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

Zanthoxyli Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, muscle and bone pain, fall fracture, hernia, sore throat, toothache and other diseases. Due to possessing many excellent and mild pharmacological properties, there are lots of reports about Zanthoxyli Radix worldwide. At present, more than 100 bioactive components have been extracted and purified from Zanthoxyli Radix. Nitidine chloride (NC), one of the most important alkaloids in Zanthoxyli Radix, has the activities of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, etc. In this review, we summarize the chemical components of Zanthoxyli Radix, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of NC to provide references for further research and utilization of Zanthoxyli Radix.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of gene expression file in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder after hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule(hepaCAM) overexpression.

METHODSAffymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array was used to investigate the changes of gene expression profile between adenovirus-green fluorescent protein(GFP) -hepaCAM group and GFP group in transitional cell carcinoma of bladder EJ cells.Significant Analysis of Microarray(SAM) was used to screen the differentially expressed genes, DAVID software was used to conduct gene ontology analysis and wikiPathway analysis based on the differentially expressed genes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were applied to verify microarray data.

RESULTSCompared with the GFP group, a total of 2469 genes were up-regulated or down-regulated by more than 2 times in the GFP-hepaCAM group. Among these genes, 1602 genes were up-regulated and 867 were down-regulated.Most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in the function of cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation. The mRNA expressions of nibrin, liver kinase B1, and cyclin D1 detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in three different bladder cancer cell lines were consistent with the microarray data.The protein expressions of nibrin and liver kinase B1 in these three cell lines measured by Western blot were consistent with the mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSHepaCAM can alter the gene expression profile of bladder cancer EJ cells. The well-known anti-tumor effect of hepaCAM may be mediated by regulating the gene expression via multiple pathways.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; physiology ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the phenotypes and genotypes of a protein C (PC) deficiency pedigree.

METHODSImmunoassay (ELISA) was used for PC antigen and activated PC (APC) detection, PCR for amplification of the fragment of protein C gene exon II to exon IX, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) for difference of denatured cDNA and DNA sequencing for gene mutation.

RESULTSFour members in the pedigree were found to be PC antigen levels between 34.3% - 67.8% and PC activity between 22% - 49% which are lower in comparison with normal references (80% - 120% and 70% - 130%, respectively). A G-to-A mutation in exon VII of the protein C gene at 6 219 position was identified in 9 members. This mutation resulted in the substitution of Arg for Gln at 169 amino acid.

CONCLUSIONThe proband is of heterozygosity. The G6219 A mutation in exon VII of the protein C gene leads to the substitution of Arg 169 Gln. This mutation is reported for the first time in China.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein C ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein C Deficiency ; congenital ; genetics

Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among all women's malignant tumors worldwide.Surgery,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are three major treatments,while most patients showed adverse effects or complications during or after the treatment,including lymphedema,gastrointestinal reactions and leukopenia,which cause severe impact on patients' recovery and quality of life.Moxibustion has been used and certified to alleviate adverse effects of surgery or chemoradiotherapy for breast cancer.We have summarized literatures in recent years and suggest more systematic research in the future for the underlying mechanism.

OBJECTIVE To study the secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp.TPXq isolated from Saussurea medusa .METHODS The strain was cultured in a large-scale by using the shaking incubator.The secondary me-tabolites were isolated by chromatography methods such as silica gel,Sephadex LH-20 columns,ODS flash column and HPLC,etc.The structures of these compounds were identified by their physico-chemical constants and the NMR data.RE-SULTS Eight Cyclodipeptides and one alkaloidwere seperated from secondary metabolites of an endophytic fungus Aspergillus sp.TPXq isolated were from Saussurea medusa .,and their stuctures were identified as 3-isobutylpyrrolopiperazine-2,5-dione (Ⅰ),3-isopropyl-pyrrolopiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅱ),3-seco-butyl-pyrrolopiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅲ),3-benzyl-pyrrolopiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅳ),3-benzyl-6-(p-hydroxy benzyl)piperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅴ),3,6-dimethylpiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅵ),3-isobutyl-6-isopropylpiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅶ),3-isobutyl-6-benzylpiperazine-2,5-dione(Ⅷ),Chaetominine(Ⅸ),by analysis of physio-chemical and NMR data.CONCLUSION Among them,compounds Ⅳ ~ Ⅷ were isolated from Alterraria .sp for the first time.Compounds Ⅸ showed significant cytotoxic activity against A549 and MCF-7 tumor cells,the IC50 values are 0.18 μg/mL and 0.89 μg/mL,respectively.However,compoundsⅠ~Ⅷ exhibited very weak cytotoxicity(>50μg/mL)against these cell lines.

Objective To explore and evaluate the effect of improved drinking method on the respiratory failure patients with non-invasive mechanical ventilation.Methods Totals of 80 cases with noninvasive mechanical ventilation in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between October 2010 and October 2011 were recruited and randomly divided into observation group( n =40 ) receiving the improved drinking during non-invasive mechanical ventilation and control group( n =40) receiving the traditional drinking,taking off the mask and drinking.Pulse oxygen saturation,respiratory rate,heart rate,mean blood pressure,thirst score,cough and dyspnea were observed and recorded before drinking,at the end of drinking,5 min,30 min after drinking.Results There was no significant difference in gender,age and APACHE Ⅱ score between two groups( P ＞ 0.05 ).The observation group always had higher oxygen saturation than that of control group (95.2±2.3 vs 94.4 ±2.3,94.8 ±2.5 vs 91.8 ±3.4,95.1 ±2.0 vs 92.4 ±3.2,96.0 ±1.9 vs 93.4 ±2.9,P ＜0.05 ),and the incidence of cough,dyspnea was significantly lower than that of the control group ( 10.0％ vs 45.0％,5.0％ vs 22.5％ ),and after drinking 30 minutes,thirst score increased significantly in control group than that of the observation group ( 1.30 ± 0.60 vs 1.97 ± 0.65 ),and the difference was statistically significant( P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Improved drinking method can achieve satisfied oxygen saturation during non-invasive mechanical ventilation with less possibility of cough and dyspnea.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of mRNA expression of complement C3 and C4 in rat nasal mucosa and to reveal the relationship with the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) .

METHODSTwenty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into AR group and control group, 10 rats for each group. Ten rats was sensitized and intranasally challenged by ovalbumin and Al (OH)3 (as supplement) as allergic rhinitis models, and the control group was treated by saline. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the level of mRNA expression of complement C3 and C4 in nasal mucosa of both groups.

RESULTSC3 and C4 mRNA were detected in both groups. The relative intensity of gene expression was measured. The relative intensity of C3 mRNA expression was 6183+/-1376 in AR group, 4444+/-989 in control group, C4 mRNA was 4398 +/-948 in AR group, and 2771+/-407 in control group. Expression of C3 and C4 in AR group was higher than that of the controls ( P < 0. 05) .

CONCLUSIONThe high level of C3 and C4 mRNA expression in nasal mucosa of rats with allergic rhinitis suggests that C3 and C4 are involved in the immunopathology of allergic rhinitis. The result implies that complement system involved in the rat's allergic rhinitis is possibly activated through the classical pathway.

Animals ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Complement C4 ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism

AIMTo study the correlation between 5-HT-induced pain response and the contribution by individual 5-HTR subtypes including 5-HT1R, 5-HT2R and 5-HT3R at the level of peripheral primary afferent.

METHODSThe experiments were done on acutely isolated trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons using whole-cell patch clamp technique and the nociceptive effect was observed on behavior experiments by intraplantar injection of test drugs.

RESULTSThe majority of cells examined responded to 5-HT in a manner of concentration dependence (10(-6) - 10(-3) mol/) (61.4%, 54/88) and with a fast activating and rapid desensitizing inward current (I(5-HT)), which was thought to be mediated by the activation of 5-HT3R, since it could be blocked by 5-HT3R antagonist ICS 205930 and mimicked by 5-HT3R agonist 2-methyl-5-HT. It was found that I(5-HT) was potentiated by 5-HT2R agonist alpha-methyl-5-HT markedly, while 5-HT1R agonist R-(+)-UH 301 did not. In behavioral experiment performed on conscious rats, intraplantar injection of 5-HT(10(-5), 10(-4) and 10(-3) mol/L) induced an increment of cumulative lifting time first 20 min in a manner of concentration dependence. By dissociating 5-HTR subtypes using their corresponding antagonists (ICS and CYP) the potency order of hindpaw lifting time was identified as follows: 5-HT > 5-HT + ICS > 5-HT + CYP.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that in 5-HT-induced nociceptive response at the primary sensory level 5-HT3R may play a role of initiation, but 5-HT2R mediates maintaining and modulatory effect in the processes of nociceptive information convey.

Animals ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT1 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT2 ; metabolism ; Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT3 ; metabolism ; Sensory Receptor Cells ; metabolism ; physiology

The present study is aimed to investigated the firing activity of pyramidal neurons and interneurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in rats with bilateral intraventricular injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) by using in vivo extracellular recording. The results showed that the injection of 5,7-DHT reduced the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the mPFC and dorsal raphe nucleus in the rats. The firing rate of mPFC pyramidal neurons in rats with 5,7-DHT injection was significantly higher than that of normal rats, and the firing pattern of these neurons also changed significantly towards a more burst-firing, while the injection decreased the firing rate of mPFC interneurons and changed the firing pattern of the interneurons towards a more irregular. These results indicate that the lesions of the serotonergic neurons lead to the changes in the firing activity of mPFC pyramidal neurons and interneurons, suggesting that serotonergic system plays an important role in the regulation of the neuronal activity in the mPFC.
5,7-Dihydroxytryptamine ; pharmacology ; Action Potentials ; Animals ; Dorsal Raphe Nucleus ; cytology ; Injections, Intraventricular ; Interneurons ; drug effects ; Prefrontal Cortex ; cytology ; Pyramidal Cells ; drug effects ; Rats ; Serotonin ; metabolism