Objective To optimize the preparation process for Fangji Huangqi Granules. Methods With the extraction rates of tetrandrine, fanchinoline, astragaloside Ⅳand solid as the parameters, the extract conditions of Fangji Huangqi Granules were optimized by orthogonal design . Then the anti-inflammation effect of the extracts was observed on the mice and rats. Results The optimal preparation process was as follows:the mixture of medical materials was firstly refluxed twice with total 10 times of 70 %alcohol,1.5 hours for each time, and then extracted twice with total 12 times of boiling water ,1.5 hours for each time. The anti-inflammation effect of the extracts was obvious on the mice and rats. Conclusion The optimal preparation process is reasonable and with high extraction rate of active components.

The complete genomes of more cyanobacterial strains have been completed for sequence, and genetic engineering of cyanobacteria has evolved in the post-genome era. Since Kaneko and colleagues had completed the sequence for the complete genome of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 in 2001, functions of some genes in this genome, including fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) gene, have been predicated using the method of bioinformatics. However, little information is available regarding whether this gene can encode FBA and its product characteristics of related enzyme. Here, to explore this information, the predicted II-FBA gene-encoding region in Cyanobase database was cloned by PCR method and then ligated into pET-32a to generate the expression vector, pET-FBA-II. The results of SDS-PAGE indicated that the expression level of the expected target polypeptide was approximate 23.4 percent as compared to total protein and the molecular weight is about 40 kDa as compared to the protein molecular marker. The results of enzyme activity analysis showed that the activity of II-FBA was ~11.8 U per mg protein and owned a standard activity of II-FBA. To sum up, the results not only prove the functional prediction of this II-FBA gene from the Cyanobase database, but also provide the important conditions for further studying its physiological and biochemical characteristics and functions of the gene expression product.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of three-step sequential method (TSSM) on patients with corticosteroid-dependent asthma (SDA).

METHODSForty patients with SDA were randomly assigned according to the randomizing number table to two groups equally, the treated group treated with three-step sequential recipes plus inhalation of Pulmicort Turbuhaler 200 microg, twice a day, and the control group treated with Pulmicort Turbuhaler alone. The therapeutic course for both groups was 12 - 14 weeks. Changes of the symptom score of asthma, the corticosteroid dosage used and the lung function were observed and the positive expression rate of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in peripheral CD4+ T cells were determined by flow cytometry before and after treatment.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in the asthma symptom score, the oral corticosteroid dosage and the lung function between the treated group and the control group after treatment (P < 0.01). The expression rate of Th2 reduced, the ratio of Th1/Th2 increased significantly after treatment in both groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), but the changes were more remarkable in the treated group than those in the control group, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.01), while the expression rate of Th1 had no obvious change after treatment with no significant difference shown between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTSSM can regulate imbalance of Th1/Th2, inhibit generation of inflammatory cytokines, decrease airway hyper-response, and therefore improve the pulmonary function, alleviate the asthmatic symptoms and reduce the patients' dependence on corticosteroid.

Adult ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Substance-Related Disorders ; drug therapy ; etiology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on E coliinduced prostatitis in rats.

METHODSBMSCs were isolated, cultured and amplified by the attached choice method. Fifty SD rats were randomized into five groups of equal number: normal control, acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) , chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), ABP + BMSCs, and CBP + BMSCs, and the animals in the latter four groups were injected with E. coli into both sides of the prostate under ultrasound guidance for 1 - 14 days to induce ABP and for 4 - 12 weeks to induce CBP. The control rats were injected with the same amount of PBS. Two weeks after injection of BMSCs into the prostates, pathomorphological changes in the prostate were observed under the light microscope and the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1β and TNF-α determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively, followed by statistical analysis with SPSS 18.0.

RESULTSHistopathological evaluation showed typical pathological inflammatory changes in the prostates of the rats in the ABP and CBP groups, including glandular structural changes, interstitial edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous hyperplasia, which were all remarkably relieved after treated with BMSCs. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-β ([0.829 ± 0.121] and [271.75 ± 90.59] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0.913 ± 0. 094] and [105.78 ± 19. 05] pg/ml) in the ABP and those of IL-1β ([0. 975 ± 0. 114] and [265. 31 ± 71. 34] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0. 886 ± 0. 084] and [107. 45 ± 26. 11 ] pg/ml) in the CBP groups were significantly higher than those in the control rats ([0. 342 ± 0.087] and [45.76 17. 99] pg/ml, P <0. 05); ([0.247 ± 0.054] and ([19.42 ± 7. 75] pg/ml, P <0. 01) as well as than those in the ABP + BMSCs ([0. 433 ± 0. 072] and [51. 34 ± 22. 13] pg/ml, P < 0. 05 ) ; ( [0. 313 ± 0. 076] and [28. 38 ± 8. 78] pg/ml, P < 0. 01) and the CBP + BMSCs group ([0.396 ± 0.064] and [56.37 ± 21.22] pg/ml, P <0.05); ([0.417 ± 0.068] and [29.21 ± 10.22] pg/ml, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONInjection of BMSCs can reduce E coli-induced prostatic inflammation reaction, which.may be associated with its reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration and the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α in the prostate tissue.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Chronic Disease ; Escherichia coli Infections ; therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; microbiology ; therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the stress distribution in the abutment and supporting tissues of distal-extension removable partial dentures with mesial and distal occlusal rest under loading. Methods A modular denture model was used to build a model of mandibular dentition defect ( 765┬567 loss) with HyperMesh 7.0 software. Prosthetics with mesial (M model) and distal occlusal rest (D model) were designed with UG 5.0 software, and the finite element models were completed with HyperMesh 7.0 software. The stress distribution was analyzed in the abutment and supporting tissues of distal-extension removable partial dentures with mesial and distal occlusal rest when bilateral vertical forces were applied. Results Compared with M model, D model provided much larger maximum stress in abutments and periodontal membrane. Stress of D model mainly concentrated on roots of 4┬4 , while that of M model uniformly distributed on roots of 43┬34 . The maximum stress of M model was significantly larger than that of D model on the mucosa of edentulous region. The maximum stress on alveolar bone of two models' edentulous region was equal, while the stress of M model distributed more widely. Conclusion It is prior to select mesial occlusal rest in distal-extension removable partial dentures.

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic change of apoptosis and proliferation of cardiac muscle cells (CMC) after being induced by Angiotensin II (Ang I), and the effect of TCM herbs for supplementing qi and/ or activating blood circulation on it.

METHODSThe cultured CMC of SD suckling rat were treated by Ang II, and the amplitude, rhythm and frequency of cell pulsation, the protein content, area size and apoptosis of cells at various phases as well as the influence of TCM herbs afterwards were determined by image pattern analysis system, flow cytometry and biochemical assay.

RESULTSIn the model group, cell pulsation showed quickened frequency from the 24th to 48th hr after Ang II treatment with the highest amplitude at the 24th hr; the cell area enlarged at the 24th hr, the enlargement became evident at the 48hr. Cell content of protein increased at the 24th hr, which reached to its peak at the 48th hr; an increasing trend of cell number was shown from the 12th to 48th hr; cell apoptosis started to appear at the 24th hr, it increased gradually from the 48th to 72th hr, and reached to the peak at the 72th hr (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All the Chinese herbs, both for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation, especially when they were used in combination, showed favourable preventive and therapeutic effect on CMC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), either at the early phase (24-48th hrs) mainly manifesting hypertrophy and proliferation or the late phase (48-96th hrs) mainly manifesting apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThere exist characterized phasic windows of CMC after being treated by Ang II, the window of hypertrophy-proliferation phase and the window of cell apoptosis phase. When CMC were mainly in hypertrophic manner, myocardial hypertrophy may appear. Cell apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms for turning myocardial hypertrophy to heart failure, and it could be improved by Chinese herbs for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation.

Angiotensin II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

In this study, 120 patients with rheumatic heart disease undergoing valve replacement were randomly divided into the control group and the Qishen group, with 60 cases in each group. Before the operation, the control group was given routine heart and diuretic treatments and placebo of Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.5 g each time, three times a day); While the Qishen group was given Qishen Yiqi dropping pills for seven days (0.5 g each time after meal, three times a day) on the basis of the routine treatments. The right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), end-systolic volume (RVESV), stroke volume (SV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were detected after the operation. The results showed that patients in the two groups showed significantly lower right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end systolic volume (RVESV) and stroke volume (SV) decreased than that before the operation, but with significantly higher Ejection fraction (RVEF) significantly than that before the operation. However, the Qishen group showed a significantly lower right heart function reduction than the control group, with the statistical significance in the differences (P < 0.05). This indicated that the pretreatment with Qishenyiqi Drop Pills showed a remarkable efficacy in the improvement of right ventricular function after valve replacement.
Aged ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Ventricular Function, Right ; drug effects

A study was made on the pharmacokinetic regularity of effective components salvianolic acid B and ferulic acid in Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (SMRR) and Chuanxiong Rhizoma(CR) in rats, so as to discuss the compatibility mechanism of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Chuanxiong Rhizoma. Rats were randomly divided into three groups and intravenously injected with 50 mg x kg(-1) salvianolic acid B for the single SMRR extracts group, 0.5 mg x kg(-1) ferulic acid for the single CR extracts group and 50 mg x kg(-1) salvianolic acid B + 0.5 mg x kg(-1) ferulic acid for the SMRR and CR combination group. The blood samples were collected at different time points and purified by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. With chloramphenicol as internal standard (IS), UPLC was adopted to determine concentrations of salvianolic acid B and ferulic acid. The pharmacokinetic parameters of salvianolic acid B and ferulic acid were calculated with WinNonlin 6.2 software and analyzed by SPSS 19.0 statistical software. The UPLC analysis method was adopted to determine salvianolic acid B and ferulic acid in rat plasma, including linear equation, stability, repeatability, precision and recovery. The established sample processing and analysis methods were stable and reliable, with significant differences in major pharmacokinetic parameters, e.g., area under the curve (AUC), mean residence time (MRT) and terminal half-life (t(1/2)). According to the experimental results, the combined application of SMRR and CR can significantly impact the pharmacokinetic process of their effective components in rats and promote the wide distribution, shorten the action time and prolong the in vivo action time of salvianolic acid B and increase the blood drug concentration and accelerate the clearance of ferulic acid in vivo.
Animals ; Apiaceae ; chemistry ; Benzofurans ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Coumaric Acids ; blood ; pharmacology ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective To observe the features of the full field electroretinogram (FF-ERG) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) children without diabetic retinopathy (DR).Methods Retrospective case study.Forty-one T1D children and 25 age-matched normal controls underwent a complete ophthalmic examination,including best-corrected visual acuity,refraction,intraocular pressure,slit lamp,fundus photography,indirect ophthalmoscopy,and spectral domain optical coherence tomography to exclude DR.All FF-ERG tests were performed by an experienced technician.The ERG series includes six protocols:dark-adapted 0.01 ERG (r-b 0.01);dark-adapted 3 ERG (mix-a 3.0,mix-b 3.0);dark-adapted 10 ERG (mix-a 10.0,mix-b 10.0);dark-adapted oscillatory potentials (OPS);light-adapted 3 ERG (c-a 3.0,c-b 3.0);light-adapted 30 Hz flicker (30 Hz FP) ERG.To compare the amplitudes and implicit times of the FF-ERG between the T1D and control group children.Results Compared with the control subjects,the FF-ERG amplitudes decreased and the implicit times increased in T1D.Except for r-b 0.01 (t =-0.228,P＞0.05),the amplitudes of other FF-ERGs were all significantly attenuated (t =-1.664,-3.645,-4.324,-6.123,-5.846,-12.9,-14.4,-5.23;P＜0.05) in T1D children.The implicit times of mix-b 3.0,mix-b 10.0,c-b 3.0 and OP2 significantly increased (t=5.242,2.879,5.378,3.506;P＜0.05).The implicit times of r-b 0.01,mix-a 3.0,mix-a 10.0,c-a 3.0 and 30Hz FP changes were not significantly (t=2.331,1.677,0.557,0.84,0.064;P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The FF-ERG amplitudes decreased and implicit times increased in T1D children compared with the control normal subjects.