Numerical analysis of an electrokinetic double-focusing injection technique for microchip CE.

The injection techniques in electrophoresis microchips play an important role in the sample-handling process, whose characteristics determine the separation performance achieved, and the shape of a sample plug delivered into the separation channel has a great impact on the high-quality separation performance as well. This paper describes a numerical investigation of different electrokinetic injection techniques to deliver a sample plug within electrophoresis microchips. A novel double-focusing injection system is designed and fabricated, which involves four accessory arm channels in which symmetrical focusing potentials are loaded to form a unique parallel electric field distribution in the intersection of injection channel and separation channel.

Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities are partially responsible for determining the susceptibility of cells to oxidative stress.

Different cell types response differently to toxic insult. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that the C6 glioma cell is more sensitive to Cd induced oxidative stress than the HepG2 cells. To explain the difference between the two cell lines in their response to oxidative stress, it was hypothesized that the activity of glutathione metabolizing enzymes may be different.

Detection of genetic homogeneity of Panax notoginseng cultivars by sequencing nuclear 18S rRNA and plastid matK genes.

The nuclear 18S rRNA and chloroplast MATK genes of 18 samples of Panax notoginseng and its processed material Sanqi (Radix Notoginseng) were analyzed. The two genes, regardless of cultivar origin, were found to be identical to genotype R1 and M1, respectively, of the published sequences (GenBank accession no. D85171 and AB027526).

[Review of bioactivities of natural cycloartane triterpenoids].

Cycloartane triterpenoids, which exist widely in nature, are mainly distributed in Astragalus (Leguminosae) species, Trib. Cimicifuga (Ranunculaceae) and Thalictrium (Ranunculaceae) species and possess various bioactivities. Along with the development of isolation techniques of phytochemistry, more and more this kind of compounds are isolated and identified.

[Combined treatment applied to advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism (report of 12 cases)].

Objective: To discuss the treatment of advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism.

Methods: The combined method, including preoperation chemotherapy + surgery + postoperation radiotherapy and chemotherapy, was used to treat 12 cases of the advanced cancer of abdominal cryptorchidism and the effects were evaluated.

Results: The patients recovered smoothly without complications of operation.

Combination of laparoscopic and open procedure in dismembered pyeloplasty: report of 51 cases.

Background: Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty with less trauma than open surgery is commonly performed for ureteropelvic junction obstruction despite a longer operating time and a long learning curve. We describe in this paper a new technique, which combines laparoscopic and open procedure in dismembered pyeloplasty, that we have developed in 51 patients and achieved excellent results.

Methods: The surgical procedure can be divided into two steps: laparoscopic dissection of the renal pelvis and proximal ureter transperitoneally; then accomplishing the pyeloplasty through the extended port incision above the ureteropelvic junction as in open surgery.

Reversal of multidrug resistance in cancer cells by Rhizoma Alismatis extract.

Prolonged chemotherapy may lead to the selective proliferation of multidrug resistant (MDR) cancer cells. In MDR HepG2-DR and K562-DR cells that over-expressed P-glycoprotein (Pgp), the extract of the rhizomes of Alisma orientalis (Sam) Juzep. showed a synergistic growth inhibitory effect with cancer drugs that are Pgp substrates including actinomycin D, puromycin, paclitaxel, vinblastine and doxorubicin.

[Study on safety of apnea test in clinical determination of brain death].

Objective: To determine the occurrence of severe complications such as hypotension, pulmonary artery hypertension as well as hypercapnia during apnea test in the affirmation of brain death and to investigate the possible effective prophylactic interventions.

Methods: Conventional apnea test was performed in 15 clinically suspected brain death patients. Stable circulation was achieved by adjusting preload only (n=4) or combined with titrating norepinephrine (NE, n=11).

Anti-hepatoma activity and mechanism of ursolic acid and its derivatives isolated from Aralia decaisneana.

Aim: To investigate the anti-tumor activity of ursolic acid (UA) and its derivatives isolated from Aralia decaisneana on hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: In vivo cytotoxicity was first screened by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Morphological observation, DNA ladder, flow cytometry analysis, Western blot and real time PCR were employed to elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism of UA.

[Expression and implication of cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA in prostate cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression and the biological behaviors of prostate carcinoma (PCa).

Methods: The expression of COX-2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR method in 32 samples of PCa and the COX-2/GAPDH value was determined. Seven normal prostate tissues were served as control.

Study of MMLV RT- binding with DNA using surface plasmon resonance biosensor.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor technique was used to study the binding of Moloney murine leukemia virus reverse transcriptase without RNase H domain (MMLV RT-) with DNA in the absence and in the presence of inhibitors. Different DNA substrates, including single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), DNA template-primer (T-P) duplex and gapped DNA, were immobilized on the biosensor chip surface using streptavidin-biotin, and MMLV RT(-)-DNA binding kinetics were analyzed by different models. MMLV RT-; could bind with ssDNA and the binding was involved in conformation change.

Effect of daidzin, genistin, and glycitin on osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells and adipocytic transdifferentiation of osteoblasts.

Aim: To examine the effect of daidzin, genistin, and glycitin on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells (MSC) and the adipogenic transdifferentiation of osteoblasts.

Methods: MTT test, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity measurement, Oil Red O stain and measurement were employed.

Results: Daidzin, genistin, and glycitin 1*10(-8), 5*10(-7), 1*10(-6), 5*10(-6), and 1*10(-5) mol/L all promoted the proliferation of primary mouse bone MSC and osteoblasts.

A note on the ICS algorithm with corrections and theoretical analysis.

In [1], Ozdemir and Akarun proposed an intercluster separation (ICS) fuzzy clustering algorithm. The ICS algorithm is useful in combined quantization and dithering. However, there are two errors in the update equations for the ICS algorithm.

Preparation of enteric microsphere of oleanolic acid dihemiphthalate sodium by salting-out action using spherical crystallization technique.

Aim: Enteric microspheres were prepared to prevent the interaction of drug with gastric acid and to improve its bioavailability.

Methods: The enteric microspheres with a matrix structure were successfully produced using a spherical crystallization technique. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HP-55), an enteric material, was coprecipitated with the drug by salting-out effect during the preparation process.

Unilateral subcortical calcification: a manifestation of dural arteriovenous fistula.

We describe the imaging findings in a dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) with unilateral subcortical calcification. A 50-year-old woman patient suffered from hypertension and chronic headache. Recently, marked headache and a changed consciousness level were noted.

[Gene expression profiles in early stage of BALB/c 3T3 cells' transformation promoted with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate].

Objective: To elucidate the potential molecular mechanism responsible for the early time of tumor promotion, gene expression profile was studied in the transformed BALB/c 3T3 cells induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).

Methods: The two-stage cell transformation model was established by using the initiator of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and promoter of TPA. Cell proliferation was measured by trypan blue staining and cell cycle analysis was carried out by flow cytometry assay.

[Association of different alleles in interleukin-1 family genes with the coded cytokines production and outcome of sepsis].

Objective: To investigate the association of alleles in interleukin-1(IL-1) family genes with IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1ra production as well as mRNA expression and the outcome of sepsis.

Methods: Sixty septic patients and equal number of healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Monocytes of healthy volunteers segregated by Ficoll were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro.

[Allozyme variability of provenance populations of Robinia pseudoacacia from Middle Europe].

Using starch gel and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 11 enzyme systems of two-year-old seedlings from 18 provences of Robinia pseudoacacia distributing in the middle Europe and America were investigated. There were 14 polymorphic loci with a proportion of 70.0% in twenty loci.

A novel formulation design about water-insoluble oily drug: preparation of zedoary turmeric oil microspheres with self-emulsifying ability and evaluation in rabbits.

To enhance in vivo absorption of zedoary turmeric oil (ZTO) and develop new formulations of a water-insoluble oily drug, novel ZTO microspheres with self-emulsifying ability, called self-emulsifying microspheres here, were prepared in a liquid system by the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The microspheres containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-LG), Talc and Aerosil 200 formed the stable surfactant-free emulsion when exposed to the pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, and were significantly different from the conventional self-emulsifying systems (SES), defined as isotropic mixtures of oil, surfactant and drug.

[Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method].

Aim: To evaluate the in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method.

Methods: The characteristics of in vivo release were calculated by deconvolution method using the data of plasma concentration of three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations in healthy dogs, in which the in vivo results of nitrendipine solution after oral administrated to dogs were used as weight function. It was the compared with characteristics of in vitro release to assess the in vitro/in vivo correlations.

Positive association of the DIO2 (deiodinase type 2) gene with mental retardation in the iodine-deficient areas of China.

Background: Iodine deficiency is the commonest cause of preventable mental retardation (MR) worldwide. However, in iodine-deficient areas not everyone is affected and familial aggregation is common. This suggests that genetic factors may also contribute.