Chinese Caterpillar Fungus (CCF) is one of the rare Chinese traditional drugs. As the resource is reducing sharply, the price is rising higher and higher, and there have been much more adulterants in the markets, but until now we don't have a scientific and accurate research on the identification study for this drug. On the basis of resource investigation, during the study of the samples collected by ourselves and the specimens stored in the museum, using the macroscopic and microscopic methods, referring to the literatures of entomology, emphasizing on the characteristics of polypide part, we have studied this species in detail of the macroscopic characters such as the insertion position of the stroma part, the annulations and segments of the caterpillar, the abdominal leg, the pinaculum, and the microscopic characters of the body wall; firstly added the microscopic character of the crotchets on the planta of abdominal leg. The result turned out that the characters which we have studied are regular and stable, and it have laid the foundation for the powder products and patent medicines which have used the crude drug of CCF.
Animals ; Cordyceps ; ultrastructure ; Larva ; anatomy & histology ; ultrastructure ; Lepidoptera ; anatomy & histology ; ultrastructure ; Materia Medica ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

BACKGROUND: Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation, neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis, and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function.DESIGN: A non-randomized self-control study.SETTING: Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis, who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years, admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study. The involved patients, including 21 males and 11 females, were aged 5-48 years. Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise. Meanwhile, various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left. Among the patients, 18 suffered from acute viral myelitis, 8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis. After onset, they were all given large doses of radiosonde,dexamethasone, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs. Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury. Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient. The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo, which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives.METHODS: Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs, cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days, and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension. Under the surgical miscroscope, the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site. Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively, neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scoring Standard formulated in 2000, and was compared to pre-operation function.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Sensory function change. ②Motor function change.RESULTS: Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation, the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved (motor function: 55.72±10.50 vs. 51.53±13.41; light touch:69.53±11.68 vs.63.06±15.98; pain sense: 69.50±12.20 vs. 64.03±15.0, all P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: Olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation can help to promote the neurological function recovery of patients with the sequel of myelitis. However, its long-term curative effect needs to be further investigated.

Objective To investigate the spatial distribution and clustering areas of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province,and to provide epidemiological information for further exploring the etiology and related risk factors of the disease.Methods Detailed residential addresses of 342 cases of patients (residents of Heze City) with diaphragm type Budd-Chiari syndrome diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 in Heze Municipal Hospital,Heze Shan County Central Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College,Shandong Provincial Hospital and Beijing Xuanwu Hospital were collected.Geographic information system (GIS) was used as a platform for data management and display.The nearest neighbor index,Ripley's K(d) function,Ripley's L(d) function and the nearest neighbor clustering method were applied to detect the spatial characters of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province.Crimestat 3.0 was used for spatial analysis.Results The nearest neighbor distance analysis showed that the nearest neighbor index was 0.6767 (Z =-11.4387,P ＜ 0.01).That was an aggregation at the first-order spatial scale.Within the study area,the first clustering radius of Budd-Chiari syndrome was 6.66 km,and the first clustering strength was 5.40; the average radius of the strongest clustering area was 126.61 km,and the clustering strength was 12.52,while the biggest clustering radius was larger than 222 km.After corrected by population,the gathering strength was slightly higher than that before the correction.Ten first-order hot spots were formed,and 95％ confidence interval aggregation number was 7,which meant the results were statistically significant(P ＜ 0.05),main clustering areas are in Mudan District,Shan County and Juancheng.One secondorder hot spot was gathered based on the first-order hot spot.Conclusions Spatial distribution of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Heze City,Shandong Province has showed spatial aggregation and heterogeneity.This study has a great epidemiological significance for further exploring the cause of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

BACKGROUND:Animal experimental studies have confirmed that cell transplantation,neurotrophic factor infusion or transplantation as well as other methods can alter the local environment of injured spinal cord and promote its partial function recovery. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation for the treatment of the sequel of myelitis,and to explore whether it would promote the recovery of the spinal cord function. DESIGN:A non-randomized self-control study. SETTING:Ward of Second Department of Surgery of Taian Disabled Soldiers Hospital of Shandong Province. PARTICIPANTS:Thirty-two patients with obsolete myelitis,who come from all over China and suffered from disease for 0.5 to 7 years,admitted to our hospital between June 2004 and July 2007 were recruited in this study.The involved patients,including 21 males and 11 females,were aged 5-48 years.Their neurological functions were not obviously improved after various conventional treatments and limb function exercise.Meanwhile,various sensorimotors and autonomic nerve functional impairments were left.Among the patients,18 suffered from acute viral myelitis,8 from acute purulent myelitis and 6 from tuberculous myelitis.After onset,they were all given large doses of radiosonde, dexamethasone,anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs and various neurotrophic drugs.Twenty-six patients presented complete injury and six patients incomplete injury.Informed consent of treatment was obtained from each patient.The therapeutic protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital.Embryonic olfactory bulbs were harvested from aborted embryo,which was donated voluntarily by the patients or their relatives. METHODS:Cells were isolated from embryonic olfactory bulbs,cultured and purified for 7 to 14 days,and finally they were digested into single-cell suspension.Under the surgical miscroscope,the cells were transplanted onto the regions which were above or below the spinal cord injury site.Two weeks to 2 months postoperatively,neurological function of spinal cord was assessed by using the American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA)Scoring Standard formulated in 2000,and was compared to pre-operation function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:①Sensory function change.②Motor function change. RESULTS:Half a year to 2 years after olfactory ensheathing cell transplantation,the sensory and motor functions of 32 patients were all obviously improved(motor function:55.72?10.50 vs.51.53?13.41;light touch:69.53?11.68 vs. 63.06?15.98;pain sense:69.50?12.20 vs.64.03?15.0,all P

The chemical constituents of Safflower injection were isolated and purified by polyamide, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatographies and preparative HPLC. As a result, sixteen compounds have been isolated. Based on the spectral data analysis, their structures were elucidated as scutellarin (1), kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside(2), hydroxysafflor yellow A(3), rutin (4), coumalic acid(5), adenosine(6), syringoside(7), (3E)-4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one(8), (8Z)-decaene-4, 6-diyne-1-Oβ-D-glucopyranoside(9), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (10), (2E, 8E) -tetradecadiene-4, 6-diyne-1, 12, 14-triol-1-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11), kaem-pferol-3-O-β-sophorose (12), uridine (13), roseoside (14), cinnamic acid (15), and kaempferol (16). Compounds 1,2,7,9,11 and 12 were isolated from the Safflower injection for the first time. The anti-platelet aggregation activities of the isolated compounds were assayed. The results indicated all tested compounds exhibited potent activity except for 5, while 2, 3, 9 and 12 showed strong activity against platelet aggregation.
Animals ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; physiology ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of polydatin on the growth of TGF-β₁induced humanalveolar epithelium A549 cells and the mechanism of polydatin for inhibiting the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

METHODSA549 cells in vitro cultured were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank group, the control group, the low dose polydatin group, the middle dose polydatin group, the high dose polydatin group. Common culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the blank group. Five ng/mLTGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of the control group. 50, 100, and 150 μmol/mL of polydatin plus 5 ng/mL TGF-β₁contained culture fluid was added in A549 cells of low, middle, and high dosepolydatin groups, respectively. Morphological changes were observed and recorded at different time points. The optimal concentration of polydatin was determined by MTT method. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad epithelial cell marker) and Vimentin (mesenchymal cell marker) were detected by Western blot and Real-time PCR.

RESULTSUnder inverted phase contrast microscope, A549 cells turned from previous pebble shape to fusiform shape after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1. The intercellular space was enlargedand the intercellular connection became loose. These phenomena were more obviously seen in the control group. A549 cells were more satiated in low, middle, and high dose polydatin groups than in the control group. The EMT inhibition was most obviously seen in the middle dose polydatin group at 48 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad showed an overall descending tendency after intervened by polydatin and TGF-β1 (P < 0.05). But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of E-cad were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h. Protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin showed an overall up-regulating tendency. But compared with the control group, protein and mRNA expressions of Vimentin were down-regulated in a lesser amplitude in each intervened group. Besides, the tendency was more obviously seen at 48 h than at 24 h (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Polydatin could inhibit TGF-β1 induced EMT process of A549 cells time- and dose-dependently. It also played roles in inhibiting pulmonary fibrosis.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine Verbascoside in Galeobdolon chinense.

METHODHPLC method was used, with the column packed with Kromasil C18(4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microns). The mobile phase was a mixture of acetonitrile and 1% acetic acid in a ratio of 13:87, and the ultraviolet wavelength was set at 350 nm.

RESULTThe average recovery was 97.0%, the RSD being 1.69%.

CONCLUSIONThis method is sensitive and reliable. It can be used to determine being Verbascoside in Galeobdolon chinense.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Phenols ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining nucleosides (adenoside and guanoside) in Siweilingzhi Mixture by HPCE.

METHODAdenoside and guanoside were separated within 25 min using an 20 mmol.L-1 borate buffer with 30 mmol.L-1 SDS and 5% Ethanol (adjusted to pH 10.0 with sodium hydroxide solution), with an operation voltage of 10 kV, temperature of 20 degrees C and a hydrodynamic injection time of 15 s. Seperations were carried out in a fused-silica capillary 75 microns id x 57 cm (effective length 50 cm) with peak detection by direct UV at 254 nm.

RESULTRegression equation of adenoside and that of guanoside were Y = 0.0705 + 0.01707X (r = 0.9995) and Y = 0.0232 + 0.01864X (r = 0.9999) respectively. The average recovery rate was 99.22% (RSD = 3.66%) and 104.3% (RSD = 1.91%) respectively. Nine samples were determined with the method.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid and accurate with good repeatability and it can be used to determine nucleosides.

Adenosine ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Fermentation ; Guanosine ; analysis ; Reishi ; chemistry

PURPOSETo assess the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) pretreatment on wound infection mouse model and evaluate the biological safety of the optimal pretreatment dose in vivo.

METHODSMice were pretreated with LPS of different doses at 48 and 24 h before femoral medial lon- gitudinal incision was made and infected with different bacteria.

RESULTSIt is showed that 0.5 mg/kg/time of LPS pretreatment can significantly alleviate the inflammation in mouse model infected with methicillin-resistances Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,or Escherichia coli compared with doses of 0.25 mg/kg/time, 1 mg/ kg/time, and 1.5 mg/kg/time.

CONCLUSIONSLPS pretreatment can alleviate the inflammation in mouse model and the optimal dose is 0.5 mg/kg/time, and meanwhile it does not damage organs' function.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Lipopolysaccharides ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Surgical Wound Infection ; drug therapy ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; physiology