Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Leukocytosis ; chemically induced ; Oxides ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

Mugwort leaf is the traditional herb being used for moxibustion. Although its place of production and the course of making Mugwort floss have been described in detail, there is no unified standard about the quality and processing of Mugwort floss until now, which seriously affect on the popularity and application of moxibustion. In accordance with the real herb of Mugwort leaf and floss as well as its processing and quality judgment, this paper thoroughly analyze the related data including ancient documents, modern research results and clinical applications. The authors consider that the Mugwort floss in the market is lack of regulations for its processing, and it needs to be discussed the way to judge the quality of Mugwort leaf by volatile oil, suggesting that the further study on the quality control of Mugwort leaf and floss has to be carried out from multiple aspects, such as physical attributes and chemical characteristics.
Artemisia ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; standards ; Moxibustion ; standards ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) and protein kinase C (PKC) on apoptosis and observe the changes of cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) treated human leukemia cells NB4 and cortex neurons.

METHODS[Ca(2+)]i of NB4 cells and cortex neurons was probed with Fluo-3/AM, its changes were assayed with laser confocal microscopy in real-time after As2O3 treatment at different concentrations, the effects of PTK and PTP and the activation of PKC on these changes with confocal microscopy and phosphorus radioisotope assay. DNA ladders of NB4 cells and cortex neurons after exposed to As2O3 were observed.

RESULTSAs2O3 at 1 micromol/L could remarkably increase the [Ca(2+)]i of NB4 cells but had no effects on neurons. Vanadate, a kind of PTP inhibitor, could promote the increase of [Ca(2+)]i treated by 2, 5, 10 micromol/L As2O3 in a dose-dependent manner. The mean total increase rates at 240 seconds after exposed to As2O3 at different concentrations were (6.5 +/- 2.3)%, (21.7 +/- 2.1)%, (49.2 +/- 2.5)% for NB4 cells, and (6.7 +/- 2.1)%, (19.4 +/- 2.5)%, (52.3 +/- 2.7)% for cortex neurons, respectively. Genistein, a kind of PTK inhibitor, could decrease the increase of [Ca(2+)]i treated by 2, 5, 10 micromol/L As2O3 in a dose-dependent manner. The mean total inhibited rates at 240 seconds after As2O3 treatment at different concentrations were (6.7 +/- 2.9)%, (25.6 +/- 2.5)%, (52.2 +/- 3.5)% for NB4 cells, and (7.8 +/- 3.1)%, (18.1 +/- 2.8)%, (51.3 +/- 3.3)% for cortex neurons, respectively. The activation of PKC began to increase as exposed to As2O3 at 1 micromol/L for 3 h, and kept rising continuously in NB4 cells and at 24 h DNA ladders emerged. However, none of the above results was found in human cortex neurons, but when exposed to 2 micromol/L As2O3, the activation of PKC and DNA ladders did emerge in neurons.

CONCLUSIONSThe phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of PTK and PTP participated in nonspecific apoptosis signal transduction pathway related to As2O3, and accompanied with PKC activation. The [Ca(2+)]i elevation was closely related to increased PKC activation. There existed difference in dose tolerances to As2O3 between NB4 cell and cortex neurons.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of constantly slow intravenous arsenic trioxide (As2O3) infusion regimen on decreasing leukocytosis in vivo and in vitro.

METHODSThree kinds of leukemia cells, NB4, K562, and acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, were cultured in the media with constant concentration and varying concentrations of As2O3 respectively for 24 hours. Seventy-five patients were enrolled in two groups randomly. In trial group, 37 patients received continuously slow intravenous As2O3 infusion regimen for 24 hours with an infusion rate of 8 drips per minute and total infusion duration of about 18-21 hours daily. In control group, 38 patients received routine regimen with an infusion rate of 45-55 drips per minute and total infusion duration of about 2-3 hours daily for 24 hours. The daily As2O3 dosage was 0. 16 mg/kg. The intracellular arsenic concentration was measured by atomic fluorescence assay. The apoptosis rate of cells, CD33- CD11b+ cells, and CD33+ CD11b- cells were monitored by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rates of NB4, K562, and APL leukemia cells in the media with constant As2O3 concentration were 56.6% +/- 2.4%, 27.6% +/- 3.1%, and 52.2% +/- 2.8%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those with changing As2O3 concentration (23.2% +/- 2.1%, 11.0% +/- 2.5%, and 21.0% +/- 2.5%, respectively, P < 0.01). The apoptosis rates of APL, M2 type acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M2), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in the trial group (28.5% +/- 1.9%, 9.5% +/- 0.6%, and 12.5% +/- 1.8%) were also significantly higher than those in control group (8.5% +/- 2.2%, 2. 9% +/- 0.8%, and 4.5% +/- 1.2%; P < 0.05). The ratios of CD33 CD11b- and CD33- CD11b+ cells in control group were significantly higher than those in trial group.

CONCLUSIONThe continuously slow intravenous As2O3 infusion regimen can obtain high efficiency of apoptosis and low differentiation proportion, relieve leukocytosis, and gain maximal therapeutic benefit.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; blood ; drug therapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; blood ; drug therapy ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; blood ; drug therapy ; Leukocytosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; Oxides ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate cardiac effects of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) at conventional dosage in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients.

METHODSThe basical heart rate, electrocardiograph, plasma As(2)O(3) concentration of APL patients were dynamically monitored. The action potential duration and current of I(Ca-L) in guinea pig cardiac ventricular myocytes were assayed by patch clamp technique, and the elevated cytosolic [Ca(2+)]i of guinea pig ventricular myocytes induced by As(2)O(3) by laser confocal microscopy.

RESULTSApproximately 52.5% - 35% of 40 APL patients manifested poor cardiac effects of different degree when As(2)O(3) intravenous infused at conventional doses in the initial 1 or 2 weeks with fast heart rate or prolonged QT interval. As(2)O(3) at concentration of 1, 2, 5 micro mol/L prolonged action potential duration from (563.0 +/- 55.8) ms to (737.7 +/- 131.7), (842.4 +/- 115.6) and (1103.2 +/- 96.3) ms respectively (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01), and increased I(Ca-L) of guinea pig cardiac ventricular myocytes as well as the respectively cytosolic [Ca(2+)]i. Calcium channel blocking agent can cut-out the effect.

CONCLUSIONAs(2)O(3) intravenous infusion at conventional doses can cause tachycardia and prolong QT interval. The probable mechanism might be that As(2)O(3) affects the ion channels and cytosolic calcium.

Adult ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Arsenicals ; adverse effects ; blood ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels, L-Type ; drug effects ; Cricetinae ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Oxides ; adverse effects ; blood

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Arsenicals ; adverse effects ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Diseases ; chemically induced ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Necrosis ; Oxides ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the diagnostic value of barium enema (BE), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in primary colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSA total of 64 patients with suspected colorectal carcinoma received BE (n=39), spiral CT (n=31) and MRI (n=42). The detective results were compared with the surgical results.

RESULTSAmong 64 patients, 54 cases were pathologically proved as colorectal carcinoma. The diagnostic sensitivity of BE,CT and MRI was 96.9% ,96.2% and 97.1% ,and the overall accuracy was 92.3% 83.9 % and 90.5% respectively. The overall accuracy of CT and MRI for tumor T staging was 73.1% and 82.9% respectively.

CONCLUSIONBE can be considered as a primary approach for diagnosing colorectal carcinoma, CT and MRI be necessary diagnostic approaches. Combined BE with MRI is the best choice for diagnosing of colorectal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Barium Sulfate ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Enema ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arsenicals ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Oxides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction

Because of irregular shapes of Chinese herbal pieces, we simplified the previously deduced general extraction kinetic model for TCMs, and integrated particle diameters of Chinese herbs that had been hard to be determined in the final parameter "a". The reduction of the direct determination of particle diameters of Chinese herbs was conducive to increase the accuracy of the model, expand the application scope of the model, and get closer to the actual production conditions. Finally, a simplified model was established, with its corresponding experimental methods and data processing methods determined. With total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix as the determination index, we conducted a study on the adaptability of total flavonoids extracted from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method in the model. The results showed a good linear correlation among the natural logarithm value of the mass concentration of total flavonoids in Scutellariae Radix, the time and the changes in the natural logarithm of solvent multiple. Through calculating and fitting, efforts were made to establish the kinetic model of extracting total flavonoids from Scutellariae Radix with the water decoction method, and verify the model, with a good degree of fitting and deviation within the range of the industrial production requirements. This indicated that the model established by the method has a good adaptability.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; Kinetics ; Models, Theoretical ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry ; Water ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cardiac effect of QT interval prolongation in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)), and the relationship between QT and serum arsenic concentration.

METHODSBlood serum arsenic concentrations of thirty APL patients were determined at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, and 24 hours after As(2)O(3) injection using atomic fluorophotometry. Cardiac functions were measured simultaneously using a 12-lead body-surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Q-T intervals were manually measured, and then corrected using Bazett's formula (QTc). QT dispersion (QTd) was also calculated. In order to assess the effects of arsenic on the symptoms of anemia, twenty-four anemia patients were divided into two groups on the basis hemoglobin concentration: Group 1 (Hb > or = 90 g/L), and Group 2 (60 g/L < or = Hb < 90 g/L). QTc and QTd of these patients were also manually measured.

RESULTSAll QT intervals of APL patients treated with As(2)O(3) injection were prolonged [32.2 ms (27, 41 ms); P < 0.05], but the changes of QTd were not prominent [3 ms (-8, 7 ms), P > 0.05]. There was a delay of 2 hours in maximum QTc following peaks in serum arsenic concentration. Changes in QTc and QTd of the two anemic groups were not prominent.

CONCLUSIONSAs(2)O(3) can prolong QTc intervals in APL patients, but the effects are delayed compared to peak serum arsenic concentrations. As(2)O(3) has no prolongation effect on QTd. Mild and moderate anemia do not effect QTc and QTd.

Arsenicals ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Oxides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use