Objective: To revise the structure of hemerocallin, an active and toxic compound isolated from the roots of Hemerocallis fulva, which was first reported in 1974 based on the chemical and spectral data. Methods: The structure of acetyl hemerocallin was determined through the acetyl derivative preparing and X-ray diffraction. Results: The title compound acetyl hemerocallin (1) has been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction method. X-ray analysis revealed that the two naphthalene rings in compound 1 were significantly twisted with an average dihedral angle of 44.1°. The two acetate groups in each naphthalene ring adopted anti-parallel conformation. In addition, the π-π stacking interactions were found in the crystal structure, the molecules were linked into a supramolecular network, and the crystal structure was stabilized. Conclusion: The structure of hemerocallin is identified as 2,2'-bi(1,8-dihydroxy-6-methyl-7-acetylnaphthalene) (3). © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

OBJECTIVETo study possible mechanisms of Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine.

METHODSTotally 40 SD rats were selected. The distension of end colon was used as injured afferent stimulus. Activities of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons were recorded by extracellular microelectrode technique. Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) were needled to observe general features of discharge reactions, distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC, and its effects on distention of colon induced discharge reactions of LC.

RESULTSDistention of colon could induce incrased discharge of LC neurons by 127.33% ± 45.48%. But needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and Hegu (L14) could inhibit this injured response by 38.24% ± 7.69% and 21.29% ± 13.16% respectively (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNeedling at Shangjuxu (ST37) and afferent signals of colon distension converged and interacted with each other. Needling at Shangjuxu (ST37) could significantly inhibit colon distension induced discharge of LC neurons, which might be one of mechanisms for Shangjuxu (ST37) and the large intestine relationship.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Colon ; Intestine, Large ; Locus Coeruleus ; physiology ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

A strain of P. Aeruginosa,which was seperated from clinical environment,shows a special characteristic. It keeps normal short rod shape when cultured at 37℃, however,it forms filament without pyocyanin producing when cultured at 25℃ overnight. The filaments will divide and form short rods, simultaneously, produce pyocyanin when culture time is prolonged to over 72h or culture temperature is raised to 37℃. The preliminary study indicates that this phenomenin has nothing to do with nutritive conditions and could the inbluenced by inoculating density and irradiating with ultraviolet rays The absence of pyocyanin was not the cause of filamentous formation by the test results.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as the oldest and the most complete theoretical system with the largest number of users and most abundant varieties of medicinal materials in human history, has been playing a huge role in human development and progress. Based on the author's decades of experience in herbal medicine research, the following aspects including current situation and prospects of research on compound Chinese materia medica (CMM), concept of generalized CMM and diversity, personalized diagno-treatment of TCM, and quality standardization of CMM, prevention-prior to treatment and health-maintaining sciences, key factors affecting the efficacy of CMM, and to bring CMM to gentleman level are discussed. It is expected to promote the development and modernization of TCM.

Thienorphine is a chemically-new opioid developed in Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology. To elucidate the chemical basis for the unique pharmacological effects of thienorphine, 15 derivatives were synthesized according to combinatorial chemistry and the structure-activity relationships of these compounds were studied. It is demonstrated that thienorphine is a potent long-acting partial agonist. N-Cyclopropylmethyl is responsible for the antagonist effect of thienorphine. More importantly, thiophene at the end of side chain is most likely the pharmacophore accounts for the long-lasting effect of thienorphine. Change of the connection of thiophene and the side chain does not result in changes in the antinociceptive activity.
Animals ; Buprenorphine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Opioid ; agonists ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the causative pathogens in more than half of viral upper respiratory tract infections. Currently, no antiviral agents that are active against HRVs are available for clinical use. Because only higher primates are susceptible to HRVs, the screening of new drug is most commonly based on the cell line model. In this study, isolated rabbit airway smooth muscles (ASM) tissue model has been established, and the airway responsiveness with different treatment has been examined. Relative to control tissues, the maximal constrictor (Tmax) response to ACh increased significantly 150% in ASM inoculated with HRV, and relaxation to isoproterenol has been attenuated to 63%. And the abnormal responsiveness can be inhibited in presence of pretreatment with several new compounds which have been exhibited effective anti-HRV activity on cell lines. The results demonstrate that the established ASM model will be applied to screening the anti-HRVs drugs.
Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral ; drug effects ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Isoproterenol ; pharmacology ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle Relaxation ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; virology ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Pyridazines ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Rhinovirus ; Trachea ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; virology

Adult ; Dizziness ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; pharmacology ; Male ; Midazolam ; pharmacology ; Naval Medicine ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of flow cytometry (FCM) assay in following up of the minimal residual disease (MRD) used for predicting relapse and guiding chemotherapy. Methods The clinical data of 43 acute leukemia patients diagnosed by MIC were collected in our hospital from 2005 July to 2008 June.Bone marrow aspirates were collected from 43 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia after induction therapy and during constimulation therapy. The cells with leukemia associated with immunophenotype were investigated using FCM, as immunologic target of MRD. Results MRD were detected earlier in predicting the relapse than those of the traditional bone marrow cells morphology assay by an average of 4-6 months. The results of the MRD following up: MRD was negative at CR in 26 cases, 6 cases relapse, 20 cases of them were kept negative during following up. MRD was positive in 17 cases at CR, 9 cases of them were relapse. 4 cases after intensified chemotherapy the MRD became negative and kept egative for more than one year. The MRD of the 43 cases at CR were divided into 3 groups, MRD less than 1×10-4 group (A group) MRD between 5×10-3 and 1×10-4 group (B group) and MRD above 5×10-3 group(C group). By chi square test. There was no statistical significance between A group and B group, but there was tatistical significance between B group and C group (P=0.02). Conclusion The application of FCM in detecting MRD has important clinical significance in predicting relapse and guiding chemotherapy.

Objective: To investigate the role of NF-?B in signal transduction of hepatocyte apoptosis in liver injury. Methods: A total of 42 Chang-Bai piglets were divided into 7 groups: control group, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours wound group. The model of intestinal perforations due to abdominal firearm wound was established in wound groups. Hepatic NF-?B activity was measured with immunohistochemical staining and image analysis in all groups. Hepatocyte apoptosis indexes and serum ALT levels were also determined. Results: Levels of hepatic NF-?B activity in wounded groups were significantly elevated compared with control group, and there were two peaks (1 and 8 hours group P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of protein kinase C-alpha (PKCalpha) expression/activation with tumor differentiation and resistance to chemotherapy drugs in superficial bladder carcinoma.

METHODSExpression of PKCalpha was measured by Western-blot analysis in 76 samples including tumor and normal tissues, respectively. A human RT4 bladder cancer cell line stably expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-PKCalpha (RT4/PKCalpha) was established. The sensitivity of the RT4/PKCalpha and parental cells to adriamycin (ADM) was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The change of sensitivity of the RT4/PKCalpha to ADM were observed under the conditions of PKC activation and inhibition, respectively.

RESULTSTotal level of PKCalpha expression and the ratio of the amount of PKCalpha expression or PKC activity in membrane to that in cytosol (M/C) were all more higher in cancerous tissues than in normal tissues (P < 0.01); With the increase of tumor grade, the relative level of PKCalpha expression significantly increased in membrane (P < 0.01) and decreased in cytosol (P < 0.01), M/C of PKCalpha was significantly elevated (P < 0.01), and total relative level of PKCalpha expression significantly increased (P < 0.01). Thirty-eight cases recurred during the follow-up period in total seventy cases. Multivariate analysis showed that high M/C of PKCalpha was independent prognostic factor for tumor recurrence after standard ADM treatment in the 2-year follow-up (RR = 3.98, 95% CI 1.22-5.68, P = 0.03). Transfection of PKCalpha increased resistance of RT4 cells to ADM [resistance index (RI): 6.97, t = 3.24, P < 0.01]. PKCalpha activation further greatly promoted the resistance (RI: 148.11, t = 5.18, P < 0.001) while inhibition of PKCalpha did conversely (RI: 1.6, t = 1.29, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal activation and expression level of PKCalpha closely correlate with both tumor grade and intrinsic resistance to ADM in patients with superficial bladder carcinoma.

Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; enzymology ; pathology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Enzyme Activation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology