Lung Protective Mechanism of Compound Kushen Injection on Radiation-induced Pulmonary Injury / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To observe the effect of compound Kushen injection on the expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 3 (Smad3), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin mice models with radiation-induced pulmonary injury (RIPI), in order to explore its possible mechanism of action. Method::On XStrahl precision radiation research platform for small animals (SARRP), a single 20 Gy bilateral lung field irradiation was performed to establish a mice model of RIPI. Thirty-two mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, compound Kushen injection group and dexamethasone injection group. The normal control group and the model group were given an equal volume of 0.9%sodium chloride solution and injected intraperitoneally for 4 weeks. The pathology of lung tissue tissues was observed by using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemical(IHC) was used to detect the expressions of E-cadheren and Vimentin proteins in mice lung tissues.Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, GSK-3β and β-cateninin.Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, GSK-3β and β-cateninin. Result::Compared with the normal group, the pulmonary coefficient of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Inflammatory cell infiltration, pulmonary interstitial edema, congestion, destruction of alveolar structure and partial alveolar atrophy were observed in the lung tissues of the model group. Compared with the model group, in the compound Kushen injection group, the levels of infiltration of lung inflammatory cells and pulmonary interstitial lesions in mice, the expression of Vimentin in lung tissues (P<0.01), and the expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, GSK-3β and β-cateninin were significantly decreased (P<0.01), whereas the expression of E-cadheren was significantly increased (P<0.01). However, compared with the dexamethasone injection group, in the compound Kushen injection group, the pathological changes of lung tissues were similar, and the expression levels of E-cadheren, Vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad3, GSK-3β and β-cateninin were not significantly different. Conclusion::Compound Kushen injection can alleviate pulmonary fibrosis of lung in the treatment of RIPI, and the mechanism may be associated with inhibiting the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1, Smad3, GSK-3β and β-catenin related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT), promoting the expression of E-cadheren, and inhibiting the expression of Vimentin, so as to inhibit the occurrence of EMT.

Pharmacokinetics of beta-asarone in rats / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the pharmacokinetics of beta-asarone in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The concentration of beta-asarone in serum and organs were measured by HPLC after i.g. administration, the pharmacokinetics was analyzed with DAS software regarding the organs as independent system.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pharmacokinetics of beta-asarone can be described as first order process of one-compartment model. In the serum, T(1/2), Tpeak and Cmax were 54 min, 12 min and 3.19 mg x L(-1), respectively. The procedure in the organs was similar to that in serum.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The absorption, distribution and elimination of beta-asarone are very rapid, and it is easy to pass through blood brain barrier. Brain is an important organ of distributing of beta-asarone.</p>

Long-term follow-up of enlargement annulus aortic valve replacement in small aortic root / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the long-term survival of patients after aortic valve replacement with enlarged annulus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From July 1988 to December 2001, the annulus was enlarged in 45 patients. The enlargement techniques included Manouguian's (39 patients), Nicks's (5) and konno's (1). Doppler echocardiography was performed in 43 patients one month after operation. Left ventricular outflow gradient was derived from continuous Doppler measurements of flow velocity, and effective orifice area was calculated by the continuity equation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operative mortality was 4.4% (2/45) in this group. One patient died of ventricular fibrillation and the other, lower output syndrome. All patients were followed up with a cumulative follow-up period of 6.2 years. Neither valve-related deaths nor valve-related complications occurred. 97.6% survivors (42/43) belonged to NYHA class I-II, and 2.4% (1/43), class III. No significant differences were observed in hemodynamic performance of differently sized prostheses for each valve type.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patient-prosthesis mismatch with heart valve prostheses as demonstrated by the indexed effective orifice area can be avoided by use of Manouguian's annulus enlarging techniques. The hemodynamic performance of these aortic valve prostheses is satisfactory.</p>