OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Compound Danshen Tablet (CDT) on the expression of the beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in transgenic cell model of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSThe previously successfully cultured transgenic cell model was used as AD transgenic cell model. Rats were fed with 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 times CDT. The AD transgenic cells were cultured in 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 times rats' sera. The expressions of Abeta in transgenic cells were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSThe optimal dose effect was obtained in the 1 time CDT group at 24 h.

CONCLUSIONCDT could reduce the Abeta expression level in the AD transgenic cell model.

Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Transgenes

OBJECTIVETo study the phamacokinetics and relative bioavailability of combination Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Cortex Cinnamomi.

METHODThe content of ferulic acid in plasma was determined directly by HPLC after oral administration of Cortex Cinnamomi in combination individually with Radix Angelicae Sinensis. The plasma concentration-time curve were plotted. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailability were obtained.

RESULTThe plasma concentration-time curve of fenalic aclid conformed to one-compartment model. The relative bioavailability of Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis were 226.75%.

CONCLUSIONBy the statistical analysis, Cortex Cinnamomi combined with Radix Angelicae Sinensis can increase the relative bioavailability of ferulic acid.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Cinnamomum aromaticum ; chemistry ; Coumaric Acids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Bark ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

AIMTo study whether store-operated Ca2+ channel (SOC) is present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells.

METHODSIntracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) changes induced by thapsigargin- or caffeine-activated SOC channel were measured in enzymatically dissociated rat colonic smooth muscle cells with the fluorescent indicator Fura-2/AM.

RESULTSIn the absence of external Ca2+ , the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump inhibitor thapsigargin (1 micromol/L) and ryanodine receptor (RyR) activator caffeine both transiently elevated [Ca2+]i from (68.32 +/- 3.43) nmol/L to (240.85 +/- 12.65 ) nmol/L, (481.25 +/- 34.77) nmol/L. A subsequent reintroduction of Ca2+ into the extracellular solution resulted in [Ca2+]i further elevated to (457.55 +/- 19.80) nmol/L, (1005.93 +/- 54.62) nmol/L; (643.88 +/- 34.65) nmol/L, (920.16 +/- 43.25) nmol/L, respectively. And the elevated response was blocked by lanthanum (1 mmol/L), but was insensitive to L-type voltage calcium channels blocker verapamil and membrane depolarization.

CONCLUSIONSOC activated by store depletion are present in rat colonic smooth muscle cells. And we further prove the existence of such Ca2+ channels in excitable cells.

Animals ; Caffeine ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; cytology ; Fura-2 ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Thapsigargin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of nitric oxide-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK(Ca)) channel alpha subunit on vascular hyporesponsiveness in rats.

METHODSA total of 46 Wistar rats of either sex, weighing 250 g +/- 20 g, were used in this study. Models of vascular hyporesponsiveness induced by hemorrhagic shock (30 mm Hg for 2 hours) in vivo and by L-arginine in vitro were established respectively. The vascular responsiveness of isolated superior mesenteric arteries to norepinephrine was observed. Tyrosine phosphorylation of BK(Ca) alpha subunit was evaluated with methods of immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.

RESULTSIn the smooth muscle cells of the superior mesenteric arteries, the expression of BK(Ca) alpha subunit tyrosine phosphorylation increased following hemorrhagic shock, and L-arginine could induce BK(Ca )channel alpha subunit tyrosine phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. L-NAME (Nomega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester), a nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor, could partly restore the decreased vasoresponsiveness of the superior mesenteric arteries after hemorrhagic shock in rats. Down-regulating the protein tyrosine phosphorylation with genistein, a widely-used special protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, could partly improve the decreased vasoresponsiveness of the superior mesenteric arteries induced by L-arginine in vitro, while up-regulating the protein tyrosine phosphorylation with Na(3)VO(4), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, could further decrease the nitric oxide-induced vascular hyporesponsiveness, which could be partly ameliorated by 0.1 mmol/L tetrabutylammonium chloride (TEA), a selective BK(Ca )inhibitor at this concentration.

CONCLUSIONSNitric oxide can induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of BK(Ca) alpha subunit, which influences the vascular hyporesponsiveness in hemorrhagic shock rats or induced by L-arginine in vitro.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Protein Subunits ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; metabolism ; Tetraethylammonium Compounds ; pharmacology ; Tyrosine ; metabolism ; Vasoconstriction ; drug effects

Eight new diaryltriazine derivatives containing 4-allylamino and 4-azido substitutes guided by molecular docking have been designed and synthesized based on our previous work. The evaluation of HIV inhibitory activity demonstrated that all compounds were potent against HIV-1 replication. The most active compound 7c exhibited activity against HIV-1 (IC50 = 0.034 micromol x L(-1), SI = 6,475) and the double mutant strain (IC50 = 9.39 micromol x L(-1)) in the micromolar range, which was more potent than nevirapine.
Anti-HIV Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Catalytic Domain ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Triazines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the sub-health status in college students in relation to health-related risk behaviors.

METHODSUsing convenient sampling method, 6176 college students (3285 male and 2891 female students) were surveyed with questionnaires for general demographical data, sub-health state and health-risk behaviors.

RESULTSThe reported rate of sub-health state was 10.2%. The reported rate of physical sub-health was 11.7%, and the rate was 21.7%, 13.9% and 15.0% for inadequate physical activities, poor physical function and poor immunity, respectively. The reported rate of psychological sub-health was 10.5%, with a rate of 14.7%, 22.6% and 7.3% for emotional problems, behavioral problems and social adaptation difficulties, respectively. The risk factors for college students included insufficient sleeping, inadequate sport activities, missing breakfast, partial dietary, smoking and drinking (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe reported rate of sub-health is rather high. Early intervention for health-related risk behaviors should be conducted to prevent the incidence of sub-health among college students.

Adult ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Health Status ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Risk Reduction Behavior ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities ; Young Adult

In order to investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpy (ERCP) in liver cirrhosis patients with common bile duct stones, we retrospectively analyzed data of 46 common bile duct stones patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent ERCP between 2000 and 2008. There were 12 cases of Child-Pugh A, 26 cases of Child-Pugh B, and 8 cases of Child-Pugh C. 100 common bile duct stones patients without liver cirrhosis were randomly selected. All the patients were subjected to ERCP for biliary stones extraction. The rates of bile duct clearance and complications were compared between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients. The success rate of selective biliary cannulation was 95.6% in liver cirrhotic patients versus 97% in non-cirrhotic patients (P>0.05). The bile duct clearance rate was 87% in cirrhotic patients versus 96% in non-cirrhotic patients, but the difference was not statistically significant. Two liver cirrhotic patients (4.35%, 2/46) who were scored Child-Pugh C had hematemesis and melena 24 h after ERCP. The hemorrhage rate after ERCP in non-cirrhotic patients was 3%. The hemorrhage rate associated with ERCP in Child-Pugh C patients was significantly higher (25%, 2/8) than that (3%, 3/100) in non-cirrhotic patients (P<0.01%). There was no significant difference between these two groups in the rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) and cholangitis. ERCP is safe and effective for Child-Pugh A and B cirrhotic patients with common bile duct stones. Hemorrhage risk in ERCP is higher in Child-Pugh C patients.

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics and distribution of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly populations from Mongolian and Han nationalities living in the pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China.Methods According to the MCI clinical diagnostic criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th revised edition (DSM-Ⅳ ) by American Psychiatric Association,the individuals under study were at the age of 55 or over,with Mongolian or Han ethnicities and living in the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia.Results The crude MCI morbidity rates of Mongolian and Han of the study populations in the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China was 19.48％ (1782/9146)and the standardization morbidity was 18.98％.The crude MCI morbidity rates of both Mongolian and Han cthnicities were 17.46％ (the standardization morbidity was 16.99％) and 20.60％ (the standardization morbidity was 19.98％ ),respectively.There showed a significant positive correlation between the crude morbidities and age,also significantly increasing with the latter.In the Mongolian population,the morbidity increased from 12.17％ at the age 55-59 to 27.78％ at 85 while in the Han population,the morbidity increased from 15.50％ at the age 55-59 to 23.53％ at 85.In both the populations of Mongolian and Han,there was a statistically difference found between the morbidities of MCI ( x2=13.229,P=0.000).The morbidity was higher in Hans than in the Mongolians.However,there was no statistically significant difference noticed between the morbidities of MCI in the Mongolian males and females ( x 2 =2.376,P =0.123 ).There was statistically significant difference found between the morbidities of MCI in the Han males and females,with females having higher risk than males (x2=24.470,P=0.000).Conclusion The morbidity of MCI in the elderly Mongolian and Han populations from the pastoral area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China was considered to be quite high and correlated to age and gender.

Contraction of smooth muscle cells is triggered by an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) upon agonist stimulation. Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane constitutes a major component of the agonist-induced response in smooth muscle cells. Traditionally, voltage-operated Ca(2+) channel (VOCC) is considered as the channel mediating the Ca(2+) entry. However, this view has been challenged by recent discoveries, which demonstrated that other types of ion channels, such as store-operated and/or receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels (SOCC and/or ROCC), also participate in Ca(2+) response induced by agonists in smooth muscle cells. SOCC is defined as the channel activated in response to the depletion of the internal Ca(2+) stores, an event secondary to G protein coupled receptor or receptor tyrosine kinase stimulation. The Ca(2+) flow mediated by SOCC is termed as capacitative Ca(2+) entry (CCE). Previous study from other group has demonstrated that VOCC played a predominant role in ACh-induced contraction of distal colon smooth muscle in guinea pig. However, whether SOCC participates in the agonist-induced contractile response in this particular tissue is unknown. The present study was performed to investigate the role of CCE in ACh-induced mechanical activity of distal colon smooth muscle in rats. The contractile function of the smooth muscle was assessed by measuring isometric force of isolated rat distal colon rings. We showed that both high extracellular K(+) (40 mmol/L) and ACh (5 mumol/L) evoked striking contraction of the smooth muscle. The contractile responses were almost abolished by removal of extracellular Ca(2+) with ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid (EGTA), suggesting a critical contribution of extracellular source of Ca(2+) to the contraction. Verapamil (5 mumol/L), an L-type VOCC blocker, significantly attenuated, but didn't completely eliminate the high K(+)- and ACh-induced contraction (74% and 41% for high K(+) and ACh, respectively), indicating that additional channels might be involved in the contractile mechanism. Furthermore, ACh only induced transient contractions in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Readmission of Ca(2+) into the extracellular compartment resulted in a significant and sustained increase in the tension of the smooth muscle. This response was not affected by verapamil (5 mumol/L) and Cd(2+) (5 mumol/L), both of which efficiently block VOCC at the doses. However, La(3+), a known inhibitor of SOCC, significantly suppressed the Ca(2+) readdition-induced contraction in a dose-dependent manner. On the basis of these results, we conclude that contraction of smooth muscle in the distal colon is regulated by multiple Ca(2+) channels. In addition to VOCC-mediated Ca(2+) influx, SOCC-mediated CCE participates in agonist-induced contractile response of distal colon smooth muscle in rats.
Acetylcholine ; physiology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; physiology ; Colon ; physiology ; Female ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle, Smooth ; physiology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of voice handicap index (VHI).Methods The cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures was used to evaluate the Chinese version of VHI.Five hundred forty six dysphonic patients and 80 control subjects were included,30 of patients and 20 of control subjects also had Hong Kong version VHI test simultaneously.Results The intemal consistency reliability of overall VHI scores and three subscale scores of the Chinese version of VHI were 0.8657-0.9517.The reliability coefficients (test to retest,2-week interval) was 0.992(P＜0.001).The correlation coefficiency of overall VHI scores and three subseale scores and internal subscale scores were 0.643-0.904(P＜0.01).There were no significant difference between the Chiness version and Hong Kong Chinese version (Z=0.397,P=0.691) with high dependability(r=0.995,P＜0.001).The factor analysis of construct validity shows that the eigenvalue of 6 factors is above 1.The cumulative proportion was 77.24%.The loading was higher than 0.4 among every item.VHI total scores were significantly higher in dysphonic patients than in control subjects(Z=17.69,P=0.000).,This is also true for all VHI subscores in the functional(Z=14.14.P=0.000),physical(Z=17.68,P=0.000) and emotional domains(Z=15.50,P=0.000).Condusions The Chinese version of VHI had a good reliability and validity.It can be used to evaluate dysphonic patients.