There are about 170 kinds of medical plants of Commelina all over the world.Experimental studies showed that the main chemical compositions in the plants included alkaloids,flavonoids,terpenes,and sterols etc.Plants of commelina,especially commelina communis,have pharmacological activities of antibacterial,antiinflammation,resisting-oxidation,lowering-glycemia,relieving-pain and stopping-cough etc.It is necessary that their pharmacological effects and chemical compositions are further developed and investigated systematically.

Retinal pgment epithelial (RPE) cells plays a key role in maintaining the normal physiological function and structure of retina and choroids.However,RPE cells are vulnerably damaged by many detrimental factors,such as anoxia,physical and chemical elements,pharmic,immunizing factors and oxidant stress,etc.The damage of RPE cells lead to multiple eye diseases,and therefore cause severe abnormality of visual function.To understand the causative factors of RPE cell-related eye diseases is very important for the prevention and treatment of these diseases.Recently,many studies about damage factors and treatments for RPE cells have received more attention.This article reviews the advances in RPE cell-related eye diseases.

Objective To study the expression of the fibronectin (FN) and ? 1 integrin (? 1) in epiretinal membranes(ERM) of eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR). Methods Twenty epiretinal membranes were obtained from eyes undergone vitrectomy for retinal detachment complicated with PVR and observed by immunohistochemical methods. Results Overexpression of FN and ? 1 were observed in 18 and 16 membranes respectively. Conclusion The synergism of FN and ? 1 in their action mignt be one of the important roles in the development of PVR.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of the changes of plasma B-type natriuretic paprid and NT-pro BNP levels in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods 120 consecutive patients hospitalized for CHF were retrospectively studied.NT-pro BNP and LVEDD,LVESD,LVEF were measured and compared in 120 patients and 50 normal control subjects before medical treatment and on discharge.Results The plasma NT-pro BNP levels in patients with CHF were significantly higher than controls( P <0.05).The plasma NT-pro BNP levels in patients with cardiac function NYHA Ⅰ were significantly higher than controls( P < 0.05).As the cardiac function deteriorated from NYNA Ⅰ to NYNA Ⅳ,the NT-pro BNP levels increased consecutively with significant differences from each other ( P < 0.05).The plasma NT-pro BNP levels was low when CHF was cured ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusion Determination of plasma NT-pro BNP levels in patients with CHF were helpful to study the severity and prognosis of disease.

Objective:To establish the quality standards for Zhichuan adhesive plasters;Methods:Herba ephedrae、Bergenin arolisiae、Flos caryophylli、Semen sinapis in Zhichuan adhesive plasters were identified by TLC. Ephedrine hydrachloride in Herba ephedrea was determined by RP HPLC.Results:These methods were simple and accurate.Conclusion: The methods can be used for the quality control of Zhichuan adhesive plasters.

Objective: To develop a method for determination of chlorgenic acid in Shuangyin Solution.Methods: HPLC with Hypersil-ODS column (4.6?250mm,5?m) was used. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water-acetic acid glacial (10∶110∶3). The detective wavelength was 328nm.Results: The linear range was from 0.0568 ～0.2840mg/mL. The average recovery was 100.16%.Conclusion: The method is simple, rapid and accurate. It can be used to determine chlorgenic acid in Shuangyin Solution.

Objective To explore the effect of using hydrochloricde lidocaine plasmagel in the urethral catheterization of male patients.Methods Divided 103 patients into the experimental group and the control group randomly.There were 53 cases in the experimental group and using hydrochloricde lidocaine plasmagel for the urethral catheterization.There were 50 cases in the control group and using the traditional paraff in urethral catheterization.Evaluated the pain degree of patients by VAS,and then monitored the blood press and the heart rate at the same time.Results There was a significant difference between these 2 groups in the VAS,P0.05.Conclusion Using hydrochloricde lidocaine plasmagel in the urethral catheterization of male patients is an effective method to alleviate the pain of patients and then decrease the incidence rate of complication.

BACKGROUND: The central position of dendritic cells (DCs) has aroused increasing attention due to strong antigen presentation capability in anti-tumor. However, how to obtain enough functional DCs and reports regarding immunomodulator with low toxicity are few. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mycobacterium phlei F.U.36 (Utilins) on the proliferation and maturity of DCs derived from human umbilical cord blood in vitro.METHODS: The mononuclear cells were isolated from human umbilical cord blood using Ficoll-Hypaque method and cultured with Utilins, cytokine (human recombinant granulocyte/macrophage colonystimulating factor + recombinant human tumor necrosisfactor-α + recombinant human interleukin-4), or combination cytokine + Utilins, respectively. In addition, cells cultured with RPMI-1640 served as controls. Morphological features and growth of DCs were observed by an inverted microscope. Thephenotype changes of DCs, such CD1a and HLA-DR, were detected by flow cytometry at 9 days after culture. Moreover, DCs were stained by Wright-Giemsa and observed under oil lens. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Typical DCs with high expressions of CD1a and HLA-DR were obviously detected in all experimental groups except the control group. The positive rates of CD1a and HLA-DR in the Utilins group were higher than those in the control group, but lower than the cytokine group (P < 0.05). The HLA-DR positive rate of the combination group was higher than that of the cytokine group (P < 0.05). The results revealed that, Utilins can not only promote the proliferation of DCs derived from human umbilical cord blood in vitro but also cooperate with cytokines to induce the maturity of DCs.

ObjectiveTo discuss the clinical value of transcutaneous bilirubin assay and serum bilirubin assay in diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.MethodsSelected 180 cases of hyperbilirubinemia in term newborn infants using standardized JH20-1C transcutaneous bilirubin testing non-invasive transcutaneous bilirubin determination,and compared with serum bilirubin measurement.ResultThere was significant positive correlation between transcutaneous bilirubin[51.3-325.6 (169.3 ± 51.2) μ mol/L ] and serum bilirubin [ 68.4-338.9 ( 187.5 ± 42.5 ) μ mol/L ] (r =0.91,P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement is a non-invasive,easy operation,reliable results,there is higher value of clinical application for the detection and diagnosis of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

BACKGROUND: Hematogenesis of a body mainly depends on the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC). Hematopoietic functional impairment will occur when hematopoietic cells are injured by radioactive ray or chemical drug. The proliferation of HPC is the key link of promoting hematogenesis.OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of nine monomers extracted from Spatholobus suberectus Dunn (SSD) on proliferation of HPC in marrow-depressed mice. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Pharmacy, General Hospital of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was conducted in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, General Hospital of Chinese PLA from November 2002 to February 2003. Totally 348 healthy Kunming mice, weighing 22-25g, clean grade, of irrespective gender, were selected in this study (certification: SCXK-2001-001). The animal experiment was approved by the local ethics committee. SSD was provided by Dispensary of Traditional Chinese Medicine, General Hospital of Chinese PLA; monomers (gallocatechin, formononetin, catechin, pyromucic acid, syringic acid, Demethylvestitol, 1,3,5-benzenetriol, ononin, and epicatechin) were extracted from SSD acetoacetate; TGL-16 centrifuger was made in Shanghai 6th Medical Equipment Factory; CO2 incubator was made in SANYO Company, Japan; MK inverted microscope was provided by OLYMPUS Company, Japan.METHODS: Experimental grouping: Mice were randomly divided into 29 groups, including normal group; control group; gallocatechin high-, medium-, low-dose groups; formononetin high-, medium-, low-dose groups; catechin high-, medium-, low-dose groups; pyromucic acid high-, medium-, low-dose groups; syringic acid high-, medium-, low-dose groups; Demethylvestitol high-, medium-, low-dose groups; 1,3,5-benzenetriol high-, medium-, low-dose groups; ononin high-, medium-, low-dose groups; epicatechin high-, medium-, low-dose groups with 12 mice in each group. Experimental intervention: All the mice except the mice in normal group had been given total body sublethal dose of irradiation by 60Co γ-ray (215.3 rontgen/min, 4 Gy dose rate, irradiation time of 107.5 seconds). Normal saline was injected intraperitoneally into 8 mice in normal group and control group at the third day after inadiation. Stored solution 2,0.4,0.08g/L of each monomer was intraperitoneally injected into the mice in each monomer high-, medium-, low-dose groups, respectively, at the third day after irradiation. Experimental evaluation: Thirty minutes after administration, blood of 8 mice in normal, control group and 12 mice in other groups was collected and normal, control and each dose monomer-containing serums were obtained after centrifugation for 15 minutes, filtering through 0.45μm filter membrane. Then 4 mice in normal and control group were killed to study the effects of nine monomers on proliferation of HPC in marrow-depressed mice by counting erythrocyte colony-forming unit (CFU-E), burst-forming uniterythroid (BFU-E), granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming unit (CFU-GM), and megakaryocyte colony-forming unit (CFU-Meg).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CFU-GM, CFU-E, BFU-E, and CFU-Meg in each group. RESULTS: Totally 348 mice were included in the final analysis. CFU-E: The quantity of CFU-E in high-dose of catechin, gallocatechin, syningic acid, and epicatechin groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05-0.01) while the quantity of CFU-E in medium-and low-dose of catechin and medium-dose of gallocatechin was also significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). CFU-GM: Except pyromucic acid and ononin groups, the amount of CFU-GM in other groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). BFU-E: Compared with control group, the amount of BFU-E remarkably increased under the effect of each dose of catechin, gallocatechin, syringic acid and high-, medium-dose of epicatechin (P<0.05). CFU-Meg: The amount of CFU-Meg in high-, low-dose syringic acid groups, low-dose gallocatechin groups and each dose group of catechin and epicatechin was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Amount of all colonies in the control group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Nine monomers extracted from SSD can promote the proliferation of HPC in bone marrow depressed mice. In particular, the activity of catechin to stimulate proliferation is the strongest.