OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the mechanism of Lizhong Decoction (LZD) in treating dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice based on metabonomics. METHODS: Thirty-six mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, including normal, model, low- (1.365 g/kg), medium- (4.095 g/kg) and high dose (12.285 g/kg) LZD and salazosulfadimidine (SASP) groups, 6 mice in each group. Colitis model mice were induced by DSS admistration for 7 days, and treated with low, medium and high dose LZD extract and positive drug SASP. Metabolic comparison of DSS-induced colitis and normal mice was investigated by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) combined with Metabolynx™ software. RESULTS: The metabolic profiles of plasma and urine in colitis mice were distinctly ameliorated after LZD treatment (P<0.05). Potential biomarkers (9 in serum and 4 in urine) were screened and tentatively identified. The endogenous metabolites were mainly involved in primary bile acid, sphingolipid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, amino acids (alanine, aspartate, and glutamate), butanoate and glycerophospholipid metabolism in plasma, and terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid and tryptophan metabolism in urine. After LZD treatment, these markers notably restored to normal levels. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed the underlying mechanism of LZD on amelioration of ulcerative colitis based on metabonomics, which laid a foundation for further exploring the pathological and physiological mechanism, early diagnosis, and corresponding drug development of colitis.
Mice ; Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy* ; Tryptophan/adverse effects* ; Aspartic Acid ; Dextrans/adverse effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Colitis/drug therapy* ; Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Amino Acids/adverse effects* ; Glycerophospholipids/therapeutic use* ; Sphingolipids/adverse effects* ; Bile Acids and Salts/adverse effects* ; Glutamates/adverse effects* ; Alanine/adverse effects* ; Arachidonic Acids/adverse effects* ; Linoleic Acids/adverse effects* ; Terpenes

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether propranolol application as collyrium or intraperitoneal (IP) injection can promote the recovery of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).

METHODThirty-six 7-day-old mice were divided into the following 6 groups: normal control, propranolol eye drops, propranolol IP injection, eye drops negative control, IP injection negative control, and pathological model with 6 mice in each. In a typical model of OIR, litters of mice pups with their nursing mothers were exposed to an infant incubator to high oxygen concentration (75 ± 5)% between postnatal day (PD) 7 and PD12, prior to returning to room air. Two routes of propranolol treatment were assessed from PD12 to PD17: IP injection and eye drop, with doses 2 mg/(kg·time), three times a day. Another three groups were given citric acid buffer eye drops, IP injection of citric acid buffer, and negative control were not treated with any drug. Neonatal mice fed in normal conditions served as normal control. Mice were sacrificed at PD17 to evaluate the morphological changes of retinal vessels by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran perfusion and retinal whole mount. The retinal neovascularization was evaluated by counting the number of nuclei of the endothelial cell breaking through the internal limiting membrane (ILM).

RESULTCompared with the oxygen-exposed group, the branches of retinal vessels went normal with a less un-perfused area in the propranolol eye drops and propranolol IP injection groups [(38.9 ± 9.9)% and (5.6 ± 2.3)% vs. (16.2 ± 10.0)% and (2.2 ± 0.8)%, (25.9 ± 5.0)% and (2.1 ± 2.7)%, F=36.12 and 14.55, P both<0.001]. The number of nuclei of endothelial cells breaking through the ILM on the retinal cross-section in the propranolol eye drops group decreased (14.2 ± 5.1) per slide, which was less than that in the oxygen-exposed group (49.1 ± 8.9) per slide and the propranolol IP injection group (18.0 ± 5.9) per slide; it was also less than that in the eye drops negative control group (47.4 ± 8.1) per slide (F=187.60, P<0.05). Moreover, the number of nuclei of endothelial cells breaking through the ILM on the retinal cross-section in the propranolol IP injection group was less than that in the IP injection negative control group (49.9 ± 7.1) per slide (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPropranolol could effectively inhibit the formation of retinal neovascularization in mice; the eye drops was more effective than the IP injection.

Animals ; Dextrans ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelial Cells ; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate ; analogs & derivatives ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Mice ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Oxygen ; adverse effects ; Propranolol ; therapeutic use ; Retina ; drug effects ; Retinal Neovascularization ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Retinal Vessels ; drug effects

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; complications ; Aged ; Anaphylaxis ; chemically induced ; Angina, Unstable ; etiology ; therapy ; Contrast Media ; adverse effects ; Dextrans ; adverse effects ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; complications ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of treatment for severe ovary hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) complicated by pleural effusion and ascites after in vitro fertilization preembryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two patients with severe OHSS in our hospital (from January 2007 to December 2010) were retrospectively analyzed and the efficacy of three therapeutic methods was compared. Twenty-five patients in group I were treated with low-molecular dextran and albumin, 67 patients in group II were treated with 6% medium molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch, and 40 patients in group III were treated with active aspiration of pleural effusion and ascites. RESULTS: All three therapies improved the symptoms of OHSS and various blood biochemical parameters. The duration of hospitalization of group III [(7.4±4.5) d] was significantly less than those of group I [(21.4±9.2) d] or II [(15.6±6.7) d], and the cost of group III [(2656.2±1882.8) Yuan] was also significantly lower than that of group I or II [(11937.6±7989.8) and (5182.7±2991.7) Yuan, respectively]. CONCLUSION Abdominal B ultrasonography-guided trans-abdominal wall aspiration of pleural effusion and ascites combined with blood volume maintenance is an effective and economical way to treat OHSS.
Adult ; Ascites ; etiology ; therapy ; Dextrans ; administration & dosage ; Drainage ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Hydroxyethyl Starch Derivatives ; administration & dosage ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome ; complications ; therapy ; Ovulation Induction ; adverse effects ; Pleural Effusion ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of compound Danshen injection combined with prostaglandin E1 low molecular weight heparin calcium to dextran-40 preventing hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

METHODSA total of 520 patients who received HSCT in the authors' hospital from May 1998 and December 2009 were subjected, among whom 231 patients received autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, 125 received HLA-identical sibling HSCT, 49 received HLA-identical/mismatched unrelated HSCT and 115 received HLA-haplotype HSCT. All patients were treated by intravenous dripping of CSI 40-60 mL, dextran-40 250-500 mL, prostaglandin-E1 40-60 microg, and subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin calcium 3 000-5 000 IU every day, the preventive effect on HVOD after HSCT was observed.

RESULTSHVOD occurred and caused death only in 1 case of the 520 patients observed, the incidence was 0.19%. Neither obvious adverse reaction nor coagulation disorder was found.

CONCLUSIONCompound Danshen Injection combined with prostaglandin E1, low molecular weight heparin calcium and dextran-40 is a safe and effective protocol for the prevention of HVOD after HSCT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alprostadil ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dextrans ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenanthrolines ; therapeutic use

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alprostadil ; pharmacology ; Anticoagulants ; pharmacology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dextrans ; pharmacology ; Female ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease ; etiology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo analyze the technical aspects of uterine artery embolization with dextran microspheres and to evaluate the effectiveness of this technique as the primary treatment of uterine fibroids in a series of 38 patients.

METHODSThirty-eight volunteers (age range, 24-48 years; mean, 37.2 years) with symptoms caused by uterine fibroids (menorrhagia, mass-related symptoms, and pelvic pain) were randomly included in this study. The fibroids were single in 32 patients and multiple in 6 patients. According to the tumor location, subserous fibroids were found in 4 patients and interstitial or submucosal fibroids in 34. Tumor size was from 2 to 10.9 cm in diameter. We performed embolization with a single Headhunter catheter using the right-femoral artery approach, injection of dextran microspheres (225-450 micro m), and an absorbable gelatin sponge. Follow-up included clinical and sonographic examinations at one-month intervals for 6 months.

RESULTSEmbolization was successfully performed in all patients. Post-procedural pain control was good in 35 (92%) patients. In most patients, symptoms were improved at 3 months (36/38, 95%). Clinical failure of the treatment occurred in only 2 patients (2/38, 5%). Progressive reduction in leiomyoma size was revealed during sonographic follow-up, and the reduction rate at the sixth month after embolization was 68%. The tumor had vanished in five submucosal fibroid patients. Histopathological tests showed that the tumor was degenerative as fibrosis and hyalinosis.

CONCLUSIONSUterine artery embolization with dextran microspheres is a micro-invasive method for the treatment of uterine fibroids. It is clinically effective in most patients and induces a progressive reduction in the size of fibroids. Based on this study, we believe that this new technique is much more suitable for submucosal fibroids with massive menorrhagia.

Adult ; Dextrans ; administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; adverse effects ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Uterine Neoplasms ; therapy ; Uterus ; blood supply