Effect of altitude hypoxia on blood-brain barrier after subarachnoid hemorrhage based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor κB pathway in rats / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the effect of plateau hypoxia on the blood-brain barrier after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats. Methods Adult male SD rats (n = 78) were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham group (sham), SAH model group (SAH), plateau hypoxia sham group (Hp sham) and plateau hypoxia SAH model group (Hp SAH). The rat model of plateau hypoxia was established through low-pressure simulation chamber (altitude 5000 m), and the SAH model was established by endovascular perforation method. At 24 hours after SAH, neurobehavior score and SAH grade were assessed. The morphological changes of neurons and apoptosis of nerve cells in the CA1 region of hippocampal were observed by the staining of Nissl and TUNEL. The expression of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), Akt, phosphorylated nuclear factor κB (p-NF-κB), NF-κB, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), occludin and claudin-5 in hippocampal were detected by the method of Western blotting. The expression of occludin and claudin-5 proteins in the CA1 region of hippocampal were observed by immunofluorescent staining. Results At 24 hours after SAH, the neurobehavior score decreased significantly and SAH grade increased significantly in the SAH and Hp SAH group (P< 0.05). Neurobehavior score decreased significantly in the Hp SAH group compared with the SAH group (P < 0.05). In the SAH group, neurons in the CA1 region of hippocampus were atrophied and deformed, the arrangement were disordered, the number of neurons decreased significantly, and the apoptosis of nerve cells increased significantly(P< 0.05). Plateau hypoxia could aggravate the morphological damage of neurons and apoptosis of nerve cells. The expression of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, occludin and claudin-5 proteins decreased significantly, while the expression of p-NF-κB/NF-κB and MMP-9 proteins increased significantly in the SAH and Hp SAH group (P< 0.05). The expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and MMP-9 proteins increased significantly in Hp SAH group compared with the SAH group. The expression of claudin-5 protein increased significantly in Hp sham group compared with the sham group (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescent staining showed that the expression of occludin and claudin-5 proteins in the CA1 region of hippocampus decreased in the SAH group. Plateau hypoxia could further decreased the expression of occludin and claudin-5 proteins. Conclusion Plateau hypoxia aggravates blood-brain barrier disruption after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats through inhibiting PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.

Effects of hypoxia preconditioning on hematology-related indexes through hypoxia inducible factor-1α/ stromal cell-derived factor-1 pathway in rats / 解剖学报

[Abstract] Objective To study the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) / stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) pathway in high altitude hypoxia preconditioning in rat. Methods Seventy-six adult male SD rats, which through fed in low-pressure oxygen chamber (altitude 5000 m) and Xining (altitude 2260 m) to establish the rat model of hypoxia preconditioning. Rats randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (Ctrl), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 1 day group (HHP-1d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 4 days group (HHP-4d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 15 days group (HHP-15d), high altitude hypoxic preconditioning 30 days group (HHP-30d), medium altitude hypoxic preconditioning group (MHP). 7. 0 T small animal MRI was used to observe the intracranial structure, diameter of basilar artery and cerebral blood flow in the hippocampus and brainstem regions by the sequences of T2 weighted images (T2WI) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) in the groups of Ctrl, HHP-4d, HHP-30d and MHP. In each group, blood routine was tested, the concentrations of HIF-1α, SDF-1 in serum, platelet activating factor (PAF)and P-selectin (SELP) in plasma were detected by the method of ELISA. Results In the hypoxia preconditioning groups, intracranial structure and diameter of basilar artery had no significant difference, while cerebral blood flow in the regions of brainstem and hippocampus increased significantly (P<0. 05). Meanwhile, red blood cell and white blood cell increased significantly, while platelet decreased significantly in the groups of hypoxia preconditioning (P<0. 05). Red blood cell and platelet in MHP group were closer to Ctrl group. The concentrations of HIF-1α and SDF-1 (except HHP-1d group) increased significantly in hypoxia preconditioning groups (P<0. 05).The concentrations of PAF and SELP increased significantly in HHP-1d and HHP-15d groups. The concentration of PAF decreased significantly in the HHP-4d and HHP-30d groups, and SELP decreased significantly in HHP-4d group (P<0. 05). Conclusion Hypoxia preconditioning can increase oxygen storage and immune defense capacity, improve brain reserve capacity and play the effect of brain protection through HIF-1α/ SDF-1 pathway. The best effect preconditioning was feed at medium altitude (altitude 2260 m) for 30 days.

Salvinorin A alleviating cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the effect of salvinorin A (SA) on alleviating cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Methods The SAH models were established by endovascular perforation method. Adult male SD rats (n = 91) were randomly divided into the sham group (sham), SAH model group (SAH), control group (SAH+DMSO) and drug administration group (SAH + SA). SA and DMSO were diluted with saline, and injected intraperitoneally at hour 24, hour 48 and hour 72 after SAH. At hour 72 after SAH, the neurological score was evaluated. The diameter and wall thickness of the internal carotid artery were observed through HE staining. Endothelin 1 (ET-1) ELISA kit and nitric oxide (NO) kit were used to observe the ET-1 concentration and NO content on the blood vessels of Willis circle. The expression of phosphorglated PI3K (p-PI3K), PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) proteins were detected by Western blotting and the location of eNOS protein was observed by immunofluorescent staining. Results At hour 72 after SAH, SA could increase the neurological score, increase the vessel diameter and reduce the wall thickness of internal carotid artery. SA could reduce the ET-1 concentration and increase NO content in the blood vessels of Willis circle at hour 72 after SAH. SA could increase the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt and the expression of eNOS proteins, which could be inhibited by PI3K inhibitor wortmannin and eNOS inhibitor L-NAME. eNOS expressed in vascular endothelial cells was detected by the immunofluorescence staining. Conclusion SA can alleviate CVS after SAH through PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.

Improving rational use of antimicrobial agents by infection prevention and control / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of infection prevention and control measures on the management of rational use of antimicrobial agents.Methods Patients who were admitted in a hospital from 2011 to 2015 were as the research object,a series of infection prevention and control intervention measure were taken,efficacy of intervention measures were evaluated.Results After the implementation of comprehensive intervention measures,compliance rate of hand hygiene increased year by year,from 38.17 ％ in 2011 to 87.16 ％ in 2015,difference was statistically significant (x2 =48.50,P＜0.05).Incidence of healthcare-associated infection dropped from 1.45％ to 1.06％,difference was statistically significant (x2 =42.50,P＜0.05);antimicrobial use density in 2011-2015 were 63.1,44.4,40.0,40.8,and 40.5 respectively,which showed a decreasing tendency.Conclusion Effective infection prevention and control measures have obvious effect on promoting management of rational use of antimicrobial agents,it is helpful for reducing the clinical use density of antimicrobial agents.

Progress in the study of targeted drug delivery systems for cancer stem cells / 药学学报

The discovery, sorting and identification methods as well as targeted drug delivery systems for cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been reviewed by consulting the recent research papers. CSCs have been believed to be responsible for the occurrence and development of chemo-resistance, leading to the failure of chemotherapy. Much progress has been made in the approaches for CSCs targeting drug delivery systems. The understanding and targeted drug delivery systems for CSCs are promising to provide an alternative for cancer therapy.

The characterisitics of temperature/pH sensitive block copolymer micelles in vitro / 药学学报

The dialysis method was employed to prepare blank and doxorubicin (DOX) loaded micelles formed by temperature- and pH- sensitive polyhistidine-co-polyDL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-polyethyleneglycol-co-polyDL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-polyhistidine (PHis-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-PHis). The critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the copolymers were measured with Pyrene Fluorescent Probe Technique. The temperature- and pH- sensitive properties of the blank micelles solution were investigated by optical transmittance measurement. The morphology and diameter of DOX micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were determined with dialysis method. The in vitro release study was further performed to examine the temperature- and pH-responsive drug release behavior from DOX-loaded micelles. The results indicated that the CMC, entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount of the micelles were 7.5 x 10(-3) g x L(-1), 85.2 +/- 3.1% and 10.4 +/- 4.5%, respectively. The DOX micelle was globular-shaped with a mean diameter of 91.1 +/- 15.8 nm. The transmittance of micelle solution consistently increased with the increasing temperature or decreasing pH. In comparison to the drug release profile at physiological conditions (37 degrees C, pH 7.4), the DOX-loaded micelles showed faster drug release rate at higher temperature (41 degrees C), lower pH (pH 7.0, pH 6.5, pH 5.0) or higher temperature and lower pH (41 degrees C, pH 5.0). This indicated that the micelles showed a temperature and pH-triggered drug release pattern. Base on the above results, it can be concluded that PHis-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-PHis block copolymer micelles which respond to temperature and pH stimuli are promising smart carriers for anti-tumor drugs with the advantages of temperature- and pH- triggered drug release.

Preparation of adriamycin-loaded temperature/pH sensitive self-assembly block copolymer micelles / 药学学报

The dialysis method was employed to load adriamycin into the micelles formed by temperature and pH sensitive polyhistidine-co-DL-lactide-co-glycolide-polyethylene glycol poly DL-lactide-co-glycolide-co-histidine (OLH-b-PLGA-b-PEG-b-PLGA-b-OLH). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the copolymer was measured with pyrene fluorescent probe method under different temperatures. The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were determined with dialysis method. The diameter, morphology and surface potential of the copolymer micelles were investigated by corresponding instruments, respectively. The release behavior of adriamycin from copolymer micelles and the pH sensitivity were studied. The CMC of the copolymers ranged from 0.022 4 to 0.001 7 microg x mL(-1). The entrapment rate and drug-loading rate were 92.8% and 15.7%, respectively. The micelles have a mean diameter of (61.7 +/- 13.4) nm, and zeta potential was -9.88 mV. The in vitro adriamycin release rate increased with the pH dropping from 7.4 to 5.0. The results indicated that the CMC of the copolymers decreased as the raising of temperature, drug release behavior from the micelles possessed clearly pH sensitivity, and the copolymers may have a potential in targeted delivery system for anticancer drugs.

Investigation on compliance of hand hygiene of healthcare workers / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the hand hygiene (HH) compliance and its influencing factors in order to improve the HH of healthcare workers (HCWs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HH compliance of HCWs in randomly sampled departments in our hospital was observed and recorded single-blindly by specially-trained staffs using a uniform method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total compliance rate of HH of HCWs was 30.2%, which varied among different departments and posts, and working areas. It was significantly higher in ward doctors than in outpatient physicians (P < 0.01). However, the compliance was not significantly different among nurses in different departments (P > 0.05). The compliance of HH of HCWs after surgical procedures (40.4%) was significantly higher than that before procedures (19.6%) (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The compliance of HH of HCWs remains low, which is somehow affected by factors such as departments, posts, and treatment modes.</p>

Primary risk factors in Chinese patients with first acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the primary risk factors of patients with first ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (FSTEMI) in Beijing and Shenyang area between 2004--2005. The Attributable risk percentage (ARP) and population attributable risk percentage (PARP) of every risk factor were determined.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A total of 426 consecutive FSTEMI patients and 426 gender and age matched healthy controls were included in this 1:1 matched case-control study.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that following 8 primary risk factors were associated with FSTEMI: heavy smoking (OR = 3.170), diabetes (OR = 2.835), positive family history (OR = 2.243), lack of soybeans intake (OR = 2.243), higher psychological stress (OR = 2.138), lack of fish intake (OR = 1.740), lower education level (OR = 1.572) and recent adverse life events (< 6 months before FSTEMI, OR = 1.515). The ARP are 71.53%, 58.33%, 54.05%, 40.81%, 56.85%, 41.53%, 48.62%, 54.00%; the PARP are 38.79%, 10.40%, 4.69%, 33.72%, 36.03%, 24.96%, 29.56%, 14.83%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In this patient cohort, the harmful risk factors responsible for the development of FSTEMI in Beijing and Shenyang areas during 2004--2005 are heavy smoking, higher psychological stress, lack of soybeans intake, lower education level, lack of fish intake, recent adverse life events, diabetes and positive family history.</p>

Preparation of docetaxel-loaded pH-sensitive block copolymer micelles / 药学学报

Basing on the synthesis of pH-sensitive amphiphilic block copolymer poly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly (D, L-lactide)(PEOz-PDLLA), this paper presents the preparation of docetaxel-loaded pH-sensitive block copolymer micelles using film dispersion method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was measured by pyrene fluorescent probe technique. The entrapment efficiency and drug-loaded amount were determined by HPLC. The morphology, diameter and surface potential of the micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analyzer, respectively. The in vitro release behavior of DTX from polymeric micelles was investigated using dialysis method. The results indicated that the CMC, drug-loaded amount and entrapment efficiency of the micelles was 1.0 x 10(-3) g x L(-1), 15.0% and 91.1%, respectively. The micelles had a narrow size distribution, with a mean diameter of 28.7 nm. The micelle was globular-shaped and its zeta potential was (1.19 +/- 0.12) mV. In pH 7.4 PBS, docetaxel was released in a sustained manner from the micelles; while in PBS at pH 5.0, drug was released more rapidly, which suggested the pH-sensitive drug release behavior of the PEOz-PDLLA micelles. According to all the studies above, it can be concluded that the PEOz-PDLLA block copolymer micelles may be applied as promising drug delivery system for hydrophobic anti-tumor drugs.

Preparation and study in vitro of long-circulating nanoliposomes of curcumin / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare the long-circulating nanoliposomes of curcumin.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The long-circulating nanoliposomes were prepared by ethanol infusion and the encapsulation efficiency was determindated by the mini-column centrifugation. The effect of some factors on the encapsulation efficiency, such as the buffer solutions, the weight ratio of curcumin to SPC, the weight ratio of SPC to Chol, the pH of buffer solution and the iron strength of water phase, was investigated respectively. Then the formulation was optimized by orthogonal design.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The encapsulation efficiency of the curcumin liposomes was (88.27 +/- 2.16)%, and the average diameter of the liposomes was (136 +/- 18) nm. There was no change on encapsulation efficency within 30 d.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The preparation of curcumin liposomes was easy and practicable and the pharmaceutical characterization showed that the curcumin liposomes are stable.</p>

Allgrove syndrome in the mainland of China: clinical report and mutation analysis / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Allgrove syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the triad of adrenal insufficiency, achalasia and alacrima and many cases have multi-systems disorder: endocrine, gastrointestinal tract, eyes and nervous system. This syndrome is also known as achalasia-addisonianism-alacrima syndrome or triple A syndrome. Allgrove syndrome is now known to be caused by mutations of AAAS gene encoding the aladin protein. In the present paper, we report a Chinese mainland girl with Allgrove syndrome with mutations in the AAAS gene.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The patient was a 7-year-old girl complained of coma and dark skin; she was treated as Addison disease for 2 years and had vomiting for 9 months before the second admission. Gene analysis was performed after extracting genomic DNA by amplification and sequencing of the specific fragments of AAA gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patient was confirmed to have adrenal insufficiency at the age of 5 years and 6 months. During the second hospitalization, she was found to have a remarkable brisk reflexion, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, alacrima and achalasia besides ACTH resistance. The girl was born to consanguineous parents. Based on these findings, she was diagnosed as having Allgrove syndrome. Mutation analysis revealed a novel homozygous deletion of a single G, c.771delG, in exon 8 of the AAAS gene. This frame shift mutation was predicted to create a premature stop codon at locus 290, p.R258GfsX33, leading to a truncated and non-functioning aladin protein. Both the parents were heterozygous for the mutation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical manifestations and AAAS gene mutations analysis confirmed the diagnosis of Allgrove syndrome. Gene analysis indicated that this syndrome is an autosomal recessive inherent disorder. ALADIN is significant for the normal cell function. When compared with reported cases, it seems that there are no remarkable relation between gene mutation loci and clinical manifestations in Allgrove syndrome.</p>

Preparation and anti-oxidative activity of liposomal ferulic acid / 药学学报

Ferulic acid (FA) was loaded into liposomes via calcium acetate gradient with (80.2 +/- 5.2)% entrapment efficiency. The average sizes of blank liposome and FA liposome were about 155 nm and 154 nm, respectively. The zeta potential of blank liposome and FA liposome were (13.14 +/- 1.67) mV and (4.12 +/- 0.05) mV, respectively. Unilamellar vesicles were present in freeze-fracture electron microscopy. In the pharmacodynamic studies, the protective effect of liposomal ferulic acid on tBHP-challenged U937 cells was measured with the morphology of cell injury, mitochondrial transmembrane potential alternation and cell viability assay used as index. The results of MTT assay, microscopy indicated that FA liposomes exhibited greater antioxidant activity than FA solution on U937 cell.

Preparation and in vitro tumor cells selectivity of sterically stabilized immunoliposomal peptides in bee venom / 药学学报

Recently the use of peptides in bee venom (PBV) for cancer therapy has attracted considerable attention. In this study, the sterically stabilized liposomal PBV (PBV-SL) was prepared using soybean phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and cholesterol-PEG-COOH. The humanized antihepatoma disulfide-stabilized Fv (hdscFv25) was coupled to sterically stabilized liposomes using the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester method. The hdscFv25-immunoliposomes (SIL[hdscFv25]) were immunoreactive as determined by ELISA assay. SIL[hdscFv25] showed higher tumor cells selectivity. PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] can kill SMMC-7721 cells in vitro with higher efficiency than non-targeted liposomes. Whereas cytotoxicties were compared for Hela cells, no significant differences was observed between PBV-SIL[hdscFv25] and PBV-SL. Sterically stabilized immunoliposomal peptides in bee venom could be one drug targeting delivery system.

HOXD13 polyalanine tract expansion in synpolydactyly: mutation detection and prenatal diagnosis in a large Chinese family / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Synpolydactyly (SPD, MIM 186000), also known as syndactyly type II, is a dominantly inherited limb malformation with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Polyalanine tract expansion in HOXD13 has been shown to be the disease-causing mutation in SPD. The present study was designed to identify mutation in HOXD13 and to provide prenatal diagnosis, in a large Chinese SPD family consisting of 54 individuals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proband and 4 other affected individuals in the family were evaluated physically and radiologically to ascertain the SPD phenotype. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from 18 family members (9 affected and 9 unaffected), and from amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples obtained from the proband during her two consecutive pregnancies. With the use of a pair of specific primers, a fragment of 161bp was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to cover the imperfect GCN triplet repeat sequence in exon 1 of HOXD13 encoding the 15-residue polyalanine tract. The PCR products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis, and sequenced after cloning into pMD18T vector. To confirm prenatal diagnosis, haplotype analysis was also performed by allele-typing three microsatellite markers, including the intronic CA repeats in HOXD13.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Digital and radiographic findings indicated a typical SPD phenotype in the family. These included 3/4 finger syndactyly and 4/5 toe syndactyly with an extra digit in the syndactylous web. Unilateral finger syndactyly in the proband, unilateral toe syndactyly in 2 individuals, bilateral brachydactyly of the fifth toes in 1 individual, and clinodactyly of the fifth fingers in 4 individuals were also observed, indicating variable expressivity. Gel electrophoresis of the PCR products showed an additional longer fragment in all 9 affected individuals but not in the unaffected ones. Sequence analysis of the longer fragment revealed a 9-alanine expansion. The expansion was detectable in DNA from the amniotic fluid and chorionic villus samples. Furthermore, haplotype analysis ruled out potential contamination of the maternal DNA. These suggested that the two fetuses carried the same polyalanine expansion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HOXD13 polyalanine expansion was detected in a large Chinese family with SPD and prenatal diagnosis of two affected fetuses was achieved. This is the first report on prenatal diagnosis of SPD by detecting the HOXD13 polyalanine expansion in the Han population of the Chinese mainland.</p>