Effect of jatrorrhizine on delayed gastrointestinal transit in rat postoperative ileus.

Objectives: Postoperative ileus is major cause of postoperative complication and prolonged hospitalization. Jatrorrhizine, which is a protoberberine alkaloid isolated from the medicinal plants Berberis aristata and Coptis chinensis, has been found to increase contractility of gastric antral and ileum smooth muscles of rat gastrointestinal tract. We have investigated whether jatrorrhizine could offset gastrointestinal transit in rat with postoperative ileus.

Model and experimental studies for contact angles of surfactant solutions on rough and smooth hydrophobic surfaces.

Despite the practical need, no models exist to predict contact angles or wetting mode of surfactant solutions on rough hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces. Using Gibbs' adsorption equation and a literature isotherm, a new model is constructed based on the Wenzel and Cassie equations. Experimental data for aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) contact angles on smooth Teflon surfaces are fit to estimate values for the adsorption coefficients in the model.

The effects of jatrorrhizine on contractile responses of rat ileum.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of jatrorrhizine on smooth muscle contractions isolated from rat ileum longitudinal muscles. Jatrorrhizine increased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions of ileum longitudinal muscles in concentration-dependent manner with an EC(50) of 30.0±8.

Traditional Chinese formula, lubricating gut pill, stimulates cAMP-dependent CI(−) secretion across rat distal colonic mucosa.

Aim Of The Study: Lubricating gut pill (LGP), a traditional Chinese formula, had been conformed to improve the loperamide-induced rat constipation by stimulation of Cl(-) secretion, but its mechanism has not been fully explored. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the action sites of LGP-stimulated Cl(-) secretion across rat distal colonic mucosa.

Materials And Methods: Rat distal colonic mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers and short circuit current (I(SC)), apical Cl(-) current and basolateral K(+) current were recorded.

[The utility of trnH-psbA gene for phylogenetic analysis of Huperziaceae and plant barcoding].

Objective: The purpose of study was to discover the phylogenetic relations and plant barcoding of 17 plants from Huperziaceae.

Methods: Phylogenetic tree of chloroplast trnH-psbA gene of 17 plants from Huperziaceae was constructed by software.

Results: It showed that Huperziaceae could be divided into two genera Huperzia and Phlegmariurus and bootstrap value reached 91%.

Traditional Chinese formula, lubricating gut pill, improves loperamide-induced rat constipation involved in enhance of Cl- secretion across distal colonic epithelium.

Aim Of The Study: Lubricating gut pill (LGP), a traditional Chinese formula, was widely used for the treatment of chronic constipation, especially in the elderly, in China. However, it is unclear whether LGP-induced laxative and/or lubricating effect is involved in water and electrolytes transport in distal colonic epithelium.

Materials And Methods: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of LGP on Cl(-) secretion across rat distal colonic epithelium mounted in Ussing chambers, and on a rat constipation model induced by loperamide, respectively.

[Inhibitory effect on activated renin-angiotensin system by astragaloside IV in rats with pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy].

Objective: To investigate the effect of astragaloside IV (As IV) on the activation of rennin-angiotensin system in rats with pressure-overload induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Method: Left ventricle hypertrophy was induced by abdominal aorta banding between bilateral renal aortas for 12 weeks. Rats were given astragaloside IV 1.

[Effect of glaucocalyxin A on level of Th1/Th2 type cytokines in mice].

Objective: To research the effect of glaucocalyxin A (GLA) on the level of Th1/Th2 type cytokines in mice.

Method: By using flow cytometer with CBA software to detect Th1/Th2 type cytokines.

Result: GLA had insighificant inhibitory effects on Th1 and Th2 cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma,TNF-alpha, IL-4 and IL-5) induced by ConA, in which more potential on cytokines from Th1 than those of from Th2 were displayed.

[Study on screening immunocopetent position in Rabdosia amethystoieds (Benth.) Hara].

Objective: To search for immunocompetent position in Rabdosia amethystoieds (Benth.) Hara.

Methods: Spleen cells of mice were stimulated by mitogen concannvalin A (ConA), and proliferation of lymphocytes were measured with tetrazolium salts (MTT) in vitro.

Effects of calycosin on the impairment of barrier function induced by hypoxia in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of calycosin, an isoflavonoid isolated from Astragali Radix, on the impairment of barrier function induced by hypoxia in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Hypoxia induced an increase in endothelial cell monolayer permeability, indicating endothelial cell barrier impairment. Endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by hypoxia was accompanied by decreases in cytosolic ATP concentration and cAMP level, the development of actin stress fibers and intercellular gap formation, suggesting that the decreases in cytosolic ATP and cAMP levels and rearrangements of F-actin could be associated with an increase in permeability of endothelial monolayers.