Objective Astrgaloside Ⅳ derivative (ASId) is one of Astragaloside Ⅳ (ASI) derivatives with higher water-solubility and may have more druggability than ASI. The present study aims at observing the effects of ASId on cardiovascular parameters in chronic heart failure in rats. Methods Using echocardiographic and haemodynamic measurements, the effects of ASId on congestive heart failure (CHF) induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in rats were investigated.ventricle (LV) pressure (dp/dt) in ASId treated groups were significantly increased. Both LV volumes in diastole and in systole were decreased significantly after ASId treatment, accompanied with a trend towards normalization of relative stress. ASId treatment also inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of depressed heart. Conclusion ASId could improve cardiac functions and inhibite compensatory hypertrophy and LV remodelling, which suggests the possibility of ASId as a new therapeutic drug for the treatment of CHF.

Objective To compare the enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on contrast-enhanced sonography(CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CECT). Methods Thirty-two hilar cholangiocarcinoma lesions in 32 patients were evaluated by CEUS and CECT. CEUS was performed with contrast agent of SonoVue and low mechanical index contrast specific mode. CECT was performed with contrast media of Ultravist and a standard biphasic helical CT scanning protocol. Results In arterial phase of CEUS and CECT,the numbers of the lesions showing hyper-enhancement were 14 (43.8 % ) and 12 (37.5 % ), iso-enhancement were 14 (43.8%) and 9(28. 1%),hypo-enhancement were 4(12.5%) and 11(34.4%),respectively (P = 0. 162).Three lesions (9.4%) showed periphery rim-like hyper-enhancement and 29 (90.6%) showed diffuse homogeneous or heterogeneous enhanced of the whole tumor on CEUS, whereas for CECT the number were 2 (6. 3%) and 30 (93. 8%) respectively ( P = 1. 000). In portal phase, the numbers of the lesions showing hypo-enhancement on CEUS and CECT were 30 (93.8 % ) and 23 ( 71.90% ), iso-enhancement were 1 ( 3.1 % ) and 8 ( 25.0 % ), hyper-enhancement were 1(3. 1%) and 1 (3. 1%), respectively ( P = 0. 046). The portal vein invasion was correctly detected in 16 ( 84. 2 % ), 17 (89. 5 % ), 15 (78.9 % ) lesions with baseline ultrasound, CEUS and CECT, respectively. CEUS and CECT correctly diagnosed 30(93.8% ) and 25 (78. 1% ) lesions prior to operation (P = 0. 125). Conclusions The enhancement pattern of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on CEUS was similar with that on CECT in arterial phase, whereas in portal phase hilar cholangiocarcinoma was prone to show hypo-enhancement on CEUS. CEUS and CECT has similar diagnostie efficacy prior to operation.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)in characterizing complex cystic focal liver lesions(FLLs).Methods Sixty seven complex cystic FLLs in 65 patients were examined with baseline ultrasound(BUS)and CEUS.BUS and CEUS images were reviewed by a resident radiologist and a staff radiologist independently.Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis and the interobserver agreement was analyzed by weighted k statistics.Results After ROC analysis,the areas under the ROC curve(Az)were 0.917 for the staff radiologist and 0.774(P=0.044)for the resident radiologist on BUS,and were 0.935 and 0.922(P=0.42)on CEUS.A significant difference in Az between BUS and CEUS was found for the resident radiologist(0.774 versus 0.922,P=0.047),whereas not found for the staff radiologist(0.917 versus 0.935,P=0.38).Better results of specific diagnosis were obtained on CEUS[28.4%(19/67)before versus 58.2%(39/67)after review of CEUS images for resident radiologist,and 26.9%(18/67)versus 76.1%(51/67)for staff radiologist,both P＜0.001].Interobserver agreement was improved after review of CEUS images[K=0.325(95%confidence interval:0.214-0.436)on BUS versus k=0.774(95%confidence interval:0.688-0.860)on CEUS].Conclusions Real-time CEUS improves the capability of discrimination between malignant and benign lesions and specific characterization for complex cystic FLLs,as well as the interobserver agreement.

Objective To explore the investigation method of complicated and profound traditional Chinese herbal medicine,the potential action mechanisms of flavonoids from Scutellaria baicalensis were studied by docking calculation.Methods In total, eight flavonoids (aglycones and their glicosides) from S. baicalensis were selected as ligands.The crystalline structures of targets related to common diseases were used as the receptors for calculation. The calculations were conducted with Schr(o)dinger software package. The grading standard of selectivity was developed according to G-score between ligands and receptors. Results Twenty-six pharmacologic actions have been reported.Among all effects in literature, nine of them can be deduced from the docking calculation of aglycone. From glycosides with grade ++, 25 reported effects can be estimated by calculation. Apparently, the target selectivity of aglycones and their glycosides are different form the virtual evaluation. The virtual evaluation results of glycosides were closer to the reported effects. Conclusion Our proposed virtual evaluation method seems an effective way to investigate the complicated system of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It suggests that aglycones may be effective as the form of glucoside in vivo, and metabolism is a very important factor for virtual evaluation.

Objective To elucidate potential activities of phthalides and terpenoids from Angelica sinensis by theoreticaldocking calculation.Methods Eleven components of phthalides and terpenoids were selected as ligand.Thecrystalline structures of targets related to common diseases were used as the receptors for calculation.Thecalculations were conducted with Schr(o)dinger software package.The grading standard of selectivity was developedaccording to G-score between ligands and receptors.Results Selective targets of phthalides and terpenoids wererelated to nevous system diseases,cancer,pain,diabetes,cardiovascular disease,liver cirrhosis,nephrotic syndrome,inflammatory diseases,rheumatoid arthritis,dermatosis,leukemia,microbial inflections,immune diseases,andhypercholesterolemia.In addition to the medical treatments reported in the literature,our research also indicated thatthese two classes of compounds may be used for tumor,diabetes,rheumatoid arthritis,dermatosis,leukemia,livercirrhosis,and nephrotic syndrome.According to our research,the effects of phthalides and terpenoids may be not sostrong.Conclusion The effects of phthalides and terpenoids on diseases founded through virtual evaluation accord greatly with those reported in experiment and clinic.The combination of computer-aided drug evaluation technique and experiment is definitely an important and fast way to investigate the effects and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To study the application of 99Tcm in rabbit cerebral thromboembolic stroke and thrombolysis effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).Methods The 0.5 mL radioactive pertechnetate sodium (specification:5 mCi/2mL and radiation intensity 92.5 MBq/mL) was combined with 30 μL stannous chloride (5 mg/mL),and the 20 μL mixture was joined to whole blood,red blood cells,and plasma for labelling.Then 50 μL CaCl2 (0.5 mol/L) and bovine thrombin (50 IU/mL) were doped in mixture,and rapidly sucked into a polyethylene plastic pipe (PE80).Thrombus was formed for 2 h at 37 ℃ and cut into small pieces of 10 mm.Autologous blood clots combined with 99Tcm from external carotid artery were injected to internal carotid artery of rabbit,the radioactivity (counts per minute,CPM) was measured by gamma counting instrument,and the improvement of rt-PA 4.5 mg/kg (clinical equivalent dose) on this model was observed.Results After thromboembolism,CPM increased approximately by (5.1 ± 1.3) times,which suggested that the model was reliable.The rt-PA 4.5 mg/kg had significant progressive thrombolysis effect.Conclusion 99Tcm tracer technology could be applied to rabbit cerebral stroke model,which is stable and reliable

Aim To investigate TY501′s role in bleo-mycin ( BLM )-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, including the sham operation, BLM, PFD, TY501(high and low dose) groups. After administra-tion of BLM intratracheally, PFD and TY501 were giv-en in each group daily, according to the dosage de-signed during 21 days. Lung coefficient, PaO2 were tested before killing the rats. The contents of ALB, ALP, LDH, GSH, HYP were detected by regent kit respectively. PCⅢ and COL4 were determined by ELISA. Results ( 1 ) Some indicators of alveolitis in early stage of IPF: the contents of lung coefficient in three treatment groups were lower and PaO2 was higher than those in BLM group ( P<0. 05 ); compared with BLM group, the contents of ALB, ALP, LDH in the treatment groups reduced on 21 st day ( P<0. 05 );the expression of GSH in BLM group was increased for feedback regulation and higher than the treatment groups and the sham operation group (P<0. 05);(2) some indicators of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis in late stage of IPF:the expressions of HYP, PCⅢand COL4 were reduced after the treatment. There were signifi-cant differences compared with BLM group ( P <0. 05 ) . Conclusions TY501 is valuable for the ther-apy of IPF, the same as the positive drug pirfenidone. TY501 attenuates BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis, which may be related to the affection of TGF-βpathway and inhibition of MMPs.

Objective To evaluate the impact of the re-modified Sugiura procedure on portal hemodynamics and liver function in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.Methods Forty patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent the re-modified Sugiura procedure in the Yichang Second People's Hospital from June 2006 to October 2014 were studied.Changes in the free portal pressure (FPP),portal venous flow (PVF) and liver functions before and after operation were analyzed.Results (1) The FPP at different phases of the operation (after opening the abdomen,after splenectomy,and after devascularization) were (43.2 ± 1.8) cmH2O,(34.8 ± 1.6) cmH2O and (35.2 ± 1.7) cmH2O,respectively.There were significant differences in FPP between the phases of after splenectomy and after opening the abdomen,as well as after devascularization and after opening the abdomen (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in FPP between after devascularization and after splenectomy (P ＞ O.05).(2) The PVF,which were measured with Doppler sonography at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months),were (1 420.4 ± 137.7) ml/min,(1 205.2 ± 126.7) ml/min,(875.8 ± 118.0) ml/min and (893.8 ± 114.7) n1/min,respectively.There were significant differences in PVF between postoperative 10 days and preoperative 1 day,between postoperative 6 months and postoperative 10 days,as well as between postoperative 18 months and preoperative 1 day (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in PVF between postoperative 18 months and postoperative 6 months (P ＞0.05).(3)The liver functions were evaluated using the Child-Pugh score at 4 time points (preoperative 1 day,postoperative 10 days,postoperative 6 months,postoperative 18 months).There were no significant differences among the time points,(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The re-modified Sugiura's procedure durably,appropriately and effectively reduced the PVF and FPP,but it did not have any negative effects on the liver functions of patients with cirrhosis.

Objective To identify microbubbles targeted (MBt) to alpha(v)beta(3) (αvβ3) via biotin-avidin bridge and evaluate the adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro.Methods MBt produced via biotin-avidin bridge were validated using fluorescence in vitro.Adhesion of αvβ3-integrin targeted MBt (MBαvβ3) to HUVECs was tested using the parallel plate flow chamber (PPFC) test.Results Bright green fluorescence was observed on the biotinylated microbubbles(MBB) incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled streptavidin (FITC-SA) and on MBB-SA incubated with FITC labeled biotin.There was no fluorescence seen on non-targeted control microbubbles,MBB incubated with FITC labeled protein A and MBB-SA incubated with FITC labeled protein A. The adherent rate of MBαvβ3 was significantly higher than MBt with non-specific antibody (MBN) in PPFC test,with 9.9±3.1 of MBαvβ3 and 0.8±0.3 of MBN adhered to HUVECs,respectively(P<0.05).Conclusions Avβ3 targeted microbubbles using biotin-avidin bridging method is highly efficient and reliable for HUVECs.

Objective To prepare phospholipid-based sulfur hexafluoride gas-filled microbubbles, which were designed for targeting microbubbles. Methods The microbubbles composed of DSPC and mPEG2000-PE were produced by film-sonication method,and were compared with SonoVue. In the physical chemistry characteristics studies, the morphology, particle diameter, concentration, pH value and osmotic pressure were investigated. In the echogenicity studies, contrast harmonic imaging technique was used to investigate the enhancement of vitro water sac and normal rabbit kidney parenchyma. Results The lipid microbubbles were well-distributed, round with air holes. The average diameter of self-made microbubbles and SonoVue were 2.25 μm and 2.50μm respectively. The average diameter of self-made microbubbles and SonoVue distributed from 0.4 μm to 10 μm and 0.2 μm to 10 μm,and 90% were under 6 μm and 8 μm respectively,the concentration were 5 x 108～10 x 108/ml and 1 x I08～5 x 108/ml respectively with a stability of 6 hours. In vitro water sac, the gray scale of self-made lipid microbubbles and SonoVue were 121.67±6.76 and 122.33 ± 4.53 respectively( P>0.05). In normal rabbit kidney parenchyma, the peak video intensity of normal rabbit kidney parenchyma of self-made lipid microbubbles and SonoVue were 72.00 ± 7.21 and 74. 65± 10.93 respectively(P>0.05). Conclusions The lipid microbubbles have satisfactory physical chemistry characteristics and echogenicity.