Bacteria ; drug effects ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI).MethodsData of 278 patients with acute traumatic CSCI admitted from 1988 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Pneumonia was the major complication following acute CSCI and discovered by radiography during the first 3—33 days after injury. The all cases were nosocomial pneumonia and G- bacilli were main pathogens, particularly pseudomonas aeruginosa. The incidence of pneumonia of patients with score ≤6 according to the criteria of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) was significantly higher than those with ASIA score >6 (P<0.001).ConclusionThe high incidence of pneumonia in the CSCI is associated with the level and completeness of the injury. The G- bacilli causing nosocomial infection are main pathogens.

?AIM: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs1157699 in the calcitonin receptor-like receptor ( CRLR ) gene with primary angle closure ( PAC) in a Han Chinese population.?METHODS: All samples, involved 232 PAC cases and 306 controls, were obtained from an epidemiologic survey conducted in Funing, Jiangsu Province, China. Genotyping were carried out by TaqMan-MGB probe using the real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction system to study the relationship between SNP of rs1157699 in CRLR gene and PAC.?RESULTS: The prevalence of CRLRrs1157699 genotype was 67.4%, 30.0%, 2.6% for CC, CT, TT in cases, and 71.3%, 27.0%, 1.7% in controls respectively.There was no difference between the two groups in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of rs1157699 (P>0.05).?CONCLUSION:Our results do not support a significant role for rs1157699 in CRLR with PAC.

Objective·To eliminate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor-Ig (TACI-Ig) on the opitc neuritis and the integrity of myelin sheath in mice.Methods·Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were blank control group,saline control group,low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group and high-dose (4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group,with 6 mice in each group.All groups were received intraperitoneal injection every other day.The saline control group received 0.2 mL saline injection in the same way,and the blank control group was not given any intervention.After 20 d of treatment,the eyeballs and optic nerve tissues were collected from each mouse under anaesthesia,embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Luxol fast blue (LFB),respectively.Results·H-E staining indicated that optic nerve fibers arranged closely both in blank and saline control groups and the staining of tissues was uniform.The optic nerve structure of low-dose TACI-Ig group was similar to blank and saline control groups,while in high-dose of TACI-Ig group,the infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed.The inflammatory cell infiltration scores were not significantly different in all groups (P=0.610 3).The retinal structures of all groups were clear and distinct to observe,and single ganglion cells arranged tightly with complete cell shape,visible nucleus and uniform distribution.There was no difference in the retina structure among 4 groups.LFB staining indicated that there was no significant loss of the optic nerve myelin in 4 groups by microscope observation (P=0.473 6).Conclusion·Low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig injection wouldn't damage the normal structure of optic nerves and retinal ganglion cells,meanwhile high-dose (4 mg/kg) of TACI-Ig injection might cause minor infiltration of inflammatory cells into retina.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Methicillin ; pharmacology ; Methicillin Resistance ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo prepare colon target pellets of Pulsatilla total saponins.

METHODPulsatilla total saponins-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion was prepared by the water solution-mixing method. Then plain pills of inclusion were prepared by the granulation-spheronization method, and coated by Glatt fluid bed.

RESULTThe dissolution of plain pills of Pulsatilla total saponins at 2 h was 16.0%, while that of plain pills of inclusion at 0.5 h was 91.9%. With Eudragit S100 as the coating material, TEC as the plasticizer and talcum power as the anti-adherent, when the coating weight was 12%, the coating efficiency was high, with almost no bonding and drug release of coated pellets in artificial gastric juice for 2 h. The accumulated drug release in artificial intestinal fluid for 4 h was less than 15%, and that in artificial colon fluid for 4 h was more than 90%.

CONCLUSIONCoated pellets of Pulsatilla total saponins-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin inclusion showed a good colon targeted drug release in vitro, thus could be further developed to be oral colon targeted preparations.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ; Absorption ; Biomimetic Materials ; metabolism ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Implants ; Gastric Juice ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pulsatilla ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Surface Properties ; beta-Cyclodextrins ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of solid dispersion technology and inclusion technology on dissolution performance of Pulsatillae total saponins, and preliminarily investigate its mechanism.

METHODThe solid dispersion of Pulsatillae total saponins-PEG 4000 was prepared by the melting method. The inclusion compound of Pulsatillae total saponins-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin ( HP-beta-CD) was prepared by the freeze-drying method. The properties of solid dispersion and inclusion compound were identified by using IR, DSC and NMR. And the dissolution of solid dispersion and inclusion compound were also determined by the small glass method.

RESULTIR, DSC and NMR results showed the formation of solid dispersion and inclusion compound. In terms of the dissolution, the inclusion compound ranked first, which was followed by solid dispersion and bulk pharmaceutical chemicals.

CONCLUSIONThe inclusion technology could significantly increase the dissolution of Pulsatillae total saponins, whereas the solid dispersion showed no notable solubilization effect.

Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations,treatment,and prognosis of gastric cancer in the elderly patients.

METHODA total of 252 patients with gastric cancer who admitted to the Oncology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were divided into elderly group (≥ 65 years) and non-elderly group (< 65 years) and the clinical characteristics of these two groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe elderly accounted for 36.0% of all gastric cancer patients in our department. The proportion of male was significantly higher in elderly group than non-elderly group (male:female = 3.74:1, P=0.020). Abdominal satiety and pain were the most common symptoms,which were significantly lower in elderly group (43.3% vs. 61.7%, P=0.005). However,the frequency of weight loss was significantly higher in the elderly group (15.6% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.015). Significantly more elderly patients with gastric cancer were found the second tumors (12.2% vs. 2.5%, P=0.002). The most common tumor location was cardia (36.7%) in elderly group and antrum (34.6%) in non-elderly group. A small proportion (2.2%) of elderly patients had multi-original lesions, which was not found in non-elderly group. The overall rate of surgery and R0 resection rate were 77.8% and 70.9% respectively, which were similar in both groups. The overall rate of chemotherapy was 98%. The ratio was one third compared with younger patients who received three and more than three lines chemotherapy (3.3% vs. 9.3%), but did not reach statistical difference. More elderly patients chose FOLFOX / XELOX regimen (73.3%) compared with younger arm. The median survival time was 26.5 months in elderly group and 28.0 months in non-elderly group (P=0.835). Subgroup analysis showed that the median survival time of stage 4 gastric cancer was longer in elderly group than in non-elderly group (22.7 months and 16.1 months, respectively; P=0.057), which was marginally statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSMore old men may get gastric cancer. More elderly patients may present with weight loss. Cardia is the most common tumor location. The ratio of multi-original lesions and secondary tumors is higher for elderly patients. Elderly patients with good performance status can receive surgery and chemotherapy safely. The resection rate is similar between elderly and non-elderly patients. Elderly patients receive more two-drug combination regimens. The overall prognoses are similar between elderly patients and non-elderly patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical pathological characteristics and treatment patterns of breast cancer in elderly women.

METHODSA total of 87 patients (≥ 60 years) admitted to our hospital between January and December 2007 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into 60-69-year group and ≥ 70-year group, and their clinical pathological data and treatment modes were summarized and compared.

RESULTSThe tumor size (T2-T3), number of involved axillary lymph nodes,and positive rates of estrogen/progesterone receptors,over-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and ≥ 2 complication were not significantly different between two groups (P > 0.05). The ≥ 70-year group tended to have similar p53 gene mutation and Ki-67 labeling index with the 60-69-year group, although the P values were close to 0.05 (P = 0.09, P = 0.08,respectively). In the ≥ 70-year group, 33.3% of patients underwent extended resection,while in the 60-69-year group, all patients received modified radical treatment (P < 0.005). The percentages of adjuvant chemotherapy were 25% and 56.9% in the ≥ 70-year group and the 60-69-year group (0.005). The percentages of adjuvant endocrine therapy applied after surgery were similar in 2 groups (77.8% and 68.6% separately, P=0.347). Binary logistic regression showed that age,number of involved axillary lymph nodes,and estrogen receptor-positive rate were independently associated with adjuvant chemotherapy,while the pathological tumor size and complication were irrelevant. The 2-year disease-free survival rates of 2 groups were not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical pathological characteristics of breast cancer were similar in elderly patients who are 60-69 years old or ≥ 70 years. In the treatment pattern,patients who are ≥ 70 years tend to receive endocrine therapy rather than adjuvant chemotherapy.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the body temperature thresholds of shivering in febrile rats during therapeutic hypothermia, and establish rat models of shivering in different degrees. Methods A randomized controlled trial was adopted. Rats weighted 200 ± 20 g and basal body temperature of 36. 8-38. 3℃ were induced with fever using 20% dry yeast solution through dorsal subcutaneous injection. 40 rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:10 mL ice pack group, 20 mL ice pack group, 40 mL ice pack group and control group, 10 rats in each group. Physical cooling was implemented for 30 minutes in the neck and armpits. No cooling measures was given to the control group. The shivering of rats were observed, and the threshold of anal temperature was monitored. Results In the rats with hyperthermia, shivering was not observed in any part of the rats in the control group and in the therapeutic hypothermia group of 10 mL ice pack. The rats in the therapeutic hypothermia group of 20 mL ice pack developed mild shivering, which manifested as piloerection, head and neck trembling, with or without upper limbs trembling. The threshold of the average rectal temperature of mild shivering was 37. 25℃, The incidence of mild shivering was 100%. The rats in the therapeutic hypothermia group of 40 mL ice pack developed severe shivering, which manifested as piloercetion, head, neck, limbs and trunk were trembling, and tail muscle tension increased. The threshold of the average rectal temperature of severe shivering was 37. 07℃, severe shivering occurred in 90% of the rats. Conclusions No shivering, mild shivering, and severe shivering models can be established by intervention with ice pack in rats with high fever during therapeutic hypothermia.