Improved RP-HPLC method to determine biapenem in human plasma/urine and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Existing methods to determine biapenem (CAS 120410-24-4), a carbapenem, either lacked sensitivity/reproducibility or had no internal standard as a control. Here an improved reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method was established in human plasma and urine. After adding p-aminobenzoic acid as the internal standard to plasma or urine, plasma samples were ultra-filtrated and urine samples were diluted directly.

Determination of wholesome elements and heavy metals in safflower () from Xinjiang and Henan by ICP-MS/ICP-AES.

An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was developed to determine 19 elements in safflower, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb from Xinjiang Autonomous Region and Henan Province of China. Totally 19 elements in safflower included heavy metals, i. e.

Cotton GhMPK2 is involved in multiple signaling pathways and mediates defense responses to pathogen infection and oxidative stress.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades play important roles in mediating pathogen responses and reactive oxygen species signaling. In plants, MAPKs are classified into four major groups (A-D). Previous studies have mainly focused on groups A and B, but little is known about group C.

PUMA mediates the apoptotic signal of hypoxia/reoxygenation in cardiomyocytes through mitochondrial pathway.

P53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) plays an important role in mediating cell death. However, the role of PUMA in cardiomyocyte death induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and its molecular mechanism still remain enigmatic. Here, we used the in vitro model to elucidate the effects of PUMA on H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Population pharmacokinetics of rhTNFR-Fc in healthy Chinese volunteers and in Chinese patients with Ankylosing spondylitis.

Aim: To investigate the population pharmacokinetics of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor-Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR-Fc) administered via subcutaneous (SC) injection in healthy Chinese volunteers and in Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Thirty-two healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a single SC injection of 12.5, 25, 37.

Carbachol inhibits TNF-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction through alpha 7 nicotinic receptors.

Aim: To test whether carbachol can influence endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and whether the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor can mediate this process.

Methods: Rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to carbachol followed by TNF-α treatment in the presence or the absence of α-bungarotoxin (an antagonist of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor). Permeability of endothelial cells cultured on Transwell filters was assayed using FITC-albumin.

Baicalein inhibits melanogenesis through activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

Baicalein is one of the major flavonoids in Scutellaria baicalensis. However, the effects of baicalein on melanogenesis are unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the depigmenting capacity of baicalein and to elucidate its mechanism of action.

Optic nerve lesions in diabetic rats: blood flow to the optic nerve, permeability of micro blood vessels and histopathology.

Aim: To study optic nerve lesions, changes in blood flow to the optic nerve, and permeability of micro blood vessels and histopathology in diabetic rats.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (n=20) were randomly divided into control and diabetic groups. The diabetic model was prepared by a single injection of streptozotocin (50mg/kg) into the caudal vein.

Therapeutic effects of heme oxygenase-1 on psoriasiform skin lesions in guinea pigs.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been shown to exert immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects. Its unique positive effects indicate that this enzyme might be a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis. To determine the effect of pharmacologic up-regulation of HO-1 on psoriasis, we generated a guinea pig model of psoriasiform skin lesions using propranolol induction.

Pathologic changes in chronic intraorbital optic nerve damage in rabbits.

Objectives: To construct a chronic intraorbital optic nerve compression damage model in rabbits and investigate pathologic changes of the retina and optic nerve.

Methods: A balloon was implanted into the orbit of rabbits, in which contrast medium was filled at designated time points to simulate chronic tumor compression on the intraorbital optic nerve. Funduscopy, visual electrophysiology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, apoptosis and gene assays were used to examine the changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and neuroglial cells, as well as the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in each phase of the chronic intraorbital optic nerve damage (2, 4 and 8 weeks after modeling).

Psoriasis genome-wide association study identifies susceptibility variants within LCE gene cluster at 1q21.

We report the first large genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a Chinese population to identify susceptibility variants for psoriasis using a two-stage case-control design. In the first stage, we carried out a genome-wide association analysis in 1,139 cases and 1,132 controls of Chinese Han ancestry using Illumina Human 610-Quad BeadChips. In the second stage, we took top SNPs forward for replication in two independent samples of 5,182 cases and 6,516 controls of Chinese Han ancestry, and 539 cases and 824 controls of Chinese Uygur ancestry.

Association of MIF promoter polymorphisms with psoriasis in a Han population in northeastern China.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays an important part in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. A high level of MIF has been detected in plaques of psoriasis and the sera of patients with psoriasis. Polymorphisms associated with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases exist in the promoter region of MIF and alter its expression.

The cardioprotective effect of postconditioning is mediated by ARC through inhibiting mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Objective: Postconditioning protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism by which postconditioning suppresses apoptosis remains to be fully understood. Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) has been demonstrated to possess the ability to protect cardiomyocytes from apoptosis induced by ischemia/reperfusion.

Krypton yellow laser for the treatment of macular hole in high myopia without retinal detachment.

Purpose: To evaluate the prophylactic effect of krypton yellow laser for the treatment of macular holes in high myopic eyes in order to reduce the risk of retinal detachment.

Methods: Twenty-seven eyes of 27 patients with high myopia and macular holes were randomly assigned to two groups. Fifteen patients (group A, 15 eyes) were subject to laser photocoagulation around the hole margin along with an oral placebo (vitamin B1), while 12 patients (group B, 12 eyes) were only given the oral placebo (vitamin B1).

Analysis of the interactions between the peptides from secreted human CKLF1 and heparin using capillary zone electrophoresis.

The Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is a novel human cytokine and exhibits chemotactic activities on leukocytes. Two peptides named CKLF1-C27 and CKLF1-C19, were obtained from secreted CKLF1. In this study, a selective high-performance analytical method based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to investigate interactions between heparin and CKLF1-C27/CKLF1-C19 was developed.

[Population pharmacokinetics of high-dose methotrexate administered in 329 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

The aim of this study was to investigate the population pharmacokinetic characteristics of high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) administered in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for individualizing methotrexate dose regimen with routine plasma concentration data. The data of 329 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia administering HDMTX in hospital were collected from 2003 to 2006. Population pharmacokinetics model, parameters, inter-and intra-individual variation were estimated by nonlinear mixed effect modes (NONMEM) software.

p53 initiates apoptosis by transcriptionally targeting the antiapoptotic protein ARC.

p53 plays an important role in regulating apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism by which it initiates the apoptotic program still remains to be fully understood. Here, we report that p53 can transcriptionally target the antiapoptotic protein, apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC).

[Perlecan participates in the protection of ischemic myocardium induced by basic fibroblast growth factor: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate if perlecan (PN) is involved in the myocardial protection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomized into 3 groups: myocardial infarction group (MI group, n = 8, undergoing ligation of the descending anterior branch of the left coronary artery), bFGF + MI group (n = 10, injected with bFGF into the border myocardium between the infracted and non- infracted areas immediately after the ligation of the descending anterior branch), and sham operation group (n = 6, undergoing sham operation and injection of normal saline). 24 h, 14 days, and 28 days after the operation the hemodynamic parameters, infarct size, and microvessel density (MVD) were observed.

[Characteristics of blood-optic nerve barrier: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the difference of endothelial cells in ultrastructure, marker expression, and permeability between blood-brain barrier and blood-optic nerve barrier.

Methods: The optic nerve, including the prelaminar region, lamina cribrosa, retro-laminar region, intraorbital portion, intracanalicular portion, and intracranial portion, and frontal cortex of 20 male SD rats were obtained to undergo electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) and the extravasation of fibrinogen around the microvessels.

Results: Electron microscopy showed tight junction among the endothelial cells in the microvessels of all portions of optic nerve and cerebral cortex.

Down-regulation of perlecan expression contributes to the inhibition of rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cell proliferation induced by hypoxia.

Exposure of endothelial cells (ECs) to hypoxia leads to a decrease in EC proliferation. However, the mechanism by which hypoxia inhibits EC proliferation is unclear. Perlecan has been reported to play an important role in regulating EC proliferation.

[Optic neuropathy in diabetic rat and mechanism thereof].

Objective: To observe the diabetic optic neuropathy in diabetic rats, and analyze the relation between the diabetic optic neuropathy and change of blood flow and microvascular permeability of the optic nerve.

Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and diabetic groups. Diabetic model was induced by the intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg).