Objective To study the relationship of carotid atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and cerebral infarction. Methods One hundred and forty patients were divided into three groups: coronary artery disease(CAD) group,cerebral infarction(CI) group and control(C) group.All the patients accepted carotid ultrasonograph. Results The incidence of multiple plaques in carotid artery was much higher in CI group than in C group and CAD group(P

Objective To study the relationship of microinflammation,nutrition and common carotid artery intima-media thickness(CCA-IMT) for the early prevention and interference of ischemic stroke. Methods(CCA-IMT was) measured by carotid arterial ultrasound in 250 elderly subjects.The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-(reactive) protein(hsCRP),ferritin,albumin,pre-albumin and transferrin were assayed at the same time.According to the results of CCA-IMT,all the subjects were divided into five groups:

Objective To study the change of metabolism of serum lipids in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI). Methods The serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low density lipoprotein(LDL) and high density lipoprotein(HDL) were measured in 60 patients with MCI and 100 age-matched normal controls. ResultsThe serum levels of TC,TG and LDL were significantly higher and HDL significantly lower in patients with MCI than in normal controls(P

AIMTo investigate the water-soluble phenolic glycosides from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum.

METHODSColumn chromatography techniques were used to isolate the chemical constituents, physico-chemical constants and spectroscopic analysis were employed for structural elucidation.

RESULTSBulbophyllinoside (1), a new phenolic glycoside and three known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Bulbophyllum odoratissimum Lindl. Their structures were determined as 3-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-( 6'-O-beta-apiofuranosyl) -beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 3-methoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-beta-D-glucopynanoside (2), 3, 5-dimethoxyphenethyl alcohol 4-O-alpha-D-glucopynanoside (3) and syringin (4).

CONCLUSIONBulbophyllinoside (1) is a new compound.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Phenylpropionates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Solubility ; Water ; chemistry

To explore the mechanism of the absorption enhancement of Angelica dahurica extract (Ade), the absorption mechanism of baicalin in the Scutcllaria water extraction as well as the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on absorption of baicalin were investigated. In order to determine the main absorption site, everted intestinal sac model was used to study the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on the absorption of baicalin at duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. In situ single pass intestinal perfusion model was performed to study the absorption of various concentrations of baicalin and the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on the absorption of baicalin at the main absorption site. To authenticate the consequence of perfusion by getting the blood from the hepatic portal vein and determine the concentration of the baicalin in the blood. The result showed that baicalin could be absorbed at all of the four intestinal segments with increasing absorption amount per unit as follows: ileum > colon > jejunum > duodenum. The absorption ofbaicalin in the duodenum significantly increased with Angelica dahurica extract, thus, duodenum was chosen to be the studying site. Apparent permeability values (Papp) and absorption rate constant (Ka) of baicalin in the duodenum increased gradually with higher concentrations. When the concentration of baicalin rises to a certain degree, the absorption increase had a saturable process, the absorption of baicalin may be an active transportation. Baicalin may be not a substrate of P-gp as verapamil which had not significantly affected the Papp and Ka of baicalin. The absorption of baicalin in the duodenum significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the two models with Angelica dahurica extract and the concentration of baicalin in the blood from the hepatic portal vein showed that the Angelica dahurica extract can increase the absorption of baicalin.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Male ; Perfusion ; Permeability ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Portal Vein ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the application of biosensor technology in the determination of endotoxin-neutralizing materials.

METHODSAfter mixing polymyxin B (PMB) with endotoxin in certain concentration, the neutralizing ratio of PMB to endotoxin was assessed by biosensor technique and limulus amebocyte lysate test respectively. The results from the two methods were compared.

RESULTSThe neutralizing ratio of PMB to endotoxin as assessed by biosensor technology was 0.35 microg to 1 ng, while that by dynamic turbidimetric and chromogenic limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) technique was 0.5 mg to 1 ng and 1 mg to 1 ng, respectively. The results obtained by biotechnology were similar to that by biosensor technique.

CONCLUSIONBiosensor technology was an accurate, convenient and rapid method for the determination of potency of endotoxin-neutralizing materials.

Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; Biosensing Techniques ; methods ; Endotoxins ; analysis ; Lipid A ; analysis ; Polymyxin B ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of cationic multi-peptide mastoparan-1 (MP-1) on the protection of mice from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.

METHODSThirty Kunming mice were divided randomly into MP-1, injury, protection groups with 10 mice in each group. The mice in MP-1 group were injected with 3 mg/kg MP-1 by tail vein, while those in injury group were injected with 20 mg/kg LPS by tail vein, and those in protection group 3 mg/kg MP-1 within 20 seconds after 20 mg/kg LPS injection were injected. The effects of MP-1 on the protection of mice from LPS challenge were observed. In vitro, the affinity of MP-1 and PMB to LPS was compared by biosensor and FAST fit construct and expressed as Kd. And the neutralizing activity of MP-1 and PMB in dose of 5, 10, 20, 40 micromol/L on LPS (2 microg/L) was detected by dynamic turbidimetric limulus test with LPS neutralizing 0 micromol/L MP-1 and PMB as control. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in murine peritoneal macrophages (PM phi) after exposure to LPS (100 ng/ml) were assayed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSMP-1 could significantly protect mice from LPS challenging with protection rate of 90%. In vitro, MP-1 had a high affinity (Kd value: 484.0 nmol/L) and neutralizing ability with LPS, but it was lower than that of PMB (Kd value: 18.9 nmol/L). The neutralizing effect of 20 and 40 micromol/L MP-1 was obviously stronger than that in 0 micromol/L (P < 0.01). MP could obviously inhibit the expression of TLR4, TNF-alpha and IL-6 mRNA in LPS-stimulated murine PM phi.

CONCLUSIONMP-1 can evidently protect mice from lethal LPS challenge, and the mechanism might be related to the activity of MP-1 which binding and neutralizing LPS, blocking the combination LPS with its receptors. So the murine macrophage activation induced by LPS was inhibited.

Animals ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wasp Venoms ; pharmacology

This paper is aimed to develop a rapid and sensitive HPLC-fluorescence detection (FLD) method for the determination of tetrahydropalmatine (TET) in rats' plasma. The influence of combinations of Extractum Angelicae Dahuricae Siccum (coumarin and volatile oil) and total alkaloids (TA) from Rhizoma Corydalis (TA) on pharmacokinetics of TET in rats was studied. Plasma samples were treated with hexane-isopropanol (95:5) to precipitate the protein, and were determined by HPLC-fluorescence detection. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 2.096-167.68 microg L(-1). The limit of quantification was 2.096 microg L(-1). The method recovery of TET was 94.0%-100.0%. The extract recovery was 72.0%-81.5%. RSDs ofintra- and inter-day precisions were all less than 7.0%. Pharmacokinetics of TET in rats was fitted to two compartments open model after oral administration of TA, TA-volatile oil (VO), TA-coumarin (Cou) and TA-VO-Cou. Compared with TA, AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity), MRT(0-t), and MRT(0-infinity) of TET had significant deviation when combined with VO and/or Cou. The determination method is sensitive, specific, accurate, and appropriate for determination of TET in vivo. Coumarin and/or VO combined with TA can prolong the resistance time of TET significantly, delay elimination and enhance bioavailability of tetrahydropalmatine.
Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacokinetics ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Oils, Volatile ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of intensive insulin treatment on the myocardium of severely scalded rats, and to primarily explore its mechanism.

METHODSEighteen SD rats were divided into three groups, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in burn and intensive insulin group were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness injury on the back. Isotonic saline containing 0.12 U/ml insulin solution, and 100 g/L glucose solution were infused into the rats in the intensive insulin group to keep plasma glucose at the level of 4.0 - 6.6 mmol/L (the total fluid amount was 2 ml x kg(-1) x 8h(-1)). In sham burn group,fluid was given according to physiological demand. The same amount of isotonic saline was infused into the rats in burn group. The venous blood was obtained for the detection of plasma glucose contents, and the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were recorded via aortic ventricle cannula before scald and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 post-scald hours (PSH). The tissue of the left ventricle was harvested at 6 PSH for the detection of troponin T expression in myocardiocytes.

RESULTSPlasma glucose level was increased to (7.6 +/- 1.7) mmol/L - (8.4 +/- 4.7) mmol/L in burn group during 1-6 PSH, which was significantly higher than that in intensive insulin group (4.5 +/- 0.9) mmol/L - (5.2 +/- 1.3) mmol/L, P < 0.01). Compared with the intensive insulin group, LVSP was markedly decreased in the burn group (60 +/- 11 mm Hg vs 72 +/- 8 mm Hg, P < 0.05) at 1 PSH,whereas LVEDP was increased significantly (21.3 +/- 11.3 mmHg vs 11.7 +/- 5.2 mmHg, P < 0.05). Intensive insulin treatment could significantly inhibit the loss of troponin T protein in myofilaments of myocardium.

CONCLUSIONIntensive insulin treatment possesses a protective effect on myocardia function after severe burns, and it may be related to its preventive effect on the loss of contractile protein in cardiocytes.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Burns ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin T ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possibility of crosstalk between phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt pathway and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway in cardiomyocyte with challenge of burn serum, and to explore their influence on cardiomyocyte injury after burn.

METHODSThe model of murine cardiomyocyte with stimulation of burn serum was established. (1) The level of Akt and p38 phosphorylation in cardiomyocyte were examined with stimulation of 10% burn serum before stimulation and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hour after stimulation. (2) The levels of Akt and p38 phosphorylation in cardiomyocyte were determined with stimulation of burn serum (at concentration of 5%, 10%, 20%) or 10% burn serum plus insulin (at concentration of 1 x 10(-8), 1 x 10(-7), 1 x 10(-6)mol/L). The content of creatine kinase (CK) in supernate was also detected. (3) Addition to the inhibitor of p38 MAPK pathway (SB203580) and PI3K/Akt pathway (LY294002), the level of p38MAPK, PI3K/Akt and the content of CK in supernate were determined.

RESULTS(1) The level of p-p38 in cardiomyocyte was 4.0 +/- 0.8, 3.6 +/- 0.8, 5.1 +/- 1.6, 2.4 +/- 0.5, 3.0 +/- 0.6 at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hour (s) after stimulation of burn serum, which was obviously higher than that immediate after stimulation (1.0, P < 0.01). The level of p-Akt was 0.15 +/- 0.07, 0.64 +/- 0.10, 0.26 +/- 0.08, 0.38 +/- 0.11, 0.59 +/- 0.13, which was obviously lower than that before stimulation (1.00, P < 0.01). (2) With stimulation of different concentration of burn serum or burn serum plus insulin, the level of p-Akt and p-p38 changed in the opposite directions comparatively. The content of CK increased along with increase of burn serum concentration, but decreased obviously with treatment of insulin (P < 0.05 or 0.01). (3) Low level of p38 induced by burn serum was increased after treatment of LY294002, which neutralized the protection of insulin (P < 0.01). Low level of p-Akt induced by burn serum increased after treatment of SB203580 (P < 0.01), which inhibited the release of CK induced by burn serum.

CONCLUSIONThere is being crosstalk between PI3K/Akt pathway and p38 MAPK pathway in cardiomyocytes with challenge of burn serum, which may regulate cardiomyocytes.

Animals ; Burns ; blood ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism