Objective To study the (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) function on the proliferation of T cells derived from the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA-related cytokine levels and the role of EGCG on RA synovial fibroblasts (FLS) proliferation was investigated. Methods ① Mononuclear cells from RA peripheral blood (30 cases) and synovial fluid (23 cases)were isolated. Blank group, negative control group, positive control methotrexate (MTX) group and therapeutic group with three different concentrations of EGCG were set up. Incorporated isotope 3H was used to test T cell proliferation from RA-PBMC and SFMC. ELISA assay was used to test cytokine (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-17A) levels. ② MTT assay was used to test FLS proliferation from RA synovial tissue (8 cases).Results ① The CPM value of the high-dose group of EGCG in the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients was [ ( 15 136±2910), ( 11 587±3135 ) ], which was declined significantly than the control group (42856±2127) (P＜0.01). The levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-17A in the high-dose group of EGCG in the peripheral blood were [(321±13), (298±20), (132±12), (197±7), (59±8) pg/ml], which were decreased significantly than those of the control group [ (458±28), (505±26), (346±28), (405±25),(109±13) pg/ml ] (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ). The levels of TNF-o, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-17A in the highdose group of EGCG in the synovial fluid were [(41.4±2.9), (182±16), (56.3±11.0), (34.2±1.9), (44±8)pg/ml ], which was decre-ased significantly than the control group [ ( 388.3± 19.3 ), (469±20), ( 104.2±17.8 ),( 114.5±4.8), ( 104±11 ) pg/ml] (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ). ② The level (A) of the high-dose group of EGCG in the FLS was (0.08±0.02), which was declined significantly than the blank group (0.27±0.04) (P＜0.05).Conclusion ① In vitro EGCG can inhibit T cell proliferation from peripheral blood and synovial fluid of RA patients and the TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1, IL-6 and IL-17A secretion are decreased. ② In vitro EGCG can inhibit the proliferation of RA FLS.

Objective: To observe the clinical therapeutic effects of supplementing Qi and activating blood circulation method(益气活血法) for critically ill patients.Methods: Ninety critically ill patients with(Qi-deficiency)(气虚) and blood stasis(血瘀) syndromes who diagnosed according to standard in a book named clinical diagnosis and treatment nomenclature of traditional Chinese medicine were randomly divided into the the treatment group(n=60) and the control group(n=30).The general therapy of the two groups was the same.Additionlly,the treatment group was administered Shenmai injection(丹参注射液) and Danshen power(丹参粉针剂),15 days were as one therapeutic course.Results: In the treatment group,the total effective rate of clinical therapeutic effects was 85.00 %;before and after treatment,traditional Chinese medical scores was 38.63?9.08 vs.24.27?7.43,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) 18.11?4.54 vs.12.47?1.64,platelet(PLT) count(198.00?54.16)?10~9/L vs.(174.00?40.82)?10~9/L,(haematocrit)(HCT) 0.340?0.049 vs.0.440?0.057,mean cell hemoglobin(MCH)(34.00?3.10)pg(vs.(31.00?1.83) pg).The differences of above parameters were significant between the two groups,and they were superior in the treatment group to those in the control group(all P

Resveratrol, as a natural polyphenolic compound, has a wide range of beneficial effects, which includes anti-tumor, cardiovascular protection, anti-oxidant and estrogen-like effects, and so on. Its various physiological properties are closely related to the therapeutic principle for prevention and treatment of high altitude hypoxia injury. Resveratrol may play an important role in relieving or curing high altitude diseases, especially high altitude polycythemia(HAPC). However, the literature about study and application of resveratrol in plateau medicine field is rarely reported up to now. In this review, we summarized the physiological effects of resveratrol, discussed the possible main principle of resveratrol for HAPC therapy, and looked forward to resveratrol's perspective or potential application in high altitude medicine.
Altitude ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; drug therapy ; Polycythemia ; drug therapy ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of allitridin injection on the expression of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early antigens (IEAs including IE72 and IE86) in human embryonic lung cells.

METHODHCMV AD 169 Virus strain infected cell model (MOI = 2.5 and 0.25, respectively) were established, and then treated with ICm5 and MTC doses of allitridin. Western blot was used to analyze the of IE72 and IE86 expression after the treatment, ganciclovir(GCV, IC50 and 2.3 x IC50) treatment as control.

RESULTNo matter what kind of MOI was used, both IE86 and IE72 antigens' expression was effectively suppressed by allitridin treatment, and the inhibitory rate of IE86 was almost twice of IE72's. Compared with GCV, allitridin had stronger inhibitory effect on IE86 expressing, although its efficacy on IE72 was weaker than GCV.

CONCLUSIONAllitridin could suppress the expression of IE72 and IE86, especially for IE86 expressing, maybe it is ore of key role in the mechanism of allitridin against HCMV.

Allyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; physiology ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Garlic ; chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; drug effects ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Injections ; Lung ; cytology ; Sulfides ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; metabolism

The present study aimed to find out dynamic changes of apoptosis in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infected cells and the influence of HCMV infection on activation of caspase3 and the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes, bcl-2 and fas mRNA. The sequential changes of apoptotic cell rate in high and low MOI (MOI= 2.5 and 0.25 respectively) of HCMV infected human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELFs) at 1 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h post-infection were measured by flow cytometry. The expression levels of caspase-3 protein and bcl-2 and fas mRNA in HCMV infected cells (MOI=0.25) at 72 h post-infection were detected by Western blot and in situ hybridization methods, respectively. It was found that the ratio of apoptotic cells in normal controls was consistently lower, but the rates in low and high MOI infected cells were gradually increased with time prolonged, reached peak at 96 h (8.85 %) and 72 h (25.63 %), respectively. By Western blot analysis, only a narrow band of 32 kD (1 kD=0. 992 1 ku) procaspase-3 was found in normal cells, but a wider procaspase-3 band and a much wider band of 17 kD proteins (p17) appeared in the infected cells. Meanwhile, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA was higher and that of fas mRNA was lower in the normal HELF cells, whereas there were significantly lower bcl-2 mRNA and higher fas mRNA expression levels in HCMV infected cells. It was concluded that HCMV was a stronger inducer of apoptosis in HELF cells. Caspase-3, as the marker of undergoing apoptosis,was expressed increasingly and activated in the infected cells, indicating its action in HCMV-inducing apoptosis. Down-regulating bcl-2 mRNA expression and up-regulating fas mRNA expression were also involved in the mechanism of HCMV-induced apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo demonstrate the vasodilatation activity of the coumarin-containing Angelica dahurica var. formosana and to further analyze active components in the herb extracts.

METHODS(1) The vasodilatation effects induced by different extracts (cyclohexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, 95 % ethanol and water) of Angelica dahurica var. formosana on mouse thoracic aorta pre-contracted with phenylephrine were investigated. (2) The amount of imperatorin and isoimperatorin in each extract was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. (3) The vasodilatation effects of imperatorin and isoimperatorin on mouse thoracic aorta were compared using the same in vitro method. (4) The vasodilatation mechanism of imperatorin in the mouse thoracic aorta pre-contracted with phenylephrine was studied using the methods of denuded endothelium, NG-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), and propranolol.

RESULTS(1) The cyclohexane and ethyl acetate extracts of Angelica dahurica var. formosana decreased the maximal response of phenylephrine-induced mouse thoracic aorta contraction dose-dependently, with 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) values of 35.3+/-12.4 mg/L and 40.5+/-12.0 mg/L, respectively. The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin and isoimperatorin was dose-dependent. (2) The cyclohexane extract, showing the strongest vasodilatation effect, possessed the highest contents of imperatorin (4.09%) and isoimperatorin (0.27%, w/w). There was a correlation between the vasodilatation activity and the contents of imperatorin and isoimperatorin in the extracts. (3) The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin was about 4-fold stronger than that of isoimperatorin. (4) The vasodilatation effect of imperatorin was signifificantly attenuated to 24.88%+/-4.06% in the denuded endothelium group compared with the intact endothelium group. And 1 mmol/L L-NAME reduced the imperatorin-induced vasorelaxation by 32.18 %+/-11.29 %.

CONCLUSIONSThe principal effective component of Angelica dahurica var. Formosana was found to be imperatorin. Imperatorin-induced vasodilatation is at least partially regulated by nitric oxide, and has no correlation to beta-receptor.

Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Furocoumarins ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Phenylephrine ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Propranolol ; pharmacology ; Vasodilation ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different concentration extract from Shenghua decoction on contractile activity of the uterine smooth muscle isolated from normal, estrogen-treated and postpartum mice.

METHODMedlab/4 s vital signal recorder was used to measure the effects of extract from Shenghua decoction (3-12 mg x mL(-1)) on contractile amplitude and frequency of the isolated uterus from normal, estrogen-treated and postpartum mice.

RESULTShenghua decoction extract (3-12 mg x mL(-1)) significantly decreased the contractile activity of the mouse isolated uterus in normal non-pregnancy and postpartum, but significantly increased that of the mouse isolated uterus treated with estrogen, and didn't show significant concentration-response relationship.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of Shenghua decoction extract on contractile activity of mouse-isolated uterus treated with estrogen cannot represent the pharmacological effects on that of in normal non-pregnancy and postpartum uterus.

Angelica sinensis ; chemistry ; Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mice ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Postpartum Period ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects

To screen for serum biomarkers for lung squamous carcinoma, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was performed to separate serum proteins from healthy individuals and stage 1 lung squamous carcinoma(LSC) patients, respectively. PDquest software was used to analyze 2-DE images, and the differential serum protein spots between the healthy individuals and LSC patients were identified by ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. Then Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression levels of haptoglobin-2(HP-2), one of the differential proteins, in the sera and tumor tissues in the patients with LSC, respectively. 2-DE maps of serum proteins from healthy individuals and stage 1 LSC patients were established. Ten differential serum protein spots were detected, four proteins of which were identified by MS/MS. Western blot showed that the serum level of HP-2 in the LSC patients was significantly higher than that in healthy individuals, but was not associated with LSC staging. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression level of HP-2 in the LSC tissues was significantly higher than that in the normal bronchial epithelial tissues adjacent to tumors. The results indicated that serum HP-2 protein is a candidate biomarker for LSC, and might be useful for diagnosis of LSC. Up-regulation of HP-2 in the LSC tissues may contribute to the high serum level of HP-2 in the patients.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the thoracic approach to thoracic paravertebral blockade ( PVB) performed via video-assisted thoracoscope on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing lobectomy. Methods A total of 84 patients of both sexes, aged 44-64 yr, with body mass index of 19. 7-24. 9 kg∕m2 , of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅡorⅢ, scheduled for elective vide-o-assisted thoracoscopic unilateral lobectomy, were divided into 2 groups ( n=42 each) using a random number table method: thoracic PVB group (TP group) and control group (C group). In TP group, the thoracic approach to thoracic PVB was performed on the affected side via video-assisted thoracoscope before closing the chest, and 0. 375％ ropivacaine hydrochloride 20 ml was injected. Then patient-controlled intra-venous analgesia ( PCIA) was performed in both groups. PCIA solution contained dezocine 0. 6 mg∕kg, flurbiprofen axetil 200 mg, palonosetron 0. 5 mg and dexamethasone 10 mg in 120 ml of normal saline. The PCA pump was set up with a 0. 5 ml bolus dose, a 15 min lockout interval and background infusion at a rate of 2 ml∕h after a loading dose of 5 ml. Duration of operation was recorded. The peak expiratory flow rate ( PEFR) was recorded before surgery and at 6, 24 and 48 h after surgery. The amount of dezocine and pressing times of PCA were recorded at 24 and 48 h after surgery. The occurrence of drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting was recorded after surgery. Tramadol 2 mg∕kg was intravenously injected as rescue an-algesic when visual analog scale score≥4 points. Results Compared with group C, the amount of dezo-cine and pressing times of PCA were significantly reduced at 24 and 48 h after surgery, the requirement for rescue analgesia and incidence of nausea and vomiting were decreased, and the PEFR was increased at 6 h after operation in group TP ( P<0. 05) . Conclusion The thoracic approach to PVB performed via video-assisted thoracoscope can enhance the efficacy of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing lobectomy.

Adolescent ; Altitude ; Brain ; drug effects ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Tablets