BACKGROUND:Chitosan modification for magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can improve the agglomeration and stability of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, and in addition, it can be used for tumor hyperthermia and gene therapy in the future.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the biocompatibility of magnetic chitosan microspheres which have the potential application in tumor hyperthermia and gene therapy.
METHODS:Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared using the modified chemical precipitation. Phacoemulsification method was used to add chitosan into magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the preparation of magnetic chitosan microspheres. Then, the fol owing tests were performed. (1) Cytotoxicity test:L-929 cells were cultured in 1640 medium, polyacrylamide monomer solution, 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%of magnetic chitosan microsphere extracts. (2) Hemolysis test:Magnetic chitosan microspheres leaching solution, saline and distil ed water were added. (3) Micronucleus test:Kunming mice were intraperitoneal y injected with magnetic chitosan microspheres suspension containing 5, 3.75, 2.5, 1.25 g/kg iron oxide magnetic fluid, cyclophosphamide and saline, respectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Magnetic chitosan microspheres of 200-300 nm in diameter had an increased dispersion effect. The result of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that the toxicity of the material on L-929 celllines belonged to no cytotoxicity. In the hemolysis test, the hemolysis rate of magnetic chitosan microspheres was 0.69%far less than 5%. In the micronucleus test, magnetic chitosan microspheres suspension did not cause DNA fragmentation and aneuploidy, and did not result in genetic toxicological effects produced by micronuclei. The magnetic chitosan microspheres did not appear with cacogenesis and mutagenesis. From the results, magnetic chitosan microspheres are a kind of high biocompatibility material.

Objective To observe the effect of inhaled nitric oxide(INO) on the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in piglet suffered from severe meconium aspiration syndrome(MAS). Methods Severe MAS model of piglet was reproduced, the oxygenation effect and the activity of pulmonary NOS were measured, hybridization in situ of pulmonary slices was used to show the gene expression of inducible NOS(iNOS). Results INO therapy attenuated respiratory dysfunction in MAS, while discontinuation of INO induced “rebound pulmonary hypertension”. The activity of iNOS in MAS group is higher than that in control group (16.9?3.1) fmol/(mg Pro?min)vs (11.6?2.7) fmol/(mg Pro?min),( P

Herbalogical study shows that Xiakucao used in ancient times came from Prunella vulgaris and P. asiotica. The Portion used for medical purpose in ancient times was its stem and leaf, collected during the period of blooming. The portion used today was the spike, collected approach withering. Modern analytical determination showed that the aerial parts of three Prunella specics can also be used as medicine when collected in june and july.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of preoperative and postoperative serum tumor markers, namely, carcinoem-bryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), and CA72-4, in the diagnosis of gastric cancer recurrence at different stag-es. Methods:Analysis was performed in 564 patients who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer between January 2002 and March 2007, received no chemotherapy at our hospital, and received complete follow-up according to the schedule determined pro-spectively. The values of CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 were evaluated before and after surgery. Results:In the pTNM-Ⅰ and pTNM-Ⅱ stage groups, patients with positive preoperative serum CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 levels showed recurrence rates of 50.0%, 24.1%, and 22.6%, respectively. Similarly, the recurrence rates of patients with positive postoperative serum CEA, CA72-4, and CA19-9 levels were 42.9%, 21.7%, and 14.3%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the positive preoperative serum CEA level could be an inde-pendent factor of recurrence. In the pTNM-Ⅲ stage group, the recurrence rates of patients with positive preoperative serum CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 levels were 50.0%, 55.2%, and 47.6%, respectively. The recurrence rates of patients with positive postoperative se-rum CEA, CA19-9, and CA72-4 levels were 75.0%, 66.7%, and 66.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that high postoperative serum CA72-4 levels could be an independent factor of gastric cancer recurrence. Conclusion:Serum tumor markers exhibited differ-ent predictive values in different pTNM stages. Preoperative CEA level could be used to predict recurrence in patients with pTNM-Ⅰ and pTNM-Ⅱ stages of gastric cancer. Moreover, postoperative CA72-4 level could be used to predict recurrence in patients with pTNM-Ⅲ stage gastric cancer.

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Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) in treating malignant obstructive jaundice, and to discuss its technical points. Methods A total of ten cases with malignant biliary obstruction were enrolled in this study. After the failure of ERCP treatment, the patients had to be treated with ultrasound-guided PTCD immediately. The guide-wire was inserted into the duodenum through intrahepatic bile duct and common bile duct to connect with ERCP, which was followed by the biliary stent implantation or the removal of physical factors causing obstruction. The clinical results were analyzed. Results Technical success was obtained in all 10 cases. In the patients who underwent a successful guide-wire docking with ERCP the postoperative serum bilirubin was significantly decreased. The main complications were fever, elevation of amylase and transient bloody bile. Conclusion With the help of docking technique the combination use of ultrasound-guided PTCD and ERCP is a new tentative treatment for malignant obstructive jaundice after the failure of initial ERCP treatment. This technique carries promising value in clinical practice as it can significantly increase the success rate of ERCP.

Thyroid hormones are known to influence the activities of sympathetic nerve by modifying the P-adrenoceptor numbers in several peripheral organs. In order to find out whether similar changes exist in central nervous system ( CNS ) , the changes of ?-adrenergic re-cetors in mouse brain during experimental hyperthyroidism and the effects of some Yin Tonice( Rehmannia ) on that were investigated by method of radioligand binding. The results were as follows: 1 . The maximum Binding capacity (Bmax ) value of hyperthyroid mouse brain was 29% higher than the control's. No significant difference in KD value between the control and hyperthyroid animals was found . 2. By administration of rehmannia, the Bmax of hyperthyroid mouse was reduced to control value.

This article summarized recent correlative literatures focusing on international standards on glycated hemoglobin.The basic concept,determination of glycated hemoglobin,the present review in laboratory measurement and metrological traceability was introduced.The international community has established reference system and metrological traceability to the International System of Units on HbA1c.Determination in glycated hemoglobin is still in incipient stage in our country.Both clinical laboratorians awareness and clinical determination need to be strengthened.

Objective To investigate preanalytical and intraindividual biological variations of 19 biochemistry analytes. Methods For the study of preanalytical variations, 10 consecutive blood specimens were taken from each of 21 individuals and the specimens were taken from different arms and with various evacuated blood tubes and venous occlusion durations and processed with different storages before and after centrifugal separation of serum. Another 3 aliquots of blood, each at an interval of 1 week, were taken from the individuals for the study of intraindividual biological variations. All the serum samples were analyzed in duplicate for 19 biochemistry analytes. Analysis of variance was performed on the results for the estimation of preanalytical and biological variations. Results Various preanalytical treatments or factors caused some systematic variations but random specimen errors were the main contributors of preanalytical variations. Chloride, sodium and calcium showed preanalytical variations of less than 1% and other analytes ranging from 1%-7%. Different analytes showed varied intraindividual biological variations. The least biological variations ( <2% ) were observed on chloride, sodium and calcium and the largest ( >20% ) on bilirubin,triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase and creafine kinase. Conclusions Preanalytical variations under laboratory settings in China and intraindividual biological variations in Chinese for 19 biochemistry analytes have been estimated. These data will be useful in the estimation of measurement uncertainty and the interpretation of clinical laboratory results.

Objective To explore the inhibition effects and mechanics of nano-magnetoliposomes containing As_2O_3 (NMLA) combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia on xenograft cervical carcinoma in nude mice. Methods After establishment of xenograft cervical carcinoma models in nude mice, nano-liposomes containing As_2O (NLA group), nano-magnetoliposomes (NML group) and NMLA (NMLA group) were injected into the xnograft cervical carcinoma, respectively, and all nude mice were exposed to AMF for three times. The inhibitive ratios (IR) of the tumors, apoptosis index (AI), proliferation index (PI) and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins were measured, as well as the function of liver and kidney. Results IRs in NLA, NML and NMLA groups were 57.06% (P0.05). The obvious necrosis was observed in the tumor tissues in NLA, NML and NMLA groups, but not in the peripheral tissues of the tumors and the visceras. Conclusion NMLA, without toxicity of liver and kidney, might be a desirable composite carrier of targeted treatment with chemotherapy and thermotherapy simultaneously.