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When introduced into the infarcted heart, bone marrow.derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) prevent the heart from deleterious remodeling and improve its recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb) 761 on the infarcted myocardium microenvironment following MSC transplantation. The established rat myocardial infarction (MI) model, with implanted PKH.26 marked MSCs (1x105 cells), were randomly divided into two groups: The control group (injected with normal saline) and the EGb 761 treatment group (injected with 100 mg/kg/day EGb 761). The following indices for cardiac function, including the extent of inflammation, oxidative stress, MSC apoptosis and MSC differentiation were measured 1, 2 and 7 days after treatment. The anti.inflammatory effect of EGb 761 was observed by histological examination. Compared with the respective control group, the malondialdehyde content significantly decreased and the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased in the EGb761.treated groups. In addition, the apoptotic index gradually decreased (P<0.05) with the extension of MI time in the EGb761-treated groups compared to the respective control groups, suggesting that EGb761 exhbits anti-oxidative effects. In addition, the level of the Fas protein was positively correlated with the implanted MSC apoptotic ratio. Following 7 days of MSC transplantation with EGb 761 treatment, the expression of cTnI in PKH26.labeled MSCs was observed in the transplanted myocardium. Cardiac function, including the ejection fraction, left ventricular end.systolic pressure and dp/dtmax significantly increased, and the left ventricular end diastolic diameters, left ventricular end.diastolic volumes and left ventricular end.diastolic pressure significantly decreased (P<0.05, vs. the control group). The results demonstrated that EGb 761 is important in improving cardiac function and the infarcted myocardium microenvironment. The present study indicated that the protective effects of EGb 761 on the infarcted myocardium may be mediated by improving the viability and the differentiation of the implanted MSCs into cardiomyocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytotoxic activity of 36 saponins isolated from roots of Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel against the human cancer cell lines (A549, SGC-7901) and the human hepatic cell line (HL-7702) was tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Saponins 1-14 showed considerable cytotoxic activity, whereas saponins 15-36 showed no significant activity, which suggested that a free carboxylic group located at C-28 of aglycon is essential for their cytotoxic activity. Moreover, the analysis of structure-activity relationships also suggested that the oleanane-type saponins showed better cytotoxic activity than lupane-type saponins, and the length and linkage of glycotic chain attached to C-3 of aglycon displayed an important effect to the potent cytotoxicity. In conclusion, oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[βD-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)]-β-L-arabinopyranoside (5) exhibited the most significant cytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the denatured Naja Naja atra venom (NNAV) in rheumatoid arthritis-associated models, the denatured NNAV (heat treated; 30,90,270 Μg/kg), the native NNAV (untreated with heat; 90 Μg/kg), and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycoside (TWP, 15 mg/kg) were administrated orally either prophylactically or therapeutically. We measured time of licking the affected paw in formaldehyde-induced inflammatory model, paw volume in egg-white-induced inflammation, and granuloma weight in formalin-soaked filter paper-induced granuloma. For adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, paw edema, mechanical withdrawal threshold, serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10, and histopathological changes of the affected paw were assessed. We found that the denatured NNAV (90,270 Μg/kg) significantly reduced time of lickingpaw, paw volume, and granuloma weight in above inflammatory models and also attenuated paw edema, mechanical hyperalgesia, and histopathology changes in AIA rats. Additionally, the increase in serum TNF-α and the decrease in serum IL-10 in AIA rats were reversed by the denatured NNAV Although the native NNAV and TWP rendered the similar pharmacological actions on the above four models with less potency than that of the denatured NNAV, these findings demonstrate that oral administration of the denatured NNAV produces antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities on rheumatoid arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the search for platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists, two new lignan compounds were isolated from the leaves of Syringa reticulata Hara var. mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated as (7 R,8 S, 8' S)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-8,9-dihydroxy-8.8', 7- O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol A) and (7 R,8 S,8' S)-3',4'methylenedioxy-4-methoxy-3,8,9-trihydroxy-8.8', 7- O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol B), Mandshuricol A and B showed antagonistic activity on PAF in the [3H] PAF receptor binding assay with IC50 values of 4.8 × 10–5 M and 3.5 × 10–5 M, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAim:Cobratoxin (CTX), the long-chain α-neurotoxin from Thailand cobra venom, has been demonstrated to have analgesic action in rodent pain models. The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of CTX on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats.Methods:Arthritis was induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in rats. Paw swelling and hyperalgesia of AA rats were measured at various times after CFA administration. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in serum were determined with ELISA. Histopathological changes in synoviocytes were examined under a microscope. Involvement of the cholinergic system in the effects of CTX was examined by pretreatment of animals with the α7 nicotinic receptor (α7-nAChR) antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA).Results:CFA induced marked paw swelling and reduced thresholds of mechanical and cold-induced paw withdrawal. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-2 in the serum of AA rats were increased, whereas the level of IL-10 was decreased. Histopathological examination of synoviocytes showed pronounced inflammation and accumulation of collagen. The administration of CTX (17.0 μg/kg, ip) significantly reduced paw swelling and mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia. CTX also reduced the production of TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-2 but increased the production of IL-10 and altered pathohistological changes. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory efficacy of CTX was significantly reduced by MLA (3 mg/kg, sc).Conclusion:These results indicate that CTX has a beneficial effect on CFA-induced arthritis by modulating the production of inflammatory cytokines. α7-nAChR appears to mediate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions of CTX.Acta Pharmacologica Sinica (2009) 30: 219–227; doi: 10.1038/aps.2008.20; published online 26th January 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing NH4~ adsorption can be an effective alternative in building an available N pool in soils to optimize crop recovery and minimize losses into the environment. We hypothesized that long-term fertilization may change NH4~ adsorption due to changes in the chemical and mineralogical properties of a rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy soil. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine clay minerals in two soil clay size fractions, using classical x-ray diffraction methods and a numerical diagram-decomposition method, (ii) to measure NH4~ adsorption isotherms before and after H202 oxidation of organic matter, and (iii) to investigate whether NH4~ adsorption is correlated with changes in soil chemical and mineral properties. The 23-yr long-term fertilization treatments caused little change in so~l organic C (SOC) but a large variation in soil mineral composition. The whole-clay fractibn (<5 pm) corresponded more to the fertilization treatment than did the fine-clay fraction~ (<1 pm) in terms of illite peak area percentage. The total vermiculite-chlorite peak area perce1ntage was significantly correlated with the total illite peak area percentage (R = -0.9, P < 0.0001). Different fertilization treat- ments gave significantly different results in NH4~ adsorption.~The Soc oxidation test showed positive effects of SOC on NH4~ adsorption at lower NH4~ c~ncentration (200 mg L~) and negative effects at higher NH4~ concentration (300 mg L'). The NH4F adsorption by soil clay minerals after soc oxidization accounted for 60 to 158% ofithat by unoxidized soils, suggest- ing a more important role of soil minerals than soc on NH~~ adsorption. The NH4~ adsorption potential was significantly correlated to the amount of poorIy crystallized illite present (P = 0.0 12). The availability of adsorbed NH~ for plant growth r~eeds further study. Increasing NH4~ adsorption can be an effective alternative in building an available N pool in soils to optimize crop recovery and minimize losses into the environment. We hypothesized that long-term fertilization may change NH4~ adsorption due to changes in the chemical and mineralogical properties of a rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy soil. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine clay minerals in two soil clay size fractions, using classical x-ray diffraction methods and a numerical diagram-decomposition method, (ii) to measure NH4~ adsorption isotherms before and after H202 oxidation of organic matter, and (iii) to investigate whether NH4~ adsorption is correlated with changes in soil chemical and mineral properties. The 23-yr long-term fertilization treatments caused little change in so~l organic C (SOC) but a large variation in soil mineral composition. The whole-clay fractibn (<5 pm) corresponded more to the fertilization treatment than did the fine-clay fraction~ (<1 pm) in terms of illite peak area percentage. The total vermiculite-chlorite peak area perce1ntage was significantly correlated with the total illite peak area percentage (R = -0.9, P < 0.0001). Different fertilization treat- ments gave significantly different results in NH4~ adsorption.~The Soc oxidation test showed positive effects of SOC on NH4~ adsorption at lower NH4~ c~ncentration (200 mg L~) and negative effects at higher NH4~ concentration (300 mg L'). The NH4F adsorption by soil clay minerals after soc oxidization accounted for 60 to 158% ofithat by unoxidized soils, suggest- ing a more important role of soil minerals than soc on NH~~ adsorption. The NH4~ adsorption potential was significantly correlated to the amount of poorIy crystallized illite present (P = 0.0 12). The availability of adsorbed NH4~ for plant growth needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  It has been reported that over-expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in tumors leads to increased lymphangiogenesis and resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, we hypothesized that VEGF-C would be a good molecular target for cancer gene therapy. In this study, we silenced the expression of VEGF-C with the highly specific post-transcriptional suppression of RNA interference (RNAi) in human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. The expression of VEGF-C was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the effect of plasmid on human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLECs) in vitro was analyzed by migration and 3-(4, 5-dimethylt-hiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The sensitivity to anticancer agents was evaluated by MTT and apoptosis assay, and apoptosis-related genes bcl-2/bax ratio was determined by Western Blotting. Results showed that of three siRNA-expressing vectors, P-1/siRNA most significantly suppressed the expression of VEGF-C mRNA and protein (38.1% of control and 117.8 ± 24.2 pg/ml, respectively) and interfered with proliferation and migration of HLECs in vitro. Moreover, transfection of VEGF-C/siRNA combined with Epirubicin markedly decreased breast cancer cells viability, reaching up to 38.5%, and increased apoptosis rate from 13.1% to 38.9%, as determined by decrease of bcl-2/bax ratio. In summary, VEGF-C would be a good molecular target, and a combination of Epirubicin and RNAi targeting VEGF-C could be an effective means for suppressing lymphatic metastasis and enhancing chemosensitivity of human breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Chinese medicine consists of natural products including plants, animals and minerals. TCM has been practiced in China for more than 2000 years, and for the past 200 years has been used in treatment of drug addiction. Ten Chinese medicines for the treatment of opiate addiction have been approved by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), and at least 6 are in clinical trials. The general therapeutic principle of Chinese medicine developed was based on its unique theory of “reinforcing healthy Qi and resolving and removing effects of toxicity”. Acupuncture, another essential part of TCM, which was developed based on the principle that “functions of the human body are controlled by the ‘Jing-Luo’ and ‘Qi-Xue’ system”, has been used not only in China, but also in Europe, the USA and other countries, for controlling opiate addiction. There are some advantages in using TCM for opiate detoxification, including less harmful side effects, high safety and ideal effects in the inhibition of protracted withdrawal symptoms and relapse. Co-administration of TCM with modern medicine shows some synergistic effects in detoxification. Many TCM for detoxification also have efficacy in the rehabilitation of abnormal body functions induced by chronic drug use, including improving immune function, increasing working memory and preventing neurological disorder. Given that TCM is effective in the prevention of relapse and causes fewer side effects, it may be used widely in the treatment of opiate addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have shown that l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), an active component ofCorydolis yanhusuo, can inhibit the development of the conditional place preference induced by opioid receptor agonists, but the effects oflTHP on locomotor sensitivity induced by opioid receptor agonists have not beendocumented. In the present study, the effects ofl-THP on locomotor sensitization to oxycodone, which is an opioid receptor agonist, were studied.Mice treated daily for 7 d with 5 mg/kg oxycodone and challenged with the same dose after 5 days of washout showed locomotor sensitization. In order to study the effects ofl-THP on locomotor sensitization induced by oxycodone,l-THP was administered at doses of 6.25, 12.5, and 18.75 mg/kg, 40 min prior to treatment of oxycodone.l-THPper sedid not affect the locomotor activity at the doses of 6.25, 12.5, and 18.75 mg/kg, but could antagonize the hyperactivity induced by oxycodone (5 mg/kg). Co-administration ofl-THP (18.75 mg/kg), 40 min prior to oxycodone, could inhibit the development of sensitization to oxycodone. In addition,l-THP (6.25, 12.5, and 18.75 mg/kg, ig) dose-dependently prevented the expression of oxycodone sensitization.These results suggested thatl-THP could attenuate the locomotor-stimulating effects of oxycodone and inhibit the development and expression of oxycodone behavioral sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in Xinkou Experimental Forestry Farm of Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University, Sanming, Fujian Province in January 1999. Taking pure stand of Chinese fir as control, the authors measured and studied the content of organic carbon, content of humic acid (HA), ratio of HA of fulvic acid (FA), and the characteristics of infrared light spectrum and visible light spectrum of soil humus in the mixed forest of Chinese fir and Tsoong’tree. Compared to humus composition in the pure stand of Chinese fir, the content of soil organic C, HA content, and the E4 value of HA for different layers of soil, except for the ratio of HA to FA, showed a significant increase in the mixed forest, while the ratios of E4 to E6 had a little decrease. The infrared light spectrum of humic acid had an absorptive peak at 1650 cm−1. It is concluded that the levels of humification and aromaticity of soil humus are higher in the mixed forest, which is favorable for the improvement of soil structure and nutrient supply, thus improving the soil fertility to a certain degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The misch-metal (MM) partially substituted Nd–Fe–B sintered magnets were fabricated by the dual alloy method, and the crystal structure, microstructure, and magnetic properties were analyzed comprehensively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveals that the increasing content of the MM has an inconsiderable effect on the crystallographic alignment of the magnets. Grains of the two main phases are uniformly distributed, and slightly deteriorate on the grain boundary. Due to the diffusion between the adjacent grains, the MM substituted Nd–Fe–B magnets contain three types of components with different Ce/La concentrations. Moreover, the first-order reversal curve (FORC) diagram is introduced to analyze the magnetization reversal process, coercivity mechanism, and distribution of reversal field in magnetic samples. The analysis indicates that there are two major reversal components, corresponding to the two different main phases. The domain nucleation and growth are determined to be the leading mechanism in controlling the magnetization reversal processes of the magnets sintered by the dual alloy method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The element distribution and the magnetic properties were investigated in (Ce,Nd)–Fe–B sintered magnets prepared by mixing Nd13.5Fe80B6.5 and Ce9Nd4.5Fe80B6.5 powders with different mass ratios. Two main phases exist, but element diffusion is evident, and the chemical composition of the main phase is widely different from that of the master alloy. The Ce element tends to be expelled from the Ce-rich Re2Fe14B phase. Compared with the Ce-rich main phase, the Nd-rich Re2Fe14B phase is more stable in structure. Although the microstructure is inhomogeneous and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is variable, the magnetization reversal is uniform in these dual main-phase magnets, which should ascribe to the existence of the exchange coupling, and magnetization reversal undergoes the nucleation of the reversed domain in irreversible magnetization. It is expected to further improve the coercivity by optimizing the distribution of the Nd-rich main phase in preparing the resource-saving (Ce,Nd)2Fe14B sintered magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact energy decay in a step-up chain containing two sections is numerically studied. There is a marked biphasic behavior of energy decay in the first section. Two sections close to the interface are in compression state. The degree of compression of the first section first decreases and becomes weakest at “crossing” time of biphasic behavior of energy, then increases. The further calculations provide the dependence of the character time on mass ratio (m1/m2), where m1 and m2 are the particle mass in the first and second section respectively. The bigger the α (α = [(Ωm1 – m2)/(Ωm1 + m2)]2 with Ω = 1.345), the bigger the energy ratio is. The multipulse structure restricts the transport of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource-saving (PrNdCe)2Fe14B sintered magnets with nominal composition (PrNd)15−xCexFe77B8 (x = 0−10) were prepared using a dual alloy method by mixing (PrNd)5Ce10Fe77B8 with (PrNd)15Fe77B8 powders. For Ce atomic percent of 1% and 2%, coercivity decreases dramatically. With further increase of Ce atomic percent, the coercivity increases, peaks at 6.38 kOe in (PrNd)11Ce4Fe77B8, and then declines gradually. The abnormal dependence of coercivity is likely related to the inhomogeneity of rare earth chemical composition in the intergranular phase, where PrNd concentration is strongly dependent on the additive amount of (PrNd)5Ce10Fe77B8 powders. In addition, for Ce atomic percent of 8%, 7%, and 6% the coercivity is higher than that of magnets prepared by the conventional method, which shows the advantage of the dual alloy method in preparing high abundant rare earth magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qiangli Tianma Duzhong capsule (TMDZ), a Chinese herbal drug, is clinically used to improve functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke in China. This study was conducted to establish whether postischemic long-term treatment with TMDZ could reduce the loss of injured hemisphere and confer the improvements of neurological outcome in chronic survival of rats with 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion brain injury and its primary mechanisms. We found that TMDZ (44.5, 89, or 178mg/kg), administered per os 6 h after the onset of ischemia and for 28 consecutive days, significantly improved the behavior deficits, beginning on day 7, and further improved later. TMDZ treatment also markedly reduced the tissue loss of the injured hemisphere and improved histopathology. In the meantime, TMDZ treatment could improve hemorrheology and inhibit platelet aggregation. These results provide the first evidence that post-ischemic long-term treatment with TMDZ confers the improvements of neurological outcome and the loss of injured hemisphere in an animal ischemic stroke model, and its mechanisms might be associated with the improvements of hemorrheology and the inhibition of platelet aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]