Luteolin Protects Cardiomyocytes Cells against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Apoptosis and Inflammatory Damage by Modulating Nlrp3

Purpose@#In this article, we aimed to investigate the influences of luteolin on inflammatory injury to cardiomyocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). @*Materials and Methods@#H9c2 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of luteolin (10, 20, and 50 μM) for 12 h and then stimulated with 10 μg/mL LPS or no LPS for 6 h. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. QRT-PCR and Western blotting were utilized to examine mRNA and protein levels. ELISA was used to determine the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and IL-18 in cell supernatants among different groups of H9c2 cells. Immunofluorescence was applied to evaluate reactive oxygen species formation in H9c2 cells. M-mode images of echocardiography, the ejection fraction test, fractional shortening test, end-systolic volume test, and end-diastolic volume test of mouse heart function were obtained by ultrasonic electrocardiogram. @*Results@#Luteolin could alleviate inflammatory damage and inflammatory factor expression among LPS-induced H9c2 cells. Additionally, we found that luteolin decreased LPS-stimulated inflammatory damage in H9c2 cells by down-regulating NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (Nlrp3). Luteolin also improved myocardial function in mice treated with LPS and reduced myocardial relaxation. Luteolin reversed myocardial histological abnormalities in mice and reduced inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Additionally, luteolin inhibited oxidative stress-mediated myocardial and systemic tissue damage in mice. Finally, luteolin reduced LPS-induced inflammatory damage in mouse cardiomyocytes by down-regulating Nlrp3. @*Conclusion@#We found that luteolin could reduce inflammatory damage to cardiomyocytes induced by LPS by down-regulating Nlrp3.

Progress in molecular identification of snake drugs / 中国中药杂志

Snake drugs have high values in clinical medication for anti-inflammatory, analgesia activities and dredging collaterals. However, owing to their deficient resource and substantial profit, many counterfeits for snake drugs have appeared on the market. Traditional methods for Chinese medicine authentication include identification of origin, morphology identification, microscopy and physiochemical identification. But these methods are restricted in application because of their high morphological requirement for specimens, complex process for assays and indeterminate results guided by subjective. With the development of molecular biology and molecular genetic techniques, new theories and technologies for molecular detection have been introduced to the authentication of Chinese medicine, such as RAPD, specific PCR amplification, DNA barcoding analysis and so on, improved the authentication system of Chinese medicine. Here, we will give a brief review of molecular detection methods for snake drugs authentication.

Determination of S-isomer in Epinephrine Hydrochloride Injection by HPLC with Chiral Mobile Phase Additives / 医药导报

Objective To establish a method for the chiral separation and determination of S-isomer in epinephrine hydrochloride injection by HPLC with chiral mobile phase additives. Methods Column of Purospher? STAR RP-18 (4. 6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-10 mmol·L-1 sodium dihydrogen phosphate buffer containing 10 mmol·L-1 sulfobutylether-b-cyclodextrin (pH adjusted to 3. 0 with phosphoric acid) (98. 5:1. 5), detection wavelength was 280 nm, the flow rate was 0. 8 mL·min-1 , and the column temperature was 30 ℃ . Results Good linear relationship was established between the peak area and the concentration of S-isomer over the range of 5. 02-1501. 50 μg·mL-1 (R2 =0. 999 7). The detection limit was 0. 05 μg·mL-1 . Conclusion The proposed method shows high repeatability and durability. It can be employed for the quality control of S-isomer in epinephrine hydrochloride injection.

Simultaneous Determination of Two Components in Chlorphenamine Maleate and Ephedrine Nasal Drops by HPLC / 中国药师

Objective:To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of chlorphenamine maleate and ephedrine hydro-chloride in chlorphenamine maleate and ephedrine nasal drops by HPLC. Methods:An HPLC method was performed on a column of Purospher STAR RP18(150 mm × 4. 6 mm,5 μm)with the mobile phase of acetonitrile -potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer(pH 3. 0 ± 0. 1)(18:82 v/v)at the detection wavelength of 210 nm(adjusting the flow rate and column temperature to 1. 0 ml·min-1 and 35℃,respectively). The injection volume was 20 μl. Results:A good linear relationship was established between the peak response and the concentration of ephedrine hydrochloride and chlorphenamine maleate over the range of 19. 81-118. 85μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 6) and 6. 21-37. 25 μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 8),respectively. The mean recovery of ephedrine hydrochloride and chlorphenamine maleate was 100. 39%(RSD=0. 69%,n=9)and 100. 11%(RSD=0. 60%,n=9),respectively. Conclusion:The proposed method shows high repeatability,good durability and promising accuracy. It can be employed for the determination of two components in chlorphena-mine maleate and ephedrine nasal drops.

Method Validation of Microbial Limit Tests for Three Hospital Paste Preparations / 中国药师

Objective:To establish the method validation of microbial limit tests for hospital paste preparations, including com-pound salicylic acid paste, zinc oxide paste and compound pine tar paste. Methods:According to the microbial limit test described in China pharmacopoeia 2010 edition, the method validation of count of bacteria, fungi and yeasts and tests for specified microorganisms was established. Results:Medium dilution method could be used in bacteria, fungi and yeasts count and specified microorganisms ex-amination for compound salicylic acid paste and zinc oxide paste. For compound pine tar paste, bacteria, fungi and yeasts count and the pseudomonas aeruginosa examination could use medium dilution method, while the staphylococcus aureus examination should employ membrane filtration method. Conclusion:The methods of microbial limit tests for the three hospital paste preparations are established, which can be used to control the quality of hospital preparations effectively.

Quantitative pyrosequencing of heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms for rapid diagnosis of Down's syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a method to detect Down's syndrome through quantitative pyrosequencing of the heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the chromosome 21.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An improved allele-specific-amplification was used to screen heterozygous SNPs on the chromosome 21 from 84 normal samples. Pyrosequencing was used to quantitatively determine the ratio between the two alleles of a heterozygote, and the diagnosis of Down's syndrome was thus carried out based on the ratio.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By genotyping 84 genomic DNA samples from normal Chinese population, 6 SNPs with a relatively high level of heterozygosity were screened out. Heterozygote coverage of 92.9% was achieved by using a panel of 6 SNPs on the chromosome 21. Ten clinical samples from Down's syndrome patients were quantitatively determined by pyrosequencing, and 9 samples were accurately diagnosed by comparing the ratio of the two alleles. The pyrosequencing results showed that the ratio of the two alleles were 2:1 or 1:2 for the Down's syndrome patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method has the advantage of a low cost, simple process, and time-saving operation and could be potentially applicable to the rapid diagnosis of Down's syndrome.</p>

Direct multiplex-PCR from whole blood for rapid detection of Y chromosome microdeletions / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a rapid and simple method to detect Y chromosome microdeletions directly using whole blood as starting material for multiplex-PCR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using a self-prepared pHpH-Bufferq, multiplex-PCR amplification was directly carried out from the anticoagulant whole blood sample without DNA extraction step. Twelve sequence tagged sites (STS), namely SY84, SY86, SY127, SY134, SY124, SY132, SY152, SY157, SY239, SY242, SY254 and SY255, in AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc gene regions were detected in 5 different tubes. In order to ensure the validity of the experiments, sex-determining region Y (SRY) and X-linked or Y-linked zinc finger gene (ZFX/Y) were used as internal controls. Furthermore, conventional PCR using genomic DNA extracted from each blood sample was performed in parallel for evaluating the accuracy of the experiments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 156 male samples were detected, and a normal male sample and a female sample were used as a positive and a negative control respectively. The results showed that 144 samples had no deletion; one sample was AZF-deleted; one sample was AZFb-deleted; seven samples were AZFc-deleted; one sample was both AZFb- and AZFc- deleted; and two samples were all AZFa-, AZFb- and AZFc- deleted. The observed results from two kinds of starting material (whole blood and purified DNA) are completely consistent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In our method, PCR amplification was directly carried out from whole blood without any DNA extraction step. So it has the advantages of low cost, simple process, time-saving operation and less cross-contamination. The whole process can be completed within 2 hours. Thus the efficiency of clinical detection is improved greatly.</p>

A rapid PCR method to determine the types of cyp2d6~*10 alleles / 中国药理学通报

Aim To establish a new simple, easy and economical PCR method for determining cyp2d6~*10 allele and studying its distributive frequencies in Chinese population. Methods The new PCR are established and compared with the classical PCR-RFLP. The 224 samples have been determined with the new PCR.Results the results of the two methods go on the way. The allele distribution frequencies of cyp2d6~*10 resembles the reports. Conclusion the new method is proved to be accurate and convenient. It provides a genetics basis for the drug therapy with individuals in clinics.