Objective:To study the effects of dexamethasone(DEX)on the cytotoxicity and apoptosis of NK-92MI cells and the mechanisms involved.Methods:NK-92MI cells were treated with different doses of DEX.The proliferative rate and cytotoxicity of the NK-92MI cells were detected by MTT colorimetry.The cell apoptotic rate was observed by flow cytometry with Annexin V and propidium iodide(PI)double staining.The expression of apoptosis-related gene,Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by RT-PCR.Results:After treated with 1?10-8mol/L to 1?10-3mol/L of DEX for 24 h,48 h and 72 h,the proliferation of NK-92MI cells was significant inhibited(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of embryonic toxicity of Senecio scandens, its total alkaloid and Qianbai Biyanpian so that to provide guidance for the safety of medication during pregnancy.

METHODTwo hundred and twenty pregnant SD rats were divided into 11 groups: control group, positive group (cyclophosphamide 10 mg x kg(-1)). Water extract of S. scandens (doses: 7.5, 15.0, 30.0 g herb of S. scandens per kilogram body weight respectively). Qianbai Biyanpian and total alkaloid at the same doses levels with the water extract of S. scandens (doses were expressed as herb of S. scandens per kilogram body weight). The test articles were given to the pregnant rats by gavage from day 6 to day 15 of pregnancy. Body weight and the food consumption of pregnancy rats, and fetal weight and length were measured. The number of absorbed and dead embryos was recorded. Fetuses were examined in viscus and bones.

RESULTWeight and the food consumption of pregnancy rats in high-dose of Qianbai Biyanpian and total alkaloids decreased. All treatment groups had no significant change in the number of absorbed embryos, but the stillbirths were significantly increased in high-dose groups of water extract and total alkaloids as compared with control group. Bone deformities such as fontanel expanding, hypoplasia of parietal bone, occipital bone and cervical arch were observed. Rib abnormality could also be seen in some rats. All water extract of S. scandens, Qianbai Biyanpian and total alkaloid could cause the bone abnormalities, but the percentage of bone deformities of total alkaloids was the highest (up to 80%).

CONCLUSIONS. scandens and its total alkaloids, its formula Qianbai Biyanpian can cause rat skeletal deformities in fetuses when they were given during pregnancy. It is suggested that S. scandens and the product containing S. scandens should not be used during pregnancy.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; toxicity ; Eating ; drug effects ; Embryo, Mammalian ; drug effects ; Female ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Senecio ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of rectus femoris island myocutaneous flap for repairing bedsores in III and IV phases at the femoral greater trochanter area as a result of paraplegia.

METHODSThirteen paraplegic patients who suffered bedsores in III and IV phases at the greater trochanter of femur area were hospitalized from July 2009 to June 2013. The bedsores ranged from 4.5 cm×4.0 cm to 10.0 cm× 9.0 cm in area. After debridement, the size of soft tissue defect ranged from 5.0 cm×4.5 cm to 10.5 cm×10.0 cm. Rectus femoris island myocutaneous flaps were used to repair these defects, with flap area ranging from 5.0 cm×5.0 cm to 11.0 cm×10.0 cm and muscular pedicle length ranging from 8 to 12 cm. The donor sites of muscular pedicle were closed by direct suture, while those resulted from forming myocutaneous flap were closed by the transplantation of autologous skin obtained from thigh.

RESULTSNecrosis appeared at the edge of myocutaneous flap in one patient, and it was healed after dressing change. The other 12 myocutaneous flaps survived well. Patients were followed up for 2 to 30 months, and bedsore did not recur.

CONCLUSIONSRectus femoris island myocutaneous flap, with characteristics of reasonable design, large donor area, big rotation angle, and with wear-, tear-, and pressure-resistance, is suitable for repairing bedsores at III and IV phases at the greater trochanter of femur area in paraplegic patients.

Debridement ; Femur ; surgery ; Humans ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Paraplegia ; Pressure Ulcer ; surgery ; Quadriceps Muscle ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE To establish an HPLC fingerprint of Xiao’er resuqing oral liquid， and to determine the contents of twelve index components. METHODS HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Venusil MP C18 column with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphate aqueous solution （gradient elution） at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 210 nm， the column temperature was 30 ℃， the injection volume was 10 μL. HPLC fingerprint of Xiao’er resuqing oral liquid was established by using the Similarity Evaluation System of Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM （2012 edition） to evaluate the similarity. The contents of 12 components were determined， including （R， S）-goitrin， 3，5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid， puerarin， forsythin， forsythoside A， chlorogenic acid， baicalin， saikosaponins d， wogonoside， baicalein， emodin and chrysophanol. RESULTS The similarity of HPLC fingerprints of 13 batches of Xiao’er resuqing oral liquid was greater than 0.97， and 14 common peaks were confirmed. The contents of the above 12 index components in 13 batches of Xiao’er resuqing oral liquid were as follows： 0.078-0.172， 1.564-2.736， 1.338-2.578， 0.426-0.872， 1.477-2.628， 1.396-2.447， 4.052-9.146， 0.367- 0.692， 1.974-4.674， 1.274-2.969， 0.085-0.167 and 0.155-0.307 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS The established HPLC fingerprint and content determination methods have high accuracy and high specificity， which can be used for the quality evaluation of Xiao’er resuqing oral liquid.

Bacteremia is a life-threating syndrome often caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel approaches to successfully treat this infection. Staphylococcal accessory regulator A (SarA), a global virulence regulator, plays a critical role in pathogenesis and -lactam antibiotic resistance in . Hypericin is believed to act as an antibiotic, antidepressant, antiviral and non-specific kinase inhibitor. In the current study, we investigated the impact of hypericin on -lactam antibiotics susceptibility and mechanism(s) of its activity. We demonstrated that hypericin significantly decreased the minimum inhibitory concentrations of -lactam antibiotics (.., oxacillin, cefazolin and nafcillin), biofilm formation and fibronectin binding in MRSA strain JE2. In addition, hypericin significantly reduced expression, and subsequently decreased and virulence-related regulators (.., ) and genes (.., and ) expression in the studied MRSA strain. Importantly, the synergistic effect of hypericin with -lactam antibiotic (.., oxacillin) translated into therapeutic outcome in a murine MRSA bacteremia model. These findings suggest that hypericin plays an important role in abrogation of -lactam resistance against MRSA through inhibition, and may allow us to repurpose the use of -lactam antibiotics, which are normally ineffective in the treatment of MRSA infections (.., oxacillin).