Regulatory effects of Poria on substance and energy metabolism in cold-deficiency syndrome compared with heat-deficiency syndrome in rats / 中国天然药物

Recent studies have revealed that the property of drug is mainly associated with the body's substance and energy metabolism. The present study aimed to evaluate the drug property of Poria, called Fuling (FL) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in terms of its effects on the substance and energy metabolism in rat models of cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency syndromes, compared with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia, called Fuzi (FZ) in TCM, with hot property, and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, called Zhimu (ZM) in TCM, with cold property, as reference drugs, respectively. The appearance score, toe and rectal temperatures of the animals treated were assessed at different time points. Several indices in vivo correlated with substance and energy metabolism (glucokinas, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome c oxydase, and Na-K-ATPase), endocrine system (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid), nervous system (acetylcholin esterase), and cyclic nucleotide system were determined. The changes in appearance score and indices in vivo suggested the successful establishment of cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency syndrome models. FZ reversed the decreased levels of indices (substance and energy metabolism and endocrine system) and alleviated the syndrome of cold-deficiency model, and ZM showed obviously therapeutic effect on heat-deficiency syndrome (appearance score, substance and energy metabolism, and endocrine system). FL could alleviate cold-deficiency syndrome and raise the decreased levels of glucokinas, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytochrome c reductase and triiodothyronine in cold-deficiency model, but had no significant effect on heat-deficiency syndrome. Drug property of FL was inferred as trending to "flat and warm", which still need further study. It was advisable to adopt both cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency models to study the drugs with "flat" property.

Regulatory effects of Poria on substance and energy metabolism in cold-deficiency syndrome compared with heat-deficiency syndrome in rats / 中国天然药物

Recent studies have revealed that the property of drug is mainly associated with the body's substance and energy metabolism. The present study aimed to evaluate the drug property of Poria, called Fuling (FL) in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in terms of its effects on the substance and energy metabolism in rat models of cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency syndromes, compared with Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia, called Fuzi (FZ) in TCM, with hot property, and Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, called Zhimu (ZM) in TCM, with cold property, as reference drugs, respectively. The appearance score, toe and rectal temperatures of the animals treated were assessed at different time points. Several indices in vivo correlated with substance and energy metabolism (glucokinas, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome c oxydase, and Na-K-ATPase), endocrine system (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and 17-hydroxycorticosteroid), nervous system (acetylcholin esterase), and cyclic nucleotide system were determined. The changes in appearance score and indices in vivo suggested the successful establishment of cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency syndrome models. FZ reversed the decreased levels of indices (substance and energy metabolism and endocrine system) and alleviated the syndrome of cold-deficiency model, and ZM showed obviously therapeutic effect on heat-deficiency syndrome (appearance score, substance and energy metabolism, and endocrine system). FL could alleviate cold-deficiency syndrome and raise the decreased levels of glucokinas, phosphoglycerate kinase, cytochrome c reductase and triiodothyronine in cold-deficiency model, but had no significant effect on heat-deficiency syndrome. Drug property of FL was inferred as trending to "flat and warm", which still need further study. It was advisable to adopt both cold-deficiency and heat-deficiency models to study the drugs with "flat" property.

Virulence determinants and drug resistance mechanisms of two linezolid-intermediate Enterococcus faecalis isolates from bloodstream infection / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To study virulence factors and drug resistance mechanism of linezolid-intermediate Enterococcus faecalis(E.faecalis) isolated from patients with bloodstream infection.Methods Two linezolid-intermediate E.faecalis strains,namely A and B,were isolated from two patients with bloodstream infection,the treatment of two patients was analyzed.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of linezolid and vancomycin were determined.The virulence genes (esp,asa1,gelE,ace,agg,efaA,cylA,and hyl) and linezolid resistance genes (domain V region of the 23SrRNA,cfr,cfr[B],optrA) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).PCR products of domain V region of 23SrRNA gene were sequenced and analyzed.Results Symptoms of two patients who isolated two linezolid-intermediate E.faecalis strains were controlled after accepted linezolid therapy.Strains A and B were both susceptible to vancomycin(MICs were 1μg/mL and 4μg/mL respectively),teicoplain,ampicillin,and nitrofurantoin,while intermediate to linezolid(MIC were both 4μg/mL).Two strains both contained multiple virulence factors,strain A were negative for cylA and hyl,strain B were negative for hyl and esp,but positive for other virulence genes.There was G2621T mutation in domain V region of 23SrRNA in strain A,and no variation was found in strain B.Drug resistance genes of cfr,cfr(B),and optrA were all negative in both strain A and B.Conclusion In the present study,two linezolid-intermediate E.faecalis strains isolated from patients with bloodstream infection were susceptible to vancomycin and ampicillin,although the treatment of linezolid in two patients is effective,the utilization of linezolid therapy in clinical practice still needs to be cautious.The mutation of target site is a significant resistance mechanism,it is necessary for us to pay more attention to these clinical strains which are non-susceptible to such antimicrobial agents,and the treatment strategy needs further study.

Determination of plasma protein binding rate of arctiin and arctigenin with ultrafiltration / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin and arctigenin.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The ultrafiltration combined with HPLC was employed to determine the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin and arctigenin as well as rat plasma and healthy human plasma proteins.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The plasma protein binding rate of arctiin with rat plasma at the concentrations of 64. 29, 32.14, 16.07 mg x L(-1) were (71.2 +/- 2.0)%, (73.4 +/- 0.61)%, (78.2 +/- 1.9)%, respectively; while the plasma protein binding rate of arctiin with healthy human plasma at the above concentrations were (64.8 +/- 3.1)%, (64.5 +/- 2.5)%, (77.5 +/- 1.7)%, respectively. The plasma protein binding rate of arctigenin with rat plasma at the concentrations of 77.42, 38.71, 19.36 mg x L(-1) were (96.7 +/- 0.41)%, (96.8 +/- 1.6)%, (97.3 +/- 0.46)%, respectively; while the plasma protein binding rate of arctigenin with normal human plasma at the above concentrations were (94.7 +/- 3.1)%, (96.8 +/- 1.6)%, (97.9 +/- 1.3)%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The binding rate of arctiin with rat plasma protein was moderate, which is slightly higher than the binding rate of arctiin with healthy human plasma protein. The plasma protein binding rates of arctigenin with both rat plasma and healthy human plasma are very high.</p>

Recovery of reproductive endocrine function after orthotopic fetal ovarian allotransplantation in rats / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the recovery of the reproductive endocrine function in rats following orthotopic transplantation of fetal ovarian allograft.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety female SD rats (50-60 days old) were randomized into graft recipient group (n=50), positive control group (n=20), and negative control group (n=20) to receive orthotopic transplantation of fetal (17-19 gestational days) ovaries following bilateral oophorectomy, sham abdominal surgery, and bilateral oophorectomy, respectively. At 45 days after the surgeries, serum estradiol and progesterone levels were measured and the ovaries were removed for evaluation of the ovarian volume and follicle development.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>On day 45 after the operations, the estradiol or progesterone levels showed no significant difference between the recipient group and positive control group (P>0.05), but both were significantly lowered in the negative control group (P<0.05). The ovarian volume was comparable between the recipient group and positive control group (P>0.05), and optical microscopy showed follicles in different stages of development and formation of corpus luteum in the ovaries in both groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fetal rat ovary allografts can develop into functional ovaries capable of ovulation to restore the reproductive endocrine function of recipient female rats.</p>

In vitro stimulation of retinoic acid syndrome by rotary cell culture system and its relationship with expression of CXCR4 and SDF-1 alpha / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the molecular mechanism and prevention of retinoic acid syndrome (RAS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SDF-1 alpha mRNA from healthy adult lung tissue was measured by RT-PCR, CXCR4 protein expression on the cell membrane of APL cells induced by ATRA (APL-ATRA) was tested by FCM, and the rotary cell culture system (RCCS) was used to build a modal for in vitro stimulation of APL-ATRA infiltrating human lung tissue. The ability of APL-ATRA in adhesion, migration and infiltration was observed by interference from DEX, Ara-C and DNR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The APL-ATRA cells could evidently infiltrate into normal lung tissue. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CXCR4 on the cell membrane of APL-ATRA cells was 30.6 +/- 1.8, which was much higher than that on unspecialized APL cells (9.8 +/- 4.2). SDF-1 alpha mRNA expression was detected positive in all 6 lung tissue. Contrary to the control groups, DEX could dramatically restrain the ability of APL-ATRA cells in adhesion and migration [(27.2 +/- 2.6)% vs. (46.0 +/- 3.0)%, (28.1 +/- 4.0)% vs. (48.2 +/- 3.0)%], while Ara-C and DNR could distinctly depress the ability in adhesion, migration and infiltration [(28.1 +/- 3.0)%, (30.2 +/- 3.2)% vs. (46.0 +/- 3.0)%; (29.0 +/- 4.0)%, (23.0 +/- 5.2)% vs. (48.2 +/- 3.0)%; (16.8 +/- 7.6)%, (17.1 +/- 6.0)% vs. (43.6 +/- 5.0)%].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In vitro APL-ATRA cells can infiltrate into the human lung tissue. High expression of CXCR4 on APL-ATRA and SDF-1 alpha in the lung tissue may be one of the molecular mechanisms of the lung infiltration and RAS. DEX, Ara-C and DNR can dramatically restrain the ability of APL-ATRA cells in adhesion, migration and infiltration.</p>

Correlation of thrombosis with increased platelet turnover in essential thrombocythemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the correlation of thrombosis with increased platelet turnover in essential thrombocythemia. According to presence or absence of thrombosis, 26 patients with ET were divided into two groups. Reticulated platelets (RP) were measured by flow cytometry and 26 healthy volunteers were selected as healthy controls. The ET patients with thrombosis were treated with hydroxyurea and interferon-alpha. The results demonstrated that the ET patients with thrombotic events had a significantly higher RP percentage (14.8% +/- 7.2%) than that in both asymptomatic ET patients (4.5% +/- 2.3%) and normal control (3.3% +/- 1.5%), (P < 0.05); the RP percentage in asymptomatic ET patients did not differ significantly from controls. ET patients with thrombosis also had a significantly higher absolute RP (ARP) count than those in ET patients without thrombosis [(176 +/- 37) x 10(9)/L vs (46 +/- 12) x 10(9)/L]. The ET patients with thrombosis were successfully treated with hydroxyurea plus INF-alpha, the RP percentage and ARP counts obviously reduced. In conclusion, when the ET patients had thrombotic events, those patients had a significantly higher RP percentage and ARP compared with patients without thrombosis and healthy controls. The ET patients with thrombosis were successfully treated with hydroxyurea plus INF-alpha.