Effect of strophanthidin (Str) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was investigated on isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig. Single ventricular myocytes were obtained by enzymatic dissociation technique. Fluorescent signal of [Ca2+]i was detected with confocal microscopy after incubation of cardiomycytes in Tyrode's solution with Fluo3-AM. The result showed that Str increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The ventricular myocytes began to round-up into a contracture state once the peak level of [Ca2+]i was achieved in the presence of Str (10 μmol·L-1), but remained no change in the presence of Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1). Tetrodotoxin (TTX), nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1), but had no obvious effects on the action of Str (10 μmol·L-1). The elevation of [Ca2+]i caused by Str at all of the detected concentrations was partially antagonized by rynodine (10 μmol·L-1) or the removal of Ca2+ from Tyrode's solution. In Na+, K+-free Tyrode's solution, the response of cardiomycytes in [Ca2+]i elevation to Str (10 μmol·L-1) was attenuated, while remained no change to Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1). TTX, nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str at all of the detected concentrations in Na+, K+-free Tyrode's solution. The study suggests that the elevation of [Ca2+]i by Str at the low (nomomolar) concentrations is partially mediated by the extracellular calcium influx through Ca2+ channel or a "slip mode conductance" of TTX sensitive Na+ channel. While the effect of Str at high (micromolar) concentrations was mainly due to the inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase. Directly triggering the release of intracellular Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by Str may be also involved in the mechanism of [Ca2+]i elevation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yiqi Huayu Recipe on peanut agglutinin-binding molecules (PNA-BMs) and Schwann's cells (Sc) of the neuromuscular junction after L5 nerve root compression in rats. METHODS: The rats were given Yiqi Huayu Recipe at the 10th, 20th, 30th and 60th day after L5 nerve root compression. Using immunohistochemistry and confocal laser scanning techniques, we observed the distributions of PNA-BMs and S-100 in the soleus muscle. The overlap area of PNA-BMs and S-100 was measured with NIH image technique. RESULTS: The extracellular matrix (ECM) recognized by PNA played an important role in guiding the sprouting and extending of the Schwann's cells. The agglomeration, sprouting and extension of the terminal Sc and the overlap area of Sc with PNA-BMs in the Yiqi Huayu Recipe group were better than those in the control group. CONCLUSION: Yiqi Huayu Recipe can promote the growth of ECM and Schwann's cells and accelerate the nerve regeneration process.

Objective To determine the effects of trimetazidine (TMZ) on pathology and energy metabolism of myocardium in chronic renal failure(CRF) rats.Methods CRF models were built in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy, and animals were randomyly divided into sham group, control group and three groups treated with different doses of TMZ (3 mg/kg,6 mg/kg or 9 mg/kg).TMZ was intragastrically administrated to CRF rats for 17 weeks, while physiologicalsalinewasusedascontrol. Transthoracicechocardiographywasperformedand myocardial morphosis was observed.Left ventricular weight/body weight(LVW/BW) and heart weight/body weight (HW/BW) were measured, and heart rate, and mean arterial pressure (MAP)were detected at the end of the study, while several parameters were detected, including urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine(Scr), triphosaden(ATP), adenosine diphosphate(ADP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).Results (l)Left ventricle end-systolic dimensions, anterior wall end-diastolic and end-systolic thicknesses, and posterior wall end-diastolic thickness were significantly lower in rats treated with either medium dose or high dose of TMZ, as compared with control group(P＜0.05).(2)LVW/BW and HW/BW in rats treated with either medium dose or high dose of TMZ were significantly lower than those in control group(P＜0.05). (3)Various pathological changes were observed in control group, such as irregular arrangement and hypertrophy of the cardiomyocytes, myocardial fibrosis,mitochondrial swelling, focal muscle fiber dissolution, etc.However, all these pathological changes were apparently ameliorated in TMZ-treated groups, while the beneficial effects of TMZ therapy were dose-dependent. (4)No difference was observed in heart rate among all the groups.Although no difference existed in all the CRF rats, concerning on the systolic/diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (P＞0.05), these parameters were elevated in CRF rats, as compared with sham-operated group(P＜0.01). (5)ATP and ADP in TMZ-treated rats were significantly higher as compared with control(P＜0.05), moreover, medium dose and high dose of TMZ were superior to low dose (P＜0.05).(6)SOD was significantly increased in TMZ-treated rats (P＜0.05), while IL-6,TNF-α and MDA were significantly decreased in medium dose and high dose of TMZ, as compared with control(P＜0.05).Conclusion TMZ may prevent myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic renal failure via ameliorating myocardial energy metabolism and alleviating inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress.

A reasonable and practicable quality standard was developed for mori liquid extract from different sources by TLC, HPLC and fingerprint technology. In TLC method, the compounds were separated on polyamide film using glacial acetic acid-water (1: 3) as mobile phase at a UV wavelength of 365 nm. All qualified samples had the spots of the same color as the control herb and substance. The RP-HPLC method was used to determine the content of mulberroside A with mobile phase of methanol-water (25: 75) at a wave-length of 326 nm. The mulberroside A was in good linear with a regression equation of Y = 46.965X (r = 0.999 6) in the range of 4.6 - 228 mg x L(-1). In 14 batches of samples, the mulberroside A in 4 batches of them was less than 0.5 g x L(-1), and was more than 2.0 g x L(-1) in the other batches. It was suggested that the content limit of mulberroside A should be no less than 1.5 g x L(-1). The HPLC fingerprints were evaluated by the similarities. It has found that the similarities of different mori liquid extracts were very low and the chemical diversity of mori cortex was the major factor of similarity. Moreover, the process impact was minimal. Thus the fingerprint was not included in this quality standard.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Morus ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To observe the effect and the mechanisms of ferulic acid on radiationinduced damage of mice peripheral blood and bone marrow hematopoietic function.Methods Ninety-six mice were randomly divided into sham irradiation group,irradiation group,positive drug group and 10,30,90 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ferulic acid group,16 mice per group.Mice were exposed to 3.5 Gy γ-rays 24 h after first drug taken.Then,mice were given drugs for 7 d after irradiation.White blood cells in peripheral blood of 10 mice per group were counted 2 d before irradiation and 3,7,10,15 and 22 days after irradiation.The bone narrow of the other six mice was taken to detect the micronuclei frequency of polychromatic erythrocyte,the hematopoietic progenitor cell colony formation capacity,Thbd and HMGB1 protein expressions in mice bone marrow on the seventh day after irradiation.Results Compared with the irradiation alone group,the treatment of mice with ferulic acid 90 mg· kg-1 · d-1 increased the number of white blood cells in peripheral blood at 3,10,15 and 22 d after irradiation (t =2.267,2.399,1.945,2.828,P ＜ 0.05).Treatment with mice with ferulic acid 90 mg· kg-1 · d 1 decreased the micronuclei rate of erythrocytes in irradiated bone marrow (t =4.013,P ＜ 0.05),increased the clone numbers of CFU-E,BFU-E and CFU-GM of hematopoietic progenitor cells (t =2.366,2.953,3.115,P ＜0.05),improved the relative expression of the Thbd protein in bone marrow and the HMGB1 protein in nuclear (t =17.75,23.39,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Ferulilc acid could protect the bone marrow hematopoietic of mice exposed to irradiation by regulating the expressions of Thbd and HMGB1 protein,and then accelerate the peripheral cells recovery.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of expression level of metastasis suppressor gene Kiss-1 in the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 after radiation, and to determine its association with the proliferation and apoptosis of SW480 cells.

METHODSSW480 cells were divided into control group (0 Gy) and study groups (2, 4, 6, 8 Gy). Cells in the study groups were irradiated by 6-MV X-ray radiation for 48 hours. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR methods were used to investigate the influence of radiation on Kiss-1 gene expression of SW480. Colony formation assay was used to detect the proliferation of SW480. Flow cytometry-Annexin- V/PI assay was used to observe the change of the apoptosis rate.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, Kiss-1 protein expression increased after radiation of 6, 8 Gy (P<0.05), but no significant changes were observed after radiation of 2, 4 Gy(P>0.05). Kiss-1 gene mRNA level increased after radiation of 2, 4, 6 Gy, while no obvious change was observed for 8 Gy radiation. The apoptosis rates increased for 4, 6, 8 Gy radiation(P<0.05), however, there was no significant difference for 2 Gy radiation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRadiation may increase Kiss-1 gene expression in SW480 cells, which results in decreases proliferation and increases apoptosis in residual surviving cells.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Kisspeptins ; genetics ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; X-Rays

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of epithelioid hemangioma.

METHODSThe morphologic features of 7 cases of epithelioid hemangioma of skin, bone and venous vessels were studied.

RESULTSThere were altogether 4 male and 3 female patients (median age = 34 years; age range from 14 to 54 years). The 3 skin cases presented as single or multiple erythematous to bluish nodules or papules, with or without itchiness. The 2 bone cases appeared as osteolytic expansile lesions on radiologic examination. The remaining 2 cases involved medium-sized venous structures and presented as small isolated nodules in soft tissue. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by the presence of exuberant endothelial proliferations with various degree of inflammatory reaction. The neoplastic endothelial cells were plump, eosinophilic and polygonal, forming vascular channels. Occasional solid sheet-like arrangement was demonstrated. Intracytoplasmic vacuoles were commonly identified, indicating formation of primary lumen. The surrounding stroma contained various number of eosinophils and lymphoplasmacytic cells. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were positive for endothelial markers (CD31 and CD34) and negative for epithelial marker (cytokeratin). Follow-up information was available in 6 cases. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 36 months (median = 14 months). There was no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelioid hemangioma is a rare benign curable lesion which can be multifocal, involving skin, soft tissue and bone. It needs to be distinguished from Kimura's disease and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia ; pathology ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; pathology ; Hemangioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

AIMTo study the dissolution rate of solid pharmaceutical preparation on-line, a multiple channel fiber-optic chemical sensor based on fluorescence multiple quenching (FOCSMQ) without filtering and sampling was made.

METHODSUsing the multiple channel FOCSMQ linked with computer, the dissolution rates of ofloxacin tablets, metronidazole tablets and nitrofurantoin tablets were monitored continuously on-line. The instrument can give the sample data, display the real time curve and calculate the T1/2 and td automatically. A computer was used to select the best function from five common fitting models to fit the dissolution curve.

RESULTSThe average recoveries of the FOCSMQ method were 97.4%-104.4%, 97.4%-103.8% and 96.6%-102.1%. The RSDs (n = 6) of within-day and between-day were less than 5%. The parameters of the dissolution and all results of measurement using the instrument have no significant difference compared with the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (ChP) (2000) method and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) (23) method (P > 0.05). It does not need sampling and dilution, and never contaminate sample. It can shorten time of the experiment.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, rapid and reliable.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; Fiber Optic Technology ; methods ; Metronidazole ; chemistry ; Nitrofurantoin ; chemistry ; Ofloxacin ; chemistry ; Optical Fibers ; Solubility ; Tablets ; chemistry ; Transducers

OBJECTIVETo explore the incidence regularity in populations with different fluctuation modes of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody levels.

METHODSBased on the data of a NPC mass screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Jianggu town and Didou town of Sihui city, Guangdong province from 1992 to 1998, 586 subjects who were positive and retested for twice or above were divided into ascending group (114 subjects), stable or fluctuating group (313 subjects), and descending group (159 subjects) according to the fluctuation of immunoglobulin A antibody against EBV capsid antigen (VCA-IgA) level; 9889 subjects who were negative in the first test of VCA-IgA were set as control group. All the participants were followed-up till December 31, 2007. The incidence, onset time and clinical characteristics of NPC were compared among groups.

RESULTSThe 5-year cumulative detection rates of ascending, stable or fluctuating, and descending group were 3.51% (4/114), 0.64% (2/313) and 0.00% (0/159), respectively; the 5-year cumulative detection proportions were 4/4, 2/6 and 0/2, respectively. Comparing to the control group, the hazard ratio (HR) for the incidence of NPC in ascending group was highest (HR = 10.96, 95%CI: 3.91 - 30.74), followed by stable or fluctuating group (HR = 5.79, 95%CI: 2.45 - 13.69), and descending group (HR = 3.84, 95%CI: 0.92 - 16.01) which had the lowest HR.

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with stable, fluctuating or ascending VCA-IgA level showed higher risk and earlier onset of NPC was found in ascending group.

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Capsid Proteins ; immunology ; Carcinoma ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

Effect of strophanthidin (Str) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was investigated on isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig. Single ventricular myocytes were obtained by enzymatic dissociation technique. Fluorescent signal of [Ca2+]i was detected with confocal microscopy after incubation of cardiomycytes in Tyrode' s solution with Fluo3-AM. The result showed that Str increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The ventricular myocytes began to round-up into a contracture state once the peak level of [Ca2+]i was achieved in the presence of Str (10 micromol L(- 1)), but remained no change in the presence of Str (1 and 100 nmol L(-1)). Tetrodotoxin (TTX), nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str (1 and 100 nmol L(-1)) , but had no obvious effects on the action of Str (10 micromol L(-1)). The elevation of [Ca2+]i caused by Str at all of the detected concentrations was partially antagonized by rynodine (10 micromol L(-1)) or the removal of Ca2+ from Tyrode's solution. In Na+, K+ -free Tyrode' s solution, the response of cardiomycytes in [Ca2+]i elevation to Str (10 micromol L(-1)) was attenuated, while remained no change to Str (1 and 100 nmol L(-1)). TTX, nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str at all of the detected concentrations in Na+, K+ -free Tyrode's solution. The study suggests that the elevation of [Ca2+]i by Str at the low (nomomolar) concentrations is partially mediated by the extracellular calcium influx through Ca2+ channel or a "slip mode conductance" of TTX sensitive Na+ channel. While the effect of Str at high (micromolar) concentrations was mainly due to the inhibition of Na+, K+ -ATPase. Directly triggering the release of intracellular Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by Str may be also involved in the mechanism of [Ca2+]i elevation.
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester ; pharmacology ; Aequorin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Fura-2 ; pharmacology ; supply & distribution ; Guinea Pigs ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Nifedipine ; pharmacology ; Ryanodine ; pharmacology ; Sarcolemma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Sodium-Calcium Exchanger ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Strophanthidin ; pharmacology ; Tetrodotoxin ; pharmacology ; Thapsigargin ; pharmacology