Effects of glycyrrhetinic acid on sodium ion channel currents of rats' ventricular myocardial cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) on the sodium ion channel currents (I(Na)) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells, and to explore its anti-arrhythmic mechanisms at the ion channel level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Single ventricular myocardial cells was isolated from SD rats. The whole cell patch clamp was used to record the effects of GA on I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>GA could inhibit I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L decreased I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells from (-4.26 +/- 0.15) nA to (-3.54 +/- 0.10) nA, (-2.19 +/- 0.09) nA, and (-1.25 +/- 0.08) nA, respectively. GA at 1, 5, and 10 micromol/L inhibited I(Na) by 16.08% +/- 2.3%, 50.82% +/- 3.56%, and 75.98% +/- 5.12%, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). GA at 10 micromol/L shifted I(Na) current-voltage curve more positively, but the activation potential and the peak potential were not changed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GA inhibited the I(Na) of rats' ventricular myocardial cells dose-dependently, which was possibly associated with its antiarrhythmia effects.</p>

Analysis of the initial efficacy of nedaplatin combined with megestrol in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the early efficacy of nedaplatin combined with megestrol in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced cervical cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-two cases of cervical cancer (FIGO IIb to IVa) were divided randomly into two groups: radiotherapy alone (21 cases) and radiation plus chemotherapy (Nedaplatin) group. The same radiotherapy was given to the two groups. Patients of the RT + C group received nedaplatin 30 mg/m2 in intravenous drip infusion once weekly on day 1, for 4 to 5 weeks, and megestrol 160 mg orally every day during the radiation therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The early outcome: the complete remission rate was 81.0% and partial remission rate was 19.0% in the RT + C group, significantly better than the CR (38.1%) and PR (42.9%) in the RT group. The 1-year survival rates in the two groups were 100% (21/21) and 81.0% (17/21), respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combination of nedaplatin and megestrol with concurrent chemoradiotherapy can improve the early outcome of advanced cervical cancer, with somewhat increased but tolerable adverse effects.</p>

Effect of matrine on human ether à go-go related gene (HERG) channels expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of matrine on human ether à go-go related gene (HERG) potassium channels expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and investigate whether HERG channel is a new target of the pharmacological effect of matrine on arrhythmia and tumor</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HERG channel potassium current in CHO cell was recorded using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, and the influence of matrine on the current was explored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Matrine inhibited HERG potassium current in a dose-dependent manner, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC IC(50)) was 411±23 μmol/L. Matrine had no significant effect on the activation kinetics, and mainly blocked HERG channels in their closed state.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The blocking effect of matrine on HERG channels might be one of the mechanisms against arrythmias and tumors. Unlike most other blockers exerting blocking effect at the intracellular sites by entering the cell with the opening of HERG channel, matrine blocked HERG channels at the extracellular sites.</p>