[Effect of Zhenwu Decoction on electrical remodeling of cardiomyocytes in heart failure via I_(to)/Kv channels].

This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of Zhenwu Decoction in the treatment of heart failure by regulating electrical remodeling through the transient outward potassium current(I_(to))/voltage-gated potassium(Kv) channels. Five normal SD rats were intragastrically administered with Zhenwu Decoction granules to prepare drug-containing serum, and another seven normal SD rats received an equal amount of distilled water to prepare blank serum. H9c2 cardiomyocytes underwent conventional passage and were treated with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) for 24 h. Subsequently, 2%, 4%, and 8% drug-containing serum, simvastatin(SIM), and BaCl_2 were used to interfere in H9c2 cardiomyocytes for 24 h. The cells were divided into a control group [N, 10% blank serum + 90% high-glucose DMEM(DMEM-H)], a model group(M, AngⅡ + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a low-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z1, AngⅡ + 2% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoction + 8% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a medium-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z2, AngⅡ + 4% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoc-tion + 6% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), a high-dose Zhenwu Decoction-containing serum group(Z3, AngⅡ + 8% drug-containing serum of Zhenwu Decoction + 2% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), an inducer group(YD, AngⅡ + SIM + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H), and an inhibitor group(YZ, AngⅡ + BaCl_2 + 10% blank serum + 90% DMEM-H). The content of ANP in cell extracts of each group was detected by ELISA. The relative mRNA expression levels of ANP, Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein expression of Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2 was detected by Western blot. I_(to) was detected by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. The results showed that Zhenwu Decoction at low, medium, and high doses could effectively reduce the surface area of cardiomyocytes. Compared with the M group, the Z1, Z2, Z3, and YD groups showed decreased ANP content and mRNA level, increased protein and mRNA expression of Kv4.2, Kv4.3, DPP6, and KChIP2, and decreased protein and mRNA expression of Kv1.4, and the aforementioned changes were the most notable in the Z3 group. Compared with the N group, the Z1, Z2, and Z3 groups showed significantly increased peak current and current density of I_(to). The results indicate that Zhenwu Decoction can regulate myocardial remodeling and electrical remodeling by improving the expression trend of Kv1.4, Kv4.2, Kv4.3, KChIP2, and DPP6 proteins and inducing I_(to) to regulate Kv channels, which may be one of the mechanisms of Zhenwu Decoction in treating heart failure and related arrhythmias.

B Vitamins Supplementation Can Improve Cognitive Functions and May Relate to the Enhancement of Transketolase Activity in A Rat Model of Cognitive Impairment Associated with High-fat Diets.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether B vitamin treatment was sufficient to reduce cognitive impairment associated with high-fat diets in rats and to modulate transketolase (TK) expression and activity. METHODS: To test this, we separated 50 rats into five groups that were either fed a standard chow diet (controls) or a high-fat diet (experimental groups H0, H1, H2, and H3). H0 group animals received no additional dietary supplementation, while H1 group animals were administered 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) thiamine, 100 mg/kg BW riboflavin, and 250 mg/kg BW niacin each day, and group H2 animals received daily doses of 100 mg/kg BW pyridoxine, 100 mg/kg BW cobalamin, and 5 mg/kg BW folate. Animals in the H3 group received the B vitamin regimens administered to both H1 and H2 each day. RESULTS: Over time, group H0 exhibited greater increases in BW and fat mass relative to other groups. When spatial and memory capabilities in these animals were evaluated via conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and Morris Water Maze (MWM), we found B vitamin treatment was associated with significant improvements relative to untreated H0 controls. Similarly, B vitamin supplementation was associated with elevated TK expression in erythrocytes and hypothalamus of treated animals relative to those in H0 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Together, these findings suggest B vitamin can modulate hypothalamic TK activity to reduce the severity of cognitive deficits in a rat model of obesity. As such, B vitamin supplementation may be a beneficial method for reducing cognitive dysfunction in clinical settings associated with high-fat diets.

Molecular dynamic investigate the affection of EGFR by Tubemoside.

Tubemoside as a common traditional Chinese medicine is playing an important role in the field of prevention and treatment of lung cancer without any side effects. However, the reason and its mechanism remain unclear. In our study, the molecular dynamic simulation was used to investigate the mechanism at the molecular level. We found that the hydrogen bond network of proteins (three states of EGFR) was affected by Tubemoside. The movement and opening/closing state of protein was changed when combine with Tubemoside. The results of principal component analysis were used to prove the transform of proteins and the change of its movement. Electrostatic interactions of proteins also were studied. The numbers of active interaction sites will decrease while Tubemoside emerged in the protein, which will cause the activity change of EGFR for forming asymmetric dimers required for activation.

[Absorption mechanism of neobavaisoflavone in Caco-2 cell monolayer mode].

Neobavaisoflavone is one of flavonoids of traditional Chinese medicine Psoralea corylifolial. It has numerous biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-osteoporosis effects. This paper aimed to investigate the absorption mechanism of neobavaisoflavone in Caco-2 cell monolayer model. The analyte and osalmide were separated on Thermo Syncronis C18 column with methanol-0.1% formic acid solution (90∶10) as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.2 mL•min⁻¹. The concentration of neobavaisoflavone was determined in eletrospray ionization(ESI) positive ion mode with osalmide as an the internal standard. The effects of time, concentration, P-gp inhibitor verapamil, MRP-2 inhibitor MK-571 and BCRP inhibitor Ko143 on the absorption of neobavaisoflavone were investigated. According to the results, neobavaisoflavone showed a good linearity within the concentration of 10-2 000 µg•L⁻¹, and the results of its specificity, matrix effect, extraction recovery, precision, accuracy and stability all met the requirements. In the Caco-2 cell monolayer model, the transport volume of neobavaisoflavone was correlated positively with the time and concentration. The ER values of 15, 30, 50 µmol•L⁻¹ neobavaisoflavone were 1.64, 1.94,0.99, respectively. As compared with the control group, all of verapamil hyduochloride, MK-571 and Ko143 could promote the transportation of neobavaisoflavone, and the effect was more obvious in verapamil hyduochloride and Ko143. The absorption of neobavaisoflavone may be mainly of active transport in Caco-2 cell monolayer model, and also involve passive transport. Excretion mechanism of intestinal transport protein may be also involved.

[Determination of scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C in plants of Erycibe].

OBJECTIVE: An accurate and reliable analytical method for-simultaneous determination of six active components (scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C) in plants of Erycibe was developed. METHOD: Scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C in the samples were well separated in analytical HPLC by gradual elution with methanol-0.1% formic acid solution. The chromatographic condictions: Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column, flowing rate being 1 mL x min(-1), detecting wavelength at 345 nm. RESULT: Good linearities of scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C were in the range of 0.026 8-2.68, 0.027 0-2.70, 0.008 1-0.81, 0.018 8-1.88, 0.017 6-1.76, 0.019 6-1.96 µg, respectively (r > 0.999 6). The average recoveries of the six components were 98.1%, 98.7%, 100.8%, 100.4%, 99.7%, 101.1%; the relative standard deviations were 2.67%, 2.86%, 2.62%, 1.98%, 2.76%, 2.19%. CONCLUSION: The method is simple, feasible and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of plants of Erycibe.

[Determination of trace elements in sika bone powder by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with microwave digestion].

Contents of trace elements in sika bone powder were determined with microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits (3sigma, n = 11) are in the range of 0. 000 6-1. 498 ng x mL(-1) with relative standard deviations of 1.7%-6.8%. The recoveries are between 91% and 109%. The analytical results of national certified reference demonstrated the applicability of the proposed method.