The feasibility of simultaneously loading both liposoluble and water-soluble components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in emulsion was discussed, in order to provide new ideas in comprehensive application of effective components in S. miltiorrhiza in terms of technology of pharmaceutics. With tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B as raw materials, soybean phospholipid and poloxamer 188 as emulsifiers, and glycerin as isoosmotic regulator, the central composite design-response surface method was employed to optimize the prescription. The coarse emulsion was prepared with the high-speed shearing method and then homogenized in the high pressure homogenizer. The biphasic drug-loading intravenous emulsion was prepared to investigate its pharmaceutical properties and stability. The prepared emulsion is orange-yellow, with the average diameter of 241 nm and Zeta potential of -35.3 mV. Specifically, the drug loading capacity of tanshinone II (A) and salvianolic acid B were 0.5 g x L(-1) and 1 g x L(-1), respectively, with a good stability among long-term retention samples. According to the results, the prepared emulsion could load liposoluble tanshinone II (A) and water-soluble salvianolic acid B simultaneously, which lays a pharmaceutical foundation for giving full play to the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emulsions ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

BACKGROUNDOver-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is thought to be related to cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, resistance to chemoradiotherapy and poor prognosis of various human cancers. Forty percent to fifty percent of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) possess deregulated EGFR, which may contribute to the aggressive and refractory course of GBM. Therefore, blockade of EGFR signal transduction may be a promising treatment strategy for GBM.

METHODSMTT assay, cell growth curve assay and tumor xenograft model were used to evaluate the antitumor activity of F90 against SHG-44 in vitro and in vivo. Western blot assay was applied to evaluate the expression of p-EGFR, p-ERK1, p-JNK, p-P38, Bcl2 and P53 proteins.

RESULTSF90 inhibited the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. The growth of SHG-44 tumor xenografts was suppressed by F90 at a high dose level (100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). Phosphorylation of EGFR and activated downstream signaling proteins, such as ERK1, JNK and P38, were found to be depressed after incubation with F90 for 48 hours in vitro. Down-regulated Bcl2 protein and up-regulated P53 protein were also observed.

CONCLUSIONSThe results demonstrate that F90 is effective in inhibiting the proliferation of SHG-44 cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, suggesting that F90 may be a new therapeutic option for treatment of GBM.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Glioblastoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Quinazolines ; pharmacology ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; analysis

BACKGROUNDOssification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is being increasingly recognized as a cause of thoracic myelopathy. This study was to describe a rare clinical entity of spinal cord kinking (SK) in thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF.

METHODSThe data of 95 patients with thoracic myelopathy secondary to OLF were analyzed retrospectively. The incidence and location of SK were determined using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical presentation and radiological characteristics in patients with SK were analyzed. Posterior en bloc laminectomy with OLF was performed, and the surgical results were evaluated.

RESULTSSK was found in seven patients (7.4%) based on preoperative MRI. The patients included one male and six females with an average age of 55.6 years (range, 48-64 years). Five patients presented with radiculomyelopathy and two presented with typical thoracic myelopathy of spastic paraparesis. In all cases, the kinking was located just above the end of the spinal cord where the conus medullaris (CM) was compressed by the OLF. The degree of SK varied from mild to severe. The tip of the CM was located between the upper third of T11 to the lower third of L1, above the lower edge of L1. With an average follow-up of 30.4 months, the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score significantly improved from 5.7 ± 1.8 preoperatively to 8.9 ± 1.4 postoperatively (t = 12.05; P < 0.0001) with an improvement rate of 63.1 ± 12.3%.

CONCLUSIONSSK is a rare radiological phenomenon. It is typically located at the thoracolumbar junction, where the CM is compressed by the OLF. Our findings indicate that these patients may benefit from a posterior decompressive procedure.

Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; complications ; Radiography ; Spinal Cord Compression ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODClinical data of 166 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from January 2002 to April 2006 were analyzed with binary logistic regression in order to explore the risk factors of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

RESULTSThere were 60 patients occurred postoperative gastroparesis syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Among 15 factors, 6 factors were proved to be the risk factors of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy by unitary anylasis; 7 factors were proved related factors of postoperative gastroparesis syndrome after pancreaticoduodenectomy by analyzed with binary logistic regression.

CONCLUSIONSThe risk factors are preoperative gastro-intestinal obstruction syndrome, extensive lymphadenectomy, postoperative abdominal cavity infection, starting time of postoperative enteral nutrition, postoperative blood glucose level; The protective factors are preoperative percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) and postoperative blood terminal protein (TP) level.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Gastroparesis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the role of a pathologic niche inducing mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) to express hepatic cell functions in vitro.

METHODSEmbryoid bodies were developed from 5 to 7 day hanging-drop culture of mouse ESC, and their dissociated cells were planted in three differential systems: nothing added; with 20 ng/ml hepatocyte growth factor (HGF); and 5% rat cholestatic serum plus 20 ng/ml HGF added. Their differentiation was observed with inverted microscopes daily, and their hepatic functions were analyzed against their synthesis of glycogen, triglycerides, albumin, and urea nitrogen, and by their staining of indocyanine green (ICG) and fluorescein diacetate (FDA).

RESULTSESC spontaneous differentiation was hardly being controlled to form three germ layers. HGF prompted the ESC to develop further into visceral endoderm and mesoderm (myocardium), but both of them only expressed a low level of hepatocyte-specific metabolic functions. With cholestatic serum added into the HGF-induced system, differentiated cells grew into similar angular cells, and had a higher level synthesis of glycogen, triglycerides, albumin and urea nitrogen with positive ICG and FDA staining.

CONCLUSIONSSpontaneous or HGF-induced ESC differentiation has only limited hepatic functions expressed. A pathologic niche in vitro induces ESC to develop into hepatic lineages, with a higher level of hepatic metabolic functions.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholestasis ; blood ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Serum ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the susceptibility genes of a Parkinson's Disease (PD) family.

METHODSThe blood samples of a four-generation classic idiopathic PD family were collected. Two-point LOD score method was applied to analyze the linkage disequilibrium between the disease locus and microsatellite markers.

RESULTSWe studied 13 markers near the 9 genes that had been reported to be associated with PD. No obvious evidence showed that the selected markers had anything correlation with PD locus.

CONCLUSIONThese 9 genes are not the susceptibility genes of PD in this family.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; Pedigree

This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of Jiao-tai-wan (JTW) on systemic and tissue-specific inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity-resistant (OR)rats with chronic partial sleep deprivation (PSD).OR rats with PSD were orally given JTW and Estazolam for 4 weeks.The amount of food intake and metabolic parameters such as body weight increase rate,fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting insulin (FINS),homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and plasma inflammatory markers were measured.The expression levels of circadian proteins cryptochrome 1 (Cry1)and cryptochrome 2 (Cry2) in hypothalamus,adipose and liver tissues were also determined.Meanwhile,the mRNA expression of inflammatory markers,activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 protein,as well as the expression levels of insulin signaling pathway proteins in hypothalamus,adipose and liver tissues were measured.Additionally,cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and activity of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP)in hypothalamus tissue were measured.JTW significantly decreased the body weight increase rate and food intake,ameliorated systemic inflammation and insulin resistance.JTW effectively ameliorated inflammation and increased PI3K/AKT signaling activation in hypothalamus,adipose and liver.Interestingly,all these changes were associated with the up-regulation of circadian gene Cryl and Cry2 protein expression.We also found that in hypothalamus tissue of P SD rats,down-regulation of Cry 1 and Cry2 activated cAMP/PKA signaling and then led to inflammation,while JTW inhibited this signaling.These results suggested that JTW has the beneficial effect on ameliorating inflammation and insulin resistance in partially sleep-deprived rats by up-regulating Cry expression.

XueBiJing is an intravenous five-herb injection used to treat sepsis in China.The study aimed to develop a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)-or liquid chromatography-ultraviolet(LC-UV)-based assay for quality evaluation of XueBiJing.Assay development involved identifying marker constituents to make the assay therapeutically relevant and building a reliable one-point cali-brator for monitoring the various analytes in parallel.Nine marker constituents from the five herbs were selected based on XueBiJing's chemical composition,pharmacokinetics,and pharmacodynamics.A selectivity test(for"similarity of response")was developed to identify and minimize interference by non-target constituents.Then,an intercept test was developed to fulfill"linearity through zero"for each analyte(absolute ratio of intercept to C response,＜2％).Using the newly developed assays,we analyzed samples from 33 batches of XueBiJing,manufactured over three years,and found small batch-to-batch variability in contents of the marker constituents(4.1％-14.8％),except for senkyunolide I(26.5％).

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy ; Radial Artery

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of Aike Mixture (AKM).

METHODSA total of 100 male mice were randomly assigned into 5 groups: a normal control group, a drug control group (a hydrocortisone subgroup and an atropine subgroup), a high-dose AKM group, a mid-dose AKM group and a low-dose AKM group. Xylene was spread on the left ear of the experimental mice to induce inflammation, and 1% acetic acid solution injected into the abdominal cavity to produce pain so as to cause the body bend. Different doses of AKM were given and their actions observed.

RESULTSAKM had obvious anti-inflammatory effect on the xylene-induced ear tumefaction and inhibited the pain-caused body bend in the AKM groups, with significant difference from the normal control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAKM has good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which is of clinical significance in the treatment of chronic prostatitis.

Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Combinations ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use