Objective To determine whether homocysteine(Hcy)and monosodium glutamate (MSG)could lead to animal model of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy and its mechanism. Methods Female adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:pregnant control group(PN), pregnant Hcy group(PH),pregnant glutamic acid group(PG)and pregnant Hcy and glutamie acid group (PHG).The rats of each group were injected with Hey 200 mg/kg or physiological saline every day intraperitoneally and with MSG or 0.9% saline every other day via Hcy injection from the 10th day to the 20th day of pregnancy.The blood pressure,urine protein,function of liver and kidney,weight of placenta, length and weight of fetus were all measured.The histological change of the pallium and the change of behavior of pregnant rats were also observed.Results(1)The blood pressure in PH[(107?8)mm Hg, 1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa],and PHG group [(109?10)mm Hg] after the treatment increased significantly compared with those in other groups from the 12 th day after pregnancy(P

Objective To prepare and identify the andrographolide-hydroxypropyl-?-cyclodextrin(an- drographolide-HP-?-CD)inclusion compound.The tool ratio between andrographolide and HP-?-CD and the thermodynamic constants in inclusion were studied simultaneously.Methods The andrographolide- HP-?-CD inclusion compound was prepared with lyophilization technique.Meanwhile,the inclusion com- pound was identified by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)methods,infrared spectrometry(IR),and X-ray diffraction(XRD),respectively.The tool ratio between host and guest moleculars and the thermo- dynamic constants during the inclusion process were also researched by phase solubility method.Results An 1:1 molar ratio inclusion complex of andrographolide with HP-?-CD could be formed at 25,35,and 45 C.The phase diagram was A_L type and the procedure of inclusion was a heat release process.Conclusion The solubility of andrographolide-HP-?-CD inclusion compound can be increased obviously by the above- mentioned preparing techniques.

Objective To establish a stable primary culture of rat cerebellar granule neurons in vitro for further study the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.Methods Cerebellar cortices were taken from brain of Wistar rat 5-7 day old after born under stereoscopic microscope.Single cell suspension was acquired after digestion and washing with trypsin (0.25％) and DNase Ⅰ solution,respectively.Granule cells were purified from other cells by differential velocity adherence method for two times.Rat cerebellar granule neurons were seeded in culture plate pre-coated with poly-L-lysine.Neurons growth,development and synaptic connections were observed daily.The neurons were identified by neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunofluorescence technique.Results The neurons were affixed to the culture plate in 24 hours,in reticular arrangement observed under contrast microscope.Granule cells gradually turned round from oval and outlines became clearer in 2-3 days.In 4-6 days,there were a wide range of synaptic connections among the neurons and a mature nerve cell network formed.A large quantity of cerebellar granule neurons was seen by NSE identification.Few bigger cells such as purkinjes cells and glial cell outlines were also seen in the same visual field.Conclusions This is a successful primary culture method for acquirement of rat cerebellar granule neurons.The method can provide experimental basis for future studies the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure on cerebellar cells.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the transdermal delivery characteristics of Gentiana macrophylla complex components system through different parts of the skin under micro-needles conditions. Two-chamber diffusion cells were used, different parts of isolated skin and micro-needle pretreated isolated mouse skin were applied separately, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) similarity evaluation methods were used to evaluate transdermal delivery characteristics of Gentiana macrophylla complex components system on receiving pool and the permeation rate and penetration amount of Gentiopicroside at different parts of mouse skin. In the 24 h, the similarity between receiving fluid which was on passive transdermal delivery and micro-needle transdermal delivery conditions and original fluid were ranged from 83.0% to 98.9%; By the micro-needle pretreatment with different parts of the mouse skin, the time that Gentiana macrophylla complex components system though abdominal skin to the receiving fluid which reached 90% similarity compared with that of original fluid was 4 h, which was 18 h at back skin and 12 h at neck skin separately. Micro-needles can be used as the ideal ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine complex transdermal delivery; transdermal absorption time delay could be greatly reduced and its bioavailability was improved. The permeation rate and similarity to original liquid of Chinese medicine complex components increased significantly in the abdominal skin relative to the neck and back skin under micro-needle conditions.
Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Gentiana ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glucosides ; pharmacokinetics ; Mice ; Needles ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Skin Absorption

To identify whether a highly repeated GT sequence from DCA1 promoter from Dunaliella salina,which have been proved to be a salt-inducible promoter in our previous study,would be a salt-inducible regulation element,different primers were designed to amplify 6 different-length fragments of DCA1 promoter from D.salina by PCR.After these fragments were respectively inserted into the HindⅢ-BamH I sites of the vector pU?GUS,serial expression vectors containing the gus gene were generated.D.salina cells transformed with these recombinant plasmids by electroporation were grown in liquid media containing different concentrations of sodium chloride respectively.GUS enzyme activity was measured histochemically and fluorometrically.The results revealed that 3 fragments containing GT repeated sequence drove the external gus gene expression and the expression pattern of the gus gene was regulated by the concentrations of sodium chloride.Additionally,the 2 fragments without tandem GT sequence drove the gus gene expression,but the expression pattern of the gus gene wasn't regulated by the concentration of sodium chloride;Also,the upstream fragment of the tandem GT sequence wasn't able to drive the gus gene expression.In conclusion,the highly repeated GT sequence from the DCA1 promoter plays an important role in the salt-inducible regulation of DCA1 promoter from D.salina and might be a novel salt-inducible element.

OBJECTIVEPrepare konjac glucomannan-hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) compression coated tablets and study the effects of the formulation, technics and in vitro dissolution condition on drug release behavior to elevate the colon-specific effects of preparation.

METHODBerberine hydrochloride core tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique and konjac glucomannan-HPMC mixture as the coating layer were used with compression coated technique. The effects of the formulation and technics on drug release behavior were investigated by dissolution test. The erosion of coat layer during dissolution test was investigated.

RESULTDrug almost not released in dissolution medium stimulating gastric and intestinal condition, and released completely by coating layer erosion and rupture by enzyme in stimulating colonic condition. Drug release decreased with decreasing the ratio of konjac glucomannan-HPMC and increasing coat weight (P < 0.05), compression force was not found to be a significant factor on drug release. Drug release increased with increasing the concentration of beta-mannase in dissolution medium (P < 0.05), rotation speed has no effect on drug release. The release of drug was correlative with erosion of coat layer. The mechanism of drug release were diffusion and erosion.

CONCLUSIONThe konjac glucomannan-HPMC compression coated tablets was a promising delivery system for drugs to be delivered to the colon.

Administration, Oral ; Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hypromellose Derivatives ; Mannans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated

OBJECTIVETo access the feasibility of employing metabonomics method in clinical studies. This pilot study intends to introduce nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics method to elucidate the metabolism of non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCLP) patients.

METHODSHigh-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy was performed on blood plasma obtained from NSCLP and non-malformed children. All signal of 1H NMR spectra were recognized within MESTRE-v4.7, and the 1H NMR spectra integration into bins (or buckets) across the spectral regions of bin 0.04 was performed automatically in MESTRE-v4.7. The resulting data matrix was further analyzed, which was performed by SIMCA-P 11.0. The principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the centered data to explore any clustering behavior of the samples.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated the metabonomic difference in plasma between NSCLP and non-malformed children at least lies in 3-Hydroxybutyrate gamma-CH3, arginine and valine. Arginine excretion appeared to be higher in the non-malformed children population, while NSCLP population excreted higher concentrations of 3-Hydroxybutyrate gamma-CH3 and valine.

CONCLUSIONThe present study clearly demonstrated the great potential of the NMR-based metabonomics approach in elucidating the NSCLP plasma metabolism and the possibility of application in clinic diagnosis and screening.

Child ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Metabolomics ; Pilot Projects

To investigate the relationship and significance of Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway with caspase-3, XIAP, HSP27and Grp-78. The HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against b-catenin. After 72 and 96 h, protein was extracted and the protein expressions of b-catenin, caspase-3, XIAP, Grp-78 and HSP27 were detected by Western blot. b-catenin protein expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (F = 160.72, P is less than to 0.01). Interestingly, Caspase-3 protein expression was decreased at 72 h and increased to normal at 96 h (F = 136.10, P is less than to 0.01), while p-caspase-3 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h (F = 98.65, P is less than to 0.01). XIAP protein expression decreased at 72 h (F = 37.29, P is less than to 0.01) and increased at 96 h. Grp-78 protein expression increased at 72 h and decreased to normal at 96 h ( F = 58.72, P is less than to 0.01). HSP27 protein expression showed no change following transfection ( F = 1.91, P is more than to 0.05). Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway is related to the protein expressions of caspase-3, XIAP and Grp-78, but not related to HSP27 protein expression in HCC. Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway may participate in the regulation of HCC apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation through affecting these factors.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Caspase 3 ; Catenins ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Objective To explore the impact of different concentrations of glucose on the ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. Methods The A570 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultured under different concentrations of glucose was measured and linear was regressed by func-tion Linest.The formation was observed and the thickness was recorded by a laser scanning confocal microscope (CLSM).Results Experiments showed that with the increasing concentration of glucose in the culture medium, the ability of 22 bacteria biofilm formation showed raising trend (all of the slope of the analogy line were positive ) .Among them, 4 strains had apparently raising trend . CLSM images demonstrated that compared with no glucose group and lower concentration glucose group , there showed faster speed , less mature time , stronger adhesion ability and thicker thickness of biofilms in the group with glucose concentration was ≥11.1 mmol · L-1 ( P <0.05 ) .Conclusion When the glucose concentration was ≥11.1 mmol· L-1 , for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the ability of biofilm formation was significantly induced and enhanced with the increasing concentration of glucose .

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical screening and value of vertebral artery ultrasound, Transcranial doppler (TCD), Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and Computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the diagnosis of cerebral arteriosclerosis combined with vertebral artery abnormalies according to vertebral artery digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

METHODSFrom January 2006 to September 2010, 186 patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 133 cases were males and 53 cases were females,ranged from 30 to 84 years (with a mean of 63.8 years). All the patients were estimated by DSA; 172 cases were estimated vertebral artery ultrasound and TCD; 53 cases were estimated by MRA; 25 cases were estimated by CTA. The positive results by DSA were seen as case group, while the negative results were seen as control group. The sensitivity, specificity and concordance rate among four groups were calculated.

RESULTSThe abnormality rate of vertebral artery with DSA, vertebral artery ultrasound, TCD, MRA and CTA separately was 50.00% (93/186), 30.81% (53/172), 49.42% (85/172),15.10% (8/53) and 40.00% (10/25). According to DSA standard, the sensitivity of vertebral artery ultrasound in diagnosing was 50.57%, the specificity was 89.41%, and concordance rate was 69.77%; while the sensitivity of TCD was 68.48%, the specificity was 72.50%, and concordance rate was 70.35%; the sensitivity of MRA was 21.43%, specificity was 92.00%, and concordance rate was 54.72%; the sensitivity of CTA was 63.64%,the specificity was 78.57%, and concordance rate was 72.00%.

CONCLUSIONThe reasonable and combined application of vertebral artery ultrasound, TCD, MRA and CTA is helpful for diagnosing cerebral arteriosclerosis combined with vertebral artery abnormalies. For the patients with cerebrovascular disease, cervical massage technique should be paid highly attention, which may cause vertebral artery injury and other complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteriosclerosis ; diagnosis ; Cerebral Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography ; Vertebral Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging