The ultrastructural localization of substance P (SP) immunoreactivity, especially the morphology, number and distribution of positive large granular vesicles (LGV) in SP axon terminals of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis of the rat were studied by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. This study revealed that SP immunoreactivity was mostly located in axon terminals and unmyelinated fibers. SP axon terminals contained both clear round vesicles and LGV. SP immunoreactivity was found in LGV, and on the surface of clear round vesicles and outer membrane of mitochondria. Positive LGV were spherical or oval in shape (60～120nm in diameter). The number of LGv was mostly 2～3 in a SP axon terminal. LGV often apposed to the axolemma or scattered in the centre of terminal. LGV were far from the presynaptic sites of the SP terminals which formed synapses. The number of LGV closed to the terminal membrane was significantly (P

Previous studies have demonstrated that exocytotic release from large dense cored vesicle(LDV)at structurally non-specialized areas within axon terminal of the medullary dorsal horn and it has been speculated that non-synaptic exocytosis from LDV may be a probable mechanism for neuropeptide release. This study provides the evidence that SP containing LDV can release their contents by exocytosis at non-synaptic sites of axon terminal within superficial dorsal horn of medulla oblongata in the rat with ultrastructural immunohistochemistry staining by an unilateral deafferentation. The results of this study confirmed previous hypothesis that SP and perhaps other peptides containing LDV release their contents by exocytosis at non-specialized sites and the significance of such release is discussed.

Aimed at developing new formulation, amorphous solid dispersion of itraconazole was prepared via hot-melt extrusion technology and compared with sporanox for improving its dissolution. According to the solubility parameter and glass transition temperature, Soluplus, Kollidon VA64, HPMCAS and Eudragit EPO were used as carriers. After screening the carriers by modulated temperature-differential scanning calorimetry(MT-DSC), the amorphous solid dispersion was prepared successfully and characterized by MT-DSC, polarized light microscope(PLM), X-ray powder diffraction(XRPD)and Fourier Transform InfraRed(FT-IR). Results suggested that the amorphous form of ITZ solid dispersion and whether the interaction between polymer and ITZ was appeared. Using 30% and 50% drug loading, solid dispersion were tested by in vitro dissolution and kinetic solubility tests. When using Soluplus(3 ∶7)as carrier and extrusion temperature of 170 ℃, dissolution rate of itraconazole was improved significantly compared to Sporanox. In 40 ℃, 75% RH condition, itraconazole in the solid dispersion was amorphous for 30 d with no crystal observed. MT-DSC indicated the molecular level miscibility between Soluplus and amorphous itraconazole was probably the main cause of solubilization. The result from this research help understanding the solublization of amorphous itraconazole and future formulation development.

Objective:To design a motor impairment rehabilitation monitoring aid for the assessment of motor impairment in patients who do not have or have difficulty walking independently.Methods:An assistive device vehicle was designed, equipped with an accelerometer and a six-dimensional force sensor. The normal walking (NW) group and abnormal walking group were set up, in which the abnormal walking group included moderate abnormal walking (MA) group, moderate abnormal walking with the aid of the assistive vehicle (MA-V) group, severe abnormal walking (SA) group, and severe abnormal walking with the aid of the assistive vehicle (SA-V) group. In the MA-V group, the range of knee movement was adjusted from 0 to 30°, and in the SA group, the knee joint was completely unbending. The gait cycles, peak and mean acceleration values of the right and left legs were evaluated by accelerometers, and changes in the upper limb forces were assessed by six-dimensional force transducers.Results:For the moderate impairment group, the difference in gait cycle between the MA and MA-V groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05), and the gait cycle in the MA-V group was slightly greater than that in the MA group. For the severe injury group, the gait cycle of the SA-V group was lower than that of the SA group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). For all abnormal groups, the mean and peak acceleration of the left leg were greater than that of the right leg, and the difference between the peak acceleration of the left leg and that of the right leg was statistically significant ( P<0.05). In the abnormal walking pattern, the mean (absolute) value of the left hand force was greater than that of the right hand, especially in the Z-axis. The standard deviations of the combined forces on the left side for the NW, MA-V, and SA-V groups were 2.759, 8.297, and 13.118 N, respectively. The SA-V group had the highest dispersion in the force scatter plot, while the NW group had a better concentration. Conclusions:An assistive vehicle equipped with an accelerometer and a six-dimensional force sensor was designed to help physicians in the assessment and rehabilitation of motor disorders.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of serological indicators and evaluate the diagnostic value of a new established combined serological model on identifying the minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Methods:This prospective multicenter study enrolled 263 compensated cirrhotic patients from 23 hospitals in 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China between October 2021 and August 2022. Clinical data and laboratory test results were collected, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was calculated. Ammonia level was corrected to the upper limit of normal (AMM-ULN) by the baseline blood ammonia measurements/upper limit of the normal reference value. MHE was diagnosed by combined abnormal number connection test-A and abnormal digit symbol test as suggested by Guidelines on the management of hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. The patients were randomly divided (7∶3) into training set ( n=185) and validation set ( n=78) based on caret package of R language. Logistic regression was used to establish a combined model of MHE diagnosis. The diagnostic performance was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve. The internal verification was carried out by the Bootstrap method ( n=200). AUC comparisons were achieved using the Delong test. Results:In the training set, prevalence of MHE was 37.8% (70/185). There were statistically significant differences in AMM-ULN, albumin, platelet, alkaline phosphatase, international normalized ratio, MELD score and education between non-MHE group and MHE group (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AMM-ULN [odds ratio ( OR)=1.78, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.05-3.14, P=0.038] and MELD score ( OR=1.11, 95% CI 1.04-1.20, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for MHE, and the AUC for predicting MHE were 0.663, 0.625, respectively. Compared with the use of blood AMM-ULN and MELD score alone, the AUC of the combined model of AMM-ULN, MELD score and education exhibited better predictive performance in determining the presence of MHE was 0.755, the specificity and sensitivity was 85.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ( P=0.733). The AUC for internal validation of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.752. In the validation set, the AUC of the combined model for diagnosing MHE was 0.794, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good calibration ( P=0.841). Conclusion:Use of the combined model including AMM-ULN, MELD score and education could improve the predictive efficiency of MHE among patients with compensated cirrhosis.