Effects of Naoxintong on atherosclerosis and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in atherosclerotic rabbit / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>High levels of nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) have been associated with atherosclerosis processes. Naoxintong is a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to detect and quantify changes of iNOS mRNA and NO levels in the vessel wall after the administration of Naoxintong in an atherosclerotic rabbit model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8). Rabbits were fed a standard diet (group A), an atherogenic diet consisting of 79% standard feed + 1% cholesterol + 5% lard + 15% egg yolk powder (group B), an atherogenic diet with Naoxintong 0.25 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) (group C), an atherogenic diet with Naoxintong 0.5 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) (group D), or atherogenic diet with Naoxintong 1.0 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) (group E) for 12 weeks.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Supplemented administration of Naoxintong led to a down-regulation of cholesterol (CHOL) (P < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P < 0.001). The trend became more notable as the dose of Naoxintong increased; group C vs. group B (CHOL, P = 0.568; LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), P = 0.119), group D vs. group B (CHOL, P = 0.264; LDL-C, P = 0.027), group E vs. group B (CHOL, P = 0.028; LDL-C, P = 0.002). Atherosclerotic lesions in aorta were reduced in Naoxintong groups (groups C, D, E) compared to group B. Group B had higher iNOS mRNA (P = 0.001) and NO level (P < 0.001) than group A. Compared with the atherogenic diet fed-rabbits, Naoxintong supplements decreased the expression of iNOS mRNA (P < 0.001) and the NO level (P < 0.001) in the vessel wall. Groups given a higher Naoxintong dose exhibited greater benefits. iNOS mRNA and NO levels seemed to be reduced in group C, although the difference did not quite reach statistical significance (iNOS mRNA, P = 0.130; NO, P = 0.038). iNOS mRNA and NO levels significantly decreased in group D (iNOS mRNA, P = 0.019; NO, P = 0.018) and group E (iNOS mRNA, P = 0.004; NO, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Naoxintong has beneficial effects on atherosclerosis treatment by reducing expression of iNOS mRNA and the NO level in the vessel wall.</p>

Combined therapy with methylprednisolone and ulinastatin in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Our previous study had demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) had a neuroprotective effect in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methylprednisolone has been recommended to be a standard drug in multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies. The present study was to investigate the protective effects of UTI combined methylprednisolone in EAE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mice were divided into a UTI treatment group, a methylprednisolone treatment group, a combined treatment group with UTI and methylprednisolone, a normal saline treatment group, and a normal control group. EAE mice were induced in groups receiving different combined treatments, or respective monotherapies. Demyelination was evaluated by Solochrome cyanin staining. 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNP)/ myelin basic protein (MBP)/ the precursor form of nerve growth factor (proNGF)/p75/ inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) proteins in cerebral cortex of EAE were detected by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The combined treatment group had a lower clinical score (0.61 ± 0.06) and demyelinating score (1.33 ± 0.33) than the groups with normal saline (clinical score: 1.39 ± 0.08, P < 0.001; demyelinating score: 2.75 ± 0.49, P < 0.05) or monotheraphies. Compared with the saline treated EAE group, UTI combined methylprednisolone significantly increased expressions of CNP (1.14 ± 0.06 vs. 0.65 ± 0.04, P < 0.001), MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 0.44 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and decreased expressions of proNGF (1.08 ± 0.10 vs. 2.32 ± 0.12, P < 0.001), p75 (1.13 ± 0.13 vs. 2.33 ± 0.17, P < 0.001), and iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 2.17 ± 0.13, P < 0.001) proteins in EAE. Furthermore, UTI combined methylprednisolone could significantly upregulate MBP (1.28 ± 0.14 vs. 1.01 ± 0.15, P < 0.05) expression and downregulate iNOS (1.05 ± 0.31 vs. 1.35 ± 0.14, P < 0.05) expression compared to methylprednisolone treatment EAE group. And proNGF expression was significantly lower in combined treatment (1.08 ± 0.10) than that in UTI (1.51 ± 0.24, P < 0.05) or methylprednisolone (1.31 ± 0.04, P < 0.05) treatment group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combination treatment of UTI with methylprednisolone was shown to protect EAE, suggesting that combination therapy is a potential novel treatment in MS.</p>

Serum alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels in patients with neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To investigate the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods Serum ALP and GGT levels in patients with NMO and MS from the database of demyelinating diseases in our hospital were analyzed.Eighty-five healthy controls were chosen.The differences of serum ALP and GGT levels in patient groups and controls were compared, and the correlations between clinical features (age of the subjects, course of disease, times of relapse and scores of EDSS) and both ALP and GGT levels were analyzed. Results The serum ALP and GGT levels in patients with NMO were significantly higher than those in patients with MS and the controls (P<0.05).Patients with NMO still had significantly higher serum ALP level in acute phase than patients with MS,and the serum ALP levels in male patients with NMO and the serum GGT levels in female patients with NMO were, respectively,statistically higher than that of male patients with MS and female patients with MS (P<0.05). In patients with NMO, significantly positive correlations between serum GGT level and both age and times of relapse were noted (P<0.05). Conclusion Serum ALP and GGT levels differ in patients with NMO and MS, indicating their differential diagnostic value in NMO and MS to certain extent.

Effect of Danhong injection on intimal hyperplasia and expressions of bFGF and TF in carotid artery of rabbits after PTA / 中华神经医学杂志

Objecfive To study the effect of Danhong injection(DI)on intimal hyperplasia and expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)and tissue factor(TF)in carotid arteries of rabbits after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA). Methods Fifty New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=10),namely sham-operated group,model group,and DI treatment groups(low-,medium-and high-dose DI treatment groups).The animals in the sham-operated group were only given external carotid artery ligation.The rabbit models of carotid stenosis in the later 4 groups were established by ballon-injury.Before the carotid balloon injury,the animals in the DI treatment groups were given DI at doses of 1 mL/kg·d-1,2mL/kg·d-1 and 4 mL/kg·d-1,respectively,for 7 or 14 d via intravenous injection;the animals in the sham-operated and model groups were given saline solution(2mL/kg·d-1)instead.The animals were sacrificed and their common carotid arteries were removed on the 7th and 28th d of surgery;morphology changes of the arterial wall with hematoxylin eosin staining were observed by optical microscope,and the expressions ofbFGF and TF of the vascular wall were detected through immunohistochemical techniques;with the help of an image analysis system,semiquantitative analysis was performed.Results On the 7th d of surgery,the intimal area and intima area/media area (I/M)ratio in the model group showed no significant differences as compared with those in the other 4groups(P>0.05).On the 28th d of surgery,the intimai area and I/M ratio in the model group were increased markedly as compared with those in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), and the intimal area and I/M ratio in the medium and high dose DI treatment groups were significantly reduced as compared with those in the in the model group (P<0.05). The expressions of TF and bFGF in the neointima of carotid arteries of rabbits treated with medium and high dose of DI were significantly weaker than those of the model group (P<0.05), and those of rabbits treated with low dose of DI had no obvious differences as compared with those of the model group (P>0.05). Conclusion Medium and high dose of DI can inhibit the intimal hyperplasia resulting from percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, might through the inhibition of expressions of bFGF and TF in the neointima of the arterial wall.