OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shenxiong Huayu Capsule (SHC) on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) after total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats.

METHODSTotally 100 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the group A (by taking SHC once daily), the group B (by taking SHC twice daily), and the group C (by taking SHC thrice daily), 20 in each group. The total IR model was prepared by improved Pulsinelli's 4-vessel occlusion method. Morphological changes of the hippocampal CA1 region were observed by HE staining at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using immunohistochemical assay at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Meanwhile, the behavioral score was determined. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using Western blot at day 14.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the expression of GAP43 increased in the model group, the behavioral score was elevated, degenerated neurons increased, and survival neurons decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of GAP-43 increased (with the most significant difference seen in the group C, P < 0.01), the behavioral score significantly decreased, degenerated neurons decreased, and survival neurons increased in each HSC group (all P < 0.05). Survival neurons obviously increased at day 14, of which, most number of survival neurons and highest contents of GAP43 protein could be seen in the group C, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the group A and the group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHC had protective effect on total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1, which might be associated with increased expression of GAP43.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of long-term high-fat diet on insulin resistance and the morphology and function of islets in rats and the relationship between them.Methods Thirty normal male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were divided into two groups and fed either with normal chow (NC,n=15),or high-caloric and high-fat diet (HF,n=15).Insulin resistance was assessed by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. The insulin secretory function of islets was evaluated by intravenous insulin releasing test.Morphological and quantitative analysis of pancreatic tissues was performed by double-label insulin and glucagon immunohistochemistry.Proinsulin mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Results The glucose infusion rate (GIR) in HF rats was significandy lower than that in NC rats [(5.83?0.79)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1) vs (7.60?1.29)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.05].Immunohistochemistry showed that HF rats had larger islet size [(15168?1327)?m~2 vs (6264?1840)?m~2,P＜0.01] and significantly reduced insulin relative concentration of?cells[(-5.15?0.03) vs (-4.81?0.17),P＜0.01],as compared with NC rats.The islet relative?cell volume was decreased signifieandy (P＜0.01),whereas the relative?cell volume was increased (P＜0.01).So the ratio of?to?were lower in HF [(4.68?1.01) vs (11.84?3.82),P＜0.05].The peak of insulin secretion in intravenous insulin releasing test in HF was at 10 min,whereas that in NC rats was at 5 min.AUC (area under curve) 10-60 rain of insulin in HF was higher than that in NC rats [(152.51?34.53)mIU?L~(-1)?min~(-1) vs (86.40?21.21) mIU?L~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01].There was no difference in proinsulin mRNA levels between two groups. Conclusion Long-term high-caloric and high-fat diet results in early impairment of islet morphology and function, as well as significant insulin resistance,suggesting that the compensation ability of islets has already been impaired in the early course of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of osteopontin (OPN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acute leukemia (AL) and its significance in the angiogenesis and progress of AL. Serum levels of OPN and VEGF in 25 de novo patients, 19 complete remitted (CR) patients, 14 unremitted patients, and 11 relapsed patients with AL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and compared with those in normal controls. The results showed that the serum levels of OPN and VEGF in de novo, unremitted, relapsed patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls and CR patients (p < 0.01). Compared with de novo AL patients group, the serum levels of OPN and VEGF in CR patients decreased significantly, but showed no significant difference from those in normal controls (p > 0.05). The expression of OPN and VEGF in acute leukemia was positively correlated with occurrence and development of AL. It is concluded that the expressions of OPN and VEGF are closely related with AL occurrence and development, the OPN may regulate VEGF expression and promote angiogenesis in acute leukemia. Preventing expressions of OPN may seem as targets for leukemia therapy in the future.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine the physiological role of D-bifunctional protein (DBP) in bile acid biosynthesis through investigating the effect of increasing activity of DBP on bile acid biosynthesis.

METHODSTwenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, hepatic DBP activity, and fecal bile acids were assayed. The mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), DBP, and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, serum triglyceride level was decreased significantly and PPARalphamRNA level was increased significantly in DEHP group (P < 0.01). Together with a sharp induction of DBP mRNA expression and DBP activity in DEHP group (P < 0.01), the levels of CYP7A1 mRNA and fecal bile acids were significantly increased by 1.9 times and 1.6 times respectively compared to control group (P < 0.01). There was a significantly positive correlation between DBP mRNA level or DBP activity and CYP7A1 mRNA level (r = 0.89, P < 0.01; r = 0.95, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of DBP mRNA and activity in liver can result in the increase in CYP7A1 mRNA expression and bile acid biosynthesis, suggesting that DBP may be involved in bile acid biosynthesis together with CYP7A1.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; biosynthesis ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; analysis ; Enoyl-CoA Hydratase ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Multienzyme Complexes ; metabolism ; PPAR alpha ; analysis ; Peroxisomal Multifunctional Protein-2 ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Yufeng Capsule (YFC), a Chinese herbal preparation with function of clearing Heat-toxin in treating premonitory symptoms of apoplexy in middle and old aged patients.

METHODSOne hundred and fourteen patients with premonitory symptoms of apoplexy were treated with YFC and compared with 57 patients treated with Venoruton for control. The changes of clinical symptoms, anti-oxidation capability, blood lipid, blood sugar and hemorrheological parameters were observed.

RESULTS(1) The therapeutic effect in the YFC group was cured in 42 cases (36.84%), markedly effective in 38 (33.33%), effective in 28 (24.58%) and the total effective rate was 94.74%, while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 9 (15.79%), 8(14.04%), 20(35.09%) and 64.91% respectively, the difference between the two groups in cure rate, markedly effective rate and total effective rate was significant (P < 0.05); (2) The whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, hemagglutination index and red blood cell deformity index in the YFC group were significantly improved after treatment (P < 0.01) and the improvement was better than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); (3) Levels of serum malonyldialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), blood lipids and glucose were markedly improved in the YFC group (P < 0.05) after treatment, and showed a significant difference to those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONYFC has obvious effect in treating premonitory symptoms of apoplexy patients, it could markedly improve the hemorrheologic parameters, regulate blood lipids and blood glucose metabolism, and strengthen the anti-oxidation capability of patients.

Aged ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemic Attack, Transient ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

AIM: To explore the frequency of drug injection of alloxan diabetes on the established model of rabbit.METHODS: Thirty-six healthy rabbits, weighing 2-2.5kg, were randomly divided into one time drug injection group (group A, n=12), two times drug injection group (group B, n=12) and three times drug injection group (group C, n=12). Each rabbit was injected with a total amount of 150mg/kg of alloxan. Fasting blood glucose was measured. The success rate and death rate of each group were also calculated.RESULTS: The success rate of diabetic rabbit model in group B was higher than that in group A (P<0.01) and its death rate was lower than that of group A (P<0.01); the success rate of diabetic rabbit model in group C was highest and the death rate was the lowest in three groups(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Multiple administration of alloxan can improve success rate in establishing diabetic rabbit model with decreased death rate and increased stability.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are crucial for studying the mechanism and regulation of vasogenic response, but so far no ideal method has been reported for their isolation. We established a VMSC isolation method based on two-step digestion, with which a large population of single smooth muscle cells could be obtained. After cell isolation, the potassium current, cytosolic calcium concentration, reactivity to caffeine were measured, and the results demonstrated that the cells were highly viable and exhibited reactivity to the vascular constrictor to meet various needs in experimental research.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Mesenteric Arteries ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

0.05);2)After 12,24,36 months' treatment,BP was decreased significantly in each group (P0.05).Conclusion Both combined spirono- lactone/HCTZ and captopril/HCTZ significantly reduced BP and LVMI or LVMI and the maguitude of reduction was further enhanced after prolonged treatment.

Na+/H+ antiporter plays an important role in mechanisms of the plant salt tolerance, it extrudes Na+ from cell energized by the proton gradient generated by the plasm membrane H(+)-ATPase and/or compartmentalizes Na+ in vacuole energized by the proton gradient generated by the vacuolar membrane H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-PPiase. This review mainly discusses the latest progress in the study of Na+/H+ antiporter in plant and yeast at molecular level.
Phylogeny ; Plants ; metabolism ; Salts ; metabolism ; Sodium ; metabolism ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers ; classification ; metabolism ; Vacuoles ; physiology