The authors discuss the technical problems in clinical evaluation of newly-developed Chinese medicines.For improvement of evaluation quality,this paper puts forward some suggestions for solving the common problems such as unitary intervention pattern,lack of corresponding treatment for the changed syndrome,subjectivity in standards of syndrome-differentiated diagnosis,ill-chosen medicine in control group,and mismanagement of medicine combination.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus moxibustion in treating chronic superficial gastritis (due to colddeficiency of spleen and stomach).MethodTotally 112 patients with chronic superficial gastritis (due to cold deficiency of spleen and stomach) were randomized into a treatment group of 56 cases and a control group of 56 cases. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture plus moxibustion, while the control group was by using Ranitidine, both for 2 treatment courses (20 d).ResultAfter 2 treatment courses, the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01); in comparing the gastroscopic results after treatment, the total effective rate of the treatment group was significantly superior to that of the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionAcupuncture plus moxibustion can produce a significantly higher therapeutic efficacy than orally taking Ranitidine in treating chronic superficial gastritis.

Recent studies suggest that astrocyte elevated gene 1 ( AEG-1 ) is almost highly expressed in all types of malignant solid tumors and correlates with poor prognosis,which becomes a prognostic marker for many kinds of tumors.As a strongly basic protein,AEG-1 possesses a transmembrane domain and multiplenuclear localization signals.It is present in the cell membrane,cytoplasm and nucleus.As an oncogene,AEG-1 palys an important role in a virety of malignant biological behaviors of cancer,which range from cell proliferation,apoptosis,migration,adhesion,invasion to tumor angiogenesis and chemotherapy resistance.Its critical role in tumor genesis and progression has made it a potential therapeutic target.

High-throughput screening is a regular approach available for identitying new lead compounds for the growing validated drug targets in drug screening. However, it has also introduced a large number of peculiar molecules which interfere drug screening. Pan assay interference compounds (PAINS) interfere with the progress of drug screening in various ways, such as interfering with a biochemical assay, modifying the protein, aggregate-based inhibitors and so on. So it is of vital significance to remove them. This paper has consulted the concept, category of PAINS and reviewed the way of PAINS interfering and the countermeasures to cope with them to direct the approach of high through screening and improve the hits percent.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver(NAFL)is characterized by the hepatocyte steatosis and lipid accumulation,and is a clinical syndrome of unrelated to excessive alcohol consumption. At present,patients with the syndrome obviously increase in the whole world. Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are the key transcription factors of controlling the biosynthesis of cholesterol,fatty acids and triglycerides,and adipocyte differentiation. In this paper,the regulation of SREBPs and its research progress in the development of NAFL were reviewed.

High-throughput screening is a regular approach available for identitying new lead compounds for the growing validated drug targets in drug screening. However, it has also introduced a large number of peculiar molecules which interfere drug screening. Pan assay interference compounds (PAINS) interfere with the progress of drug screening in various ways, such as interfering with a biochemical assay, modifying the protein, aggregate-based inhibitors and so on. So it is of vital significance to remove them. This paper has consulted the concept, category of PAINS and reviewed the way of PAINS interfering and the countermeasures to cope with them to direct the approach of high through screening and improve the hits percent.
Drug Discovery ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods

Certification ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Health Physicians

Certification ; Humans ; Occupational Health Physicians

AIM:To observe the expression of phosphorylated cell cycle related proteins cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK) and the retinoblastoma protein(Rb) in the developing and aging rat hippocampus.METHODS:The immunofluorescent staining for anti-phospho-CDK2,anti-phospho-CDC2,anti-phospho-Rb and anti-NeuN antibodies was used to determine their expressions and distributions in Wistar rat hippocampus at different ages.The expressions of phosphorylated cell cycle related proteins were also assessed by Western blotting analysis.RESULTS:(1) The number of neurons of CA1 area in hippocampus decreased during the period from 1 day to 15 months.(2) The positive expressions of phospho-CDK2 and phospho-Rb increased with aging.(3) No apparent change in the expression of phospho-CDC2 in the hippocampus of all the five groups was observed.CONCLUSION:The expressions of phospho-CDK2 and phospho-Rb suggest that differentiated neuron can re-enter the cell cycle and more neurons enter the cell cycle in the aged rat brain.Re-entering the cell cycle of differential neurons probably results in apoptosis.

Objective To explore the influences of indoor and outdoor sources of air pollutants on NO 2 concentra tions in indoor air.Methods The dynamic variations of NO 2 concentrations in indoor and outdoor air were continuously monitered by ML 9841B chemiluminescence continuous monitoring analyzer in2families of White haven town of west Cumbrra,UK.Results During the period of indoor air monitoring,typical background concentrations of NO 2 in air in the center of White haven were between19and28?g /m 3 (10min-mean),and rose to38-47?g /m 3 (10min-mean)during the morning and evening rush of traffic.NO 2 concentration increased about 190?g /m 3 (10min-mean)after the use of a gas cooker in the kitchen A1-hour mean concentration of253?g /m 3 was recorded in the kitchen air of one of the houses,which substantially exceeded the NAQS standard of200?g /m 3 .Conclusion The increase of NO 2 concentration in kitchen air induced by the use of gas appliances played a more important role in influencing the indoor air quality than outdoor air did.