This study is to analyze and identify the water soluble components of water buffalo horn (Bubali Cornu, WBH), and also establish a method for investigating these components. Shotgun proteomic analysis identified proteins in WBH aqueous extraction: keratin, collagen, desmoglein, etc. Ultrafiltration and LC-MS/MS were used to separate and identify the peptides in WBH aqueous extract, as a result, identified peptides were mainly derived from nonspecific degradation products of keratin and collagen, which including C-terminal peptides and non C-terminal peptides. Hypoxanthine, uridine, guanosine, and adenosine were identified by comparing with the standards. The strategy in present study could be used in analyzing water soluble components of animal horn derived TCM. It provides a reference for investigation of the material basis of animal horn derived TCM.
Animals ; Buffaloes ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Guanosine ; Horns ; chemistry ; Hypoxanthine ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Peptides ; Proteomics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Uridine

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability and diagnosis accuracy of 5 special tests used for the diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS).

METHODSA prospective blinded cohort study was taken,in which 105 patients with shoulder pain were reviewed. All the patients took 5 special syndrome tests including Neer syndrome, Hawkins-Kennedy syndrome, painful arc empty can test and external rotation resistance test, also underwent arthroscopic surgical examination. The Nikolaus's criterion was regarded as a golden standard for SAIS. Data accuracy analysis was calculated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (+LR) and negative likelihood ratio (-LR). The binary Logistic regression analysis was used to find out the best test combination for ruling in or out SAIS. The interrater reliability was assessed by the Kappa coefficient and percent agreement.

RESULTSThe ROC analysis indicated a significant area under the curve (AUC) (AUC=0.62 to 0.73, P<0.05) for all tests except the Hawkins-Kennedy. Tests with a +LR greater or equal to 2.0 were the painful arc,empty can,external rotation resistance, Tests with a-LR less than 0.5 were Neer,painful are ,external rotation resistance. The regression analysis found the painful arc, empty can and external rotation resistance made the best combination for diagnosis SAIS,while the painful are and external rotation resistance made the best combination for ruling out SAIS. The difference of ROC analysis was significant with a cut-off of 3 positive tests out of 5 tests. All tests had moderate to good agreement (Kappa=0.42 to 0.71).

CONCLUSIONThe single test of painful arc, empty can and external rotation resistance, as well as 3 or more positive tests of the 5 tests can help confirm the diagnosis of SAIS, while the single test of Neer, painful arc and external rotation resistance are help rule out the diagnisis of SAIS. The tests of painful arc, empty can and ex ternal rotation resistance are the best combination for the diagnosis of SAIS (when 2 or more are positive), while the tests of painful arc and external rotation resistance are the best combination for ruling out SAIS (when both are negative)

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Physical Examination ; methods ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Shoulder Impingement Syndrome ; diagnosis

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonically activated hematoporphyrin on ultrastructure of ehrlich ascites tumor(EAT) cells and to evaluate the potential mechanism of action inducing this cytotoxicity. Methods EAT cells in vitro were exposed to ultrasound at 2^0?MHz and 1^5?W/cm+2 for 3?min in the presence or absence of hematoporphyrin.The changes of ultrastructure of sample preparation for different time were observed by transmission electron microscope. Results The degree of destruction of treated EAT cells was enhanced with the increasing of time for the sample preparation.The sites destroyed mainly involved cell membrane,mitochondrion,endoplasmic reticulum and cell nuclei.Furthermore,morphoiogical characters of ultrasound-activated hematoporphyrin induced apoptosis were observed on EAT cells.Conclusion The killing of tumor cells was ascribed mainly to the damage of ultrastructure induced by ultrasound in combined with hematoporphyrin,apoptosis was also induced during ultrasound and hematoporphyrin killing process.;

Objective Pinoresinol di-glucopyranoside (PDG) is one of the main active lignans of Eucommiae Cortex considered to be a high-quality antihypertensive drug. In this study the pharmacokinetic process of PDG and its primary in vivo metabolite pinoresinol glucoside (PG) in the portal and jugular vein were surveyed and evaluated simultaneously. Methods A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem quadruple mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method and sample preparation protocol were developed and validated in method of selectivity, sensitivity, precision, stability, and extraction recovery for the simultaneous determination of PDG and its primary metabolite PG in rat plasma. The double intubation technique was used to simultaneously collect blood from common jugular vein and hepatic portal vein after single ig administration of PDG. Results Using this method, the quantification linearity ranges of PDG and PG in rat plasma were both 0.05-100 ng/mL. This method was successfully applied to the evaluation of the absolute oral bioavailability of PDG and determination of the pharmacokinetic properties of PDG and PG after ig administration of single dose in rats. The bioavailability of PDG at common jugular vein was 51.3% compared to that of 91.6% at hepatic portal vein. Conclusion We conclude that liver is the major conversion site of PDG to PG.

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences in the clinical efficacy on depression in comparison among the alliance of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, simple herbal medicine and flupentixol and melitracen tablets.

METHODSTwo hundred and twenty-seven cases were randomized into a Chinese medicine group(75 cases), an acupuncture + medication group(78 cases) and a western medicine group(74 cases). In the Chinese medicine group, Shugan Jianwei Anshen Decoction was prescribed, in which Radix Bupleuri and Radix Paeoniae Alba were the monarch herbs, one dose a day. In the acupuncture + medication group, on the basic treatment of Chinese medicine, acupuncture was combined every day at Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Shenmen (HT 7), Lingdao (HT 4), Daling (PC 7), Laogong (PC 8), Yongquan (KI 1), etc. In the western medicine group, deanxit was taken orally, 1 tablet after getting up in the morning and after lunch respectively. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks in the three groups. The change of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score and clinical efficacy were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSIn 8 weeks of treatment, in the acupuncture + medication group, 19 cases were cured, 35 cases were markedly effective, 14 cases were effective and 10 cases failed, the effective rate was 87.2%; in the western medicine group, 11 cases were cured, 32 cases were markedly effective, 18 cases were effective and 13 cases failed, the effective rate was 82.4%; in the Chinese medicine group, 5 cases were cured, 14 cases were markedly effective, 35 cases were effective and 21 cases failed, the effective rate was 72.0%. HAMD assessment was done in 8 weeks of treatment, which was (5.71 +/- 4.32) scores in the acupuncture + medication group, (6.09 +/- 3.78) scores in the western medicine group and (9.24 +/- 3.49) in the Chinese medicine group, the differences were significant in the Chinese medicine group compared with the western medicine group and the acupuncture + medication group (both P < 0.05). The differences in the scores after treatment were not significant statistically between the acupuncture + medication group and the western medicine group (both P > 0.05), but the cured and markedly effective rate in the acupuncture + medication group was superior to that in the western medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe alliance of acupuncture and medication achieves the definite efficacy on depression, characterized as less adverse reactions and better safety.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cooperative Behavior ; Depression ; drug therapy ; psychology ; therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic role of multi-slice CT(MSCT)angiography for tumors of intra-abdominal testes.Methods MSCT angiography of 5 cases with seminoma of intra-abdominal testes proved by surgery and pathology was analyzed.All patients were male,and the age ranged from 33 to 59 years with the mean of 43.6 years.Results(1)The arterial-supply of tumors completely came from the testicular artery of the same side.The arteries went into tumors from the posterior side.(2)The tumors had comparatively large volume with complete or incomplete amicula.The tumor density of 3 cases was inhomogeneous.The degree of entity augmentation of 5 patients was about 14—25 HU.Conclusion MSCT angiography can reveal the tumor vessel and is essential for the diagnosis of tumors of intra-abdominal testes.

Objective To examine the clinical manifestations and pulmonary radiological features in patients with triphosgene poisoning.Methods Clinical manifestations,laboratory tests and CT scans were analyzed retrospectively in 17 patients with triphosgene poisoning.We focused on the severity,development and repair of pulmonary impairment.Results Plain film and CT scans in five mild cases demonstrated bilateral scattered pulmonary patchy shadows.Of 12 cases with moderate to severe diseases,three showed bilateral multiple pulmonary patchy shadows and nodules with confluence of part of the lesions on plain film and CT scans;bilateral lungs were involved in nine cases with imaging findings of bilateral disseminated pulmonary round or ovary nodules with different size,ill-defined and partly-confluent patchy shadows and thickening of both interlobular septum and the wall of bronchus.Of clinical interests,imaging findings were closely correlated with clinical course and laboratory results.Conclusion Radiological examinations with plain films and CT scans could reveal the severity,evolvement of pulmonary edema in patients with triphosgene poisoning,and these are of clinical benefit in the early management and prognostic evaluation of patients with triphosgene poisoning.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition ( EMT ) is a process in which epithelial cells lose their morphology and function and gradually transformed into mesenchymal-like cells. It is considered that EMT is the main cause for tumor recurrence and metastasis .Many factors are involved in the regulation of EMT , such as E-cadherin , transforming growth factor-β, Wnt signaling pathway , microRNA and EMT-related transcription factors .This article reviews the research progress on EMT and the involved mechanisms , and thus to provide a new perspective on cancer therapy in the future .

Along with progress of modern science and technology, human is utilizing natural resources and their inherent law more effectively and more efficiently according to their own purposes. Chinese medicine pair (CMP) is relatively fixed combination of two TCMs which was proven to be effective in clinical application. CMP has its inner specification, and it is an intermediate point between single herb and many TCM formulae. With the aid of modern science and technology, and by means of choosing appropriate strategies and approaches, the compatibility rules of CMP might be revealed, which will be significant to develop the compatibility theory of TCM formulae and create modern TCM new drugs.
Animals ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Drug Interactions ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Research Design ; Systems Biology

AIMTo establish an in vitro model of hippocampal slice to detect electrophysiological alteration after oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD), and to observe the effects of edaravone, minocycline and ONO-1078 [pranlukast, 4-oxo-8-[p-(4-phenylbutyloxy) benzoyl-amino]-2-(tetrazol-5-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran hemihydrate].

METHODSHippocampal slices from rats were perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid lacking oxygen and glucose for 3, 4, 7 and 10 min. The population spike (PS) was recorded, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed in some experiments, to detect the slice viability in the presence or absence of drugs in the perfusion solution.

RESULTSFour min of OGD treatment was the most suitable duration for induction of slice injury, and PS amplitudes were recovered to (29 +/- 6)% of baseline values within 1 h after 4 min OGD. Edaravone, a free radical scavenger, at 1 and 10 mumol.L-1 significantly increased the recovery rate to (56 +/- 13)% and (69 +/- 12)% of baseline respectively 1 h after OGD. However, the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline (10 mumol.L-1) and leukotriene receptor antagonist ONO-1078 (1 mumol.L-1) did not increase the recovery. NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine, as a positive control, also promoted the recovery concentration-dependently.

CONCLUSIONOGD for 4 min was a feasible in vitro ischemia model for determination on electrophysiological alteration in hippocampal slices. Edaravone showed concentration-dependent protective effect on OGD injury, and anti-inflammatory drugs minocycline and ONO-1078 showed no effect.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antipyrine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Evoked Potentials ; drug effects ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Minocycline ; pharmacology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley