Objective To investigate the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) protein and mRNA in the lung of rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham operation (SO), intrahepatic portal hypertension (IHPH), prehepatic portal hypertension (PHPH) and portasymstimic shunt (PCS). Two weeks after preparation of rat models, the following measurements were performed: arterial blood gas analysis; the concentrations of NO in lungs; in situ hybridization of ecNOS and iNOS mRNA expressions in lung tissue sections with digoxin-labeled ecNOS and iNOS oligonucleotide probes; expressions of ecNOS and iNOS proteins by immunohistochemisty; image and semiquantitative analysis of the expressions of ecNOS, iNOS and their mRNA. Results PaO_ 2 was (73.85?6.51) mmHg in IHPH rats, significantly lower than that in PHPH, PCS and SO rats97.39? 1.33, 95.23?2.22 and (99.05?0.75)mmHg, respectively.The level of lung NO of IHPH was(19.78?5.33)?mol per gram of protein,much higher than that of PHPH, PCS and SO 13.21?3.99,13.89?3.16 and (8.71?1.68)?mol per gram of protein,respectively. In capillary endothelia, positive expressions of ecNOS mRNA and ecNOS protein in IHPH(4.96?0.82,4.11?0.28) were significantly higher than those of PHPH (1.81? 0.39, 1.63?0.18), PCS (1.88?0.53,1.83?0.16)and SO(1.19?0.32,0.98?0.20). Conclusion The expressions of NOS protein and mRNA in the lung of rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome were increased, and the level of lung NO was elevated, which seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Heat shock protein 27 ( HSP27 ) is an endogenous protein that plays an important role in a great variety of physio-logical and pathological processes. It can express a large number under body stress conditions. Recent studies have shown estro-gen upregulates the expression of HSP27 through a number of ways, playing a perfect “triple protection” role. In the early stage of atherosclerosis, estrogen induces the phosphorylation of HSP27 via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Phosphorylation of HSP27 can resist the injury of vascular endothelial cells( VECs) through an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pathway as well as the inhibition of cytochrome C. In the stage of forming foam cells, estrogen induces the expression and release of HSP27 from mac-rophages by stimulating the estrogen receptor β ( ERβ) , then HSP27 inhibits the LDL uptake and the release of proinflammato-ry cytokine by binding scavenger receptor A ( SR-A) . During the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) , estrogen induces estrogen receptor α ( ERα) and protein phosphatase 2 ( PP2A) to form a complex that enhances the activity of PP2A, then it can lead to the dephosphorylation of HSP27 and finally inhibit cells proliferation and migration. In summary, the anti-atherosclerotic effect of estrogen is closely re-lated to the role of HSP27. Given the side effects of estrogen re-placement therapy( MHT) , regulating HSP27 may provide a no-vel therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular dis-eases in menopausal women clinically.

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of Reinhartdt and sea cucumber capsule (RSC) combined with donepezil in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its effect on thyroid function axis.

METHODSSixty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the RSC group, the Donepezil group and the combined treatment group, who were treated for 3 and 6 months with RSC, Donepezil and RSC combined with Donepezil, respectively. The curative effect was evaluated by scoring according to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADAS-Cog and ADL chart, and the level of thyroid hormones, including TSH, FT3, FT4, TT3 and TT4, were measured with radioimmunoassay before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment respectively.

RESULTSAs compared with the baseline, MMSE score increased, ADAS-Cog score and ADL score decreased significantly in all the three groups after 3 months and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), but the improvement in the combined treatment group was more significant than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01). After 6 months of treatment, the levels of FT3 and FT4 in the combined treatment group were significantly changed (P < 0.01), but no significant change in all the thyroid hormones was found in the other two groups. No obvious adverse reaction occurred in all the three groups.

CONCLUSIONRSC combined with Donepezil in treating AD is effective and safe with no evident adverse reaction, better than single drug treatment, which may be through influencing the metabolism of thyroid hormones to improve the cognition function of AD patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Capsules ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Indans ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Nootropic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Piperidines ; therapeutic use ; Radioimmunoassay ; Sea Cucumbers ; chemistry ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

Microwaves can be directly transformed into heat inside materials because of their ability of penetrating into any substance. The degree that materials are heated depends on their dielectric properties. Materials with high dielectric loss are more easily to reach a resonant state by microwaves field, then microwaves can be absorbed efficiently. Microwave irradiation technique with the unique heating mechanisms could induce drug-polymer interaction and change the properties of dissolution. Many benefits such as improving product quality, increasing energy efficiency and reducing times can be obtained by microwaves. This paper summarized characteristics of the microwave irradiation technique, new preparation techniques and formulation process in pharmaceutical industry by microwave irradiation technology. The microwave technology provides a new clue for heating and drying in the field of pharmaceutics.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Drug Discovery ; instrumentation ; methods ; Microwaves ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Female ; Hexanes ; analysis ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Shoes

OBJECTIVETo determine Ligustilide in volatile oil from Ligustrcum chuanxiong with RP-HPLC.

METHODODS2 column (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm) was used and nitrendipine was used as internal standard. The mobil phase consisted methanol, acetontrile and water (33:21:46). The ligustilide was at 275 nm.

RESULTThe linear range was 2.92-29.2 mg x L(-1) for ligustilide. The average recovery of ligustilide was 95.1% and RSD was 2.3%.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple and can be used to determine ligustilide with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility.

4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Ligusticum ; chemistry ; Oils, Volatile ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

This paper aimed to study phenylpropanoids of Tripterygium hypoglaucum. Twenty-four compounds were isolated from the 70% EtOH extracts of T. hypoglaucum by silica gel column chromatography, reversed phase column chromatography, gel column chromatography, preparative thin layer chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Compounds 1-3 were three new phenylpropionds. Their structures were identified by ultraviolet spectrum, infrared spectroscopy, high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance data as: threo-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedol (1), erythro-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenoxy)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-propanediol (2), erythro-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-ethoxypropane-1,2-propanediol (3). Compounds 4-6, 9, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 21-24 were obtained from Tripterygium genus for the first time. The cytotoxicity assay of cancer cells suggested that compound 20 displayed cytotoxicity on the breast cancer 4T1 cells whose 50% inhibitory concentration was 125.60 μmol·L^-1.

Objective To explore the changes of humoral immunity in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE)and observe the influence of perinatal factors on humoral immune function.Methods Sixty-two neonates with HIE were enrolled and 30 healthy neonates were selected as control group.The percentages of CD19,CD25 of B lymphocyte were detected by Flow Cytometr.The levels of IgG,IgM,IgA and complement C3,C4 were detected by immune rate nephewlometry.The results were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software.Results 1.The percentages of CD19+(17.93?3.10)%,CD19+CD25+(0.64?0.42)% and the levels of IgM(0.13?0.05)g/L,IgA(0.14?0.07)g/L and complement C3(0.62?0.12)g/L,C4(0.10?0.03)g/L in neonates with HIE were significantly lower than those in the healthy term neonates(Pa0.05).2.There were dignificant diffe-rences of the percentages of CD19+,CD19+CD25+ and the levels of IgM,IgA,complement C3,C4 among the different stages of HIE(Pa

Objective To investigate the house air pollution and its influence on the patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Methods The method of case control study was used in 2001-2002 23 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis selected as the case and 23 normal as the control house dust mites in particular D.pteronyssinusDp and D.farinaeDf fungus bacteria was detected. Results The allergic skin test of dust and acarid were both positive among the patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. The colony of fungi in the house of patients was 917?668 cfu/m3 that of bacteria was 2 679?1 723 cfu/m3 Dp was 0.72 ?0.29100 IU/ml and Df was 0.61?0.34100 IU/ml in houses-dust compared with the control no significant deferences had been seen. Conclusion The patients with perennial allergic rhinitis are susceptible to the allergens in house dust mites.

Objective To study the effect of intensive trunk muscle training on balance and walking in pa- tients with hemiplegia caused by stroke.Methods A total of 90 stroke patients were recruited and randomly divid- ed into a treatment group(45 cases)and a control group(45 cases).All the patients were given conventional reha- bilitation training.Meanwhile,intensive trunk muscle training was also administered for those in the treatment group as well.The trunk control function,balance ability and walking ability were assessed by using the trunk control test, Berg Balance Scale and the balance subscale of the Fugl-Meyer physical performance test,and Holden's functional ambulation classification,respectively,before and after 6 weeks of training.Results It was found that all the pa- tients scored better with the trunk control test,Berg's balance scale,the balance subscale of the Fugl-Meyer physical performance test and Holden's ambulation classification after treatment,and there were significant differences between the two groups after treatment(P