Cardiovascular diseases, like coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, are the most common cause of death worldwide. Chinese medicines have demonstrated rich cardioprotective activities for clinical applications. Salvia miltiorrhiza, a very important component of traditional Chinese medicine, can promote blood circulation and relieve blood stasis. Salvia miltiorrhiza is widely used in treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease such as coronary heart disease and cerebral infarction ( CI). Tanshinone II(A), the major lipophilic components extracted from the root of S. miltiorrhiza, possesses anti-atherosclerosis, anti-cardiac hypertrophy, anti-oxidant, anti-arrhythmia and so on. This paper discusses current research status of tanshinone II(A) in cardioprotective effects.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Coronary Vessels ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; therapeutic use ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid atherosclerotic plaques stability and the clinical symptoms of carotid atherosclerosis by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Methods Fifty patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were examed with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,the contrast agent visualization of the carotid atherosclerotic plques were analyzed and compared with their clinical symptoms. Results Twenty-three patients who suffered from obvious clinical symptom were entirely visualized. Twenty-weven patients had not apparent clinical symptom,of these patients,15 were sparse visualized,there was no visualization in other 12 patients. Conclusions Conlrast enhanced ultrasonography can real-time observe microcirculation in carotid atherosclerotic piques,and assess the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

In order to evaluate the left ventricular remodeling in patients with myocardial infarction after revascularization with intravenous real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RT-MCE), intravenous RT-MCE was performed on 20 patients with myocardial infarction before coronary revascularization. Follow-up echocardiography was performed 3 months after coronary revascularization. Segmental wall motion was assessed using 18-segment LV model and classified as normal, hypokinesis, akinesis and dyskinesis. Myocardial perfusion was assessed by visual interpretation and divided into 3 conditions: homogeneous opacification=1; partial or reduced opaciflcation or subendocardial contrast defect=2; constrast defect=3. Myocardial perfusion score index (MPSI) was calculated by dividing the total sum of contrast score by the total number of segments with abnormal wall motion. Twenty patients were classified into 2 groups according to the MPSI: MPSI1.5 as poor myocardial perfusion. To assess the left ventricular remodeling, the following comparisons were carried out: (1) Comparisons of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) before and 3 months after revascularization in two groups; (2) Comparisons of LVEF, LVESV and LVEDV pre-revascularization between two groups and comparisons of these 3 months post-revascularization between two groups; (3) Comparisons of the differences in LVEF, LVESV and LVEDV between 3 months post-and pre-revascularization (DeltaLVEF, DeltaLVESV and DeltaLVEDV) between two groups; (4) The linear regression analysis between DeltaLVEF, DeltaLVESV, DeltaLVEDV and MPSI. The results showed that the LVEF obtained 3 months after revascularization in patients with MPSI>1.5 was obviously lower than that in those with MPSI1.5 was obviously larger than that in those with MPSI1.5 and those with MPSI Echocardiography/*methods ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Myocardial Infarction/*diagnosis ; Myocardial Infarction/pathology ; Myocardial Infarction/*ultrasonography ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Myocardium/*pathology ; Perfusion ; Regression Analysis ; Time Factors ; Ventricular Remodeling

This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability and the clinical symptoms in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques by using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Fifty patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were enrolled and examined with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. The correlation of contrast agent enhancement of the carotid atherosclerotic plaques and the clinical symptoms was analyzed. The results showed that among the 50 patients, plaques were enhanced in the 23 patients with obvious clinical symptoms. In 27 patients without apparent clinical symptoms, plaques were enhanced sparsely in 15 patients and not enhanced in 12 patients. It was suggested that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography could be used for the examination of the microcirculation in carotid atherosclerotic plaques on real-time basis and serve as a new noninvasive approach for the assessment of stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.
Carotid Artery Diseases/*ultrasonography ; Contrast Media ; Image Enhancement/*methods ; Phospholipids/*diagnostic use ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sulfur Hexafluoride/*diagnostic use

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Jinlida on changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes in fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- mice.

METHODEight male C57BL/6J mice were selected in the normal group (NF), 40 male ApoE -/- mice were fed for 16 weeks, divided into the model group (HF), the rosiglitazone group ( LGLT), the Jinlida low-dose group (JLDL), the Jinlida medium-dose group (JLDM), the Jinlida high-dose group (JLDH) and then orally given drugs for 8 weeks. The organization free fatty acids, BCA protein concentration determination methods were used to determine the skeletal muscle FFA content. The Real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR ( RT-PCR) and Western blot method were adopted to determine mRNA and protein expressions of mice fatty acids transposition enzyme (FAT/CD36), carnitine palm acyltransferase 1 (CPT1), peroxide proliferators-activated receptor α( PPAR α).

RESULTJinlida could decrease fasting blood glucose (FBG), cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA) and fasting insulin (FIns) and raise insulin sensitive index (ISI) in mice to varying degrees. It could also up-regulate mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1 and PPARα, and down-regulate mRNA and protein levels of FAT/CD36.

CONCLUSIONJinlida can improve fat-induced insulin resistance ApoE -/- in mice by adjusting the changes in expression of skeletal muscle lipid transport enzymes.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; genetics ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; CD36 Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dietary Fats ; adverse effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Metabolic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism

A LC-MS method was established for the determination of the protein binding rates of oleanolic acid in human plasma and serum albumin. The equilibrium dialysis combined with LC-MS to determine the total concentration in plasma and free drug concentration of oleanolic acid was carried out. The human plasma protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 79.6%, 81.9% and 63.3%, respectively. The human serum albumin protein binding rates of oleanolic acid at three concentrations were 53.5%, 56.6% and 47.7%, respectively. The method is shown to be simple, accurate, sensitive and specific for the determination of biological samples. The protein binding rates in human plasma and serum albumin were of high strength.
Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Dialysis ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Oleanolic Acid ; blood ; Protein Binding ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum Albumin ; metabolism

By setting up the organic additive model of chemical fingerprints of TCM-compound, the quantified fingerprint method had been established to solve the qualitative and quantitative analyses problems for both the fingerprint attribution ratio and process recovery of medicinal effective components in TCM-compound prescription. The method firstly performs the qualitative analyses of the attribution ratios, and then the quantitative analyses, which can successfully disclose the results of attribution ratio and determine the process recovery of the medicinal effective components for TCM-compound prescription. Three optional methods were represented to assess the amount and distribution proportion of chemical compositions for single crude drug to compound prescription. In terms of components absorbed ultraviolet light, S5 (Radix Scutellariae) was assessed to be the most important crude drug containing much more effective components, and S7 (Radix Gentianae), S4 (Flos Lonicerae Japonica), S8 (Rhizome Anemarrhena) and S9 (Fructus Gardeniae) were second important crude drugs. The results showed lower process recovery of the medicinal effective components for eight batches of marketed preparations. Above all, the quantified fingerprint method can objectively and accurately reflect how high is the contribution of a single crude drug to the compound prescription, and quantitatively evaluate the process recovery of medicinal effectiveness components.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been one of the most common complications of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Glomerular hyperfiltrationis central in earlystage of DN and leads to the progression of renal architectonic and functional abnormalities. Salvi?anolic acid A (SalA) has been proved to protect diabetic complications such as hepatic fibrosis and neuropathy. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of SalAon glomerular endothelial dysfunctionand diabetic nephropathy. METHODS Primary glomerular endothelial cells were subjected to assess permeability under injury of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). AGEs-induced changes of RhoA/ROCK pathway and cytoskeleton rearrangement were assessed bywestern blotandimmunoflu?orescence. The beneficial effects of SalA on diabetic nephropathy were investigated in a rat model induced by high-fat and high-glucose diet combined with low dose of streptozocin (35 mg·kg- 1, ip). Renal function and architectonic changes were evaluated by biochemical assay and PAS staining. RESULTS SalA 3μMameliorated AGEs- induced glomerular endothelial permeability (P<0.05) and suppressed rearrangement of cytoskeleton through inhibiting AGE-RAGE-RhoA/ROCK pathway. SalA 1 mg · kg- 1 markedly reduced endothelium loss (P<0.01) and glomerular hyperfiltration (P<0.05) in diabetic kidney. Subsequently,SalA 1 mg·kg-1 suppressed glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial matrix expansion, eventually reduced 24 h-urinary albumin and ameliorated renal function by decreasing blood urine nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and serum n-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG). AGEs-RAGE-Nox4-induced oxidative stress was suppressed by the treatment of SalA 1 mg·kg-1. CONCLUSION SalA ameliorated AGEs-induced glomerular endothelial hyperpermeability, and effec?tively protected against early-stage diabetic nephropathy by reducing hyperfiltration and alleviating renal structural deterioration through inhibiting AGEs and its downstream pathway. Thus, SalA might be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability and the clinical symptoms in patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques by using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Fifty patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were enrolled and examined with contrast-enhanced uitrasonography. The correlation of contrast agent enhancement of the carotid atherosclerotic plaques and the clinical symptoms was analyzed. The results showed that among the 50 patients, plaques were enhanced in the 23 patients with obvious clinical symptoms. In 27 patients without apparent clinical symptoms, plaques were enhanced sparsely in 15 patients and not enhanced in 12 patients. It was suggested that contrast-enhanced ultrasonography could be used for the examination of the microcirculation in carotid atherosclerotic plaques on real-time basis and serve as a new noninvasive approach for the assessment of stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

OBJECTIVEUsing 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes as the target sequences to develop a system based on oligonucleotide microarray and to detect the seven clinical pathogenic bacteria, commonly seen.

METHODSDouble polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to amplify the segments of 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes of the target bacteria. An oligonucleotide microarray was constructed to simultaneously detect EHEC O157:H7, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella sp., Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter jejuni and Shigella sp. Specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the microarray during detection were checked. And then microarray was used to detect the microbes in stool specimens of 81 patients with diarrhea and vomiting.

RESULTSThe double PCR method could simultaneously amplify the target sequences of 16S rDNA and 23S rDNA genes of the seven pathogens. The sensitivity of the developed oligonucleotide microarray could reach 10(3) cfu/ml but no positive results were presented for non-targeted bacteria. The coefficients of differentiation in one lot or among different lots of the microarray slices were 3.89% - 5.81%. The positive detection rate of the stool specimens by oligonucleotide microarray was 39.5% (32/81), with a coincidence of 96.3% (78/81) for the patients and another coincidence of 96.8% (31/32) for bacterial genus or species identification, when comparing to the results by routine bacteriological examinations.

CONCLUSIONThe established assay in this study based on oligonucleotide microarray to detect the seven pathogenic bacteria has many advantages such as convenient, rapid, accurate, stable and high flux, which is suitable for clinical specimen examination and epidemiological field investigation.

Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Campylobacter jejuni ; isolation & purification ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Escherichia coli O157 ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; isolation & purification ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S ; genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Salmonella ; isolation & purification ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shigella ; isolation & purification ; Vibrio cholerae ; isolation & purification ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus ; isolation & purification