BACKGROUND:Animal and cel studies have shown that the Kidney Recipe can prevent and treat osteoporosis and improve bone metabolism, but this recipe is complicated. Recent studies on compound Chinese medicine mainly focused on serum drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, which has limitations, and the effective ingredient and pharmaceutical material basis are uncertain. OBJECTIVE:In the different concentrations and time, by using different compatibility proportion of active ingredients of Kidney Recipe, osteoblasts from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to culture intervention. The proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts were determined so as to identify time-effect and dose-effect relationship of Kidney Recipe on osteoblasts and to provide experimental evidences for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. METHODS:Primary neonatal 24-hour osteoblasts of Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured in vitro. Herbs“tonic”and“cathartic”active chemical components of different proportion were used. The experiment contained three groups:Tonics Medicine (T)>Cathartic Medicine (C) group, TC group and TC group (P<0.05). At mass concentration of 20μg/L, no significant difference was detected in the T>C and TC group (P<0.05), and the proliferation became weak at 72 hours. At mass concentration of 10μg/L and 72 hours of culture, alkaline phosphatase secretion could be promoted in the T>C group. At mass concentration of 20μg/L and 24 hours of culture, the promoting effect on alkaline phosphatase secretion was most significant in the TC group (P<0.05). Results confirm that active ingredients of Kidney Recipe compatibility proportion can promote osteoblasts proliferation and differentiation most strongly in the T>C group in the time-effect and the dose-effect relationship.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture on IL-1β in brain tissue of rats after total cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.MethodsThirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group and acupuncture group, in each group. In acupuncture group and model group, 4-vessel-occlusion method was used to make a rat model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Acupuncture group used electroacupuncture on points Quchi and Zusanli, 6 hours after reperfusion. The rats of each group were killed and ELISA was used for the measurement of IL-1β in brain tissues.ResultsIL-1β in brain tissue in model group increased significantly compared with sham operation group and acupuncture group(P<0-001). No significant differences were found between sham operation group and acupuncture group (P>0-05).ConclusionAcupuncture can lower IL-1β content of brain tissue of rats with brain ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND:Chinese nourishing kidney herbs can prevent osteoporosis and improve bone metabolism, which has been proved in animal and cel experiments. But there are few reports on the compatibility of Chinese nourishing kidney herbs, and it is difficult to screen the optimal compatibility, as the interaction of active ingredients and drug substance basis are uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To determine the proliferation, differentiation and Smad4 mRNA expression of neonatal Sprague-Dawley rat osteoblasts cultured by Chinese nourishing kidney herbs with different compatibility so as to find out the optimal compatibility of Chinese nourishing kidney herbs. METHODS: Passage 5 osteoblasts were divided into five groups: group A, 1×10-5mol/L icarin; group B, 1×10-5mol/L icarin+1×10-5 mol/L naringin; group C, 1×10-5mol/L icarin+1×10-5 mol/L diosgenin; group D, 1×10-5mol/L icarin+ 1×10-5mol/L catalpol; group E, 10 μL normal saline (control group). There were six wels in each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the group E, the proliferative ability of osteoblasts and expression of Smad4 mRNA were increased in the groups B and C; until the 72nd hour, the proliferative ability of osteoblasts in the group B reached the peak. At 48 hours of culture, the activity of alkaline phosphatase in groups B and C was higher than that in group E; at 72 hours of culture, the activity of alkaline phosphatase in groups B and D was higher than that in group E. These findings indicate that the compatibility of Chinese nourishing kidney herbs can influence the activity of osteoblasts, and icarin+naringin has the strongest effect.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of meglumine adenosine cyclosphosp (MAC) on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rabbits.Methods Twenty four healthy rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n =6),I/R group (n =6),MAC pretreated group (n =6),and MAC treated group (n =6).Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was made by separating and electrocoagulating vertebral arteries and clipping common carotid arteries in the latter 3 groups after anesthesia.The sham-operated group underwent vessel separation without clipping.L/R group was administered with nothing,while MAC pretreated group with MAC before ischemia,and MAC treated group with MAC just after ischemia.Blood was gathered from jugular vein before ischemia,and 30 min,1 h,and 2 h after reperfusion for testing IL-8,superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).The brain tissue slice was observed by optical microscope.Results Compared to control group and before ischemia,the levels of IL-8 and SOD in serum were significantly increased and decreased,and the levels of MDA was significantly increased at 30 min after reperfusion in I/R group; the levels of IL-8 and MDA in serum were significantly increased,and the levels of SOD in serum was significantly decreased at 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion in I/R group.The levels of IL-8 in serum was less at 30 min and 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion in MAC pretreated group than in I/R group.At 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion,the levels of MDA in serum was less and the levels of SOD in serum was higher in MAC pretreated group than in I/R group.At 1 h and 2 h after reperfusion,the levels of IL-8 in serum were less and the levels of SOD in serum were higher in MAC treated group than in I/R group.The levels of MDA in serum were less at 2 h after reperfusion in MAC treated group than in I/R group.Compared to I/R group,pathological change was lighter in the MAC pretreated and MAC treated group.Conclusions MAC has a fine cerebral-protective effect and has no side effect.

Objective To observe the effects of acupuncture on blood lipids of hyperlipidemia mice, and explore the mechanism of acupuncture against endothelial dysfunction. Methods 40 ApoE (-/- ) mice were randomly divided into control group (C), acupuncture at non-acupoint group (D), acupuncture at acupoint group (E), and simvastatin group (F) with 10 cases in each group. After 8 weeks, total cholesterol (TC), the plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). The mice myocardial angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR) protein were detected with Western blotting. Results The blood lipid, the content of plasma Ang II and ET-1, and the level of AT1R and ETAR in the heart tissue were significantly lower, and the content of NO was significantly higher in groups E and F than in group C (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can inhibit the level of blood lipids in ApoE(-/-) mice, reduce the levels of Ang II and ET-1, increase the level of NO in peripheral blood, and inhibit the expression of AT1R, ETAR in heart tissue.

In this study, UPLC-MS/MS was adopted to determine the contents of five ephedrine alkaloids (Norephedrine, Norpseudoephedrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Methylephedrine) in plasma and urine in rats after the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, in order to discuss the effect of the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum on plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion characteristics. According to the results, after being combined with Gypsum, the five ephedrine alkaloids showed similar pharmacokinetic changes, such as shortened t(max), accelerated absorption rate, but reduced AUC(0-t) and V(z)/F, which may be related to the increase in urine excretion. Besides, Gypsum was added to enhance C(max) of Pseudoephedrine and prolong MRT(0-t) of Methylephedrine, so as to enhance the anti-asthmatic effect of Ephedrae Herba and resist the toxic effect of Norephedrine and Ephedrine. This study proved the scientific compatibility of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and provided a reference for studies on the prescription compatibility regularity and relevant practices.
Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; urine ; Animals ; Calcium Sulfate ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Ephedra ; chemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Urine ; chemistry

ABSTRACT:Recently ,prion‐like transmission has been found in various amyloidosis .AApoAII amyloid fibrils in mouse senile amyloidosis have exhibited transmissibility .AApoAII amyloid fibrils ,which were excreted from mice and contained in fe‐ces or milk ,cause mouse senile amyloidosis .However ,transmissibility of AApoAII amyloid fibrils through other pathways has not yet been established .In this study ,we injected AApoAII amyloid fibrils into R1 .P1‐A poa2c mice to induce AApoAII sys‐temic amyloidosis .Two months later ,AApoAII amyloid fibrils ,which deposited in the skeletal muscles of amyloid‐affected mice ,were used to induce AApoAII systemic amyloidosis .Mouse senile amyloidosis which deposited in skeletal muscles could induce secondary transmission of AApoAII amyloidosis .The evidence of transmission through skeletal muscles in non‐prion systemic amyloidosis is found in our study .This pathway of transmission provides new insight into the potential for food‐borne pathogenesis and etiology of systemic amyloidosis .

Objective To compare the MRI manifestations and characteristics of ≤ 3 cm nonepithelial hepatic angiomyolipomas (HAML)and small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC),then improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy.Methods A retrospective analysis of 20 patients ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML and 26 cases of SHCC,confirmed by clinical pathology,with both in clinical data and MRI characteristics.Results ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML commonly occurs in women;The enhancement patterns“wash in and wash out”in 1 1 cases,6 cases “wash in but slow out”,3 cases with delayed enhancement;Mature adipose tissue found in 5 cases, 3 cases has pseudocapsule enhancemen in delayed phase,13 cases can see central vessels;While SHCC often occurs in men,with“wash in and wash out”enhancement pattern in 23 cases,1 7 cases with pseudocapsule enhancemen in delayed phase,12 cases can see central vessels in lesions.ADC values for SHCC was significantly lower than that for ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML,the ADC values of SHCC significantly lower than the surrounding liver parenchyma;The ADC values between ≤3 cm nonepithelial and liver parenchyma around has no significant differences.ADC values of liver parenchyma with liver cirrhosis was lower than that without cirrhosis.Conclusion The existence of mature adipose tissue,the MRI enhancement pattern and the value of ADC can help to distinguish between ≤3 cm nonepithelial HAML and SHCC,then improve the preoperative diagnostic accuracy.

Objective:To analyze the mean levels of skeletal muscle mass and strength in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM), and to investigate the effects of chronic inflammatory factors and oxidative stress on them.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients with T2DM aged over 60 years and 126 elderly patients without diabetes(the control group). Skeletal muscle mass, strength and serum levels of chronic inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG)were determined, and their effects on skeletal muscle mass and strength in elderly patients with T2DM were analyzed.Results:Compared with the control group, grip strength decreased in elderly patients with T2DM(25.03±7.85)kg vs.(29.52±7.73)kg( P<0.01), and skeletal muscle mass decreased(21.36±5.46)kg vs.(22.01±5.22)kg with no significant difference( P>0.05). Serum levels of 8-OHdG were higher in elderly patients with T2DM than in the control group(3.08±0.26)ng/L vs.(2.59±0.16)ng/L( P<0.01). Correlation and regression analysis results showed that 8-OHdG was an influencing factor for muscle strength in elderly patients with T2DM( R2=0.457)and that height and weight could be influencing factors for skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with T2DM( R2=0.822). Conclusions:Skeletal muscle mass and strength decline in elderly T2DM patients, probably as a result of increased levels of oxidative stress.These findings may serve as evidence for sarcopenia intervention in elderly T2DM patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of p16 and nm23 genes in salivary gland tumors and the relation of P16 and nm23 proteins with fumorigenesis of salivary gland tumors.

METHODSExpression of P16 and nm23 proteins was examined by SABC immunohistochemical method in 39 cases of paraffin blocks of normal salivary gland tissues and salivary gland tumors.

RESULTSP16 and nm23 protein positive staining were mainly found in the cytoplasm and cytoblast of all salivary gland tissues. Positive rate of P16 protein expression was 76.9% (10/13) and 40.9% (9/22) in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors, respectively. There was significant difference between P16 protein expression of benign and malignant tumors by chi 2 test (P < 0.05). mm23 protein positive staining was found in 84.6% (11/13) and 45.5% (10/22) of benign and malignant tumors respectively. The expression of nm23 protein in benign and malignant tumors was significantly different (P < 0.05). There was no correlation of the expression of P16 and nm23 in salivary gland tumors was found (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONp16 and nm23 genes may play an important role in different sides in salivary gland tumorigenesis and the reduce of the expression of p16 and nm23 genes may contribute to the generation of malignant salivary gland tumors.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase ; Protein Biosynthesis ; Proteins ; genetics ; Salivary Gland Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salivary Glands ; metabolism