荜铃胃痛颗粒抗实验性胃溃疡作用研究

目的 探究荜铃胃痛颗粒对乙醇诱导胃溃疡模型大鼠的保护作用。方法 SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组及荜铃胃痛颗粒低、中、高剂量（0.79、1.58、3.16 g·kg^-1）组和西咪替丁（42.00 mg·kg^-1,阳性药）组,每组8只;各组均按剂量预给药8 d,对照组和模型组大鼠ig等体积0.5%羧甲基纤维素钠（CMC-Na）溶液。末次给药30 min后,除对照组外,其余大鼠ig给予1 mL无水乙醇造模,1 h后牺牲动物取材;展开胃黏膜面拍照,测量溃疡面积,取部分胃组织进行HE染色;检测血清中白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）水平,检测胃组织中髓过氧化物酶（MPO）和前列腺素E₂（PGE₂）水平。结果 与对照组比较,模型组大鼠胃溃疡面积和胃黏膜病理评分显著升高（P<0.001）,大鼠血清中IL-1β（P<0.01）和TNF-α（P<0.05）水平均显著升高,大鼠胃组织MPO活力显著升高（P<0.001）,大鼠胃组织中PGE₂水平显著降低（P<0.01）。与模型组比较,各给药组大鼠胃溃疡面积和胃黏膜病理评分显著降低（P<0.05、0.01、0.001）。与模型组比较,荜铃胃痛颗粒组大鼠血清IL-1β和TNF-α水平显著降低（P<0.05、0.001）,胃组织中MPO活力显著降低（P<0.01、0.001）,血清SOD活力显著升高（P<0.05）;胃组织PGE₂水平显著增加（P<0.05）。结论 荜铃胃痛颗粒可通过抑制炎症因子分泌、缓解机体氧化应激、保护胃黏膜等发挥对胃溃疡模型大鼠的保护作用。     

对羟基苯甲酸通过抑制NF-κB/caspase-1信号通路抗类风湿性关节炎的研究

目的 探讨天然酚酸类化合物对羟基苯甲酸（p-hydroxybenzoic acid，HA）对完全弗氏佐剂（complete Freund’s adjuvant，CFA）诱导的佐剂性关节炎（adjuvant arthritis，AA）模型的治疗作用，并对HA的作用机制进行初步分析。方法 除正常组外，向大鼠足跖皮内注射CFA 0.1 mL诱导AA大鼠模型。将AA模型大鼠随机分为模型组，HA低、中、高剂量组（2.5，5，10 mg·kg^-1）和阳性药物组（吲哚美辛，5 mg·kg^-1），灌胃给予药物进行治疗干预，记录每组大鼠足肿胀体积、足肿胀厚度并进行关节肿胀评分；通过ELISA和qPCR检测不同剂量HA对炎症因子（TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6）表达的影响；采用X-射线和HE染色观察足爪组织形态学和病理学变化；Western blotting检测caspase-1和NF-κB的表达。结果 HA能减轻AA大鼠关节肿胀（P<0.05）；从蛋白质和mRNA水平显著抑制炎症因子（TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6）的产生（P<0.05），并显著降低caspase-1和NF-κB蛋白表达水平；X-射线显示HA能减轻大鼠踝关节损伤，HE染色结果显示HA能显著抑制炎症细胞的浸润和软骨表层破坏等情况（P<0.05），且这些结果均呈剂量依赖性。结论 HA可能通过抑制NF-κB/caspase-1信号通路缓解关节炎症状。     

骨疏康颗粒联合雷洛昔芬治疗绝经后骨质疏松症的临床研究

目的 探讨骨疏康颗粒联合盐酸雷洛昔芬片治疗绝经后骨质疏松症的临床疗效。方法 选取2021年1月—2022年12月在漯河市郾城区中医院就诊的120例骨质疏松症患者,按照随机数字表法将120例患者分为对照组和治疗组,每组各60例。对照组患者口服盐酸雷洛昔芬片,1片/次,1次/d。治疗组患者在对照组治疗的基础上餐后温水冲服骨疏康颗粒,1袋/次,3次/d。两组患者连续治疗3个月。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组自觉疼痛程度、股骨近端、桡尺骨的骨密度和血清骨钙素（BGP）、Ⅰ型胶原C末端肽（CTX-1）、Ⅰ型前胶原氨基末端肽（PINP）、转化生长因子-β₁（TGF-β₁）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、胰岛素样生长因子1（IGF-1）水平。结果 治疗后,治疗组患者的总有效率95.00%比对照组的83.33%更高（P＜0.05）。治疗后,两组数字疼痛强度量表（NRS）评分明显降低（P＜0.05）,且治疗组患者NRS评分较对照组更低（P＜0.05）。治疗后,治疗组股骨近端、桡尺骨的骨密度明显高于治疗前（P＜0.05）,且治疗组股骨近端、桡尺骨的骨密度明显高于对照组（P＜0.05）。治疗后,两组的血清BGP、CTX-1水平低于治疗前,血清PINP水平高于治疗前（P＜0.05）;治疗组的血清BGP、CTX-1水平低于对照组,血清PINP水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）。治疗后,两组的血清TGF-β₁、IL-6水平低于治疗前,血清IGF-1水平高于治疗前（P＜0.05）;治疗后,治疗组的血清TGF-β₁、IL-6水平低于对照组,血清IGF-1水平高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 骨疏康颗粒联合盐酸雷洛昔芬片可提高骨质疏松症的疗效,有助于降低患者疼痛程度,提高骨密度,改善骨代谢水平,且安全性良好。     

愈风宁心片对偏头痛大鼠模型的镇痛作用研究

目的 探讨愈风宁心片对偏头痛大鼠模型的镇痛作用及机制。方法 SD大鼠随机分成6组：对照组、模型组、苯甲酸利扎曲普坦片（阳性药,0.9 mg·kg^-1）组和愈风宁心片低、中、高剂量（378、756、1 512 mg·kg^-1）组,每天ig给药1次,连续10 d。末次给药后1 h,除对照组外,其余各组大鼠在头颈处sc 10 mg·kg^-1硝酸甘油建立偏头痛大鼠模型,观察疼痛行为学指标,试剂盒法检测血清中疼痛相关因子缩胆囊素（CCK）、白细胞介素-1β （IL-1β）、前列腺素E（2 PGE₂）含量;利用小鼠醋酸扭体实验、小鼠右后足跖部福尔马林致痛实验观察愈风宁心片低、中、高剂量（546、1 092、2 184 mg·kg^-1）对小鼠扭体反应和舔足时长的影响。结果 偏头痛实验结果表明,与模型组比较,愈风宁心片各剂量组和苯甲酸利扎曲普坦片组的挠头、甩头次数和行为学评分显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）;愈风宁心片中、高剂量组血清CCK水平显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）,低、中、高剂量组血清PGE₂、IL-1β水平显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）。醋酸扭体实验结果表明,与模型组比较,愈风宁心片中、高剂量组小鼠扭体次数显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）,高剂量组小鼠扭体反应潜伏期显著延长（P<0.01）。福尔马林致痛实验结果表明,与模型组比较,各给药组均能显著缩短小鼠的舔足时长（P<0.01）。结论 愈风宁心片对偏头痛模型具有镇痛作用,其机制可能与调节中枢及外周神经系统、改善疼痛相关因子含量有关。     

垂盆草总黄酮对肝纤维化大鼠肝组织TGF-β 1和Smad7表达的影响

摘 要 目的： 观察垂盆草总黄酮(SSTF)对CCL₄诱导肝纤维化大鼠肝组织TGF-β1和Smad7蛋白及mRNA表达的影响。方法: 60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、SSTF低剂量组（100 mg·kg^-1）、SSTF中剂量组(200 mg·kg^-1）、SSTF高剂量组（400 mg·kg^-1）和秋水仙碱阳性药对照组,共6组,每组10只。CCL₄皮下注射诱导大鼠肝纤维化模型,同时SSTF灌胃干预,7周后处死大鼠。采用Masson染色法检测大鼠肝脏组织病理学改变,Western blotting法检测肝脏组织TGF-β1和Smad7蛋白表达,实时定量RT-PCR检测肝脏组织TGF-β1和Smad7mRNA表达。结果: 与模型组比较,SSTF各剂量均能显著降低CCL₄诱导的肝纤维化程度（P<0.05）;中高剂量可以显著减少肝组织中TGF-β1蛋白和mRNA表达（P<0.05）,并且明显增加Smad7蛋白和mRNA表达（P<0.05）。结论:SSTF可有效地逆转实验性大鼠肝纤维化,其机制可能与下调肝组织中TGF-β1蛋白和mRNA表达,及增加Smad7蛋白和mRNA表达有关。     

还贝止咳方对肺炎链球菌致大鼠肺热的治疗作用

目的 观察还贝止咳方对肺炎链球菌致肺热模型大鼠的胸腺、脾脏指数,炎性细胞及炎性因子的影响。方法 SD幼年大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、头孢呋辛酯片组、小儿肺热咳喘颗粒组及还贝止咳方的低、中、高剂量组,采用鼻腔滴入肺炎链球菌的方法建立大鼠肺热模型,造模前后监测大鼠体温,评价大鼠肺热模型;采用流式细胞仪及全血分析仪检测大鼠全血中的炎性细胞;采用酶联免疫技术检测大鼠肺灌洗液（BALF）中的白细胞介素（IL-4、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）、血清免疫球蛋白E（IgE）水平;完整剥离大鼠脾脏和胸腺,检测脾脏指数和胸腺指数。结果 与对照组比较,模型组大鼠的体温明显升高（P<0.01）,说明造模成功。与模型组比较,还贝止咳方低、中、高剂量组大鼠体温均显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）,全血中的白细胞、嗜酸性粒细胞数目、Th/Ts比值均显著降低（P<0.05、0.01）,CD3⁺CD4⁺、CD3⁺CD8⁺细胞比例显著上升（P<0.05、0.01）;BALF中的IL-10、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-4、TNF-α的水平明显降低（P<0.05、0.01）;且对IL-1β及TNF-α的下调作用优于阳性对照药;脾脏指数明显升高（P<0.05、0.01）。结论 还贝止咳方对细菌性大鼠肺炎模型具有一定的治疗作用,主要通过调节大鼠的免疫功能,减轻炎性反应发挥作用。     

雾化吸入粉防己碱对博来霉素致肺纤维化大鼠的药效作用

目的 探讨雾化吸入粉防己碱对博来霉素诱导肺纤维化大鼠模型的药效作用。方法 将100只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、假手术组、模型组、粉防己碱（5 mg·mL^-1）雾化10、30 min（单次实际给药剂量为0.072、0.220 mg·^kg-1）组，每组10只，并采用气管注入博来霉素方法制备大鼠肺纤维化模型，造模24 h后雾化给药。连续给药第14、28 d，观察大鼠肺系数、肺功能，HE染色后观察肺组织病理，Masson染色后观察胶原纤维变化，天狼星红染色检测大鼠肺组织中I型与III型胶原纤维；并采用Western blotting检测肺组织中波形蛋白（Vimentin）、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白（α-SMA）和转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）表达；酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法检测大鼠肺组织中羟脯氨酸（HYP）和纤连蛋白（FN）含量。结果 粉防己碱雾化后中位粒径为2.98 μm；给药28 d时效果更优，与模型组比较，雾化30 min组的气道阻力显著降低（P＜0.05），肺顺应性显著升高（P＜0.05），肺系数显著降低（P＜0.05）；肺泡炎症评分、肺纤维化评分显著降低（P＜0.05），I型和III型胶原纤维明显减少； Vimentin和TGF-β 1的表达显著下调（P＜0.01）；显著下调HYP和FN的水平（P＜0.05）。结论 雾化吸入粉防己碱具有抗大鼠肺纤维化作用，其中雾化给药28 d效果更优。     

脾氨肽口服冻干粉联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿支原体肺炎的疗效及对免疫功能的影响

目的 分析脾氨肽口服冻干粉联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿肺炎支原体感染的疗效及对免疫功能的影响。方法 以2013年5月—2016年6月开封市儿童医院诊治的肺炎支原体感染患儿106例为研究对象,根据入组的先后顺序分为观察组和对照组,每组53例。对照组患儿采用阿奇霉素序贯治疗,观察组在对照组的基础上加用脾氨肽口服冻干粉,均治疗3周。比较两组的临床疗效、T细胞亚群（CD₄⁺、CD₈⁺、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺）水平、细胞因子（IL-10、IL-17、TGF-β1）水平及安全性。结果 观察组的临床总有效率为94.39%,显著高于对照组的79.25%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组的CD₄⁺、CD₄⁺/CD₈⁺较治疗前显著升高（P<0.05）,且观察组的显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;CD₈⁺较治疗前显著降低（P<0.05）,且观察组的显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组的IL-10、IL-17、TGF-β1水平均较治疗前显著降低（P<0.05）,且观察组的显著低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义。结论 脾氨肽口服冻干粉联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿肺炎支原体感染的临床疗效显著,安全可靠,可显著提高机体的细胞免疫功能,同时降低免疫损伤。     

杜仲醇提取物通过NF-kB信号通路改善大鼠牙周组织病的作用研究

目的 探讨杜仲醇提取物通过NF-kB信号通路作用于牙周病破骨细胞活化因子（IL-1β）改善大鼠牙周组织病的疗效。方法 选取SPF级Wistar大鼠60只,♂,随机数字表法分成4组,正常组,模型组,杜仲醇提取物低、高剂量组,各15只。除正常组外,其他大鼠制备牙周病模型,造模1周后杜仲醇提取物低、高剂量组分别在大鼠上颌右侧第一、第二磨牙间腭、颊侧的龈沟底内注入0.2 mL 0.1,1.0 mg·mL^-1的杜仲醇提取物,正常组与模型组大鼠注入等剂量生理盐水,连续注入5 d。Western-blot、荧光定量PCR检测大鼠牙周膜成纤维细胞内破骨细胞活化因子（IL-1β）蛋白、mRNA表达状况。结果 与正常组相比,模型组大鼠成纤维细胞内IL-1β、NF-kB mRNA相对表达量显著上升（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,杜仲醇提取物低、高剂量组大鼠成纤维细胞内IL-1β、NF-kB mRNA相对表达量显著下降（P<0.05）。与正常组相比,模型组大鼠血清IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α含量显著上升（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,杜仲醇提取物低、高剂量组大鼠血清IL-6、IL-1β及TNF-α含量显著下降（P<0.05）。与正常组相比,模型组大鼠上颌组织内NF-kB、IL-1β蛋白表达显著上升（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,杜仲醇提取物低、高剂量组大鼠上颌组织内NF-kB、IL-1β蛋白表达下降（P<0.05）。结论 杜仲醇提取通过NF-kB信号路径对牙周病破骨细胞活化因子（IL-1β）产生作用,降低牙周组织内炎症因子含量,对牙周病起到治疗作用。     

丙酮酸乙酯调控TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1通路对缺氧缺血新生大鼠海马神经元焦亡的影响

目的 探究丙酮酸乙酯（EP）调控硫氧还蛋白结合蛋白（TXNIP）/核苷酸结合域样受体蛋白3（NLRP3）/半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-1（Caspase-1）通路对缺氧缺血性脑损伤（HIBI）新生大鼠海马神经元焦亡的影响。方法 将SD大鼠随机分为假手术组,模型组,尼莫地平（8 mg·kg^-1）组,EP低、高剂量（1.5、3.0 mg·kg^-1）组,EP （3 mg·kg^-1）+白藜芦醇（Res,30 mg·kg^-1,TXNIP抑制剂）组。通过左颈总动脉结扎及缺氧处理构建HIBI大鼠模型,于造模24h后开始ip给药,每天1次,连续2周。采用Longa评分对各组大鼠神经功能损伤进行评估;ELISA法检测大鼠海马组织白细胞介素-1β（IL-1β）、白细胞介素-18（IL-18）含量;透射电子显微镜下观察大鼠海马超微结构;HE染色观察海马组织病理学情况;TUNEL染色观察海马神经元凋亡;Western blotting检测海马组织中TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1通路相关蛋白表达。结果 与假手术组比较,模型组Longa评分、海马组织IL-1β和IL-18水平、神经元凋亡指数（AI）、以及TXNIP、NLRP3、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白（ASC）、cleaved Caspase-1蛋白表达水平显著增加（P<0.05）,神经元损伤、海马组织病理学程度明显增加;与模型组比较,尼莫地平组和EP低、高剂量组Longa评分、IL-1β和IL-18水平、神经元AI以及TXNIP、NLRP3、ASC、cleaved Caspase-1蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）,神经元损伤、海马组织病理学程度明显改善;与EP高剂量组比较,EP+Res组Longa评分、IL-1β和IL-18水平、神经元AI以及TXNIP、NLRP3、ASC、cleaved Caspase-1蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）,神经元损伤、海马组织病理学程度改善更明显。结论 EP可能通过抑制TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1通路来减轻HIBI新生大鼠海马神经元焦亡。     

Efficacy of gut lavage,hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the therapy of paraquat or diquat intoxication

Clinical and in vitro investigations were carried out to test the efficacy of gut lavage, hemodialysis, and hemoperfusion in the treatment of poisoning with paraquat or diquat. In a patient suffering from diquat intoxication 130 times more diquat was removed by gut lavage 30 h after ingestion than was removed by complete aspiration of the gastric contents.Determination of in vitro clearances for paraquat and diquat by hemodialysis showed that, at serum concentrations of 1–2 ppm, such as are frequently encountered in poisoning in man, toxicologically relevant quantities of herbicide cannot be removed from the body. At a concentration of 20 ppm, on the other hand, hemodialysis proved to be effective, the clearance being 70 ml/min at a blood flow rate of 100 ml/min. The efficacy of hemoperfusion with coated activated charcoal was on the whole better. Especially at concentrations around 1–2 ppm, the clearance values for hemoperfusion were some 5–7 times higher than those for hemodialysis.In a patient suffering from paraquat poisoning, both hemodialysis as well as hemoperfusion were carried out. The in vitro results could be confirmed: At serum concentrations of paraquat less than 1 ppm no clearance could be obtained by hemodialysis while by hemoperfusion with activated charcoal quite high clearance values were measured and the serum level dropped down to zero.

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Zusammenfassung Klinische Untersuchungen und Laboratoriumsversuche wurden durchgeführt, um die Wirksamkeit von Darmspülung, Hämodialyse und Hämoperfusion bei Paraquat- und Deiquat-Vergiftungen zu prüfen.Bei einem Patienten wurde 30 Std nach Deiquat-Aufnahme durch Darmspülung 130mal mehr Deiquat entfernt als durch vollständige Aspiration des Mageninhaltes. In vitro-Versuche ergaben, daß bei Blutserumkonzentrationen von 1–2 ppm, die bei Vergiftungen oft gemessen werden, durch Hämodialyse keine toxikologisch relevanten Paraquat- oder Deiquat-Mengen entfernt werden können. Dagegen erwies sich die Hämodialyse bei 20 ppm und einer Blutumlaufgeschwindigkeit von 100 ml/min mit einer Clearance von 70 ml/min als wirksam. Die Hämoperfusion mit beschicheter Aktivkohle war in diesen Versuchen aber eindeutig überlegen, denn insbesondere bei Konzentrationen um 1–2 ppm waren die Clearance-Werte 5–7mal höher als bei der Hämodialyse.Die in vitro-Ergebnisse wurden bei einem Patienten mit einer Paraquat-Vergiftung bestätigt: Bei Konzentrationen unter 1 ppm war die Hämodialyse wirkungslos, während durch Hämoperfusion relativ hohe Clearance-Werte erreicht wurden, so daß der Serumspiegel rasch unter die Nachweisgrenze abfiel.

     

In vitro studies on sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) as enzyme carriers in organophosphorus (OP) antagonism

This study describes a new approach for organophosphorous (OP) antidotal treatment by encapsulating an OP hydrolyzing enzyme, OPA anhydrolase (OPAA), within sterically stabilized liposomes. The recombinant OPAA enzyme was derived from Alteromonas strain JD6. It has broad substrate specificity to a wide range of OP compounds: DFP and the nerve agents, soman and sarin. Liposomes encapsulating OPAA (SL)* were made by mechanical dispersion method. Hydrolysis of DFP by (SL)* was measured by following an increase of fluoride ion concentration using a fluoride ion selective electrode. OPAA entrapped in the carrier liposomes rapidly hydrolyze DFP, with the rate of DFP hydrolysis directly proportional to the amount of (SL)* added to the solution. Liposomal carriers containing no enzyme did not hydrolyze DFP. The reaction was linear and the rate of hydrolysis was first order in the substrate. This enzyme carrier system serves as a biodegradable protective environment for the recombinant OP-metabolizing enzyme, OPAA, resulting in prolongation of enzymatic concentration in the body. These studies suggest that the protection of OP intoxication can be strikingly enhanced by adding OPAA encapsulated within (SL)* to pralidoxime and atropine.     

Aquatic Insects and Trace Metals: Bioavailability,Bioaccumulation, and Toxicity

Abstract

The uptake of metals from food and water sources by insects is thought to be additive. For a given metal, the proportions taken up from water and food will depend both on the bioavailable concentration of the metal associated with each source and the mechanism and rate by which the metal enters the insect. Attempts to correlate insect trace metal concentrations with the trophic level of insects should be made with a knowledge of the feeding relationships of the individual taxa concerned. Pathways for the uptake of essential metals, such as copper and zinc, exist at the cellular level, and other nonessential metals, such as cadmium, also appear to enter via these routes. Within cells, trace metals can be bound to proteins or stored in granules. The internal distribution of metals among body tissues is very heterogeneous, and distribution patterns tend to be both metal and taxon specific. Trace metals associated with insects can be both bound on the surface of their chitinous exoskeleton and incorporated into body tissues. The quantities of trace meals accumulated by an individual reflect the net balance between the rate of metal influx from both dissolved and particulate sources and the rate of metal efflux from the organism. The toxicity of metals has been demonstrated at all levels of biological organization: cell, tissue, individual, population, and community. Much of the literature pertaining to the toxic effects of metals on aquatic insects is based on laboratory observations and, as such, it is difficult to extrapolate the data to insects in nature. The few experimental studies in nature suggest that trace metal contaminants can affect both the distribution and the abundance of aquatic insects. Insects have a largely unexploited potential as biomonitors of metal contamination in nature. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and biological mechanisms mediating trace metal bioavailability and exchange will facilitate the development of general predictive models relating trace metal concentrations in insects to those in their environment. Such models will facilitate the use of insects as contaminant biomonitors.     

Alzheimer’s disease – current trends in basic and clinical research. Highlights from the 16th ECNP

Advances in the molecular biological knowledge of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have led to a growing interest by the pharmaceutical industry in the development of novel compounds that selectively modulate nAChR function. The ability of (-)-nicotine, an activator of nAChRs, to enhance attentional aspects of cognition in animals and humans, to exert neuroprotective and anxiolytic-like effects, and presumably to mediate the negative correlation between smoking and Alzheimer's (and Parkinson's) Disease, has focused interest on the potential therapeutic utility of modulators of nAChR function for treatment of some of the deficits associated with these progressive, neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous compounds are known which activate nAChRs and which might serve as lead compounds toward the development of such agents. The pharmacologic diversity of neuronal nAChR subtypes suggests the possibility of developing selective compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents. This broader class of agents, collectively called cholinergic channel modulators (ChCMs), is anticipated to encompass compounds which would have more favourable side-effect profiles than existing agents, which generally exhibit low selectivity. This selectivity may be achieved by preferentially activating some subtypes of nAChRs (i.e., Cholinergic Channel Activators, ChCAs) or inhibiting the function of other subtypes (Cholinergic Channel Inhibitors, ChCIs). An overview of the biology of nAChRs and the rationale for the use of ChCMs for the treatment of dementia related to neurodegenerative diseases are presented, followed by a discussion of lead compounds and compounds under consideration for clinical evaluation.     

Steroidal sapogenin contents in some domestic plants

In order to find out the values of the steroid resources for the future use. the compositions and contents of steroidal sapogenins from 13 domestic plants have been investigated. As a result,Dioscorea nipponica, D. quinqueloba andSmilax china were found to have large amount of diosgenin. And pennogenin inTrillium kamtschaticum andParis verticillata, yuccagenin inAllium fistulosum, hecogenin inAgave americana and neochlorogenin inSolanum nigum were appeared to be major steroidal sapogenins.