Objective To determine the estrogenic activity of dibutyl phthalate DBP. Methods The tested compound was dibutyl phthalate. Human estrogen-dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum FBS. Five days before the addition of the tested compounds the cells were rinsed by phosphate balanced solution PBS and the medium was substituted with a phenol red-free RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% dextral charcoal-stripped FBS. The respective tested compound was added in fresh medium and the control cells received only the vehicle ethanol. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was analyzed by the MTT assay growth curves mitotic index and coloning efficiency. Results Compared with the control the proliferation of tested cells treated with DBP like estradiol was markedly enhanced and the activity of the cell proliferation reached the maximum at 10-5 mol/L DBP. During log phase the mitotic index of the test cells treated with DBP and estradiol was significantly increased. The cell coloning efficiency was enhanced which was treated by 10-5 mol/L DBP only for 48 hours. The results showed the time-dependent and dose-dependent model. Conclusion Dibutyl phthalate may enhance the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vitro that demonstrates an estrogenic activity of dibutyl phthalate.

This paper aims to develop a method for the determination of aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion and study the pharmacokinetic properties of four anthraquinones in rat plasma after oral administration of gardenia and rhubarb decoction. The plasma concentrations at different time points of four anthraquinones were determined by HPLC-FLD method. Plasma samples were extracted with liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Plasma samples were separated on a C18 column (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 μm), using 0.2% acetic acid and methanol as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1) with gradient elution. The excitation and emission wavelengths were set at 430, 525 nm, respectively. DAS 2.0 software was applied to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The results showed four anthraquinones can be absorbed. The main parameters of aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion were as follows: C(max) for aloe-emodin was (0.085 ± 0.058), (3.772 ± 1.152), (0.464 ± 0.267), (0.028 ± 0.008) mg x L(-1) respectively; t(max) for rhein was (1.042 ± 0.510), (0.805 ± 0.307), (1.167 ± 0.283), (0.616 ± 0.162) h respectively; t½ for chrysophanol was (3.557 ± 1.250), (6.879 ± 1.126), (5.196 ± 2.032), (4.337 ± 1.816) h; AUC(0-t) for physcion was (0.504 ± 0.130), (9.558 ± 1.106), (2.545 ± 1.554), (0.052 ± 0.018) mg x h x L(-1). This paper developed a selective, accurate and sensitive HPLC-FLD method for the simultaneous determination of four anthraquiones in rat plasma.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

No-reflow phenomenon after reperfusion treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is becoming more recognized today. The effective treatment for no-reflow has not been reported.

This study is to investigate the protection effect of schisandrin B (Sch B) against oxidation stress of HK-2 cells induced by cisplatin and the mechanisms involved. HK-2 cells were cultured and divided into different groups: solvent control group, cisplatin exposure group, positive group, Sch B treatment group. Cell viability and toxicity were evaluated by MTT and LDH assay. GSH level and SOD enzymes activities were also measured. DCFH-DA as fluorescence probe was used to detect ROS level by fluorescence microplate reader. Nrf2 translocation was detected by Western blotting. Real time Q-PCR was used to detect expressions of NQO1, HO-1 and GCLC mRNA level. The results showed that Sch B could significantly inhibit the decline of cell viability induced by cisplatin treatment (P < 0.05) and the protective effect was in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, Sch B treatment significantly inhibited the increase of ROS level induced by cisplatin and reversed the decrease of GSH level (P < 0.05). When Sch B concentration was up to 5 micromol x L(-1), SOD enzyme activities were also enhanced significantly compared with that of the cisplatin group (P < 0.05). It was shown that Sch B could cause nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 in association with downstream activation of Nrf2 mediated oxidative response genes such as GCLC, NQO1 and HO-1. These results suggested Sch B could protect against the oxidative damage of HK-2 cells induced by cisplatin via the activation of Nrf2/ARE signal pathway.

In patient with primary biliary cirrhosis,the metabolism of calcium and vitamin D could be affected and osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroidism might occurr.Besides,hypoalbuminemia may mask the real level of serum calcium and thus lead to misdiagnosis of coexisting parathyroid adenoma.Therefore,a rare case of parathyroid adenoma associated with primary biliary cirrhosis was herewith presented to call attention to the effect of hypoalbuminemia on serum calcium.

There are 250 species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) in the world. This genus distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Alkaloids are the major and representative ingredients in these plants including quinolines, isoquinolines, and amide alkaloids, with such biological activities as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-virus, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-bacteria and anti- oxidant. These species have been used for a long time to treat toothache, urinary and venereal diseases, lumbago and rheumatism. This review summarizes the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from the Z. sppplants, in an effort to the systematic research and application of the alkaloids of this genus.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

AIM: To investigate the role of gene poly mo rphisms of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) in northern Chinese Han pedigree s with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: Polymorphisms in codon 804 and 971 of IRS-1 gene in 80 unrelated patients with type 2 DM and 80 control subjects were analyzed by polym erase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP) technique followed by pol yacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. RESULTS: The frequencies (GCA→GCG) in codon 804 of IRS-1 gene w ere significantly higher in type 2 DM than normal subjects(0.200 vs 0.062, P

A multiplex real-time PCR was developed to detect ctxA of Vibrio cholerae, gyrB and tdh of Vibrio parahaemolyticus simultaneously. The multiplex real-time PCR were evalidated by detection for the three genes in 47 toxigenic V. cholerae O1 and O139 strains (ctxA+; O1=3, O139=44), 25 non-toxigenic V. cholerae strains (ctxA-; O1=12, O139=6, non-O1 and non-O139=7), 116 V. parahaemolyticus strains with or without tdh (73 or 43) and 9 other bacteria strains. The specificity and sensitivity of the multiplex real-time PCR in detection for the ctxA and the tdh genes in the strains tested were both 100.0%, compared to the results by routine PCRs. In the detection for V. parahaemolyticus specific gyrB using the multiplex real-time PCR, all of 116 V. parahaemolyticus strains were positive, and 9 other strains and 72 V. cholerae strains were all negative. The multiplex real-time PCR is a sensitive, specific and quick assay not only for detecting virulence genes of V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus but also for identifying V. parahaemolyticus at species level. In addition, two real-time PCRs for detection of V. parahaemolyticus virulence genes trh1 and trh2 were also developed.

The depositions of immunoglobulins on the retina of diabetic rat were studied with immunohistochemistry,immunofluorecence and computer analysing system.In comparison with control group, depositions of IgG,IgA and IgM on the retina of diabetic rat induced by streptozotocin were significantly increased (all P＜0.05 ).So the immunoglobulin depositions may contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy.

Aim To study relative bioavailablity of cefaclor effervescent tablets in healthy volunteers. Methods According to the crossover design, A volunteers were each orally given a single does of the 0.75 g cefaclor effervescent tablets and cefaclor capsules with an interval of 5 days between the two formulations.The plasma concentrations of the drug were determined by RP-HPLC.Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by ATPK programe,and calculated on the basis of open single compartment model.Results After a single oral dose, the peak levels in plasma averaged Cmax(31.27?5.81)?g?ml-1 and(30.56?5.25) ?g?ml-1 at (0.58?0.12)h and(0.73?0.17)h and AUC0～4(35.48?4.65) ?g?h?ml-1 and (35.89?2.90) ?g?h?ml-1 for tablet and capsule,respectively. Conclusion The result shows that two formulations are bioequivalence.