Dioscin, a typical saponin, is widely present in the family of Dioscoreaceae, Liliaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Rosaceae, especially in Dioscoreaceae, including Discorea nipponica Makino, Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright and Dioscorea panthaica Prain et Burkill. Traditional Chinese medicine reported that dioscin plays a role in expectorant, relaxing the muscles and stimulating the blood circulation, aiding digestion and diuresis. With the development of science and technology in recent years, some new extraction and separation techniques and methods have been applied to the study of dioscin, and more and more pharmacological effects were found. Modern pharmacology studies have confirmed that dioscin had some activities on desensitization, anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, hepatoprotection and anti-viral. After oral administration, dioscin is metabolized to diosgenin, which is the true active ingredient and is an important raw material to synthesize steroid hormone drugs. Therefore, the studies on dioscin are valueable and promising. In this review, we make a summary on the researches of dioscin including the extraction technology, separation and prepara- tion, chemical synthesis, drug metabolism, determination and pharmacological researches.
Animals ; Biological Products ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Diosgenin ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacology

AIM To establish the hyperlipidemia and hyperlipidemic fatty liver animal model.METHODS 30 SD rats were randomized into control group (n=10)and model group(n=20).The rats of model group were fed with a standard diet and fat emulsion( 10 ml?kg -1);while the rats of control group were only fed with a standard diet.The serum TG,TC,ALT,AST,MDA,SOD and hepatic TG,TC,MDA,SOD were detected dynamically and with histologically.RESULTS The model group developed hyperlipidemia which TG and TC were elevated significantly after 1 week. 10 rats which were selected randomly in the model group were killed and the serum and liver were obtained after 2 weeks. The serum TG,TC,ALT and hepatic MDA of the model group rats were higher than the control's,while the hepatic SOD were lower. At the same time,the light degree hepatic steatosis of 2 rats were induced.The third week,both control group and model rats(n=10) were killed and the serum and the liver were obtained. Compared with the control group, the serum TG,TC,ALT,AST,MDA?SOD and hepatic TG,MDA of the model group rats were markedly higher, while the serum SOD and the hepatic SOD were significantly lower.The histopathology research showed hepatocellular macrovesicular steatosis and hepatitis in the model group. CONCLUSINOS The experimental animal model of hyperlipidemia and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats were successfully established for 1 week and 3 weeks fed with fat emulsion.

This study established a finite element (FE) model of human body head (HBM-head) in accordance with human head anatomy.The anatomical structure of HBM-head was described in detail,primarily consisting of scalp,skull,dura mater,cerebrospinal fluid,pia mater,cerebrum,cerebellum,ventricle,brain stem,falx,and tentorium.The kinematic and kinetic responses,as well as the intracranial pressure distribution of the head model were compared with the data from the cadaveric impact tests to validate the head FE model.Experimental results confirmed that the head FE model had good biofidelity and could be used to study head-brain trauma in vehicle collisions and the underlying injury mechanisms.

Objective To investigate the value of prostate-bladder angle (PBA) measured by MRI in the diagnosis of benign prostate obstruction (BPO). Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 87 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients referred for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) between March 2009 and November 2009. PBA was measured by MRI and urodynamic parameter Qmax was measured as well. With the diagnostic criteria of BPO as Qmax＜10 ml/s, the patients were divided into two groups: obstruction group and non-obstruction group. PBA was compared between these two groups. The sensitivity and the specificity of PBA in diagnosing BPO were also analyzed. Results The age range of the patients was 57-90 years with a median age 73 years; Qmax was 2.325.4 ml/s with median Qmax 7.9 ml/s; PBA was 4°-52° with median PBA 27°. There were 25 patients in the non-obstruction group with PBA between 4°- 21°(13°); in the obstruction group,there were 62 patients with PBA between 15°- 52°(34°). PBA was found statistically different between the obstruction and non-obstruction group (P＜0.01). With the cutoff at PBA≥20°for the diagnosis of BPO, the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis were 90. 3 % (56/62)and 96.0% (24/25), respectively. Conclusion PBA measured by MRI is valuable and can be used as a new non-invasive parameter in the diagnosis of BPO.

Aim To study the effects of Meloxicam gel(Mel G)on AA in rats,and the relationship between therapeutic effects and Mel G in tissue or serum. Methods The model of AA was induced by intradermal injection of Freunds complete adjuvant(FCA) in rats,the effects(hindpaw swelling volume)of Mel G on AA rats were observed following Mel G tc. A high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method with ultraviolet detection was set up to determine the concentration of Mel in serum and local tissue. Results Mel G significantly inhibited secondary inflammation of AA rats. The concentration of Mel G was lower in serum and higher in local tissue than that of Mel tablets. A significant linear correlation in a negative manner existed between local tissue concentration of Mel G and hindpaw swelling volume. Conclusion Therapeutic effects of Mel G on AA in rats were associated with higher tissue concentration of Mel G.

Objective to investigate the feasibility and outcomes of different surgical treatments for adrenal metastasis after previous radical ne-phrectomy for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Methods A total of 18 adrenal solitary metastasis of renal cell carcinoma were identified from da-tabase of two institutions between 2003 and 2013. Clinical and pathologic data were collected and analyzed. Results Of 9 patients who had ipsilater-al metastasis of the renal tumor,the estimated blood loss were obviously fewer in the transperitoneal LA group. Of 9 cases who had contralateral me-tastasis of the renal tumor,the fasting time[(1.4±0.8)h vs(4.0±1.4)h,P = 0.036]and length of hospital stay[(4.5±1.2)d vs(7.0±4.5)d,P =0.041]were obviously fewer in the retroperitoneal LA group. the averages of the fasting time and length of hospital stay in the retroperitoneal LA group were obviously smaller than in the transperitoneal LA group. Conclusion LA for treatment of renal cell carcinoma metastasis is technically feasible in selected patients. transperitoneal and retroperitoneal LA can be respectively recommended as an appropriate approach for isolated adrenal metastases of ipsilateral and contralateral renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy.

Aim To evaluate the bioequivalence of two preparations of gliclazide in healthy volunteers.Methods The concentration of gliclazide was measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) after a single or multiple dosage of gliclazide sustained released tablet in healthy volunteers.The pharmacokinetic parameters of the two preparations were calculated by 3P97 program.LnAUC0~∞,lnAUC0~72 and lnAUC0~? were used to evaluate the bioequivalence of the two preparations with analysis of variance and two one-side t-test.Results Both the gliclazide extended action tablet were best fitted to one-compartment model.The main parameters of the tested and reference gliclazide after a single dose were as follows:Cmax(2.07?0.61) and(2.26?0.61)mg?L-1;Tmax(5.10?0.55)h and(5.05?0.51)h;T12Ka(1.50?0.26)h and(1.52?0.27)h;T12Ke(8.89?1.56)h and(8.68?1.72)h;MRT(22.63?1.01)h and(22.38?0.93)h;AUC0~72(39.19?8.03)mg?h-1?L-1 and(39.26?8.37)mg?h-1?L-1;AUC0~∞:(45.80?9.51)mg?h-1?L-1 and(45.57?9.76)mg?h-1?L-1;F0~72 and F0~∞(100.19?6.22)% and(100.85?5.88)%,respectively.The main parameters of the tested and reference gliclazide after multiple dose were as follows:Cmax(4.83?0.86)mg?L-1 and(4.69?0.64)mg?L-1;Cmin(0.68?0.14) mg?L-1 and(0.66?0.12)mg?L-1;Tmax:(4.10?0.45) h and(4.10?0.55)h;T12Ka:(2.03?0.53)h and(2.04?0.40)h;T12Ke:(7.24?0.87)h and(7.09?1.14)h;MRT(9.17?0.30)h and(9.19?0.37)h;AUCSS:(41.62?6.48) mg?h-1?L-1 and(42.18?6.03)mg?h-1?L-1;Cav:(1.73?0.27)mg?L-1 and(1.76?0.25)mg?L-1;DF(240.85%?34.07)and(230.23%?24.80%) respectively.The relative bioavailability was(98.60?4.60)%.The AUC0~T,AUC0~∞ or AUCSS,Cmax and Tmax were bioequivalent between the two preparations.Conclusion The tested and reference gliclazide sustained released tablet are bioequivalent.

Objective To investigate whether recombinant human endostatin can create a time window of vascular normalization prior to vascular pruning to alleviate hypoxia in Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. Methods Kinetic changes in morphology of tumor vasculature in response to recombinant human endostatin were detected under a confocal microscope with immunofluorescent staining in Lewis lung carcinomas in mice. The hypoxic cell fraction of different time was assessed with immunohistochemical staining . Effects on tumor growth were monitored as indicated in the growth curve of tumors . Results Compared with the control group vascularity of the tumors was reduced over time by recombinant human endostatin treatment and significantly regressed for 9 days. During the treatment, pericyte coverage increased at day 3, increased markedly at day 5, and fell again at day 7. The vascular basement membrane was thin and closely associated with endothelial cells after recombinant human endostatin treatment, but appeared thickened, loosely associated with endothelial cells in control tumors. The decrease in hypoxic cell fraction at day 5 after treatment was also found. Tumor growth was not accelerated 5 days after recombinant human endostatin treatment. Conclusions Recombinant human endostatin can normalize tumor vasculature within day 3 to 7, leading to improved tumor oxygenation. The results provide important experimental basis for combining recombinant human endostatin with radiation therapy in human tumors.

Objective To study the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic factors in metastatic pancreatic tumor.Methods The clinical data of 32 patients with metastatic pancreatic tumors were retrospectively analyzed.The survival of the patients were evaluated with the KaplanMeier method.Univariate analysis was done by log-rank test.Results The primary foei of these32 patients included:9 lung cancer,6 renal cell carcinoma,5 gastric cancer,12 others.The median survival was 15.5 months in the radical surgery group (n 8),18 months in the cryosurgery group(n=3),8 months in the group with palliative bypass operation (n=9),6 months in the group with local radiotherapy (n=3),and 5 months in the group without treatment (n=9).Univariable analysis revealed the type of primary tumor,treatment of the primary tumor,interval between diagnosis of primary tumor and pancreatic metastases,localized pancreatic metastasis,and treatment of the metastatic pancreatic tumor were associated with prognosis.Conclusions Metastatic pancreatic tumors are rare.Long term survival can be achieved with pancreatic resection in a highly selected subset of patients according to the type of primary tumor.Therapeutic cryosurgery as a new minimally invasive,targeted and immunologic method needs to be further evaluated.

Objective To study the clinicopathological characteristics,diagnosis and treatment of patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) of the pancreas.Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with mucinous cystic neoplasms of pancreas were retrospectively analyzed.Chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used for statistical analysis.Results The mean age of the patients was 53.1 yeas (ranged from 29 to 78 y).There were 32 female (76.2％).The patients were divided into two groups according to symptoms (the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group).There were significant differences in tumor size,tumor location,operation type,operation time and adhesions with the surrounding tissues between the 2 groups of patients.The patients were then divided into three groups according to pathological type.There were significant differences in age,tumor marker,tumor location,operation type,operation time,adhesions with the surrounding tissues,operative blood loss,and postoperative hospital stay among the 3 groups of patients.There was no tumour recurrence in the patients with cystadenoma.Patients with cystadenocarcinoma developed tumor recurrence at a mean of 16.4 months (range,0-50) and died of tumor recurrence even after radical surgery at a mean of 22.9 months (range,3-58).Conclusion MCNs were seen most commonly in middleaged women.The presence of symptoms was a sign of malignancy.Resection of the tumor in the early stage is the key in dealing with MCNs.