OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of Modified Xiaoyao Powder (MXP) on electrogastrogram (EGG) and pharmacokinetic characteristics of ferulic acid (FA) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) of Gan-qi stagnation with Pi-deficiency syndrome type (FD-GP).

METHODSThe study was conducted following method of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics synchronous determination. The 20 patients with FD-GP and 21 healthy volunteers enrolled were orally administrated with MXP to observe the changes in symptom scores, EGG and pharmacokinetic characteristics of FA in patients using gastrointestinal analyzer and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the symptom scores of patients significantly decreased (P < 0.01). EGG showed that the average amplitude of peak and dominant frequency, etc. at the monitoring points, including gastric body, lesser curvature and the near gastric antrum part of greater curvature, etc. were lower than the normal range, the changes were especially obvious and would be worsened after meals (P < 0.01). After treatment by MXP, all the above indexes were improved either before or after meals. The pharmacokinetic parameters of FA in patients of FD-GP before treatment were lower than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05) and they were insignificant different by MXP comparing with those in the healthy control group.

CONCLUSIONMXP is effective not only in improving clinical symptoms and EGG, but also on pharmacokinetic parameters of FD-GP patients.

Adult ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacokinetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating ; Phytotherapy ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immuno-modulatory effect of short course administration of somatostatin (stilamin) continuously at early stage in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with SAP (22 men, 17 women; the middle age was 49 years)were randomly allocated into control group (20 patients treated with non-surgical integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and treatment group (19 patients treated with somatostatin administered intravenously at a dosage of 250 mug/h for consecutive 72 hours as well as the treatment for the control group). Laboratory parameters, including the expressions of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) in lymphocytes (tested by flow cytometry) and C reactive protein (CRP), and indexes of therapeutic effect, including the occurrence of organic dysfunction, local complication and mortality between the two groups were compared. Another group of 30 healthy volunteers (19 men, 11 women; the middle age was 47 years) were recruited for testing the normal levels of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8). RESULTS: (1) The levels of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) in lymphocytes before treatment in both groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy subjects (P<0.05), but there were no statistical differences between the two groups. At the 4th day, CD(3), CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) increased significantly in the treatment group (P<0.05) while no changes in the control group; the levels of CD(4) and CD(4)/CD(8) in the treatment group were also higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). (2) The CRP levels of the 2 groups showed no statistical difference before and 4 days after the treatment, but the CRP level in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group at the 7th day (P<0.05). WBC count, serum levels of amylase, lipase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, as well as the score of APACHE II in the treatment group recovered more quickly than those in the control group (P<0.05). (3) The occurrences of organic dysfunctions, local complications and mortality in both groups were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: The short course administration of somatostatin continuously at early stage can reduce the inflammatory response, up-regulate the cell immune function and improve the conditions of the patients with SAP, but its effect on mortality and morbidity needs further study.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of the Hubei Wingnut ( Malus hapehensis ) leaf decoction (MHD) against conjunctivitis infected with human simplex virus type I (HSV-1). Methods Malus hupehcnsis decoction was used as the active treatment and ribavirin ( RBV) eye drop was used as the positive control. Both of the Vero cells and rabbit eye conjunctiva were infected with HSV-1. The effect and mechanism of the MHD on viral replication was determined by observing the cytopathic effect ( CPE) . The efficacy of MHD at different doses on the rabbit viral conjunctivitis was examined by pathological changes of eye conjunctiva tissues. Results MHD did not inhibit the proliferation of HSV-1 in vitro. The inflammatory reactions of rabbit viral conjunctivitis caused by HSV-1 were obviously attenuated or disappeared after treatment with MHD at 6 kg·L-1 and 3 kg·L-1 for 7 consecutive days,compared with the negative control of 0. 9% NaCl. The curative rate of MHD at the middle and high doses was 83. 3% and 100. 0%, respectively. Conclusion MHD has the potential for treating eye conjunctivitis caused by HSV-1 by relieving inflammation.

To evaluate the automated segmentation algorithm for detection of intra - retinal layers to process images obtained from ultra- high resolution optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Graph theory and the shortest path search based on dynamic programming were applied to automatically segment the 8 intra - retinal layers. We experimentally verified the accuracy and reliability of the algorithm. The results showed that the intra-retinal layer boundaries between automated and manual segmentations matched well. The algorithm successfully segmented the intra- retinal layers in glaucoma, high myopia, and retinitis pigmentosa patients. The proposed automatic segmentation for intra-retinal layers provides a promising tool for quantitative analysis in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of n-hexane on expression of serum myelin proteins (MBP) in workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane.

METHODSIn this study, 269 workers exposed to n-hexane for more than one year and 104 subjects not exposed to n-hexane served as the exposure group and the control group, respectively. The urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels in all subjects were detected. On the basis of urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels, the exposure group was divided into the high exposure sub-group and low exposure sub-group. The serum myelin basic protein (MBP) levels were measured by ELISA kit.

RESULTSThe mean concentration of urinary 2,5-hexanedione in the exposed group was (3.10 +/- 1.35) mg/L. The concentration of urinary 2,5-hexanedione in the control group was undetectable. The levels of serum MBP in the high exposure sub-group and low exposure sub-group were (2.43 +/- 0.24) and (1.62 +/- 0.23) microg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than that (0.78 +/- 0.12) microg/L in the controls (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed the positive correlation between serum MBP levels and urinary 2,5-hexanedione levels (r = 0.781, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present study showed that the serum MBP levels of workers occupationally exposed to n-hexane significantly elevated, and the serum MBP can serve as the effective biomarker of n-hexane exposure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hexanes ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Myelin Basic Protein ; blood ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of integrin α4β7 in the development of ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats.

METHODSSixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (acetone enema), the model group (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, DNCB enema), and the α4 intervention group. Colonic mucosa of different groups was observed and compared in terms of pathology and cytokine changes(IL-2 and IL-6) using ELISA. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the colon α4β7 expression. Integrin α4β7(+) lymphocytes in the portal vein of rats were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe expression of α4 mRNA was 0.68±0.24 in the model group and 0.58±0.37 in the intervention group, and the expression of β7 mRNA was 0.84±0.37 in the model group and 0.65±0.30 in the intervention group, which were all significantly higher as compared to those in the control group(0.15±0.13 for α4 and 0.24±0.62 for β7, P<0.01). The proportions of integrin α4β7 positive lymphocytes in the portal vein in the model group and intervention group were significantly higher than that in the control group [(76.7±8.2)% and (68.2±7.6)% vs. (14.7±6.7)%, P<0.01]. The expression of IL-2 and IL-6 and the result of macroscopic and microscopic scores in the intervention group were lower than those in the model group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh expression of α4β7 may play an important role in experimental colon mucosa inflammation in rats with ulcerative colitis. The blockade of integrin α4β7 may be a potential target to reduce colonic mucosa inflammation.

Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Colon ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Integrins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and mechanisms of multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii (GTW) on improving glomerular inflammatory lesion in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODDN model was induced by unilateral nephrectomy and intraperitoneal injection of STZ (35 mg x kg(-1)) twice. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the sham-operated group (Sham group, n = 5), the vehicle-given group (Vehicle group, n = 5 ) and GTW-treated group (GTW group, n = 5). After the model was successfully established, the rats in GTW group were daily oral administrated with GTW suspension (50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), meanwhile, the rats in Vehicle group were daily oral administrated with distilled water (2 mL) for 8 weeks. From the beginning of the administration, all rats were killed 8 weeks later. Blood and renal tissues were collected,and then UAlb, renal function, glomerular morphology characteristics and glomerular macrophages (ED1 + cells) infiltration, as well as the protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and interleukin(IL)-lβ, and the key molecules in p38MAPK signaling pathway including p38 mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated p38 (p-p38MAPK) and transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 were investigated respectively.

RESULTGTW not only ameliorated the general state of health and body weight,but also attenuated UAlb, glomerulosclerosis, the infiltration of glomerular ED1 + cells and the protein expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 in the kidney in DN model rats.

CONCLUSIONBy means of DN model rats, we demonstrated that GTW has the protective effect on renal inflammatory damage in vivo via inhibiting inflammatory cells infiltration and inflammatory cytokines expression. Furthermore, GTW could improve renal inflammatory lesion through down-regulating the expressions of the key signaling molecules in p38MAPK pathway such as p-p38MAPK and TGF-β1 ,and inhibiting the activation of p38MAPK signaling in the kidney.

Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glomerulonephritis ; drug therapy ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; Tripterygium ; chemistry ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; physiology

To determine the effect of stress on carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex (CSR) and whether or not central histaminergic receptors modulate the CSR under stress, the characteristics of CSR were analyzed by using an isolated carotid sinus preparation in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into two groups at random: unstressed group (n=42) and stressed group (n=41). According to the site of microinjection of histaminergic receptor antagonists, each group was subdivided into a group of intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) and a group of microinjection into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). The volume of injection into the lateral cerebroventricle and NTS was 5 microl and 1 micro1, respectively. Stressed groups were subjected to unavoidable electric foot-shock twice daily for a week, each session of foot-shock lasted 2 hours. The left and right carotid sinus regions were isolated from the systemic circulation under anesthesia with pentobarbital sodium in all rats. The intracarotid sinus pressure (ISP) was altered in a stepwise manner to trigger CSR from 0 to 280 mmHg at every step of 40 mmHg and 4 s, and then returned to 0 mmHg in similar steps. ISP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded simultaneously. ISP-MAP relationship curve was constructed by fitting to the logistic function with five parameters. The CSR parameters and the ISP-MAP relationship curve were separately compared statistically. The main results obtained are as follows. (1) Stress significantly shifted the ISP-MAP relationship curve upwards and obviously moved the middle part of ISP-Gain relationship curve downwards, and decreased the value of the MAP range and maximum gain (G(max)), but increased the threshold pressure (TP), saturation pressure (SP), set point and ISP at G(max) (ISP(Gmax)). (2) I.c.v. of H1 receptor antagonist chlorpheniramine (CHL, 5 microg) or H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine (CIM, 15 g) significantly diminished the above-mentioned changes in CSR performance induced by stress; the alleviative effect of CIM was less remarkable than that of CHL. The responses of CSR in stressed rats to H(1) or H(2) receptor antagonists generally occurred 20 min after the administration and lasted approximately for 15 min. (3) After microinjection of CHL (0.5 microg) or CIM (1.5 microg) into the NTS, the responses of CSR in stressed groups were similar to those after i.c.v. injection of CHL or CIM. (4) However, microinjection of CHL or CIM into the lateral cerebroventricle or the NTS could not completely abolish the stress-induced changes in CSR. These findings suggest that stress results in a resetting of CSR, a decrease in reflex sensitivity. The stress-induced changes in CSR may be mediated, at least in part, by activating the brain histaminergic system. The central histaminergic receptors (H(1) and H(2) receptors) may play an important role in the resetting of CSR under stress. The descending histaminergic pathway from the hypothalamus to NTS may be involved in these effects.
Animals ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Brain ; metabolism ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; physiology ; Chlorpheniramine ; pharmacology ; Cimetidine ; pharmacology ; Histamine Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Histamine ; physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology

The changes in carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex (CSR) performance induced by intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) of histamine (HA) were investigated. The effects of pretreatment with HA receptors antagonists into the cerebroventricle or nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) on the responses of CSR to HA were also examined. Intracarotid sinus pressure (ISP)-mean arterial pressure (MAP) relationship curve was constructed by fitting to the logistic function with five parameters in 50 Wistar rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The left and right carotid sinus regions were isolated from the systemic circulation and the ISP was altered in a stepwise manner. The main results obtained are as follows. (1) i.c.v. injection of HA (100 ng) significantly shifted the ISP-MAP relationship curve upwards and moved the middle part of ISP-Gain relationship curve downwards, and reduced the MAP range and maximum gain (G(max)), but increased the threshold pressure (TP), saturation pressure (SP) and ISP at G(max) (ISP (Gmax)). (2) The pretreatment with H(1) or H(2) receptors antagonist, chlorpheniramine (CHL, 5 microg) or cimetidine (CIM, 15 microg), could obviously diminish the above-mentioned changes in CSR performance induced by HA, but the effect of CIM was less remarkable than that of CHL. (3) The pretreatment with both CHL and CIM (5 microg and 15 microg) at the same time abolished the responses of CSR performance to HA completely. (4) After microinjection of CHL (0.5 microg) or CIM (1.5 microg) into the NTS, the responses of CSR to HA were similar to those after i.c.v. CHL or CIM, but the change in TP was significantly decreased. These findings suggest that the intracerebroventricular administration of HA results in a rapid resetting of CSR and a decrease in reflex sensitivity. The response of CSR to HA might be mediated by both central H(1) and H(2) receptors, especially by H(1) receptors. The effects of the central HA on CSR might be related to a histaminergic descending pathway from the hypothalamus to NTS. It is suggested that the HA receptors in the NTS play an important role in the responses of CSR to HA.
Animals ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Carotid Sinus ; physiology ; Histamine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Pressoreceptors ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To characterize the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings of patients with occult sys?temic malignant neoplasms, whose initial manifestation presented as multiple acute cerebral infarcts including coagula?tion function,radiological imaging and microembolic signals (MES) detection by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods All clinical records, laboratory hematological tests includ?ing hypercoagulable states measured by D-dimer levels, brain MRI including DWI, and TCD monitoring MES, the treat?ment and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed in 12 patients with multiple acute cerebral infarcts as the first manifes?tation of occult systemic malignancy. Results The clinical manifestations presented as localized neurological dysfunction, e.g. hemiparesis, aphasia, hemiparesthesia, dysarthria, vertigo and seizures, etc. DWI revealed multiple disseminated acute cerebral infarcts in multiple arterial territories such as the bilateral anterior or anterior plus posterior cerebral circu?lation in all patients. Eleven of 12 patients tested had elevated D-dimer. TCD detected MES in 5 of 7 patients. There were 12 patients diagnosed with occult systemic malignancy including 5 lung cancer, 3 pancreatic cancer, 1 gastric can?cer, 1 colon cancer, 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma and 1 metastatic poorly differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma with unknown primary. Ten patients already had remote metastasis at diagnosis. The prognosis was usually poor and there were 7 cases with ischemic stroke recurrence, 4 cases with acute myocardial infarction, 3 cases died during hospitaliza?tion. Conclusions When patients present with multiple disseminated acute cerebral infarcts involving multiple arterial territories as initial manifestation, the underlying occult systemic malignancy should be considered. Hypercoagulopathy and MES might provide the clues to the diagnosis.