OBJECTIVE:To study the anti-tumor effects of Vinblastine (VLB) hydrophilic group modified cationic liposomes in tumor-bearing mice. METHODS:Tumor-bearing model were induced by inoculating yellow ascites of S180 ascites tumor mice. Tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into model group,VLB sulfate injection group,VLB liposomes group,VLB hydrophil-ic group modified liposomes group,VLB cationic liposomes group and VLB hydrophilic group modified cationic liposomes group, i.e. group A,B,C,D,E and F,with 18 mice in each group. Group A was given normal saline intravenously via mice tail,other groups were given VLB 1.5 mg/kg every 2 days for consecutive 5 times. The anti-tumor effects of different VLB preparations were compared,using living conditions,survival time,tumor volume and weight,and tissue pathological section as indexes. RE-SULTS:Compared with group A,B,C,D and E,the mice of group F were more active,and had longer survival time,smaller tumor volume and lighter tumor weight,with statistical significance(P<0.05). The tissue pathological section of mice in group F indicated that coagulation necrosis,disintegration,and dissolution of tumor cell nucleus. CONCLUSIONS:VLB hydrophilic group modified cationic liposomes have obvious anti-tumor effect,which are better than other VLB preparations.

In our gastroenterology clinic from Jun. 2008 to Jan. 2009, 20. 9% (277/1320) patients were diagnosed with functional dyspepsia (FD) and 14. 8% (41/277) of them with psychological problems according to Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). In those with psychological disorders,92.7% were found with somatization, 60. 9% with depression and anxiety, 97.6% with abdominal pain,75.6% with bloating, 63.4% with early fullness and 36. 6% with nausea. More than 80% patients with anxiety and depression complained irritability, worry, fatigue, poor concentration, memory loss and insomni.a. After 4 weeks of psychological consultation and anti-depression treatment, 5 patients had significant improvement, 31 had improvement and 3 had no response. The overall response rate was 87. 8%.In summary,there is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety in population with FD. Hypochondria and somatization are common among these patients. Psychological consultation with anxiolytic drugs may have good therapeutic effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Gravity Suits ; Heart Function Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of neovascular morphology and angiogenesis related factors in the ischemic cerebral area after cerebral infarction and the intervention effect of electroacupuncture (EA). METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly divided into model group(n=90), EA group(n=90), sham operation group(n=90) and control group(n=10). The first three groups were further divided into 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d and 12 d subgroups(n=10 in each subgroup). The cerebral infarction model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO). EA(15 Hz, 2 mA) was applied to "Shuigou"(GV26) for 20 min in the EA group. The 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 h subgroups were treated immediately after modeling, the 3, 7, 12 d subgroups were treated once daily for 3, 7 or 12 days. The neovascular endothelial cells were displayed by immunofluorescence double labeling staining. Quantitive real-time PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiogenin (Ang) -1, 2, platelet-derived growth factor b (PDGF-b) in ischemic brain tissue, respectively. RESULTS: After modeling, CD31 and Ki67 positive cells were first observed at 24 h in the model group, and reached the peak at 3 d, decreased at 7 d. While in the EA group, the CD31 and Ki67 positive cells were first observed at 12 h, and reached the peak at 3 d, and gradually decreased until 12 d. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expressions of bFGF at 9 h-12 h, Ang-1 at 12 h-12 d, Ang-2 at 1 h-12 d and PDGF-b at 1 h, 6 h, 9 h, 24 h-12 d were increased in the model group(P<0.01, P<0.05). After EA, the mRNA expressions of bFGF at 24 h-12 d, Ang-1 at 3 d-12 d, Ang-2 at 3 h-24 h and PDGF-b at 3 h, 6 h, 3 d-12 d were increased(P<0.05, P<0.01). In comparison with the control group, the proteins of bFGF at 24 h, Ang-1 at 6 h-12 d, Ang-2 at 1 h-12 d and PDGF-b at 1 h-7 d were increased in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01). After EA, the proteins of bFGF at 3 d-12 d, Ang-1 at 3 d-12 d, Ang-2 at 3 h-12 h and PDGF-b at 6 h, 3 d-12 d were increased compared with the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EA can up-regulate the expression of angiogenesis-related factors in MCAO rats, which has an important role in the establishment of blood vessel regeneration and collateral circulation, and thus promote the recovery of neurological function.

OBJECTIVETo study the possible mechanism of protective effect for Baicalin on Bacillus pertussis (BP) infected brain tissue and the dose-effect relationship.

METHODSBrain tissues slices were divided into 7 groups: (1) the normal group; (2) the model group: infected by 10% BP; (3) the baicalin group, which was pretreated with baicalin, infected by BP and subdivided into 5 sub-groups according to different doses of baicalin used; (4) the glutamic acid group: cultured with glutamic acid; (5) the baicalin plus glutamic acid group; (6) the peroxide group: cultured with hydrogen peroxide; and (7) the baicalin plus peroxide group. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) content in the supernatant of culture was determined and quantitative protein determination was conducted.

RESULTSThe LDH releasing was higher in the model group, glutamic acid group and peroxide group as compared with that in the normal group, 15.10 +/- 4.89 u/g. protein (the same unit below), 15.49 +/- 5.66 and 16.54 +/- 5.47 vs 6.10 +/- 2.87 respectively (P < 0.01). After being pretreated with 0.25 mmol/L baicalin, LDH level decreased significantly to 8.65 +/- 2.43, which was significantly different from that in the model group (P < 0.01), LDH was also decreased in the baicalin plus glutamic acid group (9.93 +/- 2.89) and baicalin plus peroxide group (9.54 +/- 2.82), which was significantly lower than that in the glutamic acid group and the peroxide group respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPretreatment of baicalin has protective effect on BP caused nerve cell injury in rat brain slices, the protection is possibly related with the reduction of glutamic acid and hydrogen peroxide induced damage on nerve cells in vitro.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bordetella pertussis ; Brain ; cytology ; microbiology ; Coculture Techniques ; Culture Techniques ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Glutamic Acid ; pharmacology ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adenoviridae ; isolation & purification ; Adenovirus Infections, Human ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo reveal the transmembrane signal pathway participating in regulating neuron functions of treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) by acupuncture.

METHODSSAMP8 mice was used for AD animal model. The effect of acupuncture method for qi benefiting, blood regulating, health supporting, and root strengthening on the amount and varieties of transmembrane signal proteins from hippocampal lipid rafts in SAMP8 mice was detected using HPLC MS/MS proteomics method.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, acupuncture increased 39 transmembrane signal proteins from hippocampal lipid rafts in SAMP8 mice, of them, 14 belonged to ionophorous protein, 8 to G protein, 8 to transmembrane signal receptor, and 9 to kinase protein. Totally 3 main cell signal pathways were involved, including G-protein-coupled receptors signal, enzyme linked receptor signal, and ion-channel mediated signal. Compared with the sham-acupuncture group, acupuncture resulted in significant increase of kinase signal protein amount. From the aspect of functions, they were dominant in regulating synapse functions relevant to cytoskeleton and secreting neurotransmitters.

CONCLUSIONThe cell biological mechanism for treating AD by acupuncture might be achieved by improving synapse functions and promoting the secretion of neurotransmitters through transmembrane signal transduction, thus improving cognitive function of AD patients.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Membrane Microdomains ; metabolism ; Mice ; Proteomics ; Signal Transduction ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protect effects of sodium ferulate (SF) on the daunormbicin(DNR-induced cardiotoxicity in juvenile rats.

METHODSForty male juvenile SD rats were randomly divided into control group (Control), daunorubicin group (DNR), sodium ferudate treatment group (DNR + SF), sodium ferudate group (SF) (n = 10) . Juvenile rats were intraperitoneally treated with DNR (2.5 mg/kg every week for a cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg) preparation immature myocardial injury model in presence with SF (60 mg/kg) oral treat- ment for 25 days. The left ventricular pressure and its response to isoproterenol were measured using left ventricular catheter. Rat myocardium myocardial pathology specimens and ultrastructure changes were also observed. The expression of cardiac Troponin I (cTNI) was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results: SF treatment could inhibit the decreasing of heart rates induced by DNR damage (P < 0.05); it could increase the left ventrivular end diastolic pressure(LVEDP), heart rate, the maximal left ventrivular systolic speed(LVP + dp/dtmax) and the maximal left ventrivular diastolic speed (LVP-dp/dtmax) responding to isoproterenol stimulation(P < 0.01); SF also could improve the myocardial ultrastructure injuries and inhibit the decreasing of cTNI expression caused by DNR damages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSF treatment could alleviate the decreasing of cardiac reservation induced by DNR damages in juvenile rats, which might be related to its reversing the effects on the cardiac systolic and diastolic function injuries and its inhibiting effects on the decreasing of cTNI expression caused by DNR. The mechanism of SF preventing daunorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in juvenile rats is relevant to inhabited cardiac Troponin I expression.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiotoxicity ; drug therapy ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Daunorubicin ; toxicity ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; Isoproterenol ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Troponin I ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the efficacy on thoracic facet joint disorder between the combined therapy of electroacupuncture and manual reduction and the simple manual reduction.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty patients were randomized into an electroacupuncture and manual manipulation group (group A) and a simple manual manipulation group (group B), 80 cases in each one. In the group A, Ashi points and three pairs of Jiaji (EX-B 2) bilateral to the painful sites were selected. The perpendicular puncture was used at Ashi points, the oblique puncture was used at Jiaji (EX-B 2) and connected with electric stimulation for 20 min, additionally, the corresponding manual reduction was adopted at the sites of facet joint disorder. In the group B, the simple manual reduction was applied to the affected sites. Acupuncture was given once every day, the manual reduction was applied once every 10 days. The treatment of 10 days made one session. The efficacy was analyzed statistically at the end of two sessions of treatment. Before and after treatment, McGill pain scale was adopted for the value statistical analysis. PRI score, VAS score and PPI score of patients were calculated before and after treatment and compared in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe curative rate was 56.3% (45/80) in the group A, which was better than 18.8% (15/80) in the group B (P< 0.01). The total effective rate was 95.0% (76/80) in the group A, which was better than 76.3% (61/80) in the group B (P<0.01). The scores of PRI, VAS and PPI after treatment were all improved significantly in the two groups (all P<0.05), in which, the results in the group A were better than those in the group B (PRI: 4.00 +/- 0.97 vs 5.44 +/- 1.16, VAS: 3.29 +/- 0.72 vs 3.87 +/- 0.81, PPI: 1.07 +/- 0.74 vs 1.64 +/- 0.90, all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of electroacupuncture and manual manipulation achieves the superior efficacy on thoracic facet joint disorder as compared with the simple manual manipulation. The combined therapy relieves the symptoms of thoracic facet joint disorder and reduces the severity of disorder.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Diseases ; therapy

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids distributed widely in the nature and some have a broad application in clinic. More attention has been paid in recent years on this type of alkaloid, owing to the diverse range of biological activities exhibited by these alkaloids and the discovery of new functional mechanisms and molecular targets underlying these activities. This article summarized the recent advances in the biological activities and functional mechanism of tetrahydroisoquinoline, which included the activities such as antitumor, antibiotic, antivirus, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulation, bronchodilation, and the action on central nervous system, with the purpose of providing some ideas in the study of biological activity of this type of alkaloid and in the search for lead-compound and rational drug design.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Anticonvulsants ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Bronchodilator Agents ; pharmacology ; Central Nervous System Agents ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology