Objective: To establish the HPLC fingerprint and determine main components of Qishen Granules (QG), so as to provide a scientific basis for its quality control. Methods: HPLC analysis was performed on an Agilent Eclipse plus C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The gradient elution was performed by the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid and 0.1% formic acid aqueous with the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, the detection wavelength was set at 254 nm, and the column temperature was 30 ℃. Fingerprints of ten batches of QG were determined, and the similarities among fingerprints were evaluated. Attributing analysis of the common peaks was achieved by comparing the retention times with the chromatograms of single constituent drugs, and identifications of common peaks were performed on LC-Q TOF-MS and nine components were further confirmed by the reference substances, the content of the nine compounds was subsequently analyzed by HPLC. Results: The similarities of 10 batches of QG were all greater than 0.991. There were 18 common peaks marked in total, peaks 1, 2, 8, 14 and 18 from Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus, peaks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 from Lonicera japonica, peaks 12, 13, 15 and 16 from Salvia miltiorrhiza, and peaks 17 and 18 from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Based on the identification of the common peaks, nine components such as chlorogenic acid (peaks 4), calycosin-7-glucoside (peaks 8), isochlorogenic acid B (peaks 9), isochlorogenic acid A (peaks 10), ononin (peaks 14), salvianolic acid B (peaks 15), salvianolic acid A (peaks 16), glycyrrhizic acid (peaks 17), and formononetin (peaks 18) were identified and quantified. The content of the nine components was determined as 6.676-10.213, 0.628-0.963, 1.018-1.886, 1.082-1.972, 0.477-0.790, 11.327-17.788, 0.519-0.908, 2.000-3.638, and 0.010-0.016 mg/g, respectively. Conclusion: The method established in this study shows good characteristics, specificity, and repeatability, which can provide scientific basis for the quality control of QG.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical manifestations of patients with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

METHODSThis retrospective analysis summarized the clinical features of 6 patients with PAH associated with HHT hospitalized at department of cardiology in Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital between January 2006 and May 2009.

RESULTSThe mean age of the 6 patients (3 male) was 34 years (8 - 67 years). Recurrent epistaxis were present in all patients, there were 4 patients with severe PAH and 2 patients with moderate PAH. All of the six patients with PAH associated with HHT were misdiagnosed at the first hospital visit. Clinical symptoms were significantly improved in 4 patients and remained unchanged in 2 patients combined hepatic venous malformation post medical therapy.

CONCLUSIONSMisdiagnosis for patients with PAH associated with HHT is a common phenomenon in daily clinical practice. Patients could benefit from the corresponding medical therapy after the establishment of the correct diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic ; complications ; Young Adult

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of anhydroicaritin phytosomes (AIP) in preventing and treating bone loss and enhancing bone quality in ovariectomized osteoporosis rats.

METHODSeventy-two SD female rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: the sham group, the model group, the estrogen group and AIP groups (low, middle, high). The sham group was only sham operated, and the remaining five groups were ovariectomized. One week after the ovariectomy, the rats were given 17 beta-estrogen and AIP (15, 30, 60 mg x kg(-1)) for consecutively three months, during which period their serum calcium (s-Ca), serum phosphorus(s-P), alkaline phosphate (ALP), urine calcium (u-Ca), urine phosphorus(u-P), urinary deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) and creatinine (Cr) were detected. Subsequently, rats were sacrificed, and their thighbone, second lumbar vertebrate and forth lumbar vertebrate were collected to detect bone mineral density (BMD), bone calcium (b-Ca) and phosphorus (b-P), biomechanical properties and bone histomorphometric parameters.

RESULTCompared with the sham group, the model group showed a significant increase in serum ALP, u-Ca and D-Pyr /Cr, and reduction in BMD of femur, b-Ca and b-P, biomechanical properties (elastic load, maximum load, break load, stiffness), static parameters (total tissue area, trabecular area, trabecular perimeter) and dynamic parameters (% L Pm, BFR/BV and BFR/ TV), with metratrophia. Compared with the model group, ALP high and middle-dose groups and the estrogen group showed a decrease in serum ALP, u-Ca and D-Pyr/Cr, and growth in BMD of femur, b-Ca and b-P, biomechanical properties of the forth lumbar vertebrae (elastic load, maximum load, break load, stiffness), static parameters (total tissue area, trabecular area, trabecular perimeter) and dynamic parameters (% L Pm, BFR/BV and BFR/TV). The beta-estrogen group showed endometrial hyperplasia, whereas AIP groups showed no hyperplastic change.

CONCLUSIONAIP could inhibit enhanced bone turnover induced by ovariectomy, improve BMD the biomechanical properties of vertebrae, without any stimulation on uterus.

Animals ; Benzopyrans ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Ovariectomy ; Phospholipids ; therapeutic use ; Phosphorus ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human peripheral blood monocyte-derived dendritic cell (DC) maturation. The monocytes were prepared from the peripheral blood of healthy adult volunteers. The immature dendritic cells (imDC) were induced by 5-day-culture in medium supplemented with rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. FACS was used to investigate the interaction of MBL with imDC and the impact of MBL on LPS binding to imDC. ELISA and Western blot was used to analyze the interaction of MBL with soluble TLR4 ectodomain protein (sTLR4); Western blot was used to detect LPS-induced NF-κB translocation in imDC. The results showed that MBL could directly bind to imDC in the presence of calcium. sTLR4 protein or LPS could competitively inhibit the binding of MBL to imDC. ELISA and Western blot showed that MBL could evidently bind to sTLR4 protein in a concentration-dependent manner. FACS showed that MBL could competitively inhibit the binding of LPS to imDC by binding to imDC directly. Western blot showed that MBL decreased LPS-induced NF-κB translocation in imDC. It is concluded that MBL may competitively inhibit the binding of LPS to imDC by binding to TLR4 expressed on imDC, resulted in inhibition of LPS-induced DC maturation, suggesting that MBL can regulate DC maturation through ligand-binding. This study provides the good foundation to clarify the mechanism of MBL inhibiting the LPS-induced DC maturation.
Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Ligands ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo access the prevalence rates of pre-hypertensive patients at different stages and its associated risk factors among adults of Zhejiang province.

METHODSStudy subjects were selected among local residents aged ≥ 18 years from 15 counties by multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method, from July to November, 2010. Each participant was required to complete questionnaire, physical examination and testing for overnight fasting blood specimen.

RESULTS17 437 residents were surveyed including 8169 males and 9268 females. The overall prevalence of prehypertension was 34.39%. The prevalence of pre-hypertension appeared to be higher in males (38.57%) than in females (30.70%) (χ(2) = 119.36, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of pre-hypertension decreased with the increase of age in males who were above 25 year olds (χ(2) = 76.94, P < 0.0001) and in females who were above 45 year olds (χ(2) = 114.66, P < 0.0001). The prevalence of pre-hypertension appeared to be higher in the rural (35.60%) than in the urban (32.39%) areas (χ(2) = 18.69, P < 0.0001). Data from multivariable logistic regression showed that factors as being male, aged older than 35 years of age, with waist circumference as ≥ 85 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women, body mass index ≥ 25.0 kg/m(2) and triglyceride ≥ 1.7 mmol/L were risk factors of pre-hypertension while having had higher education was a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONPre-hypertension was prevalent among adults residents in Zhejiang province. Factors as overweight, obesity, dyslipidemia appeared to be major risk factors for pre-hypertension.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prehypertension ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study on effects of injection of Huangqi Injectio into Zusanli (ST 36) on the hospital infection and immune function in the patient of schizophrenia.

METHODSThirty inpatients of chronic schizophrenia were treated with injection of Huangqi Injectio into bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), 2 mL each point, thrice each week, for 8 weeks. Relative immune indexes and the hospital infection were investigated.

RESULTSThe hospital infection and the sub-infection were 4 cases (13.3%), 7 cases-times (23.3%) in the injection group; and 9 cases (15.0%), 19 cases-times (31.7%) in the control group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The drug-administration duration was 7.77 days/case and 11.87 days/case in the two groups, respectively (P<0.01). In the injection group, as compared with that of last 3 years the duration was 7.77 days/case and 14.08 days/case (P<0.01). IgG, IgA, IgM and T-cell subgroups did not have significant changes, but there was the most different value before and after injection in SIL-2R of the no-infection group, and the longer the drug administration duration, the smaller the different values.

CONCLUSIONInjection of Huangqi Injectio into Zusanli (ST 36) has definite effect for prevention of the hospital infection in inpatients of chronic schizophrenia, and SIL-2R is a valuable index for investigation of the hospital of infection.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Astragalus Plant ; Cross Infection ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Schizophrenia ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intracellular acidification on the P-gp in K562/A02 cells. Confocal laser microscope was used to determine the intracellular acidification. MTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity of intracellular acidification on K562 and K562/A02 cells. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the influence of intracellular acidification on the activity of P-gp. The P-gp expression at protein and mRNA levels were determined by Western blot and real-time RT-PCR respectively. The results indicated that intracellular acidification had no obvious cytotoxicity on K562 and K562/A02 cells. The function of P-gp in K562/A02 cells weakened along with decrease of intracellular acidification, the intracellular acidification significantly increased the accumulation of Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) and suppressed the efflux of Rh 123 mediated by P-gp. The intracellular acidification also inhibited the expression of P-gp in K562/A02 cells at protein and mRNA levels which showed intracellular acidification with time-dependence. It is concluded that the intracellular acidification can inhibit the expression and function of P-gp in K562/A02 cells.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; K562 Cells

Objective To investigate the associations of lipoprotein lipase (LPL)gene Hind Ⅲ polymorphisms with hypertension combined with obesity and their lipids metabolism.Methods 326 subjects of hypertension combined with obesity and 326 healthy subjects were arranged to take questionnaires survey,physical examinations and blood biochemical tests.The LPL gene Hind Ⅲ polymorphisms were detected by PCR -RFLP.Regression analysis was used in this study. Results H +was the dominant allele in both groups.There was no significant difference among H +H +,H +H -, H -H -genotypes of LPL gene between the two groups (P >0.05).In the hypertension combined with obesity group, H +H +genotype had significantly higher triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC)levels than H +H -/H -H -genotypes (P <0.05 )while no significantly different density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC)level (P >0.05 ).The results of conditional logistic regression analysis showed that high fasting blood glucose (FBG,adjusted OR =21.56, 95%CI:7.49 ~62.1 1 ),highTG(adjusted OR =7.5 1 ,95 % CI:4.20 ~1 3.43 ),lowHDLC(adjusted OR =2.67 ,95% CI:1.53 ~4.66),high uric acid (UA,adjusted OR =3.36 ,95% CI:1.55 ~7.29)and hypertension family history (adjusted OR =2.07,95% CI:1.21 ~3.55)were the main influencing factors of the hypertension combined with obesity (all P <0.05).Conclusion LPL Hind Ⅲ polymorphism is significantly associated with the lipids metabolism of the hypertension combined with obesity,but it is not an assured independent risk factor for hypertension combined with obesity.

In this paper, we aim to control and evaluate the quality of Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pill by using the model of fingerprint technique and "component structure" theory. Agilent 5 TC-C_(18) column(4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) was used, with 0.1% formic acid solution-acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). The column temperature was 30 ℃, with detection wavelength of 242 nm and the sample volume of 10 μL. The characteristic fingerprint of Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pill was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) for its quality control. Seventeen common peaks were identified, and the similarity was 0.550-0.997 in 29 batches of samples, indicating that the quality difference among batches of Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pills was significant. The structural characteristics of the Moutan Cortex components in Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pills were characterized. On this basis, combined with the structural characteristics of genuine components of Moutan Cortex, the structural characteristics of components in Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pills were further analyzed. The results showed that there were significant differences in the contents and quantity ratios of 9 representative components(components) of Moutan Cortex in Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pills from different manufacturers, indicating internal quality differences among different batches of products. The fingerprint technique and the "component structure" theory established by the above research provide an analytical method and a research foundation for the quality evaluation of Liuwei Dihuang Concentrated Pills.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Quality Control