Animals ; Cytoprotection ; Humans ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; therapy

Humans ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Translational Medical Research

Cholesteatoma ; diagnosis ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Otitis Media ; diagnosis

The antitussive activity assay for the root extraction of Disporum cantoniense was carried out with coughing mice induced by ammonia liquor. The results showed that the ethanol and water extractions of D. cantoniense possess strong antitussive activity, and the high dose of the former was better than positive control, and then the constituents of the ethanol extraction were separated and purified by various modern chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified by physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic data. As a result, eight compounds were isolated and identified as stigmast-4-en-3-one(1), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-5, 7, 22-trien-3beta-ol(2), obtucarbamate A(3), obtucarbamate B(4), neotigogenin(5), azo-2, 2'-bis[Z-(2,3-dihydroxy-4-methyl-5-methoxy) phenyl ethylene] (6),dimethyl {[carbonylbis (azanediyl)] bis( 2-methyl-5, 1-phenylene) j dicarbamate (7) , and quercetin-3-O-pB-D-glucopyranoside(8). All compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time, and the result of bioactivity-directed isolation showed that compounds 3, 4, and 6 had obvious effect on antitussive activity, and compound 6 had the same level as positive control.
Animals ; Antitussive Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Female ; Liliaceae ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice

AIMTo investigate the coordinated role and its mechanism of the high protein and hypercholesterol intake on inducing rat myocardial fibrosis.

METHODSThe tissue level of the collagen in left ventricule, the concentrations of the plasma and the cardiac tissue angiotensin II (Ang II) and Aldosterone (Ald), the serum concentration of nitrite (NO2-), in the Wistar rats on diet which adding 20% protein or/and 100 mg/d cholesterin in the rat standard foods for 8 weeks, were measured by the colorimetric analysis of the hydroxyproline, by the radioimmunoassay, and by the assay of Griess, respectively.

RESULTS1.69 times left ventricular collagen contents, 0.7 times plasma concentrations of total cholesterin, 1.5 times levels of the plasma Ang II and 1 time myocardial ald contents were higher, and the serum NO2- concentration was significant lower, in the rats of the high protein and hypercholesterol intake than in the rats of the high protein intake. That 0.48 times left ventricular collagen contents, 0.23 times plasma Ang II in the high protein and hypercholesterol intake rats were higher than in the high cholesterin intake rats.

CONCLUSIONThe excessive protein and cholesterin intake can induce the coordinated effect on developing the myocardial fibrosis of rats. And the mechanism of the fibrosis in rat left ventricule maybe result with the activation of RAAS and the endothelial injury.

Animals ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; pathology ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; adverse effects ; Dietary Proteins ; adverse effects ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo provide scientific basis for quality evaluation by investigating the influential factors of the volatile oil and main constituent content in Pogostemon cablin.

METHODSeveral experiments were carried out to test different habitats, collection periods, processing methods, the level of spreading manure and using agricultural chemical with the volatile oil assay of pharmacopoeia and GC-MS method.

RESULTThe effect of different habitats, collection periods, processing methods on volatile oil and main constituent content was shown significantly.

CONCLUSIONSuch factors as different habitats, collection periods, processing methods should be taken into account when the quality standard of medicinal materials was made.

Ecosystem ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Seasons ; Sesquiterpenes ; analysis ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Trisomy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) of lung qi deficiency and cold syndrome between Jin's three-needle therapy and western medication.

METHODSSixty-six patients were randomized into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 33 cases in each one. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied at three-nose points [Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8) and Yintang (GV 29); Cuanzhu (BL 2) was added for frontal headache] and three-back points [Dazhu (BL 11), Fengmen (BL 12) and Feishu (BL 13)], once every day. Ten treatments made one session. Two sessions of treatment were required. In the western medication group, desloratadine oral suspension was prescribed, 5 mg each time, once a day, for 20 days. The scores of the symptoms and physical signs in AR patients as well as the clinical efficacy were observed between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 93.9% (31/33) in the acupuncture group, which was better than 72.7% (24/33) in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of AR symptoms and physical signs as well as the total score were all reduced compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P < 0.01). The score of every item in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group after treatment (score of symptoms: 4.70 +/- 2.07 vs 6.55 +/- 2. 69, score of physical signs: 0.85 +/- 0.67 vs 1.45 +/- +0.62, total score: 5.36 +/- 2.70 vs 8.00 +/- 2.91, all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONJin's three-needle therapy achieves superior efficacy on AR of lung-qi deficiency and cold syndrome, which is better than desloratadine oral suspension.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Qi ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe number of Clara cells and the Clara cell 16-kDa protein (CC16) levels of the lung decrease in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce the frequency of acute exacerbations of COPD. But the exact mechanism is unclear. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of NAC on Clara cells in rats with cigarette smoke exposure.

METHODSEighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, 12 exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) thrice a day, 10 cigarettes for 30 minutes each time for 1 week, without (CS group) or with (CS + NAC group) oral intake of NAC 80 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), and another 6 rats exposed to fresh air (control group). Clara cells were observed by an electron microscope. The mRNA expression of CC16 and CC16 protein in lungs were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry respectively. The glutathion (GSH) level in plasma and lung tissue were tested by fluorimetry assay.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the pathologic score of small airways significantly increased in the CS exposed rats (20.3 +/- 14.7 vs. 53.7 +/- 11.5, P < 0.05). The Clara cell particles in cytoplasm decreased in the CS group (P < 0.05). The percentage of CC16-positive cells in bronchioles in the CS group (27.8 +/- 4.3 and 29.5 +/- 2.4 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) significantly decreased as compared with the control group (37.1 +/- 3.8 and 43.8 +/- 5.8 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in GSH level ((181 +/- 26) nmol/L in the control group vs. (170 +/- 18) nmol/L in the CS group) between the two groups. After treatment with NAC, the pathologic score of small airways (24.1 +/- 17.5) decreased (P < 0.05). Clara cell particles in cytoplasm of Clara cells increased and GSH level in plasma ((213 +/- 40) nmol/L vs. (170 +/- 18) nmol/L in the CS group) increased too (P < 0.05), while the increase in the proportions of CC16 positive cells in bronchioles (30.1 +/- 6.4 and 34.3 +/- 6.3 in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles, respectively) did not reach the statistical significance (P > 0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression of CC16 mRNA among the three groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the percentage of CC16-positive cells in bronchioles negatively correlated with the pathologic score of small airways (r = -0.592, P < 0.05), but not with GSH level.

CONCLUSIONSOne-week CS exposure decreased the number of Clara cells and the expression of CC16 in bronchioles in rats. NAC might provide protection of the Clara cells from oxidative damage and possibly through the elevation of the synthesis and secretion of CC16. These data indicate that NAC decreases airway inflammation induced by CS via induction of CC16.

Acetylcysteine ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bronchioles ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Fluorometry ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Uteroglobin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo develop a specific quality of life (QOL) instrument for Chinese patients living with HIV/AIDS and to assess its reliability and validity.

METHODSA primary questionnaire was developed with reference to existing instrument and information through discussion with experts, front-line professionals and patients living with HIV/AIDS. This questionnaire was applied in 443 patients living with HIV/AIDS. Some items were removed through the results of responsive rate, factor analysis, correlation matrix,internal consistency and so on. Reliability and validity were assessed after items reduction.

RESULTSThe developed instrument contained 44 items, including 10 scales and other 3 items used for the evaluation of curative effect and side effect of anti-virus drug. No substantial ceiling/floor effects existed. All scales' internal consistency coefficients were > or = 0.70 and the whole instrument was 0.90. The two week retest reliability coefficient of the whole instrument was 0.80, and there were 6 scales below 0.70 of this coefficient. Multitrait/multiitem assessment indicated scaling success rates were all 100% for all items. Spearman correlation coefficient of total score of this instrument with SF-36 was 0.69.

CONCLUSIONIt was the first time that the developed QOL-CPLWHA instrument introducing the scale of hostility regarding mentality trend as well as expressed its acceptable reliability and validity so could be used for the evaluation of Chinese patients living with HIV/AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; psychology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult