[Effects of Jinmaitong capsule on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Jinmaitong capsule on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group and model groups. The diabetic rat models were established using Streptozotocin (STZ) method (60 mg/kg of intraperitoneal injection), and then randomly divided Jinmaitong low, middle, and high-dose groups and vitamin C group. All the experimental rats were sacrificed at 16-week and then the DRG was isolated. The morphological changes of DRG were observed using the Nissl's staining, and the NADPH oxidase subunit p22-phox, Cyt C, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 of DRG in rats were detected by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the expressions of NADPH oxidase subunit p22-phox protein, Cyt expression of C protein, Caspase-3 protein, and mRNA cell apoptosis rate in each treatment group significantly decreased whereas the expressions of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The Jinmaitong high-dose group had the best effect and was significantly different from that of the vitamin C group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Jinmaitong capsule can prevent the nerve injury in rats with diabetic peripheral neuropathy by inhibiting oxidative stress and decreasing the apoptosis. The high-dose Jinmaitong capsule has the best effect and is superior to vitamin C.

Quetiapine-related acute lung injury: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Quetiapine, known as a non-classical antipsychotic drug, is frequently used for the treatment of mental diseases, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Acute lung injury, a rarely reported side effect of quetiapine, is described in this case report. CASE SUMMARY: Due to terminal delirium, a 66-year-old man took a large dose of quetiapine and then developed severe pulmonary disease. His symptoms were not resolved after routine treatment, such as antibiotics, diuretic, and supportive therapies. Quetiapine-related acute lung injury was therefore suspected and hormonal therapy was initiated. Subsequently, his symptoms were alleviated and the radiological results improved dramatically. CONCLUSION: Our findings in the present report highlight a potential adverse effect of quetiapine, drug-related acute lung injury, which deserves awareness in clinical practice.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Jinmaitong-medicated serum on inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH oxidase p22-phox subunit of rat Schwann cells cultured in high-glucose medium].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of medicated serum prepared by administration of Jinmaitong (JMT), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase p22-phox subunit and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) of rat Schwann cells cultured in high-glucose medium. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into normal control group (distilled water), JMT (JMT at dose of 1.31 g/(kg·d)) group and vitamin C (vitamin C at dose of 0.08 g/(kg·d)) group to prepare medicated serum. Bilateral sciatic nerves of new born Wistar rats were used to separate Schwann cells. Schwann cells cultured in high-glucose medium were divided into high glucose group (cultured with 50 mmol/L glucose medium), JMT group (cultured with JMT-medicated serum) and vitamin C (VC) group (cultured with VC-medicated serum). Schwann cells cultured in DMEM were used as the normal control. After 48 h culturing, the expression of iNOS was detected by immunofluorescence method and p22-phox mRNA was tested by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The expression levels of iNOS and p22-phox mRNA in the high glucose group were higher than those in the normal control group (P<0.01). Compared with the high glucose group, expressions of iNOS protein and p22-phox mRNA in JMT group were significantly decreased (P<0.01) and JMT-medicated serum had better effect than VC (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: JMT-medicated serum can down-regulate the expressions of iNOS protein and NADPH oxidase p22-phox subunit mRNA of Schwann cells cultured in high-glucose medium.

Effect of serum containing Jinmaitong Capsule on rats' Schwann cell apoptosis induced by high glucose concentration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of serum containing Jinmaitong Capsule (JMT) on apoptosis of Schwann cells (SCs) that are cultured in high glucose at the cellular and molecular levels. METHODS: SCs were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (control group), high glucose (50 mmol/L) medium supplemented with 20% rat serum (HG group), and 50 mmol/L glucose medium supplemented with serum containing JMT (JMT group). SC apoptosis was detected using a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling kit. The expression of Bcl-2 and the caspase-3 p20 subunit in SCs were detected by realtime fluorogenic quantitative polymerase chain reaction and confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. RESULTS: No apoptosis was detected in SCs that were cultured in the control group. The percentage of apoptosis of SCs cultured in the HG group was much higher than that in the control group. The apoptosis of SCs in the JMT group was lower than that in the HG group. Fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 and the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA in SCs that were cultured in the HG group were much lower than those in the control group and much higher than those in the JMT group (P<0.01). The fluorescence intensity of caspase-3 p20 and the expression of caspase-3 p20 mRNA in SCs that were cultured in the HG group were much higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), and they were remarkably lower in the JMT group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: JMT effectively prevents SC apoptosis that is induced by high glucose. This effect may be because of increased expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein and decreased expression of caspase-3 p20 mRNA and protein.