AIM Taurine was reported neuroprotective under several ischemic models in vivo. In this study, the direct effect of taurine against oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) inducing acute neuronal injury and the underlying mechanisms in vitro were investigated. METHODSFour hours OGD was used to induce in vitro ischemic injury in rat cortical neurons. Taurine 5, 10 and 20 mmol·L-1 was added 20 h before and during 4 h OGD period respectively. Mortality rate of neuron was assayed by MTT and flow cytometry methods. Level of neuronal [Ca2+]i was detected by Fura 2/AM loading. Amino acid concentrations in culture media were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Under OGD conditions, neuronal death was markedly increased, and the levels of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level were enhanced obviously. Taurine pretreatment obviously decreased the percentage of neuronal death induced by OGD. In addition, abnormal elevation of neuronal [Ca2+]i and extracellular glutamate level induced by OGD both were markedly repressed by taurine. CONCLUSION Taurine can alleviate rat cortical neuron injury induced by OGD, the mechanisms were likely due to repressing calcium overload and inhibiting excessive release or leakage of glutamate under such conditions.

Objective To explore the mechanism underlying the induction of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by estrogen, hydralazine and ultraviolet irradiation. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were harvested from 10 patients with SLE and 9 normal human controls, and cultured with or without the intervention with estrogen, hydralazine or ultraviolet irradiation. The DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) activity of PBMCs was quantified by using DNMT activity/inhibition assay kit. Results No statistical difference was observed in DNMT1 activity between patients with SLE and normal controls (0.36 ± 0.24 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, P ＞ 0.05). A significant decrease was noted in DNMT1 activity in PBMCs from patients with SLE after intervention with estrogen (0.32 ± 0.18 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.725, P ＜ 0.05), hydralazine (0.33 ±0.13 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.739, P ＜ 0.05) and ultraviolet irradiation (0.30 ± 0.14 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, t = 1.739,P ＜ 0.05 ) compared with that from normal human controls. The treatment with hydralazine also induced an attenuation of DNMT1 activity in PBMCs from normal human controls (0.38 ± 0.12 vs 0.46 ± 0.17, P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Estrogen, hydralazine and ultraviolet irradiation can inhibit the DNMT1 activity of SLE patients,indicating that they may induce the initiation of SLE by altering the activity of DNMT1.

Dried roots and rhizomes of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) are among the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines in clinic. The material basis for its efficacy mainly includes hydrophobic tanshinones and hydrophilic salvianolic acids. The traditional effects of Danshen are "removing stasis and relieving pain, activating blood to promote menstruation, clearing heart fire and tranquilization". According to modern pharmacological studies, Danshen and its main components have cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protective effect. Recent studies showed that Danshen and its main components also demonstrated protective effects on liver injury models induced by carbon tetrachloride, D-galactosamine, acetaminophen and alcohol. In this paper, the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of Danshen were summarized and studied.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the serum level of calcium-binding protein A9(S100A9)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and explore its potential clinical significance. Methods The serum level of S100A9 was measured by ELISA in 79 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC). The correlation of S100A9 level and relevant clinical parameters were analyzed. Results The serum level of S100A9 was significantly increase in RA patients than those in HC. The serum level of S100A9 was higher in high disease activity than that in moderate and low disease activity in the RA group. There was a positive correlation in serum S100A9 level and DAS28 score,Rheumatoid factor,tender joint count and swollen joint count. Conclusion The serum level of S100A9 increases in RA patients and correlates with RA activity.

A variety of cytomorphological features, architectural patterns and stromal changes may be observed in malignant melanomas. Hence, melanomas may mimiccarcinomas, sarcomas, benign stromal tumours, lymphomas, plasmacytomas and germ cell tumours. Melanomas may be composed of large pleomorphic cells, small cells, spindle cells and may contain clear, signet-ring, pseudolipoblastic, rhabdoid, plasmacytoid or balloon cells. Various inclusions and phagocytosed material may be present in their cytoplasm. Nuclei may show bi- or multi-nucleation, lobation, inclusions, grooving and angulation. Architectural variations include fasciculation, whorling, nestion, trabeculation, pseudoglandular, pseudopapillary, pseudofollicular, pseudorosetting and angiocentric patterns. Mucoid or desmoplastic changes and very rarely pseudoangiosarcomatous change, granulomatous inflammation or osteoclastic giant cell response may be seen in the stroma. The stromal blood vessels may exhibit a haemangiopericytomatous pattern, proliferation of glomeruloid blood vessels and perivascular hyalinization. Occasionally, differentiation to nonmelanocytic structures (Schwannian, fibro/myofibroblastic, osteocartilaginous, smooth muscle, rhabdomyoblastic, ganglionic and ganglioneuroblastic) may be observed. Typically melanomas are S-100 protein, NKIC3, HMB45, Melan A and tyrosinase positive but some melanomas may exhibit an aberrant immunophenotype and may express cytokeratins, desmin, smooth muscle actin, CD68, CEA, EMA and VS38. Very rarely, neurofilament protein and GFAP positivity may be seen.

Objective To study the effect of protopine (Pro) on the intracellular free calcium ions of the smooth muscular cells of the thoracic aorta in rats. Methods The procedure of calcium absence-calcium addition was designed to observe the changes of the level of calcium ions in the strips of the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta indirectly. The concentration of calcium ions in the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta was determined with Fura-2/AM loaded SMCs. The elevation of calcium ions was induced with norepinephrine (NE). The concentration of potassium ions was observed in the presence of Pro. Results Pro significantly inhibited the NE-induced transient contract of the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta in calcium-free medium and long-lasting contraction after the addition of calcium ions in a concentration-dependent manner. In Fura-2/AM loaded SMCs, Pro (50 ?mol/L or 100 ?mol/L) exerted no effect on the resting calcium ions but obvious effect on the NE-induced and high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions. In the presence of extracellular calcium ions, Pro (50 ?mol/L) decreased the NE-induced elevation of calcium ions but showed no effect on potassium-induced elevation of calcium. Pro (100 ?mol/L) significantly decreased NE-induced and high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions. Conclusion Pro reduces NE-induced or high potassium level-induced elevation of calcium ions in the smooth muscle of the thoracic aorta through its effect on calcium release and/or calcium influx.

Objective The study is intended to examine changes in prefrontal cortex ATP concentrations over time in PCPA induced insomnia rats,and to examine the intervention effects of Suanzaoren decoction.Methods SD rats randomly assigned to normal control,control,model,SZRD control,SZRD treatment,5-HTP,and 5 HTP + SZRD groups.PCPA was injected intraperitoneally over three days to induce the insomnia model.One day after induction,at the fourth,fifth,sixth,eighth,and tenth days after experiment,subjects from each group were examined for prefrontal cortex ATP concentration using the HPLC method.Results Prefrontal cortex ATP concentrations in the PCPA Model group at the fourth,fifth,sixth,eighth,and tenth days were declined significantly compared with the Control group (P＜0.01).Compared with the PCPA Model group,the SZRD treatment group showed significant (P＜0.05) increase at the fourth,fifth,sixth,and eighth days after assay,and a significant increase (P＜ 0.01) on the tenth day.A comparison of the Control group with the Normal control group,and a comparison among the SZRD control group,the 5 HTP,and 5-HTP+SZRD groups showed no significant differences in prefrontal cortex ATP concentrations.Conclusion SZRD with 5 HTP itself has no significant effect on normal rats prefrontal cortex ATP levels,SZRD role of the prefrontal cortex appear to the ATP after PCPA caused insomnia.

Objective To investigate optimal extraction process of Piper puberulum ( Benth.) Maxim.and qualitative analyze the chemical component of the extracts.Methods Method of solvent heating reflux was used for extraction.On the basis of single factor experiment, L9 (34 ) orthogonal experiment was designed with the variants of extraction frequency, time, material-liquid ratio, and immersion time.Extraction rate as index, extraction processes were optimized to achieve best extraction.The extracts, including total extract, water elution, and ethanol elution, were physiochemically analysed to achieve an initial qualitative result.Results The optimal extraction process was: extractions 3 times for 2 hours, with an 1︰30 material -liquid ratio and 2 hours of immersion, Initial qualitative analyzed the total extracts containing amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, alkaloids, steroids or triterpenes, flavones, saponins, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, cumarins, terpene lactones, phenols, and tannins.The water elution containing: amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, saponins, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, cumarins, and terpene lactones.The ethanol elution containing: amino acids, polypeptides, proteins, alkaloids, steroids or triterpenes, flavones, polysaccharides, reducing sugars or glucosides, phenols, and tanins.Conclusion The experiments show that optimal extraction process can achieve high extraction yield, stable and practical.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of noble dendrobium polysaccharides ( NDP ) on lipopo-lysaccharide ( LPS)-induced neuron injuries in newborn rat cerebral cortex glial cells and neuron mixed cul-tures.Methods The primary cultures of newborn rat cortical neurons and glial cells were established and the existence of the neurons , astrocytes and microglia was verified respectively .NDP was given to LPS-induced mixed cultures , the mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-αand COX-2 were assayed by real time PCR .Results NDP reduced the glial cell activation and neuron dam-age after it was given to LPS-induced mixed cultures . The mRNA levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2 were re-duced .Conclusion NDP protects against LPS-in-duced neuron-inflammation in neurons and glial cells cultures.