Cardioprotective effects of anisodamine against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through the inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardioprotective effects of anisodamine against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the molecular mechanisms involved. The present results demonstrated that anisodamine attenuated myocardial infarct sizes, decreased the levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas it increased the left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure, the LV end­diastolic pressure, and the LV pressure maximum rising and falling rates in a myocardial I/R rat model. In addition, anisodamine was revealed to suppress oxidative stress, inflammatory factor production and myocardial cell apoptosis, as demonstrated by the downregulation of caspase­3 and apoptosis regulator BAX protein expression. The production of reactive oxygen species was decreased and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was downregulated, whereas the expression of endothelial NOS was enhanced. In addition, the activity of nicotinamide­adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (Nox) was suppressed and the expression of Nox4 was downregulated in rats with myocardial I/R injury. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that anisodamine exerted a cardioprotective effect against myocardial I/R injury in rats, through the inhibition of oxidative stress, the suppression of inflammatory processes and the inhibition of myocardial cell apoptosis.

A new 5-acyl-2-methylpyrrole from the endophytic fungus S20 of Cephalotaxus hainanensis.

A new 5-acyl-2-methylpyrrole, isolated from the endophytic fungus S20 of Cephalotaxus hainanensis, was elucidated as 1-(5-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-2-((2S*,3R*)-3-((E)-prop-1-enyl)oxiran-2-yl)ethanone (1) on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D- and 2D-NMR (HMQC, 1H-1H COSY, HMBC and ROESY) and MS analysis. Compound 1 showed inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus by the filter paper disc agar diffusion method.

[Correlativity of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with the area location of image].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the correlativity of the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with traction on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc with the three-dimensional location. METHODS: According to the three-dimensional location developed by HU You-gu, the position of the prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc in the spinal canal was located from the sagittal plain, frontal plain and horizontal plain. One hundred and thirty patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc and completion of clinical data were treated with acupuncture, and the therapeutic effects were analyzed with three-dimensional location. RESULTS: Among 98 cases in the effective group, 73 cases had the prolapse at the I plane in sagittal location, accounting for 74.49%, 82 cases had the prolapse at the 1, 2 zone in horizontal location, accounting for 83.68%, 52 cases had the prolapse at the a area in frontal location, accounting for 53.06%; among the 32 cases in the ineffective group, 10 cases had the prolapse at the I plane, accounting for 31.25%, 12 cases in the 1, 2 zone, accounting for 37.50%, 3 cases in the a area, accounting for 9.38%. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the location. CONCLUSION: The three-dimensional location can objectively show the size, direction, position, and the characteristics of the protruded discs, and correctly infer the pathological changes of the affected nerve root. Acupuncture combined with tract has a better effect on I plane, 1-2 zone, and a area.