Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between copper and organic components, total flavonoids of Astragalus (TFA), total saponins of Astragalus (TSA) and total polysaccharide of Astragalus (TPA).

METHODTFA, TSA and TPA were extracted from Astragalus roots using different organic solvents, and determined by colorimetry. The concentration of copper in extracts was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS).

RESULTCopper was found in TFA, TPA and TSA, and its concentration in TFA and TPA was higher; the content of copper was correlated significantly to that of TFA and TPA (r1(2) = 0.754 8, F1 = 57.202, P < 0.01 and r2(2) = 0.499, F2 = 21.906, P < 0.01), while not to that of TSA ( r3(2) = 0.0026, F3 = 0.041, P > 0.1).

CONCLUSIONCorrelation analysis could reveal the relationship of copper with organic components in Astragalus roots; contents and structure characteristics of organic components might be important factors influencing the distribution of copper in Astragalus roots.

Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Copper ; analysis ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To evaluate the protective effect on lung by using continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood and L-arginine during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Methods Forty five cases received mitral valve replacement were randomly divided into 3 groups and each group involved 15 cases. Group I(control group), patients received routine procedure of CPB. Proup Ⅱ, patients received rcontinuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood. Group Ⅲ,continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood containing L-arginine (200 mg/kg) (n=15). All cases received routine procedure of CPB and continuously infused from the root of pulmonary artery until releasing aortaoaic clamp. Blood samples were collected from the radial artery respectively at the following time points:after the induction of anaesthesia, 1 hour after opening of aorta, 0, 6, 12, 24 hours after patients being taken back to ICU. ELISA test was used to detected the expression of tmmor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Lung tissue samples (1.0 cm ×1.0 cm×1.0 cm) were obtained from right lower lobe. The pathologicl changes of lung tissues were observed under light mi-croscope by using HE staining. Results at each time points, the expression of TNF-α, IL-6 in group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ weresignificantly lower than that in group Ⅰ (P<0.05). The level of TNF-α, IL-6 in group Ⅲ were lower than in group Ⅱ(P<0.05). However, the expression of IL-10 in group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ were higher than in group Ⅰ, and the level of IL-10 in group Ⅲ were higher than that in group Ⅱ(P<0.05). In the group Ⅰ: HE staining showed marked pulmonary interstitial edema, intra-alveolus neutrophilic granulocyte exudation with karyorrhexis. In the group Ⅱ, light capillary vessel hyperaemia and pulmonary interstitial lymphocyte exudation were detected. Nearly normal lung tissue were observed in group Ⅲ. Conclusion Continuous pulmonary artery perfusion with oxygenated blood and L-arginine could inhibit the synthesis of inflammatory factors significantly and increase the releasing of anti-inflammatory factors during CPB. Therefore, it may reduces pulmonary inflammatory reaction and have protective effects on lung tissue.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of cryotherapy ablation treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and to analyse the predictive factors of cryotherapy ablation treatment.

METHODS190 patients of hepatitis B-related advanced HCC from 2005 to 2008 in our hospital underwent curative cryoablation. We used clinical cohort method to analyze cryoablation group (147 cases) and control group (43 cases). The median OS (over survival time) and TTP (time to disease progression) were compared. We also evaluated the clinical significance of age, gender, location of portal vein tumor thrombus, HBeAg, tumor histological grade, Child-Pugh classification, end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, advanced liver cancer prediction system (ALCPS) score and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score for predicting the efficacy of cryoablation. Two Groups were compared with the x² test. Survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the independent factors on survival based on the variables selected in univariate analysis.

RESULTSMedian survival time of cryoablation group and Control group were 7.5 (4.2 to 14.6) months and 3.2 (1.2 to 8.6) months, median TTP were 3.5 (2.5 to 4.5) months and 1.5 (1.0 to 3.5 months), the differences between were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Median OS and TTP of advanced HCC patients who had Well-differentiated tumor, Child-pugh A-class and low score of MELD score, ALCPS score; ECOG PS score were significantly longer than that of the poorly differentiated tumor, Child-pugh B-class and the high those scores (P < 0.05). ECOG PS (P less than 0.05, 95% CI 1.074 - 2.143) and ALCPS (P < 0.05, 95% CI 1.005-2.121) were independent predictors for OS of advanced HCC.

CONCLUSIONSCryoablation treatment can prolong median OS and TTP of advanced HCC. ECOG PS and ALCPS are important predictors for survival time of advanced HCC.

Azo Compounds ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gonanes ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Proteomics

OBJECTIVETo compare the intracephalic imaging differences of stroke treated with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture and body acupuncture only, in order to apply the image basis for the differences of clinical curative effects.

METHODSTwenty cases of stroke were randomized into a body acupuncture group (group A) and a scalp and body acupuncture group (group B), ten cases in each group respectively. In group A, body acupuncture was applied simply, and different acupoints were selected according to the symptoms: Shousanli (LI 10), Jianliao (TE 14), Huantiao (GB 30) and Jiaji (EX-B 2) etc. were selected for hemiplegia, Fengchi (GB 20), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Quanliao (SI 18) etc. were for facial paralysis, Fengfu (GV 16) and Lianquan (CV 23) etc. were for aphasia. In group B, combined therapy were applied, the body acupoints selection was same as above; for scalp acupoints, corresponding motor area, sensory area and foot motor sensory area were selected. Instant changes of local cerebral blood flow before and after treatment were examined and evaluated by NIRS and the curative effects of both groups were evaluated.

RESULTSThe total therapeutic effective rate was 90.0% (9/10) and the basically cured rate was 30.0% (3/10) in group A; and 100.0% (10/10) and 50.0% (5/10) respectively in group B, indicating that the clinical curative effect in group B was superior to that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (P < 0.05). Both imaging results showed that blood flows of prefrontal cortex in both groups were increased with varying degrees after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the cerebral blood flow in group B was much more improved than that in group A at 20, 30 min of acupuncture treatment (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can significantly increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in brain cortex, and the effect with combined therapy of scalp and body acupuncture is superior to that with body acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Brain Chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phototherapy ; instrumentation ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Stroke ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

A rapid, sensitive and simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of yogliptin and its metabolite in Wistar rat plasma. Linagliptin and dexamethasone were chosen as the internal standards of yogliptin and its metabolite, (R)-8-(3-hydroxypiperidine- -yl)-7-(but-2-yn-1-yl)-1-((5-fluorobenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)methyl)-3-methyl- H-purine-2, 6 (3H, 7H)-dione, respectively. After a simple protein precipitation using acetonitrile as the precipitating solvent, both analytes and ISs were separated on a Grace Altima HP C18 column (2.1 mm x 50 mm, 5 microm) with gradient elution using methanol (containing 0.1% formic acid, 4 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate)-0.1% formic acid (containing 4 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate) as the mobile phase. A chromatographic total run time of 4.4 min was achieved. Mass spectrometric detection was conducted with electrospray ionization under positive-ion and multiple-reaction monitoring modes. Linear calibration curves for yogliptin and its metabolite were over the concentration range of 0.5 to 500 ng x mL(-1) with a lower limit of quantification of 0.5 ng x mL(-1). The intra- and inter- assay precisions were all below 14%, the accuracies were all in standard ranges. The method was used to determine the concentration of yogliptin and M1 in Wistar rat plasma after a single oral administration of yogliptin (27 mg x kg(-1)). The method was proved to be selective, sensitive and suitable for pharmacokinetic study of yogliptin and M1 in Wistar rat plasma.
Animals ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dexamethasone ; blood ; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Linagliptin ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of beta-amyloid protein (Abeta) and cholesterol on the pathological changes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and on the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits in the brains of rats.

METHODThe rats were treated by intracerebroventricular injection of Abeta1-42 and fed with a diet containing 5% cholesterol to establish animal model of AD. The pathological changes, learning and memory, and expression of nAChRs of rats were analyzed by Bieoschowsky staining, immunohistochemistry, water-labyrinth, Western blot, and RT-PCR.

RESULTSAbeta intracerebroventricular injection induced Abeta deposition in rat brains and high-cholesterol diet resulted in hypercholesterolemia in the animals. Injection of Abeta caused a reduction of learning and memory of rats and modifications of the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol enhanced these effects of Abeta on neuropathology and expression of nAChRs.

CONCLUSIONSAbeta can induce marked neuropathological changes, influence the learning and study ability, and modify the expression of nAChRs. Cholesterol can enhance the neurotoxicity of Abeta.

Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) on cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors of human neuroblastoma cells.

METHODSHuman SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with different concentrations of Abeta(1-42) with and without pretreatment of vitamin E. MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] reduction, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and phospholipids were measured by spectrophotometry. Levels of cholesterol and unbiquinone were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The numbers of cholinergic receptor binding sites were determined by receptor binding assay and the protein levels of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits were studied by Western blotting.

RESULTSSH-SY5Y cells showed decreased reduction rates of MMT and phospholipids, and increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation after exposure to Abeta (0.1 micromol/L) as compared to the control. The number of cholinergic receptor binding sites, the protein level of nicotinic receptor alpha3 and alpha7 subunits and the content of ubiquinone decreased in cells treated with high dose of Abeta (1 micromol/L). Although the level of cholesterol was not changed in any way, vitamin E partially prevented the neurotoxic effects of Abeta.

CONCLUSIONbeta-amyloid peptide reduces the level of cell membrane lipids and cholinergic receptors in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, likely through the induction of an enhanced oxidative stress.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Membrane Lipids ; metabolism ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Peptide Fragments ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Receptors, Nicotinic ; metabolism ; Ubiquinone ; metabolism ; Vitamin E ; metabolism ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) on the cerebral blood flow.

METHODSTwenty healthy volunteer were treated by electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) or Shenque (CV 8) with multi-functional electric-moxibustion instrument. The changes of the forehead cortex blood flow during moxibustion were detected by dynamic continuous spectrum near-infrared imaging.

RESULTSThere were significant differences as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) for 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); and as the forehead cortex blood flow after electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 10, 20 and 30 minutes compared with their initial data (P<0. 05, P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONElectric-moxibustion at both Baihui (GV 20) and Shenque (CV 8) can improve the volume of brain cortex blood flow and electric-moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) has rapid effect.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Brain ; blood supply ; Brain Chemistry ; Brain Mapping ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Regional Blood Flow ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared