Drug Combinations ; Drug Design ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Investigational ; Humans

A new sesquiterpenoid, 8α-hydroxy-6β-methoxy-1-oxoeremophila-7 (11), 9 (10) -diene-12, 8-olide (1) and five known compounds, petasin (2), caffeic acid (3), hepta-cosanol (4), β-sitosterol (5) and β-daucosterol (6) have been isolated from the roots of Ligularia intermedia. The compounds were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20, and identified based on spectral analyses (MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Firstly discovered in 1980s,human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect more and more people.However,there is no effective drug available for the therapy of HIV infection.Betulinic acid existing in various medicinal herbs and fruits exhibits multiple biological effects,especially its outstanding anti-HIV activity,which has drawn the attentions of many pharmacists.Among the derivatives of betulinic acid,some compounds exhibited inhibitory activities at the nanomolar concentration,and have entered phase Ⅱ clinical trials.This paper summarizes the current investigations on the anti-HIV activity of betulinic acid analogues,and provides valuable data for subsequent researches.

OBJECTIVETo observe effect of porcine relaxin(pRLX) on NO production of human microvascular endothelial cells(HMVECs) and discuss its possible mechanism.

METHODSiNOS and cNOS expression of HMVECs with or without pRLX were detected using western blotting. NO production of HMVECs with pRLX at different concentration or different time were determined by method of Griess. NO production of pRLX of HMVECs plus Non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-monomethyl-L-arginine(L-NMMA), selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine(AG) or nuclear factors-kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) were also analysed.

RESULTSpRLX promoted iNOS protein expression of HMVECs, but not cNOS protein expression. NO production of HMVECs was promoted by pRLX on concentration-dependent pattern instead of time-dependent one. AG, L-NMMA and PDTC were showed to block the effect of pRLX on NO production of HMVECs.

CONCLUSIONpRLX promote iNOS expression and NO production of HMVECs.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; blood supply ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; biosynthesis ; Relaxin ; pharmacology ; Swine ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDIncreasing evidence suggests that many neurons may die through apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in this process of neuronal cell death. One promising approach for preventing AD is based upon anti-apoptosis to decrease death of nerve cells. In this study, we observed the memory improving properties of curcumin in mice and investigated the neuroprotective effect of curcumin in vitro and in vivo.

METHODSThe mice were given AlCl(3) orally and injections of D-galactose intraperitoneally for 90 days to establish the AD animal model. From day 45, the curcumin group was treated with curcumin for 45 days. Subsequently, the step-through test, neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 were carried out to evaluate the effect of curcumin on the AD model mice. In cultured PC12 cells, AlCl(3) exposure induced apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to measure cell viabilities; flow cytometric analysis to survey the rate of cell apoptosis; DNA-binding fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 to observe nuclei changes in apoptotic cells and Western blot analysis of Bax, Bcl-2 to investigate the mechanisms by which curcumin protects cells from toxicity.

RESULTSCurcumin significantly improved the memory ability of AD mice in the step-through test, as indicated by the reduced number of step-through errors (P < 0.05) and prolonged step-through latency (P < 0.05). Curcumin also attenuated the neuropathological changes in the hippocampus and inhibited apoptosis accompanied by an increase in Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the activity of Bax did not change (P > 0.05). AlCl(3) significantly reduced the viability of PC12 cells (P < 0.01). Curcumin increased cell viability in the presence of AlCl(3) (P < 0.01). The rate of apoptosis decreased significantly in the curcumin group (P < 0.05) when measured by flow cytometric analysis. Curcumin protected cells by increasing Bcl-2 level (P < 0.05), but the level of Bax did not change (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates that curcumin improves the memory ability of AD mice and inhibits apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells induced by AlCl(3). Its mechanism may involve enhancing the level of Bcl-2.

Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Mice ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Xinmaitong capsule (XMT) on serum matrix metalloproteinases-9, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD63 cases were divided by randomized, contrastive assigned to XMT group (n = 31) and control group (n = 32). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP before and after treatment in 12 weeks were detected.

RESULTAfter treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9 in control group had no changed and the levels of hs-CRP reduced. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP in XMT group had significantly decreased. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP had positive correlation, but had no correlation to levels of serum lipids.

CONCLUSIONXMT decreased breakdown of matrix collagen, and inflammatory reaction in the patients of ACS, which may have effect on plaque stabilization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To learn the status and influencing factors of anxiety and depression among the people affected by leprosy.Methods A total of 60 leprosy patients was enrolled.An investigation including questionnaire and two mental scales namely Self -Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)and Self -Rating Depression Scale (SDS)were conducted.Results The rate of anxiety and depression was 41.67% (25 /60)and 21.67% (13 /60)respectively.There was no statistical difference on the rate of anxiety and depression between genders.Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that treatment status (OR =23.78,95%CI =2.13 -265.26),disability (OR =7.68,95%CI =2.01 -29.40)and income (OR =4.54,95%CI =1.05 -19.68)were the risk factors of anxiety,and disability (OR =34.77,95%CI =2.84 -425.07) and treatment status (OR =19.28,95%CI =1.86 -199.62)were the risk factors of depression.Conclusion The people affected by leprosy has a high level of anxiety and depression.Disability and treatment status were the major risk factors of anxiety and depression among the people.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of one dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burns.

METHODSFrom January 1997 to January 2004, sixty-seven cases of deep partial thickness total burned surface area (TBSA) from 50% to 90% burn wound were treated by a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix (the porcine acellular dermal matrix group). Ten cases of deep partial thickness burned patients with the same TBSA treated by exposure method served as the exposure method group. The healing time of the wound was observed. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years, and the scar proliferation was observed.

RESULTSThe deep partial-thickness wound would be healed without dressing change in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group, and the average healing time was (12.2 +/- 2.6) days. The average healing time of the exposure method group was (27.4 +/- 3.5) days. Follow up of the patients within 3 months to 2 years showed that scar proliferation in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group was much less than that in the exposure method group, even no scar proliferation was observed in some patients.

CONCLUSIONWithout tangential excision, autografting and dressing change, a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burn wound could shorten the healing time and inhibit scar proliferation.

Animals ; Biological Dressings ; Burns ; pathology ; therapy ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo detect and identify the potential specific serum biomarkers for diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer.

METHODSSamples of 35 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 40 patients with benign thyroid nodule and 34 healthy individuals were analyzed using the SELDI-TOF ProteinChip System and bioinfomation technology to find the differential peaks which were separated by HPLC and then further analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The protein sequences were analyzed by SEQUEST software and searched in Bioworks database.

RESULTSThe top six mass-to-charge ratio (M/Z) peaks with the smallest P value were 6651, 6452, 7653, 7932, 15 106 and 15 848 Da, respectively. The 6651 and 6452 Da proteins were weakly expressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma but highly expressed in benign thyroid nodules and healthy individuals. The differences had statistical significance (P < 0.01). The 7653, 7932, 15 106, 15 848 Da proteins were highly expressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma but weakly expressed in benign thyroid nodules and healthy individuals. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01). Combination of these six proteins, using the method of leave-one-out to make crossing detection, the specificity of discriminating papillary thyroid carcinoma and non-cancer was 88.0%, and its sensitivity was 92.5%. The 6651 and 6452 Da proteins were identified as apolipoprotein C-I and apolipoprotein C-III, respectively. The 7653 and 15 106 Da proteins were identified as the same protein-alpha-globin, and the 7932 and 15,848 Da proteins were identified as the same protein-beta-globin.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of differentially expressed apolipoprotein C-I, apolipoprotein C-III, alpha-globin, and beta-globin may have utility for diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma and are worthy of further investigation.

Adult ; Apolipoprotein C-I ; blood ; Apolipoprotein C-III ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; alpha-Globins ; metabolism ; beta-Globins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate SRSF2 mutations in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and the clinical characteristics of patients with SRSF2 mutants.

METHODSIn this study, the frequency of SRSF2 mutation in a cohort of 20 patients with CMML was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing to couple with their clinical features.

RESULTSOf 20 patients, 4 patients were found harboring SRSF2 mutations, including 2 P95L, 1 P95H and 1 P95R point mutations. There were no significantly statistical differences in terms of their clinical characteristics between mutant and wild type group.

CONCLUSIONSRSF2 mutation was not frequently occurred in CMML patients and might associated with poor prognosis. It might be a practically diagnostic maker and therapeutic target in CMML.

Adult ; Aged ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Ribonucleoproteins ; genetics ; Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors