Salvianolic acid B enhances in vitro angiogenesis and improves skin flap survival in Sprague-Dawley rats

Insufficient angiogenesis and microcirculatory intravascular clotting have been implicated in the pathophysiology of skin flap failure. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B), isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza, has been reported to enhance angiogenesis in vitro. This study was aimed to determine the efficacy of Sal B on ischemia-reperfusion injury of the skin flap in Sprague-Dawley rats. Sal B was administered intraperitoneally 2 h before operation, and on the 2nd and 4th days after surgical elevation of an extended epigastric adipocutaneous flap (5 x 7 cm) in ketamine-anesthetized rats. Flap ischemia was achieved by ligating the right superficial epigastric artery and vein and clamping the left superficial epigastric artery and vein for 3 h and then released. Percentage of flap necrosis area (FNA) and plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and malondialdehyde were measured at 7 days after the operation. Animals were divided into six groups, including: vehicle, Sal B low dose (5 mg/kg), Sal B high dose (50 mg/kg) and each with [mesh(+)] or without mesh [mesh(-)] placement. In the three groups with mesh(+), FNA in control flaps was 53.7 +/- 6.9%, whereas low-dose and high-dose Sal B significantly improved flap survival with FNA 27.4 +/- 3.8% and 25.3 +/- 4.3%, respectively (P < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). In the three groups with mesh(-), control flaps were 35.9 +/- 4.5%, whereas high-dose Sal B also significantly improved flap survival with FNA 17.9 +/- 4.7% (P < 0.05, one-way ANOVA). There were no differences in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, or malondialdehyde between groups. We conclude that Sal B attenuates ischemia-reperfusion injury of skin flap, and provides therapeutic potential in reconstructive plastic surgery.     

Nursing in Taiwan

Although 10 years ago there was a crucial nursing shortage, Taiwan is currently experiencing an oversupply due to recent education reforms. Many new junior colleges have now been approved to take nursing courses. Taiwanese nurses are graduating at greater numbers than are leaving the profession, causing an ever increasing surplus.     

Dynamic changes in cytochrome oxidase activity in the amygdala following lesions of rewarding sites in the lateral hypothalamus

The aim of this study was to evaluate neural changes in oxidative metabolism in amygdaloid sub-nuclei following unilateral electrolytic lesions of lateral hypothalamic sites that supported brain stimulation reward. A histochemical analysis of cytochrome oxidase activity, comparing lesioned to non-lesioned sides in the amygdala, revealed a significant reduction of oxidative metabolism in the cortical nucleus and, to a lesser degree, in the adjacent piriform cortex; this effect was observed 2-4 weeks after the lesion, with complete recovery by the eighth week in the case of the cortical nucleus only. No particular pattern in cytochrome oxidase activity was detected in other amygdaloid sub-nuclei that were examined, including the basolateral and medial nucleus. Within both structures, the most pronounced decreases in metabolic activity were observed at roughly the same level, corresponding to the posterolateral and posteromedial levels of the cortical nucleus and just anterior to the amygdalopiriform transition. These results suggest that within the amygdaloid complex, the cortical sub-nuclei and possibly the neighbouring piriform cortex contribute more to modulating lateral hypothalamic self-stimulation than components of the central extended amygdala.     

基因重组神经营养蛋白-3的生物学活性

目的：测定ＮＴ－３ｃＤＮＡ／ＣＨＯ细胞表达的基因重组ＮＴ－３的生物学活性。方法：体外培养８日龄鸡胚背根神经节（ＤＲＧ）,加入条件培养基,测量背根节神经突起生长的长度。结果：ＮＴ－３ｃＤＮＡ／ＣＨＯ细胞培养４８ｈ后的无血清条件培养基１：２４稀释后即能促进ＤＲＧ神经突破的生长;随着其中ＮＴ－３浓度增加,神经突破长度也逐渐延长,有明显的量效关系;ＤＲＧ培养４８ｈ长出的神经突破与２４ｈ相比,明显长而致密;     

Phenolic compounds from tournefortia sarmentosa

Three new isoprenylbenzenes, tournefolins A (1), B (2), and C (3), and two new 2-ethoxy-4,5-dihydroxybenzoyl compounds, 4 and 5, together with the known compounds, salicylic acid and allantoin, were isolated from the stems of Tournefortia sarmentosa. The structures of new compounds were elucidated as 2-(4beta-methyltetrahydrofuran-2alpha-yl)-5-(4beta-methyltetrahydrofu ran-2beta-yl)-1,4-dihydroxybenzene (1), methyl 5-(5-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)-3-furoate (2), methyl 5-(2, 5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-furoate (3), 2-ethoxy-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4), and 2-ethoxy-4,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (5), on the basis of spectral and chemical methods. The relative configuration of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Antioxidant principles from Ephemerantha lonchophylla.

One dihydrostilbene and three phenanthrene antioxidants were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the Chinese herbal Ephemerantha lonchophylla. One of these compounds, ephemeranthone (4) is a new natural product. Denbinobin (1) and 3-methylgigantol (3) have been previously isolated from this plant, and 3-ethoxy-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-phenanthraquinone (2) is an artifact. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The antioxidative activities for inhibiting human low density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro of compounds 1-4 were determined, and only 4 was active (5.3 times that of probucol).     

Inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitors from Saposhnikovia divaricata and Panax quinquefolium

A series of polyacetylenes, falcarinone, panaxynol, falcarindiol, panaxydol, and panaxytriol, were isolated from Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk and Panax quinquefolium L. These polyacetylenes were identified as active principles on the inhibition of nitrite production by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Treatment with 10 microM of panaxynol, falcarindiol, panaxydol and panaxytriol decreased the LPS/IFN-gamma-stimulated accumulation of nitrite by 71.92 +/- 3.07, 69.95 +/- 3.68, 45.48 +/- 6.11 and 36.85 +/- 8.80%, respectively. The IC50 value of falcarinone, panaxynol, falcarindiol, panaxydol and panaxytriol was > 20, 2.23, 1.98, 6.58 and 9.85 microM, respectively.     

Prevalence and risk factors of occupational hand dermatoses in electronics workers

The electronics industry is becoming an important mainstream in the workforce in some developed countries and in Taiwan. Among patients with occupational hand dermatitis in northern Taiwan, workers from electronics industries were one of the most important groups. We conducted a field investigation to determine the prevalence, patterns and risk factors of occupational hand dermatoses among electronics workers. The survey was conducted in five electronics plants using a self-administered questionnaire on skin symptoms and risk factors. Skin examination and patch testing were followed for those with symptoms compatible with hand dermatitis. A total of 3070 workers completed the questionnaire. Among them, 302 (9.8%) reported to have symptoms (itching and with either redness/scaling) compatible with contact dermatitis on hands. Hand dermatitis was associated with working in the fabrication unit and personal history of atopy and metal allergy, as well as the following job titles: wafer bonding, cutting, printing/photomasking, softening/degluing, impregnation and tin plating. Among those with reported hand dermatitis, 183 completed skin examination and patch testing, 65/183 (35.5%) were diagnosed as having irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and 7/183 (3.8%) allergic contact dermatitis. The most important allergens were nickel, cobalt and phenylenediamine. In conclusion, Taiwanese electronics workers have a high risk of having hand dermatitis, especially ICD. Preventive efforts should be focused on the workers with risk factors or at certain worksites.     

4-甲氧羰基-4-N-丙酰苯胺基哌啶1位衍生物的合成及其镇痛作用

本文报道了一系列N-[-1(2-苯乙基-4-甲氧羰基-4-哌啶基]-N-丙酰苯胺(4-甲氧羰基芬太尼)哌啶环1位取代衍生物的合成及其镇痛活性;讨论了结构与镇痛活性之间的关系。药理试验结果表明,大部分化合物具有典型的吗啡样镇痛活性,是一类作用极强的麻醉性镇痛剂。特别是哌啶环1位β-苯环被取代乙烯基替代的化合物具有相当或接近子母体化合物的镇痛活性。其代表物1321的镇痛活性(ED_(50)=0.005mg/kg ip,小鼠,热板法)略强于4-甲氧羰基芬太尼(ED_(50)=0.0063 mg/kg)。     

INVOLVEMENT OF NON-NMDA AND NMDA RECEPTORS IN GLUTAMATE-INDUCED PRESSOR OR DEPRESSOR RESPONSES OF THE PONS AND MEDULLA

1. Fifty-five intact and six baroreceptor denervated and vagotomized cats of either sex were anaesthetized intraperito-neally with urethane (400 mg/kg) and a-chloralose (40 mg/kg). Responses of the systemic arterial pressure (SAP), mean SAP (MSAP) and sympathetic vertebral nerve (VNA) and renal nerve activities (RNA) were recorded. 2. In intact animals, monosodium L-glutamate (Glu, 0.1 mol/L, 50 nL) was microinjected into pressor areas of the locus coeruleus (LC), gigantocellular tegmental field (GTF), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) and dorsomedial medulla (DM), and the depressor areas of caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM). The induced actions were compared before and after microinjection of either glutamate antagonists, glutamate diethylester (GDEE, 0.5 mol/L, 50–100nL), a competitive AMPA receptor blocker, or 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-AP5, 0.025 mol/L, 50–100 nL), a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker. GDEE completely blocked the increases of SAP and VNA elicited from all pressor areas. D-AP5 only partially blocked the pressor but slightly blocked VNA and RNA responses from LC, GTF and DM, particularly those from RVLM. Neither GDEE nor D-AP5 blocked the depressor responses of SAP and two nerve activities elicited from CVLM. 3. In baroreceptor denervated animals, NMDA (2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) and AMPA (0.2 mmol/L, 50–100 nL) were micro-injected into the same pressor areas of GTF, RVLM and DM and the depressor area of CVLM responsive to Glu activation (0.1 mol/L, 30 nL). In RVLM, DM and CVLM, the results of either NMDA or AMPA were similar to those induced by Glu. However, in GTF, microinjection of either NMDA or AMPA did not induce similar responses to Glu. This suggests that the nature of GTF may differ from RVLM and DM. 4. The above results suggest that the Glu-induced pressor responses from LC, GTF, DM and especially RVLM, are primarily mediated through AMPA receptors. The Glu-induced depressor responses from CVLM may not be predominantly mediated by either AMPA or NMDA receptors. 5. In both baroreceptor-intact and -denervated cats stimulation of the pressor areas often produced an increase of VNA and a decrease of RNA, while in the depressor CVLM decreased both VNA and RNA. The VNA, but not RNA were positively correlated with the pressor responses, while both VNA and RNA were positively correlated with the depressor responses. This may suggest that neurons of the sympathetic vertebral and renal nerves are topographically organized in the brain.