[The influence of estazolam on human neurobehavioral function]

OBJECTIVE

To study the relation between human blood estazolam concentration and neurobehavioral function.

METHODS

The neurobehavioral ability of 10 volunteers were measured with computer-administered neurobehavioral evaluation system-chinese3 (NES-C3) and SMART EquiTest system.

RESULTS

The neurobehavioral ability and balance function declined 1 h later after dosing estazolam. The neurobehavioral ability index and balance function declined to the lowest level 3 h later after dosing estazolam. The neurobehavioral ability recovered partly 6 h later after dosing estazolam, and neurobehavioral ability recovered completely 10 h later.

CONCLUSION

Driving ability was impaired when estazolam concentration in blood is 20 ng/mL, and the neurobehavioral ability declined when estazolam concentration is 40 ng/mL in blood. The influence to human in absorption process is greater than the metabolic process with the same estazolam concentration.

[Stability of the tetramine in blood samples under different temperatures]

OBJECTIVE

To study the stability of tetramine in blood samples under different environment temperatures.

METHODS

The tetramine samples in 0.5 microg/mL concentration were stored in the environment temperature at 45 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C. The tetramine concentration were measured by GC-MS in 1, 3, 12, 18 and 39 days, respectively. And then the results of measurement were analyzed by SPSS software.

RESULTS

At 45 degrees C and 25 degrees C, the concentration of tetramine changed without distinctly in first 3 days and declined significantly from 4 days to 12 days. Thereafter it declined more slowly. At 4 degrees C, the concentration of tetramine changed without distinctly in 12 days and declined significantly from 13 days to 18 days. Thereafter it declined more slowly.

CONCLUSION

The concentration of tetra mine in blood samples is stable in 3 days. Thereafter it declined gradually. Temperature also influences the concentration of tetra mine.

[Hypersensitive C-reactive protein test in the diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical value of serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) test in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants.

METHODS

Thirty-five premature infants with early-onset infection, 50 premature infants with non-infectious diseases and 40 healthy premature infants 3 hrs after birth were enrolled. Serum hsCRP levels were measured by particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Diagnostic test of hsCRP was performed.

RESULTS

Serum hsCRP levels shown as medium and inter-quartile ranges (M, Q75-25) were 2.19 and 4.96 mg/L respectively in the infection group, 0.41 and 0.61 mg/L respectively in the non-infectious disease group, and 0.24 and 0.28 mg/L respectively in the healthy group. Serum hsCRP levels in the infection group were significantly higher than those in the non-infectious disease and the healthy groups. When serum hsCRP test was used for the diagnosis of early-onset infection, the area under the ROC curve was 0.84, 95% confidence interval was 0.76-0.93, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 74% and 86% respectively, and the positive and negative predictive values were 37% and 97% respectively. ConclusionsSerum hsCRP test is valuable in early diagnosis of early-onset infection in premature infants, but it can not serve as an independent diagnostic marker.

Surface plasmon converging and diverging properties modulated by polymer refractive structures on metal films

Polymer refractive microstructures are fabricated on metallic thin films and employed to modulate surface plasmons (SPs) propagations in a refractive manner. SP waves converging with different focal lengths and diverging effects are realized by the refractive structures. Authors investigated the modulation effect on SP waves as a function of different thicknesses and different shapes of the polymer micro-structures based on the effective refractive index model, where imaging properties of the SPs are observed experimentally by detecting the leaky radiation intensity of the SPs.

Radial polarization induced surface plasmon virtual probe for two-photon fluorescence microscopy

Surface plasmons excited by a focused femtosecond radially polarized beam on a metal surface form a standing wave pattern with a sharp peak that can be used as a "virtual probe" for surface plasmon microscopy. The rotational symmetry of radially polarized light effectively provides the TM polarization required for coupling to the surface plasmons while the short pulse nature of the probe allows for nonlinear processes to be studied.

Surface plasmon resonance imaging of cell-substrate contacts with radially polarized beams

We demonstrate the proof-of-concept for surface plasmon resonance sensing and imaging via a virtual probe at the cell-substrate interface of a biological cell in aqueous media. The technique is based on the optical excitation by focused radially polarized beams of localized surface plasmons, which forms a virtual probe on the metal substrate. The intensity distribution at the back focal plane of the objective lens enables quantitative measurements to be made of the cell-substrate contact. The acquired data is then visualized in the form of a local refractive index map.

Achromatic design for the generation of optical vortices based on radial spiral phase plates

A multi-element design scheme is proposed to produce optical vortices of large spectrum width. The key component within the approach is a radially modulated spiral phase plate. Apart from a conventional spiral phase plate having an azimuthal phase function, the proposed element possesses an additional change of phase in the radial direction.

[The relation of blood alcohol concentration and neurobehavioral functions after drinking]

OBJECTIVE

To research the relation between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and neurobehavioral function after drinking.

METHODS

The neurobehavioral ability index (NAI) of 233 volunteers were measured with computer-administered neurobehavioral evaluation system-Chinese3 (NES-C3).

RESULTS

The NAI of simple visual reaction time and mental arithmetic declined when BAC was more than 0.157 mg/mL, the NAI of benton visual retention, length discrimination and digit cancel declined significantly when BAC was more than 0.204 mg/mL.

CONCLUSION

The neurobehavioral function declined significantly when BAC increased and recovered gradually when BAC declined due to the elimination of alcohol in blood.

Large-angular separation of particles induced by cascaded deflection angles in optical sorting

A composite microlens array (MLA) with two cascaded guiding axes has been fabricated to achieve a large lateral separation of an object with different refractive indices or sizes. The MLA projects a composite pattern formed by its focal spots into a microchamber for optical sorting in a microscopic system. This approach enables passive, high power, efficient, and continuous microfluidic sorting without requiring complicated optical assembly. Separation of particles with different refractive indices to a lateral angle of 40° is experimentally demonstrated with moderate laser power.

[Detection of serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines and its significance in neonates with cytomegalovirus pneumonia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in the levels of Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and TNF-alpha in serum of newborn infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia.

METHODS

Twenty-five neonatal cases who were positive for serum IgM antibody to CMV by ELISA were divided into IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group, and 15 healthy neonates were enrolled into the control group. The levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were detected by using double antibody ELISA for the control group and the intervention groups at the beginning and end of treatment.

RESULTS

The levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in patients with CMV pneumonia were higher than that in the healthy neonates, while the levels of IL-4 were lower(t= 2.65 and 3.16, p less than 0.05). The level of IL-4 in patients with CMV pneumonia was significantly lower than that of the healthy neonates (t= 2.49, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TNF-alpha between IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group at the beginning of treatment (t= 1.85, 1.71, 1.76, p greater than 0.05). In IVIG intervention group, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha significantly decreased after treatment (t=3.98, 5.16, p less than 0.01), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.55, p less than 0.05). In ganciclovir group, the level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha did not change after treatment (t=1.75, 1.16, p greater than 0.05), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.39, p less than 0.05).

CONCLUSION

There seems to be an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion in the infants with CMV pneumonia and, which may lead to immune-inflammation injury. IVIG can regulate imbalanced Th1/Th2 activities, therefore, immunomodulatory treatment should be applied besides antiviral therapy.

Generating radial or azimuthal polarization by axial sampling of circularly polarized vortex beams

A laser beam with circular polarization can be converted into either radial or azimuthal polarization by a microfabricated spiral phase plate and a radial (or azimuthal)-type linear analyzer. The resulting polarization is axially symmetric and is able to produce tightly focused light fields beyond the diffraction limit. We describe in detail the theory behind the technique and the experimental verification of the polarization both in the far field and at the focus of a high numerical aperture lens. Vector properties of the beam under strong focusing conditions were observed by comparing the fluorescence images corresponding to the focal intensity distribution for both radial and azimuthal polarizations. The technique discussed here may easily be implemented to a wide range of optical instruments and devices that require the use of tightly focused light beams.

Selective generation of high-order optical vortices from a single phase wedge

We demonstrate that it is possible to generate high-order optical vortices from a single phase wedge by applying an incident beam with an annular intensity distribution. Various topological charges of optical vortices are realized by a static phase wedge when the position and radius of the annular illumination are changed accordingly.

[Effect of retinoid X receptor activation on oxidized low-density lipoprotein induced cell differentiation of murine macrophage cell line into dendritic like cells]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and related mechanism of retinoid X receptor (RXR) activation on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced differentiation of macrophage into dendritic cell.

METHODS

RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line was cultured with ox-LDL for 48 h in the absence and presence of RXR activator 9-cisRA or SR11237. Cell morphology was observed by phase contrast microscope and cell surface markers involved in dendritic cell immune maturation and activation was analyzed by FACS. Cellular reactive oxygen species production was detected by CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe.

RESULTS

ox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line differentiated into dendritic like cells after 48 h and cell surface markers CD40, CD86, CD83, MHC Class II and CD1d were upregulated. These changes could be attenuated by cotreatment with 9-cisRA or SR11237. Upregulated cell surface markers CD40, CD86, CD83, MHC Class II and CD1d by ox-LDL were decreased about 47%, 43%, 48%, 32% and 17% respectively by 9-cisRA and 38%, 38%, 46%, 36% and 32% respectively by SR11237. The effect of 9-cisRA and SR11237 was dose dependent. Cellular reactive oxygen species were significantly increased in ox-LDL-treated RAW264.7 cells (MFI 38.24 +/- 4.20 vs. 4.46 +/- 0.39, P < 0.05) and which was significantly reduced by 9-cisRA (10(-7) mol/L) and SR11237 (10(-6) mol/L) to 12.60 +/- 1.52 and 17.89 +/- 1.91 respectively (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

RXR activation partly inhibits the differentiation of ox-LDL induced macrophage into dendritic cell by reducing oxidative stress injury.

[Decreased active oxygen metabolism in neutrophils of preterm infants]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of neonatal maturity on active oxygen metabolism in neutrophils and possible causes of a high susceptibility to bacterial infection in preterm infants.

METHODS

Thirty-five preterm infants born at a gestation age of 26-32 weeks (< or =32 weeks group, n=15) and at 33-36 weeks (> 32 weeks group, n=20) and 23 full-term infants (control group) were enrolled in this study. The samples of whole cord blood from the two preterm groups and the control group were stimulated in vitro with live bacteria,Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) and stained with hydroethedine, an indicator of superoxide. The percentage of neutrophils which produced superoxide and the mean fluorescence intensity for superoxide production were measured by flow cytometry. The incidence of bacterial infection during hospital stay was compared between the two preterm groups.

RESULTS

Under S. aureus or E. coli stimulation, the percentage of neutrophils which produced superoxide in the < or =32 weeks group was significantly lower than that of the > 32 weeks group and the control group (P < 0.01). The percentage of neutrophils which produced superoxide was closely related to gestational age in preterm infants ( y=2.66 x, P < 0.01).There were no significant differences in the blood level of superoxide production in neutrophils among the three groups. The incidence of bacterial infection during hospital stay in the < or =32 weeks group (40%) was significantly higher than that the > 32 weeks group (10%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The capability of active oxygen metabolism in neutrophils was significantly related to the gestational age in preterm infants. The decreased capability of active oxygen metabolism might be contributed to a higher susceptibility to bacterial infection in preterm infants.

Generalized model for orbital angular momentum states generated by parallel aligned phase wedges

A generalized model of a double-wedge phase element containing two side-by-side parallel phase ramps with arbitrary slope angles is proposed. We study the diffracted optical field of a double-wedge element in terms of orbital angular momentum states. Analytical calculations reveal how the radius and position of the illuminating laser beam affect the composition of orbital angular momentum generated by the phase wedges.

[Research of on the stability of ethanol in preservation of ethanol in blood]

OBJECTIVE

To focus on the main factors that may influence the stability of ethanol in blood then try to establish the best conditions for preserving ethanol in blood.

METHODS

Four crucial parameters, including temperature (-20, 4, 20 degrees C), preservative (NaF, No preservative, Na2O2), percentage of air chamber in container (0%, 25%, 50%), and ethanol concentration in blood (0.2, 0.8, 2.0 mg/mL) were investigated. Blood samples were stored under different conditions designed by orthogonal design L, (3(4))method. Quantification of ethanol in blood was carried out by headspace gas chromatography with FID detector. The results were statistically evaluated by analysis of variance.

RESULT

Significant changes of ethanol concentrations were observed in the samples stored in 20 degrees C without any reserveative, while there were no obvious changes in the samples under other storage conditions.

CONCLUSION

The best condition for keeping ethanol in blood stable is 4 degrees C with preservative and with 50% of air chamber in container. The temperature is main effective factor in the four factors.

[Detection of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in beverages]

OBJECTIVE

To establish an analytical method for the determination of GHB in beverages using GC/MS and LC/MS/MS.

METHODS

After beverage samples with GHB-d6 as the internal standard were extracted with ethyl acetate, then the extracts were derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), at last the derivateized extracts analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. After beverage samples with GHB-d6 as the internal standard were diluted by mobile phase then directly analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Results The limit of detection was 0.2 microg/mL and both relative standard deviations for between-day and within-day assays were < 8.54% in GC/MS. The limit of detection was 2 microg/mL and both relative standard deviations for between-day and within-day assays were <8.62% in LC/MS/MS. Conclusion These methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis were found to be sensitive, accurate, rapid and suitable for the forensic toxicology to test of GHB in real cases.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of colorectum: a case report and review of the literature

Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the colorectum is a rare neoplasm, which differs from ordinary carcinomas of the colorectum in morphological features, but shares some traits of clear cell carcinoma of other organs. The tumor is usually composed of polygonal or oval cells with abundant granular and clear cytoplasm. The nuclei are often in hyperchromatic shapes with vesicular nucleoli. We report the first case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the colorectum in China and review the related published cases. The tumor was located in descending colon of a 37-year-old man, and was rich in glycogen but poor in mucin. By immunoperoxidase and histochemical staining, we clarified the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnoses, and pursued its potential pathogenesis. In our case, necrosis, high mitotic activity and lymph node metastasis may suggest a highly malignant tumor and an advanced pathological stage. Nevertheless, the patient has survived for one year with the help of operation and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Regardless of the stage and differentiation, surgical therapy and proper adjuvant chemotherapy are effective means to treat the clear cell adenocarcinoma of the colorectum.

Improved silica-zirconia sol synthesis for fabrication of a single-mode embedded dielectric channel waveguide with low transmission losses

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid silica-zirconia solgel material, which can generate 10 microm thick film in a single spin-coating process, has been developed and employed in the fabrication of an embedded dielectric channel waveguide on a silica buffer layer of a silicon substrate. The fabricated channel waveguide core had steep ridge walls, good smoothness, and high robustness, and the novel sol synthesis enabled a precise control of the geometrical and optical parameters of the embedded dielectric channel waveguide. In the 1.55 microm telecommunication window, the fundamental modes TE(00) and TM(00) in the embedded channel waveguide had low transmission losses of 0.40 +/- 0.03 dB/cm and 0.59 +/- 0.03 dB/cm, respectively.

[Evaluation of uncertainty in determination of heroin by GC]

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the inevitable uncertainty of determining heroin by GC.

METHODS

The source of the uncertainty was confirmed from the determining procedure. Each component's uncertainty was calculated. The combined uncertainty was then obtained by synthesizing the uncertainties of various components variables, and the expand uncertainty was finally obtained.

RESULTS

The uncertainty of repeated measurement was greater than other uncertainty components introduced by balance,content vessels and instruments in determining heroin.

CONCLUSION

The errors of repeated measurement and GC instrumental were confirmed as the major sources of uncertainty in determining heroin by GC.