Simulation of calcium oxalate stone in vitro

Urolithiasis constitutes a serious health problem that affects a significant section of mankind. Between 3% and 14% of the population, depending on the geographical region, suffer from this illness[1]. For example, the incidence of urolithiasis in Florida in the United States of America was 15.7 in 100000 people and increased to 20.8 in 1996. Urolithiasis remains a major medical prob-lem in China, especially in Guangdong Province. A survey in 1997 in Shenzhen City, the most southern city i…     

A Validated HPLC-PDA-HRMS Method to Investigate the Biological Stability and Metabolism of Antiparasitic Triterpenic Esters

Pentacyclic triterpenes (PTs) are commonly found in medicinal plants with well-known antiparasitic effects. Previous research on C-3 and C-27 triterpenic esters showed effective and selective in vitro antiparasitic activities and in vivo effectiveness by parenteral routes. The aim of this study was to determine triterpenic esters’ stability in different biological-like media and the main microsomal degradation products. An HPLC-PDA method was developed and validated to simultaneously analyze and quantify bioactive triterpenic esters in methanol (LOQ: 2.5 and 1.25–100 µg/mL) and plasma (LOQ: 5–125 µg/mL). Overall, both triterpenic esters showed a stable profile in aqueous and buffered solutions as well as in entire plasma, suggesting gaining access to the ester function is difficult for plasma enzymes. Conversely, after 1 h, 30% esters degradation in acidic media was observed with potential different hydrolysis mechanisms. C-3 (15 and 150 µM) and C-27 esters (150 µM) showed a relatively low hepatic microsomal metabolism (<23%) after 1 h, which was significantly higher in the lowest concentration of C-27 esters (15 µM) (>40% degradation). Metabolic HPLC-PDA-HRMS studies suggested hydrolysis, hydroxylation, dehydration, O-methylation, hydroxylation and/or the reduction of hydrolyzed derivatives, depending on the concentration and the position of the ester link. Further permeability and absorption studies are required to better define triterpenic esters pharmacokinetic and specific formulations designed to increase their oral bioavailability.     

Growth of calcium oxalate monohydrate on uric acid crystals at sustained supersaturation

The effect of uric acid seeds on calcium oxalate formation was studied at pH 4.50 and 37 °C using a system providing constant supersaturation with respect to calcium oxalate and saturated in uric acid. In all cases the only solid‐phase forming was identified as calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM). Kinetic analysis of the initial rates showed that they were proportional with the relative supersaturation with respect to calcium oxalate monohydrate. The linear dependence of the rate of precipitation of COM on uric acid suggested that growth is mediated through a surface diffusion controlled mechanism. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dictamnine Inhibits the Adhesion to and Invasion of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli (UPEC) to Urothelial Cells

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the most common pathogenic bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI). UPEC can cause UTI by adhering to and invading uroepithelial cells. Fimbriae is the most important virulence factor of UPEC, and a potentially promising target in developing novel antibacterial treatments. In this study, the antibacterial properties and effects of the compound dictamnine, extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Dictamni, on the bacterial morphology, cell adhesion, and invasion of UPEC were studied. Dictamnine exhibited no obvious antibacterial activity against UPEC, but significantly impeded the ability of UPEC to adhere to and invade uroepithelial cells. RT-qPCR analysis showed that treatment downregulated the expression of type 1 fimbriae, P fimbriae, and curli fimbriae adhesion genes, and also downregulated adhesion-related receptor genes of uroepithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that dictamnine destroyed the structure of the fimbriae and the surface of the bacteria became smooth. These results suggest that dictamnine may help to prevent UTI by simultaneously targeting UPEC fimbriae and urothelial adhesin receptors, and may have a potential use as a new anti-UPEC drug.     

人工神经网络用于消化道癌症初级诊断研究

测定了正常人及消化道癌症病人头发样品１１种元素含量,然后将人工神经网络（ＡＮＮ）用于正常人与癌症患者的分类预测,并用独立预测样本作了检验,预报识别率达１００％。讨论了网络参数的选择和发样中微量元素与癌症的关系。结果表明该方法可作为消化道癌症初级诊断的一种辅助手段。     

反复呼吸道感染与血清中微量元素关系的研究

反复呼吸道感染是儿科的常见病、多发病 ,研究表明 ,RRTI患儿急性期血清铁、锌明显降低 ,且感染发作频率与铁、锌下降程度有关[1] 。作者旨在通过对 68例 RRTI患儿 ,67例营养不良患儿及 5 6例健康儿童血清硒、铁、铜、锌、铅、钙、镁 7种元素含量的测定分析及比较 ,为临床诊断及治疗提供参考。1　材料与方法1 .1　主要仪器与试剂WYX— 90 0 3型原子吸收分光光度计 (沈阳分析仪器厂 ) ,WHG— 1 0 2 A2型流动注射氢化物发生器 (北京瀚时制作所 ) ,管式自控电热消化器(北京化工研究院 ) ,硒、铅、铁、锌、铜、钙、镁 7种元素分析物质均属…     

二维琼脂凝胶体系中过渡金属离子对草酸钙晶体生长和周期性沉淀的影响

在二维凝胶圆盘体系中,研究过渡金属离子对草酸钙晶体生长和周期性环状沉淀的影响,并对其形成机理进行探讨.结果表明:在一定浓度的Fe3 存在下,体系中出现了周期性环状沉淀现象.同时发现在此条件下抑制了一水合草酸钙(COM)晶型生成.此外,加入Zn2 、Co2 、Ni2 体系中的晶体都以二水合草酸钙(COD)为主;而加Cu2 离子的圆盘中,三水合草酸钙(COT)占据了主要的成分,这说明不同的过渡金属离子对三种草酸钙晶型的生成影响不同.另外,还对出现的与尿结石有关的特殊现象(白斑和放射状的条纹)进行了探讨.     

过饱和度、反应物化学计量比及离子强度对草酸钙晶体生长的影响

肾结石是一种普遍的疾病,全球的发病率约为10%,且其复发率高。2003年欧洲的一项统计表明,尿石患者第一次复发率为40%[1]。草酸钙(CaOxa)是肾结石的主要成分,其体外模拟引起了人们广泛的关注[2,3]。然而,普通溶液体系的模拟环境不能充分反映尿石的形成环境,用类似细胞膜的有序分     

Measurement of formant frequencies and bandwidths in singing

That singers under certain circumstances adjust the articulation of the vocal tract (formant tuning) to enhance acoustic output is both apparent from measurements and understood in theory. The precise effect of a formant on an approaching (retreating) harmonic as the latter varies in frequency during actual singing, however, is difficult to isolate. In this study variations in amplitude of radiated sound components as well as supraglottal and subglottal (esophageal) pressures accompanying the vibrato-related sweep of voice harmonics were used as a basis for estimating the effective center frequencies and bandwidths of the first and second formants.     

An orally administered microcapsule system for treating chronic renal failure patients

Ingestible adsorbents for the removal of uremic metabolites are being investigated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of chronic uremia. In particular, a microcapsule product containing urease and zirconium phosphate (UZP) has been investigated for removing urea. A dog model, simulating chronic uremia, was developed to investigate: (1) the concentration of various nitrogenous metabolites (urea, creatinine, and uric acid) in the GI tract, (2) flux rates of H₂O and various nitrogenous metabolites in the GI tract, and (3) the efficacy of the microcapsule product. The results of these perfusion studies suggest that urea and creatinine can be removed from the GI tract via ingestible adsorbents. In addition, the model may be useful in investigating suspect uremic toxins, e.g., guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA). The reduction of blood urea nitrogen levels in the dog model when the animal was fed the microcapsule product was limited by the capacity of the zirconium phosphate to bind ammonium ion. Preliminary clinical studies with the microcapsule product indicate that it may be of potential adjunctive therapy in patients suffering from chronic renal failure.