Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diacerhein in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods The efficacy and safety of diacerhein was randomly investigated in 42 pa- tients with knee osteoarthritis using parallel group methodology and a double-dummy technique to ensure dou- ble blind status with respect to diacerhein and control drugs diclofenac.Results Significant changes were ob- served in 20 meters walk pain,knee joint tenderness scale,WOMAC index scale,5F-36 health survey,knee joint swelling scale,compared with baseline(P＞0.05)in both diacerhein and diclofenac group respectively.No difference was found between diacerhein group and diclofenae group.The patient global assessment and physi- cian's global assessment were similar in diacerhein group and diclofenac group(P＞0.05).The side effect was similar in two groups.All of these side effects in gastrointestinal tract appeared to be transient.Conclusion Diacerhein can effectively relieve pain and swelling of knee osteoarthritis,and provides us a new effective and safe approach for treating knee osteoarthritis.

Objective To assess the feasibility of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in renal artery using the iterative reconstruction technique (iDose4) in Brilliance iCT (Philips Ltd.).Methods 90 patients (body weight 60-70 kg) supposed to undergo renal artery CTA were selected and randomly divided into three groups:A(120 kV,120 mAs),B(120 kV,60 mAs) and C(100 kV,100 mAs).CTA images from Group A were obtained using filtered back projection and those from the rest groups were generated by iDose4.Then CT number of renal artery,noise (denoted as standard deviation SD),signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of images for each group were measured and recorded.Images were post-processed using volume reformation (VR) 3D imaging and image quality were assessed in five-level grade (1-5).Results The five parameters (CT number of renal artery,SD value,SNR,CNR and VR grade) of group A and group B were statistically insignificant (P ＞ 0.05).While SD values of group C were comparable to those of group A and B,the rest four parameters of group C were apparently larger,which was statistically significant (tCT value =-12.326,tSNR =-7.136,tCNR =-7.649,ZVR =-2.690,PVR ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Image quality could still fit the diagnosis requirements using iDose4 when mAs decreased lower than 50％.The image quality increases when radiation dose is halved at 100 kVp kV.

A prospective clinical trial was carried out to explore the hemostatic effect of Gongxueting Mixture on metrorrhagia and metrostaxis with blood stasis syndrome and its mechanism. Bleeding time and bleeding volume in 37 cases were detected before and after treatment to assay the hemostatic effect. Indexes of blood analysis, blood rheology, blood coagulation and prostaglandin in 8 cases were determined to study the mechanism. The results showed that Gongxueting Mixture shortened the menstrual period and regulated the volume of menses (P 0.05 ). It is concluded that Gongxueting Mixture is effective for metrorrhagia and metrostaxis with blood stasis syndrome (the total effective rate being 91.89% ), and enhancement of platelet aggregation, promotion of fibrinolytic activity and regulation of prostaglandin release may be its hemostatic mechanism.

Objective To explore the effect of erythropoietin(EPO) on apoptosis of human renal tubular(HK-2) cells induced by postasphyxial-serum of neonates.Methods HK-2 cells were used as target cells.The experiment was divided into 4 groups,control group(n=8):HK-2 cells were maintained in standard medium;asphyxia group(n=8):HK-2 cells were treated with serum obtained from neonates with asphyxia.Each culture medium replaced with 200 mL/L suffocation DMEM/F12 serum culture medium;EPO pretreatment group(n=8):HK-2 cells were pretreated 24 h with serum contains 5?104 IU/L EPO,and then deal as asphyxia group;EPO and 5-hydroxydecanoic acid sodium salt(5-HD) pretreatment group(n=8): HK-2 cells were pretreated 24 h with serum contains 5?104 IU/L EPO and 500 ?mol/L 5-HD,and then deal as asphyxia group.All cells were cultured at 37 ℃ in humidified atmosphere with 50 mL/L CO2 for 24 h.The apoptosis rate of HK-2 cells was detected by flow cytometer.The expressions of Caspase-3 and X-linked inlnibitor of apoptosis protein(XIAP) of HK-2 cells were detected by using immunohistochemical method.Results Compared with control group,after stimulated with postasphyxial-serum,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Caspase-3 of HK-2 cells were significantly increased(Pa

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.
Animals ; Half-Life ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Mice ; Molecular Probes ; pharmacokinetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Rabbits

To study the in situ intestinal absorption of five oligosaccharides contained in Morinda officinalis How. (sucrose, kestose, nystose, 1F-Fructofuranosyinystose and Bajijiasu). The absorption of the five oligosaccharides in small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and colon of rats and their contents were investigated by using in situ single-pass perfusion model and HPLC-ELSD. The effects of drug concentration, pH in perfusate and P-glycoprotein inhibitor on the intestinal absorption were investigated to define the intestinal absorption mechanism of the five oligosaccharides in rats. According to the results, all of the five oligosaccharides were absorbed in the whole intestine, and their absorption rates were affected by the pH of the perfusion solution, drug concentration and intestinal segments. Verapamil Hydrochloride could significantly increase the absorptive amount of sucrose and Bajijiasu, suggesting sucrose and Bajijiasu are P-gp's substrate. The five oligosaccharides are absorbed mainly through passive diffusion in the intestinal segments, without saturated absorption. They are absorbed well in all intestines and mainly in duodenum and jejunum.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Male ; Morinda ; chemistry ; Oligosaccharides ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND:Studies have found that vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor are involved in the development process of osteoarthritis, but their correlation is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression and correlation of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor in chondrocytes of articular cartilages in human osteoarthritis. METHODS: Articular cartilage specimens were colected from 50 patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing total knee joint replacement. According to the joint Kelgren-Lawrance (K-L) X-ray grouping classification standard, there were 18 cases of K-LIII level and 32 cases of K-LIV level. Besides, articular cartilage specimens from 10 patients undergoing amputation for legs tumor or traffic accident served as control group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Safranin O-Fast Green staining and Mankin scoring were performed to observe and evaluate the histological characteristics of articular cartilages of each group, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to detect the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor in chondrocytes of articular cartilages, and their correlations were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Mankin score of K-LIV group was significantly higher than those of K-LIII group and control group. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the number of chondrocytes with positive expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α or vascular endothelial growth factor in K-LIV group was significantly higher than that in K-LIII group and control group (P < 0.05). The expression of hypoxia inducible factor-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor increased in chondrocytes of articular cartilages of osteoarthritis patients, and to up-regulate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor may be the regulatory mechanism of hypoxia inducible factor-2αinthe pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

AIM: To choose the anti myocardial ischemic ingredients from polysaccharide of Ophiopogon Japonicus(PO), then to confirm their effects. METHODS: According to molecular weight, PO was separated to three portions by using ultrafiltration technique. The effects of each separated portion on myocardial ischemia induced by isoproterenol were studied. Then the effects of PO active portions (POAP) on the convulsion of coronary artery induced by pituitrin and acute myocardial ischemia caused by the ligation of coronary artery were further studied in rats. RESULTS: POAP could resist the elevation of Tand S T phase induced by pituitrin in rats, remarkably decrease the elevated S T phase and contents of CK and LDH in serum caused by the ligation of rat coronary artery. POAP also exerted some inhibition effects on the reduction of SOD and increase of MDA caused by myocardial ischemia. CONCLUSION: POAP can protect myocardial cells, inhibit the generation of free radicals, and scavenge the oxygen free radicals generated from myocardial ischemia.

Objective To analysis the quality of life of patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods The quality of life was assessed in 52 patients with active AS using SF-36 and was compared with the general population.The correlation between the quality of life and the clinical measures of disease,in- cluding the Bath AS disease activity index(BASDAI),Bath AS functional index(BASFI),Bath AS metrology index(BASMI),patient's global assessment(PGA),spinal inflammation,total back pain,nocturnal back pain, and enthesis index(EI),were determined.Results The patients with active AS reported significant decreased scores on all dimensions of SF-36.The score of physical health components was poorer than that of mental health components.BASFI was the strongest factor correlated with the score of SF-36,followed by BASDAI and PGA.BASMI and total back pain were correlated with three dimensions only.In multivariate regression analysis,BASFI showed relative closer relationship to the qulity of life with active AS than other clinical mea- sures of disease and it accounted for 50.3%,35.2% and 47.9% of the variance in the physical health compo- nents,the mental health components and the overall score of SF-36,respectively.Conclusion The quality of life in patients with active AS is significantly declined compared with general population.The physical aspects seem to be more severely affected.Functional status of the patients with active AS are correlated with the quality of life closely.

AIM: This study was designed to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the amyloid ?-protein precursor (APP) and neprilysin (NEP)expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in C6 cell line in order to discover effectual Alzheimer's disease (AD)-treated drugs. METHODS: MTT colorimetric analysis was used to measure the survival rate of C6 cultured with ginsenoside Rg1 at different concentrations (2 5, 5, 10 and 20 ?mol?L -1) and LPS (100 mg?L -1). The expression of APP and NEP mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: LPS decreased the survival rate of C6, furthermore, the increase in APP expression and the decrease in NEP expression were observed. On the other hand, the above alteration induced by LPS was reversed by ginsenoside Rg1. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that LPS can cause cell damage, the increase in APP expression and the decrease in NEP expression. Ginsenoside Rg1 can exert a neuroprotective action, protect C6 cells against LPS-induced injury via inhibiting APP expression and increasing NEP expression.