介孔二氧化硅350FCP固化陈皮、青皮挥发油研究

目的揭示挥发油(volatileoil)的挥发规律,探讨介孔二氧化硅350FCP载体材料固化陈皮、青皮挥发油的稳定性。方法考察二氧化硅系列载体材料对陈皮、青皮挥发油的吸附能力,分析挥发油与载体材料保留率、挥发率的差异,优选最佳的固化比例。绘制挥发油、载体材料固化粉末中挥发油的化学成分随时间变化的挥发曲线,并对化学成分进行聚类,分析其挥发规律。结果根据吸附率、挥发率等多因素,优选出介孔二氧化硅350FCP载体材料固化挥发油的最佳比例为3∶5。根据挥发性成分的挥发规律,将挥发油中的34个化学成分分为A、B 2类,A类成分挥发较快,B类成分挥发较慢。挥发油经载体材料固化后,其挥发油的释放变得平稳缓慢。结论介孔二氧化硅350FCP作为载体材料固化陈皮、青皮挥发油,具有稳定缓慢释放的作用,其制备工艺简单、方便,具有较好的应用前景。     

胆石病与胰岛素抵抗相关指标关系的临床研究

目的:探讨胰岛素抵抗相关指标与胆石病发病之间的关系。方法:选择26例单纯胆结石患者和30例健康对照者作为两组研究对象。采用清晨肘前静脉采血测定空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素水平和空腹C肽,并计算胰岛素敏感指数。结果:两组对象除胆石病外其他基本情况无显著差异(P>0.05)。C肽在胆结石组与对照组之间无显著性差异(P>0.05)。胆石病组的空腹血糖、胰岛素水平高于对照组,而胰岛素敏感系数低于对照组,两组之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:胆石病患者存在一定程度的胰岛素抵抗,胆石病的发病学机理可能涉及胰岛素抵抗。     

Limitations of qualitative angiographic grading in aortic or mitral regurgitation

This study was performed to assess the accuracy of qualitative angiographic grading in persons with aortic regurgitation (AR) or mitral regurgitation (MR) and to determine the factors that may influence the reliability of such grading. In 230 patients (152 men, 78 women, aged 52 ± 14 years) with AR or MR, forward cardiac index was measured by the Fick and indicator dilution techniques and left ventricular (LV) angiographic index by the area-length method, from which the regurgitant volume index was calculated. In 124 other patients (89 men, 35 women, aged 52 ± 11 years) without regurgitation, there was good agreement between forward and angiographic cardiac indexes (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). In the 83 patients with AR, the regurgitant volume indexes in those with 1+ (0.87 ± 0.57 liters/min/m²) and 2+ (1.72 ± 1.19 liters/min/m²) angiographic regurgitation were not significantly different from one another, but were significantly different from those with 3+ (3.0 ± 1.42 liters/min/m²) and 4+ (4.80 ± 2.25 liters/min/m²⁺) regurgitation; at the same time, the regurgitant volume indexes of patients with 3+ and 4+ AR were not significantly different from one another. In the 147 patients with MR, the regurgitant volume indexes in patients with 1+ regurgitation (0.61 ± 0.64 liters/min/m²) were significantly lower than other grades, but the regurgitant volume indexes of 2+ (1.14 ± 0.85 liters/min/m²⁺) vs 3+ (2.14 ± 1.37 liters/min/m²) and of 3+ vs 4+ (4.60 ± 2.31 liters/min/m²⁺) were not significantly different. With AR and MR, regurgitant flow within each angiographic grade varied widely, especially in grades 3+ and 4+, and there was considerable overlap of regurgitant volume indexes between grades. In patients with an LV end-diastolic volume index ≥ 120 ml/m², the angiographic grading of regurgitation was particularly likely to underestimate the regurgitant volume index. At the same time, the reliability of angiographic grading was not influenced by an enlarged LV end-systolic volume index, a depressed LV ejection fraction, a low forward cardiac index, or an elevated LV end-diastolic or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Thus, in patients with AR or MR, the angiographic grading of regurgitation often is at variance with the measured regurgitant volume index, especially in patients with enlarged left ventricles.     

The acute attack of porphyria

It has long been recognized that patients with certain types of porphyria are subject to bizarre neurologic episodes or “acute attacks.” This syndrome has captured the imagination of both clinicians and edical historians, the latter debating earnestly and regularly whether porphyria was the cause of George III of Britain's “madness” or Mary, Queen of Scots' abdominal pain and how this may have affected the course of history.¹ For individuals affected by either acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), variegate porphyria (VP) or hereditary coproporphyria (HC), the episode is, however, of far greater practical than of philosophical import as it represents perhaps the major determinant of their morbidity and mortality. It was therefore thought pertinent to include a chapter on this syndrome in the text, although it is aimed at those medical practitioners whose interest in the porphyrias is primarily dermatologie.     

Varying the Unsaturation in N 4,N 9-Dioctadecanoyl Spermines: Nonviral Lipopolyamine Vectors for More Efficient Plasmid DNA Formulation

Purpose The aim of the study is to analyze the effect of varying the degree of unsaturation in synthesized N⁴,N⁹-dioctadecanoyl spermines on DNA condensation and then to compare their transfection efficiency in cell culture. Methods The N⁴,N⁹-di-C18 lipopolyamines—saturated (stearoyl), C9-cis- (oleoyl), and C9,12-di-cis- (linoleoyl)—were synthesized from the naturally occurring polyamine spermine. The ability of these novel compounds to condense DNA and form nanoparticles was studied using ethidium bromide fluorescence quenching and nanoparticle characterization techniques. Transfection efficiency was studied in several primary skin cells (FEK4, FCP4, FCP5, FCP7, and FCP8) and in an immortalized cancer cell line (HtTA) and was compared with the commercially available nonliposomal transfection formulation Transfectam^? (dioctadecylamidoglycyl spermine), which also contains two saturated C18 lipid chains. Results N⁴,N⁹-Dilinoleoyl spermine (C18, di-cis-9,12) is efficient at circular plasmid DNA (pEGFP) condensation and gives the most effective transfection in a series of primary skin cells and cancer cell lines at low charge ratios of 5.5 (± ammonium/phosphate). Conclusions The dienoic fatty acyl spermine conjugate N⁴,N⁹-dilinoleoyl spermine efficiently condenses DNA and achieves the highest transfection levels among the studied lipopolyamines in cultured cells.     

Fundus-controlled perimetry (microperimetry): Application as outcome measure in clinical trials

Fundus-controlled perimetry (FCP, also called ‘microperimetry’) allows for spatially-resolved mapping of visual sensitivity and measurement of fixation stability, both in clinical practice as well as research. The accurate spatial characterization of visual function enabled by FCP can provide insightful information about disease severity and progression not reflected by best-corrected visual acuity in a large range of disorders. This is especially important for monitoring of retinal diseases that initially spare the central retina in earlier disease stages. Improved intra- and inter-session retest-variability through fundus-tracking and precise point-wise follow-up examinations even in patients with unstable fixation represent key advantages of these technique. The design of disease-specific test patterns and protocols reduces the burden of extensive and time-consuming FCP testing, permitting a more meaningful and focused application. Recent developments also allow for photoreceptor-specific testing through implementation of dark-adapted chromatic and photopic testing. A detailed understanding of the variety of available devices and test settings is a key prerequisite for the design and optimization of FCP protocols in future natural history studies and clinical trials. Accordingly, this review describes the theoretical and technical background of FCP, its prior application in clinical and research settings, data that qualify the application of FCP as an outcome measure in clinical trials as well as ongoing and future developments.