Pharmacokinetics of Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium for Suspension (200 mg/28.5 mg) in Healthy Subjects: Sample Add Stabilizer Study and Food Effects.

The present study compares the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium suspension (200 mg/28.5 mg) during fasting and postprandial conditions, and the sample adds a stabilizer study. Two randomized, crossover trials were conducted in an open-label, single-center study (a fasting trial and a postprandial trial). In each part of the study, the subjects were randomly assigned to receive either test or reference products (200 mg/28.5 mg) in a 1:1:1 ratio, followed by the alternative products after a 7-day washout period. Plasma amoxicillin and clavulanic acid concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. WinNonlin software was used to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters (noncompartmental model). The formulations were considered bioequivalent if the geometric means of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid were within the predetermined bioequivalence range established by average bioequivalence (ABE) or reference-scaled ABE. Tolerability was assessed throughout the study. The postprandial trial and the fasting study each had 12 volunteers. Under fasting and postprandial conditions, the 90%CI for the ratio of geometric means of amoxicillin of Cmax , AUC from time 0 to the last measurable concentration, and AUC from time 0 to infinity were within the ABE acceptance limits (80%-125%); the geometric means of clavulanic acid of Cmax (critbound, -0.03; point estimate, 1.07) were within the reference-scaled ABE acceptance limits, and the AUC from time 0 to the last measurable concentration and AUC from time 0 to infinity were within the ABE acceptance limits (80%-125%). Time to maximum concentration of amoxicillin was delayed 1.0 hour with high-fat meals compared to fasting conditions. Meantime, high-fat meals decreased the exposure of clavulanic acid by nearly 40%. No serious adverse events were found among the subjects. The bioequivalence of test and reference amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium for suspension was validated in this study under fasting and postprandial conditions.

[Preliminary analysis on X-ray in youth neck type of cervical spondylosis with upper crossed syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the X-ray characteristics in youth neck type of cervical spondylosis with upper crossed syndrome(UCS). METHODS: The patients who had a neck type of cervical spondylosis with or without UCS were selected from January to October 2017, 20 cases in each group, and 10 normal volunteers were chosen in the study. X-ray examination of lateral and hyperextension-hyperflexion of cervical spine were performed to observe cervical spine angle, angular displacement and adjacent vertebral body slip. RESULTS: The cervical spine angle was (-0.40±9.64)° in the UCS group, significantly less than (14.35±9.01)° in the normal group and (12.34±5.65)° in the non-UCS group(P<0.05). The change of angular displacement of the upper cervical vertebra in anterior flexion and posterior extension was (8.18±4.81)° in UCS group, which was also significantly less than (12.14±3.48)° in the normal group and (12.34±5.65)° in the non-UCS group(P<0.05). The slippage of the vertebral posterior margin of the lower cervical spine in the anterior flexion was 15.41±2.21 in the UCS group, which was significantly greater than 13.26±2.42 in normal group(P<0.05), and was not obviously different from 15.64±2.07 in non-UCS group(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In young patients who has a neck type of cervical spondylosis with UCS, the cervical curvature prone to straighten or reverse, the upper cervical flexion and extension are limited, while the lower cervical is in a flexion.

Multi-Domain & Multi-Task Learning for Human Action Recognition.

Domain-invariant (view-invariant & modalityinvariant) feature representation is essential for human action recognition. Moreover, given a discriminative visual representation, it is critical to discover the latent correlations among multiple actions in order to facilitate action modeling. To address these problems, we propose a multi-domain & multi-task learning (MDMTL) method to (1) extract domain-invariant information for multi-view and multi-modal action representation and (2) explore the relatedness among multiple action categories. Specifically, we present a sparse transfer learning-based method to co-embed multi-domain (multi-view & multi-modality) data into a single common space for discriminative feature learning. Additionally, visual feature learning is incorporated into the multitask learning framework, with the Frobenius-norm regularization term and the sparse constraint term, for joint task modeling and task relatedness-induced feature learning. To the best of our knowledge, MDMTL is the first supervised framework to jointly realize domain-invariant feature learning and task modeling for multi-domain action recognition. Experiments conducted on the INRIA Xmas Motion Acquisition Sequences (IXMAS) dataset, the MSR Daily Activity 3D (DailyActivity3D) dataset, and the Multi-modal & Multi-view & Interactive (M2I) dataset, which is the most recent and largest multi-view and multi-model action recognition dataset, demonstrate the superiority of MDMTL over the state-of-the-art approaches.

[Application of broad easy immediate surgery in percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic technology for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS technology for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly. METHODS: From February 2014 to May 2016, 21 patients with lumbar lateral recess stenosis in elderly were treated with percutaneous endoscopic BEIS. There were 13 males and 8 females, aged from 70 to 85 years old with an average of 74.3 years. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative visual analogue scale(VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) were statistically analyzed. MacNab was used to assess the clinical effects. RESULTS: All the operations were successful. The time ranged from 90 to 130 min with an average of 110 min. All the patients were followed up for 12 to 38 months with an average of 18 months. Preoperative, 1 and 12 months postoperative VAS scores were 8.47±1.23, 1.78±0.72, 0.68±0.32, and ODI scores were 32.48±10.03, 19.53±3.55, and 5.15±1.02, respectively. Postoperative scores of VAS and ODI were obviously improved(P<0.05). According to modified MacNab standard to evaluate the clinical effects, 14 cases obtained excellent results, 5 good, 2 fair. Lower limb paresthesia occurred in 1 case, and the condition was restored at 3 months postoperatively with conservative treatment. One patient was complicated with emphysema before operation secondary to pulmonary infection, and was effectively controlled with regulate antibiotic therapy. No infection of vertebral body or intervertebral space, no injuries of blood vessels or nerve root, no tear of dura, or the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid were found. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic BEIS is a safe and effective method for lumbar lateral recess stenosis in the elderly.

Oroxyloside inhibits human glioma progression by suppressing proliferation, metastasis and inducing apoptosis related pathways.

Malignant glioma are linked to a high mortality rate. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and develop effective therapeutic strategy. Oroxyloside is a metabolite of oroxylin A. However, its inhibitory effects on cancer are little to be known. In the present study, we investigated the effects of oroxyloside on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo in human glioma. The results indicated that oroxyloside significantly suppressed the proliferation of human glioma cells through inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase through reducing Cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) while enhancing p53 and p21 expressions. In addition, the migration of glioma cells was dramatically inhibited by oroxyloside in a dose-dependent manner, which was related to its modulation on extracellular matrix (ECM), as evidenced by up-regulated E-cadherin, and metastasis-associated protein 3 (MTA3), whereas down-regulated N-cadherin, Vimentin, Twist, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Syndecan-2. Furthermore, oroxyloside treatment markedly induced apoptosis in glioma cells through improving Caspase-9, Caspase-3 and PARP cleavage, accompanied with high release of cytochrome c (Cyto-c) into cytoplasm and subsequently increase of apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). In vivo, oroxyloside administration significantly inhibited the glioma cell xenograft tumorigenesis through various signaling pathways, including suppression of Cyclin D1/CDK2 and ECM pathways, as well as potentiation of p53/p21 and Caspases pathways. Together, the findings above illustrated that oroxyloside, for the first time, was used as a promising candidate against human glioma.

MicroRNA-23a-5p regulates osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase-13.

The molecular mechanisms of osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) remain to be fully elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRs) serve vital roles in the process of regulating osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR­23a­5p in osteogenic differentiation of human (h)BMSCs, and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results of reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that miR­23a­5p was significantly downregulated in the process of osteogenic differentiation. Upregulation of miR­23a­5p inhibited osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, and down­regulated expression of miR­23a­5p enhanced this process, which was confirmed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin Red S staining. A dual­luciferase reporter assay confirmed that mitogen­activated protein kinase 13 (MAPK13) was a direct target of miR­23a­5p. In addition, knockdown of MAPK13 inhibited osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, similar to the effect of upregulation of miR­23a­5p. Finally, the knockdown of MAPK13 also blocked the effect of miR­23a­5p in osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, which was also confirmed by ALP and Alizarin Red S staining. These results indicated that by targeting MAPK13, miR­23a­5p serves a vital role in osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, which may provide novel clinical treatments for bone injury however, further studies are required.

Linarin sensitizes tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis (TRAIL)-induced ligand-triggered apoptosis in human glioma cells and in xenograft nude mice.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand (TRAIL) is reported as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic agent. Nevertheless, a variety of cancer cells, including human malignant glioma cells, are resistant to TRAIL treatment, indicating that it is necessary to find effective strategies to overcome the TRAIL resistance. Linarin (LIN), a natural flavonoid compound in Flos Chrysanthemi Indici (FCI), has been exhibited to exert various pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer. Here in our study, we found that non-cytotoxic doses of LIN (5µM) dramatically potentiated TRAIL (80ng/ml)-induced cytotoxicity (52.36±1.58%) and apoptosis (68.50±1.23%) using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry assays, respectively, in human glioma cells of U87MG. Apoptosis was evidenced by enhanced cleavage of Caspase-8/-9/-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and reduced anti-apoptotic proteins, including B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), mantle cell lymphoma (Mcl)-1, and Survivin. Moreover, both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways were included in apoptosis induced by LIN and TRAIL co-treatment, along with high release of Cyto-c into cytoplasm and enhancement of fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD), death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), death receptor 4 (DR) 4 and DR5, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, up to 39.86±2.32%, was also highly triggered by TRAIL and LIN combinational treatment, which was accompanied with high phosphorylation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). In vivo, TRAIL and LIN double treatment significantly reduced the tumor growth using xenograft tumor model through inducing apoptosis. We demonstrated that combining LIN with TRAIL treatments might be effective against TRAIL-resistant glioma cells through inducing apoptosis regulated by ROS generation.

[Distribution of n-alkanes from Lake Wanghu Sediments in Relation to Environmental Changes].

Concentrations and distribution of n-alkanes (n-C14 to n-C33) in Lake Wanghu sediment core were analyzed to investigate the environmental changes in the lake during the past~100 years. Relatively higher concentrations of mid-and long-chain n-alkanes with a strong odd-over-even carbon number predominance indicated organic matter contributions dominated by aquatic macrophytes and terrestrial plants. The lower values of 2n-C31/(n-C27+n-C29) highlighted a type of landscape dominated by woody plants. The environmental changes that have been happening over the past 100 years in Lake Wanghu can be divided into three stages, based on the organic matter sources inferred from the changes in n-alkane parameters in the sediments. Before the 1950s, higher values of terrigenous/aquatic ratio (TAR) and high-/low-molecular weight n-alkanes (H/L) indicated vascular, plant-derived sediments deposited during a low-nutrient, clear-water phase with frequent water exchange between the lake and the Yangtze River. Between the 1950s and 1980s, decrease in values of H/L and TAR, and increase in the proportion of mid-and short-chain n-alkanes indicated a shift towards mid-and shorter-chain components likely associated with the increasing contribution of macrophytes and algae. Lower 2n-C17/(n-C23+n-C25) values indicated a relatively low algal abundance. In that stage, the lake trophic state increased slightly with the decreasing influence of the Yangtze River flow. After the 1980s,H/L and TAR values increased and then decreased, total n-alkane concentrations and 2n-C17/(n-C23+n-C25) increased significantly, especially after 2000s, suggesting the main contributor to high organic matter input most likely shifted to algae because of the eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities.

[Application analysis of patient reported outcome scale for low back and leg pain].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reliability ,validity and reaction degree of patient reported outcome scale for low back and leg pain. METHODS: Two hundreds inpatients were analyzed between August 2010 and January 2012, including 93 males and 107 females with an average age of 50.3 years old ranging from 22 to 65 years. There were 144 cases of lumbar disc herniation and 56 of lumber spinal stenosis. All patients were tested by the patient reported outcome scale for low back and leg pain, and then analyzed the reliability,validity and reaction degree of the scale. RESULTS: There was no statistical significence difference (P>0.05) and significant correlation (r>0.9) in scores of two times in patients with no change in illness. Measurement result of the scale had significant correlation (r>0.9) with Oswestry disability index (ODI). The total Cronbach's Alpha of the instrument was 0.931, the total split-half reliability was 0.912. The KMO value was 0.919, Bartlett test value was 1882.975 (P<0.001), factor analysis resulted in 3 factors with eigenvalue >1 which contributed to 64.364%. Scores of two times of 43 cases who felt better were 34.80+/-9.00 and 28.77+/-8.73, respectively,with stasitical significance (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The scale has a good reliability, validity and reaction degree,which can be applied for the therapeutic evaluation of low back and leg pain.

[Analysis of curative effect of the intervertebral space lavaging for the treatment of incisions deep infections at early stage after posterior lumber internal fixation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the reason,diagnose outline,therapeutic tool of the incisions deep infections at early stage after lumber internal fixation. METHODS: From January 2001 to December 2011, 10 patients with incisions deep infections at the early stage after the posterior lumber internal fixation were treated with intervertebral space lavaging. There were 1 male and 9 females with an average age of 63 years, and an average infection started at the 6th day after operation. The main clinical features including backleg pain aggravating, fervescence, fresh seepage from the wound, and blood inflammatory index increased, etc. According to whether the wound could heal at the first treatment stage as a evaluation standard of curative effect. RESULTS: Ten cases were followed up with an average period of 17 months. The wounds of 9 cases healed at the first stage and no recurrence and complications were found. One case underwent debridgement of many times with the therapic period of 7 months,at last,after taking out the vertebral pedicle bolt,the wound healed,and no recurrence after follow-up of 18 months. CONCLUSION: The deep wound infections after the lumber internal fixation should receive intervertebral space lavaging as soon as possible. The method can finally remain internal fixations and obtain satisfactory effects, but avoiding too much tissue cutting and tube setting in the deep intervertebral space are the keys to the successful fixation.

[Case-control study on manipulation combined with Chinese herbs for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation within chronic stage].

OBJECTIVE: To observe and compare the therapeutic effects of two methods to lumbar disc herniation treated by manipulation combined with Chinese herbs and traction with Western medicine. METHODS: A multi-center with a central district unit was used to study the patients with lumbar disc herniation from November 28th, 2008 to May 7th, 2010. All the patients were divided into treatment group and control group. The treatment group had 100 cases, including 45 males and 55 females, averaged (43.43 +/- 9.18) years. The treatment group was treated by manipulation combined with Chinese herbs; Control group had 100 cases (5 cases were fall off), including 38 males and 57 females, averaged (42.29 +/- 9.78) years. The control group was treated by traction with Western medicine. The course of treatment was 3 weeks. VAS, M-JOA, LMS (lower limb muscle strength) and classification efficacy was used to evaluate outcome and therapeutic effects before and after treatment. RESULTS: VAS and M-JOA were improved after the treatment both in treatment group and control group; there was no significant difference in LMS before and after treatment in both groups. VAS and M-JOA in treatment group was superior to those of control group after treatment. There was no significant difference in LMS. According to classification efficacy, 41 cases got excellent result, 34 good, 13 fair and 12 poor in treatment group; in control group, 35 cases obtained excellent results, 16 good, 19 fair and 25 poor. The effect of treatment group was better than that of control group. CONCLUSION: Both of two methods can improve the score of VAS, M-JOA, and treatment group is better than that of control group. While for the improvement of LMS, both of two methods have no obvious effects.

[The effect of the Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel on the collagen of epidural scar after rabbits laminectomy].

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel on collagen-I and collagen-III expression in the process of rabbits' epidural scar formation after operation. METHODS: Ninety-six white rabbits with 6-month-old, half males and half females, weighted from 2 to 2.5 kg, which were randomly divided into normal saline group (A), Sanqi group (B), qisodium hyaluronate group (C) and Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel group (D). The laminectomy of rabbits were performed in group A, B, C, D, the duras were surrounded with normal saline, Sanqi liquid, qisodium hyaluronate and Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel respectively. Animals of each group were killed at 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation. Use Masson staining for histological observation of collagen, and in situ hybridization staining for the analysis of collagen-I and collagen-III expression. RESULTS: In the Masson staining, Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel group was more regular than the control group in the shape of collagen texture. As to the expression of collagen-I, and Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel group was lower than normal saline group, the Sanqi group and qisodium hyaluronate group at 4 weeks after using medicine (P < 0.01); while the Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel group was higher than normal saline group, Sanqi group and qisodium hyaluronate group in the collagen-III expression (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Sanqi qisodium hyaluronate gel could improve collagen's arrangement of the rabbit's epidural scar after operation, reduce its rigidity and increase flexibility.

beta-TCP/MCPM-based premixed calcium phosphate cements.

Novel premixed calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) were prepared by combining cement liquids comprised of glycerol or polyethylene glycol with CPC powders that consisted of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM). Changing the powder to liquid mass ratio enabled the setting time to be regulated, and improved the compressive strength of the CPCs. Although some ratios of the new premixed CPCs had long setting times, these ranged from 12.4 to 27.8 min which is much shorter than the hour or more reported previously for a premixed CPC. The premixed CPCs had tolerable washout resistance before final setting, and the cements had strengths matching that of cancellous bone (5-10 MPa); their maximum compressive strength was up to 12 MPa. The inflammatory response around the premixed CPCs implanted in the subcutaneous tissue in rabbits was more prominent than that of apatite cement. These differences might be due to the much faster resorption rate of the premixed CPCs.

[Study on the progress of the mechanism of TGF-beta in the scarring and the effect of TCM].

Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) plays a central role in wound healing and scarring. TGF-beta is a member of cytokine family, involving cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis, which subsequently trigger extracellular matrix (ECM) deposite and collagen overproduction. A number of regulators of TGF-beta expression bave been identified, including Decorin CTGF, etc. TCM can reduced later scarring, and it accelerates wound healing. TCM can reduce the expression of TGF-beta, resistance of fibrosis, so that lighten the development of scar. This article reviewed the mechanism of TGF-beta in the scarring and TCM can decrease the development of scar effected by TGF-beta.

[Studies on the progress of premixed calcium phosphate cements].

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is considered as an important bone repairing materials due to its excellent biocompatibility, osteoconductivity and remodellability, the study about its performance is still a hot topic in the field of bone tissue engineering. Premixed calcium phosphate cements (PCPC) has advantages that can save operatiion time,be convenient to the operation and preservation compared with the traditional way of immediately mixing calcium phosphate cement. PCCP has overcome the shortcomings of uneven and inadequate mixing, and can be arbitrarily remodeled according to the shape of defect, thus researches on PCCP has also become more and more interested

[Evaluation of diagnosing cervical vertigo with computerized static posturography].

OBJECTIVE: To provide a quantitative base for diagnosing cervical vertigo by establishing a biomechanics method. METHODS: From July 2004 to Nov 2005, the static posturography (SPG) of normal 86 health individuals and 75 patients with cervical vertigo were quantitatively measured and qualitative diagnosis respectively in closed and open eyes. There were 40 male and 46 female in health adults, ranging from 20 to 74 years old (mean 30 years). There were 16 male and 59 female in vertigo patients, ranging from 20 to 74 years old (mean 44.5 years). In contrast to current diagnosis method of patients with cervical vertigo, the clinical value was evaluated. RESULTS: Under the state of closed eyes, the sensitivity of SPG diagnosing cervical vertigo was 76%; the specificity was 93%; the Youden index was 69%; the coincidence was 85.1%; the positive predictive value was 90.5%; the negative predictive value was 93%; the positive and negative likelihood ratio were 10.893 and 0.258 respectively. Under the state of open eyes, the sensitivity was 49.3%; the specificity was 87.2%; the Youden index was 38.6%; the coincidence was 69.6%; the positive predictive value was 77.1%; the negative predictive value was 87.2%; the positive likelihood ratio was 3.857; the negative one was 0.581. Regardless of closed or open eyes, foreword-backward type shift orbit was the with cervical vertigo. CONCLUSION: The patients with cervical vertigo and normal individuals can be diagnosed objectively and quantitatively with SPG under the state of closed eyes, which can achieve the basic requirements of diagnosing cervical vertigo with validity, reliability and good clinical application. However, the rate of missed diagnosis with SPG under the state of open eyes is too high to meet the diagnostic needs.

[Treatment of allergic rhinitis rats by intranasal interferon gamma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects and mechanism of intranasal interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: Ovalbumin (OVA) absorbed to aluminum hydroxide was used to construct the allergic rhinitis model (group C), and the normal control group (group A), the allergic rhinitis model group (group B) and beclomethasone dipropionate group (group D) consisted of 8 rats for each. PBS 50 microl was absorbed to group B, IFN-gamma 1 microg was absorbed to group C and beclomethasone dipropionate 3.5 microg was absorbed to group D on day 31 to day 38 once daily once nasal cavity. The nasal lavage fluid was collected on day 39, and the cellular constituents, levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IgE were determined, together with the pathologic changes and expression of GATA-3 were observed. RESULTS: Decrease of eosinophils [(0.005 +/- 0.003) x 10(4)/ml, x +/- s] was seen in nasal lavage fluid of group C as comparing with group B [(0.225 +/- 0.060) x 10(4)/ml, (P < 0.01)], and the levels of IL-4 (7.8 +/- 3.5) pg/ml and IL-5 (12.5 +/- 4.3) pg/ml decreased significantly in comparing with group B (P < 0.01). The serum levels of total IgE (38.5 +/- 9.6) microg/ml and ovalbumin-specific IgE (19.8 +/- 5.4) IU/ml decreased significantly in comparing with those of group B (P < 0.01). In group B, mucosal congestion and edema thickening with inflammatory cells infiltration mainly of eosinophils; in group C, the above mentioned changes were much more ameliorated. Immunohistochemistry showed significant increase of GATA-3 expression in the nasal tissue of group B but much lesser than that in group C. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-gamma can inhibit the composition of IL-4 and IL-5, and inhibit the airway inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration and the serum levels of total IgE and ovalbumin specific IgE, probably through the mechanism of restraining the Th2 reaction by blockade of GATA-3 expression in the nasal tissue.

Tropical application of halcinonide cream reduces the severity and incidence of intraperitoneal adhesions in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Systemic or intraperitoneal administration of corticosteroids has been reported to have conflicting effects on the prevention of peritoneal adhesions. Painting corticosteroid cream directly on the likely site of adhesion formation, owing to its high concentrations and persistent effects, may be a promising approach to prevent peritoneal adhesion formation. METHODS: Adhesions were induced by abrading of the cecum, followed by dropping of 95% ethanol. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly allocated to two control groups with no further treatment of the cecum and to two therapy groups treated with 0.1% halcinonide cream painted directly on the damaged surface of the cecum. After 3 and 7 days, adhesion scores, adhesion incidence, and intraperitoneal leukocytes were evaluated. RESULTS: On both postoperative days 3 and 7, halcinonide cream resulted in a significant decrease in mean adhesion scores (6.80 versus 0.67, 10.40 versus 1.26; P <0.001, P <0.001, respectively). The adhesion incidence was 43.3% for the therapy groups and 100% for controls (P <0.01). On day 3, the total numbers of intraperitoneal leukocytes were 120.73 +/- 24.01 millions for the therapy groups and 270.40 +/- 34.68 for controls (P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Painting halcinonide cream directly on the damaged surface of the cecum could effectively reduce the severity and incidence of adhesion, possibly by suppression of early inflammatory exudate and of late fibroblast invasion and proliferation.