[Effect of moxibustion on respiratory function and cutaneous histamine and neuropeptide contents of "Feishu" (BL13) in asthmatic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on respiratory function and contents of histamine and neuropeptides in skin tissue of "Feishu" (BL13) in asthmatic rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of asthma. METHODS: Thirty-six SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model and moxibustion groups, with 12 rats in each group. The asthma model was established by subcutaneous injection (at the back and groin, 0.5 mL) and i．p. injection (1 mL)of mixture solution of ovalbumin (OVA), Aluminium Hydroxide gel and 0.9% sodium chloride solution, and repeated nasal drip of 1% OVA. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral BL13 for 15 min, once daily for 14 days. The inspiratory and expiratory resistance, and pulmonary ventilation compliance were detected by using a small animal pulmonary function tester under anesthesia. The contents of histamine, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the local skin tissue of the left BL13 were assayed by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: After modeling, the inspiratory and expiratory resistance were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the lung ventilation compliance was significantly decreased in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01). Outcomes of ELISA showed that the content of VIP was significantly lower (P<0.01), and those of histamine, SP and CGRP in the skin of left BL13 were significantly increased in the model group relevant to the normal control group (P<0.01). Following the intervention, the inspiratory and expiratory resis-tance, cutaneous histamine, SP and CGRP contents were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the lung ventilation compliance and cutaneous VIP level were significantly increased in the moxibustion group in contrast to the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion of BL13 can improve pulmonary function in asthma rats, which may be related to changes of levels of histamine and neuropeptides as VIP, SP and CGRP in the local skin tissues of BL13.

Preparation of Ru(ii)@oligonucleotide nanosized polymers as potential tumor-imaging luminescent probes.

The development of Ru(ii) complexes as luminescent probes has attracted increasing attention in recent decades. In this study, the nanosized polymers of two Ru(ii) complexes [Ru(phen)2(dppz)](ClO4)2 (1, phen = 1,10-phenanthrolin; dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) and [Ru(phen)2(Br-dppz)](ClO4)2 (2, Br-dppz = 11-bromodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) with oligonucleotides were prepared and investigated as potential tumor-imaging probes. The formation of the nanosized polymers, which had an average width of 125-438 nm and an average height of 3-6 nm, for 1 and 2@oligonucleotides were observed through atomic force microscopy. The emission spectra indicated that the luminescence of 1 and 2 markedly increased after binding to oligonucleotides and double-strand DNA (calf thymus DNA), respectively. Moreover, further studies indicated that 1@oligonucleotides and 2@oligonucleotides can easily enter into tumor cells and selectively highlight the tumor area in the zebrafish bear xenograft tumor (MDA-MB-231). In summary, this study demonstrated that 1@oligonucleotides and 2@oligonucleotides could be developed as potential tumor-imaging luminescent probes for clinical diagnosis and therapy.

Paeoniflorin inhibits growth of human colorectal carcinoma HT 29 cells in vitro and in vivo.

The aim of the therapy of human malignancies is the inhibition of cell proliferation and/or induction of apoptosis. In present experiment, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects and associated mechanisms of paeoniflorin (PF), isolated from the paeony root, against colorectal cancer. In vitro, cell growth assay obviously showed the inhibition of tumor cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed that PF could mainly have the cell cycle arrest at G1, which is associated with DNA damage and activation of p53/14-3-3 zeta (ζ). The pro-apoptotic effect of PF was demonstrated by Annexin V-PI staining, and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 by Western immunoblotting. In vivo, the results showed that positive cells of PCNA in PF and docetaxel-treated group was decreased to 30% and 15% compared with control group of tumors, respectively. But apoptosis cells in PF- and docetaxel treated groups studied by TUNEL is increased to 40 ± 1.2% and 30 ± 1.5% compared with 24 ± 2.3% in negative control, respectively. Furthermore, the efficiency of tumor-bearing mice treated by PF was superior to docetaxel in vivo. Overall, PF may be an effective chemopreventive agent against colorectal cancer HT29, and the mechanism could be mediated via an regulation of p53/14-3-3ζ.

Hypoglycemic efficacy of pulmonary delivered insulin dry powder aerosol in rats.

AIM: To observe the hypoglycemic efficacy of pulmonary delivery of insulin in dry powder aerosol form. METHODS: Insulin dry powder, made of insulin and other proper materials, was insufflated in rat lung from an incision in the throat. Meanwhile, insulin injection was administered to other rats. Glucose concentration in blood was determined in the following 7 h. The areas above the curve (AAC) of glucose concentration in blood were used to evaluate the efficacy. RESULTS: The percent minimum blood glucose levels, compared with the glucose levels before the administration, for pulmonary deliver ed insulin at the doses of 20, 10, 5, and 2.5 U/kg were 6.5 %, 16.6 %, 24.6 %, and 57.0 %, respectively. The AAC of insulin 5 U/kg by pulmonary delivery was very close to that of subcutaneous administration at the same dose. There was a linear relationship between AAC and the logarithmic dose of pulmonary delivered insulin. CONCLUSION: The pulmonary delivery of insulin acts effectively and rapidly.