Effect of glucocorticoid shock therapy on lipid layer thickness of tear film in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To explore the effect of glucocorticoid on ocular surface changes in the patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. Methods Sixty eyes of 30 patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy were examined for the break-up time of tear film (BUT), blinks, incomplete blinks, tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) and the fluidity of tear film lipid layer before and after glucocorticoid treatment. The differences of each detection index were compared and analyzed. Results The BUT of the patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy was significantly longer after glucocorticoid treatment versus before glucocorticoid treatment (the medians were 5.0 s and 7.0 s, respectively; P0.01). The average, maximal and minimal values of LLT were significantly increased after glucocorticoid treatment than those before glucocorticoid treatment (average, maximal and minimal values of LLT before and after treatment were 59 nm and 64.5 nm, 73.5 nm and 78.8 nm, and 52.4 nm and 57.5 nm, respectively; all P0.01). There were no significant differences in the blinks, incomplete blinks or the fluidity of tear film lipid layer between before and after glucocorticoid treatment (all P0.05). Conclusion Glucocorticoid treatment can improve the lipid secretion of tear film, thus maintaining the stability of tear film.

S100A4, a potential therapeutic target on bladder cancer stem cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of S100A4 gene silencing mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on the proliferation of bladder cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their capacity of xenograft tumor formation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MB49 bladder cancer stem cells (MCSCs) were isolated and identified. The differentially expressed protein S100A4 was identified in MCSCs using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation technology (iTRAQ). A siRNA targeting S100A4 was constructed and transfected into MCSCs, and its inhibitory effects on S100A4 expression in MCSCs were assessed with Western blotting and qPCR. The effects of siRNA-mediated S100A4 silencing on the proliferation and xenograft tumor formation ability of MCSCs were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 65 differentially expressed proteins identified by iTRAQ combined with LC/MS/MS, S100A4 protein showed the most distinct differential expression in MCSCs. Transfection of MCSCs with S100A siRNA significantly inhibited the expressions of S100A4 at both mRNA and protein levels, caused obvious suppression of the cell proliferation, and attenuated the xenograft tumor formation ability of the cells in nude mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>S100A4 in MCSCs is associated with the recurrence and metastasis of bladder cancer. S100A4 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for eliminating bladder CSCs.</p>

Blighted ovum in subfertile patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the incidence and risk factors of blighted ovum in subfertile patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This retrospective analysis was conducted among 2378 patients who were pregnant following embryo transfer at our center from January, 2012 to December, 2015, including cases of early pregnancy losses and simultaneous live births. The cases with early pregnancy losses were divided into embryonic pregnancy and blighted ovum groups based on the presence or absence of an embryonic pole before dilation and curettage. The clinical data of the 3 groups were analyzed for comparisons of the maternal age, paternal age, BMI, AFC, basal FSH, bFSH/bLH, duration of infertility, Gn dosage, Gn days, serum estradiol on the day of HCG administration, endometrium thickness, number of oocyte retrieved, proportion of high-quality embryos transferred, serum β-HCG value on the 10th to 14th days of embryo transfer, infertility type and miscarriage times. The incidences of blighted ovum were compared between cases with different cycles, embryo stages, infertile factors and methods of fertilization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Maternal age and paternal age, BMI, duration of infertility, infertility type and miscarriage times differed significantly between cases with blighted ovum and those with live births. Serum β-HCG level was the lowest in blighted ovum group followed by embryonic pregnancy group and then by live birth group. Blastocyst transfer was associated with a significantly higher incidence of blighted ovum as compared with cleavage embryo transfer (11.6% vs 5.6%, P=0.000). No significant difference was found in the other parameters among the 3 groups (P>0.05). Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age, β-HCG level and blastocyst transfer were risk factors of blighted ovum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Advanced maternal age, low β-HCG level and blastocyst transfer may increase the risk of blighted ovum possibly in association with gene imprinting errors during the early stage of embryo development.</p>

Effect of luteinizing hormone variation on clinical outcomes in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer using standard long protocol / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) variation on clinical outcomes in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective analysis was conducted in 314 patients with PCOS undergoing their first IVF cycle using standard long protocol. On the basis of LH concentrations on early-, mid- and late-follicular phase, the patients were divided into decreased LH (LH ratio≤1, group A) and increased LH (group B, LH ratio>1) groups in early- to mid-follicular phase, decreased LH (group C) and increased LH (group D) groups in mid- to late-follicular phase, and decreased LH (group E) and increased LH (group F, LH ratio>1) in early- to late-follicular phase. The clinical outcomes were compared between groups A and B, groups C and D, and between groups E and F.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No significant differences were found in the clinical outcomes between group A and B (P>0.05). The number of oocytes retrieved and the early abortion rate were significantly lower, but the normal fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group D than in group C (P<0.05). In group F, the early abortion rate was significantly lower and the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher than those in group E (P<0.05), and no significant differences were found in other clinical outcomes between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>An increase in LH level from early- or mid- to late-follicular phase has a positive effect on the clinical outcomes, but this LH variation in early- to mid-follicular phase does not affect the clinical outcomes.</p>

The operation timing and effect of minimally invasive surgical drill drainage in the treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage / 中国基层医药

Objective To explore and analyze the optimal timing of surgery and clinical efficacy of minimally invasive drilling drainage in the treatment of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage .Methods 150 patients with hyperten-sive cerebral hemorrhage ,according to a random number table method ,were randomly divided into the three groups , 50 patients in each group.Patients in group A received minimally invasive drainage drilling within 6h after the onset of disease,patients in group B received minimally invasive surgery 6-24h after the onset,patients in group C were given elective minimally invasive surgery 24-72h after the onset.Another 50 patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage who received craniotomy surgery over the same period ,were selected as the control group .The clinical effects were observed and compared in four groups .Results The total effective rate of group B was 88%,which was significantly higher than the other three groups (χ2 =4.00,6.38,12.70,all P<0.05).The early cure rate of the observation group was 40%,which was significantly higher than the control group (χ2 =8.57,P<0.05).After treatment,the number of cases whose activities of daily living degree recovered to grade I in the observation group was significantly higher than the other three groups (χ2 =4.11,5.00,8.32,all P<0.05).The excellent rate of group B was 88%(44/50),which was significantly higher than the other three groups (χ2 =6.83,5.83,15.43,all P<0.05).After treatment,the incidence rate of complications in group B was significantly lower than the other three groups ,the inci-dence rate of complications in the control group was the highest (χ2 =5.32,8.58,32.97,all P<0.05).Conclusion Minimally invasive drilling drainage in the treatment of hypertension cerebral hemorrhage can obtain significant effect , the optimal timing of surgery is 6-24h,minimally invasive treatment has advantages of less invasive ,faster recovery,fe-wer complications ,and less costs ,which is worthy of widely used in clinical practice .

[Determination of mitomycin C in rabbit plasma by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of mitomycin C (MMC) in rabbit plasma was established. The blank rabbit plasma sample solutions added with mitomycin C and triamcinolone acetonide (internal standard, IS) were prepared. The solutions containing MMC and IS were extracted from the plasma with ethyl acetate using liquid-liquid extraction method. A Hypersil Gold C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.9 microm) was employed and the column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The isocratic elution of methanol and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution as mobile phase was performed at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min, and a rapid separation was completed within 3 min. The electrospray was operated in the positive ionization mode and the MMC and IS were identified in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The monitoring ions of MMC and IS were m/z 335. 2 --> 242.2 and m/z 435.2 --> 397. 3/415.2, respectively, which were used to qualify and quantify the targets by the method of matrix-matched standard solution. The calibration curve showed good linearity within the mass concentrations of 1 to 1 000 microg/L (r = 0.997 8, weighting: 1/x2). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.2 microg/L. The recoveries were from 85% to 115% at the spiked levels of 1, 5, 100 and 800 microg/L, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra- and inter-day were both less than 15%. The method can meet the determination requirements of biological samples, and can be used for the determination of mitomycin C in rabbit plasma after the administration of mitomycin C. The method is selective, sensitive, convenient, rapid and reproducible in the determination of mitomycin C, and also can be used for the pharmacokinetics research of mitomycin C in plasma.

Quantification of a novel natural antioxidant (UP302) in rat plasma using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

UP302 is a novel natural antioxidant isolated from Dianella ensifolia (Liliaceae). In the investigation, a specific and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for quantitative determination of UP302 in rat plasma was developed and validated. UP302 and the internal standard daidzein were extracted from 100 µL aliquots of rat plasma using methanol. Detection of UP302 and IS was done by tandem mass spectrometry, operating in negative ion and selected reaction monitoring acquisition mode. The precursor-product ion transitions monitored for UP302 and daidzein were m/z 301.1→135.2 and 252.9→132.0, respectively. The linearity of the method was observed within the concentration range of 5-2000 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day assay variations were less than 15%, and the accuracy values were between 99.2% and 107.3%. The method was successfully applied to stability investigation of UP302 incubated in rat plasma at 37°C and measurement of UP302 in plasma after intravenous administration of UP302 to rats at a single dose of 5 mg/kg. Incubation stability revealed that within first one hour, UP302 was rapidly declined approximately 35% and remained stable after 4 h. Pharmacokinetic values of half-life, volume of distribution, systemic clearance and mean residence time were 0.87 ± 0.58 h, 6.90 ± 3.35 L/kg, 5.89 ± 1.21 L/h kg and 0.34 ± 0.13 h, respectively.

[Determination of sitagliptin phosphate in rat plasma by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

An ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of sitagliptin phosphate in rat plasma was established. The blank rat plasma sample added with sitagliptin phosphate and the internal standard (fluoxetine) standard solution were prepared. Methanol was added in the sample for the deproteinization. Then the sample was vortex-mixed and centrifuged. The clear supernatant was used for the analysis of UPLC-MS/MS. A Thermo Hypersil Gold C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 1.9 microm) was employed with a guard column of Phenomenex Security Guard C18 column (4 mm x 3.0 mm), and the column temperature was set at 35 degrees C. The gradient elution of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.05% (v/v) formic acid) as mobile phases was performed at a flow rate of 200 microL/min, and a rapid separation was completed in 5 min. The electrospray was operated in the positive ionization mode and the sitagliptin phosphate and fluoxetine were identified by selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, and the monitoring ions of them were m/z 408.0 --> 235.0 and m/z 310.0 --> 148.0, respectively, which were used to qualify and quantity the targets by the method of matrix-matched standard solution. The calibration curve showed good linearity within the concentrations of 1 to 1 000 microg/L (r = 0.999 1); the limit of detection was 0.2 microg/L. The mean recoveries were from 85% to 115% at the spiked levels of 5, 50 and 500 microg/L; the relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra- and inter-day of variation were both less than 15%, which can meet the determination requirements of biological samples. Then the method was initially used for the determination of sitagliptin phosphate in SD rat plasma after the administration of a single intravenous injection dose of sitagliptin phosphate. The method is rapid, sensitive, convenient and reproducible in the determination of sitagliptin phosphate, and can be used for the pharmacokinetics research of sitagliptin phosphate in plasma.