Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfate protects myocardium against paraquat-induced toxicity through activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats.

OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of sodium tanshinone IIA sulfate (STS) on paraquat (PQ)-induced myocardial injuries in a rat model. METHODS:: Healthy adult Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control, PQ, and PQ + STS groups. PQ group was given a single intragastric administration of PQ (80 mg/kg). PQ + STS group was intraperitoneally injected with STS (1 ml/kg) at 30 min following PQ exposure. Rats in control and PQ groups were injected with equal amount of saline. After 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, rats were killed, and the apoptosis of myocardial cells was detected. Myocardial expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was measured. The activity of the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway was assessed by Western blot. RESULTS:: The apoptotic cells in PQ group were significantly increased in a time-dependent manner compared with the control group ( p < 0.01). The rats in PQ group exhibited significantly lower Bcl-2 expression, but notably higher Bax expression at 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after PQ exposure ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). STS intervention markedly reduced the proportion of apoptotic myocardial cells, increased Bcl-2 expression, and decreased Bax expression at 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). The expression of phosphorylated Nrf2 and heme oxygenase 1 in PQ + STS group was significantly increased compared with PQ and control groups ( p < 0.05 or 0.01). CONCLUSION:: STS effectively inhibits PQ-induced myocardial cell apoptosis in rats via modulating the Nrf2 pathway, suggesting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for PQ-induced myocardium damage.

[The image of the ancient Indian pharmacists in the Chinese Buddhist scriptures].

In the Chinese Buddhist Scriptures, there are many stories or topics about the ancient Indian pharmacist, however, they are not the Medicine Buddha as people knows, but real doctors. In the Chinese Buddhist Scriptures, the doctors gave the medical service to the monks and the laymen. Some of them are respected as the "miracle doctor" or the "king of doctor" , influencing the medicine of ancient East Asian.

Effects of microencapsulated Enterococcus fecalis CG1.0007 on growth performance, antioxidation activity, and intestinal microbiota in broiler chickens.

We performed a series of trials to assess the effect of dietary supplementation with microencapsulated Enterococcus fecalis CG1.0007 on growth performance, antioxidation activity, and intestinal microbiota in Arbor Acres broiler chickens ("broilers"). A total of 150 1-d-old broilers were assigned randomly to 5 feeding treatments (a control group fed the basal diet, 3 groups fed the basal diet plus various concentrations of microencapsulated CG1.0007, and 1 group fed the basal diet plus an antibiotic). Changes in important genera of intestinal bacteria were studied using 16S rRNA gene-based PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiling and real-time quantitative PCR analysis of fecal samples. During the course of the 42-d experimental period, ADG of the birds fed the high and intermediate concentrations of microcapsules were significantly greater (9.90 and 9.50%, respectively) and the ratios of feed to gain fed were significantly lower (4.40 and 4.00%, respectively) compared with the control group. The total antioxidant capacity and the content of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase in the microcapsule-treated groups showed significant changes in terms of antioxidation. The numbers of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly greater in the microcapsule-treated groups than in the control group. Cluster analysis indicated that the DGGE bacterial profiles were related to the feeding treatments and revealing the diversity and richness of the intestinal microbiota associated with supplementation of microcapsules. In summary, our results indicate that dietary addition of microencapsulated E. fecalis CG1.0007 enhanced the growth performance of the broilers and improved their health.

[Experimental study of Salvia miltiorrhiza on prevention of restenosis after angioplasty].

For evaluating the possibility of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) on the prevention of arterial restenosis after angioplasty, we investigated the effect of SM on the intimal thickening of air-injured carotid artery of rats. The results showed that the maximal intimal thickness of the injured arteries was much thinner in the treatment group than that in the control group, indicated that SM could prevent experimental restenosis in rat model. Furthermore, we examined the effect of SM on the proliferation of the isolated rabbit arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultivated in vitro. The results showed that SM inhibited the 3H-TdR take-up and proliferation of SMC in a dose-dependent manner. The study raised the possibility that SM could be used to prevent arterial restenosis after angioplasty.

Prevention of atherosclerotic arterial stenosis and restenosis after angioplasty with Andrographis paniculata nees and fish oil. Experimental studies of effects and mechanisms.

Restenosis rate after coronary angioplasty has been up to 30%-40%. To solve this problem, we studied the effects of Andrographis Paniculata Nees (APN) and fish oil (FO, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids over 70%) on atherosclerotic stenosis and restenosis after experimental angioplasty and the relevant mechanisms of APN and FO. Preliminary results showed that APN can significantly alleviate atherosclerotic iliac artery stenosis induced by both deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet (HCD) and restenosis following angioplasty in rabbits. FO showed the same but milder effects than APN did. Both APN and FO significantly inhibited blood monocytes to secrete growth factors in vivo. Ca(++)-ATPase activity of cell membrane of atherosclerotic rabbits was significantly decreased, while APN or FO, especially the former alleviated this reduction. Refined extract of APN significantly decreased in vitro resting platelet [Ca++]i and in vivo the resting and thrombin-stimulated platelet [Ca++]i after oral administration of APN for 2 weeks. APN significantly inhibited cell growth or DNA synthesis in dose-dependent manner. In conclusion because of the mechanisms described above, APN can alleviate atherosclerotic artery stenosis induced by both deendothelialization and HCD as well as lower restenosis rate after experimental angioplasty. The effects of APN are evidently superior to those of FO.

Experimental studies on prevention of atherosclerotic arterial stenosis and restenosis after angioplasty with Andrographis Paniculata Nees and fish oil.

In order to search for effective drugs to reduce restenosis incidence after coronary angioplasty, we studied the effects of a Chinese herb, extract of Andrographis Paniculata Nees (APN), and Fish Oil (FO) on atherosclerotic stenosis and restenosis after experimental angioplasty. Preliminary results showed that APN can significantly alleviate atherosclerotic iliac artery stenosis induced by both deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet (control group, stenosis incidence 100%, stenotic severe degree 60.53 +/- 31.03%, of which 30% arteries (6) are total occlusion; FO group: stenotic incidence and severe degree are 77% and 53.00 +/- 21.17%, respectively, and in APN group they are 70% and 25.39 +/- 10.52%, respectively, P < 0.01), and follow-up angiography 4 weeks after angioplasty showed that dilated iliac arteries in control group all had severe restenosis, but in APN group no or only mild restenosis occurs, and in FO group restenosis is as severe as stenotic degree prior to angioplasty. These preliminary results suggest that APN and FO can significantly alleviate stenosis induced by deendothelialization and high cholesterol diet and restenosis after angioplasty, while the former has a more marked effect. The above findings lead the authors to conclude that APN may play an important role in preventing restenosis after coronary angioplasty, but FO may be useful in reducing the extent of of restenosis after coronary angioplasty.

Present status of cesarean section under acupuncture anesthesia in China.

(1) The present status of acupuncture anesthesia for cesarean section in China was presented. (2) Data were divided into two groups by the period, one group containing 24271 cases from 1975 to 1980 in 18 provinces and the other containing 16649 cases from 1981 to 1987 in 5 provinces. The successful rates were 92.1% and 98.9%, and the combined rates of excellent and good degrees were 74.5% and 87.1% in the former and the latter group, respectively. Thus, the effectiveness was significantly elevated in the latter group. (3) Physiological parameters under acupuncture anesthesia were compared with those under epidural anesthesia and local anesthesia. In acupuncture anesthesia, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration were stable during operation, and blood loss was less than in epidural or local anesthesia. Neither complication nor anesthetic accident occurred during operation under acupuncture anesthesia. The use of acupuncture anesthesia for cesarean section was very safe not only for mother but also for her fetus. (4) Acupuncture anesthesia could be a good anesthetic method for cesarean section.