[Clinical study on depression differentiated as deficiency treated with the combined therapy of ginger-isolated moxibustion and western medicine].

Objective: To compare the differences in the clinical efficacy on depression differentiated as deficiency between the combined therapy of ginger-isolated moxibustion and escitalopram and the simple application escitalopram.

Methods: Eighty patients of depression differentiated as deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In the control group, escitalopram was prescribed for oral administration, 10 mg a day, after each breakfast.

Effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive function in rats with Parkinson's disease.

This study was designed to illustrate the effects of electroacupuncture on cognitive function in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD). The PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the rat brain. Rats with PD were then subjected to electroacupuncture and levodopa treatment for 2 weeks.

Development and validation of an LC-MS-MS method for determination of methyl kulonate in rat plasma.

A sensitive, rapid and specific LC-MS-MS method was established and validated for determination of methyl kulonate, a major bioactive constituent isolated from Meliae Cortex, in rat plasma. Plasma samples were treated by precipitating protein with methanol and were chromatographed using a Capcell Pak C₁₈ column (100 x 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with the mobile phase comprising a mixture of methanol, 10 mM ammonium formate and formic acid (95:5:0.

Determination of isotoosendanin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to pharmacokinetics study.

A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of isotoosendanin, an important bioactive component isolated from Meliae cortex. A Capcell PAK C18 column (100 × 4.6 mm) was used for the chromatographic elution using methanol-10 mM ammonium acetate-formic acid (80:20:0.

[Research progress in relations between renin angiotensin system and diabetic cardiomyopathy].

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated in diabetes. The rise of angiotension II (Ang II) stimulates the cardiac fibroblast proliferation and the alteration of collagen metabolism through AT1 receptor on cell surface, causing the myocardium interstitial and perivascular fibrosis, and the ventricular myocardium rigidity and diastolic function disturbance, leading to the clinical symptoms of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). The main members of RAS including Ang II, Ang-(1-7), Ac-SDKP and ATR play the important role in the development of DCM.

Cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids from the fruits of Lindera communis.

A new sesquiterpenoid, namely Linerenone (1), together with three known sesquiterpenoids (2-4), were isolated from the fruits of Lindera communis. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D, 2D-NMR and HR-MS spectra. Compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic activity against H460, ES2 and DU145 cancer cells with IC(50) of 2.

Altered mRNA expressions of sialyltransferases in human gastric cancer tissues.

Aberrant sialylation and altered sialyltransferase (ST) expressions are frequently found in many types of cancer. In this study, we examined the expressions of α 2,3-linked sialic acid residues and STs mRNA in human gastric cancer tissues. The relationship between the levels of α 2,3-linked sialic acid residues and the expression of STs mRNA was also analyzed.

Anti-virus effect of traditional Chinese medicine Yi-Fu-Qing granule on acute respiratory tract infections.

Yi-Fu-Qing granule is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections. The present study sought to investigate the anti-virus effects of Yi-Fu-Qing granule on acute respiratory infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human adenoviruses type 3 (Ad3). The cytotoxicity of Yi-Fu-Qing granule was evaluated by the neutral red assay on HeLa cells.

Cardioprotective effect of 'methylamine irisolidone', a new compound, in hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in cultured rat cardiac myocytes.

'Methylamine irisolidone' (=5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-[(methylamino)methyl]-4H-[1]benzopyran-4-one), a new compound, is a structurally modified kakkalide with good water solubility. In this study, we investigated its effect on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury in cultured rat cardiac myocytes. The results showed that methylamine irisolidone could significantly inhibit lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, enhance the mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) associated with the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduce contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) after H/R in a dose-dependent manner.

Protective effects of Salvia plebeia compound homoplantaginin on hepatocyte injury.

Salvia plebeia R. Br is a traditional Chinese herb which has been considered as an inflammatory mediator used for treatment of many infectious diseases including hepatitis. Previously, the compound homoplantaginin was isolated in our group.

The toxicity study on marine low-temperature lysozyme.

Marine low-temperature lysozyme is purified from a marine bacterium. The lysozyme can keep high activity at low-temperature and has broad-spectrum antibiotic reaction. This study was undertaken to investigate the major characteristics, acute and subchronic toxicity of marine low-temperature lysozyme.

A major triterpenoid saponin from Gypsophila oldhamiana.

A new saponin, gypoldoside A (1), was isolated from the roots of Gypsophila oldhamiana. On the basis of in-depth NMR-spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analysis, in combination with chemical evidence, its structure was established as 3-O-{beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl}quillaic acid 28-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl] ester. Compound 1 was found to be highly active against three different human cancer cell lines, with IC50 values in the low micromolar range.

Curcumin inhibits telomerase activity in human cancer cell lines.

Curcumin, one of the major components of tumeric, the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa L, has been shown to have anti-proliferating and anti-carcinogenic properties. In this study, we examined the effects of curcumin on cell growth and telomerase activity in human cancer cell lines Bel7402, HL60 and SGC7901. Curcumin (1-32 microM) showed anti-proliferating effects on these cell lines in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, and anti-tumor effects when curcumin (50-200 mg/kg) was orally administered to nude mice transplanted with the cancer cells.

[Protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats].

Objective: To study the protective effect of puerarin on stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Method: The model of gastric ulcer was established by restraint plus water-immersion stress in rats. Gastric motility was monitored by the method of "Gas Balloon".