Bear bile powder alleviates Parkinson's disease-like behavior in mice by inhibiting astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation / 中国天然药物

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and elderly people. In particular, increasing evidence has showed that astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. As a precious traditional Chinese medicine, bear bile powder (BBP) has a long history of use in clinical practice. It has numerous activities, such as clearing heat, calming the liver wind and anti-inflammation, and also exhibits good therapeutic effect on convulsive epilepsy. However, whether BBP can prevent the development of PD has not been elucidated. Hence, this study was designed to explore the effect and mechanism of BBP on suppressing astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation in a mouse model of PD. PD-like behavior was induced in the mice by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) (30 mg·kg-1) for five days, followed by BBP (50, 100, and 200 mg·kg-1) treatment daily for ten days. LPS stimulated rat C6 astrocytic cells were used as a cell model of neuroinflammation. THe results indicated that BBP treatment significantly ameliorated dyskinesia, increased the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and inhibited astrocyte hyperactivation in the substantia nigra (SN) of PD mice. Furthermore, BBP decreased the protein levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and up-regulated the protein levels of takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) in the SN. Moreover, BBP significantly activated TGR5 in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased the protein levels of GFAP, iNOS and COX2, as well as the mRNA levels of GFAP, iNOS, COX2, interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated C6 cells. Notably, BBP suppressed the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκBα) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) proteins in vivo and in vitro. We also observed that TGR5 inhibitor triamterene attenuated the anti-neuroinflammatory effect of BBP on LPS-stimulated C6 cells. Taken together, BBP alleviates the progression of PD mice by suppressing astrocyte-mediated inflammation via TGR5.

Dynamic observation on optimal time of coronary angiography performed using 1 28-MSCT after taking nitroglycerin and its significance / 吉林大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To investigate the optimal time of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) after taking nitroglycerine,and to provide basis for improving the image quantity of CCTA .Methods:43 patients underwent CCTA were scanned with coronary artery calcium score (CACS)after taking nitroglycerin 0,3,5 and 10 min.Then the diameters of the same coronary artery from the same anatomic location and the expanding rates were measured,and the change regular was analyzed with single factor analysis of variance of SPSS 17.0 software. Results:The average coronary artery expanding rate was 8% 3 min after taking nitroglycerin, and the difference was significant compared with 0 min (P0.05 ).Conclusion:Taking nitroglycerin can significantly expand the diameter of coronary arteries.It is necessary to perform CCTA during 5-1 0 min after taking nitroglycerine.

Effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate on cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric epithelial cell line AGS / 中西医结合学报

Objective: To investigate the effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate on cell cycle and apoptosis of human gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells. Methods: The inhibitory effects of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate at different concentrations on AGS cell growth were measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method and the concentrations of taraxerol and taraxeryl acetate to be used in following experiments were decided. Then, cell cycle analysis was performed by FACScan flow cytometry after culture with taraxerol or taraxeryl acetate. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining was used to measure cell apoptosis. Results: Taraxerol significantly inhibited AGS cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taraxerol arrested the AGS cells at G(2)/M stage. 110 μmol/L taraxerol elevated the population of AGS cells arrested in G(2)/M phase compared with solvent (P0.05). Conclusion: Taraxerol has inhibitory effects on AGS cell growth through inducing G(2)/M arrest and promotion of cell apoptosis. Taraxeryl acetate has less effect on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of AGS cells than taraxerol.

Antiproliferative effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction on AGS cells / 中西医结合学报

Objective: The main ingredients and the inhibitory effects of essential oil of a compound Chinese herbal medicine Weiqi Decoction (WQD) on AGS cell proliferation were to be investigated. Methods: Chemical compounds of WQD essential oil were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium method. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Apoptosis and necrosis of AGS cells were determined by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodine staining. Results: Chemical analysis showed that the main ingredients of WQD essential oil were bornylene and 3-n-butylphthalide. Ligustilide, which is the effective compound of Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), was not detected in WQD essential oil. The essential oil inhibited cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and blocked cell cycle progression at G(2)/M stage. At the concentrations that resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest, essential oil induced both apoptosis and necrosis. Conclusion: The results suggest that WQD essential oil contains some effective ingredients for treating chronic atrophic gastritis and functional dyspepsia, and also has an antiproliferative effect on AGS cells through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis promotion in vitro. Therefore, essential oil should be retained as much as possible during stewing this decoction.

Effects of sinensetin on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer AGS cells / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects and mechanisms of sinensetin on proliferation and apoptosis of human AGS gastric cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>MTT assay was used to detect the growth inhibition rates of human AGS gastric cancer cells treated with sinsesectin in different concentrations and times. The cell cycle distribution was measured by flow cytometry. The apoptosis was examined by Annexin-FITC/PI staining and DNA fragment analysis. The apoptosis morphology was observed by inverted fluorescence microscope after Hoechst 33342 staining. The protein expressions of p21 and p53 were detected by western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>MTT assay showed that sinensetin inhibited the growth of AGS gastric cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Sinensetin blocked AGS cells in G2/ M and increased the apoptosis rates of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. DNA ladder was observed in cells treated with 60 micromol x L(-1) sinensetin for 48 h. The typical apoptotic morphological changes including cell nucleus shrinkage, chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies were observed when treated with different dose of sinensetin. Western blot showed that sinensetin increased expressions of p53 and p21 in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sinensetin could inhibit human AGS gastric cancer cells proliferation and induce cell cycle block in G2/M phase and apoptosis. The up regulation of p53 and p21 protein might be one of the mechanisms.</p>

Effects of Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa water extract on DMH-induced precancerous lesion of colon / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Coptis chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa water extract on precancerous lesion of colon induced by DMH and proliferation and apoptosis changes of colon mucosa crypts.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Precancerous lesion of colon was induced by DMH. The changes of proliferation and apoptosis of colon mucosa crypts were detected by morphological analysis. The numbers of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were measured by feulgen staining.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>C. chinensis and E. rutaecarpa water extract could significantly inhibit the formation of ACF in model animals. The proliferative crypts were increased obviously in middle and distal colon, and decreased by C. chinensis and E. rutaecarpa water extract. The apoptosis crypts were increased in distal colon but not middle colon. C. chinensis and E. rutaecarpa water extract could promote apoptosis of both middle and distal colon.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>C. chinensis and E. rutaecarpa water extract could significantly inhibit the formation of ACF in model animals. These results indicated that C. chinensis and E. rutaecarpa water extract maybe have an inhibitory and clinically therapeutic effect on colon cancer, which were partly resulted from inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of crypts in middle and distal colon.</p>

Inhibitory effect on activated renin-angiotensin system by astragaloside IV in rats with pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of astragaloside IV (As IV) on the activation of rennin-angiotensin system in rats with pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Left ventricle hypertrophy was induced by abdominal aorta banding between bilateral renal aortas for 12 weeks. Rats were given astragaloside IV 1.0 mg x kg(-1) and 3.3 mg x kg(-1) for 12 weeks, respectively. After treatment, the left ventricular mass index (LVMI)was calculated by morphometry methods. Plasma and cardiac tissue angiotensin II, and plasma aldosterone were measured by ELISA method. Gene expressions of ACE, AT1 and AT2 in cardiac tissue were detected by real time PCR. Protein expressions of AT1 and AT2 in cardiac tissue were detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with model rats, LVMI was decreased by astragaloside IV treatment. Biochemical results indicated that the contents of angiotensin II in plasma and cardiac tissue as well as aldosterone in plasma were all increased in abdominal aorta banding rats comparing with sham-operated rats, then, decreased by astragaloside IV treatment. Gene expressions of cardiac ACE was downregulated by astragaloside IV, however, gene and protein expressions of cardiac AT2 were upregulated by astragaloside IV. Both elevated gene and protein expressions of AT1 were not attenuated by astragaloside IV.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Excessive activated rennin-angiotensin system in rats with pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy is inhibited by astragaloside IV treatment.</p>

NCX and SERCA2a expression in myocardial tissues in rats with pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy / 基础医学与临床

Objective To observe the abnormity of heart function in rats with pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy and the changes of NCX,SERCA2a expression in myocardial tissues. Methods Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by clipping the abdominal aorta in rats. The cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by Left ventricular weight index(LVWI,left ventricular weight/body weight). NCX, SERCA2a mRNA and protein expressions in left ventricular tissues were determined by half-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot normalized to abundance of GAPDH mRNA and protein,respectively. Results LVSP and LVEDP were obviously enhanced(P