Objective To optimize and establish the extractive technology of taxol from Taxus baccatal L.. Methods HPLC was applied to determine the content of taxol. The orthogonal test was adopted to examine the effects of the 4 factors consisting of ethanol concentration,ethanol volume,extractive times and extractive time. Results Ethanol concentration and ethanol volume were essential factors influencing the extraction of taxol. High concentration and amount of ethanol facilitated the extraction. Extractive times and extractive time were also important. By single-factorial effect,2 h and 2 times in each extraction of taxol were the best. Conclusion The optimum extractive condition is T9 (A3B3C2D1) and T8 (A3B2C1D3).

Objective To observe the prophylactic effects of a HSV-2gD2DNA vaccine in guinea pigs challenged with HSV-2strains.Methods Female guinea pigs were divided into3groups with10each,which was immunized intramuscularly with100?g of pc-gD plasmids(recombinant HSV-2DNA vac-cine),or with pcDNA3blank plasmids,with normal saline as control,respectively.Two booster injections were given on day7and day21.Sera were collected for virus neutralization test on day0,day28,and day56.The animals were challenged with HSV-2strain sav intravaginally,and lesions induced on the external genital skin were scored between day1and day21after challenge.Results The titer of neutralizing anti-body to HSV-2was much higher in the sera from animals immunized by pc-gD plasmids than that from ani-mals immunized by pcDNA3blank plasmids or normal saline.Furthermore,the lesion scores on external genital skin were significantly decreased in pc-gD group than those in other two groups with either primary or recurrent infections.Conclusion The constructed gD2vaccine can efficiently protect guinea pigs from genital infection and reduce recurrent infection induced by latent herpes simplex virus.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Colonoscopy ; methods ; Diarrhea ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male

Adolescent ; Anal Canal ; physiopathology ; Child ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Rectum ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of sequoyitol (Sep) on high glucose-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury.

METHODSHUVECs were cultured with high glucose (30 mmol/L) in the presence or absence of sequoyitol (0.1, 1 and 10 micromol/L) for 24 h. Cell proliferation was measured by BrdU marking and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate was used to evaluate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The NO, malonydialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 levels were determined by colorimetric method according to the manufacturer's instructions. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were measured by real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSIn the present study, we found that sequoyitol pretreatment for 1 h significantly decreased cell injury, promoted cell proliferation. Meanwhile sequoyitol significantly down-regulated NOX4 expression and decreased the level of ROS, MDA and H2O2 and obviously increased NO levels and up-regulated eNOS expression.

CONCLUSIONSequoyitol alleviates high glucose-induced cell injuries in HUVECs via inhibiting oxidative stress and up-regulating eNOS expression.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; toxicity ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; metabolism ; Inositol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of sequoyitol (Seq) on expression of eNOS and NOX4 in aortas of type 2 diabetic rats. Type 2 diabetic rats induced by high fat and high sugar diet and low dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg x kg(-1)) and were administered Seq (12.5, 25 and 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 6 weeks. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were tested. Acetylcholine (Ach) induced endothelium-dependent relaxation and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) induced endothelium-independent relaxation were measured in aortas for estimating endothelial function. Aortic morphological change was observed with HE staining. The level of serum insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and NO levels in aortas were determined according to the manufacturer's instructions. In addition, the expressions of eNOS and NOX4 in aortas were measured by immunohistochemisty, real-time PCR or Western blotting. The results showed that Seq significantly decreased FBG and insulin resistance, and improved aortic endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation function. The expressions of NOX4 and MDA content were obviously decreased, while the expression of eNOS, the levels of NO and T-AOC increased significantly in aortas of diabetic rats with Seq treatment. In conclusion, Seq protects against aortic endothelial dysfunction of type 2 diabetic rats through down-regulating expression of NOX4 and up-regulating eNOS expression.
Animals ; Aorta ; metabolism ; pathology ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Weight ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Inositol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the effect of allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on the cardiac structure and function in rats with acute myocardial infarction. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, and stem cells group, 10 rats in each group. The model group received left coronary artery ligation to induce acute myocardial infarction, and the stem cells group received myocardial injection of stem cells after coronary artery ligation. After four weeks, cardiac function and heart tissue pathological changes were observed. Results In the model group, left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume and end dias-tolic volume were increased, and left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular fractional shortening rate and cardiac output were decreased as compared with the normal group and the stem cells group (P < 0. 05). The results of pathologi-cal examination showed that myocardiac fibers dissolved or even disappeared, and fibric proliferation and sear occurred in the model group; in the stem cells group, the arrangement of myocardiae fibers was in disorder and there were a few pro-liferated fibers and scar compared with the normal group. Conclusion Allogeneic bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation can improve the cardiac structure and function in rat model of acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVETo compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on Alzheimer's disease between acupuncture and medicine.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-one patients were randomized into an acupuncture group (72 cases) and a medicine group (69 cases). In the acupuncture group, the needling technique for benefiting qi, promoting blood circulation, regulating mind and improving intelligence was used at Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Fengchi (GB 20), Wangu (GB 12), Danzhong (CV 17), Zhangwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), Xuehai (SP 10) and Zusanli (ST 36). The supplementary acupoints were selected according to the symptoms and physical signs. Acupuncture was given once a day and 6 treatments were required for a week. In the medicine group, the choline sterase inhibitor, donepezil (aricept) was prescribed for oral administration, 1 tablet (5 mg) each time, once every night. Four weeks later, the dose was increased to 2 tablets (10 mg) each time. In the two groups, the treatment of 4 weeks made one session and 4 sessions were required. The changes of scores before and after treatment in the minimum mental state examination (MMSE), the activity of daily living scale (ADL), Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognition (ADAS-cog) and the digit span (DS) were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, scores of MMSE and DS were increased as compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05) and scores of ADL and ADAS-cog were reduced as compared with those before treatment. The score differences in MMSE, ADL, ADAS-cog and DS before and after treatment were significant in the two groups (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needling technique for benefiting qi, promoting blood circulation, regulating mind and improving intelligence significantly improves the overall function, cognition and activity of daily life in the patients of Alzheimer's disease and the efficacy is better than donepezil.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; psychology ; therapy ; Cognition ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

Artemisinin and its derivatives are highly effective in fighting against malaria. Notably, these drugs have shown potent anti-timor activities by arresting cellular growth, enhancing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and regulating the expression of tumor-associated genes, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of sesamin (Ses) on pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with monocrotaline ( MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODTotally 48 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed adaptively for one week and then divided into the normal control group, the MCT group, the MCT +Ses (50 mg x kg(-1)) group and the MCT + Ses (100 mg x kg(-1)) group, with 12 rats in each group. The PH rat model was induced through the subcutaneous injection with MCT(60 mg x kg(-1)). After the administration for four weeks, efforts were made to measure the right ventricular systolic pressure( RVSP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) through right jugular vein catheterization, and isolate right ventricle( RV) and left ventricle( LV) +septum (S) and measure their length to calculate RV/ ( LV + S) and ratio of RV to tibial length. Pathologic changes in arterioles were observed by HE staining. Masson's trichrome stain was used to demonstrate changes in collagen deposition of arterioles. The alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in pulmonary arteries was measured by immunohistochemisty. The total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in pulmonary arteries were determined by the colorimetric method. The protein expressions of collagen I, NOX2 and NOX4 were analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTAfter the administration for 4 weeks, Ses could attenuate RVSP and mPAP induced by MCT, RV/ (LV + S) and ratio of RV to Tibial length, alpha-SMA and collagen I expressions and remodeling of pulmonary vessels and right ventricle. Meanwhile, Ses could obviously inhibit the expressions of NOX2, NOX4 and MDA content and increase T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONSesamin could ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling induced by monocrotaline in PH rats. Its mechanism may be related to expressions of NOX2 and NOX4 expression and reduction in oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Dioxoles ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Lignans ; administration & dosage ; Lung ; blood supply ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Monocrotaline ; adverse effects ; NADPH Oxidase 2 ; NADPH Oxidase 4 ; NADPH Oxidases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Remodeling ; drug effects