Objective To evaluate the effect of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine on endothelial function in patients with hypertension. Methods Thirty patients were randomly divided into two groups-the treated group and the control group. The patients in the treated group were treated by integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine, and the patients in the control treated by felodipine sustained release tablets (Plendil). The base line of brachial angiobore and the change of vascular diameter at response to nitroglycerin and reactive hyperemia were detected by using ultrasonography. Results After the treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine, the inner diameter were significant improved (P 0.05). Conclusion Integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine can improve endothelial function in patients with hypertension. Ultrasonography is a simple and effective method to evaluate the brachial arterial endothelial function.

The effects of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors 1- (5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl) - 2-methylpoperazine (H-7) and quercetin on endotheliai-polymorphoneuclear (EC-PMN) adhesion induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and platelet activating factor (PAF) were studied in cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial monolayers in vitro. TNF (100 U/ml) and PAF (1.0 ?mol/L) stimulated EC dependent PMN-EC adhesion. Both H-7 and quercetin dose-dependently inhibited TNF and PAF induced PMN-EC adhesion. The IC50 of H-7 was 22.22, 5.25 umol/L, and that of quercetin was 18.30, 4.83 ?mol/L respectively. WEB-2086, a specific PAF receptor antagonist, dose-dependently inhibited PAF induced PMN-EC adhesion, but had no effect on TNF induced adhesion. These results suggest that PKC play an important role in EC activation by TNF or PAF, and TNF induced PMN-EC adhesion by independent on endogenetic PAF.

Oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis plays a vital role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders;while at present its regulation pathways mainly include the NF-κB pathway;p53 pathway;MAPK path-way;PI3 K/Akt pathway;Nrf2 pathway;as well as other signaling pathways.Research findings suggest that the active components in Chinese materia medica exert significant biological activities in the treatment of oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis.In the present paper;we review the recent research advances on the relative mechanisms of active components in Chinese materia medica against oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis;so as to provide some references or clues for the clarification of possible mechanisms of active components in Chinese materia medica and the treatment of related neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To study the relationship between the mammographic features and clinicopathologic characteristics in breast cancer.Methods Digital mammograms of 176 patients with pathologically proved breast cancer were reviewed.X-ray findings were analysed compared with clinical and pathologic data(histological types and axillary nodes status).Results The breast cancer simplely with micro-calcifications was common seen is the young women under 50 years old(27/32,84.4%) and microcalcifications with the mass was common seen in the aged women over 50 years old(53.8%,28/52).Microcalcifications in mammography occurred frequently occurred in 51.9%(14/27)in intra-ductal carcinoma and early invasive carcinoma.The breast cancer with expression of microcalcification cimbined with burr-like mass had a high metastatic rate to axillary lymph nodes(69.4%,25/36).A high metastatic rate of axillary lymph nodes could also be found in the patients with solitary worm-like microcalcification,solitary burr-like tumor and simple non-wormlike microcalcification.Conclusion The X-ray features of breast carcinoma are certainly related to the clinicopathological manifestations.

0.05) , but significant difference in latency time of N145 was found between the three groups (P

Aim To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of ruscogenin,a major sapogenin from Ophiopogon japonicus,effect of ruscogenin on cell adhesion is studied.Methods By MTT assay,effect of ruscogenin on normal and TNF-?-induced adhesion of human pro-myelocytic leukemia cell strain(HL-60)to venous endothelial cell strain(ECV304)was observed and effect of ruscogenin on the viability of ECV304 cells and HL-60 cells were investigated.Results Adhesion between HL-60 cells and ECV304 cells induced by TNF-? was significantly inhibited when ECV304 cells were pretreated with ruscogenin at the concentration of 0.1,1.0 ?mol?L~(-1).Meanwhile,ruscogenin remarkably inhibited TNF-a-induced adhesion when HL-60 cells were pretreated with ruscogenin at the concentration of 0.001,0.01,0.1 ?mol?L~(-1).On the other hand,their viability and adhesion of HL-60 cells to normal ECV304 cells were not affected at above concentrations.Conclusion Ruscogenin shows significant anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of adherence of HL-60 cells to activated ECV304 cells.

Diosgenin,an important steroid sapogenin,is one of major precursors of synthetic steroids.It is rich in natural resources and has various significant activities such as anti-tumor,anti-inflammation,and cardiovascular-protection and so on.Recently,it causes increasing attention of scholars all over the world due to its valuable application in medicine.In this paper,the latest international research advances of diosgenin in its pharmacologic activities and mechanism were reviewed.

Objective To explore the proper proportion of effective fractions in Shengmaisan(saponins of Radix ginseng,saponins of Radix ophiopogonis,Lignans of Fructus schisandrae)in different anoxia models.Methods Acute cerebral hypoxia was induced by sodium nitrite and decapitation in mice,and the orthogonal design was used in these two models to find the proper proportion of three effective fractions.The gasping time of the mice,which were decapitated was observed to compare the anti-anoxia effects of XZF with other clinical drugs,and cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury model of mice was also used to study the effect of XZF on related biochemical index.Results XZF(the proportion of saponins of Radix ginseng,saponins of Radix ophiopogonis,Lignans of Fructus schisandrae as 7 ∶ 2 ∶ 6)significantly prolonged the gasping time,and decreased brain nitrogen monoxidum(NO)content after reperfusion of the mice at dosages of 50 mg/kg and 150mg/kg.Meanwhile,XZF also reduced malondialdehyde(MDA)content and increased superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity at the higher dosage.Conclusion XZF obtained by experimental screening exerts a significant protective effect on cerebral ischemia injury in mice,which provide some pharmacological evidence for further development of new modern Chinese drug composed with effective fractions for cerebral vascular diseases.

AIM: To observe the difference of actions among three traditional compl ex prescriptions with the same composition but the different dosage, including X iaochengqi Decoction, Houpudahuang Decoction and Houpusanwu Decoction, so as to provide evidence for their different clinical applications. METHODS: A series of experiments were performed, including carbon p rop ellance in small intestine, black stool excretion, cough induced by ammonia liqu or and phenol red secretion from trachea. RESULTS: Three prescriptions all enhanced carbon propellance in sma ll intestine at the high dosage, while at the low dosage only Houpusanwu Decoct ion showed the significant effect. They all shortened the latency of black stool a nd increased their total amounts in 6 hours at the high dosage, while at the low dosage Xiaochengqi Decoction and Houpudahuang Decoction had the significant p urgative action. Houpudahuang Decoction remarkably prolonged cough latency, dec reased cough times and enhanced phenol red secretion from trachea, while other t wo prescriptions had no obvious effects. CONCLUSION: Such results showed that Xiaochengqi Decoction had the better purgative action, while Houpusanwu Decoction regulated Qi strongerly, a nd Houpudanghuang Decoction showed the marked actions of relieving cough and re solving phlegm.

Atomic force microscopy has become an important tool for studying biological samples based on its high spatial resolution, high force resolution and the capability of working at physiological conditions. This article reviewed the application of AFM imaging and force measurement in biology and medicine.