Drying is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. The key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new drying techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. The study provides new ideas for the drying technology and equipment by means of reviewing the research status of drying process for the traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations, and analyzing the traditional and modern drying methods and equipment, as well as their existing problems and corresponding measures for the drying processes and equipment. In addition, this paper expounds the development trend of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and preparations of drying process and equipment.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; instrumentation ; standards ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDRecurrence of hallux valgus is considered to be the most common problem experienced postoperatively. We designed and carried out operations to correct hallux valgus by transferring the extensor hallucis longus (EHL) tendon to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

METHODSTwenty-five patients (38 feet) with the average age of (46.3 ± 12.3) (range, 22 to 60) years underwent the operation. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score and weight-bearing radiographs of the foot were applied to assess the feet pre- and postoperatively with a mean duration of follow-up of (38.2 ± 3.2) months. The surgical procedure includes the release of the distal soft tissues, excision of the medial eminence, plication of the medial part of the capsule, and transfer of the EHL tendon, and reconstructing its insertion.

RESULTSAt follow-up, 35 feet (23 patients, 85%) were free from pain at the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. In three feet (two patients), the pain was alleviated but persisted. The mean hallux valgus angle decreased significantly from a preoperative 38.3° ± 8.0° to 7.3° ± 2.0° at the time of the most recent follow-up (P < 0.0001), and the mean intermetatarsal (IM) angle decreased significantly from preoperative 12.5° ± 3.4° to postoperative 6.5° ± 2.4° (P < 0.0001). The mean score according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society had increased from 46.5 to 84.8 points (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONSHallux valgus can be corrected by transferring the EHL tendon medially and reconstructing its insertion. The technique can achieve stress balance of metatarsophalangeal joints and therefore prevent the recurrence of hallux valgus.

Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hallux Valgus ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tendon Transfer ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE To study the differentiation of PC12 cells induced by total salvianolic acid (Tsa) and the mechanism. METHODS MTT assay was used to detect the effect of Tsa 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 μg·L-1on proliferation of PC12 cells and on the cells damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD).The number of projections of PC12 cells was statistically analyzed.Western blotting was applied to detect the levels of microtubule-associated protein2 (MAP-2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), phosphorylated ERK1/2(p-ERK1/2), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase1/2(MEK1/2) and p-MEK1/2 proteins.MEK inhibitor U0126 was examined for its effect on expressions of p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 protein in PC12 cells induced by Tsa 1.0 μg·L-1.RESULTS Compared with normal control group, Tsa 1.0 μg·L-1could promote PC12 cell proliferation, and the survival rate was increased by 90%, but the survival rate of PC12 cells was not affected by Tsa 0.01 or 0.1 μg·L-1. Compared with OGD injured group,PC12 cells injured by OGD could be repaired by Tsa 0.1 or 1.0 μg·L-1,and the survival rate was increased to (47.7±1.8)% and (63.2±13.0)%, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with normal control group,Tsa 0.01,0.1 and 1.0 μg·L-1could promote the growth of PC12 cell projections (P<0.01). Western blotting results showed that Tsa could promote the expressions of MAP-2, p-ERK1/2 and p-MEK1/2 proteins, and this effect could be blocked by U0126 inhibitor (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Tsa can induce the proliferation and differentiation of PC12 cells, the mechanism of which is possibly the activation of p-MEK and p-ERK1/2.

AIMTo investigate the cardio-protective effect of crocetin on primary culture of cardiac myocyte treated with noradrenaline.

METHODSAfter adding crocetin, the primary culture of cardiac myocyte was injured by 1.0 micromol x L(-1) noradrenaline. The activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), mitochondrion succinic dehydrogenase (MSDH) and ATPase were assayed. The mitochondrion membrane potential was detected by Rh123. The percentage of cardiac myocyte apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCrocetin significantly decreased the activity of LDH in culture supernatant, increased the activity of MSDH, ATPase (Na+-K+ ATPase, Ca2+ ATPase) and mitochondrion membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONCrocetin could alleviate the disturbance of energy metabolism and decrease the percentage of apoptosis of cardiac myocyte treated with noradrenaline.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Carotenoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Crocus ; chemistry ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Membrane Potentials ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; enzymology ; Norepinephrine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism

AIMTo study the modulation of extracellular pH on the voltage-gated potassium currents (I(Kv)) in isolated pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs).

METHODSI(Kv) was recorded using whole-cell patch clamp technique under the external solutions with different pH. The electrophysiological characteristics of I(Kv) were then analyzed.

RESULTS(1) As compared to the normoxic group, I(K), decreased under acidic condition. When the extracellular pH were 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, the peak currents at a potential of +60 mV were inhibited by 16.93% +/- 2.47% (P < 0.01), 33.03% +/- 2.13% (P < 0.01), 41.59% +/- 6.53% (P < 0.01) respectively, and the current-voltage relationship (I/V) curve shifted to the right. (2) When the extracellular pH was 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, the voltage-depended Gk-Em was shifted to the direction of positive and the activation was sped up.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that with the development of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), extracellular pH may take part in the modulation of Kv channels partly, then make the cell depolarized and decrease the Kv currents, this will lead to open the L-type calcium channel and contract the pulmonary artery smooth muscle. It may be one of the mechanisms that hypoxic leads to HPV and finally accelerate the development of HPV.

Animals ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; metabolism ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; physiology ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This paper is to report the study of the pharmacokinetics of a fusion protein TAT-haFGF(14-154) for human acidic fibroblast growth factor and transcriptional activator protein in rat plasma, and the investigation of their penetration across blood-brain barrier in mice and rats, in order to provide a basis for clinical development and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine concentration of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat plasma and in mouse brain homogenate; and immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the distribution in brain. The concentration-time curve fitted two-compartment open model which was linear kinetics elimination after a single intravenous injection of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat at the dose of 300 microg x kg(-1). The half life time was 0.049 +/- 0.03 h for distribution phase and 0.55 +/- 0.05 h for elimination phase, and the weight was 1/C2. The result showed that TAT-haFGF(14-154) could be detected in the brain by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, the elimination of TAT-haFGF(14-154) in rat was swift, and TAT-haFGF(14-154) could penetrate across the blood-brain barrier, distribute in pallium and hippocampus and locate in the nucleus.
Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Gene Products, tat ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Mice ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo find a convenient and exact method for evaluating acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa.

METHODSThe semen of the normal male was mixed and then divided into 6 groups. Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) staining, chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence staining and acid phosphatase (ACP) detection were used for morphological observation and data analysis of the acrosome status of the human sperm treated with or without progesterone.

RESULTSThere were obvious morphological differences between the acrosome-reaction and acrosome-intact spermatozoa in CBB staining and CTC fluorescence staining, and significant differences were observed between the experimental and control spermatozoa by the three methods (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAll the three methods can be used to assess acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa, but Coomassie brilliant blue (CBB) staining is much more convenient and stable.

Acid Phosphatase ; Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chlortetracycline ; Humans ; Male ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rosaniline Dyes ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe different effects of moxibustion on extracellular potassium ion in acupoint under physiological and pathological status and provide experimental evidence for exploring action mechanism of moxibustion on acupoint local.

METHODSForty female SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a blank-moxibustion group, a model group and a model-moxibustion group, 10 cases in each one. The complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA) was adopted to establish model of adjuvant arthritis (AA) in the model group and model-moxibustion group. No treatment was given in the blank group and model group while moxibustion was applied at "Zusan-li" (ST 36) for 30 min in the blank-moxibustion group and model-moxibustion group. The tissue fluid in "Zusanli" (ST 36) was collected with microdialysis and real-time analyzed by electrolytic analyzer. The change of concentration of potassium ion in "Zusanli" (ST 36) was observed.

RESULTS(1) Under physiological status, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the blank group was not changed within 150 min (P > 0.05); before the moxibustion, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the blank-moxibustion group was (1.21 +/- 0.31) mmol/L, and after treatment it was gradually increased and reached its peak at (2.38 +/- 0.42) mmol/L after 60 min (P < 0.05), then it was reduced. 150 min after the treatment, concentration of potassium ion was slightly higher than that before moxibustion as well as that in the blank group. The concentration in the blank-moxibustion group at 60 min was statistically significant compared with that in the blank group (P < 0.05). (2) Under pathological status, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion in the model group was not changed within 150 min, differences of which at each time point was not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Before the moxibustion, the concentration of extracellular potassium ion was (1.09 +/- 0.12) mmol/L in the model-moxibustion group, and it was immediately increased to (1.96 +/- 0.18) mmol/L after moxibustion. 60 min and 90 min after the moxibustion, it still maintained a higher level, which was (1.87 +/- 0.29) mmol/L and (1.59 +/- 0.16) mmol/L respectively (both P < 0.05). The differences of each time point after moxibustion in the model-moxibustion group were statistically significant compared with those in the model group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion could increase the concentration of potassium ion in rat's acupoint local under physiological status but time of effect is short; with moxibustion at "Zusanli" (ST 36) under pathological status, the concentration of local potassium ion is obviously increased and maintains for a long time.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Potassium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and subtype distribution and its clinical significance in HBV-infected patients.

METHODSWe used type/subtype-specific primers and PCR to detect HBV genotype and subtype of 445 HBV-infected patients from Beijing, Changchun, Hanchuan Shenzhen, Qingyuan and Nanjing, including 7 acute hepatitis (AH), 36 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC), 352 chronic hepatitis (CH), 28 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 22 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases. Genotyping results were confirmed by PCR product sequencing.

RESULTSAmong 445 HBV-infected patients, the proportions of genotype B, C, and B/C were 32.6% (145/445), 53.7% (239/445), and 13.7% (61/445), respectively. In genotype C, 13 (5.4%) were subtype C1, 135 (56.5%) were subtype C2, and the remaining 91 (38.1%) were neither C1 nor C2. In genotype B, 100 (69.0%) were subtype Ba, 25 (17.2%) subtype Bj, and the other 20 (13.8%) were neither Ba nor Bj. In genotype B/C, 15 (24.6%) were Ba/C2, 8 (13.1%) Bj/C2, 6 (9.8%) Ba/C1, 3 (4.9%) Bj/C1, 11 (18.0%) Ba/neither C1 nor C2, 7 (11.5%) Bj/neither C1 nor C2, and 6 (9.8%) neither Ba nor Bj/neither C1 nor C2, 2 (3.3%) neither Ba nor Bj/C1, 3 (4.9%) neither Ba nor Bj/C2. The HBV genotype and subtype distribution we found exhibited significant differences in the various clinical types of HBV infection tested, and showed that genotype C was predominant among patients with liver cirrhosis (78.6%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (86.4%) while genotype B was predominant in asymptomatic carriers (72.2%). In addition, genotype and subtype distribution showed no significant differences between male and female patients, but genotype and subtype distribution showed significant differences in patients positive or negative with HBeAg.

CONCLUSIONSubtypes Ba and C2 are predominant in patients with hepatitis B from these 6 cities, and genotype C may be associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; virology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction