Background: Synaptic plasticity contributes to nociceptive signal transmission and modulation, with calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) playing a fundamental role in neural plasticity. This research was conducted to investigate the role of CaMK II in the transmission and regulation of nociceptive information within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. Methods: Randall Selitto and hot-plate tests were utilized to measure the hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) in response to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli. To induce chronic morphine tolerance, rats received intraperitoneal morphine injection twice per day for seven days. CaMK II expression and activity were assessed using western blotting. Results: Intra-NAc microinjection of autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) induced an increase in HWLs in naïve rats in response to noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, the expression of the phosphorylated CaMK II (p-CaMK II) was significantly decreased as determined by western blotting. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of morphine resulted in significant morphine tolerance in rats on Day 7, and an increase of p-CaMK II expression in NAc in morphine-tolerant rats was observed. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of AIP elicited significant antinociceptive responses in morphine-tolerant rats. In addition, compared with naïve rats, AIP induced stronger thermal antinociceptive effects of the same dose in rats exhibiting morphine tolerance. Conclusions This study shows that CaMK II in the NAc is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rats.

To analyse the familial aggregation and genetic predisposition of Shen-yin deficiency syndrome (SYDS) in families with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Methods One hundred and forty-one DM2 patients were collected from 32 family lines in Nanjin area, in which the probands were differentiated as DM2 with SYDS. On them, genetic analysis on the characteristics of SYDS was conducted using pedigree analysis, morbidity and heritability of the first-degree relatives of the probands were calculated, and the action of familial SYDS factor on the genesis of the syndrome was assessed by multiple factors regression analysis. Results The morbidity rate of SYDS in the first-degree relatives of the probands was 33.71%, and the heritability, calculated by Falconer formula, was 80.6%. The fitting result of regression analysis showed that familial factor played an important role in SYDS genesis (OR = 5.61, P = 0.001), but DM2 itself is not an independent risk factor for it. Conclusion DM2 with SYDS shows the tendency of familial aggregation and genetic predisposition, genetic factor is associated with the genesis of the syndrome. Pedigree research is a good method for exploring the relationship between syndrome and genetic factor.
Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pedigree ; Yin Deficiency ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacological effects of Liangyuan Pipagao on cough reflex and ciliary action. Liangyuan Pipagao is a compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Cough was induced by aerosol citric acid in guinea pigs and aerosol capsacin in mice. Excretion function of the airway in mice was determined by phenol red method. Ciliary movement function of frog esophagus was examined by a migration method of charcoal granules. RESULTS: Liangyuan Pipagao inhibited both the citric acid-induced cough in guinea pigs and capsacin-induced cough in mice. ID(50)value 2.64 g/kg (95%Cl1.12 approximately 6.19) and 11.40 g/kg (95%Cl5.76 approximately 22.58) respectively. Further, Liangyuan Pipagao increased phenol red excretion in mice airways and stimulated ciliary action of frog esophagusin a dose-dependent fashion. ED(50) value 7.70 g/kg (95%Cl 4.62 approximately 12.83) and EC(25) value 1.07 X 10(-4) (95% Cl 0.394 approximately 2.92x10(-4)) respectively. CONCLUSION: Liangyuan Pipagao a traditional Chinese medicine may have anti-tussive as well as expectorant actions.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the chemotherapy effect of high-dose tamoxifen(TAM) in the patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR-1) non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods: A total of 108 patients with refractory NSCLC were divided at random into four groups: A,B,C,and D. Each group contained 27 patients. A,B,and C were study group, D was control group. TAM was given from the third day before chemotherapy up to 11 days dose of TAM for group A: 40 mg, tid;group B: 60 mg, tid;group C: 80 mg, tid;group D: Simple chemotherapy. The dosage and schedule of the chemotherapy regimen was just same in every group: VDS 2.5 mg/m2 d1,d8, ADM 30 mg/m2 d2, DDP 80 mg/m2 d4,d5. The therapeutic effect of each group after having been performed 3 cyeles,and treatment rested 30 days was evaluated. Results:The response rates of the A,B,C,and D group were 33.3％ (9/27),48.1％ (13/27),55.6％ (15/27),25.9％ (7/27),respectively. The response rate of group C was the highest and group D was the lowest. Compared group A,B,C with group D,A∶ D P >0.05, the difference did not reach statistical significance;B∶ D P >0.05, the difference did not reach statistical significance;C∶ D P<0.05, the difference reached statistical significance. The major side effect of chemotherapy had not difference in every group. Only four patients of group C with TAM 240 mg/d developed psychiatric symptom, and TAM was abandoned after symptom automatic extinction. Conclusions: High dose TAM can be safely administered and may inhibit MDR-1 function. The dose of TAM become positive correlation to it's effect.

The compatibility of Chinese medicine and western medicine is becoming more and more common,but the changes in efficacy and adverse reactions of drug interaction caused by drug interaction has attracted more and more attentions.This article mainly expounds the interaction between Chinese medicine and western medicine in four aspects:absorption,distribution,metabolism and excretion of drugs.Among them,Chinese medicine can affect western medicine absorption by changing the gastrointestinal pH,gastrointestinal motility and gastric emptying time changes,the chelate complexes,and the precipitate formation;it can change the distribution of the main active ingredients in western medicine;it can change liver microsomal enzyme and non-microsomal enzyme to affect western medicine metabolism,the western medicine excretion through the bile and kidney,and western medicine transport process in vivo by P-glycoprotein.The article explains the pros and cons of Chinese medicine and western medicine from the pharmacokinetic process,which provides the basis for the clinical guidance for the combination therapy of Chinese medicine and western medicine.

OBJECTIVEHeart failure is responsible for a huge burden in hospital care. Our goal was to evaluate the value of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) on predicting death or hospital readmission after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSFrom March 2003 to April 2005, 135 consecutive patients (97 male and 38 female, mean age 60.7 years +/- 13.1 years) with chronic heart failure [dilated cardiomyopathy (44%) and coronary heart disease (35%)] were included in this study. Plasma concentrations of the Nt-proBNP were measured by ELISA on admission. All patients received conventional therapy and were followed up for 24 months. The primary end point was death or readmission.

RESULTS(1) During the follow up period (640 days +/- 100 days), 11 patients died and 39 patients rehospitalized, the median Nt-proBNP level on admission was significantly higher in patients died during the follow up period (5908 ng/L) than that of rehospitalized patients (2768 ng/L, P = 0.038). Plasma Nt-proBNP level on admission were significantly higher in primary end point group (n = 50, 2947 ng/L) than that in non-primary end point group (n = 85, 917 ng/L, P < 0.01). (2) Variables associated with an increased hazard of death and/or rehospitalization were Nt-proBNP and NYHA degree when analyzed by logistic regression models. Increased Log Nt-proBNP was the strongest independent predictor of an adverse outcome of CHF (odds ratio 13.8, 95% confidence interval 2.29 to 2.78, P < 0.01). (3) Area under the curve for Nt-proBNP in evaluating prognosis of CHF patients was 0.885 (positive predictive value 88.5%, negative predictive value 11.5%).

CONCLUSIONNt-proBNP level on admission is a strong predictor of rehospitalization and death within 24 months after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Prognosis ; Ventricular Function ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of very late antigen(VLA) antagonist BIO-1211 on eosinophil chemotaxis, recruitment and mediator release.

METHODSEosinophil chemotaxis was induced by platelet activating factor(PAF) in vitro and eosinophil recruitment and release were determined in vivo.

RESULTVLA antagonist BIO-1211 inhibited eosinophil chemotaxis induced by PAF. The inhibitory rates at 4x10(-11), 4x10(-10), 4x10(-9) mol x L(-1) were 24.9%, 29.9%, and 31.3%, respectively. Pretreatment by BIO-1211 1, 3 and 10 mg x kg(-1) intraperitoneally inhibited the recruitment of eosinophils in PAF in the rat induced by Sephadex in a dose dependent manner. Inhibitory rates were 60.3%, 68.9%, and 72.9%(P<0.05), respectively. BIO-1211 did not inhibit eosinophil peroxidase(EPO) release from eosinophils.

CONCLUSIONBIO-1211 inhibits eosinophil chemotaxis and recruitment, alleviates local inflammation, and may represent a new type of drug for allergic diseases.

Animals ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Eosinophil Peroxidase ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; physiology ; Integrin alpha4beta1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology ; Male ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Peroxidases ; secretion ; Platelet Activating Factor ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley