Vascular calcification (VC) is a chronic systemic vascular disease characterized by abnormal deposition of hydroxyapatite minerals in the vascular system and is closely associated with aging, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), a special type of adipose tissue that surrounds blood vessels, is thought to be a supportive component of the vascular structure and is capable of playing a role in homeostatic regulation during vasodilatation and contraction. Currently, there is growing evidence that perivascular adipose tissue acts as an endocrine and paracrine organ and interacts closely with cellular components of the vascular wall, which may be involved in the development of vascular calcification. This article reviews the role of perivascular adipose tissue in the pathophysiological process of vascular calcification and its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention, with the aim of providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of vascular calcification.

The care and support for the patient of AIDS is a vital content,we should enhance international collaboration and intercourse of information,which can promote efficiency.This text shows an analysis on the actuality and characteristic of the support mode of the AIDS community in British.Its purpose is to summarize the successful experience for china and improve the support mode for AIDS.

Bufalin is an active compound of the traditional Chinese medicine Chansu, which exhibits significant anti-tumor activities in many solid tumors and leukemia cell lines. Bufalin could introduce apoptosis, reverse drug-resistance, and prevent migration and invasion of tumor cells. This paper reviewed the latest research progress of the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumor effect and mechanism of bufalin on a series of cancers, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, bladder cancer, and its formulation study is also summarized for the reference of its further study and application.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bufanolides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

Lipoproteins are biological lipids carriers. The natural and reconstituted lipoprotein based drug delivery systems have been extensively developed in recent years. This article reviews the development of natural and reconstituted low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein based vehicles in the antitumor area.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Apolipoproteins B ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Pharmaceutical Vehicles ; chemistry

Aim To study and compare the pharmaco-kinetic parameters of roxithromycin under normoxic and hypoxic rats. Methods A highly effective and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry ( UPLC-MS/MS) method with posi-tive electrospray ionization source was successfully de-veloped and validated for quantification of roxithromy-cin in rat plasma. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the hypoxia and normoxic groups. Each rat obtained a single dose of roxithromycin with 10 mg · kg-1 via intragastric administration. The pharmacoki-netic parameter comparison between normoxic and hy-poxic groups was calculated by SPSS software using in-dependent sample t test method. Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of roxithromycin between the normoxic and hypoxic rats were:the AUC(0-t) 7 576 and 3 761 μg·h·L-1 , MRT(0-t) 5. 6 and 7. 7 h, T1/2 3. 4 h and 3. 9 h, CL 1. 5 and 3. 0 L · h-1 · kg-2 , tmax3. 1 and 3. 4 h, Cmax 1 116 and 372 μg·L-1 , re-spectively. The levels of Cmax and AUC of roxithromy-cin in hypoxic rats were statistically lower than those in normoxic rats. Conclusion The exposure level of rox-ithromycin in hypoxic rats markedly decreased. Our re-sults may provide an important experimental basis to adjust the dosage for roxithromycin in hypoxic clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE To map a comprehensive metabolic pathway of herbacetin in rats, specifically, to elucidate the biotransformation of herbacetin in vivo and to simultaneously monitor the pharmacokinetic process of both parent drug and its major metabolites. METHODS liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MSn) and ultra-liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) were combined in the current study for qualitative and quantitative determinations of herbacetin and its metabolites in bile, urine and feces after both oral and intravenous administration of herbacetin to rats. Enzyme kinetic studies on the intestinal and hepatic metabolism of herbacetin were further conducted to elucidate metabolic profiles of herbacetin in rat tissues and organs. Additionally, plasma concentration profiles of herbacetin and its metabolites in rats were obtained to characterize the overall pharmacokinetic behavior of herbacetin. RESULTS It was found that herbacetin was excreted primarily from rat urine in the form of glucuronide-conjugations. Subsequent in vitro enzyme kinetic studies and in vivo pharmacokinetic investigations suggested an extensive hepatic metabolism of herbacetin and the high exposure of herbacetin- glucuronides in systemic circulation. The clearance, half- life and bioavailability of herbacetin in rats were determined as (16.4±1.92)mL·kg-1·min-1, (11.9±2.7)min, and 1.32%, respectively. On basis of these findings, a comprehensive metabolic pathway of herbacetin in rats was composed. In addition, a physiology based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was successfully developed with the aid of the GastroPlus to simulate the pharmacokinetic process of herbacetin in rats. Application of the PBPK modeling can provide a useful starting point to understand and extrapolate pharmacokinetic parameters among different species, populations, and disease states. CONCLUSION After oral administration, herbacetin was subjected to colonic degradation and extensive first pass metabolism, with glucuronidation as its dominating in vivo metabolic pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the pharmacokinetic process of salidrosidein rats and to explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS The Caco-2 cell monolayerwas exposed to 1% oxygen (O2) concentration for 24 h to build the hypoxiccell model. The transportation mode of salidroside was investigated with the aid of this hypoxia model by detecting the apparent permeability coefficient(Papp). Healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 9% O2 for 72 h for the construction of hypoxic rat model. Liver sample was subsequently collected from the hypoxic rats with an aim to identify enzymes responsible for salidroside metabolism. The expression levels of sali?droside-transporting and salidroside-metabolizing enzymes, including Sodium-dependent glucose cotrans?porters (SGLT1), β-glucosidase (GBA3)and sulfotransferase (SULT2A1), were thereafter detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The metabolic activity of GBA3 and SULT2A1 was monitored by rat liver microsome incubation.In addition, the renal function of rats under hypoxia was assessed by detecting concentrations of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. RESULTS The AUC and t1/2 values of salidroside in hypoxic rats were more than doubled, while the in vivo clearance was significantly reduced. Mechanistic study demonstrated that the PappA- B/PappB- A eualsto 10.3, indicating the potential active transport of salidrosile. The expression of SGLT1 and GBA3 was significantly decreased, which indicated a reduced metabolism of salidroside under hypoxia. Moreover, rat under hypoxia was found to suffer from renal dysfunction, with an abnormal value of blood urea nitrogen. CONCLUSION Due to the reduced metabolism and the abnormal renal function under hypoxia, the systemic exposure of salidroside in rats was signifi?cantly enhanced.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical significance of nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP 22) in the detection of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) and compare with voided urine cytology(VUC). Methods: A total of 69 cases with voided urine samples for NMP 22 and VUC test were included in this study. Thirty of them were BTCC patients(BTCC group) and twenty nine suffered from other urological diseases (nonbladder cancer group, NBC group). Ten were healthy volunteers (control group). Results: The NMP 22 values for BTCC group (67.3 U/ml) were significantly higher than that of NBC group(7.4 U/ml) and control group (4.3 U/ml)( P 0.05). NMP 22 was more sensitive than VUC in low grade BTCC(Ⅰ,Ⅱ)(62.50% vs 12.50%,P 0.05). Conclusions:Urinary NMP 22 is a useful marker for the early diagnosis of BTCC. It is more sensitive than VUC in low stage and grade BTCC.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of SKy bone expander system in percutaneous kyphoplasty for treat- ment of osteoporotie verterbral compression fracture.Methods:Twenty-two patients(aged 62-90 years,32 vertebrae)under- went percutaneous kyphoplasty using SKy bone expander system.The bone cement was injected into the collapsed vertebrae. The vasual analogue scale(VAS)and complications were recorded during follow up.Results:The operations were successful in all patients via unilateral or bilateral approach.The operation time ranged from 30 to 120 min.The mean volume of cement in- jected into each vertebra body was(4.8?1.1)ml,ranged from 3.1 to 6.8 ml.Extravertebral leakage of bone cement was ob- served in two vertebrae with no symptoms.All patients had their pain relieved;the VAS was 7.6?0.8 before operation,3.5?0.5 one day after operation,2.8?0.6 one week after operation,and 2.4?0.6 one month after operation,with significant difference found between preoperation and postoperation(P