Objective:To establish a method for the determination of tanshinoneⅡA and salvianolic acid B in Zhiyou capsules by HPLC. Methods:The chromatographic column was Waters Atlantis@T3(150 mm × 4. 6 mm,3 μm)using acetonitrile and aqueous ammonium acetate solution(adjusting pH to 2. 4 with formic acid)as the mobile phase with gradient elution,the flow rate was 1. 0 ml ·min-1 and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. Results:The contents of salvianolic acid B and tanshinoneⅡA showed good linear relationship within the range of 1. 20-60. 00μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 7)and 0. 40-20. 00 μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 8),respectively. The av-erage recovery was 101. 53%(RSD=1. 14%)and 95. 17%(RSD=4. 33%),respectively. Conclusion:The method is efficient,con-venient and accurate,which can be used in the quality control of Zhiyou capsules.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting mycophenolic acid (MPA) pharmacokinetics in renal transplantation recipients by limited sampling strategy. METHODS: Sixty-four Chinese renal transplantation recipients receiving mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) were investigated. Eleven serum samples were drawn on different days after transplantation. MPA plasma concentration was determined by HPLC and ANN was established after the network parameters were optimized by using momentum method combined with genetic algorithm. RESULTS: When using MPA plasma concentrations at 0, 0.5 and 2 h after MMF administration to predict MPA concentration, the mean prediction error and mean absolute prediction error were (0.39±1.24) and (0.90±0.94) μg·mL-1, respectively. There was no significant difference between the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the predicted MPA concentrations vs those obtained from the measured MPA concentrations. CONCLUSON: ANN can be used to predict MPA pharmacokinetics by limited sampling strategy.

AIM: To investigate the effects of auricularia auricular polysaccharide (AAP) on chronic cerebral ischemia injury in rats. METHODS: The chronic cerebral ischemia mode1 was made by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) on the right side. AAP at different doses (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg) was intragastrically administered at the onset of ischemia and in the following days after operation, once a day for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of MCAO, Morris water maze test was introduced to examine the learning and memory functions. Nissl staining was performed to detect the survival neurons in hippocampal slices. Level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in brain tissue were measured. RESULTS: Rats treated with AAP showed a shorter escaping latency in spacial navigation test because the AAP treated rats spent less time to find the platform in spatial probe test. More survival neurons in hippocampal slices were observed from AAP treated rats. Also, the MDA level in brain tissue was reduced and SOD activity in brain tissue was increased in the AAP treated rats with MCAO. CONCLUSION: AAP protects rats from chronic brain ischemic injury, in which its anti-oxidative effect might be involved.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of miR-155 and miR-146a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.MethodsPBMC and plasma were separated from the peripheral blood of 34 RA patients and 15 healthy individuals.Total RNAs were isolated and miRNAs were purified.The levels of miR-155 and miR-146a were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR).U6 was used as housekeeping control.The amount of target miRNA was normalized relative to the amount of U6(ΔCt=ΔCtmiRNA-ΔCtU6).Relative expression levels were expressed as 2 △-ΔCt.Data were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 software.The test of homogeneity of variance and unpaired t-test was used to compare between groups.P values(2-tailed) less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe expressions of PBMC and plasma miR-155 were higher in RA patients than those in the healthy control individuals(0.08±0.08 vs 0.05±0.03,t=-2.225,P＜0.05; 5.9±6.7 vs 1.3±2.0,t=-3.677,P＜0.05).The expression of miR-146a in PBMC and plasma of RA patients and controls were(1.3±1.2 vs 0.8±0.6,t=-2.154,P＜0.05)and(741±1001 vs 300±295,t=-1.669,P＞0.05).According to their DAS28 value,RA patients were divided into high activity group (23 cases,DAS28≥5.0) and low disease activity group( 11cases,DAS28＜5.0).The plasma miR-155 and miR-146a expressions were significantly higher in high activity group than those in low activity group.There were no significant differences in the expression of PBMC miR-155 and miR-146a between the two groups.ConclusionThe expression of PBMC and plasma miR-155 and miR-146a are higher in RA patients.The expression of plasma miR-155 and miR-146a are associated with RA patients' activity.Plasma miR-155 and miR-146a may be potential non-invasive biomarkers for RA diagnosis anddisease activity assessment.

Objective To prospectively investigate the characteristics and correlative influential factors of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in patients on long-term maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was assessed by echocardiography according to the guideline from the American Society of Echocardiography in 2010 and PASP more than 35 mm Hg was diagnosed as PHT.Echocardiography and pulse wall velocity (baPWV) was performed in the next day after hemodialysis.Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) flow was evaluated by the ultrasound dilution method.Hemodialysis-related informations and laboratorial parameters were detected in the same period. Results One hundred and eleven MHD patients [male 45,female 66,mean age (57.32±12.49) years old] in our hemodialysis center were included in the study.All of the patients received MHD treatment for more than 6 months with AVF as the vascular access.The patients with any possible diseases causing PHT were excluded.The mean MHD period was (70.51±44.98) months.Twenty-eight patients (25.32％) were diagnosed as PHT with mean PASP (45.68±10.83) mm Hg.Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was severer in patients with PHT than that in patients without PHT.The prevalence of moderate to severe diastolic dysfunction was statistically higher in PHT group compared to non-PHT group (53.60％ vs 6.02％,P＜0.01).Ejection fraction (EF),fractional shortening of left ventricular diameter in PHT group were also significantly lower than those in non-PHT patients (62.06％±14.90％ vs 69.72％±8.60％,36.46％±10.04％ vs 40.20％±7.86％,P＜0.01).The patients with EF less than 50％ were 21.43％and 3.61％ in PHT and non-PHT group respectively.However,there were no significant differences in age,sex,MHD periods,body mass index (BMI),interval dialysis weight growth,blood pressure before dialysis,hemoglobin,albumin,pre-albumin,serum calcium and phosphorus,iPTH,nPCR,Kt/V,baPWV and AVF flow between the two groups. Conclusions PHT is a common complication of patients on long-term MHD.There is close relationship between PHT and left ventricular insufficiency.PHT is not significantly relevant to mineral metabolic disturbance,AVF flow,hemoglobin,dialysis adequacy and nutrition status.

Objective:To compare the content of total saponins in Paridis Rhizome from Wudang mountain area to explore the cor-relation between the quality of medicinal materials and the production areas and species. Methods: The content of total saponins in Paridis Rhizome was determined by an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer at 406nm with perchloric acid as the chromogenic reagent. Results:The saponins content in Paridis Rhizome from Wudang mountain area had obvious differences:the minimum was 1. 29%, and the maximum was up to 10. 22%. The content of total saponins had no obvious correlation with species, production area and altitude. Conclusion:The quality of Paridis Rhizome is unstable in Wudang mountain area, and that will affect the effectiveness and safety of the clinical medication. Only by promoting the standardized planting of Chinese medicine materials, the stable quality of Paridis Rhizo-me can be ensured.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of four polyphyllins in different parts of paris polyphylla by means of compa-ring the contents of relative constituents in paridis rhizome and fibril to provide reference for comprehensive exploitation and utilization of paris polyphylla. Methods:Paris polyphylla samples were collected from Wudang mountain area and Shennongjia forest area. The contents of main secondary metabolites including polyphillinⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅵ andⅦin paridis rhizome and fibril were evaluated by HPLC. Results:The four polyphyllins contents had obvious differences in different parts of polyphylla. The total content of four polyphillins in fibril was significantly higher than that in rhizome. Diosgenin compositions had no significant difference in the two parts, and the con-tents of pennogenin compositions in fibril showed significantly higher than those in rhizome. Conclusion:As for the main chemical com-positions contained in polyphylla, there is chemistry equality between fibril and rhizome, thus both of them can be used for medicine. However, as for the contents of four steroidal saponins, the distribution of secondary metabolites has obvious difference between fibril and rhizome, and the result may be caused by steroidal saponins transferred to rhizome for storage after the synthesis in fibril.

Objective To compare the effectiveness of comprehensive rehabilitation therapy with that of surgical intervention for patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Methods A total of 124 LDH patients were recruited antd randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,each of 62.The experimental group was given comprehensive rehabilitation consisting of medicine,physical therapy,and spinal stabilization exercises,while the control group received lumbar spine surgery.The patients' back and leg pain scores and their Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were compared at admission and discharge,as well as 3 and 12 months after discharge.Anxiety and depression were also assessed at admission and 3 months after discharge.Results At discharge and 3 and 12 months later the average back and leg pain scores and ODI ratings were significantly lower than that at admisshin for both groups.There were no significant inter-group differences.In terms of anxiety and depression,however,these had decreased signifieantly in both groups,but the experimental group's average rating was significantly better at diseharge.Conclusions Comprehensive rehabilitation is superior to surgical intervention in relieving the depression of patients with recurrent LDH.Comprehensive rehabilitation should be considered as the first ehoiee for patients with rccurrent LDH,and only supplemented by surgical intervention if it is not effective.

Objective To compare the clinical treatment effects, advantages and disadvantages,and clinical application value of percutaneous liver mirror of gravel (PTCSL) treating hepatolith in two different paths, and provide the reference for the future operations. Methods 81 patients with liver and gallbladder stones form March 2007 to July 2007 were selected, and they were randomly divided into observation group and control group. Observation group take colostomy lithotomy method, which is the one step colostomy lithotomy method, while the control group take two-step methods. Then stone-taking net rate, incidence of complications and hospitalization time were compared between two groups of patients after the treatment cycle of the bleeding. Results After the treatment, statistical results showed that calculi net rate, incidence of complications and length of hospital stay in two groups of patients were not significantly differences (P > 0.05). But the blood loss by the method of one-step colostomy lithotomy in observation group was obviously lower than by the two-step method in control group (P<0.05). Conclusions In clinical, percutaneous liver way mirror lithotripsy (PTCSL) is a more effective method for treatment of hepatolith, two kinds of surgical methods on the path in the clinical treatment effect and complications of the control aspect have the obvious curative effect, but the one-step method of colostomy lithotomy has less blood loss, which under certain conditions can be considered as the choice of operation.

Objective To explore the influence factors of health literacy in middle-aged and elderly people in Hunan province.Methods With multi-stage randomized cluster sampling, people aged 45 years and over were selected from both urban and rural areas of six geographical regions of Hunan province, using the China residents health literacy questionnaire developed by Chinese Health Education Center, by face to face survey to get data. The influence factors were analyzed retrospectively with univariate and ordinal regression analysis.Results The 1158 persons were investigated and the valid questionnaires were 1154, the effective recovery rate was 99.7%. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in heath literacy among different degree of education, age, gender, marital status, income, region and occupation (all P＜0.05). The results of ordinal regression analysis Showed that the major influence factors were degree of education, income,age and occupation.Conclusions The people at low levels of education or income should be concerned about health education and health promotion strategies.