Evodiamine alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by activating apelin pathway.

Inflammation can cause a series of inflammatory lung disease, which seriously endangers human health. Pulmonary fibrosis is a kind of inflammatory disease with end-stage lung pathological changes. It has complicated and unknown pathogenesis and is still lack of effective therapeutic drugs. LPS-induced inflammation is a common feature of many infectious inflammations such as pneumonia, bacteremia, glomerulonephritis, etc. Evodiamine, one of the main components of Evodia rutaecarpa, is an alkaloid with excellent antiinflammatory effects. In this study, we evaluated the protective capacities of evodiamine on LPS-induced inflammatory damages in vitro and in vivo. MTT method, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and other methods were used for in vitro study to determine the protective capacities of evodiamine. The results suggest that evodiamine can protect murine macrophages from the LPS-nigericin-induced damages by (a) inhibiting cellular apoptosis, (b) inhibiting inflammatory cytokines releasing, and (c) activating the apelin pathway. We also used the exogenous apelin-13 peptide co-cultured with LPS-nigericin in RAW264.7 cells and found that apelin-13 contributes to protecting the effects of evodiamine. In vivo, the ELISA method and immunohistochemistry were used to examine inflammatory cytokines, apelin, and histological changes. BALB/c mice were exposed to LPS and subsequent administration of evodiamine （p.o.）for some time, the results of the alveolar lavage fluid and the tissue slices showed that evodiamine treatment alleviated the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, stimulated apelin expression and inhibited the inflammatory cytokines. These results provide a basis for the protective effect and mechanism of evodiamine in LPS-induced inflammation and suggest that it might be potential therapeutics in human pulmonary infections.

[Effects of Shenwu capsule on learning-memory ability and cholinergic function of brain in AD-like rat model induced by chronic infusion of sodium azide by minipump].

Because of the proposed importance of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COX) decrease in Alzheimer's disease (AD) , the protective effect of Shenwu capsule on mitochondrial deficiency model rats and its pharmacological mechanism were investigated in present study. Rats were administered with azide at 1 mg . kg-1 . h-1 subcutaneously via an Alzet minipump for 30 days. Tweny-four hours after the operation, the rats were administered intragastrically by Shenwu capsule with the dose of 0. 45, 0. 9 and 1. 8 g . kg-1 . d-1 for one month. Then learning-memory ability was determined by the watermaze test and passive avoidance tests. The activity of choline-acetyl-transfertase(ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in hippocampus and cortex of rats were measured by radiochemical method and hydroxylamine colorimetry separately. M-cholinergic receptor binding ability (M-binding) was assayed by radio binding. Chronic infusion of sodium azide via minipump induced learning-memory deficiency of rats. Both ChAT activity and M-binding decreased in hippocampus and cortex of model rats, however, the activity of AChE increased in hippocampus and was not affected at the cortex. As the result, the cholinergic function of the brain decreased in model rats. Shenwu capsule significantly improved learning and memory ability and the mechanism may be related with the improved cholinergic function in model brain: ChAT activity and M-binding significantly increased in Shenwu treated groups compared with model group; and the increased activity of AChE in hippocampus returned to normal. Mitochondria, especially mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase, may play the key role in the early event of AD. Chronic, partial in vivo inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase in rats provides a suitable model mimicking several aspects of AD. Shenwu capsule indicate effectiveness in AD-like mitochondrial deficiency model rats, so it would be applied in the treatment of AD.

Comparison of enamel discoloration associated with bonding with three different orthodontic adhesives and cleaning-up with four different procedures.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare whether there was any difference in the enamel discoloration after staining when three orthodontic adhesives and four enamel clean-up methods were tested. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of orthodontic adhesives were used: chemically cured resin, light-cured resin and resin-modified glass-ionomer cement. A total of 120 human extracted premolars were included. 10 teeth of each orthodontic adhesive were randomly cleaned-up with one of four different procedures and stained in coffee for seven days: (1) carbide bur (TC); (2) carbide bur; Sof-Lex polishers (TC+SL); (3) carbide bur and one gloss polishers (TC+OG); and (4) carbide bur and PoGo polishers (TC+PG). Color measurements were made with Crystaleye dental spectrophotometer at baseline and after storage in a coffee solution one week. Two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were used for statistical analyses (P<0.05). RESULTS: The color change values of the adhesive materials in the TC groups were the greatest. The lowest ΔE* values were obtained from the TC+SL groups. However, there were no significant difference between the TC+SL and TC+PG groups (P>0.05). The resin-modified glass-ionomer cement groups showed the lowest color differences and chemically cured resin groups showed the highest ΔE* values among all the orthodontic adhesives (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The color change of enamel surface was affected by the type of adhesive materials and cleanup procedures.

Correlation of the cerebral microvascular blood flow with brain temperature and electro-acupuncture stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the temperature and the microvascular blood flow of the cerebral cortex, and the influence of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the cortical microcirculation. METHODS: High temperature spots on the anterior ectosylvian and low temperature spots on the posterior suprasylvian on the cortical surface of 20 cats were identified using cortical infrared thermography (CIT); the blood flow in the microcirculation on these spots was measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry. EA was given at Zusanli (ST 36) and changes in the blood flow in the cerebral cortex microcirculation were detected. RESULTS: 1) The mean temperatures on the high (34.83 +/- 0.24 degrees C) and low (32.28 +/- 0.27 degrees C) temperature spots were significantly different (P < 0.001); this was indicative of a temperature difference on the cortical surface; 2) The average blood flow in the microcirculation of the high (266.8 +/-19.2 PU) and low (140.8 +/- 9.9 PU) temperature spots was significantly different (P < 0.001). 3) On the cortical high temperature spots, the mean blood flow in the microcirculation significantly increased from 266.8 +/- 86.8 PU before EA, to 422.5 +/- 47.4 PU following 5 minutes of EA (58.35%; P < 0.01), and 431.8 +/- 52.8 PU 5 minutes after ceasing EA (61.84%; P < 0.01). 4) On the low temperature spots, there were no significant differences in blood flow following 5 minutes of EA (146.3 +/- 11.5 PU), and 5 minutes after ceasing EA (140.5 +/- 11.6 PU), when compared with that before acupuncture (140.8 +/- 9.9 PU; P > 0.9). CONCLUSION: The high temperature spots of the cortex are active functional regions of neurons with higher blood flow and a stronger response to EA. EA induces a significant increase in blood flow in the high temperature spots of the cortex.

Study on phytoestrogenic-like effects of four kinds of Chinese medicine including Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Chuanxiong / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the phytoestrogenic-like effects of four kinds of Chinese medicine including Radix rehmanniae preparata, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Chuanxiong.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sixty immature female SD rats weighting (70 +/- 5) g were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group, positive control group and 4 Chinese medicine groups. The rats in different groups were treated for 4 days. On the fifth day, animals were sacrificed and uteri were separated solely and weighed. The blood was collected, and serum was separated. The effect of the pharmacological serum on proliferation assay with human breast cancer cell line (MCF7) by MTT method. Cell-cycle analyses were carried out with propidium iodide staining by flow cytometer. The expressions of subtypes-estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) were detected by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Angelicae Sinensis could increase the immature rat's uterus wet weight and the ratio of uterus to body weight (P < 0.05). The pharmacological serum of the four kinds of Chinese medicine stimulated proliferation of MCF7 cell respectively compared with normal control group (P < 0.01). The cell cycle was impulsed from G1 to S, DNA synthesizing was inhanced, and PI was also increased. The pharmacological serum of Radix Angelicae Sinensis and Rhizoma Chuanxiong could increase the expressions of (ERalpha) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Radix Rehmanniae Preparata, Radix Paeoniae Alba and Radix Angelicae sinensis have phytoestrogenic effects. But the data werent consistent with in vitro and in vivo assay of Rhizoma Chuanxiong.</p>

[Evaluation of tongue manifestation of blood stasis syndrome and its relationship with blood rheological disorder in a rat model of transient brain ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the tongue tissue blood oxygen saturation measurement for evaluating tongue manifestation of blood stasis syndrome, and to explore its correlation with blood rheological disorder in a rat model of acute transient brain ischemia. METHODS: Twenty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group and ischemia group. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced by thread in rats of the ischemia group. Tongue tissue blood oxygen saturation, neurological severity score and the changes of blood viscosity, red blood cell deformity, thrombin time and fibrinogen in the rats were measured after 24-hour reperfusion. RESULTS: Blood viscosity and the content of fibrinogen in the ischemia group were significantly higher than those in the sham-operated group. Red blood cell deformity, thrombin time and tongue tissue blood oxygen saturation in the ischemia group were decreased as compared with the sham-operated group. There was a positive correlation between red blood cell deformity and tongue tissue blood oxygen saturation. CONCLUSION: Tongue tissue blood oxygen saturation is a good measurement for evaluating blood stasis in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia, and this model can be used as a rat model of stroke with blood stasis syndrome.

Learning-memory deficit with aging in APP transgenic mice of Alzheimer's disease and intervention by using tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate learning-memory deficit in different ages of AD-like APP transgenic mice and to observe the protective effects of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (TSG), which is the main component of Polygonum multiflorum, on learning-memory abilities. METHODS: PDAPPV717I transgenic (Tg) mice were randomly divided into 3 model groups (4, 10 and 16 months old mice) and TSG treated (at doses 120 and 240 micromol/kg/d) groups. TSG was administered to some Tg mice with an age range 4-10 months. In untreated 10 months old Tg mice, the TSG was administrated to those falling in the age range 10-16 months. For the control group we adopted the same age and background C57BL/6J mice. The learning-memory ability was measured by applying Morris water maze (MWM) and object recognition test (ORT). RESULTS: In the 4 months old PDAPPV717I Tg mice, the learning-memory deficit was detected. The escape latency in MWM was prolonged, and the discrimination index decreased in ORT. In the 10 months old Tg mice, the learning-memory deficit was aggravated. TSG improved all spatial learning-memory impairment in MWM as well as the object recognition impairment in ORT. In the 16 months old Tg mice, the learning-memory deficit remained to exist but abated a lot. TSG showed significant improvement in learning-memory ability in both MWM and ORT. CONCLUSION: PDAPPV717I transgenic mice with an age range 4-16 months revealed the existence of learning-memory deficit compared with the control group. Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside not only prevents, i.e. at an early stage, the learning-memory deficit in AD-like model, but also can reverse the learning-memory deficit in the late stage of AD-like model. Thus, TSG could be considered among the future therapeutic drugs indicated for the treatment of AD.

[Effect of shenwu capsule on the peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA of rat model induced by beta-amyloid injection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the new Traditional Chinese Compound Shenwu Capsule on the damage of lymphocyte DNA and lipid peroxidation in peripheral blood of rats induced by beta-amyloid injection. METHOD: The animal model was made by injection of beta-amyloid25-35 into hippocampus of rats. DNA damage of lymphocytes was measured by the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) combined with the laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by TBA assay. RESULT: Shenwu Capsule decreased the rate of the comet-like cell, comet-like cell lengh (TCL), and tail moment (TM) of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of model rats. Shenwu Capsule also declined the MDA content in serum of Abeta model rats. CONCLUSION: Shenwu Capsule has protective effect on peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA.