Preparation of cationic microporous organic network for efficient solid-phase extraction of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from environmental water and milk samples.

The overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) poses many serious environmental and food safety concerns. Development of effective and sensitive sample pretreatment method for monitoring trace NSAIDs from complex samples is of great significance. Depending on the ionic and aromatic structures of NSAIDs, a cationic microporous organic network (MON) named TEPM-BBDC with large specific surface area, good solvent and thermal stabilities, and numerous interaction sites was designed and prepared for efficient solid-phase extraction (SPE) of four typical NSAIDs (flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac sodium) from environmental water and milk samples. By anchoring the ionic groups in the conjugated MON frameworks, the prepared TEPM-BBDC offered good extraction for NSAIDs based on the π-π, hydrophobic, ion exchange, and electrostatic interactions. Under the optimal extraction conditions (initial concentration of each NSAID: 200 g L-1; sample volume: 50 mL; desorption solvent: 1.5 mL of MeOH + 1 % NH3·H2O; sample loading rate: 5 mL min-1; NaCl concentration: 0 mmol L-1; pH = 5), the proposed TEPM-BBDC-SPE-HPLC-UV method owned wide linear range (0.50-1000 g L-1), low limits of detection (0.10-0.40 g L-1), large enrichment factors (92.2-99.2), good precisions (intra-day and inter-day, RSD% = 1.3-7.8 %, n = 6) and reproducibility (column-to-column, RSD% = 8.0 %, n = 3). The developed method also exhibited good recoveries (83.6-113.4 %) for the determination of NSAIDs in river water, lake water and milk samples. This work not only revealed the potential of TEPM-BBDC for SPE of ionic NSAIDs in complex samples, but also highlighted the prospect of ionic MONs in sample pretreatment.

[Baseline analysis of refractory primary biliary cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characters of refractory primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) versus typical ones and explore the risk factors of prognosis. METHODS: From 2009 to 2011, 60 PBC patients on the therapy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) over 1 year at our clinic were recruited. According to the response to UDCA by the Paris criteria, they were divided into refractory group (n = 23) and typical group (n = 37) to analyze the basic clinical conditions, biochemical markers, antibodies and liver biopsies. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the typical patients, the refractory ones had more fatigue (73.9% vs 45.9%), pruritus (60.9% vs 40.5%) and jaundice (43.4% vs 18.9%); (2) the serum level of biomarkers (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and immunoglobulin M (IgM)) were higher in the refractory group (P < 0.05); (3) no differences existed between two groups in age, gender, antibodies (antinuclear antibody (ANA), antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), AMA-M2, anti-GP210, anti-SP100 and anti-centromere antibody (ACA)) or liver biopsies. CONCLUSION: Some clinical severe manifestation (fatigue, pruritus and jaundice) and higher biochemical markers levels (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, TBIL, DBIL and IgM) seem to predict a worse response to UDCA and a rapid progression of disease in PBC patients.

[Expression of serum hepatocyte growth factor in patients with acute renal failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF) and to evaluate the clinical value. METHODS: Serum HGF levels were determined by ELISA in 31 patients with ARF at the stages of oliguria, polyuria and convalescence and in 28 healthy controls. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the HGF levels in the serum increased significantly in the ARF group at the stages of oliguria and polyuria, while the serum HGF returned to normal levels at the convalescence stage. There was significant positive correlation between the serum HGF and BUN or SCr in the ARF group. CONCLUSION: Serum HGF in ARF patients increased significantly and tended to rise at first but dropped afterwards, which reflected the course of renal injury and the recovery of renal epithelial cells.

Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in patients with UDCA-resistant primary biliary cirrhosis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cell transplantation (BM-MSCT) for patients with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-resistant primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Ten patients were enrolled in this trial of BM-MSCT. All patients were permitted to concurrently continue their previous UDCA treatment. The efficacy of BM-MSCT in UDCA-resistant PBC was assessed at various time points throughout the 12-month follow up. No transplantation-related side effects were observed. The life quality of the patients was improved after BM-MSCT as demonstrated by responses to the PBC-40 questionnaire. Serum levels of ALT, AST, γ-GT, and IgM significantly decreased from baseline after BM-MSCT. In addition, the percentage of CD8+ T cells was reduced, while that of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells was increased in peripheral lymphocytic subsets. Serum levels of IL-10 were also elevated. Notably, the optimal therapeutic outcome was acquired in 3 to 6 months and could be maintained for 12 months after BM-MSCT. In conclusion, allogeneic BM-MSCT in UDCA-resistant PBC is safe and appears to be effective.