Development and application of a chemical transformational method for the indirect measurement of ligustilide content in Angelica sinensis / 药学学报

The poor stability of the ligustilide (LIG) makes its quantitation in Angelica sinensis (AS) difficult. This study establishes a chemical conversion method for the determination of ligustilide content in AS and proposes a national pharmacopoeia standard. Mechanical agitation and sonication of a powdered AS extract in a methanol/cyprolamine mixture facilitated the stabilization and transformation of ligustilide. Using an external reference HPLC-DAD method, the cyclopropyl-ligustilide (LIGc) content in the mixture could be determined. The content of ligustilide was greater than 1.0% based on 144 AS specimens including 68 obtained from the originally planted areas of Qinghai and Gansu Province; 55 specimens were obtained from Minxian and Weiyuan County medicine markets, and 21 specimens for which the storage period reached or exceeded 1.5 years. According to the Hong Kong Chinese materis medica standards, the content of ligustilide in AS should not be lower than 0.6%. The developed method could also be applied to the quality control of other Chinese medicinal materials (such as Ligusticum chuanxiong) or Chinese patent medicines in which ligustilide is the main component.

Differential expression profiling of A549 cells induced by Toxoplasma polymorphism effector ROP16 / 中国人兽共患病学报

The aim of this study is to explore the changes and significance of gene expression profile induced by ROPl6 of Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii)type Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ.The A549 cell line was used as the research model.And,stable transfected ROPl6 of type Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ of T.gondii cell lines were established.Then,we used gene expression microarray to identify genes that were differentially expressed.Gene Ontology (GO)functional classification and pathway analysis were performed on screened differentially expressed genes.According to the results of the gene expression profile,ROP16Itransfer group owned 1 270 different genes,with 776 genes up-regulated and 494 genes down-regulated;ROP16Ⅲtransfer group owned 1 362 differ-ent genes,with 842 genes up-regulated and 520 genes down-regulated;ROP16Ⅱtransfer group owned 11 052 different genes, with 5 063 genes up-regulated and 5 989 genes down-regulated.The ROP16Ⅰ/Ⅲgroup has the similar expression spectrum. However,ROP16Ⅱtransfer group was very different,which has distinct molecular profiles.Pathway analysis showed 74 path-way changes of the ROP16Ⅱtransfer group,and 19 pathways was solely dominated by it.In addition,these pathways were re-lated to NF-kappa B,Toll-like receptor,Chemokine signa-ling pathway and inflammatory response,immune response and metabolic process.Above all,ROP1 6 could affect host cell gene expression profiles.And,compared to Toxoplas-ma gondii type Ⅰ,Ⅲ,type Ⅱ has unique gene expression profiles and signaling pathway.Understanding its unique signaling pathway is very important for the prevention of type Ⅱ T.gondii.

Plasma levels of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 correlate with diagnosis and prognosis of glioma patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There is no validated blood biomarker available for glioma management. Invasive growth is the key feature of glioma. We assessed the clinical usefulness of plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), which has less molecular weight than metalloproteinases, as a potential blood biomarker for glioma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 285 patients and 59 normal subjects were studied. Plasma concentration of TIMP-1 was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma TIMP-1 was compared between normal and glioma patients, between patients with different pathological grades, and between patients with different prognoses. Longitudinal changes in plasma TIMP-1 during treatment were also evaluated. Plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 level was also assayed and its clinical usefulness was compared with that of TIMP-1.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma TIMP-1 and MMP-9 were both increased in glioma patients compared with normal controls (TIMP-1: P < 0.001; MMP-9: P = 0.007). Plasma TIMP-1 increases with increased tumor grade. In Grade IV gliomas, plasma TIMP-1 significantly increased after "successful removal" of the tumor (paired samples t-test, before operation vs. during chemotherapy without recurrence, t = -2.131, P = 0.038), but did not change significantly at the time of tumor recurrence (during chemotherapy without recurrence vs. after tumor recurrence, t = -0.652, P = 0.632). High plasma TIMP-1 level correlated with better survival in Grade IV glioma patients (hazard ratio: 0.550, 95% CI: 0.101-1.000, P = 0.036). In Grade IV gliomas, patients with higher plasma TIMP-1 had significantly longer survival time than those with lower plasma TIMP-1 level (25.23 vs. 18.95 months, log-rank P = 0.045). Plasma MMP-9 did not show significant association with either the pathological grade or the prognosis of glioma patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma TIMP-1 is associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of glioma patients. It appears to have better usefulness for guiding clinical decision making than plasma MMP-9. Further studies in an expanded patient population are needed to better define its clinical usefulness.</p>

An experimental study on chemoprevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma by celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the feasibility of chemoprevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma by celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) inhibitor using a rat model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were divided into 3 groups: model group, celecoxib group, and control group. The rat surgical model was established by performing a gastrojejunostomy plus an esophagojejunostomy 5 mm distal to the gastrojejunal anastomosis. Twenty-eight weeks after surgery, all the animals were sacrificed and the pathological changes in the esophagus were examined macroscopically. COX-2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in the model group was 84% and 57% respectively, significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.01). The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the celecoxib-treated group was significantly lower than that in the model group(P<0.01), and no esophageal adenocarcinoma was detected in the control group. COX-2 expression was detected in 100% of reflux esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, but not found in the normal tissue from the esophagus and the jejunum(P<0.01). The PGE2 level in the esophageal tissue in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01). Rats in the celecoxib-treated group had significantly lower PGE2 level than that in the model group(P<0.01). The PGE2 levels were significantly higher in rats with cancer than those without cancer(P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Celecoxib successfully prevents the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma in a rat surgical model with mixed reflux of acid and duodenal juice and significantly decreases the risk of Barrett esophagus developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. COX-2 maybe an effective selective target of chemoprevention for esophageal adenocarcinoma.</p>

Increase of plasma IgE during treatment correlates with better outcome of patients with glioblastoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Previous studies have shown that glioma patients have lower blood IgE levels than controls. To evaluate its potential as a surrogate biomarker for glioma, we measured plasma IgE levels in glioma patients and healthy controls, and correlated them with clinicopathological factors and the patients' outcome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) to determine the plasma IgE levels of 25 normal subjects and 252 glioma patients (85 patients with grade II glioma, 46 patients with grade III glioma, and 121 patients with glioblastoma). We also collected longitudinal plasma samples from glioblastoma patients and compared the plasma IgE levels before operation, one week after operation, in the middle of radiotherapy, after two cycles of chemotherapy, and after recurrence. The correlations between plasma IgE levels and the outcomes of the patients were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Plasma IgE levels were significantly lower in glioma patients (P = 0.004); patients with low-grade glioma have lower IgE levels than patients with high-grade glioma do (P = 0.029). In 24 patients with both preoperative plasma and two-cycle chemotherapy plasma samples, IgE levels increased after successful removal of the tumor (P = 0.021), and the increase correlated with the patients' survival (increase > 100 ng/ml vs. ≤ 100 ng/ml, 127.5 weeks vs. 62.3 weeks. P = 0.012, log-rank). Plasma IgE level increase of > 100 ng/ml has a specificity of 80% and a sensitivity of 78% to predict the patients' long survival (> 18 months).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Our results suggest that plasma IgE level correlates with clinical and pathological factors in glioma patients. It has the potential to be a biomarker for glioma patients.</p>

Analysis of 54 mental disability reappraisal cases due to brain damage / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the different kinds of controversial cases of mental disability after brain damage, to analysis the problems in the first appraisal, and to explore solutions of the problems.@*METHODS@#The reappraisals of mental disorders after traumatic brain damage were collected from 2007-2011 in Shanghai forensic center, and the first appraisal and reappraisal cases were analyzed and compared.@*RESULTS@#The changes of conclusion in reappraisal cases showed the following major reasons: inappropriate appraisal time, not comprehensive and object investigation of mental state of patients in first appraisal, misunderstanding the standards, etc.@*CONCLUSION@#The quality improvement of appraisal should adopt the following measures: regulating the practice, improvement of the professional skills of experts, choosing appropriate appraisal time, improvement of appraisal standards, etc.

Analysis of surgical treatment strategies of petroclival region tumors / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the surgical strategy of the tumors of petroclival region.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The surgical data of 55 cases presented with meningioma and trigeminal nerve sheath tumors from January 2002 to February 2009 was retrospectively analyzed. All the cases were divided into full-cut group, sub-total resection group, part of resection group or divided into full-cut group and no-total resection group, in terms of various surgical strategy. The incidence of postoperative neurological disorder and quality of life status were focused and statistical analysis was carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 21 patients with complete cut, 22 patients with sub-total resection and 12 patients with part of resection. There were 12 patients with neurological deterioration in full-cut group and 10 patients in no-total resection group. There was significant difference between total resection group and no-total resection group (χ(2) = 4.16, P < 0.05). All the patients were assessed based on the criterion of KPS, 12 patients of full-cut whose KPS ≥ 80, 29 patients were the same in no-total resection group. There was significant difference between the two groups (χ(2) = 5.42, P < 0.05). The mean follow-up time was 3 years. No recurrence was found in full-cut group and 5 recurrence of no-total resection group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pursuit of full-cut for the tumors of petroclival region may result in serious neurological dysfunction and poor life quality after the operation. Non-full-cut combination of postoperative radiotherapy may receive a relative better results.</p>

Microsurgical treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical manifestation, diagnosis and surgical treatment of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine cases of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea in sphenoidal sinus from 2007 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed consisting of their possible etiological factors, clinical manifestations, localization of the leakage site and treatment methods. Among them, there were 3 cases of traumatic rhinorrhea, 4 postoperative rhinorrhea and 2 spontaneous rhinorrhea. All 9 patients underwent 3-dimensional CT scan in sellar region including all para-nasal sinus. Leakage site was identified and repairing procedure was performed through trans-sphenoidal approach.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All cases were cured with the trans-sphenoidal microsurgical procedure. They were followed up for 9 months to 2 years. No recurrence, no infection and epilepsy complications were observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For the cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea at sphenoidal sinus, it is critical to identify the leakage site accurately and the trans-sphenoidal approach is a microinvasive and effective way to repair the leakage, which is worthy to be advocated.</p>

Burr-hole craniotomy treating chronic subdural hematoma: a report of 398 cases / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) with burr-hole craniotomy in our hospital.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2004 to December 2009, 398 patients with CSDH, 338 males and 60 females (male/female equal to 5.63/1), received burr-hole craniotomy in our hospital. The median age was 60 years with the mean age of (58.1 ± 18.1) years, (65.0 ± 14.5) years for females and (57.0 ± 18.2) years for males. Trauma history was determined in 275 patients (69.1%). Burr-hole craniotomy was performed under local anesthesia in 368 patients and general anesthesia in 30 patients. CSDH was classified into 3 groups according to the density on CT scan. Clinical data concerning etiologies, symptoms and signs, concomitant diseases, diagnosis, therapies and outcomes were investigated retrospectively. Patients'neurological status on admission and at discharge was also classified to judge the outcomes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Generally, trauma history showed few differences between those over 60 years old and under 60 years old, but showed obvious differences when gender was taken into account. Totally 123 male patients (60.0% of 204 cases) suffering from head injuries were under 60 years, whereas 35 female patients (85.4% of 41 cases) with trauma histories were over 60 years. The duration from trauma to appearance of clinical symptoms was (84.0 ± 61.7) days (range, 0-1493 days). Traumatic accident was the leading etiology, other accompanying diseases such as cerebral vascular disease, hypertension, etc, were also predisposing factors. Commonly, the elderly presented with hemiplegia/hemidysesthesia/hemiataxia and the young with headache. Most CSDH patients (95.6%) treated with burr-hole craniotomy successfully recovered. However, postoperative complications occurred in 17 cases, including recurrence of CSDH in 15 cases, subdural abscess in 1 case and pneumonia in 3 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Burr-hole craniotomy is an easy, efficient and reliable way to treat CSDH.</p>

Cushing's ulcer in traumatic brain injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a complicated and urgent disease in our modernized cities. It becomes now a public health disease. We have got more and more patients in Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit following motor vehicle accidents and others causes. TBI brings multiple disorders, from the primary injury to secondary injury. The body received the disturbances in the brain, in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, in the gastric mucosa, in the immune and neuroendocrine systems. The mortality of TBI is more than 50 000 deaths / year, the third of the mortality of all injuries. Cushing ulcer is one of the severe complications of TBI and its mortality rate is more than 50%. Many studies have improved the management of TBI and the associated complications to give patients a better outcome. Furthers studies need to be done based on the similar methodology to clarify the different steps of the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine change associated. The aim of the present review is to assess the clinical and endocrinal features of hypopituitarism and stress ulcer following TBI.

Association of MMP1 -1607(1G>2G)single nucleotide polymorphism with susceptibility to lung cancer in Northwestern Chinese population of Han nationality / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) plays an important role in the development of lung cancer. This study was to investigate the relation to associate the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)in MMP1 gene with the susceptibility to lung cancer in Northwestern Chinese population of Han nationality.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By using the methods of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP), MMP1 -1607(1G>2G) polymorphisms in 150 patients with lung cancer, and 200 healthy controls were detected to evaluate the relationship between different genotypes and susceptibility of lung cancer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Individuals with 2G/2G genotype had 1.77 fold risk suffering from lung cancer, when compared with ones with 1G/2G and 1G/1G genotypes. Smokers with 2G/2G genotype exhibited 3.20 fold elevated risk for lung cancer (OR 3.20; 95% CI 1.50-6.82).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The -1607(1G>2G) in promoter region of MMP1 is associated with susceptibility to lung cancer in Northwestern Chinese population of Han nationality. The genotype 2G/2G enhances the susceptibility to lung cancer.</p>

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of normal human brain and glioma: a quantitative in vivo study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>In vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a noninvasive method of examining a wide variety of cerebral metabolites in both healthy subjects and patients with various brain diseases. Absolute metabolite concentrations have been determined using external and internal standards with known concentrations. When an external standard is placed beside the head, variations in signal amplitudes due to B1 field inhomogeneity and static field inhomogeneity may occur. Hence an internal standard is preferable. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze the metabolite concentrations in normal adult brains and gliomas by in vivo proton MRS using the fully relaxed water signal as an internal standard.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 1998 and October 2001, 28 healthy volunteers and 16 patients with gliomas were examined by in vivo proton MRS. Single-voxel spectra were acquired using the point-resolved spectroscopic pulse sequence with a 1.5 T scanner (TR/TE/Ave = 3000 ms/30 ms/64).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The calculated concentrations of N-acetyl-asparatate (NAA), creatine (Cre), choline (Cho), and water (H2O) in the normal hemispheric white matter were (23.59 +/- 2.62) mmol/L, (13.06 +/- 1.8) mmol/L, (4.28 +/- 0.8) mmol/L, and (47,280.96 +/- 5414.85) mmol/L, respectively. The metabolite concentrations were not necessarily uniform in different parts of the brain. The concentrations of NAA and Cre decreased in all gliomas (P < 0.001). The ratios of NAA/Cho and NAA/H2O showed a significant difference between the normal brain and gliomas, and also between the high and low grades (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Quantitative analysis of in vivo proton MR spectra using the fully relaxed water signal as an internal standard is useful. The concentrations of NAA and the ratios of NAA/H2O and NAA/Cho conduce to discriminating between the glioma and normal brain, and also between the low-grade glioma and high-grade glioma.</p>

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on cytokines during lung ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective role of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) during lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and its influence on inflammatory cytokine production.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In vivo I/R injury of rabbit was induced by blocking hilum of the left lung. The wet/dry ratio of the lung, lung permeability index and neutrophils percentage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected as indexes of the lung injury. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were also detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protective role of IPC and its influence on inflammatory cytokine production were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The wet/dry ratio of the lung, lung permeability index and neutrophils percentage in BALF of I/R group were 9.73 +/- 1.14, (41.62 +/- 5.77) x 10(-4) and (58.1 +/- 10.0)% respectively. The IPC group indexes were 6.23 +/- 0.69, (20.31 +/- 4.03) x 10(-4) and (23.8 +/- 5.2)% respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). Serum levels of TNFalpha, IL-6 and IL-8 of I/R group were (0.9078 +/- 0.1062), (0.2137 +/- 0.0598) and (0.7211 +/- 0.0979) ng/ml respectively. The IPC group indexes were (0.7478 +/- 0.0843), (0.1271 +/- 0.0089) and (0.5903 +/- 0.0746) ng/ml respectively, significantly lower than that of I/R group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lung IPC has a marked protection effect against I/R injury. The effect was related to its inhibition of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFalpha, IL-6 and IL-8, thus reducing activation and infiltration of neutrophils.</p>