The pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in healthy Chinese adult volunteers: influence of ethnicity and gender

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to investigate and compare the influence of ethnicity (including Han, Mongolian, Korean, Hui and Uygur) and gender on the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in healthy adult volunteers after administration of 200-mg fluconazole tablet.

METHODS

Ten healthy subjects (five males and five females) of each ethnicity were recruited and given a single 200-mg dose of fluconazole in tablet form. Blood samples were obtained before dosing and at various predetermined time points after administration up to 96 h. Drug levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. The blood concentration-time profiles were analyzed using a non-compartmental approach to estimate the absorption parameters (AUC((0-96)), C(max) and t(max)), the distribution parameter (V(d)) and the disposition parameters (t(1/2) and CL).

RESULTS

Ethnicity did not affect the parameter estimates, but gender did. However, the gender differences in pharmacokinetic parameter could be accounted for by differences in weight. There was a high linear correlation between weight and ln C(max), ln AUC (ln means natural logarithmic transformation), V(d) and CL.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnicity (Chinese Han, Mongolian, Korean, Hui and Uygur) influences the pharmacokinetics of fluconazole tablet. However, there were statistically significant gender differences in AUC, C(max), V(d) and CL. But these could be accounted for by weight differences. If fluconazole dose-adjustment is deemed necessary, this can be done on a weight basis rather than gender basis.

Uranium stabilization of c28: a tetravalent fullerene

Laser vaporization experiments with graphite in a supersonic cluster beam apparatus indicate that the smallest fullerene to form in substantial abundance is C(28). Although ab initio quantum chemical calculations predict that this cluster will favor a tetrahedral cage structure, it is electronically open shell. Further calculations reveal that C(28) in this structure should behave as a sort of hollow superatom with an effective valence of 4. This tetravalence should be exhibited toward chemical bonding both on the outside and on the inside of the cage. Thus, stable closed-shell derivatives of C(28) with large highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps should be attainable either by reacting at the four tetrahedral vertices on the outside of the C(28) cage to make, for example, C(28)H(4), or by trapping a tetravalent atom inside the cage to make endothedral fullerenes such as Ti@C(28). An example of this second, inside route to C(28) stabilization is reported here: the laser and carbon-arc production of U@C(28).

Prior revascularization increases the effectiveness of enhanced external counterpulsation

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is an effective noninvasive treatment for chronic angina. However, its usefulness has been felt to be limited in patients with angiographically demonstrated triple-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD), in accord with the hypothesis that a patent vessel is necessary for transmission of the EECP-augmented coronary artery pressure and volume to the distal coronary vasculature.

METHODS

The effect of revascularization [coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)] prior to EECP was examined in 60 patients with CAD and chronic angina (35 without and 25 with prior CABG). Patients were grouped by the extent of CAD (single-, double-, triple-vessel disease in the unrevascularized group) and by the extent of residual disease (number of stenotic native vessels unbypassed or supplied by a stenotic graft in the CABG group). Significant CAD or graft stenoses were defined as stenoses demonstrating > or = 70% luminal diameter narrowing. Benefit was assessed by improvement in post-EECP treatment over pretreatment radionuclide stress testing.

RESULTS

Radionuclide stress testing demonstrated a comparable favorable response (80 vs. 71%; p = NS) in patients with prior CABG versus unrevascularized patients. Enhanced external counterpulsation was highly and comparably effective in patients with unrevascularized native single- and double-vessel CAD and in patients with CABG with residual single- and double-vessel CAD (88 vs. 80%; p = NS). Most notably, CABG significantly increased the beneficial response to EECP in those patients with triple-vessel CAD and stenotic grafts compared with unrevascularized patients with triple-vessel CAD (80 vs. 22%; p < 0.05 by chi-square test).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest a new role for EECP as an effective treatment for post CABG ischemia, despite extensive CAD and even in the presence of stenotic grafts.

Quantitative trait loci for fatty acid composition in longissimus dorsi and abdominal fat: results from a White Duroc x Erhualian intercross F2 population

A whole-genome scan was performed on 660 F(2) animals including 250 barrows and 410 gilts in a White Duroc x Erhualian intercross population to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fatty acid composition in the longissimus dorsi muscle and abdominal fat. A total of 153 QTL including 63 genome-wide significant QTL and 90 suggestive effects were identified for the traits measured. Significant effects were mainly evident on pig chromosomes (SSC) 4, 7, 8 and X. No association was detected on SSC3 and 11. In general, the QTL detected in this study showed distinct effects on fatty acid composition in the longissimus muscle and abdominal fat. The QTL for fatty acid composition in abdominal fat did not correspond to those identified previously in backfat and the majority of QTL for the muscle fatty acid composition were mapped to chromosomal regions different from previous studies. Two regions on SSC4 and SSC7 showed significant pleiotropic effects on monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in both longissimus muscle and abdominal fat. Another two QTL with significant multi-faceted effects on MUFA and PUFA in the longissimus muscle were found each on SSC8 and SSCX. Chinese Erhualian alleles were associated with increased ratios of MUFA to saturated fatty acid at most of the QTL detected, showing beneficial effect in terms of human health.

Estrogen modulates cytokine expression in human periodontal ligament cells

Although systemic bone loss accompanying estrogen deficiency has been proposed as a risk factor for periodontal disease in post-menopausal women, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the potential bone-sparing effect of estrogen (17beta-estradiol, E(2)) via modulation of inflammatory cytokine production in human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells. E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and receptor activator of NF- B ligand (RANKL) by hPDL cells at both mRNA and protein levels. E(2) treatment reversed the stimulatory effects of LPS on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by hPDL cells. Moreover, E(2) up-regulated osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression and therefore attenuated the reduction of the OPG vs. RANKL ratio. Our results suggested that estrogen may play a significant role in modulating periodontal tissue responses to LPS, and may exert its bone-sparing effects on periodontal tissues via altering the expression of inflammatory cytokines in hPDL cells.

Intestinal morphology, brush border and digesta enzyme activities of broilers fed on a diet containing Cu2+-loaded montmorillonite

1. A total of 320 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used to investigate the effect of Cu(2+)-loaded montmorillonite (CM) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and activities of brush border enzyme in the intestinal mucosa and digestive enzyme in the intestinal digesta of broilers. 2. The chicks were assigned randomly into 4 groups with 80 chicks per treatment. The 4 dietary treatments were: basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 2 g montmorillonite/kg, basal diet + 1 g CM/kg, and basal diet + 2 g CM/kg. The chicks were raised in cages and feed and water were provided ad libitum for a period of 42 d. 3. The addition of CM to the diet of broilers significantly increased body weight and feed efficiency. Similarly, birds receiving montmorillonite had higher feed efficiency than the control after 42 d of feeding. 4. Data on villus height and crypt depth for duodenum, jejunum and ileum indicated that treating the diet of broilers with either CM or montmorillonite improved the mucosal morphology of the small intestine. 5. The presence of CM in the diet of broilers significantly increased the activities of maltase, aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase in small intestinal mucosa. However, the activities of protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in small intestinal digesta of broilers fed on the CM-supplemented diet were slightly higher than control values.

Activated protein C ratio, plasma tissue factor activity and activated factor VII in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

There is close relationship between abnormal coagulation system and progression of coronary heart disease (CHD), our purpose is to evaluate the contribution of hematologic factors and some other risk factors to the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese population.

METHODS

56 patients with CHD at admission and 54 controls were enrolled. Plasma levels of protein C, free protein S, total protein S, thrombomodulin, activated factor VII (FVIIa), factor VII:Ag, P-selectin, tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, activity of tissue factor (aTF) by chromogenic activity assay, and activated protein C (APC) ratio, prothrombin time, aPTT, fibrinogen, D-dimmer and thrombin time by full-automated coagulation analyzer.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, plasma level of thrombomodulin, FVIIa, factor VII:Ag and aTF were raised in CHD group (p<0.05, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.05, respectively). The average APC ratio in CHD group was lower than that in controls (p<0.001). The result of binary logistic regression analysis showed that activated factor VII (OR2.680, 95%CI1.539-4.665) and tissue factor activity (OR1.019, 95%CI1.004-1.035) were risk factors and high density lipoprotein (OR0.008, 95%CI0-0.478) and activated protein C ratio (OR0.001, 95%CI0-0.011) were protective factors for CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

Low activated protein C ratio, elevated tissue factor activity and increased activated factor VII in plasma may contribute to development of coronary heart disease.

A two-level hybrid evolutionary algorithm for modeling one-dimensional dynamic systems by higher-order ODE models

This paper presents a new algorithm for modeling one-dimensional (1-D) dynamic systems by higher-order ordinary differential equation (HODE) models instead of the ARMA models as used in traditional time series analysis. A two-level hybrid evolutionary modeling algorithm (THEMA) is used to approach the modeling problem of HODE's for dynamic systems. The main idea of this modeling algorithm is to embed a genetic algorithm (GA) into genetic programming (GP), where GP is employed to optimize the structure of a model (the upper level), while a GA is employed to optimize the parameters of the model (the lower level). In the GA, we use a novel crossover operator based on a nonconvex linear combination of multiple parents which works efficiently and quickly in parameter optimization tasks. Two practical examples of time series are used to demonstrate the THEMA's effectiveness and advantages.

Sam68 haploinsufficiency delays onset of mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis

The Src-associated substrate in mitosis Sam68 is a KH type RNA-binding protein known to be a substrate of numerous tyrosine kinases, and often referred to as a STAR (signal transduction activator of RNA) protein. Herein, we observed that Sam68-null mice display mammary gland and the uterine development defects. Moreover, we report that Sam68 haploinsufficiency impedes mammary tumor onset in vivo driven by the potent mammary-targeted polyoma middle T-antigen (MMTV-PyMT) oncogene. The effect was cell autonomous as the Sam68 knockdown in PyMT-transformed cell lines also delayed tumorigenesis and metastasis formation in nude mice. Interestingly, tumor extracts isolated from PyMT/Sam68(+/-) mice compared with PyMT/Sam68(+/+) mice contained activated Src and FAK kinases. These findings suggest that Sam68 may be a modulator of tyrosine kinase activity in vivo and a signaling requirement for mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Allelic imbalance on chromosomes 3p, 9p and 17p in malignant progression of laryngeal mucosa

Objectives/hypothesis:

To evaluate the character and significance of microsatellite deoxyribonucleic acid allelic imbalance in laryngeal squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Methods:

We investigated the frequency of expression and clinical relationships of loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability in 49 laryngeal premalignant and malignant lesions. Allelic imbalance was analysed using six polymorphic markers (D3S1234, D9S171, D9S1748, D9S162, D9SINFA and D17S796), via polymerase chain reaction – single sequence length polymorphism – silver staining.

Results:

Allelic loss was seen in 3.7 per cent of the six markers in hyperplastic lesions, 10.81 per cent in mild dysplasia, 26.03 per cent in moderate to severe dysplasia, and 38.67 per cent in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Significant associations were found between allelic loss and clinical pathological grades (χ2 = 17.686, p = 0.000). No statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of microsatellite instability (χ2 = 0.314, p > 0.05). In the early stages of neoplastic change, the incidence of microsatellite instability was higher than that of loss of heterozygosity.

Conclusions:

Allelic imbalance was associated with the carcinogenesis and progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Microsatellite analysis might provide new approaches to early genetic detection for patients with premalignant laryngeal lesions.

Application of t1 and t2 maps for stereotactic deep-brain neurosurgery planning

This work presents the application of a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in stereotactic deep-brain neurosurgery planning procedures. The high spatial resolution T<inf>1</inf>and T<inf>2</inf>maps acquired using this imaging method have been normalized to the standard CJH-27 brain coordinate system and integrated into a neurosurgical visualization and navigation system to improve the accuracy of surgical target localization. The T<inf>1</inf>and T<inf>2</inf>maps, along with the standardized anatomical and functional information within this system, can be navigated, non-rigidly registered, and arbitrarily processed. Once applied to individual patients, these maps facilitate the delineation of surgical targets. Our preliminary studies compared the centroids of segmented deep-brain nuclei based on the T<inf>1</inf>and T<inf>2</inf>maps with those according to Schaltenbrand and Wahren atlas, and with the actual surgical targets of 15 patients who had undergone thalamotomy, pallidotomy, and subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation. The average displacement was 3.21mm&#177;0.80mm, indicating the potential capability of this system to accurately initiate target identifications.

The expression of estrogen receptors and the effects of estrogen on human periodontal ligament cells

Osteoporotic women exhibit high frequency of alveolar bone loss and low bone density. Estrogen deficiency, which is vital in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis, has received increasing attention in the studies related to the periodontal diseases. Similar to most hormones, estrogen exerts its influence by binding to specific receptors, estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta. The periodontal ligament cells (PDLcs) are very important in maintaining the integrity of the periodontal tissue, which is the connective tissue located between the alveolar bone and the root surface of tooth. In this study, we evaluated the effects of estrogen deficiency on the alveolar bone in ovariectomized rats by histometric measurement of attachment level in vivo. Using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western-blot procedure, we also detected mRNA and protein products of ERs and investigated the effects of estrogen on bone-forming capability by monitoring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin production in cultured human PDLcs. Our results demonstrated that both ER-alpha and -beta were expressed in PDLcs. Moreover, when exposed to 17-beta estradiol, PDLcs exhibited positive modulation on ALP activity and osteocalcin production. The study suggests that estrogen and ERs may play an important role in periodontal diseases.

Simultaneous determination of diallyl trisulfide and diallyl disulfide in rat blood by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

A simple, rapid and sensitive method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS) in rat blood by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The analytes were prevented from degradation by addition of acetonitrile and extraction with hexane before gas chromatographic separation. Two calibration curves for DATS were linear over the range of 10-500 ng/mL and 0.2-20 microg/mL, with typical r values of 0.9989 and 0.9993, respectively. Similarly, two calibration curves for DADS were linear in the concentration range of 50-5000 ng/mL and 1-30 microg/mL, with typical r values of 0.9989 and 0.9983, respectively. The limit of detection was less than 10 ng/mL for DATS and 50 ng/mL for DADS, and the assay was highly reproducible, considering the intra-, inter-day relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) below 12%. The developed procedure was successfully applied for the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of garlic oil following iv administration at a single dose (10 mg) of garlic oil in rats. The results show that the developed method is suitable for pharmacokinetic and therapeutic purposes of DATS and DADS.

Effect of Lactobacillus isolates on the adhesion of pathogens to chicken intestinal mucus in vitro

AIMS

The aims of this study were to investigate in vitro the effects of Lactobacillus isolates from a chicken on adhesion of pathogenic Salmonella and Escherichia coli to chicken intestinal mucus obtained from different intestinal regions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bacteria were labelled by using methyl-1,2-[(3)H]-thymidine. The bacterial adhesion was assessed by measuring the radioactivity of bacteria adhered to the mucus. The results showed that the abilities of Lactobacillus spp. to bind to the same intestinal mucus were higher than those of pathogenic Salmonella and E. coli. Pretreatment of intestinal mucus with Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus acidophilus, alone or in combination, reduced the adhesion of the tested pathogens, but the reductive extent of pathogenic adhesion by Lactobacillus spp. in combination was relatively high.

CONCLUSIONS

The tested bacteria had different adhesions to mucus glycoproteins isolated from different intestinal regions of chicken. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lact. fermentum in combination revealed a better ability to inhibit attachments of Salmonella and E. coli to chicken intestinal mucus than Lactobacillus sp. alone.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

A mixture of intestinal Lactobacillus spp. from a chicken may play a protective role in excluding pathogenic Salmonella and E. coli from the intestine of chicken.

The role of in situ unit operation/process infiltration treatment on partitioning and speciation of rainfall-runoff

Management decisions regarding the potential fate and toxicity of anthropogenic metal elements requires a knowledge of metal partitioning and speciation as mediated by in situ control systems (ICS). This study focussed on Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb, common anthropogenic metal elements generated in the built environment and examined the influence of variable event-based hydrology and passive ICS by an engineered partial exfiltration reactor (PER) system on partitioning and speciation. The feasibility and efficiency of the PER as an in situ stormwater runoff control strategy to attenuate levels of metal elements was evaluated. Results indicate that higher rainfall intensity resulted in higher dissolved fraction (fd) values for influent Zn, Cu and Cd, but did not have a significant influence on partitioning of Pb. Speciation indicated that divalent fractions of Cd, Zn, Cu and Pb were changed marginally by the PER. Cu and Pb mainly complexed with organic matter in the influent, while carbonate complexes of these metals in the effluent significantly increased. The PER consistently and statistically reduced all loadings of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn for all examined events, whether on a mass or concentration basis. As an unsaturated flow unit operation/process the PER can efficiently remove ionic or complexed forms of metal elements. Such UOPs are a potential quality and quantity ICS strategy for rainfall-runoff.

Identification of a novel HLA-DRB1 allele (HLA-DRB1*111902*)

In this paper, we report a new HLA-DRB1 allele identified in a male acute myeloid leukaemia Chinese patient. This sample was initially typed as DRB1*11XX using commercial polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers kit. When it was typed using a chip-based sequence-specific oligonucleotide technique, a novel hybridization pattern that does not match any known alleles was observed. Through sequencing, we have identified this allele as a new HLA-DRB1 allele, which was later named HLA-DRB1*111902 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee. The sequence of this new allele differs from DRB1*111901 by one nucleotide (from G to C) at 203nt of exon 2 but does not cause any amino acid substitution.

Concentration and detection of SARS coronavirus in sewage from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital and the 309th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

A worldwide outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had been reported. Over 8439 SARS cases and 812 SARS-related deaths were reported to the World Health Organization from 32 countries around the world up to 5 July 2003. The mechanism of transmission of SARS-CoV has been limited only to close contacts with patients. Attention was focused on possible transmission by the sewage system because laboratory studies showed that patients excreted coronavirus RNA in their stools in Amoy Gardens in Hong Kong. To explore whether the stool of SARS patients or the sewage containing the stool of patients would transmit SARS-CoV or not, we used a style of electropositive filter media particle to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals receiving SARS patients in Beijing, as well as cell culture, semi-nested RT-PCR and sequencing of genes to detect and identify the viruses from sewage. There was no live SARS-CoV detected in the sewage in these assays. The nucleic acid of SARS-CoV was found in the sewage before disinfection from both hospitals by PCR. After disinfection, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected from some samples from the 309th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, but not from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital after disinfection. In this study, we found that the virus can survive for 14 days in sewage at 4 degrees C, 2 days at 20 degrees C, and its RNA can be detected for 8 days though the virus had been inactivated. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the RNA of SARS-CoV could be detected from the concentrates of sewage of both hospitals receiving SARS patients before disinfection and occasionally after disinfection though there was no live SARS-CoV; thus much attention should be paid to the treatment of stools of patients and the sewage of hospitals receiving SARS patients.

Identification and characterization of a novel luciferase-like protein in the human female reproductive tract

A novel cDNA was cloned from human endometrium, matching a human gene with the interim name KIAA1463. An mRNA identified by 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends was found to be 3349 nt in length. PCR analysis also identified another transcript of 6626 nt, with an open reading frame encoding a 900 amino acid protein. A fold recognition program identified similarity to firefly luciferase containing an AMP-binding motif; hence, we refer to the predicted protein as the AMP binding/luciferase-like protein (ALLP). ALLP mRNA and protein were expressed throughout the female reproductive tract with the highest levels found in the ovary and uterus. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed predominant localization of the ALLP mRNA/protein in endometrial glandular epithelium and within the theca and granulosa cells in the ovary. In the endometrium expression of ALLP, mRNA and protein were higher during d 16-21 of the secretory phase of the cycle. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of ALLP in the postmenopausal endometrium, and hormone replacement therapy increased the expression of ALLP. Endometrial adenocarcinoma cell lines expressed more ALLP, compared with cultured primary endometrial cells or normal endometrial tissue. The ubiquitous expression of ALLP in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues suggests that this protein, which is probably regulated by ovarian steroids, plays an important metabolic role and may be involved in such processes as implantation and tumorigenesis.

Does previous infection protect against atopic eczema and recurrent wheeze in infancy?

BACKGROUND

Frequent infection in infancy and early childhood has been hypothesized to explain the low prevalence of asthma and other atopic disease among children in developing countries (the so-called 'hygiene hypothesis'), but the low prevalence in Eastern Europe remains unexplained.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hygiene hypothesis in the Republic of Belarus by examining the relationship between gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory infection and two potentially atopic outcomes in the first 12 months of life: atopic eczema and recurrent wheeze. METHODS; We carried out two case-control studies nested within a large (n=17 046) randomized trial in Belarus, with cases defined as (1) first occurrence of atopic eczema (n=819) and (2) second episode of wheezing (n=112). Incidence density sampling was used to select four matched controls born within 1 month at the same hospital as the case. Exposure was defined as one or more episodes of GI or respiratory infection (examined separately) with onset >7 days before onset of the case's atopic outcome. Analyses controlled for family atopic history, duration of exclusive breastfeeding, sex, birth weight, maternal education, and (for recurrent wheeze) maternal smoking.

RESULTS

For atopic eczema, prior GI infection occurred in 7.4% of cases vs. 6.0% of controls [adjusted OR=1.27 (0.94-1.72)] and prior respiratory infection in 35.2% vs. 32.6% [adjusted OR=1.14 (95% CI=0.94-1.37)]. For recurrent wheeze, prior GI infection occurred in 9.8% of cases vs. 7.4% of controls [adjusted OR=1.30 (0.60-2.82)].

CONCLUSION

Our results do not support the hypothesis that infection protects against atopic eczema or recurrent wheezing in the first 12 months of life.