Though parched Chinese herbal medicines contain less effective or index components, their pharmacological actions do not reduce or even become improved to some extent. However, the current studies related to material basis could not explain the changes in property, flavour and efficacy of parched Chinese herbal medicines. Meanwhile, due to the lack of objective and specific evaluation indexes, the quality evaluation could not reflect features of parched Chinese herbal pieces. Therefore, how to break the bottleneck for the studies on parched Chinese herbal pieces, make further innovation and conduct in-depth studies on the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines are common problems that medical scholars are facing. According to the findings in the previous studies, the author proposed to explain the material basis of parched Chinese herbal medicines by studying Maillard reaction and establish specific quality evaluation indexes according to the features of parched Chinese herbal pieces, and conducted relevant studies.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Maillard Reaction ; Quality Control

PEG-modified magnetic Fe3O4 (Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were sythesized using a solvothermal reaction and characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photothermal effect and photothermal destruction of cancer cells were evaluated. Then the doxorubicin loaded Fe3O4-PEG (DOX-Fe3O4-PEG) nanoparticles were prepared. The cytotoxicity and combined chemotherapy/photothermal therapy (PTT) effect were investigated. Uniform PEG coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles with particle size of 155 nm were obtained in the experiment. The loading and release of doxorubicin on Fe3O4-PEG were pH-dependent. The drug loading capacity in water was 21%. The results of MTT indicated a good biocompatiblity of Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles and high cytotoxicity of DOX-Fe3O4-PEG. In combined therapy experiment, photothermal therapy demonstrated unambiguously enhanced chemotherapy efficacy. In conclusion, the obtained Fe3O4-PEG nanoparticles which exhibit good photothermal effect and drug loading capacity can be used for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. The synergetic anti-tumor activity indicates the potential for the combined application of chemotherapy and photothermal therapy in cancer treatment.
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Drug Carriers ; Ferrosoferric Oxide ; chemistry ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; MCF-7 Cells ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry

This study is to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on carotid baroreceptor activity (CBA). The functional curve of carotid baroreceptor (FCCB) was constructed and the functional parameters of carotid baroreceptor were measured by recording sinus nerve afferent discharge in anesthetized male rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. Resveratrol (30, 60 and 120 μmol·L-1) inhibited CBA, which shifted FCCB to the right and downward. There was a marked decrease in peak slope (PS) and peak integral value (PIV) of carotid sinus nerve charge in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 μmol·L-1), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), eliminated the inhibitory effect of resveratrol. Pretreatment with Bay K8644 (an agonist of L-type calcium channel, 500 nmol·L-1) abolished the effect of resveratrol on CBA. A potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase (sodium orthovanadate, 1 mmol·L-1) did not influence the effect of resveratrol on CBA. Resveratrol inhibits carotid baroreceptor activity, which may be mediated by the locally released NO and decreased calcium influx. Several studies have showed a cardioprotective effect of resveratrol, with the penetrating study of resveratrol, it may show a potential value in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular disease as an alternative medicine.

AIM To study the relationship between cardioprotective effects of resveratrol and carotid sinus baroreflex (CSB). METHODS The functional curve of the CSB was measured by recording changes in arterial pressure in anesthetized male rats with perfused isolated carotid sinus. RESULTS Resveratrol (30, 60 and 120 μmol·L-1) inhibited the CSB, which shifted the functional curve of the baroreflex to the right and upward. There were a marked decrease in peak slope and a reflex decrease of blood pressure, and also an increase in threshold pressure. Changes of these parameters showed a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methylester (100 μmol·L-1), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, and pretreatment with Bay K8644 (500 nmol·L-1), an agonist of L-type calcium channel, could both eliminate the inhibitory effect of resveratrol on CSB. A potent inhibitor of tyrosine phosphatase sodium orthovanadate (1 mmol·L-1) did not influence the effect of resveratrol on CSB. CONCLUSION Resveratrol inhibits carotid baroreflex, which may be mediated by the locally released NO and decreased calcium influx.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of acupuncture for premature ovarian failure (POF).

METHODSAccording to prospective cohort study design, 30 cases were included. Based on theory of regulating Chong and Conception Vessels as well as soothing the liver and calming the nerves, acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Dahe (KI 12), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) was applied, three times per week and 3 months were considered as one session. Totally two sessions were performed. The menstruation condition, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and scores of the clinical perimenopausal symptoms were taken as treatment outcomes.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) and the cured rate was 16.7% (5/30). The recovery rate of menstruation was 16.7% (5/30) and the regain rate of menstruation was 56.7% (17/30). After the treatment, the level of E2 was significantly increased from (45.41 +/- 18. 09) pmol/L to (59.07 +/- 24.21) pmol/L (P < 0.05), and the score of perimenopausal symptoms was obviously reduced from 14.28 +/- 8. 30 to 4.04 +/- 3.28 (P < 0.01). However, no statistical differences could be seen in FSH before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture has certain effect on improving menstruation and perimenopausal symptoms in POF patients, which is likely to he related with increasing the level of E2.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; metabolism ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the influencing factors of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus after combined immunological blockade, and to evaluate the effect of mother-to-child blockade, and to provide a basis for health policies and health interventions for preventing mother-to-child blockade of hepatitis B virus. Methods A total of 11 363 pairs of HBsAg positive pregnant women and their infants aged 7-12 months in Hainan Province from 2015 to 2020 were included in the study. The general situation, the situation of health care and delivery in this pregnancy and perinatal period, the detection of hepatitis B markers, the situation of antiviral therapy, the general situation of mother and infant during delivery and the implementation of blockade measures for mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B were collected and analyzed. Results Among the 11 363 pairs of HBsAg positive pregnant women and their infants delivered in hospitals in Hainan province from 2015 to 2020, the positive rate of HBsAg in children at 7-12 months after birth was 1.47 %, and the difference in HBsAg positive rate of infants born in different years was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the positive rate of HBsAg among children born to pregnant women with different nationalities, educational levels, occupations, delivery modes, delivery places, obstetric operations and perineal laceration, abnormal perinatal period, children with different genders and premature delivery and perinatal (all P<0.05). There was significant difference in HBsAg positive rate among infants born to pregnant women of different ages, the positive rate of HBsAg of infants born to young pregnant women was higher than that of older pregnant women (P<0.05). The rate of antiviral therapy was low in HBeAg positive pregnant women, and the positive rate of HBsAg in their infants was 2.54%, which was higher than 0.83% in HBeAg negative pregnant women (P<0.05). Conclusions Combined immunological blockade with hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin can effectively prevent the mother-to-child transmission of HBV. HBsAg-positive women can give birth at the right age, and HBeAg-positive pregnant women can be treated with antiviral therapy to block mother-to-child transmission, providing the important basis for the formulation of hepatitis B prevention and control strategies and measures.

OBJECTIVETo assess the pharmacodynamical actions of Danqi capsule which was reported to promote blood circulation by removing blood stasis, regulation Danqi and relieving pain so as to be used to treat thoracic obstruction, headache, menstrual pain in clinic.

METHODTo compare the pharmacologic effects of Danqi capsule Danqi tablet in the rats with acute myocardial ischemia and the mice with the increased oxygen-consumption induced by isoproterenol injected subcutaneously. The pain models were prepared by injection of acetic acid and uterospasm model in the female mouse was induced by diethylstilbestrol and pitocin. A hyperlipidemia model was also made in the rats.

RESULTDanqi capsule could significantly improve ECG in myocardial ischemia of rats induced by isoproterenol and prolong the mice survival time under hypoxic situation. In the experiment to observe the pain response with body twist as a index induced by acetic acid and uterospasm induced by diethylstilbestrol and pitocin, Danqi capsule could significantly shorten the latency and the time course of body twist. The contents of triglyceride(TG) and total cholesterol(TC) were decreased, while the level of high-density liporotein-cholesterol(HDL-c) was increased after treatment of Danqi capsule in in the rats with hyperlipidemia. Hemorheological data showed that the blood viscosity, blood reductive viscosity, erythrocyte rigidity index and electrophoresis time were significantly decreased by Danqi capsule in the animal model mentioned above as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In addition, the dose of Danqi capsule is less than that of Danqi tablet for producing equivalent effect.

CONCLUSIONDanqi capsule plays a good role in improving myocardial ischemia, increasing the tolerant ability against oxygen-deficiency, alleviating pain and descending the levels of blood fat and blood viscosity.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Electrocardiography ; drug effects ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; drug effects ; Female ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Pain ; physiopathology ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo follow up the cohort of a certain factory and analyze the death cause of the employees.

METHODSA dynamic cohort was adopted and the study population consisted of all workers stayed at the factory for more than 1 year. The cohort data was mainly from the personnel ministry in the factory,the death data provided by the personnel ministry,the labour union and the hospital. All cause of death of the all employee and the death condition of radiation group and no-radiation group were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe mortality of the workers in the factory was significantly lower than national population, the SMR of all cause of death in all employee, radiation group and no-radiation group were 0.41 (95% CI: 0.37-0.45), 0.24, 0.75 respectively; all cancer death in the three group was 0.59, 0.40 and 0.92. But the death order was different in radiation group and no-radiation group,the order of liver cancer was list first in radiation group, which was unlike that of the nation order and the no-radiation order.

CONCLUSIONThere have no excess death in the factory, but the order of liver cancer is precedence.

Cause of Death ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced ; mortality ; Nuclear Reactors ; Occupational Exposure ; Power Plants ; Prospective Studies ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo study the possible relationship between polymorphic N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) acetylator status and antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity and to elucidate the molecular mechanism of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

METHODSBlood samples from 101 tuberculosis cases with antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity and from 107 tuberculosis without antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity were collected for a case-control study. DNA of the subjects was extracted and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The single nucleotide polymorphisms of NAT2 were determined by direct PCR sequencing. The genotype frequencies were compared between cases and controls by χ(2) test, using SPSS 12.0 software, and the association between the disease and genotypes was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 101 patients with antituberculosis drug-induced liver injury, 36 patients (35.6%) were found with 282 T/T, 12 (11.9%) with 590 A/A, and 48 (47.5%) with 857 G/A or A/A. However, among the 107 controls, 9 patients (8.4%) were found with 282 T/T, 3 (2.8%) with 590 A/A, and 33 (33.8%) with 857 G/A or A/A. The patients with 282 T/T, 590 A/A, or 857 G/A or A/A genotype had a higher risk of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity than those with 282 C/C or C/T, 590 G/G or G/A, or 857 G/G, and the OR values were 6.03 (95%CI: 2.88 - 12.62; χ(2) = 22.73, P < 0.05), 4.67 (95%CI: 1.42 - 15.44; χ(2) = 6.40, P < 0.05) and 2.03 (95%CI: 1.16 - 3.57; χ(2) = 6.08, P < 0.05) respectively. There were 40 patients with slow acetylator (39.6%) in cases with hepatotoxicity and 13 with slow acetylator (12.2%) in controls without hepatotoxicity. Patients with slow acetylator genotype (OR = 4.74, 95% CI = 2.42 - 9.28; χ(2) = 20.62, P < 0.05) had a significantly higher risk of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity than those with rapid or intermediate acetylator genotypes. Among the cases, 19.8% (20/101) were found with NAT2(*)6A/7B, and 11.9% (12/101) with NAT2(*)6A/6A, whereas among the controls, 2.8% (3/107) were found with NAT2(*)6A/7B, and 2.8% (3/107) with NAT2(*)6A/6A respectively, the patients with NAT2(*)6A/7B and NAT2(*)6A/6A had a much higher risk of antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity, and the OR values were 8.40 (95%CI: 2.85 - 24.73; χ(2) = 14.90, P < 0.05) and 4.67 (95%CI: 1.42 - 15.44; χ(2) = 6.40, P < 0.05) respectively.

CONCLUSIONPerhaps, the slow acetylation genotypes of NAT2 were the main risk factors of developing antituberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Adult ; Antitubercular Agents ; adverse effects ; Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; etiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Tuberculosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in estimating risk stratification in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to determine the relationship between BNP and adverse cardiac events after AMI.

METHODSThe 135 subjects were selected into the study, including 25 healthy subjects and 110 patients with a first AMI. The plasma concentrations of BNP were measured at two to four days after infarction in patients and healthy controls. Left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography with the parameters of left ventricular ejection function (LVEF) after 3 months. Patients were followed up at 12 months. The main outcome measures were heart failure, left remodeling, mortality and other adverse cardiac events at one year.

RESULTSPlasma BNP concentrations in patients with AMI were much higher than those in the health control people (416.7 +/- 208.0 ng/L versus 61.8 +/- 34.1 ng/L, P < 0.01). The BNP count ranged from 5 to 2500 ng/L in AMI patients. There was no association between the BNP count and mortality rate. The development of new congestive heart failure (CHF) was associated with a higher BNP count (P = 0.02). The development of any of the clinical end points (death/CHF/shock) occurred more frequently in patients with a higher BNP count (13.8% for BNP count of < 100 ng/L, 39.1% for BNP count of 100 - 200 ng/L, 43.3% for BNP count of 200 - 400 ng/L, 46.4% for BNP count of > 400 ng/L; P = 0.019). Plasma BNP concentrations remained independently associated with the development of clinical end points in multivariable model that adjusted for potential confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONThe results of the present study confirm that the elevated BNP count related to the risk stratification and prognosis in patients with AMI. Elevations in BNP count are associated with a higher incidence of new CHF and adverse clinical outcomes after AMI. It could serve as a strong predictor for the subsequent development of poor outcomes in AMI patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; diagnosis ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Prognosis