Glutamate Activates the Histaminergic Tuberomammillary Nucleus and Increases Wakefulness in Rats.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays an essential role in regulating wakefulness. Histaminergic neurons, which are exclusively localized in the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) of the hypothalamus, have a pivotal role in the regulation of sleep-wake patterns by sending widespread projections into many brain areas implicated in sleep-wake control. The role of glutamate in histaminergic neurons within the TMN and the resulting sleep-wake profile remains unknown.

Paeoniflorin exerts analgesic and hypnotic effects via adenosine A1 receptors in a mouse neuropathic pain model.

Rational: Neuropathic pain is frequently comorbid with sleep disturbances. Paeoniflorin, a main active compound of total glucosides of paeony, has been well documented to exhibit neuroprotective bioactivity.

Objective: The present study evaluated effects of paeoniflorin on neuropathic pain and associated insomnia and the mechanisms involved.

Combination of active components of Xiexin decoction ameliorates renal fibrosis through the inhibition of NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad pathways in db/db diabetic mice.

Xiexin decoction, a herbal therapeutic agent commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized for its beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy exerted through the combined action of multiple components, including Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids (A), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei polysaccharides (P), and Radix Scutellaria flavones (F). Our previous studies have shown that a combination of A, P, and F (APF) exhibits renoprotective effects against diabetic nephropathy. This study was aimed at determining the effects of APF on renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Effects of combinations of Xiexin decoction constituents on diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Xiexin decoction (XXD) has been used as a treatment for diabetes mellitus for more than 1300 years. XXD constituents with protective effects against diabetic nephropathy (DN) include Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids (RA), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei polysaccharides (RP), and Radix Scutellaria flavones (RF). The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of combinations of RA, RP, and RF on DN and their mechanisms of action.

[Proteomic study on effect of tangcao pill on microsome CYP450].

Tangcao pill is commonly applied in adjuvant and even alternative therapy for patients with AIDS. However, the herb contains complex ingredients, but with unknown effect against anti-HIV drug and unknown function. Because CYP450 emzyme is the main metabolic enzymes of the drug, it is of important significance to study the regulation of CYP450 enzymes before and after the combined administration of Tangcao pill and EFV.

Piromelatine exerts antinociceptive effect via melatonin, opioid, and 5HT1A receptors and hypnotic effect via melatonin receptors in a mouse model of neuropathic pain.

Rationale: An effective and safe treatment of insomnia in patients with neuropathic pain remains an unmet need. Melatonin and its analogs have been shown to have both analgesic and hypnotic effects; however, capacity of them on sleep disturbance with neuropathic pain as well as the precise mechanism is unclear.

Objective: The present study evaluated effects of piromelatine, a novel melatonin receptor agonist, on sleep disturbance in a neuropathic pain-like condition as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Renal Protective Role of Xiexin Decoction with Multiple Active Ingredients Involves Inhibition of Inflammation through Downregulation of the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway in Diabetic Rats.

In Chinese medicine, Xiexin decoction (XXD) has been used for the clinical treatment of diabetes for at least 1700 years. The present study was conducted to investigate the effective ingredients of XXD and their molecular mechanisms of antidiabetic nephropathy in rats. Rats with diabetes induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin were treated with XXD extract for 12 weeks.

Increased secretion and expression of amylin in spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats treated with rhGLP-1 (7-36).

Aim: To investigate the effect of recombined human glucagon-like peptide 1 (rhGLP-1 [7-36]) on the secretion and expression of amylin in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats.

Methods: The GK rats were treated with rhGLP-1 (7-36) 56 and 133 mug/kg subcutaneously for 12 weeks. The fasting and post-prandial blood glucose levels were measured.

Effect of esomeprazole and rabeprazole on intragastric pH in healthy Chinese: an open, randomized crossover trial.

Background And Aim: Esomeprazole is the S-isomer of omeprazole, with a stronger acid suppressive effect than omeprazole. This open, randomized crossover study was designed to evaluate the effect of esomeprazole and another proton-pump inhibitor, rabeprazole, on intragastric pH in healthy Chinese.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy volunteers (26 men and 10 women, aged between 20 and 31 years) were enrolled.

Assessment of quality of life and relevant factors in elderly diabetic patients in the Shanghai community.

Purpose: The study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly diabetes mellitus (DM) in Shanghai community and to screen the possible risk factors.

Methods: A total of 951 patients with elderly DM and 1007 elderly subjects with normal glucose tolerance from the same community as control group were enrolled in the study. A door-to-door retrospectively epidemiological survey was used to collect data of QOL, demographic, and diabetic information.

Effect of pirenzepine ophthalmic solution on form-deprivation myopia in the guinea pigs.

Background: Nonselective muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, was believed to inhibit myopic progression. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy, through topical administration, of the M1-selective muscarinic antagonist pirenzepine in preventing experimentally induced form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs.

Methods: Fifty-three guinea pigs, which underwent monocular deprivation with their eyelids sutured, were divided into 6 groups.

In vivo and in vitro chondrotoxicity of ciprofloxacin in juvenile rats.

Aim: To study the relationship between chondrotoxicity and toxicokinetics of ciprofloxacin (CPFX).

Methods: Rats, 4-week old, were treated with CPFX 0, 400, 800, and 1200 mg/kg ig once daily on seven consecutive days. The knee joint cartilage was examined histopathologically.

[Meta-analysis on the effect and adverse reaction on patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs].

Objective: To observe the rate of efficacy and adverse drug reaction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the population with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, based on available clinical data.

Methods: Using Meta analysis to evaluate the data of effect and safety profile of NSAIDs from 19 articles on randomized clinical trials published from 1990 to 2001 in Chinese journals. The total number of patients enrolled for evaluation on rates of effectiveness and adverse drug reaction were 1 732 and 2 925, respectively.

Neurotoxicity and toxicokinetics of norfloxacin in conscious rats.

Aim: To study the neurotoxicity and toxicokinetics of norfloxacin (NFLX) in freely moving rats.

Methods: Rats were assigned randomly to four treatment groups that received a single iv dose of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg of NFLX and 0.9 % saline, respectively.

Inhibition by fluoroquinolones of K(+) currents in rat dissociated hippocampal neurons.

The effects of four fluoroquinolones (sparfloxacin, fleroxacin, ofloxacin and levofloxacin) on K(+) currents were investigated in pyramidal neurons acutely isolated from rat hippocampus, to evaluate their relative potencies for inhibiting these channels. Using patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques, we found that all four compounds inhibited the delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(K)), but with different potencies. Sparfloxacin was the most potent compound, displaying an IC(50) value of 6.