Kidney theory is an important figure in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it proposes that the kidney is the root of life, in which stores congenital essence and energy of human body that promotes reproduction, growth and development. The facts that body development begins from oosperm have long been elucidated in modern medicine and life science. Furthermore, oosperm is a totipotent stem cell. The totipotent stem cell with its derived embryonic stem cell (ESC) and stem cell constitute the source of growth, development and tissue regeneration. It is rational to comprehend ESC by means of the Kidney theory of TCM, investigate the effect of Kidney-nourishing on the activities of ESC, such as proliferation, aging and apoptosis, and on its related genes regarding transcription, expression and functional regulation. Our works have suggested that classical Kidney-yin-nourishing herb formula Zuo-gui-wan could inhibit the ESC differentiation and apoptosis, stimulate proliferation, and promote the process of cell cycle. These observations coincide with up-regulate expression of Wnt and Oct3/4, and down-regulate expression of P16INK4a. At the same time, classical Kidney-yang-nourishing herb formula You-gui-wan could inhibit ESC apoptosis induced by H2O2, up-regulate Notch expression and down-regulate P16INK4a expression. In addition, there have been some evidences indicated Kidney-nourishing could promote mesenchymal stem cells proliferate. These observations strongly suggest that, Kidney theory of TCM, as the root of the life, is associated with ESC and stem cell; it may provide insight into Kidney theory of TCM and stem cell research.

Malignant lymphoma is a common malignancy. From the perspective of the traditional Chinese medi-cine (TCM), the etiology and pathogenesis of malignant lymphoma are related to dampness, phlegm, toxicity, stasis and deficiency. Basic TCM principles for lymphoma syndrome differentiation and treatment are to strengthen the body resistance and eliminate pathogenic factors. Eliminating dampness, dissolving phlegm, detoxification, dissolv-ing stasis and strengthening body resistance are the principal TCM therapeutic methods for lymphoma treatment. Contemporary TCM physicians have developed Yi-Hua decoction, Zi-Niu powder, Ke-Liu capsule, Wu's Xiao-Liu powder and other herbal formulas, and 37 patents based on Chinese herbs and or herbal components. The effective mechanisms of TCM treatment for lymphoma are involved in inhibiting proliferation, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and regulating immune function. There is a great need to study anti-cancer herbs for lymphoma treat-ment.

Objective To study the effects of tonifying kidney-yin on activities of embryo stem cell. Methods Embryonic stem cell line CRL-1825 was choosed as model cell in present study, and tonifying kidney-yin herb serum was added to CRL-1825 cell. The influence of tonifying kidney-yin on stem cell differentiation, cell cycle, apotosis and express of key genes were observed. Results Tonifying kidney-yin can inhibit stem cell differentiation and apotosis, promote stem cell proliferation and progression of cell cycle. In addition, tonifying kidney-yin can up-regulate Wnt, Oct4 gene expression, and down-regulation P16INK4a expression. Conclusions Tonifying kidney-yin can promote stem cell proliferation and maintain the state of stem cell.

Objective To investigate the role of RhoA/Rho associated kinase-2 (RhoA/ROCK-2) in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OS-AHS). Methods Thirty patients diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnograshy(PSG) test in our sleep laberatoty were recruited as the observation group, and fifteen healthy subjects matched in gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were recruited as the controls. Pulmonary arterial pressure was measured by echocardiography. Serum RhoA/ROCK-2 levels were measured. Results The level of PAP was (47.30±12.85)mm Hg in OSAHA patients complicated with PH, (22.31±3.07)mm Hg in OSAHA patients without PH, which were significantly higher than that in the controls (19.47±1.92) mm Hg (W=175.50, P < 0.05). The serum RhoA and ROCK-2 in OSAHA patients with-out PH (10.43±3.10 and 22.31±16.10 μ/L, respectively) were significantly higher those in the controls (2.94±1.20)μg/L and (6.04±0.28)μg/L, respectively) (W=120.00, W= 121.00, respectively, P<0.05), whereas significantly lower than that in OSAHA patients complicated with PH(14.85±8.49)μg/L, (36.81±12.69) μg/L, respectively) (H =29.172, H =30.242, respectively, P <0.05). There was a positive correlation between PAP and AHI in patients with OSAHS, whether complicated with PH or not(r_s=0.793, r_s=0.887,P <0.05), and there was a negative correlation between PAP and LSaO2 in patients with OSAHS (r_s=-0. 562,r_s = -0.751, P <0.05). There were positive correlations between the level of RboA/ROCK-2 and PAP in patients with OSAHS(r_s = 0.793,r_s = 0.887,P < 0.05). Finally, there was a positive correlation between the level of RhoA and ROCK-2 in patients with OSAHS (r_s = 1.000,r_s = 1.000,P < 0.05). Conclusions OSAHS is an inde-pendent risk factor for pulmonary hypertension. The levels of serum RhoA/ROCK-2 in OSAHS patients with PH were increased in the development of the disease. It may play an important role in the process of pulmonary hyper-tension in patients with OSAHS.

Objective: To observe the effects of Tenglong Buzhong Decoction (TLBZD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on proliferation and apoptosis of colon carcinoma cell line LS174T in vitro. Methods: Human colon carcinoma cell line LS174T and human colon epithelial cell line CRL-1790 were treated with different doses of TLBZD. Cell proliferation was detected with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and clone formation assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry, and caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities in LS174T cells were detected by colorimetric assay. Results: TLBZD had no obvious cytotoxicity in normal CRL-1790 cells. After 72-hour treatment of 1 mg/mL TLBZD, or 48- and 72-hour of 2 mg/mL TLBZD, or 24-, 48- and 72-hour of 5-20 mg/mL TLBZD, proliferation of LS174T cells was significantly inhibited. Clone formation of LS174T cells was significantly inhibited by 1 to 20 mg/mL TLBZD treatment. TLBZD at doses of 5 to 20 mg/mL also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G(0)/G(1) phase in LS174T cells. In addition, caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were significantly elevated after 5 to 20 mg/mL TLBZD treatment. Conclusion: TLBZD can inhibit cell proliferation, arrest cell cycle at G(0)/G(1) phase, and induce apoptosis in LS174T cells, which may be related to activating of caspase-3, -8 and -9.

BACKGROUND: As indicated by previous researches, aluminium (Al) could affect learning and memory of animals through many approaches in cluding affecting the stable status of intracellular calcium, decreasing protein kinase C(PKC) activity, and affecting the release of glutamic acid(Glu) . The formation of long-term potentiation(LTP) weakens in hip pocampal CA3 region of rats fed by forage containing Al. It could be found that Al would weaken evoked potential(EP) in hippocampal CA3 region and inhibit LTP formation, which might be related with the damaging effect of Al on L-Arg-NO approach through further application of acute Al administration, i.e., AlCl3 is directly injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the damaging effect of Al on learning and memory, and its correlation with cholinergic system and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system.DESIGN: A completelyrandomized controlled verifying study based on the experimental animals.SETTING: Department of psychology in a university and the medical college of an occupational technology college.MATERIALS: The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Neuro-Electrophysiology, the Faculty of Physiology, Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology between September 2000 and April 2001. Totally 68 SD rats of ordinary grade in either gender with a body mass between 150 g and 250 g were obtained from the Department of Experimental Animals of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and echnology.INTERVENTIONS: SD rats were randomly divided into 9 groups including normal NS ( NS ) control group ( n = 6): 1 μL of NS was injected twice ( 1 minute interval) into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; NS + AlCl3 group( n = 6): 1 μL of NS and 0.5 mol/L of AlCl3 were injected(1 minute interval) into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection;NS + Tac group( n = 6): 1 μLof NS and 1 × 10-9 mol/L of Tacrine were injected in turn into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; NS + Bic group(n=6): 1 μL of NS and 1 × 10-3 mol/L of Bicuculline were injected in turn into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection; Tac +AlCl3 group: 1 μL of 1 × 10-9 mol/L( n =8),1 × 10-10 mol/L ( n = 6) and 1 × 10-8 mol/L of Tacrine were firsdy injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection, and 1 μL of 0. 5 mol/L AlCl3was injected 1 minute later; Bic + AlCl3 group: 1 μL of 1 × 10-3 mol/L( n = 9) and 1 × 10 -4 mol/L( n = 7) of Bicuculline were firstly injected into hippocampal CA3 region by microinjection, and 1 μL of 0.5 mol/L AlCl3 was injected 1 minute later. Population spike(PS) in hippocampal CA3 region was recorded after using single pulse to stimulate perforating fiber(PF). When PS became stable, medication was injected into hippocampal CA3 region to observe the impacts of Al on EP in hippocampal CA3 region and the impacts of some central transmitters on the effect of Al in in hibiting PS.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: PS evoked in hippocampal CA3 region;the impacts of Al on EP in CA3 region and the impacts of some central transmitters on the effect of Al in inhibiting PS. RESULTS: ① After the application of 0.5 mol/L of AlCl3 in hippocampalCA3 region by microinjection, the recorded amplitude of PS reduced to peakat 1 minute, which accounted for(33.8 ± 11. 0) % of the level beforemedication( n = 6). The inhibitive effect of AlCl3 lasted for 120 minutes. ② After the pre-application of 1 × 10-9 mol/L of Tacrine(cholinesterase in hibitor) into CA3 region by microinjection and the application of AlCl3 at oneminute later, it was found that Tacrine antagonized the inhibitive effects ofAlCl3 on PS within 1 to 30 minutes( n = 8) . Its antagonism would extend to60 minutes if 1 × 10-8 mol/L of Tacrine was administrated( n = 6) . How ever, the antagonism of 1 × 10-10 mol/L of Tacrine was weaker than that of 1×10-9 mol/L group within 3-5 minutes(n=6) ③ After thepre-application of 1 × 10-3 mol/L of Bicuculline into CA3 region by mi croinjection and the application of AlCl3 at one minute later, Bicucullinecould partially weaken the effects of AlCl3 within 1 to 20 minutes( n = 9). CONCLUSION: Al of certain concentration can inhibit the evoked PS am plitude in hippocampal CA3 region; Tacrine can antagonize Al' s effects andits antagonism might be related with dose. Hence, the inhibitive effects of Almight be related with the damage in Ach transmitter system. The applicationof Bicuculline, a GABAA inhibitor, also can weaken the PS inhibitive effectsof Al, which indicates that the inhibitive effect of Al also might be effective through GABA approach.

Cell senescence is an important anti-cancer mechanism and may contribute to cancer therapeutic outcome. The present study observed the effects of Tenglong Buzhong Decoction (TLBZD), a Chinese herbal formula, on senescence in human colon carcinoma LS-174-T cells.

Objective To explore the sensitive blood plasma molecular markers in diabetic nephropathy (DN) .Methods Two-di-mensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) was used to analyze early DN patients plasma (n=8) and normal plasma ,proteins that showed differential expression of a 1 .5 fold change were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry . Results 2D-DIGE maps of plasma proteins in patients with DN and normal plasma were established successfully .We validated 13 differentially expressed proteins detected by 2D-DIGE ,including complement component C3、complement component C4、apolipopro-tein E ,etc .Conclusion Proteomic analysis can objectively revealed the differences of protein expression between the two kinds of blood plasma .The 13 proteins might be the potential plasma molecular markers for the clinical diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy .

Objective To study NF-κB ODN decoy-treated DC on type Ⅱ collagen- induced arthritis(CIA) serum IFN-γ,IL-10 and anti B Ⅱ C antibody and its mechanism.Methods Type Ⅱ collagen induced arthritic rats was established.NF-κB decoy-treated DC loaded with B Ⅱ C from rat spleen were injected to CIA rats via the tail vein at 5 days after the initial immunization.The rats were divided into control group,CIA model group and B Ⅱ C-decoy-DC experimental groups.Forty-two days after the initial immunization,the arthritis scores were determined,the ankle pathology examination were performed and the levels of the serum IFN-γ,IL-10,anti-Ⅱ collagen antibody were determined using ELISA.Results The levels of IFN-γ and anti-B Ⅱ C antibody in serum of CIA model group were increased significantly and IL-10 was decreased significantly (P＜0.05,vs control group).After received with NF-κB ODN decoy inducing DC loaded with B Ⅱ C,the levels of IFN-γ and anti-B Ⅱ C antibody in serum of B Ⅱ C-decoy-DC experimental groups were decreased significantly and IL-10 was increased significantly (P＜0.05,vs CIA model group).Conclusion NF-κB decoy-treated DC loaded with B Ⅱ C had significantly inhibited IFN-γ and anti-B Ⅱ C antibody production and promoted increased levels of IL-10,and had a good curative effect on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.