The main objective of this research is to investigate the effects of astragaloside IV, calycosin separately glucoside, formononetin on oxidative stress in Chang Liver cells induced by H2O2. In the experiments, Chang Liver cells (a kind of normal human hepatocytes) were used as the research object, bifendate which has a clear hepatoprotective effect was used as the positive control drug, then the oxidative damage model of Chang Liver cells were established by H2O2. Cells were divided into six groups: blank control group, oxidative stress group, astragaloside IV group, calycosin separately glucoside group, formononetin group and positive control group. Then endogenous antioxidant system related indexes were detected by micro plate and colorimetric method; intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe; and the expressions of CYP2E1 were evaluated by liver microsomes, mRNA, and protein, respectively with spectrophotometry, Real-time PCR method, and Western blot technique. Results showed that H2O2 decreased antioxidant activity, and increased ROS level and expression of CYP2E1. The above oxidative stress status had been changed with protections of the three components of Astragalus membranaceus (compared with oxidative stress group, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), which taken as a whole had equivalent effects as the drug of positive control group( bifendate). Taken together, three Astragalus membranaceus ingredients all had significant or extremely significant inhibiting effects on oxidative damaged Chang Liver cells which were induced by H2O2, and the oxidative damage of Chang Liver cells had been relieved.
Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides ( LPS) , major component of out wall in Gram-negative bacteria. Often they are considered as "prime criminals" of triggering systemic inflaming reaction such as sepsis, bacteremia and so on. It was found in recent years that bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, a 55kDa member of lipid-related protein family, was a kind of natural molecule of anti-infection and it has special endotoxin-neutralising activity and antibacterial activity. Comprehensive phase II/III clinical trials demonstrated the feasibility and safety of recombinant BPI. So pharmaceutical corporations are attracted to try to apply it to therapy.

This paper presents and discusses the liquid density sensing potential of a delay line Lamb-wave sensor configuration, where Lamb wave is excited only by interdigital transducer (IDT), without membrane when fabricated. An optimized cut orientation and the normalized thickness of substrate by using genetic algorithm is presented to improve the sensitivity of the sensor and to get low noise. Experimental measurements performed on Lamb-wave device fabricated from Y-Z LiNbO3 in a delay line configuration are found to be in agreement with theoretical calculations.
Algorithms ; Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Models, Theoretical ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transducers ; Ultrasonics ; Water ; analysis ; chemistry

Objective To observe the efifcacy and safety of ticagrelor in patients received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods 50 patients with non-responding platelet aggregation rate and CYPC219 gene after clopidogrel treatment were given ticagrelor and enrolled in the study. All enrolled patients received aspirin loading dosage 300 mg, followed by maintenance dosage 100 mg, once daily and ticagrelor maintenance dosage 90 mg twice daily, for 1 year. The primary endpoint for the study were the incidence of major cardiovascular events (including death, stent thrombosis, stent restenosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization) and stroke after followed up for a month. The secondary endpoint were the incidence of general events (including minor bleeding, allergies, breathing dififculties) and platelet count changes. Results No occur major cardiovascular and stroke events record after 1 month of ticagrelor treatment. The general events rates included 2 cases of dyspnen, 1 case of epitaxis and 1 case of subcutaneous bleeding. The platelet aggregation with ticagrelor was signiifcantly lower than clopidogrel without signiifcant decrease in platelets count. Conclusions Using ticagrelor for antiplatelet in patients with coronary artery stenting in clopidogrel resistance cases is safe and effective.

BACKGROUND: Imatinib has a significant pro-apoptosis effect on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), but there are still some patients being resistant to it. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) affect the apoptosis of a variety of hematologic malignancies. However, the impacts of hUC-MSCs on the apoptosis of CML cells induced by imatinib remain unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hUC-MSCs have an influence on the apoptosis of K562 cells induced by imatinib and to reveal the possible underlying mechanism.METHODS: K562 cells were cultured with hUC-MSCs or/and imatinib. Cellular apoptosis was measured with Annexin-V and PI staining by flow cytometry analysis. The protein expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9 and cleaved-PARP in K562 cells were detected by western blot assay. Pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was used to block apoptosis in each group, and during this process the effect of caspase apoptosis signaling pathway was detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The apoptosis of K562 cells was enhanced, when imatinib was combined with hUC-MSCs. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax was enhenced and the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was suppressed. Furthermore, the cleaved forms of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP in K562 cell were higher in the hUC-MSCs+imatinib group than in the imatinib group. The apoptosis of K562 cells induced by the hUC-MSCs combined with imatinib was significantly inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK. In conclusion, these findings indicate that hUC-MSCs can enhance imatinib-induced apoptosis of K562 cells by activating caspase apoptosis signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) produced by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are responsible for the cell growth. Accumu?lating evidence shows that insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) suppresses HCC cell proliferation in both IGF- dependent and independent manners. The present study is to investigate whether treatment with exogenous IGFBP-3 inhibits bFGF and PDGF production and the cell proliferation of HCC cells. METHODS Cell Counting Kit 8 assay were designed to detect HCC cell proliferation, transcription factor early growth response- 1 (EGR1) involving in IGFBP- 3 regulation of bFGF and PDGF were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot assays. Western blot assay was adopted to detect the IGFBP- 3 regulating insulin- like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF- 1R) signaling pathway. RESULTS The present study demonstrates that IGFBP-3 suppressed IGF-1-induced bFGF and PDGF expression while it does not affect their expression in the absence of IGF-1. To delineate the underlying mechanism, Western-blot and RT-PCR assays confirmed that the transcription factor early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) is involved in IGFBP-3 regulation of bFGF and PDGF. IGFBP-3 inhibition of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R), ERK and AKT activation is IGF- 1- dependent. Furthermore, transient transfection with constitutively activated AKT or MEK partially blocks the IGFBP-3 inhibition of EGR1, bFGF and PDGF expression. CONCLUSION In conclusion, these findings suggest that IGFBP- 3 suppresses transcription of EGR1 and its target genes bFGF and PDGF through inhibiting IGF- 1-dependent ERK and AKT activation. It demonstrates the importance of IGFBP-3 in the regulation of HCC cell proliferation, suggesting that IGFBP-3 could be a target for the treatment of HCC.

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), as a key Ser/Thr protein kinase, belong to the member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family. The C-terminus of GRK2 including a plekstrin homology domain and the N-terminus of GRK2 including the RGS homology domain with binding sites for several proteins and lipids such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), G protein, phospholipase C, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, protein kinase A and Gβγ, which can regulate the activity of GRK2. GRK2 can regulate GPCR desensitization and internalization by phosphorylating the GPCR, promoting the affinity of binding to arrestins, and uncoupling the receptors from G proteins, which play an important role in maintaining the balance between the receptors and signal transduction. Previous studies have indicated that cardiac GRK2 overexpression can promote the phosphorylation of β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) leading to βAR desen?sitization and internalization, which play a pivotal role in inducing heart failure (HF)-related dysfunction and myocyte death. GRK2, as a regulator of cell function, is overexpression in hypertension. Overex?pression GRK2 can inhibit Akt/eNOS signaling pathway and decreased the production and activation of eNOS leading to endothelial dysfunction. Collagen-induced arthritis induces the upregulation of GRK2 expression in fibroblast- like synoviocytes. In this review, we mainly discussed the evidence for the association between GRK2 overexpression and various diseases, which suggests that GRK2 may be an effective drug target for preventing and treating heart failure, hypertension and inflammatory disease.

[Summary] The efficacy of the combining therapy of methylprednisolone and methotrexate on the Graves ophthalmopathy ( GO) was observed. Whether selenium supplement is beneficial based on this combining therapy scheme was evaluated. The results showed that the combining therapy of methylprednisolone and methotrexate was effective for the patients with moderate-to-severe GO. Selenium supplement did not further improve the remission of GO.

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of astragaloside IV on oxidative damages of Chang Liver cells induced by ethanol and H2O2.

METHODThe alcoholic and nonalcoholic oxidative damage models were established on Chang Liver cells with ethanol and H2O2, respectively. The cells viabilities were detected by MTT assay, transaminase activity and antioxidant ability were detected by micro plate and colorimetric method, reactive oxide species (ROS) was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. DNA ladder method was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTBoth kinds of oxidative damage could decrease the viability and antioxidant enzyme activity of Chang Liver cells, and increase the transaminase activity and MDA content of extracellular fluid. The protective effects of astragaloside IV against those two kinds of oxidative damages were significant or extremely significant. Meanwhile, ethanol could decline the level of ROS significantly in the damaged cells, while H2O2 could increase it significantly. And the effect of astragaloside IV was to make ROS return to the normal level. Retardation of cell cycle progression of Chang Liver cells in G0/G1 induced by ethanol or H2O2 was relieved, and apoptosis was also inhibited.

CONCLUSIONAstragaloside IV had protective effect on oxidative damages of Chang Liver cells induced by ethanol and H2O2.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure in intervening primary insomnia.Methods:A total of 72 participants who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial,with 36 cases allocated to a treatment group and 36 cases allocated to a control group.Both groups were given dexzopiclone as the routine treatment.Patients in the treatment group were given auricular acupressure with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds at the auricular acupoints related to sleep and emotion based on meridian theory,whereas for patients in the control group,the medical plasters with Wang Bu Liu Xing (Semen Vaccariae) seeds were only gently stuck to acupoints unrelated to sleep without stimulation.Patients in both groups were required to visit the hospital once a week for replacing the seeds and plasters.The course of intervention lasted for 8 weeks and the patients were followed up for another 4 weeks.Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Karolinska sleep diary (KSD) were used to evaluate the outcomes.Meanwhile,adverse effects were monitored and recorded.Results:In the enrolled 72 cases,4 patients (one in the treatment group and three in the control group) reported thirst and a bitter taste,and one case in the control group reported nausea and vomiting.At last,3 cases in the control group dropped out for adverse reactions,and 69 cases completed the clinical trial.After 8 weeks of treatment,the global scores of PSQI in both treatment and control groups decreased significantly compared with the baseline (both P＜0.001).Furthermore,the global score of PSQI in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01).The global scores of PSQI in both groups at the follow-up were significantly different from the baseline (both P＜0.001),but insignificantly different compared with the post-treatment results (both P＞0.05).According to KSD,both treatment protocols could prolong the total sleep time,shorten sleep-onset latency,improve sleep efficacy and sleep quality significantly,and the changes in the treatment group were more significant.The total effective rate was 88.9％ in the treatment group,higher than 81.8％ in the control group,though the difference was statistically insignificant (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Dexzopiclone plus auricular acupressure is effective and safe for patients with primary insomnia both in short and long terms,and it is more effective than monotherapy of dexzopiclone.