A phase I dose-escalation study to evaluate tolerability in a Western population to T89, a modern cardiovascular herbal medicine.

T89 (Dantonic) is a modern herbal medicine currently used in Chinese hospitals for the management of ischemic heart disease. This dose-escalation clinical trial aims to assess tolerability of Western people to T89. Healthy Australian adults of non-Asian background orally took a single dosage of 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 T89 capsules (6 people for each dose) and were assessed with respect to symptoms and physical signs, electrocardiogram, hematology, plasma biochemistry, and urinalysis.

Physiological effects of androgens on human vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells in culture.

Androgenic hormones are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, although the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study examines the impact of androgens on the physiology of human vascular endothelial cells (EC) and smooth muscle cells (SMC) in culture. Cells were incubated with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) at various physiological concentrations (5-50 nM) in the present or absence of an androgen receptor (AR) blocker flutamide (100 nM).