Objective: To explore the effects of ranitidine on pharmacokinetics of rhein in rats after oral administration of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Methods: Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into DCQD group and DCQD plus ranitidine group, and were orally administered with DCQD at a dose of 10 g/kg or DCQD (10 g/kg) combined with ranitidine (150 mg/kg), respectively. Blood samples were gathered after a series of time intervals. Metabolism of rhein was determined with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with internal standard of 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinone and the data were analyzed with DAS 2.1 program. The pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters of rhein in the DCQD group, including peak concentration (C(max)), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), distribution phase half-life (t(1/2alpha)), elimination rate constant (K(10)) and central to peripheral transfer rate constant (K(12)), were significantly different to those in the DCQD plus ranitidine group (P<0.05, P<0.01). There were no significant differences in the other parameters between the two groups. Conclusion: Ranitidine can influence the pharmacokinetics of rhein in rats after oral administration of DCQD.

To explore the effects of Dachengqi Decoction (DCQD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis in a rat model of experimental acute pancreatitis.

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Objective To investigate the relationship between inflammation and blood coagulation function in the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic cor pulmonale (AECCP) and discuss the potential mechanism and influence on the patients. Methods The present study was based on 30 healthy controls and 141 cases of AECCP in our hospital from January 2011 to June 2014.Levels of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEUT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, Complement 3 (C3), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB) and thrombin time (TT) in the patients were determined. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the patients had higher levels of WBC, NEUT, hs-CRP, PT, APTT, FIB, TT (all P < 0.001) and lower level of C3 (P < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were found between the levels of WBC, NEUT and FIB (r = 0.196 and r = 0.199, both P < 0.05); hs-CRP and APTT, FIB(r = 0.234, P < 0.01 and r = 0.466, P < 0.001); C3 and FIB(r = 0.466, P < 0.001), and significant negative correlations were observed between the levels of C3 and PT, APTT, TT (r=-0.258, P<0.01;r=-0.279, P < 0.01 and r = -0.168, P < 0.05, respectively). Compared with the survival patients, the cases of death had higher levels of WBC and NEUT (both P < 0.01). The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of WBC and NEUT, predicting the prognosis, was 0.666 (95% CI 0.552, 0.780; P < 0.01) and 0.695 (95% CI 0.558, 0.801; P = 0.001) respectively. Conclusions Inflammation and blood coagulation function disorder usually coexist in the patients with AECCP, and are closely associated with the severity. Levels of both WBC and NEUT can be used as prognosis predictors for the patients.