Characterization of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 isolates from China.

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a major pathogen in the pig industry and an important zoonotic agent that causes severe invasive diseases in humans. Previous studies based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and the associations between sequence types and genotypes or virulence suggested that North American S.

Upregulation of miR-146a contributes to the suppression of inflammatory responses in LPS-induced acute lung injury.

Despite the critical role of microRNA in inflammatory response, little is known about its function in inflammation-induced Acute Lung Injury (ALI)/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). To investigate the potential role of microRNA146a (miR-146a) in ALI, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI rat model. Our data revealed that LPS-induced lung injury in rats resulted in significant upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, IL-1β, and miR-146a expression.

Study on formability of solid nanosuspensions during nanodispersion and solidification: I. Novel role of stabilizer/drug property.

Few or no attempts have been made so far to understand the feasibility of solid nanosuspension formulation during nanodispersion and solidification in terms of drug properties and stabilizer characterizations. In order to establish a knowledge base about the effect of physicochemical property of drug compounds and stabilizers on solid nanosuspension production during nanodispersion and solidification, a comparative study was firstly performed on 10 different stabilizers at 3 concentrations for 8 structurally different drug compounds. Synthetic polymers (HPMC, PVP K30, CMS-Na and MC) displayed a poor stabilizing performance (10% success rate on average) during nanodispersion, but polymers showed better potential when higher concentrations was applied during freezing and lyophilization.

Label-free detection of breast masses using multiphoton microscopy.

Histopathology forms the gold standard for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) has been proposed to be a potentially powerful adjunct to current histopathological techniques. A label-free imaging based on two- photon excited fluorescence and second-harmonic generation is developed for differentiating normal breast tissues, benign, as well as breast cancer tissues.

Ternary system of dihydroartemisinin with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and lecithin: simultaneous enhancement of drug solubility and stability in aqueous solutions.

The purpose of this study was to simultaneously improve the solubility and stability of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in aqueous solutions by a ternary cyclodextrin system comprised of DHA, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and a third auxiliary substance. Solubility and phase solubility studies were carried out to evaluate the solubilizing efficiency of HP-β-CD in association with various auxiliary substances. Then, the solid binary (DHA-HP-β-CD or DHA-lecithin) and ternary systems were prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and power X-ray diffraction (PXRD).

Lupane-type triterpenoidal saponins from Pulsatilla chinensis and their anticomplement activities through the classical pathway.

Four (1-4) previously unknown lupane-type triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis, along with six triterpene saponins (5-10). The structures of saponins 1-4 were determined as 23-hydroxy-3β-[(O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic-acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 23-hydroxy-3β-[(O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic-acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 3β-[(O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic-acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 3β-[(O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic-acid 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (4), on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence, including 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS analyses. These pure isolates (1-10) were tested for their anticomplement activity, using an in vitro assay of the complement system of the classical pathway.

Optical diagnosis for lung cancer using multiphoton imaging.

Currently, hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) stained histopathology is the golden standard for diagnosing lung cancer. This time-consuming procedure needs tissue biopsy, sample fixation, slicing, and labeling. Therefore, the availability of a noninvasive optical diagnosis that can obtain real-time analysis comparable to golden standard H-E stained histopathology will be of extraordinary benefit to the medical community.

Detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms by PCR conformation-difference gel electrophoresis.

The most common genetic variations in the human genome, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are ideal biomarkers and are used extensively in disease research. Here we introduce a novel method of PCR-conformation-difference gel electrophoresis (PCR-CDGE) used for detecting SNPs. The principle of PCR-CDGE relies PCR products from different homozygous DNA samples showing dissimilar migration patterns upon PAGE due to their conformational differences.

Sex dependent pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of peimine and peiminine in rats assessed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. has been traditionally used in China as antitussive and expectorant herbs, and newly used in the clinical treatment of leukemia in recent years.

Aim: To investigate whether gender exerted a significant influence on the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of peimine and peiminine in Sprague-Dawley rats who were given a single oral administration of 4.

Inhibitory effect of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis targeting siRNA on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats.

Objectives: The effect of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injuries in rats was investigated.

Methods: PUMA-targeting (si-PUMA) and scramble siRNAs were designed and transfected into primarily rat cardiomyocytes in vitro.

Results: RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that 50 nmol/l of si-PUMA can specifically inhibit PUMA expression.

The protective and healing effects of Si Shen Wan in trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colitis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Si Shen Wan is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formula for the treatment of diseases with diarrhea, such as ulcerative colitis, allergic colitis and chronic colitis. To investigate the protective and healing effects of Si Shen Wan in the experimental colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid, and to furture explore its mechanism of action.

Materials And Methods: Rats with colitis treated with Si Shen Wan for 10 days.

Use of multiphoton microscopy to diagnose liver cancer and lung metastasis in an orthotopic rat model.

Liver or lung biopsy for suspicious lesions has several disadvantages such as bleeding, bile leak or pneumothorax, needle track seeding, and time-consuming histopathological procedure. The ability to directly observe cellular and subcellular details and then perform "optical biopsy" is a major goal in the development of new interventional techniques. Multiphoton microscopy (MPM) enables real-time noninvasive visualization of tissue architecture and cell morphology in live tissue.

Immunoassay for LMP1 in nasopharyngeal tissue based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

Background: Previous studies have shown that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is closely associated with the occurrence and development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and can be used as a tumor marker in screening for the disease. Here we report a new methodology based on highly specific and sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology to detect LMP1 in nasopharyngeal tissue sections directly with no need of tedious procedures as with conventional immunohistochemistry methods.

Methods: LMP1-functionalized 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA)-labeled Au/Ag core-shell bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared first and then applied for analyzing LMP1 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded nasopharyngeal tissue sections obtained from 34 cancer patients and 20 healthy controls.

Comparative pharmacokinetic studies of peimine and peiminine in rat plasma by LC-MS-MS after oral administration of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. and Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. - Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. couple extract.

A sensitive LC-MS-MS method has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of peimine and peiminine in rat plasma after oral administration of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. exact and Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. - Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.

Real-time noninvasive optical diagnosis for colorectal cancer using multiphoton microscopy.

In contrast to colonoscopy biopsy, which contains several disadvantages such as bleeding, sampling error, crush artifact, and time-consuming pathological procedure, multiphoton microscopy (MPM) enables direct noninvasive visualization of tissue architecture and cell morphology in live tissues without the administration of exogenous contrast agents. We performed a proof-of-principle study to evaluate the feasibility of using MPM to make real-time noninvasive optical diagnosis of colorectal cancer by investigating 30 fresh, unfixed, and unstained full-thickness colorectal specimens. We found that MPM images demonstrated irregular tubular structures, reduced stroma, and cellular and nuclear pleomorphism in the cancerous tissues.

[Pharmacokinetics of triptolide in Triptergium wilfordii microemulsion gel].

Objective: To establish a method of determinating the plasma concentration about the triptolide in rat in vivo. And to study the pharmacokinetics of triptolide in transdermal drug delivery system of Triptergium wilfordii microemulsion gel.

Method: The T.

[Dermatopharmacokinetic studies of liangfu cream in mice skin].

Objective: To study the relationship between deposition content and time of the active ingredients in rat skin, and investigate the dermatopharmacokinetics of Liangfu Cream.

Method: The contents of paeonol, dictamnine, fraxinellone and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat skin were determined by HPLC. The dermatopharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by DAS software.

[Simultaneous determination of peimine and peiminine in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application in the pharmacokinetic study].

To establish an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of peimine and peiminine in rat plasma after oral and intravenous administration of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. extract, the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated as well. Peimine, peiminine and internal standard carbamazepine were extracted from plasma with liquid-liquid extraction by ethyl acetate, then separated on a Luna C18 column by using acetonitrile-water containing 10 mmol x L(-1) ammonium formate (35:65), as mobile phase.

[Study on solubility of Chinese herbal compound by solubility parameter].

Objective: To demonstrate the solubility of Chinese herbal compound with solubility parameters.

Method: The solubility parameters of Liangfu effective components and Liangfu compound were determined by inverse gas chromatograph (IGC) and group contribution. Hansen ball was plotting by HSPiP, which could be used to investigate the solubility of Liangfu effective components and Liangfu compound in different solvents.

Process optimization, characterization and evaluation in vivo of oxymatrine-phospholipid complex.

The objective of this study was to prepare oxymatrine-phospholipid complex (OMT-PLC) to enhance oral bioavailability of oxymatrine. A central composite design approach was used for process optimization. The physicochemical properties of the complex obtained by optimal parameters were investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and N-octanol/water partition coefficient.

[Effects of penetration enhancers on in vitro percutaneous absorption and amount retained in skin of paeonol, dictamnine, fraxinellone and glycyrrhetinic acid in Liangfu cream].

Objective: To study the effects of different penetration enhancers on the in vitro percutaneous absorption and amount retained in skin of active ingredients in Liangfu cream and to screen out the effective accelerator.

Method: Using improved Franz-type difusion cell and excised small mouse skin in vitro as transdermal barrier, the amount retained in skin and kinetics parameters of active ingredients such as cumulative permeation quantity, permeation rate and permeation lagged time were determined by HPLC. The enhancement ability of four different enhancers such as azone, oleic acid, transcutol P and isopropyl myristate were investigated.

The study on the entrapment efficiency and in vitro release of puerarin submicron emulsion.

The entrapment efficiency (EE) and release in vitro are very important physicochemical characteristics of puerarin submicron emulsion (SME). In this paper, the performance of ultrafiltration (UF), ultracentrifugation (UC), and microdialysis (MD) for determining the EE of SME were evaluated, respectively. The release study in vitro of puerarin from SME was studied by using MD and pressure UF technology.

Preparation, characterization, and bioavailability of ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex in vivo.

The aim of this study was to prepare ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) to enhance oral bioavailability of UDCA, and the physicochemical properties of the complex were studied. Compared with those of UDCA tablet after oral administration in rats, the main pharmacokinetic characteristics and bioavailability of UDCA-PLC orally administered were evaluated. Tetrahydrofuran was used as a reaction medium, UDCA and phospholipids were resolved into the medium, and UDCA-PLC was formed after the organic solvent was evaporated off under vacuum condition.

Process optimization, characterization and pharmacokinetic evaluation in rats of ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex.

The purpose of this research was to study whether the bioavailability of ursodeoxycholic acid could be improved by administering ursodeoxycholic acid-phospholipid complex (UDCA-PLC) orally to rats. A central composite design approach was used for process optimization in order to obtain the acceptable UDCA-PLC. The physicochemical properties of the complex obtained by optimal parameters were investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Preparation, characterization, and pharmacokinetic evaluation of puerarin submicron emulsion.

A novel formulation of puerarin was studied. Puerarin submicron emulsion was prepared by complex phase inversion-high-pressure homogenization technology. Characterization, distribution of drug in emulsion, short-term stability, and pharmacokinetics of emulsion were evaluated.