AIMTo prepare a novel creatinine adsorbent with anti-renal failure activity.

METHODSA novel starch ester was prepared under heterogeneous condition by the reaction of starch (ST) and 3, 5-dinitrobenzoyl chloride (DNBZ-Cl). The products were characterized by means of elemental analysis, FTIR, 13CNMR and UV-Vis spectra. The adsorption properties of DNBZ-ST were examined.

RESULTSThe adsorption equilibrium is reached after 4 h, the adsorption capacity increases with the degree of substitution (DS) of adsorbent and creatinine concentration. When creatinine concentration is higher than 300 mg.L-1, concentration showed no apparent effect on adsorption capacity. As the adsorption temperature varied from 19 degrees C to 49 degrees C, adsorption capacity first decreases and then increases, and is lowest at 37 degrees C. The adsorption capacity first increases and then decreases as the pH value increase from 4 to 11 and is highest at pH 8. The highest adsorption capacity reached 25 mg.g-1 at 37 degrees C pH 7 and the creatinine concentration is 100 mg.L-1.

CONCLUSIONStarch 3,5-dinitrobenzoate showed a better adsorption property for creatinine, and it is worthy to be studied more deeply.

Adsorption ; Creatinine ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Nitrobenzoates ; chemistry ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; Starch ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) on the number, phenotype, cell cycle and colony formation of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in mice.

METHODSKunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the low- (3.25 g/kg), middle- (6.5 g/kg) and high-dose (13.0 g/kg) XFZYD groups. After they were medicated by gastrogavage respectively with saline or corresponding dose of XFZYD for 7 days, their bone marrow HSC were separated and counted. The phenotype Sca and cell cycle of HSC were detected by flow cytometer, and the colony formation was determined with semisolid methyl media culture.

RESULTSNo obvious difference in the number of mononuclear cell, suspended cell and colony production was found among all the groups (P > 0.05); while the expression of CD34 and Sca-1 increased in the low-dose XFZYD group, but in the middle-dose XFZYD group increase only showed in Sca-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONXFZYD plays a role of removing blood stasis and promoting regeneration through improving hematopoietic function by means of increasing the number and enhancing the function of premature HSC.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; biosynthesis ; Antigens, Ly ; biosynthesis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Count ; Cells, Cultured ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Mice ; Random Allocation

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal Stenosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nickel ; Stents ; Titanium ; Tracheal Stenosis ; surgery

Colitis, Ulcerative ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psoriasis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; drug therapy ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Wenyang Huazhuo Tongluo Recipe (WYHZTLR) on the proportion of T helper 17 cells (Thl7)/regulatory T cells (Treg), and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-10 in peripheral blood of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with yang qi insufficiency and turbidity induced collaterals blockage syndrome (YQITICBS).

METHODSTotally 82 SSc patients were randomly assigned to the Western medicine group (as the control group) and the integrated Chinese and Western medicine group (as the treatment group), 41 cases in each group. All patients took methotrexate (MTX) tablet and prednisone tablet. Patients in the treatment group additionally took WYHZTLR. The treatment course for all was six consecutive months. Besides, another 70 healthy volunteers were recruited as a healthy control group (as the healthy group). Percentages of Th17 and Treg in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, von Willebrand factor (vWF), aminoterminal propeptide of type l procollagen (PIIINP), and cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen ( I CTP) were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA. The correlations between Th17/Treg and levels of vWF, PIIINP, I CTP, skin score, and disease activity index were observed by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood, ratios of Th17/Treg, and the serum level of IL-17 were significantly higher, but the percentage of Treg and the serum level of IL-10 were significantly lower in SSc patients, when compared with those of the healthy group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the same group before treatment, the percentage of Thl7, ratios of Thl7/Treg, and levels of IL-17, vWF, and PIIINP all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P <0.05, P <0.01), but the percentage of Treg and the IL-10 level increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Meanwhile,the level of I CTP was higher in the treatment group after treatment (P <0. 05). The improvement of all indices except the percentage of Th17 was more obvious in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with levels of vWF, PIIINP, skin score, and disease activity index before and after treatment respectively (P <0. 01), but with no obvious correlation with the level of I CTP (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONWYHZTLR could achieve its therapeutic effect on SSc patients by regulating Th17/Treg imbalance, lowering levels of vWF and PIIINP, and elevating the level of I CTP.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Methotrexate ; Peptide Fragments ; Procollagen ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; drug therapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells

This study is to determine the content of three alkaloids and establish the HPLC fingerprint of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. The HPLC method of content determination was as follows: Thermo C18 (4. 6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with acetonitrile-sodium dodecyl sulfonate solution-acetic acid (56: 43: 1) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. The method of HPLC fingerprint was as follows: Agilent ZORBAX SB-Aq C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 μm) was conducted with gradient elution of methanol and water at a flow rate of 0.8 mL x min(-1), the monitoring wavelength was set at 282 nm and the column temperature was 35 degrees C. Similarities evaluation and hierarchical clustering analysis were applied to demonstrate the variability of 12 batches of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula samples. The results demonstrated that 11 batches showed good similarity on chemical constituents. The method could well display the chemical information of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula. It was simple, reliable and could be used for the chemical quality control of "Jianlian" Nelumbinis Plumula.
Alkaloids ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Nelumbo ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seeds ; chemistry

Objective To research the curative effect of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine on Kashin-Beck disease(KBD). Methods According to Diagnosis for Kashin-Beck disease,80 patients of adult KBD were detected from Guanghui village Shangzhi city Heilongjiang province in July,2007,and they divided into treatment group and control group according to their condition,age and sex,40 person in each group. Treatment group was given chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate,and control group was given placebo(equivalent amount of starch). Bilateral knees X-ray films were shot before and after treatment (8th month),scale division magnifying glass was used to measure the width of joint space on X-ray films. Results The width of joint space respectively was (4.30±2.14) and (4.10±2.07)mm in control group before and after treatment,and treatment group respectively was (4.17±2.15),(4.16±2.11)mm. Medicine had no obviously role on joint space (F = 0.50,P > 0.05),Time and both of time and medicine had obvious role on joint space(F= 67.66,46.74,all P< 0.05). Joint space of treat group was thinner than control group(P < 0.05) before treatment,but thicker after treatment(P < 0.05). To compare with the width of before treatment,joint space width of control group became obviously narrow(P < 0.05). Conclusions Experimental group taking chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate alleviated knee joint space narrowing process of adults KBD patients compared with control group. It plays a protection role in articular cartilage and provides evidences for choosing drug and evaluating effect in the treatment of adults KBD.

BACKGROUND: Ulinastatin (UTI) is a urinary trypsin inhibitor extracted and purified from urine of males. This study aimed to explore the effects of UTI on paraquat-induced-oxidative stress in human type II alveolar epithelial cells. METHODS: The human type II alveolar epithelial cel s, A549 cel s, were cultured in vitro. The A549 cel s were treated with different concentrations of paraquat (200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 μmol/L) and ulinastatin(0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 U/mL) for 24 hours, the cell viability was measured by cell counting kit-8 and the median lethal concentration was selected. In order to establish an in vitro model of paraquat intoxication and to determine the safe dose of ulinastatin, we calculated LD50 using cell counting kit-8 to determine the survival rate of the cells. A549 cells were divided into normal control group, paraquat group and paraquat+ulinastatin group. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were detected by biochemistry colorimetry, while the level of reactive oxygen spies (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA assay. RESULTS: The survival rate of A549 cells treated with different concentrations of paraquat decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Whereas there was no decrease in the survival rate of cells treated with 0–4000 U/mL ulinastatin. The levels of MDA, MPO, and ROS were significantly higher in the paraquat group than in the normal control group after 24-hour-exposure. And the survival rate of the paraquat+ulinastatin group was higher than that of the paraquat group, but lower than that of the normal control group. The levels of MDA, MPO, and ROS were lower than those of the paraquat group. CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin can alleviate the paraquat-induced A549 cell damage by reducing oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVETo observe the analgesic effect of Zhitong Capsule (ZTC) and study its mechanism in adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats.

METHODSForty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups with 8 rats in each group. On the first day, except to those in the normal group that were treated with normal saline, the same amount of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was given through intradermal injection into the right hind paw to all the rats in the other groups. From the 17th day of the modeling on, the rats in groups of ZTC were administered daily through gastrogavage with a dose of 1000, 500, 250 mg/kg respectively, while equal volume of normal saline was given to those in the normal group and model group, and an equal volume of aspirin (ASA) solution was given to rats in the ASA group through gastrogavage for 10 days, once per day, and on the 27th day, the analgesic effect of ZTC was measured with heat withdraw method. The activities and contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in serum were observed by spectrophotometry, and the level of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in hypothalamus were determined by the assay of immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSZTC showed significant effects on enhancing the pain threshold and at the same time it increased the activities of SOD and reduced the contents of LPO in serum. ZTC could also increase the level of beta-EP in hypothalamus.

CONCLUSIONZTC has analgesic effect and its mechanism is probably related with its effect in inhibiting the level of oxygen free radicals in serum and increasing the level of beta-EP of hypothalamus in rats.

Analgesia ; methods ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxides ; blood ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Preparations ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Tissue Distribution ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism