Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of intrathecal injecting κ-opioid receptor agonist U50, 488H on the rats with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.Methods 50 Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10): sham group (Sham), ischemia/reperfusion group (IR), high-dose intravenous injection group (IV1), low-dose intravenous injection group (IV2), and intrathecal injection group (IT).In sham group the rats were followed by the modeling step without ligation of the left coronary and no drug injection by intravenous or intrathecal; in IR group the rats were underwent 30 minutes of myocardial ischemia followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion, and were not treated with any drug.All the rats in IV1, IV2 and IT groups were intravenous injected with U50, 488H at 1 hour before they were underwent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion as in IR group.IV1 and IV2 groups were intravenous injected with U50, 488H respectively at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg and 0.01 mg/kg, while the IT group was intrathecal injected with U50, 488H at the dose of 0.01mg/kg.All the rats from 5 groups were observed with cardiac ultrasound, myocardial sirius staining, serum CGRP and ET level.Results Compared to IR group(EF%=35.4 ±1.1,FS% =21.1 ±1.1), the rats in IT group (EF%=49.1 ±1.2,FS%=27.1 ±1.0) and IV1 group (EF%=46.3 ±2.2,FS%=26.6 ±0.6) showed better myocardial contraction (P<0.05) and reduced myocardial fibrosis (P<0.05).IT group and IV1 group also showed reduced ET but increased CGRP in the serum (P<0.05).There were no difference between IV2 group and IR group in both observation.Conclusion Pretreatment with intrathecal injection of opium κ-receptor stimulant U50, 488H not only protected the myocardial function from myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, but also repressed myocardial fibrosis.The protection may result from modulation of CGRP and ET.

Objective To report the outcome of gefitinib for Chinese patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer(NSCLC) at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Methods From Oct. 2002 to Apr. 2006,204 patients with advanced NSCLC received oral ZD1839(250 mg/d)treatment. The were 110(59.9%)men and 94(40.1%)women aged between 25 and 85 years. Thirty-two patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 125 adenocarcinoma, 30 bronchoalveolar carcinoma or adenocarcinoma with partial bronchoalveolar carcinoma, 6 adenosquamous carcinoma. and 11 unspecified. Twenty-six patients had no history of chemotherapy, 62 had no disease progression after chemotherapy, and 111 failed to prior one or more regimens. Median survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox regression analysis was used to detect differences in median survival between strata. Results The median survival of all patients and of patients failed to prior chemotherapy were 16.3 months(95% confidential interval CI, 14.5-18.2)and 12.5 months(95% CI 9.3-15.7). The rate of 1-year survival was 57%. The obiective tumor response rate and stable disease rate were 31.4% and 41.7% respectively.The median survival were significantly related with ECOG scores,pathology types,disease progression after chemotherapy,objective efficacy of gefitinib and changes of short-breathing. Among 26 patients with no prior chemotherapy,the median survival was not statistically significant compared with that of other patients. Among the enrolled patients,111 had disease progression and 62 had stable disease after prior chemotherapy, and their median survivals was statistically different. At the time of this analysis. 142 patients had disease progression,58 of whom withdrew from taking gefitinib,and 84 continued gefitinib therapy until death. The median survivals for these subgroups were not significantly different. Among 142 patients with disease progression, 40 received other systemic treatment, the median survival was statistically significant compared with that of other patients. Objective response was significantly related with age,smoking status,pathological type,change of short-breathing and rashes induced by gefitinib. Adverse events were generally mild(grade 1 and 2)and reversible. The most frequent adverse events were rash 72.6%(138/190)and diarrhea 33.7%(64/190).Conclusion Our studv suggests that treatment with gefitinib may be well tolerate and beneficial for some Chinese patients after failure of prior chemotherapy.

Objective To assess the outcome of pemetrexed as monotherapy for Chinese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital.Methods From February 2006 to August 2009, 69 patients with advanced NSCLC, including 36 (52.2% ) men and 33 (47.8%) women, received pemetrexed monotherapy.Six patients had squamous cell carcinoma, 57 adenocarcinoma, 6 unspecified.Median survival (MS) and progress-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results Adverse events (AEs) were generally mild (grade 1 and 2) and reversible. The most frequent AEs were gastrointestinal adverse events, skin rash, fever and fatigue. Total 5 cases with 3/4 grade AEs were reported, including fever, fatigue, rash, decreased platelets and elevated ALT/AST. The objective tumour response rate and stable disease rate were 10.1% (7/69) and 47.8% (33/69) respectively. Median PFS of all patients was 4.7 months (95% CI 3.0 -6.4) and mean overall survival was 14.7 months (95% CI 11.5 - 17.9).Conclusions Our study suggests that treatment with pemetrexed may be well-tolerated and beneficial for some Chinese patients after failure of prior chemotherapy. The rate of disease control is high and the frequency of 3/4 grade AEs is very low.

An HPLC method to determine six alkaloids of the Coptidis for Chinese Pharmacopoeia of 2015 Edition was established through C18 column. The mobile phase was CH3CN-0.25 mol·L-1 NH4Ac (36:64) (containing 8 mmol·L-1 SDS and adjusting pH 9.3 with ammonia) at the flow rate of 1 mL·min-1, the detective wavelength was 270 nm and the column temperature was 35 oC. The linear ranges of jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, columbamine hydrochloride, epiberberine hydrochloride, coptisine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride and berberine hydrochloride were 0.006 96-0.233, 0.004 75-0.152, 0.003 30-0.528, 0.006 31-1.010, 0.004 71-0.753, 0.017 8-2.884 μg·mL-1, respectively. The average recoveries were 99.65%, 98.59%, 98.49%, 98.66%, 98.64%, 98.63% and RSD were 0.03%、0.15%、0.21%、0.12%、0.28%、0.23%, respectively. The method is simple and accurate, and can be used to determine the contents of jatrorrhizine, columbamine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine and berberine in the Coptidis.

Objectives To evaluate the value of detecting p53 gene point mutations in sputum samples and its validity and reliability as a surveillance index in the early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients.Methods Sputum samples were collected from 54 cases identified as lung cancer and 114 cases identified as pulmonary benign disease. The polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was performed for the detection of point mutations at exons 5-8 of the p53 gene, and sputum smears were also used for each sample. Conclusion Detection of p53 gene alterations in sputum samples by PCR-SSCP-silver stain can be used as a follow-up surveillance index for the early diagnosis of lung cancer in suspicious patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of micro-elements fertilizers on the quality and yields of Artemisia annua.

METHODField experiments were conducted according to the method of random blocks design. After the harvest the yield was calculated and the content of artemisinin was determined.

RESULTBy applying 0.1%-0.5% Mn and 0.1%-0.5% Zn the dried leaf output and artemisinin content were increased.

CONCLUSIONThe suitable ranges of Mn and Zn can increased the yield and artemisinin content of A. annua.

Artemisia annua ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Boron ; pharmacology ; Manganese ; pharmacology ; Zinc ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of element contents and the influencing factors in Codonopsis tangshen.

METHODThe contents of elements were determined and the data was statistically analyzed.

RESULTThe variation coefficients of elements in C. tangshen were lower than those in soil, and variation coefficients of C. tangshen from different habitats were lower than 50%.

CONCLUSIONThe absorption of nutritional elements in C. tangshen was related to content and condition of soil nutrients, and climate etc.

China ; Climate ; Codonopsis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ecosystem ; Elements ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis

Objective To investigate the effect of Chinese herbal compound"Jisuikang"on the phagocyto-sis of neuronal debris by microglial cells. Methods To prepare serum containing drugs of JSK and divide them into the low,middle and high dose groups,the blank serum group and LPS+blank serum group. BV2 was labeled by lentiviral vectors containing the green fluorescent protein gene (GFP). To establish the damage neuron model and mix injured neurons with the transfected microglia. To observe the situation of microglia which was affected by serum containing drugs devour the neuronal debris. Results The middle and high dose of JSK showed greater phagocytic percentage and phagocytic index than those of the control group(P<0.001). In comparison of LPS+blank serum group,no significant difference was found in the middle and high dose of JSK. However,to the phagocytic index, which was better than that of LPS+blank serum group(P<0.05). Conclusion JSK may enhance the engulfment of neuron debris by BV2,which could provide a better living environment for the growth of neurons.

OBJECTIVE: To over-express cyclin-dependent kinase 2-associated protein 1 (CDK2-AP1) gene, and investigate its effect on the proliferation and cell cycle regulation in breast cancer cell line MCF-7. METHODS: CDK2-AP1 gene coding region was cloned into lentivirus vector. Lentivirus particles were infected into MCF-7 cells to upregulate the expression of CDK2-AP1 gene. The expression level of CDK2-AP1 was detected at both mRNA and protein levels by real-time PCR and Western blot. MTT assay, colony formatting assay, and flow cytometry were performed to detect the change of proliferation and cell cycle in MCF-7 cells. We examined the expression of cell cycle associated genes (CDK2, CDK4, P16Ink4A, and P21Cip1/Waf1) followed by CDK2-AP1 over-expression by Western blot. RESULTS: CDK2-AP1 gene was up-regulated significantly at both mRNA (6.94 folds) and protein level. MTT based growth curve, colony formatting assay and flow cytometry showed that CDK2-AP1 over-expression lentivirus inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells with statistical difference (P<0.05). In addition, with CDK2-AP1 over-expression, MCF-7 cells were arrested in G1 phase accompanied by apoptosis. Western blot showed that the expression level of P21Cip1/Waf1 and P16 Ink4A was upregulated, while the expression level of CDK2 and CDK4, members of the CDK family, was downregulated. CONCLUSION CDK2-AP1 gene plays a cancer suppressor role in breast cancer. Its function includes inhibiting the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and arresting the cell cycle in G1 phase.
Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism