Objective: To develop an HPLC-DAD method for the simultaneous determination of danshensu, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid B, and hydroxysafflor yellow A (HYSA) in cerebral ischemic injury of rats, in order to provide an accurate and reliable analytical method to study the pharmacokinetics. Methods: The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established, in which all the rats were iv injected with the active constituents in Danhong Injection simultaneously (danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid B, and HYSA). The analysis of the measured components' plasma concentration was carried at 30℃ on the reversed-phase column of Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm) and eluted with acetonitrile and water containing 0.4% phosphate acid as mobile phase in gradient mode. Detection wavelengths were 280 nm for danshensu, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid B and 403 nm for HYSA. The propyl p-hydroxybenzoate was used as the internal standard (IS). Results: Protocatechuic aldehyde rapidly metabolized in MCAO rats, but its metabolites, protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid, were easily detected. The linear ranges of danshensu, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid B, and HYSA were 0.35-140 (R2=0.9998), 0.15-60 (R2=0.9990), 0.05-20 (R2=0.9988), 0.25-100 (R2=0.9996), and 0.075-30 mg/L (R2=0.9985), respectively. The mean recoveries were between 80% and 120% and the RSD value of intra-day and inter-day was less than 10%. The results of stability meet the requirements for biopharmaceutical analysis. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of danshensu, protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, salvianolic acid B and HYSA were as follows: AUC0~∞ were (1143.862±230.840), (427.024±59.293), (135.785±47.631), (418.631±66.242), (288.788±87.809) mg·min/L and t1/2z were (71.496±29.067), (82.379±26.279), (40.331±6.006), (125.164±59.709), (177.577±112.836) min. Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid, precise and stable, which can be used to the pharmacokinetic studies on the compatibilities of danshensu, protocatechuic aldehyde, salvianolic acid B, and HYSA in MCAO rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of extracts from Cichorium endivia (CEE) in H2O2-induced HepG2 cell oxidative stress injury, and explore the antioxidant mechanism of CEE in HepG2 cells.

METHODThe viability of H2O2-induced HepG2 cells and the intracellular ROS level were measured by MTT assay and DCFH-DA fluorescence staining assay. The antioxidant-response element (ARE)-Luciferase activity was tested in HepG2 cells stably transected by ARE reporter gene. The fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was adopted to determine the mRNA expressions of genes containing ARE sequence in HepG2 cells.

RESULTThe cell viability reduced, while the ROS level increased after HepG2 cells were treated by H2O2. Different concentrations of CEE could be added to significantly improve the above results. After HepG2 cells transected by ARE reporter gene were treated with different concentrations of CEE, the intracellular ARE activity could increase in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the mRNA expressions of regulatory genesGCLC, GCLM and HMOX-1 containing ARE sequence in HepG2 cells were up-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner by CEE.

CONCLUSIONCEE inhibited the H2O2-injured HepG2 cells by reducing the ROS level. CEE's antioxidant mechanism for HepG2 cells may be closely related to the antioxidant defense system associated with its effect of activating Nrf2-ARE pathway in HepG2 cells.

Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Response Elements ; genetics

ObjectiveTo analyze characteristic changes of shoulder muscles by investigating surface electromyographic regularity changes before and after the treatment of Frozen shoulders. Methods7 cases of frozen shoulders were selected, surface electromyography (sEMG) before and after treatment were recorded by AMT-8 EMG recorder. The collected data was processed using MATLAB software integrated EMG (IEMG) value were obtained. Then the IEMG data were statistically analyzed using Stata11.0 software and compared. Results ①The differences of abduction deltoid and infraspinatus muscle IEMG values before and after treatment were statistically significant(P ＜0.05), while IEMG values changes of biceps, triceps, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and trapezius before and after treatment were not statistically significant (P＞0.05); changes of adduction IEMG values of all muscles were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). ②Changes of flexion IEMG values of biceps before and after treatment were statistically significant (P＜0.05), while IEMG values changes of pectoralis major, infraspinatus muscle, latissimus dorsi, trapezius, deltoid, triceps before and after treatment were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Changes of extension IEMG values of triceps before and after treatment were statistically significant (P＜0.05), while those of pectoralis major, infraspinatus muscle, latissimus dorsi, trapezius, deltoid and biceps were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). ③IEMG values of all the muscles during external rotation, internal rotation before and after treatment IEMG were not significantly different. Conclusion①After treatment, the outreach functions of infraspinatus and deltoid muscles were improved, while adduction functions of all muscles were not improved. ②Flexion function of biceps was improved significantly after treatment as well as extension function of triceps.③Extemal rotation, internal rotation functions of all muscles were not improved significantly.

To study the pharmacokinetic process of Danshensu in cerebal ischemia injury model rats and the correlation with its anti-cerebral ischemia effect. In this study, the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established, in which all of the rats were intravenously injected of Danshensu at a single dose of 40 mg x kg(-1). The HPLC-DAD method was applied to determine the plasma concentration of Danshensu at different time points and draw the drug-time curve. Meanwhile, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were determined to draw the time-effect curve. The DAS 3.2. 6 software was used to process the data, analyze their correlation, compare the pharmacokinetic difference between model and normal rats after the administration of the same doses of Danshensu and the changes in pharmacodynamic indicators of model rats after the administration, and evaluate the effect of Danshensu in treating the cerebral ischemia disease. According to the results, the pharmacokinetic processes of Danshensu in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and normal rats were consistent to the two-compartment model. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were: t1/2alpha were (0.267 +/- 0.026), (0.148 +/- 0.020) h;t1/2beta were (1.226 +/- 0.032), (1.182 +/- 0.082) h; AUC0-infinity were (42.168 +/- 4.007), (26.881 +/- 1.625) mg x L(-1) x h. After the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the activity of SOD decreased and the activity of LDH increased. Danshensu could inhibit the decrease in the SOD activity and the increase in the LDH activity within a certain period of time. This indicated that Danshensu could stay longer in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats than in normal rats and eliminated more slowly, which reflected the rationality of Danshensu in the clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia diseases. Danshensu's effect against the cerebral ischemic injury may be related with its level in vivo. Its plasma concentration is positively related to the SOD activity and negatively related to the LDH activity.
Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

AIMTo explore the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) inhalation on bleomycin (BLM)-induced fibrosis in lungs of rats and its possible mechanism.

METHODSSixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: BLM plus normal saline (NS) group, BLM plus 10 mmol/L AG group, BLM plus 50 mmol/L AG group, and NS plus NS group. At the same day when administrated by single intratracheal instillation of BLM (5 mg/kg) or equal volume of NS as control, the rats received NS (the same volume as AG) or AG inhalation (10 mmol/L AG, or 50 mmol/L AG, 5 min/each time, 2/day) for 30 d. The nitrite/nitrate (NO2-/NO3-) content of plasma in pulmonary artery, hydroxyproline content and the pathological changes in lungs, as well as lipid peroxide (LPO) content of plasma in pulmonary artery were examined.

RESULTSThe NO2-/NO3- content of plasma in pulmonary artery was increased in rats on day 14 after intratracheal instillation of BLM, compared with that of the control rats (P < 0.01). The hydroxyproline content in lung, the grade of pulmonary alveolitis and the content of LPO of plasma in pulmonary artery were increased in rats on day 30 after intratracheal instillation of BLM, compared with that of the control rats, respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). The above-mentioned changes were ameliorated by AG inhalation (10 mmol/L AG, or 50 mmol/ LAG, 5 min/each time, 2/day) for 30 d (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAG inhalation has anti-action on BLM-induced fibrosis in lung, which might be related to blockage of oxidative injury in lung.

Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Bleomycin ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Guanidines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of different parameters (frequency, intensity, needle-retained time and treatment interval) of electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40) for adjusting blood lipids, so as to find out the optimization parameter.

METHODSFifty-four cases meeting the criteria for hyperlipoidemia were randomly divided into 27 groups with orthogonal design L27 (3(13) ). According to the orthogonal design program they were treated with electroacupuncture at Fenglong (ST 40). Ten sessions constituted one course with a one week's interval between two course. The treatment was given for 2 courses.

RESULTS(1) The parameters of EA at Fenglong (ST 40) for regulating blood lipids in primary and secondary orders are: frequency, needle-retained time, interval of treatment, intensity. (2) The parameters of EA at Fenglong (ST 40) for various programs in regulating various blood lipids are: for TG, frequency AM 50 Hz, needle-retained time 20 ain, intensity 1 mA, twice each week; for TC, frequency AM 100 Hz, needle-retained time 30 min, intensity 1 mA, once every other day; for LDL-C, frequency Am 100 Hz, needle-retained time 30 min, intensity tolerable and comfortable, once every other day.

Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

A novel series of sorafenib analogs containing 2-picolinyl hydrazide moiety were designed and synthesized. In vitro, most of synthesized compounds have antiproliferation activity on MDA-MB-231, ACHN, HepG2, Mia-PaCa-2 and SW1990 cell lines tested by MTT assay. It is worth noting that the antitumor activities of compounds 2c, 2d and 2f are more potent than that of sorafenib on pancreatic cancer cells Mia-PaCa-2 and SW1990, and the activities of compounds 3f and 3g are 2-3 times than that of sorafenib on human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Design ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Niacinamide ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Phenylurea Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Medicinal botanical gardens play important roles in promoting the development of TCM industry. With the advancing of the construction of the national medicinal plant garden system, the upgrading construction work for Huazhong Medicinal Botanical Garden, one of its members, is grasping to be carried on. While it is believed that there is a tremendous potential development in the combination of selenium and Chinese herbal medicine. In this article, the significance of selenium for Huazhong Medicinal Botanical Garden was investigated and then the routes to highlight selenium characteristics in its upgrading construction were put forward as follows for some responsibility department as reference: (1) Concentrating on the background investigation and conserving selenium resources;(2) Selecting and breeding special germplasm materials associated with selenium for selected key species; (3) Aiming at the specific efficiency and screening selenium-enriched medical plants; (4) Selecting large varieties of TCM and carrying out the research of selenium-rich technical ways of artificial cultivation; (5) Propelling the research and development of selenium-containing health products, based on resources industrialization; (6) Constructing new specialized garden for selenium-enriched medical plants.

BACKGROUNDThe condition of concomitant upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis as identified by computer tomography is known as combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). CPFE has distinct clinical characteristics compared with emphysema alone (EA) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) without emphysema. However, the pulmonary inflammation characteristics of CPFE are not well known, and the differences between CPFE and the other two diseases with regards to pulmonary inflammation need to be explored. The pulmonary inflammatory characteristics were investigated in CPFE patients and compared with EA and IPF.

METHODSFraction exhaled nitric oxide (Fe,NO) and differential cell counts, the concentrations of monokine induced by interferon gamma (MIG/CXCL9), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10), and interferon-inducible T cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC/CXCL11) were measured in induced sputum obtained from subjects with CPFE (n = 22), EA (n = 22), IPF (n = 14), and healthy volunteers (HV, n = 12). In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to quantify the expression of nitric oxide synthases in alveolar macrophages in 23 lung tissues from patients and control subjects.

RESULTSThe CPFE group had higher alveolar NO than subjects in the EA and HV groups (P = 0.009, P = 0.001, respectively) but not than the IPF group (P > 0.05). Numbers of sputum eosinophils were significantly elevated in CPFE and IPF groups compared with the HV group (P = 0.001, P = 0.008). In contrast, eosinophil counts in EA group did not differ from those in the HV group. Compared with the EA and HV groups, the CPFE group had a lower concentration of I-TAC/CXCL11 in sputum supernatants (P = 0.003, P = 0.004). Immunoreactivity for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was higher in the CPFE group than in the EA group (P = 0.018, P = 0.006, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe pulmonary inflammation of CPFE group is more similar to IPF group, while the distal airway inflammation is more significant in CPFE and IPF groups than in EA group. Lung eosinophil cell infiltration and high NOS expression in alveolar macrophage might participate in this pathogenesis.

Aged ; Breath Tests ; Chemokines ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; analysis ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; pathology ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; pathology ; Sputum ; cytology