[History and development of carbonization of Chinese materia medica and exploration on its mechanism of hemostatic action].

The first material recorded about hair charcoal is seen in Nei jing (Inner Canon). It has a history of over 2 000 years for the carbonization of Chinese materia medica. There were controversies on this matter and its clinical application was seldom seen and underdeveloped. After the Yuan Dynasty, the main theory of carbonic herbs for hemostasis, and keeping the nature of the medicines after carbonization was gradually formed, and physicians of generations began to conduct in-depth research. Through repeated practice and verification, people summed up the suitable species of Chinese materia medica and its principle for carbonization. The methods and degree of carbonization of Chinese materia medica are reasonably discussed, with its principle and basis for application primarily interpreted.

Kappa-opioid receptor agonist inhibits the cholera toxin-sensitive G protein in the heart.

To explore the signaling mechanisms of the negative modulation of beta-adrenoceptors by kappa-Opioid receptors (kappa-OR) in the heart, the possibility of the interaction at the level of G protein and receptor was determined. Cholera toxin, an activator of the stimulatory G protein (Gs), elevated electrically induced intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) transients and induced ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of Gs (Gsalpha) in rat ventricular myocytes. The effects were significantly attenuated by U50,488H, a specific agonist of kappa-OR, and were abolished by nor-binaltorphimine, a selective kappa-OR antagonist. The content of Gsalpha, however, was not affected by U50,488H. Receptor binding experiments showed that neither Bmax nor Kd of the binding of [3H]CGP-12177, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, was affected by U50,488H. The current study provides the first evidence that kappa-OR stimulation inhibits the ribosylation of the alpha-subunit of the Gs protein, thus inhibiting the action of cholera toxin on the protein.