Therapeutic effect of curcumin and hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor on a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT:Objective To study the effect of curcumin on the learning and memory ability in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods AD rat model was prepared using intraventricular injection of Aβ1-42. Curcumin was acutely (single injection before the behavioral tests)or chronically (injected for 6 consecutive days) injected intraperitoneally at doses of 50,100 or 300 mg/kg.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)protein (1 μg/side)or BDNF shRNA (2×10 5 units/side)was infused into the hippocampus.The behavioral changes in Y-maze,open field test and Morris water maze and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus were analyzed. Results Acute treatment with curcumin had no significant effects on the spontaneous alteration,locomotor activity or water maze latency of AD rats.AD rats treated chronically with curcumin (300 mg/kg ) showed significant elevation in the spontaneous alternation (P <0.000 1)in Y-maze and memory ability in the water maze test (P <0.05 )compared with those in the saline group.Chronic treatment with 100 and 300 mg/kg of curcumin induced an increased level of BDNF in the hippocampus as compared with the saline controls (P <0.05 and <0.000 1). Intrahippocampal injection of BDNF significantly decreased the escape latency of AD rats in the water maze (F 4,2 9 5=5.813,P <0.01 ).Rats chronically injected with curcumin combined with shBDNF showed no difference in the swimming time in Ⅱ quadrant as compared with saline controls (P =0.657).However,rats in 100 mg/kg curcumin group,BDNF group and sham group had significantly increased swimming time than the saline controls (P <0.05, P <0.05 and P <0.000 1,respectively).Conclusion Curcumin may activate the downstream signaling pathways by upregulating the expression of BDNF and ultimately contribute to the improvement of learning and memory in AD rats.

Sorafenib combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of a patient with renal cell carcinoma plus primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

The combination of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare, and the prognosis for patients with these two cancers is poor. In the past decade, molecular targeted therapy and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have emerged and these treatments are now playing an increasingly important role in the management of patients with advanced primary RCC and HCC. In this case report, a 72-year-old male patient diagnosed as having RCC invading the renal vein and grade I-II HCC was treated with RFA and sorafenib (400 mg twice daily). After 3 months of this combination treatment, an evaluation of his target lesions showed stable disease (SD), and progression-free survival (PFS) times were 28 months weeks for RCC and 16 months weeks for HCC. Overall survival (OS) was 40 weeks.

Efficacy of compound Xiatianwu tablets in elderly patients with osteoporotic distal radius fractures / 中国中药杂志

Xiatianwu tablet is based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), combined with modern TCM pharmacology and selected 33 famous traditional Chinese crude drugs to compose. Its recipe helps cure rheumatism, relax tendons, promote blood circulation to relieve pain, et al. Although Xiatianwu tablets are widely applied to clinical remedy such as rheumatic arthritis, lumbar disc hernia, osteoarthritis and so on, there is no report about its application in fracture. This article is to observe the efficacy of compound Xiatianwu tablets in elderly patients with osteoporotic distal radius fractures and its impact on the wrist function and complications. 180 elderly patients with osteoporotic distal radius fractures, from January 2011 to June 2014, were divided into observation group and control group by the method of random number table, each group had 90 cases. The control group were gave Caltrate D after manipulative reduction and plaster immobilization, observation group were treated with compound Xiatianwu tablets in the basis of the control group. Efficacy, wrist function and complication rates were observed in two groups after treatment. The excellent and good rate was 95.56% in observation group better than 77.78% in control group, the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 4.712, P < 0.05). The complication rate in observation group was significantly lower compared with the control group (P < 0.05). This study shows that compound Xiatianwu tablets can improve the efficacy in elderly patients with osteoporotic distal radius fractures, reduce the incidence of complications and relieve the pain of patients which plays a significant role in improving the quality of life.

Clinical study on treatment of carotid atherosclerosis with extraction of polygoni cuspidati rhizoma et radix and crataegi fructus: a randomized controlled trial / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of detoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn on carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque integral and plaque stability related serum indexes of patients with carotid atherosclerosis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sixty and four cases of carotid artery atherosclerosis patients were assigned randomly to 2 groups: detoxifying and blood circulation activating treatment group (treatment group, 32 cases) and control group (32 cases). Patients in treatment group were treated with capsules of extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn, 1 pill po, bid (dosage of administration: polygonum cuspidatum extraction 5.33 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), hawthorn extraction 5.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)); patients in control group were treated with lovastatin 20 mg po, qd (dosage of administration: 0.33 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The course of treatment was six months. To observe changes of IMT, plaque integral, and detect the level of plaque stability related serum indexes such as Hs-CRP, MMP-1 and TIMP-1.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>After 6 months of treatment, in control group one patient quit the clinical trial because of liver dysfunction and one patient was rejected because of having not followed the therapeutic regimen. 32 cases in treatment group and 30 cases in control group were analyzed. The results showed that IMT and plaque integral of treatment group decreased significantly after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference compared with control grope. Serum Hs-CRP, MMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1 decreased after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the treatment group was superior to control group in decreasing serum Hs-CRP (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detoxifying and blood circulation activating Chinese herb extraction of polygonum cuspidatum and hawthorn has good effect of anti-atherosclerosis and promoting plaque stability. Its mechanism might be related with anti-inflammation and inhibiting degradation of extracellular matrix, and deserves further studies.</p>

Synergism between carnosic acid and arsenic trioxide on induction of acute myeloid leukemia cell apoptosis is associated with modulation of PTEN/Akt signaling pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the synergistic effects of carnosic acid (CA) with arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) on proliferation and apoptosis in HL-60 human myeloid leukemia cells, and the major cellular signaling pathway involved in these effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HL-60 cellular proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were monitored by flow cytometry. The activation of casepase-9, Bcl-2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD), p-BAD, p27, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), Akt, p-Akt was assessed by Western blot analysis. The expression of PTEN mRNA was tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CA reduced HL-60 cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and induced G1 arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, CA upregulated PTEN expression, blocked the Akt signaling pathway, subsequently inhibited phosphorylation of BAD, reactivated caspase-9, and elevated levels of p27. CA also augmented these effects of As₂O₃.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CA might be a novel candidate of the combination therapy for leukemia treatment; these effects were apparently associated with the modulation of PTEN/Akt signaling pathway.</p>

The progress of the research on cardio-vascular effects and acting mechanism of polydatin / 中国结合医学杂志

Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati, a Chinese herbal drug, has actions of dispelling dampness, alleviating jaundice, clearing heat, subsiding toxin, activating blood, and removing stasis. Polydatin (PD), one of its chief active ingredients, has been proved by modern pharmacological studies to possess extensive cardiovascular pharmacological activity, showing marked effects on protecting cardio-myocyte, dilating blood vessel, antagonizing platelet aggregation, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. The progress of the research on cardiovascular pharmacological actions and the acting mechanism of PD was reviewed in this paper.

Chinese herbal decoction Shiquan Dabu Tang inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis of metastasis after primary tumor surgical removal in mice / 中西医结合学报

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shiquan Dabu Tang (SDT) on growth and angiogenesis of subcutaneously implanted tumors, hepatic metastases, and incision-implanted tumors after surgical removal of primary colon tumor in mice.

Effects of supplement of thyroxine for hypothyroid pregnant rat on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx2.1 mRNA in the offspring's cerebrum tissue / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effects of thyroid hormone on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx2.1 mRNA in child rat by supplying their hypothyroidism pregnant mother with different dose of levothyroxine (L-thyroxine, L-T(4)) in different times.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>120 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups according to the body weight: control group, non-treatment hypothyroidism group, hypothyroidism groups supplied with L-T(4) in high, medium and low dosage in early stage (1st-17th day of pregnancy) and in late stage (18th day of pregnancy-20th day after childbirth). According to 100 grams of body weight, the concentrations of L-T(4) were 3.5, 2.0, 0.5 µg/d in high, medium and low dosage group. All the rats were fed with low-iodine food. The control group was given 200 µg/L potassium iodate solution as drinking water and the other groups were given deionized water. After three months, the rats were mated with normal male rats. After the pregnancy was confirmed, hypothyroidism groups were supplied with L-T(4) of different concentrations. Brain samples were taken from the 17-day fetal rats, new-born and 20-day old offsprings and the levels of Nkx2.1 mRNA in brain tissue were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of TT(3) in hypothyroidism groups supplied with L-T(4) in high, medium and low dosages in early and late pregnant stages, non-treatment hypothyroidism group and control group were (0.85 ± 0.17), (0.81 ± 0.18), (0.86 ± 0.21), (0.85 ± 0.20), (0.89 ± 0.18), (0.85 ± 0.20), (0.86 ± 0.20), (1.08 ± 0.07) nmol/L (F = 4.08, P < 0.01); the levels of TT(4) in each group were (0.43 ± 0.16), (0.39 ± 0.11), (0.39 ± 0.13), (0.43 ± 0.17), (0.51 ± 0.19), (0.43 ± 0.16), (0.41 ± 0.15), (39.43 ± 14.16) nmol/L (F = 31.99, P < 0.01); the levels of FT(3) in each group were (3.29 ± 0.61), (3.29 ± 0.61), (3.24 ± 0.61), (3.28 ± 0.63), (3.31 ± 0.59), (3.28 ± 0.50), (3.24 ± 0.49), (4.93 ± 0.46) pmol/L (F = 5.79, P < 0.01); the levels of FT(4) in each group were (3.38 ± 0.80), (3.31 ± 0.67), (3.29 ± 0.73), (3.27 ± 0.71), (3.48 ± 0.81), (3.56 ± 0.66), (3.29 ± 0.61), (27.29 ± 4.53) pmol/L (F = 26.34, P < 0.01). The expression of Nkx2.1 mRNA in non-treatment hypothyroidism group (9.15 × 10(-5) ± 9.17 × 10(-5)) was lower than control group (65.1 × 10(-5) ± 40.90 × 10(-5)) in 17th day of pregnancy (t = 66.224, P < 0.05); the expression of Nkx2.1 mRNA in non-treatment hypothyroidism group (3.16 × 10(-5) ± 0.142 × 10(-5)) was lower than control group (55.6 × 10(-5) ± 51.05 × 10(-5)) in new-born (t = 102.225, P < 0.05); the expression of Nkx2.1 mRNA in non-treatment hypothyroidism group (8.09 × 10(-5) ± 8.21 × 10(-5)) was lower than control group (13.9 × 10(-5) ± 7.43 × 10(-5)) in 20th day after birth (t = 9.235, P < 0.05). The trend of Nkx2.1 mRNA in hypothyroidism groups was decreased in group supplied with L-T(4) in medium dosage in early stage descends in 17th day of pregnancy, new-born and 20th day after birth (57.1 × 10(-5) ± 22.90 × 10(-5)), (30.8 × 10(-5) ± 27.20 × 10(-5)), (17.1 × 10(-5) ± 0.623 × 10(-5)) (F = 13.394, P < 0.01). The expression of Nkx2.1 mRNA in hypothyroidism groups supplied with L-T(4) in medium dosage in early stage in 17th day of pregnancy, new-born and 20th day after childbirth was closest to the control group in every period (t values were 0.225, 0.336, 0.345, all P values > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The difference in the expression of homeobox gene Nkx2.1 mRNA is highly related to the level of thyroid hormone.</p>

Effects of thyroid hormone on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx6.1 in the cerebrum tissue of offspring of hypothyroidism rat / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To explore the effects of thyroid hormone on the expression of homeobox gene Nkx6.1 in offspring of hypothyroidism rats and the relationship between gene expression and hormone level by supplying their hypothyroidism pregnant mother with thyroid hormone. Method A total of 240 Wistar rats were half nude and half female. Female rats were randomly divided into eight groups: control, hypothyroidism group, hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone in high, medium and low dosage in early stage(1- 17 d) and in late stage( 18 - 20 d). According to 100 grams of body weight, the concentration of thyroid hormone were 3.5,2.0,0.5 μg/d in high, medium and low dosage group. All the rats were fed with low-iodine food. The normal control group was given KIO_3 solution and the other groups were given deionized water. After three months female rats were mated with male rats. The content of Nkx6.1 mRNA in brain tissue of 17-day fetal rats, new-born and 20- day old offspring by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR techniques. Results①A rat model of hypothyroidism was successfully established, there were statistical significance between 8 groups in TT_3,TT_4,FT_3,FT_4(F=4.08,31.99,5.79,26.34, all P < 0.01 ). ② The expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(F = 758.720, 1121.589,144.716, all P < 0.01 ) between groups in 17-day fetal rats, new-bern and 20-day old offsprings and intra- groups in different time (F=2898.863,325.605,716.285,56.329,236.727,196.678,7115.752,9152.306, all P < 0.01 ). ③The time factor and dosage factor had influence on Nkx6.1 mRNA expression(F = 1176.655,246.530, all P < 0.01 ). There were interaction between time and dosage factor(F = 1249.934, P < 0.01 ). ④Comparison of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism group and normal control group had significant difference in the above three time points(all P < 0.01 ). ⑤Comparisons of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between 6 hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone and hypothyroidism group had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) in new-bern and 20-day old offspring; comparisons of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with high and medium thyroid hormone and hypothyroidism group had significant difference in 17-day fetal rats(all P < 0.01 ). ⑥Comparison of Nkx6.1 mRNA expression between hypothyroidism groups which were supplied with medium thyroid hormone in early stage and normal control group had no statistical significance (all P > 0.05), while between the other 5 groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone and normal control group had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) in the above three time points.⑦Multiple comparison of early stage groups which were supplied with thyroid hormone showed that the expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(all P < 0.01) between high, low dosage groups and medium group in 17-day fetal rats, new-bern and 20-day offspring(all P< 0.01). ⑧Multiple comparison of late stage groups supplied with thyroid hormone showed that old offspring and between high dosage groups and low dosage groups in 17-day fetal rats and 20-day the expression of Nkx6.1 mRNA had significant difference(all P < 0.01 ) between three groups in new-bern and 20- day old offspring. Conclusion The expression of Nkx6.1 in rats offspring is highly related to the supply dosage and supply time of thyroid hormone in hypothyroidism pregnant rats.

Overdose of iodine on expression of CCK gene in rat brains / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of overdose iodine on the expression of CCK gene in brains of rats and identify the possible mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One-month weaning Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups which were fed with normal feedstuff and water supplemented with different concentrations of potassium iodide, named A group (iodine ration was about 6.15 microg per day), B group (iodine ration was about 30.75 microg per day), C group (iodine ration was about 61.5 microg per day), D group (iodine ration was about 307.5 microg per day) and E group (iodine ration was about 615 microg per day). Rats were sacrificed after being fed for three or six months. Then serum thyroid hormones were measured by radioimmunoassay and the mRNA level of CCK gene was studied by using RT-PCR technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of three months, the values of thyroid hormones in E group [TT4 (45.2 +/- 13.7) nmol/L, TI'3 (0.65 +/- 0.20) nmol/L, FT3 (0.93 +/- 0.45) pmol/L, FT4 (7.07 +/- 2.43) pmol/L, rT3 (0.15 +/- 0.04) nmol/L] were all lower than those in A group [TT4 (76.0 +/- 18.8) nmol/L, TT3 (1.34 +/- 0.41) nmol/L, FT3 (2.45 +/- 0.62) pmol/L, FT4 (15.12 +/- 3.40) pmol/L, rT3 (0.24 +/- 0.04) nmol/L]. There were significant differences between E group and A group on the levels of serum TH (F values are 14.68, 16.03, 21.16, 20.25, 13.52 respectively, P < 0.01); FT3 levels in C and D groups were significantly decreased as compared to A and B groups (F = 21.16, P < 0.05). rT3 level in D group was significantly decreased compared with A,B and C groups (F = 13.52, P < 0.05). At the end of six months, the levels of serum TH in E group (TT4 (51.84 +/- 15.83) nmol/L, TT3 (0.77 +/- 0.22) nmol/L, FT4 (6.88 +/- 2.23) pmol/L, FT3 (0.74 +/- 0.28) pmol/L, rT3 (0.14 +/- 0.03) nmol/L) were lower than those in any other groups (F values were 6.05, 12.22, 11.25, 13.42, 5.89 respectively, P < 0.05). At the end of both three and six months, the mRNA levels of CCK gene in E group were lower than any other groups (F values were 4.04, 3.95 respectively, P < 0.01). The results of correlation analysis showed that serum FT4 had linear correlation with levels of CCK mRNA (r values were 0.990, 0.948 respectively; P < 0.05); However serum FT3 had no linear correlation with the levels of CCK mRNA (r values are 0.970, 0.932 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Exposure to overdose of iodine (iodine ration was 100-fold higher than that of A group) could decrease the mRNA level of CCK gene. Compared with FT3, FT4 might have more important role on the regulation of CCK mRNA induced by excess of iodine.</p>

Effect of five species of Epimedium on growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Epimedium brevicornum, E. sagittatum, E. koreanum, E, wushanense and E. elongntum on the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>According to the paired design method, either femur of each chichen embryo was put into the control tube with the medium containing no Epimedium injection, and the other was put into the treated tube with the medium containing 3% Epimedium injection. The length and weight of cultured cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell (MTY method) were used as the indices to observe the cartilage biological activities of the five species of Epimedium in culture.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The results showed that the indices of length, weight and MTT in the E. brevicornum and E. sagittatum group were significantly higher than those in the contral group, but the above indices in groups E. koreanum, E. wushanens and E. elongntum were similar to those of the control with no statistical difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>E. brevicornum and E. sagittatum can improve the growth of cartilage and proliferation of cartilage cell in vitro, and other three Epimedium have not the same effect in this test.</p>

Clinical efficacy of shenzhe zhuyun mixture in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of Shenzhe Zhuyun mixture (SZM) in treating esophageal lesion in patients with systemic sclerosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four patients conforming to the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups, the treated group and the control group treated respectively by SZM and cisapride, with the blank preparation imitating the contrast one, the treatment course to both groups was 2 months. The clinical efficacy, the changes in symptom scores of esophageal lesion, the orthostatic and clinostatic time of barium passing through esophagus, the clinostatic esophageal emptying index of barium, and the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophageal segment, as well as the influence of treatment on patients' quality of life were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate in the treated group was superior to that in the control group (96.9% vs 56.2%, P < 0.01). Symptom of esophageal lesion was significantly improved after treatment in both groups (P<0.01), and the improvement in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P <0.01). The time of Barium passing through esophagus, both orthostatic and clinostatic, and the esophageal emptying index of barium were improved in the treated group (P < 0.01), but the change of the widest transverse diameter of ectatic esophagus was insignificantly improved. While in the control group, excepting the clinostatic time of barium passing through was improved (P<0.01), the other indexes showed no obvious change. Patients' quality of life was significantly improved in the treated group, but improvement didn't revealed in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SZM can reinforce esophageal dynamic function in patients with systemic sclerosis, it can be an effective TCM prescription in treating esophageal lesion for them.</p>

Cloning, expression and sequence analysis and tissue distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene in adult mice / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>o clone angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2) gene, to analyze its amino acids and nucleotides sequence and to investigate tissue distribution of ACE2 in adult mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The full-length ACE2 encoding sequence was amplified from the RNA of mice kidney tissue by RT-PCR technique, cloned into plasmid pGEM-T easy, then subcloned into plasmid pcDNA3.1+. After identification of DNA sequence, the recombinant plasmid pmACE2 was transfected into Cos7 cells with lipofectin reagent. The transient expression of ACE2 molecule was detected by SDS-PAGE. Sequence analysis was conducted with CLUSTALX program. Tissue distribution of ACE2 in mice was detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A fragment about 2.6 kb was amplified and the recombinant plasmid pmACE2 was confirmed by two-enzyme digesting and DNA sequencing. The cloned DNA sequence was consistent with that previously reported, except for 3 variations: A701G, T1102C and T1330C. SDS-PAGE proved that expression of a soluble, truncated products form of ACE2 was a glycoprotein of approximately 80 kD in Cos7 cells. The predicted mice ACE2 sequence contained an N-terminal signal sequence (amino acid residues 1-18), a single HHEMGHIQ zinc-binding domain (amino acid residues 373-380) and C-terminal membrane anchor (amino acid residues 738-765). Mice ACE2 showed 84 % identity with that of human, and 90 % identity with that of rat. Expression of ACE2 was the greatest in lungs, hearts and kidneys, and moderate levels were also detected in testes and livers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mice ACE2 gene has been cloned and successfully expressed in vitro. The tissue-specific expression of ACE2 in different species is not identical.</p>

Effects of puerarin on number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether puerarin can augment endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) numbers, promote EPC proliferation, migration and adhesion.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After 7 days culture, attached cells were stimulated with puerarin (to make a series of final concentrations: 0. 1, 0.5, 1, 3 mmol x L(-1)) or vehicle control for the respective time points (6, 12, 24, 48 h). EPCs were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPCs proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis activity were assayed with MT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating those on fibronectin-coated dishes, then adherent cells were counted.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Incubation of isolated human MNCs with puerarin dose increased the number of EPCs, maximum at 3 mmol x L(-1), 24 hours (approximately 1-fold increase, P < 0.01). In addition, puerarin also promoted EPC proliferative, migratory, adhesive and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Puerarin can augment the number of EPCs with enhanced functional activity.</p>

Comparison on ingredients between cultured cell and cultivated Saffron pistils / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences of active ingredients between tissue cultured cells and cultivated saffron pistils.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The experiment was carried out by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The data indicated that the species and contents active ingredients in saffron pistils from different places were different. The species of active ingredients in tissue cultured cells are less than those in cultivated saffron pistils. However, the quantity of crocin A, which showed good anticancer effect, is 2-3 times more than that in cultivated saffron pistils.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The active ingredients of the tissue cultured cells are similar to those of saffron pistils, but their contents are different. Therefore, the tissue cultured cells can only be the part-substitutes of cultivated saffron pistils.</p>

Effects of Ginkgo biloba extract on number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells from peripheral blood / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate whether Ginkgo biloba extract can augment endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) number, and promote EPC proliferation, migration and adhesion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total mononuclear cells (MNCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and then the cells were plated on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. After 7 days of culture, attached cells were stimulated with Ginkgo biloba extract (10, 25 and 50 mg x L(-1)) or vehicle control for the respective time points (6, 12, 24 and 48 h). EPC were characterized as adherent cells double positive for DiLDL-uptake and lectin binding by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPC were further documented by demonstrating the expression of CD34, VEGFR-2 and AC133 with flow cytometry. EPC proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis activity were assayed with MTT assay, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenesis kit, respectively. EPCs adhesion assay was performed by replating MNCs on fibronectin-coated dishes, and then counting adherent cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Incubation of isolated human MNCs with Ginkgo biloba extract increased the number of EPC, maximum at 25 mg x L(-1), 24 hours (approximately 1-fold increase, P < 0.01). In addition, Ginkgo biloba extract promotes EPC proliferative, migratory, adhesive and in vitro vasculogenesis capacity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ginkgo biloba may promote EPC augmentation and enhance its functional activity.</p>

The effect of acupunctural and moxibustional therapy on the apoptosis of breast cell MCF-7 / 中国现代普通外科进展

Objective:To observe the effect on the apoptosis of breast cancer cell MCF-7 with acupunctural and moxibustional therapy.Methods:Zusanli and Sanyinjiao neiguan in both sides of female Wistar mice were acupunctured and moxibusted.MCF-7 cell was cultirated with the serum.To detecte the cytoxicity with MTT,and detecte the apoptosic rate and Fas expression rate with flow cytometry after 72 hours.Results:The Fas expression was obviously increased upto 57.70% after 72h.The proliferation of MCF-7 was inhibited remarkably.The inhibition rate were 17.55%,24.71% and 31.85% after 12h,24h and 72h.The apoptosic rate were 8.72% and 10.18% after 72h,remarkably higher than the control group(P

Analysis of contents of berberine in Coptis chinensis of Lichuan / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the contents of berberine in Coptis chinensis of Lichuan and establish its best cultivation scheme.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>We used high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure the contents of berberine at different altitude, growth age, and leaves.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Analytic data showed that the growth age and firry woods shading did not affect the contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis. Low altitude was more suitable for Coptis chinensis to synthesize berberine. The contents of berberine in rhizome of Coptis chinensis with floral leaf were higher than those with lusterless and lustrous leaves, but no significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The synthesis of berberine is closely correlated with shading conditions. It is recommended that the shading ratio should be reduced or the sheds removed in the middle growth age (2-3 years), and then the herb should be reshaped at the last year to enhance the synthesis of berberine, so as to obtain high-quality Coptis chinensis in the harvest.</p>

Effect of puerarin on L-type calcium channel in isolated rat ventricular myocytes / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Puerarin on L-type calcium channel in isolated rat ventricular myocytes.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The cardiac ventricular myocytes were isolated enzymatically by Langendorff perfusion techniques at constant flow rate. Whole-cell recording of patch-clamp techniques was used to observe the current of L-type calcium channel.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Puerarin 2.4 mmol x L(-1) could inhibit the current of L-type calcium channel of rat ventricular myocytes and this inhibition was time-dependent. Purerarin elevated the current-voltage (I-V) curve of calcium current.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Puerarin can inhibit L-type calcium current of rat ventricular myocytes. Which implies that puerarin takes part in anti-myocardial ischemia and anti-arrhythmics partly due to the inhibition of L-type calcium channel.</p>

Three-drug treatment for chronic prostatitis and curative effects in 80 patients / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of three-drug (Relingqing, Prostant and Antibiotic) therapy to chronic prostatitis. Methods One hundred and twenty patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: three-drug treatment group (n=80) and antibiotic only group (n=40). After treated for 12 weeks, 120 cases of chronic prostatitis were evaluated with the pre- and post-massage test (PPMT) and chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI). Results In three-drug treatment group, 15 patients in 21 patients of type Ⅱ and 41 patients in 59 patients of type ⅢA were normal evaluated by PPMT. From the results of CPSI, the cure rate was 13.8% (11 cases), the symptoms of 48 patients (60.0%) were improved significantly whose CPSI decreased more than 15, and only 16 patients(20.0%)felt a little better whose CPSI decreased from 5 to 15, and the symptoms of 5 patients were not improved. There was statistical difference among three-drug treatment group and antibiotic only group. Conclusion The three-drug treatment is more effective in treating chronic prostatitis than the therapy of antibiotic only.