The effects of an aqueous extract of Dracocephalum tanguticum Maxim. (DtM ) on p, b.b-1/ H. Hct. ESR. ESR-kand EPT of rats were studied by ip route. The animals were divided into three groups: normal pressure control group (NCG ). iowpressure treatment group (LTG )and lowpressure control group (LCG ). A11 p,b. Het. ESR-k increased stignificantly in rats exposed to stimulated altitude of 6500m for 10 days (8h/day),and the platelet and the ratio of left to ri1ght ventricle weights were obviously decreased in comparison with NPG. The above parameters of LTG .except Het.have noobvious difference as compared with NCG, Het in LTG increased obviously but lower than LCG. These results suggested that DtM may be used as an inhibitory agent against the changes of induced-hypoxia blood rheology, decreased platelet and hypertrophic right ventricle. In addition,the observation of tissue morphology showed that DtM possesses sometherapeutic effects to injuries of lung. liver and kidney of hypoxia rats.

Adolescent ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

Objective To observe whether the increase of oxidative stress in PC12 cells could influence the levels of protein carbonyls and nitrotyrosine and alter the cytoskeleton and cell morphology under clinostat condition,and whether the increase of content of nitrate/nitrite in cell culture medium could influence the cell proliferation and differentiation.Method Cell morphology,carbonylated actin and nitrotyrosinated tubulin,and mRNA and protein express of nNOS and iNOS were observed and determined with immunofluorescence and RT-PCR technology in clinostat rotated and control static groups.At the same time,cell density was measured and cell cycles were detected with flow cytometry.The relationship between all these changes and NOS were also analyzed.Result The levels of carbonylated and nitrotyrosinated cytoskeleton protein were altered,no obvious changes in cell morphology but neurite outgrowth after on a clinostat rotation.Cell density also increased significantly,DNA synthesis in cell cycles was shortened.Conclusion All of these results indicate that simulated weightlessness do not alter cell morphology and is beneficial to the growth of PC12 cells.The mechanism involved may be associated with the increase of NOS activity.

Objective To evaluate the value of gemstone spectral imaging (GSI)and multi artifact reduction system(MARs)in re-ducing metallic implants artifacts,and find the best monochromatic images.Methods Twenty-one patients with metal implants in our hospital receievd GSI examination ,MARS reconstruction and polychromatic images(140 kVp).Eleven groups of monochromatic and MARS images were obtained from 40 keV to 140 keV every interval of 10 keV by the special GSI viewer ,respetively.Subjective image quality of two methods were assessed by 3 radiologists in consensus.For every patient one group monochromatic images and blend enery images were selected two heaviest artifacts level and no artifacts level,the CT value and the standard deviations(SD)value of the region of interest(ROI)were meatured of artifacts.Contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)and artifacts index(AI)were also caculated and were analyzed with paired-t test.Results There was significant statistical differences of CNR between energy spectral images and blend energy images in energy level of 40 to 120 keV(P <0.05),while there was no difference in energy level of 130 to 140 keV (P >0.05),and the optimal CNR was acquired at the energy level of 70 keV(CNR=8.75±3.28).The value of AI for two mehtods has no difference in energy level scope 40 to 60 keV(P >0.05),there was significant statistical differences of AI between energy spectral images and blend energy images in energy level of 70 to 140 keV(P <0.05),and the lowest of AI(AI=26.95±9.64)was ac-quired at 1 10 keV images.Conclusion The energy spectral CT possess superiority in decreasing the artifacts and will provide high image quality in the metal implants.Gemstone spectral CT has great significance for postoperative patients with metal implants in imaging diagnosis.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion for dysmenorrhea due to deficiency cold. Methods: A total of 70 patients with dysmenorrhea who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into a mild moxibustion group and a herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group by the random number table, with 35 cases in each group. Shenque (CV 8), Zhongji (CV 3) and bilateral Zigong (EX-CA 1) were selected for both groups. The treatment continued for 3 menstrual cycles. The visual analog scale (VAS) and COX menstrual symptom scale (CMSS) were scored in both groups before treatment, after treatment and at the end of the 3rd menstrual cycle after treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated at the end of the 3rd menstrual cycle after treatment. Results: After treatment, the clinical efficacy of the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group had the tendency to be superior to that of the mild moxibustion group, while there was no statistically significant difference in the overall efficacy between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS and CMSS scores after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly lower than those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.05). At the follow-up, the VAS scores in both groups had no significant intra-group differences from those after treatment (both P>0.05). The CMSS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those after treatment (both P<0.05). The VAS scores at the follow-up of both groups had no statistical differences from those after treatment (both P>0.05). After treatment, the CMSS score in the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group was significantly lower than that in the mild moxibustion group (P<0.05). At the follow-up, there were no statistical differences in the CMSS score between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion has the same therapeutic efficacy for dysmenorrhea as the mild moxibustion; the two moxibustion methods can significantly improve the concomitant symptoms of dysmenorrhea, and the herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion is little better.

In recent years, non-viral gene vectors have attracted great attention for efficient gene delivery due to the advantages, including low toxicity, low immunogenicity and simple preparation. Polyethylenimine (PEI) is one of the typical non-viral gene carriers that have been widely utilized for gene delivery owing to its superior capabilities in gene compression and buffering capacity. This article discusses the processes of gene delivery and the barriers of PEI-based carrier during the gene delivery, such as low biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, lack of specific targeting and insufficient gene release, etc. Therefore, we summarize the multiple approaches for the modifications of PEI in terms of improved biocompatibility, degradability, specific targeting and buffering capacity. Furthermore, we also review on the recent impressive progresses of smart stimuli-responsive PEI carriers, including endogenous stimuli (pH, reactive oxygen species, glutathione, biomolecular, etc), exogenous stimuli (light, temperature, magnetic field, etc) and dual-responsive strategies, which might provide guidance for the development of more efficient and safer non-viral gene vectors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of prepared rhubarb, in order to explore the bidirectional effects in hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity of prepared rhubarb and the objective authenticity for attenuating toxicity by processing.

METHODNormal and pathological animals were adopted simultaneous to investigate the effect of total extracts from prepared rhubarb within a high dose range (2.0, 5.4, 14.7, 40.0 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) on normal state, biochemical index and histopathology of experimental animals. The factor analytic approach was used to analyze the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of prepared rhubarb.

RESULTThe factor analytic approach was used to extract two common factors from the nine biochemical indexes. The firs common factor was mainly dominated by HA, LN and TGF-β1, and could be explained as fibrotic factors. The second common factor was mainly dominated by ALT, AST and ALP, and could be explained as cellular factor. The results of the factor analysis suggested that prepared rhubarb showed significant bidirectional effects in hepatoprotection and hepatotoxicity, which could protect liver in CC14 injured chronic hepatic injury, but had a certain hepatotoxic effect to normal animals. The pathological examination showed consistent results with the factor analysis. Under comparable dosages, prepared rhubarb showed a stronger liver protecting effect than crude rhubarb, with a lower toxicity.

CONCLUSIONAlthough prepared rhubarb has a certain hepatotoxic effect to normal animals, it has also a significant therapeutic effect to animals with liver injury. The results proved the symptom-based prescription theory and the scientificity of the symptom-based medication. The symptom-based prescription theory is important to correctly realize the dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of traditional Chinese medicines and guide the symptom-based medication.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Prescriptions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Endoscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; Smell ; Turbinates ; surgery ; Young Adult

To investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and absolute bioavailability of ginkgolide A (GA), ginkgolide B (GB) and bilobalide (BB) in rats. In this experiment, a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS) method was established to determine the plasma concentrations of GA, GB and BB in rats after rats were administrated with the three drugs through ig and iv respectively. The main pharmacokinetic parameters and absolute bioavailability of three ginkgolide compounds were obtained by using pharmacokinetic software DAS 2. 0. After the inject of GA, GB and BB, the results showed Cmax at (513.9 ± 116.9), (701.3 ± 76.0), (5,255.6 ± 476.8) µg · L(-1) and AUC0.24h of (960.9 ± 268.5), (779.5 ± 140.6), (7,409.3 ± 1,181.1) µg · h · L(-1), respectively; after the oral administration, the results showed Cmax at (522.9 ± 39.9), (146.8 ± 31.6), (2,711.9 ± 588.9) µg · L(-1) and AUC0-24 h of (1,760.4 ± 300.7), (636.6 ± 180.3), (16,651.4 ± 1,306.5) µg · h · L(-1), respectively. The absolute bioavailability of GA, GB and BB in rats was (61.1 ± 10.4)%, (27.2 ± 7.7)%, (56.2 ± 4.4)%, respectively. The method established in this experiment has a good specificity and sensitivity and so can be used to study the pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of GA, GB and BB in rats.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacokinetics ; Furans ; pharmacokinetics ; Ginkgolides ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactones ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

To study the effect of miR-490 on Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) replication, HeLa cells were trans- fected with miR-490 in vitro, and infected with a Renilla luciferase (RLuc)-expressing CVB3 variant (RLuc-CVB3). The activities of RLuc in these cells were measured at 8h intervals from 0 to 40 h post-infection (p.i.), and the effects of miR-490 on RLuc-CVB3 replication were observed. In a further study, HeLa cells were transfected with either miR-490 or antisense miR-490 (AMO-miR-490), and were then infected with an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-expressing CVB3 variant (EGFP-CVB3). The replication of EGFP-CVB3 was then determined by detecting the expression of EGFP. We observed that miR-490 could significantly inhibit the expression of RLuc in infected cells at 32 h p. i. Furthermore, in HeLa cells infected with EGFP-CVB3 at 32 h p.i., EGFP expression was also significantly inhibited by the presence of mniR-490. The inhibitory effect of miR-490 on EGFP expression in EGFP-CVB3-infected cells could be reversed by tranfection with AMQ-miR-490. These results indicated that miR-490 significantly inhibits the replication and expression of QVB3.
Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Enterovirus Infections ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication