Human steroid 5alpha-reductase type II (hSRD5A2) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) play important roles in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The aim of our study was to establish a novel model to investigate the inhibitory effects of extracts and compounds of Chinese herb medicine on hSRD5A2. The gene, hSRD5A2, was artificially synthesized and cloned into pcDNA3.1(+) vector, which was transfected into CHO cells by liposome. Transfected cells were screened through G418 and MTX. The expressed protein of hSRD5A2 by cells was purified and detected by western blotting. A minim reactive system comprising hSRD5A2 and testosterone (T) as substrate together with NADPH as hydrogen donor was established for screening inhibitors of hSRD5A2. The reaction system was optimized in the concentrations of T, NADPH, and hSRD5A2 and reaction temperature, time, and activity of hSRD5A2 were determined by the production of DHT. Furthermore, we screened some extracts and compounds of Chinese herb medicine using this model. The concentrations of T, NADPH, and hSRD5A2 were 0.02 microM, 0.8 mM, and 0.05 U/microl, respectively, in the model; maximum activity of hSRD5A2 was achieved at 37 degrees C and 60 min reaction, and mangiferin had significant inhibitory effect on the activity of hSRD5A2. The model in this study is convenient and reliable for screening and evaluation of inhibitors of hSRD5A2; mangiferin may be a potential medicine for the treatment of BPH.

Wang X, Liao J, Yin D, Zhan F, Dai S, Xie G, Sang X. Yakugaku Zasshi. 2010 Sep;130(9):1207-14. Department of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

This study sought to determine if self-reported hypnotic depth (srHD) could be predicted from the variables of the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory - Hypnotic Assessment Procedure (PCI-HAP) (Pekala, 1995a, 1995b; Pekala & Kumar, 2007; Pekala et al., 2010), assessing several of the processes theorized by researchers to be associated with hypnotism: trance (altered state effects), suggestibility, and expectancy. One hundred and eighty participants completed the PCI-HAP. Using regression analyses, srHD scores were predicted from the PCI-HAP pre-hypnotic and post-hypnotic assessment items, and several other variables. The results suggested that the srHD scores were found to be a function of imagoic suggestibility, expectancy (both estimated hypnotic depth and expected therapeutic efficacy), and trance state and eye catalepsy effects; effects that appear to be additive and not (statistically) interactive. The results support the theorizing of many investigators concerning the involvement of the aforementioned component processes with this particular aspect of hypnotism, the self-reported hypnotic depth score.

Am J Clin Hypn. 2010 Apr;52(4):291-318. Pekala RJ, Kumar VK, Maurer R, Elliott-Carter N, Moon E, Mullen K. Coatesville VA Medical Center, Coatesville, PA 19320, USA. Ronald.Pekala@va.gov