Impacts of isorhynchophylline on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impacts of isorhynchophylline （IRN） on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice by regulating the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 （MCP-1）/CC chemokine receptor 2 （CCR2） signaling pathway. METHODS The asthmatic mice model was established by injecting and inhaling ovalbumin. The successfully modeled mice were randomly grouped into asthma group， IRN low-dose group （IRN-L， intragastric administration of 10 mg/kg IRN）， IRN high-dose group （IRN-H， intragastric administration of 20 mg/kg IRN）， IRN-H+CCL2 group [intragastric administration of 20 mg/kg IRN+intraperitoneal injection of 7.5 ng CC chemokine ligand 2 （CCL2）] and positive control group （intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg dexamethasone）. The mice injected and inhaled with sterile phosphate-buffered solution were included in the blank control group， with 10 mice in each group. The mice in administration groups were given relevant medicine once a day， for consecutive 2 weeks. The levels of airway hyperreactivity indexes such as enhanced （Penh） value， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α），interleukin-13 （IL-13） and IL-4 in serum， the number of eosinophil （EOS）， lymphocyte （LYM） and neutrophils （NEU） in alveolar lavage fluid and the protein expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 in lung tissue were observed in each group； the pulmonary histopathological changes were observed， and inflammatory cell infiltration score was evaluated. RESULTS Compared with the blank control group， the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue of mice was more significant in the asthma group， and there was swelling and shedding of cells； inflammatory infiltration score， Penh value， the levels of IL-4， IL-13 and TNF-α， the number of EOS， NEU and LYM， the protein expressions of MCP-1 and CCR2 were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the asthma group， the pathological injuries of the IRN-L group， IRN-H group and positive control group were improved， and the above quantitative indexes were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the IRN-L group， the above quantitative indexes of the IRN-H group and positive control group were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. There was no statistical significance in the above quantitative indexes between the IRN-H group and the positive control group （P＞0.05）. Compared with the IRN-H group， the above quantitative indexes of the IRN-H+CCL2 group were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. CCL2 reversed the protective effect of high-dose IRN on asthmatic mice. CONCLUSIONS IRN may reduce the release of airway inflammatory factors in asthmatic mice by inhibiting the activation of the MCP-1/CCR2 signaling pathway， so as to achieve the purpose of improving asthma.

Allicin attenuates macrophage-derived foam cell apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-12 / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the inhibitory effect of allicin on apoptosis and caspase-12 activation of macro-phage-derived foam cells,and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS:RAW264.7 macrophages were pretreated with allicin (12.5,25 and 50 mg/L) or 4-phenylbutyric acid(PBA,4 mmol/L) for 1 h and then treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein(ox-LDL,100 mg/L) or tunicamycin(TM,4 mg/L) for 24 h. The cell viability and apoptosis were examined by MTT assay and flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining,respectively. The activities of caspase-3 in the cells and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the medium were measured. The protein levels of caspase-12 were determined by Western blot. The intracellular lipid accumulation was measured with oil red O staining and the content of intracellular total cholesterol was determined by enzymatic colorimetry. RESULTS:Similar to the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) inhibitor PBA, allicin inhibited ox-LDL-induced injury of RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration-de-pendent manner,as determined by the increased cell viability and the decreased LDH leakage,apoptosis and caspase-3 ac-tivity. The decrease in cell viability and increases in LDH leakage and apoptosis induced by TM (an ERS inducer) were also suppressed by allicin. Moreover, similar to PBA, allicin remarkably inhibited ox-LDL- or TM-induced activation of caspase-12. Furthermore, allicin remarkably attenuated ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation in the RAW264.7 cells and foam cells formation in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION:Allicin may inhibit macrophage-derived foam cell apoptosis induced by ox-LDL,and the mechanism is partially related to suppressing the activation of caspase-12.

Effect of Lappaconitine on Postoperative Pain and Serum Complement 3 and 4 Levels of Cancer Patients Undergoing Rectum Surgery / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of lappaconitine on patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) and serum complement 3 and 4 (C3 and C4) levels of cancer patients undergoing rectum surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 60 patients, who were scheduled for rectum carcinoma surgery, were recruited to the study and assigned in 3 groups, the blank control group, the tramadol group, and the lappaconitine group, 20 in each group. Lappaconitine (8 mg) was intravenously dripped to patients in the lappaconitine group 30 min before ending the operation. PCIA started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of lappaconitine was 36 mg. Patients of the tramadol group were treated with tramadol (100 mg) intravenously within 30 min before ending the operation. The dripping was completed within 30 min. PCIA was started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of lappaconitine was 36 mg. Tramadol (100 mg) was intravenously dripped to patients in the tramadol group 30 min before ending the operation. PICA was started as soon as the end of the surgery and the total dose of tramadol was 900 mg. Pethidine (50 mg) and droperidol (2. 5 mg) was intramuscularly injected to patients in the blank control group for pain relief according to their complaints. Pain degrees were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) 12 h before surgery, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. Blood samples were withdrawn at the same time point. Contents of serum C3 and C4 were determined by immunoturbidimetry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VAS scores of the blank control group were significantly higher after surgery than before surgery (P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in VAS scores between before surgery and after surgery in the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P >0. 05). VAS scores were significantly lower at each post-surgery time point in the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group than in the blank control group with statistical difference (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in VAS scores at each post-surgery time point between the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P >0. 05). Compared with before surgery, contents of serum C3 and C4 significantly decreased in all of the three groups at 12, 24, and 48 h after surgery (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). They recovered to the pre-surgery level till 72 h after surgery (P > 0.05). Serum C3 and C4 contents at 48 h after surgery were higher in the tramadol group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). Serum C3 and C4 contents at 24 and 48 h after surgery were higher in the lappaconitine group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in serum C3 and C4 contents at each time point between the tramadol group and the lappaconitine group (P > 0.05). VAS scores were obviously negatively correlated with serum contents of C3 and C4 (r = -0.622, r = -0.649, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lappaconitine (used at the dose in this study) showed better pain relief effect after surgery. Besides, it could inhibit the surgic wound and pain, and elevate serum contents of C3 and C4.</p>

Regulation of moxibustion for expression of gastric mucosa cell-related marker protein in rats with acute gastric ulcer / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore relevant material basis of moxibustion for recovering gastric mucosal lesion. METHODL Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into a normal goup, a model group, an acupoint group and a control group, 15 rats in the model group and 10 rats in the rest three groups. Except the normal group, binding and cold stress method were used to establish gastric mucosa injury model. The suspended moxibustion was applied in the acupoint group and control group at acupoints of the stomach meridian ("Liangmen" (ST 21) and "Zusanli" (ST36) and control acupoints (Laterally 1cm next to the "Liangmen" (ST 21) and Zusanli" (ST36), once a day, consectutively for 12 days. After 12 days, morphology of gastric mucosal was observed under optical microscope; protein fingerprints of gastric mucosa cell in rats were detected by protein fingerprint technology, weak cation chip and weak anion chip. Also mass to charge ratio of differential proteins in groups were compared and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the model group, index of gastric mucosal lesion in the acupoint group was reduced and its morphology was obviously improved (P<0.05). Campared with control group, index and morphology of gastric mucosal lesion were significantly improved in the acupoint group (P<0.05). According to test of weak cation chip, there was four marker proteins that had expression differences, indicating moxibustion at acupoints of stomach meridian could inrease expression of three marker protein whose molecular weight was 1354Da, 5692Da and 8432Da (all P<0.05) while reduce expression of marker protein with molecular weight of 3287Da (_<0.05). According to test of weak anion chip, moxibustion at acupoints of stomach meridian could increase expression of three marker proteins whose molecular weight was 2412 Da, 3026Da and 6475 Da (allP<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Moxibustion at acupoints of the stomach meridian could regulate differential expression of gastric mucosa cell-related marker protein in rats with acute gastric ulcer and recover gastric mucosal lesion, it's effect is better than that of the points of laterally 1 cm next to acupoint.</p>

Awn needle therapy on the impact of urinary retention after spinal cord injury / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of point 8L54-through-point ST2S acupuncture with elongate needles in treating urinary retention after spinal cord injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five healthy Japanese rabbits (weight 2.5 +/- 0.25 kg, 3 months old, male or female), used as experimental subjects, were divided into 4 groups involving blank group, model group, acupuncture group, elongate needles group (5 rabbits in blank group, 10 rabbits in each of the other group 10). Modified Allen's method was used to cause spinal cord injury model for the model group, the acupuncture group and the elongate needles group, the blank group was only sham surgery. Immediately after spinal cord injury model,the elongated needle group was given the bilateral acupoints of the elongated needle penetration needling and electric stimulation, electrical stimulation 15 mm stimulation frequency of 20 to 40 times/mm, intensity 1.5 to 3 V the acupuncture group immediately was given ordinary electric needle acupuncture, given other disposals as the elongated needle group; model group was not given electric needle acupuncture, waiting 15 minutes, started to detect and record the observed indicator as the elongated needle group; the blank group was only sham surgery. The following indicators including the Tarlov score ,urinary bladder pressure point, the threshold urination, voided volume, were observed in the first day and the fifth day after surgery.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three groups of animals which modeled were urinary retention after operation. Compared to 1 d, Tarlov score of model group, acupuncture group and elongate needles group significantly improved at postoperative 5 d (P < 0.05). Compared with acupuncture group, the Tarlov score of elongate needles group had no significant difference at postoperative 5 d (P > 0.05). Compared with model group, values of urinary bladder pressure point decreased with varying degrees in the acupuncture group and elongate needles group at postoperative 5 d (P < 0.05); relative to the acupuncture group, the point of the bladder voiding pressure in the elongate needles group decreased more significantly at postoperative 5 d (P < 0.05); compared with model group, micturition threshold of acupuncture group and elongate needles group had been significantly improved at the fifth day after surgery (P < 0.05); relative to the acupuncture group, the improvement is more obvious in the elongate needles group. Compared with model group, voided volume of acupuncture group and elongate needles group had increased significantly at the fifth day after surgery (P < 0.05); relative to the acupuncture group, the increment is more evident in the elongate needles group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To treat urinary retention after spinal cord injury, the method, which was point-through-point acupuncture with elongate needles in the "Zhibian" and "Shuidao", was better than general acupuncture method. The therapeutic mechanism may be related to stimulate peripheral nerve of bladder, and to rectify the dysfunction between detrusor and sphincter.</p>