Blood pressure variability and its clinical significance in patients with acute cerebral infarction combined with H type hypertension / 中国医学装备

Objective:To investigate the blood pressure variability and its clinical significance in patients with acute cerebral infarction who combined with H type hypertension.Methods: 95 patients with acute cerebral infarction who combined with H type hypertension were enrolled in the perspective study. According to the homocysteine(Hcy) level of patients, they were divided into observation group ( Hcy ≥10mmol/L, 51cases) and control group (Hcy<10mmol/L, 44cases). The blood pressure variability and main clinical features of these patients in the two groups in 24h were observed. At the same time, the correlation between blood pressure variability and main clinical feature in observation group were analyzed.Results: The 24h systolic pressure variability, 24h diastolic pressure variability, carotid intima-media thickness and national institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) of observation group were 14.57±4.62, 18.57±5.38, 13.39±4.85 mm and 1.27±0.17, respectively. While they were 12.48±3.78, 16.12±5.74, 11.34±4.32 mm and 1.09±0.13 in the control group, respectively. And the differences of them between the two groups were statistical significance (t=2.389,t=2.146,t=2.160,t=5.725,P<0.05). Besides, there was obvious positive correlation between 24h systolic pressure variability and NIHSS of patients with acute cerebral infarction (r=0.254,P<0.05), and there was also obvious positive correlation between 24h systolic pressure variability and thickness of carotid intima-media (r=0.256,P<0.05).Conclusion: Increased blood pressure variability in patients with acute hypertensive cerebral infarction combined with H type hypertension may be related to poor prognosis of patients and vascular intima thickness.

Separation and purification of coumarins from Heracleum millefolium by high-speed counter-current chromatography / 中草药

Objective: To separate and purify coumarins from Heracleum millefolium by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). Methods: HPLC was used to analyze and optimize the solvent system and hexane-ethyl acetate-water-methanol (1.5:2.5:2:1.5) was chosen as the two-phase solvent system of HSCCC, in which the upper phase was used as the stationary phase, while the lower phase was used as the mobile phase with flow rate of 3 mL/min, the revolution speed was set at 850 r/min, and detected at 323 nm. Three compounds were obtained as crystals by vacuum concentration at 50℃, and determined through HPLC, then their structures were identified by IR, ESI-MS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. Results: Columbianetin acetate (6.3 mg), osthole (10.6 mg), and columbianadin (6.4 mg) were obtained from crude sample (300 mg) extracts and their purity were above 96.0%. Conclusion: HSCCC is a powerful technique for the rapid separation and purification of coumarins from crude extract of H. millefolium.

[Effect of acupuncture of different acupoints on immune function in rats with exhausted swimming].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) on immune function in progressively exhausted swimming rats so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of strenuous exercise. METHODS: Thirty-two SD rats were randomly allocated into control group, strenuous exercise (model) group, acupuncture-Xuehai (SP 10) group, Acupuncture-Zusanli (ST 36) group (n = 8/group). The rats were forced to have a swimming in a water tank for 15-90 min in the first 8 days (once daily), then, a progressively exhausted load swimming 1 - 3 times everyday from day 9 to 13. Bilateral SP 10 and ST 36 were punctured with filiform needles and stimulated with uniform reinforcing and reducing manipulation, once daily, after termination of the swimming and for 13 days. Serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) contents were assayed by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The rat's body weight and the spleen weight were weighted by using an electronic balance for calculating the spleen index (spleen weight /body weight x 100%) after killing the rat under deep anesthesia. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the time of swimming-induced exhaustion appearing at the first time from day 9 to day 13 in the SP 10 and ST 36 groups was apparently lengthened (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between SP 10 and ST 36 groups in the time of swimming-induced exhaustion appearing at the first time of the forced swimming. Compared with the control group, the spleen index, serum IFN-gamma contents and IFN-gamma/IL-4 in the model group were decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In comparison with the model group, the serum IL-4 contents in the SP 10 and ST 36 groups were decreased markedly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and serum IFN-gamma content and IFN-gamma/IL-4 in the ST 36 group were increased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The IFN-gamma level was significantly higher in the ST 36 group than in the SP 10 group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between SP 10 and ST 36 groups in the spleen index, IL-4 and IFN-gamma/IL-4 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can lengthen the time of forced swimming-induced exhaustion, and upregulate serum IFN-gamma content and IFN-gamma/IL-4 in exhausted swimming rats, which may contribute to its effect in correcting Th1/Th2 imbalance after strenuous exercise. The effect of acupuncture of ST 36 is superior to that of acupuncture of SP 10.

Lovastatin changes activities of lactate dehydrogenase A and B genes in rat myocardial cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a crucial regulator of energy metabolism in many organs including the heart. Lovastatin is widely used in prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease and is a drug with substantial metabolic influences. Our study aimed to determine the activities of the lactate dehydrogenase A and B (LDHA and LDHB) genes following lovastatin treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rat myocardial cell line H9c2(2-1) in culture was exposed to 100 nmol/L lovastatin for 24 hours or for five days. The functions of the LDHA and LDHB genes were examined at the transcriptional (mRNA) level with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR), and at the translational (protein) level with immunoblotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When compared with control levels, the LDHA mRNA went up by (151.65 ± 16.72)% (P = 0.0132) after 24 hours and by (175.28 ± 56.54)% (P = 0.0366) after five days of lovastatin treatment. Although 24 hours of lovastatin treatment had no significant effects on LDHB mRNA levels, when the treatment was extended to five days, LDHB mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated to (63.65 ± 15.21)% of control levels (P = 0.0117). After 24 hours of treatment with lovastatin, there were no significant changes in protein levels of either LDHA or LDHB. When treatment time was extended to five days, the protein levels of LDHA were up-regulated by (148.65 ± 11.81)% (P = 0.00969), while the protein levels of LDHB were down-regulated to (64.91 ± 5.47)% of control levels (P = 0.0192).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lovastatin affects gene activities of LDHA and LDHB differently, which may reveal novel pharmacological effects of lovastatin.</p>

Influence of drug treatment on glucocorticoid receptor levels in patients with coronary heart disease / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Glucocorticoid signaling exerts major roles in inflammation, metabolism and depression, which are three crucial factors accompanying or underlying coronary heart disease. Although accumulating evidence indicates the influence of glucocorticoids on the pathology and treatment of coronary heart disease, there is still a dearth of pharmaceutical mechanisms for this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the influence of drug treatment on glucocorticoid receptor levels in coronary heart disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty hospitalized patients (average age (59.0 +/- 7.5) years, 46 male and 34 female) with coronary heart disease were categorized into four groups with 20 members in each according to one of the four drugs they were treated with. The four drugs were: nitrated derivative isosorbide dinitrate, the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker metoprolol, the calcium antagonist nifedipine, and the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor lovastatin. Glucocorticoid receptor protein levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes were tested using immunoblotting analysis before and after one month of treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunoblotting analysis showed increased glucocorticoid receptor levels after treatment with metoprolol and nifedipine. There were no statistically significant changes of glucocorticoid receptor levels after treatment with isosorbide dinitrate or lovastatin, although there were trends of up-regulation of glucocorticoid receptor expression after both treatments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Both the beta-blocker and the calcium blocker can increase glucocorticoid receptor levels after chronic administration. This effect suggests a mechanism for their anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic roles for coronary heart disease and comorbid disorders.</p>

Preparation and in vitro and in vivo evaluations of topically applied capsaicin transfersomes / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To prepare capsaicin transfersomes and evaluate them in vitro and in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Capsaicin transfersomes were prepared by high shear dispersing machine and evaluated by entrapment efficiency, release rate, in vitro skin permeation and distribution in different tissues in vivo.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Capsaicin transfersomes were composed of single unilamellar vesicles with an average diameter of 150.6 nm. Capsaicin entrapment efficiency increased distinctly with increasing of concentration of lecithin and entrapment efficiency is 96.7% while concentration of lecithin to 8%. Cumulative release amount of capsaicin is in direct proportion to the ethanol concentration in the receptor medium. In vitro capsaicin cumulative penetration amount showed higher levels in transfersomes than cream and suspension in rat abdominal skin. Abdominal skin cumulative penetration amount in vitro of capsaicin transfersomes in mouse was significantly higher than that from rat and men. In the same way, abdominal skin epidermal membrane cumulative penetration amount in vitro of capsaicin transfersomes was significantly higher than that from derma and full skin in human abdominal skin. The capsaicin tissue distribution of capsaicin injection by multiple celiac injections in rats is different: bone > plasma > skin > muscle. There is a similar result by multiple thigh topical application of capsaicin transfersomes: bone > skin > plasma > muscle.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Entrapment efficiency of capsaicin transfersomes reached the criterion of China Pharmacopoeia (> 80%) and capsaicin skin penetration can be increased by capsaicin transfersomes. It should be noted that the diverse characters and levels of skin may probably affect the permeating capability of capsaicin. Capsaicin tissue distribution in bone and muscle is similar and is different in plasma and skin by multiple injections and topical skin apply.</p>