Study on Liver Injury of Different Components of Evodia Fructus in Vivo and in Vitro / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo evaluate the in vivo and in vitro toxicity of Evodia Fructus water extraction and its index components， and provide a basis for basic research on the toxic substances of Evodia Fructus. MethodInstitute of Cancer Research（ICR） mice were divided into high， medium and low dose groups of water extraction of Evodia Fructus and a blank control group. The administration groups were respectively given 80，60，40 g·kg-1 water extraction of Evodia Fructus， the blank control group was given distilled water in equal volume， blood was taken 24 hours later to determine the serum alanine aminotransferase（ALT）and aspartate aminotransferase（AST）values， the liver was weighed and histopathological examination was performed. Evodia Fructus water extract， evodiamine， rutaecarpine and limonin were respectively acted on HepG2 cells for 24 h， and cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） method was used to investigate the cytotoxicity. The ICR Mice were divided into two groups， one group was given by oral gavage and the other group was given intraperitoneal injection. The two routes of administration were separately given 3 index components of Evodia Fructus， and the dosage was 200 mg·kg-1. Take blood 24 hours after administration to determine the activity of ALT and AST in serum， and take liver to calculate liver index. ResultCompared with the blank group， the high and medium dose groups of Evodia Fructus water extract were depressed 24 hours after administration， and the behavior of the low dose group was not significantly abnormal. The serum biochemical results showed that the activities of serum ALT and AST in the high and medium dose groups were significantly increased （P<0.01）， the activities of serum ALT and AST in the low dose group were significantly increased， and the histopathological results showed that the high and medium dose groups were significantly increased Punctate necrosis and vacuolar degeneration appeared in the liver of the medium dose group， and there was no obvious abnormality in the low dose group. Compared with the blank group， evodiamine and rutaecarpine had a certain inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cells， but the inhibitory effect was not strong. Limonin had no significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Compared with the control group， the 3 index components of Evodia Fructus have no effect after oral administration. There was no significant difference in the activity of ALT and AST in serum of mice， and there was no significant difference in liver index. Intraperitoneal injection of evodiamine and rutaecarpine can cause the activity of serum ALT and AST to increase， and limonin can cause ALT activity was significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the liver index was significantly increased （P<0.05）. ConclusionEvodia Fructus water extract can cause acute liver injury in mice， Oral administration of evodiamine， rutaecarpine and limonin had no damage to the liver of mice. Intraperitoneal administration of evodiamine and rutaecarpine had no effect on liver injury in mice， and intraperitoneal administration of limonin could cause acute liver injury in mice.

Youguiwan Regulates CXCL8/CXCR1/2 Signaling Pathway and Ang-1 and Ang-2 Expression to Promote Ovarian Angiogenesis in Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effects of Chinese herbal compound Youguiwan on angiogenesis of rats with ovarian dysfunction caused by natural aging and its relationship with chemokine interleukin 8 （CXCL8）/CXC chemokine receptor 1/2 （CXCR1/2） signaling pathway， angiopoietin 1 （Ang-1）， and angiopoietin 2 （Ang-2）， so as to explore its mechanism in improving the ovarian function. MethodFifty six female SD rats were randomly divided into the young control group （n=8） and modeling group （n=48， ovarian dysfunction caused by natural aging）. Rats in both the young control and modeling groups were routinely fed， during which the ones in the modeling group underwent exfoliative cytology of vaginal smears for five to seven days. The ones presented with prolonged estrous cycle， followed by continuous estrus and repeated pseudopregnancy revealed by vaginal cytology during four consecutive estrous cycles indicated early aging， and the young rats with keratinocyte proliferation index higher than 50% for 10 consecutive days were classified into the young control group. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the early-aged group， estrogen （65 μg·kg-1·d-1） group， Zuoguiwan （33 g·kg-1·d-1） group， as well as the low-， medium-， and high-dose （1.2， 2.4， 4.8 g·kg-1·d-1） Youguiwan groups. Rats in the young control group and the early-aged group were gavaged with the same volume of normal saline for 30 days. After the experiment， the morphological changes in rat ovary were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The protein expression levels of chemokines CXCL8， CXCR1， CXCR2， Ang-1， and Ang-2 in rat ovary were detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry， and the mRNA expression levels of CXCL8， CXCR1， CXCR2， Ang-1， and Ang-2 by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the young control group， the early-aged group exhibited reduced number of growing follicles， corpus luteum， and blood vessels at all levels， elevated atretic follicles （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of CXCL8， CXCR1， and CXCR2 in the ovarian tissue （P<0.01）， and down-regulated Ang-1 and Ang-2 protein and mRNA expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the early-aged group， each medication remarkably increased the number of growing follicles， corpus luteum， and blood vessels （P<0.05）， lowered the number of atretic follicles （P<0.05）， down-regulated the protein and mRNA expression levels of CXCL8， CXCR1， and CXCR2 in the ovarian tissue （P<0.05）， and up-regulated the protein and mRNA expression levels of Ang-1 and Ang-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionYouguiwan down-regulates the levels of CXCL8， CXCR1， and CXCR2 in rat ovary and up-regulates the levels of Ang-1 and Ang-2 to promote ovarian angiogenesis and improve rat ovarian function.

Study on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.And its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the diuretic effect, diuretic mechanism and pharmacokinetics of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb., and clarify its "quantity-time-effect" relationship.Methods Firstly, qualified rats were modeled by water load model, given different doses of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.aqueous extract, then the diuretic effect was investigated.Secondly, Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of aquaporins AQP2, AQP4 and the angiotensin II receptors ATGR1, ATGR2, and renin in the RAAS system in kidney tissues.Thirdly, the established LC-MS/MS biological analysis method was used to detect the esculentoside A(EsA)content in the plasma, calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters and analyze the correlation between the blood concentration and the drug effect.Results The water load model was successfully established.Compared with the model group, hydrochlorothiazide had a significant diuretic effect(P<0.01).Low, medium and high dose groups of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.all had obvious diuretic effects(P<0.01), EsA also had a significant diuretic effect(P<0.05).Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.aqueous extract and EsA significantly down-regulated the expression of AQP2, AQP4, ATGR1 and renin protein.The pharmacokinetic results showed that the Cmax and AUC0-t of EsA in the plasma of rats in the low, medium, and high dose groups of aqueous extract increased with the increase of the dose.Conclusions Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.had a diuretic effect, which is related to inhibiting the expression of aquaporins AQP2 and AQP4 and inhibiting the expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor and renin, thereby inhibiting the reabsorption of renal tubules and collecting ducts.

Interlaboratory method validation of slope ratio determination for anticoagulant activity of leeches / 中国药理学通报

Aim To investigate the slope ratio method for the determination of anticoagulant activity of leeches. Methods Three batches of leeches, four groups of Japanese medical vermiculite yinpian and fifteen groups of leech preparations were chosen, with contrast medicinal leeches herbs and Philippine cattle leech contrast medicinal materials, and different concentrations of leaching solutions were prepared in parallel. APTT value was determined after anticoagulant activity was determined by slope ratio method for the joint validation of laboratory, intermediate precision and accuracy between the linear range. Results The slope ratio method was accurate and accurate in the determination of anticoagulant activity of leeches, with linearity between 64% and 156% relative titer level. Conclusion Slope ratio method can be used to determine the anticoagulant activity of leeches.

The preliminary exploration of Calu-3 cell air-liquid interface culture and exposure research / 中国药理学通报

Aim To explore the air-liquid interface(ALI)culture conditions of Calu-3 cells and their tolerance to exposure to clean air in the exposure system. Methods Calu-3 cells were cultured in three stages:flask expansion,liquid-liquid culture until full Transwell membrane covered,and ALI culture,and the cell barrier status was determined by cell trans-epithelium electrical resistant(TEER)measurement and expression of tight junction protein ZO-1; Calu-3 cells were exposed to clean air using the air-liquid interface exposure system for 1,2,3,4,5,6 hours,and cells cultured in incubators were used as controls to detect changes in Calu-3 cell activity and TEER after exposure,and to determine the single maximum exposure time of Calu-3 cells in the in vitro exposure system based on ALI culture. Results Calu-3 cells were cultured in liquid-liquid culture for 8±1 days to grow full Transwell membranes and barrier formation,and then were transferred to ALI culture. The barrier was intact and in a stable state for 1 to 18 days of ALI culture,and could be used for exposure experiments. The activity of Calu-3 cells decreased significantly after 6 hours of clean air exposure(P<0.01),and TEER decreased significantly after 4,5,and 6 hours of clean air exposure(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01). Conclusions Calu-3 cells cultured for 1 to 18 days in ALI can be used for air-liquid interface exposure experiments; the combined changes in cell activity and TEER suggest that the maximum single exposure time for Calu-3 cells exposed to clean air in the exposure system is 3 hours.

Culture and differentiation of mouse tracheal epithelial cells at air-liquid interface / 中国药理学通报

Aim Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of mouse tracheal epithelial cells (MTEC) are a well-established model to study airway epithelial cells. MTEC provides a powerful ap¬proach for the evaluation of the inhalation toxicological in vitro. Methods C57BL/6 mouse tracheal-bronchial epithelial cells were obtained by digestion with protease in cold temperature o- vemight, and the digestion time was optimized to ensure the quantity and viability of the obtained cells. The cells were cul¬tured into collagen coated Transwell inserts. Proliferating phase and air-liquid interface culture were promoted with different cul¬ture media. The expression of tight junction protein and cell trans-epithelial electrical resistance(TEER) were used to evalu¬ate the formation of tight junction between cells and the analysis of cell polarity. The cilia structure was confirmed by electron mi¬ croscopy and immunofluorescence. Results Highly purified and viable primary airway epithelial cells could be harvested and subcultured by our methods, including morphology and immuno- cytochemistry staining confirmed the expression of MUC5AC, a- tubulin, p-tubulin-IV and ZO-1. The development of tight-junc¬tions and epithelium were similar with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium morphology. Conclusions A comprehen¬sive protocol for ALI culture was established, reproducing the characteristic pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium mor¬phology and physiological functions in vitro. The MTEC protocol provides a stable and reliable method for the isolation, mucocili¬ary differentiation and reproducing.

The design of no-power combination manual/foot control suction apparatus / 中国医疗器械杂志

In this paper, one kind of suction apparatus is introduced, which could use manual, foot control and control combination. The design mentality, realization method, installation constitution and application method are also described. It is suitable to the nonmotile source condition and transportation situation, adapting easily to environment, and getting into favour with the medical staff and field first-aid personnel.

The research on the combination of quality control and centralized management of medical equipments in hospital / 中国医疗器械杂志

This article introduces the forms of the centralized management mode and the methods of quality control, and summarizes the effect.

The research of the foamy fracture fixation splint / 中国医疗器械杂志

A new production method of fracture fixation splint is introduced in the paper. The basic raw materials are multi-isocyanic acid, mixed with surfactants, catalysts, fillers, and so on. The splint, with light weight, high strength, and good injured anastomosis site, could be able to shape easily. It is dry and comfortable, avoiding a gas-tight uncomfortable feeling, easy to remove, remodel, nurse, clean and disinfect after fixed. Patients also could film review directly with fixed splint.

[Research advances in microbial degradation of nitrobenzene and its substituted compounds].

Nitrobenzene and its substituted compounds are a group of priority pollutants characterized by chemical stability, high toxicity, and biological accumulation. To treat the waste water and gas containing nitrobenzene and its substituted compounds and to remedy the environment polluted by these compounds, microbial degradation had advantages over other methods. This paper summarized the research advances in the microbial degradation of nitrobenzene and its substituted compounds by terms of the acclimation and screening of degradation strains, degradation pathways and mechanisms, co-metabolism, chemotaxis, and molecular genetics. Further studies should be made on the construction and application of engineering bacteria. In the microbial remediation of environment polluted by nitrobenzene and its substituted compounds, co-metabolism and synergetic degradation of co-strains would play an important role.

Study on an epilepsy EEG processing system based on independent component analysis (ICA) / 中国医疗器械杂志

An epilepsy EEG processing system designed based on Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is introduced in the paper, in order to meet the requirements of epileptic screening in clinical medicine. The system adopts module structure and virtual instrument technology, its hardware is mainly configured in the signal-detecting box, data are exchanged between the box and the notebook computer or personal digital assistant (PDA) through certain digital interface, and ICA is executed in the notebook computer or PDA. The virtual EEG processing system based on ICA is able not only to perform ICA algorithms easily, but also to improve the developing efficiency greatly, and it is suitable for disease screening on a large scale.

Effects of exogenous testosterone on testicular function during the chronic phase of spinal cord injury: dose effects on spermatogenesis and Sertoli cell and sperm function.

INTRODUCTION: Exogenous testosterone has been shown to attenuate spinal cord injury (SCI)-related regression of spermatogenesis in the rat. The current experiment investigated the effects of exogenous testosterone in testicular and sperm functions in the rat during the chronic phase of SCI. METHODS: Chronic SCI rats were given subcutaneous implants of testosterone-filled silastic capsules (TC). Northern blot cDNA hybridization was used to measure testicular levels of Sertoli cell- and germ cell-specific transcripts. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to determine protein level and cellular localization, respectively, of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element modulator (CREM) in the testes. Flow cytometry was used to determine sperm viability and mitochondrial potential. RESULTS: Spontaneous restoration of spermatogenesis occurred in 7 of the 8 untreated SCI rats. Although exogenous testosterone restored complete spermatogenesis in all SCI rats, regressed seminiferous epithelium remained in 30% to 70% of tubular cross sections in these rats. These effects were associated with altered responses of germ cell-specific mRNA transcripts to exogenous testosterone, and abnormal cellular distribution of CREM. Sperm of untreated SCI rats exhibited lowered motility, viability, and mitochondrial potential. Implantation of 10 cm of TC worsened sperm motility in sham control and SCI rats, but restored sperm viability and mitochondrial potential in SCI rats. CONCLUSION: Administration of exogenous testosterone to SCI rats during the chronic phase of injury failed to facilitate spermatogenic restoration over that achieved in untreated SCI rats. Abnormalities in postmeiotic spermatogenic differentiation could contribute to these effects, and perhaps the production of sperm with abnormal morphology and/or functions during the chronic phase of SCI.

Alteration of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate signaling in rat testicular cells after spinal cord injury.

INTRODUCTION: Earlier studies demonstrated that the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) on spermatogenesis were associated with altered Sertoli cell responses to treatment with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or testosterone (T). Because of the importance of the cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signal pathway in hormonal actions on Sertoli cells and spermatogenesis, the purpose of this study was to determine whether cAMP signaling in testicular cells is altered after SCI. METHODS: Rats with SCI were treated with FSH, T, or FSH + T for 7 or 14 days. Northern blot cDNA hybridization was used to measure testicular levels of Sertoli and germ cell-specific transcripts encoded by genes that contain cAMP responsive element (CRE) and/or steroid hormone responsive element (HRE). Cellular distribution of CRE modulator (CREM) was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment of sham control rats with FSH or T + FSH for 2 weeks resulted in decreases in mRNAs for CREM and CRE binding protein (CREB). Concomitantly, levels of mRNA for Sertoli cell inhibin alpha and germ cell-specific protamine 1 (Pm-1), transition protein 2 (TP-2), and lactate dehydrogenase C (LDHC) were all reduced. In contrast, identical FSH and/or T treatments resulted in increases in levels of CREM and CREB mRNAs in the testes of SCI rats; these effects were associated with similar changes in mRNAs for inhibin alpha, Pm-1, TP-2, and LDHC. The effects of SCI on CREM expression were corroborated by similar changes in its distribution in testicular cells. CONCLUSION: SCI is associated with changes in FSH and/or T regulation of cAMP/CRE and HRE signaling in testicular cells. These effects may mediate the effects of SCI on spermatogenesis.

Spinal cord contusion impairs sperm motility in the rat without disrupting spermatogenesis.

Our previous studies demonstrated various abnormalities in spermatogenesis after spinal cord injury (SCI) in cord-transected rats. In this study, we examined whether abnormalities in spermatogenesis in SCI rats were related to the degree of SCI. We used spinal cord-contused (SCC) rats as a model. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to various degrees of cord contusion caused by the weight of a rod dropped from different heights (12.5, 25, 50, and 75 mm) using a New York University IMPACTOR. Testicular histology revealed persistent complete spermatogenesis in all SCC rats 4, 8, or 14 weeks after cord contusion regardless of the extent of SCI. Northern blot complementary DNA (cDNA) hybridization revealed transient but significant decreases in the levels of Sertoli cell-specific transcripts in SCC rats. In addition, levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts for germ cell-specific transition protein-2 and protamine-1 were consistently decreased in these rats. Such effects were related to the height of the weight drop and were associated with reduced levels of mRNA for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element modulator (CREM). These results demonstrated specific effects of SCI on spermiogenesis and were consistent with altered cAMP signaling in testicular cells after SCI. Sperm motility was also significantly decreased in SCC rats and was related to the height of weight drop. Normal sperm motility recovered only in those rats injured by weight drop from 12.5- and 25-mm heights. In summary, current results demonstrate persistent abnormalities in spermiogenesis and sperm motility in rats that suffered spinal cord contusion by weight drop. Such effects were related to the height of the weight drop and thus to the extent of SCI.

Androgen and retinoic acid interaction in LNCaP cells, effects on cell proliferation and expression of retinoic acid receptors and epidermal growth factor receptor.

BACKGROUND: Modulation of the expression of retinoic acid receptors (RAR) alpha and gamma in adult rat prostate by testosterone (T) suggests that RAR signaling events might mediate some of the androgen effects on prostate cells. METHOD: In this study, we examined the interactions between T and retinoic acid (RA) in cell growth of human prostate carcinoma cells, LNCaP, and their relationship with the expression of RAR and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R). RESULTS: Both T and RA, when administered alone, stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation in LNCaP cells in a dose-dependent manner; the effect of each agent was reciprocally attenuated by the other agent. Testosterone treatment of LNCaP cells also resulted in dose dependent, biphasic increases in RAR alpha and gamma mRNAs; increases paralleled that of 3H-thymidine incorporation and were attenuated by the presence of 100 nM RA. These results suggest a link between RAR signaling and the effect of T on LNCaP cell growth. Gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed the presence of putative androgen responsive element (ARE) in the promoter region of RAR alpha gene, suggesting that a direct AR-DNA interaction might mediate the effects of T on RAR alpha gene. Furthermore, treatment of LNCaP cells with 20 nM T resulted in an increase in EGF-R. In contrast, EGF-R was suppressed by 100 nM RA that also suppressed the effect of T. CONCLUSIONS: Current results demonstrate interactions between T and RA in the expression of RARs and cell growth in LNCaP cells. The presence of putative ARE in the promoter of the RAR alpha gene suggests that AR-DNA interaction might mediate the effects of T on RAR alpha gene. The opposite effects of T and RA on the expression of RAR and EGF-R suggest that signal events of these receptors might be involved in the interaction between T and RA in the control of LNCaP cell growth.

A vest-pocket instrument for the detection and treatment of the onset of epileptic seizures / 中国医疗器械杂志

A new vest pocket medical instrument is here presented. It can automatically detect and identify the signals of the onset of epileptic seizures, and then as necessasy, will automatically generate an acoustic stimulation that may weaken and shorten the epileptic activity at the initial stage.

The design of precision measure circuit for frequency & duty cycle of bioelectrical signal and its application in neuron-threshold stimulator / 中国医疗器械杂志

This paper mainly introduces the principles of a type of circuit for measuring frequency & duty cycle of low-frequency signals, and its applications in neuron-threshold stimulator. The circuit has the advantages of simple structure and accurate measurement.

The method and implementation of measuring the peak of bioelectrical signals / 中国医疗器械杂志

It is always very difficult to process the bioelectrical signals, sampling, amplifying and quantifying because of the different sources it comes from and the mechanism it depends on. This paper mainly introduces a method of measuring the peak value of bioelectrical signals, expatiates on the structure, testing result, analysis for error and measure taken for improvement of the circuit designed by this method. At last, the paper also points out that the method is wonderful, simple, easy to carry out, and can be used in many medical systems.