To investigate the correlation between hepatic lipid accumulation and the metabolic profiles of free fatty acids(FFAs), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ketone body in alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), a chronic plus acute alcohol feeding model (Gao-Binge model) was employed using C57BL/6N mice to simulate different stages of AFLD. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to measure the levels of FFAs, TCA cycle intermediates, and ketone bodies in mouse liver tissue and plasma, followed by Pearson correlation analysis. The study revealed that both acute and chronic models showed significant increases in total FFAs, saturated FFAs and short-chain FFAs, as well as β-hydroxybutyric acid(HDBT) in plasma and liver, indicating FFA metabolic profile disturbances in the Gao-Binge model. Moreover, in both models, acetic acid (AA), 2-Methylbutyric acid (2-meBA), and HDBT displayed strong positive correlations with hepatic injury markers in plasma and liver samples (for instance, in the acute model plasma data, r = 0.834, 0.699, 0.818, P<0.05), while pyruvic acid (PRA) showed a strong negative correlation (r = −0.66, P<0.05). These findings suggest that FFAs, TCA cycle, and ketone body metabolism are disrupted in the alcoholic liver disease in mice model, and metabolites such as AA, 2-meBA, HDBT and PRA may serve as potential biomarkers for AFLD, which would be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

The occurrence of cholestatic liver injury is accompanied by the alterations of hepatocyte polarization and bile acid homeostasis. Located in epithelial cells, tight junctions(TJs)are a special barrier structure which are important in maintaining permeability and bile acid homeostasis. Based on the fully analysis and discussion of TJs, the latest therapeutic drugs for cholestasis were summaried, which may provide new perspectives and potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of cholestatic liver injury.

Objective In order to verify an alternative method for the skin corrosion test by using transcutaneous electrical resistance ( TER) test, and to optimize the implementation criteria in OECD TG 430 procedure. Methods According to the OECD TG 430 procedure, Wistar rat skin was used to test the TER values of 16 reference chemicals, and selected the most optimal standard via different implementation criteria. The program B was chosen to make inter-laboratory comparison between 5 laboratories by testing 11 chemicals, which were identified as the optimal standard. Results After the TER test, the result of corrosion test of 16 chemicals were accordant with the reference data ( Kappa value＝0. 64). The program B was the most optimal implementation criteria, and the specificity was 66. 7% and sensitivity was 100%. There were no significant differences between the corrosion estimations of 5 laboratories, and the concordance rate of the 5 laboratories was 72. 7%. Conclusions Transcutaneous electrical resistance (TER) test is an feasible and efficient tool for skin corrosion testing, and may become a good interim test to replace the in vivo test with this ex vivo test in cosmetics chemical safety assessment, thus, to reduce the animal usage in our country.

To observe the effects of emodin ( Emo) on acute fatty liver in mice induced by DL-ethionine ( DL-Eth) or tetracyclin ( Tetra) and its potential mechanism, ICR mice of acute fatty liver model induced by DL-Eth were orally administered with Emo or positive control, ursodeoxycholic acid ( UDCA) for 7 days. On day 7, except that the control and Emo groups were treated with vehicle control, animals were orally administered with DL-Eth to induce acute fatty liver model. ICR mice of acute fatty liver model induced by Tetra were orally administered with Emo or positive control, Dong Bao Gan Tai ( DB) or total flavonoid C-glycosides from Abrus mollis extract ( AME) for 7 days. From day 4, except that the control group was treated with vehicle control, animals were injec-ted with Tetra intraperitoneally for 4 days to induce acute fatty liver model. Liver histopathological analyses were determined by HE staining. Serum aspartate transaminase ( AST) , alanine transaminase ( ALT) , serum triglyceride ( TG) , hepatic TG and hepatic total cholesteol ( TC) were detected. The expression of phosphorylated AMP-activa-ted kinase ( p-AMPK) , phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase ( p-ACC) , SREBP1 and fatty acid synthase ( FAS) were determined by Western blot. The expression of fatty acid translocase ( CD36 ) , peroxisome proliferator activa-ted receptor alpha ( PPARα) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein ( MTTP ) in liver were determined by RT-PCR. Compared with model groups, Emo could improve hepatocyte swelling and hepatic steatosis induced by DL-Eth or Tetra. Serum AST, ALT, serum TG, hepatic TG and hepatic TC were decreased by Emo significantly. DL-Eth-induced increase of fatty acid synthetase-associated protein was down-regulated by Emo. Fatty acid uptake was down-regulated by Emo; fatty acid oxidation and secretion were increased by Emo. Emo might be effective in preventing acute fatty liver in mice induced by DL-Eth or Tetra.

Steroids have been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis(RA), especially glucocorticoids and sex hormones, exhibit powerful and rapid therapeutic effects. The relationship between the steroids and inflammatory cytokine, immune response, nuclear receptors, as well as the safety and efficacy of RA treatment, were introduced in this review. Meanwhile, the possible mechanism of glucocorticoids and sex hormones therapy were discussed. The potential relevance of steroids to RA was also discussed to better use steroids in the treatment of RA and to provide references for future research.

OBJECTIVEFor studying the pharmacokinetic of Yanshu injections in Beagel dogs, a sensitive and reproducible LC-MS method for quantitative determination of matrine, oxymatrine, sophocarpine and oxysophocarpine in dog's plasma were developed and validated using monocrotaline as an internal standard after iv of Yanshu injections (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix and Heterosmilacis Japonicae Rhizoma).

METHODThe separation of plasma samples was performed on a CN column by isocratic elution with methanol-10 mmol x L(-1) NH4Ac-0.02% HCOOH-H2O 90:10 as the mobile phase. The plasma concentration of four kinds of alkaloids were calculated in dog plasta by detection of healthy dogs given Yanshu injection fluid after in twelve hours of plasma samples, All data of concentration-time of four kinds of alkaloids were treated with pharmacokinetics program DAS 2. 0.

RESULTMT, OMT, SP and OSP have a good linear relationship in 0.01-16.0, 0.02-60.0, 0.01-4.0, 0.02-16.0 mg x L(-1), respectively. The average recoveries were more than 90% and the RSD of precision and stability of the test were less than 6.4% iv 1.2 g x kg(-1) Yanshu injection, four kinds of alkaloids in rats meet the two-compartment open pharmacokinetic model, Cmax and the concentration of the original liquid in the proportion of the basic line, the AUC(0-infinity) of matrine and oxymatrine, sophocarpine and oxysophocarpine compared to the original both in the proportion of liquid increases, the MRT(0-infinity) and t(1/2z) of matrine and sophocarpine were less than oxymatrine and oxysophocarpine; four kinds of alkaloids apparent volume of distribution matrine > oxymatrine, sophocarpine > oxysophocarpine.

CONCLUSIONA method with high recovery rate and good stabilitywas established to determine the blood concentration of MT, OMT, SP, OSP in Yanshu injection and applied in its pharmacokinetics successfully.

Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dogs ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Injections ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo observe the liver injury degree of SD rats after 28-day administration of aqueous extracts of Polygonum multiflorum (AEPM) and the correlation with cholestasis mechanism.

METHODAdult SD rats were orally administered with 30, 60 g x kg(-1) of APEM once every day for 28 d. After 28 d, the general condition of rats such as weight were observed, liver function-related indicators were detected. Bile was collected to determine total bile acid output, flow rate and density and changes in major compositions. Their livers were weighed then sent for histopathological examination.

RESULTAEPM did not change the general conditions and weights of rats. From the results of the related indicators of liver function and cholestasis, AEPM did not change the contents of ALT and AST in serum, but high dose of AEPM can increase the contents of ALP, GGT and TBA in serum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decrease the content of TBIL in serum (P < 0.05). And the contents of GGT in serum of low dose rats were increased (P < 0.05). The bile flow was not changed by AEPM, but bile compositions of high dose male rats were obviously changed (TG increase, TBIL decrease, TBA decrease). The weights of liver and ratio of liver of the high dose rats were increased but showed no statistical significance. Pathologic examination displayed that there were only small pieces of necrosis in livers of several rats, without any severe disease.

CONCLUSIONAEPM can obviously injure bile duct epithelial cells, intervene liver cell functions and change bile compositions in rats, thus it is proved to induce cholestasis without severe liver injury.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Cholestasis ; chemically induced ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; toxicity ; Polygonum ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Purpose A RP-HPLC method was used to determine genioside and breviscapine in plasma and to study its pharmacokinetics in rat, respectively.Methods Rat plasma samples were collected after a single dose of Zhideng injection and pharmacokinetic parameters of genioside and breviscapine were estimated,respectively.Results A good linear relationship was obtained between 0.2-40.0 μg/mL for breviscapine, and 0.5-200.0 μg/mL for genioside.The recoveries from plasma were larger than 85%,and RSDs of inter-day asaay and intra-day assay were below 10%. The pharmacokinetic results showed that genioside and breviscapine were rapidly eliminated from plasma after iv administration of three doses of Zhideng injection.The mean half-life was 72.6 min and 21.6 min,respectively.Conclusion The established HPLC method was suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of genioside and breviscapine.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of HZ08, a novel P-glycoprotein inhibitor, on reversing tumor resistance of K562/ADM to adriamycin in nude mice and on the activities of cytochromes P-450 (GYP) isoforms. Methods: Nude mice bearing K562/ADM were injected at different doses of HZ08 with adriamycin for 4 weeks. The tumor weights of HZ08 treatment groups were determined and compared to those of the control and positive groups. In addition, the effects of HZ08 were examined on GYP isoforms-mediated metabolism of specific substrates by GYP isoforms in rat liver microsomes in the presence or absence of HZ08. Results: The tumor weights of HZ08 treatment groups were significantly decreased and HZ08 was a relatively potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, with no significant effects on other isoforms tested. Conclusion: HZ08 has potent effects on reversing P-glycoprotein mediated tumor multidrug resistance in rive with little influence on cytoehrome P-450 activities of rat liver.

Object To study the hemolytic effect of total saponins from Ginseng (Gs), Radix Ophiopogonis (ROs) and Shengmaisan, a compound preparation of the two saponins, and the antihemolytic effect of antioxidants on hemolysis. Methods The percentage of hemolysis was indirectly calculated by measured cyanomethemoglobin, and morphological changes of red blood cells (RBCs) was examined by light microscope. Results Gs did not lead to hemolysis while both ROs and Shengmaisan induced lysis in a concentration dependent manner. RBCs deformation can be observed by light microscopic study. The hemolysis was partly inhibited by addition of glucose or antioxidants including mannitol and ?-tocopherol. Conclusion The intensity of hemolytic effect varied with different saponins present in the compound preparation, and may be associated with the type of saponin and partly due to its ability to enhance lipid preoxidation of RBCs membrane.