OBJECTIVE To study the intervention effect of Hippophae rhamnoides oil on glucocorticoid resistance in superantigen-induced atopic dermatitis （AD） mice，and to explore the mechanism of action. METHODS Fifty mice were randomly divided into 5 groups，i.e. normal control group （group A），model group （group B），dexamethasone intervention group （positive control，group C），H. rhamnoides oil intervention group （group D），dexamethasone+H. rhamnoides oil intervention group （group E），with 10 mice in each group. Except for group A，other groups were given 2，4-dinitrochlorobenzene+staphylococcal enterotoxin B to induce the AD mice model. Starting from the 7th day of the experiment，groups C，D and E were given dexamethasone （1.5 mg/kg） and/or H. rhamnoides oil （10 mL/kg） intragastrically，once a day，for 28 consecutive days. After the last medication，the pathomorphological changes of ear tissue were observed by 节作用。E-mail：57667478@qq.com HE staining； the serum levels of immunoglobulin E （IgE） and interleukin 4 （IL-4） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive cell count of glucocorticoid receptor α （GRα） and GRβ in the ear tissue of mice was detected by tyramide signal amplification. The expressions of GRα protein，GRβ protein，and protein kinase B （AKT）/ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1，S6K1 （S6K1） signaling pathway-related proteins were determined by Western blot assay. RESULTS Compared with group B，the skin inflammation in the left ear of the mice was significantly reduced in groups C，D and E，the serum levels of IgE and IL-4 were decreased significantly in groups D and E （P＜ 0.05），while the number of GRα positive cells and GRα protein expression were increased significantly （P＜0.05）； the protein levels of G protein inhibitory subunit 1 （Gαi1），Gαi3，phosphorylated S6K1 （p-S6K1） and phosphorylated AKT （p-AKT） were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the number of GRβ positive cells and protein expression of GRβ was decreased significantly in group E（P＜0.05）. Compared with group C，the skin inflammation in the left ear of the mice was almost clear away in group E，the serum levels of IgE and IL-4 were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the number of GRα positive cells and GRα protein expression were increased significantly in groups D and E （P＜0.05）； the protein levels of GRβ，Gαi1，p-S6K1 and p-AKT were all decreased significantly in groups D and E（P＜0.05）； and protein level of Gαi3 was decreased significantly in group E （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS H. rhamnoides oil has an intervention effect on superantigen-induced glucocorticoid resistance of AD mice，which may be exerted by inhibition of the Gαi1/3-induced AKT/S6K1 signaling pathway.

Objective To compare the effects of propofol and midazolam on the prognosis of patients treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.Methods A prospective,single-blind,randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in 90 patients who were treated with noninvasive ventilation for acute dyspnea in the ICU of the Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University from October 2014 to December 2016.They were randomly divided into three groups according to the digital table,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was not given sedation treatment.The propofol group was given propofol 0.5 ～ 1 mg/kg,and then administered by intravenous infusion of 1 mg · kg-1 · h-1 with a micropump.The midazolam group was given midazolam 0.05-O.1 mg/kg,and then with intravenous infusion of 0.05-0.1 mg · kg-1 · h-1 maintaining the patients'sedation goals(Ramsay score of 2).The vital signs and blood gas analysis indicators were recorded.The incidence of tracheal intubation,the incidence of hospital infection,length of ICU and hospital stay,mortality and sedation-related complications were compared.Results The tracheal intubation rate in the propofol group was similar to that in the midazolam group (20.0％ vs.23.3％,x2 =2.65,P ＞ 0.05),while the tracheal intubation rate (46.7％) in the control group was significantly higher (x2 =4.21,4.17,all P ＜ 0.05).The length of ICU and hospital stay in the pmpofol group [(7 ± 3)d and (15 ± 5) d] and midazolam treatment group[(8 ± 4) d and (16 ± 4) d] were significantly shorter than those in the control group[(13 ± 4) d and (20 ± 6) d] (t =2.384,2.371,2.392,2.389,all P ＜ 0.05).The mortality rates of 30d (20.0％,6/30) and 90d (30.0％,9/30) in the control group were higher than those in the propofol group(10.0％,3/30;20.0％,6/30),and the midazolam group (13.3％,4/30;23.3％,7/30),but the differences were not statistically significant(P ＞ 0.05).The incidence rates of hospital infection in the pmpofol group and midazolam group were 6.6％ (2 cases) and 10.0％ (3 cases),which were significantly lower than 33.3％ (10 cases) in the control group (x2 =4.32,4.23,all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The use of mild sedation in patients of acute dyspnea treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation can improve the patients' tolerance rate,reduce the rate of tracheal intubation and the incidence of hospital infection,and decrease the length of ICU and hospital stay,without significant adverse reactions.There was no significant difference between propofol and midazolam.

Ardipusilloside-I is a natural triterpenoid saponin, which was isolated from Ardisia pusilla A. DC. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stimulation of ardipusilloside-I on gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo. The experiment of smooth muscle contraction directly monitored the contractions of the isolated jejunal segment (IJS) in different contractile states, and the effects of ardipusilloside-I on myosin were measured in the presence of Ca²⁺-calmodulin using the activities of 20 kDa myosin light chain (MLC₂₀) phosphorylation and myosin Mg²⁺-ATPase. The effects of ardipusilloside-I on gastro emptying and intestinal transit in constipation-predominant rats were observed, and the MLCK expression in jejuna of constipated rats was determined by western blot. The results showed that, ardipusilloside-I increased the contractility of IJS in a dose-dependent manner and reversed the low contractile state (LCS) of IJS induced by low Ca²⁺, adrenaline, and atropine respectively. There were synergistic effects on contractivity of IJS between ardipusilloside-I and ACh, high Ca²⁺, and histamine, respectively. Ardipusilloside-I could stimulate the phosphorylation of MLC₂₀ and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of Ca²⁺- dependent phosphorylated myosin. Ardipusilloside-I also stimulated the gastric emptying and intestinal transit in normal and constipated rats in vivo, respectively, and increased the MLCK expression in the jejuna of constipation-predominant rats. Briefly, the findings demonstrated that ardipusilloside-I could effectively excite gastrointestinal motility in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Ardisia ; Atropine ; Blotting, Western ; Epinephrine ; Gastric Emptying ; Gastrointestinal Motility* ; Histamine ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle, Smooth* ; Myosin Light Chains* ; Myosin-Light-Chain Kinase* ; Myosins* ; Phosphorylation* ; Rats ; Saponins

The common carrier of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and western medicine was chemical substance. Therefore, the chemical characteristics and chemical science of Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) were proposed as a bridge between TCM and western medicine. This paper firstly suggested the theory and research method of the chemical characteristics and chemical science of CMM for the effective promotion and improvement of the theories and integration of TCM and western medicine, especially to lay the foundation of CMM conversion of western medicine.

Five fractions were split for the chemical components of Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizome by the combination application of various separation methods and the over 90% similarity of HPLC fringerprints within each fractions indicated the good repeatability for the splitting procedure. Further, a term of nonsimilarity degree ( NSD) was introduced to measure the unoverlapping property of the chemical fractions and different statistic analyses, including principal component analysis, cluster analysis, angle cosin analysis, squared euclidean distance and the NSD of peak areas of crude drug were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze their unoverlapping property, revealing the NSD among different fractions was calculated above 85%. Among them, the NSD of peak area of crude drug established on the basis of HPLC fingerprints of crude drug is more suitable for the NSD evaluation of chemical splitting fractions of crude drug comparing with other statistical methods and practical for reflecting the real content-activity relationship in the subsequent exploration of effective substances of crude drugs. This research provides a new effective method to evaluate the chemical difference of splitting fractions of Chinese medicine and lay the foundation for exploring the effective and property-flavor substances or of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.

This study was aimed to explore the stability of atractylon in volatile oil of A tractylodes macrocephala Koidz. under various conditions. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to determine the atractylon content and atractylenolide content of volatile oils. And the relative percentages of atractylone and a-tractylenolide were selected as indexes to measure the change of atractylon. The results showed that the atractylon in atractylodes volatile oil was unstable with the rate of atractylon decomp osition up to 12% in natural conditions on the 6th day. The condition was almost not changed at room temperature and avoiding light. Atractylodes volatile oil in tween-80 solution was unstable with the rate of atractylon decomposition up to 30% at room temperature and avoiding light on the 5th day. The condition was almost not changed in the freezing temperature and avoiding light. The atracty-lon in volatile oil in artificial gastric juice and artificial intestinal juice were unstable, which were in conformity with the first order kinetics. It was concluded that the stability of atractylon of volatile oil was different. The atractylon of volatile oil was relatively stable in dilute solution within 48 hours. The atractylon in volatile oil was stable than its pure solution.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between ITS sequence of Arctium lappa and Fructus Arctii quality of different origin.

METHODThe samples of Fructu arctii materials were collected from 26 different producing areas. Their ITS sequence were determined after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quality were evaluated through the determination of arctiin content by HPLC. Genetic diversity, genotype and correlation were analyzed by ClustalX (1.81), Mage 4.0, SPSS 13.0 statistical software.

RESULTITS sequence of A. was obtained from 26 samples, and was registered in the GenBank. Corresponding arctiin content of Fructus arctii and 1000-grain weight were determined. A. lappa genotype correlated with Fructus arctii quality by statistical analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe research provided a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of Fructus arctii geoherbs.

Arctium ; chemistry ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Furans ; analysis ; Genotype ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Software

OBJECTIVETo identify the traditional medicine Fructus Arctii from its adulterants by ITS.

METHODTwenty-six samples of the different Fructus Arctii materials and 10 samples of the adulterants of the fruits of A. tomentosum, Onopordum acantium, Silybum marianum, and Amorpha fruticosa were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, amplified cloned and sequenced.

RESULTITS sequences were obtained from 26 samples respectively, there were Fructus Arctii 641 bp, A. tomentosum 641 bp, Onopordum acantium 639 bp, Silybum marianum 630-631 bp, Amorpha fruticosa 625-626 bp, which were registered in the GenBank. The similarity in ITS sequences between Fructus Arctii and the adulterants was less than 95%. In contrast, the similarity between any pair of Fructus Arctii was greater than 99%. The similarity was 98.29%-99.22% between Fructus Arctii and A. tomentosum. Phylogeny tree reconstruction using UPGMA analysis based on ITS nucleotide sequences can effectively distinguish Fructus Arctii from adulterants.

CONCLUSIONITS sequences can be used as a reliable molecular marker for the identification of Fructus Arctii.

Arctium ; genetics ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Genetic Markers ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Aim To study the effects of ginsenoside-Ro on cell proliferation and cytokine production in murine splenocytes. Methods The effect of ginsenoside-Ro on murine splenocytes proliferation was studied using [3 H] thymidine incorporation assay. Effects of ginsenoside-Ro on the production of cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) from murine splenocytes were detected by ELISA method. Effects of ginsenoside-Ro on mRNA level of Th1 cytokine IFN-γ and Th2cytokine IL-4 were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.Results Ginsenoside-Ro showed no mitogenic effect on unstimulated murine splenocytes. It enhanced the proliferation of Con A-induced murine splenocytes and the production of IL-2 at concentrations of 1 - 10decreased the production and expression of Th1 cytokine IFN-γ in Con A-induced murine splenocytes at regulating the production and expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines in murine splenocytes.

Object To find out which of the 27 ginsenosides isolated from Panax ginseng C A Mey that may inhibit the proliferation of human osteosarcoma cell line U 2OS Methods Effects of each individual ginsenoside on the proliferation of U 2OS cell were studied by determining the viability of cancer cells during culture with or without the presence of the test compound DNA assay was determined by flow cytometry Results Ginsonosides Ro, Rh 1, Rh 2, F 1 and L 8 at concentrations of 5 ?mol/L could obviously suppress the proliferation of U 2OS cells while ginsenosides Rg 1, F 3, Rf, PPT and PT significantly inhibited the cancer cells Flow cytometry revealed that ginsenosides Ro, Rg 1, Rf, F 1, Rh 2 ,PPT and PT induced cell cycle arrest at G 0/G 1 phase with obvious decrease of cell count at S and G 2+M phase Moreover, ginsenosides Rf 1, Rg 1, F 1 and PPT induced significantly high rates of cell death as compared with the control Conclusion These data suggested that ginsenosides inhibited U 2OS proliferation via cell cycle arrest or induction of cell death