The marine biological source of mineral drugs recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version) mainly including pearl, nacre, clam shell, common oyster shell, ark shell, cuttle bone, and sea-ear shell are widely used in clinical. Calcium carbonate and a small amount of protein are the main components in this type of drugs. In this paper, a systematical and comparable study were carried out by determination of calcium carbonate by EDTA titration method, the crystal of calcium carbonate by X-Ray powder diffraction and the total amino acids (TAAs) of the hydrolyzed samples by ultraviolet spectrophotometry method. As a result, the crystal structure is calcite for common oyster shell, mixture of calcite and aragonite for nacre and sea-ear shell, aragonite for the other drugs. The content of calcium carbonate ranged from 86% to 96%. Cuttle bone has the highest amount of TAAs among the seven drugs which reached 1.7% while clam shell has the lowest content of 0.16% on average. In conclusion, an effective method was developed for the quality control of marine mineral drugs by comprehensive analysis of calcium carbonate and TAAs in the seven marine mineral drugs.
Amino Acids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Calcium Carbonate ; analysis ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Edetic Acid ; chemistry ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; classification ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; analysis ; chemistry ; standards ; Quality Control ; Reproducibility of Results ; Seawater ; Species Specificity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; X-Ray Diffraction

Cytometric bead array (CBA) is a new analytical technique, which can achieve real-time and rapid detection of targeted components in a small amount of sample. With many advantages of high throughput screening, high specificity and sensitivity, low cost, easy operation and good repeatability, this CBA technique has been widely used for the detection of various components in foods, agricultural products and environmental samples. Recently, it has got significant development in rapid detection of small molecules. This review briefly introduced the theory of CBA technique, summarized the application in the analysis of small molecules, such as mycotoxins, pesticide residues, shellfish toxins, and then prospected the application of trace small molecules detection in the complex matrices of traditional Chinese medicine and the development trend of it.
Drug Contamination ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; instrumentation ; methods ; Immunoassay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Microspheres ; Pesticides ; analysis ; Toxins, Biological ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Bushen Huoxue Compound (BHC) on lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF mRNA in retinal Muller cells under high glucose condition or advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) condition by using serum pharmacological method.

METHODSThe retinal Müller cells of 5-7 days post-natal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were cultured with modified enzyme-digestion method. Purified retinal Muller cells were cultured in normal conditions, high glucose condition (50 mmol/L) or AGEs (50 mg/L and 100 mg/L) conditions, and BHC-containing serum was added to culture medium. The LDH leakage and VEGF expressions were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the relative expression of VEGF mRNA was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA were significantly increased in the high glucose group, the low dose AGEs group and the high dose AGEs group (all P < 0.01). The LDH leakage was obviously increased in the high dose AGEs group, when compared with the normal control group and the high glucose group (P < 0.01). The LDH leakage, expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA were obviously decreased by BHC-containing serum both in high glucose and AGEs conditions (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BHC-containing serum had no significant effect on the LDH leakage and expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in normal conditions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAGEs intervention could obviously lower the stability of Müller cell membrane. Up-regulated expressions of VEGF and VEGF mRNA in cultured Müller cells could be induced by AGEs or high glucose. BHC-containing serum could stabilize the stability of Müller cell membrane, inhibit the transcription of VEGF mRNA and decrease the protein expression of VEGF, which might be one of important mechanisms for preventing and treating diabetic retinopathy.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ependymoglial Cells ; Glucose ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effect of Longjintonglin Capsules on type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction.

METHODSWe selected 140 patients with type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction according to the diagnostic standards of the American Institutes of Health (NIH) and treated them with Longjintonglin Capsules orally 3 capsules once tid for 12 weeks. We obtained the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Indexes (NIH-CPSI), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, leukocyte count in the expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), semen liquefaction time, and the results of semen analysis and compared these indicators before and after the treatment.

RESULTSOf the 140 cases, 132 were included in this study, excluding 8 due to their incomplete case histories. Before and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication, the total NIH-CPSI scores were 24.52 ± 5.43, 21.28 ± 4.85, 18.01 ± 4.28, and 14.49 ± 3.65 (P < 0.01), the TCM syndrome scores were 35.63 ± 6.07, 26.66 ± 5.03, 17.37 ± 4.18, and 11.11 ± 3.96 (P < 0.01), and the leukocyte counts (/HP) were 27.50 ± 7.01, 22.38 ± 5.22, 16:76 ± 4.10, and 11.40 ± 4.74 (P < 0.01), respectively. After 12 weeks of treatment, 31 of the patients with type IIIA prostatitis were cured and another 72 well responded, with an overall response rate of 78.0%. Of those with abnormal semen liquefaction, 61 were cured, 39 well responded, and 32 failed to respond, with an overall effectiveness rate of 75.8%. Semen analysis showed significantly increased percentage of progressively motile sperm after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of medication as compared with the baseline (P < 0.01). No abnormal liver or renal function or other adverse reactions were observed during the treatment.

CONCLUSIONLongjintonglin Capsules, with its advantages of safety, effectiveness and no obvious adverse effects, deserve to be recommended for the treatment of type IIIA prostatitis accompanied by abnormal semen liquefaction.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; classification ; drug therapy ; Semen ; Semen Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of intensive insulin therapy on inflammatory response and prognosis of patients with severe trauma.

METHODSEighty severely injured patients were divided into intensive insulin therapy group (n = 40, IT) and routine therapy group (n = 40, RT) in random pair. At the time of admission, a continuous infusion of insulin (2-4 U/h) was pumped into the patients of IT group to maintain blood glucose level at 6-8 mmol/L. Patients in RT group were given routine treatment without administration of insulin. Fever, organ injury, and mortality of patients in 2 groups were recorded. Venous blood was drawn from patients of 2 groups on the morning of post treatment day (PTD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Values of TNF-alpha, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-2, and IL-10 in plasma were assayed.

RESULTSHigh fever appeared in 9 patients in IT group, and WBC exceeded 10.0 x 10(9) for more than 3 days in 17 patients in this group, versus 20 and 29 patients respectively in RT group. Dysfunction of 1 organ appeared in 31 patients in IT group and 30 patients in RT group. Dysfunction of 3 organs appeared in 10 patients in IT group and 19 patients in RT group. Dysfunction of 4 organs appeared in 7 patients in IT group and 12 patients in RT group. In IT group, 4 patients died within 3 post-injury day (PID), and 1 patient died after PID 3 (total case fatality: 12.5%). In RT group, 5 patients died within 3 PID, and 4 patient died after PID 3 (total case fatality: 22.5%). Plasma levels of TNF-alpha and CRP of patients in IT group were significantly lower than those of patients in RT group on PID 3-7 ( P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), while levels of IL-2 and IL-10 of patients in IT group were significantly higher than those of patients in RT group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Plasma levels of TNF-alpha (1.3 +/- 0.6 microg/L) and CRP (55 +/- 16 mg/L) of patients in IT group on PTD 7 were lowered to the trough level, and they were significantly lower than those of patients in RT group (3.0 +/- 0.8 microg/L, 89 +/- 20 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIntensive insulin therapy can mitigate systemic inflammatory response and improve prognosis of patients with severe trauma.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Wounds and Injuries ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathologic types, prognostic factors and effective treatment of PGI-NHL.

METHODSClinical data of 110 PGI-NHL patients were analyzed retrospectively, and so did prognostic factors and each treatment outcome.

RESULTSOf the 110 patients, the male-female ratio was 1.56:1 with a median age of 58.5 years. Stomach was the most common site and small intestine was the second. The main histological subtypes were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) NHL. Among the 75 patients followed up, the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 62%, the median survival time was 36 months. Univariate analysis showed a similar prognosis between PG-NHL and primary bowel NHL (P > 0.05), and PGI-MALT had better prognosis than PGI-DLBCL. Among PGI-DLBCL, the ratio of germinal center (GC) sub-type to non-GC was 1:2.82. Among three main treatments, chemotherapy combined with surgery had the lowest mortality rate, compared with each alone. Disease progress mortality was 51.7% of overall mortality.

CONCLUSIONThe percent of non-GC in PGI-DLBCL is higher than that of in non PGI-NHL. The 5-year OS rate is lower than the 5-year OS rate of DLBCL. Combined chemotherapy is the first line treatment. Surgery is important in the control of the complications of GI tract. Maintenance treatment is important even in those who had systemic treatments.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

To compare the difference in action sites between mecamylamine (MEC) and hexamethonium (HEX) on nicotinic receptors of sympathetic neurons, we investigated the effects of MEC and HEX on the nicotine-induced currents in cultured superior cervical ganglion neurons by whole-cell patch clamp technique. The IC(50) of MEC and HEX for antagonizing the effect of 0.08 mmol/L nicotine was 0.0012 and 0.0095 mmol/L, respectively. Both MEC and HEX accelerated the desensitization of nicotinic receptors. Furthermore, by comparing their effects at holding potentials 30, 70 and 110 mV, it was indicated that their suppressing effect on the nicotine-induced currents was voltage-dependent. However, different from that of HEX, the inhibitory effect of MEC increased with administering the mixture of MEC and nicotine at intervals of 3 min, indicating a use-dependent effect of MEC. It is concluded that the action site of MEC on nicotinic receptors of sympathetic neurons is different from that of HEX.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Hexamethonium ; pharmacology ; Mecamylamine ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Nicotinic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; drug effects ; physiology ; Superior Cervical Ganglion ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical effects of knee osteoarthritis with the treatment of the isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises, which aims at establishing the exercise prescription of knee osteoarthritis,and promoting its clinical application.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to September 2010, 120 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups according to visiting sequence, including 39 males and 81 females, ranging in age from 40 to 85 years, with an average of 62.50 years, the disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years. There were 60 patients in the therapeutic group, including 21 males and 39 females, ranging in age from 40 to 85 years, with an average of (62.27 +/- 8.99) years, the disease course ranged from 2 months to 30 years; and the patients were treated with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate and isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises for treatment. There were 60 patients in the control group; including 18 males and 42 females, ranging in age from 41 to 80 years, with an average of (62.72 +/- 8.34) years, the disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years; and the patients were treated with conventional intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate. The index such as the pains,functions and articular dropsy of the knees were observed and the clinical effects were compared respectively.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 1 to 3 years, with an average of 18 months. According to standard of JOA about evaluating the therapeutic effects of knee osteoarthritis: in the therapeutic group, 12 patients got an excellent result, 33 good, 14 poor and 1 bad; and in the control group, 7 patients got an excellent result, 14 good, 31 poor and 8 bad. The clinical results of therapeutic group was better than that of control group. There were 7 recurrent cases in the therapeutic group and 31 recurrent cases in the control group; the recurrence rate in therapeutic group was lower than that of control group.

CONCLUSIONThe isometric quadriceps femoris contraction exercises has obvious effect in alleviating the symptoms, improving joint function, strengthening the joint stability and slowing down joint degeneration process for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, which has a good effect in the long-term clinical effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Isometric Contraction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway in chloracne.

METHODSImmunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and p-MAPK proteins in the epithelium of chloracne group and control group.

RESULTSp-EGFR and p-MAPK was found in all chloracne tissues, whereas no expression of p-EGFR and p-MAPK protein was found in control group. In the skin of chloracne patients, p-EGFR was mainly distributed in the membrane and the cytoplasm, especially in the vicinity of membrane; major positive signal of p-MAPK was in core and serosity.

CONCLUSIONEGFR and MAPK phosphorylation is found in chloracne tissues. MAPK signal transduction pathway is one important molecular mechanism of chloracne.

Adult ; Chloracne ; metabolism ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Occupational Diseases ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; physiology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo screening mutations of exons 15, 18 and 26 of sodium channel Nav1.7 (SCN9A) gene, and to assess its association with pain related to Parkinsonism.

METHODSRespectively, 101 patients with primary Parkinson's disease (PD) and 104 similar-aged volunteers without PD were recruited from March, 2008 to January, 2011. Mutations of above 3 exons in SCN9A gene was detected with PCR and direct sequencing. For 100 patients with Parkinsonism, the pain was scored with a McGill pain rating scale. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS.

RESULTSThe prevalence of pain in Parkinsonian was 57%. 43.86% patients with pain were males, and 56.14% were females. Based on Chaudhuri criteria, the pain symptoms may be classified as musculoskeletal pain (10.52%), radicular pain (10.52%), dyskinesis pain (54.38%), pain from akathisia and restlessness (14.04%), dyskinesis combined with radicular pain (5.26%), skeletal muscles pain and headache (1.75%), and arthralgia (3.50%). Two missense mutations were identified, which included 2794A/C (0.941/0.059) (rs12478318) (M932L) in exon 15 and 3448C/T (0.988/0.012) (rs6746030) (R1150W) in exon 18. The wild type A/C for the 2794 locus had a higher prevalence in PD patients with pain, but this was not statistically different. All of the 5 heterozygotes for 3448 (C/T) were found in Parkinsonian patients with pain. No homozygotes were found.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of pain was higher in Parkinsonian patients than general population, and the proportion of males to females was similar. More patients have suffered dyskinesis pain. A 3448 (C/T) mutation of SCN9A gene may be related to pathogenesis of pain in Parkinsonism.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; NAV1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; genetics ; Pain ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Parkinson Disease ; complications ; genetics ; Prevalence