Abdominal Muscles ; physiology ; Abdominal Pain ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Colon ; innervation ; Electrodes ; Electromyography ; Female ; Pain Measurement ; methods ; Pain Threshold ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Viscera ; Visceral Afferents ; physiology

To study the influence of 5?-reductase on the pathogenesis of human benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the activity of this enzyme was measured in mechanically separated stroma and epithelium from 7 normal and 16 hyperplastic prostates. Samples were incubated in the presence of tritium labelled testosterone. The yield of DHT was used to estimate the enzyme activity. The results showed that the specific activity of the enzyme (pmol DHT / mg protein/30 rain) was91.4?18,1 and 28.6?7.4 in stroma (S) and epithelium (E) of BPH, 44.7?8.9 and 23.9?6.8 in S and E of normal prostates respectively. It indicated that the enzyme is predominantly localized in the stroma and is elevated ia BPH, the primary abnormality of BPH is in the stroma and the increase of 5?-reductase may have some contribution to the pathogenesis of BPH.

Background Stromal-derived factor 1α /chemokine receptor 4(SDF-1α/CXCR4) axis is one of the important signals which mediates several different activities such as chemotaxis,adhesion,proliferation and survival resulting in recruitment to sites of immune and inflammatory reactions.Considerable evidence suggests that CXCR4/SDF-1α axis is involved in tumor angiogenesis and plays a key role in the development of ocular neovascularization.Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of CXCR4 antagonist on the development of cxperimental corneal neovascularization(CNV).Methods CNV model was established in the left eye of 8-weekold clean BALB/c mouse by putting the filter with 1 mol/L NaOH at the central cornea for 40 seconds.The animals were randomizcd into hyaluronate group and CXCR4 antagonist group,and the edydrops was topically administered respectively on the day of modeling 4 times per day for 14 days.CNV was examined under the slit lamp at the fourteenth day,and then the corneal suspension and section were made.Expressions of CXCR4 mRNA and protein in corneas were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot.The CD31 level in cornea was assayed by flowcytometry and immunochemistry.The expression of VEGF in burned corneas and suspension from mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated with CXCR4 antagonist in vitro was detected by ELISA.The use of the animal followed Ragulations for the Administration of Affairs Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results Two weeks after corneal alkali burn,the growth of CNV peaked under the slit lamp.Compared with hyaluronate group,CNV was obviously decreased in the CXCR4 antagonist group.Immunochemistry showed that intensity of positive staining for CD31 in cornea in the CXCR4 antagonist group was weaker than the hyaluronate group.Flowcytometry clarified that CD31 positive cells rate was 9.50％ ±2.34％ in the CXCR4 antagonist group and 17.50％ ±3.16％ in the hyaluronate group,showing a significant difference between them (t=-7.312,P＜0.05).In 2,4,7 days after cornea alkali burn,the expressions of CXCR4 mRNA and protein were significantly enhanced in burn corneas compared with normal corneas(P＜0.01 ;P＜0.05).ELISA showed that the VEGF expression level in corneal tissue and supernatant of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro were significantly lower in the CXCR4 antagonist group than that of hyaluronate group(t =10.927,5.151,P＜0.05).The expression level of VEGF in corneal suspension was lower in the GM-CSH+CXCR4 antogonist group than that in the GM-CSH group (P＜0.05).Conclusions CXCR4 antagonist can reduce experimental CNV by down-regulating VEGF expression in cornea.

Objective To investigate the presence of occult brain tissue damage in patients with relapsing neuromyelitis optica(RNMO)and its possible mechanism by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO and 16 sex-and age-matched healthy controls.Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD)and fractional anisotropy (FA)was performed in brain tissue (BT),white matter (WM)and gray matter (GM)to detect the presence of occult brain tissue damage in RNMO patients.Region of interest(ROI )analysis of MD and FA was also performed in 6 dedicated regions with or without direct connection with spinal cord or optic nerve to determine the relationship between occult brain tissue damage and the damage of spinal cord and optic nerve.Results Patients with RNMO had a significantly higher average MD of the BT[RNMO(0.95?0.02)? 10~(-3)mm~2/s,controls (0.91?0.03)?10~(-3)mm~2/s,t = 3.940,P

The contents of adenosine, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, parishin and sulfur dioxide residue were compared in differently-processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma to provide the basis for a reasonable processing method of Gastrodiae Rhizoma. The analysis was performed on a Merck Purospher STAR column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) under gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The eluates were detected at 270 nm, and the column temperature was 35°C. The content of adenosin, gastrodin, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and parishin in processing of boiling or sulfur-fumigated were lower than that of in processing of steaming. Furthermore, the sulfur dioxide residue of sulphur-fumigated groups exceed 400 mg x kg(-1). This stable and reliable method will contribute to the quality control of different processed Gastrodiae Rhizoma.
Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Drugs are exogenous compounds for human bodies, and will be metabolized by many enzymes after administration. CYP450 enzyme, as a major metabolic enzyme, is an important phase I drug metabolizing enzyme. In human bodies, about 75% of drug metabolism is conducted by CYP450 enzymes, and CYP450 enzymes is the key factor for drug interactions between traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) -TCM, TCM-medicine and other drug combination. In order to make clear the interaction between metabolic enzymes and TCM metabolism, we generally chose the enzymatic activity as an evaluation index. That is to say, the enhancement or reduction of CYP450 enzyme activity was used to infer the inducing or inhibitory effect of active ingredients and extracts of traditional Chinese medicine on enzymes. At present, the common method for measuring metabolic enzyme activity is Cocktail probe drugs, and it is the key to select the suitable probe substrates. This is of great significance for study drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) process in organisms. The study focuses on the interaction between TCMs, active ingredients, herbal extracts, cocktail probe substrates as well as CYP450 enzymes, in order to guide future studies.
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activators ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Humans

Objective To investigate the optimal therapy for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B.Methods A total of 302 patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B in the Affiliated Infectious Diseases Hospital of Fujian Medical University were enrolled during January 2008 to January 2010.Patients were divided into group A ( medical treatment,n =57 ),group B (medical + antiviral treatment,n =80),group C ( medical + antiviral + artificial liver support system (ALSS),n =124) and group D (medical + antiviral + ALSS + traditional Chinese medicine treatment,n =41 ).Liver and renal function,prothrombin activity (PTA) and HBV DNA load were observed at the baseline,week 1,4,8,12 and the end of the treatment.All groups were followed up for 48 weeks to observe the survival rates.Kruskal-Willis H test was used to compare the efficacies in four groups,and Cox proportional hazards regression model was used for survival analysis. Results There was no difference among four groups in curative effects at week 4 ( H =3.213,P =0.360 ),but there was significant difference at week 12 (H =8.722,P =0.033).The one-year mortality rates for groups A,B,C,D were 36.84％ (21/57),32.50％ (26/80),26.61％ (33/124) and 24.39％ ( 10/41 ),respectively.The death risks of group C and D were 0.566 and 0.396 times of that in group B ( P =0.036 and 0.016).Conclusion Nucleoside analogue and ALSS plus medical treatment can effectively increase the survival rates of the patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B.

To compare the differences of the active ingredient contents and the sulfur dioxide residue in Astragali Radix before and after sulfur fumigation and provide a basis for establishing an alternative processing method. Astragali Radix, harvested at the same time in Longxi Gansu, were processed with different methods. high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the contents of the active ingredients in Astragali Radix and the revised method of the pharmacopoeia of China in 2011 was applied to determine the sulfur dioxide residue. The results show that the three-fold sulfur-fumigation group has the highest level of astragaloside IV and the dried sulfur-fumigation group with 10% water has the lowest level; the content of calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucoside is the highest in naturally dried group and the lowest in the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times; the sulfur dioxide residue of all sulfur-fumigation groups exceeds certain limit significantly and the group of sulfur fumigating for 3 times reaches the highest level.
Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; adverse effects ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

ObjectiveTo investigate the quality of life (QOL) of the epilepsy patients and the factors affected the QOL.Methods200 cases were investigated using the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 10 (QOLEI-10) and the Washington Psychosocial Seizure Investigate (WPSI). 200 healthy persons were chosen as normal control group. ResultsThe QOL of the patient group were significantly poor as compared with that of normal control group(P<0.01). The factors that the patients always faced with were disability in the attack control, short in money, unemployment, restriction of movement, disability in intercommunication, psychological disorder (depress, strain, anxiety, dread, shame feel, cognitional dysfunction, etc.), as well as the difficult to get professional curtains, taking medicine improperly and side effects of the medicine. Conclusions The factors mentioned, which were usually neglected by many doctors, do affect the QOL of epilepsy patients, and hinder the epilepsy treatment effectively.

Objective To determine the effect of iron deficiency on hemoglobin A2(HbA2) expression in patients with β-thalassemia.Methods The participants were recruited from the out-patient clinics of the Pediatrics Department and Obstetrics Department of Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College and from some β-thalassemia major families.Blood samples from the participants were used for blood smear tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis and to analyze serum ferritin (SF),3 alpha-globin gene deletions,and 17 beta-globin point mutations.Results Of the 408 individuals,304 were assigned to group A (normal controls),26 to group B (iron deficiency),56 to group C (β-thalassemia),and 22 to group D (β-thalassemia combined with iron deficiency). The results for the comparison of the mean HbA2 values among pairs of groups were as follows: group A vs group B,q=5.074 7,P<0.05; group A vs group C,q=37.650 8,P<0.05; group A vs group D,q=16.043 0,P<0.05;group C vs group D,q=7.682 9,P<0.05; Group B vs group D,q=15.806 6,P<0.05. There were no significant correlation between SF and HbA2 in all 4 groups.Conclusions Iron deficiency decreased the HbA2 level in both controls and individuals with β-thalassemia. HbA2 levels decreased significantly in individuals with both β-thalassemia and iron deficiency as compared with β-thalassemia group alone. However,they remained significantly higher than both the control and iron-deficient groups. Therefore,the elevation of HbA2 could be used to diagnose β-thalassemia reliably even in the presence of iron deficiency.