BACKGROUND: The effect of external application of capsaicin in the treatment of superficial pain has been recognized, but its effect against trigeminal neuralgia by direct action on the nerve ending or nerves in the hypodermis or deep tissues awaits intensive investigation.OBJECTIVE: To observes the effect of subcutaneous injection of capsaicin on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS)-positive nerve fibers in rat facial skin.SETTING: Teaching and Research Division of Anatomy, Xianning Medical College, and Department of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: This experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of Neurobiology, Tongji Medical College, between October and December 2003.Twenty healthy Wistar rats of either sex with body mass of 120-170 g were used.METHODS: The rats received subcutaneous injection of capsaicin for treatment of the suborbital branch of the trigeminal nerve on the right side,with the left side serving as the control side. According to the doses of capsaicin applied, the rats were divided into 4 groups, namely 20, 30, 50and 100 μL capsaicin groups with 5 rats in each group. Twenty-four hours after the injections, samples were obtained and cut into slices for microscopic observation and the expressions of CGRP and NOS were examined immunohistochemically.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] Changes of CGRP and NOS-positive nerve fibers on the experimental side and image analysis of the mean absorbance of CGRP and NOS; [2] changes of characteristic behaviors and body signs of the rats.RESULTS: Totally 20 rats entered the result analysis. [1] Behavioral change: A few minutes after subcutaneous injection of capsaicin, the rats exhibited a series of characteristic behavioral and symptomatic changes,which gradually diminished or even vanished with the increase of the doses. [2] Microscopic changes: On the experimental side, no obvious difference was noted in the expression of CGRP and NOS-positive nerve fibers between the groups. [3] Imaging analysis of the mean absorbance of CGRP and NOS: For CGRP, the mean absorbance was 0.984±0.056 on the control side and 0.947±0.025, 0.852±0.042, 0.756±0.028 and 0.730±0.016 in 20,30, 50 μL and 100 μL capsaicin groups, respectively. As for NOS, the mean absorbance was 0.151±0.009 on the control side, and was 0.148±0.007,0.132±0.012, 0.111±0.067 and 0.107±0.006 in 20, 30, 50 μL and 100 μL capsaicin groups. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the groups (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: CGRP and NOS participate in the processing of nociceptive information and modulate pain and analgesia. Capsaicin executes analgesic effect by exhausting massive neurotransmitters.

Objective: To investigate the endothelial function of chronic ischemia heart failure (CIHF) patients complicated with depression. Methods: The depression statuses were evaluated by Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) in 56 patients with documented stable chronic ischemia heart failure. The patients were assigned to depression group (n = 20) or non-depression group(n = 36) based on their standard SDS scores. The flow-mediated dilation(FMD) of the brachial artery was assessed by ultrasound in the two groups, and the plasma ET-1 and NO levels were determined so as to evaluate the endothelial function. Results: The incidence of depression was 35.7% in the 56 patients. Patients in the depression group showed significantly lower FMD compared with the non-depression group([5.97±0.78]% vs [6.66±0.83]% , P<0.05). Plasma NO level ([48.90±9.82] μmol/L vs [55.13±10.32] μmol/L, P<0.05) was lower and ET-1 level ([83.35±13.39] ng/L vs [74.67±10.95] ng/L, P<0.05) was higher in the depression group than in the non-depression group. Conclusion: CIHF patients with depression have a more severe damage of endothelial function than those without depression.

Obiective: To compare the tissue biocompatibility of domestically manufactured NiTi alloy before and after thermal surface oxidation under 3 different temperatures. Methods: Domestically manufactured NiTi alloy was oxidized in air (group A) and subjected to 30 min heat treatment at 400°C (group B),500°C, (group C),and 600°C (group D) to form different protective oxide surface layers in presence of argon (607.95 kPa). Wire samples from A, B, C and D groups were subcutaneously implanted in guinea pigs. Guinea pigs received 317L stainless steel transplantation(group E) and sham-operation group (F) were taken as control. The order of inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue hyperplasia around implanted materials were observed 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after implantation. Results: The peak time of inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were at the first and fourth week after implantation. The inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were both slight and all met the GB/T 16886. 6-1997 in vivo implantation standard. The order of inflammatory cell infiltration and thickness of capsule walls from low to high was F

Heart Valve Diseases ; therapy ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans

Objective:To compare the tissue biocompatibility of domestically manufactured NiTi alloy before and after thermal surface oxidation under 3 different temperatures.Methods:Domestically manufactured NiTi alloy was oxidized in air (group A)and subjected to 30 min heat treatment at 400℃(group B),500℃(group C),and 600℃(group D)to form different protective oxide surface layers in presence of argon(607.95 kPa).Wire samples from A,B,C and I3 groups were subcutaneously implanted in guinea pigs.Guinea pigs received 317L stainless steel transplantation(group E)and sham-operation group(F)were taken as control.The order of inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue hyperplasia around implanted materials were observed 1,2,4,and 8 weeks after implantation.Results:The peak time of inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were at the first and fourth week after implantation.The inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous hyperplasia were both slight and all met the GB/T 16886.6-1997 in vivo implantation standard.The order of inflammatory cell infiltration and thickness of capsule walls from low to high was F

Objective To investigate the effect of Shexiangbaoxin pills on the heart function of patients with chronic ischemia heart failure. Methods A total of 96 patients with documented stable chronic ischemia heart failure were evenly randomized into Shexiangbaoxin pill group (Shexiangbaoxin pill plus basic treatment) and placebo group (placebo plus basic treatment) for 24 weeks. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, and 6 minute walk test (6 MWT) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results In Shexiangbaoxin pill group, the LVEF was increased by 5.6% after 24 weeks of treatment (\[34.2±3.5\]% vs \[36.1±4.0\]%, P<0.05), the serum BNP level was significantly decreased (\[680.2±203.9\] pg/mL vs \[621.8±200.7\] pg/mL, P<0.05), and the distance of 6MWT was significantly increased (\[385.3±69.2\] m vs \[401.7±75.0\] m, P<0.05); the LVEDV had no significance before and after treatment (P>0.05). The above parameters were not significantly different in placebo group before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusion Shexiangbaoxin pills plus basic treatment can effectively improve the left ventricular function in patients with chronic ischemia heart failure, and further study is needed to observe whether it can reverse left ventricular remodeling.

Objective To explore the roles of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and TGF-?1 in aldosterone-induced PAI-1 production.Methods Quiescent rat mesangial cells (MCs) were treated by aldosterone.The level of ROS in MCs induced by aldosterone was measured by confecal laser scanning microscopy and the TGF-?1 activity in the supematant of culture was measured by mink lung epithelial cell (Mvllu) proliferation inhibition MTT assay.Then,before the addition of aldosterone,MCs were pretreated with NAC or TGF-?1 neutralizing antibody to decrease cellular ROS or inhibit activity of TGF-?1 induced by aldosterone respectively.PAI-1 mRNA was examined by semi-quantification RT-PCR and PAI-1 protein by Western blotting.Results The intracellular ROS induced by aldosterone increased by 5-fold compared to that of control group,and the activity of TGF-?1 stimulated by aldosterone increased markedly.TGF-?1 neutralizing antibody and NAC effectively decreased aldosterone-induced PAI-1 mRNA expression by 30% and 32%,and PAI-1 protein expression by 21% and 11%,respectively.However,neither TGF-?1 neutralizing antibody nor NAC alone could regulate aldosterone-induced PAI-1 mRNA and protein expression to normal level in 24 hours.Conclusions ROS and TGF-?1 play important roles in up-regulation of aldosterone- induced PAI-1 in MCs.ROS and TGF-?1 are not the exclusive pathway of PAI-1 expression induced by aldosterone in MCs.

Objective: To establish a method to determine 4 active ingredients in Jindan tablets by HPLC.
Methods: Agilent Eclipse X DB C₁₈ (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column was adoped using acetonitrile (phase A) -0.1% phophoric acid solution (phase B) as the mobile phase with gradient program at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1, the detection wavelength was 270 nm, Column temperature was set at 30 ℃.
Results: The linear ranges of gentiopicrin, polydatin, quercetin and emodin were 7.875-78.75 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 9）, 6.75-67.50 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 7）, 7.726-77.26 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 4）, 3.809-38.09 μg·mL^-1（r=0.999 8), respectively, the peak area had a good linear relationship with the mass concentration of 4 components, the average recovery were 99.31%, 99.21%, 99.04%, 99.59%, (n=6) respectively, and RSDs were 1.86%, 1.24%, 1.37%, 1.15%, respectively.
Conclusion: This method is reliable, repeatable and stable, and has strong specificity. This method can provide a reference for the quality control and standard improvement of Jindan tablets.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of cistanche total glycosides (CTG) on dopaminergic neuron in substantia nigra (SN) of model mice of Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODSExperimental mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, the normal control group, the model group, the high (400 mg/kg), moderate (200 mg/kg) and low (100 mg/kg) dose CTG groups. Mouse model of chronic PD was induced by peritoneal injection of MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-ttrahydropyridine) 30 mg/kg for 5 successive days. Climbing test was used to estimate the neurobehavior of mice on the 7th and 14th day (D7 and D14) after initiating MPTP injection; meantime, quantitative immunohistochemistry was conducted to detect the number of dopaminergic neuron in SN and expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in striatum.

RESULTSThe average time of climbing in the high dose CTG group on D7 and D14 was significantly shorter than that in the model group (P < 0.01). The mean optic density (OD) of TH in striatum was higher in the three CTG groups than that in the model group on D7 (P < 0.01); but on D14, significance only showed in the high and moderate dose CTG groups (P < 0.01). Moreover, the MPTP induced decrease of TH positive neuron could be antagonized by CTG, but significant difference only showed between the high dose CTG group and the model group at the two time points of observation (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCTG could improve the neurobehavior of PD model mice significantly, and inhibit the decrease of nigral dopaminergic neurons and TH expression in striatum.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Cistanche ; chemistry ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glycosides ; pharmacology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; metabolism

In this study, researchers adopted the network analysis method to study Buyang Huanwu decoction at three levels, namely chemical ingredients, targets and diseases, and discovered the potential effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction in cancer treatment. Besides, they analyzed the "target-target" network of Buyang Huanwu decoction based on diseases, calculated four network indexes, namely node centrality, closeness centrality, betweenness centrality and eigenvector centrality for a comprehensive evaluation on the importance and significance of each target in the network. Afterwards, key targets of Buyang Huanwu decoction were excavated to obtain two important targets--COX-2 and PPAR-gamma, which may be important targets involved in the qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases. Meanwhile, the two targets were the basis to build the core network of "chemical component-target-disease" of Buyang Huanwu decoction, which provided reference for further studies on the effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases. According to the study, the network analysis method was helpful to excavate potential targets Buyang Huanwu decoction in treating qi deficiency and blood stasis diseases, and could provide methodological reference for revealing the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu decoction at multiple levels, with a guiding significance for interpreting mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicinal formulae and developing new drugs.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hematologic Diseases ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy