AIM: To study the quality standard on catechu and its extract. METHODS: HPLC was used to determine the contents of (+) Catechin and (-) Epicatechin in catechu and its extract; UV spectrophotometry was applied to determine the contents of active tannic acid in catechu and its extract. RESULT: The contents of catechin and epicatechin are 19.4 and 4.36g/100g in catechu, respectively, and catechin and epicatechin are 48.39 and 3.94g/100g in its extract respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is accurate and reproducible, providing the basis for quality control of catechu and its extract.

Objective To evaluate the role of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mito-KATe) channels in attenuation of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by dexmedetomidine in rats.Methods One hundred and twenty healthy male Wistar rats,weighing 290-340 g,were randomly assigned into 5 groups (n =24 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S) ; group I/R; dexmedetomidine group (group D) ; 5-HD (a specific blocker of mito-KATPchannel) group and 5-HD + dexmedetomidine group (group 5-HD + D).The rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal chloral hydrate.Focal cerebral I/R was produced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion.In group D,dexmedetomidine 50 μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally before ischemia and after onset of reperfusion.In group 5-HD,5-HD 30 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 1 h before ischemia.In 5-HD + D group,5-HD 30 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 1 h before ischemia and the other procedures were similar to those previously described in group D.Twelve rats were chosen at 24 and 48 h of reperfusion to assess the neurological deficit score (NDS).The animals were then sacrificed and brains were removed for determination of cerebral infarct size by TTC staining.Results Compared with S group,NDS and cerebral infarct size were significantly increased at each time point in the other four groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group I/R,NDS and cerebral infarct size were significantly decreased in D and 5-HD + D groups (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in 5-HD group (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group D,NDS and infarct size were significantly increased in group 5-HD + D (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Mito-KATP channels are involved in reduction of I/R-induced cerebral injury by dexmedetomidine in rats.

Objective To study the effect of Punica granatum( pomegranate) see d oil( PSO) on proliferation and apop-tosis behaviors of breast cancer cells.Methods Fatty acid composition was detected by gas chromatography,breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 were treated with PSO, cell proliferation was observed by MMT, cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry,and expression levels of proliferation and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blot.Results Punicic acid (PA) was the major fatty acid in PSO(74.41%).PSO could inhibit the proliferation while in-ducing apoptosis in both cell lines in a dose-and time-dependent manner, significantly decrease the expression level of Cox-2 and Bcl-2, increase the expression level of Bax and caspase-3 (cleaved),remarkably upregulate the expression of P53 in MCF-7, and downregulate p53 expression in MDA-MB-231.Conclusion PA may be one of the functional ingredients of PSO which can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.These effects are probably mediated by regu-lating the expression of Cox-2, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 (cleaved) and p53.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) for primary osteoporosis in the elderly.Methods:Eighty old patients with primary osteoporosis were randomized into a Yi Jin Jing group and a medication group,40 cases in each group.The Yi Jin Jing group was intervened by Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) training,while the medication group was intervened by oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.Prior to and after 6-month intervention,the bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur,visual analog scale (VAS) and activities of daily living (ADL) were estimated.Results:There were no significant differences in the BMD of the proximal femur,and VAS and ADL scores between the two groups before the intervention (P＞0.05).After 6-month intervention,the above items all improved significantly in both groups (both P＜0.01);the improvements in VAS and ADL scores in Yi Jin Jing group were more significant than those in the medication group (P＜0.01),while the between-group difference in the BMD of the proximal femur was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Practice of Yi Jin Jing (Sinew-transforming Qigong Exercises) can effectively ameliorate the BMD in the elderly with primary osteoporosis,and it can reduce the pain and improve ADL,with a better general effect compared to oral administration of alendronate sodium tablet.

The paper is aimed to study the difference in yield and quality at different harvest time and determine the optimum harvest of planting Gentiana in Ludian traditional harvest period. The authors analyzed the variation in fresh weight, dry weight, dry discount rate, length, diameter, volume and the content of gentiopicroside, loganin acid, alcohol-soluble extract and total ash and made a comprehensive appraisal of yield, appearance quality and intrinsic quality by gray relational distance ideal Comprehensive Evaluation method. The results showed that there is a big difference in yield and quality both 2-year-old and 3-year-old Gentiana harvested in traditional harvest period and the comprehensive evaluation more better when harvested more later. It can be seen, Gentiana harvested the later had a better yield and quality in Ludian traditional harvest period. The harvest of Gentiana can be appropriate delayed depending on the particular circumstances of production.
Agriculture ; methods ; China ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Iridoid Glucosides ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Quality Control ; Time Factors

Isolated alkaloids from Coptis chinensis Franch. The compounds were identified as berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, corydaldine and ferulic acid methylester. Then measured their bitter degree based on the electronic tongue and evaluated the antibacterial. The results based on the Electronic Tongue showed that berberine, columbamine, groenlandicine and jatrorrhizine have higher bitter degree than magnoflorine and corydaldine. And they also appeared better antibacterial activity on E. coli and S. aureus. The correlation coefficients between bitter degree and the two bacteria antibacterial activity were 0.983 and 0.911. So there was close relationship between the bitter degree and antibacterial activity of bitter components. Thus, it is confirmed further that bitter components are the material foundation of medicinal effectiveness of bitter herbs.
Aporphines ; analysis ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Berberine Alkaloids ; analysis ; Biomedical Research ; instrumentation ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Electronics ; instrumentation ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Reproducibility of Results ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Taste

Objective To explore the safety of Habib VesOpen bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) catheter used in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Methods A total of 10 miniature pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A(n=6):RFA of normal portal vein was directly performed;group B (n=2): balloon obstruction of the portal vein was performed first, which was followed by RFA for the fresh thrombus in the portal vein; group C (n=2): PVTT model was established first, and RFA of the portal vein was carried out when the portal thrombus became organized. MRI examination was employed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA; the animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after RFA and pathological examination of portal vein was performed. Results Pigs of group A received portal vein RFA under the condition of 5 W power for 0.6-3.6 min. No obvious abnormality was detected by MRI and pathological examination , which were performed one month after the treatment. In the pigs of group B , MRI performed after RFA showed that the damage of portal vein area was more serious than that in the pigs of group A;abdominal MRI examination performed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA showed that the portal venous edema was gradually decreased;pathological examination at one month after RFA demonstrated serious injury of adjacent liver tissue. Pigs of group C received portal vein RFA under the condition of 7 W power for 1.5 min; no obvious edema of the ablated area was observed on MRI performed after RFA , and pathological examination revealed organized thrombus necrosis and va scular endothelial cell damage. Conclusion When Habib VesOpen bipolar RFA catheter is used for the treatment of PVTT, the RFA power and time should be properly selected according to the severity of PVTT. In order to ensure a safer procedure, high power and short ablation time should be used when the severity of PVTT is mild, while low power and longer ablation time are recommended when the PVTT is more severe.

Objective To explore application of the bolus-triggered technique and optimal match between collimation and pitch of MSCTA in intracranial and cervical arteries.Methods(1)The small-dose tests were performed in 19 healthy volunteers and the theoretical threshold was obtained by the time-density curve.(2)forty healthy volunteers were divided randomly into two groups and the scanning parameters were as follows.Group A:collimation 1.0 mm,pitch 1.750. Group B:collimation 2.5 mm,pitch 0.625. Statistical significance was determined with the X~2 test and t test(?=0.05).Results(1)In 19 volunteers,CT value 4 seconds before the peak was 75 HU,the CT value at the beginning segment of the carotid artery and the C_1 segment of internal carotid artery was in accordance with the standard.(2)Image quality ofⅠ,Ⅱgrades artery structures of group B was superior to that of group A.Image quality ofⅢ,Ⅴ grades artery structures of group A was superior to that of group B.Conclusions(1)MSCTA in intracranial and cervical arteries can display systematically the cerebral and carotid arteries.(2)The bolus-triggered technique can improve the image quality of the target vessels.The image quality of the MSCTA of intracranial and cervical arteries is better with the threshold of 75 HU on the basis of 3.5 ml/s injection rate.(3)On the basis of the same other parameters,the optimal scanning parameters are a collimation of 1.0 mm with a pitch of 1.750.

Objective To explore the changes of nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) in the serum and intestine mucosal and the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC) with Tanshinone.Methods Seventy-nine patients with UC were randomly divided into the treatment group(group A,n=40) and the routine treatment group(group B,n=39).Patients in the group A were given Tanshionon and routine treatment.Patients in group B were given routine treatment.The levels of NO and SOD were measured in all patients before and after the treatment.The clinical symptom,enteroscopy,and hospital day were compared in the patients of the two groups.Twenty normal healthy controls(group C) were involved in the study.Results The NO level in the serum and intestine mucosal was significantly increased and the SOD level was significantly decreased in the patients with UC compared with those of the controls(all P

Objective To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after laparoscopic intestinal operation.Methods Sixty patients of the selective laparoscopic intestinal resection, 28 males and 32 females, aged 18-65 years, ASA physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: TEAS group and control group, 30 in each group.Patients in TEAS group accepted transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation treatment at Neiguan, Hegu, Zusanli points from the time before induction of anesthesia to 3 days after surgery, and patients in the control group were treated with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, but the electrode pads were just attached on the related points with no electric stimulation.Plasma motilin concentrations preoperatively, postoperatively 12, 24, 48 and 72 h were measured in the two groups.The recovery time of intestinal peristalsis, anal flatus time, in-hospital time and the incidence of nausea and vomiting within 3 days after operation were observed.Results Compared with the control group, serum motilin concentration postoperative 24 h increased significantly [(218.5±52.3) pg/ml vs (141.8±45.8) pg/ml, P<0.05], the time of intestinal peristalsis recovery [(19.4±3.2) h vs (29.6±7.8) h, P<0.05] and flatus [(23.2±4.7) h vs (36.5±8.9) h, P<0.05] were shorter, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 3 days after operation decreased significantly in TEAS group (16.7% vs 36.7%, P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference of the in-hospital time between the two groups.Conclusion TEAS can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing laparoscopic intestinal surgery.