Objective: To observe the effects of astragaloside IV on myocardial fibrosis and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression in experimental rats with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Methods: CHF model was established by abdominal aorta constriction (AAC) and the rats were divided into 5 groups:Sham operation group, the rats received normal saline 2 ml/day, n=10, CHF group, the rats received normal saline 2 ml/day, n=12;Astragaloside IV groups, CHF rats received astragaloside IV at (20, 40, 60) mg/kg respectively and n=12 in each group. All animals were treated for 4 weeks. Hemodynamic indexes were monitored, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was calculated, morphologic changes of myocardial tissue was observed by HE staining, myocardial ifbrosis degree and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were measured by Masson staining. The mRNA and protein expressions of CTGF were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, Western-blot analysis respectivety.
Results: Compared with CHF group, 3 Astragaloside IV groups had decreased LVMI and CVF, P<0.05-0.01;Astragaloside IV (40 and 60) mg/kg groups presented decreased LVEDP and LVSP, increased ±dp/dtmax, P<0.01 to P<0.05 and improved pathological morphology. Compared with Sham group, CHF group had increased average CTGF OD value (0.09 ± 0.03) vs (0.45 ± 0.04) and increased expression of myocardial CTGF (0.57 ± 0.06);compared with CHF group, the average CTGF OD values in Astragaloside IV (20, 40, 60) mg/kg groups were all decreased (0.39 ± 0.05), (0.30 ± 0.06), (0.24 ± 0.04) and decreased expressions of myocardial CTGF (0.44 ± 0.05), (0.35 ± 0.02), (0.28 ± 0.03) respectively, all P<0.01.
Conclusion: Astragaloside IV can inhibit myocardial ifbrosis and improve cardiac function in CHF rats, which might be via inhibiting the over expression of myocardial CTGF.

OBJECTIVE： To rapidly identify chemical components of Zhitong huazheng capsules （shorted for “ZTHZC”）， and to provide reference for further elucidating the pharmacodynamic material basis and overall quality control. METHODS： UPLC-Q-TOF/MS method was adopted to separate the chemical components of ZTHZC. By reviewing literatures that related to chemical components of ZTHZC and its single Chinese traditional medicinal crops， the chemical structure of the chemical components was saved into a .mol format file， and supplemented the UNIFI database. The chemical constituents of ZTHZC were qualitatively analyzed by UNIFI database screening， and validated according to their precise molecular mass， characteristic ions， neutral loss， secondary mass spectrometry cleavage， chromatographic retention behavior， combined reference information and literature reports. RESULTS： A total of 70 chemical components were identified in this experiment， including 38 organic acids and organic acid esters， 8 alkaloids， 9 flavonoids， 5 triterpenoid saponins， 5 aldehydes， 2 ketones， 1 quinone， 1 polyacetylene and 1 monoterpenoid. CONCLUSIONS： This study provides a rapid detection and identification method for chemical components of ZTHZC， and also provides a scientific basis for the clarification of ZTHZC’s quality control and pharmacodynamics.

OBJECTIVE： To provide reference for strengthening clinical application of key monitoring drugs and promoting rational drug use in clinic. METHODS： Based on evidence-based medicine， taking key monitoring drugs Shuxuetong injection as example， clinical evidence of domestic and foreign clinical studies were collected. The included literatures were graded according to the quality of GRADE evidence and recommended strength system. Evidence-based medicine evidence for the indications of Shuxuetong injection were evaluated， and criterion for clinical use of Shuxuetong injection was formulated in Huaihua First People’s Hospital （our hospital）. RESULTS： The main content of criterion for clinical application of Shuxuetong injection formulated by our hospital was that there was A-level evidence support for acute ischemic cerebral infarction， but it was weakly recommended and only used for adjuvant therapy； there was B-level evidence support for anticoagulation （for preventing DVT）， diabetic peripheral nerve lesion， but it was weakly recommended； there was only C-level or D-level evidence support for other indications， it was strongly recommendation against use. CONCLUSIONS： Clinical pharmacists formulate the criterion for clinical application of Shuxuetong injection by evidence quality evaluation method， provide reference for clinical application management of key monitoring drug and play an important effect on rational drug use in clinic.

OBJECTIVE To explore the protective effect and possible mechanism of baicalein on hypoxia-induced cortical neuron injury in rats. METHODS The cortical neurons of rats （RN-C cells） were studied and cultured under hypoxic conditions （5%CO2， 94% N2， 1%O2） for 24 hours； the effects of different concentrations of baicalein （0.01， 0.1， 1， 10， 100 μmol/L） on the survival rate of hypoxic RN-C cells were investigated； the effects of baicalein （0.1 μmol/L） on the activities of lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and superoxide dismutase （SOD）， the content of malondialdehyde （MDA）， migration rate， apoptotic rate， cell cycle and the expressions of cleaved caspase-3， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） and Bcl-2 X protein （Bax） were all detected. RESULTS Compared with control group， the survival rate of cells in the hypoxia group was significantly reduced （P＜0.01）； 0.01， 0.1 and 1 μmol/L baicalein could reverse survival rate of hypoxia-induced cortical neurons （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Scratch experiments showed that baicalein significantly increased the migration rate of hypoxic RN-C cells （P＜0.01）. Compared with control group， the activity of LDH in the supernatant and the content of MDA in the cells， apoptotic rate and the proportion of cells in G1 phase， were significantly increased in the hypoxia group， while SOD activity and the proportion of cells in G2+S phase was decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The protein expressions of cleaved caspase-3 were increased significantly， while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in cells was significantly reduced （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with hypoxia group， the above indexes were all reversed significantly in baicalein group （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Baicalein can promote the proliferation and migration of cortical neurons， improve hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution， decrease the activity of LDH in supernatant and the level of cellular lipid peroxidation， and improve antioxidant levels. Its mechanism may be related to regulating the caspase- 3/Bax/Bcl-2 pathway.