Although the relation between vitamin deficiency and protein metabolism has been reported by earlier investigators, no study of the effect of riboflavic deficiency on the regeneration of tissue proteins has yet been made. This paper is a report of an investigation on the effect of riboflavin deficiency upon the regeneration of liver, muscle and total circulating plasma proteins in adult rats. The riboflavin store in the body of rats was first depleted by feeding riboflavin-free diet in the course of 36 days. Then moderately severe deficiency symptoms of both riboflavin and protein were induced during a period of 12 days by a riboflavin- and protein- free diet. After the deficiency of riboflavin and protein had been established, the depleted rats were then treated with complete and riboflavin-free diets for an appropriate period. The results are listed as following.1.The omission of riboflavin from normal complete diet of adult rats caused a regular reduction of weight and food consumption during the depletion period, the severity of which was markedly increased when protein was withdrawn from the riboflavin-free diet as well.2.The regeneration rate of liver and total circulating plasma proteins of both riboflavin and protein deficient rats decreased slightly when treated with riboflavin-free but proteinadequate ration. While the muscle protein was lost in greater amount instead of regenerated.The experimental work was made in former National Institute of Health Nanking.

117 guinea pigs were divided into groups, receiving 1mg, 5mg, 50mg and 100mg Vit C per os daily respectively in 2-4 weeks. There were conducted four experiments: (1) the effect of different vitamin C levels on the cold tolerance and adaptation in guinea pigs; (2) effect of large dose of vitemin C on sudden and long time exposure to cold: (3) the action of vitamin C, in large dose and short time in combination with hormones, on cold tolerance of guinea pigs; (4) effect of large dose of vitamin C on the myocardial enzyme activity, during the process of cold adaptation. Rectal temperature, body weight, weight and vitamin C contents of adrenal glands, the excretion of urinary 17-Ketostero'ids, activity of myocardial succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrom C oxidase were observed. The results revealed that large dose of Vitamin C per os might lessen the lowering of rectal temperature and body weight after exposure to cold; promote the activities of myocardial enzymes. Better results were obtained with combination of vitamin C with cortisones. It was noted that large dose of vitamin C apparently increased and accelerated the tolerance and adaptation of organisms to cold.

A comparative study of the methods of biological assay of vitamin A with rats was carried out in this experiment. The body weights and vitamin A levels in the blood and liver of the deficient animals were measured at different time intervals after they were supplemented with various doses of this vitamin. The increase of body weights of the rats was lineally correlated with the logarithms of dosages of vitamin A supplemented within the range of 1-12 ?g; while the. vitamin A levels in blood or liver was also lineally correlated with it within the range of 1-10 ?g. Moreover, the vitamin A contents in blood and liver themselves were closely interrelated to each other. All of the correlations were statistically significant. The procedure for the biological assay of vitamin A recommended by the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China was discussed.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypert riglyceridemia on vascular endothelial function. Methods With high-resolution ultrasound, flow and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery were determined in thirty hypertriglyceridemic patients and thirty healthy subjects as controls. Serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) were determined. Results In patients with hypertriglyceridemia,flow-induced vasodilatation was much reduced compared with that in the control subjects[(2.7±2.0)% vs (15.0±8.0)%, P<0.001］.However, vasodilatation in response to nitroglycerin were similar in both groups［(15.0±5.0)% vs (16.8±9.0)%, P>0.05].Plasma ET level in the hypertriglyceridemic group was significantly higher than that in the control group［(106.22±19.16) μg/L vs (72.37±14.06) μg/L, P<0.001].ConclusionEndothelium-dependent vasodilatation was impaired in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

AIM　To investigate the effect of particle size and high speed flow of helium gas on the systemic absorption of indomethacin using a needle-less injection system. METHODS　Poly-L-lactic acid microspheres containing indomethacin was prepared by the o/w solvent evaporation technique. After anesthetizing the male hairless rat, microspheres filled in the tube cartridge was accelerated by a stream of helium gas at various velocity in the HeliosTM gun system, and then was introduced to the abdominal skin. RESULTS　Introduction of indomethacin to the hairless rat skin was proportionally increased with enhancing the helium pressure (supersonic flow). Bioavailability and Cmax were also dependent on the helium pressure. CONCLUSION　This method can be used to deliver the powered drug and/or microparticulate systems into the skin tissues and the systemic circulation.

AIM: To observe the effect of piceatannol on the kidney of diabetic nephropathy rats in early stage, and to explore the possible mechanisms.METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, model group, low dose of piceatannol treatment group, medium dose of piceatannol treatment group and high dose of piceatannol treatment group.The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was induced accordingly, and the rats received 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg or 60 mg/kg of piceatannol by gavage once a day for 4 weeks.Blood glucose was detected by glucometer.The urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in the serum were measured by urease-glutamate dehydrogenase enzymatic and inosine acid oxidase methods, respectively, and 24 h urinary microalbumin was analyzed by immune transmission turbidimetry test.Moreover, the pathological changes of the kidney tissues were observed under microscope with HE staining.The protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad 7 and the phosphorylation levels of Smad2 and Smad3 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with model group, piceatannol treatment significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen and urinary microalbumin, but had no effects on serum creatinine.Furthermore, HE staining showed that the increased mesangial cells, matrix hyperplasia and degenerated epithelial cells in model group were markedly inhibited after piceatannol treatment.Additionally, piceatannol treatment also reduced the protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad 7, and the phosphorylation levels of Smad2 and Smad3.CONCLUSION: Piceatannol attenuates pathological progression in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy rats in early stage, which may be through inhibiting TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

lusions WI parameters reflect both cardiac and vascular changes of hyperthyroid patients. Mid-systolic hemodynamic turbulence appears in a portion of hyperthyroid patients.

Objective To assess the value of quantitative color Doppler sonography in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods The right renal in 21 patients with SLE and 22 normal subjects were examined with Philips IU22 ultrasonic diagnostic device. Resistence index (RI) of interlobar artery and interlobular artery were measured with color Doppler sonography, vascularity index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) which reflecting the renal cortical blood flow were calculated with quantitated analysis software. All the parameters between two groups were compared and analyzed. Results The color signals of renal cortical blood flow in patients with SLE were inferior to those of the normal group, especially in the area near the edge of renal. No statistical difference of RI was found between the two groups (P>0.05), while VI, FI and VFI in SLE group were significantly lower than those of the normal group (VI, VFI, P<0.01, FI, P=0.01). Conclusion Color Doppler sonography combined with blood flow quantitative technique provide a helpful, sensitive and convenient tool to detecte the renal changes in SLE patients.

This study examined the wave intensity (WI) of the carotid artery in patients with hyperthyroid in order to assess the hemodynamic changes of hyperthyroid patients. A total of 86 hyperthyroid patients without cardiac morphological changes and arrhythmia, and 80 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. Right common carotid artery (RCCA) was selected for ultrasonic imaging to obtain WI indices, including amplitude of the peak during early systole (W1), amplitude of the peak during late systole (W2), area of the negative wave during mid-systole (NA), interval between R wave of electrocardiogram and W1 (R-1st), interval between W1 and W2 (1st-2nd). The levels of serum thyroid hormones, consisting of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured in hyperthyroid patients. Echocardiographic indices including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS) were determined in each subject. The results showed that the W1, W2, NA, and (1st-2nd×HR) in hyperthyroid patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. There was no significant difference in LVEF and LVFS between the two groups. FT3 was correlated with W1, W2, NA, (1st-2nd×HR), pulse pressure (PP) and heart rate (HR) in hyperthyroid patients. Several abnormal waves on WI curves were present in 19 hyperthyroid patients during mid-systole. It was concluded that WI technique may prove a real-time, noninvasive, sensitive and convenient tool for assessing the cardiac function and hemodynamic alterations in hyperthyroid patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of micronized fenofibrate on vascular endothelial function in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

METHODSUsing high-resolution ultrasound, we measured flow- and nitroglycerin-induced dilatation of the brachial artery in 30 patients with hypertriglyceridemia before and after treatment with micronized fenofibrate at a dose of 200 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Simultaneously, both serum lipid and plasma endothelin (ET) levels were determined.

RESULTSAfter micronized fenofibrate therapy, serum triglyceride (TG) levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Plasma ET levels also decreased markedly [(82.66 +/- 15.46) microg/L vs. (106.22 +/- 19.16) microg/L, P < 0.001]. Flow-induced vasodilatation was much improved (11.0% +/- 9.0% vs 2.7% +/- 2.0%, P < 0.01). However, no significant changes in vasodilatation occurred in response to nitroglycerin (16.2% +/- 6.0% vs 15.0% +/- 5.0%, P > 0.05) in patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

CONCLUSIONSMicronized fenofibrate can improve impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Improving endothelial function may also be the mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of micronized fenofibrate.

Adult ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vasodilation ; drug effects