Poly (β-amino ester)s (PβAEs) contain tertiary amine backbones and biodegradable ester bonds, making them highly biocompatible and pH-responsive. Meanwhile, originated from combinatorial libraries, PβAEs are simple to synthesize, easy to obtain raw materials and can be easily adapted to meet the different performance needs of gene carriers by adjusting the monomer type, monomer ratio and reaction time. Therefore, PβAEs are promising material for non-viral gene carriers. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the properties and synthesis of PβAEs gene carriers and summarizes the progress of research on the gene delivery of each type of PβAEs.

To study the application characteristics of copovidone (PVP-S630) in Xinyueshu extracts during the spray drying process, and its effect on such pharmaceutical properties as micromeritics and drug release behavior. PVP-S630 was added into Xinyueshu extracts to study on the spray drying, the effect of different dosages of PVP-S630 against the wall sticking effect of the spray drying, as well as the power property of Xinyueshu spray drying power and the dissolution in vitro behavior of the effective component of hyperoside. The results showed that PVP-S630 revealed a significant anti-wall sticking effect, with no notable change in the grain size of the spray drying power, increase in the fluidity, improvement in the moisture absorption and remarkable rise in the dissolution in vitro behavior of hyperoside. It was worth further studying the application of PVP-S630 in spray drying power of traditional Chinese medicine.
Absorption ; Desiccation ; methods ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Porosity ; Powders ; Pyrrolidines ; chemistry ; Vinyl Compounds ; chemistry ; Wettability

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of Xuebijing injection in the prevention of postoperative systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in the patients with ureteral stones and urinary tract infection during the perioperative period of ureteroscopy.Methods: Totally 64 cases with ureteral stones complicated with urinary tract infection treated with ureteroscopy were selected as the subjects and divided into two groups according to the digital method.The 32 cases in the control group were given the conventional antibiotics during the perioperative period for preventing the incidence of SIRS, and the observation group was given 500ml Xuebijing added to 100ml normal saline for intravenous drip additionally.The incidence of SIRS and the laboratory indicators after the operation were observed and compared between the groups.Results: The incidence of postoperative SIRS of the observation group was 9.38% , which was lower than that of the control group (34.38% , P <0.05);the incidence of sepsis of the observation group was 0%, while there was no statisticcally difference bettween the two groups(P＞0.05).The C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), leucocyte count and endotoxin in the observation group on the 2nd, 4th and 6th day after the operation were better than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion: Xuebijing injection combined with antibiotics has significant clinical effect on the incidence of SIRS after ureteroscopy in the patients with ureteral stones and urinary tract infection, which can effectively improve the clinical indicators and reduce the incidence of sepsis, and is worthy of clinical promoted application.

Objective To determine the correlation between mouse maerophage metalloelastase (MME)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)expression involved in angiogenesis of colon cancer.Methods A eDNA fragment coding for domainsⅠandⅡof MME was transfected into murine CT-26 colon cancer cells that were MME deficient.The enzymatic activity of recombinant MME was confirmed by cleavage of native substrate in vitro.An orthotopic implantation model was established by using MME-transfected cells and control cells.Tumor samples were subjected to in situ hybridization (ISH)and immunohistochemical staining(IHC)to detect expressions of MME and VEGF.The microvessel counting was used to assess angiogenesis of murine colon tumors.Results It was demon- strated that the tumor growth was significantly inhibited in MME-transfected group compared with pcDNA3.1 transfected and nontransfected groups(P＜0.001).It was also found that,compared with pcDNA3.1-transfected and nontransfected groups,the microvessel formation in MME transfected group was significantly reduced(P＜0.001).The expression of VEGF mRNA and protein was significantly lower in MME-transfected group than those in the controls,as demonstrated by ISH(MME-transfected group versus pcDNAa.1-transfected group,P=0.028;and versus nontransfected group,P=0.003) and by IHC(MME-transfected group versus pcDNA3.1-transfected group,P=0.025;and versus non- transfected group,P=0.008).Conclusions The MME gene transfected into murine colon cancer cells can effectively suppress the growth of orthotopic tumors by inhibition of vaseularity.Both MME and VEGF gene expression is highly associated with the vascularity of tumors,which may depend on a hal- ance between MME and VEGF expression.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clubfoot ; physiopathology ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

During the process of growth, harvesting, transportation, processing and storage, Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) can be easily contaminated by fungi and their metabolites like mycotoxins, which not only express negative effects on the quality and safety of CHMs and their processed products, but also pose great threats to human health. Now, some chemical synthetic fungicides have been frequently used to control the growth of fungi and accumulation of mycotoxins in the preservation of CHMs. However, the concentration and type of chemical fungicides allowed for postharvest application are restricted due to the disadvantages of their high residual toxicity, long degradation period and pollution to the environment and so on. Therefore, it is critical to research and develop some highly effective, safe and non-toxic, natural, environment-friendly fungistatic agents from plants to prevent CHMs from being contaminated by fungi and mycotoxins. The paper reviews mycotoxins and their harmfulness, the effective compounds of fungistatic plants as well as the antifungal mechanism to provide scientific evidences for developing novel and effective fungistatic agents plants. Then, the application prospect of fungistatic agents from plants in the preservation of CHMs was discussed.
Animals ; Fungi ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mycotoxins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; microbiology ; Preservation, Biological ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Corbrin shugan capsule for treatment of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis in rats.

METHODSThe rat model of alcoholic hepatic fibrosis was induced by intragastric administration of alcohol repeatedly. The serum procollagen III (PC III), laminin (LN) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) levels were measured with ELISA, and the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) in liver tissue were determined with colorimetric method. Collagen deposition in liver tissue was observed with Masson's staining, and the fibrosis area was measured with digital medical image analysis system (Motic Med 6.0).

RESULTSCompared with the model control group, the serum TIMP-1 and LN levels and hepatic fibrosis area in liver tissue significantly decreased in Corbrin shugan capsule groups with doses of 0.09,0.27 and 0.45 g*kg(-1), and the serum PC III and the Hyp contents in liver tissue also decreased of Corbrin shugan capsule groups with doses of 0.27 and 0.45g*kg(-1).

CONCLUSIONCorbrin shugan capsule can decrease serum PC III, TIMP-1 and LN levels and Hyp levels in liver tissue and hepatic fibrosis area in rats, indicating it may have therapeutic effect on alcoholic hepatic fibrosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Laminin ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Procollagen ; blood ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of CKJ Recipe (consisting of Cordyceps sinensis polysaccharide, amygdaloside, and gypenosides) containing serum on the activation of rat primary hepatic stellate cells (rHSCs) and to explore its pharmacological mechanism.

METHODSrHSCs were isolated form liver and cultured for four days. Then they were divided into the normal control group, the model group, and the CKJ group. rHSCs in the model group and the CKJ group were treated with 2.5 ng/mL transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in serum-free DMEM for 24 h. Serum free DMEM (containing no TGF-beta1) was taken as the control for the normal control group. rHSCs in the CKJ group were treated with 5% CKJ-containing serum for 24 h. rHSCs in the other two groups were treated with 5% blank serum for 24 h.The protein expression level of a smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was determined using high throughput screening (HCS) and Western blot. mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, collagen I (Col-I), platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-betaR), TGF-beta1, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGF-betaR1), and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-beta R2) were detected using quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-betaR1, and TGF-betaR2 significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the protein expression level of alpha-SMA, mRNA expression levels of alpha-SMA, Col-I, PDGF-betaR, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta R2 significantly decreased in the CKJ group (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCKJ containing serum could inhibit the protein expression level of o-SMA, which was probably related with inhibiting TGF-beta1 and its related receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-KB) and the influence of puerarin on it after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

METHODCerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by 90 min of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and followed by 2, 6, 12, 24, 72 h reperfusion. Puerarin or saline was intra-peritoneally injected 1h before MCA occlusion and then the drugs were administered once every six hours. The infarct volume and brain edema were determined by TTC stain. Level of NF-kappaB P65 subunit was determined by immunohistochemistry and western blot.

RESULTImmunohistochemistry revealed the translocation of NF-kappaB. A time course of NF-kappaB induction in brain showed that NF-kappaB P65 subunit obviously increased at 6 h, peaked at 24 h and then decreased by 72 h post-reperfusion. Puerarin decreased the level of NF-kappaB at 24, 72 h after reperfusion. There was a decrease trend in brain infarct volume between puerarin and control.

CONCLUSIONNF-kappaB is translocated and its level is increased after ischemia-reperfusion. Puerarin may attenuate the ischemia-reperfusion injury through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of puerarin with aspirin on the markers of damaged vascular endothelial cells, as von Willebrand factor (vWF), and thrombomodulin (TM) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).

METHODForty-five patients with ACI were included in this study and divided into basic treatment and puerarin groups, meanwhile 26 healthy persons selected as control group. The serum vWF and sTM concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and national institute health stroke scale (NIHSS) score was evaluated at admission and 14 days later after treatment.

RESULTThe level of serum vWF significantly increased in patients with ACI compared to control and major stroke had higher vWF level than minor stroke (P < 0.01), but the serum level of sTM had no obviously differences respectively. Correlation analysis showed that there is a positive correlation between the level of vWF and NIHSS score (P < 0.05, r = 0.368), while the significant correlations between the level of vWF and sTM, sTM and NIHSS score were not observed. After 14 days treatment, the level of serum vWF and NIHSS score were obviously decreased in patients treated with puerarin and aspirin, not in basic treated patients. The level of sTM was increased in patients after 14 d, while puerarin treated patient has lower sTM level than patients with basic treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with ACI cotreated with puerarin and aspirin improved the neurological function, decreased the levels of serum vWF and sTM, indicating puerarin with aspirin had the protective effects on the damaged vascular endothelial cells.

Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thrombomodulin ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism