Objective To explore the clinical manifestations of toxic epidermal necrolysis(TEN) and its rare pulmonary complications.Methods Clinical symptoms,treatment and prognosis of 1 child with TEN caused by carbamazepine were analyzed.Radiological images were reviewed to evaluate the manifestations and the outcome of chronic pulmonary complications associated with TEN.Results The patient had high fever shortly after a dosage increment of carbamazepine.A confluent erythematous exanthema developed rapidly into painful blistering with skin erosion,denudation and involvement of conjunctive and oropharyngeal mucosa.The diagnosis of TEN was made.The mucocutaneous damage was gradually recovered with steroid plus intravenous immunoglobulin for 3 weeks.However,the patient presented with respiratory failure in the recovery phase of TEN.The computer tomography revealed pulmonary bullae and pneumothorax in the right lung.Lung parenchyma was squeezed and pulmonary bullae ruptured with pneumothorax and atelectasis,which were absorbed gradually through thoracic drainages.The patient′s lung function and pulmonary bullae were partly improved during a 7-month follow-up.Conclusions TEN is a severe form of blistering skin di-sease which is characterized by an extensive loss of epidermis and mucous membrane.Chronic pulmonary complications may occur in recovery phase of TEN.Pulmonary bullae,which might be caused by mucous damage and respiratory obstruction,is a rare complication of TEN.

This study was aimed to explore the effect of total flavonoids and saponins from Huang-Qi Ge-Gen (HQGG) decoction on blood glucose (BG), serum lipid, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-15 (IL-15) of liver in diabetes mellitus (DM) rats, in order to investigate their interactions in regulating DM processes. A total of 66 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, which were the normal group, model group (A1B1), control group, total flavonoids group (A2B1), total saponins group (A1B2), and total flavonoids and saponins group (A2B2), with 11 rats in each group. Except the normal group, other groups were intraperitoneal injected with streptozotocin (STZ). And the experiment was according to 2×2 factorial design experiment scheme. The BG was determined before STZ injection and 7 days after the STZ injection. After 30 days, BG, serum lipid, IL-12 and IL-15 of liver were tested. Related indexes were calculated to the weighted composite score. Main and interactive effect of total flavonoids and saponins were studied according to the factorial design experiment scheme. The results showed that compared with the normal group, all indexes of model group showed statistical differences (P<0.05). Total flavonoids and saponins from HQGG decoction can effectively reduce BG, without any interactions between them. Both the total flavonoids and total saponins can reduce serum cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), liver IL-12 and IL-15. And there were interactive effects. The single use of herb achieved better effects than the combination. It was concluded that total flavonoids and saponins from HQGG decoction can reduce BG, CHO, TG, and liver IL-12 and IL-15 levels in rats. However, the regulation of total flavonoids and saponins on indexes mentioned above showed no additive effect.

To study the effect of Gegen Qinlian decoction and its major effective components on five hepatic microsomal CYP450 isozymes in rats. The in vitro hepatic microsomal incubation technique was used to co-culture Gegen Qinlian decoction and its major effective components together with each probe substrate. HPLC-MS/MS was used to establish the analytical method for metabolites of the five isoform probe substrates of CYP450 isozymes, detect the linearity among micoromal protein concentration, incubation time and metabolite formation amount. And HPLC-MS/MS was applied to determine the formation rate (V) of corresponding metabolites (acetaminophen, 4-OH-chlorzoxazone, dextrophan, 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and 6β-hydroxytestosterone) specific probe substrates of the five isoform probe substrates of CYP450 isozymes (phenacetin, polbutamide, dextromethorphan, chlorzoxazone, testosterone), in order to determine the activity of each isozyme. The result showed good linearity among acetaminophen, 4-OH-tolbutamide, dextrophan, 6-OH-chlorzoxazone and 6β-hydroxytestosterone, satisfactory precision, stability and average recovery, suggesting the method was feasible. The optimized in vitro microsomal incubation conditions conformed to the requirements in the guideline of drug-drug interaction. Gegen Qinlian decoction showed different degrees of inhibitor effect on 5 CYP450 isoforms (CYP1A2, CYP2C11, CYP2D2, CYP2E1, CYP3A1/2). Its major effective component berberine could inhibit each CYP450 isoform at high concentrations (except for CYP1A2, CYP3A1/2).
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Liver ; enzymology ; Rats ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

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

Zwittermicin A was purified by ion exchange resin and HPLC from supernatants of Bacillus thuringiensis.subsp.kurstaki strain D1-23 cultivation.2.89mg pure Zwittermicin A was acquired,proved by HPLC-MS.Results show that the optimized wash concentration of NH_ 4 H_ 2 PO_ 4 is 5mmol/L at first step.Next step CH_ 3 COONH_ 4 concentration is 30 mmol/L,the gradient pH is 8.0～9.5.Totally 93% Zwittermicin A can be reserved with ion exchange resin.The temperature and pH stability experiments show the half life of Zwittermicin A is 48.22 minutes in 100℃,and it is more stable in lower pH in pH 2.0～12.0.

(3S)-Linalool synthase (LIS) is a key enzyme involved in the monoterpene biosynthetic pathway. Based on our previous transcriptome study, the expression level of LIS gene was exceedingly related to glycyrrhizic acid (GA) biosynthesis. Therefore, we used hairy root culturing to further investigate the effect of LIS on the GA biosynthesis. A LIS gene (GenBank accession number: MZ169552) was cloned from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The plant binary overexpression vector pCA-LIS was constructed by gene fusion. G. uralensis hairy roots overexpressing LIS were induced by the Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834. The expression levels of LIS were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and the contents of GA in hairy root lines were determined by UPLC. It was found that in the hairy root lines overexpressing LIS, the expression levels of LIS were significantly higher than that in the wild type, while the contents of GA were remarkably lower than those in the wild type and negative control. These findings indicate that the expression level of LIS is negatively correlated with the accumulation of GA. In this study, LIS was cloned from G. uralensis for the first time and the negative regulatory effect of LIS on GA biosynthesis was confirmed by reverse genetics. This work provides support for further improvement of the molecular regulatory network of GA biosynthesis in G. uralensis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline on spermatogenesis following testicular torsion/detorsion in rats.

METHODSHealthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into three groups randomly, each comprising 8 rats. In Group I, rats underwent a sham operation. In Group II and III, animals were submitted to unilateral 720 degrees testicular torsion, then detorsion in two hours. Infusion of isotonic saline and pentoxifylline into tail vein was initiated 15 minutes prior to relief of torsion in Group II and III respectively. Twenty four hours later, testes were examined for evidence of germ cell apoptosis by the flow cytometry and the level of total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) by spectrophotometry.

RESULTSCompared with that of group II, the number of apoptotic germ cell and the level of MDA decreased remarkably in Group III, but T-AOC increased significantly (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONPentoxifylline provided significant rescue of testicular function after acute experimental torsion.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Germ Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Pentoxifylline ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanism of germ cell apoptosis following testicular torsion in rats.

METHODSHealthy male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 16) were equally randomized into a control and a torsion group and the models of testicular torsion (720 degrees 2 h) were established. Twenty-four hours later, the apoptosis and count of germ cells were determined by flow cytometry, the expressions of Bax, Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA semiquantitatively analyzed by RT-PCR and the cytochrome C release detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, there was an obvious increase in the number of apoptotic germ cells, a marked decrease in that of haploid and tetraploid cells and significantly up-regulated expressions of Bax and Fas/FasL mRNA in the torsion group (P <0.01). The Western blot analysis showed that the cytochrome C release was remarkably increased 24 hours after the detorsion. There were significant differences between the two groups (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere are two major signaling pathways of cell apoptosis following testicular torsion, intercellular and intracellular. Up-regulated expressions of the apoptosis-related molecules Bax and Fas/FasL and increased cytochrome C release may play an important role in germ cell apoptosis following testicular torsion in rats.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatic Cord Torsion ; metabolism ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

To investigate the cytotoxicity of the homemade peptide cationic liposome CDO14 and its efficacy of RNA interference (RNAi). MTT method was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the liposome to a human lung cancer cell line Luc-A549 that can express luciferase stably. Luciferase siRNA (Luc-siRNA) was transfected into Luc-A549 cells by CDO14. Contents of luciferase in the transfected cells were detected by luminous instrument and contents of total protein in these cells were detected by BCA method. Nude mice were inoculated with Luc-A549 cells in axilla to establish xenograft tumor model. Complexes of Luc-siRNA and the cationic liposomes were injected into the modeling mice via tail vein. Contents of luciferase in the transfected mice were detected by the whole body imaging system. The cytotoxicity of the homemade cationic liposome was similar to that of commercial liposome DOTAP, and lower than that of Lipo2000. The siRNA transfection efficacy mediated by CDO14 was higher than that mediated by DOTAP. The homemade peptide cationic liposome CDO14 is expected to serve as delivery vector in gene therapy because of its low cytotoxicity and high transfection efficiency.
Animals ; Cations ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Luciferases ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Peptides ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

Objective To determine whether the susceptibility to ischemia-reperfusion injury in aged heart is higher than that in adult heart and,if so,to clarify the mechanisms underlying this change.Methods Wister rats(5-or 20-month-old)were randomly divided into 4 groups(6 animals in each group).The rats were subjected to 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia via ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery,followed by 3 hours of reperfusion(Young-MI/R group and Old-MI/R group);A silk suture around the left anterior descending coronary artery was not ligated in young and old rats(Young-sham group and Old-sham group).Myocardial apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynueleotidyl transferase biotin-d UTP nick end labeling(TUNEL)staining and caspase-3 activity was detected by using a caspase-3 colorimetrie assay.Nitrotyrosine content,a footprint of in vivo ONOO~-formation,and total NO content were determined by ELISA and chemiluminescence method respectively.Results A significantly exacerbated cardiac reperfusion injury was found in Old-MI/R group as evidenced by increased TUNEL positive myocytes[(19.0?2.1)% vs.(14.6?1.7)%],and increased myocardial caspase-3 activity[(436?35)?mool/mg vs.(340?32)?mol/mg] compared with Young-MI/R group(P＜0.05).Aged hearts had a markedly increased basal NOx level compared with young adult hearts.Marked higher myocardial nitrotyrosine content was found in OId-MI/R group[(7.25?0.18)nmol/g]than that in Young-MI/R group[(4.68?0.15)nmol/g] (P＜0.05).Conclusions In aged hearts,high levels of NO might form highly toxie derivant, ONOO~-,and its subsequent nitrified protein.This may attribute to the increased susceptibility of the aged heart to isehemic-reperfusion injury.