OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tanshinone II(A) on the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system of left ventricles of renal hypertensive rats.

METHODThe renal hypertension model was established in rats by the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) method. In the experiment, all of the rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 15 per group) before the operation: the sham-operated (Sham) group, the hypertensive model (Model) group, the low-dose tanshinone II(A) group and the high-dose tanshinone II(A) group. At 5 week after the renal artery narrowing, the third and fourth groups were administered with 35 mg kg(-1) x d(-1) and 70 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) of tanshinone II(A), respectively. The blood pressure in rats was determined by the standard tail-cuff method in each week after the operation. After the drug treatment for 8 weeks, all the rats were put to death, and their left ventricles were separated to determine the ratio of left ventricle weight to body weight (LVW/BW), the myocardial collagen content, and the expressions of different components in myocardial RAS, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin 1-type receptor (AT1R), Mas receptor mRNA expression and angiotensin II (Ang II) and angiotensin (1-7) [Ang (1-7)] content.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the hypertensive model group exhibited a markable increase in the content of Ang II and Ang (1-7) and the mRNA expressions of ACE, ACE2, AT1R and Mas (P < 0.01). However, the treatment with tanshinone II(A) showed the does dependence, inhibited left ventricle hypertrophy, decreased myocardial Ang II content and the mRNA expression of ACE and AT, R in renal hypertensive rats (P < 0. 01) , further increased the myocardial Ang (1-7) content and the mRNA expression of ACE2 and Mas (P < 0.01) , but without any change in the blood pressure of hypertensive rats.

CONCLUSIONThe treatment with tanshinone II(A) could inhibit left ventricle hypertrophy of renal hypertensive rats. Its mechanism may be partially related to the expression of different components in the renin-angiotensin system for regulating myocardial tissues.

Angiotensin I ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; administration & dosage ; Heart Ventricles ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects

AIM: To observe the therapy effect of standard prescription on ametrop amblyopia in hyperopic children.
METHODS: This study included 270 cases ( 54 eyes ) with complete data, and followed up 24mo. All the amblyopic children were given standard prescription and were divided into progressive addition glass group, under corrected group and full corrected group. And all were observed for their therapy effect and the average healing time in low hyperopic, moderate hyperopic and high hyperopic children with ametropic amblyopia respectively.
RESULTS: In low hyperopic children, the difference of the therapy effect of the three corrected methods were insignificant in two years. The meam cure time of the three corrected methods were ( 7. 33 ± 2. 11 ) mo in progressive addition glass group;(9. 0±3. 71)mo in under corrected grope;(12. 5±5. 17) mo in full corrected group. Three groups of independent samples by paired t-test showed: the difference between progressive addition glass group and under corrected grope (t=1. 66, P>0. 05) was statistically insignificant; the difference between progressive addition glass group and full corrected grope ( t = 3. 92, P < 0. 01 ) was statistically significant; the difference between under corrected grope and full corrected grope ( t = 2. 33, P < 0. 05 ) was statistically significant. In moderate hyperopic chileren, the differences of the therapy effect of the three corrected methods were significant in two years (χ2=6. 75;P<0. 05). The difference between progressive addition glass group and under corrected grope (χ2 = 6. 3; P < 0. 01 ) was statistically significant; the difference between progressive addition glass group and full corrected grope (χ2=8. 1;P<0. 005) was statistically significant. The mean cure time of the three corrected methods were ( 14. 0±4-87) mo in progressive addition glass group; ( 16. 93±4-58)mo in under corrected grope; (17. 93±4. 42) mo in full corrected group. Three groups of independent samples by paired t-test showed: the difference between progressive addition glass group and under corrected grope (t=2. 88, P<0. 01) was statistically significant; the difference between progressive addition glass group and full corrected grope ( t= 3. 9, P<0. 01 ) was statistically significant;the difference between under corrected grope and full corrected grope ( t = 1. 01, P > 0. 05 ) was statistically insignificant. In high hyperopic amblyopic children, the difference of the therapy effect and the healing time of the three corrected methods were insignificant in two years. (χ2=2. 43, P>0. 05. t=1. 49, P>0. 05;t=1. 46,P>0. 05;t=1. 11, P>0. 05).
CONCLUSION:Under standard prescription, application of progressive multifocal glasses provides a new effective treatment for ametropic amblyopia in hyperopic children, and makes up the deficiency of the whole straightening and under correction in clinical treatment.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; genetics ; pathology ; In Situ Hybridization ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 13 ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo explore biomechanical properties and stress-strain of mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery.

METHODSAfter the model of mucosa scars was made, the mucosa scars and normal mucosa were excised and examined immediately by tensionometry.

RESULTSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery were compared with normal mucosa. The Poisson's ratio of mucosa scars and normal mucosa was 0.5 and 0.49, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups. The ultimate Young's modulus of mucosa scars was about 24.22 MPa, however, it declined to 3.32 Mpa in normal mucosa.

CONCLUSIONSThe mucosa scars after cleft palate surgery are biomechanically weaker than normal mucosa. It can be used for further research, such as maxillary orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis, and orthodontic treatment.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cicatrix ; physiopathology ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Osteotomy, Le Fort

Objective To explore the mechanisms by which hydrogen sulfide (H2S) regulates collagen metabolism during hypoxic pulmonary vascular structural remodeling. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n=6), hypoxia group (n = 6) and hypoxia+NaHS group(n= 6) H2S content in plasma was measured with spectrophotometry. The expression of collagen I was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) mRNA was detected with situ hybridization Results Compared with hypoxia group, H2S content in plasma increased significantly and the expressions of collagen I and TIMP-1 mRNA in pulmonary arteries were down- regulated in hypoxia + NaHS group. The H2S content in plasma negatively correlated with TIMP-I mRNA expression. Conclusions H2S increases the degradation of collagen in small and media pulmonary arteries of rats under hypoxia by decreasing the synthesis of TIMP-1, and therefore, attenuats the collagen remodeling in pulmonary arteries of hypoxic rats.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of Gap-ligase chain reaction(LCR)-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)for Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) pneumonia in infants(28 days-3 months old baby was 16.9%(27/160 cases),and the incidence in 3-6 months old baby was 8.1%(12/149 cases).The clinical symptoms included that 25 cases(51.0%) had fever,48 cases(98.0%) with paroxysmal cough,45 cases(91.8%) with rhinocleisis,45 cases(91.8%) with spitting foam,49 cases(100%) with tachypnea,28 cases(57.1%) with lips cyanosis,26 cases(53.1%) with medium and moist rales,24 cases(49.0%) with dry rales,18 cases(36.7%) with phlegm whimper,29 cases(59.2%) with rough breath sounds in both lungs and there were 13 cases(26.5%) with conjunctivitis.Chest film and paper capacitor showed that bilateral extensive interstitial and(or) alveolar infiltration,over-inflation 23 cases(46.9%) had no lobal consolidation or pleural effusion.The WBC counts were normal or slightly high.All children were treated with cephalothin or penicillin before confirmation with CT infection.Eleven cases were treated with azithromycin after diagnosis with CT pneumonia and were cured 9 days after treatment and the others were not treated with azithromycin so their course prolonged from 15 to 44 days,among them there were 11 out-patients who were treated many times because of repeated cough.Conclusions CT is important pathogenic organism to cause pneumonia in neonatal and small infants.It is important to pay attention to the possibility of pneumonia caused by CT and make the diagnosis in early period as soon as possible and treat them with sensitive drug to shorten the course.

OBJECTIVETo study release mechanism of berberine hydrochloride (BH) from carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan pellets for colonic delivery.

METHODThe pellets were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique. The effects of the kinds of enzyme and enzyme concentration of dissolution media on the release of BH and the erosion properties of the pellets were studied.

RESULTCompared with the dissolution media without enzymes, the release of BH and the erosion of the pellets were increased obviously in the media with rat cecal and colonic content or beta-mannase, the degradation of the carrier material of pellets by enzymes was the main factor which result in the erosion of the pellets. With the increased of beta-mannase concentration, the release of BH and the erosion of the pellets increased, the amount relationships of the release of BH and the erosion of the pellets were approximately 1:1. The release of BH exhibit Peppas equation, the n value was more than 1.

CONCLUSIONThe release mechanism of BH from the pellets was enzymatic erosion-controlled, which indicates the potential of the pellets to serve as a colon-specific drug delivery system.

Animals ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Mannans ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta-Mannosidase ; pharmacology

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

Organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) is an important liver-specific uptake transporter, which mediates transport of numerous endogenous substances and drugs from blood into hepatocytes. To identify and investigate potential modulators of OATP1B1 from natural products, the effect of 21 frequently used natural compounds and extracts on OATP1B1-mediated fluorescein methotrexate transport was studied by using Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing OATP1B1 (CHO-OATP1B1) in 96-well plates. This method could be used for the screening of large compound libraries. Our studies showed that some flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, chrysanthemum flavonoids and mulberrin) and triterpenoids (e.g., glycyrrhetinic acid and glycyrrhizic acid) were inhibitors of OATP1B1 with IC50 values less than 16 µmol · L(-1). The IC50 value of glycyrrhetinic acid on OATP1B1 was comparable to its blood concentration in clinics, indicating an OATPlB1-mediated drug-drug interaction could occur. Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that flavonoids had much higher inhibitory activity than their glycosides. Furthermore, the type and length of saccharides had a significant effect on their activity. In addition, we used OATP1B1 substrates fluvastatin and rosuvastatin as probe drugs to investigate the substrate-dependent effect of several natural compounds on the function of OATP1B1 in vitro. Our results demonstrated that the effect of these natural products on the function of OATPlB1 was substrate-dependent. In summary, this study would be conducive to predicting and avoiding potential OATP1B1-mediated drug-drug and drug-food interactions and thus provide the experimental basis and guidance for rational drug use.
Animals ; Biological Products ; CHO Cells ; Cricetulus ; Drug Interactions ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Organic Anion Transporters ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism