By collecting and analyzing the information of the processing of Flos Sophorae in ancient and recent literatures, we discovered that such methods as steaming, boiling, stir-frying and baking had been used before Qing Dynasty. There were more than 10 kinds of different decoction pieces due to different subsidiary agents and distinction of processing degree. In modern times, besides stir-frying with vinegar used in Jilin, stir-flying with honey used in Henan and Shandong, being crude, yellowing by stir-frying and carbonizing by stir-frying are used in other places. This research has provided useful information for the modern processing study by summarizing the previous experiences earnestly.
Acetic Acid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; history ; Flowers ; History, 15th Century ; History, 16th Century ; History, 17th Century ; History, 18th Century ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; History, Medieval ; Hot Temperature ; Plants, Medicinal ; Quality Control ; Sophora ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; history ; methods

OBJECTIVEThis investigation aimed at explore the total distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive (NPY-LI) fibers and their changes post-trauma in rat temporomandibular joints (TMJs).

METHODSSix groups of rats were killed individually before trauma, 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after trauma. TMJs were extracted totally, and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method and image analysis were employed to detect NPY-LI fibers in frozen sections of TMJs.

RESULTSNPY-LI fibers were distributed extensively in TMJs, except the central disc band and bone, and they were mainly located around blood vessels, especially arteries. The densities of fibers in the six groups were 160.4 +/- 27.5, 95.8 +/- 16.4, 88.6 +/- 14.5, 114.3 +/- 17.0, 135.0 +/- 20.7, 158.6 +/- 19.5 (unit:mm2).

CONCLUSIONNPY-LI nerve fibers are distributed extensively in the periphery of blood vessels of TMJs and densities changed dynamically when TMJs were impacted. NPY may play an important role in pathologic change of TMJ by regulating local blood circulation.

Animals ; Male ; Nerve Fibers ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; analysis ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Temporomandibular Joint ; innervation

·Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are common outer retinal degenerative problems, which are also the predominant causes of most blinding retinal diseases. Retinal prosthesis is a promising solution for such photoreceptor degeneration diseases.Most of current concepts for a retinal prosthesis are based on neuronal electrical stimulation. In the past twenty years, retinal prosthesis has been developed in two different directions: epiretinal prosthesis and subretinal prosthesis. Each prosthesis technique has its advantages and disadvantages. For epiretinal prosthesis, it is easier to be implanted and has the advantage of keeping most of the electronics in the vitreous cavity, off the retinal surface, which greatly helps in dissipating the heat generated by the implant device. In this paper, a brief overview of retinal prostheses concepts is introduced. After that, several important aspects of epiretinal electrical stimulation will be discussed. Moreover, some practical epiretinal prosthesis devices developed by researchers in United States, Germany and Japan in the past have been reviewed. We hope that the devices will be used widely in the near future.

This study examined the effect of self-microemulsiflying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) containing Cremophor RH40 or Tween 80 at various dilutions on cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes in rat hepatocytes, with midazolam serving as a CYP3A substrate. The particle size and zeta potential of microemulsions were evaluated upon dilution with aqueous medium. In vitro release was detected by a dialysis method in reverse. The effects of SMEDDS at different dilutions and surfactants at different concentrations on the metabolism of MDZ were investigated in murine hepatocytes. The cytotoxicity of SMEDDS at different dilutions was measured by LDH release and MTT technique. The effects of SMEDDS on the CYP3A enzymes activity were determined by Western blotting. Our results showed that dilution had less effect on the particle size and zeta potential in the range from 1:25 to 1:500. The MDZ was completely released in 10 h. A significant decrease in the formation of 1'-OH-MDZ in rat hepatocytes was observed after treatment with both SMEDDS at dilutions ranging from 1:50 to 1:250 and Cremophor RH 40 or Tween 80 at concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1% (w/v), with no cytotoxicity observed. A significant decrease in CYP3A protein expression was observed in cells by Western blotting in the presence of either Cremophor RH40 or Tween 80-based SMEDDS at the dilutions ranging from 1:50 to 1:250. This study suggested that the excipient inhibitor-based formulation is a potential protective platform for decreasing metabolism of sensitive drugs that are CYP3A substrates.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents in Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus.

METHODSilica gel column chromatography was used to separate and purify the chemical constituents. The structures were elucidated by spectral analysis.

RESULTSix compounds were isolated from Flos Sophorae Carbionisatus, and their structures were elucidated as maltol (1), 3-hydroxypyridine (2), malto-3-O-[6'-O-(4"-hydroxy-tans-cinnamoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] sophoradiol ethyl ester (4), 3-O-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl] sophoradiol methyl ester (5), rutin (6).

CONCLUSION4 is a new compound, and 1,2,3,5 were first reported from Flos Sophorae Carbonisatus.

Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pyridines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Pyrones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Sophora ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo screen a variety of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) common outer membrane proteins with two-dimensional liquid phase fractionation (PF2D) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) and provide candidate target antigen for the design of vaccines with cross protection against a variety of Pg.

METHODSThe outer membrane proteins of Pg301, PgATCC33277 and PgW83 were extracted through ultracentrifugation, and then they were separated by ProteomeLab PF2D protein fractionation system. After separation, the outer membrane proteins were obtained through comparison, and the primary structure of the proteins was identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and database.

RESULTSNinety-nine protein samples out of 3 strains of Pg were obtained after the high performance chromato focusing (HPCF) separation process. B7 fractions of 3 strains of Pg were separated by the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPCL) separation process. After comparison of peak and retention time of chromatogram, the 8 common protein peaks of 3 strains of Pg were confirmed. The protein samples were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, and one of them was known protein arg-gingipain A.

CONCLUSIONSPF2D protein fractionation system is of good reproducibility and high resolution. A combination of PF2D and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS can be used to identify the common outer membrane proteins of Pg.

Antigens, Bacterial ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; immunology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Vaccines

This study examined the effect of self-microemulsiflying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) containing Cremophor RH40 or Tween 80 at various dilutions on cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) enzymes in rat hepatocytes, with midazolam serving as a CYP3A substrate. The particle size and zeta potential of microemulsions were evaluated upon dilution with aqueous medium. In vitro release was detected by a dialysis method in reverse. The effects of SMEDDS at different dilutions and surfactants at different concentrations on the metabolism of MDZ were investigated in murine hepatocytes. The cytotoxicity of SMEDDS at different dilutions was measured by LDH release and MTT technique. The effects of SMEDDS on the CYP3A enzymes activity were determined by Western blotting. Our results showed that dilution had less effect on the particle size and zeta potential in the range from 1:25 to 1:500. The MDZ was completely released in 10 h. A significant decrease in the formation of 1'-OH-MDZ in rat hepatocytes was observed after treatment with both SMEDDS at dilutions ranging from 1:50 to 1:250 and Cremophor RH 40 or Tween 80 at concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1% (w/v), with no cytotoxicity observed. A significant decrease in CYP3A protein expression was observed in cells by Western blotting in the presence of either Cremophor RH40 or Tween 80-based SMEDDS at the dilutions ranging from 1:50 to 1:250. This study suggested that the excipient inhibitor-based formulation is a potential protective platform for decreasing metabolism of sensitive drugs that are CYP3A substrates.

Huperzine A is a potent,reversible,and blood-brain barrier permeable acetylcholinesterase irhibitor.The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics,tolerability,and bioavailability of two formulations with the established reference formulation of huperzine A in a fasting,healthy Chinese male population.This was a randomized,single-dose,3-period,6-sequence crossover study.The plasma concentrations of huperzine A were determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Tolerability was assessed based on subject interview,vital sign monitoring,physical examination,and routine blood and urine tests.The mean (SD) pharmacokinetic parameters of the reference drug were Cmax,1.550 (0.528) ng/mL;t1/2,12.092 (1.898) h;AUC0-72h,17.550 (3.794) ng.h/mL.Those of the test formulation A and test formulation B were Cmax,1.412 (0.467),1.521 (0.608) ng/mL;t1/2,12.073 (2.068),12.271 (1.678) h;AUC0-72h,15.286 (3.434) ng.h/mL,15.673 (3.586) ng.h/mL.The 90％ confidence intervals for the AUC0-72h and Cmax were between 0.80 and 1.25.No adverse events were reported by the subjects or found with results of clinical laboratory test.The test and reference products met the regulatory criteria for bioequivalence in these fasting,healthy Chinese male volunteers.All three formulations appeared to be well tolerated.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effect of congenital vascular rings in in-fants. Methods The clinical data of 54 children with vascular rings were retrospectively analyzed from August 2011 to June 2017 at our center for surgical treatment. Age 2 days to 11 months,the median age was 1 months;weight 1. 4 - 9. 4 kg,the average weight of(4. 52 ± 1. 89)kg. The type of vascular ring includes 21 cases of double aortic arch,right aortic arch with left aortic duct / ligament with or without vagal left subclavian artery in 14 cases,9 cases of pulmonary artery suture,left aortic arch with right aortic duct / ligament with or without 5 cases of oblique right subclavian artery,3 cases of nameless arterial com-pression syndrome,2 cases of other vascular rings. All cases underwent echocardiography,chest radiography,and CT scan of the heart,and 42 cases were examined before operation or intraoperative bronchoscopy. 39 cases(72％)had tracheal stenosis. Results Twenty-six patients underwent extracorporeal circulation underwent vascular anteroposterior surgery with an average extracorporeal circulation time of( 160 ± 61)min and 28 patients underwent extracorporeal circulation. Postoperative mechani-cal ventilation 1 to 22 days,the median number of days 2 days;hospitalization time 7 to 62 days,the median of 19 days,hos-pital death in 2 cases(3. 7％). Discharge patients were followed up for 2 to 74 months,respiratory symptoms to varying degrees to ease or disappear,discharged in 3 cases. Conclusion Airway stenosis is a serious complication of the vascular ring. CT is the best way to determine the vascular ring. To avoid serious airway complications,the vascular ring should be operated as soon as possible,and the airway stenosis and intracardiac malformation Children suggested concurrent treatment,this can improve the survival rate of surgery and improve the prognosis of children.

Objective To compare the actions of Longbie Capsules and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)transplantation in repairing the damaged cartilage of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)rats. Methods Thirty-six rats aged 4-6 weeks old were induced into KOA model(bilateral knees)by collagenase injection method. All of the modeled rats were randomly divided into model group(intragastric administration of normal saline), BMSC transplantation group(giving tail vein injection of 1 ×106 of BMSCs per time, 2 times every week), and Chinese medicine group (intragastric administration of Longbie Capsules of 7.5 g·kg-1·d-1),12 rats in each group. Six weeks later,the cartilage of rat bilateral knees was taken out. The pathological changes of cartilage were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining method, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of Col2a1, X-linkedinhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), HuR in rat knee cartilage were detected by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. Results The HE staining results showed that the cartilage tissue surface was rough with more cracks, and the cartilage cells gathered with the cytoplasm collapsed and arranging disorderly in the model group. The number of chondrocytes was increased and cell surface was flat,and the cracks of the cartilage were decreased with the chondrocytes arranging uniformly in Chinese medicine group and BMSC transplantation group compared with the model group. The results of immunohistochemistry and qPCR detection showed that in Chinese medicine dosage group and BMSC transplantation group, the protein and mRNA expression levels of Col2a1,XIAP and HuR were significantly higher than those in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.0001), but there was no significant difference between the two medication groups(P>0.05). Conclusion Longbie Capsules and BMSC transplantation can promote the secretion of Col2a1 in the cartilage tissue of KOA rats,improve cartilage, and their mechanism may be related with up-regulating apoptosis-related proteins HuR and XIAP.