AIM: To investigate the effect of prostanoid DP receptors (DPR) on sleep-wake regulation in mice. METHODS: Under pentobarbital anesthesia, mice were chronically implanted with electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) electrodes for polysomnographic recordings. The spontaneous sleep-wake cycles were monitored continuously by EEG/EMG recording system for 24 h beginning at 800 p.m. and analyzed by SLEEPSIGN software in DPR knock out (KO) and wild type (WT) mice. RESULTS: DPR-KO mice exhibited a similar circadian rhythm of sleep-wake cycles to WT mice. The amounts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep or non-REM (NREM) sleep during both the light and dark periods were identical between the DPR-KO and WT mice. Whereas, an increase in the episode number of wakefulness and a shortage in the duration of NREM sleep were found in DPR-KO mice during the light period compared with WT mice. Moreover, DPR-KO mice showed lower activity in delta-wave component in NREM sleep and higher activity in theta-wave component in REM sleep than WT mice. CONCLUSION: DPR plays a crucial role in mediating the prostaglandin D2-induced sleep. Deficiency of DPR results in the low intensity and fragmented diurnal NREM sleep and the high vigilance REM sleep, with the normal circadian rhythm of sleep in mice.

This study was to investigate the effect of peoniflorin on the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream signal molecules in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats for exploring the mechanism of peoniflorin protecting hippocampal neurons. AD model rats were established by bilateral intrahippocampal injection of beta-amyloid(1-42) (Abeta(1-42)) and divided randomly into 3 groups: AD model group, peoniflorin low-dose (15 mg x kg(-1)) group and peoniflorin high-dose (30 mg x kg(-1)) group. The vehicle control rats were given bilateral intrahippocampal injection of solvent with the same volume. After peoniflorin or saline was administered (ip) once daily for 14 days, the hippocampuses of all animals were taken out for measuring the expressions of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthethase (gamma-GCS) mRNA by reverse transcription PCR, determining the contents of glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl protein (CP) using colorimetric method, and for assaying the expressions of neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) and Caspase-3 by immunohistochemical staining method. The results showed that peoniflorin markedly increased the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and gamma-GCS mRNA, enhanced the level of GSH and decreased the contents of MDA and CP in the hippocampus, as compared with the model group. Peoniflorin also improved the NAIP expression and reduced the Caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus neurons. In conclusion, peoniflorin protects against the Abeta(1-42)-mediated oxidative stress and hippocampal neuron injury in AD rats by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway.

The paper aims to explore the studying method for the pharmacokinetics of drugs in target organs, the pharmacokinetic process of tramadol hydrochloride in the extracellular fluid of frontal cortex (FrCx) of mice was investigated. Six male mice (Kunming strain) were anaesthetized (urethane, 1.8 g x kg(-1), ip) and secured on a stereotaxic frame. A microdialysis probe was implanted into the FrCx and perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid at a flow rate of 2 microL x min(-1). One hour later, mice were administrated (ip) with tramadol hydrochloride (50 mg x kg(-1)) and dialysates were collected continuously at 12-min intervals (24 microL each) for 6 h. The tramadol concentration in dialysates was determined by HPLC-Ultraviolet detection method, and the concentration-time curve and pharmacokinetic parameters of tramadol were calculated with DAS software. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic process of tramadol in the FrCx extracellular fluid of mice was fitted to a two-compartment open model, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters t1/2alpha, t1/2beta, t(max), C(max) and AUC(0-infinity) were (0.27 +/- 0.05) h, (2.72 +/- 0.24) h, (0.50 +/- 0.10) h, (2 110.37 +/- 291.22) microg x L(-1) and (4 474.51 +/- 441.79) microg x L(-1) x h, respectively. In conclusion, a studying method for pharmacokinetics of drugs in the target organ is established, which is simple and feasible. Tramadol hydrochloride shows a two-compartment model in the extracellular fluid of the mouse FrCx, and the distribution- and elimination half-life are 0.5 h and 2.7 h, respectively.

OBJECTIVE: Embryonic stem cells (ES cells) is a special kind of cell population with totipotency and uninhibited self-renewal property. Researches on induced differentiation of ES cells were received and summed up to provide reasonable and constructive suggestions for clinical application of ES cells.DATA SOURCE: Papers published in Highwire press and Medline database were retrieved with keywords "Embryonic stem cell, differentiation, and induce" from 2000 to 2004. Additionally, papers published in Wanfang database were also retrieved with keywords "Embryonic stem cell" in Chinese from 2000 to 2004.STUDY SELECTION: Data were analyzed firstly in order to select papers related to induced differentiation. The inclusion criteria were selection of the original works, but the summaries and Meta analysis were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 369 papers were chosen according to correlation with keywords; among them, 364 papers were in foreign language. After reading through summaries of these papers, 15 papers thoroughly discussing induced differentiation of ES cells were chosen for further intensive reading. Papers discussed various kinds of differential models, neural cells, cardiac muscle cells, epithelial cells and hematopoietic cells.DATA SYNTHESIS: The induced differential models of neural cells, cardiac muscle cells, epithelial cells and hematopoietic cells from ES cells were introduced comprehensively in the seven literatures. Based on these references mentioned above and other references which introduced cell model separately, all data were generally studied, sorted out and summed up.CONCLUSION: ES cells can be induced to be various kinds of cell models such as neural cells, epithelial cells, cardiac muscle cells and hematopoietic cells, which may be used to clarify the mechanism of cellular development and differentiation to provide good respects for clinical cellular therapy and screening of medicines.

To guide the reasonable clinical application of modafinil (MOD), pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of MOD in mice and the correlation between them were investigated. Male mice (Kunming strain) were given a single oral dose of MOD (120 mg x kg(-1)). The plasma concentration of MOD was measured by HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with DAS 3.0 software. For another batch of male Kunming strain mice, their locomotor activities were recorded by an infrared ray passive sensor after a same oral dose of MOD, and the synchronization and correlation between the changes of MOD plasma concentration and the locomotor activity induced by MOD were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the plasma concentration-time curve of MOD was fitted to two-compartment open model with a first order absorption. The main pharmacokinetic parameters t1/2alpha, t1/2beta, t(max), C(max) and AUC(0-inifinity) were 0.42 h, 3.10 h, 1.00 h, 41.34 mg x L(-1) and 142.22 mg x L(-1) x h, respectively. MOD significantly increased locomotor activity and the effect lasted for about 4 h. The changes of MOD plasma concentration and the locomotor activity induced by MOD were synchronous. In conclusion, there is a significant correlation between the effect of MOD and its plasma concentration after administration of 120 mg x kg(-1) in mice.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) on Alzheimer's diseases (AD) focusing on anti-inflammation.

METHODAD rats were established by intrahippocampal bilateral injection of Abeta1-42 protein. The AD rats were randomly divided into three groups: AD model group, DSS high-dose group, DSS low-dose group. Vehicle group rats were intrahippocampal bilateral injection of solvent with the same dose. The learning ability and memory of rats was investigated in step-down passive avoidance test and Morris water maze test, expression of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA were observed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), levels of NO was measured by colorimetric method and neuron apoptosis in the hippocampus was investigated by tag method of TdT-mediated end-labeling of fragmented DNA (TUNEL).

RESULTDSS significantly reduced the escape latency and increased the time that rats spent in the target quadrant in Morris water maze test, shortened the responsive latency and decreased the error numbers in step-down passive avoidance test, reduced the expression of the IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha mRNA, and the level of the NO depressed the neuron apoptosis in the hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONDSS improving cognition of the rats might be related to attenuate inflammatory reaction and reduce cell apoptosis in the hippocampus.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo determine the concentration in mice of danshensu from sodium danshensu and Salvia miltiorrhiza injection and undertake comparative study of them as well as to assess the effect of other components of S. miltiorrhiza injection on the tissue distribution of danshensu.

METHODMice received intraperitoneal administration of sodium danshensu or S. miltiorrhiza injection (equal to danshensu 60 mg x kg(-1)) respectively, and was executed 30 minutes after administration. The concentration of danshensu in different tissues was separately determined by high performance liquid chromatographic method.

RESULTThe characteristic profiles of sodium danshensu in different tissues were C(kidney) > C(spleen) > C(lung) > C(heart) > C(liver). The characteristic profiles of danshensu from S. miltiorrhiza injection in different tissues were C(kidney) > C(lung) > C(spleen) > C(heart) approximately C(liver). The concentration of danshensu in S. miltiorrhiza injection in liver and kindey was higher than sodium danshensu itself.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that the other components in S. miltiorrhiza injection influent the distribution profile in tissues of danshensu.

Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kidney ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Lactates ; pharmacokinetics ; Liver ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Lung ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Myocardium ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacokinetics ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; Spleen ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo develop a HPLC method for determination of the concentration of Danshensu in rat plasma and undertake comparative pharmacokinetic study of sodium danshensu and Salvia miltiorrhiza injection in rat as well as to assess the effect of other components of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection on the pharmacokinetics of Danshensu.

METHODRats received an iv. infusion of sodium Danshensu or S. miltiorrhiza injection (equal to Danshensu 30 mg x kg(-1)). Blood samples were collected from carotid artery. Plasma concentration of Danshensu extracted with perchloric acid was measured. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with DAS2.0 software.

RESULTA good linear relationship of Danshensu was obtained from the range of 0.5 to 80.0 mg x L(-1), and the lowest limit of determination was 0.2 mg x L(-1). The plasma concentration time curves of Danshensu were best fitted with two-compartment models for Danshensu itself and for Salvia miltiorrhiza injection as well. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as t1/2alpha, AUC, CL had significant differences.

CONCLUSIONThe concomitant components in Salvia miltiorrhiza injection influence the pharmacokinetic properties of Danshensu and speed up its disposition and elimination.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Lactates ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

Objective     To analyze the perioperative outcomes of uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy compared with three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods     Data were extracted from the Western China Lung Cancer Database, a prospectively maintained database at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Perioperative outcomes of the patients who underwent uniportal or three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer during January 2014 through April 2021 were analyzed by using propensity score matching. Altogether 5 817 lung cancer patients were enrolled who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy (uniportal: 530 patients; three-port: 5 287 patients). After matching, 529 patients of uniportal and 1 583 patients of three-port were included. There were 529 patients with 320 males and 209 females at median age of 58 (51, 65) years in the uniportal group and 1 583 patients with 915 males and 668 females at median age of 58 (51, 65) years in the three-port group. Results     Uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy was associated with less intraoperative blood loss (20 mL vs. 30 mL, P<0.001), longer operative time (115 min vs. 105 min, P<0.001) than three-port thoracoscopic lobectomy. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the number of lymph node dissected, rate of conversion to thoracotomy, incidence of postoperative complication, postoperative pain score within 3 postoperative days, length of hospital stay, or hospitalization expenses. Conclusion     Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and effective, and the overall perioperative outcomes are comparable between uniportal and three-port strategies, although the two groups show differences in intraoperative blood loss.