Rhynchophylla is a Chinese herb commonly used in clinical practice. It's also the primary herb of some famous Chinese herbal compound such as Tianma Gouteng decoction, and Lingyang Gouteng decoction. According the record from many previous materia medica literatures, rhynchophylla should be added later during decoction. Pharmaceutical research showed that rhynchophylla alkaloids were not stable. Which has resulted in many problems in the research and its application. For example, there was not a quantitative determination method in "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" of past and present versions, which seriously impacted its quality control and product application. Firstly, records from previous materia medica literatures and "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" were systematically sorted based on the chemical stability of rhynchophylla. Secondly, pharmaceutical research including chemical compositions and their stability, pharmacological effects, extraction process and quality analysis, was reviewed after reference of literatures published at home and abroad in recent decades. Positive reference and evidence for further research and development of rhynchophylla will be provided in the article.
Animals ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Quality Control ; Uncaria ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the effect of artesunate on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its possible mechanism. After the in vitro cultured RLE-6TN cells were treated with TGF-beta1 then artesunate intervened on it, after 24 h, expression of the markers of mesenchymal cell was assayed using Western blotting and real-time PCR analysis. Western blotting was also used to detect the effect of TGF-beta1 on the Smad3 and Smad7 expressions of RLE-6TN cells. Morphological alterations were examined by phase-contrast microscope, and ultrastructure changes by electron microscope. Incubation of RLE-6TN cells with TGF-beta1 resulted in the up-regulation of the expression of the mesenchymal cell markers, after artesunate intervened on it, resulted in the down-regulation of the expression. Meanwhile, incubation with artesunate intervened on RLE-6TN cells could lead to the apparent down-regulation of the expression of Smad3 and up-regulation of Samd7 and the transition of RLE-6TN cells to mesenchymal-like by TGF-beta1 induction, after artesunate intervened on it, RLE-6TN cells to epithelial-like. TGF-beta1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process; artesunate can inhibit TGF-beta1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, the possible mechanism is up-regulation of the expression of Smad7 and down-regulation of the expression of Smad3, meanwhile inhibits phosphorylation of Smad3.
Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Artemisinins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; genetics ; metabolism

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the influence of propylene glycol mannite sulfate ( PGMS ) on the expression of tumor necrosis factor -α( TNF-α) and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) , in diabetic retinopathy by a rat model, to study the mechanism of PGMS against diabetic retinopathy, and provide a reliable theoretical and experimental evidence for the PGMS to be applied to clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.?METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups, normal control group, diabetic control group and PGMS in group, the PGMS in groups included the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. 1% streptozotocin ( STZ) of 60 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in rats to establish the diabetic models. The PGMS with the doses of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg were used to gavage in different groups of models for 12wk.Twelve weeks later, the animals were sacrificed and retinas were isolated. The aqueous humors and serums were taken, expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retinas, aqueous humors and serums were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) , respectively.The location and the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in retina tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.?RESULTS: Twelve weeks after the use of PGMS, the level of blood glucose was not changed.ELISA showed that the expression of TNF-αand IL-1βprotein in serum and retina was significantly increased in diabetic control group than in normal control group(P<0.05), but in the groups which PGMS was given reduced, lower than those in diabetes mellitus( DM) group, especially as the concentration of PGMS increased ( P<0.05 ).But the levels of aqueous humor's TNF-αand IL-1βproteins in PGMS group were not reduced.Immunohistochemistry showed that the TNF -α protein was almost not expressed in normal control group. But the TNF-αprotein was highly expressed in diabetic control group. The expression mainly located in the ganglion cell layer, the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The TNF-αprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg PGMS, the TNF-αprotein was almost not expressed at the group of 100mg/kg PGMS.When the normal control group was detected, the IL-1βprotein was weakly expressed in the outer plexiform layer.But the IL-1βprotein was also highly expressed in diabetic control group.The expression mainly located in the inner plexiform layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment epithelium. The IL -1βprotein was weakly expressed at the group of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg PGMS.?CONCLUSION:PGMS can treat the diabetic retinopathy by downregulating the expressions of TNF-αand IL-1βin early diabetic retinopathy.PGMS maybe have a good control effect on early diabetic retinopathy.

Background The pathogenesiof age-related maculadegeneration (AMD) iassociated with the senility of human retinal pigmenepithelium (RPE) cells.Seeking drug to arresRPE cell senility iof significance fothe prevention and treatmenof AMD.Research showed thathe lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) can delay senility,buitinfluence on RPE cell aging iunclear.Objective Thistudy wato discusthe protective effecand mechanism of LBP on RPE cell aging.MethodPorcine retinal neural epithelial layewaisolated,and photoreceptooutesegmen(POS) waextracted by density gradiencentrifugation and marked by FITC.The POwathen co-cultured with RPE cellin the medium containing 0.01,0.10 and 1.00 g/L LBP fo24 hours.The areof fluorescence,representing the amounof POphagocytosed by RPE cells,wameasured undethe fluorescenmicroscope to evaluate the influence of LBP on the phagocytifunction of RPE cells.The POS-induced RPE lipofuscin-uptake cell model waestablished by co-culturing human RPE cellwith porcine POfo3 weeks.The RPE-POco-culture cell model waincubated in medium containing 0.01,0.10 o1.00 g/L LBP,and the autofluorescence caused by lipofuscin up-taken into RPE cellwadetected with flow cytometry.cell counting kiwaused to assescell proliferation and viability (value) 24,48 and 72 hourafteculturing.ResultPorcine POpresented athin rodundethe lighmicroscope and appeared abilayedisc-like structureundethe transmission electron microscope,and itFITC-labeled yellow-green autofluorescence waobserved undethe fluorescenmicroscope.No POwaup-taken into the RPE cellin the normal control group,buthe areof POphagocytosed by RPE cellwagradually enlarged with increasing doseof LBP,showing significandifference among the group(F =21.425,P =0.006).Compared with the POcontrol group,the phagocytosed areincreased avariouconcentrationof LBP+POgroup(P＜0.01).Flow cytometry showed thathe autofluorescence value in the POcontrol group wamore highethan thaof the normal control group.Athe LBP dose increased,the autofluorescence value in the RPE celldeclined gradually and iwaneathe normal value in the 1.00 g/L LBP+ POgroup.The rate of proliferation of the lipofuscin RPE cellvaried with the increase of doseof LBP with the maximal value in the normal RPE group and minimal value in the lipofuscin RPE group,and the rate of proliferation of the lipofuscin RPE cellascended with increasing doseof LBP until neathe normal value in the 1.00 g/L LBP + lipofuscin RPE cellgroup (P＞0.05).ConclusionLBP enhance the anti-aging effecof human RPE cellby strengthening the phagocytiability to POand the ability to remove lipofuscin and by heightening the proliferation of human RPE cells.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; toxicity ; MMPI ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Personality ; drug effects

The nitrite-reducing activity of aerobic denitrifying bacterial strain N6-1 was studied. It showed that the nitrite-reducing activity reached the highest at 30℃, 120 r/min, pH 8.5 and C/N ratio 12, using CH3COONa and NaNO2 as the sole carbon source and nitrogen source, respectively. When the initial NaNO2 concentration was 2 g/L, NO2--N was reduced completely after 20 hours cultivation with the reducing rate of 20.3 mg/L?h. There would be no effect on its nitrite-reducing activity in the present of 1.5% NaCl or 1% peptone. The cell concentration could reach 1.2?1011 CFU/mL after 24 hours cultivation in 10 L fermentor.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of color doppler flow image (CDFI) and three-dimension color power angiography(3D-CPA) in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 62 pathologically confirmed thyroid nodules of 30 patients were analyzed. All the patients underwent ultrasound examination and operation in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between January, 2008 and May, 2009. Both CDFI and 3D-CPA were performed before the operation. All the nodules were divided into three groups including nodular goiters, thyroid adenomas and thyroid cancers according to the pathological results. The hemodynamic features and the vascular morphology characteristics of nodules in different groups were compared. Results 3D-CPA showed that blood vessels of nodular goiters commonly distributed surrounding the mass and the inner vessels were thin and regular, thyroid adenomas were bulb-shaped and netted structure, and malignant thyroid nodules displayed distorted and irregular distributed vessels. Peak systolic velocity (PSV)of the three groups were (39.43±11.17a), (46.39±12.98) and (65.17±9.23)cm/s, respectively. Resistance index(RI) of the three groups were (0.32±0.08), (0.41±0.06) and (0.69±0.07)cm/s, respectively. Both PSV and RI in malignant thyroid nodules were higher than in nodular goiters and in thyroid adenomas and the difference were statistical significant (all P < 0.05). The blood flow grade of malignant nodules was also higher in malignant nodules than in other two groups(χ2 = 17.11, 12.79, 23.05, 15.41, P< 0.01). Conclusions CDFI and 3D-CPA could visually demonstrate the characteristic and distribution of the inner and outer blood vessels, display the vessels structures, and they are benefit the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVETo probe into clinical therapeutic effect of acupuncture on diabetic nephropathies and the mechanism.

METHODSUsing multi-central, randomized and blind methods, 130 cases of diabetic nephropathy were divided into an observation group and a control group, 65 cases in each group. They were treated by routine diabetic therapy, and in the observation group, acupuncture at Quchi (LI 11), Zhigou (TE 6), Hegu (LI 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Fenglong (ST 40), Diji (SP 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taichong (LR 3), Tianshu (ST 25), Gaohuang (BL 43), Shenshu (BL 23), Zhongwan (CV 12), Zhongji (CV 3) were added with needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach. While in the control group, acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Taixi (KI 3), Sanyingjiao (SP 6), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Xuanzhong (GB 39), Guanyuan (CV 4), Shousanli (LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5), Yangxi (LI 5), Liangqiu (ST 34), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Neiting (ST 44), Huaroumen (ST 24), Dachangshu (BL 25). The treatment was given twice a day in the two groups. Clinical therapeutic effects were assessed according to clinical symptoms and signs, blood sugar, blood lipids, urinary albumin excretion rate, urinary monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal blood flow, etc..

RESULTSThe needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach not only could improve symptoms and signs of the patients, and also had benign regulative action on metabolism of blood sugar and lipids, and GFR, renal blood flow and urinary albumin level, with significant or very significant differences as compared with the control group ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe needling method of harmonizing spleen-stomach is an effective method for diabetic nephropathies, which can improve progressive renal lesion induced by abnormal metabolism of blood sugar and lipids, improve renal blood flow and GFR, decrease urinary albumin secretion, inhibit over expression of MCP-1, protect glomerulus and renal tubules, so as to improve renal function and delay renal lesion.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; therapy ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Spleen ; physiopathology ; Stomach ; physiopathology

Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; CA-125 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymph Node Excision ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery