Puerarin is one of the most important effective components of Pueraria lobata which exhibited classic estrogen-like biological activities and had remarkable cardiovascular protections in vivo and in vitro experiments. These protections of puerarin are mainly exhibited on improving the myocardial cells membrane potential and arrhythmia based on effecting the Na+, K+ , and Ca2+ channels,resisting myocardial fibrosis damage, diastolic effect on blood vessels, promoting angiogenesis, resisting calcification and atherosclerosis, improving blood flow, antiplatelet aggregation, reducing lipid and resisting diabetes. The main mechanisms are to improve the membrane potential and reduce cardiovascular damage caused by inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis, and the main regulated signal pathways are the PI3K/Akt, the NF-kappa B and the caspases.
Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; RNA ; administration & dosage ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

The aim of this study is to develop the Tripterygium glycosides nanoemulsion gels and investigate its pharmacodynamics. Oleic acid was used as oil phase, polyoxyethylene castor oil as surfaetant, and 1,2-propanediol as cosurfactant to screen the formula of Tripterygium glycoside nanoemulsion using the pseudo-temary phase diagrams. Then the nanoemulsion gels was prepared. The ICR mouse ears were sensitazated by 7% DNCB, and then were excited by 0.3% DNCB to stimulate the model of mouse chronic dermatitis and eczema. The concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-8 in mouse blood were determined by ELISA. The results showed that Tripterygium glycosides nanoemulsion gels could significantly inhibit the swelling of mouse ears(P < 0.01) and ameliorate the edama and erythema of model mouse ears skin. Also it could significantly decrease the expression of IFN-γ and IL-4 in model mouse blood. Tripterygium glycosides nanoemulsion gels had a good therapeutic effect on mouse model of dermatitis and eczema. It was expected to provide a new and long-acting exterernal preparation for the treatment of dermatitis and eczema.
Animals ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dermatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Female ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Interleukin-8 ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Objective To explore the changes of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of aged female Long-Evans rat. Methods The hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of 5 young (6-month old), 5 middle-aged (18-month old) and 6 aged (28-month old) female Long-Evans rats were quantitatively investigated with the stereological techniques and transmission electronic microscope technique. Results There were no significant changes in the volume of hippocampal formation, the volume density, the total volume, the length density and the mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation among young, middle-aged and aged rats. When compared to that of young rats, the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged rats was significantly increased by 63.6%. When compared to that of middle-aged rats, the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of aged rats was significantly decreased by 47.5%. When compared to that of young rats, the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of aged rats was non-significantly decreased by 13.8%. Conclusion Although the reason why the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged rats was longer than that of young rats needs further investigations, the present results together with our previous findings in white matter and cortex further suggest that there are age-related changes of the myelinated nerve fibers in the normal aged brains.

Objective To investigate quantitatively the thermal sensation characteristics of the patients with facial palsy and the value of quantitative thermal test (QTT) in prognostication.Methods The QTT threshold of the fore ear and cheek of 30 patients with peripheral facial palsy was tested,their facial nerve conduction velocity was measured,and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system was used to estimate facial nerve function at 2～3 weeks,a month,two months and half a year post onset.Results It was found that 12 out of 30 patients had abnor- mal QTT threshold value;the majority of them suffered from herpes virus and diabetes.In those with abnormal QTT, 8 were with diabetes mellitus (account for 66.7%),3 with partial shingles (account for 25%),and 1 with positive serum virus infection (account for 8.3%).Those with normal QTT were significantly different from those with abnor- mal QTT,with regard to the House-Brackmann rating scores after 2 and 6 months post onset (P

Traditional Chinese ancient prescriptions have been used for treatment of liver cancer for a long history and the scientific and rational compatibility is a great wealth for modern research and development (R&D) of new drugs. The research and development of new drugs are often accompanied with a large investment, a long cycle and a high risk, especially for the anti-tumor drugs R&D which are facing more risks and lower successful rate. In this research, the regularity of compatibility of drugs was analyzed from 124 anti-hepatoma ancient prescriptions by computer program. The results can offer help to the R&D of anti-hepatoma new drugs and reduce the risk of drug screening. In addition, we surveyed 22 companies in this field from six provinces such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and so on and obtained 240 risk assessment questionaires. Then we used qualitative analysis method to interpret the greatest impacts for the risks in the process of R&D, production and sales of anti-hepatoma new drugs. The study provides a basis for anti-liver cancer drugs R&D researchers, who can take effective measures to reduce the R&D risks and improve successful rate.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; history ; China ; Drug Discovery ; history ; Drug Incompatibility ; Drug Prescriptions ; history ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; history ; therapeutic use ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; history ; Research ; history

Objective To investigate the sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats. Methods Twenty 14-month Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 10 female and 10 male rats, were randomly divided into enriched group and standard group. Enriched rats were reared in enriched environment and standard rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, the total volume of the hippocampal formation and the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampus were quantitatively estimated by transmission electron microscopy and stereological methods. Results The total volume and mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of standard female rats were significantly bigger than those of standard male rats (P0.05). The mean diameter of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of enriched female rats was significantly smaller than that of enriched male rats (P0.05). Conclusion The sex differences of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged standard and enriched rats are significantly different, which indicates the response to the enriched environment in the mid-aged male and female rats is different.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern between electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy and moxibustion box therapy.

METHODSForty-one cases of low back pain of cold-damp pattern were randomized into an electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy group (group A, 26 cases) and a box moxibustion therapy group (group B, 15 cases). In the group A, the electric-thermal Bian-stone was placed over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The temperature of stone was adjusted in accordance with patient's comfort. In the group B, moxibustion box was used over Shenshu (BL 23) and Weizhong (BL 40). The treatment was given once every day or every two days. Ten treatments made one session. The symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were observed before and after treatment in the patients.

RESULTSThe symptom and physical signs score of low back pain and the score of cold-damp syndrome were all improved in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The changing rate of symptom and physical signs and syndrome were (37.04 +/- 32.68)% and (22.85 +/- 29.95)% in the group A, and were (47.29 +/- 22.08)% and (23.89 +/- 22.53)% in the group B, respectively, without significant difference in comparison between the two groups (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy on low back pain of cold-damp pattern treated with the electric-thermal Bian-stone therapy is similar to that of moxibustion box therapy. This therapy is characterized as more convenient, safer operation and less pollution.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of short-term enriched environment on the hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of mid-aged female rats. Methods Twenty 14-month female SD rats were randomly divided into 10 enriched environment (EE) rats and 10 standard environment (SE) rats. EE rats were reared in enriched environment and SE rats were reared in standard environment for 4 months. Then, five rats were randomly selected from each group. The spatial learning capacity was assessed with Morris water maze. The hippocampal formation and the myelinated fibers in the rat hippocampal formation were quantitatively investigated with transmission electronic microscopy technique and stereological methods. Results Short-term enriched environment enhanced the spatial learning capacity of the mid-aged female rats. The total length and total volume of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of the EE rats was significantly increased by 43.3% and 47.4%, respectively, when compared to the SE rats. There was no significant difference in the hippocampal volume and the mean diameter of the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation between two groups. The increase of the total length of the myelinated nerve fibers in the hippocampal formation was mainly due to the increase of the myelinated fibers with small diameter. Conclusion Short-term enriched environment had significant effects on the spatial learning capacity and the myelinated fibers in the hippocampal formation of middle-aged female rats.