Measurement of antiplatelet aggregation and potency of hirudo / 药学学报

The objective of this work was to develop a bioassay to quantify the antiplatelet aggregation activity of hirudo for quality evaluation and control. Antithrombin activity of hirudo extracted by high temperature decoction was determined by thrombin titration. Antiplatelet aggregation activity of hirudo was determined through pharmacodynamic experiments in vitro and in vivo using a bioassay we developed for quantifying inhibition of platelet aggregation. Methodological investigation was carried out and the titers of 12 batches of hirudo samples were determined. During the experiment, the disposal of animals is in accordance with the ethical standards of animal experiments. The results showed that the antithrombin activity of hirudo decocted at high temperature decreased significantly and almost lost its activity. Hirudo inhibited platelet aggregation and results in vivo and in vitro were consistent. These assays were employed to test 12 batches of hirudo. The results demonstrated that the biopotency of 12 batches was 113.49, 96.13, 121.22, 127.33, 83.48, 108.72, 131.41, 127.95, 76.90, 126.27, 132.89 and 573.53 U·mg-1. The method was reliable and reproducible and can be used to assess the quality of hirudo.

Effects of lamivudine on growth of intestinal characteristic bacteria by microcalorimetry in vitro / 药学学报

The study is aimed to investigate the effect of lamivudine on growth and metabolism of three intestinal characteristic bacteria (namely, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae). The growth condition of the three bacteria was quantitatively evaluated by microcalorimetry with four characteristic parameters of the thermal power-time curves, including the growth rate constant (k), thermal power (p), time to peak (t) and calorific value (Q). The results showed that the IC50 value of lamivudine on B. adolescentis was 200 microg x mL(-1), and the IC50 values of lamivudine on S. dysenteriae and E. coli were higher than 3 000 microg x mL(-1) and 6 000 microg x mL(1), respectively. Therefore, lamivudine made different inhibitory effects on the three bacteria, in which the B. adolescentis was most susceptible to lamivudine. This work showed that taking lamivudine chronically is likely to affect the balance of good flora in the intestinal tract, and might increase endotoxin release, leading to inflammation and disease progression in hepatopathy.

Influence of acute post-stroke pneumonia on short-term prognosis of acute stroke: a prospective study / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To study the influence of acute post-stroke pneumonia on short-term prognosis of acute stroke. Methods A prospective, observational study of inpatients with acute stroke,admitted to our hospital from January 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010, was carried out. All the selected patients were divided into pneumonia group and non-pneumonia group. Neurological deficit (NIHSS), disability (modified Rankin Scale, mRS) and activity of daily living (Barthel Index, BI) between these 2 groups were compared on the day of admission and the 21st day of admission; the incidence of other complications, the mortality rate, the hospital length of stay (LOS), and the total costs of hospitalization and drugs between these 2 groups were compared. Results The improvement (NIHSS) in pneumonia group (-[1.04±1.20]) was less significant than that in non-pneumonia group (-[1.37±2.48]), but their differences were not statistically significant (P=0.663); the improvement (mRS and BI, respectively) in pneumonia group (-[0.12±0.33], 3.00±6.55) was obviously less significant than that in non-pneumonia group (-[0.64±0.82], 14.70±19.45, P＜0.05). The incidences of other complications and mortality rate in pneumonia group were significantly higher than those in non-pneumonia group (80.0% vs. 19.0%, 16.7%vs. 2.5%, P＜0.05). As compared with those in patients of pneumonia group, patients of non-pneumonia group had shorter LOS[(23±11) d vs. (35±17) d, P＜0.05], less total costs ofhospitalization[(4867±1648)$ vs. (8509±4425)$, P＜0.05] and less drug costs [(2168±795)$ vs. (4089±2709)$, P＜0.05].Conclusion Acute post-stroke pneumonia was an important factor that leads to increased acute stroke mortality rate, poor short-term clinical prognosis, prolonged LOS and increased treatment costs.