Cerebral ischemia is also known as ischemic stroke. In recent years, research on neuroprotection after ischemia has became a hot spot as stroke can result in symptoms of nerve damages such as hemiplegia, learning and memory disorders. The key factors that cause the death of cells include excitotoxicity, oxidative damage, nitrosative stress and inflammation. However, there is no effective preparation for the treatment of post-ischemic nerve defects at present, so it is urgent to find and develop effective drugs for the treatment of nerve damages after ischemia. Traditional Chinese medicine has advantages and potentials in the treatment of neurological diseases. Many scholars have carried out related researches on the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine and achieved some good results. In this context, the researches on the neuroprotective effects of traditional Chinese medicines such as tetramethylpyrazine, butylphthalide and total saponins of Panax notoginseng were reviewed. The author found that the neuroprotective researches of traditional Chinese medicine mostly focused on anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress, but those effects were not sounique to the nervous system. Furthermore, most ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine showed a poor water-soluble property. In view of the research status and existing problems of traditional Chinese medicine in nerve injury, the suggestions for the research and development of the potent neuroprotective agents were proposed in this study from the perspective of pharmacological mechanism research and preparation theory.
Benzofurans/therapeutic use* ; Brain Ischemia/drug therapy* ; Cerebral Infarction/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use* ; Panax notoginseng ; Pyrazines/therapeutic use* ; Saponins/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and adverse reactions of the maintenance therapies with Thalidomine or Bortezomib in the patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), so as to provide a reference for clinical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse reaction rate of 23 MM patients received the maintenance therapies of Bortezomib and of 68 MM patients received maintenance therapy of Thalidomine. RESULTS: The maintenance therapy with Bortezomib could extend the PFS of MM patients as compared with Thalidomine (PFS rate of patients on the maintenance therapy of Bortezomib in 12th, and 24th month was 100%, 88.89%, and that of Thalidomine-treated group was 72.31%, 47.54%). What's more, some specific patients could get better 2-year PFS rate in Bortezomib group than that in Thalidomine group, such as older than 65 years old, after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(ASCT), having genetic changes, extramedullary lesions, poor renal function, low serum free light chain ratio, high β2-MG, anemia, high LDH, VGPR of induction and consolidation therapy. The OS rate of Bortezomib on 18th, 24th and 30th month was 100%, 88.89%, 80% verus 91.52%,83.63%,72.90% of the group with thalidemide at the same time. As for 2-year OS rate, the Bortezomib group was higher than Thalidomine without statistical differences. However, the patients such as older than 65 years old, poor renal function and with extramedullary lesions, would also get higher 2-year OS rate from Bortezomi. Bortezomib and thalidomide could cause bone marrow suppression, peripheral neuritis and other adverse reactions. CONCLUSION The efficacy of maintenance therapy with Bortezomib is superior to thalidomide. As a conclusion, bortezomib is a better option for maintenance therapy of MM patient.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids ; Bortezomib ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ligustrazine (LTZ) on airway inflammation in a mouse model of neutrophilic asthma (NA).

METHODSForty healthy C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table, including the normal control, NA, LTZ and dexamethasone (DXM) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The NA mice model was established by the method of ovalbumin combined with lipopolysaccharide sensitization. At 0.5 h before each challenge, LTZ and DXM groups were intraperitoneally injected with LTZ (80 mg/kg) or DXM (0.5 mg/kg) for 14 d, respectively, while the other two groups were given the equal volume of normal saline. After last challenge for 24 h, the aerosol inhalation of methacholine was performed and the airway reactivity was measured. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected. The Wright-Giemsa staining was used for total white blood cells and differential counts. The levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pathological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin eosin staining.

RESULTSThe airway responsiveness of the NA group was signifificantly higher than the normal control group (P<0.05), while those in the LTZ and DXM groups were signifificantly lower than the NA group (P<0.05). The neutrophil and eosinophil counts in the LTZ and DXM groups were signifificantly lower than the NA group (P<0.05), and those in the LTZ group were signifificantly lower than the DXM group (P<0.05). There were a large number of peribronchiolar and perivascular inflammatory cells in fifiltration in the NA group. The airway inflflammation in the LTZ and DXM groups were signifificantly alleviated than the NA group. The infifiltration in the LTZ group was signifificantly reduced than the DXM group. Compared with the normal control group, the IL-17 level in BALF was signifificantly increased and the IL-10 level in BALF was signifificantly decreased in the NA group (P<0.05). LTZ and DXM treatment signifificantly decreased IL-17 levels and increased IL-10 levels compared with the NA group (P<0.05), and the changes in the above indices were more signifificant in the LTZ group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLTZ could alleviate the airway inflflammation in the NA mice model through increasing the IL-10 level and decreasing the IL-17 level.

Animals ; Asthma ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; pathology ; Pneumonia ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Respiratory Hypersensitivity ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of Ligustrazine on serum S100p protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in elderly patients undergoing orthopedics operations.

METHODSTotally 60 patients undergoing selective total hip replacement, 65-80 years old, who were in line with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I or II, were randomly assigned to the Ligustrazine group (Group L) and the normal saline control group (Group S). The right internal jugular vein catheters were placedcephalad and ensured theirs tips in jugular venous bulbs after anesthesia induction and tracheal intubation. Patients in Group L received 2 mg/kg Ligustrazine Injection (40 drops within one minute) and those inGroup S received equal volume of normal saline via central veins before operations. Other medicines were the same for all patients during and after operation. Five millimeter blood sample was collected frominternal jugular venous bulbs before operation (T0), 24 h (T1), 72 h (T2), 168 h (7th day, T3) after operation. Serum was collected after centrifuge. S100β protein and NSE concentration were analyzed usingELISA. Mini-mental state examinations (MMSE) were scored by the same doctor at T0, T1, T2, and T3,respectively.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in MMSE scores, serum S1000 protein, or NSE at TO (P > 0.05). Compared with TO, S100 P protein and NSE concentration increased and MMSE scores decreased at T1, T2, and T3 in the two groups. All indices except S100P protein and NSE at T3 were statistically different between Group L and Group S (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum S100P protein and NSE could be changed by pre-operation injecting Ligustrazine at certain dose in elderly patients undergoing orthopedics operations.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Humans ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood

PURPOSE: Although the proteasome inhibitor known as bortezomib can modulate the inflammatory process through the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, the immunomodulatory effect of pre-incubated bortezomib has not been fully evaluated for inflammation by infectious agents. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of bortezomib on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in macrophage cell lines and on survival in a murine peritonitis sepsis model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bortezomib was applied 1 hr before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in RAW 264.7 cells. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experiments were performed in C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS: Pre-incubation with bortezomib (25 nM or 50 nM) prior to LPS (50 ng/mL or 100 ng/mL) stimulation significantly recovered the number of viable RAW 264.7 cells compared to those samples without pre-incubation. Bortezomib decreased various inflammatory cytokines as well as nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated cells. The 7-day survival rate in mice that had received bortezomib at 0.01 mg/kg concentration 1 hr prior to CLP was significantly higher than in the mice that had only received a normal saline solution of 1 mL 1 hr prior to CLP. In addition, the administration of bortezomib at 0.01 mg/kg concentration 1 hr before CLP resulted in a significant decrease in inflammation of the lung parenchyma. Collectively, pretreatment with bortezomib showed an increase in the survival rate and changes in the levels of inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSION: These results support the possibility of pretreatment with bortezomib as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of overwhelming inflammation, which is a characteristic of severe sepsis.
Animals ; Boronic Acids/administration & dosage/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Cecum/*pathology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Chymotrypsin/metabolism ; Cytokines/*metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Inflammation Mediators/*metabolism ; Ligation ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology ; Lung/drug effects/metabolism/pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nitric Oxide/metabolism ; Proteasome Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Punctures ; Pyrazines/administration & dosage/pharmacology/*therapeutic use ; Sepsis/*drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and apoptosis of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on leukemic U937 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODThe inhibitory effect of TMP on the proliferation of U937 cells was detected by CCK-8 assay. The cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were examined by the flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of bcl-2 and P27 were determined by the Real-time PCR. Western blot was carried out to detect bcl-2, caspase-3, cyclin E1, CDK2 and P27 expressions.

RESULTTMP inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose-and-time dependent manner, with IC50 value of 160 mg x L(-1) at 48 h. In addition, TMP could induce the apoptosis of U937 cells and block the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. According to the results of Real-time PCR and Western blot, TMP could down-regulate the expression of apoptosis-related molecule bcl-2, cycle-related protein cyclin E1 and CDK2 and up-regulate caspase-3 and P27.

CONCLUSIONTMP shows the effects in inhibiting the proliferation of leukemic U937 cells and inducing the apoptosis. Its mechanism may be related to the impacts on the cell cycle distribution, down-regulation of the bcl-2 expression, which finally activates caspase-3, starts the apoptosis path and causes the cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 ; analysis ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; U937 Cells

PURPOSE: Recently, bortezomib has been used to treat antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) refractory to conventional treatment such as plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab. The authors aimed to describe their experiences when bortezomib was used to treat refractory AMR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven refractory AMR episodes treated with bortezomib were included in this study. The patients received one or two cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11. RESULTS: Bortezomib effectively reduced antibodies against various targets, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II, ABO blood group antigen, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor. Antibodies were depleted or reduced significantly in eight AMR episodes. Overall, there was a significant improvement in the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 months after therapy (36.91+/-22.15 mL/min/1.73 m2) versus eGFR at time of AMR diagnosis (17.00+/-9.25 mL/min/1.73 m2; p=0.007). All six early-onset AMR episodes (within 6 months post-transplantation) showed full recovery of allograft function. Additionally, three of the five late-onset AMR episodes (>6 months post-transplantation) showed improved allograft function. CONCLUSION: Anti-humoral treatment based on bortezomib might be an effective strategy against refractory AMR caused by various types of antibodies. Notably, this treatment could be more effective in early-onset AMR than in late-onset AMR.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids/therapeutic use ; Bortezomib/*therapeutic use ; Female ; Graft Rejection/*drug therapy/*prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use ; Isoantibodies ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/*surgery ; *Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmapheresis ; Pyrazines/administration & dosage ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of combination therapy of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) with methotrexate (MTX) on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSTotally 55 male SD rats were stratified by body weight. Nine of them were randomly recruited as the normal control group. The rest 46 were immunized with type II bovine collagen (C II) for establishing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model. Forty successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to swollen toe degree, i.e., the CIA group, the TMP group, the MTX group, and the TMP plus MTX group, 10 in each group. Rats in the MTX group were administered with MTX (1. 2 mg/kg) , once per week for 4 continuous weeks. Those in the TMP group were administered with 40 mg/kg TMP, once per day for 10 continuous days, and then discontinued for 7 successive days, and continued for another 10 successive days. Rats in the TMP plus MTX group were administered with a mixture of equal dose MTX and TMP, and when MTX was discontinue, TMP was administered according to the way in the TMP group. Equal volume of saline solution was given to rats in the normal control group and the CIA group. Clinical parameters including ankle width (mediolateral diameter) and hindpaw swelling were measured at day 0, 4, 11, 18, and 26 after treatment. Rats were sacrificed 28 days after treatment, their knee joints and ankle joints were collected for pathological analyses. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. Changes of fibrinogen (FIB) and platelet aggregation rate (PAg) were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the ankle width and hindpaw swelling increased significantly (P < 0.01), contents of FIB and PAg increased obviously (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 increased remarkably (P <0. 01) in the CIA group. Obvious cell proliferation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hyperemia and edema of synovial tissues could be seen. Pannus formed and immerged in cartilages, resulting in necrosis. Compared with the model group, changes of ankle width and hindpaw swelling were all alleviated in each medicated group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Of them, the effect was superior in the MTX group to that of the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the MTX group (P < 0.05). Contents of FIB, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 decreased significantly in the TMP group and the MTX plus TMP group (P < 0.05). Besides, serum levels of FIB and IL-6 were obviously lower in the MTX plus TMP group than in the TMP group and the MTX group (P < 0.01). Levels of PAg and IL-17A were more significantly lowered in the TMP group than in the MTX plus TMP group and the MTX group. Pathological changes could be alleviated in each medicated group, with the optimal effect obtained in the MTX plus TMP group.

CONCLUSIONCombination of TMP with MTX could significantly ameliorate inflammatory reactions and FIB contents of CIA rats.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cattle ; Collagen Type II ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hemorheology ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Synovial Membrane

Recent studies showed that pathology of alcoholic encephalopathy was associated with cerebral vascular damage. TMP (tetramethyl- pyrazine) is widely used in the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, however, it has not been reported whether TMP can relieve alcohol-induced cerebral vascular damages. The study was performed to investigate the learning and memory, cerebrovascular pathological changes and the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and serum levelsofendothelin-1 (ET-1) in the rat model of chronic alcoholic encephalopathy, and explore the effects of TMP intervention on alcoholic encephalopathy. In the present study, the rat model of chronic alcoholic encephalopathy was established by the gavage administration of alcohol; the learning and memory ability was tested by Morris water maze; the expression of VEGF was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot; and the serum levels of ET-1 was measured by radioimmunoassay. We found that alcohol intoxication impaired learning and memory, induced VEGF overexpression and increased ET 1 concentrations. TMP intervention improved learning abilities, increased the VEGF expression and reduced ET-1 level. These results indicate that TMP exhibits therapeutic effects on chronic alcoholic encephalopathy.
Alcohol-Induced Disorders, Nervous System ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; drug effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

This study aimed to investigate the effect of bortezomib in the desensitization and treatment of acute antibody mediated rejection (AAMR) in kidney transplantation. Nine patients who received bortezomib therapy for desensitization (DSZ group, n = 3) or treatment of AAMR (AAMR group, n = 6) were included in this study. In the DSZ group, 2 patients required DSZ owing to positive cross match and 1 owing to ABO mismatch with high baseline anti-ABO antibody titer (1:1,024). Bortezomib was used at 1, 3, 8, and 11 days from the start of the treatment. In the AAMR group, 3 patients showed full recovery of allograft function after bortezomib use and decrease in donor specific anti-HLA antibody (HLA-DSA). However, 3 patients did not respond to bortezomib and experienced allograft failure. In the DSZ group, negative conversion of T-CDC (complement-dependent cytotoxicity) was achieved, and HLA-DSA was decreased to lower than a weak level (median fluorescence intensity [MFI] < 5,000) in 2 patients. In the case of ABO mismatch kidney transplantation, the anti-A/B antibody titer decreased to below the target (< or = 1:16) after bortezomib therapy. Therefore, bortezomib could be an alternative therapeutic option for desensitization and treatment of AAMR that is unresponsive to conventional therapies.
Adult ; Boronic Acids/*therapeutic use ; Desensitization, Immunologic/*methods ; Female ; Graft Rejection/*drug therapy/*prevention & control ; HLA Antigens/immunology ; Humans ; Kidney/surgery ; Kidney Transplantation/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyrazines/*therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome