Zebrafish has unique advantages over other animal models in the aspect of drug screens for active ingredients and gains more and more attentions in drug research and development recently. Thus, this article reviews the recent advance of zebrafish-based drug screens in Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) effective part research, monomer drug screening, activity evaluation of natural products, discovery of new uses for old drugs, and toxicity assessment in early-phase drug discovery.
Animals ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Models, Animal ; Zebrafish ; growth & development

Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Preoperative Care ; Safety

Digestive System Diseases ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

Objective To study the effect of astragaloside on proliferation and apoptosis in human keloid fibroblasts.Methods The human keloid fibroblast ceils were treated with different concentration of astragaloside(10、20、40 ng/mL).Cell proliferation was detected by MTT,the gene expreesion levels and protein levels of apoptosis-related proteins,survivin,p53 and Bcl-2.were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results Comparecl with control group(treated with 0 ng/mL astragaloside),the absorbance values (A490 nm) of each concentration group were significantly reduced,which suggest that the proliferation of all keloid fibroblast were markably inhibited in a dose-dependent way (P＜0.05).The gene expreesion levels and protein levels of apoptosis-related proteins,survivin、Bcl-2 were largely suppressed and P53 werelargely promoted in a dose-dependent.Conclusion The keloid fibroblasts cells proliferation and apoptosis could be regulated by astragaloside.

Objective To investigate the changes of inflammatory factors in the blood serum and their relationship with the immune status of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis(TB).Methods A total of 97 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were included from Feb 2003 to Oct 2005,57 of active TB,40 in resting period.Another 41 healthy people were used as normal control.ELISA and APAAP method were used to detect the level of TNF-?, IL-1,IL-6 and the changes of CD_(4),CD_(8)and CD_(4)/CD_(8).Results The levels of IL-1,IL-6,TNF-? were(15.3?1.3),(80.5?7.3) and(77.2?9.8) ng/ml in the normal controls,(33.7?3.6),(293.6?30.5) and(190.7?25.2) in the patients of active TB,and(18.2?2.1),(130.7?14.5),(87.5?10.2) ng/ml in the patients at resting period,which were highest in the patients of active TB.The ratio of CD_(4)and CD_(4)/CD_(8) was(32.3?2.9)% and(0.83?0.17) in the patients of active TB,lower than(48.2?4.4)% and(0.83?0.17) of normal controls.Conclusion The increase of inflammatory factors and decrease of immune activity were the clinical characteristic of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,which are of inverse relationship.

Objective To investigate the anticoagultive effectiveness and specialty of sodium citrate comparing with hep- arin in continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF).Methods 50 multiple organ disorder patients undergoing CWHDF were randomly divided into two groups:group A(sodium citrate)27 cases,group B(heparin)23 cases,blood e- lectrolyte,acid-alkali degree,cruor index changes,the blood coagulation of tube path way and blood filter were recor- ded.As the same time,side effects were observed in theraphy.Results The patients of two groups were kept stable vital signs,serum electrolyte and blood gas markers during the therapeutic periods.Moreover,ideal serum creatinine and urea clearance rate and uhrafiltration rate were obtained in all patients.The coagulation and longevity of blood filter of Group A are better than Group B,Group A without sigaificantly prolonged cruor index inside body,the dosage of calcium gluco- nate in Group A are greater than Group B.Conclusion Out body anticongulation of sodium citrate is more effective and reliable than regular heparin anticoagulation.

The structural protein VP6 of rotavirus form the middle layer of the triple-layered viral capsid, playing a key role in the organization of the virion. The gene of structural protein 6 of rotavirus strain TB-Chen isolated from a clinic sample was amplified using PCR from the reverse transcription product of RV genome RNA, using pET as expression vector, a recombinant plasmid pET-VP6 containing coding sequence of VP6 protein was constructed. The results showed that the VP6 was highly efficiently expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells which were transformed with the recombinant plasmid pET-VP6.The expressed VP6 protein possessed 27.4% of total cells protein, with an approximately 45kDa of molecular weight, and could be recognized by guinea pig anti-SA11 antibody on Western blot. The results obtained provide important basis for further study on structure and function of the VP6 protein.

Lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis JA antagonized a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens. Crude lipopeptides were extracted with methanol from the precipitate which was obtained by adding 6 mol/L HCl to the cell-free culture broth.The crude extract was run on Diamonsil C_(18)column(5?m,250 mm?4.6 mm) in reverse phase HPLC system to purify the lipopeptides.Inhibitory ability and IC_(50)values of lipopeptides towards various microorganisms were determined by agar diffusion method.The results showed lipopeptides exhibited strong inhibitory activity against some important plant pathogenic fungi,including R.solani and F.oxysporum.The ability of B.subtilis JA to antagonize against the growth of the post-harvest pathogen -B,cinerea was tested in vitro.Spore germination of B.cinerea was strongly inhibited in the presence of JA cell suspension.Furthermore,B.subtilis JA can produce antifungal volatiles which strongly inhibited the spore germination and mycelial growth of B.cinerea.As a biocontrol agent,the synergic effect of lipopeptides and volatiles may play a major role in controlling the pathogens by B.subtilis JA.

AIMTo investigate factors affecting the properties of antisense oligodeoxy nucleotides (ASON)-liposomes complex and their cellular uptake.

METHODSThree types of blank liposomes were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation vesicles, and the complex were obtained through physical absorption. The light microscope was used to observe morphology characteristics of the complex. Drug loading capacity was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The transfected cell percentage and means fluorescence intensity were determined by flow cytometric analysis using M3 myeloma cell as a model.

RESULTSThe neutral liposome showed no aggregation while the cationic liposomes appeared some different extent aggregation in different medium when associated antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. The drug loading capacity depended on the ratio of +/- and the cationic charge density on the lipid membrane. The two kinds of cationic liposomes appeared different principles of loading ASON. As far as cellular uptake, The neutral liposomes showed no improvement of cellular uptake of ASON. However, the cationic liposomes were shown to enhance the cellular uptake of ASON if the appropriate +/- charge ratio was used. The optimal cellular uptake was achieved when +/- charge ratio was at 0.5:1 and 1:1 for SA-I liposome and SA-II liposomes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe cationic liposomes improved the loading capacity and cell uptake of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, which was determined by +/- charge ratio and charge density.

Amines ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Humans ; Liposomes ; pharmacokinetics ; Multiple Myeloma ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; metabolism

Objective To study the effects of vitamin B_6(VitB_6) injection on small intestinal peristalsis in mice and its mechanisms.Methods The mice were divided into 12 groups:calcium chloride injection group(1 mg/10 g),neostigmine methylsulfate injection group(0.001 5 mg/10 g),atropine sulfate injection group(0.005 mg/10 g),their combination with VitB_6 injection and high/low dose treated groups,high dose VitB_6 injection group(5 mg/10 g),low dose VitB_6 injection group(0.5 mg/10 g) and physiologic saline group(0.1 mL/ 10 g ).After administration 30 minutes,mice were intragastric administration Indian ink(0.1 mL/g),and they were luxated and put to death 20 minutes later.The mice belly were cut open,the length of intestine and distance of Indian ink that had moved were measured,and then the ink progradation rate were calculated.Results Compared with control group,the high dose VitB_6 injection could inhibit normal intestinal peristalsis of mice markedly(P0.05).Conclusions VitB_6 injection can inhibit hyperanakinesia of small intestine in mice,especially high dose.And this will be provided as theory foundation on enterospasm treatment.