By analyzing current research status and considering our own previous research results, we hold that research on active substance of Chinese herbal formula should be focused on the effect of active components according to its functions, thus determining the main effective components of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions. Study of compatibility of effective components should be carried out and compound prescriptions composed of effective components should be developed. It is a pivotal way to deepen research on active components of TCM compound prescription by further analyzing the compatibility of effective components and the relationship between functional components and active components by multilink and multitarget methods.

Objective:To study the influences of astragulas(黄芪) on cerebroischemiareperf usion injury in gerbils.Methods:The cerebral tissue delayed neuron death(DND) models of gerbil were established by means of ligating bilateral carotid arteries for 15 minutes then reperfusing for 48 hours and divided into shamoperation(SO) group,ischemiareperfusion(IR) group and astragulas injection (AI，黄芪注射液) group.The activities of Na ＋K＋ATPase and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and the changes in contents of nitric oxide(NO) and excitat ory amino acid(EAA) in cerebral tissue were compared in different groups.Results:(1)In comparison with SO group the activities of Na＋K＋ATPase in IR and AI group were obviously decreased furthermore the decreases in IR group were mo re significant than those in AI group(all P<0.01).(2) The changes in co nten ts of lactic acid(LD) in cerebral tissue in all the groups had not statistically significance.(3)In comparison with SO group the activitis of NOS and the conten ts of NO in IR and AI group were reduced but the reductions in IR group were muc h more significant (P<0.05).(4)The contents of glutamic acid(Glu) in IR and AI group were higher than those in SO group and the increases in IR group w .05),meanwhile they in IR group were higher than those in AI group but the di fference was not significant.(6)Among all the groups the contents of γam inobutyric a cid (γGABA) and glycine(Gly) had not significant differences (all P>0.05).Conclusions:The mechanisms of astragulas on anticerebral ischemiareperfusion inj ury may be related to its preventing the reductions of activities of Na＋K ＋ATPase,NO S,and the decreases in synthetic volume of NO as well as its heightening the con tents of EAA after ischemia of brain tissue.

Objective To study the effects of supra-physiologic glucose on the expression of PDX-1 and insulin secretion. Methods Islet cells isolated from SD rats were incubated in medium containing 5.6 mmol/L or 33 mmol/L glucose respectively for 3 days. Basic and glucose-induced insulin levels in supernate and in islet cells were detected. The PDX-1 mRNA and protein were detected. Results (1) Islet cells exposed to 33 mmol/L vs 5.6 mmol/L glucose for 3 days showed significant decrease in the basic and glucose-induced insulin release, and in cell insulin content and PDX-1 protein. (2) Prolonging incubation of islet cells in 33 mmol/L glucose aggravated the inhibitive effect on PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion. (3)Recovery to normal concentration of glucose in 3 days could partly improve PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion. Conclusions Inhibition of PDX-1 is one of the mechanism of glucotoxicity, and recovery to normal concentration of glucose in 3 days can partly improve PDX-1 expression and insulin secretion.

BACKGROUND: Composite resin functions as a practical resin restoration material with beautiful outlook, modifying its mechanical properties has become a hot spot in research.OBJECTIVE: To prepare resin specimens with two kinds of inlay curing machines: CERAMAGE and TESCERA, and to compare the mechanical properties of these specimens.METHODS: The resin specimens supporting two machines were cross-matched with these machines and then divided into four groups: Group A was Tescrea resin prepared with TESCERA machine; group B was Tescrea resin prepared with CERAMAGE machine; group C was Ceramage resin prepared with CERAMAGE machine; group D was Ceramage resin prepared with TESCERA machine. The standard specimens were determined for compressive strength, hardness and flexural strength.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The compressive strength and hardness in group A were higher than those in other three groups,and group B exhibited higher compressive strength and hardness than groups C and D (P < 0.05). The flexural strength in groups C and D was higher than that in groups A and B (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference between groups C and D, neither betweens group A and B. The experimental findings indicate that TESCERA inlay machine and Tescera resin achieve the optimal mechanical properties.

BACKGROUND:Researches on establishing restenosis models in rats emphasize the importancc of 2.0 Forgarty balloon catheter import,but little has been mentioned about domestic-made balloon catheter.OBJECTIVE:To explore the characteristics of vessel restenosis model by denuding arterial endothelium with domestic-made 2.0 Forgarty balloon catheter in rats.DESIGN:A randomized controlled animal experiment.SETTING:Laboratory of Pathophysiology,Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.MATERIALs:This study was performed at the Laboratory of Pathophysiology,Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between September 2006 and January 2007.Healthy male SD rats,weighing 300-350 g,were selected.The protocol was performed in accordance with ethical guidelines for the use and care of animals.Domestic-made 2.0 Forgarty balloon catheters were made of balloons and catheters.Proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),collagen I,and SM α-actin immunohistochemical staining kits were provided by Wuhan Boster Bioengineering Co.,Ltd,China.METHODS:The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:sham-operated group(n=5),7th day model group(n=4),14th day model group(n=5),and 21st day model group(n=4).The vessel restenosis models were established in the latter 3 groups by denuding arterial endothelium with domestic-made balloon catheter in rats.In the sham-operated group,rats were without insertion of balloon catheter.Injured thoracic aortas were taken out for HE staining to observe histological changes of vascular intima.At the meantime,expressions of SM α-actin,PCNA and collagen I were determined by immunohistochemical method in each group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Histological changes of intima at the thoracic aorta as well as expressions of SM α-actin,PCNA and collagen I.RESULTS:Eighteen rats were included in the final analysis.The aortal vascular walls remained integrity without narrowness of the lumen areas and proliferation of the endothelium,vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)ranged regularly in the mesolamella in the sham-operated group.The endothelium had little proliferation in the 7th day model group.The intima thickened and the area of lumen became narrow in the 14th day model group.The intimal hyperplasia was diffusive and progressive which mainly included VSMCs,the area of lumen narrowed markedly and cells ranged disorderly in mesolamella in the 21st day model group.In the 14th day model group,PCNA level was higher compared to the remaining 3 groups(P＜0.01).SM α-actin level were significantly higher in the 14th and 21st day model groups than in the sham-operated group and 7th day model group(both P＜0.01).There were no significant differences in collagen I among the groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Vascular intima hyperplasia appeared markedly 14-21 days after domestic-made balloon catheter-induced rat aorta injury.The results suggested that intima hyperplasia is mainly induced by proliferation of VSMCs.

Objective: To investigate the influence of astragalosides (AST) and Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) combination on oxidative stress of brain tissues in C57BL/6 mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: Eighty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group, untreated group, high-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 220 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 230 mg/kg), medium-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 110 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 115 mg/kg), low-dose combination group (AST at a dose of 55 mg/kg plus PNS at a dose of 57.5 mg/kg), AST (110 mg/kg) group, PNS (115 mg/kg) group and edaravone (4 mg/kg) group. AST and PNS were administered by gavage once daily for 4 days and edaravone was administered by intraperitoneal injection twice daily for 4 days. On the fourth day, bilateral common carotid arteries were ligated for 20 minutes to induce cerebral ischemia, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Ischemic brain tissue was used to prepare tissue homogenate, then contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the homogenate were detected. Twoxtwo analysis of variance of factorial design was used to analyze whether there was an interaction between AST at 110 mg/kg and PNS at 115 mg/kg. Results: Compared with sham-operated group, contents of MDA and NO, and activity of NOS in the untreated group were remarkably increased (P<0.01), activity of SOD and content of GSH were decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, content of MDA in the AST group was decreased (P<0.01) and activity of SOD was increased (P<0.01), however, contents of GSH and NO and activity of NOS had no obvious changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO in the PNS group was decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01), but activities of SOD and NOS and content of GSH had no changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO and activity of NOS in brain tissues in the edaravone group were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and activity of SOD was increased (P<0.05), while content of GSH had no changes (P>0.05). Contents of MDA and NO and activity of NOS in brain tissue in the AST and PNS combination groups were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the activity of SOD increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the content of GSH increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and activity of SOD and content of GSH were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). The results of analysis of variance of factorial design showed that there were interactions between AST (110 mg/kg) and PNS (115 mg/kg) (P<0.01). Conclusion: Combination of AST (110 mg/kg) and PNS (115 mg/kg) has a restraint effect on the early oxidative stress injury in the brain after ischemia-reperfusion, and the combination has a synergistic or additive effect.

To explore the effects and mechanisms of combining astragaloside IV (the effective component of Astragalus membranaceus) with notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Rg1 (the effective components of Panax notoginseng) against oxidative injury in PC12 cells induced by cobalt chloride (CoCl₂).

Objective To investigate the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BHD) and two kinds of fractions extracted from BHD on expression of caspase-1,caspase-3,and caspase-8 mRNA after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.Methods The model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) in rats,via string ligation of arteria carotis interna.The expression of caspase-1,caspase-3,and caspase-8 mRNA in cerebral ischemic tissues was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The expression of caspase-1,caspase-3,and caspase8 mRNA in cerebral tissues was significantly increased after 22 h reperfusion following 2 h cerebral ischemia in model group(P

Objective To investigate the antithrombosis effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BHD) and its active fractions on cultured vascular endothelial cells(VEC) following the stimulation of thrombin and their mechanism.Methods The human umbilicus vein endothelial cells(ECV 304) were cultured in media containing 10 U/mL thrombin and different dosese of drugs.The levels of tPA and PAI-1 were detected by ELISA,the expression of TF,TFPI,and TM mRNA was measured by RT-PCR,and the expression of PKC? was examined by immunohistochemical staining 24 h later.Results Compared to the control without any treatment,the release of tPA was increased evidently(P0.05).Compared to the data after the mere stimulus of thrombin,each dose of BHD increased the release of tPA(P0.05);And glycoside(1.25 mg/mL) increased the release of tPA(P

To explore the effects of plasma containing Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), a compound of traditional Chinese medicine, and its effective components (alkaloids and glycosides) and total Panax notoginseng saponins (TSPN) on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in vitro.