Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Diosgenin in Rat Plasma by a UPLC-MS/MS Approach.

Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin, has attracted attention worldwide owing to its pharmacological properties, including antitumor, cardiovascular protective, hypolipidemic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The current diosgenin analysis methods have the disadvantages of long analysis time and low sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to establish an efficient, sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach for pharmacokinetic analysis of diosgenin amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) using tanshinone IIA as an internal standard (IS).

Synthesis, in vitro ADME profiling and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of novel glycogen phosphorylase inhibitors.

A small set of indole-2-carboxamide derivatives identified from a high-throughput screening campaign has been described as a novel, potent, and glucose-sensitive inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase a (GPa). Among this series of compounds, compound 2 exhibited moderate GP inhibitory activity (IC = 0.29 μM), good cellular efficacy (IC = 3.

Urotensin receptor antagonist urantide improves atherosclerosis-related kidney injury by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in rats.

Objective: To investigate the role of urantide in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic nephropathy by antagonizing the urotensin II/urotensin receptor (UII/UT) system and regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Methods: Atherosclerosis (AS) rats were treated with urantide at a concentration of 30 μg/kg for 3, 7, 14 days.

Results: An excessive expression of UII and its receptor G protein-coupled receptor 14 (GPR14) was seen in AS rat kidneys and the expression was significantly reduced after urantide administration.

Systematic review of long-term Xingnao Kaiqiao needling effcacy in ischemic stroke treatment.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the long-term effect and safety of Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method in ischemic stroke treatment.

Data Retrieval: We retrieved relevant random and semi-random controlled trials that used the Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method to treat ischemic stroke compared with various control treatments such as conventional drugs or other acupuncture therapies. Searched databases included China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu Information Resources System, Wanfang Medical Data System, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, Cochrane Library, and PubMed, from May 2006 to July 2014.