A high performance liquid chromatographic method with hypersil C_(18) column, 0.020 mol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution(which contains 0.25% triethylamine, pH 5.1)-methanol(20∶ 80, V/V) as mobile phase and fluorescence detection with 280 nm as excitation wavelength and 320 nm as emission wavelength has been developed for the determination of terbutaline sulfate and propranolol hydrochloride in Erythrocyte suspensions. Erythrocyte surface receptor oscillating reacted 1 h with terbutaline in 37 ℃ water bath. Free terbutaline and propranolol were separated from the membrane receptor-binding complex through 1500 r/min centrifugal in 5 min. The linear range was 0.010-3.000 mg/L in Alsever's solutions and the correlation coefficients were 0.9999 and 0.9998. The relative standard deviations(RSDs) of terbutaline and propranolol were 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively. The limits of detection(LODs) of both were 1.00 and 3.00 mg/L. This simple, safety and sensitive method was suitable for the determination of terbutaline and propranolol in erythrocyte suspensions and for the study of receptor-ligand binding.

Aim To study the role of calcineurin signal transduction pathway in the anti-hypertrophic effect of L-arginine in vivo and in vitro.Methods The hypertrophic effects was assayed by calculating the right ventricular hypertrophy index(RVHI=right ventricle weight/left ventricle and septum weight),and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP)mRNA expression in rat right ventricle hypertrophy model induced by monocrotaline(MCT) or by measuring the cell diameter,protein content,and ANP mRNA expression in hypertrophic cardiomyocyte induced by prostaglandin F2?(PGF2?).For mechanism studies,the intracellular free calcium concentration([Ca2+]i) in cultured cardiomyocytes was measured by using Fura 2/AM as a fluorescent indicator.ANP and CaN mRNA expressions,and expressions of CaN and its downstream effectors,NFAT3 and GATA4 proteins were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively,in vivo and in vitro.Results In MCT-hypertrophic model,prevention-and treatment-administration of L-arginine,a nitric oxide(NO) precursor,200 mg?kg-1?d-1,could obviously inhibit the elevated RVHI and ANP mRNA expression;similar to that found in vivo.Addition of L-arginine 1 mmol?L-1 could markedly inhibit the increased cell diameter,protein content and the expression of ANP mRNA in the hypertrophic cardiomyocyte induced by PGF2? 100 nmol?L-1,and it could also decrease the elevated [Ca2+]i in vitro;notably,the above dose or concentration of L-arginine could blunt the elevated expressions of calcineurin mRNA and the calcineurin-,NFAT3-,GATA4-proteins induced by MCT or by PGF2?.These effects of L-arginine were blocked by NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester,a NO synthase inhibitor,in vivo and in vitro.Conclusion These results suggest that calcineurin signal transduction pathway may play an important role in the NO-induced inhibition of cardiac hypertrophy.The anti-hypertrophic effects of L-arginine may involve the decrease of [Ca2+]i,and then inhibit the activated calcineurin pathway,through the release of NO.

[Objective] Antifungal action of fat-soluble extracts from Bulbus Allii Cepae (BAC) by different extraction technology on 16 strains of dermatophytes was observed to supply evidence for the optimization of extraction technology for BAC. [Methods] Four methods were used for the extraction of fat-soluble extract from BAC and the antifungal action of the extract was tested by medium dilution method. [Results] Fat-soluble extract freshly extracted from BAC by ether had a strong in-vitro antifungal action and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was not over 6.25 mL?L-1 against 10 strains of fungi including Shanghai Epidermophytom floccosum and its MIC against other strains ranged 12.5 -50.0 mL?L-1. The minimum fungicidal concentration of fat-soluble extract freshly extracted from BAC by ether was as the same as MIC. Fat-soluble extract freshly extracted by ether had no antifungal action after water removal by heating. [Conclusion] The extraction technology of freshly extracted by ether without heating is a better method for BAC and the fat-soluble extract extracted by this method has a better antifungal action.

Aim To investigate whether chronically un-predictable stress (CUS)-induced depression-like be-haviors of rats is associated with the variant expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)and tyrosine hydrox-ylase (TH).Methods 30 male SD rats were ran-domly divided into depression model group(MG)and control group (CG),the former was established using CUS plus solitary condition for 28 d,whereas the latter was fed normally as five rats per cage without CUS. The open field test(OFT)and the sucrose preference test were used to evaluate depressive behaviors.Both mRNA and protein expressions of TPH and TH in hip-pocampus and forebrain cortex were determined by re-al-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and western blot (WB),respectively.Results MG rats showed obvi-ous depressive behaviors with much lower locomotive activity and sucrose preference than CG.Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein expressions of TPH and TH also significantly decreased in MG rats,compared with CG rats.Conclusion The depression behaviors of rats in-duced by CUS may be associated with down-regulation of TPH and TH expression.

Objective To study the feasibility of dose calculation using kilovoltage X-ray cone-beam CT (KVCBCT) imaging for head-and-neck radiation therapy.Methods 11 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were scanned with KVCBCT to adjust position before treatment, and rescanning images with KVCBCT after correction were input a treatment-planning system.The dose was recalculated by applying the patients′ treatment plans based on planning CT to the KVCBCT images.The dose distributions and dose volume histograms (DVH) of the tumor and critical structures were compared with the original treatment plan.Results The DVH and dose distribution of the plan based on the KVCBCT are compared with that of the planning CT, and they shows a good consistency for the 11 cases.The doses calculated from the planning CT and KVCBCT were compared on the isocenter planes.Using γ analysis with a criterion of 3%/3 mm, 98.0%±1.33% of the points on the isocenter planes in the planning CT and KVCBCT.The difference of the dose to target volume was<1% and to normal structure was<2%.Conclusions This study indicated that CBCT images can be used to make a treatment plan with its individual hounsfield unit-electron density calibration curve.

Objective To estimate the clinical value of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP)performed on the elderly patients aged 80 years and over with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Methods Since January 2000, 19 patients aged 80 years and over were treated with PVP, and 17 patients from 60 to 79 years old underwent percutancous kyphoplasty (PKP). Visual analogue scale (VAS) was tested preoperatively and 1 to 7 days, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after operation. The time of radiation, volume of bone cement injection and hospital charges were compared betwecn two procedures. Results Over the 2-year follow-up, there were no significant differences in analgesia effects between thc two groups (P＞0.05). The radiation time of PVP and PKP was (107±37)s and (151±76)s respectively (t=2.24, P＜0.05). The hospital charges of PVP and PKP were ￥(16 124±5850) and ￥(34 265±6655) respectively (t=9.26,P＜0.01). Conclusions PVP is better than PKP for treating osteoporotic compression fractures in the elderly patients over 80 years, because of the former's simplicity and efficiency.

Aim To investigate if anti-depressive effect of venlafaxine was associated with improving oxi-dative stress and expression of hippocampus NET and 5-HTT in rat model induced by CUS. MethodsEighty SD male rats were randomly divided into four groups:model group(MG),normal group(NG), ven-lafaxine-treated normal group ( VNG ) , and venlafax-ine-treated model group ( VMG) . VNG and VMG were given venlafaxine (23. 4 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ) once daily;NG and MG were given the same volume solvent. Soli-tary condition with chronic unpredicted stress ( CUS ) was taken to establish rat depression model. The force swimming test was used to evaluate the behavior chan-ges of experimental rats. The malondialdehyde ( MDA) level and activity of superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) in serum were determined by biochemical methods. The mRNA and protein expressions of NET and 5-HTT in
hippocampus were determined by Real-Time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( real-time RT-PCR) and Western blot ( WB) , respectively. Results Compared with NG rats, obviously increasing immo-bile time of rats in force swimming test and serum MDA level, as well as significantly decreasing SOD activity in serum was observed with clearly decreasing 5-HTT expression and elevating NET expression in hippocam-pus of MG rats. The treatment of venlafaxine distinctly suppressed changes above from CUS-induced rats. However, significant changes failed to be found in VNG rats. Conclusion The anti-depressive effect of venlafaxine may at least partly involve in improving ox-idative stress/anti-oxidative stress balance and revers-ing abnormal expression of NET and 5-HTT.

ObjectTo study the effect of polydatin (PD) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on the endothelial function in aorta vascular strips of healthy rabbits and the interaction between PD and ADMA. MethodsDose-response curves of phenylephrine (PE) on the aortic strips with or without ADMA and/or PD. E max and Kd from PE were obtained and compared. ResultsNormal aortic strips could not respond to ADMA. Pretreatment with either PD or ADMA had no effect on the contractive response of aortic strips to PE. But PD could significantly weaken the contractive response of aortic strips pretreated with ADMA caused by PE in a dose-dependent manner, increase Kd and decrease E max of PE. ConclusionEither ADMA or PD alone does not influence the normal aortic strip contractive functions, the PE affinity to ?-receptor, and E max. But PD could noncompetitively antagonize the contractive reaction of aortic strips to PE in the presence of ADMA.

AIM:To study the role of prostaglandin F2?(PGF2?) in cardiac hypertrophy and its relation with calcineurin(CaN) signal transduction pathway in vitro.METHODS:The cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocyte was used to observe the hypertrophic effect of PGF2?,and the hypertrophic response was assayed by measuring the cell diameter,protein content and atrial natriuretic factor(ANF) mRNA expression.For mechanism studies,the intracellular free calcium concentration([Ca2+]i) in cultured cardiomyocytes was measured by using Fura-2/AM as a fluorescent indicator.ANF and CaN mRNA expressions,and the expressions of CaN and its downstream effectors,NFAT3 and GATA4 proteins were assayed by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.RESULTS:In cultured cardiomyocytes,PGF2? induced profound hypertrophic morphology change and the significant increase in cell diameter,and protein content in a concentration-dependent manner compared with those in vehicle control(P

OBJECTIVETo study the dose- and time-dependent protective effects and the synergistic effects of nimodipine (NMDP) and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) against cerebral damage induced by acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in mice.

METHODSMale mice were exposed to CO 170 mL/kg, i.p. After CO intraperitonealy exposure, mortality of mice, change in memory function estimated by passive avoidance test, the pathomorphologic observation of brain tissue slices, as well as changes of activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B and Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in cerebral tissue were studied. In dose-dependent protective effect study, NMDP (10.6, 5.3, 2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (2.6, 1.3, 0.67 g/kg) was injected ip, respectively 15 min after CO exposure. To study the time-effect relationship of drugs, NMDP (5.3 mg/kg) and FDP (1.3 g/kg) were administered ip respectively 15 minutes, 45 minutes and 120 minutes after CO exposure. The combination of NMDP (2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (0.67 g/kg) was administered ip15 minutes, 45 min and 120 minutes after CO exposure to study the synergism of the two drugs.

RESULTSEither NMDP (10.6, 5.3 mg/kg) or FDP (2.6, 1.3 g/kg) administered ip within 15 minutes after CO exposure significantly decreased the impairment of memory function and mortality rate induced by CO, inhibited the decrease of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, blunted the rising of MAO-B activity and prevented the delayed hippocampal neuronal death in poisoning mice. To our surprise, the combined use of NMDP (2.7 mg/kg) and FDP (0.67 g/kg) within 15 minutes after CO exposure had similar effects to that in NMDP (10.6, 5.3 mg/kg) and FDP (2.6, 1.3 g/kg).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the impairment of CO on brain can be attenuated if NMDP or FDP are administered sufficiently and quickly as soon as possible after CO exposure and there exists a synergism of FDP and NMDP against CO poisoning damage.

Animals ; Brain Damage, Chronic ; prevention & control ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning ; prevention & control ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Fructosediphosphates ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Nimodipine ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors