OBJECTIVETo explore the relation of phlegm-stasis syndrome with insulin resistance and monocyte peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma messenger ribonucleic acid (PPARgamma mRNA) expression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODSSixty patients with CHD were differentiated into three syndrome types, the non-phlegm non-stasis (NN) type, the phlegm congealing heart vessel (PC) type and the phlegm-stasis cemented (PS) type. Besides, 20 healthy volunteers were selected as the normal control. Levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were determined and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated accordingly. The expression of PPARgamma mRNA in the peripheral monocytes was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSLevels of FINS, HOMA-IR and PPAR-gamma mRNA expression in all CHD patients were higher than in the normal control (P <0.01, P < 0.05); comparisons of the three indexes between patients of different syndrome types showed that they were higher in PC type and PS type than in NN type (P < 0.05 or P <0.01), and the difference between PC type and PS type was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONChanges of insulin resistance and PPARgamma mRNA expression in monocytes are possibly one of the mechanisms for the development of phlegm-stasis syndrome in CHD.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

Objective To study whether hyperthermia and ionizing radiation could produce combined effects on the neurobehaviors of neonatal rats.Methods These rats who were pregnant for 8 or 9 days received respectively total body irradiation by 60Co-rays .When the rats were pregnant for 10 days,the temperature of rat anus was kept at (37?0.5) ℃,(41?0.5) ℃,(42?0.5) ℃,respectively in warming boxes and lasted for 2,3,4,5 minutes.The neurobehaviors of neonatal rats were observed.Results In contrast to control group and 37 ℃group ,when pregnant rats were exposed to high temperature.the neonate rats were delayed for the appearance of four physiologic markers,the age of acquisition for four reflexes and the time of learning and memory(P

Febuxostat, as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, is a classic anti-gout drug with significant therapeutic effects and good tolerability. The structures of febuxostat and its derivatives can be divided into two parts: a substituted phenyl ring and a five-membered or six-membered heterocyclic ring with a carboxyl substitution. This paper reviewed the research progress of febuxostat derivatives in recent ten years and classified the structure-activity relationships of various febuxostat derivatives. Exploring the action mechanisms and structure-activity relationships of xanthine oxidase inhibitors might be significant for the rational design and development of new anti-gout chemical entities.

Objective To observe the abnormal Minnesota code (MC) distribution and interrelated characteristic on electrocardiograms (ECGs) of the adult Kazakh population.Methods Resting ECGs and blood press of randomly sampled 30 000 adult Kazakh people in three Northern regions of Xinjiang were continuously examined and analyzed,using Minnesota code recommended by WHO as the classification of ECG.Results The overall rate of abnormal ECG findings was 248.60‰,and the main abnormality in males was 146.83‰,compared to 157.71‰ in females.The prevalence rates of abnormal ST-T changes,the total arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation (AF) were 100.03‰,71.17‰ and 2.83‰ respectively.There were statistically significant differences among the main abnormities from the three regions.Conclusion The ECGs abnormalities of adult Kazakh people were high.There was significant relation found between the main abnormalities and hypertension.The prevalence of AF was different from the domestically reported literature that calls for further study.

This study is to determine the content of three alkaloids and establish the HPLC fingerprint of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. The HPLC method of content determination was as follows: Thermo C18 (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with acetonitrile-sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution-acetic acid (56: 43: 1) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. The method of HPLC fingerprint was as follows: Agilent ZORBAX SB-Aq C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with gradient elution of methanol and water at a flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1), the monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. Similarities evaluation and hierarchical clustering analysis were applied to demonstrate the variability of 12 batches of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula samples. The results demonstrated that 11 batches showed good similarity on chemical constituents. The method could well display the chemical information of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. It was simple, reliable and could be used for the chemical quality control of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic basis of using three species of Asarum as Herba Asari to determine the taxonomic positions of Asarum heterotropoides and A. siebodii; and to apply DNA molecular analysis as a tool for identification of Herba Asari.

METHODPCR, purification, sequence analysis were prerformed.

RESULTMS sequences of the three Asarum species were obtained. 3 botanical sources of Herba Asari are closely clustered together on the topology tree; one inner branch is composed of A. heterotropoides and A. sieboldii, whereas another branch contains A. sieboldii. Their ITS sequences are different.

CONCLUSIONThree plant species of Herba Asari are closely related, and there are genetic reasons that they are used as the sources of the same medicine. The classification placement of A. sieboldii is not certain. The differences of ITS sequences of the botanical sources of Herba Asari can be used as a means of identification.

Asarum ; classification ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; genetics ; Species Specificity

The concentration of extract of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the important unit operations that affect the quality of the pharmaceutical products. However, there are some problems to be solved. The concentration process has the shortages of relatively high temperature, relatively long time or low efficient, some losses of active and volatile ingredients, more operation steps, easy fouling and emission of waste water. In order to solve these problems, many new technologies and installations have been developed in the past thirty years, including suspension freeze-concentration, progressive freeze-concentration, single- or multi-effect evaporation with an external natural circulating flow, on-line preventing fouling evaporation with vapor-liquid-solid flow, reverse osmosis concentration, membrane distillation, osmotic distillation, macro-porous resin adsorption etc. The system of the extract of TCM is very complex. The extract includes water and alcohol extracts. The composition of TCM is made of active and inactive ingredients. Hence, it is necessary to master the features of every concentration technologies and installations, including their merits and demerits, flexibilities, degree of maturations of techniques and so on to get a wise choice for the industry applications. New concentration technologies and installations of the extract of TCM developed recently are reviewed in this paper. The characteristics of each method are analyzed and discussed in order to guide the industry applications. At the same time, the further research directions of concentration techniques of extract of TCM are also given.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Freezing ; Osmosis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Temperature

AIM:To remark the effect of Qingguang'an Ⅱ on expression of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA of rats with chronic high intraocular pressure.METHODS:Totally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, that was:A:blank group, B:model group, C:Qingguang'an Ⅱ low dose group, D:Qingguang'an Ⅱ moderate dose group, E:Qingguang'an Ⅱ high dose group, F:Yimaikang disket group.B, C, D, E, F groups of experimental rats were established the model of chronic high intraocular pressure (IOP) by cauterizing of superficial scleral vein.Animal model was established successfully by using monitoring IOP consistently keep above 25mmHg for 8wk as cut-off criterion.Tissues of Eyes were obtained after intragastric administration for 2wk and 4wk.The expressions of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA were investigated by Real-time PCR.RESULTS:At the time-point of 2wk, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group B were statistically expressed in lower level comparing with other groups (P<0.05).Moreover, at the time-point of 4wk, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C, D and E were statistically expressed in higher level comparing with group F (P<0.05).Besides, PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C and D were statistically expressed in lower level comparing with group E (P<0.05).PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2 mRNA in group C and D were expressed in similar level(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:In summar, Qingguang'an Ⅱ and Yimaikang disket can remarkably increase the expressions of PAX6, Ngn1, and Ngn2, which suggest protecting the optic nerve of rats caused by chronic high IOP.What's more, this study indicated that, in the protection of optic nerve of rats with chronic high IOP, the high dose of Qingguang'an Ⅱ at the time-point of 4wk was the better choice.

OBJECTIVESTo observe the effects of pioglitazone on morphological changes and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF b)-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro, and to investigate the anti-fibrotic mechanism of pioglitazone.

METHODSCultured rat HSCs were divided into a no-treatment control group, a TGF b-treated group, and a TGFb plus different dosage pioglitazone-treated group. The morphological changes of the cultured HSCs were observed. The expression of CTGF was assessed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The level of collagen type III in the culture supernatant was measured by ELISA.

RESULTSTGFb induced morphological changes, and increased the expressions of CTGF and collagen type III of the HSCs (P less than 0.05). Pioglitazone prevented the TGFb induced morphological changes of the HSCs. The expression of CTGF and the levels of collagen type III in the pioglitazone group were lower than the TGF b-treated group (P less than 0.05). This prevention effect was dose-dependent (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPioglitazone blocks the excretion of CTGF and collagen type III of cultured HSCs, preventing the development of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type III ; secretion ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo provide scientific basis for the utilization and development of Valeriana jatamansi by setting up the quality control specification of V. jatamansi.

METHODThe pharmacognostical methods were applied. The extract of V. jatamansi was examined. Moisture and ash were determined. And the bioactive constituents were analyzed by TLC and HPLC.

RESULTThe morphological and histological characters of V. jatamansi were observed. Content of total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and moisture of 15 samples from different habitats and times were determined. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of valtrate and acevaltrate by TLC and HPLC were preformed respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe established method can be used for the quality control of V. jatamans.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Pharmacognosy ; standards ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Valerian ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry