Objective To study the therapeutic effect of cardura on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and ejectile dystunction(ED) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods One hundred and one cases with BPH and typical LUTS were investigated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5)before and after treatment. The patients were given cardura 4 mg, once a day for 8 weeks. The LUTS and ED were was analyzed after treatment. Results The IPSS was scores ( 14.3 ± 4.0) after treatment, and it was lower than before (mean scores: 19.9±6.5, t= 7.534, P＜0.001). The IIEF2-5 was(14.9±8.8)scores after treatment, and it was higher than before (mean scores: 9.5±8. 5, t = 5. 335, P＜ 0. 001 ), respectively. There was statistically significant correlation between IIEF2-5 and IPSS score (r= -0. 327, P＜0. 001 ). Various indexes were significantly improved after cardura treatment as compared with pretreatment (P＜0.001). Conclusions LUTS is dangerous factor for sexual dysdysfunction, and the severity of LUTS is closely related to the development of sexual dysfunction. Cardura can at once improve the sexual function and LUTS of BPH patients.

Objective To establish a HPLC-ELSD method for determining the content of astragaloside Ⅳ in Qingshen Jianfei Tablets. Methods Stationary phase was C_(18) column (4.6 mm?250 mm, 5 ?m), mobile phase was acetonitrice-water (35 : 65). The evaporation temperature was 120 ℃, the pulverization temperatire was 80 ℃, the flow rate was 1.6 mL/min and column temperature was 35 ℃. Results The standard curve was linear within the range of 1.03～8.24 ?g, r=0.9999. The average recovery was 99.35% with RSD = 1.36% (n = 6). Conclusion The established method is simple and accurate, with good reproducibility and high precision, and suitable for the determination of astragaloside Ⅳ in Qingshen Jianfei Tablets.

In this study, the human umbilical vein endothelial cell model was used to study the regulating effect of lipophilic components in Salvia miltiorrhiza on angiogenesis, and explore its possible mechanism. The cell model was established to determine the effect of lipophilic components in S. miltiorrhiza on the proliferative activity and migration capacity of endothelial cells. Then the realtime fluorescence quantification PCR technology was applied to detect the changes in the gene expressions of angiogenesis-related cytokines VEGF-A, VEGF-C and MMP-9. The results showed that 5 mg x L(-1) lipophilic components in S. miltiorrhiza could inhibit the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells, and reduce the expression of VEGF-A and MMP-9 genes. It indicated that lipophilic components in S. miltiorrhiza may inhibit the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells by inhibiting the expression of VEGF-A and MMP-9 genes, so as to show the inhibitory effect on angiogenesis.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Applications of network pharmacology are increasingly widespread and methods abound in the field of drug development and pharmacological research. In this study, we choose rosiglitazone compound as the object to predict the targets and to discuss the mechanism based on three kinds of prediction methods of network pharmacology. Comparison of the prediction result has identified that the three kinds of prediction methods had their own characteristics: targets and pathways predicted were not in accordance with each other. However, the calcium signaling pathway could be predicted in the three kinds of methods, which associated with diabetes and cognitive impairment caused by diabetes by bioinformatics analysis. The above conclusion indicates that the calcium signaling pathway is important in signal pathway regulation of rosiglitazone compound, which provides a clue to further explain the mechanism of the compound and also provides a reference for the selection and application of methods of network pharmacology in the actual research.
Calcium Signaling ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; Computational Biology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Pharmacology ; methods ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology

This study was to report the effect of Tangshen Formula on phospholipids metabolism in diabetic nephropathy patients. A normal phase-HPLC-TOF/MS method was used in this study for the determination of seven species of phospholipids in human plasma. Then, the concentration changes of potential phospholipids biomarkers were discussed in diabetic nephropathy phase III and phase IV patients among different groups, including before and 3, 6 months after administration of Tangshen Formula. Significant increases of PE750, PI885, PC792, PC826, PC830, PC854 and PC802 levels were observed 6 months after administration of Tangshen Formula and conventional western medicine, as well as a decrease of LPC540 level, when compared with those before medication. Concentrations of all the potential phospholipids biomarkers showed a tendency towards normal levels; however, both the improvement degree and onset time of these compounds were not same. Additionally, Tangshen Formula treatment based on conventional western medicine treatment was more efficient in adjusting the levels of these compounds when compared with western medicine treatment alone, especially for the phase IV patients. These results indicated that Tangshen Formula was capable in regulating and improving phospholipids metabolism in diabetic nephropathy patients, which may be related with the direct or indirect inhibition of protein kinase C pathway and the corresponding reduction of phospholipase A2 activity. Therefore, Tangshen Formula may be used as an effective drug for diabetic nephropathy therapy, at least as an adjunctive therapeutic drug.
Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; metabolism ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Glycerophospholipids ; blood ; Humans ; Lysophosphatidylcholines ; blood ; Phospholipases A2 ; metabolism ; Phospholipids ; blood ; classification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Sphingomyelins ; blood

This study was to comprehensively evaluate the chemical quality of main species of epimedium planted in China. The contents of 5 marker compounds, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin and baohuoside I, as well as total flavonoids of 22 samples of 8 officinal species of Epimedium were determined by HPLC and UV, separately. Some physical and chemical tests (H2O, total ash, acid-insoluble ash and EtOH extract) were also carried out to investigate their chemical qualities. There were significant differences in types and contents of prenyl-flavonoid glycosides such as epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin and baohuoside I in different species, meanwhile, the physical and chemical parameters results also showed that there were obvious differences in chemical quality among different species of epimedium herb. The results provide theoretical and experimental basis for the establishment of comprehensive quality assessment system of epimedium in China.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; classification ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Species Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; methods

Metabonomics technology has been widely applied in the field of biology and pharmacy nowadays. The integration on mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and other modern analytical techniques, made up of the metabonomics technology platform, have accelerated the study on metabonomics. In this paper, the past results of metabonomics studies are reviewed, and the applications of metabonomics to traditional Chinese medicine are prospected.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Metabolomics ; methods ; Proteomics ; methods ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

AIMTo develop a method of identifying the existing of Panax notoginseng in products of traditional Chinese medicine compound Danshen.

METHODSTotal ion chromatograms (TIC) of Panax notoginseng, P. ginseng, and P. quinquefolius were obtained by means of LC/MS. Extracted ion chromatograms (EIC) posses m/z of 770, 800, 932, 946 and 1,108 of above-mentioned three herbs was compared between species. EIC 800 and 946 were selected as differentiation marks to distinguish P. notoginseng from the other two species. The EIC 800 and 946 of P. notoginseng were also compared to the EICs obtained by the same method from Chinese patent medicines of compound Danshen pellet, compound Danshen tablet, and compound Danshen injection. EIC 800 and 946 of P. notoginseng and its products possess similar peaks, relative retention time, and relative integral areas. Main chemical constitutes of P. notoginseng were also identified by using LC/MS/MS.

RESULTSEIC 800 and 946 were obviously different between P. notoginseng, P. ginseng, and P. quinquefolius. Patent medicines of compound Danshen pellet, compound Danshen tablet, which consist of extractions from P. notoginseng, possess the characteristic EICs. The selected EICs were stable and reproductive.

CONCLUSIONEIC 800 and 946, which correspond to ginsenoside Rg1, Re, and their isomers, can be used as identifying mark of P. notoginseng to differentiate it from other herbs, and also can be used to tell apart P. notoginseng from other herb extractions in Chinese patent medicines of compound Danshen.

Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Panax ; chemistry ; classification ; Phenanthrolines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVEA pot experiment with variable fertilizer treatments was carried out to study the influence of fertilization on the concentration and accumulation of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin in roots, stems and leaves and their antioxidant activities. The main aims were to fertilize scientifically in cultivation of Artemisia annua and improve the quality of the harvest organs.

METHODThese active components in leaves, stems and roots in the squaring stage were analyzed by HPLC and antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by ultraviolet visible light colorimetric method.

RESULTThe result showed the highest concentration of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin was in leaves, followed by stems and the lowest in roots. The antioxidant activities of the leaf extracts correlated positively with the concentrations of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin. Furthermore, fertilization promoted significantly the growth of A. annua, the biomass was increased by 57.37% (chemical fertilizer), 91.63% (mixture of chemical fertilizer and manure) and 92.27% (manure), respectively, compared to the blank control (without fertilizer). Fertilization, particularly mixture fertilization of chemical fertilizer and manure, increased generally the concentration and accumulation of polyphenols, scopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin as well as DPPH x scavenging ratio.

CONCLUSIONScopoletin, chrysosplenol-D and chrysosplenetin could be synthesized and stored mainly in leaves. The leaves might thus be the chief organ of A. annua for medical treatment. Finally, the mixture fertilization of chemical fertilizer and manure should be used to increase the yield and quality of A. annua.

Antioxidants ; analysis ; metabolism ; Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Fertilizers ; analysis ; Phenols ; analysis ; metabolism ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the features of white matter myelin development in preterm infants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

METHODSA total of 31 preterm infants with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks and a birth weight of <1 500 g were enrolled. According to head MRI findings, these infants were divided into preterm group with brain injury (12 infants) and preterm group without brain injury (19 infants). A total of 24 full-term infants were enrolled as control group. Head MRI and DTI were performed at a gestational age or corrected gestational age of 37-40 weeks. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were measured for the same regions of interest in the three groups.

RESULTSThe preterm group with brain injury showed a significantly lower FA value of the posterior limb of the internal capsule than the preterm group without brain injury and full-term control group (P<0.05). The preterm groups with and without brain injury showed significantly lower FA values of frontal white matter and lenticular nucleus than the full-term control group (P<0.05). The FA value of occipital white matter showed no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05). Compared with the full-term control group, the preterm groups with and without brain injury showed significantly higher ADC values of the posterior limb of the internal capsule, lenticular nucleus, occipital white matter, and frontal white matter (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAfter brain injury, preterm infants tend to develop disorder or delay of white matter myelination in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. At a corrected full-term gestational age, the preterm infants with and without brain injury have a lower grade of maturity in periventricular white matter and grey matter than full-term infants.

Brain Injuries ; physiopathology ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; methods ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Myelin Sheath ; physiology ; White Matter ; growth & development