OBJECTIVETo study the stability of chlorogenic acid, cynaroside and 3,5-O-discaffeoylquinc acid in Hangbaiju and Gongju and to predict their term of validity.

METHODHangbaiju and Gongju were incubated in an environmental chamber at different temperatures and relative humidities. After the incubation, quantitative determination of chlorogenic acid, cynaroside, 3,5-O-discaffeoylquinc acid in Hangbaiju and Gongju were measured by HPLC. The effective period of the preparation was calculated according to Arrhinius index law. Quantitative determination of 3,5-O-discaffeoylquinc acid, cynaroside, chlorogenic acid in Hangju and Gongju were analyzed by HPLC.

RESULTThe stable life of Hangbaiju has been determined as 2.25 years. The stable life of Gongju has been determined as 4.31 years.

CONCLUSIONThe high temperature is not conducive to the stability of Hangbaiju and Gongju, which needs to be placed in a dark and cool place.

Chlorogenic Acid ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Temperature

Objective To observe the sequence of fat deposit and its relationship with insulin resistance in SD rats fed by high fat diet.Methods Normal 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into normal chow (NC,n=40)and high fat diet(HF,n=40)groups.Triglyceride(TG)in serum,liver and muscle were measured;glucose infusion rate(GIR)and the mRNA level of genes related to lipid metabolism in liver and muscle were determined in different stages.GIR was detected by eugiyeemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp for evaluating the insulin sensitivity.Gene expression was determined by real-time PCR.Results(1)As compared with NC group,serum TG was not increased after high fat feeding for4 and 8 weeks,it began to increase after 12 weeks [0.52(0.15-1.00) mmol/L vs O.31(0.09-0.53)retool/L, P0.05)in skeletal muscle.After 8 weeks,the expression of ACC1 in liver in HF group was increased by 20.6%,CPT-1 was decreased by 27.1%(P

BACKGROUND: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) represent one of the promising cell sources for myocardial regeneration due to their easy accessibility and efficacy in the improvement of cardiac function following myocardial infarction. However, previously reported studies on the underlying mechanism of ADSCs-mediated cardioprotective effect mainly focused on the ADSCs cultured at room air. OBJECTIVE: To test the paracrine actions and anti-apoptotic effect of ADSCs under hypoxic conditions. METHODS: After isolation and culture, neonatal rat myocardial cells were injured by hydrogen peroxide and co-cultured with rat ADSCs under normoxia and hypoxia (10% O2) conditions. Ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in the cell pellet and levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were tested by ELISA. Expression of apoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were determined by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GSH/GSSG, VEGF, IGF-1, and bFGF were decreased in neonatal rat myocardial cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. ADSCs significantly attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced myocardial apoptosis by increasing the ratio of GSH/GSSG and the secretion of VEGF, IGF-1 and bFGF. ADSCs also down-regulated Bax expression and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. To conclude, hypoxic conditions can enhance the anti-apoptosis and cardioprotective effects of ADSCs through the paracrine mechanism.

Objective To evaluate the advantages and short term clinical results of arthroscopic release with radiofrequeney vaporization for knee joint stiffness.Methods Arthroscopic release with ra- diofrequency vaporization was done in 32 cases with knee joint stiffness resulted from various causes be- tween January 2002 and June 2005.According to degree of stiffness,32 cases were divided into three groups,ie,Group A(18 cases with suprapatellar bursa adhesions)treated with confectioning at suprapa- tellar bursa and lateral grooves;Group B(eight cases with joint compartment adhesions)managed with debridement at suprapatellar bursa and lateral groove and intereondyloid fossa,bending the knee with pressure and abscising the adhesion part in the joint compartment with radiofrequency vaporization;and Group C(six cases with most part of the joint adhered)treated by making small incision at the lateral or medial upper pole of the patellar as well as a space at the suprapatellar bursa by blunt dissection when it was difficult to insert arthroscope.After that,release combined with massage manipulation and thorough hemostasis by radiofrequency vaporization were carried out.There was no drainage after operation.Pas- sive and active flexion and extension exercises with pressure began two days after operation.Results Pre-operative limitation of flexion was 35?-75?that was increased to 115?-125?three weeks after opera- tion,with mean improvement of 78?in Group A.Pre-operative limitation of flexion was 40?-60?that was increased to 95?-120?three weeks after operation,with mean improvement of 72?in Group B.Pre-opera- tive limitation of flexion was 25?-45?that was increased to 90?-110?three weeks after operation,with mean improvement of 64?in Group C.No haematocele occurred postoperatively,with only slight swelling of the knee.Conclusion Arthroscopic release with radiofrequency vaporization for knee joint stiffness is characterized by less bleeding,minor trauma and reliable release and can be applicable especially for the eases with only adhesion at suprapatellar bursa,lateral groove or joint compartment.

BACKGROUNDTo clarify the features of gene variation among epidemic strains of human rotavirus NSP4 in China.

METHODSSP4 genes from 27 epidemic strains of human rotavirus isolated in different area of China in recent years were amplified with RT-PCR, the resulted cDNAs were cloned and sequenced. The sequences of full length cDNAs were compared with 10 rotavirus NSP4 sequences available in the GenBank using the Clustal x 1.8 TreeView32 and DNA Star softwares. The G serotype of VP7 was analysed by PCR.

RESULTSThe homology of the amino acid among the 27 rotavirus strains isolated in China was 81.7%-99.4%. Based on the variation of amino acid sequence, the virus strains can be divided into two groups, represented by Wa and KUN with the homology of 92.0%-99.4% and 92.0%-98.9% within each group, respectively. The diversity between the two groups were 16.6%-21.0%. The Wa group could further be separated into three subgroups, according to the diversity between those strains and the characterization in the highly variable domain. The association between VP7 serotype and NSP4 genotype was not strong.

CONCLUSIONSThe NSP4 gene of human rotavirus epidemic strains in China can be divided into Wa and KUN two groups, Wa group is the main group and contains three subgroups possessing characteristic amino acid sites. Samples isolated in the same year but not in the same area shared higher homology.

Antigens, Viral ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Diarrhea ; virology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Toxins, Biological ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

Osmotically controlled oral drug delivery systems (OCODDSs) utilize osmotic pressure for controlled delivery of active agents. The release of drugs from osmotic systems is governed by various formulations and processing factors such as solubility and pressure of the core components, properties of the semi-permeable membrane. In the present review, the references on OCODDSs have systematically been summarized in the following aspects: prescription design, industrial processing and equipments, methods for quality evaluation, and general situation of application. Prospect of applying the osmotic-pump technology into Chinese patent drugs is also discussed.
Administration, Oral ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Osmotic Pressure

OBJECTIVETo detect the therapeutic effect of selenium-enriched garlic (SeG) on chronic gastritis.

METHODSChronic gastritis was induced of the glandular stomach of male Mongolian Gerbils via gastric instillation of H. pylori TN2 strain once every 4 days for 5 consecutive times followed by random classification into six groups. Fresh SeG suspension was administrated daily at dosages of 4.70, 1.5, 0.47, 0.15 g.kg(-1).d(-1) for four weeks. The gerbils in the positive control group were treated with omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for one week. The gerbils were killed for pathological examination four weeks after SeG-treatment.

RESULTSChronic gastritis (CAG), low-grade dysplasia or gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (DYS/GIN) were observed among 77% and 38.5% of the 13 H. pylori-treated animals in the negative control group, respectively; whereas 40% and 26.7% in the positive control group (n = 15), respectively. The incidences of CAG and DYS/GIN in the SeG groups (n = 21 - 27) were reduced dose-dependently, 16.7% - 38.7% and 11.1% - 14.3% for CAG and DYS/GIN, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSeG administration inhibits the development and progression of CAG induced by H. pylori remarkably.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Garlic ; Gastritis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Gerbillinae ; Helicobacter Infections ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Selenium ; therapeutic use

Objective: To observe the effects of laurocapram and borneol as transdermal penetration enhancers applied to herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion on liver lipids, hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase in hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods: Forty New-Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups using the random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. Rabbits in the blank group were fed routinely with a normal diet; rabbits in the other groups were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Rabbits in the blank and the model groups were not given any intervention. After the model was prepared successfully, rabbits in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion without transdermal penetration enhancers; rabbits in the laurocapram group and the borneol group received herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion with laurocapram or borneol respectively. After 4 weeks of treatment, the serum was isolated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied for the detection of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase. The liver tissues were isolated, and total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured by enzymatic methods. One-step method was applied for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) detection, and transmission turbidimetry was for apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) detection. Results: The serum concentrations of the drugs in the laurocapram and the borneol groups were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (both P<0.05); all drug penetrations in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the laurocapram group (both P<0.05), except for tanshinone ⅡA. Compared with the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group, the HSL was significantly increased while the HMG-CoA reductase was significantly decreased in the laurocapram and the borneol groups (both P<0.05); between groups, the HSL in the borneol group was significantly higher than that in the laurocapram group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in rabbit liver were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the levels of LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); between groups, the TG and TC in the laurocapram group and the LDL-C, TG, TC and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05), and the TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the borneol group were significantly lower than those in the laurocapram group (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly decreased in the model group (both P<0.05), while compared with the model group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 were significantly increased in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer, the laurocapram, and the borneol groups (all P<0.05). Between groups, the Apo-A1 in the laurocapram group, the HDL-C and Apo-A1 in the borneol group were significantly higher than those in the non-transdermal penetration enhancer group (all P<0.05).Conclusion: The application of laurocapram and borneol, as transdermal penetration enhancers, in herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion can promote the penetration of the drugs in the herbal cake, increase the levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1, improve the metabolism of HSL and HMG-CoA reductase, and also simultaneously reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and Apo-B in the liver. The transdermal penetration enhancement effect of borneol is slightly better than or equivalent to that of laurocapram.

Objective To evaluate the effect of up-converting phosphor technology(UPT) in detection of plague antigen-antibody by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) method,and to provide a scientific basis for field application of UPT rapid detection technology in plague prevention and control.Methods Two hundred and twenty four serum samples were collected from Marmots and ground squirrels in the plague foci,Yersinia pestis antibody was detected by UPT,ELISA,Colloidal-gold Strips and IHA,respectively; 108 organs and bone marrow samples were collected,and Yersinia pestis antigens were detected by UPT,ELISA,PCR and RIHA,respectively.IHA was used as the gold standard for antibody test results,RIHA,PCR + Colloidal-gold Strips,PCR + ELISA were used as the gold standard for antigen test results.The results were evaluated using ROC method.Results Antibodies detection:the AUCs of UPT,ELISA and Colloidal-gold Strips were greater than 0.5.The difference between UPT and other methods was not statistically significant (z =1.204,P ＞ 0.05).Antigen detection:the AUCs of UPT,ELISA,Colloidal-gold Strips and PCR were greater than 0.5.There was no statistical difference between UPT and other methods(z =0.866,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions UPT as a new technology works well in the detection of plague antigen-antibody.The technology is simple,fast,accurate,and suitable for on-site monitoring of plague,emergency treatment of sudden plague,and suitable for promotion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of deep sarcoma of the penis.

METHODSThe pathological and clinical data of 2 cases of deep sarcoma of the penis were analyzed retrospectively and the literature reviewed.

RESULTSBoth of the cases were treated by total penectomy. Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the penis was confirmed by postoperative pathology in one patient, who died of pulmonary metastasis in the eighth month after the operation; and epithelioid sarcoma of the penis was confirmed in the other, who died of brain metastasis in the second month after the operation.

CONCLUSIONDeep sarcoma of the penis is rare but can be diagnosed pathologically. Total penectomy is the main option for its treatment. Node dissection, with poor prognosis, is not recommended unless adenopathy is palpable.

Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; surgery