Animals ; Gallbladder ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Solitary Nucleus ; drug effects ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiology

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in 5/6 renal ablation model. MethodsAtRA was administered to 5/6 renal ablation rats by three dosages: 5 mg·kg-1·d-1 (n=8), 10 mg·kg-1d-1 (n=8) and 20 mg·kg-1 d-1 (n=8) and vehicle (vehicle group, n=8) for 10 weeks. Healthy rats consisted of shamoperation group (n =8). The level of renin and angiotensin Ⅱ in renal tissues were measured by radioimmunoassary. The level of angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in remnant renal cortex was measured by Western blot. The mRNA expression levels of two subunits of activative protein 1(AP-1),c-jun and c-fos was quantitated by real-time PCR. ResultsAfter 10 weeks of atRA treatment by gavarge, artery blood pressure decreased (P＜0.05). AtRA reduced the levels of renin (P＜0.05) and angiotensin Ⅱ (P＜0.05) in kidney and down-regulated the expression of AT1R protein in renal cortex. Larger dose of atRA (20 mg·kg-1·d-1) performed higher activity in inhibiting renin and AT1R. Compared with vehicle group, atRA could significantly inhibit the expression of renal c-jun and c-fos mRNA (P＜0.05). Conclusion atRA can decrease the over-expression of main components of RAS.

AIM: To explore if all trans retinoic acid (atRA) retards glomerulosclerosis of rats with 5/6 nephrectomy. METHODS: Wistar male rats were operated by subtotal nephrectomy and were randomly divided into A1 (5 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA), A2 (10 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA), A3 (20 mg?kg~(-1)?d~(-1) atRA) and NX (vehicle) groups. Each group included 8 rats. 8 health rats were assigned as sham-operation group (sham group). Animals were sacrificed 10 weeks after treatment. The concentrations of plasma atRA were measured by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Glomerulosclerosis was evaluated by glomerulosclerosis index system. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF?1) was measured by renal immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: The concentrations of atRA in atRA groups were much higher than that in NX and sham groups. Compared to NX, the remnant kidney sclerosis was ameliorated significantly in A1, A2 and A3 groups. The expressions of TGF?1 decreased parallelized to the levels of glomerulosclerosis. CONCLUSION: atRA has a beneficial effect on retarding the progression of renal fibrosis in the 5/6 nephrectomic rats, possibly through downregulating the glomerular TGF?1 expression.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impacts on the muscle strength in the patients of stroke-induced acroparalysis treated with Xunjingcuiqi needling technique.

METHODSOne hundred patients were randomized into a Xunjingcuiqi group and a routine acupuncture group, 50 cases in each group. In the routine acupuncture group, the routine acupuncture technique was adopted at the main acupoints, such as Shangxing (GV 23), Baihui (GV 20), Dicang (ST 4), Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. In Xunjingcuiqi group, on the basis of the routine acupuncture technique, Xunjingcuiqi needling technique (pricking technique was quickly applied with the filiform needle along the running course of meridian to promote the conduction of meridian qi) was added. For the patients being hard to feel the needling sensation and with the muscle strength of 0 to 1 degree, Dongzhencuiqi technique was supplemented at shu-stream points of yang meridians (after qi arrival, the needling manipulation with limb movement was given to promote the conduction of meridian qi). The treatment was given once every day in the two groups. Ten treatments made one session. Three sessions of treatment were required. At the end of each session treatment, the muscle strength and clinical efficacy were assessed.

RESULTSIn the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sessions of treatment, 20, 24 and 36 cases achieved the 3 to 5 degrees muscle strength in Xunjingcuiqi group, respectively; and 6, 10 and 15 cases achieved the 3 to 5 degrees muscle strength in the routine acupuncture group. The differences were significant statistically in comparison of the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The markably effective rates were 60.0% (30/50), 64.0% (32/50) and 70.0% (35/50) after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd sessions of treatment in Xunjingcuiqi group, respectively; and those were 38.0% (19/50), 44.0% (22/50) and 46.0% (23/50) in the routine acupuncture group, respectively. The differences were significant in the 1st and 3rd sessions of treatment between the two groups (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONXunjingcuiqi needling technique combined with routine acupuncture achieves the apparent superior efficacy on acroparalysis induced by ischemic stroke as compared with the simple routine acupuncture. Xunjingcuiqi needling technique obviously improves muscle strength and shortens the duration of sickness.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis ; etiology ; therapy ; Qi ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hamartoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

Using in vitro everted gut to investigate the intestinal absorption of the extracts from Polygonum orientale at different concentration. UPLC-MS/MS was used to detect the content of protocatechuic acid, isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, cynaroside, quercitrin, kaempferol-rhamnoside in different intestinal segments, then compared the results with the absorption of chemical components of extractive P. orientale in each intestinal segments, and calculated the absorption parameter. We took the statistic analysis with SPSS statistic software. The influence significance of each factors were analyzed to describe the character of absorption. The absorption of each component is linearity in different intestinal segments and different dose, and the square of coeficient correlation exceed 0.95, which consistent with zero order rate process. The K(a) increase along with the raised dosage of the extractive P. orientale (R2 > 0.95), indicated it is the passive absorption; different intestinal segments have different absorption. And the absorption trend in intestinal is duodenum, jejunum, ileum are greater than the colon. As ingredients are selectively absorbed in intestinal sac, the everted intestinal sac method is selected to assess the intestinal absorption charcteristics of ingredients of extractive P. orientale.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; Meningioma ; complications ; pathology ; Metaplasia ; complications

This dissertation is to determine the biopotency of hemostat which processed in different places by establishing a bioassay method of Bletillae Rhizoma based on the thrombin time. Contrast test is the main methodology. Specifically, the reference substance of Bletillae Rhizoma is determined by comparing with the control substance of vitamin K1 using thrombin time, which is calibrated the Bletillae Rhizoma. The hemostatic biopotency is calculated by using the method of "parallel line assay method based on quantitative responses" (3.3) from different processed products. It indicates that there is a strong linear correlation between Bletillae Rhizoma and control drugs (Y = 66.332-23.913X, R2 = 0.995 3). The hemostatic biopotency of Bletillae Rhizoma from different processed products ranged between 821.93-1 187.53 U x g(-1) shown in the paper, and all of them can meet the requirements of the test. The methodology has an appropriate instrument precision (RSD 3.8%), intermediate precision (RSD 4.6%), repeatability (RSD 3.2%) and stability (RSD 3.7%). Therefore, it can be turned out that the methodology which established in the dissertation is good at determinating the hemostatic biopotency of Bletillae Rhizoma and it is reliable, simple and repeatable.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; standards ; Hemostatics ; pharmacology ; standards ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Thrombin Time

To investigate the effects of gambognic acid (GA) on TRAIL-induced apoptosis of cancer cells, human colon HT-29 cancer cells were treated with GA to promote apoptosis. Inhibition of the cell proliferation was measured with MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected with formation of DNA ladders in agarose gel electrophoresis, and activation of caspase activity. The content of cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured with flow cytometry. The activities of Caspase-3, -8, -9 were detected using spectrophotometric assay. The levels of c-FLIP, CHOP, DR4 and DR5 in cells were tested by Western blot. Combination of GA (1 µg · mL(-1)) and TRAIL (40 ng · mL(-1)) significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis of HT-29 cells over those induced by each agent alone. Percentage of apoptotic cells was increased to 45.5%. GA markedly enhanced the intracellular ROS generation. Expression of CHOP, DR4 and DR5 was up-regulated to 7.38, 5.41, and 4.85 times of the control group, respectively. GA promoted activation of Caspase-3, -8, and -9 by TRAIL (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP was down-regulated to 0.22 ± 0.08 times of the control group. In conclusion, GA sensitizes HT-29 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by promoting ROS-activated ERS pathways, up-regulating of DR4 and DR5, and inhibiting c-FLIP expression.
Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the recipe-based pathogenesis and effects of Xiayuxue Decoction (XD), Yinchenhao Decoction (YcD), Yiguanjian Decoction (YgD) and Huangqi Decoction (HD) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver cirrhosis formation in rats on the basis of the recognition of basic pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis in TCM and train of thoughts of detecting the TCM syndrome by recipe.

METHODSModel rats of liver cirrhosis were established by subcutaneous injecting of 100% CCl4 3ml/kg followed by 50% CCl4 olive solution 2ml/kg, twice a week for 12 weeks. They were randomly divided into the model group, the XD treated group, the YcD treated group, the YgD treated group and the HD treated group. Rats in the three treated group received the treatment starting from the 9th week of modeling with the corresponding decoctions. All animals were sacrificed by the end of the 12th week, and their hepatic function, liver pathological changes and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content of hepatic tissue were detected.

RESULTS(1) Typical chronic liver injury and fibrosis became evident in the model rat at the 8th week and cirrhosis came into being at the 12th week. (2) Compared with the rats in the model group, hepatic pathological changes were alleviated significantly, content of Hyp in hepatic tissue was decreased markedly and hepatic function improved remarkably in the XD group and YgD group. The improvement in the XD group was superior to that in the YgD group, while the serum albumin level elevated more significant in the YgD group.

CONCLUSIONThe main pathological changes during CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis formation in rats is the rapid hyperplasia of hepatic fibrous connective tissue and obstruction of collaterals by blood stasis, thus induced reconstruction of the tissue structure, which could be treated with XD effectively, while the severe injury of liver parenchyma in this phase is another pathological change of Gan-yin deficiency syndrome, which could be effectively treated with YgD by its Yin-nourishing action.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hydroxyproline ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy