OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Annao tablet (main component is beta-asarone) on S100B and NPY of cortex in chronic epilepsy rats.

METHODThe remedy was administered orally. The effects were observed in convulsion model induced by PG, then S100B protein and NPY of cortex were determined.

RESULTAnnao tablet could depress the epileptic degree, postpone spasm latent period and reduce the wet dog sample (WDS) times. The remedy could decline S100B and NPY of cortex in chronic epilepsy rats.

CONCLUSIONAnnao tablet has obvious antiepileptic effects and can reduce the nerve cell damage induced by epilepsy.

Acorus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anisoles ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Anticonvulsants ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Drug Carriers ; Epilepsy ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Female ; Male ; Neuropeptide Y ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Tablets ; beta-Cyclodextrins

Using overlapping and mutant oligonucleotides as probes, gel mobility assays and competition experiments identified a sequence from -47 to -32 bp upstream of the LIM2 CAP site, which a lens protein complex bound with high affinity which appeared to bind only to the "sense" strand of the double-stranded DNA molecule. This sequence consisted of a string of four guanine residues followed by seven other nucleotides (AACCTAA) and followed by another four guanines, i.e. GGGGAACCTAAGGGG, called the Hsu element. Promoter-CAT constructs containing this sequence or mutations of the sequence indicated that the Hsu element is located within the basal promoter, and is essential for expression of the LIM2 gene. The trans factors binding to the Hsu element are present throughout development, and appear to be lens-specific. Since the LIM2 gene promoter does not contain a classic TATA box, the Hsu element may serve as the site for binding the RNA polymerase complex.
Base Sequence ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; TATA Box

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of beta-asarone on expression of immediately early gene c-fos in kindling epilepsy rat brain.

METHODThe rats were randomly divided in to beta-asarone groups (200, 100, 50 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), difetoin control group (36 mg x kg(-1)) and model group. The remedy was administered orally. The effects were observed in kindling epilepsy model induced by penicillin, then the expression of c-fos were determined by western blot (hippocampus) and immunohistochemical techniques (cortex).

RESULTBeta-asarone could significantly increase the expression of c-fos in kindling epilepsy rat brain, and show its quantity-effect relation. The expression of c-fos in hippocampus was (1139.45 +/- 155.56), (1109.56 +/- 134.03), (1103.73 +/- 235.82) CNT x mm2 in beta-asarone groups, 920.54 +/- 203.20 in model control group, and 1106.26 +/- 186.24 in difetoin group, respectively. The number of c-fos positive cell was 87.1 +/- 2.2, 76.3 +/- 1.3 and 59.9 +/- 1.3 in beta-asarone groups, 39.3 +/- 2.6 in model control group, and 95.2 +/- 1.1 in difetoin group, respectively.

CONCLUSIONBeta-asarone can obviously increase the expression of c-fos in epilepsy rat brain. It is one of important response to epilepsy.

Animals ; Anisoles ; pharmacology ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study investigated the effects of benazepril administered in the morning or evening on the diurnal variation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and clock genes in the kidney. The male Wistar rat models of 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (STNx) were established. Animals were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham STNx group (control), STNx group, morning benazepril group (MB) and evening benazepril group (EB). Benazepril was intragastrically administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day at 07:00 and 19:00 in the MB group and EB group respectively for 12 weeks. All the animals were synchronized to the light:dark cycle of 12:12 for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), 24-h urinary protein excretion and renal function were measured at 11 weeks. Blood samples and kidneys were collected every 4 h throughout a day to detect the expression pattern of renin activity (RA), angiotensin II (AngII) and aldosterone (Ald) by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the mRNA expression profile of clock genes (bmal1, dbp and per2) by real-time PCR at 12 weeks. Our results showed that no significant differences were noted in the SBP, 24-h urine protein excretion and renal function between the MB and EB groups. There were no significant differences in average Ald and RA content of a day between the MB group and EB group. The expression peak of bmal1 mRNA was phase-delayed by 4 to 8 h, and the diurnal variation of per2 and dbp mRNA diminished in the MB and EB groups compared with the control and STNx groups. It was concluded when the similar SBP reduction, RAAS inhibition and clock gene profile were achieved with optimal dose of benazepril, morning versus evening dosing of benazepril has the same renoprotection effects.
Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Benzazepines ; administration & dosage ; CLOCK Proteins ; metabolism ; Circadian Rhythm ; Drug Chronotherapy ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hypertension, Renal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; drug effects ; Treatment Outcome

To identify the structure of three related substances in potassium sodium dehydroandrographolide succinate (PSDS), an HPLC preparation method was used to separate the impurities. These main impurities were identified using LC-ESI/TOFMS, LC-ESI/MSn, NMR, UV and IR. One of the main impurities was a hydrolyzed and oxidized product of PSDS, which has not been reported previouely. The other two impurities were hydrolyzed products of PSDS after losing different succinic acids. The results indicate that PSDS can be easily hydrolyzed and oxidized. It should be stored at cool and dry places.
Andrographis ; chemistry ; Antiviral Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Contamination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

AIM:To investigate the influence of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)on Warburg effect in the malignant transformation of WB-F344 rat hepatic oval cells.METHODS:The WB-F344 cells were treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG)and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)to induce the malignant trans-formation.Evaluation of the transformed cells were measured by the soft agar colony formation assay and DNA aneuploidy with flow cytometry.The levels of glucose and lactate in the culture medium of the cells were detected by chromatography. The protein levels of alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),STAT3,p-STAT3 and glucose transporter 2(GLUT2)in the cells were ex-amined by Western blot analysis.The cell proliferation were evaluated by WST-1 assay,viable cell counting,measuring the S-phase fraction(SPF)and proliferation index(PI)using the data from flow cytometry analysis,and detecting proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)protein expression by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with the control cells,the forma-tion of colonies in soft agar(P<0.05)and DNA aneuploidy(P<0.01)were elevated in transformed cells,and the ex-pression level of AFP was also augmented(P<0.05).The increases in the level of both glucose consumption(P<0.05) and lactate production(P<0.01)show that Warburg effect was enhanced in transformed cells.Meanwhile, the protein levels of GLUT2(P<0.01)and p-STAT3(P<0.01)in transformed cells were higher than those in the control cells.The cell proliferation parameters including SPF(P<0.01),PI(P<0.01), viable cell number and PCNA expression(P<0.01)in transformed cells were also elevated as compared with the control cells.Interestingly, stattic, an inhibitor of STAT3 activation,resulted in declines in glucose consumption(P<0.05)and lactate production(P<0.01)in the trans-formed cells.In addition,compared with transformed cells,formation of colonies in soft agar(P<0.01),DNA aneuploidy (P<0.01),AFP(P<0.05), GLUT2(P<0.05), and cell proliferation parameters including SPF(P<0.01), PI (P<0.01),viable cell number(P<0.05)and PCNA expression(P<0.05)were also decreased following stattic treat-ment in transformed cells.CONCLUSION:STAT3 promotes Warburg effect and cell proliferation probably by upregula-ting GLUT2 expression in the malignant transformation of hepatic oval cells.

AIM:To observe the tear film and corneal endothelial cell density in cataract patients with high myopia.METHODS:From January 2016 to December 2016,38 cases (38 eyes) with high myopia and cataract were selected as study group,24 males (24 eyes) and 14 females (14 eyes),average 65.2±2.37(60-72) years old.Age-related cataract patients without high myopia were as control group,22 males (22 eyes) and 16 females (16 eyes),average 64.4±2.43 (61-70) years old.The tear film and corneal endothelial cell density of the two groups were observed at 3,7,14d and 1mo after operations.RESULTS:Between the two groups of preoperative S I t,BUT,FL,subjective rating,corneal endothelial cell density comparison,there were no statistically significant difference (P＞0.05).In the two groups at 3,7,14d and 1mo after operations,BUT,FL,corneal endothelial cell density,subjective score comparison,the difference had statistical significance (P＜0.01).Two groups after 3,7,14d comparative differences of S Ⅰ t were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01),not statistical significant at postoperative 1mo (P＞0.05).At postoperative 3,7,14d,1mo,FL,subjective rating,corneal endothelial cell density of the two groups were compared with preoperative,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01).In the two groups at 3,7,14d after operation,S I t compared with the same group preoperative difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.01),no statistical significance when postoperative 1mo compared with preoperative (P＞0.05).BUT of high myopia patients with age-related cataract surgery,at 3,7,14d and 1mo after operations decreased than preoperative,the difference was statistically significant (P＜ 0.01).Age-related cataract patients without high myopia at 3,7,14d after operation decreased than preoperative,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.01),there was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative 1 mo (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:Phacoemulsification cataract surgery in the treatment of high myopia cataract patients is safe and reliable,and less influence on tear film and corneal endothelial cell density.

OBJECTIVETo find out the prevalence of sleep disturbances for children aged 2 to 12 years old in Chengdu.

METHODSTotally 1 600 children aged 2-12 years old were selected from 5 districts in Chengdu and investigated by using questionnaire.

RESULTSAll 1 526 survey papers were returned. The average time of every day sleep in each age group (infant group, pre-school age group and school age group) were 12.12 hours, 10.42 hours and 9.47 hours. The sleep time of the children in those three groups were much less than the standard one. The proportion of the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 37.88%. Among them, there were snoring in 5.57%, choke/gargling in 1.25%, sleep inquietude in 7.86%, mouth breathing in 4.59%, sweating in 21.36%, member spasm in 2.82%, molar teeth in 8.26%, night talking in 4.02%, somnambulate in 0.2%, bedwetting in 1.95%, and difficulty falling asleep in 10.75%. There were significant differences shown in different sexes and ages, and in incidence of symptoms of some sleep disturbances. The affecting factors were the co-sleeping, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pollen allergy and their parent's snore.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of sleep disturbances being higher and more severe than before might be due to the less sleeping time in Chengdu in children aged 2 to 12 years old. More attention should be paid by parents, the Ministry of Education and the children's doctors.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of cryptococcal latex agglutination test in the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in children.

METHODSThe clinical data of 10 children with cryptococcal meningitis were retrospectively studied. Cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed based on clinical manifestations, India ink stain, cryptococcal latex agglutination test or cryptococcal culture. The outcome of antifungal treatment and the changes of latex agglutination test titer were followed up for 2 to 4 years.

RESULTSLatex agglutination test and/or India ink stain were positive (titer 1 : 64-1 : 1024) in 8 patients in the first examination of cerebrospinal fluid. In the other 2 patients, latex agglutination test was positive (titer 1 : 256) in the fourth examination of cerebrospinal fluid in one, and India ink stain was positive in the eleventh examination in the other. After antifungal treatment, six patients were cured, two patients died, and two patients were lost to follow-up. The positive cryptococcal latex agglutination test (titer 1 : 2-1 : 16) was seen respectively in six, three, two and one cured patients 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 4 years later.

CONCLUSIONSThe cryptococcal latex agglutination test of cerebrospinal fluid is valuable for the quick and early diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis; however, the decision of withdrawal of antifungal treatment should not rely on the results of the test.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Latex Fixation Tests ; methods ; Male ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo understand HBV serotypes and genotypes epidemiology in a northern city and a southern city in China.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing of HBV DNA PCR products, the serotypes and genotypes of HBV in 530 from HBsAg positive samples. The enrolled patients were from Harbin, a northern city and Lianjiang, a southern city in China.

RESULTSComparison of the serotypes and genotypes of HBV between Harbin and Lianjiang showed that adrq+ was the most predominant hepatitis B virus serotype in both Harbin and Lianjiang (87.2% and 73.5%,respectively), adw2 was the next (12.0% and 25.7%, respectively); genotype C was the most frequent in Harbin and Lianjiang (87.8% and 73.2%, respectively), and genotype B was the next (12.2% and 26.1%, respectively) only 1 patient was infected by genotype D, and 1 patient was found to be co-infected by genotype B and C in Lianjiang.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that the percentage of HBV serotypes and genotypes between Harbin and Lianjiang was significantly different (P less than 0.001), but the main HBV serotype and genotype of the two cities were similar.

China ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serotyping