Water soluble extract (WSE) is an important index for the quality evaluation of Astragali Radix (AR). In this study, the WSE of the wild AR from Shanxi province (SX) and the cultivated AR from Gansu Province (GS) were compared. The WSEs of two types of AR were determined according to the appendix of Chinese pharmacopoeia. Then the WSEs were subjected to NMR analysis, and the obtained data were analyzed using HCA, PCA, OPLS-DA, microarray analysis, and Spearman rank analysis. In addition, the Pearson correlation of differential metabolites were also calculated. The results showed that the WSE content of GS-AR (37.80%) was higher than that of SX-AR (32.13%). The main constituent of WSE was sucrose, and other 18 compounds, including amino acids, organic acids, were also detected. Multivariate analysis revealed that SX-AR contained more choline, succinic acid, citric acid, glutamate, taurine and aspartate, while GS samples contained more sucrose, arginine and fumaric acid. In addition, the Pearson correlations between different metabolites of the two types of AR also showed apparent differences. The results suggested that the WSE of two types of AR differs not only in the content, but also in the chemical compositions. Thus, the cultivation way is important to the quality of AR. This study supplied a new method for the comparison of extract of herbal drugs.
Arginine ; analysis ; Aspartic Acid ; analysis ; Choline ; analysis ; Citric Acid ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; Fumarates ; analysis ; Glutamic Acid ; analysis ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Multivariate Analysis ; Phylogeography ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Succinic Acid ; analysis ; Sucrose ; analysis ; Taurine ; analysis

OBJECTIVE To investigate the bacterial distribution and drug resistance in patients in intensive care unit(ICU) and provide theoretical bases for rational usage of antibiotics.METHODS The distribution and drug resistance of 372 strains isolated from patients in ICU collected from Jul 2007 to Jun 2008 were investigated and studied retrospectively.RESULTS Among them,the Gram-negative bacilli covered 59.14 %,the Gram-positive cocci 28.49%,and the fungi covered 12.37%.Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Klebsiella,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Ancinetobacter were the main Gram-negative bacilli.Staphylococcus aureus,coagulation-negative Staphylococcus and Enterococcus were the main Gram-positive cocci.The resistance rate of P.aeruginosa,S.maltophilia and Acinetobacter to imipenem was over 10%,and the S.maltophilia was 96.7%,the resistance rate of three main Gram-positive cocci to vancomycin and teicoplanin was zero,and the isolated bacteria showed serious multidrug-resistance.CONCLUSIONS Periodic monitoring should be done to learn the drug resistance and bacterial distribution in ICU in order to rationally use antibiotics to avoid the generation of new drug resistant strains and control the infection of patients in ICU.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the change of antibiotics resistance of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients′s sputum in our hospital from Jan 2006 to Dec 2008,and offer basis for prevention of clinical infection and the reasonable use of drugs.METHODS The culture,identification and sensitivity to antibiotics of P.aeruginosa from the clinical sputum specimens were analyzed using USA VITEK-32 system.RESULTS Totally 196 strains of P.aeruginosa were isolated and characterized during the three years.The rates of resistance to cefoperazone/sulbactam were 18.37%,piperacillin/tazobactam 16.84%,netilmicin 17.35%,trimethoprim/sulfamesoxazole 100.00%,ampicillin 99.49%,cefazolin 99.49%,cefotetan 88.78%,and to ceftriaxone were 79.08%.The resistance rate to cephalosporins showed rising tendency.But the resistance rate to ?-lactam antibiotics showed deereasing tendency.CONCLUSIONS P.aeruginosa has single and multi-resistance to antibiotics seriously,but sensitive to ?-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides.Using antibiotics reasonably based on bacteria identification and sensitivity test is the best way to reduce the resistance of the pathogens.

This study is to establish an UPLC fingerprint of Resina Draconis from different manufacturers, which can provide a comprehensive evaluation for its quality control. The analysis was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex 2.6 μ C18 100A column by agradientelution program with acetonitrile-water as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.7 mL x min(-1). The column temperature was 40 degrees C and the detection wavelengthwas 280 nm. The fingerprints of 18 batches of Draconis Resina were further evaluated by chemometrics methods including similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). As a result, there were 15 common peaks, 13 of which had been identified by LC-Q-TOF MS, and the similarity degrees of 15 batches of the samples was more than 0.9, and the samples were divided into 4 clusters by their quality difference. The method is reproducible, simple and reliablethat it can be used for quality control and evaluation of Resina Draconis from different manufacturers.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Dracaena ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of dragon's blood powder with different grain size on the transdermal permeability and adhesion of ZJHX paste.

METHODDragon's blood powder with grain sizes of 4, 19, 55 microm were got by ultrafine grinding technology, and then prepared into rubber pastes A, B, C and D, together with dragon's blood powder with grain size of 93 microm of original description. Franz diffusion cell method was adopted to compare the difference in transdermal permeability of dragon's blood powder with different grain sizes, with dracorhodin as the index, and compared their effect on the adhesion of pastes with initial adhesion, permanent adhesion and peel strength as the indexes.

RESULTQ(s)-t equations of pastes A, B, C, D were as follows: Q(s)=1.369 6t + 3.985 5, Q(s) = 1.262 8t +3.738 1, Q(s) = 1.192 3t + 3.320 6, Q(s) = 1.152 2t + 2.366 1, respectively, which showed that the adhesion of A was the best good.

CONCLUSIONWith the decrease in the grain size of dragon's blood powder, accumulative penetration of dracorhodin increases, which facilitates transdermal permeability and adhesion.

Absorption ; Animals ; Croton ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Skin ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on ACAT-1 expression and cholesterol content in THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells.

METHODSTHP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages and further into foam cells. The macrophages and foam cells were exposed to different concentrations (0, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 µmol/L) of ADMA for varying time lengths (6, 12, and 24 h), and the changes in ACAT-1 mRNA and protein levels in the cells were measured with RT-PCR and Western blotting. The cellular cholesterol content was measured with enzyme-linked colorimetry assay.

RESULTSIn THP-1-derived macrophages and foam cells, the expression levels of ACAT-1 mRNA and protein and cellular cholesterol content increased significantly in response to ADMA treatment in a time- and concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONADMA may play an important role in inducing foam cell formation from macrophages. ACAT-1 inhibition targeting the macrophages and foam cells may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Arginine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cholesterol ; analysis ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macrophages ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese drugs for strengthening Pi, harmonizing Wei, and dispersing blood stasis (CDSPHWDBS) on the expression of gastric mucosal heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients.

METHODSA total of 100 CAG patients were assigned to the control group and the treatment group by random digit table, 50 in each group. Patients in the control group took Folic Acid Tablet 10 mg each time, 3 times per day. Those in the treatment group took CDSPHWDBS, 100 mL each time, once per day. The treatment course was 6 months for all. Clinical symptoms and signs, endoscopic and histopathological changes were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. The expression of gastric mucosal HSP70 in CAG patients was determined using SP immunohistochemistry. Data were collected by HPIAS-1 000 pathological graphic analysis system, and its expression semi-quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of clinical Chinese medical symptoms and signs was 88. 0% (44/50 cases) in the treatment group and 56. 0% (28/50 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P <0. 01). The improvement rate of endoscopic manifestations such as congestion and edema, erosion, bile regurgitation, pale gastric mucosa, exposed blood vessels, particles proliferation in the treatment group were superior to those in the control group (P <0. 05). The total effective rate of atrophy was 80. 0% (40/50 cases) in the treatment group and 54. 0% (27/50 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01). The effective rate of intestinal metaplasia was 75. 0% (12/16 cases) in the treatment group and 33.3% (5/15 cases) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 05). The optical density value of gastric mucosal HSP70 was significantly elevated in the two groups after treatment (both P <0. 05). It was higher in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment with significant difference (P <0. 01).

CONCLUSIONCDSPHWDBS had obvious effect in treatment of CAG and could improve pathological changes of precancerous lesions possibly by promoting the expression of gastric mucosal HSP70 in CAG patients.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional

Objective To summarize the characteristics of acupoints selection in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) based on data mining. Method Clinical literatures published in the recent 10 years related to acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PD were collected to establish a prescription database by using Excel. The descriptive analysis, association rules analysis and clustering analysis were conducted by Python and Clementine12.0. Result A total of 74 acupoints were involved with a total frequency of 1072. The leading three meridians were Spleen Meridian (325 times), Conception Vessel (260 times) and Bladder Meridian (158 times); the leading acupoints were Sanyinjiao (SP6, 174 times), Guanyuan (CV4, 111 times), Diji (SP8, 79 times), Ciliao (BL32, 73 times) and Qihai (CV6, 67 times). The utilization of the specific acupoints accounted for 66.22% (49/74). The crossing acupoints were predominant (393 times), especially Sanyinjiao, Guanyuan and Zhongji (CV3), followed by the five-Shu points (195 times), Front-Mu points (195 times) and Yuan-Primary points (99 times). The association rules analysis showed that Guanyuan and Sanyinjiao had the most significant correlation. The clustering analysis figured out 8 core clustering groups. Conclusion The characteristics of acupoints selection revealed in this study provide ideas and references for acupuncture-moxibustion treatment of PD in clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Solitaire AB stent-assisted coiling facilitates the endovascular treatment of wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. We present our experience of coiling the micro-aneurysms of wide-neck with Solitaire AB stent assisting in a single center. METHODS: Thirty-one Solitaire AB stents were used to treat via endovascular approach patients with 31 wide-neck micro aneurysms in a single center in China. Technical and clinical complications were recorded. Modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the patients' conditions via clinic and telephone follow-up. RESULTS: The mean width of aneurysm sac was 2.30±0.42 mm, and the mean diameter of aneurysm neck was 2.83±0.48 mm. Complete occlusion was achieved in 28 aneurysms (90.32%); neck remnant was seen in 3 aneurysms (9.68%). Technical and clinical complications related to the procedure were encountered in four patients (12.5%). Two patients died (6.25%). No patient had a permanent deficit. CONCLUSION: Solitaire AB stent was a safe and efficiency tool in assisting coiling of micro aneurysms with wide neck, but may be not suitable for a blaster-like one. Mid- and long-term follow-up will be required to elucidate the impact of the Solitaire AB stent on recanalization rate.
Aneurysm* ; China ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Stents ; Telephone

OBJECTIVETo develop an HPLC method for determination of the four effective components (genistin; rutin; quercetin; genistein) in Huaijiao pill.

METHODThe chromatographic separation was performed on a Shim-packODS (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5.0 microm) eluted with a mobile phase of MeOH-H2O-HAc (40:60:0.25). The detection wavelength was set at 256 nm and column temperature was set at 30 degrees C .

RESULTNice linear relation between the peak area and injected amount exists when the amount is within 0.059-0.352 microg for genistin, within 0.435-2.610 microg for rutin, within 0.020-0.121 microg for quercetin and within 0.053-0.319 microg for genistein. The correlation coefficient of each component is 0.999 6, 0.998 2, 0.998 9 and 0.999 9 respectively. The average recoveries of the four components are from 98.7% to 100.2%. The RSD of each group are 1.21%, 1.36%, 0.47% and 1.54% (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONThe method was accurate, repeatable and suitable to determine four effective components in Huaijiao pill. It can be use for quality control of Huaijiao pill.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Genistein ; analysis ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rutin ; analysis ; Sophora ; chemistry