OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The crude toxin was extracted from hypha and culture solution of Phyllosticta commelimecola through three different polarity solvent: benzinum, puncificatum ethyl acetate and chloroform. The result indicated that the toxin secreted by Phyllosticta commelimecola not only was in hypha but also in culture solution and the extracting effect of ethyl acetate was the best. The soybean median and PSK media can be respectively used as solid and liquid culture media to produce toxin and grow mycelium. The optimal cultural conditions for producing toxin were temperature 32℃,cultured period 14d, cultured ways shaking of 150r/min.

OBJECTIVETo prepare Form A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride and to compare the differences in spectrums, thermodynamics and crystal structure between two polymorphic forms.

METHODSForm A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single crystal x-ray diffraction (SCXRD).

RESULTSPreparation method, crystal structure and polymorphic stability of Form A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride were obtained. Based on the analysis of crystal structure of both polymorphs, Form A belonged to monoclone space group P2(1) with a=7.8655(4)Å, b= 11.7700(6)Å, c= 13.5560(7)Å, β= 102.9470(10)°, V=1223.07 (11)Å(3) and Z=2, while Form B belonged to orthorhombic space group P212121, with a=7.9353(8)Å, b=11.6654(11)Å, c=26.6453(16)Å, V=2466.5(4)Å(3) and Z=4. From the DSC and XRD results, Form B of benazepril hydrochloride could be transformed into Form A after heating treatment.

CONCLUSIONForm A and Form B of benazepril hydrochloride are both anhydrous and displayed different polymorphs due to different molecular configuration. Furthermore, Form A exhibits more stable than Form B at high temperatures.

Benzazepines ; chemistry ; Crystallization ; Drug Stability ; Molecular Conformation

OBJECTIVETo analyze the extent of myocardium and coronary artery lesion post atrioventricular ring radiofrequency catheter ablation with different tip catheters.

METHODSTwenty-one healthy dogs were randomly divided into 64 degrees C/50 W/100 s, 64 degrees C/100 W/100 s, 45 degrees C/45 W/100 s groups and ablated by 4 mm tip catheter, 8 mm tip catheter and irrigated tip catheter respectively. Left atrioventricular ring and right atrioventricular ring ablation were performed in all dogs. After ablation, myocardium lesion volume was calculated as 1/6pi x length x width x depth. Histological examinations were performed at the myocardium tissue at ablation sites.

RESULTSThe lesion depths post 8 mm tip catheter ablation (7.18 +/- 1.72) mm and irrigated tip catheter ablation (7.99 +/- 1.77) mm were similar and significantly deeper than that post 4 mm tip catheter ablation (4.54 +/- 1.38) mm, P < 0.01. Similar results were found in terms of lesion volume [(356.76 +/- 94.44) mm(3) post 8 mm tip catheter ablation, (391.69 +/- 109.54) mm(3) post irrigated tip catheter ablation and (191.34 +/- 74.52) mm(3) post 4 mm tip catheter ablation]. Five (5/42, 11.9%) transmural myocardium necrosis and 8 (8/42, 19%) coronary artery lesions were observed post ablations.

CONCLUSIONThe extents of post ablation myocardium and coronary artery lesion were significantly higher induced by 8 mm tip catheter and irrigate tip catheter compared those by 4 mm tip catheter.

Animals ; Cardiac Catheterization ; adverse effects ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Dogs ; Myocardium ; pathology

AIMTo investigate the mechanism of the interaction between montmorillonite and bacteria by studying the reactions of different charges of montmorillonites with bacteria.

METHODSBacteriostatic test: one loop of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus at the concentration of 1 x 10(6).mL-1 was incubated to the plate culture medium containing different concentrations of montmorillonite, and incubated 24 h to observe the growth of bacteria. Bacterial adsorptive test: different amounts of montmorillonite were added into the artificially simulated intestinal solution (containing bacteria 1 x 10(7).mL-1). After the culture, the bacterial colonies were counted.

RESULTSThe results showed that montmorillonite per se showed no bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect, but after exchange with metal ion and functional groups which inhibits bacteria, then it showed these activities. Adsorption was the main way between montmorillonite and bacteria. The special way of fixing bacteria into the "carriage" of montmorillonite gel which carry this structure was its pharmacological basis of curing diarrhea. The adsorption effect was related to layer charge density of the montmorillonites.

CONCLUSIONMontmorillonite showed adsorption ability of bacteria with minus related to its layer charge, but has no bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect.

Adsorption ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; Bentonite ; pharmacology ; Escherichia coli ; drug effects ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study on growth characteristics of Curcuma wenyujin, and provide theoretical basis for the development of high-quality and high-yield medical material.

METHODThe morphological change of the plant was observed periodically, the content of volatile oil and dry matter in leaves, rhizome, root tuber was determine.

RESULTThe growth of C. wenyujin could be divided into 5 stages, i. e. seed germination, seedling, leaf growth, rhizome expansion, accumulation of dry matter, respectively. Before the stage of rhizome expansion, over 70% dry matter was accumulated in the aerial part of the plant, and during the stage of leaf growth, the maximum increase rate of dry matter in aerial part was 3.90 g/p/d. During the stage of rhizome expansion, the ratio of dry matter of rhizome increased quickly and reached above 33% , and the increase rate of dry matter of rhizome rise up to 3.83 g/p/d, in the end of the stage, the content of volatile oil in the rhizome also rose up to 1.20 mL x 100 g(-1).

CONCLUSIONDuring the whole growth stage, there are two growth centers, when the two curves of dry matter increase of aerial part and rhizome intersect, it is regarded as a signal that the growth transformed form the aerial part to rhizome. When the rate of dry matter from rhizome rise, the content of volatile oil in rhizome rises quickly with the increase of dry matter in rhizome. The optimal harvest time is in mid-December.

Curcuma ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Germination ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seasons ; Seedlings ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development

Objective To compare the clinical efficacies regarding femoral artery or radial artery approaches on coronary artery interventional therapies.Methods 360 patients were randomly divided into intervention group via femoral artery (TFI) or transradial coronary intervention (TRI) group.Postoperative observation on the two said groups of patients with vascular lesion characteristics,feasibility factors ( success rate of interventional therapy puncture,time of operation and hospitalization)and complications,were made.Results There were no significant differences between the two groups on the characteristics of vascular lesion (P＞0.05).Success rates of the two groups were 97.78％ and 96.67％ respectively.The differences on success rate,time of operation were not statistically significant (P＞0.05) while the average time of puncture,the mean duration of hospitalization and the rates of complications were significantly different ( P＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion The two methods under comparison had similar success rate and feasibility.However,the complications related to radial artery interventional therapy were much less than the femoral artery interventional therapy.As having better safety,radial artery interventional therapv seemed to have applicable value on clinical oractice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of peak oxygen consumption in assessment of heart function of patients with pulmonary hypertension.

METHODSFrom September 2010 to April 2012, 101 patients [29 male, mean age: (32.6 ± 11.4 )years] with pulmonary hypertension diagnosis by right heart catheterization were enrolled. Correlations among peak oxygen consumption, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, NT-proBNP, 6 minute walking distance (6MWD) and cardiac index are analyzed.

RESULTSThere were 44 cases with NYHA class II (43.6%), 49 cases with NYHA class III (48.5%), mean 6MWD was (421 ± 91 )m, NT-proBNP was (1262 ± 816) ng/L, pulmonary vascular resistance was (1031 ± 582) dyn·s(-1)·cm(-5), CI was (3.5 ± 2.3) L·min(-1)·m(-2), peak oxygen consumption was( 13.8 ± 4.1)ml·min(-1)·kg(-1). 6MWD, pulmonary vascular resistance and peak oxygen consumption were related to CI (r = 0.299, -0.541, 0.341, respectively, all P < 0.05), but NYHA class and NT-proBNP were not correlated to CI. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that peak oxygen consumption (B = 0.135, P = 0.004) but not 6MWD was correlated with CI after adjusting age, sex and pulmonary vascular resistance. ROC analysis found that the sensitivity and specificity using peak oxygen consumption <15.2 ml·min(-1)·kg(-1) as a cut-off value was 92.6% and 57.5%, respectively, for diagnosing severe heart dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONSThe correlation between peak oxygen consumption and CI is better than that of NYHA class, 6MWD, and NT-proBNP with CI. Peak oxygen consumption less than 15.2 ml·min(-1)·kg(-1) could be used to detect reduced CI in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Adult ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Oxygen Consumption ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study allergens and their relationship to the occurrence of childhood bronchial asthma in the Jiading District of Shanghai.

METHODSThree hundred and eighty-two 4 to 12-year-old children with asthma in the remission stage from Nanxiang Hospital in the Jiading District of Shanghai were used as a case group (asthma group), and 402 children from two primary schools and two kindergartens in Jiading were enrolled by cluster sampling and served as control group. Parents of the children completed a questionnaire on living conditions and allergy-related disease history. Skin prick test (SPT) for 18 common allergens was carried out in both groups. In order to examine the effect of environment and living conditions on SPT results, children in the control group were further divided into two sub-groups according to birth place: migrant (219 cases) and resident (183 cases).

RESULTSSPT results revealed that the main allergens identified in the Jiading region were dermatophagoides farinae, house dust mites, shrimps, cockroaches, and dog hair. The SPT positive rate was 67.9% in the asthma group, and this was significantly higher than in the control group (31.8%) (P<0.01). The environment and living conditions in the migrant group were significantly different from the resident group (P<0.01), whereas the SPT positive rate for this group was significantly lower than in the resident group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAllergens in the Jiading region mainly originate from dermatophagoides farinae, household dust mites, shrimps, cockroaches and dog hair. Children with asthma are more susceptible to allergens. Environment and living conditions may be relevant, to a certain extent, to an SPT positive rate.

Allergens ; immunology ; Asthma ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Environment ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Skin Tests ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of Yunnan Baiyao (YNBY)as an adjuvant treatment of active ulcerative colitis.

METHODSA total of 221 patients with active ulcerative colitis were randomized into YNBY group (78 cases) and control group (143 cases). The patients were followed up for 26 weeks and time of remission and serological data (WBC, HGB, PLT, and CRP) were recorded.

RESULTSThe patients receiving YNBY as an adjuvant therapy had a median remission time of 9 weeks (95% CI: 8.293-9.707), significantly shorter than that of 13 weeks (95% CI: 11.855-14.145) in the control patients (P<0.001). According to the extent of the lesion, both YNBY group and control group were classified into E1, E2 and E3 subgroups, and the median remission time was 7 versus 11 weeks in E1 subgroups (P=0.09), 10 versus 13 weeks in E2 subgroups (P=0.04), and 9 versus 14 weeks in E3 subgroups (P<0.001). According to the disease severity, the patients in YNBY group and control group had a median remission time of 9 versus 10 weeks in mild cases (P=0.568), 9 versus 14 weeks in moderate cases (P<0.001), and 11 versus 20 weeks in severe cases (P=0.001). According to the standard treatment received, the median remission time in YNBY group and control group was 9 versus 12 weeks in those receiving mesalazine (P<0.001), 9 versus 13 weeks in those receiving corticosteroid (P=0.001), and 7 versus 14 weeks in those receiving infliximab (P=0.04). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that YNBY was a protective factor for disease remission. The remission time was shortened by 2.283 times (95% CI: 1.69-3.070, P<0.001) in patients having YNBY as an adjuvant treatment compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONPatients with active ulcerative colitis can benefit from YNBY as an adjuvant treatment, which shortens the time of disease remission, relieves the symptoms and improves the quality of life of the patients.