Diabetic nephropathy ( DN) is one of the complications of diabetes, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of in-flammation. This article summarized the relevant literatures on the correlation between MCP-1 , TNF-α and DN, and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine with DN. In kidney tissues, oxidative stress and NF-κB-dependent signal pathways induced the increase of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, which could induce macrophage accumulation, proteinuria increase, renal fibrosis and renal clearance capacity decrease, and further leading to kidney damage. The clinical and experimental trails showed tumor necrosis factorαmRNA and protein levels in serum, urine and renal tissues were closely related with DN, which could be used as a bio marker to provide clinical guidance. As the therapeutic targets,MCP-1 and TNF-αcould give a novel insight into the clinical treatment of DN. Some traditional Chinese medicines or monomer could ameliorate DN by inhibiting MCP-1 and/or TNF-α. Thus, further verifi-cation or clinical application of those traditional Chinese medicines is worth trying.

BACKGROUND: There are several ways to measure content of pseudoephedrine, such as titration, spectrophotography,gas chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, high performance liquid chromatograpy (HPLC), combination of liquid chromatography, etc. Therefore, an exact method to measure concentration of medicine in blood is of significance for reasonable and safe administration in clinic.OBJECTIVE: To establish a reversed-phase-HPLC (RP-HPLC) method for determining the content of pseudoephedrine in blank plasma.DESIGN: Simple exponent study.SETTING: Department of Pharmacology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from May to July 2005. Pseudoephedrine was provided by Hubei Institute for Drug Testing. Blank plasma was provided by Central Blood Station of Xiaogan.METHODS: Standard plasma exponent was dispensed containing 50, 100, 200, 500, 750 and 1 000 μg/L pseudoephedrine, respectively. Pseudoephedrine was extracted from standard plasma exponent with organic solvent and its content was measured with HPLC. ZorbaxSB-C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 μm) was also used in this study [mobile phase: 0.2% phosphoric acid solution-acetonitrile (95:5); flow rate: 1.0 mL/min], and the detective wavelength was 194 nm.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Veracity and feasibility through evaluating standard curve, precision and retrieved rate.RESULTS: Linearity ranged from 50 to 1 000 μg/L (r=0.999 3) and average retrieved rate was 79.20%. The relative standard deviation of within-day and between-day was less than 5%. The minimal detectable concentration of pseudoephedrine was 25 μg/L in plasma.CONCLUSION: RP-HPLC which is characterized by convenience and precision is suitable for researching pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of pseudoephedrine.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different concentrations of sevoflurane on the left ventricular function of patients.Methods Forty patients of both sexes,aged 30-50 yr,with body mass index of 18-25 kg/m2,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ,were divided into Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ groups (n =10 each) using a random number table.The end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane was set at 2％,3％,4％ and 5％ in Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and V groups,respectively.The parameters of left ventricular function were monitored using the ultrasonic cardiogram.Before induction of anesthesia (T0,baseline) and at 3,5,8 and 10 min after the end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane reached the target concentration (T1-4),the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,left ventricular end-systolic diameter,left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening,cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) were recorded.Results The LVEF,CO and HR were within the normal range.Compared with those at T0,the LVEF,left ventricular fractional shortening and CO were significantly decreased at T2-4 in Ⅱ-Ⅳ groups,the left ventricular end-systolic diameter was increased at T2-4 in Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups (P＜0.05),no significant change was found in the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and HR at each time point in Ⅲ and Ⅳ groups,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group Ⅰ (P＞0.05).Conclusion Inhaling 2％ sevoflurane produces no marked effect on the left ventricular function,3％-5％ sevoflurane exerts inhibitory effect on the left ventricular systolic function,and has no effect on the left ventricular diastolic function of patients.

Objective:To optimize the formula of artesunate dry suspension, and evaluate the quality. Methods:With sedimenta-tion volume ratio, redispersibility and loss on drying as the indices, single factor and orthogonal test were adopted to study the variety and amount of fillers, suspending agents, binders and disintegrating agents to optimize the formula. HPLC was used to determine the content of artesunate in the preparation. Different media and speed were used to investigate the dissolution behavior of artesunate dry suspension. The stability of the preparation was studied under the conditions of temperature (30 ± 2) ℃ and relative humidity (75 ± 5) % for four months. Results:The optimal formula of artesunate dry suspension was as follows: sucrose as the filler, xanthan gum (8%) and CMC-Na (12%) as the suspending agent, MCC (15%) as the disintegrant and 6% PVP K30 (in 50% ethanol solution) as the adhesive. Totally 4 batches of samples were prepared with the optimal formula, and their label contents were all above 95%, the sedimentation volume ratios were all higher than 0. 9 and the dissolution was more than 80% in 20 min. All the indices of samples met the requirements without significant change in 4 months. Conclusion:The preparation process of artesunate dry suspension is simple, reproducible and stable.

Cotinus coggygria Scop. is theAnacardiaceae Cotinus L. plant and used for natural drugs in the treatment of acute icteric infectious hepatitis. The pharmacological research showed thatCotinus coggygria Scop. has the effects of reducing jaundice and enzyme, gallbladder Cholagogic and strengthen immune function. The current research onCotinus coggygria Scop. is still not deep enough, the pharmacological effects ofCotinus coggygria Scop. are mostly limited to the anticoagulant, hemolytic and anti liver chemical injury. In order to better study the scientific connotation of antitumor ofCotinus coggygria Scop., the active ingredient ofCotinus coggygria Scop., pharmacological action and clinical application were reviewed.

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the characteristics and rules of new and serious ADR induced by Chinese patent medicine in Wuhan during 2012-2013,and to improve the monitoring levels of Chinese patent medicine-induced ADR and clinical rational drug use. METHODS:New and serious Chinese patent medicine-induced ADR cases reported by 16 districts of Wuhan during 2012-2013 were classified and analyzed statistically. RESULTS:A total of 245 cases of new and serious TCM ADR were reported in 2012-2013,accounting for 13.61% of all reports;the incidence of ADR in patients above 51 years old was the highest,account-ing for 55.51%;42.04%of new and serious ADR induced by Chinese patent medicine occurred within 30 minutes after using medi-cine;among suspected drugs,intravenous dripping was the main way to cause new and serious ADR induced by Chinese patent medicine (50.39%);blood-regulating formula was the main cause of new and serious ADR induced by Chinese patent medicine (40.80%);new and serious ADR induced by Chinese patent medicine mainly manifested as systemic damage(25.97%),followed by lesion of skin and its appendants(18.81%). CONCLUSIONS:It is needed to strengthen the rational use of Chinese patent medi-cine and the supervision of TCM injection for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis,strengthen the supervision and improvement of instruction content of Chinese patent medicine. TCM Pharmacists should carry out the clinical pharmaceutical care.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of tannins from pomegranate rind on passive Heymann nephritis ( PHN) in rats. Methods:Rabbits were with intradermal immunization for many times to obtain anti-Fx1A serum, and then PHN model in rats was established by tail intravenous injection of anti-Fx1A serum. The experimental rats were randomly divided into six groups, the nor-mal control group, model group, benazepril group, and tannins from pomegranate rind group respectively at high, medium and low dose. After the success of modeling, each rat was received intragastric administration for five weeks, and then the total of urine was collected once a week for the detection of 24-hour urine protein. At the end of treatment, serum was collected for the detection of serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total cholesterol and triglyceride. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining to observe the effect of tannins from pomegranate rind on PHN rats. Results:After the in-tragastric administration for five weeks, tannins from pomegranate rind could obviously reduce the level of 24-hour urine protein in PHN rats(P<0. 01), significantly reduce the levels of serum creatinine (P<0. 01), urea nitrogen (P<0. 01,P<0. 01,P<0. 05), total cholesterol (P<0. 01) and triglyceride (P<0. 01,P<0. 01,P<0. 05) in PHN rats, and increase the level of serum albumin (P<0. 01,P<0. 05,P>0. 05). HE and Masson staining results indicated that tannins from pomegranate rind could improve the pathologi-cal damage in PHN rats. Conclusion:Tannins from pomegranate rind has notable improvement for PHN in rats.

Objective: To study the in vitro antilipid-peroxidation effects of tannins extract from Sanguisorba officinalis on heart, liver, brain and kidney of rats.Methods: The in vitro inhibitory effects of tannins extract from Sanguisorba officinalis on lipid-peroxidation of heart, liver, brain and kidney of rats induced by Fe2+-cysteine (Fe2+-Cys), Fe2+-vitamin C (Fe2+-Vit C) and Fe2+-H2O2 were determined by spectrophotometry.Results: The inhibitory effects of tannins extract from Sanguisorba officinalis on MDA produced by lipid-peroxidation of brain, heart, liver homogenate, kidney and mitochondria of rats induced by Fe2+-Cys, Fe2+-Vit C and Fe2+-H2O2 were all significant.Conclusion: Tannins from Sanguisorba officinalis has good in vitro protective effects on antilipid-peroxidation of heart, liver, brain and kidney of rats, which is worth studying further.

Objectives To assess the value of external anal sphincter electromyography (EASEMG) in evaluating the related autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease ( PD), parkinsonism dominant multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Methods From the records of EAS-EMG collected in our lab (total 562 cases), 60 PD (male 41, female 19), 68 MSA-P (male 35,female 33) and 13 PSP (male 10, female 3) were included in the analysis in this study. Mean duration,polyphasic ratio and satellite potential occurrence rate were comparable among the groups. Mean duration prolongation were graded as normal ( ＜ 10.0 ms), mild ( 10.0-11.9 ms), moderate ( 12.0-13.9 ms)and severe ( ≥ 14.0 ms). Results Among all related autonomic symptoms, the occurrence rate of constipation, urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency in patients with MSA-P(95.8% (23/24) ,94.6% (53/56) ,87.7% ( 50/57 ), 85.7% (42/49), 76.5% ( 39/51 ) ) were higher than that of PD ( 61.5%(16/26), 62.3% (33/53), 30.6% (15/49), 46.2% (24/52), 45.7% (21/46)) and PSP (75.0%(3/4) , 62.5% (5/8), 50.0% (4/8), 42.9% (3/7), 42.9% (3/7)). The abnormal rate of EAS-EMG in PD, MSA-P and PSP were 60.0%, 94.2% and 84.6%, accordingly. Mean duration ( PD ( 12.0 ± 1.6)ms, MSA-P (15.4±3.0) ms, PSP (13.8±1.8) ms), polyphasic ratio (PD 46.2% ±19.2%, MSA-P 63.9% ± 15.8%, PSP 51.5% ± 12.1% ) and satellite potential occurrence rate ( PD 9.5% ± 8.3%,MSA-P 26.5% ± 15.9%, PSP 19.2% ± 12.5% ) varied significantly different among the groups ( F =31.724, F = 17.412, x2 =45. 335, all P ＜0.01 ). Severe mean duration prolongation was overwhelming in MSA-P (66.2% ) , compared with mild 10.3% and moderate 23.5%. The predominant prolongation degree was moderate in PSP (61.5%, mild 7.7%, severe 30.8% ), and mild in PD (36.7%, moderate 36.7% ,severe 11.7%, normal 15.0% ). Conclusions EAS-EMG could play a role in evaluating the related autonomic dysfunctions in PD, MSA-P and PSP. The EAS-EMG impairment was severe and frequent in MSA-P, mild and infrequent in PD, moderate in PSP. The spectrum of mean duration prolongation suggested the possibility of Onuf's nucleus involvement in these diseases.

Objective:To investigate the anti-tumor effect of different extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. in vitro. Methods:MTT method was employed to study the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from different parts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. and the polysaccharides extracts on HepG-2 cells, MCF-7 cells and Hela cells. FCM assay was used to detect HepG-2 and Hela cell apoptosis induced by the polysaccharides extracts. Results:The polysaccharides extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. could inhibit the prolif-eration of the three tumor cells with IC50 of 53. 77 μg·mL-1(HepG-2), 40. 04 μg·mL-1(Hela) and 100. 65 μg·mL-1(MCF-7), respectively. The inhibitory effect of the polysaccharides extracts showed a time-and dose-dependent manner. The tumor cell apoptosis could be induced by the polysaccharides extracts. Conclusion:The maln anti-tumor effective extracts of Tricholoma matsutake Sing. in vitro is the polysaccharides extracts, which show significant anti-tumor activities in vitro and can induce tumor cell apoptosis.