-0.486. Conclusion Hope to play an intermediary role between nurses' job stress and subjective happiness. In the process of trying to reduce nurses' job stress, we should make full use of the intermediary significance of hope to help nurses with low level of hope to build hope and improve their happiness level.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of the dried sorophore of cultured Cordyceps militaris.

METHODCompounds were isolated and purified by macroporous adsorption resin and silica gel column chromatography. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data (IR, FAB-MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR).

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as: ergosta-4, 6, 8 (14)-tetraen-3-one (1), citrostadienol (2), tetracosanoic acid 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester (3), ergosterol (4), ergosterol peroxide (5), ergosta-7, 22-dien-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (6), cordycepin (7), adenosine (8), N-(2-hydroxyethyl) adenosine (9), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-3, 6, 9 were separated from the sorophore of cultured C. militaris for the first time.

Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Culture Techniques ; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo report the postmortem findings of a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus occurring in human beings.

METHODSPostmortem examination was carried out in a deceased caused by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Detailed light microscopy of major organs, including heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys and brain, was performed. The lung tissue was further investigated by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

RESULTSMajor histopathologic changes in lungs secondary to highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus included diffuse alveolar damage, hyaline membrane formation and focal hemorrhage. Some of the alveolar spaces contained lightly eosinophilic liquid, lymphocytes, macrophages, plasma cells and small number of neutrophils. Congested capillaries were commonly seen in the alveolar septa which were focally rimmed by hyaline membrane. Immunohistochemical study showed that the lymphocytes were mainly of T lineage and macrophages were also demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONSHighly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus causes pathologic changes mostly in lungs, including diffuse alveolar damage and acute exudative changes (involving mainly T lymphocytes and macrophages). The resulting parenchymal destruction, consolidation, pulmonary edema and hemorrhage eventually lead to respiratory distress and death.

Adult ; Autopsy ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Microscopy, Electron

Essential hypertension (EH) is affected by both genetic and environmental factors.The polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes is found associated with the development of hypertension.However,the association of the polymorphism of Cxs with EH has not been investigated.This study aimed to investigate the association of the polymorphism of connexin (Cx) genes Cx37,Cx40,and Cx43 with EH in Kazak and Han Chinese in Xinjiang,China.Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) were used to analyze the polymorphism of Cx genes in Kazak and Han EH patients as well as their normotensive controls.The results showed that there were no significant differences in the frequencies of different three genotypes (A/A,A/G,and G/G) and A and G alleles of Cx40 rs35594137 and rs11552588 between EH patients and normotensive controis.However,in Kazak EH patients,the frequencies of three genotypes (A/A,A/G;and G/G) of Cx37 rs1630310 were 24.8％,47.2％ and 28.0％,respectively,which were significantly different from those in Han EH patients.In Han EH patients,the frequencies of the three genotypes (C/C,C/G and G/G) of Cx43 rs1925223 were 6.4％,35.6％ and 58.0％,respectively.Frequencies of the other four genotypes had no statistical differences among Kazak and Hart EH patients and their normotensive controls.These results suggest polymorphisms of Cx37 rs 1630310 and Cx43 rs 1925223 genes may be associated with the pathogenesis of EH.Carrying Cx37 rs1630310-A or Cx43 rs1925223-G genotypes may protect against the development of EH.

BACKGROUNDCarbapenems are used to treat severe infections caused by multi-drug-resistant organisms, however, the emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacterial isolates is becoming an increasing therapeutic challenge. Since the first Klebsiella (K.) pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae was reported in 2001, KPC-producing isolates have been found increasingly, specially in Enterobacteriaceae. The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanisms of a carbapenem-resistant Proteus (P.) mirabilis.

METHODSA carbapenem-resistant P. mirabilis isolate was recovered from pleural drainage fluid of a patient admitted to surgical intensive care unit. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolate was performed by disk diffusion according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, and subsequent minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined with the E-test. Amplification of the bla(KPC) gene generated a positive band and the PCR products were sequenced subsequently. The plasmid of the isolate was extracted and was successfully transformed into Escherichia (E.) coli DH5α.

RESULTSThe P. mirabilis isolate was resistant to all detected antimicrobial agents except tigecycline. KPC-2 was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis. The transformant E. coli was resistant to carbapenems. Further study demonstrated that upstream and downstream regions of bla(KPC-2) were identical to that observed in K. pneumoniae submitted to GenBank from China in 2007.

CONCLUSIONCarbapenem resistance in the P. mirabilis isolate in this study is mainly due to production of KPC-2.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; China ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; enzymology ; Proteus mirabilis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; beta-Lactamases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanisms of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) inhibiting NB4 cells proliferation.

METHODSThe Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) protein level and its phosphorylation level in NB4 cells was detected by Western blots. NB4 cells were transfected with JAK1 siRNA or JAK1 plasmid to make JAK1 gene silenced or overexpressed. The inhibition of NB4 cells proliferation was measured by MTT assay and Trypan blue exclusion respectively. The variation of phosphorylation level of JAK1 and the cell cycle inhibitor P21 were determined by Western blots.

RESULTSJAK1 protein was expressed stably in NB4 cells, with no phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of JAK1 was enhanced after the NB4 cells treated with As2O3. After NB4 cells transfected with JAK1 siRNA, the expression level of JAK1 was obviously lower than that of in the non-specific siRNA group and blank control group. The effect of As2O3 inhibiting NB4 cells proliferation was weaker in the JAK1 siRNA transfected group. The inhibiting rate of 4 micromol/L As2O3 on NB4 cells proliferation of JAK1 siRNA group was 49.12% being lower than that of the non-specific siRNA group (74.58%) and control group (72.33%). After NB4 cells transfected with JAK1 plasmid, the JAK1 expression level in wild-type and mutant type plasmid groups were significantly higher than those in the empty plasmid group, moreover the effect of As2O3 inhibiting proliferation was stronger in wild-type plasmid group. The inhibiting rate of 4 micromol/L As2O3 on NB4 cells proliferation of wild-type plasmid group was 69.53% being higher than that of the mutant type JAK1 plasmid group (37.26%) and the empty plasmid group (39.61%). The expression level of P21 was up-regulated after the NB4 cells treated with As2O3.

CONCLUSIONJAK1 is expressed stably in NB4 cells, but has no activity. Arsenic trioxide inhibits the proliferation of NB4 cells through activating the JAK1. P21 is up-regulated after arsenic trioxide activated the JAK1 to inhibit the proliferation of NB4 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To analyze the timeliness of detection and reporting on public health emergency events, and to explore the effective strategies for improving the relative capacity on those issues. Methods We conducted a retrospective survey on 3275 emergency events reported through Public Health Emergency Events Surveillance System from 2005 to the first half of 2006. Developed by county Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a uniformed self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect data, which would include information on the detection, reporting of the events. Results For communicable diseases events, the median of time interval between the occurrence of first case and the detection of event was 6 days (P25=2, P75=13). For food poisoning events and clusters of disease with unknown origin,the medians were 3 hours (P25=1, P75=16) and 1 days (P25=0,P75=5). 71.54% of the events were reported by the discoverers within 2 hours after the detection. Conclusion In general, the ranges of time intervals between the occurrence, detection or reporting of the events were different, according to the categories of events. The timeliness of detection and reporting of events could have been improved dramatically if the definition of events, according to their characteristics, had been more reasonable and accessible, as well as the improvement of training program for healthcare staff and teachers.

Objective To evaluate the enhanced magnification endoscopy in the diagnosis of Barrett esophagus,and to explore the relationship between mucosal surface patterns and pathological epithelial types of Barrett esophagus.Methods Enhanced magnification endoscopy was performed 'after spraying 2%-3% acetic acid on the surface of distal esophagus in 40 Barrett esophagus patients.Mucosal specimen were biop- syed.Results According to the mucosal types of Toyoda in 2003,there were three mucosal types:Ⅰ dot pat- tern 7(17.5%),5 of 7(71.4%)fundie type,Ⅱ reticular pattern 24(60.0%),16 of 24(66.7%)fundic type,Ⅲ cerebroid/villous 9(22.5%),intestinal metaplasia or dysplasia.Conclusion Enhanced magnifi- cation endoscopy helps to identify areas with intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia,and is useful in the diagno- sis of Barrett esophagus.

Background: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended as the standard care for unresectable hepa-tocellular carcinoma (HCC) at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A–B. However, the efficacy of TACE on large (≥ 10 cm) stage A–B HCC is far from satisfactory, and it is proposed that hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) might be a better first-line treatment of this disease. Hence, we compared the safety and efficacy of HAIC with the modified FOLFOX (mFOLFOX) regimen and those of TACE in patients with massive unresectable HCC. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized, phase Ⅱ study was conducted on patients with massive unresectable HCC. The protocol involved HAIC with the mFOLFOX regimen (oxaliplatin, 85 mg/m2intra-arterial infusion; leucovorin, 400 mg/m2intra-arterial infusion; and fluorouracil, 400 mg/m2bolus infusion and 2400 mg/m2continuous infusion) every 3 weeks and TACE with 50 mg of epirubicin, 50 mg of lobaplatin, 6 mg of mitomycin, and lipiodol and polyvinyl alcohol particles. The tumor responses, time-to-progression (TTP), and safety were assessed. Results: A total of 79 patients were recruited for this study: 38 in the HAIC group and 41 in the TACE group. The HAIC group exhibited higher partial response and disease control rates than did the TACE group (52.6% vs. 9.8%, P < 0.001;83.8% vs. 52.5%, P = 0.004). The median TTPs for the HAIC and TACE groups were 5.87 and 3.6 months (hazard radio [HR] = 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–4.76, P = 0.015). More patients in the HAIC group than in the TACE group underwent resection (10 vs. 3, P = 0.033). The proportions of grade 3–4 adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE) were lower in the HAIC group than in the TACE group (grade 3–4 AEs: 13 vs. 27, P = 0.007; SAEs: 6 vs. 15, P = 0.044). More patients in the TACE group than in the HAIC group had the study treatment terminated early due to intolerable treatment-related adverse events or the withdrawal of consent (10 vs. 2, P = 0.026). Conclusions: HAIC with mFOLFOX yielded significantly better treatment responses and less serious toxicity than did TACE. HAIC might represent a feasible and promising first-line treatment for patients with massive unresectable HCC.