Objective To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Sixty SD rats were ramdomly divided into normal control group, model control group,low-,middle-and high-dose Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch groups (50,100 and 200 mg.kg-1,respectively),and tripterygium glycosides tablet group. Except for normal control group,rheumatoid arthritis model was established by using bovine typeⅡcollagen in SD rats of the other groups. Organ index,plasma levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-αand anti-CⅡin rat rheumatoid arthritis models were evaluated. Results The kidney index of the low-dose/middle-dose Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch groups were significantly different from that of the model control group (P<0.05). Significant difference was also found in the spleen index between the high-dose Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch group and the normal control group ( P<0.05) . The plasma levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-αand anti-CⅡantibody were significantly higher in the model control group than in the normal control group. Meanwhile, the plasma IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels of the middle-dose/high-dose Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch groups were significantly lower than those of the model group ( P<0.01) . The levels of anti-CII antibody were significantly lower in the low-,middle-and high-dose Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch groups than in the model control group. Conclusion It is worthwhile to explore and develop Tetrastigma hypoglaucum Planch since it possesses immunomodulatory effects and may be applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Apolipoproteins B ; blood ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Poisoning ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood

To observe normal bone marrow stromal function for supporting hematopoiesis and realize the correlation of bone marrow stromal function in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and anisodamine therapy, normal human marrow CFU-GM was assayed on bone marrow stromal layer (SL) formed on week 3 culture, and the CFU-GM without SL as a control (100%). Results showed that the production of CFU-GM on the normal SL was significantly higher than that of the control. The production of CFU-GM on the SL of 4 AA patients, who responded to anisodamine, was < 80% of the control, and when 2 of them were reexamined for stromal function after treatment, the number of CFU-GM on SL rose up to 168.8% and 249.2% from 38.7% and 39.7% of the control respectively. While in the rest 6 patients, the number of CFU-GM was > 80% of the control, only one patient was improved by anisodamine therapy. So, normal bone marrow stromal layer can obviously support the growth of granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cells. Anisodamine therapy could be an effective agents for aplastic anemia with stromal dysfunction
Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Solanaceous Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Statistics as Topic ; Stromal Cells ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutations in exon 19 of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in non-small cell lung cancer from Chinese patients.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from 72 lung cancer tissues. Then the exon 19 of EGFR gene was amplified by nested PCR and sequenced.

RESULTSIn 13 tumor tissues, multi-nucleotide in-frame deletion mutations at the exon 19 of EGFR gene, had been detected. There were 4 mutation types. The mutation rate was 18.1%. The mutations were all heterozygous. There was association of the exon 19 mutation of EGFR gene with adenocarcinoma, female patients and non-smokers.

CONCLUSIONThere were multi-nucleotide in-frame deletion mutations in exon 19 of EGFR gene. Mutations of the exon 19 of EGFR gene were higher in female, non-smoking and adenocarcinoma patients.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODSBetween 1983 and 2000, 6 patients with infection after TKAs were treated, including 2 men and 4 women, aged on average 63 years (44 - 75 years). Initial knee arthroplasty was performed for osteoarthritis in 4 patients and for rheumatoid arthritis in 2 knees. The timing of diagnosis of infection after knee arthroplasty averaged 50 months (range, 1 month-11 years). Simple debridement and antibiotic treatment were prescribed for 3 patients, debridement and one-stage reimplantation for 1, debridement and two-stage reimplantation for 1, and athrodesis for 1.

RESULTSOf the 3 patients with simple debridement, one was cured, one failed but underwent athrodesis later, and one lost to follow up. Two patients with reimplantation were cured and had good function recovery. All of the 6 patients were followed up on average for 4 years. No infection recurred except one who lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSManagement of infection after total knee arthroplasty includes antibiotic suppression and debridement with prosthesis retention, insertion of another prosthesis as a one-stage or two-stage exchange technique, knee arthrodesis and amputation. These treatments have specific indications. To treat infection after total knee arthroplasty, suitable method should be taken according to patient's condition. Arthrodesis is the best salvage operation, though it may handicap patients' daily life. Reimplantation of another prosthesis could maintain a functional joint.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Debridement ; Female ; Humans ; Infection ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; therapy ; Reoperation

OBJECTIVEIn order to study on effects of soy extract on energy metabolims in ovariectomized rats.

METHOD90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: control group, sham group, model group, estrogen group, soy isoflavone group of high dose, soy isoflavone of low dose, soy extract of high dose, soy extract of low dose, 10 rats each group. Beside of control and sham groups, the rest rats were ovariectomized. One week after operation, the rats were treatmented with different drugs, measument of body weigh and feed weigh each week. Six week after operation, the rats were killed, serum were taken, abdomen lipid were removed and weight.

RESULTThe ovariectomized rats took more food and got weight gain significantly; Body mess index(BMI), Abdomen lipid weigh and food transform rate in Model group increased significantly than control and sham groups. Administration of estrogen or soy extract or soy isoflavone could block these changes in ovariectomized rats, but soy polysaccharides did not have the effects.

CONCLUSIONOvariectomized rats have imbalance of energy metabolism, weigh gain and accumulation of abdomen lipid; administration of estrogen, soy extracts or soy isoflavone could attenuate these changes induced by ovariectomizing.

Animals ; Body Mass Index ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Estrogens ; pharmacology ; Female ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ovariectomy ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Weight Gain ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE：To put forward some suggestions for the implementation of OTC monograph in China. METHODS ： Literature research was used to comprehensively review the concept ，emergence and development ，function of OTC monograph in USA；referring to experience in USA ，the necessity and feasibility of monograph system for OTC registration and evaluation in China were explored ，and some suggestions were put forward to the implementation of OTC monograph in China. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS：OTC monograph in USA refers to the regulatory standards that should be followed when selling OTC products not included in new drug applications. The monograph originates from the re-evaluation project of the effectiveness of OTC drugs ， which plays a special role in accelerating the drug marketing and promoting product innovation. The OTC monograph system is necessary to help to optimize the OTC registration and evaluation ，but at present ，the conditions to establish and implement OTC monograph are not yet ripe in China. Based on the optimization of resource allocation and infrastructure construction ，national OTC drug management experience ，OTC monograph can play a full part in OTC registration and evaluation ，in terms of carrying out in-depth research ，taking pilot test ，improving risk management system and enhancing drug review resource allocation ability.

RNA interference induced by small interfering (siR¬NA) has shown great potential in disease treatment.However, due to the poor stability of siRNA and lack of targeting, it is still challenging to deliver siRNA to target tissues/cells and induce gene silencing.Aptamer is a kind of oligonucleotide sequence that can specifically recognize the target.Covalently binding aptamers with siRNA or linking with other siRNA carriers can guide siRNA into target tissues/cells.In this review we summa¬ rize the research progress in the design strategy and application of aptamer-based targeted deliver)' of siRNA in the treatment of diseases in recent years, and discuss the challenges and pros-pects of aptamer-mediated siRNA deliver>r in clinical transforma¬tion.

Aim To study the ameliorative effects of Hypericum perforatum extract(HPE)on high altitude cerebral edema(HACE)in hypoxia rats.Methods A large low-pressure oxygen chamber was used to simulate the hypoxia environment at an altitude of 7 500 m.The pathological changes of HPE on the brain tissues of HACE rats were observed,and the water content,oxidative stress and inflammatory factors related indicators of brain tissues were detected.Results Through administered HPE by gavage,the histopathological damage of HACE rats was improved,the concentration of nuclear pyknosis was reduced,the degree of vacuolization was reduced,and the inflammatory response was alleviated.At the same time,HPE decreased the water content and the contents of MDA,H2O2,IL-1β,IL-6,VEGF and TNF-α in brain tissues of HACE rats,while increased the content of GSH and the activities of T-SOD and CAT.Conclusions HPE can ameliorate HACE in hypoxic rats to some extent,the mechanism of which may be related to ameliorating oxidative stress injury and reducing inflammation response.Hypericum perforatum is expected to be developed as a drug preparation for the treatment of HACE.

Objective The mechanisms of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) protecting the cardiovascular system have not yet been clarified. This study was to investigate the vasorelaxative effect of 13,14-epoxy docosapentaenoic acid (13,14-EpDPE) on coronary arterioles in normal rats and its action mechanisms.Methods We isolated coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) from normal rats by enzyme digestion, examined the open probabilities of the large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels in inside-out single channel configuration in the presence of different concentrations (0, 1, 10 and 100 pmol/L) of 13,14-EpDPE, and recorded the BK currents with the patch clamp in whole cell configuration. Then we assessed the coronary arterial relaxation by measuring dilatory responses to 13,14-EpDPE in pre-contracted tissues with or without pre-treatment with iberiotoxin.Results In the presence of 0, 1, 10 and 100 pmol/L of 13,14-EpDPE, the open probabilities of the BK channels were 0.25±0.03, 0.34±0.03, 0.44±0.06 and 0.85±0.16 (n=6), respectively, significantly increased at 100 pmol/L as compared with 0, 1 and 10 pmol/L (P<0.05). The BK channels were activated by 13,14-EpDP in a concentration-dependent manner and its half-effect concentration was (15.94±1.21) pmol/L. The current density was increased from (58.27±16.35) to (95.94±23.00) pA/pF (P=0.002) after 10 pmol/L 13,14-EpDP perfusion when the stimulation voltage was 100 mV. 13,14-EpDPE dilated the isolated coronary arterioles in a dose-dependent manner, and its effects were abolished after pre-treatment with iberiotoxin (100 nM).Conclusion 13,14-EpDPE can dilate coronary arterioles by activating BK channels in CASMCs, which might be one of the mechanisms underlying its protective effect on the cardiovascular system.