Nano-components derived from Descurainiae Semen Carbonisatum and its hemostatic mechanism / 药学学报

A novel sort of nano-component was extricated and isolated from Descurainiae Semen Carbonisatum (DSC), and its hemostatic component was considered through pharmacological experiments. A muffle furnace was used to prepare DSC at 250 ℃, 300 ℃ and 350 ℃, and the DSC dialysate at each temperature was obtained by the extraction and separation method. Low-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were utilized to characterize the nano-components. Ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy (FL) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were utilized to measure its optical characteristics and functional group information. The anti-hemorrhagic effects were evaluated by liver bleeding tests and the related hemostatic mechanisms of the obtained nano-components were further assessed by detecting blood coagulation and PLT quantity to discuss the hemostasis mechanism. The experiments complied with the Animal Ethics Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. TEM results showed that there was a novel type of nano-component in the DSC dialysate bag, which was named DSC nano-components (DSC-NCs). The experimental results of liver bleeding in mice showed that DSC-NCs prepared at 250 ℃, 300 ℃, and 350 ℃ could reduce the bleeding time of mice liver. Among them, DSC-NCs prepared at 350 °C had the best effect. In addition, DSC-NCs prepared at various temperatures can also reduce the prothrombin time (PT) value, increase the fibrinogen (FIB) value and the platelet (PLT) value to varying degrees. DSC-NCs have a certain hemostatic effect, which may be related to the activation of the exogenous coagulation system, the increase of FIB value and the increase of platelet content. This provides a new research direction for exploring the treatment of bleeding diseases, and provides a new perspective for the potential application of DSC-NCs in the medical field.

Synthesis of a new type of carbon dots by pyrolysis of human hair using motor oil as a dispersant and their biological effects / 中草药

Objective: New type of nano-carbon dots were found after pyrolysis of human hair using motor oil as a dispersant and the biological effect of these carbon dots was evaluated by animal experiments. Methods: High-temperature pyrolysis was used to carbonize human hair and motor oil, and the carbonized products were extracted, filtered, and dialyzed to obtain a new type of water-soluble substance, carbon dots, named JYRF-CDs. JYRF-CDs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM, as well as ultraviolet-visible, fourier transform infrared, fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CCK-8 toxicity test using RAW264.7 cells was used to evaluate the safety of JYRF-CDs and the biological effects of the JYRF-CDs were evaluated by mouse ear swelling experiments and mouse acetate writhing experiments. Results: These JYRF-CDs were nearly spherical and well separated from each other, with a size distribution range of 1.8-3.6 nm, the CDs had a lattice spacing of 0.219 7 nm. The results of cytotoxicity experiments showed that JYRF-CDs had low toxicity, and the results of animal experiments showed that JYRF-CDs had good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Conclusion: In this study, new type of carbon dots, JYRF-CDs, were discovered after pyrolyzing human hair with motor oil as a dispersant for the first time. Taking JYRF-CDs as a breakthrough, the material base of carbonization products after pyrolysis of human hair by high-temperature pyrolysis using motor oil as a dispersant was more clearly explained, providing a new method for the research of nano compounds.

Efficacy of cyclosporine A-nanoparticles emulsion combined with stem cell transplantation therapy for acute myocardial infarction / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine A-nanoparticles emulsion (CsA-NP) combined with adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs)transplantation therapy for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a miniswine model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CsA-NP emulsion was prepared by the high-pressure homogenization method. Models were performed by coronary angioplasty for percutaneous balloon occlusion of left anterior descending artery (LAD). A total of 17 miniswines survived after AMI were divided into four groups: control group (n=5), CsA-NP group (n=4), ASCs group (n=4), and CsA-NP+ASCs group (n=4). ASCs or saline were delivered by intracoronary injection one week after AMI.Before cell transplantation and 8 weeks after cell transplantation, delayed-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) was performed to evaluate cardiac function and viability. The infarcted myocardium and implanted cells were histologically studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eight weeks after treatment, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)significantly increased in the CsA-NP+ASCs group when compared with the ASCs group [(53.6 ± 2.4)% vs. (48.3 ± 1.8)%, P<0.05]; meanwhile, the infarct size significantly decreased [(6.2 ± 1.7)cm(3) vs.(7.5 ± 0.6) cm(3), P<0.05] and the thickness of the ventricular wall significantly increased (P<0.05). Histology showed that the number of surviving cells increased nearly by three times in the CsA-NP+ASCs group, and the expressions of the cardiomyocyte specific markers (cTnT and α-actin) were detected. Histological samples also showed that CsA-NP+ASCs group reduced fibrotic tissue, and down-regulated the activation of Caspase-3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The CsA-NP+ASCs combination therapy can enhance the viability of ASCs by improving LVEF and preventing LV expansion, which may be explained that CsA-NP has the anti-apoptotic effect and can promote the survivals and proliferation of ASCs.</p>

Pretreatment with cyclosporin A nanoparticles emulsion protects apoptosis of swine adipose tissue-derived stem cells / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of cyclosporine A-nanoparticles emulsion (CsA-NP) on protecting apoptosis of swine adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASC ) and related mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ASC were randomized to six groups: control group,single H2O2 group,CsA or CsA-NP 0.1 mg/ml+H2O2 group,CsA or CsA-NP 1.0 mg/ml+H2O2 group, CsA or CsA-NP 5.0 mg/ml+H2O2 group,CsA or CsA-NP 10.0 mg/ml+H2O2 group. ASC apoptosis was induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2100 µmol/L) in vitro. The morphology of apoptotic cells was observed and the number of apoptotic cells was measured. Apoptosis of ASC was detected by flow cytometry using an apoptosis kit. Cell activity was determined by CCK-8 assay. Caspase-3 activity was detected by applying a caspase-3 assay kit. Expression of cytochrome C was investigated by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>H2O2 induced ASC apoptosis was evidenced by morphological and biochemical changes,which could be significantly reduced by pre-treatment with CsA or CsA-NP at concentration of 0.1-10.0 mg/ml, and the best effect was observed at concentration of 5 mg/ml (apoptosis rate: CsA: 10.6% ± 2.8% vs. 25.2% ± 3.8%; CsA-NP: 6.2% ± 2.6% vs. 25.2% ± 3.6% in control group, all P < 0.01). The cell activity was significantly higher in CsA or CsA-NP pre-treated ASC at concentration of 0.1-10.0 mg/ml than in H2O2 group (P < 0.01). Pre-treatment with CsA or CsA-NP (0.1-10.0 mg/ml) significantly down -regulated caspase-3 activity. Furthermore, CsA or CsA-NP (5 mg/ml) completely inhibited the H2O2-induced release of cytochrome C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These results suggest that CsA-NP and CsA could protect the oxidative stress-induced ASC apoptosis through decreasing the activation of caspase-3 and inhibiting the release of cytochrome C.</p>

Extremely low warfarin dose in patients with genotypes of CYP2C9*3/*3 and VKORC1-1639A/A / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Patients with the genotypes of both CYP2C9*3/*3 and VKORC1-1639 A/A are expected to require the lowest dose of warfarin, and to have a greatly increased risk of bleeding. The experience for the dosing of warfarin in such extremely rare cases has been seldom reported.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Demographic and clinical data from two cases with stable low dose of warfarin in China were studied by resequencing the corresponding gene segments in their whole blood DNA. The potential clinical value of the pharmacogenetic algorithm for them was evaluated by calculating the stable dose of warfarin in pharmacogenetic algorithm developed by International Warfarin Pharmacogenetics Consortium.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both cases (68-year-old female and 50-year-old male) were diagnosed as chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation needing warfarin treatment, with target international normalized ratio (INR) 2 to 3. Case 1 had stable warfarin dose of 0.625 mg/d and case 2 1.25 mg/d. They needed more than 1 month to stabilize their anticoagulation. Exceeding INR values were recorded for them when the dose of warfarin was no more than 2 mg/d. Hemorrhagic complication appeared in case 1 when the dose was titrated from 2.5 to 1.25 mg/d. No concomitant medicine to increase or decrease the INR value was recorded for them. Genotyping CYP2C9 and VKORC1 showed both patients were the carriers of the homozygous alleles -CYP2C9*3/*3 and VKORC1-1639 A/A. Their stable doses of warfarin calculated by the pharmacogenetic dose algorithm (0.672 mg/d for case 1 and 1.16 mg/d for case 2) were comparable with their actual stable therapeutic doses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Two Chinese with the rare genotypes of both CYP2C9*3/*3 and VKORC1-1639 A/A were found to require the extremely low dose of warfarin. The pharmacogenetic algorithm incorporating the variances of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genotypes, as well as the non-genetic factors could predict their stable dose of warfarin with high accuracy.</p>

Fifteen-year evolving trends of etiology and prognosis in hospitalized patients with heart failure / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the etiological and prognostic changes of hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This retrospective study analyzed 7319 hospitalized patients (male 62.07%) with validated primary discharge diagnosis of chronic heart failure in Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2007. Etiological characteristics, comorbidities and 30-day hospitalized mortality in the following three periods: 1993 - 1997 (n = 1623), 1998 - 2002 (n = 2444), and 2003 - 2007 (n = 3252) were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The patient age increased [(56.0 ± 17.5) years, (57.8 ± 17.6) years and (62.7 ± 15.5) years, P < 0.01] and hospital stay time decreased [(31.3 ± 17.4) days, (22.7 ± 14.1) days and (20.1 ± 15.2) days, P < 0.01] from 1993 to 2007. (2) The common causes of heart failure were coronary heart disease, hypertension, rheumatic valvular heart disease and diabetes mellitus. From 1993 - 1998 to 2003 - 2007, the proportion of patients with coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus rose from 37.2%, 23.3% and 12.3% to 46.8%, 46.7% and 21.1%, respectively (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile the proportion of patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease fell from 35.2% to 16.6% (P < 0.05). (3) The main etiologies and comorbidities were atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and renal failure. From 1993 - 1998 to 2003 - 2007, atrial fibrillation was the most common cause of heart failure, and the rate of myocardial infarction, pneumonia and renal failure rose from 11.0%, 8.9% and 5.2% to 14.7%, 14.5% and 9.1%, respectively (all P < 0.05) and the rate of COPD fell from 12.9% to 8.4% (P < 0.05). (4) The 30-day hospitalized mortalities in the three periods were 7.0%, 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively, and the mortalities in the 1998 - 2002 and 2003 - 2007 periods were lower than those of in the 1993 - 1998 period (all P < 0.05). The mortality related to coronary heart disease decreased significantly from 1993 to 2007 (9.3%, 5.0% and 3.8% in the three periods, respectively, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is demonstrated that the primary diseases causing heart failure were coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and rheumatic valvular heart disease, and the former three diseases exhibited a upward trend and the later one exhibited a downward trend. Moreover, the proportion of comorbidities in patients with heart failure increased over the study period. The 30-day hospital mortality exhibited a downward trend and decreased significantly in patients with coronary heart disease or myocardial infarction.</p>

Effect of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome on arterial stiffness / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the effect of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (b-aPWV) in untreated diagnosed patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study involved 24 consecutive male patients with newly diagnosed untreated OSAHS (aged 39.13±8.31 years) and 22 normal male individuals (aged 39.59±10.86 years) matched for age and body mass index. Carotid and extremities ultrasound were performed in all the subjects, and none of them had atherosclerosis, arterial calcification, or aneurysm. No subject had a history of hypertension, coronary heart disease or stroke. All the subjects underwent arterial stiffness evaluation by means of b-aPWV measurements.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The b-aPWV in OSAHS patients was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (1346.86±123.48 vs 1237.91±84.46, P<0.01), and the rate of positive b-aPWV in OSAHS patients was significantly higher (13/24 vs 1/22, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The value and positive rate of b-aPWV in OSAHS patients are higher than those in normal people, suggesting increased arterial stiffness in OSAHS patients.</p>

An epidemiological study on carotid atherosclerosis among veterans in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) among veterans in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>820 individuals, aged 60 or above, were randomly selected out from 8202 individuals, 21 military cadre retirement centers in Beijing. Each individual answered a questionnaire and received Doppler ultrasonic examination for an observation of the Internal-Media Thickness and structure of the carotid. A logistic regression analysis was also made to identify possible risk factors and their powers on the prevalence of CAS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis by ultrasonic examinations among the veterans in Beijing was 44.0%, of which males taked 53.8% and females taked 33.5%. The prevalence rised with the increase of age. Among them, the prevalence ratio of CAS for ages of 60-69, 70-79, and 80 or above were 30.4%, 51.8%, 65.27%, respectively. Logistic regression was done to provide the following results: CAS risk factors include the age, sex, obesity, smoking, hypertention and diabetes mellitus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of CAS among the veterans in Beijing rises with the increase of age. CAS risk factors include age, sex, obesity, smoking, hypertention and diabetes mellitus.</p>

An epidemiological study on degenerated heart valvular diseases among military elderly population in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence and possible risk factors of senile degenerated heart valvular disease (SDHVD) among military elderly in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>820 individuals, aged 60 or above,are randomly selected from 8202 individuals, in 21 military retirement centers in Beijing. Each individual answers a questionnaire and receives Doppler echocardiographic examination for an observation of the cardiac structure, function and valve condition. A logistic regression analysis is also made to identify possible risk factors and their powers on the prevalence of SDHVD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence ratio of SDHVD by means of ultrasonic checks among military elderly in Beijing is 13.4%. Among them, the prevalence ratio of SDHVD for age groups of 60-, 70-, and 80 or above are 7.7%, 16.1%, 25.7% respectively. Data from logistic regression shows the following results that SDHVD risk factors include age, hypertention, hyperlipemia, stroke and cadiovascular family history.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of SDHVD among the military elderly in Beijing rises with the increase of age. SDHVD risk factors include age, hypertention, hyperlipemia, stroke and cadiovascular family history.</p>

Effect of IGF-1 on PI3K/PTEN signal pathway in vascular smooth muscle cell / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the cellular signal transduction pathway of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation stimulated by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rabbit aortic VSMCs was cultured in 3 groups. Cell proliferating ability was determined by measuring cell number and mitochondrial dehydrogenase (MD) activity (MTT assay). Wortmannin (WT), the specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), was used to evaluate indirectly the possible involvement of PI3K. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of phosphatase PTEN. Diphosphate action of PTEN on its specific substrate diC16PIP3 was measured by green reagent method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IGF-1 (100 microg/L) increased cell number and MD activity by 2.8-3.8 fold. WT markedly inhibited VSMC proliferation and completely abolished the above effects of IGF-1. IGF-1 inhibited PTEN activity in a concentration-(10-100 microg/L) and time--(3 min-24 h) dependent manner (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IGF-1 increases VSM proliferation by increasing PI3K activity and inhibiting PTEN activity.</p>