To clear the kinds of trace elements which is closely related with the active ingredient, proclaim the effects of trace elements on the quality of the Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, provide the theoretical foundation to the further quality control of cultivation, take the advantage of the HPLC to determine the contents of glycyrrhizic acid and the liquiritin according to Chinese pharmacopoeia, use the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to test the contents of Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Se, Cd, Ni, La, Na, Cr, M, Fe, Ca, Al, K, Sr, then, use SPSS statistical software for active ingredient and trace elements Correlation Analysis. The result of correlation analysis showed that Liquiritin contents of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma have strong a positive correlation with the Mn, Pb contents, well, have a negative correlation with the Cu, Na contents; Glycyrrhizic acid contents showed a positive correlation with Mg, Cd, La contents, however, it showed a negative correlation with K, Fe contents. Comprehensive analysis of the results of the study, a preliminary thought that the active ingredient of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma closely related with the trace elements, but the exact conclusion still need further study concentration-response relationship analysis.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavanones ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Trace Elements ; analysis

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ketamine ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between articulation, velopharyngeal function, and surgical age by comparing the changes in articulation after velopharyngeal closure is performed. This study is also conducted to investigate the influencing factors of omission change between pre- and post-operation.

METHODSA total of 48 patients, including 18 males and 30 females, mean age (13.3 ± 5.8) years, with non-syndromic cleft lips and palates were selected from January 2011 to December 2011. Their speech data and articulation between pre- and post-operation were retrospectively analyzed using non-parametric tests. Correlation study was performed to analyze the influencing factors of the changes in articulation. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThe difference in articulation after velopharyngeal closure occurred was significant (Z = -3.796, P = 0.000). A negative correlation between the ratio of post-operative normal articulation and surgical age (R = -0.487, P = 0.000) was observed. The change in omission was positively correlated with surgical age (R = 0.589, P = 0.000) and gender (R = 0.404, P = 0.047). By comparison, the change in omission was negatively correlated with follow-up time (R = -0.235, P = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONArticulation and intelligibility are significantly improved after velopharyngeal closure is performed. These parameters are negatively correlated with surgical age to some extent. In addition, the change in omission is positively correlated with surgical age and gender, whereas the change in omission is negatively correlated with follow-up time.

Adolescent ; Articulation Disorders ; Child ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objectives To evaluate the impact of virtual hepatectomy and computer-assisted risk analysis on surgical planning and intraoperative strategy for major hepatectomy.Methods Twentytwo consecutive patients (17 males and 5 females) were admitted to the hospital from January to December in 2010 for complicated major hepatectomy.CT scanning was performed with 64-MSCT.All the data of imaging were transferred to the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system (IntrasenseR,France).The following steps were undertaken by a radiologist and a surgeon majoring in liver surgery: step 1,image analysis and 3-D reconstruction; step 2,virtual resection and liver volumetry; step 3,computer-assisted risk analysis for hepatic dysfunction,followed by adjustment of the operative planning.Results The three-dimensional reconstruction models of the liver by the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system were visualized.The ideal simulation effect was achieved comparing the virtual imaging with the actual operation.Of the 22 patients who underwent complicated major hepatectomy,complete tumor removal (R0 resection) was achieved in 20 patients.There were 2 patients who received a R1 resection as microscopic tumor cells were found at the cutting margin of the right portal vein and bile duct.No patient died during the hospital stay.After computer-assisted risk analysis,the operative planning and surgical strategies were changed in 6 patients.Conclusions The application of the hepatic three-dimensional reconstruction and virtual hepatectomy using the Myrian(R) XP-Liver system provided important preoperative data for good preoperative planning and intraoperative strategy in complex hepatectomy.

To evaluate the value of the vaccinations with 3 strains of gene-deleted mutants from pseudorabies virus(PRV), PRV TK-, PRV gE-/gI- and PRV TK-/gE-/gI- after to exposure to the wild Fa strain, these mutant strains from the PVR reference isolate Fa were used to vaccinate 4 weeks old PRV-free pigs with a dosage of 105 PFU each ,and followed by nasally challenged by the parental Fa strain with a dosage of 107 PFU at 14 days post vaccination. The pathological changes, virus discharge and distribution were evaluated after vaccination and challenge. It was found that the histopathological observations in the 10 collected samples including cerebrum, cerebellum, heart, liver, lungs, spleen, kidneys, tonsils, lymph nodes and trigeminal ganglion from these 3 mutant strains showed that the rates of occurrence of pathological changes in various organs were 4/10, 3/10 and 4/10 respectively, whereas that of the positive controls were 9/10. The damage in lungs was more serious in pigs vaccinated with PRV TK-mutant and positive control in comparison with other groups of pigs inoculated, and the damages in cerebrum, cerebellum and trigeminal ganglion in positive controls were more serious than those of pigs vaccinated with the 3 gene-deleted mutants. However, the tonsils, the main organ for latent infection were damaged mildly in the pigs inoculated with these 3 gene-deleted mutants in comparison with that of the positive controls. As demonstrated by Southern blot analysis, all the vaccinated pigs could discharge viruses by secretion through nasal cavity, but the soldier pigs were not infected successively by the gene-deleted mutants and the gene-deleted mutants were also unable to establish infection in cerebrum and cerebellum. Nevertheless, they could not effectively block discharge of PRV Fa after exposure to Fa virus, but could block effectively the virulent Fa virus invading into cerebrum and cerebellum. From these observation, it is evident that the deleted mutants of the TK, gE/gI , TK/gE/gI genes can block the invasion of virulent Fa virus into cerebrum and cerebellum and lessen the damages on multiple organs or tissues ,indicating that the deleted mutant of TK/gE/gI gene may be the most promising candidate of vaccine strain for development of the commercial vaccine.

Objective To estimate the influence of palmitic acid (PA) on the proliferation of and production of inflammatory mediators by a human keratinocyte line HaCaT.Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were treated with PA of eight concentrations (0-200 μmol/L) for 3-24 hours followed by the evaluation of cell proliferation by using the cell counting kit-8.According to the proliferation assay,four concentrations (75,100,125,150 μmol/L) of PA were selected and used to treat HaCaT cells for 24 hours,then,fluorescence-based immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the level of interleukin (IL)-6 in the supernatant of culture medium,real-time PCR to detect the mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor oα (PPARα) and IL-6,and Western blot to quantify the protein expressions of PPARα as well as total and nuclear NF-κB p65.Those HaCaT cells receiving no treatment served as the control group.Statistical analysis was carried out by one-factor analysis of variance using the GraphPad Prism 5.0 software.Results The HaCaT cells treated with PA of 50-175 μ mol/L showed accelerated proliferation compared with the control HaCaT cells (all P ＜ 0.05).PA from 75 to 150 μmol/L enhanced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65,mRNA and protein expressions of PPARα,as well as the mRNA expression and supernatant level of IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner.The relative expression level of nuclear NF-κB p65 protein was 0.4536 ± 0.0173,0.5184 ± 0.0206,0.5333 ± 0.0231,0.6160 ± 0.0297,and the supernatant level of IL-6 was (31.5677 ± 0.2268),(32.3773 ± 0.4156),(32.9837 ± 0.0029) and (33.6890 ± 0.0936) ng/L,in HaCaT cells treated with PA of 75,100,125 and 150 μmol/L,respectively,compared to 0.3237 ± 0.0114 (all P ＜ 0.01) and (30.4577 ± 0.5131) ng/L (all P ＜ 0.01) in the control HaCaT cells,respectively.Conclusions PA can accelerate the proliferation of HaCaT cells,enhance NF-κB nuclear transfer,PPARα expression and IL-6 secretion in a dose-dependent manner within a certain concentration range,and may exert a promoting role in the activation and expression of some inflammatory factors.

Background and purpose:Drug resistance is a major cause of failure in lung cancer chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of YAP on doxorubicin resistance in lung cancer and its underlying mechanism. Methods:Doxorubicin resistant lung cancer cell clones were established from parental sensitive cancer PC9 cell line via in vitroinduction, and the expression of YAP was analyzed. YAP was down-regulated via shRNA to different levels. MTS assay was employed to determine cell proliferation and drug sensitivity. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and uptake of Rh-123. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) assay were used to determine the expression of ABCB1, ABCC1, p53, Runx2, ITGB2 and ErbB4. The phosphory-lation of serine/threonine kinase (AKT) was determined as well.Results:Doxorubicin resistant PC9/Adr cell clone was obtained with over-expressed YAP. Expression of YAP in PC9/Adr cells was down-regulated to different levels via shR-NA. After YAP silencing, cell proliferation was reduced, while sensitivity to doxorubicin was increased. The cell cycle was significantly halted by G0/G1 phase. Doxorubicin induced-apoptotic rate and cellular uptake of Rh-123 were increased,with positive correlation to YAP silencing level. Western blot and QRT-PCR results showed that after YAP silencing, ABCB1, ABCC1, Runx2, ITGB2, and ErbB4 proteins were down-regulated, while the expression of p53 was up-regulated. Phosphorylation of AKT was inhibited as well.Conclusion:Over-expression of YAP is involved in doxorubicin resistance in PC9/Adr cell line. Silencing of YAP could restore doxorubicin sensitivity. The mechanism involves regulation of drug resistance-related genes and promotion of apoptosis.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy was employed to identify the Artemisinin and Piperaquine Tablets. Artemisinin and piperaquine was extracted separately by different solvents, and IR spectra were collected. IR absorption spectrum of the extract was concordant with the reference spectrum recorded in the Atlas of Infrared Spectra of Drugs, except for a group of small absorptions at 1 574 cm-1 for the artemisinin extract. It was concluded that IR method is stable and accurate, which can be used to identify the Artemisinin and Piperaquine Tablets.

Objective:To provide some thoughts for pharmaceutical treatment and care for the patients with pulmonary infection af-ter renal transplantation. Methods:Clinical pharmacists participated the whole treatment process of one case of pulmonary infection af-ter renal transplantation. According to the literatures combined with medical history, clinical symptoms and lab results, the drug treat-ment process of the patient was analyzed, and the key points of the optimized pharmaceutical care were summarized. Results: The pharmaceutical care included the dose adjustment of immunosuppressants at the early phase of the disease and after the improvement of clinical symptoms, attention paid to the interactions between multiple anti-infective drugs and immunosuppressive agents, dosage ad-justment based on the renal function of the patient, monitoring adverse drug reactions and drawing up personalized regimen. Conclu-sion:Through comprehensive medication monitoring, clinical pharmacists can help physicians develop timely and effective treatment programs and provide professional and effective pharmaceutical care for patients.