Determination of Glycyrrhizic Acid and Chlorogcnic Acid in Compound Cough Granules by HPLC

复方止咳冲剂由甘草、金银花等十几味中药与大量赋形剂制成。甘草酸与绿原酸是其中重要的化学组分。本文建立了同时测定甘草酸与绿原酸的RP－HPLC－UV方法。用C_18不锈钢柱为色谱柱，以甲醇（0.5％醋酸）－水（0.5％醋酸）为流动相，梯度法洗脱，用外标法定量，测定了三批样品．回收率均大于90％，相对标准偏差均小于3％。

Branched-chain amino acid treatment before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To examine the significance of branched-chain amino acid （BCAA） treatment before transcatheter arterial chemoembolization （rACE） for hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）.METHODS： This study included 99 patients who underwent TACE therapy for HCC at our hospital and were followed up without treatment for at least 6 mo between January 2004 and January 2010. They were divided into 2 groups： those receiving BCAA granules （/7 = 40） or regular diet （n = 59, control）. Data obtained were retrospectively analyzed （prior to TACE, and 1 wk, 1, 3, and 6 mo after TACE） in terms of nutritional condition and clinical laboratory parameters （serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score）, both of which are determinants of hepatic functional reserve.RESULTS： The BCAA group comprised 27 males and 13 females with a mean age of 69,9 ：E 8,8 years, The patients of the BCAA group were classified as follows： Child-Pugh A/B/C in 22/15/3 patients, and Stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ/ /IVA HCC in 12/23/5 patients, respectively. The controlgroup comprised 32 males and 27 females with a mean age of 73.2 ± 10.1 years. In the control group, 9 patients had chronic hepatitis, Child-Pugh A/B/C in 39/10/1 patients, and Stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ/Ⅲ/IVA HCC in 1/11/35/12 patients, respectively. Overall, both serum albumin level and Child-Pugh score improved significantly in the BCAA group as compared with the control 3 and 6 mo after TACE （P 〈 0.05）. Further analysis was performed by the following categorization： （1） child-Pugh classification; （2） liver cirrhosis subgroup with a serum albumin level 〉 3.5 g/dL; and （3） epirubicin dose. A similar trend indicating a significant improvement of all variables in the BCAA group was noted （P 〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION： Treatment with BCAA granules in patients who have undergone TACE for HCC is considered useful to maintain their hepatic functional reserve.

Early administration of branched-chain amino acid granules

The effect of malnutrition on survival in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis has not been well defined. Nutritional intervention with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) can increase serum albumin concentration in patients with decompensated cirrhosis but its effects on survival are unclear. The BCAA to tyrosine ratio (BTR) is a surrogate marker (the normal range of BTR is between 4.41 and 10.05, and a Fischer's ratio of 1.8 corresponds to a BTR of 3.5) in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, and BCAA inhibits hepatic carcinogenesis in patients with compensated cirrhosis. This review discusses data regarding the effect of early administration of BCAA granules based on the ratio of BCAA to BTR on prognosis in patients with cirrhosis.

Effect of Zhongfeng Naodeping Granule on Hippocampal Excitatory Amino Acid and Neuron of Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats with Hemorrhagic Apoplexy

Objective: To observe the effects ofZhongfeng Naodeping Granule (ZFNDPG) onhemorrhagic apoplexy. Methods: The strokeprone spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRsp ) were used to study effects ofZFNDPG on hemorrhage apoplexy. Excitatoryamino acid (EAA) concentration in hippocampus sector, neuronal density and ultrastructural changes in hippocampal CAI sector weremeasured. Results: In pathological modelgroup glutamate (Gin) and aspartate (Asp)concentration elevated obviously. With theZFNDPG treating SHRsp of hemorrhagicapoplexy, Gin and Asp concentration in hippocampal sector could be markedly inhibited,compared with model group, P < 0.05-0. 01. Neuronal morphology was observed:neurone injury was mild and neuronal densityincreased in hippocampal CA1 sector of treatment group, compared with model group, P< 0. 01. Electron microscopy showed t edema,degeneration and necrosis caused by hemorrhagic apoplexy were improved after theZFNDPG treatment. Conclusions: Effects ofprotecting neurone for SHRsp on hemorrhagicapoplexy might be associated with thatZFNDPG inhibited concentration of EAA.

Effects of Ningdong granule on DA,DRD2,and HVA in a rat model of Tourette's syndrome

OBJECTIVE:Ningdong granule is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for the treatment of Tourette's syndrome.METHODS:Sixty-four rats were randomly assigned to a control group and three experimental groups,respectively.Rat models of Tourette's syndrome were established via intraperitoneal injection of apomorphine(Apo).The rats in the experimental groups were subsequently intragastrically injected with haloperidol at 10 mg/kg(haloperidol group),Ningdong granule at 370 mg/kg(NDG group),and normal saline(0.9%) at 10 mL/kg(Apo group),respectively.Rat behaviors were observed and recorded on a daily basis.After 12 w,all rats were sacrificed,and sera and striatal tissues were harvested.Homovanillic acid levels in sera,as well as dopamine and dopamine D2 receptor mRNA expression in the striatum,were measured to determine possible mechanisms of Ningdong granule on the dopamine system in a rat model of Tourette's syndrome.RESULTS:Following intervention,stereotype actions of the Tourette's syndrome rats were significantly inhibited in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.01).Homovanillic levels were significantly greater in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.05).In addition,dopamine levels were significantly less in the NDG group(P<0.01),and DRD2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the haloperidol and NDG groups,respectively(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Results demonstrated that Ningdong granule effectively inhibited stereotype actions and Tourette's syndrome symptoms by promoting dopamine metabolism,reducing dopamine levels in the striatum,increasing homovanillic acid content in sera,and reducing mRNA expression of DRD2 in the striatum.

Effects of Yishenjiangzhuo granules on immunity and bone metabolism in patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE:To determine the effects of Yishenjiangzhuo granules(YJG)on bone metabolism and to explore the changes in levels of bone Gla protein(BGP),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP),as well as their relationships with levels of B cells,regulatory T cells(Treg)and interleukin(IL)-17 in patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease(CKD)before and after treatment.METHODS:Fifty-three stage 3-4 CKD patients were divided randomly into two groups:YJG treatment and control.Peripheral blood was taken from two groups of CKD patients and 21 healthy subjects in the normal group.The parameters determined were the levels of CD4+,CD19+,CD19+CD69+,CD19+AV,Treg(CD4+CD25+CD127lo),BGP,TRAP,IL-17,calcium,phosphate,blood urea nitrogen,serum creatinine(SCr),hemoglobin(Hb)in peripheral blood,and urinary creatinine.Calcium-phosphate products and endogenous creatinine clearance rate(CCr)were calculated according to standard protocols.RESULTS:In YJG and control groups,SCr levels were lowered(P<0.01)after treatment,whereas CCr(P<0.05)as well as Hb and albumin levels(P<0.01)were increased.The changes in levels of CCr and SCr in the YJG group were more significant.After treatment,CD19+CD69+and Treg levels in the two groups varied(P<0.01)compared with those of the normal group;the level of CD19+increased but the levels of CD4+and CD19+AV decreased(P<0.01)in both groups.Compared with the control group,the changes of CD19+and CD19+AV in the YJG group were more apparent(P<0.05).Compared with the normal group,levels of IL-17 in both groups increased significantly(P<0.01),and the difference in the control group was more significant(P<0.05).After treatment,the TRAP level increased(P<0.05),but the difference in BGP level(P>0.05)was not significant.CONCLUSION:In stage 3-4 CKD patients,B cells and IL-17 participated in the induction of osteoclast activation.YJG could also elevate the level of B cells and decrease their apoptosis,but showed no significant effects on active B cells,IL-17 or osteoclast activity.