Yemazhui () ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury modulation of the toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-B/nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 protein signaling pathway and intestinal flora in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of Yemazhui (Herba Eupatorii Lindleyani, HEL) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and explore its underlying mechanism in vivo. METHODS: The chemical constituents of HEL were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry method. Then, HEL was found to suppress LPS-induced ALI in vivo. Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control, LPS, Dexamethasone (Dex), HEL low dose 6 g/kg (HEL-L), HEL medium dose 18 g/kg (HEL-M) and HEL high dose 54 g/kg (HEL-H) groups. The model rats were intratracheally injected with 3 mg/kg LPS to establish an ALI model. Leukocyte counts, lung wet/dry weight ratio, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were determined followed by the detection with hematoxylin and eosin staining, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Besides, to explore the effect of HEL on ALI-mediated intestinal flora, we performed 16s rRNA sequencing analysis of intestinal contents. RESULTS: HEL attenuated LPS-induced inflammation in lung tissue and intestinal flora disturbance. Mechanism study indicated that HEL suppressed the lung coefficient and wet/dry weight ratio of LPS-induced ALI in rats, inhibited leukocytes exudation and MPO activity, and improved the pathological injury of lung tissue. In addition, HEL reduced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum, and inhibited nuclear displacement of nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κBp65). And 18 g/kg HEL also reduced the expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88, NF-κBp65, phosphorylated inhibitor kappa B alpha (phospho-IκBα), nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 protein (NLRP3), IL-1ß, and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in lung tissue, and regulated intestinal flora disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our findings revealed that HEL has a protective effect on LPS-induced ALI in rats, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting TLR4/ NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and improving intestinal flora disturbance.

Expression of zinc finger protein 217 in non-small cell lung cancer and its clinical significance / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To explore the expression of zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with prognosis of patients. Methods A total of 120 NSCLC patients in Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital from January 2012 to October 2013 were selected. Immunohistochemical method was used to test the expression of ZNF217 in NSCLC tissues and paracancerous tissues. The correlation of ZNF217 expression with patient's clinicopathological features was analyzed. At the same time, the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model multiple factor analysis method were used to explore the factors affecting the prognosis of patients after NSCLC radical operations. Results ZNF217 mainly existed in cell nucleus of NSCLC. The positive expression rate of ZNF217 in the cancer tissues was higher than that in the paracancerous tissues [52.5％ (63/120) vs. 20.1％ (25/120), χ 2 = 25.909, P < 0.05]. The positive expression rate of ZNF217 increased with the increase of tumor T stage (χ 2 = 7.333, P = 0.026), N stage (χ 2 = 7.782, P = 0.020) and TNM stage (χ 2 = 11.557, P = 0.003). The overall survival (P = 0.007) and progression-free survival (P = 0.004) of patients with positive ZNF217 were poorer than those of patients with negative ZNF217. Cox multiple factor analysis showed that ZNF217 was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of NSCLC. Conclusion ZNF217 is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of NSCLC, and it may be a potential target for accurate treatment of NSCLC.

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine injections on type I allergy / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate allergic reactions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injections, and to determine the contents of serum IgE and histamine in sensitized animal. The correlation between the preceding contents in serum and allergic reactions may be found, thus offering experimental evidences for advancing the accuracy of anticipation by type I allergy.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>We carried out passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests,active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) tests and anaphylactoid reactions using three TCM injections, and determined the contents of serum OVA-sIgE, total serum IgE and histamine in sensitized animals by ELISA method.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The results of PCA test were negative, and there was no significant difference for total serum IgE level between experimental group and normal saline group. In the study of adjuvant effect in TCM injections + OVA (at the dose level that doesn't cause allergic reactions), the PCA results of SHL and YXC were positive and there was a increase in content of serum OVA-sIgE, while the PCA result of QKL was negative with a unobvious increase in the content of serum OVA-sIgE. The content of total serum IgE wasn't remarkably increased in each group and the results of ASA test were all positive. Three injections all caused anaphylactoid symptoms in guinea pigs in different doses or injection speed and the response intensity was found to be dosage and injection speed dependant. Furthermore, there was no significant difference for the content of total serum IgE in each group, whereas serum histamine concentration in every experimental group was markedly higher than normal saline group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHL and YXC increase the sensitivity of guinea pigs on OVA, and three TCM injections can cause allergic reactions in guinea pig. Allergic reactions of three TCM injections are correlated with specific IgE antibodies and histamine contents.</p>

Experiment study of total anthraquinone in cassiae semen on lipid peroxidation and PPAR-gamma expression in liver tissues of rats with alcoholic fatty liver / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen on lipid peroxidation and peroxisome proliferator activated receptors gamma (PPAR-gamma) expression in liver tissues of rats with alcoholic fatty liver.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Referring to literature, it was established animal models of fatty liver feeding with alcohol. Rats were randomized into 6 groups, except the normal group, the other 5 groups of rats had been administered alcohol two times a day for 3 months. Rats were killed at the end of this experiment. It were respectively measured that the contents of ALT, AST, AKP, TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, MDA, SOD, FFA in the serum and TG, TC, MDA, SOD, HL, LPL, FFA in the liver. The left leaf of liver was observed by histopathological staining, the immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were used to observe the effects on the expressions of PPAR-gamma mRNA.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the model group, total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen could remarkably decrease the content of ALT, AST, TC, TG, MDA and increase the content of SOD in the serum of the experimental fatty liver induced by alcohol; remarkably decrease the content of TC, TG, FFA and increase the content of HL, LPL, SOD in the liver of the experimental fatty liver with induced by alcohol. Total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen group was the similar the model group, but remarkably lighten inflammatory cell intiltration and fibrosis increasing. The RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining results showed that: compared with the normal group,the model group could remarkably decrease the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA in the liver (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen could remarkably increase the expression of PPAR-gamma mRNA in the liver of the experimental fatty liver (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results showed that total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen has good effects on the treatment of hepatic fat induced by alcohol diet in rats. the possible action mechanism of total anthraquinone in Cassiae Semen possess obvious effect of regulating the disorder of lipid metabolism, ameliorating hepatic function, as well as anti-lipidperoxidation, increasing the expression of PPAR-gamma in hepatic cells of rats.</p>

Determination of plasma concentration of N-methylcantharidimide by HPLC and its pharmacokinetics after intravenous administration in dogs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To establish a HPLC method for determination of N-methylcantharidimide in dogs' plasma and to study the pharmacokinetics of N-methylcantharidimide in dogs'.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The plasma samples were extracted by methanol. The acetonitrile and the purified water composed mobile phase. The flow rate was 0. 7 mL x min(-1), ultraviolet detection wavelength was at 212 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The calibration curve was linear over the range from 0.01-10.0 mg x L(-1) with a correlation coefficiency of 0.996 3. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.01 mg x L(-1). The mean recovery was 92.3%. the relative standard deviation (RSD) of intra-day and inter-day were all less than 10%. After intravenous administration of N-methylcantharidimide with 3 dosages of 10, 15, 20 mg x kg(-1) to dogs, the corresponding distribution half-livers (t1/2alpha) were 1.8, 2.1, 1.7 min, and the elimination half-lives (t1/2beta) were 144,139, 146 min, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This method is convenient, accurate and reliable. It can be used for determination of N-methylcantharidimide in dogs' plasma and pharmacokinetic studies.</p>

Effects of Tripterygium hypoglaucum on serum IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in chronic nephritis rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects and mechanism of Tripterygium hypoglaucum (THH) on serum IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in chronic, nephritis rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The rabbit serum of anti-rat kidney was initially prepared, and then injected into normal rats to induce the formation of chronic glomerulonephritis. In this model, THH was administrated for 4 weeks, while saline and prednisone were respectively used as negative and positive controls. Some of laboratory parameters were observed from the rats above.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>THH not only significantly decreased urine protein, reduced serum urea nitrogen, but also decreased the releases of inflammatory mediators (such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>THH is effective in treating rat nephrotoxic serum glormerulonephritis, its mechanism probably related to decreasing inflammatory mediator levels.</p>