OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of treatment of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) by the Chinese herbal medicines, Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (C1), Radix Astragalus membranaceus (C2) and Caulis Tripterygium wilfordii (C3); western drugs, hydrocortisone (W1) and azathioprine (W2), and combined W2 with C3.

METHODSEighty SD rats were divided into 8 groups. Except the 10 rats in the normal control group, the other 70 rats were made into animal model of PF by bleomycin administration, and treated with various medicines, except the 10 rats in the model control group. The treatment started from the 15th day of modeling, the model animals were perfused with C1, C2, C3, W1, W2 and W2 + C3 respectively for 14 days. Rats were sacrificed by the end of experiment, their lung tissue was taken for pathological section to conduct the pathological examination under light microscope and computerized image quantitative analysis to evaluate the effects of the treatments objectively.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effect of C1 was the best, that of W1 the second and C2 the third. W2 showed some effect, but PF worsened after the combined therapy of W2 and C3 was applied.

CONCLUSIONRadix Salviae miltiorrhizae shows definite therapeutic effect in treating PF.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Azathioprine ; pharmacology ; Bleomycin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hydrocortisone ; pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Tripterygium

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1 ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP),and discuss the action of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a control group,a model group and an acupuncture group by using the random number table.Rats in the model and acupuncture groups received intramuscular heroin injection for successive 8 d at a progressively increased dose.Afterwards,the injection was suspended for 5 d for withdrawal.The heroin relapse rat model was established by repeating the drug addiction and withdrawal process for 3 times.The control group followed the step of the model establishment,but was given intramuscular injection of normal saline at the stage of addiction and no intervention at the stage of withdrawal;the model group was given intramuscular heroin injection at a progressively increased dose at the addiction stage and no intervention at the withdrawal stage;the acupuncture group was dealt in the same way as the model group at the addiction stage,but received acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) at the withdrawal stage,with the needles retained for 30 min each time,1 session a day,for successive 5 d.On the 39th day,brain tissues were extracted from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the three groups of rats.The apoptosis of brain nerve cells was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling (TUNEL).The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin (Ub),ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) and 26S were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results:Compared with the model group,rat's hippocampus and VTA in the acupuncture group showed significantly fewer cells positively stained by TUNEL staining (P＜0.01),and its mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3,26S were significantly lower (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Reducing nerve cell apoptosis and regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3 and 26S in rat's hippocampus and VTA are possibly one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.

OBJECTIVESTo study the effect of lead acetate on the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein in rat brain and the regulation of thyroid hormone.

METHODSLead acetate was given to SD rats intraperitoneally ip. at the dosage of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively. 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) was used to make a hypothyroid model and then lead acetate was given at the dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight through i.p. The NGF protein expression in rat brain was observed by immunohistochemistry Triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), TSH in serum and T3, T4 in brain tissue were determined by radio immunoassays (RIAs).

RESULTSThe average gray value of NGF protein in cerebral cortex of 50 mg, 100 mg treated groups (180.49 +/- 10.33, 169.72 +/- 19.75, respectively) were lower than the control (200.75 +/- 3.27, P<0.01). The area density of NGF protein in hippocampus of three treated groups (0.08 +/- 0.14, 0.12 +/- 0.02, 0.13 +/- 0.04, respectively) were significantly different from the control (0.025 +/- 0.015, P<0.05). The area density and the average gray value of NGF protein in lead acetate treated hypothyroid rat brain were of no significant changes. The levels of serum T3 in three treated groups [(0.68 +/- 0.02), (0.57 +/- 0.04), (0.54 +/- 0.02) microg/L respectively] and T4 [(28.30 +/- 1.83), (27.35 +/- 2.55), (24.00 +/- 3.01) microg/L] in serum were significantly lower while TSH [(6.34 +/- 1.13), (7.74 +/- 0.79), (9.16 +/- 0.77) IU] higher than those in the control [T3 (0.97 +/- 0.14) microg/L, T4 (54.50 +/- 3.70) microg/L and TSH (4.62 +/- 2.16) IU], and there was a good dose-response relationship. The levels of T3 in cerebral cortex of three treated groups [(13.26 +/- 0.81), (11.49 +/- 0.10), (10.42 +/- 1.19) pg/mg pro respectively] and T4 [(0.50 +/- 0.03), (0.49 +/- 0.13), (0.42 +/- 0.01) ng/mg pro] were significantly lower than those in control [(20.85 +/- 11.01) pg/mg pro, (0.76 +/- 0.14) ng/mg pro, P<0.05, P<0.01].

CONCLUSIONLead could increase the NGF protein expression in rat brain, which may be regulated by thyroid hormone.

Animals ; Brain Chemistry ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; Organometallic Compounds ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thyroid Hormones ; analysis ; blood ; physiology

Cysts ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study on the drug release characteristics and mechanism of gastrodin ion-activated nasal in situ gel in vitro.

METHODRegularity and mechanism of the drug release of gastrodin nasal in situ gel were studied by using the diffusion cell model and the membrane-less dissolution model, respectively. A novel kinesis diffusion cell model was designed according to the characteristics of release environment of nasal cavity. It was used to investigate the effect of adhesiveness on the release of the in situ gel.

RESULTDrug release of gastrodin nasal in situ gel followed the one order release model. Erosion rate of the gel was low and not linearly correlated with the release rate. Compared with gastrodin solution, the nasal in situ gel could increase release time and release amount.

CONCLUSIONGastrodin in the nasal in situ gel is released mainly by diffusion rather than erosion. Release amount of the in situ gel in nasal cavity may be obviously increased because of its adhesiveness.

Adhesiveness ; Benzyl Alcohols ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Calibration ; Diffusion ; Gels ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Chemical ; Nose ; metabolism ; Solubility

OBJECTIVEObserve the effects of Goutengsan on SOD, MAO-B, GSH-PX, NO, LDH, index of brain, rate of death and so on in rats to study therapeutic effects and mechanism of Goutengsan on Alzheimer dementia (AD) model.

METHODOne hundred and twenty rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 3 experimental groups of which were daily administrated with Goutengsan extract whereas the model and control groups were given NS (0.01 mL x g(-1)). Aniracetam at 0.1 g x kg(-1) served as a positive control. At the 5th day after administration, all groups except the control were administrated (ip) with AlCl3 (100 mg x kg(-1) ) for successive 50 days at 1 day interval. After administration, the death rate, body weight, training scores, brain index, MAO-B, SOD, GSH-Px in brain and NO, LDH in serum were determined.

RESULTThe brain index, SOD, GSH-Px activities as well as NO content of drug-treated groups were strikingly higher that of model group, and had not obvious difference from that of normal group except content of LDH was higher.

CONCLUSIONGoutengsan could increase the brain index, cut down the rate of death, stable increase of body weight, promote the endogenous antioxidant activity, enhance the clearance of lipid peroxide and other metabolic waste, inhibit the MAO-B activity, reduced the leakage of LDH and maintain the content of NO at a normal level. Therefore Goutengsan could protect cells, delay senile, improve symptoms of AD.

Aluminum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chlorides ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pyrrolidinones ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Aluminum ; adverse effects ; Female ; Granuloma ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Sarcoidosis ; etiology ; therapy

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate penetration characteristics of artemether and the effect of different permeation enhancer on transdermal permeation of artemether through rat skin.

METHODThe permeation experiments were performed using rat skin on modified Franz diffusion cells in vitro. The concentrations of artemether in receptor compartment at specified time points were determined by HPLC.

RESULTThe permeating ratio through human skin of artemether solution was Js (2.78 +/- 0.78) microg x cm(-2) x h(-1), the quantity of drug penetrated through and accumulated in the skin by the end of the experiment were (69.07 +/- 3.01) microg x cm(-2), (58.93 +/- 3.56) microg x cm(-2) respectively. Four different permeation enhancers can improve the transdermal permeation of artemether.

CONCLUSIONArtemether have the potential to be developed to new transdermal preparation.

Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic ; chemistry ; Animals ; Artemisinins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Permeability ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism