Objective: To prepare self-emulsified artemisinin and to investigate its pharmacokinetics in rabbits. Methods: The optimized formula was screened using an orthogonal experimental design, tertiary-phase diagram and solubility test; the extents of emulsification and emulsifying time were taken as the indices. The plasma concentrations of indirubin were determined by HPLC method. The crude artemisinin was taken as control and the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The artemisinin self-emulsifying drug delivery system(SEDDS) was composed of arternisinin, Tween-85, ethyloleate, and ethanol. The mean retention times (MRT) was 4. 628 h for crude artemisinin and 4. 750 h for self-emulsion. Pharmacokinetic study in rabbits demonstrated that the SEDDS of artemisinin greatly enhanced the bioavailability of artemisinin via oral administration. Conclusion: SEDDS can greatly increase the in vitro dissolution and in vivo absorption of artemisinin.

· Application of capsular tension ring ( CTR ) in phacoemulsification has become a common method to increase the stability of the capsular bag. CTR can effectively reduce the posterior capsular opacification ( PCO) , prevent intraocular lens ( lOL ) decentration and tilt, not cause lOL degree deviation and aberration increase.ln this review, we summarized the development overview of CTR in phacoemulsification.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Phaffia rhodozyma is a good strain for astaxanthin production. An over-producing mutant YB-20-29 was obtained by means of Cs137-?ray and N-methy1-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidin (NTG) treatment. The biomass for this strain by shake culture was 36.32 g/L, the pigment content was 1216.0 ?g/g, an increase of 308% compare to o-riginal strain. The astaxanthin content in broth was 30.9?g /mL. It was a potential strain for astaxanthin over-production.

Objective To analyze the clinical effect of amitriptyline oral solution on respiratory symptoms in children with bronchitis. Methods A total of 234 patients were selected from the clinical treatment materials of children with bronchial disease aged 9 months to 9 years in Longyou People's Hospital from 2015 to 2016 and divided into two groups according to the differences in administration. The patients in the observation group were treated with ambrotenol oral solution and the control group was treated with ambroxol syrup. The clinical manifestations of the two groups were compared before and after treatment, including cough, sputum sticky, expectoration difficulties, wheeze and so on. Results After treatment the two groups of children with relevant diseases were all reduced than before treatment, respectively. After one day, three days and five days treatment, the observation group children cough, sputum viscous, expectoration difficulties, wheezing and other symptoms of the degree of relief and duration of symptoms and other aspects of the effect were higher than the control group, the data were statistically significant. (P<0.05). Conclusion Ampheturazole oral solution can effectively improve the respiratory symptoms of children with bronchitis, the treatment effect is remarkable.

Objective To investigate the clinical value , the motive regularity, the temporal and spatial correlation between myocardium and adjacent pericardium of left ventricular short -axis in normal adsults by using dual pulse wave Doppler echocardiography .Methods Tissue dual pulse spectral Doppler images about segmental myocardium and adjacent pericardial of three complete cardiac cycles in 99 normal adults were collected synchronously by using dual pulse wave Doppler techenology ,6 segments were enrolled in this study, including the anterior and posterior wall at mitral valve , papillary muscles, and apex level of left ventricular short-axis view.The motive regularity of myocardium and adjacent pericardium at different levels and segments were observed .Peak speed, onset time and peak time between myocardium and adjacent pericardium in anterior and posterior wall of three valves were measured online in systolic , early diastolic, and late diastolic, and the correlation between segmental myocardium and adjacent pericardium in speed and time were analyzed.Results Dual pulse wave Doppler echocardiography showed that in left ventricular short-axis view, motion between myocardium and adjacent pericardium in the same segment had consistent direction, motions between myocardium and adjacent pericardium in anterior and posterior wall at the same level had opposite directions .Comparison of peak velocity, in anterior wall, the peak velocities of myocardium in systolic and late diastolic at mitral valve level , and the peak velocity of myocardium in systolic at papillary muscle level were lower than that of adjacent pericardium .In posterior wall, the peak velocities of myocardium in early diastolic and late diastolic at mitral valve level , the peak velocities of myocardium in systolic and early diastolic at papillary muscle level , and the peak velocity of myocardium in early diastolic at apex level were higher than that of adjacent pericardium , with statistical significance (t=-4.207, -2.078, 4.575, -2.277, -2.440, -2.292, 5.980, 2.604, all P<0.05).Comparison of onset time, the onset time of myocardium in systolic at papillary muscle level in anterior wall , and the onset time of myocardium in early diastolic at mitral valve level in posterior wall were lower than that of adjacent pericardium, with statistical significance (t =-2.447, -2.020, both P<0.05).Comparison of peak time, except the peak time of myocardium in systolic and early diastolic at mitral valve level in posterior wall was lower than that of adjacent pericardium , the remaining differences were statistically significant ( t =-3.530, -2.411, both P<0.05).Peak velocity, onset times and peak times of each segment measured between myocardium and adjacent pericardium were well correlated (r =0.407 -0.933, all P <0.01). Conclusions Dual pulse wave Doppler echocardiography can provide relativity and accordance between motive velocity and direction of left ventricular myocardium and adjacent pericardium in normal adults .It is a promising new method for the clinical diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis and differentiation with restrictive cardiomyopathy.

ObjectiveTo identify the value of walking speed at the evaluation of motor function recovery in hemiparetic patients after stroke.MethodsFifty-five cases were assessed in the study. The walking speed, motor function, strengths of the paretic lower limb,balance and ambulation of ADL function were evaluated with the 10m Maximum Walking Speed Test,Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Motricity Index, Berg Balance Scale and ambulation item of Functional Independence Measure. The level of association between walking speed and the clinical variables were examined with Pearson's correlation coefficients.ResultsIn the slow group, the gait-related clinical scores were related to walking speed (Pearson's r=0.581-0.770,P<0.05),while that in the moderate group and fast group were not (Pearson's r=0.016-0.380,P>0.05).The correlation between the gait-related clinical scores and walking speed was weakened when walking speed above 44.8m/min(or 41.3% of normal values).ConclusionWalking speed plays an independent role as an indicator of improved performance.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Wenyang Decoction (WD) on the differentiation of CD34+ progenitor cells of occupational asthma (OA) model rats.

METHODSFifty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the model group, the blank control group,the WD group,the Western medicine group,the combined group, 10 in each group. Prednisone suspension (10 mg/kg) was administered to rats in the Western medicine group by gastrogavage. WD (20 g/kg) was administered to rats in the WD group by gastrogavage. Prednisone suspension plus WD was administered to rats in the combined group by gastrogavage. Normal saline was administered to rats in the model group and the blank control group by gastrogavage. The general condition of rats was observed. Expression levels of peripheral blood IL-5 and eotaxin, eosinophils (EOS), CD34+, CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3+) in bone marrow suspension were detected by ELISA, Wirght-Giemsa, and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group,expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin in peripheral blood were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the count of EOS and CD34+ cells, as well as CD34+ /CCR3+ significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, expression levels of IL-5 and eotaxin, the count of EOS, CD34+ cells, CD34+ / CCR3+ were lowered in three treated groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the Western medicine group, the count of EOS and CD34+ / CCR3+ decreased in the combined group (P < 0.01). The count of EOS was significantly lower in the combined group than in the WD group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWD could reduce levels of in vivo inflammatory factors, and restrain the differentiation and recruitment of EOS,thereby alleviating the differentiation of CD34 progenitor cells to EOS.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; Asthma, Occupational ; drug therapy ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Differentiation ; Chemokine CCL11 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Eosinophils ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-5 ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR3 ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling could regulate the expression of histone demethylases in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(SCC).

METHODSHuman recombinant SHH-N protein or over-expression of the mutant 2 smoothened (M2-SMO) was applied to activate the Shh signaling in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line-SCC-6 in this study. Cyclopamine was used to block the Shh signaling in SCC-6. The real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to detect the expression of histone demethylases at the mRNA level.

RESULTSThe data showed that activation of the Shh signaling up-regulated the expression of histone demethylase, lysine-specific demethylase 8 (KDM-8) at the mRNA level by human recombinant SHH-N protein (1.841 ∼ 3.591 fold compare with untreated group; P < 0.01), over-expression of the M2-SMO also increased the expression of KDM-8 (1.358 ∼ 3.013 fold compared with empty vector group; P < 0.05), and after the Shh signaling was blocked by Cyclopamine, the expression of KDM-8 was down regulated (decreased 25.6% ∼ 66.6% compared with control cells, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHistone demethylase KDM-8 was downstream target gene of Shh signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCC-6, and its expression was positively regulated by the Shh signaling.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hedgehog Proteins ; metabolism ; Histone Demethylases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mutant Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smoothened Receptor ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; pharmacology

Objective To survey the arsenic content of drinking water in Jingzhou City, to provide basis for prevention and control of endemic arsenic disease. Methods According to historical data, the .arsenic content of water was detected in 357 villages from 6 counties of Jianglin, Songzi, Gongan, Shishou, Jianli, Honghushi in Jinzhou City in 2007 and 2008, The past have been found to have high arsenic water villages, villages known to have high concentration of arsenic were put into census. Villages not found to have high-arsenic wells were sampled 10 percent of the whole water resources at five directions of east, west, south, north and the center. Using sampling investigation, water arsenic was determined by half -quantitative fast reagent kit. All samples of water with arsenic exceeding the standard were re-determined using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate using silver diethyl dithiocarbamate colorimetric mothod. Survey on the disease was carried out in the villages with arsenic exeeeding the standard. Results All 6074 water samples was inspected. Arsenic in 210 samples outnumbered 0.05 mg/L, 51 natural villages were high arsenic areas;The maximum level of arsenic content in drinking water was 0.7 mg/L 3.2% (152/4784) of the wells no deeper that 30 meters and 4.9%(58/1184) between 30 to 100 m had arsenic exceeding the standard The water arsenic content was normal when the wells was deeper that 100 m. The abnormal percentages of water arsenic was related with the depth of wells with a significant difference(χ2 = 12.29,P < 0.01). Medical examination 84 064 residents in 51 villages having high arsenic water 31 neighboring villages was made, No Patients was found suffering from endemic arsenic poisoning. Conclusions High arsenic source has been found in Jingzhou City ,but no endemic arsenic poisoning patient in Jingzhou City. It is suggested that necessary preventive measures should be taken in high arsenic area, low-arsenic water should be spotted or high arsenic water improved. Moreover, wells should be drilled for more than 100 meters or more in depth.