98 %).Conclusions Saponins are the major active ingredients in Radix Polygalae.Tenuifolin as an alkaline hydrolysis product of total saponins can be used as a chemical reference substance for the quality control of Radix Polygalae.

Objective To explore the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly men. Methods All BPH outpatients in Geriatric department of the second Xiang Ya Hospital in Feb 2008 were recruited in this study. Bioche assays including insulin (FINS), prostate specific antigen (PSA), HbAlc, fasting plasma glucose, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose were performed and HOMA-IR were calculated. The blood pressure, body weight, height and waist circumference were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Prostate volume (PV) was measured by abdominal ultrasound, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was evaluated by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and inquired about the history of LUTS in detail. Results (1) HOMA-IR＞ 2.8 was diagnosed as insulin resistance (IR). The patients were divided into two groups: insulin sensitivity (IS) group (n=48) and IR group (n=20). The PV level was higher in IR group than in IS group [(61.1-32. 9) ml vs. (40.4±16.5)ml, P＜0. 05], there were no statistical differences in PSA [(3.3±2.3) μg/L vs. (2.91±1.3) μg/L, P＞0.05], the history of LUTS [(13.4±6.6)years vs. (8.7±6.0)years, P＞0.05], IPSS [(16.42±6.67)scores vs. (13. 29±7.09)scores, P＞0. 05] between the two groups. (2)According to BPH progressivity evaluation provided by MTOPS study (age≥62 years, PSA≥1. 6 μg/L, PV≥31 ml), the patients were divided into two groups: low progressive risk group (n= 30) and high progressive risk group (n= 38). The FINS and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in highprogressive risk group than in low progressive risk group (all P＜0. 01). (3)The PV was positively correlated with HOMA-IR level and FINS level (r= 0. 431, 0. 492, P＜0. 01). Conclusions IR exists in majority of elderly BPH patients, the degree of IR and relative high level of FINS are related to the enlargement of PV and the development of BPH.

Objective To investigate the role of calcineurin(CaN)in inflammatory pain in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Harlan-Sprague-Dawley rats,weighting of 200-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=25): group control (group C),group CFA (complete Freunds adjuvant) (group F) and group CaN+CFA (group NF).100 μl CFA were injected on the right hind claw preparaing for inflammatory pain models in groups F and NF,100 μl saline were injected on the right hind claw in group C.CaN 10 U was intracerebroventricular injected 1 d before CFA injection in group NF.Paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) were measured in 30 min prior to (T0),0.5 h (T1),1 h (T2),2 h (T3) and 4 h (T4) after injection.The expression of CaN and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB),IL-1β,TNF-α and IL-10 in spinal cord were measured at each time point.Results The PWTL was significantly shorter at T2-T4 in group F,at T3,T4 in group NF than that at T0and in group C (P<0.05);The PWTL at T2-T4 in group NF was significantly longer than that in group F (P<0.05).CaN protein expression in spinal cord at T1-T4 in group F,at T2-T4 in group NF was significantly lower than that of T0 and in the group C,NF-κB p65 protein expression was significantly higher than that of T0 and in the group C (P<0.05).CaN gene and IL-10 protein content at T2-T4 in groups F and NF were significantly lower than that of group C and at T0,NF-κB gene and IL-1β,TNF-α protein content was significantly higher than that of group C and at T0 (P<0.05).CaN protein and CaN gene expression,IL-10 protein content in spinal cord tissue at T1-T4in group NF was significantly higher than that of group F,NF-κB p65 protein and NF-κB gene expression and contents of IL-1β,TNF-α protein were significantly lower than that of group F (P<0.05).Conclusion CaN adjusts pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines by reducing NF-κB and inhibiting the process of inflammatory pain in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of curcumin on secretion of adiponectin (APN) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in human adipose tissues cultivated in vitro. METHODS: Seven male patients with kidney stones were admitted. Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and perirenal adipose tissue were collected from the operating-patients, and were cultivated with different concentrations of curcumin (10 and 100 microg/ml) in vitro. The contents of APN and IL-6 in the culture medium of adipose tissue cells were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after they were cultured for 6 and 24 hours. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the content of APN in the adipose tissue culture medium was increased by 100 microg/ml curcumin (P<0.05) after 6-hour culture, and the content of IL-6 was significantly decreased by 100 microg/ml curcumin after 6- and 24-hour culture (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: 100 microg/ml curcumin can increase APN secretion and decrease IL-6 secretion in human adipose tissues cultivated in vitro.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution and the drug resistance changes of the pathogenic bacteria isolated from the blood culture specimens collected during the period of 2006-2008.METHODS Blood culture of patients in our hospital was performed by BacT/Alert 240 and the isolated bacteria were identified by API and Microscan and tested for drug resistance against antimicrobial agent by K-B method.A retrospective analysis was made to the blood culture results during the period of 2006-2008 with WHONET 5.4 software.RESULTS Gram-negative rods were the predominant bacteria which caused sepsicemia.The isolated rates of Escherichia coli took the first place during the period of 2006-2008.Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus(SAU) were also the most important pathogens which caused blood infection.The infection rate of coagulase negative staphylococcus(CNS) and P.aeruginosa had increasing tendency.Imipenem and meropenem were the most effective antibiotics(100%) to E.coli and K.pneumoniae.Then amikacin and cefoxitin also had high susceptibility to E.coli and K.pneumoniae.Furthermore,drug susceptibility in 2008 was higher than that of two years before.All antibacterials had low drug susceptibility to P.aeruginosa,and its drug resistance rate rised obviously.The drug resistance situation of Acinetobacter baumannii was serious.Except imipenem and meropenem had relatively higher susceptibility(20-69.2%),the susceptibility to other antibacterials was lower than 41.7%.Vancomycin,teicoplanin and quinupristin/dalfopristin were the most effective antibiotics to(SAU).CONCLUSIONS The species and drug resistance of the bacteria isolated from blood specimens have changed.More attention should be paid to the detection and surveillance of bacterial resistance in blood culture to promote the rational use of antibiotics.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution and resistance of non-fermenting bacteria isolated from our hospital and offer the basis for the treatment of bacterial infection.METHODS Totally 2177 strains of non-fermenting bacteria were isolated from clinical sputum samples between Jan 2006 and Dec 2008.All of the isolated bacteria were identified with API identified test(API Inc,France) and Kirby-Bauer(K-B) test used for the antibiotics susceptive test.RESULTS From them the most common bacteria were Pseudomonas auruginosa(34.9%),followed by Acinetobacter baumannii(28.4%) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(11.4%).These bacteria had various resistances to the tested antibiotics.CONCLUSIONS Non-fermenting bacteria have high isolate rate and multi-antibiotic resistance,so antibiotics should be correctly used under the guidance of antibiotic susceptibility test.

Objective To evaluate the role of spinal CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) in inflammatory pain and the relationship with calmodulin (CaM)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseⅡ(CaMKⅡ) signaling pathways in mice.Methods Ninety-six pathogen-free healthy male C57BL6 mice,weighing 25-27 g,were divided into 3 groups using a random number table:control group (group C,n=30),inflammatory pain group (group IP,n=36) and CX3CR1 antagonist group (group CA,n=30).Inflammatory pain was induced by injecting complete Freund′s adjuvant (CFA) 50 μl into the plantar surface of right hind paws in IP and CA groups,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C.In group CA,CX3CR1 antagonist (diluted to 1 μg/5 μl in phosphate buffer solution) was intrathecally injected at 1 h before CFA injection.The thermal paw withdrawal latency (TWL) was measured at 30 min before CFA injection (T0) and 30 min,1 h,2 h and 4 h after CFA injection (T2-4).The animals were then sacrificed,and the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of phosphorylated CaMKⅡ (p-CaMKⅡ),phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (p-CREB) and c-fos (by Western blot) and expression of CaMKⅡ,CREB and c-fos mRNA (using real-time polymerase chain reaction).Immunofluorescence was used to determine that p-CAMKⅡ was expressed in microglia.Results Compared with group C,the TWL was significantly shortened at T2-4,and the expression of p-CaMKⅡ,p-CREB and c-fos protein and mRNA was up-regulated at T1-4 in IP and CA groups (P<0.05).Compared with group IP,the TWL was significantly prolonged at T2-4,and the expression of p-CaMKⅡ,p-CREB and c-fos protein and mRNA was down-regulated at T1-4 in group CA (P<0.05).p-CaMKⅡ was co-expressed with the microglial specific biomarker.Conclusion CX3CR1 is involved in the development and maintenance of inflammatory pain through activating CaM-CaMKⅡsignaling pathways in mice.

Objective To evaluate the effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin on clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods A total of 135 patients with BPH and MS aged 60 years and over were divided into three groups:simvastatin group (n=45,40 mg/d),atorvastatin group (n=45,20 mg/d) and control group (n=45).BMI,waist circumference,blood pressure,levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG),glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL C),high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),interleukin 6 (IL-6),testosterone,estradiol,prostate specific antigen (PSA) and international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) and prostate volume were detected before and 12 months after treatment.Results Compared with control group,patients receiving simvastatin or atorvastatin for 12 months showed that the levels of serum TC,TG,LDL-C,hs-CRP,IL-6,IPSS were decreased(all P＜0.05),the level of serum HDL-C level were increased (all P＜0.05),and prostate volume was reduced(P＜0.05).The decrease in prostate volume was more in patients receiving simvastatin than receiving atorvastatin [(10.86±5.65) ml vs.(5.91 ± 3.03)ml,P＜0.05].Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the reduction of prostate volume was positively related to the decreases of serum TC and IL-6 levels,and to the increase of serum HDL-C level.Conclusions Simvastatin and atorvastatin have the efficacy reducing prostate volume and improving obstruction symptoms of lower urinary tract,and slowing the clinical progression of BPH and simvastatin is more effective than atorvastatin on reducing prostate volume.The efficacies of statins might be through lowering cholesterol level and antiinflammatory effect.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Fructus psoraleae on the differentiation of cultured osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cell isolated from neonatal mouse's calvarium.

METHODF. psoraleae preparation was extracted with distilled water. A mouse osteoblast cell line MC3T3-E1 was used as a cell model for screening potency. Cultured MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were divided into 4 groups: control and F. psoraleae extract 0.02, 0.2, 2 (crude drug) g x L(-1), change the medium and extract every 3 days. The content of ALP and type I collagen were measured. The expression of ALP, type I collagen and osteocalcin mRNA in MC3T3-E1 cell was detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTThe activity of ALP was stimulated by extract of F. psoralea at doses 0.2 g x L(-1), and the content of type I collagen was encouraged at doses 0.2 g x L(-1) . The extract of F. psoralea enhanced the expression of ALP, type I collagen and osteocalcin mRNA in MC3T3-E1 cell. The expression of ALP mRNA was enhanced by extract of F. psoralea at doses 0.2 g x L(-1) for 7-14 d, and the expression of type I collagen and osteocalcin mRNA was enhanced at doses 0.2 g x L(-1) for 14-21 days.

CONCLUSIONF. psoralea can stimulate the differentiation of osteoblasts in vitro. It will offer a reference for the active mechanism research.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; pathology