OBJECTIVETo examine the protective effect of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GbE) on learning and memory deficit induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl(3)), and explore its mechanisms.

METHODSThe rat models with learning and memory deficit were induced by administering via gastrogavage and drinking of AlCl(3) solution. And the model rats were treated with GbE at the dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg every day for 2 months accompanied with drinking of AlCl(3) solution, respectively. Their abilities of spatial learning and memory were tested by Morris water maze, and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in serum was assayed with chemical method, the AChE expression in hippocampus was observed by immunohistochemistry assay, and then quantitative analysis was done by BI 2000 image analysis system.

RESULTSLearning and memory deficit of rats could be induced by AlCl(3) solution (P < 0.01), and AChE expressions in rats hippocampus were increased (P < 0.01); GbE ameliorated learning and memory deficit and reduced AChE expression in rats hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner, while GbE significantly increased serum AChE activity at the dose of 200 mg/kg each day (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGbE can ameliorate learning and memory deficit induced by AlCl(3), which may be due to its inhibition of the AChE expression in hippocampus.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Aluminum Compounds ; toxicity ; Animals ; Chlorides ; toxicity ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Plant Leaves ; Plant Structures ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reaction Time

We have previously shown that the vasodilator effect of protopine (Pro) on rabbit aorta is related to the elevations of cAMP and cGMP. In the present study, the vasodilator mechanisms of Pro were further explored by recording the isotonic contraction of the rat aortic strips, detecting directly the intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) with Fura-2/AM loaded vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of rat aorta, and determining the activity of protein kinase C (PKC) in rat aortic tissue with radioactive isotope gamma-32P -ATP-catalyzing assay. By recording the aortic strips contraction induced by noradrenaline (NA) and high potassium (K(+)), Pro shifted nonparallelly the concentration-response curves of NA and high K(+) to right, in which the maximal response was depressed in the presence of Pro (30 and 100 micromol/L), and the values of pD'(2) were 3.70-/+0.25 and 3.97-/+0.15 for NA and high K(+), respectively. In the Fura-2/AM loaded VSMCs, Pro (50 and 100 micromol/L) could not produce any significant change on the resting [Ca(2+)](i), but significantly decreased the [Ca(2+)](i) elevated by NA and high K(+). Pro (30 and 100 micromol/L) had no significant effect on the activity of the cytosolic and membrane PKC in the aortic strips inpretreated by NA. However, in the aortic strips pretreated by NA, the activity of membrane PKC was significantly increased and the activity of cytosolic PKC tended to be decreased by Pro, while the activity of total PKC did not change. These results suggest that Pro seems to promote the translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane in the presence of NA, its vasodilator effect may be the comprehensive result of its decreasing effect on the [Ca(2+)](i) and the increasing effect on cAMP and cGMP, as well as its influence on the PKC.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Benzophenanthridines ; pharmacology ; Berberine Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Norepinephrine ; pharmacology ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety ofetanercept injection 50 mg once weeklycombined with methotrexate (MTX) therapy for patients withactive rheumatoid arthritis.Methods This studyconsists of 2 parts：a 12-week double-blind treatmentperiod (part A) followed by a 12-week open-labelsafety study period (part B).The randomization oftreatments in double-blind treatment period was completedthrough the clinical operations randomization environment(CORE) system.During part A,the subjects wererandomly assigned to the etanercept 50 mg or placebo group. The dosage regimen for etanercept was 50 mgadministered subcutaneously once weekly while MTX wasadministered orally.All subjects who completed partA received 50 mg etanercept once weekly and MTX1 during theopen-label treatment.The primary endpointwas ACR 20 response at week 12.Secondary endpoint variablesincluded physician／patient global assessmentsof disease activities,duration of morning stiffness,painvisual analog scale (VAS),health assessment questi onnaire (HAQ),CRP level and tender and swollen joint counts .The results of safety between the two groupswere compared.The primary endpoint and other secondarybinary endpoints were analyzed using the Fisher’sexact test.For continuous endpoints.the change frombaseline was analyzed with analysis of covariance.Results One hundred and fifty six subjects satisfiedmodified intent-to-treat (mITT) population were enrolled during part A,of which 77 subjects were in theetanercept+MTX group,and 79 subjects were in theplacebo+MTX group respectively.A total of 149 subjectscompleted part A.As early as week 4.the ACR 20response achieved 39％ (30,77) in the etanerceptgroup,which was significantly higher than that of theplacebogroup [16％(13／79),P<0.001].At week 12,the ACR 20respouse achieved 62％(48,77)in the etanercept group and 23％(18／79) in the placebo group (P<0.01).Fromweek 4,other study endpoints including physician global assessment,patient globalassessment,duration of morning stiffness,painVAS,HAQ,CRPlevel,tender joint counts,swollen joint counts were alsocompared.The results showed that all above efficacyendpoints in the etanercept+MTX group were better than thoseof the placebo+MTX group(P<0.01).Butthere Was no significant difference in the total adverseeriects between the two groups.ConclusionEtanercept 50 mg once weekly + MTX treatment for 24 weeks iswell tolerated.During the first 12-weektreatment period,the etanercept group has shown a rapidefficacy onset and a significantly better therapeuticeffect compared to that of the placebo group.

The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has increased worldwide over the last few decades. Many common environmental factors are associated with this increase. Several theories have been proposed to account for this trend, especially those concerning the impact of environmental toxicants. The development of the immune system, particularly in the prenatal period, has far-reaching consequences for health during early childhood, and throughout adult life. One underlying mechanism for the increased levels of allergic responses, secondary to exposure, appears to be an imbalance in the T-helper function caused by exposure to the toxicants. Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals can result in dramatic changes in cytokine production, the activity of the immune system, the overall Th1 and Th2 balance, and in mediators of type 1 hypersensitivity mediators, such as IgE. Passive exposure to tobacco smoke is a common risk factor for wheezing and asthma in children. People living in urban areas and close to roads with a high volume of traffic, and high levels of diesel exhaust fumes, have the highest exposure to environmental compounds, and these people are strongly linked with type 1 hypersensitivity disorders and enhanced Th2 responses. These data are consistent with epidemiological research that has consistently detected increased incidences of allergies and asthma in people living in these locations. During recent decades more than 100,000 new chemicals have been used in common consumer products and are released into the everyday environment. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the environmental effects on allergies of indoor and outside exposure.
Adult ; Asthma ; Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Inflammation* ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Vehicle Emissions

OBJECTIVETo investigate the absorption and transport mechanism of magnolol in Caco-2 cell model.

METHODSA human intestinal epithelial cell model Caco-2 cell in vitro cultured was applied to study the absorption and transport of magnolol, the effects of time, donor concentration, P-gp inhibitor verapamil, pH and temperature on the absorption and transport of magnolol were investigated. The determination of magnolol was performed by high performance liquid chromatography, then the values of apparent permeability coefficient (P app ) and P ratio Basolateral-to-Apical (BL-to-AP)/Apical-to-Basolateral (AP-to-BL) were calculated.

RESULTSIn Caco-2 cell model, comparing the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL and BL-to-AP, the latter was larger. At the same donor concentration, either the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL or BL-to-AP increased with increase in donor concentration and incubation time. Verapamil could significantly improve the amounts of transport of AP-to-BL. The transport of AP-to-BL and BL-to-AP depended on temperature, and there was no significant effect of pH on the transport of AP-to-BL.

CONCLUSIONMagnolol could be transported through the intestinal mucosa via a passive diffusion mechanism primarily, coexisting with a carrier-mediated transport, at the same time, the efflux mechanism could be involved.

Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; drug effects ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Lignans ; metabolism ; Models, Biological ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEFor heart functional parameters, we commonly used normal range. The reference values and predict formulas of heart functional parameters and their relationships with individual characteristics are still lack.

METHODSLeft ventricular (LV) volumes (end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured by cardiac CT angiography (CAT) in 1 200 healthy Caucasian volunteers, men 807 and women 393, and age 20-90yr. The results are analyzed by high-accuracy three-dimensional imaging technology, and then measured the dynamic changes of the volumes of each atriam and ventricule during their contractions and relaxations. The gender, age, height and weight were analyzed by multiple linear regression to predict LV functional parameters.

RESULTSExcept the LVEF was lower in man than in women (P < 0.001), all other LV functional parameters of EDV, ESV, SV, FE and CO were higher in man (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression indicated that age, gender, height and weight are all independent factors of EDV, ESV and SV (P < 0.001). CO could be significantly predicted by age, gender and weight (P < 0.001), but not height (P > 0.05). The predict equation for CO (L x min(-1)) = 6.963+0.446 (Male) -0.037 x age (yr) +0.013 x weight (kg).

CONCLUSIONAge, gender, height and weight are predictors of heart functions. The reference values and predict equations are important for noninvasive and accurate evaluation of cardiovascular disease and individualized treatment.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Height ; Body Weight ; Cardiac Output ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

Objective To clone and sequence the cysteine protease inhibitor gene of periodic Brugia malayi(BmCPI) and predict B-cell epitopes in amino acide sequence of BmCPI in order to provide basis for further study the expression of BmCPI and its function. Methods Total RNA was extracted from periodic Brugia malayi.A couple of specific primers were designed on the basis of known sequences of cysteine protease inhibitor gene from BmCPI. The desired gene was amplified by PCR technique from cDNA. The PCR products were purified and cloned into plasmid pGEM-T by T-A cloning method, transformed into Escherichia coli(E, coli) strain DH5α. The recombinant plasmids were screened and identified by digestion with restriction enzyme and PCR amplification. Five parameters and methods were used to predict B-cell epitopes in amino acide sequence of BmCPI. Results For RT-PCR, a specific band of around 621 bp was amplified. The same band was obtained by double restriction of recombinant plasmids or PCR using recombinant plasmid as template. The result of DNA sequencing showed that BmCPI shares 99% nucleotide sequence identity with that of published sequence. It showed that B-cell epitopes were probably at or adjacent to 23 - 32, 50 - 79 and 117 - 126 in its amino acide sequence. Conclusions pGEM-BmCPI is successfully constructed and sequenced, anticipated objective is reached and conditions is provided for further study of BmCPI expression and its function.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic effect of spirulina platensis in allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: Ovalbumin sensitized white rats used as AR animals were treated with spirulina platensis (SPP). At the end of the treatment, the differences in the behavior science were observed; the changes in the nasal mucosa and mast cell degranulation were studied pathologically; and the levels of serum histamine and total immunoglobulin (Ig) E were determined by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay. RESULTS: The behavior science score of the SPP treatment group was lower than that of the negative control group (P < 0.01 ) ; inflammatory reaction of nasal mucosa in the SPP treatment group were remarkably relieved; the number of nasal mucosa mastocyte and mast cell degranulation in the SPP treatment group were lower than that of the negative control group (P <0.01 ). The levels of serum histamine and total IgE in the SPP treatment group were lower than that of the negative control group (P <0.01 ). It had no significant difference in the positive control group and the SPP treatment group and the blank control group (P > 0.05 ). CONCLUSION Spirulina platensis can prevent and treat AR in rats, which implies the possibility of using spirulina platensis for AR patients in the future.
Animals ; Eukaryota ; Male ; Ovalbumin ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; chemically induced ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnosis and treatment of invasive lung aspergillosis after liver transplantation.

METHODSRoutine sputum culture was performed. Itraconazole and fluconazole were used to prevent fungal infection prophylactically. Amphyotericin B was only used on aspergillosis. In 54 patients receiving, liver transplantation, 3 patients with lung aspergillosis were reviewed.

RESULTSOf the 3 patients 2 died and 1 recovered.

CONCLUSIONSOver-immunosuppression is a main risk factor for aspergillosis. Amphotericin B is still the best choice for the treatment of aspergillosis and its gradual, interrupted, low concentration administration, cooperated with itraconazole can ease the side effects.

Adult ; Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUNDBacterial pneumonia in the recipients of liver transplantation (LTX) is a common postoperative complication influencing the prognosis greatly. In this article, the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial pneumonia in 33 LTX recipients are reported.

METHODSFrom February 1999 to January 2003, a total of 103 patients underwent allogeneic LTX at our center; afterwards, a retrospective analysis was made on their postoperative clinical manifestations, including symptoms (expectoration, panting and fever), sign (rale), results of laboratory examinations (white blood cell count and sputum culture of tracheal secretions or pleural fluid culture), and chest X-ray films. The following data of the pneumonia and non-pneumonia groups were collected, and the rank sum test (SPSS 11.0, Wilcoxon's method) was used to analyze the duration of postoperative respirator utilization and the volume of pleural effusion through pleurocentesis or pleural drainage.

RESULTSIn the 103 patients, 33 experienced 53 episodes of bacterial pneumonia during their hospital stay after transplantation, 14 of them (42.42%) had more than three manifestations of the seven mentioned above. The pathogens causing bacterial pneumonia included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17.48%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.53%), Acinetobacter baumannii (10.68%), and Staphylococcus aureus (7.77%). Amilkacin, tienam, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, etc. were the antibiotics of choice against those bacteria. Acute rejection occurred during the treatment of bacterial pneumonia in 16 patients, and 5 of them died. Wilcoxon's rank sum test of the data indicated that the pneumonia group had longer duration of postoperative ventilator treatment and larger volume of pleural effusion than the non-pneumonia group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical manifestations of pneumonia after LTX might be atypical, and special attention should be paid to the respiratory symptoms and signs within 2 months after LTX. Whenever the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia is confirmed, consideration should be given to reasonable use of antibiotics and regulation of immunity in addition to other routine therapies.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Postoperative Complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies